In the summer of 2015, we embarked on an adventure that would change our lives forever. Coming from Singapore, a concrete jungle, safari had always seemed like a far-fetched fantasy. "What do you mean you have space for these animals to roam around freely?," we wondered aloud. When we arrived at Phinda Private Game Reserve nearly 20 hours later, we were in awe of the vastness of it. Phinda was a third of the size of Singapore, but dedicated solely to animals. Beyond the property, the Phinda Mountain Lodge was just as great as the view was, with first-class accommodation and service making the excursion very comfortable.
During the safari, we followed a pride of lions for a couple of days. That pride consisted of a grandma, a mother and her three male cubs. It was mesmerising watching them interact with each other. When they first engaged with each other, they would give each other a head bump; like a lion hug of some sort. On our last game drive, they decided to interact with us. One of the male cubs, curious, decided to walk towards our vehicle. He looked at us carefully and there was a moment where I felt as though he had stared into my soul.
The safari was a magical experience. Forget any negative stereotypes about camping in the bush or eating inedible food from a campfire. The food served at Mountain Lodge was almost Michelin star and the beds were comfortable, not to mention that each room had a private plunge pool! Getting up close and personal with lions was an experience I will never forget, and is one that should definitely be on your bucket list.