After an exhausting seven hour drive that included a border crossing from Zimbabwe back into South Africa, we finally arrive at our campsite. Tonight’s camp is a sight for sore eyes. The shared bathroom facilities are on par with a five-star hotel. Yes, you read right! The showers are extremely spacious, clean, insect and cob-web free, and nicely tiled. Each shower stall has a separate dry area where you can hang your clothes, dry off and get dresses. There are mirrors in the bathroom, and lots of them! As vain as this may sound, there have been times on this trip where I have gone for days without seeing myself and it felt kind of weird. Not knowing how my sunburnt, sweaty face looked, or how I tied my hair up that morning in my dark tent… all everyday things I take for granted when I wake up each morning.
The camp grounds are well maintained and fenced in too and there’s a beautiful swimming pool and bar. It was like we were glamping, only I still had to sleep in my tent.
It may be New Years Eve tonight, but this girl is absolutely buggered. It seems I’m not the only one either. We decide to have our “midnight countdown” at 10pm, crack a bottle of champers open and then head to our tents to get some sleep. Party animals, I know.
As amazing as this campsite is, the one thing it does not have is wifi. At this moment in time, I want nothing more than to be able to iMessage my boy back home, wish him a Happy New Year and tell him how much I am missing him 🙁
We have a long, hot day ahead of us tomorrow. Good night.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK GAME DRIVE
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves on the continent and offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. It covers an area of 7,580 sq miles and extends 220 miles from north to south, and 40 miles from east to west. All of the Big Five can be found at Kruger, which has more species of large mammals than any other African Game Reserve. I have high expectations for this game drive and am eager to capture some beautiful photography!
Kruger National Park Game Drive
Kruger National Park Game Drive
Great shots! My day job as a biologist has led me into some research about Kruger, so I would love to actually make it there one day. Oh, and I agree that it would be weird to not see yourself for a few days – it’s funny the things we take for granted! 🙂
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Thanks Katie 🙂 You definitely need to get out there, it’s AMAZING! Haha, it really was weird. I always felt like I had a dirty face from sweating, camping and just being out on long walks in the dirt etc, but I had no idea of knowing!
Love the photos especially the giraffes (but then I do have a bit of a thing for giraffes!). Can’t believe how nice the camp sounds, living in luxury!
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I love giraffes too, it was crazy how close we got to them and they just didn’t mind. They’re so pretty so I understand your weird giraffe crush lol.
The photo’s are amazing, did you take them yourself? What camera are you using?
P.s. definitely agree that it feels a little strange when you don’t see a mirror for 5 or 6 days
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Hi Nick – yep, took them myself. I shoot on a Canon Rebel T3i. Not a crazy advanced SLR but it gets the job done 🙂
Wow, your photos are incredible! I’ve heard great things about the Canon Rebel T3i but I had no idea it would be this good.
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Hi Monica – thank you! Yeah, it’s my first SLR so I wanted something easy to use, just throw an awesome lens on it with an incredible zoom, and boom! You can’t go wrong 🙂
You saw so many cool animals! When we went on a game drive through Kruger we barely saw any, nothing compared to you! I am jealous of your photos you got.
I guess it just depends on the day. I was really hoping to see a leopard but after an eight hour game dive, no such luck 🙁
Thanks for your g-adventures post, I’m really excited now and planning to do the same trip as a solo Australian traveller, looks like the trip of a lifetime and you get to do so much!
Was just wondering about crossing borders, do you buy visas on the border and does South Africa check your yellow fever vaccination certificate?
Hey Nick! I was a solo Aussie traveler too, there will probably be other Aussies in your group 🙂 Really was an incredible trip but I could barely find any info online before I went (blog reviews etc) other than what was on their website!
I am on an Aussie passport, you don’t need to arrange any visas before you go. You buy them at the border for around $20-$30 each. And from memory, yes, they did ask for our yellow fever certificate!
Thanks Lynda, better get my jab!
You mentioned in a earlier blog you went the private tent option, wasn’t thinking of spending $299 for that option but it seems like a good idea.
Nice work with the informative blog and getting a top hit on google 🙂 I’m pretty pumped for it now!
Oh definitely get your shot! And malaria pills too! And 100% deet spray if you can find any, that stuff saved me from getting bitten to death by mozzies. I usually get bit quite bad but that stuff was a champ!
What season are you going in? I went in summer, it was so hot and humid I can’t imagine what it would have been like crammed in there with another person. I woke up in pools of sweat with just me alone in there. The tents aren’t huge, with two bodies plus luggage, I think it’d be a tight fit. I also didn’t want to be breathing down someones neck so the own-tent option just seemed right for me. You will have the opportunity to upgrade to cabins (for a small fee) at some camp sites if they are available and if that site has them (not to many do though!).
Oh, top hit huh? That makes me happy 😀 Let me know if you have any other questions!
Fantastic shots! My evening job being a biologist provides led myself into several research concerning Kruger, so I would like to actually ensure it is there 1 day. Oh, and My partner and i agree that it will be weird never to see yourself for a couple days – it’s funny what exactly we neglect!
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