Trip report: Our South Africa journey in July (page 3 of 5)

Hi Laurence, Thanks for bringing back such great memories of South Africa... it makes me really want to go back! 😊

Hi there, How much did this trip cost you, please?

Hi there,

Days 13 & 14: The second part of our trip. After a peaceful drive to Blyde River Canyon via Dullstroom—reminding us of some small American towns—and the Long Tom Pass, we arrived in the Sabie area for 2 nights. The scenery between Dullstroom and Sabie is stunning. The road has been redone, so it’s smooth with no potholes. We stopped at the Long Tom Cannon to see the cannon and the view, then ended the day at Mac Mac Falls, a pretty waterfall accessible after a short walk.

The next day, our first stop was Lisbon Falls. The guy at the entrance told us his card machine wasn’t working due to no signal, so cash only. Since we didn’t have the exact amount, we said we’d leave. And—oh, miracle—the signal came back! We left anyway. The same trick happened at Bourkes' Luck Potholes, but since we really wanted to visit, we insisted on trying the card machine. And—just like magic—it worked when we inserted our card. We must have a magic card . So, we stopped at Berlin Falls, another pretty waterfall. Then Bourkes' Luck Potholes—well-maintained with a nice walk. We spent quite a while there. A vervet monkey approached while we were having lunch at the picnic area but stayed in the tree, pretty skittish. A little further on, a noisy group of vervets climbed into the back of parked pick-ups, probably looking for food. The parking lot signs warned to keep windows and doors closed, and luckily, they didn’t come near us. We continued to Lowveld View, a beautiful free viewpoint. With the sky looking stormy, we didn’t go further. Stopped at Wonder View, also free, with a nice view of the valley despite the overcast sky. We skipped God’s Window and stopped a bit further down at a small parking spot in a recess. After a short walk, another lovely view of the valley.

Well, all that sounds amazing!

Hi Laurence,

I was absorbed in reading the older travel journals and just discovered yours. We’re starting to think about our 2026 vacation, and a return to South Africa is on our shortlist! Since we usually travel in July and the planned trip would be a Cape Town/Kruger combo, your journal really caught my interest. For now, I’m jotting down everything that might be useful—we’ll make decisions later.

I’ve already added Robberg Nature Reserve to our list of places to visit. I’d never heard of it before, so thanks for the discovery!

As for Kirstenbosch Gardens, is it really not worth it in July? I read in Rouquine’s journal that it’s not much better in December/January either. I guess the ideal time is between September and November, in spring. Still, Marati seemed to enjoy their visit in July… I’m having a hard time making up my mind now.

I’m also wondering if the penguins are around in large numbers all year or if there’s a season when they’re less common.

I know the rest of your itinerary, but I can’t wait to read your impressions and encounters in Kruger! 🙂

Hi there,

So glad this travel journal helped you discover new places! There’s just so much to see—it’s always tough to choose. Robberg Nature Reserve is absolutely stunning; I highly recommend it +++. Kirstenbosch Gardens must be gorgeous in full bloom, but July isn’t the best season. It’s still nice, but in my opinion, it’s not a must-see. Now, onto Kruger 🙂.

Day 16: Kruger, the long-awaited park. It was love at first sight—just incredible, both the wildlife and the landscapes. We didn’t sleep inside the park due to budget reasons (4 nights just outside cost the same as one night inside at a similar comfort level), but staying overnight must be amazing, especially in the smaller camps. We had a picnic in Skukuza, and honestly, it wasn’t great—way too crowded. We entered through Phabeni Gate, just 7 minutes from our hotel. The S1, a beautiful route teeming with wildlife (impalas, hippos, buffaloes, antelopes, eagles), took us to Skukuza, then we looped H1-1/S64/S4/S3. More amazing sightings there: giraffes, elephants, hyenas (including a mom with her newborns), zebras, and monkeys. A fantastic first day!

Kruger Park… First self-drive trip of my life as a traveler… You never forget it…

Kruger Park… First self-drive trip of my life as a traveler… You never forget it…

Yeah, me too… so many amazing memories 🥰

Hi Laurence

We didn’t sleep in the park for budget reasons

Did you have to wait long to get into the park each morning?

And to think I still haven’t been there 🤪 ... Gotta seriously look into it! 😎

Hi Muriel,

On our way back around 8 AM (Paul Kruger Gate, Malelane Gate, and Crocodile Bridge Gate), it took us 10–15 minutes to fill out a questionnaire and check in. There was a bit of a queue at the registration desk, but nothing too bad. I filled out the questionnaire while waiting for my turn. We had the Wildcard, so it went faster. It’s well organized. However, we arrived at Crocodile Bridge one morning at 6 AM and it took us 45 minutes to get in. That’s one of the downsides of staying outside the park.

Did you always have space available?

There are entry quotas, but they don’t apply to those lucky enough to be sleeping inside.

First self-drive trip of my life as a traveler... You never forget it...

Oh yeah, absolutely!😛

Hi there,

I read somewhere—maybe on the Sanparks website—that things can get tricky during school holidays and public holidays. That wasn’t our case, so we didn’t worry about it, and we were always able to get in.

Hi there,

Day 17: This time we enter through the Paul Kruger Gate. We head onto the H1-2/H12/H4-1 loop. Just after the intersection with the S83, several cars are stopped: a leopard with its prey in a tree. We stay a good while to watch it. I’ll share a photo from the actual distance and one with zoom. A few kilometers later, more cars stopped on a bridge: since we don’t see anything, we ask another car—turns out a leopard just hid in the bushes in the middle of the river. We missed it by a hair but decide to wait to see if it comes out. After a while, a herd of impalas arrives and slowly moves forward to drink. Watching the first one’s behavior, we think it sensed the big cat’s presence. But it keeps moving "carefully," and the herd follows. They drink from the little water left in the river. Some impalas get close to the bushes to eat. Nothing happens for long minutes until suddenly, panic erupts—the impalas bolt, jumping and running. The leopard lunges out to catch one. It misses and immediately gives up the hunt, not bothering to chase them. No luck this time—it slinks back into the tall grass empty-pawed. A nearby hippo didn’t even flinch. What a moment! We finish our loop and head down to Malelane Gate via the S114, where we still spot quite a few animals. We end with crocodiles under the Malelane Gate bridge. A civet visits us at Marloth Park when we arrive after dark. Amazing day.

Hello! And what a beautiful hyena! But are you sure it wasn’t a cheetah on the rocks?

Given the shape and the spots, I’m leaning more towards a leopard. But maybe I’m wrong—any other thoughts?

Any other opinions?

I’d also lean toward a scrawny leopard (but no certainty). Did you get a better look at it later?

I’m also leaning toward the leopard. The head doesn’t look like a cheetah’s.

For me too, it's a leopard—a beautiful sighting! 🙂