Nothing cures a hectic few weeks at work than a weekend in the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains at Bushmans Kloof. There are weekends away that are just what you need and this was one of them. Work and my personal life have been intense. Communing with nature was the perfect antidote to the urban and internal chaos.
Sabi Sands (a private concession adjacent to the Kruger National Park) is famed for leopards and perhaps no lodge is as well known for their relaxed leopards as Londolozi. While leopards are the main draw, overall the game viewing is incredible making this an ideal first spot for first time safari goers or wildlife enthusiasts.
For urbanites looking for a back to the land experience Babylonstoren is the place to decamp and unwind for a weekend. A working farm and wine estate, Babylonstoren is an unpretentious place where you can collect eggs for your breakfast or chill with a glass of wine and a good book in the garden. The farm is easily reached by car from Cape Town and while it would make a lovely day trip, I suggest booking a room at the hotel to take full advantage of all of the farm activities.
Places that are fantastically bizarre and give in to the eccentricities of their creators are always top destinations during my travels. I stumbled across The Orient Hotel because of the reputation of the onsite restaurant, the Mosaic, and from the website I knew this hotel would be delightfully strange in the best possible way.
Nature has the ability to inspire awe and there are moments while in the bush when I realize that what I am viewing is incredibly unique. These moments are oddly emotional and often difficult to describe, but I had this profound sensation as I watched 17 three month old wild dog puppies outside of their den during my recent visit to Ngala Tented Camp.
This is a bit embarrassing to admit given the number of times I have gone on safari, but I only recently learned why the cape buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino are called the Big Five. The Big Five is originally a hunting term coined because these five animals were considered by hunters to be the most dangerous to shoot.