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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

From Sydney To A Game Reserve: Local Enjoys Trip Of A Lifetime To South Africa

The trip of a lifetime became a reality for local Sydney resident, Rosemary St John and her husband Ross, who recently travelled on a gourmet food and wine tour of South Africa, courtesy of South Africa Tourism.

Rosemary won South Africa Tourism’s ACP Wine Competition after entering at the South African Wines stand at the Taste of Sydney festival. She never imagined that one bottle of South African wine would lead to such a life-changing journey.

From wine-tasting to safaris, visiting historic sites to indulging in gourmet local produce, Rosemary and Ross were blown away by everything they experienced and the places they visited.

“From the surprising beauty of the Winelands, to the stark purple rock mountains surrounding the valleys, to the incredible view of the coastline from Table Mountain, each place was spectacular and so unique,” explained Rosemary.

Husband Ross on Table MountainThe trip gave Rosemary and Ross the opportunity to tick an array of experiences off their Bucket Lists, including seeing the jail cell of South Africa’s beloved hero, Nelson Mandela.

“Our visit to Robben Island was a very moving experience for me. It was a privilege to be guided around the prison by an ex-inmate who had served with Mandela,” she said.

One of Rosemary and Ross’ most memorable experiences from the trip took place at the multi-award-winning Shamwari Game Reserve.

“We were sitting in our safari vehicle amongst a herd of 30 elephants, ranging from babies to matriarchs, watching them interact and thought how incredibly lucky we were. We were also able to see a group of lions making live kill just metres away from our safari vehicle. It was just amazing.”

Rosemary outside the Fairview WineryWhen they weren’t exploring vineyards or getting up close to animals, Rosemary and Ross luxuriated in world-class accommodation and restaurants included in their prize. “My favourite hotel was Le Quartier Français in Franschoek. It was supremely comfortable and had beautiful gardens,” said Rosemary.

Lalie Ngozi, South African Tourism General Manager Australasia, was delighted to hear about Rosemary and Ross’ time in South Africa.

“South Africa really is a foodie’s delight with its perfect combination of sophisticated wines and gourmet cuisine. It is wonderful to hear that Rosemary and Ross enjoyed so many of the unique things South Africa has to offer, whether it be adventure, safari, food and wine history and culture or luxury. I look forward to welcoming them back in the near future to continue their South African adventure,” said Ms Ngozi.

To find out more about the places Rosemary and Ross visited:

-          See www.blog.southafricantourism.com.au
-          Find a great deal at www.southafrica.net or
-          Become a fan of South African Tourism’s Facebook page, South African Tourism AU and South African Tourism NZ

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The Expeditionist

The Expeditionist
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