Latedeals
superb views kept coming at us… the Three Rondavels, The Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window.
Then we skipped back along the route in a helicopter to make sure the scenes we had witnessed weren’t our eyes playing tricks on us.
After two nights in Hazyview, it was time for the cherry on the cake.
We headed for the Mala Mala game reserve to stalk the Big Five, so called because they were the most sought after animals by huntsmen of old looking for trophies for their walls.
Mala Mala is a sumptuous bush destination on the banks of the Sand River, one of the first areas of private land to switch from hunting to conservation in the early 60s. A bottle of champagne chilling in ice awaited me in the opulence and splendour of my lodge.
We had been told that for most people, this was a bucketlist destination, a once-in-a-lifetime treat – and already I could see why.
But the best was to come. Out in the Jeeps and into the jungle at 5am, we started ticking off the animals. Impala, kudu, giraffe and wild dogs aplenty.
We soon saw a pack of lions, young and old, enjoying the early morning sun. A herd of elephants walked towards us – the leader about the size of a small ship. We saw grumpylooking rhinos and happier hippos – and then came an even bigger moment.
Our ranger, his eyes – and ears – seemingly everywhere at once, alerted us to the warning calls of small vervet monkeys.
This, he said, was a sure sign there was trouble about.
And then we saw him, a noble-looking leopard finishing off his breakfast under a tree – and we sat and watched for ages until he slipped away.
After two days in the bush, it was ● Flying from Glasgow on April 10, seven nights halfboard at the 4* Sentido Mallorca Palace, Majorca, from £389pp ● Flying from Glasgow on April 21, seven nights halfboard at the 3* Villa Pina & Antico, near Sorrento, from £359pp ● Flying from Glasgow on May 6, seven nights halfboard at 3* Mediterranean Village, Salou, from £399pp ● Flying from Glasgow on May 29, 14 nights all-inclusive, at 4* Grand Bahia Principe Tulum, Mexico, from £1279pp ● For these and more, please visit www.holiday andflightcentre.com