South Africa 2025: Sept 22 Kruger Park first safari

Today started very early as I was up at 4:30 quickly showered and ready for the bus at 5:05. We were given a to go breakfast and took off to the gates of Kruger Park for 6am opening. We boarded our jeeps, six of us in each jeep, and started on our way through the park. Not five minutes into our Safari, two majestic giraffes stood to the right of the road. It wasn’t long before we saw Impala‘s, Kudus, Nyala’s, and water bucks. We drove along slow, watching through the trees and spotting animals that I never even imagine we’d see. Wasn’t long till we saw herd of elephants along the river and many migrating from the trees down to the water. Also, in the field was a huge herd of about 100 African Buffalo. It was amazing. We stopped at a small pond where there was a group of hippopotamuses in the water. A little while later, we saw her a blue wildebeest and some common war hogs grazing along the roadway. Every time we went around another corner there was something else we spotted; zebras, many more elephants, giraffes, and monkeys, but the coolest thing we got to see we’re Lions sleeping in the grass and then got up and we’re actively walking through the fields and across the road in front of us with two baby cubs. It was absolutely unbelievable! After a great show of the lions, we carried on for more views of more hippopotamuses and more elephants. When we stopped for coffee, Brenda and I watched as the elephants were playing in the river next to the shops. Another major highlight was when we spotted a leopard lying under a tree off in the field. Leopards are nocturnal and are rarely seen during the day, so we felt very privileged to have seen one. We stopped for lunch at a golf course that’s in Kruger Park, there’s a sign that says play your own risk and I know why. As we ate lunch, we watched people teeing off on one side of the water over to the green and if you look close, you could see two hippos with their eyes, peaked out of the water watching and hoping not to get hit with a golf ball. LOL Besides all the bigger animals, we spotted several species of birds that I had never seen before, from great egrets, vultures, Circaetus, even helmeted Guinea fowl. After an absolutely unbelievable day being on the safari, we headed back to our lodge for a dip in the pool and for a lovely supper in the restaurant. I feel that our first day in Kruger Park was exceptionally spectacular!!!