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Cathy and her long-time travel partner, Debb, marked the adventure phase in their lives by going on a multi-destination safari across Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Unique leopard sightings, exhilarating thunderstorms, and an unexpectedly exquisite stay at a country estate – their trip cemented their love for Africa and got them thinking about another adventure on the continent.
This is their story.
For me, this trip was about keeping a promise. After returning from an African safari in 2024, I walked through my front door and told my long-time travel partner, Debb, “We’re going back.” I knew the magic that was waiting, but for Debb, this was the great unknown.
Debb didn’t know exactly what feeling to expect. She knew it was a top trip in her mind, and was hoping for something powerful.
We’ve reached an adventure phase at this point in our lives. We have our health, our curiosity, and a shared drive to see the world while we can really experience it. I’ll admit I had the usual nerves about two women travelling alone in Africa, but the seamless planning took that away.
We weren’t just tourists; we were explorers ready to listen to whatever the bush had to say to us.
The River’s Welcome: Victoria Falls
Our journey began in Victoria Falls, where the Zambezi River exerts its greatest power. From the plane, we transitioned first by Jeep and then by boat to reach Old Drift Lodge within the Zambezi National Park. It was amazing what we saw in that twenty five minute boat trip to get down to the lodge.
Old Drift set a high bar. The food was top-notch and beautifully presented; the seasoning was so incredible I actually tried to buy it from them. When Debb mentioned she was interested in the local culture, the lodge didn’t just give her a brochure – they arranged a school and market visit with a turnaround so fast it left us spinning.
We spent an afternoon buying food for the children and supplies for their horticultural programme. It was a beautiful reminder that Africa isn’t just a gallery of animals; it’s a living, breathing community.
But the wild was eager to start the show. We weren’t four minutes out of the lodge on our first drive when we found a leopard. It had just killed an impala and was struggling to drag it away right beside the road. I had to turn to Debb and say, “You need to understand, this is really, truly unique. Don’t think the whole safari is going to be like this!”
Rhythms of the Bush: From Hwange to Mana Pools
From the Falls, we flew south to Somalisa Camp in Hwange National Park. The lodge proactively offered us separate tents because they weren’t busy, but we looked at each other and realised we didn’t quite have the courage to be that far apart yet! We opted to share, settling into the wonderful rhythm of camp life.
We loved the “coffee pass-through” system – a little sliding door where fresh coffee would appear at 5:00 AM. We’d sit there, watching the watering hole right from our tent as the world woke up. Our guide, Robson, was full of beans, and his energy was infectious.
The icing on the cake, however, was Nyamatusi Camp in Mana Pools National Park, located further up north on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Across ten camps and two years, this was the winner for wildlife density. It was wild beyond belief. The scenery – the river, the mountains, the sunrises – was exquisite.
But it was the closeness that changed us. We trusted our guide implicitly as we sat mere metres from elephants, lions, and hippos. We weren’t just seeing them; we were learning. We watched their habits and their unique traits. The staff there, especially the manager Taffy, were outstanding beyond belief. Taffy was so engaged, always around the campfire or joining us for lunch to answer our zillion questions.
...fresh coffee would appear at 5:00 AM. We’d sit there, watching the watering hole right from our tent as the world woke up.
Even the small moments felt cinematic. We had a young trainee guide one afternoon who was so delighted when she found a pride of lions with ten cubs – she was even more excited than we were when she was calling it in on the radio!
Ian and the Storms
Then there was Ian, an eland we “adopted” at Mana Pools. One afternoon, I was reading on the deck while Debb was inside. I looked up and Ian was standing about six feet away, calmly drinking from our private plunge pool. He became a regular fixture – we’d see him at the gift shop or wandering past our room. On our final morning, who should come out to the Jeep to say goodbye? Ian.
We also learnt to love the unpredictability. One night, we were caught in a massive thunderstorm. We were soaked beyond belief, but instead of complaining, we found it exhilarating.
Since our camps didn’t have blow dryers, our guide would just drive us around in the Jeep before dinner to cool us down and get our hair dry.
The Grand Finale: Sabi Sands
The safari portion of the trip ended on a spectacular high at Sabi Sands. Our guide, Pieter, was a force of nature. His knowledge, energy, and excitement transformed every drive.
The highlight of highlights happened here. Pieter heard something on the radio, shouted, “Hang on!”, and we went flying down the trails, not knowing where we were going. We arrived at the perfect moment – we saw a pack of 20 wild dogs at a watering hole with six hyenas interacting and playing in the water. Pieter’s excitement made it clear that we were witnessing something truly rare. He even managed to engage a teenage boy on the Jeep who had spent the whole trip on his Nintendo – by the end, even he was hooked.
Sabi Sands also gave us special rhino sightings, which felt truly meaningful, especially in that area. As if that wasn’t enough, we also saw a leopard with a six-month-old cub, teaching the little one how to hunt. We watched the cub climb to the very top of a dead tree and navigate its way back down.
Looking Forward
After two days in Sabi Sands, our journey concluded with a flight, a short drive and a late-night meal at the African Rock Hotel in Johannesburg. Even arriving at 10:30 PM, the staff were incredibly accommodating, serving us a full meal in the same room we’d stayed in at the start of the trip. It felt like we came full circle.
Debb walked away with exactly what she hoped for – a powerful connection to the landscape and the animals. I walked away with another layer of memories, not just of the Big Five, but of the people, the storms, and the funny, unpredictable moments that happen when you step out of your comfort zone.
We’re already talking to our safari expert about what’s next. Maybe gorilla trekking in Rwanda or a hot air balloon over the plains. What’s certain is that the Africa bug has well and truly bitten, and this feels less like an ending and more like the beginning of many returns.
Are you, too, in the adventure phase of life? Whether you’re dreaming of returning to Africa or embarking on your first expedition, Discover Africa can guide you in creating the trip of a lifetime.
From experiencing the thunder of the Victoria Falls to watching leopards traverse the Sabi Sands, our safari experts are ready to make this dream a reality.
Start planning your African chapter with us.
Itinerary
Accommodations and Destinations
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A19 Oct 2025
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B20 Oct 2025
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C23 Oct 2025
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D25 Oct 2025
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E28 Oct 2025
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F29 Oct 2025
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G31 Oct 2025
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H2 Nov 2025
Crafted with the expertise of Vihann Van Wyk
“As it was their first time at Victoria Falls, I chose Old Drift Lodge so that they could be on the Zambezi River. Mana Pools and Hwange were chosen for their biome diversity. Hwange is dry and arid and you focus on walking and driving safaris. Mana Pools offers very good walking safaris and it has an excellent river system for canoeing and motorboat safaris. Timbavati and Sabi Sands rounded off the trip to give Catherine and Deborah the chance to see rhinos.”
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