Ireland’s best known and most loved hotelier Francis Brennan has taken up the role of tour guide to twelve paying guests who have embarked on a surprise trip of a lifetime.
This year, Francis and his fellow guests have been travelling across South Africa and tonight on RTÉ One they will prepare to say goodbye as they finish up their whirlwind tour.
Francis has planned a trip around the Cape Peninsula stopping to see the famous penguins at Boulders beach, the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point.
Francis also takes his group on an emotional visit to the Langa township and on the last day a selected few go on an early morning boat trip to tag some sharks!
This year, Francis’s guests are:
Collette and Barry McDonough from Ashbourne, Co Meath are experienced travellers, they have been to South Africa before but travelling around the country with Francis is still an eye-opener.
Patricia McGrath and Patricia Brady, from Dublin are best friends who met on a bus. Meeting Francis at the airport, Patricia Mc says: "I’m breathless. I feel as if I’m going get married. You know when you’re expecting to get married and there’s a hunk in front of you and there’s my man. Thank you, God!"
Darren Delaney, from Douglas in Co Cork, who has a fear of dust and isn’t too enamoured with the crocodile the group get to taste in on their first night.
"Well, I suppose it is something that you can say to the grandkids if I ever have them. I ate croc in Carnivore. In fact, I won’t eat croc ever again, so at least that’s done now," he tells the cameras.
Best friends Iveta Mangulsone and Inga Sangovica are originally from Latvia but have been living in Mullingar, Co Westmeath for more than 12 years.
83-year-old Frances O’Brien from Drombanna in Co Limerick, whose verve for life is inspirational to her fellow travellers.
Couple Craig Byrne from Hartstown and Lucy Slaven from Lucan. Lucy is well travelled but Craig has only been as far as Spain before.
Wexford native, but now living in Longford, Edel Casey who describes the trip as one the "most amazing experiences" she has ever had.
Finbarr Goggin from Bantry in Co Cork whose travel up to now has been limited to Ireland and the UK with one trip to Portugal being the furthest he has been.
Watch the final episode on RTÉ One tonight, Sunday 26th, at 8:30pm.
