South Africa
Nature & Chill in Hazyview
After a short drive from Kruger, we arrived in Hazyview for a few slower days surrounded by greenery and monkeys. The pace dropped instantly, exactly what we needed. We did one more early-morning guided safari (because, honestly, you can’t get enough of it) and the day after visited the Graskop Gorge, where we braved the cliff walk, which was less scary as expected (I'm afraid of heights!) and soaked up the view. Evenings were all about local food, quiet nights, and just enjoying being on holiday in South Africa.
Blue Jay Lodge
We stayed at Blue Jay Lodge with Phil and Margy, and their warm welcome set the tone right away. We had a drink with them on their terrace when we arrived. Breakfast was served every morning on their beautiful terrace, and when we had an early safari booked, they packed everything for us without hesitation. The room was spacious, the bathroom huge, and the garden full of life. We even spotted monkeys during the day and an owl at night. Phil and Margy were always interested in how our day went and gave great tips for things to do around Hazyview and further along our route.
Guided Morning Safari to Kruger
This safari was organised through our accommodation and guided by Jason from Elephant Herd Tours & Safaris. He picked us up at the lodge around 6 in the morning, and we shared the vehicle with only two other people, which made it feel very relaxed. Jason had already heard from colleagues where some lions were spotted, so he drove straight there. We also saw a leopard and plenty of other animals along the way. He shared a lot of interesting details, pointed out things we never would’ve seen ourselves, and dropped us back home safely around noon.
Graskop Gorge Cliff Walk
Since we had an extra day in Hazyview, we drove back to Graskop to visit the Graskop Gorge. The walk takes you over suspension bridges with great views into the gorge below. I’m not the biggest fan of heights, but it was still very doable and actually pretty fun. After the zipline you end up at the bottom of the gorge, where you can do a short one hour walk through a very lush and peaceful area. There’s a café where you can watch people bungee jump if you feel like taking a break. To get back up, you take the glass elevator, which gives you another nice view on the way up. It wasn’t a must do for us, but since we had the time, it turned into a nice little day out.
Kuka Café
Hazyview didn’t impress us much with restaurants, but Kuka Café was the one we liked most. It’s located next to a busy parking area with a few other places around, but inside it felt cozy. We ordered kudu, which was one of the chef’s specials, and it was really good. They have a big menu with plenty of options, but if you go, we’d recommend trying the kudu.
