In Your Wildest Dreams
To be able to visit three unique destinations across three different African countries, is a truly incredible experience. It allows one the opportunity to see the most spectacular wildlife, wilderness and cultures, all in a different light. Things most can only dream of. This past Christmas and New Year, I was lucky enough to explore some of my favourite safari lodges with an amazing family. Our story follows here…
Our adventure began in South Africa, in the world famous MalaMala Private Game Reserve. Knowing that we had many safari days ahead of us, we didn’t rush it, and took our time at each game drive sighting that presented itself. The bush was lush and green from the recent rains, a much needed break for the land after all the dry heat it had recently been hit with. Needless to say, the scenes were breathtaking! As always, the game viewing here didn’t disappoint and we were treated to a variety of beautiful wildlife. Whilst enjoying our stay, a heatwave hit MalaMala. However, although very warm, it drove animals towards watering holes and the Sand River, giving us many more fantastic viewing opportunities. Some of our highlights included finding a pack of wild dogs on the hunt, tracking and finding a lion pride, elephants enjoying a mud bath, leopards hiding out, and so much more!
After a whirlwind safari in South Africa, we headed north to Zimbabwe to visit Singita Pamushana in the Malilangwe Reserve. This is a very spiritual and raw part of Africa, where the San bushmen once roamed and where a whole variety of wildlife often interact in one area. A myriad of vegetation and habitats also occur here. From granite rocky outcrops to grassland plateaus dotted with baobabs, the next few days saw us exploring all these magical and vibrant areas.
On our first afternoon we decided to go down onto the lake and enjoy a relaxed afternoon of cruising around and tiger fishing. Although we lost a few of these tough fish, we enjoyed the peacefulness of the water and the special memories we were making together, all while watching a magnificent golden sunset reflecting over the water.
The next few days were spent searching for the animals we had not seen yet on our safari. Singita Pamushana has both black and white rhino roaming the plains, however, as we had seen a white rhino already, our goal was to find black one… Brad, our guide, suggested a specific watering hole that we could sit at and wait for them to possibly come to us. We did this hoping for the best… Well, we were rewarded with not one, but three different black rhino! As if this sighting wasn’t incredible enough, they were joined by another seven white rhino, a journey of giraffe and a sneaky Black-backed jackal to complete this amazing gathering of animals!
Spotting cheetah was also very high on our wish list, and having been told that there were two brothers that had been hanging around the area, we thought we would try and find them! Unfortunately no luck, however we saw plenty of other animals, including a shy leopard, a pride of lions and a plethora of other spectacular flora and fauna.
Our next adventure was waiting around the corner, at Mombo Camp in Botswana’s ancient Okavango Delta. Unbeknownst to us, this was to be the game viewing highlight of the entire safari! Yompy, our skilled guide, pulled out all the stops and managed to coordinate a number of incredible animals. Some of the most notable sightings were a lion pride with very young cubs, two different leopards, wild dogs, black rhino and elephants everywhere. We also managed to include a helicopter ride in order to experience to Delta from another perspective! Seeing the Okavango Delta from this height, in all its glory, was indescribable and unforgettable. This special place was where we welcomed in the new year! An incredible stay all round with memories to last a lifetime!
A Citation M2 jet was to be our ride to Cape Town, our final stop of the safari. This brilliant and powerful machine got us to Cape Town in just two hours, where after landing we were picked up and taken to Camissa House, our home for the next few nights. We spent our time adventuring through Cape Town, enjoying sumptuous dining and engaging in extraordinary cultural experiences.
It’s hard to put into words how a safari like this affects and enlightens you. The complete relaxation, freedom and awakening that Africa brings is soul touching. For myself and this wonderful family, this safari adventure will stay on in our hearts forever. Once you’ve experienced the magic of Africa, you’ll always carry a piece of it with you…
Warm Wishes,
Chris & The Safari Architects Team.