ON SAFARI WITH ESPLANADE TRAVEL: SOUTHERN AFRICA

Left: Lioness and cub in Kruger National Park, South Africa | Above: Tanda Tula-Safari Camp-Star-Bed.

TANDA TULA WEBSITE

Rudyard Kipling said, “one cannot resist the lure of Africa.” People are aching to get back on safari now that the borders are open. They long to wake early, climb into an open vehicle and smell the crisp fresh air that is the African bush. Just ask Jill Potash, Director of Esplanade Travel’s Africa Department. She is booking and rebooking large numbers of people eager to return to Africa. Jill visits Africa each year to find new luxurious safari camps for her clients. No matter how many times she is on safari, Jill will tell you that there is always something different to see and experience. Esplanade Travel is passionate about Africa and making your every safari dream a reality. Join us as we explore different camps in different countries. The sounds of the bush are calling, and you never know what awaits around the bend.

SOUTH AFRiCA

You simply do not want to miss what the South African bush offers each and every day. Not that many years ago, fences separated the private game reserves, such as the Sabi Sand and Timbavati from the Kruger National Park. The Kruger National Park, a self-drive park, spans 220 miles from north to south and 40 miles from ease to west. When the fences finally were taken down, it allowed the animals to roam freely and provided a proliferation of game for our viewing pleasure. The game, in a word, is spectacular. There are so many luxurious camps in South Africa, it would be impossible to cover them all in one article. In the Manyeleti Game Reserve you will find the Tintswalo Safari lodge. This magnificent camp boasts eight luxury suites and wildlife to fill everyone’s viewing wishes.

Before or after your safari, you might choose to relax at Tintswalo Atlantic. Tintswalo Atlantic is situated about forty minutes outside Capetown on the world-renowned Chapman’s Peak.

From the Manyeleti Game Reserve, Esplanade Travel can take you to the Timbavati Game Reserve. In the Timbvati is the well appointed permanent tented camp Tanda Tula. From the minute you go through the gate, you feel you have entered a friend’s home. The owners, Nina and Don, are there to ensure your stay is everything you desire. Every member of

RICK POTASH

RICK POTASH the staff is treated as family to Nina and Don.

There are twelve beautifully appointed canvass tents furnished with all the necessary amenities and then some. To go along with your accommodation are sumptuous meals prepared by Chef Ryan. He was asked for so many of his recipes that he started a blog and shared his most famous creations. You will want to experience Tanda Tula’s Star Bed. Your guide will take you to the Star Bed platform after your game drive. You will have a threecourse meal with the sounds and footsteps of the bush around you. Later, you will fall asleep, if you can, under the entire Milky Way, seemingly close enough to touch.

During one afternoon game drive, when we stopped for

sundowners and to watch the South African sunset, we noticed two hyenas in the distance. The hyenas started coming closer and closer. Our guide said they were just two “teenagers” and were curious. They came closer still and the guide said just don’t move. The hyenas were on top of us and began to sniff our shoes. They then simply wandered along. It was an exhilarating experience. Also in the Timbavati is the Kapama Safari Camps. Kapama consists of four camps, Southern Camp, Karula Camp, River Lodge, and our favorite, Buffalo Camp. Buffalo Camp consists of ten luxurious tents. Kapama has left no detail undone in any of the camps. The food is delightful, and the guides are experienced and will make every effort to fulfill your safari desires. The most prolific game viewing in South Africa is in the Sabi Sand, where there are many extraordinary camps in the Sabi Sand. One such camp is Dulini. Dulini boasts six exquisite suites, all of which face the river. Each suite has a private heated plunge pool. You can relax in your plunge pool and watch elephants play in the river as you rejuvenate from a long day of travel or from the morning game drive. The meals are sumptuous, and one evening they surprised us with a candlelight dinner on the lawn. Dulini is a five-star camp with five-star amenities. The Sabi Sand is home to Inyati. Inyati, which means Cape Buffalo in the Zulu dialect of Shangaan, is a beautiful property with lovely suites. One of our more exciting experiences happened at Inyati. Our favorite leopard, Dayone, was up a tree with the remains of a meal. Hyenas were on the ground making noise. Our guide said that there Above: Hyenas in the Sabi Sand Reserve. were lions in the area and would be there Below: Mother and son leopards at Kapama Game Reserve. momentarily. Sure enough, in a minute or two, three huge lionesses roared by us and began to climb the tree to get at Dayone. Dayone kept going higher in the tree, and the lionesses finally realized they were too big and heavy to continue their pursuit of Dayone. Everyone survived, and we were treated to a remarkable sighting. A beautiful small camp in the northern part of the Sabi Sand is Arathusa. It has ten suites which all face a water hole frequented by wildlife all day long. Four of the suites are Arathusa’s ultra-luxurious remote suites with their own private plunge pool. They are far enough away from the main lodge that many guests choose to be driven back and forth. These suites are an amazing experience, and you never know the wildlife that is near. One day after lunch we chose to walk back to our suite. As we got closer, we noticed a visitor on our veranda. A leopard and her cub were stretched out

Suite at Jao in the Delta.

JAO WEBSITE

on the veranda, simply relaxing. We quietly backed up and walked back to the lodge and driven back to our suite. When we arrived, the leopard and her cub had moved on.

Also in the Sabi Sand is the Idube game lodge. Idube is a comfortable camp with wonderful food and outstanding game. At Idube, we were privileged to find the den for a pack of wild dogs. The den was filled with seven or eight puppies. One adult wild dog was always left to guard the pups while the rest of the pack hunted. When the pack returned to the den, we witnessed the extraordinary way all the adults and puppies are fed. A once in a lifetime sighting.

And finally, in the Sabi Sand is the iconic game reserve of Mala Mala. Mala Mala is the oldest and largest private game reserve in South Africa. It consists of three camps. Main Camp, Sable Camp, and the exclusive Rattray’s. All of Mala Mala was recently reimagined. As fantastic as it was, it is even more spectacular now.

Mala Mala’s wildlife is unparalleled. It is especially known for its number of leopard sightings. A wildlife photographer said of all the places he has photographed wildlife, none compares to the sightings and interactions found at Mala Mala. Many documentaries and National Geographic pieces have been filmed at Mala Mala. The reason they keep coming back is simple. Mala Mala is special.

On one of our trips to Mala Mala, it was our final morning, and we were waiting for our transfer to the airport. We were on the Main Camp’s deck, just looking into the bush. We wandered down the stairs to feel the bush under our feet one last time and thinking that there was no place like this. Suddenly, four magnificent elephants began strolling toward us. They kept coming, and we decided the most prudent thing to do was to go back up the stairs onto the deck. Before we did that, a few more pictures were taken, and then we scurried up the stairs.

What a magical way to end our stay at a magical safari camp.

BOTSWANA

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is a favorite destination of Esplanade Travel clients and offers both land and water safaris. You can have the traditional open vehicle game drive or perhaps enjoy a ride in a mokoro. The mokoro is a dug-out canoe that allows you a safari traversing the waterways of the Delta.

Botswana is home to the largest population of elephants in the world, approximately forty thousand elephants. In the Okavango Delta, you might stay at Abu Camp in the Abu Private Reserve. Here you can spend time with the elephants of the Abu Herd. Observing this herd will provide you with a much deeper understanding of elephant conservation. Abu Camp has six en-suite tents. Each tent has a different flavor of décor which gives the lush feeling of the bush.

You might choose to stay at Jao in the Delta. Jao is set among islands and is surrounded by forests and floodplains with an abundance of wildlife. The camp boasts of five luxurious suites and two exclusive villas. The suites have private plunge pools, lounge, and dining areas. The two villas have their own vehicles and guides, as well as their own chef and butler.

In the Linyanti Region of Botswana is Savuti Camp, located along the Savuti Channel. These waters provide either plenty of water for wildlife or, as it recedes, offering rich grasslands. Either way, plains game, and predators, are content.

In the Linyanti Region is the Duma Tau Camp. Duma Tau has seven suites and one family suite, all with private plunge pools. Duma Tau is run one hundred percent by solar energy and is one example of their dedication to conservation.

Just to the north of Duma Tau is Little Duma Tau. Little Duma Tau has a sophisticated beauty with only four exclusive guest suites. The suites are fully appointed and offer an intimate safari experience.

Also in the Delta is the Xigera Safari Lodge. Xigera

(pronounced Kee-jera) is named for the Pied Kingfisher which makes its home in the channels of the Moremi Game Reserve. Twelve suites are offered at Xigera. There are also two family suites, each located on an island and connected by a bridge.

On our first night at Xigera, we were treated to a sumptuous dinner under the stars. Dinner was served not far from the bridge connecting the two islands. As we were dining, a large spotted hyena sauntered across the bridge simply to check us out. A wonderful addition to a delicious meal.

The bridge was purposely covered with sand so that each morning you could track the wildlife that crossed the during the night. The next morning, we could clearly see that lions had made their way from island to island.

On our first trip to Botswana, we took a sunset cruise along the Chobe River in a small vessel. We not only saw a beautiful African sunset but a game of “chicken” being played by a crocodile and large python. They would dive under our boat from one side to the other and all around us. I am glad to say that both safely went on their way. The real question is, were they performing?

ZiMBABWE

In Zimbabwe, Esplanade Travel can arrange a stay at the safari camp Linkwasha, located in the Hwange National Park. Hwange National Park is the largest national preserve in Zimbabwe.

Linkwasha offers eight fully appointed en-suite tents and one family unit. The main area of Linkwasha has multilevel decks, a pool area, and a winter lounge that overlooks an active waterhole. A sunken hide at the front of Linkwasha provides a unique place to view, up close, an endless and fascinating array of wildlife.

Also in the Hwange national park is the camp Little Makalolo. Little Makalolo has a vibrant waterhole and offers its visitors a sense of privacy, especially for those who may like the remoteness of the bush. The camp has six traditional en-suite permanent tents and one family unit. The tents are lighted, and the water is heated by solar power. The tents are connected to the main part of the camp by teak walkways.

While at Little Mak, you might want to spend a once-in-alifetime night in the bush at their Star Bed. Try falling asleep under the millions of stars overhead and the sounds of the bush around you. Also offered is a trip into the community to visit the school and homes of the villagers.

Davison’s is a camp located in the private Linkwasha concession of the Hwange National Park. The camp has eight permanent tents and one family unit. Each tent faces a waterhole, which is often frequented by herds of elephants and buffalo.

The main area has a large lounge and dining area which abuts a huge deck with an open fire pit. There is a small upper deck that is ideal to relax and observe all the wildlife at the waterhole.

Elementary school in Zimbabwe.

RICK POTASH

Sunset and sundowners on the river in Zambia.

We would be remiss if we did not mention other exciting activities while in Zimbabwe. A visit to “The Smoke That Thunders” which is Victoria Falls is a must. It is the largest sheet of water in the world. For the truly adventurous, you might bungee jump from the bridge at Victoria Falls or zipline along the gorge. Not far from the Falls is an open craft village where you will find remarkable hand-crafted items to bring home. The local entrepreneurs will literally barter for the shirt off your back or the shoes on your feet.

ZAMBiA

Esplanade Travel can also arrange for you to enjoy camps in Zambia. One such camp is Toka Leya, in the Victoria FallsLivingston area.

Toka Leya overlooks the mighty Zambezi River. The camp has twelve roomy en-suite permanent tents as well as three family units. Each tent has an oversized deck on which to relax and enjoy the surrounding sights. The tents are all connected by wooden walkways that lead to the main area, which includes an infinity pool and sundeck.

Esplanade Travel highly recommends a sundowner cruise on the Zambezi River. As you sip on your favorite beverage, you will witness the breathtaking sunsets over the Zambezi, along with the hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and a multitude of birds.

In the Kafue region of Zambia is the camp Shumba. Shumba is named for the prides of lion seen in the area. The camp has six luxurious tents from which you can revel in the sights and sounds of the bush.

The Busanga Bush Camp is located in the Kafue Region’s Busanga Plains. This intimate camp has just four well-appointed en-suite tents, each with its own veranda.

Beginning in 2022, the Busanga Bush Camp will offer hot air ballooning. This is another glorious way to view the bush below.

TiME TO GO ON SAFARi!

The borders are open and as Rudyard Kipling said, the lure of Africa is irresistible. Esplanade Travel focuses on international luxury travel, and unique custom-designed trips have been our trademark for 60 years.

Our staff has collectively traveled to over 150 countries around the world, and we sell the destinations we know the best and love the most! Our primary destinations are Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, Italy, France, South America, India, the United Arab Emirates, and the islands of the South Pacific. ★

ESPLANADE TRAVEL

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