2026 POSTCARD FROM AFRICA [SOUTH AFRICA & BOTSWANA] Tuesday 24 February – Sunday 15 March

I left home at 18.15 on Tuesday evening, and had checked into my flight by 19.15pm for my first class seat to Jo’burg. I had booked Assisted Travel so was wheeled to the Concorde Lounge where I had a glass of champagne. The flight took off on time at 21.15 and was relatively smooth – a few cobbles over the Sahara. Not impressed with the service in my first class seat! Arrived in Jo’burg early just after 10am and my Assisted Travel ‘wheeler’ kindly wheeled me all the way from my flight to my hotel, picking up my luggage en route. I had settled into my very nice room at the InterCon by 11.30am and then had to re-sort my packing - small bag for my Sabi safari and large one to leave in the hotel – otherwise a nice quiet day in my room. On Thursday 26th a kind porter wheeled my luggage for me over to the airport and I was then looked after by Assisted Travel. I left Jo’burg at 1pm and arrived in Skukuza just before 2pm. I was met by a Sabi Sabi driver and taken to Selati Lodge, arriving around 3pm. After checking in and unpacking I went on my first safari drive with my Ranger Armands and Tracker Surprise! Had a quite a good evening, tracked a leopard and a good view of a ‘crash’ of Rhino. Back to the Lodge around 7.30 and then dinner with my Ranger and a couple from my safari car. On Friday I went out on a 6am safari drive. Although we saw a leopard and cubs I was disappointed by the way guide gave way to other cars before we had had a good viewing ourselves. Saw plenty of impala, wildebeest and a few rhino. In the afternoon, at last we saw an elephant and a good lion sighting. On Saturday I moved to another vehicle where I had my own Ranger [Keagan] and Tracker [Banie]. Sadly the Reserve is lacking in animals [except for impala, no herds to be seen and very few animal sightings]. Anyway, we had an enjoyable morning – at last saw a buffalo and another elephant and a rhino quite close up. In the afternoon/evening we had good viewings of wildebeest, rhino and even another leopard. Sunday morning was spent searching for lions without luck and we hardly saw an animal – towards the end of the morning a glimpse of an elephant and of 3 giraffe, but really only saw birds all morning. It was very warm that morning so anything that is there is probably hiding in the shade! Luckily at lunchtime I could see a family of elephants at the water hole near to the lodge and a few wildebeest and impala joined them too! After lunch my guide took me out to look for a leopard, but having failed dismally we decided to look for elephants and eventually found a small herd of about 8 with two or three young ones. That evening I dined with my guide and then fell into bed around 10.30ish. Next morning was much better as far as animals were concerned – saw three lions, a leopard [plus kill], an elephant, a tower [5] of giraffe! Then a quiet day at my laptop or in my small garden. The evening safari was a disaster – it tipped down with rain so after about half an hour we turned tail and went back to the Lodge, even then – with rain jacket and rain cape – I was soaked through! After recovering I had dinner with Keagan, my guide, and then fell into bed. On Tuesday morning my guide rang me at 5.30 to say it was still raining so we called off the morning safari and I spent my day catching up with myself! In the evening I went on a very good safari, seeing lion, zebra, a crash of rhino all having fights with one another, some lovely waterbuck by a small lake – all making for some great photos. I dined with my guide Keagan that evening. Went out on an early morning drive on Wednesday but it was very quiet. Saw a couple of hippo and a sick giraffe but nothing much else. At the end they bounced me into going to a Bush Breakfast – but that is not my cup of tea and in any case after 3 hours on safari would like to go to the loo before going to breakfast, so I asked to be taken back to the Lodge, where I managed to get some breakfast cereal! Then had a quiet day in my room and went out on a great safari drive in the evening – saw elephant, rhino, buffalo and lion, and watched a crocodile leap out across the water twice - to catch a fish. Finished the day by dining with my Ranger, Keagan. My last morning drive was good with plenty to see including lions and finished up with a leopard which I could just see! I left Sabi at 12.30 and made my way to the airport for my flight to Jo’burg, once there settled into my room at the InterCon Hotel for the night. On Friday 6 March I checked into my flight to Kasane, Botswana around midday where I met up with my friend Gill. We had a pretty rough flight down to Kasane but eventually reached the Chobe Chilwero Lodge around 2pm. After settling in/unpacking etc we went off on our first safari in Chilwero. It was a short trip but we saw a lot of giraffes and of course plenty of impala. Then back to the lodge for drinks and dinner. On Saturday morning we went out on safari at 7am. Didn’t see that much, but did see a few elephant, one or two hippos and giraffe and plenty of birds. In the afternoon, after a brief spell by the Lodge pool, we went out on the Chobe River and had quite a few good sightings until it started to rain so we didn’t stay too long on board. On Sunday Gill went off to Victoria Falls so I went out on the Chobe River with my guide Innocent. Very little life there except for crocs and birds! Gill was back from the Falls to join us for our evening drive when we saw many elephants and quite a few hippos. Overnight Sunday/Monday I had a bad stomach upset – probably from garlic in my dinner. Not quite sure how, as the Chef knows I am allergic to it and I only had some fish with mashed potatoes and a light sauce – probably in that! So I stayed in the lodge for the day and Gill went out on safari with Innocent. On Tuesday Gill and I spent the day on the Chobe River with our guide Innocent. We had a great day with loads of elephants, crocodiles, hippos, to mention but a few! We went out on a small boat, then moved over to a very slightly larger boat at lunchtime where they had prepared some lunch for the two of us. We stayed on that with our guide who drove us back to the area where our car was parked. Next day Gill was due to depart late morning so we went on an early morning safari and had some great viewings of elephants as well as a lion hidden in the bushes! In the afternoon I had an hour or so by the pool and then got myself ready for a late afternoon safari. We left at 4.30 and spent the afternoon trying to find a big male lion. After driving around – and having some good sightings of elephants, kudu, giraffe, we then sat and watched an area where he had last been seen, and eventually Innocent saw him and we managed to see him quite close up as he passed us. Then back to the lodge for a quiet dinner. On my last full day Innocent and I went out on a full day’s drive. We saw many elephants, giraffe and impala as well as plenty of crocs and hippos and even a buffalo! Had a quiet dinner and an early night. On Friday 13th [!] I packed up and left the lodge around 11.30 for Kasane Airport and my flight to Jo’burg. On arrival I checked into the InterCon and settled in there for 24 hours before my flight home the following evening. A good flight with an excellent steward looking after me. Home soon after 7pm – on the whole an excellent trip.