A taste of paradise in the heart of nature As the first leg of our African adventure ends, words cannot do justice to how we blesed we all feel. A lifetime memory made extra special by our hosts at the exceptional Imagine Africa. A small family run lodge in the heart of Kruger National park, that felt like a home away from home, yet simultaneously hosting a kaleidoscope of magical experiences that showcase the absolute delights Mother Nature has to offer. I would describe Imagine Africa as beautiful and authentic, yet still feeling understated but balanced with a subtle feeling of being pampered and cared for. Imagine Africa are a small group of hosts who were genuinely interested in making new friends and doing their utmost to make your experience in the bush, as exhilarating and memorable as you could possibly imagine. The game drives were exceptional. Our wonderful guides Hendrick and Victor were passionate, knowledgeable and pleasant and you felt completely at ease in their company as you venture into the bush. The safari completely surpassed our expectations and we got up close and personal to all the major wild animals we had hoped to catch sight of and much, much more besides. The game drives have created a lifetime of memories we will forever cherish and our young boys were so sad to leave. It can be quite cold in the mornings given its winter time, but we were well looked after well, with blankets and hot water bottles kindly provided! The pursuit of a leopard to get a close sighting was exhilarating and testament to our guides skill and know how. It was the small personal gestures and magical touches that made staying at Imagine Africa feel so wonderful. From the melodic beat of the African drum to announce dinner was served, to the regular âvisitorsâ to the watering hole they have kindly provided for the local wildlife, with the majestic elephants, giraffes and Impalaâs all gracing us with their presence. Herman also engineered an impromptu African drum session with our boys one evening! Our lovely hosts were always attentive to our needs and always were ready to go the extra mile for our young boys, making them feel special and conjuring up alternative menu options if required. The absolutely delightful and ever smiling Lanie always made them feel special and ready to conjure up a hot chocolate or two, and was equally charming with all the guests. A special mention of thanks for organizing an impromptu romantic dinner on the deck of our room, made even more special by the elephant nonchalantly passing by amongst the Savannah as we tucked into our sumptuous ostrich steak. Each meal was a mix of sumptuous culinary delights, prepared by the charming chef Orlando. The slow cooked smoked lamb served against a backdrop of a roaring fire and Ostrich steak were my particular favouriteâs, and of course accompanied and complemented by sampling copious amounts of glorious South African wineđ The lodge is described as luxury tents, but had the feeling and aura of a chic and luxurious cabin. Well presented, very comfortable and tastefully decorated. There is an outdoor bath and shower if you want to maximize your experience of the great outdoors, but for those more akin to their creature comforts, rest assured there is a lovely and powerful indoor shower, not to mention it being air conditioned so you can feel as comfortable as possible. Every morning as you pull back the curtains, there is always the possibility of witnessing a wildlife arrival to greet you. On the final morning we had a cluster of vibrant impalaâs adorning the Savannah. Everything runs like clockwork and all of the staff are so friendly, warm and polite. Imagine Africa is very professionally managed and run by the charming Gary and Herman. They both clearly have an intense passion for living life amongst nature and the wild animals that adorn it. They can share many entertaining stories, if you visit ask Gary about his adventure being chased by a hippo! Initially we were looking to book a more well renowned lodge but that did not work out and we are so eternally grateful that was the case. Our stay with Imagine Africa was so pleasurable and memorable in a manner which heightened our experience beyond belief and surpassed all our expectations. It is difficult to comprehend that anywhere else would have been as intimate and special, there was a magical ambience about Imagine Africa that is difficult to convey in words, that felt like a taste of paradise in the heart of nature. Their motto is âGuided by experience and driven by passionâ. Itâs not just a slogan, itâs their guiding star and way of life. I would thoroughly and wholeheartedly recommend staying if visiting Kruger National park, itâs an amazing experience to behold and one we will never ever forget.
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