Exceptional Experience

There are safaris, and then there are journeys that remind you why some of us spend our lives out here. This one fell firmly into the second category. Over eleven nights we explored three remarkable areas, places that are deeply personal to me as someone who has lived on two of these reserves and spends a considerable amount of time on the third.

We began with three nights at Khaya Ndlovu, continued with four nights at Amaya in the Timbavati, and finished with four nights at Djuma in the Sabi Sands. Each destination delivered exactly what I had hoped for, offering a level of quality most travellers only ever get a chance to experience.

---

Khaya Ndlovu set the tone from the start. The guests were treated to something that even I do not see often in the lowveld, except on this reserve where I have been fortunate enough to follow the progress of the reintroduction and habituation of these remarkable animals. A magnificent black rhino bull.

Anyone who knows this region understands just how rare that is. The sighting was calm and unhurried, and it offered more than enough time to appreciate the sheer presence of an animal that is typically very elusive. It was the kind of encounter that set a high standard for the rest of the trip.

---

From there the wildlife only gathered momentum. By the end of the journey the group had seen six different leopards, the sort of number many safari goers like to boast about after an entire season. We also spent time with three lion prides, each captivating us with its own story and showing why these reserves remain some of the most productive predator territories in the country.

The predators were strong throughout, but Djuma produced a moment worth noting. One evening a white tailed mongoose took down a bushveld gerbil with precise efficiency. Small carnivores seldom grant such a display and the guests were understandably astonished.

---

The wild dogs, however, ensured that no one would forget this safari in a hurry. We encountered four different packs across the trip, each sighting as energetic as one would expect from the most relentless hunters in the bush. I have always had a soft spot for these animals, and they did not disappoint.

While they are my favourite, it is quite common to go weeks on safari without encountering any, so to see four different packs is the safari equivalent of hitting the jackpot. Every person on the vehicle left with a new appreciation for what it means to witness real action.

---

By the time we wrapped up at Djuma our tally stood at thirty four mammal species and one hundred and thirty two bird species. That kind of diversity does not happen by accident. It comes from experience, timing, and knowing how to read the bush long before you even arrive at a sighting.

In short it was an exceptional journey. The wildlife delivered, the guiding was precise, and the guests left with stories that will outlast most dinner table conversations. Exactly the kind of experience I hope to share with anyone visiting the places I care about.