| So much to offer - Kruger Safaris | | | | never in my life used this knowledge in the concrete |
| The nice thing about travelling in South Africa is the | | | | jungle. Eddie rather favoured the survival skills that |
| variety of holidays available, specifically Kruger safaris. | | | | our guide Samuel taught us. |
| I wanted a short getaway trip where I was out in | | | | Heading back |
| nature breathing some fresh bushveld air, so I asked | | | | Just in time for brunch, we headed back towards |
| my friend Eddie to join me on a four night foot safari | | | | camp, following what seemed like the same elephant |
| in the Kruger National Park. | | | | path we followed in the early morning. The rest of |
| Before the hike begins... | | | | the day Eddie and I spent reading while overlooking |
| On our way to the Kruger National Park, we made a | | | | the waterhole for any potential elephants or other |
| few stops along the way. Mpumalanga is one of | | | | animals that might come to quench their thirst. Deep |
| South Africa's most beautiful provinces and one of | | | | in thought I was distracted by the sound of an |
| my favourites. The landscape of Mpumalanga is rolling | | | | oncoming herd of elephants. It was probably a herd |
| lush green hills with sights like God's Window. It does | | | | of about 20 or so, but the cutest thing of all was the |
| seem like God favoured this area, with other tourist | | | | little one they had with them. By the time they |
| attractions including Bourke's Luck Potholes, Pilgrims | | | | reached the waterhole almost everybody at the |
| Rest, Blyde River Canyon and of course the Kruger | | | | camp where standing there waiting with their |
| National Park. | | | | cameras in-hand. From what I've learned about |
| We booked in at the Plains Camp for our four day | | | | elephants, they have quite an intricate social |
| Rhino walking safari. The area, which is an official | | | | structure, unlike any other animals. The females are |
| wilderness concession, is environmentally sensitive | | | | the leaders in a herd, not the males as one would |
| and in my opinion, experiencing the Big Five while on | | | | expect. The fact is that the males only join the herd |
| foot is something unique indeed. Now although you | | | | during mating season, after which they lead the life |
| might think that it could be quite daunting, Eddie and I | | | | of a bachelor. |
| both agreed that this was the way to really | | | | After the excitement of the elephants at the |
| experience a safari. Since, by foot, the pace at which | | | | waterhole, we enjoyed a cup of tea before our late |
| you travel is much slower than what you would | | | | afternoon walk. During this walk we saw quite a bit |
| normally be travelling by car, it allows you the time to | | | | of wildlife, including a variety of antelopes. We |
| really take in the diversity of the fauna and flora | | | | headed back to the camp again for an African |
| around, not to mention the wildlife. | | | | sunset, followed by a nice camp fire and sipping on |
| First things first | | | | some sherry to cure the early winter's chill. |
| It's comforting to know that on your walking safari, | | | | Our next three days was spent in the same way, a |
| which only allows eight people per trip, that you are | | | | light breakfast before our morning walk, followed by |
| guided by armed senior guides, the best in their field | | | | brunch and lazily lying next to the pool, after which |
| with the highest qualifications in South Africa. We had | | | | we had a teatime before going on an afternoon walk. |
| a brief introduction where the guides informed us of | | | | Even though I loved the fact that we were doing a |
| all the do's and don'ts while walking, followed by a | | | | walking safari, I was grateful that we didn't spend |
| fitness level assessment. It didn't come much of a | | | | the whole day on foot because I could feel that my |
| surprise that my fitness level left much for the | | | | legs were not used to so much walking. Eddie |
| imagination, since I haven't had an exercise program | | | | mocked because of this, making me feel quite |
| for the last couple of months, but Eddie seemed | | | | ashamed at my laziness, but it didn't stop me from |
| quite fit, and he assured me (with a smile) that I | | | | going on a walk in the morning and afternoon. |
| won't be left behind. | | | | By day five we were on our way back after our well |
| After a hearty breakfast, we set off on our first | | | | enjoyed Kruger safari and I was sad that the trip |
| walk. While walking on at a comfortable pace, our | | | | was so short, but I got what I came for. I was in |
| guide shared with us his extraordinary knowledge of | | | | the open field, breathing the fresh African air, seeing |
| the bushveld culture, identifying everything from the | | | | some of Africa's greatest wildlife and even enjoying |
| names of the grasses, to the local folk lore and | | | | a few laughs with a good old friend. The way one |
| medicinal uses of some of the plants. I was | | | | should enjoy a brief holiday before getting back into |
| fascinated by the skills they taught us for tracking | | | | the swing of things. |
| animals, even though I knew that I would probably | | | | |