Africa March
Travelling to Africa has been on my wish list for many years and so I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit Zimbabwe and Botswana in March 2013. I must say it was one of the best travel experiences of my life.
I travelled with a group of agents from around Australia and with representatives from out host company, African Wildlife Safaris.
On arrival into Johannesburg we spent one night at the luxurious Doreale Grand Hotel which is part of the Emperor’s Palace Resort complex. This was a great way to rest up after the long flight and get ready for the wonderful journey ahead.
The next morning we flew to Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest and most impressive waterfalls. During our 2 night stay we bunked down at the beautiful Victoria Falls Safari Lodge which offers a quiet oasis only a short drive from the main village of Victoria Falls. The sheer size and magnitude of Victoria Falls was much greater than I could have ever imagined. As my visit coincided with the end of the wet season, the falls were simply spectacular. It was hard to get even remotely close to the lookouts without becoming absolutely drenched. After experiencing the falls by land we then took to the skies with a scenic helicopter flight which I would highly recommend. To see the falls from the air puts the sheer size of them into perspective and is a great way to further appreciate the magnificence of this natural wonder.
After visiting Victoria Falls we crossed the border from Zimbabwe into Botswana where the safari experience of my journey was to begin. During my stay I visited 3 different lodges from the Desert and Delta portfolio of properties. Each one unique and special and offering experiences of wildlife viewing that will stay with me for a lifetime.
The first lodge I visited was the Chobe Game Lodge, one of the only lodges situated within the Chobe National Park. It was the drive to this lodge that set the scene for the incredible experiences and interactions with wildlife that were going to be revealed in the coming 9 days. As we came around a bend on the road into the lodge, there to greet us were our first sightings of giraffe and a herd of elephants that were breathtaking. I had to pinch myself to believe I was actually in Africa, experiencing these magnificent creatures in the wild, in their natural habitat. It was truly a humbling and precious experience.
Over the next 9 days we followed the safari schedule, rising early for the morning game drives which began before sunrise and lasted for about 4 hours. Each time we went out in our vehicles you never knew what the safari experience would bring, what animals would be revealed, but this added to the magic and wonder of it. After the morning drive, we’d come back for brunch and free time before heading out again later in the afternoon to take in the evening game drive and witness the spectacular sunsets which were another highlight of the trip.
The 3 different lodges I stayed at offered 3 very unique experiences and I would recommend having at least this many on your itinerary. One was a fixed Lodge, and two were tented camps offering experiences on land and from water. The last two camps were very remote and could only be accessed by light aircraft which was a great way to scan the plains for roaming wildlife.
The whole experience of being on safari will stay with me forever. The sights, the sounds, the people, the food, the cultures and of course the stars of the safari, the wildlife: majestic, wild and free.
I can highly recommend a safari experience in Africa. I look forward to returning some day and I hope I can assist you to experience Africa for yourself too.