Every now and then, travel gifts you a moment so surreal you have to remind yourself it’s real. The Flats Lunch on Alphonse Island is exactly that.

Back when I was working in South Luangwa, wildlife encounters were my daily spice – some were heart-melting, some gave me goosebumps of the romantic safari kind, and some … well, some nearly had me meeting my ancestors.

To survive – and thrive – as a safari camp hostess, you really only need three things: a heart that loves people, a talent for making others feel cherished, and a smile so genuine it could calm a charging buffalo.