Around half a million newborn wildebeest calves are currently trying to keep up with their mothers on the Serengeti Plains, as they begin the 1800 mile migration circuit in search of food and water. The great annual migration of 1.5 million wildebeest, around 200,000 zebra and thousands of gazelles usually starts at the beginning of March. The reports out of Tanzania right now are showing small pockets of herds moving west towards the western corridor of the Serengeti. The main herds are still happily grazing in the Ndutu area, but are expected to start moving towards Seronera in the coming weeks.

In the coming months, the most spectacular scenes will unfold as the herds gather in ever larger numbers and make their way from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro areas, to Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve. They will have to cross the Grumeti River and the Mara River in search of the sweet grasses of the Mara plains.

The river crossings can be very rough and dangerous, with thousands of hungry crocodiles lying in wait. And once the herds have reached the other side, they still have to contend with the hundreds of predators that follow this migration. Hyenas, lions, jackals, leopards and wild dogs really like the taste young wildebeest.

Experiencing any part of this incredible natural spectacle is truly the greatest safari experience you could wish for. Whether you’re enjoying watching hundreds of thousands of young wildebeest calves on the plains of the Serengeti in February; witnessing the great river crossings in July; or simply enjoying the vast numbers of wildlife on the Mara plains in August — it’s all pretty fantastic.

Because the timing of the migration is dependent on the weather, its somewhat unpredictable. But we know the migration patterns and keep up to date with field reports. This allows us to make sure that when we book your safari we’re looking at the right camps, in the right place, at the right time.

It was nail-biting watching the wild fires rage out of control in Franschhoek a few weeks ago. They were so close to our favorite lunch spot in the world – La Petit Ferme. Luckily guests were evacuated in time and no one was hurt. The restaurant was spared the worst due to the quick action by local firefighters.

La Petit Ferme is a lovely little restaurant that’s been run by three generations and considered to be one of the best in South Africa. Where else could you enjoy a starter of bite-size Springbok Bobotie, served with peppered poppadums and sambals? And while your taste buds are savoring the food, your eyeballs will be lapping up the gorgeous valley views. If you’re unlucky and La Petit Ferme is fully booked, we’d suggest lunch at the Bread & Wine. Their charcuterie platter with its array of home cured meats (chorizo, salami, ham and more) is just a delight.

Both of these wonderful restaurants are located in Franschhoek, the gourmet capital of South Africa. Franschhoek is nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains in the heart of the Cape Winelands region. The Franschhoek valley was first settled by French Huguenot refugees in 1688. The refugees were given the land by the Dutch and they wasted no time planting vineyards. The original farms are steeped in history, each one has a story to tell (usually accompanied by a great glass of wine and excellent food).

Once you’ve had your fill of gourmet cuisine and excellent wine, it may be wise to move around a little, especially if you’re planning on staying for dinner. There are lots of activities you can enjoy in Franschhoek to to aid your digestion. There’s golf, horseback riding, swimming, paragliding, hiking and mountain biking to name just a few. And what a dinner choice you have. We recommend you try either The Tasting Room or Reubens.

Franschhoek is particularly close to our hearts because a chance meeting with an American tourist at La Petit Ferme, was the catalyst that propelled Yvette into making a move to the US. Of course she didn’t leave without first finishing her favorite bottle of Boschendal Blanc De Noir. And you won’t be surprised to hear she’s been back many times for more.

Want to savor Franschhoek for yourself? Then enter our contest and win gourmet safari for two, click here for details.

With Valentines day on the horizon, we thought it would be fun to share some of the ways to say “I love you” in Africa. No mean feat considering there are more than 2000 languages spoken, and therefore 2000 different ways to say “I love you”. But we’ve narrowed it down a little, and here’s what we found…

Botswana – Setswana: Ke a go rata
Egypt and Morocco – Arabic: Ana Behibak (to a male) and Ana Behibek (to a female)
Kenya and Tanzania – Swahili: Nakupenda
Malawi and parts of Zambia – Chichewa: Ndimakukonda
Mozambique – Portuguese: Eu amo-te
Namibia – Herero: Mbeku suvera , Oshivambo: Ondiku hole and Afrikaans: Ek is lief vir jou
South Africa – Zulu: Mena tanda wena, Xhosa: ndiyakuthanda and Afrikaans: Ek is lief vir jou
Uganda – Luganda: Nkwagala
Zambia – Bemba: Ndikufuna
Zimbabwe – Shona: Ndinokuda , Ndebele: Ngiyakuthanda

Of course, saying “I love you” is the easy bit, if you really want to show someone you care, how about planning a trip to Africa and saying “I love you” when you’re there? For many of our clients, a honeymoon trip is their first introduction to Africa. And what an introduction it is. While we customize most of our itineraries, we have a few that really don’t need a lot of tweaking. Our Best of The Seychelles trip is a good example. In simple English, without losing too much in translation, this trip means — “7 incredible nights of paradise at two world class beach resorts that you will never want to leave, ever”. More on this …

A honeymoon safari is also very popular. In fact, they’re so good, we sometimes worry that clients want the excuse to repeat the experience. I guess that’s the risk we run when we’re fusing romance and adventure in a single package. Take our Southern Africa Exclusive Trip. 14 nights under African skies enjoying the absolute best South Africa, Botswana and Zambia have to offer. Once couples have experienced the sheer beauty of Kruger, Victoria Falls, Cape Town and the Okavango Delta, they’ll fall in love all over again. More on this…

Going on safari is an incredibly enriching experience. Whether it’s your first or your tenth safari, you’ll learn something new and fascinating every time you step outside your room. We at African Portfolio are fortunate to have enjoyed numerous safaris, and thought it would be fun to share some wildlife tidbits with you.

Did You Know …

• Hippos secrete a natural sunscreen that is colored red and eventually turns brown
• Baby giraffes drop six feet to the ground when born but manage to stand up just five minutes later
• Leopards are strong swimmers and sometimes eat fish
• A lion cub may nurse from other females as well as its mother
• Warthogs graze on short grass by kneeling down on their padded, hairy knees
• A Zebra’s stripes are as unique as fingerprints—no two are exactly alike
• Hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs
• Impalas can cover a distance of 10 meters (33 feet) in a single leap
• An elephant’s trunk contains about 100,000 different muscles
• Jackal males and females mate for life

Amazed, Intrigued, Want to Know More?

Enter our Savor South Africa contest and you’ll be able to see all this with your own eyes. Tintswalo Safari Lodge in the Manyeleti Game Reserve is one of our favorite places to stay on safari in South Africa, and is featured in our contest itinerary. The air-conditioned suites along the banks of the seasonal Nwaswitsontso River provide supreme comfort and privacy, effortless birding, as well as the opportunity to view a large variety of big game right from the deck. The perfect spot to see that amazing elephant trunk in action. The indoor/outdoor showers lead off spacious bathrooms which open out onto a private plunge pool and loungers for relaxing under the African Sun. Ideal for checking out hairy warthog knees.

Find out more about Tintswalo …