Private tour in Johannesburg Lesley O
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Lesley O.
4.9
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I love my country passionately and have always had a deep-seated interest in all it holds, especially its history and wildlife. South Africa is blessed with the most incredible variety and richness of landscape, flora, fauna and people. There is nothing I enjoy more than showing this bounty to visitors and giving my guests an insight into my world. I enjoy one-on-one communication, discussing points of interest raised by the guests. I always customize the itinerary to suit special interests, and am quite happy to change things to suit during the tour, provided no pre-bookings have been made. My special interest is wildlife, and therefore I have trained as a field guide as well as a tour guide. This allows me to add depth to any tour, but especially the Nature tours. I strive to deliver a quality, personal touring experience. No matter whether historical, cultural or natural, the journey is both unique and unforgettable. I have lived in South Africa most of my life, and have been resident in the Gauteng area for 50 years. I have a passion for history and the natural world and enjoy sharing my knowledge with others. I have a personal interest in ornithology (that's birds!) and trips to suit those with a special interest in birds and birding can be arranged with the greatest of pleasure. I believe that every place has a story. As a guide, I strive to tell such stories in an interesting and informative way. Visiting the setting around which the story evolved brings a feeling of reality to the events. Whether visiting a museum or exploring a game reserve, on a day trip or on a long journey to the lesser-known parts of the country, I plan my routes through interesting areas imparting as much local knowledge as possible along the way. Many visitors want to see where and how local people live, so I take the back routes rather than flying past on the highways. Wherever possible, I vary my return route so as to enjoy as much of this beautiful country as possible. I do not have set itineraries. I tailor each tour to suit the client - from the food to the route, the places and the people. The museum may be the same, but the route we take and what we see along the way will be planned according to the client's interests ensuring a unique, personal experience. Registered South African Tourist Guide for Gauteng, North-West and Mpumalanga provinces. Field Guide registered with Field Guide Association of South Africa. Field Guides are essentially Game Rangers, proficient to take tourists through Nature and Game Reserves.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Lesley O.
What drives people to uproot en masse and embark on a journey lasting years into a hostile, unknown land? This monument portrays the history of the Great Trek, the movement of White Afrikaner people from the Eastern Cape into the interior of the country in the 1830's. Their journey - the trials and tribulations that befell them, the battles fought - are depicted in this imposing monument on a set of marble friezes around the inside walls, one of the world's largest historical friezes. Everything in this monument, from the steps to the gates to the cenotaph is symbolic. Associated with it is a museum, beautiful indigenous gardens that are wonderful to wander through, a picnic site and a nature reserve offering hiking and cycling trails. Fort Schanskop, dating from 1887, housing the Boer War Museum, is also close by. The graceful city of Pretoria offers Paul Kruger House Museum, Church Square, and the architecture of the City Hall, the Natural History Museum and the Union Buildings
- We start with the Voortrekker monument. I give a tour of the approach, the grounds, the historical events being depicted, and the story told by the friezes. We go down to the cenotaph and the tapestries and look through the museum, then up to the top of the monument for a view over the surrounding countryside and the city. The gardens offer a wonderful walk. - Fort Schanskop has beautifully restored buildings and a museum of the Second Anglo-Boer War. This is optional. - From the Monument we drive into Pretoria to Kruger House Museum. - We walk around Church Square - We walk around the Union Buildings - We pass City Hall and the Natural History Museum. - Melrose House, which also houses a museum and was the site of the signing of the Peace Treaty in 1902. - We pass Burgers Park on our way out. This tour can be combined with a visit to Smuts House or Rietvlei Nature Reserve if time allows.
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I drive a VW Microbus that seats 7 passengers in comfort, with airconditionaing and good visibility.
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
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