Celebrating 60 Under African Skies: Deb & Andrew’s Unforgettable Journey

When you reach a milestone like a 60th birthday, you start looking at the map differently. For years, Africa had been a quiet pull in the back of our minds, a long-held dream of seeing wildlife roaming free across vast open landscapes. But because a trip like this represents a significant investment of both time and money, we wanted to ensure we made the absolute most of every moment.

Going somewhere entirely unfamiliar, we wanted expert guidance, not to be handed a rigid, off-the-shelf itinerary, but to collaborate with someone who understood what we wanted, offered real options, and took away the stress of getting it wrong.

Working with Cayleigh, our safari expert, gave us that complete confidence. By the time we boarded our flights from New Zealand to Johannesburg, the usual pre-trip anxiety had vanished, replaced by pure anticipation. We were ready to let Africa step up to the plate.

Entering the Bush: Arathusa Safari Lodge

Our journey began with a short flight to Hoedspruit and a quick transfer into the Sabi Sand. The transition from the rhythm of normal life to the cadence of the bush happened almost instantly.

Arathusa Safari Lodge welcomed us into a world of incredible warmth, beautiful accommodation, and an abundance of spectacular food. Our room was one of the furthest out along the perimeter. It meant a tiny bit of logistics, you couldn’t just wander back to your room alone in the dark, an escort was always required if animals were moving through, but that slight inconvenience was instantly offset by the pure magic of the setting.

One afternoon, we watched a herd of wild elephants casually strolling past right outside our room. Opening our front door meant finding impala grazing just feet away.

Every morning here started early, getting up at 5:00 AM to catch the first light over the veld, with a much-needed mug of coffee spiked with a healthy splash of Amarula to cut through the crisp morning chill.

Living the Sabi Sand Rhythm

What truly defined our three days at Arathusa was the group dynamic and our extraordinary field team, Roy and Norman. Safari life has a way of turning strangers into fast friends, and our open-topped vehicle became a rolling hub of laughter. We shared our game drives with two wonderful honeymooning couples, one from New York, one from Chile, and another Australian couple our age. Every evening, we ate together as “Roy’s group”, swapping stories under the stars.

Roy also brought a great sense of humour to the vehicle, constantly testing us on animal collective nouns and cracking jokes during bush walks.

At one point, he picked up a piece of dried elephant dung, explaining that you tell a male from a female by whether it tastes sour or sweet, pretending he was about to take a bite just to watch our horrified expressions before breaking into a huge laugh.

Rare Sightings and Unscripted Drama

Every single drive yielded something new. Even when we encountered animals we had seen before, their behaviour revealed entirely new layers of life in the wild. We watched lions and elephants sharing a single waterhole, only for the elephants to assert their dominance and boss the lions away from the water’s edge. We spotted a cunning warthog hiding inside a drainage pipe to escape lions.

Then came the wild dogs. Seeing African wild dogs is rare in itself, but Roy and Norman were able to track a pack. We followed the pack as they sprinted through the bush, hunting an impala. The chase culminated in the impala plunging into a waterhole where two opportunistic crocodiles instantly moved in and claimed the catch.

We sat in the vehicle watching the visibly irritated wild dogs watching the crocodiles eat their dinner. Seeing the sheer excitement on Roy and Norman’s faces, seasoned guides who live and breathe this landscape, made us realise just how extraordinary that moment was.

A Personal Shift: Thabamati Luxury Tented Camp

Leaving Arathusa was bittersweet, but our transfer to Thabamati Tented Camp opened up an entirely different, incredibly personal chapter of the trip. Driving between lodges was an experience in itself, with our transfer driver, a former guide himself, pointing out wildlife along the way.

Thabamati brought a quieter, more exclusive atmosphere. With an intimate layout and a maximum of just eight guests, it felt wonderfully private. Managing the camp were Charlie and Mitch, who brought an incredibly hands-on approach to hosting.

The thoughtful touches here were everywhere. Jumping into the open safari vehicle in the freezing early morning to find hot water bottles and cosy blankets laid out on our seats; returning to our tent after a night drive to find a hot water bottle slipped beneath the bedsheets and a warm bath already drawn for us. The food, crafted in the middle of nowhere, was exceptional.

On our evening drives back to camp, Charlie would park the vehicle under the vast black sky, turn off the engine, and walk us through the constellations above. Sitting around the campfire before dinner each night, sipping drinks with Charlie and Mitch, gave the stay a deeply personal heart.

The Final Drive Tears

Wildlife sightings at Thabamati felt wild and earned. During our final drive on our last afternoon, Charlie had been tracking a lead. We had talked earlier in the trip about how special it would be to see a cheetah, though we knew how elusive they were.

With just thirty minutes of daylight remaining on our very last game drive, Charlie delivered.

There, resting in the golden light, was a wild cheetah. Watching this magnificent creature, the sheer weight and emotion of the experience caught up with me, bringing me to tears. Looking over at Charlie, his face was lit up with equal excitement, he was thrilled that he could pull off that moment for us. It was an unforgettable way to conclude our time in the bush.

Crossing into Zimbabwe

No journey across the world is without its tiny bumps, though ours were minor. The rhythm of early wake-ups and packed days meant we were constantly on the go. We spent one transitional night at Oliver’s Restaurant and Lodge in White River before our flight to Zimbabwe.

While it was comfortable and served its purpose to get us close to the airport, it felt a bit like lost time compared to the high energy of the safari camps, mostly notable for a hilarious, endless loop of Frank Sinatra playing in the background!

Then it was on to Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls, where we spent two nights at Insika Victoria Falls with great food and warm hospitality. And, of course, there were the Falls themselves. Wow.

Seeing the Falls in person was a stunning grand finale. The water level was ideal, full and powerful, yet clear enough that the dramatic gorge wasn’t obscured by endless spray. It was incredible to stand there and take in the sheer scale and power of it all.

A sunset cruise along the Zambezi River was a beautiful way to experience the falls from a different perspective, followed by a guided tour of the Falls and a delicious two-course lunch gave us space to slow down and absorb the magnitude of where we were. Our time in Zimbabwe was a wonderful way to bring the journey to a close.

Reflections from a Milestone Year

Looking back, it’s hard to believe that this entire adventure unfolded across nine nights. The days were so full, rich, and immersive that the trip felt far larger than the time we spent there.

Coming to South Africa and Zimbabwe not only fulfilled a long-held dream but also completely exceeded everything we had imagined.

Celebrating our joint 60th birthdays here turned a personal milestone into a profound chapter in our lives. We returned home to New Zealand with hilarious stories of elephant dung jokes and starry night skies, new friends, and a deep, permanent appreciation for Africa’s wildlife and people. It was, in every true sense of the word, unforgettable.

Have you always dreamed of stepping into Africa’s wild places and seeing its legendary wildlife with your own eyes? Partner with a Discover Africa safari expert to turn that lifelong dream into a seamlessly planned, unforgettable journey. Start planning your adventure.