An
African safari is an unparalleled experience that provides the chance to spend
time in the natural habitat of animals that many of us are only familiar with
from children's books or television. On a game drive, though, it can be
difficult to truly immerse yourself in the wilderness while you're waiting in
line with dozens of other cars.
"A
lot of people are unaware that the experience can go farther than this,"
says Terry Moohan, who oversees the Africa and India section of the travel
experts cazenove+loyd. You can stroll, paddle a canoe, equestrian, or take in
the aerial views. Every choice offers an alternative viewpoint on the terrain
and fauna that you might not encounter on a conventional safari.
There
has been a surge in demand for immersive safari experiences post-Covid,
observes Ben Malasai, managing director of Kenya’s Zaruma Safaris. “Rather than
just passively viewing game,” he says, “the traveller actively participates and
goes off the beaten track to serene places almost untouched by human activity.”
1. Hot-air balloon safari in
Pilanesberg, South Africa
"Look,
there's a lioness and her cubs over by that rock." Guy Stubbs, a
photographer from South Africa, hands me a set of binoculars and lowers his
camera. "Are those trees thorny? directly to their right.
Though
the sun is just starting to rise from behind the mountains that encircle the
volcanic valley of Pilanesberg National Park, there is warmth on the side of my
face. The flame a meter high that is softly raging next to me is the source of
the heat on my skin. Since I'm not in a safari Jeep, I can't concentrate my
binoculars on a lion cub that is licking its belly. In a hot-air balloon, I am.
We’d
got up in the dark at 3am to head to the South African reserve, which is a
two-and-a-half- hour drive from Johannesburg. As we entered the park, colour
was just beginning to be painted into the sky. And on the hour-long drive from
the gate to the centre of the reserve, where the hot-air balloon safari begins,
we spotted a couple of rhinoceroses and an elephant.
But
now, watching this lioness and her cubs from 1,000 metres is completely otherworldly.
We’re drifting hypnotically above the plain in nothing more than an open wicker
basket, with swathes of brightly coloured parachute silk billowing above us.
The air on the other side of my face feels slightly dewy with the cool of the
morning
This
is the only hot-air balloon safari to launch from inside a park in South
Africa. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and — at R6,000 (about £262) for a
one-hour flight — it’s a relatively cheap way to potentially spot the ‘big
five’ (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard) that lurk among the
7,000 creatures in Pilanesberg. In a hot- air balloon, you don’t disturb the
animals and get a bird’s eye view of their behaviour. It’s also a more peaceful
and sustainable experience than a helicopter.
I
see a herd of hippos moving toward the water as I return the binoculars to Guy;
their gray bodies contrast sharply with the golden parched grasses. The early
start was well worth it for this.
2. Horse safari in Chyulu Hills, Kenya
On
a Kenyan safari, replace the hum of the engine with the sound of hooves
striking lush plains. 22 horses are stabled at Ol Donyo Lodge in the Chyulu
Hills, a mountain range in the southeast of the nation. The horses range in
skill level from intermediate and advanced thoroughbreds to calm and resilient
Boerperds for beginners (age 12 and up).
On
a Kenyan safari, replace the hum of the engine with the sound of hooves
striking lush plains. 22 horses are stabled at Ol Donyo Lodge in the Chyulu
Hills, a mountain range in the southeast of the nation. The horses range in
skill level from intermediate and advanced thoroughbreds to calm and resilient
Boerperds for beginners (age 12 and up).
The
lodge is a component of Great Plains, an ecotourism organization. "Riding
in the shadow of Kilimanjaro is one of the African experiences that I always
look forward to," says CEO and creator Dereck Jouber. “It transports me
into a different era where the clutter and complexities of life are left behind
and where the physical exercise, the horse, and the location connect us, as
riders, to Africa.
“I
can’t recommend this experience more highly for the quality of the ride, the
horses, the equipment or the long, snow-capped shadow that is ever-present
here.”
How
to do it: A seven-night stay at Great Plains ol Donyo Lodge, with daily horse
safaris, starts at £7,700, excluding flights.
3. Sleep out in Onguma, Namibia
Would
you like to feel the nudge of danger without taking any chances? A night in the
bush comes to mind.
The
family-run Onguma Nature Reserve is located on the eastern edge of Namibia's
massive Etosha National Park. In addition to offering 34,000 hectares of
wilderness, five cabins, two campsites, and a specially designed Dream Cruiser
for sleeping under the stars are features of this private park.
This
suite-on-wheels is a converted Land Cruiser game vehicle. On two levels, it
boasts a bathroom with a shower, basin and toilet, and a terrace for lounging
and dining, complete with a four-poster bed that is draped in nets and has a
canvas roof.
Park
at a watering hole before sunset and enjoy a bush picnic on your deck while
watching the game come for their evening drink. Feeling brave? Leave the tent
flaps open and wake at dawn for a chance of seeing animals drinking in front of
the vehicle.
A
ranger takes you for a walk to look at the tracks first thing in the morning.
More than thirty different species can be found in the park, including
predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards as well as game like giraffes,
kudus, oryx, eland, hartebeest, zebras, impalas, and black rhinos.
4. Walking safari in Mana Pools,
Zimbabwe
According
to Ben Malasai, managing director of Kenya's Zaruma Safaris, there has been a
sharp increase in demand for immersive safari experiences since the release of
COVID-19. He claims that the traveler "participates actively and goes off
the beaten track to serene places almost untouched by human activity, rather
than just passively viewing game."
Walking
safaris have been popular ever since the Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe's
far north opened in the 1960s, because about 70% of the park is only accessible
on foot. Compared to when cars approach, the animals are more at ease because
they are accustomed to seeing people.
You
might see the dark eyes of crocodiles rising out of the water or the broad
mouths of hippopotamuses if you stroll along the southern bank of the Zambezi
River with local guides. When you enter the grassland, you can come upon a herd
of zebras hiding under the baobab trees.
Nick
Murray, one of Zimbabwe's most respected guides, owns Vundu Camp on the banks
of the Zambezi. Since the mid-1990s, he has been conducting groups at Mana
Pools and is well-versed in the area. He points out that because of the open
surroundings and exceptional visibility, walkers can frequently get up close
and personal with contented bull elephants or packs of wild canines.
The
BBC came here to film David Attenborough's 2018 series Dynasties because of those
dogs.
And,
if you’re lucky, you might get to spot Boswell, the park’s most famous
elephant. This gentle giant, with particularly impressive tusks, has a habit of
rearing up on his back legs to munch leaves that are out of reach to all but
him.
5. Cycle safari in the Okavango
Delta, Botswana
"Everyone
feels like they belong on a multi-day bike safari,” says Kyle MacIntyre, lead
guide with Natural Selection Safaris, whose trips trace the historic elephant
roads that have molded Botswana's terrain for decades. "Your senses are
completely engaged and animals are unable to hear you when there is no noise
from moving vehicles."
The
exhilaration comes from the two-wheeled trip between campgrounds. Turning off
your car is easy when there are no animals in your direct line of sight. You
become much more aware of your surroundings when cycling through grasslands,
acacia and mopane trees, and meandering riverbanks.
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