CONVERSATIONS ON SAFARI
WHAT MAKES SAFARI SO SPECIAL? In Swahili, safari means “journey” or “expedition”. For us, it means so much more. We began a conversation on safari with our Travel Specialists and started with the most pressing question; what makes it so special? For our Managing Director, Brendan Breen, “The wildlife’s quest for survival is fascinating. I think there's no doubt about that, and the delicacy of the environment that they're in, how quickly it can all change is something very real when it's happening in front of you.” “My first experience of a kill on safari was in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. The lion pack identified a herd of zebra. It was exactly as you would see on the TV, where the slowest, weakest zebra just wasn't able to keep up and very quickly it was surrounded by three lions who brought it down. That was it, game over. It was gruesome but natural, and the noise and the frenetic nature of it is something that'll live with me forever.” For our Senior Travel Specialist, Mary, it’s the remoteness and the vastness of the area that makes safari so unique. “Being out in the wild and just marvelling at the fact that there are all these amazing wild animals roaming free around you. It’s really special.”
WHERE IS THE BEST FIRST-TIME SAFARI DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES?
For a first-time safari or a family with young children, we recommend South Africa. A bustling, busy country, family holidays can take on many forms. Experience the magnificent city of Cape Town, venture to the peaceful Winelands and witness the incredible Big Five in Kruger National Park – just a short flight from Cape Town. Brendan explains, “We know the game lodges that work really well and you'll have an excellent guide with you for the duration of your stay who will even go so far as joining you for dinner to talk through some of the wildlife you've seen. This type of itinerary is a wonderful option for somebody who hasn't been to Africa before. You're combining the best that the country has to offer with a superb safari experience in an area where safari is possible 12 months of the year.” Mary explains that South African safari lodges manage their days differently than other destinations which may include full days of safari. “Though you're up early and you go out for a game drive, you generally have tea and breakfast muffins when you're out there. You come back in for breakfast, and you have the middle of the day free. So that's quite nice, be it you're on your honeymoon or you're a young family, you can spend time by the pool, you can have a nap, you can read a book. And then you
10
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator