What happens behind the scenes before a Game Drive?

It actually starts the evening before, when our chefs quietly prepare freshly baked treats for the early morning - the comforting smell of muffins, cookies, and traditional South African rusks drifting through the kitchen as the lodge settles in for the night.

Then, while the bush is still wrapped in darkness, the guides are already awake. With no streetlights or distant traffic, the pre-dawn hours here feel almost impossibly still. The stars shine bright above, and the air feels heavy with quiet anticipation, as though the landscape itself is waiting for the day to begin. Despite the early wake-up, it’s a special time that many guides treasure - a secret, peaceful world that belongs to only you.

The first stop is the kitchen, where baked goods are packed into tiffin tins and secured inside canvas hot boxes. The kettle is switched on while the rest of the supplies are gathered: clean mugs, spoons, serving trays, tongs and tablecloths laid out ready for the morning coffee stop. Condiments are topped up with freshly ground, locally sourced coffee, premium teas, and hot chocolate - small comforts that feel especially welcome after an early rise.

Once the water has boiled, it’s poured into large Stanley flasks to keep it piping hot for later. Dairy and plant-based milks are packed alongside, together with another safari favourite - a splash of Amarula cream liqueur for those who enjoy their coffee with a little extra warmth.

With the hot box ready, attention turns to the vehicle. Tyres, fuel and engine are checked, and the vehicle is dusted down from the previous day’s adventures. Blankets and ponchos are folded and counted. In winter, guests might even find a warm hot water bottle tucked into their seat - a small surprise waiting in the early morning chill.

All the while, the guides are listening. In the quiet darkness, distant sounds travel easily: the deep roar of a lion, the sawing call of a leopard, or the sudden chorus of alarm calls from animals reacting to unseen movement. Radios crackle softly to life as guides check in with one another, sharing early clues that might help shape the morning’s route.

Finally, with everything prepared, the vehicles are driven to the front of the lodge. Guides grab a quick hot drink just as the first glow of sunrise begins to soften the horizon and guests arrive for their own wake-up coffee. There’s a gentle buzz of anticipation now - the quiet excitement of a new day in the bush.

Soon, there is just enough light to see the road ahead. Guests climb aboard, blankets wrapped tight, and the vehicles head out into the awakening landscape to discover what the night has left behind.