It was the afternoon game drive. The Land Cruiser rumbled over the gravel, its tyres sinking into puddles left behind by the earlier rain. Each soft splash broke the silence gently, adding rhythm to the ride. The air was heavy with the raw, rain-stirred scent of elephant and rhino dung—earthy, potent, and unmistakably wild. A sensory reminder that we were deep in the bush.

We were at NAKO Safari Lodge, cradled within the sprawling Dinokeng Game Reserve—one of the few places in Gauteng where you can spot the Big Five. Just under two hours from Johannesburg, the reserve feels worlds away. Here, mobile signal weakens, and the rhythms of the bush take over. You rise with the calls of francolins and fall asleep to the distant whoops of hyena.

Our ranger took us out just after the rain had cleared. There’s something about the bushveld after a shower—it’s as if every tree breathes easier, and the animals, too, seem more relaxed. We passed a young rhino bull, his thick hide slick with mud, ears twitching in a slow rhythm. Giraffes ambled along the acacia line, pausing to glance at us before continuing their lazy stroll.

The pace of the drive matched the mood. This wasn’t one of those high-speed chases after sightings; rather, it was immersive and grounded. We listened more than we spoke.

The ground beneath us held stories—lion tracks still fresh from the morning, and the drag marks of a kill being hauled under brush. The distant alarm calls of impalas and the sudden hush from our ranger as we eased past a dense thicket all suggested that a lion might be near. Even unseen, lions command the landscape. He whispered, as if in a sacred space, reminding us that in their world, we were only ever guests.

Later, we spotted giraffes moving gracefully across a distant clearing. The tallest among them paused, its long neck etched against the fading light, and fixed its gaze on us. For a moment, the stillness was complete—just the whisper of wind through the grass. We held our breath, aware of the quiet dignity in their presence. Giraffe encounters carry their own gravity—elegant yet wild, a reminder of how extraordinary the natural world is. It’s never just another entry in a travel journal. It’s a privilege.

NAKO Safari Lodge offers a sense of privacy that’s rare. The lodge itself blends into its surroundings, unfussy and intimate. There’s a sense that the wildlife takes centre stage here, and that’s exactly how it should be. This isn’t a zoo. It’s a living, breathing ecosystem that allows you to experience Africa’s wildness without the filter of crowds or artificial spectacle.

As darkness fell, a spotted hyena and jackalas called out, their whooping laugh echoing through the bush. We paused, listened, and then smiled. NAKO had gifted us more than just sightings—it reminded us what it means to be present in nature, to sit still and let the wilderness speak.