South African Safari, a Trip of a Lifetime

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A South African safari is a wonderful travel experience, especially for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers (even amateur photographers). For active boomers, a safari is a great way to mix a bit of adventure with a bit of relaxation along the way.

Our luxury South African safari was the trip of a lifetime. Accommodations included Ivory Lodge at Lion Sands and Madikwe Private Game Lodge. And then there were those couple of days relaxing at Birkenhead House in Hermanus on the coast.

Read our safari planning tips, first-hand luxury lodging reviews and wildlife photos to get you started on the road to your own South African safari.

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Before you go on a South African safari

Bucket list trips, like South African safaris, require planning. You don’t decide one day that you’ll fly over to Africa to watch wildlife. This type of travel requires preparation: learning about the right clothes to wear (yes, it makes a difference), health checks and brushing up on your photography skills. As they say, anticipation is part of the fun of travel.

Adaptor, bug spray, instructions, Brown and Keene has equipped us for safari.

Tips for Planning a Safari

Before our safari, a precious brown box appeared on our doorstep. When Alan and I opened it later that evening, months of travel planning materialized before our boomer eyes. Underneath a layer of leopard print tissue paper, we found a mini-flashlight, Deep Wood insecticide towelettes, a South African Plug Adapter, itinerary plus contact information to send […]

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Advice for what to wear on a safari.

Dressing for Safari

Which clothes do you bring on safari? That was the question I asked before our November trip to Lion Sands and Madikwe Hills in South Africa. Alan and I are lucky to have a travel advisor who spelled it all out for us.  Explicit instructions about dressing for safari, down to how many shirts and […]

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An elderly elephant at Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa

Visit Your Local Travel Clinic Before Traveling Internationally

Lions, tigers and elephants dance in our dreams as Alan and I prepare for our South African safari. But we’ve been working on this trip since last spring when we started a series of hepatitis shots. Since then, we’ve been inouclated for yellow fever (a requirement for entrance into Brazil where our trip ends), taken […]

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Luxury lodges in South Africa

During our South African safari, we stayed at two luxury lodges that we’d be happy to visit again. At Lion Sands, Ivory Lodge was our headquarters for exploring Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Then we boarded a small plane for a flight to the private airport in Johannesburg, boarded another plane and headed to Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge near the Botswana border.

Two lions cuddle during a nap in South Africa

Exploring in luxury at Ivory Lodge

What do luxury accommodations mean to you? Is it the thread count of the sheets or the number of stars behind the property’s name? For this boomer traveler, personal service is the key. And that’s what Alan and I found at the all-inclusive Lion Sands Ivory Lodge located in South Africa’s Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. […]

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An elderly elephant at Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa

Luxury Plus Adventure at Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge

Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge is located in Madikwe Game Reserve, part of South Africa’s North West Province near the Botswana border. Created in 1991 to stimulate the area’s economy plus conserve the land, 8200 animals were relocated to the malaria-free zone consisting of plains bordered by rocking outcroppings and mountains. When Alan and I […]

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Lion at Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve in South Africa

Travel with the animals on a South African game drive

Active boomers who want to see wild animals “up close and personal” will love a South African game drive. Whether you are a photographer or a traveler content observing animal behavior, a trip to the bush provides travel memories for a lifetime. But don’t expect the wide plains of the Serengeti with thousands of wildebeests roaming […]

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Adventures to extend your South African Safari

South African safaris are fun, but the pace is grueling. Why not do as we did—enjoy a few days relaxing on the Hermanus Coast. Be sure to stop to see penguins on the drive from Cape Town.

birkenhead-house-hermanus

Celebrating luxurious romance at Birkenhead House

When baby boomer travelers ask me, “Where is the most luxurious place you’ve ever stayed?” I don’t even have to think about it. Birkenhead House, on the South African coast, fulfills my luxury expectations with exceptional customer service thrown in for good measure. And did I mention it’s one of the most romantic getaways that […]

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Penguin Sightings in South Africa

Want to see a penguin? Baby boomer travelers don’t have to sail to Antarctica to visit a colony of the flightless birds. Locations in South Africa, South America, Australia and the Galapagos Islands offer chances to observe and photograph the fascinating birds. On a trip to South Africa, Alan and I added penguin sightings to our […]

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The view from Gansbaii

Looking for Great White Sharks in South Africa

Nature watching excursions are a gamble for baby boomer travelers. The weather must cooperate, you have to be in the right place at the right time and the animals need to participate. That’s what makes it an adventure. You never know what you’re going to get. When Alan and I traveled to Hermanus, on the […]

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