Safari Dreams & the Anticipation That Comes Before the Journey

I’m sitting on the couch on Boxing Day, the fire crackling, the house finally quiet. A glass of South African wine rests in my hand, and instead of scrolling sales or thinking about what’s next on the to-do list, or even the client trips I’m currently styling, my mind keeps drifting somewhere else.

Three months from now, to be exact.... when Sheri from Trotting the World Travel and I will finally set off on our South Africa adventure, with the hubbies happily along for the ride as passenger princesses, blissfully unaware of where we’re going next (and perfectly fine keeping it that way).

I spend my days planning incredible journeys for others, and this time, Sheri and I have taken the reins, with help from the amazing supplier in South Africa and I keep catching myself closing my eyes and imagining what’s ahead, and honestly, I can’t help it. This trip has been quietly building in my mind for a long time, and now that it’s real, the anticipation feels every bit as powerful as the journey itself.

The Journey Begins Before We Ever Land

Our adventure will begin in Seattle, with a long but exciting 14-hour flight ahead of us. We’ll have a four-hour layover in Doha, and while Qatar is absolutely worthy of a proper city stopover, we made a very deliberate choice this time.

Quite simply... we’re too impatient to get our South Africa adventure started.

Qatar Airways is known for offering one of the most spacious and comfortable economy-class experiences in the sky. So instead of spending double on business class, we styled the journey differently: extra-legroom seats paired with lounge access. Comfort where it truly matters, without overspending where it doesn’t.

Instead of heading into the city at the beginning of the trip, we’ll use those four hours for a quick refresh and reset at the beautiful Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge in Doha. I can already picture it: a hot shower, great food, a quiet place to breathe, and then calmly making our way to the gate for the final 8½-hour flight to Johannesburg — no rushing, no chaos.

This, to me, is quality travel.

I keep imagining how we’ll feel stepping off that final flight — not wrecked, not overstimulated, but rested, calm, and already in the right headspace for safari mornings, sundowners, and everything South Africa has waiting for us. And once we land, everything begins to slow down.

Week One: Arriving Gently

When I think about week one, I don’t imagine rushing anywhere.

I imagine arriving gently.

pic credit from Matswani Leopard Lodge FB page

Our home for the first part of the journey will be Leopard Lodge, tucked into the bush. Every time I picture it, the same feeling comes up: exhale. Authentic African architecture, warm tones, intricate animal carvings woven throughout the lodge — it feels like the kind of place where time naturally slows down.

There are only ten rooms, which I love. I imagine quiet mornings with coffee and birdsong, afternoons by the pool with a book I might actually finish, and walking trails where the only agenda is noticing what’s around you.

I keep thinking about the intentional simplicity, no TVs in the rooms, Wi-Fi only in the bar area!! and how, right now, the thought of being unavailable to my travelling clients 24/7 makes me a little nervous. But I trust my team and the agent who will be on call for emergency client care. This isn’t something to view as a restriction. It’s a gift. A chance to disconnect without guilt.

Evenings are the part I keep coming back to. The boma fire glowing, the bush settling into night, glasses of South African red being poured, stories unfolding naturally. I imagine the kind of conversations that only happen when no one is in a rush and nowhere else needs your attention.

pic credit from Matswani Leopard Lodge FB page

Week one isn’t about safari checklists. It’s about arriving well physically, mentally, emotionally. Letting Africa set the pace instead of trying to impose one.

Week Two: Culture First, Then the Wild

Week two is where my imagination really starts to run.

I picture stepping into Lesedi Cultural Village, not as a visitor ticking off an attraction, but as someone being welcomed. Homesteads representing Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Sotho, and Pedi heritage. Storytelling, music, movement — culture not performed at you, but shared with you.

I imagine wandering through the village, learning how architecture reflects identity, how traditions are carried forward, and how community shapes daily life. Then, as the day softens into evening, sitting down to an African-inspired meal filled with regional flavours and recipes passed down through generations.

And then — instead of leaving — staying.

That’s the part that excites me most. Overnighting in a traditional homestead, welcomed by the head of the village with music and dance, settling into a private hut that blends authenticity with comfort. I imagine how grounding that night will feel — not flashy, not hurried — just deeply human.

From there, the journey begins to tilt toward the wild. A visit to a nearby nature reserve where conservation, landscape, and wildlife come into focus.

pic credit Lesedi Cultural Village Website

From there, the journey starts to tilt toward the wild. A visit to a nearby nature reserve, where conservation, landscape, and wildlife begin to come into focus. And then one of those experiences that’s been living rent-free in my head for years: dinner at Carnivore.

I can already see, hear and smell it .... fire-roasted meats, servers carving at the table, the energy of a place that doesn’t try to be subtle. It’s bold, theatrical, communal exactly the kind of experience that reminds you travel is supposed to be fun, and bring you connections to cultures.

And then… Kruger.

I don’t even need to picture details yet. Just the idea of waking up near the park, knowing that the next few days will be about early mornings, game drives, quiet moments, and that unmistakable feeling of being somewhere timeless.

And then, culture gives way to wilderness.

When my thoughts drift ahead to week two, this is where they linger the longest.

I picture us arriving at Kruger Gate Hotel, set right on the banks of the Sabie River. Even imagining that location makes my shoulders drop. There’s something powerful about knowing you’re not just near the park...you’re already part of it. The sounds of the bush, the movement along the river, the sense that wildlife doesn’t start at the gate… it’s already all around you.

Pic credit Kruger Gate Hotel Website

The hotel’s position — less than a minute from Paul Kruger Gate — feels almost surreal. One moment you’re sipping coffee, the next you’re rolling straight into one of the most game-rich and secure sections of Kruger National Park. No long transfers. No wasted time. Just immediate immersion.

And then there’s the safari itself... the part I keep replaying in my head.

Our full-day safari follows the most direct route deep into the park toward Skukuza Camp, often called the heart — or even the capital — of Kruger. This isn’t a quick in-and-out drive. This is a 10+ hour day, designed for travellers who want to truly understand the scale, rhythm, and magic of this place.

I imagine the early start, the cool morning air, the quiet anticipation as the vehicle pulls away. The way time stretches on safari — hours passing without feeling rushed. Vast territory covered. Landscapes changing. Sightings unfolding naturally instead of being chased.

This is the kind of safari where patience is rewarded. Where guides read the land like a language. Where every kilometre deepens the experience. And where the possibility of something extraordinary always feels just around the bend.

What excites me most isn’t just what we might see it’s how present this kind of day demands you to be. No distractions. No schedules. Just the steady rhythm of the bush and the quiet thrill of not knowing what’s coming next.

Pic credit Kruger Gate Hotel Website

When I imagine returning to Kruger Gate Hotel at the end of the day dusty, tired in the best way, senses completely full. I can almost feel that deep, satisfying exhaustion that only comes from a day well lived.

Week two feels like standing right at the edge of something ancient and untamed.

And the closer it gets, the harder it is to sit still here on the couch, fire glowing, knowing that in just a few months… this won’t be imagination anymore.

Pic credit Kruger Gate Hotel Website

Week Three: Cape Town Energy, Horses, Penguins & Sharks

If week two feels ancient and untamed, week three feels electric.

This is the part of the trip where my imagination really runs wild, where wilderness meets ocean air, dramatic landscapes, and a city that knows exactly how to steal your heart.

Cape Town has a reputation for being unforgettable, and the closer this journey gets, the more I understand why people speak about it with such reverence.

I picture waking up in the city with Table Mountain standing watch in the background, the Atlantic sparkling nearby. One minute you’re immersed in culture, food, and energy... and the next, you’re somewhere that feels impossibly remote. That contrast is pure Cape Town magic.

Pic credit Aquila Private Game Reserve

One of the experiences I’m most excited (and maybe just a tiny bit nervous) about is our horseback safari at Aquila Private Game Reserve. Just two to two-and-a-half hours from the Mother City, Aquila is Cape Town’s very own private game reserve offering the closest Big Five safari experience to the city in more than 250 years. It’s often mentioned in the same breath as Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch, Robben Island, and Cape Point — and I can see why.

But this isn’t a typical game drive.

This safari is experienced on horseback, moving quietly through the landscape, feeling the rhythm of the land beneath you, and connecting with nature in a completely different way. There’s something incredibly powerful about experiencing wildlife from this perspective slower, more intuitive, and deeply immersive.

Now, full transparency: I have historically never not fallen off a horse. Which makes this particular experience extra meaningful for me. So I have to give a very heartfelt shout-out to Stacy at Paris Equestrian, who has been an incredible instructor and has patiently taught me how to actually stay on the horse. Thanks to her, I’m heading into this experience feeling confident, prepared, and genuinely excited, not just holding on and hoping for the best.

And then there are the penguins.

I can already see it: African (or Jackass) penguins waddling along the sand like tiny businessmen in perfectly pressed tuxedos, completely unbothered by the humans who will absolutely be losing their minds around them. I already know this will be one of those moments that sounds cute on paper... and then completely destroys all emotional stability in real life. So if you hear me dramatically whispering, “Smile and wave, boys… smile and wave,” please understand that Sheri from Trotting the World Travel and I will be unapologetically living our best penguin-mom lives — and may or may not already be plotting which tuxedo boys could hypothetically fit into our carry-ons.(This is a joke. Customs will be respected. Dignity… still under review.)

Pic credit Penguins of Madagascar IMBD

Cape Town isn’t finished with us yet.

One of the most adrenaline-charged days of the entire journey will be our experience with White Shark Projects. I can already picture the drive — travelling along a dramatic coastal route to Kleinbaai, the heart of the world-famous great white shark region, anticipation building with every kilometre..

pic from White Shark Projects

This stretch of coastline protects one of the richest marine ecosystems on the planet. It’s home to tens of thousands of African penguins, seasonal Cape fur seal colonies that can swell to over 60,000 strong, and — in season — southern right whales gliding through the bay. It’s globally recognised as the true white shark capital of the world… and we’re about to step straight into it.

I keep imagining the moment just before entering the cage — heart racing, nerves buzzing, that sharp intake of breath when you realise you’re standing on the edge of something extraordinary. The kind of experience that quietly divides your life into before and after.

And woven through all of it... the horses, the penguins, the sharks, the city energy, are moments of joy, laughter, and awe. Long meals that stretch into the evening. Ocean air that clears your head. Landscapes so beautiful they stop you mid-sentence.

Week three feels like the perfect finale — not because it’s louder or bigger, but because it brings everything together: wilderness and water, adrenaline and elegance, adventure and reflection.

Sitting here now, three months out, the fire glowing beside me, I can already feel Cape Town calling — the place where this journey doesn’t just end…

…it lands.

The Journey Home: Letting It All Settle

When I imagine the journey home, I don’t picture rushing back to real life.

I picture space.

pic from Marriott Website

After a nine-hour flight from Cape Town, we’ll slow things down one last time with two nights and a full day in Doha, not as an add-on, but as a pause. A chance to let everything we’ve experienced settle before the world speeds up again.

We’ll stay at Qabila Westbay Hotel by Marriott, with easy access to a private beach club along the Arabian Gulf. I imagine a refreshing swim after weeks of dust, adventure, and adrenaline. A sun-soaked afternoon with nowhere to be and nothing to do but replay favourite moments.

pic from Marriott Website

Coffee by the water. Bare feet in the sand. Conversations that drift easily from “remember when…” to “can you believe we did that?”

This stop isn’t about sightseeing. It’s about processing, turning moments into meaning.

And then… eventually… it’s time.

One last flight. One last look out the window.

And then we’re home — back to familiar routines, familiar comforts, and the very enthusiastic welcome committee waiting for us in the form of our puppies.

Why This Anticipation Matters

What strikes me most, sitting here three months out, is that this trip already feels different — and we haven’t even packed yet.

Maybe it’s because this journey has been styled intentionally around the needs and rhythms of all four of us. Maybe it’s because we partnered with a supplier who believes, as we do, that travel should be personal, affordable without being cheap, and memorable because of how it makes you feel.

Or maybe it’s simply because I know this isn’t about doing everything.

It’s about doing the right things, in the right order, with space to breathe in between.

As the fire crackles beside me, I keep thinking about how rare it is to feel this kind of excitement — not frantic, not rushed — just quietly electric.

Three months to go.

And somehow… Africa already feels closer than ever.