Blake Rue & Abigail Pfiester

Blake & Abigail

April 25, 2009

Blake Rue & Abigail Pfiester

Blake & Abigail

April 25, 2009

Greetings family and friends! We want to thank you for celebrating this tremendously exciting event with us. Your attendance on April 25th is gift enough, but we set up this website for those who may want to give an experience instead of a gift. Most of you know we love traveling...A LOT. And as Blake's father says, "If you are going to do it, you might as well do it right!"--so we decided to go all out on our honeymoon: Africa. From Blake's desire to sleep under the stars while listening to the roar of lions to Abigail's photography fantasy trip, Africa is has always been at the top of our list. This website lists the experiences and activities we have planned on our honeymoon. While we can't physically take you with us, we can share our trip with you through pictures, postcards, and plenty of stories!

We're going to South Africa and Botswana!

We only have one shot at a honeymoon, so why not make it a trip of a lifetime! We will fly from Austin to Cape Town, South Africa where we will spend seven days exploring the city and its surrounding areas. Aside from hiking Table Mountain and soaking up the views, we plan to spend a few days in the wine country (there is even one winery where you pet cheetahs while sipping on a pinotage!), and from there we will drive the Garden Route checking out the picturesque oceanfront towns. Then comes part II of our honeymoon: Safari. We will start at the Sandibe Camp in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. This is known as a "water camp" because mokoros (canoes) are your mode of transportation for wildlife viewing in the delta. From there we fly to Savute Camp where we will sleep under a canvas to the roar of lions and the heckling of spotted hyenas. Next we head to Chobe National Park, home to 60,000 Kalahari elephants and the most diverse game concentration in Africa. Our final stop will be Matetsi Water Lodge on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe near the breathtaking Victoria Falls, the world's highest waterfall. Yes, Zimbabwe has been in the news recently and it is not because President Mugabe is up for a Nobel Peace Prize, but come on....you can't let a little civil unrest scare you off! And from Zimbabwe we make our way home to Austin. We can't wait!

Our Registry

  • $0-$50
  • $50-$100
  • $100+
  • All
Abigail loves photography and will buy new lens filters to enhance her camera's ability to capture the perfect picture of the exotic wildlife.
$2500
3/6
$100
Giving Portions
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Blake's existing luggage is in terrible shape! He will need new lightweight carry-on and checked baggage to make this trip halfway around the world and back.
$9500
3/3
$100
Giving Portions
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Safety first! Abigail and Blake have to buy malaria pills to take the week before, all during, and a week after they return from their safari. This is by far the most important item--even if it isn't that "exciting." :)
$12500
2/2
$100
Giving Portions
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While in Chobe National Park we will go on a elephant ride at sunrise. Let's hope we don't fall off...
$15000
2/2
$100
Giving Portions
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Our flight over is 24 hours and our flight back is 31 hours...we might need a few rounds of Jack-n-Coke and red wine to make it through these long flights!
$1000
7/10
$100
Giving Portions
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What better adrenalin rush than an up-and-close encounter with a lion. At Savute Camp, we will go with the experienced lion trackers for an all-day safari where we follow the lions.
$20000
2/2
$100
Giving Portions
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Our final day in Africa will be spent exploring Johannesburg where the 2010 World Cup will be held (site currently under construction). Can't wait to see where the arena will be!
Gift Fulfilled
Our last meal in Africa will be at Ben's in Johannesburg--a place famous for its exotic meats. We hear the house speciality is ostrich--yummy!
Gift Fulfilled
Transportation to and from the Capetown airport. Some of our most exciting (and scary) adventures have been in cab rides in foreign countries. Here we go again!
Gift Fulfilled
After 26 hours of flying, a comfortable bed will be much appreciated! Our first 2 nights in Capetown will be at Daddy Long Legs. Designed by artists (e.g., the Karaoke Room has a microphone for a shower head) a stay at this hotel is anything but boring.
Gift Fulfilled
What better way to enjoy the breathtaking views of Capetown than abseiling, kloofing, and swimming through gorges with Abseil Africa. It looks like great fun and a perfect way to explore the outskirts of Capetown.
Gift Fulfilled
After climbing Table Mountain, abseiling and kloofing...our bodies will deserve some TLC. An hour massage is just what we will need to get us ready for another day of adventure.
Gift Fulfilled
What is more romantic than a sunset cruise in Table Bay on a handsome wood and brass fitted schooner? After all, it is our honeymoon!
Gift Fulfilled
A ferry ride and tour of Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. Closed in 1996 and now a UN World Heritage Site, former prisoners serve as guides recanting their harrowing time as prisoners.
Gift Fulfilled
Dinner and drinks at Alba Lounge. With seductive views across Table Harbor, this stylish waterfront establishment has captured the best of the Capetown dining scenery.
Gift Fulfilled
A half day city and cultural tour of Capetown. The ebulient Charlotte Swatbooi also leads a walking tour of the township of Masiphumelele.
Gift Fulfilled
On day three in Capetown, we hope to catch a bushflight and follow the Garden Route exploring Mossel Bay, Knysna, the Knysna foest and Plettenberg Bay!
Gift Fulfilled
To explore the wine country and other areas outside of Capetown we will rent a car for three days. Been a few years since I have driven on the left side of the road. At least the steering wheel is in the right spot!
Gift Fulfilled
Bottles of vino! We will be touring the South African wine country including Stellenbosh, Franschhoek and the Helderberg area. We hope to bring a few bottle home to enjoy with our friends!
Gift Fulfilled
A night at the Spier Estate. A historic estate that offers award-winning wines in the beautiful setting of 1000 hectacres of rolling vineyards. Spier is home to the Cheetah Outreach Project...walk with the cheetah's anyone? Check it out!
Gift Fulfilled
Dinner at Jonkerhuis restaurant under the oak shaded terrace on the Spier Estate. A perfect way to wind down after a day of exploring the wine country!
Gift Fulfilled
To maximize our enjoyment in the wine country, we will take a driving tour (in other words, we will have a designated driver!) of six wineries that will showcase the different grapes and estates of the region.
Gift Fulfilled
The Buitenverwachting wine-producing estate is famous for its food and grounds. Why not combine the two for a picnic on the lawn prepared by the house chefs?
Gift Fulfilled
One night at the Auberg Clermont hotel. This sylish country retreat surrounded by mountains is tucked away on a historic wine and fruit farm just minutes from the village of Franschoek. It even has a tennis court for us to knock around a few balls!!
Gift Fulfilled
Our final night in Capetown before flying to Maun, Botswana where we will start our safari. We will check back into the Daddy Long Legs and reflect on our wonderful experiences in Capetown.
Gift Fulfilled
Safari Day 1 and 2: Sandibe Camp in the Okavango Delta. We will do two water safaris here (morning and evening) in "mokoros" (canoes). Watch out for the crocodiles...!
Gift Fulfilled
Safari Day 3 and 4: Savute Camp. Here we sleep in tents while the lions, giraffes, and zebras roam through our camp. No showers for us!
Gift Fulfilled
Safari Day 5 and 6: Chobe National Park. Famous for its elephant population, we will do two land safaris to get close to these huge animals. I hope to take a photo just like this one!
Gift Fulfilled
Safari Day 7 and 8: Matetsi Water Lodge. We will fly to Zimbabwe for our final nights. This hotel is on the bank of the Zambezi River--we will get to shower, sleep in regular beds, and view the animals that come to the mighty Zambezi from our balcony.
Gift Fulfilled
When we return from our honeymoon we will enjoy reliving our adventures all over again while creating an online photo book. The perfect way to commemorate a trip of a lifetime.
Gift Fulfilled
$000
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