theMilesWeKeep

Back to the Wild: A Safari in South Africa

February 18, 2026

There’s something surreal about returning to a place that feels like it’s part of your story, even if you barely remember it.

I hadn’t been to South Africa—or inside a game park—since I was three years old. Despite my mom being from Zimbabwe, Africa had lived more in family stories than in my lived memory. So stepping into the bush as an adult felt like reclaiming something. Like reconnecting with a rhythm that had always been there.

This time, we were based in Kenton-on-Sea and did our safari in Addo Elephant National Park, and it was nothing short of extraordinary.

The Big Five (and Then Some)

Safari always comes with the excitement of spotting the “Big Five”:

🐘 Elephant
🦏 Rhino
🐃 Buffalo
🐆 Leopard
🦁 Lion

Originally coined to describe the five most difficult animals to hunt on foot, today the term represents the most sought-after sightings on safari.

Elephants — My Favorite

Addo is famous for its elephants, and it absolutely delivered.

Watching entire herds gather at watering holes was mesmerizing. Massive bulls. Protective matriarchs. Tiny calves wobbling between towering legs. There’s a calm intelligence about elephants that’s hard to describe. They are powerful yet peaceful, dominant yet deeply communal.

Every time we saw them, I felt that same quiet awe.

Rhinos & Buffalo

We were lucky enough to spot rhinos and buffalos grazing in the distance; prehistoric and steady, like they’ve witnessed centuries pass without flinching. Knowing the conservation efforts required to protect them makes every sighting feel meaningful.

Buffalo, on the other hand, carry a quiet intensity. When a herd locks eyes with your vehicle, you feel it.

The Ones We Didn’t See

We didn’t see lions or leopards.

And honestly? That’s normal.

Lions sleep up to 20 hours a day and often rest in shaded areas during daylight hours. Safari isn’t staged. There are no guarantees. That unpredictability is part of what makes it magical. You’re entering their world, not the other way around.

Beyond the Big Five

The beauty of safari is that the magic isn’t limited to five animals.

We watched:

Giraffes stride gracefully across the horizon
Zebras clustered together, stripes blending in motion
Wildebeests grazing in coordinated groups
Kudu and antelope moving effortlessly through brush

At one watering hole, elephants, zebras, and antelope shared space in peaceful coexistence. No fences. No barriers. Just nature operating exactly as it should.

What It Feels Like to Be in a Game Park

There’s a stillness to the bush that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.

There are long stretches of quiet driving… and then suddenly, your heart races because an elephant herd appears just yards away.

Time slows down in a game park. You aren’t distracted. You’re present.

The Power of the Right Guide

We were incredibly fortunate to have a family friend who knew this specific park intimately: animal patterns, seasonal behavior, watering hole rhythms, even subtle signs in the brush most of us would have missed.

A great guide transforms a safari from sightseeing into storytelling.

They don’t just identify animals.
They interpret behavior.
They anticipate movement.
They know when to wait and when to move.

If you don’t have a personal connection, book early and prioritize the right guide. The best safaris fill up quickly, especially in peak seasons. Expertise matters.

Addo vs. Kruger

Addo Elephant National Park was absolutely incredible, especially for elephant sightings and a more intimate game drive experience near the coast.

But if someone asked me where to go for their very first safari ever?

There’s nothing like Kruger National Park.

Kruger’s sheer size, biodiversity, and frequency of Big Five sightings make it legendary. It’s expansive, iconic, and often considered the gold standard for first-time safari-goers.

Addo was perfect for this chapter of our trip.
Kruger is bucket-list classic.