The Lay of the Land – Different Ways to Experience the Bush

In the African bush, that sound, the rustling from the thicket an arm’s length away, a low grumble growing closer as the sun retreats, could be anything. We can’t see all the wild at once, and in the not knowing lies our sense of wonder.

We may never know all its mysteries, but the more we experience it, the closer we come to understanding the rhythm to its randomness – and the beauty in its boundlessness. There’s more than one way to experience the wilderness with Singita: on four wheels and two, on foot, by boat, or by air.

There’s a lot to be found and seen in nature – and even more to be felt, if we allow ourselves to. Our guides take game drives slowly, stopping when the moment is right to share stories, encouraging you to feel, to touch, to smell, and to appreciate every aspect of the world around you. It isn’t about the chase or working through a checklist, but rather about following where the day leads.

The same is true of bush walks, which take place in winter, when the grass is short and the conditions are right. For a more intimate experience of the landscape, travellers follow trackers, moving through it on foot, observing the signs wildlife leave behind and learning just how complex and interconnected an ecosystem is.

Deep within the sprawling expanse of the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve lies its namesake dam – a magnet for life and home to beauty in all forms. Travellers to the region can traverse its teeming waters on a sunset cruise, exploring the reserve from a remarkably panoramic perspective. Dusk here, in one of Africa’s most remote wildernesses, is spectacular, its rich hues melting into one another to illuminate the world in a warm, soft glow. Between the region’s summer rains and its water-scarce winter, the banks of the Malilangwe Dam are perpetually alive with a myriad of species.

Part of what makes the Serengeti one of Africa’s most iconic and sought-after safari destinations is its scale. Everything seems greater here – more open and abundant. And as a region, it never sleeps. Year-round, its plains are home to a wellspring of roaming wildlife and natural wonders. When the weather permits it, travellers can witness the sun rising over the Serengeti from a hot air balloon. From way above the ground, new patterns and lessons emerge, and we can witness the wilderness in motion from a different vantage point.

Between the towering presence of the Virunga mountains and the steady, silent creep of the region’s thick forest, tranquillity hangs heavy in the air here. Rwanda is the only country our guests can’t explore by way of a game drive, but there is a network of cycling paths that snake through the countryside – around our properties’ gardens, into neighbouring villages, and along farm roads – allowing them to explore the landscape at their own pace and connect with the people who call it home. Walking trails and hikes are also ready and waiting, on the property and in Volcanoes National Park itself, where mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and an incredible variety of other wildlife live.

One taste of the wilderness is often all it takes to inspire a greater desire for adventure. To find out which country, region, and activities best suit the experience you’re looking to have in Africa, reach out to one of our journey designers.