Johannesburg: Safari Experience

Last Wednesday night I was on standby and I was hoping not to be called because I felt so tired already. I just finished cooking my dinner and then my phone rang. It was OCC, they told me that they will send me a cab in 30 minutes and that I will be doing a Jo'burg flight. I was upset and thrilled at the same time. Upset because I was called on standby and I wanted more rest. Thrilled because it's Jo'burg, South Africa. Though we were only to stay in Jo'burg for 24 hours, I knew I would love it there.

Flight was 8 hours, light load and very polite guests. We arrived Johannesburg, 10am local time and were in the hotel about 11am. My colleagues and I decided to rest until 3 in the afternoon. Ning, Nina, Jannet and I went to Mandela Square, it's a big mall which was about 2 blocks away from the hotel. Bought some souvenirs. I soo loved this small music instruments. It's like a tiny drums made out of real animal coat. Everyone was telling me that Jo'burg is known for their steak so I just had to eat some. We ate in the best steak house! I was too excited to order and eat, I forgot to take note of the name of the resto. LoL! I can remember where it is located though. Ahihi! I ordered the Argentinean Style Rump. It was yummy! Best steak I've ever had in my life, juicy and a lil bit smoked which was just perfect! *drool* The price was not too expensive as well. It was just like eating in Friday's. We were suppose to pass by the grocery after we ate dinner to get some water and some snacks but to our surprise, groceries in the mall closed at 6pm! whoa! And so, we just asked the chauffer of the shuttle of the hotel to pass by a gasoline station so we could at least buy some bottled water. I was tired from going around so I slept early and for me to be able to have a good rest for the next day's flight as well.

The famous Nelson Mandela Statue

Ning, Nina, myself and Jannet

Following morning, woke up 5am, two hours before our wake up call! :o I couldn't go back to sleep so I just started to watch a movie. After a while, I remembered I wanted to have a dip in a hot tub, and so I did. It was very soothing. I was in the bathtub for about 30 minutes and then I heard the phone. I thought it was the wake up call but then I realized it was too early for the wake up call. It was Roisin, our Cabin Manager, telling me that our flight got cancelled. Immediately I thought of calling my colleagues and ask them if they wanted to go to a Safari trip. Called the concierge to ask them about the tours and packages they have. Too bad we couldn't join the whole day safari anymore because they left really early, so we did the half day safari instead. I really wanted to do it the day before but everyone was unsure since we didn't have much time, so this was my chance to convince them.

It was I, Ning, Nina, Satinder and Yasmina who went to the safari. The rest of the crew has done the trip so some decided to go back and take some more snooze and the others joined the city tour. We went to a preserved area called lion's park. I couldn't be more excited and overjoyed. I have been dreaming to do a safari trip ever since I decided to apply as a cabin crew. I wanted it more than a euro trip. The park was just beautiful. For some time I was just speechless of what I was seeing. It was more than I imagined it to be. I like nature a lot and it was just wonderful. We saw jackals, zebras, ostriches, antelopes, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, buffalos and of course lions, lionesses and their cubs, there were also some white lions.

Different animals

Clockwise: Top Left: Lioness with her cubs, white lion, Athena the cub, sleeping lion

I was most amazed by the lions and how they looked. Yes, I've seen them in photos but never in real life. The lions' mane makes them look bigger and stronger. It was WOW! The closest we can get with the lions was around 5-6 feet away. Oh, we were inside a van of course. LoL! They were sleeping under a tree so our van stopped right beside them and of course, it was opportunity for us to take photos. We opened the windows and we could even hear them breathe. It was that close! I just loved it! They looked cuddable, I just wanted to get out and pet them. But hell no, I was still in my right mind. LoL! We also had the chance to pet some cubs. There were 3 of them and they got their names from Greek Mythology, I could remember Athena and Achilles. Could not remember the other cub’s name, she was not in a good mood, she just had a shot. I also got to meet Gambit and Purdy, the giraffes. Don't know who's who but one of them was a show off. He was always near the stairs, he loved being fed and taking pictures! LoL! Oh, funny story, there was a cheetah who thinks he's a lion. He got injured and was placed in the same area as the cubs, a different cage though. Trainers tried putting him in front of the mirror and he went like crazy! He didn't know it was his own reflection since he thinks he looks like lions. He's scared of the other cheetahs so they have to introduce him to them slowly. It was really funny seeing him run away from other cheetahs. I stayed so long inside the cubs’ world! I couldn't stop petting them and looking at them. They were so cute! It was prohibited to carry them because a year ago, a cub died because people often reacted when the cubs act as if they will bite you and of course people would let go of them and let them fall on the ground. I felt bad when I heard the story so I was ok giving them tummy rubs. I almost didn't want to leave the place! But yeah, it had to end. Back to the hotel, ate dinner with colleagues. Once again, yummy steak. *drool* Went to sleep and the next day back to Abu Dhabi.

Athena, the friendliest cub!

With Gambit or Purdy?

United Etihad

Satinder(Indian), Ning(Thai), Achilles the cub,

Peaches(Filipina), Nina(Ukranian) and Yasmina(Swedish)

Definitely this Jo'burg trip of mine will be unforgettable and will be hard to beat by other destinations. I'm planning to go back to do an overnight safari. Maybe with my parents, I know they've been wishing to go to Africa. I think it's the only continent they have never been to. Ahihihi!