Bucket list Southern African Safari

Spend your first night in South Africa at the award-winning InterContinental Johannesburg on the doorstep of O.R. Tambo International Airport. Its upmarket ensuite bedrooms are complemented by first-rate facilities that include a heated indoor swimming pool, fitness center and spa. Quills restaurant is always open for you to enjoy a family-friendly meal and the hotel’s convenient car hire service means Johannesburg’s art galleries, museums and other attractions are always within easy reach if you want to get out and explore.

Your next four nights are at the exclusive Pafuri Tented Camp, a timeless safari refuge and gateway to the Makuleke Nature Reserve in northern Kruger National Park. Dramatically set on the banks of the Luvuvhu River, Pafuri has 19 luxury safari tents and seven family tents with ensuite bathrooms and optional outdoor showers. Your tent’s private deck is the perfect hideout for watching elephants sauntering down to the river, but also keep your binoculars handy for possible sightings of rare bird species like the Pel’s Fishing Owl. Game drives will see you combing the African savanna and floodplains in search of wildlife with professional trackers and guides. Seeing large elephant herds is not uncommon and encounters with some big cats like lion and leopard might also be on the cards. While traversing the Makuleke wilderness, also keep an eye out for the famous landmarks of Lanner Gorge and Crook’s Corner. Walking safaris are a rewarding way to discover the minutiae of the bush which is easy to miss. Your expert guides are always eager to share their intimate knowledge of this terrain as well as traditional folklore passed down through many generations.

In the morning, you’ll be driven to Botswana’s Mashatu Lodge where you’ll discover the secrets of a magnificent wildlife sanctuary where conservation and sustainability go hand in hand. Here there are 14 luxury suites designed for both complete privacy and communion with the bush. Find serenity with your family on the extensive verandah as you contentedly watch big game drinking from the watering hole as birds sing overhead. Take morning and evening game drives with extremely knowledgeable guides from the local community. With the largest concentration of elephants on privately-owned land, sightings of these magnificent beasts at Mashatu are a certainty and tracking them on foot is something you’ll never forget. Other intriguing species to check off your list are the African wildcat, black-backed jackal and heaviest flying bird, the Kori Bustard. Some family-friendly activities at Mashatu include horse riding and mountain biking, which might have the added bonus of seeing some animals.