Lesedi Cultural Villiage

If you visit South Africa, make sure you check out Lesedi Cultural Village. When we arrived at this location we were greeted with a warm welcome that included song and dance. The overall event started within the hour of arrival. This village shares knowledge of various tribes of South Africa, their customs, traditions, dances, dwellings, and more.

While waiting for the village tour to begin, we were able to check out their souvenir shops and get some tribal tattoos. It was about $5 USD to get a temporary tattoo on your hand or face. Each tattoo depicts a story. 

Music and dance are important aspects within the tribes. We participated in the music by playing alongside the tribal members with our own set of bongos.

We learned about the dwellings, greeting customs, and tribal wear from our tour guide. The dwellings are a representation of how everything was built in the past.

The doors are so low that if the enemy wanted to attack, they would have to bend down to enter. Imagine what would greet you when you came through the door with your head looking down!

This red hat that a married woman would wear for this tribe is like a wedding ring. They are not allowed to take it off during the day or during the night.  A long time ago, they would embed the hat into your head. If you take it off it is like a divorce. Can you imagine?!! And if you needed to take it off to wash your hair you needed to get permission from the elders. 

Have you ever heard of Chaka Zulu? I did but I never really grasped who he was and how much of a warrior he was and even that the Zulu tribe was named after him. Yes, I was a little slow on that one.

One story we learned was that Chaka realized that the spears his father was using were too long, so the warriors would throw them at the enemy and then run. In turn, the enemy would pick up those spears and retaliate back. Chaka decided they needed smaller spears, like daggers in order to attack the empty up close and not miss the target. 

Ever heard a Zulu tribe member speak in their own language? It’s amazing to hear and it’s not just words but a specific sound that is not easy to replicate.

As our tour was coming to a close, the “finale” was all the members coming together for about a 30-minute show. The flexibility is uncanny. I saw them kick their legs up to their heads, and do jumps, and splits all to the sounds of the beat and their voices. But as fate would have it, the lights went out for about 3 minutes but then returned. The tribal members still continued on with their dance without “missing a beat”. This was a true cultural experience.

Mall of Africa

As someone who has spent the last 3-5 years doing mainly online shopping, I was not super excited to go to yet another mall. However, my experience was better than I expected. This mall is the largest mall in Africa. 

In typical mall fashion, it has everything you need from restaurants, shops, banks, and more. Even though it is the largest mall in Africa, I didn’t feel cramped with the number of people that can come through there.  I also noticed the prices were less expensive than the mall that was connected to the Davinci (where we stayed). 

The outdoor area was probably my favorite because you had the opportunity to dine outside but also people watch and soak in that South African sun. From here you can see various other corporations. Imagine having an office view from one of those buildings during the work week. 

The restaurants in this mall are top-tier.  We ended up meeting our friends at Kreme on one of the last days. The food and atmosphere were amazing and during that night, live music was playing downstairs. 

This mall had a great location for drop-off and pick-ups for Ubers and Taxi’s. That made it very convenient to meet your driver once you were done with your shopping. We just told him the time and he came back to meet us at that same location. There are several entrances into the mall, so make a note of that entrance number if you ever visit the Mall of Africa.

Spa day

What better way to wind down a 10-day trip to South Africa, than with a couple’s spa day? I can probably account for maybe five or fewer times that I’ve actually been to a spa. Most of those were probably outside of the United States. I am working on self-care, which is why I didn’t decline this as part of our travel package.

The staff at Spas of Distinction Fourways were amazing, as I expected them to be. We were greeted with champagne while we waited for the steam and sauna room. After that, we had an hour full body massage and concluded with a bubble bath. During that time we enjoyed additional snacks and beverages before going up to the sunroom and relaxing outside. 

One thing I regretted was keeping my cell phone in the locker room. I didn’t realize you could bring it with you through the various rooms. I thought it would get wet or damaged by water or humidity. 

In the sauna room, there was an area right outside reserved for us where we could place our robes. It was a little uncomfortable not knowing what time it was and when our ride was supposed to come for us. But that was the only reason I needed my phone during that period of relaxation.

The whole experience was around 4 hours so you never felt rushed. That’s a great way to reflect on the whole trip experience before getting thrust back into the reality of returning home.

Heading home

After almost two weeks of being in South Africa, it was time to come home. We flew back with Ethiopian Airlines Business Class. The service was as expected and for the first flight, we had single seats. Until next time South Africa!

Key takeaways

• The Lesedi Cultural Village tour includes a lot of walking so wear comfortable shoes and bring water.
• The Mall of Africa has a trolley so you can hop on for a small fee if you get tired.
• The message therapists at the spa accept tips and you can pay at the end of your stay.
• If you can swing it, go for Business Class. Your legs will thank you.

The post Indulging in Culture, Luxury & Retail Therapy: My Epic Time first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

Lion & Safari Park

From the Johannesburg/Sandton area, this particular Lion & Safari Park was about an hour away. By the time we arrived, it was around 11 am. The idea of this park is to be around indigenous animals while they are able to move around in their natural environment. It allows visitors to get as close as possible but still be safe from harm. 

The vehicle we were in was an enclosed truck that had bars around the windows. We could take pictures and video but you had to angle your camera just right in order to bypass the bars. In certain areas we drove through, there was staff around to open up different entrances to another section of the park.

I am not a city girl, but I was not raised on a farm either. However, being out in this environment was so serene and beautiful. It brought a sense of peace around you. We weren’t the only ones on this path as there were other viewing vehicles with other groups, so you never felt like you were on your own. 

The tour guide we had gave us specific instructions regarding how to interact with the animals. This is not the first time the animals have seen people, so usually they are just lying down resting and looking unbothered. Our tour guide asked us not to yell at the animals or make those kissing noises like you do for your house pets because it’s not going to work. Yelling just makes them go further into hiding. 

The tour guide stopped and let us out of the vehicle to another area of the park. This had more of a zoo vibe because the animals were behind the fence and we were on the outside. Here we had the opportunity to see wild dogs and hyenas.

During that walk, I captured a beautiful moment where the mountain met the sky. That was such a peaceful moment for me and I could have just stayed in that moment for the rest of the day.

As the day went on, we stopped at another scenic area within the park that had a river where you could relax and take some pictures. The temperature was perfect at around 75-80 degrees with a nice breeze. This was a nice mid-way stop throughout our day. 

Of course, with any major park, there is a gift shop on the way out so we were able to pick up a few things. It was different as there were 5 pods that were connected by a walkway. Each pod had different items for sale and then once you exited you could pay at the last pod. 

Pilanesberg Private Game Reserve

The next day we went on a full-day safari with a guide at the Pilanesberg National Park. It is home to the Big 5. What is the Big 5 you ask? The Lion, Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, and Rhinoceros. This game reserve was bigger and further away than the Lion Park. It took almost 2 hours to drive from the Johannesburg/Sandton area.

Because it takes a few hours to drive, we made a quick stop at a quick shop that also had a KFC. There are many of the same restaurants here that are back in the States. So if you are ever in South Africa and are craving an American-type restaurant, they have these in South Africa as well. It may not be the same exact ingredients, but you’ll at least feel a sense of familiarity.

The vehicle we were in this time was slightly different. It was still a truck but the sides were open and I had a better view without the confines of bars on the windows and the weather was perfect. All sunshine and no rain in sight. 

The animals were doing what they do best. Ignoring us and going on with their day-to-day. But that’s what you want when you are out in their environment. We were able to capture animals roaming and even being chased. One of my favorite pictures I captured was of a zebra just stopping in the middle of our path. I’d never been this close to one without it being in some zoo in the States. 

After our time was up with our first guide, we got back into our regular driver’s van and continued on with seeing more animals on the game reserve. One highlight was seeing a Cheetah chase a gazelle and then have it for dinner.  

Lunch was at the Bakubung Bush Lodge. In this location, you can stay in their lodges or just come for lunch and dinner with a great view of the grounds.

After lunch, we made a pit stop to see a property that one could purchase or rent out. It’s a little too far out for me, but it was beautiful and the thought of having animals like the Big 5 just roam in the back of your home is intriguing. If anyone ever thinks that South Africa is just huts, tell them to go back and do their research. 

If you are ever in the Pilanesberg National Park, look up Kgabo Safaris for a tour. We didn’t have him as our first guide, but he was sharing a little bit about his journey when we got back. The truck you see has a similar layout to the one we were on where the sides are out. 

Overall this was a great experience. I never thought of myself as someone who would enjoy nature like this because I’m not fond of just going to zoos, but this was enjoyable. If you are physically capable of coming to one of these national parks, then I would recommend it.

It’s such a large area that you can’t see everything in one day, but we got the highlights. By the time we got home from Pilanesberg it was close to 10 pm, so be prepared for a long day ahead if you are planning to visit.

Key takeaways

• You can’t see everything in one day and that’s okay.
• Bring water and snacks on your journey.
• There are no easily accessible restrooms within the park so plan accordingly.
• The Bush Lodge Restaurant had buffet style for lunch.
• Bring sunscreen and bug spray. The sun is hot early in the morning and you don’t have an enclosure to protect yourself.

The post Treasure & See The Wild: The Magnificence Of the Big 5 first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

Soweto who?

If you are unfamiliar with Soweto, which I was before visiting, let me provide some insight. Soweto is an integral part of South Africa’s rich history because of its connection to Nelson Mandela.

Soweto, which is named from a shortened version of South Western Townships is also the location of the early house of Nelson Mandela and the Regina Mundi Catholic Church. Being able to be immersed in this type of history in person, brought some insight. So if you are ever in Soweto check out the locations that I will describe in this post.

One residence of Nelson Mandela

Our tour guide brought us to one of the houses where Nelson Mandela (Madiba) lived after he was released from prison. We weren’t able to go in as it is not a “museum”, however, you can still see the outside and some of the dedicated areas for Winnie and Nelson.

Sanctuary Mandela

We toured Sanctuary Mandela, which was an early house of Nelson Mandela before being converted. The pillars outside were set to describe what Mr. Mandela stood for and if you look through them at the right angle the words also show as a shadow on the ground. 

The Sanctuary has plenty of artifacts such as certificates, and photographs, and is also a place where someone can grab a bite to eat. This was not on our original itinerary, but I’m glad we made this ad-hoc stop for about 20 minutes.

Soweto towers

Driving around areas that are not considered the business district or where tourists hang out, brings a different and educational experience. Yes, just like in the US there are good and not-so-good spots. You will see some rubles and goats eating trash while driving around the area. 

An intriguing landmark we saw was two tall power stations that were converted into bungy jumping known as Soweto Towers. These two towers are brightly decorated and visitors can ride the elevator shaft to the top and “jump” down. This was nice to see, but not my vibe. I’m happy to observe from afar. The video below will give you an idea of what it is like.

Regina Mundi Catholic Church

As we continued, the next stop was the Regina Mundi Catholic Church, which is the largest Catholic Cathedral in the Southern Hemisphere. Here you can see one of the few Black Madonnas and it was also the venue for illegal meetings in the “old” South Africa. The church was beautiful, but just not my cup of tea. Our guide even showed where some of the bullets were still in the ceilings and walls from where some were trying to harm those inside as soon as the meetings were over. Upon exiting the church you can purchase a few items as souvenirs at a good price.

1947 restaurant

It was about that time, that we needed some lunch. 1947 is the restaurant we dined at. 1947 is popular amongst the locals and you can see people outside taking photoshoots (some are African celebrities). I enjoyed the view because the restaurant is up on more of a hill. You can also see the Soweto Towers from this location. The restaurant can be pretty busy, but here is an option for you to try on your travels. 

The Mandela Museum

Growing up in the US, I always heard about Nelson Mandela, but I never really dove into his story to really understand the essence of what he was fighting for or what he had to endure. Maybe because I was still young at the time and it wasn’t a priority for me. After coming to South Africa, I gained a better understanding of how things were in this country and why South Africans loved this man so much.

The Mandela House was turned into a museum. The house is not very big, so only one or two groups can go in at once. We had another guide explaining the history and showing off rooms and artifacts during the tour. What really captured my attention was how one man and his family could live in such a small space and still accomplish so much.

I didn’t realize that Nelson Mandela was 6 feet tall. It seemed in TV or film that he was much shorter in stature. The replica bed that was in the room was like a small twin-size bed. It was hard enough sleeping in a twin bed as a younger adult; I can only imagine what it was like as a grown man.

Here I also learned more about Winnie Mandela. Honestly, the only thing I knew of Mrs. Mandela was that she was married to Nelson Mandela. I did not understand or have knowledge of everything she did in her lifetime to support the cause. I still don’t know everything, however, it’s more than what I went in with. Traveling will give you an education without you having to go look for it. 

apartheid museum

If you don’t do anything else in the Johannesburg area, you should visit the Apartheid Museum. Not because you like reliving the pain of the South Africans from that time, but to gain a better understanding of what it was like for people of color in that country and what Nelson Mandela was fighting for. You won’t find many pictures of the actual inside because they ask that photos and videos not be taken. There is a lot so be prepared to have good walking shoes and don’t go hungry.

There is an area outside of the museum that is more open for pictures. I could tell the similarities between segregation and how it used to be in the US and how it was in South Africa such as using separate entrances for Blankes and NIE-Blankes. Towards the end, there is a 20-minute video that keeps looping for visitors to understand more of the history of South Africa.

go for yourself

I’ve never been a big history buff but I did enjoy the education behind seeing these places in Soweto and the Apartheid Museum. I won’t lie, a lot of it was emotional but that’s just history. We understand it so it doesn’t repeat itself.

If you are not into doing a lot of research online or reading books, then take a trip. Now you won’t learn everything in one visit, but being there and having a good tour guide to tell you about each area will provide a good baseline for you.

key takeaways

• At the Mandela Museum and the Catholic Church, there will be vendors selling items outside. Prices are good, but you are not obligated to buy anything.
• Many of the locals call Nelson Mandela, “Madiba”.
• You can make reservations for lodging and reservations at Sanctuary Mandela.
• You can visit the Soweto Towers and go bungy jumping.
• The Aparthied Mesuem takes 2-3 hours to go through depending on if you have a guide or if you read everything. Photos and Video are not permitted in most of the tour.
• Check out 1947 as a good restaurant choice with a good view.

The post Revealing JoBurgs Hidden Wonders: An Adventure to Memorable Experiences first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

About 18 hours later we were able to see the country for ourselves. I’m not sure I knew what to expect but this would not be our typical Caribbean/Beach vibe vacation. Check out how we got here.

I didn’t book this trip entirely on my own as we used a tourism company called The Real South Africa. Because of their Youtube videos regarding their and other guests’ experiences, we decided to book with them. So check out their website for more information.

The first day and a half we needed time to adjust to the time difference and jet lag in general. We stayed at the Davinci Hotel which had a lot of restaurants and shops in the vicinity since it’s connected to the Legacy Mall. The hotel suite we stayed in was spacious, comfortable, and modern. The only thing they don’t supply regularly is washcloths (which must be a US thing because I had the same issue when traveling to Europe and Asia. 

Getting settled

From DC to Johannesburg, there is a 7-hour difference (until Daylight Savings switches). The jet lag was serious so the day we arrived we didn’t do much except find a restaurant that was located on the mall side. The mall has everything including ATMs. So if you need South African RAND then you can use the various ATMs located throughout the mall. Of course, there is a fee to pay, but if you stay in this location, everything you need is here.

We found a restaurant that had more authentic South African food (instead of the same type of food you see in the states). The meal was amazing and the price for two people including two entrees and two drinks came to about $30-40 USD. If you ever stay at the Davinci, go to the 3rd floor and the restaurant is to the right of the elevator, called Hombaze. There are some dishes they serve that you eat traditionally with your hands and they provide a basin with water and lemon.

Due to the previous travel day and jetlag, we went to bed early, but around 11 pm we woke up and got room service since all the restaurants were closed.

The food ordered at that time of night was good but took about an hour to receive, After we started eating we did notice that the room did not supply certain items like paper towels or liquid soap. The kitchen was stocked to cook with utensils, pots, pans, etc but we only had the napkins that came with the delivered food.

Nelson Mandela Sqaure

The next day, we ventured out to Nelson Mandela Square. This area has plenty of restaurants and shops around and has a nice courtyard to take pictures. We selected The Butcher Shop & Grill as it had outdoor seating and we could people watch. The Guatrain is around the corner so many people use that mode of transportation to get to the vicinity. This area has Woolworths which allows all types of shopping like grocery, clothing, furniture, etc.

During the meal, I took a few pictures from where I was sitting, and then after lunch, we took a few pictures in front of the massive Nelson Mandela statue. There were patrons with shopping carts walking through the square and we realized that they were shopping at the popular Woolworths store. You can use the shopping carts outside of the store and leave them in a designated area which will be picked up by staff.

Once we finished dinner we found our way back to our Hotel Room and chilled for the rest of the day. This mall/square area has another hotel named Michaelangelo connected to it. The journey back to the hotel room was interesting because it’s so massive that you can get lost. However, after a few days, we figured out the pattern.

Just getting started

Stayed tuned for more South Africa days with me. This was only the second day. Throughout our stay, we toured Soweto which included seeing the Nelson Mandela Museum and where Mr. Mandela stayed. I’ll talk about our experience at the the Apartheid Museum and more.

Five Key Takeaways

• Use a tourism company to guide you through everything. We used The Real South Africa.
• The Davinci Hotel accommodations were exceptional but bring items like napkins, dish soap, and washcloths (if desired).
• ATMs and banks are located within the mall if you need cash (Credit cards are accepted widely).
• Nelson Mandela Square has options for food, shopping, and people-watching, all in one safe location and you can use the shopping carts throughout the square.
• This area is more expensive so stores located in the mall are on the higher end. Food prices are reasonable.

The post Discovering the Hidden Treasures of Mandela Square & More first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

After about 6 months of anticipation, our first South Africa trip day finally came. Being local to the DMV region I booked our flight out of Dulles (IAD) and booked a round trip to Johannesburg on Ethiopian Airlines. This also includes a short layover in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

Being that this was our first time using Ethiopian Airlines and Business Class, I was ready for all that it had to offer. Of course, I did my due diligence and looked up every Youtube, TikTok, and blog post that I could find about this experience. And from what I previously read and saw out there on the web, it was as I expected.

There were a few questions that I had but never could get a direct answer to online. This may help others with similar questions.

Early Check-in

If flying from the US to ADD (or Addis Ababa), the information on the ET website said you need to be checked in 4 hours before your flight. Now I understand for International Flights, it’s recommended to check in 3 hours, but I didn’t know why we needed to be there 4 hours earlier.

So for a 10 am flight, that meant that we needed to be there around 6 am. So because I am a “rule follower”, we were at the airport around 6 am, but by the time we parked and went to ticketing, it was around 6:30. After all the security checks we were sitting next to our gate at 7 am. Boarding didn’t start till 9 am so we sat for about 2 hours. I think next time we will heed the 3-hour timeframe instead of the 4-hour mark. 

Since it was earlier in the morning, we were pretty much the only ones at the check-in counter. There were 2 lines, one for Online Checkin and the other if you didn’t check in Online. But as I said, since we were basically the only ones checking in at that time, it didn’t seem like it mattered.

Vaccination requirement?

Another point that I don’t recall seeing in any of my travel research was the vaccination requirement. When we got up to the check-in counter, the agent asked for proof of vaccination. I thought since pandemic procedures were pretty much over, that this was no longer needed. Luckily we had our information online and could quickly bring it up, but I’m not sure what would have happened if we didn’t produce that information or if we were being singled out.

In the last email from Ethiopian Airlines about the flight, there was information towards the bottom of the page regarding having a photocopy of the original certificate and only if you are traveling to China, U.A.E, U.S.A, and France (which we were not traveling “to” those places).

However, within that same section, there was a face mask mandatory section, but in reality, face masks were not required. So to me, there was some conflicting information.

Lounge Access

Since we were Cloud 9 Business Class, we were allowed to use the Turkish Lounge right outside Gate B42. When we arrived it was not open for some reason. It did open about an hour later, but we had already found a seat and ate and didn’t feel like relocating. Plus, from the looks of it, the lounge was filling up quickly because it services multiple airlines and we felt it was less crowded where we were.

Priority Boarding / Cloud 9

A little after 9 am they called for Cloud 9 members and all those associated with Priority Boarding. It felt nice to be like the 5th person on the plane. As soon as we found our seats and got settled in, we were greeted with some champagne. 

As mentioned in some other blogs and videos, this plane is a little older so some of the features are not as updated as you would probably find on Qatar or even Delta’s Business Class. But the ability to lay my seat all the way back, recline, and get free beverages can’t be beaten. I was nice and warm with the blanket that was provided. 

This plane had a 2-3-2 configuration and we had one of the two-seaters. Even with being in the window seat, I was able to easily move around to get to the aisle to use the restroom. 

The restrooms are typical, but I never had to wait which never happens when I fly economy. If you have the opportunity and have never flown Business or First Class, I highly recommend it at least once or especially if you have a long flight. 

ET provided us with a travel kit even though I didn’t use many of the items in it. But it was a nice touch. I’m sure this will make a nice travel bag in the future for something else.

Meals

Shortly after take-off, we were served dinner which was like a 3-course meal. I sometimes forget they really give full meals on flights longer than 3 hours and not your typical cookies and juice. 

Layover

The layover in Addis Ababa was relatively short. It gave us enough time to have our checked luggage transferred and to go thru customs again. Because technically you are going from International to International. It took about 20 minutes and we had to do the typical actions such as removing shoes, electronic equipment, coats, etc. Once we completed that part we were off to our next gate to wait for our flight to be called.

From Add to JNB

The second flight was similar to the first, except it was under 5 hours. The meals were about the same. I was still full from the first flight so I didn’t eat as much on the second flight.

After arriving at JNB airport, we went through customs again which didn’t seem to take too long as we were the only flight at the time and we were off the plane first due to being Business Class. However, waiting for luggage took about 20 minutes or so and then we were off to meet our driver to take us to our luxury accommodations.

overall

The flight was rather uneventful, which for any flight is what you want right? The aircraft was older than some of the others I’ve seen online. The food was pretty good and it was a rather comfortable flight. It’s not direct so if you are looking for a direct flight from the states, I would suggest going out of ATL or JFK. We just happen to live in the DMV area and the cost was less expensive than Delta and United. Either way we would have had to take a connecting flight unless we drove 3-4 hours to JFK.

Would I travel with Ethiopian Airlines again? Probably. However, if there is a better alternative, I would consider it.

The post Epic Adventure: Flying Ethiopian Business Class from IAD to Johannesburg first appeared on Angela P. Banks.