44 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM As we disembark, I recognize the truth of a statement on the reserve’s website: “With no script and no predictable paths, every safari is a unique experience, guided by the natural rhythms of the animals themselves.” But our adventures aren’t yet at an end. Next, Jeff takes us on a walking tour of the enclosures that house the reserve’s cheetahs, hyenas and lemurs, as well as the walk-through aviary. Brilliant scarlet ibises parade past, as do African spoonbills with their utensil-shaped beaks. Jeff points adventure land safariwest.com {due west} out a hamerkop. Apparently, this bird is a compulsive nest builder, constructing multiple abodes before choosing the ideal place to start a family. “The male can’t sing, he can’t dance, so he builds her a few homes,” he jokes. SWEET SAFARI DREAMS After our tour, we get settled in our room. Safari West offers the full glamping experience with 30 luxury cabin tents imported from Botswana. Elevated on raised hardwood platforms, each “room” includes electricity, a heater, tribal decorations and a bathroom complete with a shower. The furniture was built by Peter himself. As I unpack, I fold down flaps in the canvas walls for views of bamboo and the nearby giraffe habitat. Dinner is a no-frills affair, but the 12-hour brisket, mac and cheese, smoked chicken and saffron rice is the kind of hearty meal that hits the spot after a long day. Meat is roasted over a wood-fired grill in the spirit of a South Africanstyle braai cookout. I buy a bottle of wine from the gift shop and take it back to my tent to enjoy a glass on the deck under the starry night sky. It’s a wonderfully wild way to spend the weekend. WILD NIGHTLIFE - The flamingos have a lot to say… all night long. Request a complimentary pair of ear plugs from the check-in desk or bring your own to ensure a sound night’s sleep. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: RAY MABRY / JOHN BURGESS / RAY MABRY / SAFARI WEST
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