Visiting the Kruger Park in 2021

Our flight from Cape Town

Hello, I am back in this blog to tell you about an adventure that has been one of the most important in our lives as expats in South Africa: the Kruger Park.

Almost six months have passed since our visit to this mythical place. Since we came to live in Cape Town in July 2019, it had always been in our dreams to visit it.

We only knew Kruger Park from tourist stories and television reports. But finally, the dream was about to be fulfilled. And obviously, as always, my husband was very excited telling us all the details of our journey through the park.

At the Tintswalo Terrace

The adventure began by plane: to Mpumalanga!!!!!

Our house for this days: Grant

We traveled from Cape Town to the province of Mpumalanga. We landed at Hoedspruit Airport. Arriving here was like landing in the middle of the African jungle. Not far from the landing strip were the most coveted animals for photographers and tourists.

The adventure begins

Stepping off the plane, we were greeted by the warmth of the African savannah. It was cloudy luckily. It had rained a lot in the last few weeks and when we were traveling in the hotel transport, our driver told us that when the vegetation was thick, you couldn't see the animals very well because they hid in the tall bushes. According to him, the best time to see the animals in Kruger Park was during the South African winter.

I can't deny, that at that moment, the only thing that came to my mind was, well, it would be nice to see even one little animal that rises from its hiding place. To our good luck, the driver-guide-ranger had been completely wrong.

African Sunset

The Elephant in the tree's water intake

We arrive at the lodge. The Tintswalo Safari Lodge. As normal in these hotels, we were received by almost the entire team. From the doorman, the receptionist, the manager, the chef and our butler.

The manager explained to us that in the Manyeleti area, where we were staying, it was not a place where the malaria-transmitting mosquito was established. The malaria problem was further north of Kruger Park. In any case, we always use mosquito repellent, pants and long-sleeved shirts to avoid any bite.

After having our welcome cocktail, we arrived at the room. The Lodge Grant, named so'i in honour of an English colonizer. The manager told us that a few days ago they had seen a cheetah in front of our lodge.

Lonely hyena

But what we saw was a family of elephants. The manager told us that a couple of years ago an elephant had broken the pool in our room, so now the entire lodge is protected with an electric fence. Luckily the elephants could no longer approach any room. But he did not rule out that the lodge was not visited by carnivorous inhabitants or other types of wild animals dangerous to humans such as a rhinoceros, buffalo. Any animal from the savannah could approach.

The first safari drive of the trip, but with rain

The first adventure of that afternoon was about to begin. After our afternoon snack in the lobby-restaurant area, our ranger picked us up and drove us to the Jeep. We were ready for the first Safari.

We learned a lot about African nature. Especially from temperature changes. From one second to another, the rain surprised us, but it was no problem, because our ranger gave us our raincoats. Despite the rain, we saw many animals on our first tour, such as lions and rhinos.

You will see many zebras and Wildebeest
 in every safari trip

Back at the Lodge, we were greeted with hot chocolate. Delicious dinner awaited us. Soon we would go to sleep to continue with the morning safari.

Meeting the Cheetah brothers, the vultures and the lion brothers

The first adventure of that second day in the Kruger was the miracle of seeing a family of Cheetah brothers eating an antelope. The ranger explained their behaviour to us, because the Cheetahs are animals that have to watch while they devour their prey in a group. Who are your enemies? The lions and the leopards. If neglected, these animals can steal their prey.

Cheetah brothers

Not far from them are also hyenas and vultures, who will seize the skeleton of the antelope when the cheetahs are satisfied and retire to digest their food.

I can't deny that seeing the vultures waiting for the cheetahs to finish was not scary. Luckily they were focused on the cadaver. Seeing the vultures waiting in the 'trees to come closer to eat, gave me chills. Especially since they are approaching the group of cheetahs, jumping.

Lions family

In that round, we saw a family of a lion with several lionesses. Tired, saving energy to hunt for the next dinner after dark. We saw a hyena walking alone in the last rays of the sun before the rain surprised us again.

Eat, sleep, repeat! See you tomorrow!

Eat, sleep, repeat. We arrived at the Lodge with our welcome drink before dinner. That night we slept like little angels, happy to have experienced so much African wonder. But the state of admiration did not end that night, the next morning we would get ready for the next safari in Kruger Park.