by Debbie Ross
founder of the Womens Travel Network.ca
This morning we flew from Port Elizabeth to Hoedspruit via Johannesburg. Our bags are a little heavy and won’t meet the strick luggage rules of a maximmum 20 kilos for 1 checked bag. Fortunately EMS has arranged for an agent to meet us in Johannesburg to take some of our bags and store them until our departure home. This has been a great help. EMS is a wonderful company and such a pleasure to work with.
Upon arrival in Hoedspruit, our driver guides were waiting with open air 9 seater Jeeps to transfer us to the Kapama River Lodge, located within the largest reserve in Kruger National Park. On the way to the lodge we spotted Giraffe, Zebra, Wart Hogs, Gazelles and Wildebeest. Everyone was quite excited and looking forward to their first game drive of the day. We checked into our luxurious rooms which overlook the savannah. There is evidence of animal tracks and droppings so we know the animals might come by our rooms. How exciting!
We spotted a gazelle just outside of the main lobby area. After freshening up we headed to the restaurant for afternoon tea which consisted of sandwiches, cakes, teas, soft drinks. This was to hold us over till dinner. Our first game drive started at 4:30 pm and finished at 8:30 pm.
We had two jeeps for our group of 18. Our highly trained driver guide John and tracker Fanni in the first truck and driver guide Freedom and his tracker in the second truck. They took us on our first game drive in search of the Big 5; Lion, Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Rhinoceros and Leopard. It was an exciting drive. Our guide pointed out the various animals we came across; Gazelle, colourful birds taking a ride on a zebra, yellow billed horn bill or better known as the flying banana, bush buck and a zebra so close you could almost touch it.
They drove us past the honeymoon suite. A structure with a removable ladder that takes you up to the bedroom which is an open air platform with a bed. I don’t think anyone in our crowd wanted to sleep out in the middle of nowhere. This suite is for the brave ones that want to be totally immersed in the safari experience.
We spotted a jackal and vultures in the sky above us, which indicates their must be a fresh kill nearby. As we drove a little further we came across a pack of restless lions that were aware the scavengers were interested in their meal.
We followed behind the lions along the dusty roads and through the bumpy grasslands to the spot of their recent kill. In total there were 8 lions feasting on the remains or lounging with full bellies. What a site to behold. The lions walked freely around our Jeeps without even giving any notice to the fact that we were there. It was both exciting and frightening at the same time. One wrong move and we could be the lions next meal.
As the sun was setting and darkness came upon us the tracker turned on a spot light so they could see the animals that might ahead of us. We spotted a hyena den and drove in to take a look. It was quite dark so it was difficult to see the hyenas but you could hear the pups yipping in the distance.
We headed back to the lodge, arriving just after 8:30pm. This gave us just enough time to tidy up before our 9pm dinner. The dinner is a fantastic spread of salads, various hot dishes, a selection of barbecued meats, fish and delectable desserts.
Accommodation: Kapama River Lodge