Off to Kirkman's Camp!

Waking up after just one night Little Bush Lodge at Sabi Sabi Reserve was bittersweet to say the least. This lodge, being our introduction to the sort of accommodation we would come to expect over the next week or so, was beyond anything we could have ever imagined. A quick reflection on our unfortunately short one-night stay at Sabi Sabi, we couldn’t get over the beautiful private room we stayed in that included every amenity you could have ever asked for, not to mention a hot tub and private balcony, the phenomenal game drive we had the evening before that included our first sighting of a big cat (a male leopard) and our bucket-list sighting of a hyena running through the landscape at sunset.

One more morning game at Sabi Sabi drive sounded great to us and the lovely guide, Chena, sure didn’t disappoint. This three hour morning safari included a close encounter with a herd of irritable water buffalo, our first hippo sighting, a frisky young elephant amongst a group of massive adults and the obliquitous giraffe heads peaking out above the trees. We also got a chance to tour the other facilities within the Sabi Sabi Reserve, each one being as jaw dropping as the next. From the eclectic stylings of Bush Lodge to the classic feel of Selati Camp, it was hard to pick a favorite, although my husband and I agree that Earth Lodge was unlike anything we could have expected or could even try to explain. Built into the arid African ground and organically designed to compliment the landscape, even just visiting this lodge for a quick tour was an experience of a lifetime. Being able to get a feel for the different lodges undoubtedly has made me more capable of accurately recommending a lodge of choice based on a travelers preferences. 

After returning to Little Bush Lodge and quickly packing our bags, we hopped into our transport to Kirkman’s Kamp, the driver arriving on time as ever. Our half hour drive to And Beyond’s Reserve included multiple elephant and giraffe sightings, which we somehow had gotten used to overnight. We were greeted at Kirkman’s with warm towels, a welcome drink and smiles from Katie, Gareth and the rest of the And Beyond crew. After being shown to our room overlooking the African bush and the reserve itself, perhaps the best view of the trip, we hustled up to the lodge for lunch before jumping in with Gareth for our evening safari.

This evening was particularly memorable, as we were able to watch a young leopard stalk a pair of kudu for over an hour. Ultimately when the leopard finally struck, he missed his mark but the whole episode had us on the edge of our seat the entire time. Our dinner that evening consisted of a glorious buffet in the boma, a gathering and dining area that no game lodge is complete without. After dinner, we witnessed a traditional African dance from the lodge staff that put huge smiles on our faces and had us stomping along with them.