The Safari Begins

 As we are flying in to the Hoedspruit airport, I become overcome with emotion.  I can’t believe I’m finally here and this bucket list trip is actually happening.  I am so excited and so filled with gratitude to have this amazing opportunity and to share it with dear friends. 

A guide from the camp we are staying at met us at the airport.  Our adventure started the minute we arrived.  After grabbing our luggage we went outside and were told to hop into the open air Toyota Land Cruiser.  It looks like something right out of Jurassic Park.   The entrance to our camp is apparently across the street from the airport, but we still had a ways to go in the reserve before arriving at the actual camp.   

 

We are staying with Kapama at their Buffalo Camp, which is a private reserve near Kruger National Park.   We were about 15 minutes inside the reserve when we saw are first animal sighting, a bunch of Impala.  Our adventure had already begun!

 

Now the Traveling Hillbilly will be honest, this is more of a luxury camp vs. a traditional tenting camp.  We are staying in tents, but they have air conditioning and running water.   It’s more like a small tented hotel room.