In 2018, our good friends, ex South Africans, invited us to join them on a trip to Southern Africa. In my professional capacity I consulted for a major airline. Shelley and I have been privileged to travel the world. Nevertheless we were unprepared for the excitement of safari, the genuine warmth and hospitality of all the people we encountered and the sheer beauty of Africa. This year we returned with four of our adult children.
It was our desire to share this experience with our children and to instill in them the wanderlust for Africa so that they may return with our grandchildren. Sadly, my health is not what it was in 2018 and I am today somewhat impaired with mobility challenges. When planning this trip I was optimistic that I would be able to fully participate in the various activities and, in so doing, played down my challenges to Judy.
Upon our arrival in Johannesburg, Judy’s fabulous guide, Natasha, immediately picked up on my situation. By the next morning every camp, operator, and guide that we were to encounter was notified and prepared for our arrival. Once again, we were overwhelmed by the responsiveness and assistance that we received. It was as though I had a personal valet who graciously helped me onto the vehicles or back to our suite after dinner.
This level of unobtrusive service ensured that we all enjoyed every moment of our trip. I would be remiss in not sharing with you the incredible guide that we had on our safaris. One of our daughters has a real fear of the unknown and encounters with animals in the wild. Our safari guide was amazing and very quickly allayed her fears enabling her to relax and absorb the thrill of every moment.
Most days we spent about six hours on the game vehicle viewing nature in it’s raw essence. This was never enough, and we could quite easily have spent longer. Your safari guide is the most important person in the entire experience and Judy has spent years identifying those safari lodges and properties that employ the most professional and personable of these dedicated individuals.
This time we visited Johannesburg, the Sabi Sands Reserve and Cape Town. We bonded with our children and returned with amazing memories. I will never forget the smiling faces of the young boys playing soccer in the street as we passed them in the tuk-tuks, the glow of satisfaction as we pushed ourselves away from the table after a sumptuous dinner at Waterside in Cape Town, or the awe at nature’s beauty as we rounded the 144 curves of Chapman’s Peak Drive.
The grand finale was our last night at La Residence in Franschoek. We have been to historic chateaus in France, but this property is in a class of it’s own. The décor and setting are superb, but the staff and their level of service is what makes this such a special experience.
Judy, our sincere thanks to you and your amazing team for a vacation that exceeded our every expectation. Your attention to detail, your responsiveness to our needs and just those little things like the welcome notes at each property make you the best in your field. We are looking forward to our children and grandchildren returning and seeing Africa through their eyes.
