An African Adventure with Epic
Enabled:
Mention Africa as a travel destination and the first word
that springs to mind is “safari”. It conjures
up images of the grand visits to the Dark Continent at the
turn of the 20th century by Theodore Rooseveldt and the then
Prince of Wales. Visions of khaki tented camps in the bush,
fireside meals, bushveld sunsets, gins and tonic, and an abundance
of wildlife. At this point most disabled travellers, however
minimal or severe their impairments may be, begin to tune
out. It is an experience few can imagine themselves doing.
Wheelchairs, or crutches, and the bush do not mingle. Well,
that has all changed.
Epic Enabled, a Cape Town - South Africa based company, have
developed an African adventure package for all, from the most
able-bodied tourist, to those of us who use a motorised wheelchair.
Epic Enabled’s overland tour is not for the pampered
and spoiled. To try and experience Africa’s bushveld
in sanitised conditions is to miss the point. Africa is not
“Disney”. To travel into the African bush and
live in a deep-pile carpeted, air-conditioned hotel is crazy!
You need to feel the perspiration trickle down your back as
you peer into the thick bush for a glimpse of the elusive
leopard, to see the dust of thousands of wildebeest hooves
hanging in the trees, and to smell the campfire breakfasts
as you emerge from your tent in the morning.
It is an adventure. It brings people from all over the world
together in an overland vehicle, sharing sightings of African
game, helping out at the campsite kitchen, and learning about
one another around the crackling logs after sunset. It provides
us with a firsthand, close-up experience of the African bush
and its fauna and flora.
 What
Epic Enabled have succeeded in doing is to bring all these
senses to us, but still provide a level of comfort, convenience
and enjoyment for those with special needs. It may be an adventure,
but it is not an endurance! Accommodation consists of either
pre-erected tented camps, or bungalows. Regardless, one gets
a solid bed to ensure a good night’s rest before the
early morning game drives. Each stop provides accessable ablution
facilities.
I find the aspect of travelling with Epic Enabled that impresses
me the most is that their tour provides for “all”,
both disabled and able-bodied sit side-by-side in the overlander.
For those of us who require caregivers, they are fully integrated
into the tour group. We all share the experience together
on equal terms. Three whole days are devoted to touring through
the 2-million hectare Kruger National Park, one of the world’s
truly great parks, and home to Africa’s Big-5. The tall
Mercedes-Benz 1617 truck provides a perfect viewing platform
over the grasslands.
Game viewing in a motorcar can be a frustrating exercise as
there is always the sense that the animals are only yards
away, but hidden behind the roadside grass. The tall truck
eliminates that problem with ease, as does the hydraulic passenger
lift in getting wheelchairs in and out, and all wheelchairs
are securely tied down whilst driving. Although the tour might
bring you face to face with the Big-Five (elephant, black
rhino, Cape buffalo, lion, and leopard) it will also provide
one with personal memories of unique encounters with honey
badgers and warthogs around the campsite, and dung beetles
and hyena’s on the road.
A further two days allows one to take in the Hoedspruit Breeding
Centre for Endangered Species, the Nyani Tribal Village where
one can return to our “roots” and savour the local
food and culture, and the Tshukudu Lodge for close encounters
with cheetah, leopard and elephant.
Perhaps one of the most amazing encounters will be experienced
here when a fully grown African elephant will often place
his trunk into the vehicles viewing area to “touch and
feel” these strange humans who visit “his”
lodge.
En-route home a full day is devoted to the spectacular Blyde
River Canyon, the historical gold mining village of Pilgrims
Rest, and the highland village of Dullstroom, famous for the
trout fishing to be had in its icy fast flowing streams. So
what do fellow adventurers have to say about their Epic Enabled
African Adventure? Comments such as “It made me stronger”,
“One great adventure”, “An awe inspiring
safari”, and “I have a strong sense of achievement”
pop up easily in conversation as we return to the Johannesburg
International Airport for our departure flight, as does one
of “I’m going to do it again!”. |
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this Tour