July 24, 2007
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Safari
“I believe there is no sickness of the heart too great it cannot be cured by a dose of Africa. Families must go there to learn why they belong together on this earth, adolescents to discover humility, lovers to plumb old but untried wells of passion, honeymooners to seal marriages with a shared sense of bafflement, those shopworn with life to find a tonic for futility, the aged to recognize a symmetry to twilight.”John Hemingway, African Journeys
It has always been a dream of mine to go on a safari in South Africa. We had planned on going this year but we got lazy after getting back from Asia. We almost pushed it off for another year until I saw my Xanga bud’s amazing South Africa photos. That gave me the nudge I needed to get crackin’ and plan! Thanks J.!! I can’t thank you enough for inspiring us!
The Singita Game Reserve received some notable distinctions in Travel & Leisure’s 2007 World’s Best Awards - #1 in Top 25 Hotels in Africa and the Middle East, #2 in Top 100 Hotels Overall and #2 in Top 15 Small Hotels.
Our travel agent (Classic Africa) is awesome! He’s actually a South African Rhodes Scholar, veterinarian and Oxford PhD. Wow!
He helped us plan our whole trip and even made us our own personal website.One really helpful site has been the Fodor’s message boards. The people on there are so knowledgeable and helpful. You should check this site out if you want to get more info on any future trips!
Books I want to read before the trip:
The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals
Chris and Tilde Stuart’s Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa
A History of South Africa (2001)
Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
South Africa Photo Safari Companion
Dead Men Don’t Leave Tips: Adventures X Africa
A Traveller’s History of South Africa (2003)
South Africa - Culture Smart!: A quick guide to customs and etiquette
Field Guide to The Mammals of the Kruger National Park
So…whenever I have a free minute I’m sitting here daydreaming of South Africa…of cheetahs, lions, elephants…
Comments (53)
sounds like an amazing trip!!! i can’t want to read about it after you get back!
i almost went on a safari last year. i think i’m just not a nature girl. husband wants to go on a safari. i’m going to let him go on that trip with his male friends. can’t wait to read about your travels though!
one of my good friends went on a safari for her honeymoon. she said it was an amazing experience.
ah! looks so beautiful. i want to go now too!
oh, and thanks for your concern, jenny! i really appreciate it. you’re way too sweet for words! i’m doing ok, i think it’s just all in my head. i hope i get past it soon…
OMG, what an awesome trip. I definitely need to look into this!
I admit that Africa is not a country on my “I have to visit” list, but your pictures make it look pretty awesome!
Awww…you’re going to have such a great time! The cheetahs and lions are such beautiful creatures. I can’t wait to see all the pics once you return from your trip!
i’ve always wanted to go on an african safari, maybe when munchkin’s older we can take him with us. PLEASE take LOTS and LOTS of pictures!!!!
i’m so jealous… you just put our next 2 vacations to shame. =) really, i’m pretty strong and carry all kinds of luggage so would you please reconsider taking me? i’m so excited for you babe! i’ll see you next tuesday~!!!
cheetahs, lions and elephants… oh my! i’m jealous! take me with you! i fit into a large suitcase or a box with air holes, hahaha!
wow! that sounds amazing. those pictures are beautiful. i can’t wait to see your pictures when you go!!!
sounds like the trip of a lifetime. have fun planning!
you & the hubby travel so much!! when i grow up, i’ll do the same.
so excited for you!!!! so much fun….i want to go to Africa some day too….
I’ve always wanted to go to Africa…to even climb the Kilamanjaro. I hope you get to go! I’m hoping to take K there once she’s old enough.
wow how exciting! =D
wow it looks amazing! and singita lebombo lodge looks extremely cozy! lucky! asia and now south africa! can’t wait to hear all about it! hope you go after the “show” ends =).
makes me want to go now too… I guess I’ll have to wait till A is olderso she will get the full experience… the trip looks amazing.. can’t wait to hear all of abour your excursions… don’t leave a single detail out.. heheh
That will really be a vacation for the memory books! We talk about traveling but we never take the plunge. A safari is really high up on our list of things to do as well because of our shared love of animals.
How do you find these specialized travel agents? We’ve been so price conscious up to this point in our lives, it’s going to be difficult to get out of that mindset for traveling.
i’ve been on a safari… but it was when i was 12 with my mum and her friends. i freaked out because my dad told me that the hyenas liked to eat little asian girls for breakfast. seriously. thanks dad.
i think you’ll have heaps of fun though! swing by sun city. its so pretty
It looks amazing! I can’t wait to see pictures after you guys come back!
interesting, my bf and i’m planning to go to africa, too. have you booked your trip yet?
yay! that’s wonderful. my hubby and i are talking about it, but probably won’t take place until end of 2008 or beginning of 2009. it’s something we always wanted to do! few of my friends loved it there, i’d love to read/hear all about it from you! i’m soooo excited for you!!!
what a jetsetter you are! 
btw, do you have to get special shots beforehand?
looks amazing. Thanks for the wedding suggestions btw!
hey some of those pics look like outback australia ~ you’re going to have such an amazing time!!
Wow, thanks for all the tips/research. I definitely want to go to S. Africa one day so I can’t wait to hear about your trip. This is such the perfect trip for you since you looooove animals!! I feel like you’d be happier among animals than at a beach.
south africa looks awesome! looks like a lot of fun! i’m jealous! but i think the animals may scare me a little…
i agree…most of the spoiled brats in america should definitely go to africa (or any 3rd world country, for that matter) to see how good they have it here…anyway, i wish i could go to the safari! you should def go before u have kids!
wow~! it looks amazing. lucky lucky!! can’t wait to hear all about your adventure when you return!!
looks like it’ll be an wonderful trip. my cousin has been working in the peace corp in africa for the past year. of course it’s no vacation for her but she has said her experience thus far has been absolutely amazing.
oh wow! that looks so fun.
the baby wild animals are so adorable.
That’s wonderful you go on so many trips!
How do you have time to fit them all? That’s so awesome!
I would love to go on vacation somewhere soon. I never went on a trip after college. I just went straight on, into the working world.
And i barely get any holidays at my work. And my work does not really like letting people take non-paid holidays, since someone needs to still do the work. =(
i love your adventurousness! =P
when are you planning on going?
oooh, i’m so excited for you! south africa is definitely on my list too. i’m sure it will be an amazing experience! btw, thanks for the tips on the photos and makeup. will definitely try it. =)
A friend of mine on another blog went to Africa for her honeymoon. It was amazing! I mean there’s nothing like seeing animals in the wild. I’ll ask her who she used. I am pretty sure she went through some sort of agent.
My hubby was invited by one of his clients fr South Africa to visit there so he can bring hubby hunting together. He appreciated the invitation but didnt like the idea of going hunting. So he took a raincheck instead.
it is one of my dreams to go to on an african safari! have fun planning. im sure youre going to have amazing photos!
that looks so amazing! I’m so jealous! Just don’t get eaten by any wild animals ^^
just out of curiousity, what’s the price range for a safari?
oh how awesome! too funny that i told hubby yesterday that i wanna go to south africa. hahah
and you’re going!!! jealous! but no worries, take lots of pictures so i can enjoy vicariously! when’s the trip? and your travel agent sounds awesome too!!! 
gorgeous pics!!! YOU have now inspired ME to go to south africa! =) [we still have not planned for our honeymoon yet... =/]
that will be an amazing trip! the hotel looks fab too!
You can try http://www.circutcity.com for the availability of Wii. Check it during lunch hours 12-1pm, they usually have some available or you can order at http://www.gamestop.com. Goodluck ;D
wow, looks great!! when people say ‘safari’, i always imagined days of suffering in the heat, but that resort made me change my mind! now *i* want to go on a safari!
oh man that resort looks awesome! have so much fun!
ryc: thanks for your congrats to us … both. =) and glad to be of help with the discounts – love sharing the deals with everyone and hearing people put good use to it! =)
How exciting!! I can’t wait to see pix and read about your trip! The reserve looks gorgeous!
ryc: yes…going to miss her super duper much!!! that place is actually at RPV Trump’s International Golf course…
so when will you be leaving for your Safari trip?
i had no idea u were gonna go to africa!? are you going with andy?? when is this?? that is soo exciting! remember when we went on the safari ride in san diego? heheeh u’ll get to go on the REAL THING.
Wow makes me want to go to the Safari too!!!
I am always skeptical of random people who comment on my site…but your africa photos look SO amazing, so here I am commenting!! I’m glad you posted it publicly! Please ignore random mean commentors…they probably had terrible terrible days and had to take it out on someone else…or maybe they’re just mean and ridiculously critical!
oops…have a safe and happy trip!
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