5 2 D I S COV E RY J U N E 201 5

發現 南非DISCOVER SOUTH AFRICA

On safari in South Africa offers incomparable thrills and a chance to get up close to iconic big game

在南非野外探險，歷程刺激無比，更有機會近距離觀看具代表性的巨獸

by KEE FOONG

荒野任逍遙

Wild ride

For many safari goers, the chance to see a lion in the

wild offers an incredible thrill

對許多到非洲野外歷奇的旅客來說，親睹獅子的刺激經歷

教人難以忘懷

Wild ride

發現 南非DISCOVER SOUTH AFRICA

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REGULAR sustained exposure to noise at 90 decibels (dB) can damage your hearing. A power saw is 110dB. A lion’s roar can reach 114dB and can be heard up to eight kilometres away. Bouncing around in an

open-top vehicle searching for lions, it’s natural to feel vulnerable when you hear its primal roar, yet you can’t see where it’s coming from. Hairs prickle and goose bumps appear. Wildebeest, zebras and impalas twitch nervously, ready to flee. The antici-pation and trepidation of seeing the king of the jungle, whether for the first or 10th time, is palpable.

There’s no need to put yourself in real danger, however, for the best safari experiences. “South Africa is an ideal safari destination because its world-class game reserves are easily accessible and well-managed,” says Jose Cortes, co-founder of luxury-tour company A2A Safaris. “Because of high densities of big game and predators in these reserves, one has a very high chance of seeing all the iconic African species.” A number of reserves are an easy drive from Johannesburg and several are malaria-free, making them attractive to families.

The granddaddy of South Africa’s parks is Kruger National Park, a nearly two-million-hectare sanc-tuary – in a malaria zone – where the terrain is as varied as it is immense. Undulating hills, expansive savannah and dense veld, or bush, hide the big five – lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros and elephant – as well as other equally impressive and fascinating

Marataba Safari Lodge (far right) offers a tranquil stay in between excursions where

visitors can see giraffes and elephants, while a highlight of Madikwe Game Reserve is

sighting endangered African wild dogs (centre)

Marataba Safari Lodge（最右圖）為旅客在親近 長頸鹿和大象等動物的空檔時間，提供寧靜的 休息環境；馬蒂克維野生動物保護區棲息了

瀕危的非洲野狗（中圖）

發現 南非DISCOVER SOUTH AFRICA

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South Africa’s reserves protect and showcase the country’s diverse wildlife, such as leopards and zebras, along with its many species of exotic plants and the stunning natural landscape

景色壯麗的南非自然保護區，不但是許多野生動物如豹及斑馬等的避風港，還可看到多種奇花異卉

J U N E 201 5 D I S COV E RY 5 7

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坐在開篷車中到處顛簸尋找獅子蹤影的時候，當聽到

遠處傳來野性的吼叫，卻看不到聲音的源頭來自何處，

不免令人感到寒毛直豎。無論你是第一次還是第十次親

睹「森林之王」的雄姿，期待與惶恐之情都一樣震撼。

不過，遊客不必將自己置身險境，也可以真切體驗

原野風光。豪華旅遊公司A2A Safaris創辦人之一Jose

Cortes指出：「要選擇野外觀獸的好去處，到南非就最

好不過了。那裡有世界首屈一指的動物保護區，而且交

通比較方便，管理完善。此外，那裡的大型動物及猛獸

十分集中，遊客很大機會欣賞到所有在非洲具代表性

的動物。」許多保護區可由約翰內斯堡駕車直達，當中

沒有瘧疾傳播的保護區最受家庭旅客歡迎。

南非最早的野生動物保護公園——克魯格國家公園佔

地近二百萬公頃，雖然它位於瘧疾疫區內，但公園幅員

遼闊，地形極為繁複，在起伏不斷的山脈、廣闊無垠的

草原與茂密繁盛的叢林中，匿藏著五大非洲動物︰獅

子、豹、水牛、犀牛與大象，以及其他同樣吸引及有趣的

野生動物，包括行蹤隱秘的瀕危動物土豚及穿山甲，還

有獵豹、獰貓、鬣狗及五百多種雀鳥。

佔地75,000公頃的馬蒂克維野生動物保護區鄰近 喀拉哈里沙漠，距離約翰內斯堡四小時車程。保護區

不僅免於瘧疾肆虐，還有很大機會可以看見以上五種

大型動物，以至大自然最出色的捕獵動物之一︰非洲野

狗。這些極為聰敏的群居動物，也是世上其中一種瀕危

哺乳類動物，難得一見。

與馬蒂克維距離不到兩小時車程的馬拉塔巴野生動

物保護區，佔地23,000公頃，並無瘧疾傳播，並且靠近

迷人的紅褐色水山山脈。提供攝影導賞服務的非洲探

險旅遊公司African Insider創辦人Brad Leontsinis指

出：「馬拉塔巴勝在動物品種豐富多樣，而且有大耳狐

及棕鬣狗等獨特的動物在此棲息。此外，嶙峋的山脈上

有不同的植物生長，而且河邊植被茂盛，加上有空曠的

平原，交織出不斷變化的地形。」

這些體驗得來不易。非洲野生動物面對嚴重的盜獵

問題，每年有約25,000隻大象被非法獵殺，單在2014年，南非已有逾1,200隻犀牛遭盜獵。遊客可捐助國際

自然及自然資源保育聯盟、非洲野生動物基金會等非

政府機構，為保育非洲野生動物出一分力。

[ 荒野任逍遙 ]

wildlife. These include the elusive and endangered aardvark and pangolin, as well as cheetah, caracal, hyena and more than 500 species of birds.

There is a good chance of spotting all the big five at Madikwe Game Reserve, an arid 75,000-hectare reserve four-hours’ drive from Johannesburg near the Kalahari Desert. One of its great draws, apart from being malaria-free, is the opportunity to see African wild dogs, one of nature’s most efficient predators. These highly intelligent and social crea-tures are also one of the world’s most endangered mammals, and sightings are a highlight of any safari.

Less than two hours from Madikwe is Marataba, a stunningly situated, 23,000-hectare malaria-free

reserve set against the russet-red hues and beguil-ing curves of the Waterberg mountains. Although big-five numbers may not be as plentiful, “I love Marataba’s wildlife diversity and special animals such as bat-eared fox and brown hyena,” says Brad Leontsinis, founder of photographic-safari operator African Insider. “The mix of vegetation types from rocky mountains, dense river frontage and open plains offers an ever-changing land-scape.” It is this beauty and diversity that makes safaris an experience like no other, and Africa’s are unmatched.

It’s an experience that many are fighting to protect, with poaching posing one of the greatest

WORLD TOUR A2A Safaris specialises in tailor-made

luxury trips to Africa and Latin America for Asia-based clients. High season is during the cooler and drier months of May to October, when the bush is less

dense, making it easier to spot wildlife. www.a2asafaris.com

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The campsTINGA LODGELocated on the picturesque banks of the Sabie River in Kruger National Park, Tinga Lodge treats guests to a steady procession of wildlife. Look closely and you might see the water’s surface punctuated by the eyes and nostrils of hippos and crocodiles. The lodge and its nine suites exemplify rustic safari chic, where guests sleep under the canopy of a four-poster bed and have access to their own plunge pool. Tinga’s rangers and trackers are particularly affable.www.lionsands.com

threats to wildlife in Africa – fuelled by demand in Asia, especially from China and Vietnam – for rhino horns, elephant tusks and pangolin scales. Up to 25,000 elephants are estimated to be ille-gally killed in Africa each year and more than 1,200 rhinos were poached in South Africa alone in 2014. Travellers can support a number of non-government organisations committed to wildlife protection and conservation, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), to help ensure the survival of these magnificent species.

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Tinga Lodge (left) has nine suites each overlooking the river; Kruger National Park (far left, top) has more than 500 species of birds; Explore on foot with a walking safari tour (far left)

Tinga Lodge（左圖）有九間套房，均坐擁河景；克魯格國家公園（左上圖）棲息了

500多種雀鳥；到非洲旅行，最宜徒步探索大自然（左下圖）

MARATABA SAFARI LODGESleeping in one of the 15 canvas-and-stone tents at Marataba Safari Lodge allows you to hear the wind and calls of the wild clearly. Children of all ages are welcome here and a ranger accompanies guests on all excursions. Morning, afternoon and sunset river cruises provide a serenely different perspective. One welcome recent addition is the Marataba Walking Trails Lodge, an eco lodge designed exclusively for walking safaris. www.marataba.co.za

MATEYA SAFARI LODGEHermès crockery, first-growth Bordeaux in the extensive wine cellar and a museum-worthy African art collection, Mateya Safari Lodge, in Madikwe Game Reserve, is unabashedly luxu-rious. Residents are cocooned in one of just five freestanding suites, each with a rim-flow pool, indoor fireplace and views of the surrounding plains. A ranger and tracker are provided for all safari drives. Although Madikwe is an excellent family friendly destination, Mateya is best for grown-up getaways. www.mateyasafari.com

CATHAY PACIFICJohannesburg: 7 x Weekly

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