Our second game drive in Kruger was an early morning adventure. It was still dark when we set off, the air cool and a light drizzle coming down. Our guide, aptly named “Lucky,” seemed unfazed by the weather. He assured us that early morning is often the best time to see the animals, as they're usually more active before the heat of the day sets in.
At first, things were slow. The drizzle had seemingly kept most of the wildlife sheltered, and apart from a few impalas grazing in the distance, we hadn't seen much. Mandy and I exchanged glances, silently hoping the weather wouldn't spoil our chances of spotting something special. But Lucky was confident, keeping his eyes sharp and his hands firmly on the wheel as we trundled along the bumpy track.
Then, as if the rain itself had sent us a sign, Lucky suddenly stopped the vehicle and pointed to the ground. "Lion tracks," he said, his voice low but filled with excitement. He jumped out of the vehicle to examine them more closely. "Fresh," he said with a smile, "very fresh."
The atmosphere changed immediately. Our anticipation grew as Lucky hopped back into the driver’s seat and we began following the tracks, moving slowly and scanning the surrounding bush. The rain had started to ease, and the first light of dawn was creeping in. We could feel something big was about to happen.
After about 10 minutes, Lucky motioned for us to look ahead into the bush. At first, we couldn't see anything, but then, there he was – a massive male lion sitting about 300 meters away. He was partly hidden among the tall grass, but there was no mistaking his presence. This was a big cat, his golden mane slightly wet from the drizzle, yet he sat there proudly, surveying his territory like the king of the savannah.
We all sat in awe, watching him in silence. He didn't seem to mind our presence, just sitting there, completely at ease in his domain. The quiet was only broken by the occasional chirp of birds waking up with the dawn, and the soft rumble of our engine as we stayed still, taking in every moment.
We were now driving through the park, the weather having turned wet and windy, but the lodge had equipped us with fleece-lined ponchos, which kept us dry and surprisingly warm. The rain didn’t dampen our spirits—if anything, it added to the adventure.
After some time scanning the bush and soaking in the landscape, our patience was rewarded with an incredible sighting—a leopard moving stealthily through the short grasses. It was only a brief glimpse, but those few moments made all the waiting worth it. Seeing such a magnificent predator in its natural habitat was breathtaking, even if it was just for a short while.
The excitement didn’t stop there. The game sightings seemed to keep coming one after another. Not long after the leopard, we spotted a superb pair of rhinos, their imposing frames silhouetted against the rugged terrain. And then, as if to top it all, a large troupe of elephants appeared in the distance, moving gracefully despite their size. They passed right in front of us, so close we could hear their footsteps on the damp ground and see the younger ones tucked between the adults.
We couldn’t believe our luck when, shortly after, a buffalo lumbered into view, completing our list of the “Big Five.” There was a sense of satisfaction knowing we’d seen them all, but more than that, it was the feeling of being part of this wild world, even if only for a little while.
As we returned to camp, tired but exhilarated, we realized just how lucky we'd been. The memories of the leopard, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo stayed with us long after we left Kruger, adding to our growing collection of wildlife encounters across the world.
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