Image taken by the Traigers

Recently returned from a trip to Africa, Dr. Dean Traiger and Tami Traiger share their photographs and experiences below:

What was your greatest interest/challenge/obstacle that brought you to Africa?

Our passion is to travel and to visit exotic places. Our biggest obstacle was figuring out the logistics (What? Where? When? How?), and that is where Hills of Africa’s expertise really shined!

Image taken by the Traigers

What was the experience while traveling and working with Hills of Africa Travel?

Working with Hills of Africa was very easy. Mark and Sandy were quickly available by email or phone whenever we had an issue or question. While in Africa we had contact numbers to call for help but thankfully we didn’t need it. That was a great anxiety reducer to know that if we had trouble we were not completely on our own.

Image taken by the Traigers

What has changed for you since your travels?

Learned more about African culture and the jewel that this continent represents and the importance of preserving it for others to experience. I want to take my children there when they are a few years older.

Image taken by the Traigers

Image taken by the Traigers

Image taken by the Traigers

Image taken from Manyara Ranch Conservancy website (http://www.manyararanch.com/)

Imagine experiencing a trip to Africa that is built around exclusivity, pure wilderness, and complete luxury. Manyara Ranch Conservancy has the exact formula for the ultimate African safari vacation you’ve been looking for.  With 35,000 acres of pristine wilderness and cultural enlightenment, it’s no wonder Manyara Ranch Conservancy has been referred to as the most exciting tourism project to come out of Tanzania.

Below is a 4-day sample itinerary of just a few things you can experience at Manyara Ranch Conservancy:

Day 1

After arriving at the Manyara Ranch Conservancy, enjoy an energizing lunch and experience an exceptional game drive where you’ll witness the Big Five as well as other mesmerizing animals such as the African wild dog, the zebra, and exotic bird species. After a day of excitement, relax with refreshing sundowners and a scrumptious bush dinner before a good night’s rest at the Manyara Ranch Tented Camp.

Image taken from Manyara Ranch Conservancy website (http://www.manyararanch.com/)

Day 2

Awake to the refreshing aromas of a bush breakfast and prepare yourself for an early morning game walk where you’ll venture though the bush to discover new and exciting creatures.

When you return from your adventurous walk, visit the local primary school and enjoy a Maasai cultural visit where you’ll have the unique opportunity to learn about the Maasai culture and lifestyle, directly from the locals. Because the neighboring Maasai communities own the Manyara Ranch, everyone who visits the Conservancy has a direct contribution to helping the Maasai sustain their ancient cultural heritage.

The day ends with a night game drive through the lively bush, followed by a traditional bush dinner.

Image taken from Manyara Ranch Conservancy website (http://www.manyararanch.com/)

Day 3

Delight in breakfast at the camp before you embark on a horseback safari through the sprawling plains of Tanzania and the local villages. With a plethora of wilderness beauty and wild game, the Manyara Conservancy is one of the best places in Tanzania to experience a horseback safari. These breathtaking safaris are led by professional equestrian guides and are offered in one-day tours and multiday safaris.

After your adventurous horseback safari, enjoy a private dinner beneath Tanzania’s velvety and star-sprinkled sky.

Image taken from Manyara Ranch Conservancy website (http://www.manyararanch.com/)

Day 4

After breakfast, embark on a drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive where you’ll witness some of the most fascinating wildlife Tanzania has to offer.

You’ll then be transported to the luxurious Ngorongoro Crater Lodge where you will take pleasure in traditional Tanzanian cuisine before you retire to your lavish suite in the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.

Day 5

Embark on one of the most unique tours of your trip, a thrilling full-day crater tour. On this tour, you’ll be able to walk through the Ngorongoro Crater and discover thousands of residential wild game within this spectacular World Heritage Site. From sightings of lions, elephants, wildebeests, gazelles, rhinos, and zebras, this once-volcanic site is the perfect way to end your adventurous stay with the Conservancy.

After your tour, enjoy relaxing sundowners before your dinner at the lodge, where you will stay until it’s time for your next adventure!

Discover more of what Manyara Ranch Conservancy has to offer by visiting their website.

Image taken by Gary Harwyn

Knowing what to expect on your first trip to Africa can sometimes be a challenge. No matter how well pictures and stories can paint a picture of Africa, it’s hard to understand its potent energy and sheer beauty until you touch soil for the first time.

Therefore, to help illustrate what to expect for your first time in Africa, we asked one of our clients, Gary Harwyn, who recently returned from his very first trip to Africa, what to expect when traveling to Africa for the first time.

It is our pleasure to share our interview with Gary:

1. What false perceptions did you have about Africa prior to visiting?

Before visiting Africa I thought that the people would be uncivilized and anti-west. But what I discovered was that it was quite the opposite.

The only area of concern for us was the Zimbabwe government, which we heard about, but didn’t really witness anything—except some police road checks.

I was also concerned about diseases and bugs, which were not bad at all, except in Mana Pools in the evening.

2. When did you realize that these perceptions were in fact false?

One of the largest indicators that these were false perceptions was probably the giant airport in Johannesburg—which was equipped with a shopping mall!

In terms of the people in Africa, the Victoria Falls Hotel and Little Makalolo Camp had extremely friendly staff who made me feel like family. They are truly the nicest people / staff on the entire planet and catered to any and all of our individual needs.

Also, having access to filtered water and amazing fresh food at the camps helped put to bed some if misconceptions I had about food / water ingestions. I trusted Wilderness Safaris’ camps 100% with everything, and never felt unsafe. We did, however, watch our food and water intake in Harare. But, I stuffed my face everywhere else!

Image taken by Gary Harwyn

3. Now that you’re back in the U.S., do you perceive Africa the same way you did prior to ever visiting?

No. Africa is a BEAUTIFUL continent with FRIENDLY people (who speak English) and, as a whole, Africa should not be perceived as a 3^rd world continent overall. They need some help and support and assistance without “re-colonizing” everyone to American culture, as their culture can be progressive yet traditional.

I’m empowered to spread the word about Zimbabwe and want to help Zimbabweans to achieve the political freedom they deserve. The local people are very different than the government policy.

Image taken by Gary Harwyn

Image taken by Gary Harwyn

Image taken by Gary Harwyn

4. What’s the one thing you want people who have never traveled to Africa to know about Africa?

That it offers some of the most beautiful land, scenery, food, and people the world has to offer and that it’s safe and friendly.

5. List the top three best parts of your trip to Africa. What made these experiences so special and unique to you?

1. Pamushana was just larger than life with its stunning layout and exceptional staff—it is a real jewel.
2. The staff at ALL the camps catered to our every need—we felt like royalty for our entire trip.
3. I was extremely impressed with the knowledgeable guides and their eagerness to educate us on all the wildlife.

Image taken by Gary Harwyn

Image taken by Gary Harwyn

Image taken by Gary Harwyn

6.  Is there another trip to Africa in the future for you? If so, would you travel to the same countries or different ones?

Yes. We are ready to visit any (and hopefully all) Wilderness Safari and Singita Camps. We simply cannot wait to return!

7. After returning, what’s the one thing you wish you knew before traveling to Africa?

Actually, there are a few things I wish I knew before traveling to Africa:

• That we were not simply going on an “elephant ride” or visiting a random independent safari lodge.
• That the facilities we visited in Africa support local communities  / kids, educate people, and are involved in a much larger and interconnected network. There is a much bigger picture that should be told about the impact and importance of these facilities. Choosing between an elephant ride or a bungee jump was simply that: on the surface. Digging deeper, you recognize the elephant ride is actually supporting an elephant orphanage, anti-poaching units, and education sponsors. There are more to the facilities than is advertised on the surface.
• I also wish we had purchased a small picture book / checklist about all the variety of animals so we knew some basic things about the animals, prior to the game drives.

Image taken by Gary Harwyn

Image taken by Gary Harwyn

Image taken by Gary Harwyn

8. How would this information have changed your preparation for your journey to Africa?

I knew our trip to Africa involved a lot of eco-friendly tours and accommodations, but I didn’t have all the details and didn’t know what all that meant. Also, knowing some more details about the animals prior to leaving for Africa could have allowed me to have more respect for the fragility and status with certain species / populations.

Associating all camps and mobile safaris in Africa by these rugged stereotypes is a false assumption. In fact, there are many camps and mobile camps found throughout each country in Africa that are high-end, extremely comfortable, and equipped with all necessary amenities and highly attentive staff. Although mobile camps are a little more rustic and adventurous than non-mobile camps (mobile camps can be moved, non-mobile camps remain in one location and do not ever move, unless they are semi-mobile), there are many that offer the same luxurious features and amenities.

Below are descriptions and benefits of mobile camps and non-mobile camps to give you a better understanding of what a camp is and what it’s not:

Mobile Camps:

Depending on your personal tastes and preferences, you may choose to experience a four-day mobile safari, where your tent will be moved and set up for you each day as you venture to new locations.

Wilderness Safaris is one of our favorite mobile safari providers. They provide a variety of mobile safaris, which they call Adventurer Explorations. Each of their Adventurer Explorations uses lush duvets, cotton sheets, and GI stretchers for bedding, and is equipped with en-suite bathroom amenities including a toilet, bucket shower, and a hand wash basin, so that each guest’s room is transformed into a luxurious suite.

A mobile safari is perfect for you if:

• You crave the old-fashioned, 19th-century safari feel. Created using eclectic tin finishes, a canvas covering, and lantern illumination, Wilderness Safaris’ mobile camps are direct reflections of safari camps utilized by past celebrities such as Theodore Roosevelt and David Livingstone.
• You want to experience a more rustic safari adventure and discover as much as you can while feeling relaxed and comfortable—all without having to do the hard work associated with camping such as making food, pitching your tent, carrying your tent, cleaning, or anything else laborious. Your tents are taken down for you and are set up at the next location before you even arrive.
• You desire highly personalized safari tours where you explore the most secluded areas of Africa.

Non-Mobile Camps:

Tents used in non-mobile camps are often constructed using more durable materials such as wood or dried clay. Many do, however, incorporate canvas and lighter materials into the design of the tent so that the sights, sounds, and scents of nature can permeate through the tents. Some camps also do not refer to their accommodations as tents; many prefer to call them chalets, bandas, or bungalows.

Non-mobile camps are perfect for you if:

• You want to have a more intimate and private experience. Camps are often much smaller and more intimate than hotels. Although hotels are wonderful to stay at in cities and outside of the bush—such as Cape Town and the Garden Route—they are not ideal for the bush. Because camps are often much smaller than hotels, personal staff is always attentive to your every need, catering to even the smallest of details. The intimacy of the camps also means no children running around, no large groups taking up space in the dining room or on safari, and no wait on anything.
• You wish to seamlessly connect with nature and your immediate surroundings. As camps are designed to incorporate natural elements within their décor, exposure to the breeze, wildlife, and towering fynbos of the bush is effortless. Each and every day, you’ll feel your cares and thoughts of responsibility melt away as you find peace in the surrounding sounds, sights, and aromas of the bush.
• You want to feel secluded while still relishing in luxurious amenities such as underground plunge pools, bomas, and fireplaces. As for meals, dining arrangements often differ at various camps—some are equipped with a main dining tent, others offer lantern-lit outdoor seating, while others offer both.

How do you view camps in Africa now? Let us know in our comments section.

Below, our recent clients from New Orleans, the Todd family, share their amazing experiences in Africa:

The Todd Family: Trey, Beth, Amie, and Alex

“Any chance to re-live some of the life altering experiences that my family and I had on our Hills of Africa safari is most welcomed. Nothing can beat watching the African sunrise over the Okavango Delta with loved ones or feeling the exhilaration of a charging elephant testing the abilities of our dedicated guide as we back up quickly down the road! Nothing compares to the playful antics of leopard cubs wrestling in the tall savanna grass! When will we ever get another chance to view the majesty of a pride of lions against a backdrop of acacia and baobab trees or a family of cheetahs lounging on a termite mound before an evening of hunting impala.

Image taken by the Todd Family

The magic of Africa now runs through me as surely as if I were a child of the Kalahari leaving my footprints next to the spoor of the hyaena. This same magic that rekindled the passions of my daughters and wife for nature and the great outdoors. Everyone needs to share the experiences of a trip like this with their loved ones. It was unforgettable, spiritually uplifting, and truly just fodder for the soul. Throw in a couple of World Cup soccer games and I believe one has found the formula for the perfect holiday!

Many thanks to the Hills of Africa people who made this trip a reality for my family. Thanks to the staff of the Chitabe, Tubi Tree and Duma Tau camps for the meals, the dancing and entertainment, and the camaraderie. Thanks to the extremely knowledgeable guides for teaching us the species and the environmental impact of everything we do.  Lastly, thank you Sandy for helping us get through a very trying time when we thought all the preparation would be for naught after we missed our flight. I can’t wait to schedule our next trip to Cape Town or Kruger or to recommend your company to friends.”

–The Todd Family

Image taken by the Todd Family

Image taken by the Todd Family

Image taken by the Todd Family

Image taken by the Todd Family

Image taken by the Todd Family

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Image taken from http://www.equinoxspa.co.za/gallery.php#

Spa and wellness facilities are abundant in Africa’s highly acclaimed regions of romance and peace and provide the perfect way to unwind after an exciting week of safari adventure. Many lodges and hotels throughout Africa offer spa services that range from signature treatments to more traditional spa experiences such as deep tissue massage. But one feature almost all spas in Africa have in common is their unique ability to bring the essence of nature into their signature services.

Below, we have highlighted two spas that illustrate the differences between spas found in lodges and spas found in hotels. Both types of spas offer an exceptional experience for guests, transforming their body, mind, and soul into a well-balanced source of energy.

See below for a spotlight on the Tau Game Lodge and The Equinox Spa:

Image taken from http://www.taugamelodge.co.za/Spa.asp

Tau Game Lodge

Neslted in the heart of Madikwe Game Reserve, a romantic and distant oasis awaits you in Tau Game Lodge’s surrounding peaceful bushveld.

Designed to incorporate Africa’s soothing energy and natural surroundings into each spa experience and treatment, Tau Game Lodge’s tranquil spa offers unique services that calm, relax, and rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit. Prided on their ability to detoxify the body, revitalize the skin, and rejuvenate the senses, Tau Game Lodge’s professional masseuses invite you and your significant other to enjoy an enlightening and refreshing experience together.

With an extensive array of spa packages and specialized health and wellness services, couples can experience everything from traditional African treatments using indigenous plants to deep tissue massages, and hydrotherapy treatments to hot stone massages. No matter your preference, Tau Game Lodge’s spa staff ensures a completely revolutionary experience that will bring you back to equilibrium.

http://www.taugamelodge.co.za/Spa.asp

The Equinox Spa

Located in South Africa’s bustling cultural hub, The Equinox Spa is situated near one of Cape Town’s most renowned and spectacular sites, Signal Hill. Thanks to its premier location, the spa was able to incorporate outdoor treatment areas into its design, allowing guests to soak in the relaxing elements of the distant city life and the stunning Signal Hill.

As a modern oasis and refreshing retreat for those looking for balance and an escape from the everyday stresses of life, The Equinox Spa provides visitors with the ultimate therapeutic setting both indoors and outdoors. With spa treatments ranging from a plethora of detoxifying facials to rejuvenating body scrubs, wraps, and polishes, and modern hand and foot care treatments to revitalizing massages, The Equinox Spa’s unique services work to detoxify the body while bringing the senses back to balance.

One of The Equinox’s most popular treatments is their signature Chakra Balance Candle Massage. Designed with a holistic healing approach to the mind, body, and soul, this unique treatment uses natural soy candles to treat various parts of the body and is then followed by chakra balancing massage techniques. Guests choose the areas of the body they would like focused on, and then the Equinox candles are burnt and the oil remnants is then drizzled over the body as the oil base for the balancing massage. Nothing is more soothing.

http://www.equinoxspa.co.za/services.php

As a culturally and historically enriched region, Cape Town and its surrounding areas are prime destinations for those looking to broaden their horizons of worldly experiences and knowledge. Although the most popular tours and historic landmarks include Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Kirstenbosch Gardens, and Dies Bo Kaap, every family’s itinerary differs depending on their personal preferences and needs. No two itineraries are alike.

Below is a 7-day sample itinerary that is designed to give you a better idea for what you and your family could expect on an African family vacation to the Cape Town region:

Day 1: The Mother City Tour: This tour celebrates the best of what Cape Town has to offer. After your first, peaceful night in Cape Town’s luxurious Mount Nelson Hotel, you will awake to a nourishing, traditional English breakfast in one of the hotel’s fine dining areas. After your meal, you will embark on a journey through historic Cape Town.

First, you will enjoy a tour up Table Mountain via rotating cable car, and then a tour of The Castle of Good Hope. Continuing on your exploration, you’ll visit gardens, the Green Point Light House, The Cape Town Stadium, V & A Waterfront, Die Bo Kaap, District Six, and the Kirstenbosch Gardens. Once you arrive at the Gardens, you will enjoy a delightful lunch, where you can reminisce about the morning’s adventures.

Day 2: The Peninsula Tour: After a rejuvenating last night at the Mount Nelson Hotel, you will embark on your next journey to Hout Bay. Here, you will take a boat to the beautiful Seal Island where you can relax and enjoy the African ocean breeze. After a day in the sun, you will head over to your next accommodation, The Last Word Long Beach Guest House.

Once you have freshened up at the hotel, you’ll be escorted to Boulders Beach where you will visit an African penguin colony and observe the penguins in their natural environment. Cape of Good Hope will be your final destination for the day.

Day 3: Wine Tastings and Butterfly Sightings: Today, you will relish in some of the Cape’s most exceptional wines when you visit Ernie Els’ wine estate for delightful wine tastings and a cellar tour. And depending on your preference of wine (red or white), you will be escorted to another wine estate where you will enjoy additional wine tastings.

For lunch, you will be brought to the award-winning Overture restaurant where you will delight in the eclectic variety of Chef Bertus Basson and Craig Cormack’s contemporary, Mediterranean, and South African culinary fusions. And don’t forget to follow the Chefs’ wine pairing suggestions!

After a spectacular lunch, you’ll visit the Butterfly World, where you and the whole family can witness a variety of butterflies, birds, reptiles, and peculiar insects.

Day 4: Taking the Scenic Route: Today, you will begin your journey from the Long Beach Guest House to the renowned Birkenhead Villa in Hermanus. During your trip, you’ll stop at various points of interest along the way as you soak in your picturesque surroundings. Whether you want to enjoy a picnic on the way, visit the penguins at Stony Point, or browse some local shops, your trip to Hermanus will, no doubt, be a memorable one.

Once you arrive at the seaside Birkenhead House, you’ll be escorted to your villa where you can lounge by the pool or sit on your private balcony as you look for whales in Walker Bay.

Day 5: The Possibilities Are Endless: Whether your family is comprised of walkers and hikers, beach lovers, ocean enthusiasts, horse lovers, or a mix of all four, Hermanus has it all. Choose from a whale watching cruise, a hike through Hermanus’ Fernkloof Nature Reserve, a relaxing day on world-renowned Grotto Beach,  a Dyer Island cruise, deep sea fishing, horseback riding on the beach, or a rejuvenating day in the spa. Your every need and desire is met at Hermanus.

Is a African family vacation in the future for you? Let us know in our comments section.

From Cape Town to Mpumalanga, South Africa is a golf lover’s paradise where travelers can experience everything from half a day of golf to a three-day golf safari.

Below we’ve highlighted four of South Africa’s most prestigious and highly acclaimed golf courses:

1. Leopard Creek County Club: Upon your first arrival to this manicured estate, you may be shocked to discover that this is in fact a prestigious golf course and not a wildlife sanctuary. With hundreds of varying species including birds, baboons, other primates, giraffes, impalas, hippos, and elephants, you’re getting more than a round of golf when you play at the Leopard Creek Country Club. Located in Mpumalanga, South Africa, Leopard Creek Country Club is known by the golfing world as one of the most prestigious courses to play on the globe–not to mention it’s arguably South Africa’s number one golf course. With a unique design that adds a challenge and excitement to your game, you’re sure to find a completely new golfing experience at this one-of-a-kind course. In fact, one of the course’s most acclaimed holes is the sixteenth–a par three–which takes your ball over hippo-populated waters onto a fresh green.

Adding to the peaceful nature of golf, Leopard Creek’s pristine grounds are tastefully infused with hints of the bushveld and the surrounding African plantlife, which all work in sync to create the ultimate, tranquil setting. Even if your performance isn’t quite up to par while playing on this course, you can’t help but remain joyous as you journey through this golfing paradise.

Additional Information about Leopard Creek: Primarily reserved for members and their guests, Leopard Creek does offer some booking for travelers staying at a list of particular lodges in the area including Sabi Sabi, Singita, Lion Sands, and more.

Leopard Creek

2. Links at Fancourt: Situated along the glistening coastline of the Garden Route, Links at Fancourt’s Scottish and Irish inspired golf course design fills each and every golfer who visits with a unique combination of excitement, anticipation, peace, and sheer joy. With miles of lush forests, wetlands, beaches, seaside beauty, and the infamous Outeniqua Mountains, Links at Fancourt is much more than an astounding golf course–it’s paradise. Known for its twists, dips, small lakes, and lush marshes, Links at Fancourt is in fact South Africa’s most challenging course and arguably it’s most beautiful.

For those wishing to experience a few days of golf, the Fancourt estate is a truly magnificent accommodation that is just as luxurious and detail-oriented the golf course it overlooks.

Additional Information about Links at Fancourt: All of Fancourt’s golf courses are restricted to members and hotel visitors.

Links at Fancourt

3. Pearl Valley Golf Estates: Inspired in design by the legendary Jack Nicklaus, Pearl Valley Golf Estates was named “Best New Golf Course” by Golf Digest in 2005 and 2008. Each and every detail was considered during the design of this mountain-bordered course, and each par-three and par-five course varies in direction for a consistent round. As an aesthetically-stunning masterpiece, the Pearl Valley Golf Estates is every golf lover’s dream to experience. With shallow bunkers, fast greens, sprawling fairways, and white sand-encrusted bunkers, Pearl Valley Gold Estates is arguably one of the most stunning and carefully crafted golf course in the world.

And keep your eye out for hole 4 and 13 as they are both dramatic challenges that incorporate testing creeks and waterways.

Additional Information about Pearl Valley: This course offers accommodations for visitors as well as excellent corporate travel arrangements.

Pearl Valley Golf Estates

4. Durban Country Club: Celebrating gorgeous views of the Indian Ocean, lush treetops, glistening lakes, and rolling dunes, the Durban Country Club is a one-of-a-kind visual masterpiece. In addition to its riveting beauty, the Durban Country Club is one of the most thought-provoking courses in the world. Each and every hole you take on begs careful thought and precision with each swing, making this course one of the most challenging and exciting to play. With one of the most popular third holes in the entire world, Durban’s par-five, hole three, takes golf balls from a high tee, past tall trees and bush, and a profound bunker–all while testing your take on the power and direction of the ocean breeze.

Additional Information about Durban Country Club: Booking is essential at Durban; therefore, always book your tee time as far in advance as possible to ensure your spot.

Durban Golf Club

Flying to Africa, spending long days in a safari vehicle or mokoro, and taking road and airplane transfers to and from your accommodations within Africa can leave you feeling pretty stiff and sluggish. But this is your vacation–you should be feeling fresh and limber each day! So, for those long days traveling or experiencing long game drives, incorporate a body-stimulating activity into your itinerary for the day. You’ll feel more energized and ready for the next adventure!

Below are 4 activities to participate in, in order to break up sitting time:

Spa Treatments: Not only is a spa treatment one of the most rejuvenating and detoxifying things you can do to your body, but it’s also a wonderful way to find your balance within your mind, body, and soul. And when you feel a sense of peace within your entire being, you are ready to take on anything. Whether you enjoy customized facials, deep massages, soothing wraps, or detoxifying scrubs, luxury spas found throughout Africa offer services that fuse the traditional healing powers of nature with revolutionary spa treatments.

Some of southern Africa’s top spas include Pezula Spa, The Birkenhead Spa, and The Saxon. Specifically, the Pezula Spa is famous for signature treatments that include scrubs, wraps, massages, milk baths, and hydrotherapies, that all incorporate the natural elements and essence of the Western Cape’s indigenous fynbos.

The Birkenhead spa, on the other hand, is celebrated for its holistic outdoor treatments, while The Saxon is known for its Signature Sound Therapy experience. This treatment incorporates the Zen-inducing sounds of gongs, cymbals, singing bowls and bells, and powerful color therapy, and is the ultimate in holistic therapy for the mind, body, and soul.

Walking Safaris or City Tours: Walking safaris can be experienced throughout many countries in Africa and are an excellent way to get up close to the wildlife while remaining active. As you journey through the varying terrain on a walking safari, you’ll learn to listen for the distinct callings of wildlife, search for animal markings, and track paths of residential lions and elephants with the invaluable expertise of  certified local guides. These highly knowledgeable guides introduce you to the hidden elements of indigenous wildlife that ranges from larger game to intricate wildlife hidden beneath rocks and inside crevasses. More specialized walking safaris include gorilla, rhino, or chimpanzee trekking, and birding safaris.

City tours are another excellent way to observe new elements, while stimulating the body. Depending on the city tour you wish to embark on, you’ll discover ancient architecture, historical significance, fascinating foods, new cultures, and much more.

And when it comes to walking safaris and city tours, don’t fret about the distance you have to walk. All of the high-end tours are customized to fit your personal needs and wishes. But that’s not to say some tours don’t require more physical strength and stamina than others. So, before booking a customized tour, always learn as much about the tour as possible before booking and–if needed–ask if there are any physical prerequisites.

Beach Visit: Whether you’re shelling, swimming, or taking a sunset stroll, the beach is the ultimate place to stretch out and stimulate the body.

The best places to enjoy a dip in the ocean include the pristine coastlines of Zanzibar, Mozambique, the Garden Route, and the Cape Peninsula. Each beach, however, offers differing activities for visitors to enjoy. Specifically, Zanzibar and Mozambique are ideal for scuba diving, snorkeling, and shelling, and the Garden Route and Cape Peninsula are great for long walks and relaxing swims. Cape Peninsula is also particularly famous for Boulders Beach, which is home to a colony of African penguins. Here, visitors can swim with the penguins and interact with them in their natural environments.

Cape Winelands tours

Wine Tasting: Walk or hike along the many winding trails of Cape Winelands and take in the scenic beauty and serenity of the countryside. Whether you’re looking to delight in a peaceful evening stroll or a hike to some of the region’s most fantastic vineyards, the surrounding trails are there for your pleasure and convenience.

As you walk past charming, century-old estates, stop by for a few wine tastings or olive oil tastings at your leisure and experience Cape Winelands on your time.

Some of the local villages you can visit by foot include Franschhoek’s historic French Huguenot Village, Paarl, and Stellenbosch. As you walk through these quaint cities you will observe all-encompassing, classic Cape Dutch style architecture and spectacular sight-seeing. You can also enjoy a variety of personalized one day wine tasting and olive tasting walking tours for an even deeper insight into the region’s history and cultural roots.

How would you want to rejuvenate your body after a day of travel? Tell us in our comments section.

But have you ever considered the various types of safaris and tours that can be experienced in Africa? Everything from small group safaris to personal tours, and game-drive-bustling parks to completely remote reserves, safari tours come in all shapes and sizes.

Although all of these types of safari tours are absolutely splendid, the more personalized and intimate your tours, the better your safari experience will be.

African safari tours

So, if you’re deciding which type of safari tours you wish to experience—in terms of quality, luxury, customization, and intimacy—consider using a completely private safari guide throughout your entire stay in Africa. Here’s why:

1. No matter where you travel, your personal safari guide will accompany you to that destination and guide all of your safaris—the ultimate in superior service.
2. You decide when and where you want to go. If you want to stay in a particular area for longer than planned, the choice is up to you. For example, if you love elephants and want to stick around to watch two baby elephants play in the watering hole, you may do so. Your guide has no other requests to accommodate but your own.
3. Ask all the questions and take all the pictures you desire. It’s your time.
4. Venture further into the bush than you would on a larger tour. Because your safari guide only has you and your loved one(s) to guide, it’s easier to go deeper into the bush than if there were a larger group of individuals to look after.
5. When you use a personal safari guide throughout your entire trip to Africa, he or she gets to know your likes and dislikes, and will work to ensure every little detail is looked upon to make for the perfect safari experiences.

So, whether you wish to take an African honeymoon safari or a family safari, a one-on-one experience with a highly trained safari guide is the most rewarding way to experience the bush. But, it is important to remember that although personal guides can bring you closer into the bush and offer customized tours based on your specific preferences and desires, safety and your best interest is always your guide’s number one priority. A request that is unsafe will not be accommodated by your guide.