Our friend and African Safari client Joe Sabia, took four of his friends on an amazing photo safari in Zimbabwe last December. In addition to seeing some amazing game in the bush, Joe found a lost digital photo card while on a game drive. He took the card home, explored the contents of the card, and he’s now trying to find the rightful owner of the card. Can you help him find the owner?
Joe is a very talented filmmaker and producer, so please watch his incredibly smart and funny video to experience one of the most interesting stories to result from one of our African safaris.
And if you’re interested in some of Joe’s other safari photos, take a look at these great shots from his safari in Hwange National Park. You’ll see what an awesome time he and his friends had:
If you’d like to take a similar safari in Zimbabwe or elsewhere, let us know, and we’ll help you plan this dream of a lifetime!
If you have been dreaming of a trip to South Africa, now is the time to start the planning and booking process! Whether it’s that bucket list item of the photo safari, or just hanging out in Cape Town savoring the amazing local food and wine, the Rand to US$ exchange rate is so much in your favor that you’ll be able to have that 5-Star trip for a 3-Star budget!
The big draw for South Africa is obviously the photographic safari (sorry, we don’t promote recreational hunting here). While many visitors choose the Greater Kruger National Park area, there are a couple of other “Hidden Gems” that are two of Savvy’s favorites – The magical Tswalu Kalahari private game reserve and the Jamala Madikwe Royal Safari Lodge . Combining visits to these two lodges will give you the perfect safari experience and something quite unique and authentic.
The private game reserve owned by the DeBeers Diamond Oppenheimer family, Tswalu Kalahari has two beautiful hotel properties giving each guest “barefoot luxury amidst the wilderness.” Situated on 272,000 acres, South Africa’s largest private game reserve accommodates no more than 30 travelers at a time, allowing each guest’s experience to be customized. The pinnacle of my safari experience here a few years ago was tracking a Rhino on horseback! The main lodge, called “Motse” (“Village” in Tswana) camp has 9 suites, located at the foot of the Koannaberg Mountains. Each suite has private decks overlooking a watering hole that attracts a variety of animals, indoor/outdoor showers, a pool and fireplace. When you are not enjoying the amazing wildlife you can relax in the award-winning spa or treat yourself to a romantic dinner under the stars.Our other favorite lodge, the luxurious Jamala Madikwe Royal Safari Lodge, in the Malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, also offers an incredible safari experience. The Lodge itself has a colonial style with an African flair that is just naturally elegant. Each private suite has a view of a watering hole, a private rim-flow pool, expansive decks and outdoor showers. Indulge yourself and dine alfresco on the Best Safari Cuisine in Africa (2014 and 2015) prepared by their uber-talented chef. When out on game drives you’ll probably also see one of my favorites, Wild Dog (or Painted Dog, as they are now being called).After your safari, spend a few days down in the beautiful Cape Town at one of our favorite hotels there. If you’re into a colonial feel, the fabulous five-star Belmond Mount Nelson will be right up your alley. It is certainly one of the best luxury resorts in Cape Town with an amazing history, tranquil gardens, and an overall great buzz. With close proximity to downtown, it as also close to the gorgeous beaches and offers two beautiful pools on property. Views of the mountain or the spectacular gardens can be seen from most balconies. Don’t forget to enjoy a traditional high tea or relax in the luxurious spa.With Breathtaking views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and the marina, the elegant One&Only is ideally located in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. This fabulous urban chic resort also offers a spectacular infinity edge pool with poolside dining and has great shopping and dining within safe walking distance. With all the excitement of the city it is also a perfect gateway to such exciting activities as shark cage diving, surfing lessons and whale watching! One of Savvy’s favorite restaurants in Cape Town is also located here in the hotel – Reuben’s, which is owned and operated by superstar chef, Reuben Riffel.If a smaller boutique guesthouse is your preference, the luxurious Cape Cadogan Hotel is a boutique hotel housed in a National Monument building built in the early 19th century. It is the sister property of Lion Sands Game Reserve and offers the same exceptional five-star service. The hotel’s location is ideal for exploring the exciting city of Cape Town with close proximity to the Waterfront. The personalized service offered by the staff is unparalleled and they will make sure you enjoy all that Cape Town has to offer! This hidden gem has never had a bad review!Without question, now’s the time to visit South Africa. And with our partners there in Cape Town to do all the heavy lifting for the planning, you’ll be in good hands. We’d love to show you these amazing properties – just CLICK HERE for more info.
As you know, the Savvy Navigator founder and principal partner, Jeff, has deep roots in the African safari world. He was recently approached by a passionate animal enthusiast wanting to take his grandchildren on an African Safari next year. As they were discussing this very topic, Jeff notice that his former company and African partner, African Safari Consultants, had just published this great blog post about kids and safaris! Kids of any age will have a great time and some of our favorite lodges are perfectly suited for families.
Email us for more information and see if any of these safari camps and lodges appeal to you. We also have a lot more ideas, so let us how we can help you start planning the perfect family safari!
Interested in a family photo safari, click here and we’ll be in touch.
The Savvy Navigator is now back home in NYC, and completely jetlagged. The Southern Africa trip was a wonderful combination of work, play, business-building, and volunteering. And that said, it’s wonderful to be home.
While traveling last week, a new and exciting destination grabbed our attention. Also in Africa, the Erg Chigaga Luxury Desert Camp in Morocco is smack-dab in the middle of the dunes of the Sahara Desert. With 9 luxury tents, the camp is a mix of traditional Berber design coupled with modern comfort. The price includes all food and drink, and the camp’s activities include camel rides, desert walks, quad biking, stargazing, and much more!
And the best part? It’s probably the most remote location Savvy’s ever experienced and is the true meaning of “off the grid!”
If you’d like more info on this amazing oasis, please shoot us an email and we’ll show you the way.
After 3 days of volunteering with the women entrepreneurs at the Victoria Falls Women’s Curio Market (more on that later this week), I decided to treat myself to a quick overnight stay at the Royal Chundu Zambezi River Lodge, upriver from the Falls. This five-star Relais & Chateaux property is the perfect place to chill out after the hard work of an African safari, or in my case, working long days together with local Zimbabwean entrepreneurs.
The Royal Chundu Lodge has 10 river-front suites in the main part of the lodge, plus an additional 4 over-the-top villa suites on a nearby private island. The standard deluxe suite where I stayed Monday night was simply perfect. And the island villas are ideal for honeymooners or anyone desiring a truly private and luxurious experience. The food is amazing and the highlights or my dining were the 7-course Zambian (finally some local food) and then breakfast this morning.
Next time you’re at Vic Falls, or if it’s your first visit, stay about 40 minutes up the road at Royal Chundu. I loved it and know you will, too!
We had a discussion today in the office about the popularity of river cruising in Europe, and how there don’t seem to be similar options on other continents. The segment is growing in Asia (especially Myanmar) and it’s getting some traction here in the USA with some recently-announced launches. But how about Africa? What’s there?
A few years ago we took an African River Safari on the Zambezi Queen, a 14-cabin luxury river cruiser that’s based on the Botswana and Namibia borders. It was a very interesting trip and it felt more like a floating boutique hotel than a river cruising vessel. But the game sightings on the shore of the Zambezi River were excellent (especially the elephants) and the comfort level on the boat was sublime. Great cabins, good food and drink, and expert guides and activities made the trip a huge success.
If you’d like to experience the Zambezi Queen yourself, we’ll show you the way. Get in Touch and our safari partners can hook you right up!
Savvy Jeff is continues to bounce around Southern Africa, but it’s not always just about checking out cool, interesting, and luxurious lodges and hotels.
Yesterday I spent the day with Habitat for Humanity in urban Lusaka, Zambia, building a new, 3-room house for a local family. This particular family, led by matriarch Veronica, will soon move into this significantly-upgraded housing in their township. The 10 family members will live in about 300 square feet, which is a huge improvement over their mud hut with a leaky roof. The family worked alongside us, and Veronica’s grandchildren and their friends entertained the volunteers and staff with songs throughout the day. Needless to say, the entire experience was very moving and I look forward to returning next year.
Our good friends at Hills of Africa Travel organized this particular trip, called the Give Movement Journey. And if you’re interested in doing something similar, let us know and we’ll put you in touch.
This was a trip of a lifetime, which I hope to do again soon. It really is more blessed to give than to receive.
It’s President’s Day here in the USA and what comes to mind (aside from honoring Washington and Lincoln) are some of the wonderful Presidential Suites we’ve seen while traveling the world.
An all-time Savvy favorite is the Presidential Villa at the Four Seasons Serengeti in Tanzania. This fully-tricked out villa is simply one-of-a-kind in the region. At 2600 square feet, the spacious villa features an authentic thatched roof, three bedrooms, a full kitchen, a dining room, a living room, indoor and outdoor shower facilities and a private gym. Imagine watching Serengeti wildlife from the private infinity-edge pool that overlooks an active watering hole while being served sundowner cocktails by your own personal butler!
So the next time you’re feeling presidential, and are heading out on safari, we’ve got the place for you. The only problem with moving in here is that you’ll never want to leave!
A destination and experience that is super high on our 2015 travel wishlist is gorilla trekking in Rwanda — an experience often undertaken by the hardcore African safari enthusiast who has made one or more trips to Africa. Recently, however, we’re seeing Africa first-timers heading into the mountains to trek with the gorillas, and then heading down to the Serengeti for a more traditional safari.
This video came to our attention this week, and while not specifically about trekking in Rwanda, it does tell a heartwarming story about a gorilla born in captivity and released back into the wild. Take a look, and we’d be surprised if you don’t shed a tear.
And when you’re ready to go gorilla trekking please let us know and we’ll set you up!
