Day 5 - Last day of Safari by Eashan

Our final safari at Kruger dawned early, and we felt a mix of sadness and hope. Bryony, our guide, was ready to take us on one last adventure in search of big cats. We set off in the Land Cruiser, spotting two buffaloes - a mother and daughter duo - almost immediately. Bryony shared that it was unusual to see just two buffaloes instead of a herd. As we continued, we saw impalas and giraffes, but our excitement spiked when the radio crackled with news of a lion sighting. We sped off, but the lion had crossed into a restricted area by the time we arrived.

Undeterred, Bryony took us on a tour, and we spotted elephants and another giraffe. Then, the radio announced a leopard sighting, and we rushed to the location. We scanned the trees, but there was no sign of the leopard at first. Just as we were about to give up, another vehicle blocked our path, and we followed their gaze to a tree. There, lounging lazily, was a female leopard. We watched in awe as she ate an impala carcass, occasionally glancing at us. Bryony pointed out a hyena waiting patiently below, hoping to scavenge some meat. We learned about leopards' unique behavior of dragging their kills up trees and how hyenas would wait below to steal their food.

After an incredible 45-minute encounter with the leopard, we headed to a waterhole for a break. Time flew by, and before we knew it, we were saying goodbye to Bryony and heading to the airport. The tiny airport was a breeze to navigate, but our flight was delayed due to a luggage container issue. We spent hours waiting outside, playing cards and trying local snacks. Finally, we boarded the plane and took off, albeit four hours late.

After landing, we picked up our rental car - a spacious Mercedes van - and drove to a grand hotel that could have been a palace! We enjoyed a delicious dinner at a metropolitan food hall in the Waterfront , where we quickly learned that everyone was looking for tips. Exhausted, we dragged ourselves back to our hotel and collapsed into bedRead more