South African 2013

This trip back home was Gail’s first to visit South Africa to experience the place where I grew up, to attend my niece’s wedding, and meet my extended family and friends. This trip would also reintroduce photography as a hobby for me, and the giant leap that cameras have made since my first Canon AE1 that I used (and still have) on my sailing adventure back in 1982. How?

My brother Graham had a Nikon D 7000 and he let me use it during out trip to Tala Wildlife Nature Reserve just outside of Durban. He let me borrow the camera as we explored other parts of Kwa Zulu Natal. Gosh, we took hundreds of pictures and when reviewing them back in the USA is what ignited the spark again. My next birthday gift was a Nikon D7000, and the rest is history.

The flight from the JFK to Johannesburg is 23 hours, with one stop to refuel without deplaning in Isle de Sol – Cape Verde which is approximately 350 miles off the coast of Senegal. Once we cleared customs, we caught our SAA flight to Cape Town which is where we began out 3-week vacation. We rented a car and checked in to 5-star condo. The Peninsula with its fantastic ocean view, and behind the hotel was Table Mountain. What a beautiful City! We were blessed with great weather and spent four days driving around to visit Table Mountain, Cape Town, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Stellenbosch for some wine tasting and the automobile museum in Fanschook.