DESTINATIONS AFRICA SOUTH AFRICA keep customers entertained. Quad


FAST FACTS


South African Airways offers return flights


from Heathrow to Johannesburg from £476. flysaa.com


South African Tourism has a trade website with tips for agents on selling South Africa and links to its SA Specialist agent training site. southafrica.net/ gl/en/trade


biking, anyone? Induna Adventures has a fleet of Grizzly 350s which can be taken out around its dirt track to spot warthogs and even crocodiles among a forest of macadamia trees (from £13 for an hour). The real wildlife-spotting is yet to


come, though, as we cross Crocodile Bridge into Kruger National Park. Before we even reach our lodge, the group has spotted impala, wildebeest, warthogs, buffalo, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, kudus, springboks, water bucks, vultures, Egyptian geese and the endangered ground hornbill, of which only 23 are known to exist in the park. Luxury lodge Shishangeni (from £300 a night) feels at one with the nature that surrounds it. Facilities and service are splendid, with little touches like outdoor showers under the stars, a bedtime story to read, and a fire by the bath. Any special requests? Staff will ensure they’re on the next delivery. Shishangeni doesn’t disappoint with its wildlife, either. Ranger Herold


RIGHT:


Olifants River in Kruger


National Park


Ndhlovu asks us what we’d like to see. “Lions,” comes the unequivocal response. A brief pause, and he says: “Not a problem.” We set off in our 4x4 and within 25 minutes we’re tracking three dominant males. As they approach the vehicle, we fall into an awed silence and you can feel the tension in the air. “Don’t worry,” says Herold. “They’ve had their breakfast.” A day of incredible moments


follows. We see a giraffe awkwardly


bending its giant legs to drink at a watering hole, a zebra crossing the dirt track, and a tawny eagle flying ahead as if we’re following it in pursuit. Then we witness something Herold


had never seen before – two leopards, his favourite animal, mating. South Africa’s ability to provide new


experiences, even for its experienced rangers, shows why it’s the sort of destination you can confidently send customers to time and again.


74travelweekly.co.uk14 March 2019


PICTURES: SHUTTERSTOCK; UFOTO AFRICA/ FRANCOIS MALANO; GREATSTOCK/SA TOURISM


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