You’ve booked your (perhaps first ever) safari and are raring to go and spot the famous Big Five – but might still be wondering what actually happens during a ‘typical’ day in a game reserve. It’s fair to say that most game lodges adhere to certain itineraries when it comes to safari schedules and the best time to observe wildlife – which is not to say however that they’re all the same, far from it.

What happens during a ‘typical’ day in a game reserve?

Levalux Founder Bibiana Smith recently stayed at two wildly different but equally riveting game lodges, Ulusaba in Sabi Sand and RockFig in the Timbavati, and shares a first-hand account of her experiences at both. Here’s what to expect at Ulusaba – click here for her account of RockFig.

The 13,500-hectare Ulusaba Private Reserve, one of the top luxury safari lodges in South Africa, is surrounded by the larger Sabi Sand Reserve – itself renowned as one of the best places in South Africa for wildlife viewing, thanks to many waterholes and dams that function as an important water source for large herds of animals throughout the year. That, coupled with the fact that your landlord is Richard Branson (the reserve is owned by Virgin Limited), should give you an indication as to what to expect on a safari trip to Ulusaba.

The reserve comprises just three lodges: Safari Lodge, Rock Lodge, and the two-suite Cliff Lodge. Flying to Ulusaba’s private airstrip (there are daily chartered flights), my husband and I received a warm welcome from the staff at the check-in hut, with our ranger then taking us to Safari Lodge, our highly comfortable base for the next two nights. Located in the bush under ancient trees, on the edge of the dry Mabrak riverbed, you really get the feeling of being in the heart of the bush here, with the chance to watch thirsty animals stroll past your deck on their way to the nearby waterhole.

Located in the bush under ancient trees you really get the feeling of being in the heart of the bush here, with the chance to watch thirsty animals stroll past your deck on their way to the nearby waterhole.

Safari Lodge has 10 tree-house-style suites, some of them only accessible via rope swing bridges. The lodge caters to different types of travellers – the interconnecting rooms are perfect for families with kids over 12, while the tucked-away Treehouse Suite overlooking the nearby Xikwenga Dam is a secluded haven for honeymooners. For the ultimate luxury, book the Safari Suite, which comes with its own walled garden and boma fire pit – or rent the entire lodge on an exclusive basis!

Here’s what to expect during your stay at Safari Lodge

Stay at safari Lodge – Late afternoon

Even though we were a little late for our afternoon drive (in winter the drive starts at 3.30pm) there was absolutely no rush from the staff. They waited for us with snacks at the ready and gave us time to drop our bags before driving us into the bush to meet our ranger Eric and tracker Sipho. We were sharing the drive with two other couples from Joburg and the US – great to see foreigners returning to South Africa after the COVID pandemic!

From the moment we set off our game drive experience at Ulusaba was phenomenal. We started on a high that afternoon, spotting a pride of lions, including several females, two males and six very playful cubs.

After sunset and the time-honoured ritual of sundowners in the bush (think an ice-cold beer or G&T from your safari-vehicle-turned-pop-up-bar, enjoyed in a scenic location in the middle of nowhere), we found two leopard siblings. The female was devouring an antelope on the top of a tree (interesting fact: leopards always drag their prey to the top of the tree to stop hyenas from stealing their bounty). Once she was satiated and moved away, the male climbed the tree and continued eating until he fell asleep in the classic ‘leopard in a tree’ pose, his stomach and head resting on a thick branch, legs dangling down each side.

To see both lions and leopards on our first drive was absolutely riveting.

An ice-cold beer or G&T from your safari-vehicle-turned-pop-up-bar, enjoyed in a scenic location in the middle of nowhere

Stay at safari lodge – Evening

Exhausted after our long day, we returned to the lodge for a delicious three-course dinner. Every staff member came to our table to introduce themselves, even the chef, which was a lovely personal touch. Pre-dinner, you can enjoy drinks on the balcony or a private wine tasting in the wine room, while I highly recommend a stargazing session to complete the evening (the Bush Observatory is currently out of action, but just looking up at the sky proves to be an irresistible sight!)

Stay at safari lodge – (Very early) morning

Being woken up at 5.30am (5am in summer) is tough, but so worth it for the chance of spotting wildlife in action before the searing heat of the day. Our guide Eric was waiting for us in the lobby with much needed fresh coffee, and off we went for another adventure in the bush.

We started our morning tracking the pride of lions from the previous day. Eric explained that the pride was trying to escape from two lions emigrating from the Kruger National Park, ready to fight for new territory. He went on to say that the new lions would try to kill or chase the male lions away, then kill the cubs and start mating with the females – nature at its most brutal and fascinating. We found our lions in the middle of the bush, where the parents were slowly preparing for a hunt, leaving the little ones behind.

That day we also saw six leopards, including two leopard cubs – one eating their prey on top of a tree, another just sleeping by the river, a mother with two cubs playing in the grass, two others randomly passing by our vehicle. Highly elusive in many other areas, leopards seem to be part and parcel of a stay here – if you’re a fan of these elegant creatures, then Sabi Sand really is the place to be.

Following the obligatory coffee in the bush (made even more reviving with a shot of Amarula (a famous South African cream liqueur), we came across a baby elephant feeding – he was rather nosy and came super close to the vehicle. As he was about a metre away from me, he extended his trunk, almost to touch me. He was very calm, probably simply curious. A truly memorable experience.

Stay at safari lodge – Daytime

Following our action-packed game drive and an indulgent breakfast back at the lodge, we spent the day relaxing by the pool. Ulusaba offers an incredible range of spoils and activities: have a massage at the Aroma Boma Spa, burn off your safari calories in the gym, play tennis, or simply relax on the treehouse viewing deck – overlooking the Xikwenga Dam, it’s a great place to spot hippos and elephants cool off in the water.

What we loved about Ulusaba:

• The game drive experience was truly impressive, with wonderful sightings throughout. If this is your first safari, and you’re especially keen on leopards, a stay here will prove to be magical.
• Game viewing from the comfort of your lounger. Our room offered mesmerising views of the animals as they stroll past on their way to the nearby watering hole.
• The sheer amount of activities at the lodge, including swimming, a gym, spa, tennis, stargazing…
• The choice of lodges. We loved Safari Lodge for its style and location, but were also taken by the hillside Rock Lodge during a site inspection – the views from the top were simply phenomenal (its location was once a lookout point for Shangaan warriors – ulusaba means ‘place of little fear’). Cliff Lodge meanwhile is the most exclusive offering, with just two multi-level suites that can sleep five adults and four children in total.
• We were amazed by the architecture and the fact that no room is the same at Ulusaba. Each one has its own style, layout and design – my personal favourite was the master suite at Rock Lodge.

A day on safari – Ulusaba, Sabi Sand
Dominika

You’ve booked your (perhaps first ever) safari and are raring to go and spot the famous Big Five – but might still be wondering what actually happens during a ‘typical’ day in a game reserve. It’s fair to say that most game lodges adhere to certain itineraries when it comes to safari schedules and the best time to observe wildlife – which is not to say however that they’re all the same, far from it. Levalux Founder Bibiana Smith recently stayed at two wildly different but equally riveting game lodges, RockFig in the Timbavati and Ulusaba in Sabi Sand, and shares a first-hand account of her experiences at both. Here’s what to expect at RockFig – for her account of Ulusaba, click here.

RockFig, located within the 530-square-kilometre Timbavati Private Nature Reserve on Kruger Park’s western edge, is a relatively new lodge – conceived over two decades, it’s a lovingly conceptualized private property, owned by the South African Jenkins family. My husband and I had heard great things about it and were keen to experience this highly intimate and personal lodge during a two-night stay.

We flew into Hoedspruit from Cape Town and were then driven to RockFig, about 30 minutes from the airport. The design fiend in me was immediately impressed. The lodge is bright and airy and features open, interconnecting spaces that are designed and constructed in a modern, eco-friendly way that incorporates a lot of indigenous material. Named after a female leopard, RockFig has six spacious, contemporary chalet-type suites, turning a stay here into a personalised bush experience that is perfect for exclusive-use bookings for families or groups of friends. There’s the obligatory outside shower of course, plus sliding bathroom doors so you can gaze out into the wilderness from the comfort of a bubble bath. It’s all too easy to get comfortable and never leave your suite – but that would mean to miss out on a stellar safari experience.

So, what happens during a typical day at RockFig?

(Very early) morning

You might not be impressed by the 5am summer/5.30am winter wakeup call (unless you have children, that is), but believe me when I say that getting up at the crack of dawn is well worth the effort. The rangers sweeten the deal by waiting in the lounge for you with just brewed coffee, a selection of teas, fresh fruit and different types of homemade cookies, rusks and muffins. If you’re convinced that you can’t eat at 6am, think again – the food at RockFig is irresistible (more on that later).

By the time we hopped into our open game drive vehicle (which takes a maximum of just four guests) anticipation was high. There’s something truly magical about watching the sunrise in the African bush – the sun somehow seems more majestic, a vivid, burning orange illuminating the sky, the crisp morning air filled with the promise of what lies ahead. 

Animals are at their most active in the early morning hours, before the searing heat of the day sets in, so chances of spotting wildlife are high. Your personal guide and tracker are often the ones to really make a game drive stand out. The passion and commitment of our immensely knowledgeable guide Almiro and tracker Isaac showed – they got as excited by tracks and sightings as we did and went out of their way to make sure we had the most thrilling experience possible. When I asked to see hyenas for example, they managed to track down a hyena feeding her cubs in the middle of the road.

Another spectacular sighting, on our last morning drive, was a lion crossing the road – we followed him into the bush where we found a pride of lions, three lionesses resting in the sun with full stomachs after feeding on their night prey and two lions still feeding on a zebra. It was a raw, primal and unforgettable sight that will forever be etched in my memory. Interesting fact about lionesses – they are the hunters, expected to provide food for the pride, while the male lions’ main responsibility is to protect the pride.

During our drive we also stopped at a dam where we were privy to a confusion of wildebeest, yawning hippos lazing in the water and buffalos staring at us from across the dam – the perfect photo opportunity.

After so much excitement, the typical scenic morning stop in the African bushveld came as a welcome opportunity to digest (no pun intended) what we had seen. A vital component of any morning game drive, it entails aromatic coffee, made more potent with a dash of Amarula (a famous South African cream liqueur) and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. They were so utterly moreish that I had to ask for the recipe back at the lodge!

And talking of food, as we returned from our four-hour drive we were welcomed back at the lodge with a delicious breakfast, consisting of a big platter of fresh fruit, pancakes, yoghurt, cereal, various cheeses, and a charcuterie board. We shared our food with Zazu the famous Lion King’s hornbill…because on safari you’re always surrounded by wildlife, no matter where you are! 

Daytime

By mid-morning it was time to shrug off our winter jackets (winter mornings in the bush are chilly – definitely pack layers and warmer clothes) and relax by the pool, where we caught up on our reading and chatted with other guests. Then it was time for lunch – after an ample breakfast, you might be thinking about forgoing further mealtimes until dinner, but the light salads and freshly prepared chicken wraps are hard to resist!

This was followed by yet more food in the afternoon, which kicked off with a delectable selection of snacks (although we were too full at this point to try them!) before we headed back into the bush for our second game drive of the day. Highlights on our afternoon adventures included a sleeping cheetah, white rhinos, hippos in the water, and a herd of elephants.

Evening

The holy ritual of sundowners in the bush must surely be one of life’s greatest pleasures – and it’s fair to say that a G&T never tastes better than served from a safari-vehicle-turned-pop-up-bar. In our case we also had an unexpected visitor in the form of a rather curious hyena, who made a beeline for us – feeling slightly nervous as she was suddenly only about 5m away, we were reassured by our ranger Almiro that she was only coming to check us out and say hi. Our game drive then extended into the evening – a great time to search for unusual nocturnal species and marvel at the brilliant night sky.

As we returned back to the lodge, the boma (a traditional outside gathering place at lodges) was aglow with a warming fire and we all sat down in a circle to enjoy a drink before dinner – a great opportunity to reminisce about the day’s adventures, get to know the other guests and listen to the riveting stories of our rangers. This was followed by an incredible three-course à la carte dinner – the choice was tough as everything was amazing. On our second night we got to enjoy a traditional South African braai (BBQ), which is an experience not to be missed! 

Even though the outside temperature dropped from 30C to 12C, our suite was pleasantly warm at night and cool during the day thanks to the thoughtful eco-friendly design. We went to bed early on both nights, with only the cackles of hyenas keeping us company as we drifted off to sleep – in preparation for another exhilarating adventure the following day.

What we loved about RockFig:

• Small and privately owned, RockFig offers an intimate, incredibly charming stay with a personal touch – I could see myself coming back with my whole family or a group of friends and take over the entire lodge.
• I was really impressed by the contemporary design and eco-friendly design.
• The Timbavati is Big Five territory, so spectacular wildlife sightings are almost guaranteed.
• The dining experience is outstanding and no two meals are ever the same. From a private verandah rendezvous with your other half, to a boma experience, observing the chefs at work through the open kitchen, or entertaining long table evenings with your fellow guests, not to mention surprise dinners in secret locations in the bush, staff will keep you and your palate on your toes – while listening intently to your wishes and preferences.
• The beauty of this game lodge is that no day is ever really the same; staff kept us in excited anticipation and spoiled us with surprises.

A day on safari – RockFig, Timbavati
bibianapiskova

South Africa is home to some of the best game reserves in the world. With there being so many options to choose from, let’s name a few where proper African luxury is a given and sightings of the famous big five are guaranteed.

Kruger National Park

Stretching over almost two million hectares, which is approximately the size of Wales, is the word famous Kruger National Park. Because of its sheer size and abundance of animals, you could visit a hundred times and still discover new things. Choose between a self-drive option which gives you the most flexibility and it is very affordable; or a guided game drive where you just sit back, relax and enjoy what Africa has on show. Kruger offers a range of different accommodation alternatives like public camping sites, self-catering options as well as stunning luxury villas. Which makes it easy to find the accommodation that suits your budget while still being able to see a high density of wild animals including the big five.

Sabi Sand

Right next to the Kruger is the private game reserve Sabi Sand, stretching over 650 km². Its smaller size makes it a lot easier to spot wildlife and you can often see the big five in one day. Although this park does not allow day visitors like the Kruger does, it offers a more exclusive safari experience with the park being less crowded. One of the amazing advantages of Sabi Sand is the authentic off-road safari where rangers can take you into the bush to experience African wildlife up close (this is strictly prohibited in Kruger National Park). If you are a leopard fan, then this is the place for you! This game reserve is world renowned for the unique leopard sightings that you will only be able to get here in South Africa.

Pilanesberg National Park

Pilanesberg National Park, situated in the North-West province, is the fourth largest park in Southern Africa, but still about 40 times smaller than the Kruger. This amazing park is on the edges of an alkaline crater (formed 1.2 billion years ago)- one of only three such craters in the world. Reasonably, only a 2-hour drive from Joburg and Pretoria and 15 minutes from South Africa’s famous playground, Sun City, the park offers both day entries as well as luxury lodges for you to stay in. Pilanesberg provides a world of entertainment and fun for kids and parents, which makes this destination amazing for all ages. The park also has impressive amounts of leopards, buffalo, both white and black rhinos, elephants and lions. Pilanesberg may be one of the smaller game reserves, but it has a particular charm that creeps into your heart and keeps loyal fans coming back.

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Situated 280kms north of Durban lies Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, which has become known worldwide for its white rhino conservation and it is the oldest game park in South Africa. Containing a huge variety of animal life, this park spreads over 96 000 hectares and is the largest proclaimed reserve in Africa. The park also offers boat rides on the Hluhluwe dam to view wildlife in a way that most parks would not, which is special because who does not love the thrill of being chased by a hippo. This reserve offers both the option to visit during the day as well as to stay at the reserve choosing between luxury lodges, B&B style houses or self-catering.

Shamwari Game Reserve

Stretching over 250 km² of South Africa’s beautiful Eastern Cape, lies a 5-star African safari experience. Situated along the Bushman’s river, halfway between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth is the stunning Shamwari Game Reserve. Consisting of seven luxury lodges and one explorer camp, Shamwari only offers luxury accommodation and is very kid friendly with specialised activities such as ziplining, rock climbing, arts and crafts. Visits to the Born Free Foundation big cat rescue centre and the Animal Rehabilitation centre, making this reserve truly perfect for all ages. Being in the southern region of South Africa, a Shamwari adventure can be well combined with a Garden Route trip.

Sanbona Wildlife reserve or Garden Route Game Lodge

If the main goal of your trip is to visit one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Cape Town, but still considering a safari experience that is not too far away, then Sanbona Wildlife reserve or Garden Route Game Lodge might be the places for you. Both game reserves are the closest game reserves to Cape Town (only about a three-hour scenic drive away) that contain the Big Five. If you want to see a wildlife superstar, Sanbona is a home to the only free roaming and self-sustaining white lions on the planet. For those who like the creepy reptiles, the Garden Route lodge has a reptile centre with the in-house Herpetologists (snake expert) that will share his knowledge about these beautiful but scary cold-blooded animals. Both lodges are extremely kid friendly with a specially designed children’s packages and exciting interactive activities.

Famous Game Reserves​ in South Africa
bibianapiskova

Singita, Game driveImagine experiencing something most people only dream of doing. A South African safari is on every traveller’s bucket list and is truly a once in a lifetime experience allowing you to reconnect with nature. So, buckle up and take on an off-road adventure, deep in the bush where you will experience an abundance of amazing animals that will leave you speechless.

Just picture driving through the landscapes of South Africa, seeing the vast range of different antelope galloping through the wide open spaces of the game reserve; a cheeky jackal stealing a piece of the lion’s kill; herds of elephant walking only meters from your land rover; lions lazily snoozing in the shade and if you’re lucky you may spot a leopard relaxing in a tree or a rhino amongst the bushes. Look to the sky and see if you can spot the world’s fastest bird of prey, the peregrine falcon or the fastest flightless bird on the planet, the ostrich. Spot the heads of giraffes peeking through the trees, hippos and crocodiles wading through the rivers and maybe a cheetah through the long grass of the veld.

On your evening game drives, the bush comes to life with the animals of the night. Imagine driving at dusk and hearing the hyenas laughing, lions roaring and the monkeys squealing and if you are seriously lucky, you may even see the incredibly rare aardvark or aardwolf.

When planning for your safari adventure, the weather is a factor to be considered. Although you can see the animals all year round, the best time to visit South Africa for safari is from May to October. The dry winter months, when the bushes have died back and animals gather around the watering holes, bring perfect viewing conditions to spot the rarer animals like the rhinos, leopards and cheetahs.

South Africa can also offer a very intimate safari experience. There are strict rules about how many vehicles can view animals at a time and you can expect to venture into the bush in open roof 4×4 Land Rovers. This gives you the perfect opportunity to experience the animals first-hand, to take those Instagram worthy pictures and to return home with some absolutely stunning memories.

Wildlife in South Africa​​
bibianapiskova