Winter has arrived in the southern hemisphere and the safari season is upon us!  The green grasses of the wet season across Africa's great savannahs have dried off to a custard colour perfect for hiding lions (though less effective at hiding these big cats as it s shorter now - perfect for game viewing!).  I always get a little bit excited when I feel the weather turn, wondering what surprises await me and my safari groups when we set foot on the rolling African plains.  Every safari has so many highlights and you never know what you will experience until you set out in the early dawn light.  One day it might be a leopard stretching out in a tree, the next a newborn baby elephant.  One thing's for sure, the morning game drive is rarely dull!  Just the fact that you are out there while sun has yet to rise and the predators are still hunting is enough to make the hairs on my arms tingle with excitement.

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Among the elephants on safari in Tanzania's Serengeti.... (Photo: Asilia Africa)

I ll be setting off to Rwanda and Tanzania in early August with a small group of 8 travellers from Australia and Singapore, in search of endangered mountain gorillas and then from there to experience all those spectacular sights of the Great Migration in the Serengeti.  My adventures in to the Serengeti have proven so popular in the last couple of years that I m putting it on my short list of safaris that I ll personally lead next year too.  It s the stuff of dreams when you experience the migration, like being in a David Attenborough movie (and we all love those!) and you simply have to add it to your bucket list.  As an added treat, I m keeping my price for next year's safari to Tanzania at 2017 prices if you book your place now, so this is a saving of about 10%!  So if you've been thinking about doing an East African safari grab the chance now!  This safari needs a minimum of 8 to happen and has a maximum of 12 people.  The reason I use Asilia Africa for most of my group safaris in East Africa is because they really go the extra mile when it comes to supporting conservation and the communities where they work.  Read more about how Asilia Africa takes sustainability further here.

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The Great Migration in the Serengeti.  (Photo: Asilia Africa)

My Botswana safari in June next year has proven so popular that I've added a second departure date.  This safari welcomes children so if youre thinking of taking your kids or grandkids on safari, this is a great one to sign up for and I do still have a few places left on the departures leaving on 12 and 18 June next year.  Read why I think everyone should try and take their kids on safari at least once in this Sassy Mama Singapore article. The extra special thing about this safari is that our second safari camp in the Okavango Delta, Makatoo, offers horse riding across the savannahs and wetlands.  I mean seriously, can you imagine?!  As if it wasn't enough to be able to see the wildlife from open game viewing vehicles, by boat and mokoro (traditional mokoro canoe) and walking, you can even see it by horse back.  Wild animals respond differently to people on horseback so it s a truly unique experience.  You do need to be a confident horse rider to do this activity, but if you aren't a horse rider yet there s still time to learn before June next year.  This safari also includes the Makgadigadi Pans area where you will spend time with the San Bushmen and we are timed right to coincide with the zebra migration of this area!

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Horse riding in the Okavango is a rare experience not offered in many places.  You can do it on my 2018 safari to Botswana (provided you are a confident horse rider!). (Photo: Makatoo Camp)

My safaris are all booked a year in advance to ensure we get the best camps and enough rooms for our group sizes (up to 12 people), so if you are contemplating signing up please do it now.  This also gives you plenty of time to plan and save.  The 20% non-refundable deposit is due up front to confirm your place and full payment is then due 2 months prior to the safari.  I know a year away seems like a long time but it comes quicker than you expect and if I don't know well in advance the numbers I can't secure the rooms.

Read more about my June 2018 Botswana safaris here and contact me for an itinerary and full details.

Check out the photos of last year's Tanzania safari which will be repeated in August 2018 to see why this safari is so popular!

For more information on my 2018 safaris and to grab your spot at 2017 prices please contact me here.  This offer is for a limited time only and limited to a maximum of 12 per safari.

For those of you who are venturing out into the wilds of Africa this safari season, may the Gods of Africa smile on you and don't forget to look up from your camera every now and then and just breeeeeeeathe it all in.  This kind of magic will stay in your heart for years to come.

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Kimondo Camp, Serengeti, Tanzania - one of the camps on my 2018 Serengeti safari (photo: Asilia Africa)

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