ELTIPS AV R T

Could there be a more dramatic, awe-inspiring start to a trip back home to my native South Africa?

I’m at the Sabi Sabi private reserve to catch sight of the big five in their natural environment – elephant, lion, leopard, Cape buffalo and rhino..

Adjacent to the Kruger National Park, Sabi Sabi has animals that are free to roam the non- fenced boundary between the park and the 65,000 hectares of the Sabi Sands.

I drove five hours from Joburg’s OR Tambo airport to get here – preferring to take in the scenery rather than hop on a domestic flight to the Sabi Sabi landing strip.

Later I’ll be heading to the Drakensburg Mountains, a World Heritage site, and on to Durban,rban, where I grew up.

But first, Sabi Sabi where I stay at Earth Lodge, which I’m told is unique. As I am welcomed by a cool drink and da a smiling member of staff, I can see what they mean. It’s surrounded ed by lush vegetation and is chiselledled into the landscape to make it invisible from afar.

The lodge has 13 luxurious suites,ites, each with a plunge pool, stone bath, shower and his ’n’ hers sinks. Not to mention a dramatic tree trunk at the A GOOD camera is essential but you do getet very close to the animalss so there is no need for big fancyncy expensive lenses. WHILE it’s relatively warm during the winter (and hotterr in the summer) you do need warmarm clothes because it gets chillyy in the mornings and late at night.ght. REMEMBER to pack a pairair of comfortable walking shoesoes for those long treks intonto the bush.