Inspired by the South African story of Jock of The Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, Jock Safari Lodge is a dream destination situated in a private concession in the famed Kruger National Park.
Departing from Cape Town International Airport on a Tuesday morning, my daughter and I are beyond excited to take a flight with our favorite Southern African airline, Airlink. The Embraer E-190 is parked on the runway, and the promise of rain doesn’t deter the warmth of the onboard hospitality as we make our way to the iconic Skukuza airport, in the heart of the Kruger National Park. The convenience of a direct flight underscores the importance that Airlink places on its comprehensive route network, with accessibility being key, making it stand out from the rest.
Arriving on time at Skukuza airport, we collect our luggage and are met at the arrivals area by guide Mayneth, who whisks us away in Jock Safari Lodge’s 4×4 game drive vehicle. This mode of transport is to make spotting animals along the way that much easier from an elevated point of view. We encounter impala and elephants during our 50-minute drive to Jock Safari Lodge and when we reach the property, we are warmly welcomed by the staff.
Lunch is waiting and we feast on Kudu burgers and fries at our table on the deck overlooking the pool where most meals are enjoyed. The cuisine at Jock Safari Lodge is incredible, perfectly prepared by a team of chefs under the leadership of Head Chef Sam. For breakfast, guests can choose between pastries, fruit, cereal, yogurt, and hot breakfast; for lunch, there is a variety of dishes to suit all tastes and for dinner, we dine in the boma. It’s not uncommon to see wildlife on the sandy banks of the river, such as buffalo or herds of elephants.
Our suite for the next two nights is the luxurious Delagoa Bay Suite, with sweeping views over the seasonal Mitomeni and Biyamiti rivers. With only twelve tented suites seemingly floating above the riverbed, wildlife can be seen from the comfort of your Sala, which is transformed into a haven of tranquility at night if you wish to sleep under the stars, as we opt to do on our first night. It’s a sensory experience, with the sounds of hyenas and lions reverberating through the stillness of the night.
The Jock Safari Lodge suites all have different names, each one lending its moniker from the surroundings. Suites are beautifully decorated with interspersions of white bedding, dark wooden furniture, and tan leather chairs in your private lounge area and a dreamy atmosphere is created when the mosquito net encloses the bed at night.
The bathroom is stunning, with white & gray marble tops, black taps, and a white tiled wall in the shower that resembles a brick pattern. For those guests who prefer a bath over a shower, simply step outside on your deck, and voila – there is a freestanding bath that you can use any time of the day or night, with or without bubbles. On the outside verandah, there is a plunge pool and sun loungers for guests who would like to spend time soaking up the sun.
Set in a 15,000-acre private concession, it should never be underestimated when a lodge has exclusive traversing rights, especially if off-roading is allowed to get closer to the animals, and sitting a few feet away from a big male leopard at a safe and respectful distance has everyone clamoring for their cameras. The leopard becomes a point of conversation, and we sit in absolute awe admiring his magnificence.
Finding the Windmill Pride of Lions on an afternoon game drive is a delight as we watch the two young cubs blundering through the reeds of the dry riverbed. The pride consists of four lionesses and seven cubs of varying ages, which leads to some entertaining antics. Concluding our safari sitting ten feet away from a majestic male leopard, we realize that Jock Safari Lodge’s motto ‘More Than Just A Game Drive’ is so very true.
How to Get There
Airlink is Southern Africa’s premier privately-owned regional airline, serving more than 45 destinations in 15 African countries, including Madagascar and St. Helena Island. Discover More https://www.flyairlink.com/airlink-profile
Frequent flyers with Airlink can take advantage of the Skybucks unique rewards program. Visit www.skybucks.co.za
Airlink has consistently been ranked South Africa’s most on-time airline over the last two years with its fleet of more than 70 modern jetliners, achieving a 92% average on-time performance. This is a clear indication of their determination and commitment to remain synonymous with customer centricity, punctuality, service excellence, and reliability.
Travelers can also enjoy the benefit of their intra-continental style business class service on select routes operating our magnificent Embraer E-195 / E-190 / E-170 / E-jets. Discover More https://www.flyairlink.com/airlink-profile/business-class
How to get there: Airlink operates direct flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg to Iconic Skukuza Airport in the heart of the Kruger National Park. Explore more https://www.flyairlink.com/en-za/flights-to-skukuza
Book directly on www.flyairlink.com, the FlyAirlink app, or your Travel agent.