It's not uncommon for most South Africans to say that they've NEVER actually seen the BIG 5 out in the wild. I'm one of the lucky ones. When it comes to pick holiday destinations, I tend to lean toward the bush...which is where I recently headed for an impromptu "trek"!
This, dear reader, is the beautiful, BEAUTIFUL Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Park situated along the North Eastern parts of South Africa. This is where you can witness some of the world's most amazing animals while enjoying scenic views and picnic deep in nature.
*Photos are all my own.
While I've managed to spot ALL of the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephants, rhino, buffalo) in this location before, my recent visit was a little disappointing. Here's what we discovered:
- Rhino
- Giraffe
- Buffalo
- Buck (springbuck, eland, duikers, and impala)
- Elephants
- Warthogs
- Hippo
We explored using our own vehicle instead of hiring a professional game drive. We prefer to do it this way because when you do stumble on a sighting, it's just that more special.
Here's a few snapshots:
The pinnacle of this excursion was getting REALLY close to the elephants. This can be a dangerous endeavor, but we had our exit route planned for just in case!
We spent a whole day exploring the park. The next day we drove for 40 minutes out to the coast at St Lucia. If you ever want to see a hippo (or crocodile) in its natural habitat, this is the place to go! The water is riddled with creatures. Even the sea is renowned for shark sightings.
Whether you are a tourist or a local, this sweet spot in South Africa is one for the bucket list. There is so much for young and old to do. Apart from game drives, you can also enjoy whale and turtle tours, ferry trips amongst hippo and crocs, delicious seafoods (prawns are a must), African entertainment (traditional Zulu dances and performances), and curio shopping.
One of our favorite spots was a quaint cheese farm where we enjoyed a pizza and a cheese platter while the kids frolicked with tame farm animals.
While we know we still have so much of our breathtaking country to explore, we know that we will head back to this location. It always seems to draw us back in.
