There’s nothing like going on safari. It’s a trip of a lifetime for sure! It’s exhilarating, awe-inspiring and humbling at the same time. Seeing these majestic animals up-close and in their own environment is a privilege. But going on a luxury safari is in a class of its own with top-notch services and amenities, fabulous accommodations and lavish meals.
Our safari began when we landed at the Skukuza airport in the Kruger National Park. Our driver from the MalaMala Game Reserve was there to greet us. Shortly after we were on our way to our lodge. It didn’t take long before we saw zebras and herds of impalas. After months of anticipation to finally be there was very exciting!
Kruger National Park is the oldest and largest in South Africa. It was proclaimed a conservation area in 1898 and covers an area of 7,523 mi² (19,485 km²). It’s estimated that there are about 147 species of mammals, 500 types of birds, 118 species of reptiles and 53 kinds of fish in the park.
The surrounding private game reserves add another 579 mi² (1,500 km²) of protected land. On top of that, the border between Kruger and some private game reserves is unfenced allowing the animals to roam free. This was the case for the game reserves we visited: MalaMala and Timbavati.
Furthermore, this large area of bushveld is home to all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo) as well as the rare African wild dogs and cheetahs. And we got to see them all!
In order to see more of this vast conservation area, we opted to split our time between two game reserves. We spent 4 days at the prestigious MalaMala Rattray’s Camp and 3 at Kings Camp, a luxury lodge in the Timbavati Game Reserve. (More about both of these in another post).
Why you should go on a South African Safari
For me the most fascinating aspect of going on safari is being able to get close to the wildlife. These animal encounters are well worth getting up before dawn. Most game drives take place in the early hours of the day, before the sun comes up, and in the late afternoon until after dark. On top of seeing fascinating creatures, we admired spectacular sunrises and fiery sunsets. Then when the veil of night comes down, look up and you’ll see the Milky Way. What a wonderful spectacle!
Now, let’s talk about the animals and some of our most memorable encounters.
Participating in a lion hunt
It’s incredible to see how the animals have adapted to the presence of the jeeps. Some even use them for cover. This was the case when we became involved in a lion hunt! The lions had their eyes on a group of impalas for dinner. It was fascinating (and a bit scary too!) to watch the male lion come right up to us and hide next to the jeep only a few feet away! Every time our ranger started the engine and moved forward so did the lion. He would slowly creep toward the unsuspecting herd of impalas under the cover of our jeep!
Usually the hunting is left to the lionesses, but that night this big male lion wanted to be part of it.
To tell you the truth, it was a bit unsettling when our ranger turned off the lights to avoid interfering with the lion hunt. The lights would have given their location away to the impalas, but meanwhile we had no idea where the lions were (and kept hoping we didn’t appear tastier than the impalas!).
Lions and hyenas scuffle
During one of our morning game drives we encountered a pride of young lions (one male with five females). It reminded me of a group of teenagers roaming around looking for trouble and this group did find some with a clan of four hyenas. Or was it the other way around?
Unbelievable, but the hyenas were taunting the lions!
They would jump around, run by the lions, leave and come back causing a scuffle with the lions. One almost got killed by the young male lion. It was down but by some miracle managed to get back up and run away. Had the lion been fully grown, that would have been the end of the hyena.
It was crazy to watch this unfold next to our jeep. What a show!
Leopard cub eating an impala
We found this young leopard hiding under a tree with a fresh kill. It was an impala killed by his mom.
Usually leopards drag their kill up a tree to keep it safe from other predators but this one was too big for her to drag up. So, she hid it under thick brush and left her cub with it. Our ranger told us that she needed rest after the energy spent killing the impala, dragging it and hiding it.
Meanwhile the cub started eating the impala and we could see him devouring it with gusto! We also got the full sound effects of those powerful jaws. We watched the scene unfold but couldn’t help feeling sad for the impala.
Young leopard and kill
It was incredible to watch this young leopard drag a kill up a tree and away from a couple of hyenas standing by ready to steal it. Mama leopard was also watching and ready to catch it (before the hyenas) in case he dropped it. He did a great job!
Our ranger explained that she was training him to become self-sufficient. Fascinating!
Spotting rare and endangered animals
Some animals are easy to spot, but others are not because of the low number of individuals left in the world.
In South Africa the African wild dogs, also called painted wolves, are endangered. Therefore, we consider ourselves very fortunate to have encountered a pack of six individuals. Five males and one pregnant female. Let’s hope that she gives birth to healthy pups. On top of that, a white rhino showed up!
We also had the privilege of seeing a couple of cheetahs, a male and a female. Hopefully they mate and have lots of cubs! Cheetahs are the most vulnerable of the big cats. Our ranger told us that there are approximately 300 individuals left in the Greater Kruger Area. Also, that cheetahs aren’t “true cats” since their claws do not retract like other big cats.
In addition, considering their threatened status, we saw quite a few white rhinos. Unfortunately, they are often victims of poaching for their horns. Their horns are made of keratin just like human nails. Sadly, some believe that it has medicinal value, which is erroneous. Keratin doesn’t have any health or aphrodisiac benefits at all!
Unexpected encounters
One night we saw a young female leopard trotting on the road. When she noticed the jeep, she went in the bushveld, so we followed her. She was on the hunt. Our guide turned off the engine and lights and we stayed with her for a while… Then we left her so as not to interfere with her hunt. We wanted to let her make a kill and feed.
On a few occasions we saw animals wrestling with each other. It was interesting to watch them in action. In order to take over a herd of females from a dominant buck, impalas fight one another to get stronger. Elephant bulls do the same.
Another time we were driving around and found a huge herd of about 200 Cape buffalos. They were heading down to the river to drink. We couldn’t get down the steep hill but watched them from the riverbank.
On our way back to the camp for lunch we spotted roadside two black-backed jackals. One was looking straight at us.
During our last game drive as faith would have it, we stumbled upon a large herd of elephants. We were sitting there in the middle of these magnificent and intelligent creatures. It was extraordinary! To top it off, they showed up at the watering hole while we were having our last meal before it was time for us to start our long journey back home. Almost as if they came to say goodbye!
South African birds
Throughout our time in South Africa we saw lots of different types of birds: From tiny colorful birds to majestic birds of prey, from tiny owls to many species of aquatic birds. To sum it up, the Kruger National Park Area is a birding paradise. We even saw African penguins and ostriches in the Cape Peninsula near Cape Town. Here is a gallery of our favorite sightings, many of which we saw from our terrace.
It was interesting to watch a saddle-billed stork forage in the grass to catch some fish. By doing this, other birds benefited from his efforts. Some were following him so they could catch and eat little fish and bugs. It was fun to see a kingfisher looking from above and dive into the water to catch a fish.
See our South African Bird Gallery
Fun facts
Did you know that when a warthog runs, its tail rises (just like a lever!)? It’s because of a muscle in their legs. Pretty funny to see.
Elephants have 50,000 muscles in their trunks.
Rhinos continuously rotate their ears like a radar dish so they can hear in all directions. They must rely on their hearing since they don’t see well.
Also, sometimes rhinos successfully hide behind a small bush. You see them and then they seemingly vanish into thin air!
Conclusion
While we opted to go on a luxury safari, one does not have to go that route. There are more affordable options available including lodges, tented camps and camping sites. The animals roam freely throughout the park and some private game reserves, so you are sure to encounter them.
What’s more, in South Africa it’s possible to self-drive through the Kruger National Park to experience this adventure of a lifetime. However, in the national park driving off-road to get closer to the animals isn’t allowed and you must be out by sundown. But you can stay at a hotel outside the boundaries of Kruger for $100 and make day trips to see the animals.
Furthermore, you can hire a safari guide and tracker for a day or half a day and go on a game drive in an open safari vehicle. Having a guide will add to your experience, because they are excellent at spotting wildlife and very knowledgeable. They will also give you information about the animals you encounter.
Being on safari in South Africa is magical! And once you’ve set foot in this beautiful corner of the world, you will want to experience it again. This was true for us… and remains true today!
This was our second safari. We had the chance to go on an overland safari in Kenya and Tanzania where we saw the Great Migration. This is an experience we also highly recommend.
See our South African Animal Gallery
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2 replies on “Going on a Magical South African Safari: An Adventure of a Lifetime”
Seems like a wonderful adventure!
A South African Safari is definitely on my to-do list! =)
You will love it! It was such a wonderful experience and we loved every moment of it! 🙂