Today was unforgettable! We opted for a three-part safari, elephant ride, walking with lions and a night drive with a bush dinner.

A morning spent at the pool put us in the right frame of mind for the day. We were collected at 1:30pm by our first driver and taken to the Shearwater office in town where we transferred to a large bus, somewhat resembling something out of an early Star Wars film. Waiting, waiting, waiting until finally the last passengers (some very irritating Dutch people) arrived and got on the bus which by now was hovering around 45 degrees inside.

A journey of around 15km was made more interesting by the fact that most of it was off-piste - providing what the guide, Lawrence, called an 'African Massage'. Belive me, that's a massage you only want to experience if there is something very worthwhile at the other end and on this occasion there certainly was!

Meet the elephants! After signing away our lives to the handlers, we were introduced to our big beasts and their drivers. Mounting from a platform, you find yourself 8-10 feet above the ground, clautching a small handle attached to the saddle for grim death. The ride was magical, made even more so when we saw a lioness in the wild, holding very still, looking for prey. We were able to get right up to her, within about 20 feet, without her disappearing off into the bush. The ride finished with the chance to interact with and feed the elephants before moving on to the event holding 'pride of place'...