For me, after being away from home for nine months, nothing beats time in the bush. I chose Rhino River Lodge for a second visit because the first experience, eleven months ago, stayed with me every day since. I simply had to return. Again, expectations exceeded.

Less than 3 hours from Durban, just off the N2, Rhino River Lodge, home to the Big Five, warmly awaited us. Chelsea, Clair, Kyle and Alex to name but a few were all as welcoming as the African sun (not once have I complained about KZN’s amazingly humid heat). The day we arrived, the temperature reached thirty-six degrees Celsius, in the shade. What a greeting! A pity about the drought…

I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the knowledgeable and highly amusing ranger, Kyle, on both occasions. He threatened to name a meal after me for mispronouncing a Zulu word. I refuse to even attempt spelling it here. Swiftly moving on…

While on a game drive, a French tourist asked: “What’s the difference between impalas and springboks?”

Kyle began: “Springboks are lighter in colour, and —”

“Impalas don’t play rugby,” a fellow South African piped up.

Well, that tickled me!

An impressive lion heading directly toward us in the Land Cruiser, his huge paws pounding the red, dry earth, dust springing up in to the air had me in awe. With my heart nearly in my throat and my finger shakily on my camera’s shutter release, I couldn’t help but wonder what if he kept coming straight for us… Fortunately, no drastic reactions were required. A shame we didn’t get to see the cheetahs or a leopard. We did, however, come close to witnessing giraffes mating – she just wasn’t that interested. And it’s always a pleasure, actually an honour, seeing rhinos.

I find myself out of sorts whenever I leave the wildlife behind. An instant jolt the moment the fence line of a game reserve is behind me and I’m forced to return to tar, cattle and people blindly running across the freeway; moving from bush to Third-World-civilisation couldn’t be harsher. I unequivocally appreciate being able to withdraw in to such sacred places.

Thank you all at Rhino River Lodge (view their Facebook page here) for another three days of spectacular bush time, more memories to last a lifetime. With delicious food and clean, comfortable accommodation, it definitely shan’t be long before my next visit.