Adventuring in South Africa

Long regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Cape Town is southern Africa’s most romantic city. Few cities in the world can match its splendid setting along the spine of the mountainous Cape Peninsula. When Sir Francis Drake, completing his circumnavigation of the globe, rounded the Cape, he wrote of “the fairest Cape in the whole circumference of the world.” The first European to land in Table Bay was Antonio de Saldanha in 1503. He climbed its picturesque mountain and named it Table Mountain for its unique appearance. In the early 1600s, beautiful Table Bay became the halfway stopover for the Dutch East India Company before the settlement of Cape Town existed. The view of the Cape that entranced early mariners over the centuries is still here—a spectacular amphitheater formed by Devil’s Peak, Table Mountain, and Lion’s Head to the west. The summit plateau provides breathtaking views of Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula, and at night in the summer months, the mountain is floodlit. This lively city today is also a rare cultural gem, an amalgamation of African, Indonesian, Indian, French, Dutch, British and German cultures. 

On Day 2, we visit a variety of fascinating sites: the Victoria and Alfred waterfront (named for the Queen and her second son) where Cape Town’s maritime roots lie; Cape Point Nature Reserve, which stretches over fynboscovered hills of the Cape Peninsula into the Atlantic; Table Mountain, one of the most dominant and spectacular urban geographic features in the world and also an incredible environment for hundreds of species of endemic flora; and the National Botanical Gardens at Kirstenbosch, where 7,000 species are cultivated on 1,000 acres. Overnights are at the Cape Grace Hotel, set on its own private quay on the waterfront...D on Day 1, BL on Day 2

Our enchanting and unique accommodation for the next three nights is at The Fernery at Forest Ferns, set on 250 acres bordering Tsitsikamma National Park...BLD

 Two perennial rivers service Sabi Sand with a valuable water supply. The Sand River flows through the reserve from northwest to southeast, and the Sabi River flows on the southern boundary, which ensures that this area enjoys one of the highest and most biodiverse wildlife populations of any area in Africa. Such is the environment that the wildlife, save the migrating birds, remains in its territory all year round. 

With our game spotter and game tracker, our daily activities include game drives in open 4WD vehicles as well as night drives. On optional bush walks, we follow spoor in search of wildlife and, just as importantly, enjoy a chance to explore the fascinating minutiae of safari life—dung beetles, butterflies, and game tracks—which normally cannot be seen from a vehicle. While here, we can expect to see the “Big Five”: lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard, as well as giraffe, zebra, and other wildlife, and the birdwatching is amazing. 

After dark, a new world opens up as we look for nocturnal wildlife including elusive genets and perhaps leopards on the hunt. And because we are on private land, not in a national park, we can drive off-road to track game in the bush, allowing for much closer sightings. To top it off, there are many fewer guests in this exclusive private reserve, so there are few (or often no) other vehicles at our animal sightings. 

Our overnights are at Londolozi Camp, renowned for its progressive ecotourism practices. Situated on the Sand River in Sabi Sand Game Reserve, it is part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a vast and growing wildlife sanctuary, currently covering six million acres and incorporating famous Kruger National Park. Breeding herds of elephant and buffalo roam throughout the Londolozi area, while white rhino and lion concentrations are among the highest recorded on the African continent. However, it is the truly remarkable relationship developed over three decades between free-ranging leopards and Londolozi’s ranger-trackers that makes Londolozi world famous... BLD each day

 Leopards at Sabi Sand Game Reserve: Although they are known as the “elusive” wild cat, hardly a day goes by at Sabi Sand without these predatory stalkers being seen. While these cats are not tame by any means, they have become accustomed to vehicles and take no notice of them. This provides an ideal viewing opportunity, as the leopards permit safari vehicles to follow them through the bush even while hunting. Superb photographic opportunities frequently present themselves as leopards feed or lounge in trees, move alongside open safari vehicles, or stretch their limbs on termite mounds. Leopard frequently patrol the vicinity of the camp after dark, and their distinctive, hoarse calls add great excitement to the experience of the African night.