Mahlatini Travel Blog

1. Knowing that whilst boarding your plane at the busy first world departure airport that within 24 hours you will be escaping the rat race, turning off your phone and indulging in the open spaces of this vast continent.

2. The feeling of the heat as you step off the plane and the fun, organised chaos of the airport and customs.

3. The wonderful welcome at your camp or lodge of a cool drink and wet cloth.

4. The anticipation of your first afternoon game drive usually begun with a much ‘civilised’ afternoon tea.

5. Climbing on up to your vehicle and meeting your guide for the first time.

6. Grabbing your binoculars and camera at your first sighting of your safari, eager not to miss anything.

7. The ‘sundowners’ experience. As the sun sets and the sky starts to turn a beautiful orange your driver will stop and ask the words you have been longing to hear, ‘Gin and Tonic Madam / Sir?’ It is usually at this point in the day when you breathe a huge sigh of satisfaction and thank your lucky starts that you are here enjoying this excellent African tradition!

8. Turning on the spotlights after dark and anticipating the nocturnal animals making an appearance and hearing the inevitable ‘whoop whoop’ of the hyena. If you are really lucky, you may see a leopard on the hunt.

9. Returning to the lodge / camp for a dinner in the boma around a huge campfire. At this point you will look up to a sky filled with stars you won’t see in any city and be awed by the size and scope of the universe.

10. Sharing campfire stories with other guests about your sightings for the day and enjoying an incredible meal which you cannot believe has been cooked in a bush kitchen.

11. Falling asleep to the sounds of the bush – most certainly crickets; depending on your area, grunting hippos; hopefully roaring lions or wailing jackals and if you listen very carefully, the sounds of bush babies, nightjars and owls.

12. Jumping out of bed early the next morning, still dark and eagerly accepting that much needed cup of coffee to jump start the day. Half asleep you jump in the vehicle and wait for the sunrise which is shortly to follow with the incredible morning light casting its shadows on the bush. Every animal sighting is an excitement, particularly those where you can simply sit and observe the animal in its habitat and engage with your guide asking questions and learning.

13. Spending the heat of the day lounging by the pool or catching up on some sleep or on that book you have been meaning to read for ages.

14. Taking the ranger up on a walking safari experience – to walk is to remove yourself from the noise of the safari vehicle as well as the noise and turmoil of modern society and re-connect with the sounds of nature. To walk is to follow tracks, feel the tingle of your own senses, and hear the beating of your heart as you edge closer to a herd of elephant, feeding in the river.

15. Many will say that a safari is a ‘spiritual’ experience – something our busy lives require to remind us of why we exist. You will likely be hit by this feeling at some point on your safari and when you do you will know that you have been bitten by the Africa bug and will have to return!

Photography by: Norman Carr Safaris, Shamwari & Karen Blixen Camp

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