South Africa Part 1: Safari at Mohlabetsi

There is nothing that compares to seeing animals in their natural habitat, and I was lucky enough to go on my third safari this February (find my Botswana trip here, and my Tanzania trip here). And this time around, I definitely went in expecting that we’d see less game (ie animals) than those previous two trips. How could this posisbly measure up to my past experiences? In the end, I was pleasantly surprised with our experience at Mohlabetsi, a small lodge situated in the Balule Nature Reserve, which is part of the Greater Kruger National Park. While we didn’t see the giant herds of zebra we’d seen in Tanzania, we saw a really nice variety of game, from lions, to huge groups of elephants, to a black rhino that tried to charge our car! Our guides, Tony and Hamilton were both fantastic, with a dedication and passion that really made our game drives special. Our little sleeping hut (complete with outdoor shower!) was very comfortable, and I loved being able to spend the heat of mid-day lounging by the pool. But of course the highlight of the safari was when Joe surprised me with a proposal at sunset in the middle of the bush. Joe, along with the Mohlabetsi team, especially Tony, managed to execute such a perfect moment that I’ll truly never forget – without me even having a suspicion. I cannot think of a more dreamy location, for such a special event.