Marleen lived in Cape Town, South Africa for almost 5 years, and worked for a safari operator in East Africa. She fell in love with the bush and travelled extensively through East and Southern Africa. From experiencing pure luxury in the Serengeti, Maasai Mara and Okavango Delta to canoeing adventures on the Zambezi river and camping on top of a Land Rover while driving from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Botswana.
According to Marleen, one of the most special things on a safari is to experience the contrast in landscapes this beautiful continent offers. From the extreme dry Kalahari desert and Makgadigadi salt pans in Botswana, to the stunning Okavango Delta waterways. Or from the brown yellow Serengeti plains to the lush, green forest on Rubondo Island in Lake Victoria.
TOP PICK: Mana Pools in Zimbabwe, a beautiful park to spot diverse game, and combines well with an adventurous canoeing trip on the Zambezi river; sleep under a fly tent and listen to hippo sounds. It doesn’t get better than this!
TRAVEL TIP: Be patient. Especially in the more remote, wild areas you may need to drive quite some distances for great sightings. Although animals are usually the best, don’t forget to enjoy beautiful landscapes, smells and sounds of the African bush.