My Just You Story: Ian

My Just You Story: Ian

Ian's love affair with nature began on his very first solo trip to Kenya, and it hasn't stopped since.
"Our lodge was overlooked by Mount Kilimanjaro, and I'll never forget watching a herd of elephants wandering past one morning. It was just phenomenal."
A self-confessed elephant and big cat devotee, Ian has since explored two of Just You's iconic African safari tours: the Royal Morubisi Safari Adventure at Kaingo Game Reserve, and the South African Safari Adventure at Mabula Game Reserve. While the itineraries share similarities, Ian was struck by how different the two experiences really are.
"It's important to remember you're stepping into two entirely different ecosystems. Wildlife works to its own agenda and no two safari experiences are ever the same. Lion sightings tend to be more frequent at Mabula, while at Kaingo, you might not spot any for a few days. It's all about managing biodiversity there."

A Whole New World

At Mabula, the group witnessed a full pride (1 male, 2 females and 4 young) of lions following a zebra kill: it was raw, real and utterly unforgettable.
"That's nature, and on these game reserves, you're very much stepping into their world. That's the most refreshing part of a safari - that, and the wonderful build-up of excitement about what you might spot next. Our rangers were exceptional, giving us the story behind every sighting. Being able to study an animal's markings, track their movements, those are the moments of pure wonder I live for.
"When you encounter lions, even when they're just resting, you still get that overwhelming feeling of I'm actually here, experiencing this. There are plenty of pinch-me moments on this tour!"

The group also watched a pride of lions, a male, two females, and playful cubs, doing very little but filling everyone with awe.

Their final morning at Mabula brought misty skies and a fitting finale: a mother white rhino with her young, and a white rhino - a quietly stunning send-off.

Animal Magic

Travelling as a group of ten for Royal Morubisi Safari Adventure, the group couldn't believe their luck when three different big cat encounters unfolded within just 45 minutes.
"A lioness, a cheetah and then a male lion in quick succession — I absolutely live for moments like that. But beyond the big cats, this tour opens your eyes to so much more. Wild dogs, an extraordinary variety of birds, whatever people were hoping to find on the flora and fauna front, they left South Africa feeling genuinely fulfilled. I certainly did."

In the Hands of the Experts

For those wondering how a safari tour feels without a Holiday Director on hand, Ian is wonderfully reassuring:
"You couldn't be in safer hands. Our guides – Taps and Russell at Mabula, then Jo and Sunny at Kaingo – were so knowledgeable that if there was something they didn't know about the local wildlife, it probably wasn't worth knowing! And their eyesight? Something to be truly envied."
At Kaingo there was a fascinating expert talk on how the game reserve is run and how ecological balance is maintained.
"It really puts everything into context. Our group learned how impala numbers are carefully managed, it's a delicate balance, and I was quite surprised by the complexity of it.
Taps summed it up brilliantly when he pointed out the rear markings on impalas were not unlike a McDonald's “M” symbol. Being quite small they don’t feed a full pride and were thus more of a snack and became known as “cheeseburgers”  He had us in stitches."

Let us take you there

  1. Zebra in South Africa

    Royal Morubisi Safari Adventure

    Experience the ultimate safari, spending your days tracking the Big Five. Staying in a luxury boutique lodge you’ll discover a dazzling array of wildlife as well as have time to kick back and relax.

    • Return flights
    • 7 nights in a boutique safari lodge, 2 nights in flight
    • 20 included meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
    • Small group travel style - Max 20 people on this tour

    10 days from
    £3,799
    was £3,999
    Explore
  2. elephant in the safari

    South African Safari Adventure

    Experience the ultimate safari, spending your days tracking the Big Five. Staying in a luxury boutique lodge you’ll discover a dazzling array of wildlife as well as have time to kick back and relax.

    • Return flights
    • 7 nights in a boutique safari lodge, 2 nights in flight
    • 20 included meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
    • Small group travel style - Max 20 people on this tour

    10 days from
    £3,649
    was £3,999
    Explore