🦁 South Africa: Spotting the Big 5 in Welgevonden Game Reserve

There are few travel experiences that compare to the thrill of an African safari. The scent of the wild, the golden light of dawn or dusk, and the anticipation of spotting one of the legendary “Big 5” — lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo.

During my visit to Welgevonden Game Reserve in South Africa, I had the chance to experience this adventure firsthand — an evening game drive that I’ll never forget.

Setting Off Into the Wild

The air was warm, and the sky had just started to blush shades of orange and pink as our open-air vehicle rumbled out of the lodge. Our guide — a fountain of knowledge and bush wisdom — briefed us on the plan: to explore the reserve’s vast terrain of open grasslands, rocky outcrops, and dense bushveld, all while keeping our eyes peeled for wildlife activity.

Almost immediately, we began to spot the “welcoming committee”: elegant giraffes gliding through the acacias, skittish warthogs darting across the track, and herds of zebra grazing in the fading light. The excitement was contagious — every rustle in the grass made our hearts race.

The Search for the Big 5

Welgevonden is home to all of Africa’s iconic animals, but finding them takes patience and a bit of luck. Our guide pointed out tracks in the dirt — lion prints, fresh from the morning, and rhino droppings nearby.

Soon, our first Big 5 sighting: a majestic elephant family grazing calmly on the savannah, their trunks swaying rhythmically as they reached for branches. Watching these gentle giants up close was mesmerizing — their size, their quiet presence, their deep, slow movements that make time feel like it’s standing still.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the bushveld gold, our guide stopped the vehicle for one of South Africa’s most cherished traditions: the sundowner. With a drink in hand and the wilderness stretching endlessly around us, we watched the sky melt into pink and purple hues — pure magic.

Into the Night

When darkness settled, our guide switched on a spotlight and swept it across the landscape. Suddenly, the reserve transformed — night birds called in the distance, and pairs of glowing eyes flickered from the shadows.

Then, the moment I’ll never forget: a leopard, perched gracefully on a branch, its eyes catching the light like two golden orbs. A hush fell over the group as we watched it stretch and descend silently into the grass — a ghost of the night.

We later spotted a herd of buffalo grazing under the stars and even glimpsed a rhino wandering through the dark. Each sighting felt like a secret shared between us and the wild.

What We Missed — and Why That’s Okay

Sadly, we didn’t spot a lion that evening. At the time (back in 2016), the pride’s dominant male was in poor health, so the reserve staff had wisely decided to give him space to recover without the stress of tourist vehicles. Even though I missed seeing him, knowing that the animals’ wellbeing came first made me appreciate Welgevonden’s conservation efforts even more.

And while my camera wasn’t quite up to capturing photos in the dark, I did manage to take a short video — a small window into what an evening game drive in South Africa truly feels like.

A Safari to Remember

Whether you go at sunrise or sunset, a game drive in Welgevonden Game Reserve is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The thrill of tracking wild animals, the serenity of the bush, and the awe of seeing Africa’s iconic creatures in their natural habitat — it’s unforgettable.

If you ever find yourself in South Africa, make time for a safari here. You might not see all of the Big 5 — but the memories you take home will be just as extraordinary.