Thirty years of planning African adventures comes with an unexpected bonus: stories. Some of them have definitely cost us a few nights’ sleep. Thankfully, enough time has passed that we can now laugh…mostly.
Let’s start with food. One parent casually informed us, “My son only eats prosciutto and green apples.”
Not chicken nuggets. Not pasta. Prosciutto, and green apples.
Then there was the family who asked, “Can they make pizza everywhere? Because that’s all our child will eat.” As it turns out, luxury safari camps are remarkably resourceful. Every stop on their itinerary produced pizza. Crisis averted.
Then came the whiskey enthusiast. Client: “Do the safari camps have Crown Royal?” Us: “Probably not, but they have some wonderful whiskies from all across the globe.” Client: “That won’t do. We only drink Crown Royal.”
So yes…we imported a case of Crown Royal from the United States to South Africa. Because some vacations simply cannot happen without the proper libations.
Over the years, our dietary questionnaire has become increasingly…specific. Vegan? Gluten free? Kosher? Allergies?
Only one particular brand of Canadian whiskey? We’ve seen it all—and managed to accommodate it all.
Of course, food isn’t the only thing that keeps us on our toes.
We’ve helped a client whose dental crown popped off, arranging an emergency dentist in Cape Town before he could even finish saying “toothache.”
Another guest developed a blood clot, in Victoria Falls, of all places. Thanks to some very quick teamwork, they received treatment that same afternoon in Johannesburg and were back enjoying their safari just 48 hours later.
Then there was the traveler whose hearing aids stopped working on the flight from Canada to Johannesburg—right at the beginning of the trip. After a flurry of phone calls and emails, we tracked down a loaner pair and had them delivered the very next day.
And then…there was that phone call.
A client rang us as he was boarding his flight to Kenya. “I just wanted to let you know I’m in congestive heart failure and on the transplant list. I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d tell me not to go.”
Imagine hearing that just as the boarding doors are closing. Well, he was determined to see the mountain gorillas, and thanks to six incredibly strong porters carrying him and his gear, he did exactly that.
The story gets even better: he later received his heart transplant. We like happy endings.
Not all emergencies are quite so dramatic. Our own Judy once managed to drop her passport through the tiny gap between the boarding bridge and the aircraft. You know—the one you never even notice until you’re terrified something falls through it? Well…hers did.
The passport landed neatly on the tarmac below. Airline sta sprinted downstairs, retrieved it, and saved the day. To this day, our family still laughs every single time we board a plane.
Then there are the weddings. Safari weddings deserve a category all their own. We’ve planned ceremonies with witch doctors (sangomas) in the bush. We were once asked whether the bride could marry topless while the groom wore a tuxedo. That request received one of our more diplomatic “we’re afraid that’s not possible” responses.
At the other end of the spectrum was a wedding so spectacular it was featured on South Africa’s version of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (Top Billing).
Forty guests flew in from the U.S., bringing their own minister. There were African drummers, marimba musicians, a traditional band, elegant receptions, and handmade local jewelry specially commissioned to match the bride’s gown.
Then came…the cake. The bride had requested a very specific chocolate groom’s cake from one famous Cape Town bakery. Judy was entrusted with transporting this masterpiece. Everything was going perfectly until she walked into the hotel lobby and unexpectedly spotted the groom.
Determined not to ruin the surprise, she quickly ducked around the corner. Unfortunately, her handbag had other plans. As it slid o her shoulder, it neatly shaved the entire top layer o the cake. Oops.
Fortunately, we had pastry chefs on standby, the cake was beautifully repaired, and the groom never knew how close he came to meeting his dessert a little earlier than planned.
And yes, we’ve even worked with celebrities, although to us all our clients are VIP’s. One rap star would only travel in white limousines. His villa required a private chef on 24-hour standby who could prepare authentic Southern fried chicken and waffles whenever the mood struck. Naturally, we made it happen. We never actually spoke to him—only his manager.
When I first started planning safaris, every unexpected challenge felt like a reason to panic.
Today, after three decades and with an extraordinary team spread across Africa, my reaction is much simpler:
• Take a deep breath.
• Pick up the phone.
• Someone on our team knows exactly how to fix it.
In fact, just a few weeks ago, a client called at 9:00pm from their seats on the aircraft heading home. “Judy, they’ve just announced our flight is cancelled because one of the pilots is ill. We’re being sent back to the terminal.” No problem.
While all the other passengers were being loaded onto buses for airport hotels, one call to our Cape Town team—available 24/7—and by the time our clients walked o the plane, a private driver was waiting. Their rooms at the beautiful Cape Grace Hotel had already been rebooked, and, together with their ample luggage, they were on their way there too.
When I started Mushinda, someone gave me advice I’ve never forgotten: Clients don’t remember the problems. They
remember how the problems were handled. That philosophy has guided us for thirty years.
The truth is, Africa is wonderfully unpredictable. And apparently…so are our clients.
We wouldn’t have it any other way.