This pair of lions went about their business without even caring how close we were
This pair of lions went about their business without even caring how close we were

This is the fourth part in Laura Pedrick’s four-part photo journey through South Africa.

Not surprisingly, the hands-down highlight of my trip to South Africa was the safari, our last experience listed on the itinerary. We flew out of Cape Town and landed at Hoedspruit airport in Limpopo province, a dusty-yet-charming little transfer station for tourists booked on safari.

Hoedspruit airport in Limpopo
Hoedspruit airport in Limpopo

Land Rovers and open-land cruisers were there to pick up their guests and take them to their designated lodges.

Entrance to Tangala
Entrance to Tangala

We headed for Tangala Safari Camp, an eco-friendly lodge that creates an authentic and safari-in-the-bush feel while offering all the amenities you would expect in a three-star resort. For roughly $225 per person, per day, this includes lodging, game drives, all meals, and snacks

Tangala Safari Camp has sweeping views looking out on a nearby waterhole
Tangala Safari Camp has sweeping views looking out on a nearby waterhole

It operates within the Thornybush Private Game Reserve, one of the smaller private enclosures (about 54 square miles) and borders Kruger National Park.

A handsome kudu in Thornybush Private Game Reserve
A handsome kudu in Thornybush Private Game Reserve
Thornybush Private Game Reserve is 54 square miles and borders the greater Kruger
Thornybush Private Game Reserve is 54 square miles and borders the greater Kruger

This rustic lodge keeps an inconspicuous electric fence around its perimeter, a necessary precaution because within near view is a watering hole drawing animals of all kinds.

There is an electric fence that surrounds the camp but there are few animals that are allowed to roam within
There is an electric fence that surrounds the camp but there are few animals that are allowed to roam within

Tangala offers four chalets and six luxury tents. My spacious-but-snug tent had a covered porch and a fully appointed bathroom with a shower.

My fabulously snug tent-like accommodations at Tangala Safari Camp
My fabulously snug tent-like accommodations at Tangala Safari Camp

Meals are cooked in the main lodge, lunch and breakfast presented in banquet style, dinners cooked to order and beautifully prepared.

From the pool one can see animals stroll up to the watering hole
From the pool one can see animals stroll up to the watering hole

Between scheduled game drives there’s not much to do during the hottest part of the day other than lounge by the small pool, or sit under the shade and read and relax. There is no TV but there is Wi-Fi access.

Tangala Safari Camp has four chalets and six luxury tents
Tangala Safari Camp has four chalets and six luxury tents

There are two daily three-hour game drives—one at dawn and another that goes well past sunset, the times when the Big 5 (elephant, lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, rhinoceros) are most visibly active.

Breakfast buffet after game drive
Breakfast buffet after game drive

Our driver Michael and tracker Richard would ask us before leaving what animals we would most like to see.

Our tracker, Richard, had an uncanny ability to find even the most elusive animal
Our tracker, Richard, had an uncanny ability to find even the most elusive animal

We’d throw out a couple of ideas and sure enough they would find them. However, it doesn’t always go that way; tracking is hit or miss, but neighboring camps share animal-sighting info with each other via radio communications.

Cocktail break during evening game drive
Cocktail break during evening game drive
A young warthog makes a run for it
A young warthog makes a run for it

This increases the likelihood of getting close to some extraordinary animals. On our first drive, within hours of our arrival, we saw lions, rhinos, Cape buffalo, and the most elusive, a leopard!

Encountering this leopard was magical
Encountering this leopard was magical
Two white rhinos graze next to one another
Two white rhinos graze next to one another
Vultures watch us as we pass below
Vultures watch us as we pass below
A Cape buffalo with sweet eyes comes close to our car
A Cape buffalo with sweet eyes comes close to our car
A southern yellow-billed hornbill watches us closely as we stop for tea and crackers during our morning game drive
A southern yellow-billed hornbill watches us closely as we stop for tea and crackers during our morning game drive
Cape buffalo looking back at us
Cape buffalo looking back at us

It was amazing and the proximity to the animals we were allowed was breathtaking. We continued to have memorable encounters throughout our stay but our most adrenaline-pumping one was in the dark of night.

Evening game drives continued into darkness but with use of a spotlight to search out animals
Evening game drives continued into darkness but with use of a spotlight to search out animals

We followed distant roars and came upon a pride of lions, parked our car in the middle of them, and watched one come close enough to practically rub up against the back bumper! So close I could seriously smell his breath.

A warm meal is waiting for us when we return from our evening game drive
A warm meal is waiting for us when we return from our evening game drive

We returned to camp and were greeted with a tray of guava juice cocktails. After all of that excitement there was much to talk about over our savory charcoaled steaks and potatoes served under the stars. We headed back to our tents, guided by fire-lit lanterns placed throughout the camp, and slipped into our beds kept warm with hot water bottles placed under the sheets. The not-too-distant roars of lions were weirdly comforting—maybe because we knew there was that little electric fence barrier keeping Simba on his side!


For more on travel to South Africa, visit southafrica.net.

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