Travel Blog

Day 1 - Travel

The school quad welcomed our 42 pupils and 6 staff at 11.30 on Friday night as they started their once in a lifetime rugby tour to South Africa.

After a few last minute checks from Mr Beggs as tour manager and a few tearful farewells from parents it was on the road for the long trip down to Dublin. Check in there went very smoothly and then it was all aboard the flight to Amsterdam. Then after a brief stop there is was on for the 10 hour flight to Johannesburg. Some managed to get some shut eye on the plane and many caught up on movies but eventually the exhausted explorers arrived in South Africa.

Early to bed at an airport hotel tonight before an early wake up call for breakfast at 7am followed by the first of several training sessions.

Day 2 Konka Resort

The intrepid tourists started off the day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel in Johannesburg before starting out on their journey to Konka Family Adventure Resort. 

While travelling out of the city the group were able to see some of the townships which surround the city as well as the luxury gated hamlets. They arrived at Konka which is to be their home for the next three days. The instructors at the village explained the activities on offer at the complex and the pupils were sent to their different rooms. 

A beautiful lunch followed which included ribs and chips and the meal was finished off with an ice cream. Not long after this it was time for the serious business of rugby training and getting the teams ready for their upcoming matches. Various drills took place and one of the locals even joined the group for a game of touch.

Following training everyone descended to the water slides which proved very popular. All the lads had a great time and even convinced a couple of the teachers to give it a go.

After the slides there was still time for the group to try out kayaking. A very competitive race took place and, despite a couple of steward enquiries, we eventually had a winning team.

The day continued with another delicious meal, the food really has been excellent, and then a little bit of free time before bed. It gets very dark in South Africa in the early evenings so it wasn't long before everyone was in bed getting ready for another exciting day tomorrow.

Day 3 Konka Resort - Training and Relaxing

The group had a rigorous training session this morning in preparation for tomorrow's match in Pretoria. As well as the heat they have to deal with the higher altitude here as we train at 2,000ft. 

In the rest time they had a chance to try out archery, a climbing wall and a zipline before another trip to the waterslides.

Then it was time for a slow technical run through under floodlights as the sun was setting before a sing-song around the camp fire. 

Day 4 1st Match v Harlequins, Pretoria

The group bade a fond farewell to Konka Camp and got on the bus for their journey to Harlequins Sports Club in Pretoria. 

On arrival a delicious pasta lunch was served before the players were shown around the stadium. The SA Harlequins club is affiliated to the English Harlequins club and is a community orientated club with lots of sports available. They have an abundance of age grade rugby teams but their season does not start until the local schools stop playing rugby for the winter. 

(Match reports are available here.)  

After the matches we were invited into their clubhouse and they treated the teams to a hearty curry and cinnamon pancakes. The players and staff had great craic with the locals and the night ended with the boys leading everyone in some karaoke classics!

Then a short journey to our Garden Court hotel for the night, back in Johannesburg.

Day 5 - Recovery in Johannesburg

Everyone was allowed a lie in this morning before breakfast, which included stew and stir fry for some of the players, before a relaxing time around the hotel in the morning. Josh Christie, who is in charge of player conditioning on the tour, had a recovery session for the players to rehabilitate their muscles.

At noon the bus took the players to Sandton City Mall where many of them had their pictures taken with the Nelson Mandela statue before heading into the shops to pick up some souvenirs of their trip and possibly presents for their loved ones back home. An unexpected surprise was meeting several England rugby players who were also having some down time in preparation for their match against South Africa on Saturday.

Back to the hotel at 5pm and time to watch the England football match before crossing the carpark to Tulsa's Grill for more meat. It is becoming apparent that one of the reasons that South Africa produce huge players may be down to their diet of meat, meat, meat. 

After eating more steak it was time to have a video analysis of yesterday's match in preparation to go again against the Pirates tomorrow.

Day 6 Loftus Park and Match Day 2 in Johannesburg 

The adventurers started the day in fine form with another hearty breakfast before travelling the short distance to Loftus Park, home of the Bulls. 

The players had a very interesting and informative history lesson on the club and the area from Dave Papenfus who showed the team around the media facilities, changing rooms and then took everyone out onto the hallowed turf. Despite the 'keep off the grass' signs David allowed the team to take pictures beneath the posts and there was even a rendition of the CGS war cry on the pitch.

Lunch was at Roccomamas before the short trip onwards to Pirates RFC for our second round of matches 

The first match was the U16 team against the Pirates which was another brutal affair against larger than life opposition. The CGS were excellent in defence and spun the ball well in attack. Despite having less than 48 hours rest since the last match, their fitness paid off and they walked off the pitch with a 15-8 victory.

This was followed by the U17 match versus Linden High School. Another bruising encounter which required some of the U16 players to step up again as substitutes.

The 2 sides entertained the large crowd that had gathered to watch but it was the Coleraine side who finished off with the spoils after a late try from Coates.

The excellent South African hospitality continued after the match with more food in the clubhouse, beef of course and chicken (called a vegetable in these parts!) before the night finished off with presentations  and another sing song.

An early flight is on the horizon tomorrow as we fly to Port Elizabeth for the first of our game drives.

Day 7 Kariega Game Reserve

Another early start for the group for the flight to Port Elizabeth. Surprisingly the flight was delayed by 20 minutes due to the need to allow the ice crystal on the wings to thaw and upon arrival it was discovered that one of the bags had not made the journey, but that was soon rectified and it was delivered that night. 

Some slept on the journey to Kariega Game Reserve but everyone was excited on arrival at the luxury resort. At check in the players were given personalised water bottles and key rings and shown their accommodation. The rooms were fantastic with many having great views over the reserve and after lunch everyone headed out on their open topped 4x4 vehicles to explore the reserve.

Many animals were seen on the first night including impala, giraffes and zebra but the highlight for the night for many was the dusk close up viewing of a rhino joined by its calf. Another important lesson from the night was certainly the need to wrap up well as the temperature plummeted as the sun went down.

After getting freshened up it was time for a traditional South Africa braai (from the Dutch braden, meaning to roast) where everyone filled up on chicken, beef and  various other tasty delights with a large fire roaring in the middle of the area. A group of children from the local Kariega Foundation arrived to entertain us with their singing and dancing and it wasn't long before a large contingent from Coleraine joined them on stage.

Then it was a short walk back to the chalets for an early night in preparation for a 6.30am game drive in the morning.

 Day 8 Kariega Game Drives and Kariega Foundation

Dawn games drives. As the group waited in darkness at 6.30am for their first game drive it became apparent that sun burn would not be an issue! As we headed out in our open topped 4x4 vehicles in search of wildlife we had wrapped up well for the cold. However, we had not anticipated how cold it would be and gladly took the blankets proffered to us by our guides. It wasn’t long until we saw our first animals of the day as the hippos were also rising from the water as the first rays of light hit the landscape. Next it was the giraffes, who sleep sitting up, heads still held aloft proudly in the air who awoke as the sun slowly trickled over the horizon. Rhinos appeared next, along with a multitude of smaller animals from impala and bushwhack to the warthogs and friendly monkeys who popped their faces out of the trees as we drove past. The guides in the 6 cruisers were very knowledgeable and it was a very enjoyable experience but soon it was time to return for a hearty breakfast at the lodge in preparation for the next part of our journey.

After another huge breakfast and time to warm up in front of the fires, the group boarded the bus again for the short drive to the Kariega Foundation which the game reserve supports.

This gave the group the opportunity to meet kids from the less affluent side of South Africa, many of whom were from broken homes or lived in seriously deprived housing. It was very clear that the leaders had a passion for the children in their care and that the centre we visited was a beacon in the community. The foundation help over a thousand children and run various sports activities fostering teamwork and a sense of purpose. The CGS pupils were quickly accepted by their hosts and various games were played. Many of the boys who would be at the centre were playing football at a large tournament across town so the sport of choice was netball. The foundation has an excellent girls netball team but the teams were mixed to even things out. The rugby teams handling and off the ball movement impressed the coaches from both sides but their shooting was eclipsed by the girls. These netball games were followed by some singing and dancing and the boys learnt some new songs for the road.

These teenagers, and on fact everyone we have met in South Africa, have been full of fun and are incredibly polite and welcoming. There is no doubt that the players will have benefited from opportunities like these meetings.

A big carvery for lunch again and then a relaxing afternoon around the lodge.

The evening game drive was to a different part of the game reserve and it was clear from the increased security that we were now visiting the dangerous animals side of the reserve. Straight off most of the groups saw a cheetah lounging in the sunshine. After a few minutes, it must have smelt something as it stood up and started creeping down towards the water. In the distance two impala had crested the hill and marched on, oblivious to the cheetah, and had no thought as to what the 3 keeps might be looking at. As they approached to within 25m of the ferocious cat it took its opportunity to pounce but something must have alerted it’s prey as they managed to bolt for safety. The chase was on but serendipitously the hunted animal made to a small lake and managed to escape out on the other side. The cheetah was not wet and spent and the lucky animal lived to fight another day.

This fantastic encounter was followed by close up sighting of rhinos, water buffalo and more giraffes before the call came over the radio that the herd of elephants had been located. As the group approached it became clear that these grey behemoths were nothing to fear and they happily walked in and out of the vehicles, never more than a few metres away. It was clear that they enjoyed the freedom of the animal sanctuary and it was a privilege that they allowed us to enter their habitat.

Onwards to try to find the undisputed king of the savannah, the African lion. The guides on the reserve always worked together and it wasn’t long until a lion was eventually spotted. Unfortunately it was high in the tree line and very difficult to see from the vehicles. After 15 minutes of waiting for some groups it was time to move on. However, when the second group arrived they were in for a treat. The lions stood, stretched and made their way down to the track walking between the jeeps and making an exhilarating experience.

Later after dinner and the England match on TV it was time for the video analysis session. Everyone had loved the day and were looking forward to seeing more animals in the morning.

Day 9 Final game drive and travel to Knysna

 It was just as cold in the game drive at dawn this morning as it was yesterday despite multiple layers of clothing for the game drive participants. The first port of call was to try and find lion, particularly for those who didn't see the lions yesterday. After much searching, and chattering teeth, a call from a different guide came through saying that the dominant male lion had been found and those who had missed out yesterday had the privilege of seeing the majestic king of the jungle in the flesh.

Then it was time for breakfast before gathering up our things and saying goodbye to the resort and our guides before the long drive to Knysna.

In the way we stopped off in a couple of places and traversed the bridge which houses the highest bungy jump in the world. Thankfully for Mr Beggs it was not on the risk assessment as he looked nervously over the bridge.

We arrived at the beautiful resort in the late afternoon and booked into our hotel for the night, Protea Hotel. Another exceptional establishment overlooking the marina, it had a maritime theme. 

Dinner was another delightful affair at a neighbouring fish establishment but many of the boys stuck with burgers or pizza.

Day 10 Match Day 3 v Dynamic Skills Academy, Knysna

The tour party arose early and visited the local shops before the journey to the Dynamic Skills Academy rugby club. This was a very different fixture from the previous two as this club has been going for less than a year and the players are mainly from the deprived neighbouring township areas

On the way to the stadium the team stopped on a beautiful beach for some 'primers' in preparation for the match while the expanding list of injured players looked on. 

When we arrived we were just in time to see an underage 7s match taken place, with all the players in their bare feet. 

We were warmly welcomed by their staff and soon the U16 match was kicking off. The opposition players come from various schools in the area into the club's academy set up. They had several very talented players and the backs in particular were difficult to catch. Despite some excellent play by the visitors the home side managed a narrow victory.

The U18s match started well with 2 tries in quick succession but the home side came back into the match   and it as close going into the last few minutes. Eventually a draw was pronounced in the end after a couple more injuries on the hard pitch

After some words of thanks and a snack it was time to return to the hotel.

We also bumped into Wayne McAfee, former Coleraine Inst. head boy and 1st XV captain who now runs the Royal Sport Academy in George who came down to watch us play and catch up with some of his old teachers. 

The day finished off with another lovely meal at the local restaurant.

Day 11 Travel to Stellenbosch

Another early started this morning allowed the group to get on the road for the long journey ahead. 

On the way they stopped into an Aloe Vera plantation and the lovely town of Hermanus for lunch, some ice cream and a bit more shopping in the cute market stalls. A few people were lucky enough to see some whales in the bay before it was time to continue up the road to Stellenbosch. 

On arrival at Protea hotel we freshened up in our chalets before heading out for pizzas at the local restaurant.

Day 12 Kayamandi 

The group visited the the Kayamandi Township and had a very enlightening day led by the Amazink Foundation. 

This area of severed deprivation houses 50,000 people from various faiths and cultures. Many of the building are made from corrugated iron panels or shipping containers and the toilets are shared between 7 houses.  Despite this everyone was friendly and the locals even invited the team to an impromptu game of football on the road.

There are some very basic facilities but the school that the group visited seemed to be well managed and maintained. A Dutch cyclist is one of the main sponsors for the school and his influence can be seen with the bike pump track beside the school. Some of the best mountain bikers in the world come to the areas to race and some of the local kids have been scouted as potential cyclists. A few have been offered scholarships and bikes to allow them to race at the highest level.

After the tour the group was entertained by a musician who led everyone in a traditional drumming session. This even involved a dance off between various people where the moves were voted on by the crowd.

After a shopping trip into town it was back to the hotel for dinner and a bit of relaxation time before the final match tomorrow.

Day 13 Final fixtures v Cloetesville 

After breakfast the group headed out to the impressive Maties Stadium to prepare for their match against Cloetesville High School. The grounds were excellent, with softer pitches than the previous surroundings and Kieran utilised the beautiful surroundings to work on some defence and attack drills.

The short trip for a light lunch was followed by the first of two matches, the U16 match.

Despite the vocal support from a few parents who had dropped in, the close match finished in the home team's favour. 

The U18 match, the last of the tour was even closer with scores being trade back and forth. The ball was spun well by both teams and the CGS lineout maul proved particularly damaging to the opposition.

After freshening up again it was time to hit the road again for the trip to the President Hotel in Cape Town.

Day 14 Table Mountain, Cape Town

This morning one of the group turned 18 and, after a quick rendition of Happy Birthday, the group headed out to Table Mountain. A short trip up the coast allowed us to reach the cable car and everyone climbed on board. It was a smooth ascent and many wondered at the engineering involved in how it rotates to give the explorers a 360 degree view.

It was windy on the top but not too cold and the summit allowed great views over the city. There is a lot of history in the mountain and it has always been seen as a protector of the city.

After lunch at Carps Bay an impromptu game of football broke out while a few people dipped their toes in the sea.

At night time the group headed out to the local food market and then it was back to the hotel for a good night's rest.

Day 15 Surf Lesson and Penguin Colony

An action packed morning involved a trip to the beach for a surf lesson. The boys were split into 3 groups and ably instructed in the basics of surfing. The glorious weather and warm Indian Ocean provided a great location for the activity and it wasn't long until most of the surfers could stand up on the board.

This was followed by a delicious lunch while watching the Ireland match and then the group moved down the coast to Boulder's Beach. This famous location contains thousands of South African penguins and it was great to see them us close.

A bit of rest and relaxation back at the hotel allowed the group to go out and enjoy themselves at the local eating establshment.

Day 16 Robben Island and V&A Waterfront

This morning the players went on the ferry across to Robben Island to see the world famous prison that housed Nelson Mandela. After a short tour on a bus around the outside of the island it was time to visit the prison itself.

The guide for this part of the tour, David, was excellent and what made the visit more poignant was that he had been incarcerated in the prison in the seventies. His passionate and informative talk really allowed the group to know what it was like at the prison and of course culminated in a visit to Nelson Mandela's cell. It is hard to overestimate the importance of Mandela in bringing an end to apartheid and the reference that he is held in everywhere we have seen on this trip.

After this we spent some time at the glamorous V & A Waterfront picking up a few last minute presents and had dinner there at night.

Day 17 / 18 Long Journey Home

Everyone enjoyed a lie in this morning and a relaxed breakfast. Then it was off on the bus to visit a great viewpoint overlooking Cape Town. We bumped into some paragliders who were looking to take off from the summit but unfortunately visibility for everyone was down to a few metres as the fog enveloped the area.

The group moved onto the beach instead for a big of football and then went to the Canal Walk Mall for lunch. This is one of the largest malls in the country and the players visited the shops and arcades.

Then it was time to continue on to the airport. Everyone climbed on board for the 14 hour overnight flight to Amsterdam.  Some tried to catch up with movies onboard the plane but eventually everyone succumb to sleep as we flew over the African continent. 

We arrived in Amsterdam and shot on through to the flight to Dublin. On arrival, minus four suitcases, we took the bus back to Coleraine and we welcomed with open arms by the parents. 

An unforgettable experience of South Africa for the 42 pupils, 6 teachers and 1 ever reliable Martin was over. Rugby developed, friendships formed and memories made in this one in a lifetime trip to a beautiful country.