African Safari: A Bucket List Trip

Rhino selfie in Kruger National Park

Have you ever dreamt of going on an African safari? There’s a good chance you have, as it’s one of the most popular bucket list trips. Honestly, I’m a huge traveler but a safari was never anywhere near the top of my list. Africa wasn’t even really on my radar until I was invited on a work trip to experience a few different countries. I’m a Luxury Travel Advisor and exploring different destinations around the world is part of my job so I often end up places I wouldn’t have necessarily picked for myself. That trip ended up being life changing and safaris are now at the very top of my list.

So, what does a typical safari in South Africa look like? If you enjoy five star hotels with amazing food and service and want an unforgettable experience, then a luxury safari is probably for you. I will explain further, because a safari experience is wildly different than most trips and not at all what I had originally expected (it was far, far better!). Twice a day you will go out on three-four hour “game drives” in a safari vehicle with a guide and a tracker. Depending on the location, you may be able to do a walking safari on request. Be sure to factor this into your planning if this is important to you since not all parts of the park are conducive to this. Otherwise, just sit back and relax and take in all the sights! Drives are at dawn and dusk when the temperatures are at their coolest and animals are the most active. Generally speaking, there are animals everywhere. The first time I landed in a national park in Africa, there were people shooing Zebras off the runway so my plane could land. From that moment on, I knew it was going to be an incredibly special experience. Giraffes in the distance, herds of elephants drinking in watering holes, hippos swimming; it’s more magical than you can ever imagine.

Giraffes in Kruger National Park

Okay, so the animals are obviously the highlight but what about the lodges? I like high end accommodations and was concerned that things would be too rustic for my taste. Immediately upon arrival, I knew everything would be JUST fine. I was greeted by friendly hotel staff, handed a welcome drink, and given a tour around the beautiful lodge. Staff members are assigned to rooms to ensure each guest has everything that they need and no details were spared. For example, my room was filled with what I consider to be the necessities, which are sauvignon blanc and diet coke. Each room is its own standalone villa, with impeccably decorated interiors, indoor and outdoor shower options, and even air conditioning. This was certainly not roughing it! Not to mention that most lodges only have only eight-twelve villas, making it feel like a very private experience.

Singita Sweni Lodge in South Africa

Early game drives and late afternoon drives followed by dinner, mean the entire afternoon is at leisure. I’m more of a city traveler so I wasn’t initially super excited about hanging around the lodge all afternoon…until I realized that I could have my own private safari viewing with a glass of wine from the comfort of my own private outdoor space. Many lodges are positioned overlooking watering holes, which means there’s a good chance that you will see or hear animals at all times of the day. Some lodges offer additional activities such as in-room massages, wine tasting, cooking classes, and more. A good old-fashioned nap after a poolside lunch is also a highly recommended option, especially after those early morning game drives.

Sundowner near the Mozambique border.

How’s the food, you ask? In my experience, good. Very good. All meals are done on property and most lodges are all inclusive, making it easy to eat and drink as you please all day long. There are set menus but since most places have only around 20 guests, chefs can be creative and are happy to make items on request as well as work around any dietary restrictions. Since I arrived to this remote area by plane, I was surprised at how many options there were and how fresh everything tasted. I found the entire safari experience to be very humbling and an amazing way to connect with nature. Bonus points that I was able to do it without sacrificing any type of comfort. A luxury safari is a relaxing, exhilarating, and life changing experience. The only downside is that you will never want to go home.

Originally published in the May 2021 issue of Portsmouth Living and June 2021 issue of Newport Neighbors magazines.