A Great Kruger Safari Getaway! (travel expert, Harriet’s winter escape).

I was picked up for the road drive to the Greater Kruger National Park following a delectable, fruit-filled breakfast at the Johannesburg resort. With comfort stops along the way, the road trip lasts five to six hours. After leaving Johannesburg in unusually severe rain, we quickly found ourselves beneath the Lowveld’s characteristically sunny South African skies.

Before starting our afternoon game drive in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, we had plenty of time to unpack and get settled.

Excellent sightings were made during our open vehicle game drive, including two rock monitors, a lone small steenbok, and herds of elephants.

We saw a number of animals on our nighttime drive, including a genet, and were fortunate enough to spot a white rhinoceros as we were heading home after stopping for a sunset drink and some nibbles.

We were given a hearty dinner of bobotie and malva pudding when we returned, and we discovered tables and chairs arranged around the campfire. We were informed not to set our alarms and that we would be awakened up at 05.30 am, weather permitting, after spending some time talking by the fire and looking up at the starry sky.

Everything went according to plan in the morning, and before starting the quick drive to Kruger National Park, there was time for coffee and rusks. We managed to get into the park and had a very good game drive after navigating a line of golfers en route to a tournament at the Skukuza golf course.

We began the game viewing by going back to a sighting that had been reported by a few people the previous afternoon, where a giant leopard was still enjoying an impala that had been captured the day before in a tree. Until the leopard climbed out of the tree, a spotted hyena carried away some of the bones that had fallen.

A variety of antelope species, buffalo, zebra, lions, elephants, warthogs (my particular favorite), and both black and white rhinoceroses were then visible to us.

Even if our game watching was really fortunate, you will still encounter a lot of other cars from various lodges, rest camps, and independent travelers in the Kruger National Park. One of the primary distinctions between a private game reserve and a national park is that in the former, a maximum of three vehicles are often allowed each sighting.

When we got back to camp, a breakfast table was prepared with everything we would need. Before heading out on the afternoon game drive, there was time to unwind, enjoy the splash pool, read a book, or download pictures.

After dusk, our guide discovered a bush baby bouncing between trees, and I went back to Sabi Sands, where I enjoyed seeing elephants, white rhinoceroses, and a variety of birds.

In addition to introducing everyone to some traditional South African foods and ingredients, our guides prepared the meat this evening over coals beside the campfire.

Those still at the camp departed for their morning bush walks and game drives on my last morning, while I prepared to return to Johannesburg by way of a portion of the Panorama Route. Unfortunately, there was no picturesque view from God’s Window since the cloud cover grew thicker as we ascended.

We went on to Lisbon Falls, where the clouds parted and the stunning mountain landscape could be seen. The trip went on until we reached the highway, where the sight of open-pit mines signaled the end of the safari.