By Teresa Wilds

We have all grown up with films like “Out of Africa” and “Born Free” and dream of getting to experience it for ourselves.  Then one day you realize it’s not as expensive as you thought it was. You book a trip, make your way over, and find that Africa delivers on all of its promises.

The safari experience begins with a ride on a small plane into the Bush, landing on a dirt airstrip, and traveling by private safari vehicle.  The drive gives the first glimpse of the vast land known as Africa.  It is not unusual to see animals such as zebras, gazelle or giraffes along the way.  Many times the vehicle will need to stop for the elephants passing by at their own leisurely pace.  The excitement builds with each passing moment knowing this will be a trip of a lifetime.

The Game Lodges range from high- to low-end, but even the mid-level lodges are very reasonable, beautiful accommodations with private baths and include meals and game drives.  For example, Thornybush Lodge in South Africa is a good medium- to high-end game lodge.  The animals roam freely through the grounds; therefore, it is suggested walking outside in the evening with one of the local hotel escorts.  On this enjoyable walk one could encounter small bands of warthogs, gazelles, or even elephants grazing on the grounds.

Thornybush’s beautiful bungalows line a dry riverbed and overlook a watering hole, which is lit up at night.  Each bungalow has a large deck with loungers (some with private hot tubs) and travelers can sit outside and watch the animals drink from the pond. Inside the “tent” or “hut” sits a huge luxurious bed shrouded in netting and a large bathroom with a wall of windows so the traveler can safari from the tub.  Just outside the bathroom, “soap up” in the warm breeze in your outdoor shower.

Game drives are masterfully managed by a guide and a tracker who sits in a jump seat on the hood of your land rover.  Your guide gives a running commentary on the flora and fauna, while the tracker scans the area for footprints or any signs that something has been through, usually looking for one of the “Big 5”: elephant, rhino, Cape Buffalo, leopard and everyone’s favorite, the lion.  Looking at footprints, a tracker can tell the type of animal, its size, its gender, which direction it was heading, how long ago it came through, and possibly its favorite color.

When the day’s last game drive is over, it is customary to gather at on the deck lounge area with an authentic atmosphere of mahogany and canvas and old safari photos.  Enjoy the drink of the day and enjoy the sun set while watching the giraffes at the game reserve watering hole, and the guide joining the group to regale all with tales of Bush adventures and… (gulp)… animal attacks.

It is such a rich experience and though safari is the reason most people come to Africa, she offers much more to experience.  Our safaris usually offer extensions to beautiful modern cities like Cape Town or Sun City, the Stellenbosch Wine Country, the Cradle of Man, the Cape Peninsula, the incredible Maldives Islands, or any number of other stops.

Of all of the trips we do, nothing gets quite the same response as our African Safari.  Many clients call it a life-changing experience, and I could not agree more.  There is a feeling you get that is impossible to relate unless you’ve experienced it yourself, like when you’re there and you’re out in the Bush and it is whisper quiet except for the sounds of the animals.  It’s a real sense that you are bearing witness to this great drama in nature that has been playing out since the beginning of time.

Africa is growing and changing all the time and infrastructure is getting ever better.  Where once were hundred mile long dirt roads, there are now slick blacktop highways with herds of wildebeest grazing alongside.  The Masai Warriors still live in mud huts, but they get email.  Great news for Africans, but you should get yourself there sooner than later while Africa still has that sense of danger and romance that earned it the name of The Dark Continent.

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