This luxury family safari has adventure for the whole family, from tracking rhinos to kite making and fishing. Discover Maputaland on game drives and beach excursions with scuba and snorkelling safaris before travelling to the Western Cape to enjoy whale watching and fynbos adventures, then finally soak up the vibrant city life of Cape Town with Cape Peninsula tours,
sailing and wine tasting.
24
OPPOSITE: Elephant often visit the waterholes in Phinda Private Game Reserve.
Four nights at Phinda Mountain Lodge in a family suite
My two teenage children barely let us set our bags down at Phinda Mountain Lodge (or let us enjoy the stunning views over the reserve from its perch on the Lebombo Mountains) before dragging us off on our first rhino-tracking safari. We took a quick picture of the whole family dressed in our safari finest before we set off on foot with our guide and tracker team, Piet and Johan. Tracking rhino dung soon felt like hunting hidden treasure, and while the four of us were enthralled by all we learnt, the biggest thrill of all was seeing an old bull up close.
After breakfast the next day, we left our teenagers socialising by the pool while we enjoyed a couple’s morning of spa treatments and catching up. We all met up that afternoon for a game drive; us, relaxed and reconnected, and the kids bronzed and brimming with energy. Spotting a cheetah and a rare black rhino was astonishing, although another surprise came after our lantern-lit dinner in the boma: a bubble bath drawn and waiting for us, while the kids (who hadn’t looked at their iPads once) found a fun assignment for the next day’s expedition laid out on their pillows!
The vast, sandy beaches of the Maputaland coastline were our destination the next day, and we happily soaked up the sun and played rowdy beach games. While our two teenagers (not bickering for once) went off on their guided snorkelling trip, my partner and I, both experienced divers, discovered the underwater world by scuba diving. We were all delighted when we rejoined back at the beach with scores of sightings to compare. Mugs of hot chocolate in hand back at our villa, we went through our underwater pictures to see which group had the best sightings (and the best photos)!
We woke early for our game drive the next morning, and our reward was to see the kids’ faces light up with joy as we spotted buffalo, countless birdlife and elephant, including several youngsters. They were as in love with the African bush as we were, and a cultural visit – where we discovered how the planet and its people are deeply connected – only cemented that love. We left with beaded necklaces that we’d made ourselves, and a few (much more elegant ones) that we bought as souvenirs. A private bush dinner under the stars awaited us, enjoyed to the sounds of night-time Africa.
For our final morning at Phinda we opted for a walking safari, where both our kids showcased their tracking skills – pointing out the spoor of a hyena and even recognising various trees and plants! So, although we were sad to leave the wonders of Maputaland, we knew we’d be exposed to many more in the Western Cape.
PHOTOGRAPHY: &BEYOND
MOUNTAIN and
SEA moments in
SOUTH AFRICA
by Melissa Andrews