The flight we chose to get to Johannesburg was via Singapore. Odd choice you might think but as we had points with Singapore Airlines we could travel Business Class all the way and so hopefully arrive a bit more refreshed. Well, good idea in theory - the trip from home to the lodge in Windhoek took just on 30 hours and we were well jet-lagged! Still better to be jet-lagged travelling Business than Economy!

Londoningi Lodge in Windhoek is a pleasant place in a nice area of town with comfortable rooms, a lovely semi-open dining room and a relaxing area around the now freezing-temperature pool. Alex and Nathalie were marvellous hosts.

Linda and Mike, our leaders were already there, along with Dave, our guide for the trip. Though we were a day early, another couple, Margaret and Bob from Canberra, had arrived a few days before. We joined them that first night for sushi in a restaurant in town called Nice Restaurant, run to train locals in all the arts of all things serving, cooking and running such establishments - just like The Apprentice Restaurant at Ultimo TAFE.