Written by: Lisa J. Boden Felchle about her stay in the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve
The sun was beginning to set as Brandon, our ranger, was maneuvering the Land Rover along the narrow dirt road. He half turned to tell us he was trying to get us to the tree house for sunset. We anticipated this moment, and shared our excitement with our safari mates, two other couples who shared a Land Rover with us. Our evening safari was no longer about tracking the “Big Five”, but rather beating the sun from crossing below the horizon. We drove quickly passing the road to the lodge dodging branches from the overgrown brush. We turned on the road which Brandon informed us led to the Tree House when suddenly we came to a sudden halt. Brandon strategically parked the vehicle so everyone had a view of the Charleston Pride, a pride of lions. The lions were resting on the dirt road and stretching their muscles as they stood up on all fours. They were the only thing between us and our romantic evening at the Tree House. We stayed with the pride for quite some time as they played; pawing at each other, and eventually all got up and started walking along the road in the opposite direction of our Tree House. Once we handed the pride over to another vehicle, it was time to go to the Tree House.
The sun was already beyond the horizon when we arrived so we had our sundowner with the group discussing the anticipated evening. Brandon gave us the grand tour showing us the small quaint bathroom with plenty of water and toilet, which I was quite thankful for. And then for the open air bedroom which sat on a platform above the bush and included everything we needed for the evening. The only rule was not to go beyond the wood door Brandon shut behind him on his way out. There was no question about it; we had no intentions of risking our fate to the wildlife below.
I do not recall ever seeing so many stars in my life. We pointed out several constellations to include Orion, Cassiopeia, Leo, Sagittarius, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, and others. The constellations shifted throughout the night as new stars took shape. The Milky Way was sprinkled across the sky forming a hazy band. It was breathtaking; I was in awe the entire evening. Knowing the stars are out every night, I realized that I certainly do not take enough time in my everyday busy life to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful view surrounding us.
I was not scared of the animals, but often startled throughout the night as we listened to the animals settle in for a good nights sleep and others awaken. I knew I was safe in this Tree House when other animals were sleeping with one eye open as hunters were carefully moving upon their prey. We definitely heard baboons, owls, impalas in heat, and many indescribable sounds throughout the night. The brush below us shook several times and as we scanned the flashlight we saw eyes staring boldly back at us, but could not identify who the eyes belonged to.
As the sun rose, the wildlife also stirred making more sounds awaking us from our somewhat peaceful slumber. Wet dew covered everything causing a slight chill in the air as we pulled the blankets back. We stared out into the wide open bush we could see in the morning light, hoping to get a glimpse of a herd of elephants, giraffes, impala or any wildlife for that matter. A blanket of fog hovered over the open bush making it difficult to identify any animals. We enjoyed coffee, tea, rolls, and fruit as we watched the sun rise. The sun lit the sky up and we knew it would be another beautiful day on our safari adventure in South Africa. Our peaceful moment was broken by the slight purr of an engine getting louder and louder as it drew near. Our Tree House adventure was ended as the Land Rover arrived with our safari mates waving and taking pictures of us as we descended down the stairs. Our safari mates were anxious to hear about the evening and the only thing we could do was recommend that they experience it for themselves.
“Kids really love the Galapagos in the summertime. Not only do the Islands offer a unique wildlife experience on par with an African safari, but the routine makes for good family fun. The Islands are on the Equator, and the ships cross it numerous times during the cruise so the weather is the same year round. But in the summer the ships are loaded with mature, well-traveled kids, typically age 7-17. The early morning and late afternoon activities keep everyone in the family engaged and the timing of the activities and life on the ship keeps everyone on the same sleeping and eating schedule. With other kids onboard the parents can really enjoy some downtime during the siesta (10am-2pm) while the kids have fun and make new friends. This seems to be a perfect balance of family time, activities, kids’ time, and parents’ time.”
“Hawaii is often thought of as a romantic destination for couples. But what most people outside of the West Coast don’t realize is the islands are one of the best family destinations in the world. Hawaii offers a worry-free environment that is safe and comfortable. Plus, you can drink the water! Some of my favorite family activities include: watching whales from a boat off the coast of Maui, kayaking to the Mokulua twin islands on Oahu, hiking through ancient lava tubes on the Big Island, riding mules down the Pacific’s highest sea cliffs on Molokai and taking a helicopter tour to see the stunning beauty of Kauai.”
“South Africa is an incredible experience for kids. Not only does it have game viewing but also so many other options. In Cape Town, the waterfront area is fun for kids to walk around with parents to go shopping and exploring. Take the kids on a tour to the Cape of Good Hope where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet with picturesque crashing waves, and on the return stop by Simons Town and see the Jackass Penguins whose loud bark sounds like a donkey.
“Kids can’t help but be impressed by Egypt’s rich history when they can take pictures in front of ancient pyramids, explore royal tombs and discover colorful artifacts and treasures. From viewing mummies to riding camels, a trip to Egypt is an unforgettable vacation for kids. The Egyptologists at the Valleys of the Kings and Queens are especially great at keeping kids of all ages engaged. Older kids can appreciate Egypt’s history and culture, and younger kids will be impressed by the majesty of it all. After taking my son to Egypt a few years ago, it’s one of my favorite travel destinations.”
