Got to Johannesburg not thrilled !! Area we stayed in lovely beautiful house The Melville Turret saw the maids walking dogs / playing with children etc BUT every house had large electric gates security ! Went out for lovely meal at lovely restaurant but when came out around 10 pm everywhere deserted just didn't feel comfortable. Had two days soooo decided to try Kruger Game Reserve ! Booked at 10am and set off thought had right directions on phone. Idea was to get there for lunch -- 4 hr ish drive have evening game drive then early morning one breakfast and leave around 11 am next day as flying out Johannesburg at 9.20 am following day. Got lost went for over hour along just a dirt track GPS signal said right way eventually got to Game Reserve gate at 4 only to be told it the wrong one !! Had to go back and arrived 4 hr later just in time for dinner at the right place ! The place Elephant Plains is beautiful really out in the bush all buildings 'rustic' all wood with thatch roofs our lodge amazing large lounge area amazing bed even Dan could sleep side ways on ! With mosquito nets bathroom with large roll top bath / shower / 2 wash basins and all with floor to ceiling sliding patio doors on to terrace with furniture ah bliss !! Decided as took so long to get there and obviously missed a lot to pay extra to stay until after game drive day after so so glad we did we saw the elusive Leopard !! Came across it laid in bush at side road followed it into the bush -- our guide Franco drove the truck through the bush going right over small trees etc that was an experience in itself ! Came across the leopard again later we just sat at side track and watched it walk -- we followed for a while what an amazing huge animal ! Also saw an elephant having a mud bath ah ! While having lunch -- sat on terrace -- about 5 elephants walked past to a watering hole then played in the water it was lovely to watch. Kruger is an amazing place its as we expected totally in the bush animals everywhere they could even come right up to the lodges it was so much more natural and very much in the 'bush '
We left straight after evening game drive about 7.30 pm got back to Johannesburg at 3.15 am then got up at 5am to get flight to hyderabad ! But hey we saw lots of ' real Africa ' and the elusive leopard and had a brilliant time