Keith Dixon and Anne Elliott have travelled together on an annual holiday to southern Africa for the past 10 years - for Keith, many, many more years prior to that.
The Legend Safari Tour 2008
Once again we would like to share our holiday with you,  giving information on the mid-range accommodation and dining establishments we found during our 2008 two-month safari through Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as other helpful hints for those of you who are planning a self-drive tour of that great continent. In a lot of cases we stayed at the same accommodation as last year - once you find a good place, then why change!
Again we stress that the establishments mentioned are not necessarily recommendations, they are just places we found which, in most cases, were very pleasant and affordable. You can judge for yourselves by my comments whether or not you would like to stay, or dine, in them!
The prices quoted were what we paid at the time and could have changed by now, as could some of the services mentioned.
Information on our previous tours can be found by clicking The Legend Safari Tour 2006 and The Legend Safari Tour 2007.
THE START
June 18 and 19
This year, instead of driving to Sydney we chose the easy way and flew from Dubbo (a 20-minute drive from Narromine) by Regional Express (Rex) - a one hour 10-minute flight, far better than a six-and-a-half hour drive!
We also changed our usual accommodation, from the Ibis Hotel to the Sydney Airport International Inn which we booked on-line through wotif. The tariff of $118.00 per room per night, excluding breakfast was about $30.00 cheaper than the new rate at the Ibis. And, it was only five minutes by shuttle ($4.00 per person) from the domestic terminal. The room was okay (even if the electric jug didn’t work) and the restaurant served delicious and reasonably-priced (Chinese) food.
An early morning start by shuttle to the airport, a cup of coffee and we were soon settling into our Premium Economy class seats on Qantas flight QF63 bound for Johannesburg. This newly-introduced class gives some of the benefits of Business class such as the menu and choice of wines, along with spacious seating arrangements but at a lesser cost. The seats appear to be the old Business Class types which, unlike the new seats, do not recline fully.
Fourteen hours later, after a very smooth flight, we touched down at Johannesburg’s Tambo International Airport, which is undergoing massive upgrading in order to handle the expected huge influx of visitors to the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
JOHANNESBURG
June 19
There we were met by Marius from Le Chateau Guesthouse, situated in Kempton Park and about a 20-minute drive from the airport. This delightful, beautifully restored two-storeyformer farmhouse complete with restaurant and bar, and filled with antique furniture, is run by the very hospitable Jeanne and her family. It is very quiet and our upstairs room with its attached en-suite was tastefully decorated, very comfortable and very much worth the tariff of R588 per night including a sumptuous breakfast. An airport pickup costs R150 with the airport drop-off being R120, both done by either Marius or Jeanne themselves. Normally we stay at the Garden Court Hotel, Kempton Park, but this has outpriced itself as far as we are concerned.
Tip: Remember that when you fly from Johannesburg to Namibia (a SADC partner) you cannot purchase duty free items such as alcohol, perfume etc.
August 20
Back at Le Chateau for our last night in Africa and to prepare for our long Qantas flight back to Australia. What a truly memorable, happy safari we have had, renewing friendships and visiting places we hadn't visited before. Hopefully we'll return in nine months time for The Legend Safari Tour 2009.

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