The guestbook at the 49,000-acre private Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape boasts a rave review from Brad Pitt: “The people are as fantastic as the animals majestic. Enjoyed the food chain – Many thanks.” Coincidentally this is also the same reserve where Tiger Woods proposed to Elin Nordegren.
Oprah went on safari across Tanzania’s Serengeti last July and uploaded pictures from her journey directly to her Instagram page – http://instagram.com/p/cUn8QsySw1/. So where did Oprah stay? The private Singita Grumeti Game Reserve, which shares an unfenced northern border with Serengeti National Park and offers celebrities plenty of privacy.
Oprah isn’t the only one capturing her safari moments on Instagram. In October Rihanna took a break from her South African tour to pose for photos with animals at the Longleat Safari Park near Johannesburg and ride ATVs with BFF Melissa Forde. One of RiRi’s photo captions read, “Rode ATVz through the wild with #TheBigFive animals today in South Africa! #young #wild #free.”
When Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel wed in 2012, they chose Singita Faru Faru Lodge in the world-famous Serengeti National Park for their safari honeymoon.
The most awaited marriage proposal of 2010 also happened on safari in Africa. Prince William asked Kate Middleton to marry him in the Kenyan bush, in the very remote and spartan Rutundu Log Cabin – it has no electricity and can only be reached by air, horseback or a 15-kilometer slog. It is located on Mount Kenya’s northern slope.
Funnyman Adam Sandler’s safari experience was a little less than hilarious when he told David Letterman he was attacked by a cheetah while trying to give it a drink of water from his hands at a South African wildlife park in July. Sandler was in South Africa filming “Blended” with Drew Barrymore when the incident took place.
Sir Richard Branson’s son, Sam, wed Isabella Calthorpe – sister or Prince Harry’s girlfriend, Cressida – in a spectacular celebration at his dad’s private game reserve, Ulusaba, in South Africa. Although Prince Harry didn’t attend, the guests who did were treated to five-star digs and plenty of big five animal sightings.
Britain’s Prince Harry wasn’t able to attend Sam Branson’s South African wedding with girlfriend Cressida, but he did whisk her away to Botswana for a safari holiday in August.
The Obama women chose South Africa’s Madikwe Game Reserve for their 2011 safari adventure. They were joined by Michelle’s mother, Marian Robinson, and a niece and nephew.
OK so we already told you one place Brad has stayed, but he’s just spent so much time on the continent, we decided to include him twice. When Angelina Jolie was pregnant with Shiloh – the couple’s first biological child – they chose to spend some quality family time at a place where the dunes meet the sea: the Burning Shore Beach Lodge on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. The couple rented the entire place, which is located between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.
