Private tour in Pretoria Lesley O
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Lesley O.
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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.
Cullinan mine started in 1903, and within a few years produced the largest diamond ever found. The stones cut from it grace the Crown Jewels. Take a guided walk around this working mine, stroll through the historic village of Cullinan and take the opportunity to buy high-quality gemstones from the mine shop. Pretoria, the administrative capital, is a bustling modern city, liberally sprinkled with historical buildings such as Paul Kruger's house, the Raadsaal, Melrose House, City Hall, the Transvaal Museum and the Union Buildings, a magnificent example of the work of Sir Herbert Baker. These buildings are now the Presidency. The history of the city area predates European settlement and makes for interesting discussion. If time allows, a visit to the Voortrekker Monument can be included, where the history of the Afrikaner people's movement into the interior is depicted in beautiful marble friezes.
We travel to Cullinan for a walking tour of the mine at 10h30 or 14h00. NB. The mine insists on ID, closed shoes, and a basic medical check for those over 60. Afterwards, we stroll through the village before departing for Pretoria. This is flexible depending on whether we do the afternoon or morning tour, and whether we choose to walk through the village before or after the tour. We visit the city, Church Square and the Union Buildings. If you are interested and time allows, we will visit the Voortrekker Monument. Kruger House and Melrose House can be included. The itinerary is flexible and can be changed. Times need to be confirmed when bookings are made at the mine.
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Airconditioned VW Microbus seating 7, 5 if the middle seats are excluded, in comfort.
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
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