I had planned my trip around a break in work. RTW - 140,000 points and $1300AUD. I worked out my itinerary by choosing places I had never been to. It turned out to be an easy exercise to plan and book.
An early morning flight from Brisbane had me at Sydney International in good time and allowed me only a quick visit to the Qantas First Class Lounge. The first snag hit quickly the entertainment system was down on my 747 flight to Johannesburg. At least a two-hour delay, perhaps more if the system couldn't be fixed we would have to take off without the entertainment system.
But don’t fret said the Qantas staff you will be provided with books and magazines. Yippee.......thanks Qantas! Surely this wasn't a harbinger of continual doom for the trip ahead. At least I had the First Class Lounge to retire to for a scrumptious class meal.
The Qantas engineers worked their magic and the entertainment system was a goer. My flight was called and I made my way to the packed departure gate. Once there I received a very pleasant surprise, an upgrade to Premium Economy. You little beauty! And it got even better as when the doors closed there was a spare seat beside me. Hopefully this was a positive sign for the journey ahead!
The Qantas service was excellent, I enjoyed the meals (I am strange like that) and as we had a working entertainment system the journey went quickly.
I landed at Oliver Tambo Johannesburg airport a little after 1900 and it took more than 90 minutes to pass through immigration and clear customs. There was a huge line at immigration and only a few windows open. People were cutting the line and folks were getting a little hot under the collar. We moved forward at snails pace until finally it was my turn a few rudimentary questions and I was through.
I collected my bag and made my way toward the hotel shuttle pick up point. Not sure of the way I asked an airport worker who offered to take me. I thanked him but said to him just point out the way. No he said he would show me. How very kind of him. When we got to the pickup point he stuck out his hand for a tip. I had no rand and I wasn't going to tip him the smallest denomination I had, 10USD so I said sorry mate and at this he became very indignant. All I could do was shrug my shoulders.
The shuttle came and an assortment of folks packed in. The journey to my hotel a only took a few moments. My choice was the Oliver Tambo Premier Hotel and a good choice it was. After a long flight check in was fast and easy with a welcome drink to boot, a quick check of emails and on to a blissful nights sleep.
Breakfast wasn't included in my room rate but I decided to grab a bite. The meal was reasonably priced compared to Australian hotels around $14AUD. The spread was amazing, eggs cooked to order and a wide variety of food choices to serve every taste. After a nourishing breakfast I checked out and prepared to pay for breakfast whereby the young lady at the desk said breakfast was compliments of the manager. I must have given her a blank stare as she just smiled and waved me away.
I caught the shuttle back to the airport for my BA flight to Zambia. Boarding was a bit of a cluster with no one sure what gate or what bus would take us out to the aircraft. Finally it was sorted and I took my seat for the two-hour flight to Livingston. A in-flight bonus was the captain doing a circuit over Victoria Falls and what a magnificent sight it was. The spray from the Falls looked liked a veil of thick clouds hanging over the Falls area and the Zambezi River.
We parked a little ways from the terminal and walked to the immigration reception area. Now if I thought my arrival at Johannesburg was a shambles this was infinitely worse. I was one of the first in line and it took almost 50 minutes to process six people. Everything was written out longhand no computers. The lady at my window was a student in penmanship and she was slow and methodical. A couple of guys in front of me were from the Channel Islands and this threw a cat amongst the pigeons as no one behind the desks could work out where the Channel Islands were or what to do with them.
These guys didn’t help their cause or anyone else’s as they wanted to know why the women was so slow. Time stopped as she glared at them, got up from her seat and walked out a side door. I was expecting a SWAT team to come down from the roof, but no I think she was just proving to everyone who was in charge. I couldn’t help congratulating these two for pissing off the one women who controlled our destiny in entering Zambia.
Finally she came back out, sat down with a flourish and stared all over again. Thankfully we had no more comments from the Channel Islanders.
Finally it was my turn I asked for a reciprocity visa which allows entrance to both Zambia and Zimbabwe for $50. I had read about this in numerous publications and online. No she said these weren’t available anymore. I could have a dual visa which would cost $80usd. Not wanting another walkout I plucked the extra $30usd out of my wallet.
Free, free at last I retrieved my bag and walked outside. By now it wasn’t that crowded as most folks had already gone. My driver was waiting for me a really nice guy who worked for a local tour company. His name was Isaac.
Isaac drove me to my accommodation, Olga’s Italian Corner. Its namesake an Italian woman started Olga’s several years ago. It provides accommodation and wood fired pizzas in Livingstone Zambia. All of the staff are trainees that are learning a trade in the hospitality industry. Most are young people who are orphans and homeless and this is their opportunity to rise.
The accommodation was great a huge bed and mosquito net, good shower and located in the centre of the small town. And of course there was the opportunity to eat reasonably priced pizza.
I had asked Isaac on the way into town if it was safe to walk around and he said absolutely you can walk around without being worried about personal safety. I did so several times and received nothing but smiles.
It was still early afternoon and Isaac had suggested he take me to the local National Park just out of town. With nothing planned I said okay why not and I was glad I did.
An early morning flight from Brisbane had me at Sydney International in good time and allowed me only a quick visit to the Qantas First Class Lounge. The first snag hit quickly the entertainment system was down on my 747 flight to Johannesburg. At least a two-hour delay, perhaps more if the system couldn't be fixed we would have to take off without the entertainment system.
But don’t fret said the Qantas staff you will be provided with books and magazines. Yippee.......thanks Qantas! Surely this wasn't a harbinger of continual doom for the trip ahead. At least I had the First Class Lounge to retire to for a scrumptious class meal.
The Qantas engineers worked their magic and the entertainment system was a goer. My flight was called and I made my way to the packed departure gate. Once there I received a very pleasant surprise, an upgrade to Premium Economy. You little beauty! And it got even better as when the doors closed there was a spare seat beside me. Hopefully this was a positive sign for the journey ahead!
The Qantas service was excellent, I enjoyed the meals (I am strange like that) and as we had a working entertainment system the journey went quickly.
I landed at Oliver Tambo Johannesburg airport a little after 1900 and it took more than 90 minutes to pass through immigration and clear customs. There was a huge line at immigration and only a few windows open. People were cutting the line and folks were getting a little hot under the collar. We moved forward at snails pace until finally it was my turn a few rudimentary questions and I was through.
I collected my bag and made my way toward the hotel shuttle pick up point. Not sure of the way I asked an airport worker who offered to take me. I thanked him but said to him just point out the way. No he said he would show me. How very kind of him. When we got to the pickup point he stuck out his hand for a tip. I had no rand and I wasn't going to tip him the smallest denomination I had, 10USD so I said sorry mate and at this he became very indignant. All I could do was shrug my shoulders.
The shuttle came and an assortment of folks packed in. The journey to my hotel a only took a few moments. My choice was the Oliver Tambo Premier Hotel and a good choice it was. After a long flight check in was fast and easy with a welcome drink to boot, a quick check of emails and on to a blissful nights sleep.
Breakfast wasn't included in my room rate but I decided to grab a bite. The meal was reasonably priced compared to Australian hotels around $14AUD. The spread was amazing, eggs cooked to order and a wide variety of food choices to serve every taste. After a nourishing breakfast I checked out and prepared to pay for breakfast whereby the young lady at the desk said breakfast was compliments of the manager. I must have given her a blank stare as she just smiled and waved me away.
I caught the shuttle back to the airport for my BA flight to Zambia. Boarding was a bit of a cluster with no one sure what gate or what bus would take us out to the aircraft. Finally it was sorted and I took my seat for the two-hour flight to Livingston. A in-flight bonus was the captain doing a circuit over Victoria Falls and what a magnificent sight it was. The spray from the Falls looked liked a veil of thick clouds hanging over the Falls area and the Zambezi River.
We parked a little ways from the terminal and walked to the immigration reception area. Now if I thought my arrival at Johannesburg was a shambles this was infinitely worse. I was one of the first in line and it took almost 50 minutes to process six people. Everything was written out longhand no computers. The lady at my window was a student in penmanship and she was slow and methodical. A couple of guys in front of me were from the Channel Islands and this threw a cat amongst the pigeons as no one behind the desks could work out where the Channel Islands were or what to do with them.
These guys didn’t help their cause or anyone else’s as they wanted to know why the women was so slow. Time stopped as she glared at them, got up from her seat and walked out a side door. I was expecting a SWAT team to come down from the roof, but no I think she was just proving to everyone who was in charge. I couldn’t help congratulating these two for pissing off the one women who controlled our destiny in entering Zambia.
Finally she came back out, sat down with a flourish and stared all over again. Thankfully we had no more comments from the Channel Islanders.
Finally it was my turn I asked for a reciprocity visa which allows entrance to both Zambia and Zimbabwe for $50. I had read about this in numerous publications and online. No she said these weren’t available anymore. I could have a dual visa which would cost $80usd. Not wanting another walkout I plucked the extra $30usd out of my wallet.
Free, free at last I retrieved my bag and walked outside. By now it wasn’t that crowded as most folks had already gone. My driver was waiting for me a really nice guy who worked for a local tour company. His name was Isaac.
Isaac drove me to my accommodation, Olga’s Italian Corner. Its namesake an Italian woman started Olga’s several years ago. It provides accommodation and wood fired pizzas in Livingstone Zambia. All of the staff are trainees that are learning a trade in the hospitality industry. Most are young people who are orphans and homeless and this is their opportunity to rise.
The accommodation was great a huge bed and mosquito net, good shower and located in the centre of the small town. And of course there was the opportunity to eat reasonably priced pizza.
I had asked Isaac on the way into town if it was safe to walk around and he said absolutely you can walk around without being worried about personal safety. I did so several times and received nothing but smiles.
It was still early afternoon and Isaac had suggested he take me to the local National Park just out of town. With nothing planned I said okay why not and I was glad I did.
