WHEN IN AFRICA...GO ON SAFARI

If you have been following my blog posts you will recall my mentioning (in my Thailand post) that 2013 was one of those tough years which left me emotionally drained. Honestly, God was the only One who got me through that year (and the preceding and subsequent years). It was only 4 months into the year and I felt like I NEEDED A HOLIDAY! So that's what I decided to do, GO ON A MINI-BREAK! After tiring of feeling sorry for ourselves my friend and I decided to book a WEEKEND SAFARI GETAWAY at AQUILA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE just outside Cape Town.

 

AQUILA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

 

Aquila is a private Game Reserve situated outside the town of Touwsrivier, just less than two hours drive from Cape Town. The Game Reserve is named after the Black Eagle found in the area which is rarely encountered and regarded as an endangered species today.

 

Aquila is a luxury 4-star Game Reserve, but also advocates conservation and uplifting local communities in the area. It contains a wide array of game, including the BIG 5, and a natural wetland.

 

Now those who know me will tell you that I DO NOT BELIEVE IN DOING THINGS IN HALF MEASURES! If you're going to do anything, YOU MUST DO IT RIGHT OR NOT DO IT AT ALL! So when my friend and I went on the weekend safari getaway, it was only natural that we were to stay at one of the PREMIER LUXURY CHALETS! Aquila has five premier luxury chalets, each with its own unique style and exclusivity. The chalets are also privately situated and have been built into the hillside of the reserve. They have a combination of natural rock elements, wood and stone, and the PRIVATE PATIOS have the most magnificent views. Now they are a little more pricier than the standard rooms, but they are totally worth it!

 

We decided to book the "OVERNIGHT SAFARI" package which included; welcome drinks, buffet lunch before the game drive, a 2-3 hour game drive, a traditional South African dinner, and an early morning game drive coupled with a visit to the Aquila Rehabilitation and Conservation Centre (ARC). My friend and I missed the early morning game drive which meant that we also missed the visit to the ARC, which is disappointing as everyone who did go got the opportunity to pet a Cheetah! Ah well....there is always a next time. But it was just FAR TOO COLD and we were required to be up before 6am!  I guess we should not have gone in Autumn! If you can, I would highly advise that you go during the summer periods just so you don't miss out on petting a cheetah because it is too cold to get up in the morning. BUT, it wasn't all doom and gloom, we were able to go on the AFTERNOON 2-3 HOUR GAME DRIVE which happens just after the buffet lunch! It was absolutely incredible. We saw some extraordinary animals, and I would highly recommend Aquila to anyone who wishes to go on a safari.

 

I am so grateful to God for such an amazing opportunity. He has blessed me with opportunities I never dreamed I would get to experience. Unmerited favour.
 

Here is a sneak peak into our Aquila Safari experience: