Alan

Srinagar, July 22: With the departure of Team India for its tour of Zimbabwe on Sunday, Parvez Rasool commenced his African Safari with positive frame of mind that he would prove his mettle.
 By becoming the first ever cricketer from JK to be named in Team India 15-member squad, Parvez turned into star with huge fan following.
 Parvez will not only represent Team India in Zimbabwe but also in India-A teams tour to South Africa. In Zimbabwe, team would be playing five one day internationals and there is every likely hood that Parvez would get chance in atleast one or two games.
 The cricketer knows the important of this tour and also knows that he is yet to prove his mettle at highest level.
 To get selected is job half done and I need to prove my mettle in the games that will come my way. I will have to grab the opportunity by performing well as I know the chances dont come your way everyday at this level, Parvez said before leaving for Zimbabwe.
 He said that he has been working hard for this tour and is high on confidence.
 After being selected for Team India I went to National Crocket Academy (NCA) Bangalore. There I worked under the watchful eyes of renowned coaches. They helped me to keep my fitness level high and also get away with the minor glitches that were in my bowling and batting, he said.
 Parvez said that he doesnt believe in experiments and will keep his focus on basics of cricket while batting or bowling.
 I have been selected as an off-spinner who also bats. I will not experiment with my bowling and will keep basics intact by focussing on line and length. It is 50-over game so I need not to worry too much about pace and run-rate. I can take my time to settle in then work out my plans, he said.
 The all-rounder is confident that he will perform well once he gets an opportunity to play in Zimbabwe.
 I am confident that I will be able to perform well. Moreover I think Zimbabwe wickets will suit my type of bowling. The wickets will neither be pacer friendly nor totally dry. The history also favours me as spinners have been doing well in Zimbabwe in past, he said.
 Parvez has got many firsts to his credit in the cricketing arena of JK State. So far whatever chance has come his way he came out with flying colours. Getting chance to play for Board-XI against Australia, Parvez grabbing the opportunity bagged seven wicket haul thus making his case strong in front of national selectors. After that he became first JK Cricketer to play in Indian Premiere League for Pune Warriors. In the first opportunity he got, he bowled economical spell and also grabbed wicket of South African all-rounder, Jacques Kallis.
 Owing to his track record of performing well in the opportunities that are thrown his way, Parvezs mentor and coach, Abdul Qayoom Bagaw is confident that the cricketer will come with flying colours from the tour.
 He said, I have been watching him from childhood. He is very strong character with calm temperament and that has always worked well for him. His biggest plus point is that he always know what to do in the given situation, he said.
 I am sure that he will perform well in the matches he will play. It is good that he gets opportunity against a side like Zimbabwe which is not reckoned as top side. It will boost his confidence for the upcoming opportunities, Qayoom said.
 Qayoom says that Parvez will shine with both bat and bowl during tour, I know my lad very well. Though selected as bowler, I know he will shine with both bat and bowl in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Jul 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Jul 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Jul 2013 00:00:00 IST

“But you only need to use very few of them to get good results reading the light in the bush and knowing the best place to select your light when you’re photographing certain subjects,” he says.

“The real key is getting your subject in focus … If you don’t have a sharp photo, it doesn’t matter what you’ve got. You’re going to throw it away.”

Schoeman goes on to explain single point focusing, as well as the relationship between shutter speed, aperture and ISO setting – the sensitivity that the digital sensor has to light.

Understanding what combination of these settings works best in various situations while on safari is key.

“We initially determine the

guest’s skill level and help them tailor camera settings specifically for wildlife,” Schoeman explains, noting he often guides accomplished landscape photographers or wedding photographers who are out of their depth in the bush.

Find the light stuffCrash course complete, Schoeman and I set off to roam through Sabi Sabi’s diverse habitat that is home to the Big 5 – lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant – as well as cheetah, wild dog and some 200 other animal species indigenous to the area.

Soon, we come across a male lion calling in a thundering roar for his brother to join him.

This battle-scarred old warrior looks like he’s seen his fair share of predatory turf wars, as does his sibling, who soon appears sporting an equally pocked face, battered body and gnarled mane.

Soon, we’re close enough for me to begin shooting with Schoeman’s Nikon D3 fullframe SLR camera.

As Schoeman whispers instructions, I make settings adjustments on the fly until it all begins to make sense and I have my own Eureka moment.

Here I am, photographing Africa’s most iconic animal with pro gear and a dozen years of wildlife photography expertise at my exclusive disposal.

I f You Go

Arriving Sabi Sabi is 500 km east of Johannesburg. Charter flights connect the Sabi Sabi Airstrip with Joburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport. South African Airlines’ Airlink (www.flyairlink. com/), also offers daily flights from to Nelspruit.

Sleeping Situated in the world-renowned 65,000 hectare Sabi Sand Wildtuin in the southern section of the Kruger National Park, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is home to four luxury lodges, each with a unique theme. This writer stayed at Earth Lodge. Sculpted into an earthen slope, almost invisible in the landscape, it has been described as the most environmentally sensitive lodge in Africa. Earth Lodge’s thirteen spacious suites features designed furniture, a private plunge pool and wooden sculptures by renowned Geoffrey Armstrong.

Booking a Sabi Sabi photo safari Sabi Sabi’s Professional Photographic Safaris run for one full

day and must be pre-booked. The cost per guest photographer is R4500 (approximately $560). It includes the services of a pro photo guide, use of a safari vehicle and your choice of a Nikon D700, D3 or D3S with a Nikon 200-400mm f/4 lens or a Canon 70 Mark III or IV with a Canon 300mm f/2.8 or 500mm f/4 lens. Additional equipment can be rented.

Recommended outfitters Toronto based Kensington Tours (http://www.kensingtontours. com /888.903.2001) and Askari Travel (http://www.askaritravel.com /877.279.1902) both offer customized South African safaris that can include visits to Sabi Sabi.

More tips Sabi Sabi has played host to many of the world’s top wildlife photographers over the past 30 years. For great tips on getting the most out of your safari, check out their extensive and extremely helpful online pro wildlife photography guide at http://www.sabisabi.com/photography.

Bill Blomdahl/Courtesy Bill Blomdahl’s first trip to Africa resulted in 15 trophies including this greater mountain kudu that he considered the most challenging. Bill Blomdahl/Courtesy Bill Blomdahl/Courtesy Bill Blomdahl/Courtesy   1 of 4  

This wasn’t Bill Blomdahl’s first international hunting rodeo, but it was his first African safari. So when he started to plan the trip to South Africa through Limcroma Safaris, Blomdahl did his homework studying Safari Club International and other game record books to get a feel for what he wan…

To read the full article, you need Member access.

As a valued member of the Tyler Morning Telegraph news community, you receive full access to all of the news on TylerPaper.com, as well as our E-edition.

Join Now

Members

For existing members, please login below:

Photo Credit: Malcolm Manners via Flickr

Along the west coast of South Africa, a seemingly lifeless landscape is ready to burst into bloom. As the winter rains begin to fall, millions of flowers appear as if by magic from the once-dry soil, carpeting the countryside in a blaze of color.

By following a route south from Springbok to the southern tip of the Western Cape, you can watch antelopes and other African wildlife in the parks and reserves amidst the most spectacular spring floral displays.

Here’s a brief guide to the best wildflower-viewing spots along the way:

For just a short time each year, the dusty plains of Namaqua National Park turn into a daisy-strewn wonderland, with perennial herbs, aloes, lilies, and countless other species adding their own special flourish to the mosaic.

Head south to the Skilpad Wildflower Reserve to continue your tour. Since most of the desert flowers follow the sun, it’s best to visit the reserve during the hottest part of the day.

Further down the coast (about 90 miles north of Cape Town), you’ll find the Postberg Flower Reserve, a small section of the West Coast National Park, which is only open during flower season in August and September.

Nearby, masses of orange, pink, purple, yellow and white flowers blanket the colorful strip of land between the churning Atlantic and the calm waters of Langebaan Lagoon.

In addition to the spectacular flora, park visitors are likely to see a variety of native fauna, including eland, red hartebeest, and Cape grysbok grazing on the fields of flowers as they make their way along the well-marked trails.

Follow the cape as it zigs east to make a final stop at De Hoop Nature Reserve, where lowland fynbos erupts in a riot of color as sunbirds and Cape honeybees dart between the flowers feeding on nectar and pollinating plants.

Read More: Intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com

The Southern Pride is on the move. In the menacing darkness, a dozen hungry lions circle a large herd of impala.

Chaos erupts in the bush as the big cats launch their attack, taking down a huge ram only a few metres from our Land Cruiser.

Moving in on the action, we position ourselves close enough to capture the ensuing feeding frenzy without disturbing the diners. It’s every cat for itself as the pride piles onto the fresh kill like a crazed rugby scrum, snarling, snapping and fighting to devour still beating organs and rip bloody chunks of flesh from bone.

Tonight, I’m an eyewitness to an awesome display of primal brutality. And confident that I’ll have the stunning pictures to prove it because I’m engaging the services of a professional safari photographer to assist me with every step.

Capturing such visceral wildlife encounters on camera has always been an integral part of the safari experience. Now, private game reserves such as Sabi Sabi, adjacent to South Africa’s Kruger National Park, offer their guests the unique opportunity to have an expert guide them through the intricacies of taking that perfect, once-in-a-lifetime coffee table book cover shot.

“Professional photographic safaris offer an incredible opportunity to take much better pictures, improving and enhancing your total safari experience,� says Zulch Conradie, manager of Sabi Sabi’s Earth Lodge.

“It’s almost like you’re opening the curtains on a whole new subject.�

The professional photo safari I recently took in Sabi Sabi is tailored to travellers who can afford more expensive pro and “prosumer� SLR cameras but don’t know how to most effectively use them in a challenging environment like the African bush.

It’s also a great option if you’d rather hire the services and gear of a pro for a day or two on safari than haul around expensive, hefty cameras and telephoto lenses with enough zoom to capture that perfect, once-in-a-lifetime, wildlife picture.

Either way, booking the services of a pro safari photo guide like Sabi Sabi’s Andrew Schoeman is a great idea if you want National Geographic-calibre memories.

For a few hundred dollars, this former safari guide turned photographer will accompany lodge guests on game drives, providing expert, hands-on guidance on subjects such as proper framing of your subject, what angles to use and how to use the available light in multiple situations. Then he’ll walk you through a streamlined post-production process using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom to help make them look their best.

“Most of our guests arrive with basic camera knowledge and are looking for the simple explanations that can sometimes lead to that Eureka moment,� says Schoeman one afternoon as we roam the dense terrain of the Sabi Sabi reserve in a land cruiser, searching for prime lion, leopard and elephant photo ops.

“You can read about all of the camera functions in a manual,� he adds. “But it’s not getting processed. There’s nothing like having someone there alongside you explaining that if you push this button or turn that dial you get completely different results.�

To use this website, cookies must be enabled in your browser. To enable cookies, follow the instructions for your browser below.

Enabling Cookies in Internet Explorer 7, 8 9

1. Open the Internet Browser
2. Click Tools Internet OptionsPrivacyAdvanced
3. Check Override automatic cookie handling
4. For First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies click Accept
5. Click OK and OK

Enabling Cookies in Firefox

1. Open the Firefox browser
2. Click ToolsOptionsPrivacyUse custom settings for history
3. Check Accept cookies from sites
4. Check Accept third party cookies
5. Select Keep until: they expire
6. Click OK

Enabling Cookies in Google Chrome

1. Open the Google Chrome browser
2. Click Tools iconOptionsUnder the HoodContent Settings
3. Check Allow local data to be set
4. Uncheck Block third-party cookies from being set
5. Uncheck Clear cookies
6. Close all

Enabling Cookies in Mobile Safari (iPhone, iPad)

1. Go to the Home screen by pressing the Home button or by unlocking your phone/iPad
2. Select the Settings icon.
3. Select Safari from the settings menu.
4. Select ‘accept cookies’ from the safari menu.
5. Select ‘from visited’ from the accept cookies menu.
6. Press the home button to return the the iPhone home screen.
7. Select the Safari icon to return to Safari.
8. Before the cookie settings change will take effect, Safari must restart. To restart Safari press and hold the Home button (for around five seconds) until the iPhone/iPad display goes blank and the home screen appears.
9. Select the Safari icon to return to Safari.

It’s not uncommon for crossovers and SUVs to get adventurous-sounding names to convey the marketing department’s desire for consumers to see the vehicle as rugged and ready to brave the unpaved trails of the remote reaches of earth. But how many vehicles can live up to the promise of their name? Arthur St. Antoine wanted to find out on his South African Safari trip in this episode of Epic Drives. His vehicle of choice? Not a Land Rover Defender or Toyota Land Cruiser, both common fixtures on the African continent, but a humble, common 2014 Subaru Forester XT.

“Umesh is making his next much bigger, and hopefully, even better,” revealed a source close to the project, adding, “A major part of the film will be shot at outdoor locations in South Africa. Since the very subject of the movie demands it, both Umesh and T-Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar are going all out to create a fulsome bigscreen experience.”

As an immediate step toward this, Umesh is flying down to South Africa with his technical team for a recce of the region. They plan to apprise Abhishek of the chosen locations so he knows what to expect during the film’s making.

When contacted, Umesh said, “It is wonderful to be working with Bhushan. He is mighty excited about the script that we have in place, and is supporting it in a big way. He is going all out to provide me with whatever is required without interfering in the creative process. I am looking forward to finding some good locations in South Africa next week.”

By – Joginder Tuteja

The 2014 Subaru Forester XT may not be the first pick for adventurers who want to explore the plains of Africa, but host Arthur St. Antoine selects that vehicle for just such a mission in the newest episode of Epic Drives. While Land Rovers and Toyota Land Cruisers are the most common sets of wheels found traversing the African landscape, the compact Forester proves to be a worthy off-roader for a safari.

Before immersing himself in the wildlife, St. Antoine starts his drive in the South African neighborhood of Soweto, located within the city limits of Johannesburg. There, a tour guide provides a brief history on Apartheid and a few important bits of advice for embarking on the safari.

After hopping into the Forester to search for lions, elephants, and rhinos, St. Antoine points out a number of the Subaru’s safari-worthy features, including its best-in-class ground clearance of 8.7 inches and its strong 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer-four that produces 250 hp. The 2014 Forester had no issues crossing rivers, tackling deep sand, or climbing up rocky inclines. St. Antoine even had fun on a twisty road thanks to the Forester’s car-like handling, one attribute that sets the Subaru apart from the Rover and the Land Cruiser. Does the Forester help St. Antoine successfully find all the wildlife on his wish list? Watch the latest Epic Drives episode below to find out.

With the rand recently hitting an all time low against sterling, South Africa is great value for those earning in pounds. An advantage for many people hoping to book their summer holiday, the Euro and the Dollar will also go further in the Rainbow Nation. Tour operator’s Ranch Rider, Acacia Africa and The Independent Traveller offer varied options when it comes to exploring the country’s provinces – tented camps, luxury bush homes, small group tours and fly-drives appealing to a wide range of adventurers.

The Independent Traveller is an expert with over 35-years experience in crafting bespoke fly-drive holidays. Managing Director, Malcolm Peasnall, comments, “Based on last year’s prices you can expect to save up to 40% on a safari in South Africa, and when you add in off season game viewing on the Eastern Cape, even more.”

Ideal for nature lovers, The Independent Traveller’s 15-day Garden Route fly-drive includes some of the country’s best-kept secrets. Visit one of the world’s few meerkat conservation programs in Oudtshroon, enjoy more a “intimate” big five safari experience in the Amakhala Game Reserve, and trek through what is known as South Africa’s Grand Canyon – 220 species of bird and 43 types of mammal inhabiting the Valley of Desolation. A cooler winter climate also makes the Garden Route ripe for exploration, Tsitsikamma home to baboons and leopards, the trails best explored by Segway. In July and August, the Southern Right Whale migration makes Hermanus a must see and Cape Town is only a short drive from the celebrated wine regions of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.  Try L’Ormarins estate. The wine farm, owned by Johann Rupert, the richest man in South Africa, also features a vintage car collection. From £2,763pp (two sharing) including car hire, accommodation, safaris, and return flight. Year round departures. itissouthafrica.co.uk

Riding holiday specialist, Ranch Rider, offers stays in South Africa at working ranches, luxury lodges and bush homes, and mobile and static wilderness camps.  Open for little more than a year, Camp Davidson overlooks the Matlapeng valley and the picturesque Sunset Lake, all four of the canvas tents commanding panoramic views of the Waterberg massif. Guests can enjoy polo-crosse, swim with the horses or challenge themselves on the cross-country jumping course. Ideal for families and small groups of friends in search of an exclusive riding safari, a 4-night stay is priced from only £620pp (two sharing) from £500pp (5-16 years) including tented accommodation (ensuite, with safari style bucket showers), meals, drinks, riding safari, use of facilities and taxes. Excluding car hire from £259 or transfers available at £170pp and return flight from £839pp. Year round departures.

Ranch Rider is also offering a saving of £454pp at Ant’s Hill and Ant’s Nest – the luxury bush homes situated in the same region. 6-nights from only £1,285pp (two sharing) including, accommodation, meals, drinks (including alcohol), riding safari’s, 4×4 safari’s, guided walks, use of facilities and taxes. Departing 14 September. Special weeks, a night sky safari and wine tasting evening are additional activities. Excludes return flight from £839pp, car hire from £259 or transfers from £200pp and gratuities as left to guests’ discretion.  New for 2013, Ant’s Nest will be hosting a Zumba Fitness Week (save £340pp) 7-nights from £1,399pp (two sharing), departing 21 September and Photography Week (save £340pp) 7-nights from £1,399pp (two sharing), departing 16 November. Add on self drives in South Africa are available from £700pp (two sharing) including car hire and accommodation. ranchrider.com

Save 12.5% (£73pp) Acacia Africa features South Africa on many of its small group safari itineraries. The 7-day Kruger Victoria Falls showcases some of the country’s less obvious wildlife haunts including the Polokwane Game Reserve, where walking safaris rule, and Oliphants River, a birder’s paradise and the perfect place for a hippo and crocodile cruise. Even the well-known Kruger is apt to throw up a few Big Five surprises on this tour, the game drives taking place in the more remote northern reaches of the national park. The small group safari is one of the tour operator’s top five family-friendly itineraries, Acacia Africa taking children as young as six on either camping or accommodated expeditions. From only £517pp (two sharing) + local payment from £250pp including, camping accommodation, transport, most meals and services of a tour leader/guide. Year round departures. Excludes return flight. Starts Johannesburg – ends Livingstone. All small group safari scheduled departures up to end of 2013 will be discounted by 12.5%. Independent flight prices available on request. acacia-africa.com

International Focus: South Africa: Land of Exciting Game Safaris

Have you been chased by an angry elephant? I have.

I travelled to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve located just north of Richards Bay, South Africa as one of the five ports of call on my 10-day South African cruise aboard Silversea’s (silversea.com) sleek, 296-guest Silver Wind.

At some point during my 10-hour safari through the 47,000-hectare game reserve that was established in 1895, our Land Rover came upon an elephant standing in the middle of the road.

He was “in musth,” a time in which male elephants can become particularly aggressive as testosterone levels skyrocket.

And as we weren’t an attractive female elephant he could mate with, the elephant advanced toward the vehicle before hiding in the bushes.

My guide, Jan, wasn’t fooled. “Look at him; he’s hiding there. OK, here we go.”

He gunned the engine and we raced past the elephant – and to my surprise, the elephant crashed through the trees, let out an ear-shattering roar, and gave chase.

Here’s what I quickly learned: elephants can run in excess of 30 kilometres per hour. Our Land Rover could do 60. And that made for an amazing experience.

Later that day, I returned to my suite aboard the Silver Wind to find a plate of caviar and assorted cheeses waiting for me.

Where else can you find that kind of juxtaposition of raw, natural beauty during the daytime coupled with comfort and luxury during the evenings?

Departing round trip from Cape Town, my voyage aboard the Silver Wind can best be thought of as a safari cruise, with ports of call in Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban, Richards Bay and Maputo, Mozambique.

In almost every port, safari experiences awaited. Guests could even leave the ship in Richards Bay and spend two nights on-land at the Phinda Private Game Reserve, offered as part of Silversea’s Mid-Voyage Land adventures.

In many ways, the 156-metre Silver Wind is perfectly suited to this kind of itinerary.

She’s small enough to come alongside in narrow ports like Richards Bay, but large enough to offer all the amenities Silversea cruisers have come to expect, like the Relais Chateaux-inspired Le Champagne specialty restaurant and the casual (and always fun) Grill poolside dining featuring Hot Rocks.

Every suite, from the sumptuous owner’s suites down to the picture-window vista suites , features butler service. Since all drinks and gratuities are included in the cost of the cruise, there are no cheques to sign and no awkward fumbling around for your key card just to order a glass of wine.

Because of this, the on-board atmosphere is relaxed and inviting – but never stuffy or pretentious.

In fact, I’ve met more fascinating people on my Silversea voyages than on any other cruise line – not to mention the friendly crew that remembered me by name, even after months and years had passed.

I’ve said this about the line so many times I risk sounding like a broken record, but here goes: a Silversea cruise isn’t a cruise. It’s an experience – and a great one at that.

Silver Wind returns to South Africa this December, fresh from a multimillion dollar refit with safari-style sailings that will extend into January, 2014.

Just watch out for those elephants.

Visit fromthedeckchair.com to read our full day-by-day Voyage Report from South Africa.

The Southern Pride is on the move. In the menacing darkness, a dozen hungry lions circle a large herd of impala.

Chaos erupts in the bush as the big cats launch their attack, taking down a huge ram only a few metres from our Land Cruiser.

Moving in on the action, we position ourselves close enough to capture the ensuing feeding frenzy without disturbing the diners. It’s every cat for itself as the pride piles onto the fresh kill like a crazed rugby scrum, snarling, snapping and fighting to devour still beating organs and rip bloody chunks of flesh from bone.

Tonight, I’m an eyewitness to an awesome display of primal brutality. And confident that I’ll have the stunning pictures to prove it because I’m engaging the services of a professional safari photographer to assist me with every step.

Capturing such visceral wildlife encounters on camera has always been an integral part of the safari experience. Now, private game reserves such as Sabi Sabi, adjacent to South Africa’s Kruger National Park, offer their guests the unique opportunity to have an expert guide them through the intricacies of taking that perfect, once-in-a-lifetime coffee table book cover shot.

“Professional photographic safaris offer an incredible opportunity to take much better pictures, improving and enhancing your total safari experience,� says Zulch Conradie, manager of Sabi Sabi’s Earth Lodge.

“It’s almost like you’re opening the curtains on a whole new subject.�

The professional photo safari I recently took in Sabi Sabi is tailored to travellers who can afford more expensive pro and “prosumer� SLR cameras but don’t know how to most effectively use them in a challenging environment like the African bush.

It’s also a great option if you’d rather hire the services and gear of a pro for a day or two on safari than haul around expensive, hefty cameras and telephoto lenses with enough zoom to capture that perfect, once-in-a-lifetime, wildlife picture.

Either way, booking the services of a pro safari photo guide like Sabi Sabi’s Andrew Schoeman is a great idea if you want National Geographic-calibre memories.

For a few hundred dollars, this former safari guide turned photographer will accompany lodge guests on game drives, providing expert, hands-on guidance on subjects such as proper framing of your subject, what angles to use and how to use the available light in multiple situations. Then he’ll walk you through a streamlined post-production process using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom to help make them look their best.

“Most of our guests arrive with basic camera knowledge and are looking for the simple explanations that can sometimes lead to that Eureka moment,� says Schoeman one afternoon as we roam the dense terrain of the Sabi Sabi reserve in a land cruiser, searching for prime lion, leopard and elephant photo ops.

“You can read about all of the camera functions in a manual,� he adds. “But it’s not getting processed. There’s nothing like having someone there alongside you explaining that if you push this button or turn that dial you get completely different results.�

Adam Sandler‘s recent trip to South Africa was apparently the cat’s meow.

Sitting down with David Letterman, the “Grown Ups 2” star recalled a wild encounter with a cheetah while on a safari that left him a little shaken, and purred.

CBS

The comedian brought a quick video of his encounter with the big cat.

“This is a true story,” he began. “I went there, and they let me in with a cheetah…and said I could feed the cheetah water with my hands. So I did it, and it went a little bit wrong.”

Sandler, 46, then showed the video, in which the large spotted cat circles him before pouncing on his back.

CBS

Adam Sandler met a cheetah while on safari in South Africa.

A female handler quickly pulls the large cat off, and it calmly walks away. Perhaps it just got excited at the sight of a movie star? 

“They said you’re not supposed to bend down low with the water,” Sandler said. “I was very nervous…it was fast.”

CBS

The stealthy cat comes up behind him.

The actor explained that he had a stiff neck at the time, so wasn’t able to move or react.

“When he jumped on me, all I was going to do was let him eat me,” Sandler joked.

CBS

An unsuspecting Sandler has a cheetah pounce on his back.

“There was not one part of me that was going to fight back. I was like ‘alright, this is how I’m dying.'”

 

CBS

After the cheetah pounced, a handler pulled it away.

MOBILE USERS CLICK HERE TO WATCH

A carful of safari-goers in South Africa’s Kruger National Park got the surprise of a lifetime when an impala — an African antelope — jumped straight through their window to avoid being attacked by a cheetah.

The tourists let the impala out the other side of the vehicle, where it appears to exit safely.

A tourist captured the whole spectacle on camera (Barcroft TV via Outside): 

It’s not the only crazy home video we’ve seen come out of a South African safari lately. Check out this intense footage of a leopard attack in the wild:

{ story.summary|safe|escape }

• Student Nicole Clark and partner Ben Powell at the African Safari fundraiser.

Cooma university student Nicole Clark has taken a big step towards her dream of undertaking animal conservation work in South Africa by hosting an African Safari Dance Party Fundraiser.

It was held at Dodds Hotel on Saturday and the proceeds – along with her chocolate selling around town – has put her well on the way towards the $5,000 she needs for the trip.

Nicole studies environmental science at the University of Canberra. As part of her studies, she has the opportunity of visiting the Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa next year. But this kind of trip is not cheap.

Environment science is her passion and she wants to help conserve South Africa’s rarest carnivore, the critically endangered African wild dog.

Nicole still has some fundraising to do towards her trip but, with the help of friend Kirstin Thomas and her steely determination, she is intent on making every effort to ensure she gets there.

Have you been chased by an angry elephant? I have.

I travelled to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve located just north of Richards Bay, South Africa as one of the five ports of call on my 10-day South African cruise aboard Silversea’s (silversea.com) sleek, 296-guest Silver Wind.

At some point during my 10-hour safari through the 47,000-hectare game reserve that was established in 1895, our Land Rover came upon an elephant standing in the middle of the road.

He was “in musth,” a time in which male elephants can become particularly aggressive as testosterone levels skyrocket.

And as we weren’t an attractive female elephant he could mate with, the elephant advanced toward the vehicle before hiding in the bushes.

My guide, Jan, wasn’t fooled. “Look at him; he’s hiding there. OK, here we go.”

He gunned the engine and we raced past the elephant – and to my surprise, the elephant crashed through the trees, let out an ear-shattering roar, and gave chase.

Here’s what I quickly learned: elephants can run in excess of 30 kilometres per hour. Our Land Rover could do 60. And that made for an amazing experience.

Later that day, I returned to my suite aboard the Silver Wind to find a plate of caviar and assorted cheeses waiting for me.

Where else can you find that kind of juxtaposition of raw, natural beauty during the daytime coupled with comfort and luxury during the evenings?

Departing round trip from Cape Town, my voyage aboard the Silver Wind can best be thought of as a safari cruise, with ports of call in Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban, Richards Bay and Maputo, Mozambique.

In almost every port, safari experiences awaited. Guests could even leave the ship in Richards Bay and spend two nights on-land at the Phinda Private Game Reserve, offered as part of Silversea’s Mid-Voyage Land adventures.

In many ways, the 156-metre Silver Wind is perfectly suited to this kind of itinerary.

She’s small enough to come alongside in narrow ports like Richards Bay, but large enough to offer all the amenities Silversea cruisers have come to expect, like the Relais Chateaux-inspired Le Champagne specialty restaurant and the casual (and always fun) Grill poolside dining featuring Hot Rocks.

Every suite, from the sumptuous owner’s suites down to the picture-window vista suites , features butler service. Since all drinks and gratuities are included in the cost of the cruise, there are no cheques to sign and no awkward fumbling around for your key card just to order a glass of wine.

Because of this, the on-board atmosphere is relaxed and inviting – but never stuffy or pretentious.

In fact, I’ve met more fascinating people on my Silversea voyages than on any other cruise line – not to mention the friendly crew that remembered me by name, even after months and years had passed.

I’ve said this about the line so many times I risk sounding like a broken record, but here goes: a Silversea cruise isn’t a cruise. It’s an experience – and a great one at that.

Silver Wind returns to South Africa this December, fresh from a multimillion dollar refit with safari-style sailings that will extend into January, 2014.

Just watch out for those elephants.

Visit fromthedeckchair.com to read our full day-by-day Voyage Report from South Africa.

• 

Lion Sands Tinyeleti Tree House is the perfect hideaway for your South Africa safari.

Guests are escorted to the tree house at sunset, where drinks and a scrumptious picnic dinner await them.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) July 10, 2013

An African safari tree house stay offers families on safari in South Africa a luxurious modern version of Swiss Family Robinson adventure, say the safari travel experts at Africa Adventure Consultants (AAC), who announced in a recent blog post that a new family-friendly tree house will be opening in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve in March of 2014. Africa Adventure Consultants has begun taking bookings for the new Madikwe Safari Lodge tree house option. Two other African tree houses, at Lion Sands in the Sabi Sands Private Nature Reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park, also sleep four, making them comfortable for a family visit.

“While you might only be a few minutes from the main lodge, you feel a million miles away,” says Africa Adventure Consultants President Kent Redding about the African tree house stays. “It offers a special connection with nature that’s hard to describe without experiencing it.”

In practical terms, though, the unique tree house accommodations offer all the comforts of home. Though you may feel incredibly remote in your open-air mini-house beneath a star-filled African sky listening to the night sounds of the bush below, “you will have radio contact with the rangers, should you choose to,” the AAC blog post explains. “There is also limited cell phone reception.” Plus, “tree houses are equipped with a sink and toilet, and some boast a full bathroom including shower facilities.”

In addition to offering a special kind of adventure for families, tree houses can provide the ultimate in romance. “Guests spend the night away from one of the main lodges at Lion Sands in a ‘bush bedroom’ with all the comforts that you can experience at a five-star safari lodge,” according to the AAC blog post. “Guests are escorted to the tree house at sunset, where drinks and a scrumptious picnic dinner await them. The hours of African dusk can be enjoyed relaxing and absorbing the vastness of the bushveld as it transforms from day to night.”

Africa Adventure Consultants offers a number of pre-planned South Africa itineraries, with specialized options for families and honeymooners ranging from a 13-day “Gold” family safari that includes visiting African penguins and a drumming experience with local musicians, to the nine-day South African Honeymoon with a tree house stay in the game-rich Sabi Sand Reserve near Kruger. AAC also can customize existing itineraries for tree house lodging or create a completely personalized African safari around a desired tree house adventure for families or couples.

Company Information: A leading safari company specializing in crafting custom itineraries to 13 African countries, Africa Adventure Consultants (AAC) was recently named to the 2013 National Geographic Traveler “50 Tours of a Lifetime” and to Men’s Journal’s “Best Summer Adventures 2013” as well as being granted that magazine’s “Approved by MJ” status. AAC also received a 2013 Ubuntu Award from South African Tourism as an outstanding travel partner. The staff at Africa Adventures Consultants has lived, worked, and traveled throughout Africa, giving them an insider’s perspective on how to create the best safaris in the continent’s top destinations. For additional information, visit http://www.adventuresinafrica.com.

Media Contact: Darla Worden, WordenGroup Public Relations, darla(at)wordenpr(dot)com, 303.777.0635

PDF


Print