18 – an interlude

What is a safari?

It is a journey, usually to Africa, to search out wild animals, and to spend time with them in their natural habitat. It involves taking nothing but photographs, leaving nothing but footprints, and killing nothing but time. It necessitates living far from the madding crowd (though not far from creature comforts)

What animals can be seen?

Depending on where and when you go (and on the whims of Mother Nature), you may see a selection of the following: a pride of lions, a leap of leopards, a float of crocodiles, a pack of wild dogs, a bloat of hippopotami, a rumpus of baboons, a herd of elephants, a jubilee of eagles, a wake of vultures, a cackle of hyenas, a tower of giraffes, a barrel of monkeys and a crash of rhinoceroses. In addition perhaps cheetahs, servals, mongeese, civets, genets, warthogs, zebras, buffalo, wildebeest, jackals... There will also be antelope of different kinds: impala, puku, kudu, eland, waterbuck, sable, nyala, steenbok, duiker, and others. There are many different types of birds (my favourite is the lilac-breasted roller), plus assorted models of Land Rover and Land Cruiser (they are similar in appearance but of different genetic lineage)

And thank you to James Lipton for the collective nouns

Who are safaris for?

They are not for:

They are for everyone else

THIS MEANS YOU!

Just to give you some inspiration for when you book your safari (note the word “when”), here is a list of the countries and camps that I have visited, with links so that you can investigate them; ask me about them if you wish. There are various accommodation types, but at a minimum they are very comfortable, and some are downright luxurious

Botswana
Muchenje Camp	Individual chalets in the Chobe National Park, which is noted for for large numbers of elephants and crocodiles
Selinda Camp	Luxury tented camps in the Okavango delta, one of the best viewing areas in the country (and now one of the more expensive destinations for safaris)
Kanana Camp
Okuti Camp	Luxury tented camp in a great game area, the Moremi reserve
Kenya
Naboisho Camp	Outstanding luxury tented camp in the Naboisho Conservancy, which is adjacent to the Maasai Mara. An ideal camp for seeing the herds of wildebeest and zebra in their migration across the plains from Tanzania's Serengeti
Rwanda
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge	Individual chalets attached to a lodge in Volcanoes National Park, where you go to see mountain gorillas
South Africa
Honeyguide Mantobeni Camp	Individual chalets in the Manyeleti reserve, close to Kruger National Park
Phinda Forest Lodge	The ultimate in luxurious private chalets, in the Phinda reserve. This is the best place I have visited for rhino and leopard, and it is great for many other animals too. Recommended very highly!
Kirkman's Kamp	1920s Colonial style individual chalets in the Sabi Sand reserve, close to Kruger National Park
Tanda Tula Camp	Luxury tented camp in the Timbavati reserve, also close to Kruger
Tanzania
Swala Camp	Luxury tented camp in a beautiful grove of baobob trees, in the Tarangire National Park. Many termite mounds and a large assortment of animals
Serena Hotel	Hotel on the banks of the Ngorongoro Crater, a great place for a first visit to Africa
Zambia
Kakuli Camp	Luxury tented camps within walking distance of each other, in the South Luangwa National Park. A "must" for lion and hippo lovers
Mchenja Camp
Zimbabwe
Kanga Camp	Luxury tented camp in Mana Pools National Park
Somalisa Camp	Luxury tented camp in Hwange National Park
Zambezi Expeditions	Mobile tented camp on the banks of the Zambezi, in Mana Pools National Park

I'm really not sure why you haven't started booking your trip - email Jamie Bell now!!