latest national park

Each year I’ve been going on at least two African Safaris, and with each one of them I learn something new. Things like what mosquito repellent are the better choice, when I can camp or when would it be a better option to rather book into a hut or guesthouse. So when I packed for my latest adventure to the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, I thought I had it all figured.

Nature’s beauty

But as nature has proven time and time again, she is quite unpredictable and most definitely not one to be messed with. So when I booked in at the Sabi Sands game reserve I knew, well at least I thought that it would be a better idea to get a hut. Since it was summer and Mpumalanga formed part of the summer rainfall district, I played it rather safe than sorry.

During the first day of my trip I saw some buffalos and got real close-up with some giraffes. After so many trips, I simply can’t get enough of safaris. It’s not only the fact that I’m out in nature, but with each animal, the difference, the habits, even the significant behaviour is something I find absolutely fascinating and the main reason why I feel that anybody who says that they do not like animals can not be trusted. It’s a system, that whether or not you want to remember, you form part of.

So as I stood there right by the side of our guide and standing right by the giraffe, it felt more than just exhilarating. And I know this might sound weird, but I felt a certain peace overwhelm me. I was not frightened or stressed that this huge animal in front of me might attack, but just an inner stillness.

Sabi Sands

The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is neighbours with the better known Kruger National Park, but there are no fences between these two game reserves, instead they work in unison. An old friend of mine, David, who used to be a wildlife photographer in his younger years, once told me that if you want the perfect wildlife picture, then stay at the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. And he was right.

In the following two days I was able to see elephants, lions and the shyer leopard too. All picture perfect moments. But I wasn’t here for pictures, although I took the odd one here and there, no I was here with the hope of coming into close encounter with elephants. My dream have always been to study elephants, they’re family structure and habits, first hand. It’s all fine and dandy to read about it, but as always, doing something in practice is a whole different ball game.

Eventually…

So on my second last day, I was getting a bit disappointed at my prospect of some elephant psychology when I went on my last game drive. It was on this trip when we came to see a family of elephants. Although they seem quite undisturbed in their pace and not too many of what I was hoping to see happened, I was given the opportunity to see the interaction between a mother and her calf. Some might argue that in nature, not many of the African animals has such a strong bond with their young as elephants, I think I would have to agree. With such care and motherly protection did she help her calf along. The elephant is such a big animal that somehow seems like one of the most delicate, brought with it, my satisfaction with a single glimpse of motherly affection. I don’t think that this African safari is one I’ll soon forget, but rather one I’d treasure for ever.