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Ever wondered why lions have manes or why leopards seem to spend so much time in trees? Maybe you’ve found yourself questioning how guides know a track is fresh, or why some animals are spotlighted at night while others are left in the dark.

Our guides hear these questions all the time - usually somewhere between a coffee stop and a sighting! So, we thought it was time to put guides James and Khutso from Misava, and JV and Lola of Amani, to the test. In this new Ask Our Guides series, they tackle some of the wildlife questions guests ask most often and share a little insight into the fascinating world of the African bush.

It’s one of the most common questions we’re asked: how long should I stay on safari? The honest answer is – it depends. But if you’re travelling all this way to experience the wild beauty of the Greater Kruger, we would always recommend a minimum of two nights, with three or more being ideal. In our latest blog, we discuss the difference between spending one, two, or more nights on safari.

It started as a tracking conundrum. Though we often see leopard tracks following familiar routes as they cross the winding roads of the Klaserie, they rarely stay in one place for long - unless there’s a kill nearby. Every now and then, however, something doesn’t quite add up. A glitch in the pattern. That was the case one morning in mid-March. Little did Guide James know that he was about to stumble upon something quietly extraordinary.

Not many people start their day before the sun. For safari guides, however, this is simply part of life in the bush. Many predators, including lions and leopards, are crepuscular - most active at dusk and dawn – and often retreat into shade once the heat begins to rise. To have the best chance of seeing them while they are still active, our morning drives begin at sunrise… which means the preparation begins long before first light. So, have you ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes before a game drive?

When heavy rains arrive and rivers begin to swell, it can feel sudden and unsettling from a human perspective. Roads disappear, bridges close, and familiar landmarks change almost overnight. But what about our wildlife? The recent flooding in the Lowveld - with levels of rainfall not seen in over 25 years - has prompted many to ask this very question. And while floods can certainly bring challenges, they also mark the beginning of renewal, abundance, and change. So, let’s take a closer look at how floods shape life for wildlife in the Greater Kruger.