Kruger National Park

Tucked into the northern reaches of Kruger National Park, on the banks of the Luvuvhu River, Return Africa Pafuri Tented Camp offers a very different kind of South African safari. Located in the remote Makuleke region of northern Kruger, this solar-powered tented camp is particularly appealing to travellers interested in birding, walking safaris, photography, landscapes and a quieter wilderness experience.

This visit was a particularly special one for me. My dad invited me to join him on his holiday, and I was very happy to accept. I’ve spent time in this part of Kruger before, including helping train guiding students here, but returning with him gave me the chance to experience this familiar wilderness in a very different way.

It also gave me the opportunity to experience Pafuri first-hand as a guest and to consider what makes this part of Kruger such a distinctive choice for a safari.

When Rita Ora described her recent safari in Kruger with us as the “ultimate reset”, it made me smile. After more than two decades behind the wheel of a safari vehicle, I have watched Africa do this to people time and time again. What fascinates me most is not only what they see in front of them, but what happens behind me...

Some journeys leave footprints. Others leave lifelong friendships.

When one of our favourite families returned to Africa for their third safari with us, it was about far more than incredible wildlife. From unforgettable lion encounters in the Kruger National Park to the untamed beauty of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, this journey was filled with extraordinary sightings, shared laughter, and the joy of reconnecting years after our first adventure together. Join us as we relive a safari that reminded us the greatest part of guiding isn't just the wildlife. It's the people who become part of our story.