What Is A Real South African Safari Vacation?

My friend Scutty owns a safari game park in South Africa. He intended to create the real South African Safari Vacation experience!… This was his goal because species extinction can never be tolerated!

What IS A Real South African Safari Vacation?

The most asked question on Quora about the safari experience was answered this way:
“On your African safari, you can expect great weather, beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife, delicious food, relaxing afternoons, and great company”.

“African hospitality is second to none! A typical day on safari begins with an early morning game drive”.

Part of the conservation program is to raise money for the parks. It helps to pay wages and to educate the workers about conservation.

As game reserves go, there is a certain number in the herd that needs to be culled; this guarantees the safety of the others and the health of the herd.

The success of South African Safari Vacations lies in people’s understanding of wild animals.

Scutty is a conservationist and wants to make space in the world for all animals to survive and continue their species.

Ok!.. If I was Scutty, I would not protect a crocodile! Lucky for the crocks… anyway…

One of the best ways to educate the world about conservation is to
open your doors to tourists!

To Wealthy American, and Asian Tourists.

True Conservationists are aggressive about animal management. They are committed and single-minded about the environment. This is their reason to live and very serious business.

They want the world to know about real animals in the wild, and that the animal comes first. Not somewhere down the food chain… They ARE the food chain.

We are encroaching on their territory. They once owned this land… all of it.
They hunted and killed.

Did they eat a baby wildebeest? Yes, and that’s okay – that’s nature.
Survival of the fittest must take place for the survival of the species. 

Please Read The Sign!

Follow the rules and everyone will be safe. If that sign says “Stay In Your Car” then please, stay in your car.

That baby cheetah is not cute. He is a wild animal. And his momma is sure to always be nearby.

She is the one we have to watch.

If the mother maims or kills to protect her baby, because you did not stay in your vehicle, we will not put the animal down. You will be asked to leave.

This wild animal will not be punished for following her instincts.
She is commended. Animals have rights. (I did not stay in my car…!)

Conservationists are to be obeyed without question at all times… Yes sir!

Prepare To Be Spoiled!

New guests have arrived at Jan Smuts Airport in Johannesburg. They are visiting from America and will stay for two weeks and enjoy a Luxury Safari Package.

They’re greeted at the airport and whisked away on a large and comfortable touring bus just for them.

There were refreshments for everyone and lots of hors d’oeuvres on board. Local wines and beers are delicious, cold, and plentiful!

Eight people in all; four married couples, and they all know each other.
That is the beauty of the friends and family discount.

Martin was serving, white gloves and all. He poured the drinks and explained the types of food and delicacies in front of him.

He’ll take off the gloves later, a signal to Simon the driver, that things are going well. Everyone is relaxed, laughing… and a little tipsy.

The men tucked into the food and beer with gusto… Don’t want to miss a minute; the weather is so nice!

Martin pointed to interesting buildings and beautiful parks out the windows of the air-conditioned bus. Everyone was impressed. This is A-frica? This is beautiful!

This Is A Long And  Peculiar Road!

So they spoiled the guests, and the guests felt at home.
Our visitors were already having a great time! 

On the bus was a shower, to freshen up… but the shower area was taken over by the girls. They had a ball, washed their hair, and changed their clothes.

Soon they joined their husbands up front, and so the party began…
Yes, this was going to be fun.

The drive from the airport to the nature reserve could average about a half-hour. But it was mid-afternoon and everyone needed to see the territory and be put in the m-o-o-d.

No one on the bus knew that the jungle started 20 minutes outside the city.
Simon created the illusion that the jungle was a vast wilderness, far from the city…

The bus was filled with music, food, drink, a server, and a designated driver.
The time difference was in Simon’s favor.

They were weary, but they were excited, exhilarated, freshly washed, and wide awake now! The driver knew to drive slowly; he toured several main thoroughfares and crisscrossed everywhere.

He kept everyone entertained because he drove on the wrong side of the road!
He made jokes and threw in some Sotho words. (Su-two)…
He asked them to call him Simon. 

Simon drove through the downtown area and passed the Johannesburg Sun Hotel.
It looked as beautiful as any hotel can. So modern, so cool, with that African vibe.

There were beautiful homes in the Hillbrow area and lots of swimming pools. The infrastructure was very modern, and you could drive on these highways to just about anywhere.

Simon and Martin earned tips in-excess-of their wages, on days like this.
They were happy men!

Behold The Real Africa!

“Oh, look… an African lady is carrying a baby on her back! Isn’t that cute?” 

No, it’s not cute. That mother has no other means of transportation except for buses and taxis.

She does not own a pram and could not push it through the unpaved streets in her area… Be practical!

She might walk 15 miles to buy food and essentials at her local market. 

Eventually, after two hours of driving endlessly, their limo-bus stopped at a curio shop and everyone bought souvenir gifts from Africa. 

After 3 1/2 hours, they were finally nearing the game reserve in the remote area that was promised to them. All this time, for a thirty-minute drive!
(You can have fun driving in South Africa!)

So Here We Are!

By now everyone was ready for this: The bus drove into an enclosure: a very high electrical fence surrounded the compound… to keep the animals out and the people safe inside.

The big gates were closed behind the bus. Men with rifles guarded the perimeter of the compound. These are wild animals, after all!

Simon and Martin worked hard and did their jobs well.
Time for a rest from people.

First Class And Five Star!

These delightful Americans deserved the finest when they arrived. Did we want them to think that we were backward down here? We can entertain like the best.

“No, no, don’t worry about your luggage, we’ll take you to your rondavels and have your suitcases delivered. You can rest up now and dinner will be served in the dining room … later… chill“.

“Your clothes will be unpacked; your shoes will be shined and left in a closet outside your front door, so as not to disturb you”. 

The food in South Africa is always good; the cooks are local and they grow their own herbs and vegetables. The fruit is tropical and freely available.
(Beyond the headlines of South Africa!)

This is Where We Sleep?

Each couple had their accommodation in one of those little round huts and they were placed around a swimming pool.

They each had a king-size bed with a mosquito net, and an overhead fan, the size of a sun umbrella!

From their windows, they could see over the jungle, with vistas into the distance… Idyllic.

Gardens of palm trees and wild bougainvillea and cannas were everywhere.

There were hair salons, tennis courts, a golf course, a spa, and a gym.

Wow, this is nice! “How about a swim before dinner?” 
“Whatever; take your time. We’re here to serve you.” 

The dining experience was to die for as everything on the menu seemed unique but familiar. The sort of food you don’t buy in a restaurant in the United States.
It’s imported there; here, it’s local.

They ate, they drank and they were ready for bed. The owner of South African Safari Vacations, Scutty Van Rensburg, was there to wish them a very good night.

“This has been a memor-rable first day; have an early night now. Tomor-row we’ll go on a safar-ri and we’ll leave at sunr-rise”.
(Scutty r-rrolls his “r”s)

“You see animals when the sun is coming up, not in the heat of the day.
Around here, the heat of the day is swimming pool time ”

In today’s language, Scutty would have a HUGE media following.

To The Hunt!

Fasten Your Seat Belt…

The next morning, they ate a hear-rty breakfast of eggs, bacon, kippers, fried potatoes, toast, and coffee. I’m hungry just thinking about it!

Everyone who is going on the hunt has boarded the Land Rover, and
they are waiting patiently.

The girls decided to visit the spa, have pedicures, sit by the pool, and drink wine.

That’s ok, this is a GUY thing.

After a 15-minute drive, the Land Rover parked and the guys walked through the jungle, in the early morning heat.

Only the registered hunters would carry rifles, and Simon was there too!

“Hiya Simon” … Shhhh! … Quiet everyone…

Scutty is leading the hunt. “You guys stand behind a man with a rr-ifle”.

They surely didn’t mean that our lives could be in danger … did they? … Quiet!

In hushed tones and sign language, Scutty directed: “I’ll move up to that t-r-ee and you kom to me when I give the sig-nal“.
“Ok, kom here”. Sssst… ssssst… ssssst… “(quickly)” ssst,ssst,ssst,sst.

What’s That Sound?

NEW clothes?… Please, don’t tell me… polyester?

“Sorry Scutty, my boots aren’t broken in yet and my feet hurt;
My sunglasses have mirrors… Look how they reflect the sun!”

(I shudder to think what could have happened had the girls decided to join them).

Terry and Mark, Ken and Peter, et al, bought all new clothes for the trip.
New camo shorts, and shirts, new shoes, hats, and sunglasses.
New dresses and sandals for the girls.

They had never been worn and washed, and they were n-o-i-s-e-y. 
The sunglasses were mirror reflectors…

Ok, enough for today. The animals are getting skittish, and I don’t mean the four-legged kind…
Scutty needs a timeout.

He’s a little stressed about their lack of knowledge. “We must give an orientation class to these people”, he said affectionately, with that twinkle in his eye.

“They need to understand the basics of the hunt. These animals are not Bambi, ready to accept a cr-rust of br-r-read and pose for photos”.

“They are r-real hunters. They hide in the bush, and behind
tr-r-ees, and THEY CAN HEAR US”!

Breathe Scutty… you know what you have to do. It’s up to you now to educate the world about conservationism. We fell short and we must rectify our mistake.

So, the next day, Scutty arranged a braai (barbecue) on the lodge deck, outside the dining room: “Come all, at 4 o’clock sharp. We will have a Meet And G-reet, for the cooks, the hotel management, and the staff”.

Simon and Martin will be there…
And we are going to watch some “hunt” videos. 

Preservation and conservation are the life and breath of people like Scutty. This was not a Safari Vacations business.

It was the continuance of a species, that might otherwise be lost! It was an income for 300 families.

It was good relations with all people and a way to show the world that South Africans could provide great hospitality!
(Link: Hospitality Grows Prosperity)

Could I Do Something Like This?

The currency exchange rate between the USD and the SA Rand (2024), is 18.5/1 in favor of the USD… Surprise!

A R450.00 per night five-star accommodation will cost a mere $25.00 US per night!
You can’t go anywhere in America for $25.00/night anymore!

This is a real South African Safari experience… and
wouldn’t everyone like to go on a Safari Vacation? 

… Tell them “Scutty” sent you.

Have you ever been on a safari or to a nature reserve?
Have you lived anywhere in Africa?

Tell me about your travel experiences from anywhere in the world.

Please leave a comment in the box below, and I will get back to you within 24 hours.
I would love to hear from you.

Regards, Corinne :-)))