South Africa Safari Review: "Capturing the Timeless Moments of Nature"

In December 2018, our guest and filmmaker Joash Lee travelled to the Kruger National Park with his family. He experienced an unforgettable trip, planned by his travel consultant Liam Collins. Joash managed to capture a collection of incredible wildlife images while on safari. He shared a few of his favourite photos as well as a review of his experience with us.

Words and photographs courtesy of and attributed to Joash Lee

"Hi, I'm Joash, a Singapore-based photographer helming the label JOASH_L. You may know me for my contrasting orange and blue tones frequently found in my photos, captivating my audience and emulating emotions that are synonymous with the mind. Today, I’ll be sharing about my stay at the Elephant Plains Game Lodge in Sabi Sands, which was meticulously planned by Liam Collins from Safari365.

Upon arrival, we were instantaneously greeted by the staff which presented us with ice cool drinks, refreshing us after a long journey from Johannesburg. The check-in process was a breeze and in less than 5 minutes, we were already being escorted to our rooms.

The room was unbelievably palatial, fit for a king! The spacious balcony spanning more than 2 rooms wide made for a perfect vantage point to view animals roaming about. With the nearby water holes, it was no surprise to have frequent sightings of Impalas and occasional glimpses of Elephants, Giraffes and even Leopards!

Heading back in the lobby, which was cozy and exquisite, the staff seemed to have observed that we were new guests and offered to bring us on a private bush walk around the lodge to show us the wide diversity of trees and plants!

Meal times were our favourite - the delicacies on display were comparable to haute cuisine served at luxurious eateries, never failing to astonish us. From the local delights to international spreads, we never grew tired of the food! To add the icing on the cake, the chef even took the effort to come out and explain the dishes to us before every meal, an exceptionally hospitable act which made the entire dining experience marvellous!

During the morning and evening game drives, our guide, Gerald, was cordial and more than competent, unraveling the many mysteries we had throughout the trip - from questions about the local language to the wide assortment of animals. He even took the effort to engage in intimate tete-a-tete sessions with all of the guests to soothe any uncertainties we might have about the trip!

It’s not everyday that you get to see a pack of wild dogs devouring its catch, or a herd of elephants casually strolling in the wilderness, feasting on the bottle green trees for breakfast, right? We were blessed to have been able to see all of the big 5 animals during our stay - the Leopard, Lion, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhinoceros.

To sum it up, Elephant Plains Game Lodge is a brilliant, stunning and exceptional accommodation that can only be truly experienced by visiting in person!

This trip has undoubtedly been one I’ll never forget - everyone should have the chance to experience it at least once in their lifetime. Especially for photographers, just like me, who love capturing the timeless moments of nature. Thanks to Liam from Safari365 for organizing the trip!

I’ll also be releasing a short film in December 2019, in collaboration with Safari365 and Cape Town Helicopters, to document my journey in South Africa, which includes snippets of the trip in Sabi Sands, so stay tuned for that! In the meantime, you can check out photos of the trip at tinyurl.com/wondersofafrica. Thanks for reading!"

Looking to go on a South African adventure of your own? Start planning your trip today!