Ulusaba a very special place!

Well this trip had to be something very special as after all it’s a once in a lifetime trip! We wanted to combine a safari in Sabi Sands, with a visit to Cape Town and the Winelands which is much further south and has a completely different climate, therefore we had to think carefully about the best time of year to travel. We chose November as this was coming to the end of the dry season in Sabi Sands, it would still be hot and we would be able to see the animals without too much vegetation around in which they could hide. This is also a good time to visit Cape Town and the Winelands as it’s their spring and the days are warm and great for sightseeing. We decided that a safari would be a great way to start our trip as we both have a love of animals and a sense of adventure! We flew from London with BA direct to Johannesburg where we had a connecting flight to the Kruger National Park and we then took a light aircraft to Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, where we would be staying for the next three nights. As we approached to land, there was a dazzle of zebra running across the runway ahead of us which was a truly amazing sight! Once we arrived at the landing-strip we were greeted by a member of staff with a glass of fruit punch and a cold towel and our ranger Eric who would be looking after us for the next three days. Ulusaba is owned by Richard Branson and has three different lodges, we decided to stay at Rock Lodge for one night in a Rock Lodge Suite which had its own private viewing platform overlooking the bush and then the following two nights we spent at Safari Lodge which is set amongst the bush. We stayed in a River Room with private plunge pool, some of these rooms are accessed via a rope bridge and therefore may not be suitable for everyone. The lodges have a very different feel as Rock Lodge has the magnificent views, whereas at Safari Lodge you may see animals passing by your room or drinking water from your plunge pool. Whichever one you decide to stay at you will not be disappointed as both are amazing! Unfortunately, we didn't have any elephants drinking from our pool but on the first night at Rock Lodge we had an elephant right outside our front door eating the foliage from a tree above our roof, which was very exciting!! The standard of the rooms and the service at both lodges is definitely 5* and the experience whilst out on our game drives was magical and certainly worth the expense. Nothing was too much trouble and it would be a great place to get married which is something that they can also arrange. The day begins with a wakeup call at 5 am and believe me you won't want to miss it! I am not a morning person, but I was so excited that getting up early really wasn't a problem. You then meet up with your fellow guests for a quick coffee and pastries before setting off at 5.45 for your early morning game drive. There's a maximum of 6 guests per vehicle which means that everyone has an excellent view, an exception to this would be a large family group where they will then try and accommodate you all in one vehicle if practical. You're met by your ranger and tracker and they are in close contact with other vehicles in the area to make sure that everyone gets a chance to spot the wildlife. This area is particularly good for seeing leopards and we must have seen about seven different ones during our stay and on one occasion we were privileged to see a female leopard devouring her kill up a tree, an amazing experience but I am quite pleased to say that we didn't see here kill it! We saw some fantastic wildlife including a tower of giraffe, some hippos that were fighting and a family of wild dogs which apparently are quite rare. We managed to spot all the Big Five apart from lions. There had been a pride of lions in the area, unfortunately they had crossed the boundary into another reserve just before we arrived which meant we were unable to see them. Whilst we were out on our morning game-drive we would either stop in the bush for cookies and a cup of Eric's 'special coffee' which was delicious, or a surprise bush breakfast which the staff at Ulusaba arrange and cook out in the bush. Once you return to the lodge and breakfast is over you have the rest of the day to relax until you go out on your afternoon game drive at about 4.30. Each of the game drives last for around 3 hours and during the afternoon you stop for sundowners before returning to the lodge for dinner. Everyone eats Breakfast and dinner together on a long table, where they can chat about their experiences on their game drives. If you prefer, the lodge will arrange a private dinner for you should you have a special occasion to celebrate or you would rather not eat with the rest of the guests for an evening. We had a private dinner on our last evening in a private setting away from the other guests which was a very special way to end our stay. All food and drinks along with two game-drives a day are included. This even includes a top-quality wine list and fine champagnes. Please do not hesitate to contact me for more information and I will happily share more of our experience with you.