Going on a safari had always been one of my fondest dreams so when the question arose as to where we were going to go on our “honeymoon” after our silver wedding anniversary, there was no second guessing where to go: South Africa. It could just as well have been in East Africa (Kenya or Tanzania) where the magnificent Serengeti Plain and Mt. Kilimanjaro lord it over the landscape, but South Africa offered other interesting places after the safari adventure. There was Sun City, Johannesburg and Capetown - with its stunning wine routes - to explore further.

Undulating hills outside Johannesburg on the way to Mpumalanga Province

We left hot and sweltering Kuwait close to midnight aboard Emirates Airlines for the 7 ½-hour flight to Johannesburg where we arrived past noon, local time, after catching a connecting flight in Dubai. Our two medium-sized suitcases were packed with jackets and heavy clothing because it was winter there. When we got out of the airport to pick up the Nissan from Hertz, it was a pleasant 16 degrees. We drove straight to Kruger National Park in Limpopo province which was five hours away.

It took awhile to get used to driving on the “wrong” side of the road because in South Africa, it’s right-hand drive – a legacy from the Brits who used to be the colonial masters in the 19th century. But the wide highways were as good as any that I had driven on throughout Europe, or the States for that matter, so it wasn’t too troublesome until we got to the 2-lane country roads. The wife started reminding me to stay on the left whenever I so much as drifted a couple of inches close to the painted white lane divider.

Entrance gate to Hamilton Parks and the way down the hill - at night it looked quite foreboding 

The changing scenery from flat countryside to rolling hills and later, to towering mountains was quite startling. Here was a scraggly landscape that looked like a scene from “The Land That Time Forgot”. Kruger Park sits on a high escarpment on the northeast side of the country and it was here where vegetation suddenly became dense compared to the thin foliage in the lowveld.

We arrived in Nelspruit – a major destination for most tourists – as darkness fell. Night time came early in the mountains since it was just 5:30PM and already it was dark. Our hotel, Hamilton Parks Country Lodge, was located further north and the directions I downloaded from the Internet said we first had to get past the town of Whitewater which was 30 kilometers away and then drive further for another 80kms or so. We got to the small town almost an hour later, driving through a mountainous route. By this time it was bitingly cold.

 Well-landscaped grounds outside our bungalow

So where are we now, Gladys couldn’t resist asking, as we barreled down the darkness with nothing but the car’s headlamps guiding our way. Just 50 clicks more, I reassured her. See, the wife has this fear of the dark and I had to exert maximum effort from not telling her what would happen if we had a flat tire in the middle of nowhere! Tall grasses fenced in the road and, at times, I had to remind myself that I wasn’t staring at a video screen for the view in front of the windshield looked like my son’s “Need For Speed” PC game. I felt no apprehension for I knew we were headed in the right direction judging from the road signs that flashed by. The odometer reading told me we were close and sure enough, at Kilometer 79 from Whitewater, we first saw the sign, then the gate to the lodge. A guard came out from the shadows with a flashlight and greeted us cheerfully, telling me to sign in the register before pointing at a dirt track which, he said, led to the premises some 3 kms. away down the mountain slope. I was bemused of the idea that we seemed to be going on a night safari so soon as heavy foliage enveloped the way and I had to drive gingerly down. But the wife seemed terrified about the idea of heading off to nowhere, or so it seemed. She almost jumped out of her seat when we passed by a sign that said: “Beware of Wild Animals”! Well, if an enraged elephant actually charged out of the trees, we’d be goners for sure – there was no room to maneuver for a hasty retreat. However, since the property was secured by an electrified fence, I knew there would be no such scenario.

Gladys in the bedroom with the 4-poster bed and by the pool which was so cold

We made it to the grounds without incident. The place looked just like what was in their website – it promised luxurious rest and relaxation in a jungle setting. The bungalows had that quintessential thatched roofing and were illuminated by well-placed lights that added to the out-of-Africa experience. I parked the car right by Reception  and was met by Ube, the manager who immediately offered me a welcome drink which helped ward off the cold for the night had become quite chilly. Later, after a hearty dinner of grilled salmon and bobotjie (curry‑flavored minced beef with an egg custard topping that looked like lasagna) plus a couple of glasses of sauvignon blanc, we retired to our room which was located a bit downhill. Apparently, we were the only guests since among all the rooms in the row of cottages, only our verandah was lighted. It had a high thatched ceiling – making the space even bigger – with a big fan hanging from the rafters and a comfortable four-poster bed. I asked the wife how she was doing. Great, she said, under a pile of blankets, but could you please fix the darned heater? Our first night in Africa and she was afraid we’d freeze to death!