The Big Five, Michelin-Quality Cuisine, Extraordinary Service — and a Family Celebration I Will Never Forget
By Dr. Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D.
I have visited South Africa more than 20 times since leaving the country many moons ago, and over the years I have been fortunate to experience more than my fair share of outstanding game reserves, safari lodges, golf courses, wineries, restaurants and luxury destinations.
South Africa does luxury exceptionally well!
It also does wildlife better than almost anywhere else on earth…..
But every now and then, you arrive somewhere where all the elements come together so perfectly that the experience transcends the normal five-star classification.
Kariega Game Reserve’s Settlers Drift is one of those places.
Officially, Settlers Drift is classified as a five-star luxury tented lodge.
Having now experienced it personally, I would add two stars of my own.
Settlers Drift is a seven-star experience.
And for me, this particular visit became considerably more than another luxury safari.
I celebrated my 80th birthday and my 56th wedding anniversary there.
But neither milestone was the real highlight.
The highlight was having my two sons there to celebrate with us — one traveling from Vietnam and the other from Spain.
At this stage of life, you begin to understand that the greatest luxury isn’t necessarily the size of the suite, the wine you are drinking or even the animals you are fortunate enough to see.
It is having the people who matter most sitting beside you while you experience them.
That made Settlers Drift particularly special.
OUR ARRIVAL DIDN’T GO QUITE ACCORDING TO PLAN — THANK GOODNESS
Normally, part of the Settlers Drift experience is the wonderful arrival by boat along the Bushmans River.
Mother Nature, however, had other plans for us.
Severe flooding had resulted in the dock being unavailable, so instead of arriving by river, we entered the reserve by road.
Initially, I was disappointed.
That lasted about five minutes.
As we drove deeper into the reserve, we turned a corner and suddenly found our way blocked first by elephants, and then giraffes.
There they were.
No zoo barriers.
No fences separating us.
No carefully staged introduction.
Just Africa doing what Africa does.
We had barely arrived and the wildlife had already decided to provide its own welcome committee.
Three clans of elephants of all ages. Over 90- grazing and playing. We sat in silence for the longest time taking it all in.
Quite frankly, I couldn’t have planned a better entrance.
It was also the perfect reminder of why safari travel is so different from virtually every other luxury vacation.
You never really know what is going to happen next.
Another incredible experience – a boat ride on the swollen Bushman’s River. This was from the recent heavy rains in the region. As we arrived back at the dock, standing on the river’s edge, we were so lucky to see a journey of at least 12 giraffes crossing the river – totally awe inspiring and a very rare event.
THE EASTERN CAPE OR KRUGER? SOUTH AFRICA GIVES YOU THE CHOICE
One of the great advantages of taking a safari in South Africa is choice.
If seeing the Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and Cape buffalo — is high on your bucket list, you can choose very different environments in which to experience them.
Most international travelers know the famous Kruger National Park and surrounding private reserves, where the landscape is characterized by the bushveld of northeastern South Africa.
Kruger is enormous, iconic and deservedly one of the world’s great wildlife destinations.
But the Eastern Cape provides a completely different safari experience.
Here, the landscape has its own distinctive Cape bush topography, with rolling hills, deep valleys, river systems, open grasslands and dense thickets creating an extraordinarily diverse environment.
Neither is “better.”
They are different.
And that is precisely the attraction.
For travelers who want to enjoy Cape Town, the Winelands, Garden Route, golf and safari without constantly moving between distant regions of the country, the Eastern Cape has another important advantage:
You can remain within essentially the same broad region of South Africa and still enjoy a genuine Big Five safari.
That makes Kariega an especially attractive addition to a Cape-based itinerary.
SETTLERS DRIFT — INTIMATE LUXURY IN THE AFRICAN BUSH
One of the things I particularly liked about Settlers Drift is its intimacy.
There are only nine luxury tented suites.
And please forget whatever comes to mind when you hear the word “tent.”
This is most certainly not camping.
The suites are enormous, beautifully appointed and positioned to provide privacy and magnificent views across the surrounding wilderness.
Canvas, timber, glass and stone blend naturally into the environment rather than competing with it.
There is a large bedroom and living area, luxurious bathroom facilities, indoor and outdoor showers, fireplace, minibar, air conditioning and your own private deck overlooking the bush.
You wake up in Africa.
You sit outside with your coffee in Africa.
And depending on what decides to wander past, the wildlife viewing can begin before you have even left your room.
That, to me, is real luxury.
Space. Privacy. Silence. Nature.
My family and I always felt that this was like our own private lodge given how refined the space was and how well we were treated by the staff. They catered to every desire that a guest may have, whether it was to sit on a couch and watch a movie or sports event in the beautiful TV lounge, or to go out walking in the bush, or to have a certain thing to eat at a certain time of day, whatever it is, Settlers Drift makes you feel like it’s what you deserve!
YES, THE BIG FIVE ARE AWESOME — BUT DON’T IGNORE EVERYTHING ELSE
I have been fortunate enough to see the Big Five on numerous occasions.
It never gets old.
There is still something extraordinary about seeing an elephant herd moving through the bush, a lion surveying its territory, rhino appearing out of the vegetation, buffalo staring back at you or being fortunate enough to encounter the notoriously elusive leopard.
Seeing the Big Five is always awesome.
But one of the mistakes first-time safari visitors make is becoming so obsessed with checking five animals off a list that they miss everything else happening around them.
Kariega offers considerably more than the Big Five.
Depending on your luck and the season, other species found within the reserve include hippos, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, elands, kudus, waterbucks and numerous other antelope species.
And then there are the birds.
South Africa’s birdlife is quite magnificent, and Kariega offers sightings of an extraordinary range of species, including some of Africa’s great raptors.
Among them are the crowned eagle, martial eagle and African fish eagle.
The unmistakable cry of a fish eagle across an African river is one of those sounds that, once heard, you never forget.
It is Africa’s soundtrack.
MEET MONDE — OR “MO”
A safari can have magnificent accommodation, wonderful food and plenty of animals, but your ranger can still make or break the experience.
We were particularly fortunate.
Our ranger, Monde — better known as “Mo” — was quite a character.
And I mean that as a considerable compliment.
He had personality, humor and, most importantly, an outstanding knowledge of the reserve and its wildlife.
The best rangers don’t simply drive around looking for lions.
They interpret the bush.
Mo noticed things most of us would drive straight past.
Tracks became stories.
Animal behavior became understandable.
Birds we might have dismissed suddenly became fascinating.
He could discuss the Big Five one moment and then explain the habits of a kudu, eagle, antelope or another seemingly insignificant creature the next.
That knowledge changes the entire safari experience.
Anyone can point toward an elephant and say, “There’s an elephant.”
A first-class ranger explains what the elephant is doing, why it is behaving that way, what signs led him to find it and how that animal interacts with everything around it.
That is the difference between simply seeing wildlife and understanding wildlife.
Mo gave us plenty of both.
EARLY MORNINGS ARE PART OF THE DEAL
Safari mornings begin early.
Very early.
But get up.
You didn’t travel halfway around the world to sleep through Africa!
There is something very special about being in the bush shortly after sunrise.
The air is cool.
The light is wonderful.
The animals are active.
The smell of the bush is completely different.
And every turn in the road brings possibility.
There might be elephants ahead.
Or giraffes.
A rhino.
Perhaps lions.
Or a tiny creature that Mo suddenly stops the vehicle to show you — and five minutes later you realize it is every bit as interesting as something ten times its size.
Safari teaches you to pay attention.
That may be one of its greatest attractions.
SUNDOWNERS — AN AFRICAN INSTITUTION
Then there is the afternoon game drive.
This has always been one of my favorite times in the bush.
The harsh midday sunlight softens.
The temperature begins to drop.
Animals become more active.
And eventually comes one of Africa’s finest traditions:
The sundowner.
The vehicle stops somewhere in the bush.
Drinks come out.
Conversation slows.
And everyone watches the African sun begin disappearing over the horizon.
A gin and tonic or excellent South African wine somehow tastes different while standing in the middle of the African bush.
Perhaps it is the scenery.
Perhaps it is the company.
Perhaps it is simply the realization that this is one of those moments you are going to remember.
Whatever it is, I highly recommend it.
MICHELIN-QUALITY FOOD — IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSH
I have eaten in many fine restaurants around the world, and one of the most impressive aspects of Settlers Drift was the quality of its cuisine.
This wasn’t simply “good food for a safari lodge.”
The standard was much higher than that.
I would describe what we experienced as Michelin-quality food served in the African bush.
Presentation, ingredients, variety and execution were consistently superb.
That is no small achievement when you consider the lodge’s remote location.
Breakfast after a morning game drive becomes an event.
Lunch is something to look forward to.
Dinner is a genuine dining experience rather than simply the meal served before you retire for the evening.
Combine that with excellent South African wines and you have another reason why I consider Settlers Drift considerably more than a conventional five-star property.
THE STAFF MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
Then there are the people.
The staff at Settlers Drift were amazing.
This is important because there is a significant difference between expensive service and exceptional hospitality.
You can train someone to carry a suitcase.
You can train someone to pour wine correctly.
You can develop standards for housekeeping, restaurant service and room preparation.
But you cannot easily manufacture genuine warmth.
The people at Settlers Drift made us feel that they were genuinely pleased we were there.
Nothing seemed too much trouble.
And because we were celebrating both my 80th birthday and our 56th wedding anniversary, the warmth of the staff made those occasions even more memorable.
Luxury should never feel stiff.
It should feel effortless.
Settlers Drift gets that right.
KARIEGA IS ALSO A CONSERVATION STORY
Beyond the luxury, Kariega represents something much larger.
The reserve has grown over decades through the acquisition and rehabilitation of former agricultural land, restoring habitat and reintroducing wildlife to areas from which it had long disappeared.
That matters.
Modern African conservation requires enormous financial resources.
Animals need habitat.
Rhinos need protection.
Anti-poaching teams need equipment and personnel.
Local communities need to benefit from conservation and tourism.
Responsible safari tourism helps make all of that possible.
When properly managed, the relationship between tourism and conservation becomes mutually beneficial.
Visitors receive an unforgettable wildlife experience.
Wildlife receives something even more important:
A reason for the land on which it lives to remain wild.
A GREAT FIT FOR THE GOLF TRAVELER
Visit Kariega at https://www.kariega.co.za/ for their current rates which range, depending on the season, from $1,000.00 per night to $1200.00 per night per person.
FINAL THOUGHTS
South Africa remains one of the world’s great destinations.
I may be biased — I was born there — but after traveling extensively, I have yet to find many countries that can offer such extraordinary variety within a single journey.
And Kariega’s Settlers Drift represents the very best of what South African luxury safari travel can be.
About the Writer
Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D., is the Director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America (PGTAA), one of the most respected organizations in golf instructor certification and performance education worldwide. A distinguished member of the Golf Writers Association of America, Dr. Lotz is widely recognized for his expertise in the mental game, equipment analysis, travel writing, and golf industry consulting.
Known by many as “The Golf Whisperer,” Dr. Lotz currently works with between 10 and 12 PGA TOUR players on the mental side of golf, helping elite competitors perform under pressure and sustain confidence at the highest level of the game.
In addition to his leadership at the PGTAA, Dr. Lotz serves as a consultant and mediator to the golf industry and is the author of numerous acclaimed books, including “333 Best Websites for Golfers” and “How to Build Business Relationships Through Golf,” which remains among the top 10 bestselling golf business books.
His highly regarded performance psychology series includes “The Right Mind for Golf,” which is now in its 13th reprint, along with “The Right Mind for Putting,” “The Right Approach to Golf,” and “The Back Nine: Embracing Golf and Life as a Senior.”
Released in April 2026, Dr. Lotz adds two compelling new titles to his growing body of work: “The Right Mind for Peak Performance” and “101 Things You Can Do with a Law Degree.”
All of Dr. Lotz’s books are available through the PGTAA bookstore at www.pgtaa.com.
For the latest mental strategies, golf travel insights, and equipment reviews, visit the PGTAA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PGTAA.