to be woken by your children at the
crack of dawn, why not make the
most of it?
Sunrise
Daybreak is magical in the African
bush. You wake with a sense of
anticipation, almost as chirpy as the
birds all around, and definitely as
alert after being served a strong cup
of coffee with a traditional rusk to
dunk on the side. Wildlife is most
active at dawn and dusk, which is
why game drives usually bookend
your days on safari. Heading out
into the morning mist in an open-
topped vehicle in winter (April-
August) is bracing to say the least,
but seeing your children’s red cheeks
and glowing eyes – they’re about
to witness something National
Geographic-worthy – makes it utterly
pleasurable. Winter is the best time to
go on safari in South Africa’s Lowveld
region and Botswana’s magnificent
Okavango Delta, as while nights are
cold, days are sunny and warm (often
up to 25C), the rainy season has
passed and mosquitoes are rare.
Your first impala, poised for flight
in a shaft of golden light, will warrant
a hushed stop of the vehicle by your
patient guide. As the mechanical
rumble dies and the sounds of the
bush – a hum of life more sensed than
heard – come alive, you’ll become
aware of just how much wilderness
there is around you. Set within
game reserves or national parks
and accessed only by dirt tracks,
most lodges or camps are situated
well away from civilisation, and this
landscape really is as old as time
itself.
Often grazing alongside other
plains game such as zebra and
wildebeest, impalas will soon be
something you drive past in search of
other more elusive wildlife. Although
never forget that something might just
be eyeing said impala for breakfast:
a cheetah with two hungry cubs to
feed; a lone male leopard ready to
drag his kill into a tree to thwart a
cackle of hyenas; a pack of wild dogs
– their painted flanks heaving as they
leave just the horns in 10 minutes flat.
The possibilities are endless which is
what makes the safari experience so
addictive: No one will ever experience
what you experience – every game
drive is unique.
Midday
A morning game drive lasts as long as
you want it to, but it’s always rounded
off with a delicious brunch back at
camp. (Gourmet fare is the norm on
safari.) And then the day is yours to
play with. Most safari destinations
offer swimming pools – usually
with exceptional views. You won’t
encounter a hippo taking a dip, but
you might well be able to watch one
wallowing in a water hole nearby
while you take your own mud-free
version. Gyms and spas are also
generally a given.
Many lodges and camps, including
those run by Wilderness Safaris
such as Seba Camp, DumaTau and
Vumbura Plains, offer an inspired
and complimentary ‘Bush Buddy’
programme. Designed to inspire
a love of nature (and give parents
some well-deserved time off ), this
programme pairs children with a
dedicated and highly-trained mentor
for the duration of their stay. Daytime
activities include nature walks,
tracking lessons, bird and animal call
identification, treasure hunts, painting
with natural dyes, and making pizzas
in abandoned termite mounds. In the
evenings children can enjoy frogging,
night drives, dancing, drumming,
stargazing and storytelling. All
activities are supervised by the Bush
Buddy and tailored to age, ensuring
no bored teens wishing they were
rather at the mall.
Being surrounded by such natural
beauty and majesty is a luxury in
itself, but many safari lodges and
camps take luxurious to another
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