Our local expert reveals the diverse natural landscapes and thrilling wildlife encounters that await, from wine country to the savanna.
By Dominique Lamberton
Range: You’re planning an itinerary for someone who’s never been to South Africa – what’s on it?
Robert Swanepoel: First is Cape Town. The views are amazing: it’s where mountain meets ocean. Then, you’ve got to do the Cape Winelands – the scenery around Stellenbosch is beautiful. And finally, Kruger National Park, which is the size of Switzerland. As soon as you drive in you’ll see impala, there are thousands of them. You’ve also likely to see the Big Five, giraffes, wildebeests and zebras.
Range: What’s special about safari experience?
Robert Swanepoel:What I learned from being a guide is that every five minutes is a brand new experience for people. Imagine seeing a giraffe for the first time: It’s the oddest animal that you will encounter, standing next to the vehicle looking down at you. The guides teach clients how the bush works and how the animals interact with each other. You’ll learn a lot.
Ensemble: Tell us what we can expect at a game lodge.
Robert Swanepoel: You’ll experience game drives and walks, and you’ll have boma dinners. At night, guests will sit at tables around a campfire inside a boma, a corral made from reeds and sticks. And dinner is a braai, a traditional South African barbecue with meats like boerewors (sausage), lamb and steak, plus salads and pap, a dish made of maize served with a tomato-onion gravy. Some lodges will even do bush dinners, where they’ll drive guests into the bush and host a braai in a riverbed it’s an amazing experience.
Ensemble: Why should South Africa be on travelers’ lists?
Robert Swanepoel: It’s the food, it’s the climate, it’s the scenery, it’s the people, it’s the safari. We have nine biomes in South Africa – there are so many different types of nature and experiences. It’s an awesome country.