The holiday - the fun and being
nervous - started three months (August 2004) previous
to the start; at the preparation of it. It was
my first holiday with the wheelchair, so I was
pretty tense. Will the flight go well? How will
my body react to South Africa, how will the wheelchair
hold up?
You can call me a pretty experienced traveller.
Independent too (I live on my own). But still,
a thorough preparation - together with my physiotherapist
- was necessary, concerning getting up early
(because of early game drives) as well as dealing
with a 'normal' chair which I needed to be able
to do in the plain as well as on our transport
through S.A. Further, before the holiday could
begin, I had to let the organisation know which
handicap I have. The last thing that was asked
of me was an easy going mentality. Well, I'm
pretty critical - so for others a pain - but
on holidays I'm an African: 'hakuna matata'.
To continue the story, the preparation worked
out well. The flight - ten hours economy class
with KLM - as well as the travel in South Africa
were great. No: excellent.
The flight is certainly part of the holiday.
It has to be good, certainly with long distances.
Negative experiences can spoil the fun.
The holiday was a camping holiday, in which
we visited the famous Kruger National Park and
also Tshukudu Game Reserve. The focus of our
journey was 'animals in their natural environment',
especially the so-called Big Five animals, which
are the most dangerous to hunt. So we hunted,
but only for pictures. And that's why enthusiastic
chats and discussions about fast and slow films,
quality of lenses and so on were part of this
holiday.
Some other things that are worth mentioning:
first of all the group consisted of ten people
of all kinds of nationalities, some of them
in wheelchairs and others not. The truck in
which we travelled had a lift for people in
wheelchairs. It was a simple, but powerful and
effective lift. Not only the ones in wheelchairs
used this lift, but also two 'normal' people
of the group that had a combined weight of around
170 kg did at the same time. And that was no
problem what so ever for the engine of the lift.
I haven't seen other adaptations in the truck,
so I wouldn't recommend this trip to severely
handicapped people.
This was our program:
- Before breakfast we went on a game drive to
look for animals in the bush. This meant that
we got up together with the sun at 05.30 and
sometimes we used other, 'normal' vehicles that
were more equipped for driving on dirt roads.
- In the afternoon we mostly had an activity
that had to do with animals or South Africa.
Like a visit to the 'centre of endangered species',
endangered animals like the Cheetah and the
Wild Dog. Interesting.
- Before dinner (before it went dark), another
game drive. Besides animals we watched an extraordinary
sunset. A night game drive was optional.
After the game drive while waiting for dinner
and often with the pleasure of an alcoholic
beverage we chatted about the past day. We had
dinner and then went quickly to bed to be ready
for another early morning. I slept like a baby.
Am I being critical?
The tents? .... Very spacious
The food? .... A great variety and delicious
The adaptations and/or facilities?... Disabled
people get special attention everywhere in the
Game Reserves of South Africa. And as I heard,
even more attention than in 'disabled-paradise'
the United States. Even an adapted bath in the
middle of the bush is possible.
The costs?... 6200 Rand which is 791 Euro.
The organisation behind this trip?...You won't
find a better one.
The most important thing?... Is good preparation,
check everything and double check before you
go - and furthermore: think and act like an
African. Then you'll have a wonderful holiday.
And isn't that the whole idea?
By Rene De Laat - Holland
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