TEGS | YEG TRAVELER 🇨🇦

Johannesburg, South Africa

GAdventures – 27 Days – Johannesburg to Nairobi Overland: Waterfalls & Beaches

I have been dreaming of Africa since I was 12 years old.

That was the year that we hosted a new friend, Gilbert, who travelled to Canada from Lusaka, Zambia.

Gilbert was one of the first catalysts to my curiosity of travel, culture and seeking understanding and acceptance of the world.

At 33, I made it to Africa. A 21-year dream come to life. Let’s do this.

I live near the Edmonton International Airport, so my best friend was able to drop me off, equipped with my adventure duffel and excitement, to catch a few flights!

Flight Path:

Edmonton to Amsterdam to Johannesburg

Approximately 36 travel hours.

Arrival & Accommodations:

It was a long travel day and I arrived late in the evening and was welcomed in Johannesburg with a scheduled GAdventures driver that I pre-booked taking me right to the tours preferred hotel – Airport Game Lodge.

I did not know what to expect upon arrival but having all pre-booked plans made it seamless.

The Airport Game Lodge is nearby the OR Tambo International Airport, has tame game on-site (part of their rehabilitation program) a pool hangout area and friendly reception to help you with scheduling day tours.

At check-in, I got my first glimpse of the electrical crisis that South Africa faces. Basically, there are scheduled blackouts of the electrical supply. These power cuts have become a regular occurrence in South Africa, the load-shedding efforts started in 2007 and continue to be a headline in news about the efforts to avert the crisis.

For me, it was no worries because I was exhausted and after a shower, went straight to bed in my new accommodations.

(Tegs Tip: Charge your devices when you can, not when you need to. You might not have the luxury of power when it comes time.)

A Day in Johannesburg:

I arrived the night before my tour was set to meet up, giving me one free day to flip time zones and catch some rest after a lengthy journey from Canada. Inevitably, I was eager to get my feet on African soil, so I made my way to the reception area to see if there was a day tour to fill my day.

I opted to take the Soweto Tour that was heading out that morning.

The others on the day tour were ending their journey from Nairobi south-bound to Johannesburg, also with GAdventures, so while they were not my travel mates I was about to spend a month with – they gave me some awesome tips and prepared me for some exciting adventures ahead.

Our first stop was at a viewpoint overlooking the township of Soweto. The guides shared the important history of Soweto, a residential area that was created under apartheid and played a significant role in issues of segregation. Throughout the day, the guides shared with us about the Soweto uprising in 1976, and of life in Soweto townships today.

Our tour included a visit to a locals home, to show us her living conditions, cookware and must-haves for life in Soweto. Up the road, we had the opportunity to buy a beer from a barred home-front, giving my tourist dollars direct to a local. Yes, please!

(Tegs Tip: If you visit Johannesburg, book a Soweto Tour!)

After the drive back to my accommodations, the prior 36hour travel day caught up with me, and I was able to relax for a few hours before meeting up with the tour group for our welcome meeting.

The welcome meetings that GAdventures hosts on day 1 gives you a chance to meet your travel mates & guides, get familiar with what to expect, review safety provisions and most of all, it’s an opportunity to kick-off excitement for the adventure!