WalkingBuddies.com

Written by Leigh Kemp

The legendary Kruger National Park is South Africa’s premier reserve and is the place where the greatest diversity of wildlife in Africa can be experienced. Siyabona Africa Travel is the leading advisory on the Kruger Park, and with access to previously inaccessible areas of the park, provides an experience that until recently was not possible.

The Kruger National Park is renowned for Walking Safaris in pristine wilderness areas. There is no more invigorating way of experiencing a wilderness area than on a guided walk. All walking safaris or hiking trails are guided by experienced rangers with an extensive knowledge of the area, wildlife, birds and indigenous vegetation. To maximize wildlife sightings, one or two game drives are also included in these walking safaris.

Siyabona Africa Travel offers the widest range of Kruger National Park accommodations from the main rest camps with chalets, cottages, bungalows, tents and caravan and camp sites to bushveld camps, bush lodges and private safari lodges.

Siyabona Africa Travel also provides the opportunity to experience the wildlife from open vehicle guided drives, self-drive options, night drives and walking safaris. Siyabona Africa Travel will advise on the facilities for disabled persons and the newly introduced mountain bike trails.

Make the Kruger National Park one of the top priorities for future travel plans and Siyabona Africa Travel will ensure you the holiday of a lifetime.

Days in Eden - Kruger Walking Safari

Evening: The sun was a red ball as it touched the horizon. From our viewpoint on a hilltop we looked out over the vastness that is Kruger. The silence of the evening was overwhelming.

On the night drive the sharp eyes of the guides picked out genets and African wildcat as the spotlight probed the darkness. We stumbled on three white rhinos that were grazing close to the road and stopped under a wild fig tree to listen to the sounds of a sleeping baboon troop. Arriving back at camp we were welcomed with a glass of sherry to ward of the night’s chill. The wood fire and gaslights added to the warmth of the moment.

I lay awake for a long while listening to the night sounds and contemplating the wilderness. The distant roar of a lion was the last thing I heard before the morning wake up call. Tea and coffee with rusks were served before we climbed on the vehicle to drive to the walking area.

Day 2: Morning: The sun was forcing its way through the mist and impala snorted alarm at our presence.
‘It is very important that we adhere to silence. There must be absolutely no talking,’ our guide Hennie explained, ‘human voices carry a long way and we do not want the animals to hear us from too long a distance.’

Hennie discussed all the safety issues and tested the wind with ash taken from the camp fire before we moved off into the bush with only the sounds of our footsteps to betray our whereabouts.

The morning light reflected on leaves dampened by the mist and spider webs glistened in silhouette as the sun began to take control of the morning. We stopped at intervals to learn of impala lilies and magic mushrooms, wee scented plants and read spoor on the ground and learnt of the feeding habits of animals by examining their dung.

‘White rhino is a grazer so will have grass material in the dung whereas the black rhino is a browser so it will have more leaf material in its dung,’ Hennie explained.

A journey of seven giraffe looked down at us quizzically as we passed by and screeching red billed oxpeckers gave away a herd of impala. The low bushes were littered with the webs of trampoline spiders and orb spiders had spun their traps between the trees. We studied hyena and elephant spoor and learnt to tell how old it was.

‘Rhino!’ We all stopped in mid stride and stared ahead. Across a ravine two white rhino were feeding, unaware of our presence. We watched as they moved into the bushes. After testing the wind direction by shaking his ash bag, Hennie motioned us forward again. With a heightened sense of excitement we picked our way through the ravine and slowly tracked the rhino. We came upon them feeding in an open area but this time they sensed us and ran off crashing through he bushes.

The sun was making its presence felt as we headed back to the vehicle, tired but exhilarated. Back at camp a shower and brunch awaited us.

The Rhino walking safari and many others to choose from can be booked at
Siyabona Africa Travel