September 1, 2026
After five safaris together over twelve years, welcoming this family back to the bush felt like being reunited with old friends, with all the laughter and easy familiarity that comes from knowing one another for so long.
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7 days | June 2026 | Thornybush and Sabi Sand
Hosted by Chris Renshaw, Curated by Safari Craftsmen
I first guided this family twelve years ago, and since then we have shared five safaris as well as time together far beyond Africa. They have hosted me in New York more than once and even taken me to a match at the US Open. After all these years, calling them clients no longer feels quite right. Their loyalty has meant a great deal to me, but more than that, they have become friends.
The last time the whole family had been together on safari was in 2021. Since then, I have watched the children grow into adults; life has moved on, and finding time when everyone can be in the same place has become more precious.
That made this journey special before we had even seen an animal. We were all together again, back in the bush, picking up where we had left off.
When you know a family this well, the way you guide changes too. There is an easy understanding in the vehicle and no pressure to fill every minute. The sightings still matter, of course, but so do the conversations between drives, the familiar jokes and the quiet stretches in between.
For this return, we divided the week between two places: three nights at Monwana in Thornybush Nature Reserve, followed by three nights at MalaMala Sable Camp in the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve. It gave the family privacy, excellent wildlife viewing and, most importantly, time together.
Both reserves form part of the wider Greater Kruger ecosystem, one of the remarkable wilderness areas explored through our South African safaris. Monwana gave us a quiet start, while MalaMala became the real highlight of the trip.
Monwana was our first stop. The lodge overlooks an active waterhole and a dry riverbed, so there is always something to watch from the deck, even between drives.
It was a comfortable place for everyone to settle back into safari and enjoy being together again. A rhino and lion encounter held our attention, while the late-afternoon light gave us the chance to take some beautiful family photographs.
After three nights at Monwana, we flew on to MalaMala. That was where the trip really came alive.
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MalaMala was the standout of the week. The game viewing was exceptional, and our time at Sable Camp gave us one memorable experience after another.
The lions were a particular highlight. We found them in crisp morning light and spent time watching the cubs playing in the sand, with no need to hurry away or chase the next sighting.
The search for leopard became a team effort. I worked alongside the local guides, reading the signs, comparing movements, and gradually narrowing the search. Guests often see the final photograph without seeing the hours of knowledge and teamwork behind it. The leopard portrait from this trip may look effortless, but finding that moment was anything but.
One morning, we left the vehicle and climbed a koppie at sunrise. From the top, we watched the bush open around us as the light changed across the landscape. We stayed for a while and took it all in together.
That is where private guiding makes a real difference. When the conditions are right, there is enough freedom to follow an idea, change the plan, and give an experience the time it deserves.
We also celebrated a birthday at MalaMala, which made our time there even more special.
Because I have known this family for so long, it did not feel like another item on the itinerary. It felt like celebrating with friends, in a place that had already given us so much to remember.
That is the pleasure of guiding people over many years. You know when to plan something special, when to leave space, and when everyone is simply happy being together.
“I wish the trip was longer. It goes too fast, and we love it.”
People often speak about repeat guests as though the number itself is the achievement. From the guide’s seat, it feels more personal than that.
It means seeing children become adults. It means remembering earlier journeys while making space for the family they are now. It means being trusted with time that is increasingly hard for everyone to find. These are the relationships that shape our family and multi-generational safaris.
The wildlife on this safari was extraordinary, from lions at sunrise to the quieter work of finding a leopard. But the image I keep returning to is the family together in that late-afternoon light.
Twelve years of journeys were present in one frame.
And, as always, the week went too quickly. Perhaps that is why returning matters. There is never a final safari, only the next chapter waiting to be crafted.
Imagine watching lions in the first light and following leopard tracks through one of Africa’s most remarkable private reserves. At MalaMala, some of Southern Africa’s finest big-cat viewing awaits.
Begin a conversation with our craftsmen and tell us who is travelling and what you dream of experiencing. We’ll craft the journey from there.
