| safaris|

Coming all the way to Cape Town – and fancy seeing the “Big Five”.

In Cape Town are proud to be in association with Vanessa Nixon of African Essence Safaris. Together we can offer you a tailor made service to experience the wild life of Africa.

African Essence is for those who would like to explore southern Africa with a professional guide and a personalised itinerary. Avoid the large organised tour groups that rush from one famous site to another spending most of their time on the road. You get to choose where, when, with whom and for how long you stay! The nature of a safari like this allows you a relaxing as well as captivating experience. There is ample opportunity for you to fully enjoy the atmosphere of the places, follow some unexpected adventure, indulge your special interests, talk to the people you meet and discover the magic of this unique corner of the world. Choose your preferred style: 'Down to Earth', 'Luxury' or the 'Adventure Blend Safari' which incorporates elements of the other two as well as unique and unusual places.

We offer three safari styles - Luxury, 'Down to earth' and the 'Adventure blend', to enable you to enjoy the essence of Africa in the way most suited to you.

Down To Earth

Immerse yourself in the essence of the African wilderness, enjoy the intimacy afforded by being out there among the wildlife on a classic African camping safari. Go on daily game drives and walks, accompanied by professional guides. Then sit around the fire at night and listen to the calls of nocturnal animals and birds - the evocative roar of a lion, wooping hyenas, grunting hippos, the call of a nightjar or the silence of the mountains. These are billion star nights with nothing but canvas between you and the wilds. Wake up to the sound of African birds, and sip coffee surrounded by wild natural beauty.

Down to earth style includes multi-day hiking trips in some gorgeous regions such as the Drakensberg Mountains, as well as canoeing on the Zambesi, mokoro trips in the Okavango Delta, and trips through the Kalahari and Namib deserts.

"Campsites fix themselves in your mind as if you have spent long periods of your life in them. You remember the curve of your wagon track in the grass of the plain, like the features of a friend."
- Isak Dineson, Out of Africa

Adventure Blend Safari

As the name implies, this is a blend of Luxury and 'Down To Earthiness'; a special safari style, designed for those who would like to enjoy the great diversity of experiences available in southern Africa.

It can incorporate some nights at luxurious lodges, interspersed with nights of camping in totally undeveloped and pristine wilderness, as well as unusual and unique places with special character and charm. Some of the accommodation in this portfolio includes tree houses that are built around gorgeous indigenous trees in a game reserve; traditional Swazi 'bee-hive' huts; a township guesthouse; a cave with natural fresh mountain rock pools and primeval forests, near bushman rock art sites; or a safari tent with outdoor showers, set in a remote dune forest, overlooking an empty beach where turtles breed. They are all quality venues and our personal favourites.

The places we stay at on these safaris have been chosen to be in keeping with the character of the area and local activities. When visiting the Cape winelands, we stay at a wine farm; when whale watching we stay at a private beach house in a nature reserve where we will encounter no one else; when traveling in the wilderness of Botswana we may camp wild as well as spend some nights at lodges en-route. The choice is yours.

The adventure blend safaris may also include multi-day hiking, canoeing, climbing, 'kloofing' (hiking in river gorges), mountain biking, scuba diving, elephant safaris, horse back safaris, open Land Rover and walking safaris, surfing and other activities.

Luxury Safari

Southern Africa has a wide choice of world famous luxury lodges and hotels that offer exceptional accommodation, outstanding service and superb cuisine. African Essence will design your personalised safari to give you the best luxury experience Africa has to offer. Enjoy lavish and intimate all-suite lodges and charming guesthouses in superb settings where warm hospitality, privacy and ambience provide a relaxing and captivating visit.

These places, which will soon feel like home, include luxury spas, walking, hiking and running tracks, top restaurants, incredible wine cellars and access to special activities such as viewing historically interesting sites, playing golf at Southern Africa's most outstanding golf courses, luxury canoe and mokoro trips in pristine wilderness areas, elephant safaris, horse back safaris, scuba diving, open Land Rover and walking safaris, plus spotlight night safaris, accompanied by a local game ranger and tracker team to afford you the opportunity of close encounters with the "Big Five".The safaris are organized by Vanessa Nixon who is South African and has travelled and guided in southern Africa for 11 years, is registered with the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and is a member of the Field Guides Association of South Africa.

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