Hot off the press from Singita Pamushana, a luxury safari lodge in Zimbabwe.

Singita Pamushana is a luxury safari lodge that sits on Zimbabwe’s private 130,000  acre Malilangwe Reserve. The lodge is perched high up on hill with marvelous views over the lake and surrounding wilderness area. It is built with thick walls and thatched roofs, reminiscent of the ruins of Great Zimbabwe. The interiors feature vivid colors, patterns, and intricate tile work throughout. Singita Pamushana is comprised of six (gigantic) suites and a five bedroom villa, each with their own private plunge pool. All meals and beverages are made to order, and are included in your stay. The property boasts two beautiful main pools, a fitness center, and a spa.  All proceeds from the lodge benefit conservation efforts and community development programs.

Untamed playground, ferocious place. You feed my longing with your wild embrace. I intrude on your land: heat, dust and bone. You intrude on my barrier, my comfort zone. Admiration qualm, trepidation beyond. Respect Mother Nature, creations so fond. Try to be brave, boundaries unbound. Opposite the Baobab root firm in the ground.

Hyenas, painted dogs fight for fresh kill. Clawing in combat to get their fill. Kudu, Nyala, then spy the big five. Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe, the bush is alive! Antelope too are the little six, Skittish Steenbok, like a cat on hot bricks.

Massive fanged alpha with many a queen. Four hundred pounds of killing machine. He walks and they run, King of the beasts. I shiver and quiver, don’t make me your feast.

Camouflaged crocodiles, submerged hippos wade. River cruise breeze blowing gin lemonade. Woodland Kingfishers magnificent blues. Jittery zebras velvety monochrome hues. Mud wallowing beauty, in water’s reflection. Black Rhino, White Rhino, stay in protection.

Mornings of stillness the first beam of light, Kaleidoscopic rainbow sherbet delight. Seven course feasts whenever you like. Coffee and tea beneath Amarula spike. Shelter of patterns the colors so bright, dream under star beds trees black as the night.

Kind souls all around put a grin on my face. Polly Jojo, Mr. T, you’re the heart of this place. Voice in the clouds, oh! Please let me stay. This exraordinary reserve they call Malilangwe

I first learned of the ultra luxurious Singita safari experience around the same time I started my luxury travel blog. I heard tales of bespoke safaris and unspoiled wilderness; of tangerine skies and majestic Baobab Trees. It captured my interest almost immediately, and after doing my own research it was apparent this would be a remarkable experience incomparable to anywhere else on Earth. Hence, the dream took form.

There was only one problem. Throughout my life, I’ve been haunted by nightmares of wild animals; specifically ferocious man-eating lions. I must admit this is a very irrational fear for a girl living in California. Maybe I heard about the Tsavo Man-Eaters at too young an age, but regardless, the fear was entirely real. And for reasons I couldn’t quite understand at the time, I began to crave the very encounter I swore I’d never take part in. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a firm believer in keeping the dust off the ‘ole monotonous routine (by doing things that scare me) but this… this was my fear of all fears!

As the years went by my lust for a true African safari made its way to the top of my wish list. But I didn’t want just any safari experience. I wanted the Singita experience and promised myself that I would not go to Africa until I was able to do it with Singita.

I’ve never told anyone this, but I set a personal goal when I started my blog (4 years ago). I told myself that if I ever got invited to cover a Singita property, I’d know I’d reached my goal in blogging. I had held Singita up on a pedestal as the travel dream of all travel dreams. (Still do!) But now my Singita dreams have taken on a different form; a nostalgia of beautiful memories that were even better than the dream. I can’t help but feel beyond lucky to have been the first travel blogger ever hosted at Singita Pamushana.

In one mind-blowing four-day period I simultaneously faced one of my biggest fears in life, while concurrently living out a four-year dream. Singita is the Shangaan word for “Place of Miracles” and after my recent visit, the name seems more than appropriate.

I was hosted as a guest of Singita Pamushana but the opinions expressed in this article are, as always, my own.