Kruger National Park Safari
Ever since I went to South Africa I’ve been asked by multiple people about my trip, so finally by popular demand here are all the details of my African adventures. I spent a total of 9 days in Africa and it was a lot of traveling to and from the destinations that we wanted to visit. In this post I’ll be covering just the safari aspect of my trip.
The Safari that I went on was through the Elephant Plains Game Lodge. There is no direct flight that will get you there. I initially flew into Johannesburg and then bought a separate flight to Hoedspruit (HDS). From HDS it is a 90 minute drive to the lodge. You can arrange transportation with the lodge in advance and they will send someone to come and pick you up. (If you get car sick easily I recommend bringing along some nausea medication because the car ride there is fairly bumpy.)
Upon arrival to the lodge we were greeted by a lovely hostess that brought us fresh fruit juices and warm wash cloths to freshen up. We were taken to our room which had a large balcony facing a magnificent view of the reserve. There was even an outdoor shower if you were interested in the entire wildlife living experience. The refrigerator was stocked with beverages and snacks were also provided.
Safari Schedule
0500: Someone comes by early in the morning and kindly knocks on your door letting you know its time to wake up.
0500-0530: Coffee, tea and biscuits are provided in the dining area. I recommend eating a light snack because the game drive is three hours long.
0530- 0830: Game Drive- The biggest tip I can give you is to bring along a light jacket because the desert weather goes from one extreme to the next. It was pretty chilly in the mornings before the sun rose. Once the sun rises you will need a hat and sunglasses. It tends to warm up pretty quickly.
0830- 10: Breakfast is served in the dining room. They have freshly baked bread that I still think about! They also have a spread of meats, cheeses, jams, pastries and fruit. When you start to think that this is more than enough someone will come by to take your order for cooked items (eggs, omelettes, etc.).
1000-1100: There is an optional Bush Walk that takes place where you can take a closer look at animal foot prints, birds, plants and other things that you might miss on the game drive. Two guides will accompany you (armed with rifles) in case you come across an unwanted encounter with the wildlife.
1100-1400: This is basically free time. I used it to lounge by the pool and take a nap (hey 5 am wake up call is no joke!)
1400: Lunch time! The lunch spread is just as impressive as breakfast. They have multiple salad options and various entrees served buffet style. At this time someone will come by and ask you what type of beverage you would like at sunset. They will bring this along with snacks on the evening game drive.
1600- 1900: Evening game drive- Again bring a light jacket with you regardless of how hot it is during the day, it will get much cooler once the sun comes down. At sunset you usually stop somewhere for snacks and drinks.
1900: Once you arrive back to the lodge you will be greeted with more fresh fruit juice and washcloths. Dinner will be served in an hour so many people go to the bar or lounge area to hang out and relax. The lounge area is also the only place the WiFi actually works.
2000: Dinner is announced by a drum beat and everyone goes outside to a circle of tables set up around a fire pit. I was actually very impressed by the dinners they served. They were 5 star restaurant quality and consisted of three courses.
After dinner you will definitely be ready for bed since you have to be up again the next morning for the game drive. I spent a total of two days there and saw the big 5 and a few other rare sightings. I would definitely recommend this lodge to my friends and family since they handle everything for you.
Stay tuned for next weeks article on Cape Town!