South Africa. The Limpopo lions and the Blyde River Canyon

The lions roar in the early morning, when – just before sunrise – at the Greater Makalali Nature Reserve near Gravelotte, in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, within the triangle formed by Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa and Tzaneen, the safari day begins. A very light breakfast has been enjoyed at the three lodges – Makalali, Garonga and River Lodge – precisely to ensure we are light on our feet during this initial phase dedicated to tracking the Big Five around the Drakensberg mountain range, split into two sections by the perennial Makhutswi River, a tributary of the Olifants: the wildlife here is protected thanks in part to the revenue generated by safaris. Across these 25,000 hectares of land, the lion has now once again become the king of the savannah, although the elephant, the rhino and the hippopotamus vie with it somewhat for that title. In recent years, the reintroduction of cheetahs, hyenas and buffalo has proved successful; at this time of day, they can be seen, as can leopards, brown hyenas and the white-nosed hornbill. The rangers also lead walking tours and provide environmental education to students from local communities. Also well worth exploring is the Blyde River, considered the third-largest canyon on Earth, which lies right next to Kruger National Park. It stretches for 29,000, reaching the arid Lowveld at the Blyde Dam. The reserve lies on the slopes of the Great Drakensberg escarpment: the pools of water nestled amongst the walls sculpted by wind and erosion at Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the vertiginous cliffs of Pinnacle Rock, and the panoramic heights of God’s Window and the Three Rondavels will rival the enchantment one feels in the presence of wild animals.