Diversity Rules Magazine

Diversity Rules Magazine | Aug 2023 | 9 The next day we flew out to Port Elizabeth, just a quick one-hour hop from Cape Town, where we were met by our drivers to bring us to Shamwari Game Reserve, a private game reserve that offers mul ple 5-star ac- commoda ons, an animal rehabilita on center, and a Born Free campus which rescues animals who were used in a circus or purchased for pets. Born Free op- erates in mul ple countries throughout the world in- cluding Kenya, Ethiopia, and Australia. Driving up to our resort on Shamwari was like a scene out of a movie. We passed zebra, and herds of im- pala and springbok as we cruised along the dirt road. The staff at Long Lee Manor was wai ng for us with warm hand towels and refreshing beverages before showing us to our rooms, which came complete with a heated bed for those chilly safari nights as well as an outdoor shower so guests could feel at one with nature. Monkeys love parading around the property with the inten on of stealing food, so we were advised to never leave our doors open otherwise we may come back to stolen merchandise. Long Lee Manor is comprised of 18 private rooms, a pool and pool house, a spa, and a full-service restau- rant. Guests can relax with friends and family while they play board games and stare out into the vast savannah hoping to spot wildlife that frequents the watering hole. A er a quick change into my safari ou it, we headed out for our first game drive in hopes to spot some of the Big 5 – which include elephants, lions, leopards, cape buffalo, and rhinoceros. Animal sigh ngs are never guaranteed on safari. The reserve we were on was almost 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres), so the chances of spo ng wildlife can vary depending on the me of year, weather, migra on pa erns, and behavior. Our guide Jacques has been a ranger for many years and is able to spot wildlife from what seemed like a mile away. Our first sigh ng was a few wart- hogs, then as we turned the corner, we ran into a family of elephants. Seeing these majes c animals in the wild is just awe-inspiring. Although we kept our dis- tance, we were s ll about 50 feet away, in striking dis- tance if the animal wanted to charge us. Fortunately, we just sat in our vehicle and watched as the family ate their meal and interacted with each other. Ele- phants are one of nature's most intelligent animals and develop feelings and bonds just like humans. Jacques told us a story of how he witnessed a calf being born and the others in the herd started trum- pe ng and dancing in celebra on of the birth. A few miles further up the road was a mother rhinoc- eros with her calf. The horn on the mother rhino was probably two feet in length and we were told spot- ng her with her young was very tricky as they hadn't been seen in months. As the sun began to set over Shamwari, we headed back to the resort for a Boma din- ner, where we dined on tradi- onal African foods outdoors around a communal fire. The meal consisted of a delicious soup and numerous types of meat. As we broke bread and recanted tales of the day's ac vi es it was hard not to pinch myself in disbelief. I was on safari for the second me, and it was just as magical as the first. It was a moment I didn't want to take for granted. The next morning, we woke up with the birds and be- gan the second game drive of our stay. The mornings tend to be very chilly, and we were advised to dress in layers as the temperature fluctuates throughout the day. The good thing about morning drives is this is when animals are the most ac ve. About 20 minutes into the drive, we spo ed two male lions, a young nomad being chased out of the territory of the elder lion. The young lion ran through the grass knowing he was not welcome. A er he no longer viewed the nomad as a threat, the elder lion took a rest as we watched the encounter from about a football field away. More sigh ngs quickly followed; cape buffalo, spring- boks, impala, hippopotamus, rhino, and three female lionesses taking a much-needed a ernoon rest. They are the hunters of the family so saving their energy is always well-deserved. As the day drew to a close, the staff at Shamwari had one last surprise for us, a sundowner, which is basi- cally a cocktail recep on in the bush. The staff set up a full bar, appe zers, and some chairs around a campfire. We spent the next hour sipping cocktails South Africa - Con't on page 12

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