If you love wild animals but hate the thought of visiting a zoo, then why not make 2012 the year to take your well-deserved South African Safari!

Affordable, entertaining, and an experience you will never forget, a safari holiday is perfect for singles, couples, and families with older kids who still enjoy travelling together but need plenty of activities on hand to keep the tweens and teens occupied!

If the thought of catching malaria is something that puts you off a South African safari, you will be pleased to know that there are several magnificent game reserves in the Eastern Cape, a mere 45 minutes drive from Port Elizabeth, that are not only jam-packed full of wild and wonderful creatures, but they are malaria free zones.

One such game reserve is a majestic place called Lalibela.  The name Lalibela is an Ethiopian word meaning ‘for whom the bees have foretold greatness’, and when you stand amidst the Valley Bushveld Biome unique to this area of South Africa, it is easy to see how this magnificent 7,500 hectare private game reserve, spanning over 5 eco-systems, would invite such a noble name.

When you drive through the gates of Lalibela Game Reserve you are automatically surrounded with an array of antelope, zebra and warthogs, and by the time you have dropped off the keys to your vehicle and climbed into an open-top jeep, you will already have forgotten the trials and tribulations of everyday life.

As one would expect there are no roads through Lalibela. Your expert guide will navigate the winding dirt tracks that lead to your lodge, which combine the rustic charm of a safari camp with all the modern luxuries one could possibly wish for such as a king-size bed, luxury shower, and priceless views.

Lalibela offers three different lodges to suit groups of all sizes, and all age groups. Those looking to get up close and personal with the wildlife will appreciate the openness of Treetops, where one can roll up the walls and sleep under the stars in true safari style.

Dining at Lalibela is an event in itself!  Delicious food morning, noon, and night served at a communal table where you get to share your animal encounters, safari stories and make new friends with like-minded travellers from across the globe.  Every meal is different, excellent, and complemented with a selection of fine South Africa wines, fruit beverages and tea or coffee, so resistance is futile! But hey, you’re on holiday, so go with it, enjoy, and pack a pair of ‘fat day’ trousers!

The staff at Lalibela are personal, friendly and will do everything in their power to ensure your stay is memorable.  It is their natural smiles and first name introductions that make you feel more like a family member than just another tourist visiting their reserve.

Lalibela Game Reserve is just a short drive from Port Elizabeth, a short flight from Cape Town, and in short, it is the most wonderful place to take your malaria free South African safari!

“The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa, for he has so much to look forward to”