Oct 253 min read

15 Days, 4 Countries, 8 African Moments

When approached with questions on where to enjoy that first safari experience, I always reach for South Africa. A country rich in culture, wildlife, history, and natural wonders, it is the perfect introduction to Africa.

Lodges are luxurious, and private reserves are smaller. This means game drives are not all day affairs, and lunches and pool breaks are aplenty.

Food and wine is the heart of each day, with so much pride in the dishes, and such a mixture of flavors from the various cultures that collided here. Did you know some of the best beef produced comes from South Africa? Have you ever tasted a Chenin Blanc or Pinotage? Now is the time!

I recently returned to South Africa to share the country with a group of wonderful clients. This time, we added a side trip to Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana.

Zimbabwe allowed us a glimpse into life in a busy border town, where we donated supplies to a local orphanage, hiked around the magnificent Victoria Falls, and dined amongst hippos on the Zambezi River.

In Zambia, we conquered Livingstone Island and swam in the Devil's Pool, hanging over the side of the falls and admiring endless rainbows.

In Botswana, we fell in love with thousands of elephants as we cruised through the canals of Chobe National Park.

Here are some of those magical moments, along with a sample itinerary for you to consider for your next trip.

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15 Days, 4 Countries, 8 African Moments:

African sunsets - they are like nowhere else in the world. "You can see a sunset and believe you have witnessed the Hand of God." - African proverb

The people - from our enthusiastic guides, to the smiles of children, we loved meeting everyone along the way.

The gin tasting - South Africa, gin & tonics, sundowners, all go hand in hand. You will learn all about this spirit, and some fun stories on how gin was used to prevent malaria!

The wildlife - the main reason for your visit, and it will not disappoint! Within 5 minutes of landing, we ran into the very rare white rhino. Within 24 hours we saw the Big Five. Not to mention the monkey in my room, the warthogs in the pool, and other wildlife shenanigans.

The views - I am still smiling when I think about the Devil's Pool and the thrill it was to hang from its side while a kind Zambian man held on to my feet for dear life! Or the morning spent with hundreds of African penguins on the most glorious beach! Or reaching the peaks of Table Mountain. The views in southern Africa are endless!

The wine! - South Africa produces some of the world's most delicious blends, and we were able to taste our way through at least 15 of them. The beauty of shorter game drives is that afternoons can be spent poolside, at tastings, in the spa, or doing absolutely nothing.

The lodges - from a hotel on a train track, to a traditional family lodge, South Africa has it all. City luxury in Cape Town, boutique service in Johannesburg, elephants in your front yard at Victoria Falls, and so much more. There is a lodge for every style and budget.

The game drives - a lodge is only as good as its team. We had the pleasure of working with some of the most passionate local rangers, who not only knew the bush like the back of their hand, but respected wildlife and created memorable moments for us. Did we stand face to face with a cheetah? Yes. Did we play an impala poop spitting game? Also yes.