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