01/04/2026
From River Giants 🦛 to Volcanic 🌋 Valleys: A Day of Travel 🚍
There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you wake up at Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa. It usually begins with the distant grunt of a hippo and the smell of the Chobe River—damp, earthy, and full of life.
Our departure from Kasane felt like leaving a dream. After a final breakfast on the terrace watching the morning mist lift off the water, we traded the river life for the open road. The transition from Botswana’s lush panhandle down toward the South African border is a journey of changing horizons.
Entering the Ring of Fire
As we approached Pilanesberg National Park, the geography took a dramatic turn.
Unlike the endless plains of Chobe, Pilanesberg is a fortress of rocky outcrops and hidden valleys.
By the time we pulled into the gates of Ivory Tree Game Lodge, the afternoon sun was casting long, amber shadows across the hills.
The lodge is tucked into a natural amphitheater of mountains. Stepping into the main lounge, we were greeted with chilled towels and that signature South African hospitality.
The highlight of the arrival? The outdoor shower in our suite. There’s nothing quite like washing off the dust of a cross-country journey while looking out at the thicket, wondering if a leopard is watching you from the granite boulders nearby.
A toast to new adventures!
Travel Far, Dream Big, Live Well…
