✨ An Unforgettable Kruger Safari Experience Led By A Passionate Guide ✨
I had the pleasure of going on three full-day safaris into Kruger National Park with Southern Kruger Safaris as part of a Safari & Yoga Retreat hosted by Soul Sanctuary Safaris in May 2025. Southern Kruger Safaris is run by the lovely Glen Du Plessis, a passionate and knowledgeable guide with a unique story.
Although he always had a love and connection to nature from a young age, he chose to pursue a career as a safari guide later in life after spending years in corporate and security. That life experience and wisdom really shine through in his guiding. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and his deep gratitude for being able to share the beauty of Kruger with others makes you excited to learn more and ask deeper questions. He was also committed to showing us the best that the park has to offer, and he would even express disappointment when we couldn’t make certain sightings in time. His passion is a true blessing, and it’s this kind of engagement that enhances the safari experience. A passionate, captivating, and knowledgeable safari guide is truly what makes the experience so unforgettable. Glen’s dedication to being our navigator and leader in the wilderness made the experience that much more incredible.
Over the three days, we were fortunate to see a wide variety of wildlife, covering the full spectrum of what Kruger has to offer. Highlights included massive herds of elephants of all ages and sizes, two different sets of mating lions, lionesses fending off a crocodile while feeding on a waterbuck kill, lions crossing the road, two pods of hippos moving toward each other almost ready for a face-off in the water, multiple rhino sightings back-to-back, a hyena mom with her small youngsters feeding around their den, a solo hippo jaunting across the savanna at daybreak, a brief leopard sighting, distant cheetahs, and abundant general game such as zebra, giraffe, birds, and various antelopes.
In terms of distance, we covered a lot of ground in the southern section of Kruger over these three days. The time we had allowed us to witness the diversity of landscapes within the park. We also had the opportunity to stop at all the major picnic and lookout spots along the way, enhancing the experience.
Our days were structured around early mornings, with pick-up at 5:15 AM from Needles Lodge in Marloth Park (see my review for details about my experiences with them on their respective profile). We arrived at the park by 5:45 AM, taking advantage of the early entry granted to those going in with a guide. This gave us a 15-minute head start before the self-drivers entered, which was a great bonus. We spent the entire day exploring the park, with a picnic breakfast at one of the scenic spots and stops at various points of interest. We wrapped up the day by 5:30 PM and were driven back to the lodge as the sun set.
If you’re planning a safari in the southern section of Kruger National Park, I wholeheartedly recommend Glen and Southern Kruger Safaris. He will ensure you visit all the best spots, show you everything the park is famous for, and do so with passion and dedication that will leave a lasting imprint...
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