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<\/a><\/p>\nAfter a light bite it was off on our first safari.\u00a0 Bernie, the owner, was probably the first person to coin the phrase \u201ca safari for the soul\u201d 20 years ago – focussing on the holistic side of spending time in the bush, relaxing in a hammock \u2013 or being pampered with treatments and therapies at the rustic bush spa\/sala rather than ticking off the Big 5 in quick succession.\u00a0 Some of the reasoning behind Bernie\u2019s laid back safari two decades ago might have been because the reserve was still relatively new and the game was not as prolific as other reserves in the Greater Kruger.\u00a0 But this is certainly not the case now!\u00a0 The reserve is now home to all the Big 5 and I was truly impressed with the quality of our sightings over the 2 days we were there. Our ranger Jaff and tracker Kaizer were excellent and on our first drive we came across a recent lion kill and watched the pride enjoying a lazy lunch of fresh kudu.\u00a0 We stopped a little later for sundowners and this is something Garonga does with style!\u00a0 What a spread of nuts, crackers, crudit\u00e9s, dips and biltong to complement our drinks as the sun set slowly behind the horizon. We returned to camp to beautifully laid out tables beneath the stars and a fantastic meal with our fellow guests.\u00a0 We were most surprised that out of the 3 suites all of us were multigenerational families rather than couples, which seems to be a growing trend.<\/p>\n
Then it was up early the next morning for coffee and rusks.\u00a0 The bush in September was looking desperately dry and the elephants were wreaking havoc on the trees searching for what little nourishment they could.\u00a0 Thankfully they have had some good rains since so I would love to see it now all lush and green again!\u00a0 But the sparse vegetation did make for easier game viewing and we saw some of the precious black rhinos up close and personal!\u00a0 So close in fact that I could hear his teeth crunching the thorns as he ate<\/a>.\u00a0 Garonga recently updated their trusty fleet of Landy\u2019s and I have to say they were some of the most comfy seats I have ever sat in.\u00a0 Made the hours out in the bush on bumpy tracks fly past!\u00a0 We stopped for a much appreciated coffee and to stretch our legs at a big pool full of hippo which was lovely.\u00a0 And again \u2013 when I say coffee, what I really mean is a full spread beautifully laid out on a table cloth with dried mango, homemade biscuits, rusks and freshly cut fruit skewers.<\/p>\n A bit more game viewing and we returned the camp for brunch, which tends to be served at individual tables around the pool rather than the big communal dinner table.\u00a0 I absolutely loved the way they serve everything in individual pots.\u00a0 We had Greek yoghurt, a range of gorgeous tropical fruit, pastries straight out of the oven, cold meats, salads and a cheese board.\u00a0 Their healthy smoothies also are to die for!\u00a0 Plus the big smile and toast making expertise of Camp Manager Robert to welcome us back.\u00a0 Most drinks are included at Garonga so you can just help yourself from the bar. Only premium brands are extra.<\/p>\n We then had some free time to try out a treatment or massage in the bush sala, relax in our hammocks or just chill around the pool.\u00a0 I took a walk down to the safari camp, just a short walk down the hill, and was most delighted to find a small herd of elephants enjoying a cool drink at the waterhole opposite the lodge<\/a>.\u00a0 They clearly decided \u201cfair was fair\u201d and crossed the river bed for a closer look at us enjoying our drinks too!\u00a0 They took a slow stroll right through the camp<\/a>, munching on a few trees – all while Bernie watched from a distance to make sure they weren\u2019t being too destructive to his beautifully refurbished new camp!<\/p>\n The afternoon drive produced fantastic sightings of elephant, lion, leopard, rhino (both black and white) and the highlight \u2013 a cheetah with a cub enjoying a kill<\/a>.\u00a0 We also saw lions right next to the track<\/a> and some more ellies eating trees<\/a> (sharing is not always caring apparently).\u00a0 A highlight was definitely some rhino crossing the road<\/a> in front of us.\u00a0 Honestly I was rather gobsmacked at the quality and quantity of game we saw in just 2 days!<\/p>\n There\u2019s really no such thing as a \u201ctypical day at Garonga\u201d because each guest\u2019s experience is very much tailored to how they want to spend their day.\u00a0 I was sad we didn\u2019t get a chance to try out the sleep out in the bush (I couldn\u2019t bear to leave our gorgeous Little Garonga room unoccupied and truth be told I\u2019m a bit of a wimp) \u2013 or the gorgeous bush bath under the stars \u2013 but that would be perfect for a romantic stay!\u00a0 A lot of guests also explore the reserve on foot, walking back to camp after the morning game drive for a bush breakfast in the riverbed below camp.\u00a0 Jaff and his team are on hand to make sure your safari is simply unforgettable\u2026<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/ethosmarketing.co.uk.dedi391.nur4.host-h.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Claires-Safari.jpg\")
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