Drumbeat Autumn 2017

Francis: Masai Mara – The wildebeest migration, Big 5, giraffe, zebra, hippo, crocodile, hot air ballooning and more. Leave your desk on Thursday afternoon and arrive in the Masai Mara in time for brunch on Friday. Depart late afternoon Sunday to connect with the overnight flight back to London and be at your desk on Monday morning. Alice: Gorillas – Tracking Rwanda’s mountain gorillas has to be one of the most unusual weekends ever. It requires a bit of effort to get there as you’ll need to change planes in Nairobi but the reward (and let’s face it, kudos, when you get back to the office) is well worth it. Spend three nights at luxury Bisate Lodge and you’ll be able to track the gorillas on two consecutive days. l P15 Stretching it… Richard: It might be pushing the envelope but we have arranged a handful of four night weekends to Botswana’s Okavango Delta. You would leave London Thursday evening and be in the Delta early afternoon Friday. Head back home on Monday and you’ll have had three nights game viewing in one of Africa’s very finest wildlife locations. Charlotte: Schoemans If the article on page 7 grabbed your attention then how about an extended long weekend with the Schoemans. It is so action packed that four nights away will have you feeling like you’ve been in Namibia well over a week. Perfectly possible to leave London late Thursday and arrive home first thing Wednesday morning. Roxy: Cape Town – A great shout for a long weekend during our winter when you can fly, direct, overnight, to sunny Cape Town. Beaches, wine and penguins, as well as great food, shopping and neighbourhoods to explore – it’s a perfect mid-winter tonic. Louisa: Tswalu Kalahari – If you’ve aspirations of film- stardom, this should fit the bill: private jets and uber-luxury are hallmarks of this magical spot. Hop on the overnight flight to Johannesburg where you connect with Tswalu’s private plane straight to this exclusive game reserve. Home to epic landscapes, magnificent lions, friendly meerkats, and a fabulous spa, a couple of nights here will really re-set your system. Jo: Kruger – For wildlife around every corner South Africa’s Kruger National Park is hard to beat. Direct connections from Johannesburg make it easily accessible for two or three nights. Walk, game drive, night drive and you’ll likely have spotted lion, leopard, elephant, hippo, buffalo as well as a host of other wildlife by the end of your first day. Lucinda: Anglo-Zulu war battlefields – Not just for history or military buffs, the impressive setting and evocative story telling enthrals all comers. Spend two nights at Fugitive’s Drift, an easy transfer from Johannesburg, and you can relive the epic battles of Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana. The African wilderness is so far removed from our day-to-day life that a few nights’ escape can seem like a week or more. For safari addicts (like us) whizzing out for a short trip is not as far-fetched as it seems. Here are a few ideas from the Aardvark Safaris’ sales team to tempt you: Safari for a long weekend? T: +44 (0)1980 849160 E: mail@aardvarksafaris.com www.aardvarksafaris.co.uk