We went to South Africa to spot the Big 5 — and ended up on an unforgettable adventure!
On our latest trip, we couldn’t miss a Kruger National Park Safari – it is a must-do wildlife experience for any adventure lover!
We started our journey in Johannesburg, and the easiest way to get to the park was through a safari tour that included pick-up and drop-off in Johannesburg. We chose a 3-day safari tour because it was budget-friendly and offered a great mix of activities:
- Sunset Game Drive and a Bush Braai
- Full-day Game Drive inside Kruger
- Bush Walk
- Visit to Blyde River Canyon
The pick-up and drop-off went smoothly, although the ride was long — roughly 6 to 7 hours. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a refreshing cold drink and given the keys to our room. And then we met a little resident… a velvet monkey right outside our door!
Little did we know, this was just the beginning of a thrilling experience…
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Sunset Game Drive in the Kruger
After just half an hour, we headed out on the sunset drive in a private reserve and spotted zebras and antelopes within minutes. But soon, luck was on our side: about an hour in, we stopped in front of five lions resting in the bush — our first encounter with the Big 5. Seeing lions in the wild is truly awe-inspiring; they are majestic and powerful beyond words.
Despite our presence, they seemed remarkably relaxed — after all, they are the kings of the jungle. We snapped as many photos as we could, when suddenly the lions went on alert, turning their attention to our right. A massive elephant was passing through the bush, just 10 meters from us.
This was clearly the highlight of day one: we found ourselves right between the lions and the elephant. It was fascinating to see the lions tense up in response to the elephant, proving that even kings have rivals… 🙂
Bush Braai During a Kruger National Park Safari
As darkness began to fall, our guide led us to the bush braai. It was much more about the atmosphere and adventure than the food itself. We had a fantastic time chatting with our fellow travelers and swapping stories of our adventures. Everyone had heard so many great things about the South African braai that our expectations for the food were probably a bit too high… but, after all, we were right in the middle of the African jungle!
On the way back to the lodge, we couldn’t resist singing:
“In the Jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight
In the Jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight
Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away”
It was the perfect end to a thrilling first day in Kruger — laughter, wildlife, and a taste of true adventure.
Full-Day Game Drive Inside Kruger
We started the day with a hearty breakfast at Tremisana Lodge, knowing it would be a long day (and hopefully an amazing one). After about an hour of driving and thirty minutes waiting at Orpen Gate, we finally entered Kruger National Park. Our goal was to see the Big 5 — but we knew luck would play a big part.
Our guide navigated the park slowly and carefully, helping us spot animals along the way. Right near the gate, we saw two elephants walking by, followed by zebras, wildebeests, impalas, kudus, and waterbucks. Every new sighting brought a rush of adventure and accomplishment, with the park stretching 350 km north to south and 80 km east to west, and animals roaming freely, you never know what might appear next.
On the horizon, we noticed a large cloud of smoke and wondered whether it was a controlled burn. Later, we stopped at a small dam to watch hippos — but they were sleeping, completely still in the water… almost as interesting as rocks! 🙂
After the boring hippos, we saw three cars stopped in the road. Curiosity hit — what were they looking at?
Then the guide pointed and shouted: “Lions! And… I think they’re eating a zebra!”
Just 30 meters from the road, two lionesses were feasting. Their golden coats blended perfectly with the bush — almost invisible. We stood there, mesmerized, trying to take it all in. About 100 meters away, two more lions waited, probably for their turn.
Next, we drove to Satara for lunch — a few fast-food spots, a picnic area, and yes, a weird three-layer pizza. Strange, but we had to try it.
Back on the safari, the surprises continued. At a waterhole, a vast herd of elephants was playing. A baby elephant sprayed water with its trunk, while the others rolled in mud—pure wildlife chaos and joy, right in front of us.
It felt like the animals were putting on a show just for us. After a while, the guide said, “Let’s try to get you your leopard…”
We started driving again, turning south onto a gravel road. Soon, we noticed we were approaching smoke. We crossed a small river and spotted our first — and only — Cape buffalo, which paused just long enough for a quick photo before continuing.
As the smoke thickened, we reached an open field where a fire truck was stationed. The guide consulted with them, signaling whether we should continue or turn back. We couldn’t hear, but the thumbs-up was clear. So we pressed on… and this happened:
Yes, I filmed it… and those things flying around were bugs, far more than we could see. At one point, the heat was intense, the road barely visible, and breathing became difficult. We survived driving through a fire in Kruger National Park! Even so, I doubt anyone would want to repeat that experience.
By late afternoon, still heading south toward Skukuza and planning to return to Satara, we spotted another tour group scanning the woods with binoculars. After a tense search, the guide finally pointed out a leopard resting on a rock. It stared straight at us. We didn’t have a zoom lens for a proper photo, but that moment — and the chaos it led us through — will stay with me forever.
In just a few minutes, we had to move — the guide warned us that we needed to reach the gate by 6:00 PM, or we’d be in trouble. Apparently, the park closes then, and we had no idea. Fifteen minutes later, we hit the tarmac and turned north toward Satara.
About halfway there, we spotted a black rhino, but barely stopped — we were rushing. Minutes later, another rhino appeared, along with a herd of elephants. Our Big Five in one day was complete! But the adventure was far from over.
As we neared Orpen Gate, well past closing time and in almost complete darkness, two glowing eyes appeared in the middle of the road. We stopped. A huge lion was strolling straight toward the vehicle.
The lion passed just 2–3 meters away, staring at us the entire time. No one dared to move, and no photos were taken. We had already seen lions, but none were as impressive or had that defiant look.
This was the final adrenaline peak of the day — a moment none of us will ever forget. We had already seen lions, but none were as impressive or had that defiant look.
Bush Walk in Kruger National Park
The next day was a bit of a hangover day, but we were up at 5:00 AM for a short bush walk… ouch! 🙂 Thankfully, the walk lasted just one hour and mainly focused on trees, bushes, animal habits, and interesting stories.
Our guide warned us that leopards could be in the area. Despite the fences, leopards can climb trees and jump incredibly high, entering and exiting with ease — which made us second-guess sleeping in a tent!
Blyde River Canyon
After the walk, we departed for Johannesburg and made a stop at Blyde River Canyon, reportedly the third-largest canyon in the world. It’s a stunning site with a fantastic viewpoint, but we realized we would need more time to enjoy the whole panorama route.
Arrival at Fourways
We arrived at Fourways on time, but not without one last little adventure — mostly our own fault! The van driver didn’t know where to drop us off, and we didn’t have the address or any clue where to go, since it was our first time there.
Somehow, though, he managed to get us exactly where we needed to be. Till today, I don’t know how…
Final Remark
This Kruger Safari was full of mishaps, surprises, and unexpected turns. We saw the Big Five — Elephant, Lion, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, and Rhino — along with other wildlife like baboons, giraffes, and hippos, all in just one day.
And, of course, we had the adrenaline bonus of driving through a fire and leaving Kruger well after closing time.
Useful Links
- Here’s a complete packing list for South Africa.
- Planning a trip to Kruger? Check out these fantastic tours.
- For anyone visiting, we highly recommend this complete Kruger National Park guide.