Adichie is a multiple award-winning author who grew up in Nigeria and now divides her time between her home country and the United States. Americanah is her fourth book and her work has been translated into 30 languages.

After enjoying a privileged upbringing and falling in love during secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze are separated when Ifemelu leaves Nigeria to study in the United States. The plan is for Obinze to follow shortly thereafter, but life intervenes and prevents him. We follow Ifemelu through her first challenging years in the US, where finding a job is difficult (especially as she’s not meant to be working), as well as the realization of race for the first time in her life.

In the meantime, Obinze ends up in London for a brief period, and the two are no longer in touch. We follow his struggles and successes as we do Ifemelu’s until the two are finally reunited back in Nigeria after they each return to a home that feels utterly different after their experiences abroad.

Americanah is not only Ifemelu and Obinze’s love story, it’s also a commentary on cultural differences, and the issue of race in the United States. Adichie creates rich and complex characters that were immediately engaging and had us thinking about them long after we finished the last page. Highly recommended.

During her time in Rwanda, Gretchen was lucky enough to spend a few nights at Nyungwe Forest Lodge in southwestern Rwanda. During her stay she completed a forest canopy walk (sort of a big deal for someone who is very afraid of heights!) and saw lots of different primates. Nyungwe Forest Lodge is a great base for a number of activities including:

Chimpanzee trekking
Black and White Colobus monkey trekking
Grey – cheeked Mangabey trekking
Blue Monkey and Golden Monkey trekking
Kamiranzovu Swamp walk
Kamiranzovu Waterfall walk
Various guided Walking trails that range from 1 hour to 3 days in duration
Bird watching walks
Cultural area walk
Forest canopy walk

The lodge itself is absolutely stunning. It is set in a tea plantation that abuts Nyungwe Forest National Park. Rooms are generously sized and have amenities ranging from private balconies and flat-screen TV’s to huge soaking tubs. The lodge has a beautiful dining room, as well as alfresco dining. There are multiple fireplaces and lots of places to lounge comfortably. There are family rooms available, and the lodge boasts the only heated pool in Rwanda. Finally, there is also an excellent spa with a range of treatments available.

The food at Nyungwe was consistently delicious and the views from the dining room and patio are hard to beat. During lunch one day, we witnessed black and white colobus monkeys ‘flying’ from tree to tree around the entire perimeter of the lodge. Quite entertaining ‘bush tv’!

The following recipe comes from the lodge chef – Chef Tonny –  someone we consider very talented in the kitchen. Beets are known as ‘beetroot’ in Africa, so no need to find a special ingredient – everything in this recipe is at your local grocery store!

Pineapple and Beetroot Salad
Serves 4 as a side dish

Ingredients

• 2 small beetroots (beets)
• One quarter of a ripe pineapple
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Preparation

1. Place the 2 beetroots in the 1 liter saucepan and fill up with water. Bring to a boil.
2. Add the ¼ teaspoon salt and let the beetroots simmer for 20-25 minutes.
3. When ready, place under cold water for a couple of minutes to cool down.
4. Meanwhile cut the top and the base off the pineapple and discard. Stand the pineapple upright on its base and, using a sharp knife, cut away the skin in long strips, working your way all around the fruit. Cut pineapple in 4 pieces lengthwise and cut the hard middle part away as well. Cut the pineapple in small pieces (like sugar cubes).
5. Peel the beetroot with a small, sharp knife. I recommend using plastic gloves since the beetroots are very strong in color and will have everything pink in minutes!
6. Cut the beetroots in small pieces (like sugar cubes).
7. Add one handful beetroot in a glass bowl (avoid using plastic as it will stain).
8. Add one handful pineapple to the bowl.
9. Repeat until everything is finished.
10. Do not stir the salad as the beetroots will make the pineapple pink!

Tips
• You can add oranges to this salad.
• The salad will keep for a couple of days, although it is recommended that the ingredients are not combined until the last minute to avoid the beetroot coloring the pineapple.
• Avoid storing beetroot in plastic containers since it will stain the plastic.

Want to visit Nyungwe Forest Lodge to taste some of Chef Tonny’s creations and to commune with lots of different primates? Give us a call to start planning your trip!

You will have radio contact with the rangers, should you choose to. There is also limited cell phone reception; but don’t expect any wi-fi in the bush! While you might only be a few minutes from the main lodge, you will feel a million miles away. Tree houses are equipped with a sink and toilet, and some boast a full bathroom including shower facilities. They also feature Africology products to complete your sensory experience.

Some tree houses allow you to enjoy an hour-long massage under the stars to relax and become quiet with the nature around you. Other facilities include a yoga mat for your use, should choose to greet the dawn with some sun salutations.

If a family safari is more your speed, a few tree houses sleep up to four, so the kids can come along and share an unforgettable night in the bush with you! There is also a brand new, family-friendly tree house set to open in malaria-free Madikwe in March of 2014. We are currently taking bookings for next year.

Do you envision a night under African skies all to yourself? Call us with any questions and to reserve your space in one of these magical tree houses!

PfaP Philosophy

There is need everywhere in the world. It can sometimes be difficult, however, to identify specific needs in places far from home. The people behind Pack for a Purpose believe that those fortunate enough to travel to other countries often wish they could make meaningful contributions to help meet the needs of the places they visit. Such contributions are one way of expressing appreciation for the experiences and hospitality they enjoyed in other lands.

The goal of Pack for a Purpose is to assist travelers who want to say thank you in this manner or who simply want to expand their generosity beyond their own communities. The supply lists for destinations on the PfaP website are provided directly by the local community-based projects which receive and use the supplies, enabling travelers to make informed decisions and to bring items which meet the needs of those who will be using them.

Founder Rebecca Rothney shares the genesis behind Pack for a Purpose:

During our first trip to Africa, my husband Scott and I learned that, while we were each limited to 40 pounds (18.14 kgs) of luggage on safari, the airline had an allowance of 100 pounds (45 kgs) of checked luggage plus a 40-pound (18.14 kg) carry-on. In making plans for a second trip, we looked into visiting a school, Mabele Primary School, near our accommodations in Botswana. We contacted our safari company, Wilderness Safaris, to see if we could determine any specific needs of that school. Armed with that information, we were able to deliver 140 pounds (64 kgs) of school supplies, including soccer balls, to the school. It was enormously rewarding to be able to help the people in the community that had given us such a life-changing experience.

Since then, we and a few of our fellow-travelers have made several trips to other countries in Africa and have been able to deliver an estimated 1,000 pounds (453 kgs) in donations of clothing, school supplies and medical supplies. I asked a travel agent why other travelers did not use their luggage allowances this way. “Because nobody thinks about it,” he said. That was our “aha” moment.

Scott and I knew from our experiences that bringing large amounts of supplies required a great deal of time and close logistical cooperation with the touring company. We felt we needed to come up with a simpler and more direct way for travelers to bring supplies where they were going.

By asking travelers to pack 5 lbs (2.27 kgs) of supplies, we felt we would be able to involve everyone who wanted to add value to his or her trip by participating. By delivering the supplies directly to the traveler’s accommodation, it would be possible for every traveler to contribute and require no logistical support. That amount would take only a small space, require little effort and still make a big impact.

Who can use Pack for a Purpose?

All travelers can participate. You can ask us for more information or also visit the Pack for a Purpose website http://packforapurpose.org/. When you choose to bring needed supplies to community projects at your destination, the graciousness of your act not only enriches the local community but enhances the joy of travel.

Participation is easy! Below are the five steps:
1. Select your destination.
2. Find a lodging and a project it supports.
3. Choose the supplies you wish to bring from the specific items requested.
4. Drop off the supplies at the lodging.
5. The supplies will then be delivered to the community-based project.

Many of our safaris visit PfaP lodges. Our South Africa Family Safari – Silver, our Rwanda Gorilla 4-Day Group Trek, our Tanzania Wildest Safari and our Botswana + Vic Falls Luxury trips (to name a few!) all visit lodges that benefit from travelers that Pack for a Purpose. We can also customize a safari to visit any lodges and communities that you wish. So leave a little room in your luggage on this next adventure – you’ll be glad you did!

Black Rice Pudding with Condensed Milk
Slightly adapted from Roots, Shoots & Leaves by Bernadette Le Roux

Ingredients

1 vanilla pod
2 cinnamon sticks
1 c black rice
3 c water
3/4 c full fat milk, plus more to taste
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Ground cinnamon, to serve

Cut the vanilla pod in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Set seeds aside and place the seedless vanilla pod, cinnamon sticks, rice and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, then cover and cook for 45 minutes, by which time the rice should be cooked, but still slightly wet. Remove the vanilla pod.

Add milk, vanilla seeds and 1 can of condensed milk to the rice and, stirring slowly, bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The rice should be very thick and creamy, but with a fair amount of give.

Let the pudding cool a bit, then loosen with a little bit of full fat milk if you’d like. Serve with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon.

We’re very excited about the new Chinzombo Camp opening this week in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park! Designed by award winning architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, this camp will bring levels of comfort, style and elegance previously unseen to the Luangwa Valley.

The old Chinzombo Camp was for years the green season base for Norman Carr way back in the 1970’s. This unique place has received a new lease on life. The camp has elegant, spacious living areas that melt into the exquisite surroundings of the beautiful and tranquil site.

Gigantic, ancient shade trees offer peace and a cooling respite for guests staying in any one of the six spacious villas, one of which is a suite with extra space for families or small groups. Each villa has its own private plunge pool, cooled sleeping areas, and massive bathroom with luxe spa amenities.

We had a chance to sleep in this morning! We departed for the northern Sabi Sands after breakfast.  We drove about 2 hours to the park gate and were met by our hosts at Chitwa Chitwa for a thorough site inspection and lunch.  Each room at Chitwa Chitwa is individually styled and decorated – while they all have the same amenities and are the same size, they have their own individual flair.  The rooms are spacious and very contemporary in style.

After a walk about, we settled down in front of the Chitwa dam, a permanent man-made water source in front of the lodge, to enjoy a lunch of wine, cheese and meats.  While we dined, the sommelier chose a nice wine from the cellar for us and we were treated to the hippos bellowing in the dam.  It was so peaceful, so Africa.

Following lunch, we headed to Simbambili, where we will sleep tonight.  Simbambili is a solid 4* camp with very sweet management and well-appointed, spacious rooms.  After a quick clean up and settle in, we headed out on the afternoon game drive with our guide Richard and tracker Celebrate.

Another excellent drive – we caught up with a male cheetah eating a fresh kudu kill.  This was especially lucky as cheetah are quite rare in this area.  We watched for our allotted time (you have to share with other vehicles in the Sabi Sands, and there is a 2 vehicle limit at each sighting) and then moved on to see other great game and sundowners on the airstrip.

On the way back, Richard treated us to a star gazing before arriving back at camp for a boma dinner under the stars.  Simbambili camp has a spotlight on a grassy area in front of camp so you can watch ‘bush tv’ during dinner.  It was little quiet this night with just a little mongoose moving through, but our ranger said that the previous night they watched a few hyena having a feast!  Our dinner was quite tasty – springbok salad, tomato soup, duck with apples, and a fridge-set cheesecake for dessert.  Wasn’t difficult to sleep soundly in the comfy beds after that!

A little sleep in the next morning, then we caught our quick hop on Odie Air to the Sabi Sabi Airstrip (about a 5 minute flight).  It’s a busy morning with lots of site inspections – we saw the Lion Sands portfolio of River Lodge and Ivory Lodge as well as the entire Sabi Sabi Collection including Bush Lodge, Little Bush Camp, Selati, and Earth Lodge.  My favorites of the bunch are Ivory Lodge, Little Bush Camp and  Earth Lodge.

Ivory Lodge feels very exclusive with only 6 units, and quite intimate.  Little Bush camp also only has 6 units, also very romantic but in a more rustic way.  Earth Lodge is a true treat – built into the hillside, it’s like being in a very classy cave.  We also enjoyed lunch here which was a delight – lots of salads to choose from and excellent hot dishes including oxtail, grilled fish and a terrific burger to name a few.

After lunch, we moved on to our final stop of the trip – Singita Ebony.  Singita Ebony is the very first Singita camp ever constructed – and feels very old-world style with deep dark wooden ceiling beams, old pictures, and romantic, plush furnishings.  There are so many activities here to enjoy – archery, star gazing, fishing, wine cellar tastings, walks, bike rides and good old game drives (if you can tear yourself away from your gorgeous room!).  Lucky for us, we were in time for an afternoon game drive on the breathtaking concession.  It was truly remote and special, we didn’t see many other vehicles besides us.

We had sundowners on the beach area overlooking the Sabie River and then afterward found a female leopard on a hunt for impala, but her efforts were being thwarted by a hyena.  Our guiding team of Ranger Ross and Tracker Johnson was a very smooth and polished, professional team.  They were incredibly informative and fun, too.  Just before arriving back at camp, we had another star gazing tour of the skies, with the bush noises in the background.  Better than the movies any day…

5:30am wake up – took a bit of coffee/tea and biscuits before we headed out on our game drive. Today we had a great game viewing day with a leopard sighting, jackal, ngala, impala, eland, jackal, elephant, cape buffalo, baboons, vervet monkeys, the almost endangered bat hawk and many more birds. On our way to look over the Limpopo river (Zimbabwe is just on the other bank!), we passed through the fever tree forest which gave everything around a spooky green aura. Back at camp we settled down to a full breakfast. It was a cloudy day, so after breakfast, we each welcomed a nap break in our rooms, listening to the breezes. The Outpost is a treat for those who are looking for a true quiet, intimate safari experience. The food is quite good, and it is the only camp in this area, making for a very intimate experience. The best unit is #12, with full panoramic views around the riverbed.

In the afternoon we headed out again for a game drive, but this time to Lanna Gorge. The Gorge is a true wonder, gorgeous natural beauty. We had sundowners here and took our time with the view. During our drive we saw many birds and plains game, but at night we were treated to a true treat with a leopard sighting – 2nd one in a day! The landscape around the Outpost in Northern Kruger is incredibly varied – full of ebbs and flows and rocky outcroppings. The foliage is sometimes dense and then breaks open to more open plains. The diversity is quite picturesque! We returned to our camp for a delicious boma dinner and a quick sleep.

With an early start, we took the 1 hr transfer back through the villages to our local airstrip to catch our single prop plane for the flight to Phalabora. Upon arrival, we transferred (about 1.5 hrs) to Tanda Tula in the Timbavati. Tanda Tula is a great experience, it’s a tented camp for a true out-in-the bush feel. The rooms are tastefully decorated, and the owners are quite visible and eager to make your stay with them a pleasant one!

We arrived in time for a quick lunch and an afternoon game drive. And what a great one it was – we were treated to a rare sighting of wild dog (6 in the pack), the alpha female was quite pregnant and looking to den, so we saw them just in time before they tuck themselves away. Next, we caught up with a lioness and her 3 juvenile male cubs. The cubs are great to watch – while they are still young and learning from their mother, they were all starting to sprout a mane. We had a great day, also spotting impala, nyala, wildebeest, springbok, bushbok and zebra.

Back at camp, we had a great treat of hot chocolate and Amarula (it is cold out there in South Africa’s winter!) before a fantastic boma dinner of salads, fresh veggies, grilled fish, duck and prime rib and white chocolate crème caramel for dessert. A great day indeed.

We got up early for a shortened game drive since we had to be on our way quite soon – and good thing! We were treated to a lovely elephant family sighting – one of the elephant babies was only 1 month old. We watched as he navigated the use of his trunk. The family was very calm around our vehicles, allowing us fantastic opportunities to photograph the little one trying to find his way about the area. As soon as he got a bit close for the mother’s taste, she carefully led him back to her care. Very touching!

We were also lucky enough to see a great many zebra, an owlette (another one!), bushbuck, duiker and finally, the lioness and her 3 male juvenile cubs again. This time, they were quite playful with each other while they moved slowly through the bush. It was fascinating to watch them catch the scent in the air looking for food, all the time completely unconcerned with us.

Back for a great breakfast before we headed off to some site inspections in the Timbavati of Kings Camp, Waterbuck and Motswari, before arriving at Ngala Tented camp. This camp was completely rebuilt due to floods and it’s a gorgeous place.  Since we were a bit late, we jumped into a transfer vehicle and caught up with our game drive vehicle – good thing we did! This afternoon we saw giraffe, 4 white rhino together (amazing!), lion, elephant, zebra, plains game, warthog, and finally in the evening, a leopard.

One great thing about Ngala Tented Camp is that it has its own private concession within Kruger National Park – so sightings are only shared with those in your camp. There is no time limit to how long you can spend with the animals – so we spent about 30 min with the leopard in the evening! What a magical experience.

Back home we freshened up quick for a great dinner (tomato soup, prime rib and caramelized bananas) before heading to bed. Tomorrow will be another full day!

I arrived at O.R Tambo right on time and was whisked through immigration by our VIP meet & greet services. It is so helpful to have someone taking care of you when you’re still a bit out of it from the 15 hour flight! My traveling companion and I were then taken direct on a Apartheid Museum tour. This might be one of my top experiences in Jo’burg – the museum is very well laid out and details the life of Nelson Mandela and other figures crucial to South Africa’s rich history.

From there, we moved on to Kliptown, one of the neighborhoods in Soweto, where we met Thulandi, leader of the Klipton Youth Program. Thulandi was selected as one of the Heroes by CNN! There are lots of opportunities to donate your time or resources here, a great way to help out one of the poorer communities in Jo’burg. After this, jet lag was settling in quite fiercely and we headed to the Fairlawns for lunch and overnight.

The Fairlawns is a grand hotel, with each room individually decorated from the owner’s travels. If you have the time, take advantage of a back, neck and shoulder massage at the onsite spa. We enjoyed a fresh and delicious lunch. The rooms at the Fairlawns are spacious and have a a nice ‘old world’ style to them. Only 30 minutes from the airport in Sandton, its a quick hop back for your next flight. Onsite, the owners can arrange free transfers within 4 km from the hotel to visit area art galleries or take you shopping. It’s a true, quiet retreat from city life and a fantastic way to ease onto ‘Africa time’.

The following morning, after a hearty breakfast at Fairlawns, we bid our hosts goodbye and headed to O.R. Tambo for our flight to Phalabora (1 hr flight time). Upon arrival, we took a hopper (the plane was an Albatross) to an airstrip outside of northern Kruger, where we caught a road transfer to The Outpost (approximately 1 hr ride). Upon arrival, we skipped lunch as we were excited to make the the afternoon game drive. The Outpost is located in northern Kruger National Park, which is a very quiet area as it’s the only lodge in this region. It was real treat to be the only vehicle at each of our sightings.

Ali, our guide, taught us about the tree life (mopani trees, fever trees) and many beautiful birds. We were treated to sightings of elephant, cape buffalo and many little creatures as well as the vast, rocky undulating landscape. We stopped for sundowners and watched 3 male elephant very nearby. An amazing close-to-nature experience! On the way back, Ali took out the spotlight and gave us a star gazing lesson. Then, by use of the spotlight, we found more elephant and were treated to a loud trumpeting from the group! There was also a tiny owlette, an owl, lots of hare and bush babies jumping out of the trees. Back at camp, we had a sip of sherry by the fire prior to dinner and brandy pudding for dessert. To bed in preparation of a full day tomorrow!

The last few weeks have delivered some wonderful sightings and experiences for our guests. From lions and leopards to our resident hippo rolling around in camp dam.

The hyena den situated to the south of camp has again produced some wonderful interaction between clan members, with the dominant females dishing out some serous discipline among the youngsters.

As the surrounding bush dries out buffalo herds are again making their way into camp dam to quench their thirst. This makes getting back to your tent in the evening very interesting!

The young Machaton pride males have been a real highlight the last few weeks. The pride have been following the large buffalo herds and have on occasion been successful in tackling one.

We have also been fortunate to see a lot of male leopards recently. Rockfig Jnr’s young male has been enjoying the thick bush of the Machaton river system and looks to be doing well on his own. Another large male seen recently was the enormous Argyle male who looks to have been displaced from his regular territory in the north by a younger stronger male. He seems to have taken up residence to the west of us as the area has been vacant of a large male for some time.

General game has been prolific and large numbers of giraffe, zebra, kudu and nyala are seen on a daily basis on drive.