Kruger National Park has always been synonymous with the bushveld – hot, lazy afternoons after the excitement of an early morning start in search of elusive predators. Time slows down, and your senses sharpen as you tune in to the wild world around you. An elephant steps out of the shadows of a giant acacia tree into the late afternoon sunshine, which is already turning the river into liquid gold. Cameras click and whirr in a futile attempt to capture the glory of this moment and then are still. It is a classic magic moment in the African bush made all the more special if you are doing this on foot or bike – creating a genuine connection to the African Bush.

Nearby Hoedspruit has become a premier wildlife destination in its own right – a far cry from its humble beginnings. Hoedspruit was named for a grateful transport rider who reached the Sandspruit River and threw his hat and then himself into the welcome water. Luxury game lodges and wildlife housing estates abound, and the town is bursting at the seams with South African and international residents who want to find a wilder lifestyle challenge than the Jo’burg traffic. You will find galleries, and funky shops, farmer’s markets, laid-back restaurants and places to party. Apart from the wildlife experiences, which abound, you can take a different perspective of it all on a hot-air balloon ride or on the Blyde Dam.