It was my pleasure to participate recently in a fabulous post by SA-Venues, South Africa’s 2010 SA Best Travel Blog runner-up. Deeply deserving of the accolade, they showcase an endless array of this country’s dream destinations, including many special ones that were highlighted in their post: South Africans share their favourite local getaways.
Picking only one favourite was impossibly tough, given the abundance we have here – as well as how privileged Dave and I have been, thanks largely to friends, family and our professional photography. I narrowed it down to the African bushveld, because I believe that nothing compares to the ‘soul vacation’ this offers. Here’s the longer list, incorporating more of Southern Africa and a few of the countless highlights we’ve enjoyed:
Londolozi private game reserve, SA – leopards:
LEOPARD CLOSE UP – Londolozi Game Reserve, South Africa
Madikwe private game reserve, SA – wild dogs:
AFRICAN WILD DOG – Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa
Schotia Safaris, SA – lions:
MUFASA – Schotia Safaris, South Africa
Welgevonden private game reserve, SA – rhino’s & elephants:
RHINO SILHOUETTE – Welgevonden Game Resrve, Waterberg, South Africa
ELEPHANT SILHOUETTE – Welgevonden Game Reserve, Waterberg, South Africa
Timbavati private game reserve, SA – buffalo:
BUFFALO BULL – Timbavati Game Reserve, South Africa
Khwai River, Okavango Delta, Botswana – abundant game and raptors:
AFRICAN FISH EAGLE taking off – Khwai River, Okavango Delta, Botswana
Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana – wide open spaces and occasional cheetah:
CHEETAH RUNNING – Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana
Mozambique – scuba diving, especially Guinjata Bay’s manta rays:
MANTA RAY WITH REMORA FISH – Guinjata Bay, Mozambique
Lesotho – enduro riding, in particular the extreme Roof of Africa:
ROOF OF AFRICA 2010 – Lesotho, Southern Africa
Cape Town (where I grew up) – family, fun, Two Oceans & Table Mountain:
TABLE MOUNTAIN from V&A WATERFRONT – Cape Town, South Africa
As far as wildlife goes, we’re planning perhaps the pinnacle trip for September next year: Serengeti under Canvas in Tanzania with &Beyond Africa, which follows the migration in luxury tents. CAN’T WAIT, especially since it will probably include scenes like these:
WILDEBEEST RUNNING – Masai Mara, Kenya
HOT AIR BALLOON ABOVE MIGRATING WILDEBEEST – Masai Mara, Kenya
I wasn’t lucky enough to accompany Dave to Kenya, where he shot these last two pics, so that’s high on my wish-list of wildlife destinations, along with others in Southern Africa, such as Namibia (where I was born), Zambia (where my father was born and raised) and Zimbabwe (where some of our special friends come from). And that’s just for starters. Ah, AFRICA…what’s to do but LOVE YOU?