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Blog by Jock Safari Lodge

August 12^th 2017, officially marks World Elephant Day, which is dedicated to help conserve and protect elephants from the numerous threats they face. However, every day is elephant awareness day for us here at Jock Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park! Elephants are truly impressive: matriarchal, social, communicative and creative.

“Return to old watering holes for more than water; friends and dreams are there to meet you’’ – African proverb

Some Cool and Unusual Elephant Facts:

The word ‘elephant’ comes from the Greek word ‘elephas’ which means ‘ivory’
Elephants love water and can swim by using their trunk like a snorkel; but they cannot jump
Elephant females can have babies until they are about 50 years old and have the longest gestation of all mammals – almost 22 months
An elephant’s skin is so sensitive that they can feel a fly landing on it
Elephants communicate to each other through touch, sound and scent and even communicate at infrasonic levels (which humans can’t hear)
The closest living relatives to elephants are hyraxes (commonly referred to in S.A as the dassie)
Elephants use their sensory cells in their feet to listen and can detect seismic signals and pick up sub-sonic rumblings made by other elephants through vibrations in the ground
Elephants use mud as a sunscreen, protecting their skin from ultra-violet light
Elephants are able to recognise themselves in a mirror; self-recognition indicates a very high level of awareness – only humans, primates, marine mammals & magpies have so far been found to recognise themselves in mirrors
The trunk of an elephant has more than 40 000 muscles in it and although incredibly strong & powerful it is also nimble and sensitive – from lifting an elephant calf to plucking a flower

‘’the world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful’’ – e.e.cummings

Blog by Belinda Strauss and Video clip by Roger de la Harpe

Our best experience of Kruger was at Jock’s. You can feel the love for nature in the heart and soul of the wonderful owners. The rooms are practically in the wild. We saw elephants just passing in front of the room. Sleeping in matras under the stars (if you want), amazing food in the river bed. Will never forget this experience!

-Jacob Yavin Vermeulen

We recently stayed here for 3 nights. We had read about Jocks and the strong recommendations. This place is better than ever expected, truly a magical place. The staff were exceptional, food 5 star and location amazing. The safari drives were also amazing and our guide IKE looked after us and was an amazing tracker. There are only 12 rooms so max 24 guest so you get to know the other guest without being overcrowded – the rooms are private and sit on-top of the river bank – you can watch the animals walking past from your day bed. Honestly this place is first class. We were self drive so easy access for Skuska airport or main Kruger gates. As it it a private lodge you get the added bonus of private areas as well as direct access to Kruger – truly amazing place and highly recommended. We were sad to leave and will return.

-John Smith

Jock Safari Lodge is located in the heart of the Kruger national park. It’s amazing location gives you a unique and real safari vibe. The lodge itself looks so amazing, stunning rooms, restaurant and relax areas. When you arrive at the lodge you will be welcomed by the amazing staff, that will tell you what the planning looks like. The planning is really amazing, you will get so much food and drinks, on top of that 2 amazing safaris with the best rangers! The safaris are really something else, private routes and amazing storys. The staff and everyone is really amazing at the lodge, this is a must do experience!

-Teuni D

The lodge is advertised as 5 star but I’d happily give it 6. Everything was perfect for the 3 night stay myself and my wife had, The room was spacious, clean and had everything you could want. The double shower cubicle was huge.There was an outside shower and bath, sunbeds, plunge pool, patio table with chairs and even a meshed tented area on the end of the platform overlooking the river bed with a made up double bed in case you wanted to sleep under the stars. The lodge staff were amazing, friendly and nothing was too much for them, Evening meals were fantastic, two of which were Brais (BBQ’s) on the river bed. The game drives were brilliant and our guide (not Driver!!) David, was really friendly and knowledgeable. We got the big 5 twice over. Will definitely be returning for a stay in the winter. Have done previous lodges in Kruger, Zimbabwe and Kenya but this tops them all.

-R. Davie

We spent several days here in early March — simply, the best! Very comfortable room and excellent food, with a warm staff. Highlights are the twice a day game drives. This definitely is not “pre-packaged” stuff — your guide (ours was Jacob) has a keen sense of where to find the animals, and drives over river beds and down back trails to find them -in a respectful way. We eagerly anticipated this part of our trip, and it exceeded expectations. You must go to have this experience.

-Robert D

I visited Kruger and Jock Lodge in 2017 and all I wanted to do is come back. That happened in Jan 2022 and once again it was wonderful in every way. The location is on a normally dry river bed so you can see wildlife from your window or terrace. The staff is so gracious and helpful. The wildlife guides are the most knowledgable and enthusiastic I have ever met. I come for the beauty and the animals and Jock Lodge delivers every time.

-Eva Fellner

Our best experience of Kruger was at Jock’s. You can feel the love for nature in the heart and soul of the wonderful owners. The rooms are practically in the wild. We saw elephants just passing in front of the room. Sleeping in matras under the stars (if you want), amazing food in the river bed. Will never forget this experience!

-Jacob Yavin Vermeulen

We recently stayed here for 3 nights. We had read about Jocks and the strong recommendations. This place is better than ever expected, truly a magical place. The staff were exceptional, food 5 star and location amazing. The safari drives were also amazing and our guide IKE looked after us and was an amazing tracker. There are only 12 rooms so max 24 guest so you get to know the other guest without being overcrowded – the rooms are private and sit on-top of the river bank – you can watch the animals walking past from your day bed. Honestly this place is first class. We were self drive so easy access for Skuska airport or main Kruger gates. As it it a private lodge you get the added bonus of private areas as well as direct access to Kruger – truly amazing place and highly recommended. We were sad to leave and will return.

-John Smith