In November 2011, I had the privilege to visit South Africa! I loved it more than I thought.
Over 2 weeks, there were many highlights including some wonderful game viewing while on safari.
My first Safari was at Madikwe Private Game Reserve which is in South Africa and borders Botswana. It’s a 4-5 hour drive from Johannesburg and quite a bit of that journey is on un-sealed road. It does have an airstrip too so flights can be arranged to take you right there.
There are a number of lodges in this area and we stayed at Madikwe Hills. The accommodation here is beautiful with 10 suites each with private deck and plunge pool with outdoor shower. The bed faces out to the African Plains with ceiling to floor windows so you can start wildlife spotting as soon as you wake up. There is also the option to book their private camp called ‘Little Madikwe” that accommodates up to 24 people and includes your own personal chef!
Next, I stayed at “Kirkmans Kamp” on the Sabi Sands Game reserve. I loved Kirkmans. The main house was a homestead built in the 1920’s that has now been converted and the 18 colonial style guest rooms are so full of character. Dinner on our first night was served in the BOMA around a fire and we were joined by our ranger. Kirkmans can be reached easily by flying from Johannesburg to Kruger Airport. As with other private lodges, there are no fences around Kirkmans so any wildlife can just wander in. In fact, an elephant came to drink out of the pool while we were all out on an evening game drive! On another evening, we were sitting on the verandah enjoying an after dinner drink, when suddenly three buffalo appeared on the lawn and started ‘playing’. It was an amazing experience.
A typical day on safari goes like this:
Your day starts at 4:45am with a call from your own Ranger to wake up. You’ll meet for tea and coffee in the main lodge and be out in the open vehicle by 5:15am. Early? Yes. But you’ll be amazed at how you spring out of bed at that hour – the excitement is almost too much! What animals will you encounter today??
The game at both Madikwe and Sabi Sands Reserve is varied and we saw a pride of lions almost straight away. Thanks to our amazing and talented Trackers, we saw lions, zebra, giraffe, impalas, rhino, hippo, buffalo, a pack of rare African Wild Dogs and a lot of elephants. The Ranger will also point out the local flora and stop to show you things like leaf structure, what is safe to eat, as well as stopping for dung beetles, rainbow coloured bugs, tortoises and hares. They are as amazed by those things as they are by lions. The bird life here is also stunning.
A morning game drive can last around 4 hours dependant on what is going on. You do stop for a break and enjoy tea or coffee South African style while you debrief and talk about what you have seen so far that morning.
After more game viewing, you’ll be back at the lodge for a sumptuous breakfast. You would have packed so much activity in, you’ll feel like it’s 3 in the afternoon already! Choose to relax for a few hours, sit by the pool, have a spa treatment, rest or meet with other guests to swap stories.
Both game lodges served meals outdoors as the weather was lovely and the food at both places was amazing. All meals and house wines/beers/spirits are included in the cost of your safari. You really want for nothing.
Afternoon tea is served before you go on the afternoon/evening game drive at around 4:30pm and you return for dinner at around 8pm. You stop for sundowners – drinks South African style of course, when the Ranger has chosen somewhere safe to stop. The evenings where my favourite drives as you start in sunlight, watch the sun go down and then you are in pitch black searching for animals in a spotlight. It is a varied time of day to go. And thrilling.
The staff at both places were outstanding, from the Butlers to the Managers, from the Trackers to the Rangers. They are so passionate about their surroundings and the animals and that translates into a memorable safari.