I didn’t know what to expect when we set out for South Africa. To be honest, I was quite nervous and very skeptical of the romantic aspect that had been advertised; this was our honeymoon after all. I’ve never been that far from home and although I had been to northern Africa and the Middle East, this was a whole new world… the animal kingdom. My most recent experience with animals had been a trip to the Natural History Museum and zoos growing up. I didn’t realize how much I was missing when I let this be my only relationship to wildlife. What I had yet to learn was that safari and ultimately Africa would change my life.
The conversation about safari started a few months before our wedding. We didn’t know where to go and on one fateful night over dinner with friends, I asked what their best trips had been. One couple answered with all their passion and excitement “SAFARI“. I wanted to do something extraordinary, I wanted to go someplace far so that when we tell our kids, they will be inspired to discover the world too. We flew into Johannesburg and connected onto what was at the time the smallest plane I had ever experienced (until this harrowing flight), landing on a tiny strip in the middle of the African bush at Londolozi Game Reserve. I was more nervous than excited (you might be too after the three shots and two medications you have to have before arriving) until I walked into the lodge, was handed a glass of champagne and looked out at the view in awe. I couldn’t guess what the next day, our first drive into the wild, would hold, but I knew at that moment I was living in a dream…
Written and Photographed by Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg – Ann Street Studio
![Hamerkop Diving For Plattana [rcb] (26)](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/10105855/Hamerkop-Diving-for-Plattana-RCB-26-280x178.jpg)
Amazing photographs, these are truly one of a kind and evoke a very special feeling. Thank you for sharing. rich
Stunning- now that is a romantic perspective of Londolozi! Glad you enjoyed it-I have gone solo and it still appears that way to me 🙂
Londolozi is the most inspiring place I’ve been in my 9 years going to different places in Africa.
Not only is one of the best lodges, as staff is awesome, super friendly and fun. We really felt welcome.
Pictures look great!
We spent time at Londolozi in spring 2011 and will return in May 2014. We went primarily looking for Leopards, and Leopards we found. Check some of my photos on fb at Edward L. Hubbard, “Eds South Africa 2011.” Londolozi is my favorite place on Earth and we have visited 76 countries.
I can’t wait to visit SA, next year.. I know I will stand in awe of this beautiful country..
My fear is that I will not want to return home! Think they might hire an old woman
to do chores?? LOL