SOUTH AF RICA

SAFARIS FOR A NEW ERA

Of all Africa’s great wildlife destinations, South Africa is easily the best set up for independent travel. Anyone queasy about trying to social distance in a tour group can self-drive around the Big Five in wild havens such as Kruger and Addo Elelphant National Parks and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Online booking systems with arrival windows have been set up in the parks to reduce face-to-face contact where possible, but otherwise the freedom to explore at will remains.

Spotting rhinos from the window of a hire car is the most affordable way of doing the South African safari thing, but extra spending brings extra perks. The

Samara Private Game Reserve, in the Eastern Cape, has introduced fly-camping experiences for guests travelling in groups of one to six. These start with a bush walk, before sleeping out in comfortable tents in a remote part of the 67,000-acre reserve. A guide and wildlife tracker cook dinner over the fire.

Other reserves focus on closer encounters with the wildlife rather than distancing from other guests. The Shamwari Private Game Reserve, near Port Elizabeth, has reopened its wildlife rehabilitation centre. It focuses on injured and orphaned animals, with the aim of returning them to the wild rather than letting them get habituated to humans. Guests can visit the centre during their stay to learn about the conservation and rehabilitation efforts.

The most daring new addition, however, is the Kruger Shalati. Here, a train has been parked atop a historic bridge at Skukuza Camp in Kruger National Park and turned in luxury hotel accommodation. The 13 converted carriages line up behind an overhanging pool dangling off the bridge, and wildlife can be spotted wandering down to the river below.

To further whet the appetite for post-lockdown visits to South Africa, travel company andBeyond now offers private virtual safaris alongside its live-streamed game drives. The private experiences focus on interpreting animal sightings and 10% of the fees goes to helps to fund crucial conservation initiatives. samara.co.za shamwari.com krugershalati.com andbeyond.com TRAVELLER UK

A mother leopard with her cub, Kruger National Park