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