FROM THE EDITOR

“What’s the best trip you’ve ever been on?”

Blame my job title but this is the question I’m asked most often. (The next most popular? “So where are you off to next?”)

And my answer has always been the same... until last year. My honeymoon in Tanzania and on Zanzibar wore the crown for 16 years. I found intense joy in bumping along savannas that were wide and brown and full of life. The rush of seeing a group of cheetahs frolicking in front of us (and having an elephant charge at us) was matched by the mighty baobabs that towered over the landscape. I have longed to return to Africa.

And then, in November last year, I did. This time, we had our daughters in tow and the four of us spent four exhilarating days at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, south of the Kruger National Park.

We saw everything we’d ever dreamed of and more. A lion eyeballed me. A leopard raced up a tree just metres from us. We were so close to a herd of rhinos that we could hear them breathing. To have this experience as a family and create these memories? It was priceless.

You’ve probably clocked that my two favourite trips of all time have a common thread. They centred on the safari, which is also the theme of this issue. The Macquarie – our dictionary of choice here at the magazine – defines the safari as a “journey or an expedition”. It also describes it as a “holiday tour, which may entail some camping out and a degree of adventurousness”.

So while Africa tops my list, there are many forms of safari, from a food safari in Copenhagen (less camping, more culinary adventure) to a snorkelling safari (which offers the lot) on the Great Barrier Reef.

It’s really about trying something new, wonderful and life-affirming. Which sums up travel for me.

Have a great month.