Incentive - September 2008 - (Page 99) TRAVEL Look closely and see baby next to mom on our first day out on safari magical The great rooms at Londolozi are elegant and soothing—a terrific place to unwind after game trekking South Africa In Style This once-in-a-lifetime destination offers five-star hotels, fabulous food and more By Jennifer Juergens lose to dusk we set off for a game drive. Tired though I was and starting to drift off in the Jeep, the word “elephants” snapped me out of my fog. Turning toward the bush, there they were, coming toward us, padding out of the trees, slowly ambling. The closer they got, the more I started backing up into the Jeep, digging my heels into the floor to position myself farther away. Too close for comfort for me. Will you look at those tusks? Frankie, our guide at Tinga Private Game Reserve, cut the motor. “Sure you want to do that?” I said, thinking, “What if we need to make a quick getaway?” Frankie was nonchalant, “They won’t bother with us.” “Oh really?” The pachyderms paraded across our path in front of our Jeep, then turned up the road as they followed their leader—one, two, six, eight elephants. Then we saw the lone baby come out of the bush, C trying to keep up with mama, and then trying to nurse. A collective “awwww” from inside the Jeep. Mama brushed him aside and pushed him along. We watched and snapped pictures as they moved away. Then, the baby knelt down, exhausted, and rolled over onto the road ready for a nap. But mama nudged the baby up, and they all continued their slow gait into the bush. And then they were gone. How did those massive gray bodies go so swiftly, and so completely disappear into the bush? “Magical” said Michael Stevenson, director, sales development, midwest meetings and incentives USA for South African Airways. And he’s been game trekking before. But it was a first for our host and for this group of incentive planners (and me) to spot one of the “Big Five” group of big game animals. And seeing the elephants—and particularly the baby—at Tinga was the capper to this extraordinary adventure and the trip of a lifetime. But let’s start at the beginning. FIRST IN FLIGHT No need to beat around the bush, so to speak: the flight from New York to Johannesburg is long—about 16 hours with a stop midway to refuel. South African Airways, the country’s national air carrier, has a business class that makes the trip quite comfortable, though, especially when you’re sipping wines from South Africa’s famed Stellenbosch region and supping on roasted lamb. Seats that turn into actual beds, replete with comforters, make this the softest ride I’ve ever had on a plane. And the great time filler? Movies, and lots of them, on your own private monitor. Put up the small screen in between the seats for more privacy. There’s also daily nonstop service from Washington Dulles International Airport. Economy class incentivemag.com | September 2008 | Incentive | 99 http://incentivemag.com
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