About Our Blog

What began as a long-awaited reunion between friends who first met in medical school more than 40 years ago became an extraordinary journey across Southern Africa. From the iconic landscapes of Cape Town and Victoria Falls to elephant-filled waterways in Chobe and thrilling predator encounters in Botswana's Okavango Delta, this hosted safari combined remarkable wildlife, breathtaking scenery, and lifelong friendships. Join us as we relive an adventure years in the making, filled with unforgettable moments both on and off the beaten track.

As part of our commitment to our guests, we are continually exploring new safari lodges and partners throughout Southern and Eastern Africa. We make it a priority to experience select properties in the field ourselves, alongside insights from trusted industry partners, to ensure they align with our standards in guiding, hospitality, conservation, and overall guest experience before we recommend them.

This marks the beginning of our “Behind the Safari: Lodge Review Series,” where we share first-hand impressions from the lodges we are considering for our carefully curated portfolio of trusted safari partners.

Our first review takes us into the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, where we recently visited RockFig Safari Lodge.

In February 2026, Swedish tour company, Ubuntu Resor, brought its third group to Southern Africa for a journey that blended powerful history, vibrant culture, and exceptional wildlife. Beginning in Johannesburg with a moving visit to Soweto, the adventure continued into Botswana’s wildlife-rich Tuli Game Reserve before returning to South Africa’s scenic Lowveld near Kruger National Park. Along the way, the group experienced rare wildlife encounters, meaningful conservation insights, and breathtaking landscapes including the Blyde River Canyon, concluding with unforgettable close encounters with elephants and rhino in the Greater Kruger region.

Planning your first African safari is both exciting and overwhelming. East Africa and Southern Africa each offer extraordinary wildlife, beautiful lodges, and deeply memorable experiences, yet the feeling of travelling through these regions is very different.

The right choice depends on what you imagine when you picture Africa. Vast golden plains filled with migrating herds, or a private wilderness where your vehicle is the only one at a leopard sighting.

This guide will help you choose the safari that best matches your travel style, expectations, and priorities.

January tested us in every way. Unprecedented flooding in the Kruger Lowveld forced rapid changes to carefully planned safari logistics, from access routes to lodge stays. With calm, experience, and constant monitoring behind the scenes, we pivoted the itinerary, secured a new lodge, and adjusted travel plans seamlessly. While the landscape reshaped itself, our guests continued to enjoy an exceptional journey, proving that with the right team, even Africa’s wildest challenges can deliver a truly great safari.