Could Not Have Been Better
Clare, This was a bucket list trip with the entire family; it could not have been better. We spent 3 weeks of the most enjoyable travel for us who are widely traveled throughout the world over many years.
All arrangements were made by Wild Wings, including a last-minute change in lodge accommodation due to a devastating fire in Knysna only a couple of weeks before we were to depart.
We began our safaris at Rhino River Lodge in Kwa-Zulu Natal where we saw every expected animal except leopards. Our guides and the service provided by the staff of the Lodge were excellent. We also had the good fortune to observe the work of the staff of the reserve in which Rhino River Lodge is located in their efforts at preventing poaching of rhinos for their horns.
Our next couple of days, at Lidiko Lodge in St. Lucia and our viewing of hippos and crocodiles, plus a road trip to Cape Vidal were similarly rewarding. The personal service at Lidiko was above expectations; I use crutches to get around and was aided whenever needed. Our driver/guide between Rhino River Lodge and St. Lucia and then back to Durban made the road trips almost like a roadway “safari” because of his pointing out sites and animals along the way.
After flying to Nelspruit, we were met by Edward, of GAP Tours and Transfers who delivered us to Hippo Hollow Country House and on the next day hosted us on a Panoramic Route tour. Edward, who was also a guide, made every road trip memorable because of all the information he provided us with respect to everything we saw. He went out of his way to answer our questions, including showing us sites we would’ve otherwise missed including the village in which he lives.
While at Hippo Hollow we visited Elephant Whisperers which included a demonstration of the elephant’s skills and an opportunity to touch one, something particularly enjoyed by our granddaughter.
Edward then transported us to Inyati Lodge in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Here we enjoyed the most memorable morning and evening safaris which included multiple sightings of leopards, lions, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, hippos, wildebeest, Cape buffalo, multiple species of antelope as well as many birds.
The most exciting sighting was of a pangolin; an endangered ant-eater rarely seen, in fact not seen previously by some of our guides.
During one evening safari, we experienced tracking a female leopard within the Inyati campsite and observed her marking her territory, including our cabin. Once again, food, service, and ambiance were spectacular.
Edward delivered us back to the Nelspruit airport for the last part of our trip which included Cape Town, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Table Mountain, Cape Point, the West Coast and part of the Garden Route.
Shawn Nicholson of African Experience met us at the airport and transported us and guided all our tours for the next 8 days. Shawn not only provided us with great descriptions of everything we were experiencing, accommodated my limited walking ability and adjusted the botanical sites visited to ensure that we could see the wildflowers of this part of South Africa in spite of their not being as prevalent as usual because of the current drought.
We saw landscapes that we didn’t know existed and were always guided to restaurants and two wineries that were excellent in every way.
Could we have asked for more; not in my estimation based on travel experiences over a period of 50 years.
