The South Africa of my heart

Pt 3

There’s something about the African bush, a certain luminous quality to the light, a certain earthy smell, sounds that stir the soul …

In the interests of full disclosure: I’m not a camper. In fact, my definition of roughing it is more “bad room service at 3am” than abluting in the bushes! And there are many places here that allow direct access to the bush and the wildlife, while still providing a certain level of comfort. That’s why I love Marloth Park, and particularly some of the short-term rentals there.

Marloth is one of those extraordinary places where you really just need to sit still for long enough and the animals come to you. This fine fellow came snuffling for roots mere meters away from us …

And the family wasn’t far behind!

Any number of buck visited, including this beautiful little lady.

And an ever-graceful giraffe.

There are many ways to experience the bush in South Africa, but the granddaddy of such experiences must be the much-loved, Kruger National Park.

Kruger, as it’s affectionally known, is one of Africa’s largest and most renowned game reserves. It was officially established in 1926, but its roots stretch back to 1898, when President Paul Kruger of the South African Republic proclaimed the Sabie Game Reserve to protect the region’s dwindling wildlife from overhunting. (By the way, the oldest African game reserve is the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal. It was established in 1895, making it the continent’s first formally declared conservation area.)

Over time, the Sabie Reserve expanded and merged with the Shingwedzi Game Reserve to form the foundation of the modern park. Named in honour of Kruger, the park was a pioneering effort in wildlife conservation, marking a significant shift in South Africa’s approach to natural resource preservation. Today, Kruger spans nearly 20,000 square kilometres across Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. It’s home to an extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna, playing a vital role in both conservation and tourism in Southern Africa.

I love elephants! And – despite the best efforts of poachers (the b#stards!) – elephants still thrive in Kruger.

I’m also a tad partial to giraffes …

And zebras!

There’s a stillness that being in the bush brings to one’s soul. A stillness that is particularly marked as the sun dips below the horizon.

And the best thing? Now that we live here again, I can “go bush” whenever I like (well, almost)!