These destinations offer excellent general game viewing but, as my recent trip to both areas showed, they can also produce some rarer sightings and I can now finally say that I have seen aardvark, caracal and brown hyaena!

The Eastern Cape is home to several private game reserves, many of which purport to offer a big five experience such as the exclusive Kwandwe Reserve or beautiful Lalibela Reserve. However, big five viewing can never be guaranteed, especially as the notoriously elusive leopard can be a real challenge to see in the Eastern Cape!

Other properties in the region have their own special attractions such as the family friendly Riverbend Lodge, situated within a private concession in Addo Elephant Park. This is a haven for anyone with a fondness for these giant pachyderms, who are so habituated to the vehicles here that they will happily show off their babies at close quarters. One old girl has even acquired an unusual taste for metal, and occasionally wanders across to suck on the vehicles!

A contrasting experience to all of the other Eastern Cape reserves is Samara in the mountainous Karoo region. I would highly recommend an early morning start to drive up onto the high plateau, from where you can enjoy a silence interrupted only by birdsong and marvel at sweeping vistas below. In the afternoon, take the opportunity to track cheetah on foot.

Access to all Eastern Cape reserves is easy, either by self drive or with a road/air transfer from Port Elizabeth Airport, making it the perfect start or end to a touring holiday exploring the scenic splendours of the garden route and visiting the mother city of Cape Town.

Madikwe Game Reserve is an hour long flight (or four hour road transfer) from Johannesburg and is known as being a particularly family friendly ‘big five’ reserve which is easily combinable with the rest of South Africa, or with the beaches of Mozambique and Mauritius. Game viewing is excellent with large herds of elephants and buffalo, a very healthy lion population, and frequent sightings of more unusual species such as wild dog and brown hyaena. I was lucky to watch a brown hyaena (my first) calmly walk just a few feet from me as I was enjoying a morning coffee in the bush. Later on this year cheetah will be re-introduced into the reserve.

Children of all ages are well catered for in Madikwe with most properties offering a kiddies ‘bumble’ drive for those deemed to be too young for the normal game viewing activities (this varies from lodge to lodge but generally speaking children aged six and above are allowed on game drives at the rangers discretion). Back in camp, there is often a programme of activities to keep young minds occupied during the day.

Many of the Madikwe properties are built on a variation of a trusted ‘safari’ theme of chalet-style accommodation overlooking a water course, but there are a couple of exceptions. The Bush House, owned and run by Sue and Gordon Morrison, offers a warm and personal welcome where guests are encouraged to make themselves at home and afternoons can be spent curled up on one of the many comfortable sofas watching the elephants who frequently visit the water hole in front of camp. At the other end of the scale is the exquisite Morukuru Family, three luxurious houses which are sold exclusively and come with private staff who ensure that all guest requirements are fully catered for.

There is no denying that if you are seeking a truly remote and authentic African wilderness experience, you will need to look further afield than these malaria free regions of South Africa. But for anyone looking for a more accessible safari introduction without the need for malaria prophylactics, I felt that both regions really delivered on exceptional game-viewing and hospitality.

For those interested in visiting, we’ve also got 10 tickets to give away free on a first come, first serve basis. Call us now on 01787 888590

I started in Meru National Park and then headed westwards through some gorgeous Laikipia scenery and the Ol Pejeta Conservancy to reach the Great Rift Valley lakes of Naivasha and Nakuru, ending my trip with a few nights exploring new properties on the south Mombasa Coast.

I was incredibly excited about returning to Meru National Park after an absence of 7 years, as this park is a personal favourite of mine in Kenya – and this visit has just enhanced my enthusiasm of this special, rather ‘hidden’, gem. The first thing you notice when you land is the heat (at 2500 feet Meru is much lower than many other parks). As you drive out from the airstrip you will also notice the trail of red dust behind the vehicle, dust that during the dry season will become part of your experience! However, you are immediately hit by the beauty of the landscape. The riverine forests, the open plains, the backdrop of the Nyambene Hills and the many rivers and swamps that dominate the park create a truly magical part of the world. And the wildlife is good too – we have many reports from guests of the increasing number of animals and the variety of species. Elephant are everywhere, cat sightings are improving season on season, 65+ rhino within a recently extended rhino sanctuary, and more specialist ‘northern’ species such as Reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Lesser kudu. It is not the Masai Mara but you never go too long without seeing something special, and with so many small streams and swamps, the birdlife is superb. But the real beauty of Meru is the exclusivity. The entire park has very few camps or lodges and most sightings you have entirely to yourself. My night was spent at Offbeat Meru Camp, a traditional tented camp with six tents and lovely setting overlooking the Bisanadi River – the perfect place to watch the sunset with a G&T and wash away the heat and dust of the park. If you are looking for a bit more comfort, better known Elsa’s Kopje is built into the side of a hill with expansive views across the park.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy lies on the equator and affords wonderful views of Mount Kenya. The private conservancy offers 90000 acres of beautiful landscape and an un-crowded environment to enjoy quality game-viewing and birding. The Conservancy is home to Kenya’s largest populations of black rhino, large numbers of elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog and plentiful plains game. There are also a number of the rarer Northern species such as the Grevy’s zebra, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Beisa oryx and Reticulated giraffe. There are a few properties to consider in Ol Pejeta, I stayed at Kicheche Laikipia which has a fantastic location in the heart of the conservancy and overlooks a large waterhole which animals often visit. After my work for the day, I enjoyed a short game-drive where I ticked 33 species of birds in just one hour (click here to see my list). Whilst being totally engrossed in our bird watching we also managed to stumble across a leopard too! I also re-visited the chimpanzee sanctuary for orphaned/rescued animals – not quite ‘in the wild’ but certainly a highlight of a visit to the conservancy.

Naivasha and Nakuru do not offer the exclusivity and wilderness of the Laikipia region or Meru National Park, but both areas are beautiful and the lakes of course a highlight! Lake Naivasha is not a ‘big game’ destination, the area is better known for its flower farms, but there are some lovely small lodges on private conservancies bordering the lake. Whilst staying at Chui Lodge, I was rather spoiled with a bush breakfast overlooking the picturesque, smaller, and lesser known, Lake Oloidien, which was teeming with birds including thousands of flamingos – a real treat! Lake Nakuru is only an hour’s drive north of Naivasha and can easily be visited on a day trip from Naivasha, enjoying a picnic lunch in the park. Lake Nakuru will offer more guaranteed big game-viewing and is particularly good for white rhino – I actually lost count of how many we spotted on our morning game-drive! The lake itself is beautiful and of course well known for its large flamingo populations although due to the ever changing weather patterns it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict the best time to visit the lake to see the flamingos.

A safari in Kenya is often combined with some relaxation time on the coast. It is true to say that the Mombasa coastline is known for its larger, resort hotels and busy beaches, but I am pleased to report there are smaller, more personal properties that have popped up in the last few years! Kinondo Kwetu and Msambweni House are both upmarket, with lovely accommodation, delicious fresh food, personal service and quieter locations. More affordable options are Waterlovers and Asha Cottages both of which are owner run guesthouses with warm hospitality, great food, and friendly, personal service. Finally the last property that really stood out to me was Tijara Beach Lodge, built on the edge of a cliff with stunning ocean views. It does not have the long white sandy beach but does have a small private beach, is owner run, and with just four cottages is very peaceful and exclusive!

I always find it slightly frustrating when I hear people claiming that Kenya is only good for mass-market safari or beach holidays. It is so far from the truth! If you know where to go, Kenya has more exclusive safari options than many other parts of Africa, especially if you are keen for a diverse experience. The hospitality on offer is rarely matched anywhere else, and Kenya still offers better value for money and better family options than most other African countries. Kenya will always have something for everyone!

The Namib Desert with its high red dunes towering over the hardened white crust and sun-blackened trees of Dead Vlei beneath, was just breath taking. Climbing the Sossusvlei dunes in 40 degree heat at 8 o’clock in the morning was testing to say the least, but worth it to see the view from the top and great fun running down!

Swakopmund is a picturesque coastal town with quirky shops, lovely restaurants and a friendly atmosphere. The cooler temperatures, in comparison with the interior, are a welcome relief in the summer months and make it an ideal stop between the north and south. There are many excursions available in the surrounding area and a personal favourite was the catamaran cruise and Sandwich Harbour combination. The cruise gives you a fantastic look at marine life with seal colonies, birds, and, if you lucky, heavyside dolphins or even whales (I was not so lucky on the latter). This is followed by a 4×4 adventure south along the beach and dunes of this stunning wild coastline to the remote ‘harbour’ estuary.

Inland and north from Swakopmund is the vast wilderness area known as Damaraland. On the southern edge of this region are the beautiful Erongo Mountains, where I tested some of my 4×4 driving skills just getting to the lodge set amongst the rocky boulders. From here I headed north past the busier Twyfelfontein region to reach the exclusive Palmwag and Etendeka Concessions, both of which are good for seeing desert elephant and rhino, and offer some wonderful walking. I then set off on a private guided camping tour that took me further north into the really wild north-west, known as Kaokoland, ‘wild camping’ on the banks of the Hoanib and Hoarasib rivers. This was an unforgettable experience – food cooked over the open fire, the incredible night sky, desert elephants, scorpions and snakes! I really was lost for words, the change in scenery in one day was like nothing else I had encountered, from river gorge to open rolling plateau, through jagged mountains to end at a lush green river oasis!

Working my way back to ‘reality’, Etosha National Park was next, well known for its great game-viewing especially around the waterholes. Unfortunately for me, it has just rained, so my day driving through the park was uneventful. This is the main reason that the area is best visited in the dry months from May to October!

My last night was spent at Okonjima, home to the Africat Foundation, where I spent an exciting afternoon tracking leopard. The following morning we concentrated on seeing cheetah and wild dog. The foundation has done fantastic work for the rehabilitation of these big cats (and now dogs), and gives you a great opportunity to see these elusive animals in as natural an environment as possible.

We have always felt that Namibia is best as a self-drive destination. I have been fortunate enough to fly and now drive through the country and both experiences were fantastic. I do think that driving gives you a more complete experience and ‘feel’ for the destination and if you like adventure and the excitement of self-driving, then Namibia should certainly live up to all expectations!

I was standing at a spot in the far north-eastern Kruger National Park, gazing out over the wide river bed of the mighty Limpopo River. So this is the infamous Crooks Corner, with Mozambique on the opposite bank and Zimbabwe just a few kilometres to the north. Crooks Corner was so-called as it offered smugglers, poachers and general crooks of the time the chance to jump ship across the border to Mozambique or Zimbabwe at a moment’s notice to avoid South African jurisdiction. I bet it was interesting when the Limpopo was in flood, I thought, but let’s not dwell on realities. Crooks Corner may not have been a great place for innocent folk to hang out, but it does drum up an evocative image of African exploration and frontier life in the ‘Wild North-East’.

The most northerly section of the Kruger National Park is now a designated private concession, called Makuleke, managed principally by Wilderness Safaris who run the lovely Pafuri Camp on the Luvuvhu River. The northern Kruger is historically not thought to have as plentiful big game as the southern Kruger, which to be honest is true. However, the game-viewing is better and more varied than I expected, and guests I joined on game drives had seen the big five in their 3 day visit!

However, the Pafuri region is known for its diverse and spectacular scenery. I was not allowed nearly enough time to soak up the incredible scenery of Lanner Gorge, where the Luvuvhu has cut a winding gorge through the sandstone mountains, or to explore the spectacular Fever Tree Forest close to Crooks Corner which stretches further and wider than any other Fever Tree grove I have seen. Then there are the river courses – the Luvuvhu and Limpopo, both of which offer beautiful riverine drives where the game is especially plentiful and the birdlife spectacular.

For those looking for an adventure on foot, Pafuri is one of the best places in South Africa to consider. Wilderness Safaris offer a fantastic  3 day walking  trail which allows you to appreciate the region from a different experience, perhaps exploring some areas that are difficult to access by vehicle.

I found the Pafuri region a refreshing change from the rather predictable (to me!) private game reserves further south and would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a more in depth, wild and remote Kruger Park experience.

Zanzibar is one option which combines easily with a safari in either Kenya or Tanzania. It is a destination which evokes images of endless white beaches, exotic spice farms and architecture in Stonetown which reflects the various cultures which have held sway over the island. So whether you wish to ‘flop on a beach’ or be more active and soak up the atmosphere of this historic island, Zanzibar is both convenient and rewarding.

The island has seen a lot of development over past years and now offers a wide variety of different accommodation styles from owner run guest houses and small hotels, such as Echo Beach Hotel, Shooting Star, Unguja Lodge and the ever popular Pongwe Beach Hotel, through the established mid-range hotels such as Breezes Beach Club, Matemwe Lodge and Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel, to the first class opulence offered by the Palms, Baraza and Kilindi, and the two new kids on the block – The Residence Zanzibar and Essque Zalu.

Every day does not have to be spent on the beach however. Zanzibar offers world class diving and snorkelling, dolphin watching tours, spice farm tours, visits to Jozani Forest in search of the rare red colobus monkey and tours of the capital, Stonetown.

Close to Zanzibar are also several exotic island hideaways. Mnemba Island (off the north-east coast) is absurdly wonderful with a price tag to match, whilst Chumbe Island (off the south-west coast) offers a more down to earth ‘eco-stay’ with fantastic snorkelling.

All in all, Zanzibar has much to offer and is still less busy, more culturally interesting and a rather ‘more sleepy’ beach destination than the well known coastal resorts of Kenya.

For incredible value for money, and an itinerary that really gives you the best of both ‘bush and beach’, consider combining the outstanding Selous Game Reserve with one of Zanzibar’s affordable beach lodges. For anyone keen on maximising their opportunities on safari, the wonderfully remote Ruaha National Park can also be included. Selous, Ruaha and Zanzibar……….now that is a fantastic combination of experiences!