South Africa Adventure 2025

 This adventure started on Wednesday when we departed from Phoenix traveling to Newark, NJ where we connected to our 14 hr 30 min flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.  Total airtime from Phoenix to SA was in excess of 19 hours, but worth it, despite the ongoing rain since we arrived.  A simple fact about Johannesburg that we did not know, it sits at an altitude over 5,700 feet.  

We are staying in a beautiful boutique hotel - Fairlawns - a former plantation home previously owned by the Oppenheimer family.  Last evening we enjoyed two delicious bottles of South African red wines - De Toren Private Cellars.  As these wines represent the quality of South African varietals then, we are in for some special experiences as we travel later in the trip to Capetown.  

Today, Friday is again quite rainy, so we traveled to a local shipping area in Nelson Mandela Square.  FYI - Johannesburg is the fourth largest city in Africa at 6.5 million residents.  Can you name the larger cities?  Lagos Nigeria @ 9.0 Million; Kinshasa, Congo @ 7.8 Million & Cairo, Egypt @ 7.7 million residents each. 

Tomorrow, we travel back to the Johannesburg Airport for our short commuter flight to Sabi Sands - Kruger National Park - this is when the real adventure starts and I promise the pictures will be more interesting.  

                                                            O. R. Tambo International Airport


                                                            Fairlawns Boutique Hotel Room


                                                                     Lori settling in at the Bar


                                                     Glass of Wine to end a Long Travel Day


                                                         Main Dining Room - a Great Meal


                                                        Nelson Mandela Square - Rainy Day


                                                            

                                                            Art in Nelson Mandela Square
      

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

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