ROMANTIC SAFARIS

Southern Africa April 2006 — A "groom to be" contacted Eco Logical Africa for a unique two-week April honeymoon in Southern Africa. He was referred to Eco Logical Africa by a regular Eco Logical Africa client.

The bride had a sister in Zimbabwe and the plan was for the couple to stay with the sister after the honeymoon safari; as a surprise. I start all honeymoons in a beach lodge and we decided on Benguerra Lodge for five nights. When I fly to Mashatu from Mozambique I route low level up the Limpopo Valley and the scenery is stunning. Mombo, in the Okavango Delta, is arguably Africa's premier wildlife destination. The Savuti channel supports a fascinating diversity of wildlife. I booked the Lobengula suite in the Victoria Falls Hotel for the honeymooners.

This safari was the highlight of their lives. They loved every minute of the adventure and were very sad when the safari finished. We found aardvark at Savuti and waded through the "big five" in one day at Mombo.

British Airways into Harare return
5 nights Benguerra Lodge - Bazaruto Archipelago Mozambique
2 nights Mashatu - Limpopo Valley Botswana
3 nights Little Mombo - Okavango Delta Botswana
2 nights Savuti Camp - Linyanti flood plain Botswana
2 nights Victoria Falls Hotel - Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
5 nights own arrangements - Zimbabwe

Southern Africa September 2005 — A couple from Hawaii, in their early seventies, telephoned me to discuss flying across southern Africa, from the cold Atlantic Ocean to the warm Indian Ocean, in September. Two years ago, they undertook a similar adventure with Eco Logical Africa.

I carefully selected the destinations based on interesting diversity and flying time between runways which I tried to restrict to under two hours per flight.

This was one of those safaris where you do everything and see everything. The highlight was a pangolin flushed out of the grass by a young bull elephant on the Zibadianja flood plain.

SAA Johannesburg to Windhoek International
2 nights Wolwedans - Namib-Rand Desert Namibia
2 nights Cape Cross Lodge - Namibia
1 night Okahirongo Lodge - Purros in Namibia
2 nights Camp Syncro - Marienfluss Valley Namibia
1 night Epupa Falls - Cunene River Namibia
2 nights Chitabe Camp - Okavango Delta Botswana
2 nights Jack's Camp - Makgadigadi Pans Botswana
2 nights Zibadianja - Linyanti floodplain Botswana
2 nights The Hide - Hwange National Park Zimbabwe
2 nights Musango - Lake Kariba Zimbabwe
3 nights Chitake Springs - Mana Pools Zimbabwe
2 nights Chikwenya - Mana Pools Zimbabwe
2 nights Sausage tree - Lower Zambezi Zambia
2 nights Tafika - Luangwa Valley Zambia
2 nights Nkwichi - Lake Niassa Mozambique
2 nights Moja - Niassa National Park Mozambique
2 nights Vamizi - Quirimba Archipelago Mozambique
3 nights Quilalea - Quirimba Archipelago Mozambique
SA Airlink from Pemba to Johannesburg