Africa Safari: Wrap Up 

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With our cameras full of African action, moments and memories. Kristie and her 14 African adventurers returned safe, sound and bursting with stories from the action packed trip. Africa, the land of sweeping savannahs, vivid sunsets and the big 5! Visiting this continent it’s hard not to admit you have fallen in love. From it’s unwavering beauty, to the animal viewing and the warm friendly smiles from it’s people. All your senses are heightened and before you know it, Africa has stolen your heart!

Kruger Private Game Reserve

After travelling 11,537km we arrived and were greeted with warm hospitality, before being transported to the Honey guide Mantobeni Kkoka Moya tented camp, for our 3 night stay. Located between Timbavati and Sabi Sands lies Manyeleti Game Reserve. The reserve runs along the unfenced western boundary of Kruger National Park and offers an excellent opportunity for Big Five game viewing.  

We woke at 6am each day to the beat of the African drum for daily gaming experiences. In the safe hands and experience of our amazing guides and trackers, we were lucky to have witnessed all Big Five animals over our 3 night stay, along with a spectacular and rare opportunity of lions eating their fresh catch of Giraffe and wilderbeast, a definite highlight! We finished our adventures each day with the ritual of sundowners, whilst watching the sun set across the African Sky.

Fun Facts: Kruger National park spans over 23,000 hectares, Elephants eat over 300kg of food daily, Giraffe are a meter tall at birth, Cheetah run at 111km/h, a hippopotamus weigh 45kgs at birth & Amarula (African liqueur) is a great drop to drink at Sundowners! 

Cape Town 

Resting at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean, sandwiched between the slopes of the iconic Table Mountain and the glistening sapphire waters of Table Bay is the exceptionally scenic city of Cape Town. With it’s bustling harbour, world-class beaches, top-notch vineyards, and mountainous surroundings brimming with diverse flora and fauna, Cape Town captivates the hearts of all who visit.

We started our half day city tour up to the summit of Table Mountain, which is one of the new 7 wonders of nature! Travelling 1067 metres above sea level via cable car, we reached the top in under 2 minutes and took in the most spectacular 360 degree view. 

We drove around the “Mother city” stopping at the castle of good hope, past the Bo-Kaap quarter and strolled around the District Six museum, before finishing with a coffee at the famous Truth café.

Extending into the Atlantic, the rugged Cape Peninsula marks the most South-Western point of the continent. It features pristine white sand beaches met by craggy mountains interspersed with quaint little coastal towns. Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope can be found along the southern end of this spectacularly scenic peninsula. 

With a wet start to the day the scenery was a little misty. Firstly stopping at Hout Bay we walked through the daily markets and purchased some souvenirs.  We explored Cape Point and then set off for the most western point of the African continent, Cape of Good Hope. The breath taking views of this spectacular coastal line are far and wide. With a stop off in Simons Town for lunch we then made our way to view the colony of African penguins on Boulders Beach.

Mosi-Oa-Tunya- “The Smoke that Thunders” Victoria Falls

Discovered and named by Scottish explorer David Livingstone are the stunning Victoria Falls. The falls are located on the border of Southern Africa between Zambia and Zimbabwe. With an early start of 4am to get to the area, we enjoyed indulging ourselves to a high tea in the grounds of the historical Victoria Falls Hotel on arrival. 

The Boma – Dinner & Drum Show is a “must do” Victoria Falls dining and entertainment experience, specializing in traditional African food, drumming and dancing. Our group had a fun filled night, experimenting with their new drum skills and teasing their taste buds on the African delicacy the Mopane worm.

A view of the Victoria Falls is something you will never forget by foot and if lucky enough the helicopter flight is highly recommended. We spent the morning with our local guide, discovering the falls, the formation, history, local customs and traditions that surround them. Some of us then took the opportunity for a different view of the falls. A helicopter flight gave us the unforgettable opportunity to appreciate the falls from above. You can see the enormous chasm, the zigzag gorges and the hundreds of small islands upstream in the wide Zambezi River.

Our last evening at Victoria Falls we took the sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Relaxing with a sundowner and snacks as we gazed out onto the banks of the river. We had our cameras ready to capture the hippos, crocodiles, bird life and one of the most amazing sunsets in Africa.

Hwange National Park

Situated in western Zimbabwe, the Hwange National Park is the country’s biggest reserve, home to a profusion of wildlife, including giraffe, lion, zebra and approximately 40 000 elephants. Robins Camp is situated in the rugged northern Basalt area of the park, an area rich in natural water with springs dotting the area. 

Our gaming experience at Hwange was different to Kruger and yet still so impressive. During morning and evening game drive we travelled across a variety of areas within the park. We discovered a heard of male lions, many Zebra, impala and more. The highlight on our last game drive in Africa would have to be the afternoon elephants indulging themselves by the water. Large herds of elephants surrounded the water hole, in close proximity, entertaining us, we sipped on our ritual sundowner and took in all this breathtaking scenery had to offer.