Discover Africa through a Safari


So much to offer - Kruger Park Safaris

After picking up our rented car at thefirst  hike.
Johannesburg International Airport, my friend
Alex and I were on our way to one of SouthOnce on the trail our guides were giving us
Africa's most sought after Kruger Parkin-depth information on everything from local
safaris. We were to spend our time there on afolklore to the bushveld culture. They taught
four night foot safari, but this was nous how to identify animals, birds, trees,
backpacking safari, this was going to be ainsects 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  itpurposes. When I turned around to ask Alex
something, he had just picked a piece of
Mpumalanga is a beautiful province and it'sgrass and put the tip of it in his mouth. He
easy to see why thousands of tourists, bothlooked so comical, like a real local farmer
local and international, flock each year towith  his  leather  hat  on.
this province. As you enter Mpumalanga you
are welcomed by the Mpumalanga HighlandsWhat I liked most about a foot safari is that
followed by the Escarpment. I think that youit'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 andwhen we were following the rhino trails and
experience. Alex and I decided to onlyelephant paths, but that was the safaris
venture to Pilgrim's Rest. This small townbiggest appeal. While we were following the
came into existence during the gold rush eraelephant path, we came across a herd of
and today offers a lot of historical insightzebras and buffalos. It is a whole different
during this time period when people over theexperience to see wildlife on foot instead of
world rushed to get their bit of thesitting 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 towardswith the buffalos. They are much bigger then
the Lowveld, making our way into the KrugerI remembered and I was holding on to Alex's
National Park. The Plains Camp formed part ofarm a little tighter than usual, but the
the private concession of Rhino Walkingguides assured us that we had nothing to
Safaris. Alex got all our things ready in ourworry 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 likethreat  to  them.
no other. We were only eight guests
accompanied by two trail guides and personalWe soon continued until we caught up with a
to create this Eden in the middle of theherd 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  freedoman hour, mesmerized by the beauty of largest
land animal on the planet today. They were
After getting settled, our armed guides gavevery calm and slowly grazing their way to the
us a brief introduction about all the do'snearest waterhole for their daily bath and to
and don'ts for our foot safari. They alsoquench  their  thirst.
made an assessment of our fitness levels to
work out a schedule accordingly. I was verySoon after that we were back at our camp,
relieved to hear that it wasn't going to bewaiting for lunch to be served as we sat back
too strenuous since this was a holiday afterlooking at the beauty of everything that
all and I haven't been to the gym in over asurrounded us. This was our first hike out
month. Alex on the other hand was a littleand already we were able to experience more
disappointed, but considering that he is athan most do when going on a safari. Our
triathlon athlete, I felt that if it theKruger Park safaris always seem to be filled
hikes were worked out according to hiswith more experience than the one before and
fitness level, I might as well raced to theI couldn't wait to see what else awaited us
nearest hospital for pure exhaustion. Butin the next three days!
differences aside, we were ready for our



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