Luxury Travel Advisor - February 2008 - (Page 43) Adventure enthusiasts can enjoy hot-air-ballooning, elephantback safaris, shark-cage diving and whale watching by day, then relax in these cushy quarters by night. BY J. BERNHARDT For a unique adventure in the bush, luxury travel advisors should book clients at Camp Jabulani (www.campjabulani. com), home to the elephantback safari. We’ve enjoyed dozens of game drives throughout Africa and realized that few can compete with the feeling of watching the Big Five from atop an elephant. Camp Jabulani offers elephant walks twice a day, as well as one of the few night safari game drives by elephantback in Africa. Camp stays include daily elephantback safaris, as well as unlimited vehicle and walking safaris. Unlike most other safari camps that employ a strict game drive schedule, the guest-to-staff ratio (12 guests maximum to 70 staff ) allows clients to decide when they’d like to go out into the bush on a private vehicle safari (any time of day or night). The camp also can book hot-air-balloon safaris—we saw zebras, giraffes, elephants and warthogs as we floated through the trees. All six rooms at Camp Jabulani are the same—the small number of rooms creates an exclusive experience, thanks to its private and remote rooms. Oversized bathtubs, outdoor showers, fireplaces with CAMP JABULANI rangers seek out ADVISOR INSIGHT: Judy Udwin of Atlanta-based Mushinda Travel has been selling South Africa since 1980. For safaris, she recommends Phinda, Singita, Royal Malewane and, for guests who can’t take malaria pills, the Madikwe Game Reserve, specifically the Mateya Safari Lodge. In Johannesburg, she books clients at the Saxon Hotel. “This is one of the finest boutique hotels I have ever stayed in,” Udwin says, adding that the key to booking South African tours is using agents in the region. “This being Africa, things will go wrong (delayed flights, lost luggage, missed connections, camera left on the plane). I cannot tell you how many times my [on-site] agents have pre-empted problems or taken care of them for clients.” She also says visiting the regions regularly is key. “I personally am there twice a year inspecting new properties and meeting with managers, private guides, etc. I have a team based there who also makes regular inspections and visits. This way we know which properties exceed the standards that my clients expect. My goal is to exceed their expectations.” Udwin also notes that “One of the biggest challenges in planning a trip is the logistics of getting to the various destinations. There are very few flights to and from many of the remote destinations, so an inexperienced person may waste valuable time in transferring. We use commercial airlines, private charters, scheduled charters and private drivers to ensure that our clients spend as much time as possible on safari or experiencing the region and not waiting at airports.” 43 separate lounge areas, private plunge pools and a dedicated butler make this lodge topnotch. An open-air spa allows the sounds of the bush to filter in as the massage therapist melts stress away. For your VIP clients, contact Managing Director Adine Roode (adine. roode@campjabulani.com; 27-12-460-5606). After spending time in the exclusive five-star lodges: the Garden Lodge and the Forest Lodge. The Garden Lodge works well for families, with its meandering walkways, tranquil gardens and traditional African décor. For adults, we prefer the Forest Lodge, whose design is sophisticated and contemporary. These large, freestanding suites are set among indigenous gardens with stunning views wildlife on an elephantback safari (left). THE MARINE, HERMANUS fea- tures eight Premier Suites, all of which boast varied views of the ocean (right). bush, travelers should head to the west coast, where the Grootbos Nature Reserve (www.grootbos.com) provides five-star accommodations with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. This is the only lodge in South Africa that has the marine Big Five (whales, great white sharks, penguins, seals and dolphins). The resort offers two of the famous Walker Bay. Completely peaceful, the suites are located in the middle of the Milkwood Forest, the “groot bos,” meaning “big forest.” Pristine fynbos flora surrounds each suite, with views of the Atlantic’s crashing waves below and the cragged edges of the Overberg Mountain Range in the distance. Book the Honeymooners’ www.luxuryta.com February 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR http://www.campjabulani.com http://www.campjabulani.com http://www.grootbos.com http://www.luxuryta.com
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