South Africa > Game drive through Kruger Park

South Africa - Jeep safari through Kruger Park

I woke up early today. We’re going on a jeep safari in Kruger Park. We have breakfast at the Satara restaurant. The breakfast turns out to be more expensive than we expected—the prices outside belong to the small café next door. Nevertheless, the breakfast is excellent, we enjoyed it, and by Dutch standards it’s still reasonably priced. At quarter to eight, we set off for the game drive. We go in two jeeps, staying close together so that everyone has the same chance to see wildlife. Our driver, Jafta, leads the way. Immediately after leaving the campsite, we spot some buffalo, of course impalas, and wildebeests. Turning east, we see giraffes walking, and zebras cross the road (how fitting). However, we lose sight of the second jeep. Even when we turn back to the previous meeting point, we can’t find the other group. Strangely, there’s no radio contact. Jafta thinks they took a different route, so we drive the same road we took yesterday. We don’t encounter the other jeep, but we do see plenty of animals: groups of giraffes right by the road, waterbucks, buffalo, and kudus. At a waterhole, a giraffe is drinking—a funny sight as it bends its knees.

South Africa - Zebras crossing the road

Hippos are frolicking in the water. We continue toward the N’wanetsi rest area for a toilet break. Jafta suggests returning to Satara campsite for lunch and then driving north in the afternoon. Due to the hot weather, animals are harder to spot, but we might still see some along the river. On the way back to Satara, we see more small wildlife and a few elephants in the distance. A passerby points out a group of lions a few kilometers away at a waterhole. The lions are still there, but only at binocular distance. After lunch, we drive north. Soon we spot an aardvark (Pumba), baboons at a waterhole, and various birds. There are also hippos, but they barely show above water. On the shore, marabou storks spread their wings to dry in the hot sun. At the river, we finally see elephants up close. A little further on, a whole family stands on the opposite bank.

South Africa - The giraffe kneels to drink a moment of vulnerability to attacks from other animals

Jafta maneuvers the jeep so everyone can see. Being upwind, the elephants notice us and slowly retreat into the bushes. A little further along, we spot a white rhinoceros in a field. He’s at a distance, but it’s incredible to see. I had never realized how big a rhino is. On the drive back to Satara, we see more wildlife along the road, including scattered elephants, but we don’t stop again. You get used to it quickly. If a few cars are stopped ahead, we do stop—and indeed, a group of lions is lying there. The male walks calmly from the tree line toward us. Almost back at Satara, Jafta spots a rhino in the distance. Barely visible, it’s impressive how he drives the jeep and spots the animals. Around four o’clock, we’re back. In the evening, we buy some food at the shop and eat on the terrace of our cabin. Enjoying a bottle of wine, we relax and take in the evening. In the distance, we hear thunder, but it never really picks up.