"There's a Buffalo...." South Africa-April 2023

One of my best friends and I have a travel wish list a mile long that is always getting longer. Even as we check destinations off the list, it never gets shorter. An African safari had been towards the top of this list for years when we came across an amazing deal at traveldisc.com that included everything we were looking for. This would be our longest trip we had taken, and we knew it was going to be epic, but never imagined it would be as incredible as it turned out to be. This was our opportunity to just go and do it, and it was absolutely worth it.

We flew into Johannesburg and stayed at the City Lodge Hotel found at citylodgehotels.com right next to the airport the first night we arrived. Our flight from New York was delayed for hours after we had already boarded due to weather and so our 15 hour nonstop flight ended up being 20 hours on the plane. However, incoming flights were delayed as well so our plane was almost empty because travelers who had connections in New York missed our flight. Every passenger on the flight had a full row of empty seats to themselves, which was a great way to start our travels; fully rested and able to stretch out.

The morning after arrival in South Africa we took a six hour shuttle van to Karongwe Private Game Reserve, karongwe.safari.com where we would stay for three full days at the Shiduli Private Game Lodge. The shuttle was hot and uncomfortable, but had scheduled stops every couple hours for food and bathroom breaks, as well as giving us the opportunity to see some of the rest of the country as we drove through it. Everything about the safari portion of this trip was incredible. We had six game drives, three night and three morning, with an experienced driver and an experienced tracker. The animals we saw and the memories we made during each drive were indescribable, and the photos truly do not do it justice. Lions came within arms reach of the jeep, an entire herd of elephants was found just around a bend in the road, and cheetahs devoured their most recent prey just a few yards away from us. Absolutely incredible.

At the safari lodge, the meals were planned each day and served buffet style. The lodge was small with only 20-30 people staying at any given time while we were there. The food was limited, but delicious and included local options. Lunch and dinner were always prepared with beautiful table settings that the staff really put thought and effort into. We were woken up at 5am each day by our safari driver just in case we slept through our alarms, so we could get out and see the animals first thing before the sun got hot. Breakfast was quick and light, but always enough.

On safari we were provided with coffee in the morning to enjoy while admiring a lake full of hippos or overlooking and admiring an amazing vista, and we would arrive back at the lodge around 9am to nap, shower, lay by the pool or just relax with a book until lunch at 1pm. The afternoon safari would begin at 4pm and would last through the amazing South African sunset, a stunning sunset that I will never be able to compare to another, during which we enjoyed a glass of wine while listening to the elephants and other magnificent animals in the distance. These three days were some of the most incredible of my life. Our room at the lodge was gorgeous and clean with everything we needed, and the main building had additional amenities including a spa with some fantastic massages. A bar was available for drinks and cocktails during the hours we were not on safari. The beds were comfortable and the rooms were well appointed with all the necessary features. We could hear the monkeys playing around on the roof of the lodge each night, and one morning we woke up to walk to breakfast and there was a warthog right outside our room door. It was the best thing ever to wake up to!

One of my favorite stories coming home from this trip was about a friendly young woman we met who was traveling alone. Given that we are offered tea and coffee at breakfast and again while on our three hour safari, it is to be expected that visitors may have to use the bathroom while out on the jeep. At one point we stopped to look at a buffalo that was just feet away from the dirt road we were on, and keep in mind buffalo are one of the most dangerous animals in the reserve. We were all admiring the beautiful animal and taking photos when this woman asks the guides if it would be an appropriate time to go behind a shrub for some privacy. We all looked at her, speechless as the buffalo continued to graze so close, all thinking she was perhaps joking. When she did not laugh, and now was obviously serious, the driver gestured to the buffalo with a sweeping hand and said..."But...there is a buffalo...." in quite a tone, and just stared at her until she sat back down in the jeep. We all found this very amusing as it seemed so unbelievable for the rest of us to even think about getting off the jeep at that time, but she must not have realized just how dangerous the buffalo in South Africa are.

She was one of kindest women though, and we had such a great time getting to know her over the couple days that our visits overlapped. I also give her huge props for traveling solo on a such an epic adventure!

The lodge had this comfortable, close atmosphere for getting to know the other guests, and we met some of the most interesting families from all over the world.

Our travel bucket list is long, but at some point in the future I will need to find my way back to South Africa. To search, and find, the big five and watch the sun set over the reserve is an experience that can never be truly captured by words or photos.

Some tips for those wanting to go on safari:

~Do not wear dark colors like blue or black on safari, they attract the TseTse flies, and avoid animal prints and camouflage patterns.

~Bring a hat!

~It can be chilly before the sun comes up and hot when the sun is high...wear layers.

After those three incredible days, we departed the safari lodge, took the hot, uncomfortable shuttle van back to the airport in Johannesburg, and flew on a shorter flight to Cape Town, South Africa where the second half of our trip would take place. We stayed at the Portswood Hotel, directly next to the Victoria & Albert waterfront, which has numerous restaurants, shopping and boating activities. We used Viator to book a few excursions and activities throughout the days we were in Cape Town.

The first full day we had, we hired a private guide for an extensive tour of different areas of Cape Town. It was the perfect way to explore safely and see all the highlights.

We Started off at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, sanbi.org which covers 1300 acres and consists of more than 7000 plant species. The property was breathtaking in every direction with some incredible views from the higher elevations. Our guide was an expert in the plant life that surrounded us and it was obvious that he enjoyed sharing his knowledge. I still have his contact info and send him emails periodically to ask him to identify plants and trees I find around the world! We actually spent a little too long here and sacrificed some time at attractions later on in the day, but it was just a gorgeous place to wander and explore.

Up next was Boulders Beach to see the penguins. They were so cute mingling on the beach, playing in the surf and snuggled under the sandy beachside vegetation. It was a little different than I was expecting, as I had imagined us being able to walk in the sand and put our toes in the water while the penguins played around us. However, there was a small boardwalk pathway built for the tourists to keep the crowds off the beach and away from the penguins. I understand this is better for the penguins and wildlife, it was just not what I had imagined when we first arrived. It is also quite expensive for just a walk-through activity.

After the penguins at Boulders Beach, we continued on with our day by heading to the Cape of Good Hope where we saw some wild ostriches and had a delicious late lunch at Two Oceans Restaurant, found at capepoint.co.za We hiked along the paths high over the sea and of course took our photo at the iconic Cape of Good Hope sign. The day ended with our drive back to our hotel during the sunset, and dinner in town along the waterfront.

The next day we had a shark cage diving tour booked which we were both really excited about. I ended up being a little disappointed with the experience but my friend loved it. I had never used a diving respirator before and found it anxiety inducing, terrified that I was not actually getting oxygen while trying to breathe under the water. The crew threw dead fish into the water to attract the sharks so we ended up swimming in the dead fish floating around us, and I found it a little disgusting. I did not love it. But, I am very glad I did it. The sharks and seals swam right up to the cages and surrounded the boat. I do not regret booking it at all. After all, any day on a boat is a good day! After struggling out of my wetsuit, we then headed back to our hotel and the waterfront for food and drink, and ended up booking a last minute sunset catamaran cruise that evening. We were provided a bottle of champagne to share between the two of us, which we sipped while enjoying the antics of the other passengers on board the boat with us. I wish I could remember what they were saying and exclaiming about to each other, but all I remember is how hard we were laughing the entire time while watching them. They were obviously having a fantastic time too.

Our final full day in Cape Town we did a vineyard Hop on Hop off wine tram through Franschhoek. Such a fun day! The weather was perfect, the tram was so easy to get on and off, and the wine was delicious. Each vineyard had different wine and food pairings, and the tram was a convenient way to explore a variety of wines in the picturesque valley of Franschhoek.

The next morning we packed up our bags and began preparing for our long flight back home. We had some extra time in the morning and my travel friend decided to try paragliding, which was offered at the top of Tabletop Mountain. I did not do the paragliding but played photographer and videographer for her! She absolutely loved it, and maybe one day I will try it but right now I have three kids I need to come home to after these adventures, so nothing too dangerous for me right now.

We got a ride back to the hotel where we quickly grabbed our luggage and jumped in our airport transfer for our trip back. I wish I could better describe this trip and the many feelings and emotions swirling around us throughout each day. The safari especially was unforgettable, seeing the animals so close and in the wild, with no barriers between us in the jeep, and the animals on the ground. I loved every second of it and I truly hope I can make it back some day.