Lesley Croskery - Leopard tracking, so close we could have stroked them!
LEOPARD TRACKING, SO CLOSE WE COULD HAVE STROKED THEM!
LESLEY CROSKERY
"The African experience is never the same. There is so much that is out of &Beyond's control when you are out in the bush - and that is part of the thrill."
The fantastic rangers and trackers make it for us every time - and spending about two days tracking leopards at Ngala, and finally finding them and following them, will stay in my mind forever - we have had so many memorable experiences with &Beyond since 1998. Phinda also holds a special place for us - it is where our eldest son was conceived - and so we return again and again!
Linton Nightingale - Leopards Delux
LEOPARDS DELUX
LINTON NIGHTINGALE
"I stayed at Ngala Tented Camp. My dream has been to see leopards and, despite going to other &Beyond lodges, I had not found any. On this trip we had an abundance of leopards."
In fact, we spotted them on every drive - both in the morning and the evening. And, if that wasn't enough of a treat, we got to see a leopard kill and drag its prey up a tree, a leopard and her cubs, and two leopards meeting and having a stand off with one another. It was just one exciting adventure after the other. As if that wasn't enough, we were fortunate to see a pride of lions make a kill of two impala buck that were rutting and we watched them feast to their satiation. Not to mention the thrill of relaxing at a luxury tented lodge, showering under the African skies at night and eating to your heart's content. All this made for a trip that's hard to beat.
Pain, Jenny - Life after Kirkmans!!!!
LIFE AFTER KIRKMANS!!!!
PAIN, JENNY
"Well, after 2 nights at Kirkmans, I didn't think life could get any better. We travelled to Ngala and met the infamous Duncan. We were shown to our Tents !!!! (I am going home to insist that we get a South African Tent, because they have airconditioning, king size beds, baths, bath robes etc etc etc). If this is camping South African style then count me in."
The accommodation was second to none, the service was absolutely fabulous and the game drives were wonderful. Our was PJ and he took us on a walking safari one day. Well I just couldn't come to terms with the fact that he had us walking in exactly the same place that we had driven in that morning and in the morning he was telling us to watch for leopards as they hide in the bushes. Now I was walking this same area. I bet PJ could hear me breathing on his neck I was so close to him all the time. It was an amazing experience, as were the game drives that he took us on. After dinner on the first night, David serenaded us with his Guitar and his wonderful singing as we sat in the bar area. Squirrels joined us for meals, they don't care who gets in their way, they wanted food. After 2 nights at Ngala, I was certainly not ready to leave and I shed a few tears when saying goodbye to Duncan (I nearly had him convinced to give me a job and move me into staff quarters). Thanks to all who contributed to making our stay so memorable, I will remember you all for a long long time and I can't wait to come back and introduce you all to my family. Luv Jenny. xx
Imogen Harding - Lions
LIONS
IMOGEN HARDING
"Revisiting Ngala over the course of six months and watching the lion cubs grow."
Their mother had been injured when we first met them, so it was with huge sparkling eyes and sighs of relief that we returned three months later to see them well and still with their mother. Wonderful star gazing at night and the best food in the bush ... it always tastes better after a night drive home listening to bush babies and hyenas, and warm from a whisky at sundowners.
Fiona Sandham - My first time
MY FIRST TIME
FIONA SANDHAM
"It was my first time at an &Beyond lodge and it was the most amazing experience. We were treated like royalty, the service was out of this world and David was fantastic. The setting and the food was so lovely and colonial, just up my ally."
I had never seen a leopard in the wild and really wanted to see one. Adam, our tracker, really worked hard to find us the most amazing sighting. Phil, our ranger, had such enthusiasm, and really made the chase and the tracking such an experience. It was a most magical safari that will stay with me forever, my African safari. I am going back in two days' time and can't wait to be spoiled, and see the wonders of nature and to enjoy the silence.
