TANZANIA OR BUST!
In which Sian tells us about her East African adventure...
Where do you go when you want to escape the madness we call "life"? Where your cellphone won't ring because there's no signal and where wifi is a luxury, not a right? Where your creative juices get all frisky and you feel the need to paint, or write, or blog, or take photographs of anything and everything? We asked our pet award-winning writer, Sharon Gilbert-Rivett, to pen some words for us on places in Africa that stand out and meet the criteria for "retreat". This is what we got...
There's no better way to explore remote parts of the African wilderness than on a biological game viewer with a leg at each corner... Of course, we're talking about horse safaris and the chance to discover parts of Africa only accessible on horseback. So come with us as we discover the secret sauce that makes riding horses across the African plains, and other gorgeous landscapes, so incredible...
The safari's booked and paid for and it's almost time to jump on that plane... Which is when you drag your suitcase out of the closet and start to wonder what the hell you're going to put in it. Beads of sweat break on a furrowed brow and a sinking feeling fills you with a sense of dread. Worry not, dear travellers, we are here to rescue you from the realm of packing darkness and guide you through the dreaded Swamps of Notasingleclue and into the light of packed perfection...
If you're looking for an African icon, forget the likes of Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Trevor Noah, because they're not that big when compared to the true holder of that title - the African elephant! Planet Earth's largest terrestrial animal is also the undefeated champion when it comes to summing up the spirit of this incredible continent of ours, embodying all of the things that make Africa so special...
We know. "Best" is a strong word. But honestly, Botswana's Okavango Delta deserves every letter of it. With a capital B. This huge inland alluvial fan is where the waters of the Okavango River empty into the perpetually thirsty sands of the Kalahari Basin, forming one of the most game-rich wilderness areas in Africa. It's breathtaking and has to be seen to be believed. We can help with that, of course, but in the meantime, let's take an editorial tour of this amazing destination...
We get all excited when there's a whiff of brand new in the air, especially when it's a sparkly, fresh safari camp or lodge. Or one that's had an extreme makeover (safari edition, of course). So, let's take a look at the latest unveilings and reveals in safari-land... Ready, steady, GO!
Grab your cozzies, your bikini, mankini, thong, budgie smugglers, board shorts or mermaid suits and head out with us on a virtual safari exploring some of Africa's most banging swimming pools with views to die for and picture-perfect locations... Haven't got a cozzie? No problem, because some of them are so private skinny dipping is an absolute must! Let's dive in...
It's the big question that's often overlooked... What's a safari actually like? For those of you who haven't dipped a toe in the African pool yet, the idea of venturing forth into uncharted territory on the Dark Continent may feel a bit overwhelming.
We don't do listicles - you know, those "Five ways to lose your mind" and "Top 10 ways to fry an egg blindfolded" countdowns that inevitably end in an anti-climax. We've had enough of those "what did I read this for, again?" moments and are pretty sure you've been bored slowly to death by their ilk.
Our jetsetting founder Sian "On The Run" Bester, has just returned from an epic adventure in Botswana where she checked out the two accommodation options on offer under the Feline Fields brand and had her hair well and truly blown back. She does these trips in an effort to test-drive the destinations Zafaris presents to you, our amazing clients. It's a really hard job and pushes our Sian to the limit, but hey, someone has to look out for you lot, don't they?
