Granted that we’re barely into 2013, but I’ve already set sights on one of our major trips for 2014. If you recall reading about My New Year Travel Resolution For 2013……What’s Yours?, I committed to expanding to new travel horizons. One of them was to touch foot in Africa. After thinking of reasons to visit Africa, my wife and I decided that a Safari would be the absolute perfect way for us to be introduced to the continent.

With days and weeks of research behind us, we’ve decided to visit the Ulusaba Game Reserve located in the Sabi Sands Reserve of South Africa in early 2014. The Ulusaba Reserve is owned by Sir Richard Branson and part of the Virgin Limited Edition Group of properties.

We’ll spend 6 days at the reserve and take advantage of their “Photographic Safari” program that caters to photographers. The package provides visitors with one on one workshops with accomplished wildlife photographers and specially trained game trackers to maximize the photographer’s experience. What I love about the package is that it limits vehicle occupancy to only 4 people which allows each photographer to have 2 rigs mounted on the vehicle. This allows for greater flexibility and eliminates the risk of damaging equipment when changing lenses, etc. Between my wife and I, I’ll be able to have 4 cameras mounted, each with a different lens which will cover most photo opportunities.

Each day, we’ll go on 2 extended game “drives” and 1 game “walk” which should provide plenty of opportunities to capture the stunning beauty of the African bush. When it comes time to book our tickets, we’ll be flying into Johannesburg on Lufthansa via Chicago and Frankfurt (my wife will finally have her first A380 experience!) and then transfer to a private charter flight to the Ulusaba Airstrip.
I’m excited about this trip since it will have many “firsts” for us. Hopefully these firsts will include several close encounters with some impressive wildlife. I’ve always wanted to know where I rank on the food chain.

And oh by the way, in the spirit of my Lufthansa Rubber Duck collection, Ulusaba did well by us when a few of these showed up in our mailbox soon after contacting them and beginning our booking process.