It’s the rare editorial trip that doesn’t excite me, even though I long ago lost count of how many I’ve done. But the prospect of a luxury safari stirs my blood like almost nothing else. Game drives remind me of good fishing: peaceful moments in nature periodically interrupted by thrilling strikes. My traveling companion and I were fortunate to have numerous stupendous wildlife sightings on our recent foray to South Africa. We saw the “big five” several times over, plus dozens of colorful bird species and wonderful lesser-known creatures like civets and genets.

In addition to its array of captivating animals, South Africa is home to some of the continent’s most extravagant safari lodges. I had the Travel Office book four of them, reserving us as regular Andrew Harper members. Each property had its own style, and in combination, they made for an utterly unforgettable itinerary.

&Beyond Tengile River Lodge

A driver took us from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport through rolling countryside that was green with macadamia orchards, citrus groves and banana plantations. As we got closer to the private Sabi Sands Nature Reserve, the unirrigated land turned increasingly golden. We visited during the winter dry season, which lasts from about May to early October, when animals are easier to observe and mosquitoes are dormant.