Lauren Robbins

My private, small group Southern Africa Safari was an unforgettable adventure!

Our group members ranged in age from fourteen to sixty-something and each of us found incredible, favorite moments which will be treasured memories.  Our safari started in the bush of South Africa, where we experienced countless animals up close, including lions, elephants, cheetah, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, hippos, herds of cape buffalo, baboons and even the elusive honey badger, plus many more species during our 4 days of early morning and late afternoon game drives.  

We reluctantly left the bush lodge and spent an afternoon touring Johannesburg and Soweto before we moved on to the next destination of Zimbabwe to experience the "Smoke That Thunders", the majestic Victoria Falls.  We easily settled in to our tree house-style lodge which included a popular game watering hole, which was frequently visited by thirsty animals. Our group enjoyed viewing the elephants and other wildlife from the bar, restaurant and the balcony of our lodge rooms.  Our first evening in Zimbabwe, we were treated to a river cruise on the mighty Zambezi River.  Spectacular animal viewing included herds of elephant and Hippo, as well as a few quite large crocodiles as we made our way down the river enjoying hors d'oeuvres and cold beverages.  The night was made perfect with a beautiful sunset.

Our local guide showed us more of the surrounding area and introduced us to the giant Baobab trees, and we perused several local markets and artisans shops and strolled the grounds of an historic hotel.  The "adrenaline junkies" among us braved the bungee-style gorge swing and the zip line.  A real highlight of our time in Zimbabwe was our lunch in local family's home. We divided into two groups and each group was welcomed by the families with such hospitality.   Our hosts explained so much about the local culture, including the dishes we were served, their family life, and we spent time getting to know one another.  We traded stories about our daily lives, customs, food, education and many other topics.  This was truly one of the most meaningful aspects of our tour to many in our group.  The afternoon was reserved to view the magnificent Victoria Falls by walking the path at the perfect time to catch spectacular rainbows in the mist. It was truly a breathtaking sight which will never be forgotten! 

On our last evening in Zimbabwe, we attended a Boma Dinner, which included a feast of grilled meats and wild game, vegetables, salads, fruits and desserts, and we even participating in some drumming and dancing.

We crossed the border into Botswana for the final leg of our safari and checked in to our Lodge on the Chobe River.  Our private safari boat each afternoon got us incredibly close to the herds of elephant and pods of hippo who reside in and along the river.  We also got a very good look at several large crocodiles and many species of beautiful birds and antelope.  Each evening, our safari cruise was capped off by an incredible sunset.  It was the perfect way to end our adventures in Africa! 

I would love to help you plan an unforgettable African Safari!