Thursday January 16, 2025
I left yesterday and this afternoon we receive the rental car in Johannesburg. After the instruction, Jeroen and I drive towards Kruger Park, where we will spend the next few days. One of the first animals we see in the park is a leopard. What luck. In addition, we see the big five within two days and so many other wild animals. It’s unbelievable that you drive through the immense park here and see animals everywhere that we normally only encounter in a zoo. Many elephants, zebras, impalas, giraffes, but also rhinos, hippos, monkeys, wildebeest, colorful birds. It’s always exciting to see if there is an elephant or other animal behind the next tree or in the grass. They are big enough, but still good at hiding.
After Kruger Park we visit Mapungubwe Park, recommended by our car rental company. In addition to animals, this park offers various 4×4 tracks. It has rained a lot in recent weeks, so the tracks may or may not be open. We do several and what a fun. The last one is a real challenge and we drive on a path that is only visible through the tracks in the tall grass, as there is 30 cm of water on it. The path actually runs through a small lake. We have to avoid a fallen tree and get stuck, even with the 4×4. 45 minutes of digging and we’re done.
Blouberg Park is a circular drive, but we don’t see much until we drive back to the gate and suddenly a leopard crosses the road. Still fun.
Marakele Park has quite a bit of wildlife around the camping site, for example an ostrich walks among the campers having breakfast. We now go deeper into the park and see two rhinos by the river. Up the mountain on narrow roads and at the top there is a viewpoint over the valley. Great. On the way back we drive into a rhino on the road. We have to go in reverse to make room for him.
The next park in Pilanesberg. Quite small, but with a huge number of wild beasts. So many elephants and rhinos, you would almost think that they are not rare. Also some lions, hippos and deer. Beautiful.
After all that driving we are ready for a long walk and on our last day we do a day walk to the Tugela Falls, the second highest waterfall in the world. The water falls over 900 m here. The hike is tough and the steel ladders against the steep mountain wall are a mental challenge. Although the return route with a steep descent through a gorge is not much less challenging. But the trip is amazing and the views are breathtaking. Well, the journey is almost over.
