SA: Manyaleti – Pungwe Bush Lodge – April 2024

Pungwe is a small intimate authentic safari camp which brings back the essence of a true safari experience. The comfortable en-suite meru-style tents are reminiscent of days when safaris were all about the sights, sounds and smells of the bush. The camp is about the bush, the animals, the unique experiences and the subsequent regaling of these by the iconic fireside. Pungwe Safari Camp is situated in the southern part of the 22 000 hectare Big 5 Manyeleti Reserve. Pungwe shares unfenced boundaries with two world renowned reserves, the Sabi Sand Reserve to the south and the Kruger National Park to the east, allowing for free movement of wildlife between the three reserves. This ensures that Pungwe's guests will be privy to some spectacular game viewing without having to share the sightings with numerous other visitors. Guided morning walking safaris puts you in touch with the bush, immerses you in your surroundings and enable you to encounter wildlife at a unique level. Afternoon/evening game drives ensure that sightings are up-close and personal. The perfect combination to create lasting memories. The 4 en-suite meru-styled tents at Pungwe offer simple elegant comfort, security, hot (via donkey burners) and cold running water for baths or showers and an exceptional feeling of truly being in the African bush. Only under canvas will you not only hear, but feel the roar of the lion, the throaty cough of a leopard and the Fiery Necked Nightjar celebrating the night.

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SA: Sabi Sands – Umkumbe Bush Lodge – March 2024

Resting comfortably under a canopy of indigenous trees in the southern stretches of the Sabi Sand, sits the inimitable and understated Umkumbe Bush Lodge. This luxury tented camp offers all the creature comforts from home, and is the first of its kind in the reserve. The lodge is based on the idea of glamping, but with a luxurious twist. Umkumbe is a beautifully designed bush lodge that offers accommodation in 10 tented style suite has its own private deck or verandah and is fully equipped for a comfortable safari retreat. This scenic part of the Sabie Game Reserve has a beautiful mix of environments from winding riverbeds and woodland to open savanna and riverine thickets. This wilderness reserve is home to the big-five as well as a huge diversity of different flora and fauna to discover. There are 2 daily game drives included in a safari stay. The morning safari will stop for a scenic coffee pit stop and on afternoon drive, guests can enjoy a classic safari sundowner and snacks. Bush walks are offered after breakfast so that you can get close and personal to the flora as well as the smells of the bush. Highly recommended!

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SA: Timbavati Game Reserve: Umlani

Umlani Bushcamp, a rustic yet exclusive lodge, accommodates guests in cozy en-suite reed and thatch rondavels. Early morning and evening game drives are in open four wheel drive vehicles accompanied by experienced rangers and trackers offers exceptional game viewing opportunitys. Umlani makes the whole event personalized and specializes in escorted walks into this unspoiled wilderness. Umlani, meaning Place of Rest, was established in 1990 by Marco and Marie-Louise Schiess, in the central section of the Timbavati Nature Reserve, which is part of the greater Kruger National Park. Umlani is the perfect nature lovers choice.

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Zimbabwe: Mana Pools Shoreline Walking Safari

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mana Pools National Park in northern Zimbabwe is one of the most remote and least developed safari parks in the country and is known for its exceptional walking and canoeing safaris. Mana Pools access is limited during the wet months from November to March. The best time to visit is during the dry season months of late April through to November. Many people come to Mana Pools National Park hoping to see the grand old elephant named Boswell who stands up on his hind legs to reach into the canopy to feed ... a cult he has developed with a following of younger bulls who are adapting to his specialist survival skills....amazing!

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Zimbabwe: Kanga Camp, Mana Pools

This private concession is set away from the crowds in a remote part of the legendary Mana pools where a private safari experience is the focus, and tracking wildlife on foot is a specialty. A 12 bedded seasonal camp built around a water hole, which acts as the main attraction for wildlife in the area as it is the only source of permanent water in the location. Walking and game-drive activities in the area can be complimented with trips to the Zambezi flood plain experience. Water based activities such as fishing and canoeing can be arranged in advance and on special request. Camp opens between May to October inclusive. This location is a true 'armchair safari' as you really do not need to leave camp given the constant stream of wildlife coming to quench their thirst....pure bliss...

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SA: Madwike Hills

Madikwe Game Reserve is a conservation area in South Africa’s North West Province, bordering Botswana. The reserve’s grassland, forest and rocky Tshwene Tshwene hills are home to a variety of wildlife such as elephants, lions, leopards and rhinos, plus endangered wild dogs. Hundreds of bird species include ostrich, vultures and the large kori bustard.

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