WHERE TO NEXT?

Good morning traveler!

We just touched down in Cape Town and have already made it to Franshhoek in the Winelands. Due to some cellular challenges this is arriving a bit later than usual.

I absolutely love going on safari and I'm on a mission to help others to go on one too! It is such an incredible experience that everyone should have in their lifetime. Read on to hear about a few of our special moments. As you are reading, just imagine what yours might be like when you finally arrive.

I’ve been South Africa for the last ten days. Johannesburg, the Sabi Sands, MalaMala, Thornybush, Timabavati and Kruger National Park. It has been much more non-stop than a “normal” safari, simply so we can see many lodges – old favorites and new builds and experience the different terrain and animals in the best wildlife areas in South Africa. 

We witnessed so many incredible moments in nature. Here are a few…

Cheetah couple - to mate or to eat?

We came upon a male and female cheetah, along with their latest meal, an impala, in a tree. Our guide said most likely the female killed the impala, but the male was in possession of it. When we saw them, the impala was wedged between branches, and the male was on top. I took a few videos. If you are a bit intrepid you can see them here.

The female tried to get his attention to mate, but he loudly snarled at her (I’m taking that to mean he was not interested). She resigned herself to go lay on the grass and just wait for him. Meanwhile a hyena approached. As soon as she sensed the hyena she bolted up the tree. The hyena circled below hoping for something to drop. Eventually a little fluff of the impala tail and some other little bit fell and he quickly ate it up. The female cheetah laid down on a branch and slept, waiting for the male to finish up his meal and be ready. You can see them both in the photo below.

How to spot a leopard in a tree

We came upon a leopard lying in a tree at sunset. This is one of my favorite photos of the trip. The signature dangling tail is a good way to find leopards in trees.

The pecking order - lions, hyenas, vultures

Just outside of Kruger a pride of seven lions passed out after gorging themselves on a buffalo kill. Close by about 40 vultures perched on trees and six hyenas circled and waited for their turn. It would be a long time. Hyenas and vultures need a lot of patience.

Sighting of a rare white lion

The next day we saw one of only four wild white lions in the world. She was beautiful! 

Overly curious wild dogs watching a stealth crocodile

When we came upon these rare painted dogs, we just watched them lounging in the shade. A few minutes later a nearby crocodile slipped into the pond. The dogs perked up and ran over to the edge to watch it. We all were on the edge of our seats rooting for the dogs. "Curiosity killed the cat" ran through my head. I willed them to back away. The croc swam closer and closer as the dogs watched, anxiously wagging their tails. Eventually they smartened up and took off. Our guide told us crocodiles have eaten many a curious dog. I'm happy on this day he did not. You can watch the videos here and here.

Elephants visiting our pool

At the top of the email is a photo of me, just after a massage, on our back terrace overlooking a dry riverbed. A curious elephant came around and cooled himself by spraying water from our pool on his back. It was an exciting moment and I just wish my kids were here with me to experience it.

On this trip we’ve had two private guides with us throughout, which is different than my family experienced Kenya this summer without a private guide. Safaris can be done either way, but I can say that having that consistent person with us throughout was a luxurious treat. 

A side benefit for me is that I get to ask a lot of questions – what are your favorite active safari experiences in each country? What are your favorite hands-on conservation experiences with wildlife? Which is your favorite country for doing a walking or biking safari from camp to camp?  I am always learning and I love every minute of it!

In addition to getting so many more details for your future trips, I now have figured out exactly where I’m taking my family for their next safari. One of our guides, Gavin, also generously gave me the history/timeline of Apartheid, which included backing up to the 1400s so I understood the proper context prior to the beginning of Apartheid in the 1940s. 

Now that we are back to the urban world, we have many more site visits and much more South African wine to drink. I'm partial to the Pinotage. I'm beyond excited to be visiting The Silo Hotel, which I did a podcast on long ago. It is an iconic building on the V&A waterfront in Cape Town, and one of my absolute favorites to put in your South African itinerary.

And we have a lot more to learn about Apartheid and Nelson Mandela.  We passed by the jail where he spent his two final imprisoned years and worked to help design the new South African government before he was released on February 11, 1990. I’ve yet to read Long Walk to Freedom. But it is on my list before my next visit to South Africa and I highly recommend it to those of you planning to visit one day. 

As I wrote the first draft of this note this morning, a female, male and their baby inyala were grazing on grass just in front of our tent while we listened to the call of a strange bird and many other noises from the bush. 

It’s peaceful.

It’s natural. 

It’s replenishing. 

There are so many reasons to go on safari. Topping the list for most are the animals. But know when you go, there is so much more to enjoy.  Including above all, the people.

The two most amazing private guides you could ask for. Gavin, a "Zim" (from Zimbabwe) and Warren, a South African.

Knowledgeable, experienced, patient, funny, engaging and consummate gentlemen.

Some of our local guides and trackers. These guys are well trained and can spot the big cats and the smallest creatures - like bush babies and chameleons.

Warmly,