South Africa & Botswana

Day 1, 2 & 3 – Pafuri, Northern Kruger National Park

WALK PAFURI, PRIVATE WALKING TRAIL
Callum and myself returned back to our favourite place, Pafuri (Makuleke Concession) in the Northern Kruger Park. We stayed at our usual trails camp, Hutwini, which sits right on the banks of the Luvuvhu River under ancient Ana and Natal Mahogany Trees. We set out for our first trail, and Pafuri did not disappoint delivering an amazing experience once again… watching 8 huge elephant bulls walking through the fever tree forest at sunset on foot!
Pafuri always offers some incredible experiences, like sitting on top of Hutwini Gorge watching the Luvuvhu River down below, gathering around the fire at night with the only other people 10km away! Walking along the banks of the Luvuvhu River and watching 30+ hippos snorting away in one of the many seasonal pans.

Watching a herd of elephants on a Limpopo Floodplain

Day 4 & 5 – Letaba Camp and Satara Camp, Kruger National Park

Callum and I decided to relive our childhood Kruger holidays with special friends. This included skottle* breakfasts at Timbavati Picnic site, dinner under the stars both nights, being first at the camp gate in the morning, coffee and rusks in hand, standing on the Tropic of Capricorn, and enjoying many sightings like 2 male cheetahs crossing the road in front of us with no other cars!
*a gas powered breakfast cooking pan

Timbavati Picnic Site, KNP

Day 6,7 & 8 – Tree Camp, Londolozi Game Reserve

Next stop, Londolozi Tree Camp, and an incredible birthday present for myself… Wild Dogs! Birthday celebrations continued in the Varty Camp Boma and then the staff Spirit Level. 🙂
Found the Tamboti Female Leopard and her two tiny new cubs, great sightings of the Tsalala Pride hunting and magical sundowners overlooking the Manyeleti River.

Drinks stop at Londolozi

Day 9, 10, 11, 12 – Cape Grace Hotel, Cape Town

Off to Cape Town, and had a great coffee tasting at Origin Coffee in De Waterkant. Then dinner at the Pink House and Blue Café, high tea at the Mount Nelson, an early morning hike up Table Mountain, and finally a private tour of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Kirstenbosch selfie with famed local country singer, Carter McCarter.

Day 13 – Le Petite Ferme, Franschoek

After Cape Town, we headed into the surrounding countryside for a private tour of Van Ryns Brandy distillery with Cooper demonstration. We visited the Stellenbosch Museum with all the period houses, then Dinner at Foliage and sundowners overlooking the beautiful Franschoek Valley

Beautiful Franschoek Sunset

Day 14, 15, 16 & 17 – Mombo Trails Camp, Okavango Delta

The next day we flew to one of our favourite Botswana camps, Mombo. Was great having Doc as our guide again as we found the Wild Dogs new den, and watched them hunt several times.
We also have an incredible experience with a lionesses roaring all around our car, found Pula the Leopard sleeping in a tree, and finished off with an amazing breakfast picnic on the edges of the Okavango Delta!

We were asked to plan our ultimate safari and this is what we came up with, and if asked
again, I don’t think we would change a single thing!

Mobile Gin and Tonics with Doc.