Safari in South Africa - Jingle Bells and Sleigh Rides in the Heat of an African Summer

Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat!African morning they see the spectacular sight of the
South Africa offers a very different view ofsun shedding its night-time blanket to unveil the lion,
Christmas. Come and discover why the warmth andelephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard, amongst others.
light of a South African summer can still fulfill all yourAs the morning gathers pace and the cameras have
desires for a traditional Christmas.worked overtime to capture this most special day,
Safari in South Africa and you can't help but thinkthey head back to camp for a sumptuous breakfast,
that the idea of Christmas in all the summer heat isfollowed by a lazy few hours reading, opening
not what Christmas is all about, but let me help youpresents, swimming in the warm pool, spotting the
change your mind and swap jingle bells and sleighvisiting birds like the brightly coloured kingfishers that
rides for the heat of a South African summer.come to the veranda or watching the animals who
A bold statement, I hear you say. Let me explain ...are swimming in the lake in front of their private
Tradition dictates that snow, carols, turkey andlodge, such as the hippo.
Christmas trees feature strongly in the festiveLater on your friends have decided to experience the
picture, and indeed they do in South Africa.thrill of an elephant safari, riding through the bush on
Imagine this, it's 25th December at 5am in thethe back of this magnificent beast before returning
morning. Despite all your best efforts to have keptto camp for their Christmas Day meal - probably
them asleep, the children have already opened theturkey with all the trimmings. There'll be crackers and
presents left by Santa in the sacks placed at the endtinsel, party poppers and jokes.
of their beds.So the sun slowly sinks back down into the umber,
You notice through bleary eyes that the day itself isochre and burnt sienna colours of the earth,
still asleep, wrapped in its mantle of dark. It will beproducing a glowing red sunset to mark the end of
hours before the sun will arouse itself sufficiently toanother day.
bring even a glimmer of light to the proceedings.You resolve that next year you will take the tinsel
You think of your friends who have decided to safariand angels to task and exchange the cold for the
in South Africa and wonder what they are up to onheat and combine the summer with the traditions of
this chill morning.Christmas.
Indeed it will be chill, because they are on the firstI wish everyone wherever they are in the world and
drive of the day, hoping to spot the first of their Bighowever they celebrate the very best for the
Five animals. Wrapped against the cool of the earlycoming festivities.