So much to offer - Kruger Park Safaris

After picking up our rented car at the Johannesburgready for our first hike.
International Airport, my friend Alex and I were onOnce on the trail our guides were giving us in-depth
our way to one of South Africa's most sought afterinformation on everything from local folklore to the
Kruger Park safaris. We were to spend our timebushveld culture. They taught us how to identify
there on a four night foot safari, but this was noanimals, birds, trees, insects and plants. Some of the
backpacking safari, this was going to be a four starplants are known to have healing power and they
expedition!explained which to use for medicinal purposes. When
The Low and High of itI turned around to ask Alex something, he had just
Mpumalanga is a beautiful province and it's easy topicked a piece of grass and put the tip of it in his
see why thousands of tourists, both local andmouth. He looked so comical, like a real local farmer
international, flock each year to this province. As youwith his leather hat on.
enter Mpumalanga you are welcomed by theWhat I liked most about a foot safari is that it's so
Mpumalanga Highlands followed by the Escarpment. Iunpredictable. We didn't know what to expect, and
think that you need at least a week in this areatruth be told, I was very scared when we were
alone, since you would have a lot to see andfollowing the rhino trails and elephant paths, but that
experience. Alex and I decided to only venture towas the safaris biggest appeal. While we were
Pilgrim's Rest. This small town came into existencefollowing the elephant path, we came across a herd
during the gold rush era and today offers a lot ofof zebras and buffalos. It is a whole different
historical insight during this time period when peopleexperience to see wildlife on foot instead of sitting in
over the world rushed to get their bit of thethe comfort of a car. Only when on foot, can you
treasure.see just how little we are in comparison to these
After Pilgrim's Rest, we were heading towards theanimals, especially so with the buffalos. They are
Lowveld, making our way into the Kruger Nationalmuch bigger then I remembered and I was holding on
Park. The Plains Camp formed part of the privateto Alex's arm a little tighter than usual, but the guides
concession of Rhino Walking Safaris. Alex got all ourassured us that we had nothing to worry about, just
things ready in our tent while I was looking aroundas long as we stay quiet, because we weren't close
the campsite. This was going to be a high class safarienough to show any threat to them.
like no other. We were only eight guestsWe soon continued until we caught up with a herd of
accompanied by two trail guides and personal toelephants. Much bigger than buffalos, it felt strange
create this Eden in the middle of the Kruger Nationalthat I didn't feel as threatened. We stood there
Park.probably for half an hour, mesmerized by the beauty
The long walk to freedomof largest land animal on the planet today. They were
After getting settled, our armed guides gave us avery calm and slowly grazing their way to the
brief introduction about all the do's and don'ts for ournearest waterhole for their daily bath and to quench
foot safari. They also made an assessment of ourtheir thirst.
fitness levels to work out a schedule accordingly. ISoon after that we were back at our camp, waiting
was very relieved to hear that it wasn't going to befor lunch to be served as we sat back looking at the
too strenuous since this was a holiday after all and Ibeauty of everything that surrounded us. This was
haven't been to the gym in over a month. Alex onour first hike out and already we were able to
the other hand was a little disappointed, butexperience more than most do when going on a
considering that he is a triathlon athlete, I felt that ifsafari. Our Kruger Park safaris always seem to be
it the hikes were worked out according to his fitnessfilled with more experience than the one before and I
level, I might as well raced to the nearest hospital forcouldn't wait to see what else awaited us in the next
pure exhaustion. But differences aside, we werethree days!