14 days in Southern Africa, a thousand moments I’ll never forget.
Africa will change you. Or at least, that’s what those lucky few who have been on a safari before will wistfully recount when you tell them that you are going to Africa.
The blistering African sun over the grassy plains of South Africa, the ‘smoke that thunders’ cascading over Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, the awe-inspiring animals that you will encounter in the untouched swathes surrounding the Chobe River in Botswana, the kind souls that you will meet along the way… yes, it’s true what they say, Africa is a special place indeed.
As a self-proclaimed animal lover, a safari trip was high on my travel bucketlist and I can honestly say that it exceeded my expectations in every way.
We began our journey in Amsterdam, taking advantage of the non-stop flight from Edmonton on KLM. It was a great 3-day stopover, allowing us to get a taste of Holland and break up the long journey. We stayed in the heart of the quaint Jordaan neighborhood, cruised the canals, visited the Van Gogh museum, and took the train to nearby Zaandam and Zaanse Schans to see a bit of the Dutch countryside (think windmills, farm animals, and fields of green grass stretching further than the eye can see).
After some exploration, and some jet-lag recovery time, we flew direct from Amsterdam to Cape Town to begin our African adventure. I can confirm that South Africa will surprise you. From the heartbreaking political history, to the breathtaking coastal landscapes, to the awe-inspiring wildlife experiences, I enjoyed every moment.
Cape Town was gorgeous. We stayed in the Victoria & Albert waterfront, which is a safe and walkable area with great restaurants, a scenic harbour, and some shopping. We explored the city, visited the world-renowned Botanical Gardens, hiked up Table Mountain, and ventured out to Cape Point where you can see the point where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet. We also got to see the wild penguin colony at Boulders Beach, which was amazing.
Finally, when in Cape Town you must take a day trip out to the Cape Winelands, which was certainly a highlight for us. We indulged in some delicious wines and wandered around 3 stunning vineyard estates. Even if you are not a big wine drinker, this is a must-do as the area and the wineries are so beautiful.
Next, we flew to Johannesburg where we visited Nelson Mandela’s house with a local guide and got the opportunity to learn more about South Africa’s painful history. This was quite sad but very impactful.
From Johannesburg, we made our way to the bush and spent 1 day in Kruger National Park for our first safari. We saw so many animals, but I have to say that the safari experience in a National Park may not be exactly what you are imagining when you think “safari” (paved roads, private vehicles blocking your view, etc). I am glad we did this as our first safari, because it made all our other safaris (which were on a private game reserve) feel so much more special in comparison.
Our experience on the private game reserve which boarded Kruger was lovely. We stayed in very comfortable lodge-style accommodations with great dining and even a swimming pool to cool off between our game drives.
Each day we woke up before the sunrise and went out when the animals were most active. Our guide and tracker were amazing, each with over 15 years of experience! I was amazed seeing them track down the animals purely from spotting paw prints in the dirt (they were able to tell how fresh the prints were and deduce which direction the animals were heading). With their help, we saw all of the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and the African buffalo). Not to mention thousands of impala, giraffes, antelopes, hippos, and so much more!
Another highlight was meeting with the conservation team and learning about their efforts to preserve the environment and protect the animals from poachers. We got the opportunity to go out on a game drive with the head of the cheetah conservation program for South Africa (due to their efforts, South Africa is the only country in Africa where the cheetah population is actually increasing). After tracking down the resident cheetahs, we actually got to get out of our safari vehicle to track them down on foot! Yes, you read that right, I was only 10 feet away from 3 wild cheetah! It was incredible and a memory I will never forget.
After our safari experience in South Africa, we flew to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Vic Falls, as the locals call it, is a cute little town with lots of artisan shops and restaurants, but of course the big draw is the Falls. I was a bit surprised by the grandeur of the area, there are over 15 different viewpoints spread over a 3 mile walk.
Zimbabwe is known to have the best views, although you can also see the falls from the Zambian side. High water season is in February and March which would be the best time to see the water rushing at full force, however the main falls were still very dramatic when we visited in early September. If you think Niagara Falls is impressive, Victoria Falls is next level.
From Victoria Falls, our next and final stop was Chobe National Park in Botswana. Because this area is based around the Chobe River, it was very lush and green compared to the landscapes in South Africa. If you love elephants or hippos, this is the place for you.
You cannot drive 5 minutes without seeing an elephant (and that includes lots of baby elephants too!) The safaris (both by land and by water) that we took here were so different. Botswana is a lesser explored country, and the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. It definitely feels more wild, somewhat of a hidden gem.
From Botswana, we went back to Victoria Falls for a couple days of R&R to conclude our adventure. We stayed at the gorgeous Palm River Hotel, a really beautiful property alongside the Zambezi River. They have a great spa, amazing restaurants, and a luxury river boat which does sunset cruises and early morning birdwatching cruises right from the hotel’s boat launch. Our stay here was the perfect conclusion to a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
If a safari is on your list, I would encourage you to book the trip. It is a special place, and it’s true what they say: Africa will change you.
Written for Paull Travel by Morgan Winter, October 2025
