Thought Piece: The Impala Rutt
The first full moon at the end of March, or beginning of April, signals the beginning of “the rutt”. This is the time of year where, as the days get shorter and the nights get longer, impala rams’ testosterone levels skyrocket and the fight for territory and dominance over female herds begins
A Day Amongst The Deadvlei Dunes
Staring out of the window as your PC12 aircraft lines up with the airstrip, the red dunes of Sossusvlei become apparent, and the bareness of the desert a reality. The plane touches down and comes to a hault, the door opens and the silence hits your ears like a sledgehammer. Climbing out and marvelling at the magnitude of the surrounds, you make your way to the safari vehicle waiting to escort you to the lodge that will be your home
From the Dunes to the Delta
The moment you first glimpse the raw beauty of Africa, when your eyes drink in the magnificence and you smell the air, touch the earth, and feel the land breathing all around you, you're transported. The subtleties of life engulf you and the mesmerising effect of silence, away from a city, gives way to previously unheard natural noise . It is at this exact moment that a feeling of intoxicating proportion emerges, it is only now that you know you
A Lion Dynasty of the Sabi Sand
Lions are African icons. They represent all that is powerful and raw, yet unmistakably majestic. I think this is why we have such a fascination with them. They have the ability to change whole ecosystems and are, in fact, pivotal in natural areas where they occur. In certain reserves which we frequent, we are often able to have a clear understanding of how and why they emit certain behaviours, as we follow prides and male coalitions closely. After watching the
The Luster & Luxury of Londolozi
Londolozi Private Game Reserve is unrivalled in terms of it's cultural heritage, luxurious atmosphere and incredible saturation of wildlife. It is arguably the best place for viewing game in the whole of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, hence why so many of our guests wish to experience it. We, at Safari Architects, have been extremely fortunate to spend many days over a long period exploring all of the splendour Londolozi has to offer. The Lloyd and Gale families were our most
The Greater Mana Expedition
Whereas our last post showcased the well-known beauty and photographic magic Mana Pools has to offer, through this blog I wanted to illustrate some of the lesser-explored and more secluded areas of this national park. What many don't know is that there are private concessions that run the whole length of the lower Zambezi River Valley. Great Plains Conservation has acquired the Sapi Concession, a truly wild tract of land that incorporates all elements of the breathtaking Zambezi valley. Our
Two Million Reasons To Visit East Africa
Every year, one of nature’s greatest spectacles takes place where over 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra and a host of other antelope travel approximately 800km or more in the search of food as the seasonal rains scatter across the vast grasslands between the Serengeti and Masai Mara. Although this is a highlight for visiting this part of continent, it is just one of a myriad of reasons one can enjoy an East African safari. For a wildlife migration to exist on
A Family Adventure Through Africa
I strongly believe that there are few destinations in the world that can rival Africa. By immersing yourself in the world's natural playground, there is always something for everyone to look forward to! When just a few highlights of our next Safari Architects trip included dancing on the banks of the delta at a drinks stop, watching a cheetah with cubs hunt an impala, helicopter flips over the waterways, peacefully exploring the delta by boat, archery competitions alongside elephants and seeing
Mombo magic and the new Qorokwe camp
With every new safari experience, we grow and learn. In the strange new world that we live in with some interesting times ahead, it is a privilege to be to explore what's left of the our magnificent natural world. The wildlife and the incredible locations that we visit will hopefully keep on surviving in their unique way, day after day, year after year. They must thrive and be free to live natural lives. As safari operators, we contribute to this
The year in review
It's December and time to reflect upon the most successful year Safari Architects has had since its inception. 2017 has been a fulfilling year on all fronts – we’ve had fantastic guest feedback on some great safaris, increased our staff complement, been humbled by the incredible work done in conservation efforts and had lots of fun in between. Our travels took us to no less than 11 African countries where we encountered some unforgettable sightings, the highlights of which speak for themselves. 2018 is going