Kirsty Blake Knox: The beauty and the beasts of South Africa on a once-in-a-lifetime trip

From leopards and elephants on safari to wine country and township tours, the charm and challenges of South Africa are on show in all their variety and complexity

Welgevonden Game Reserve in South Africa

Kirsty Blake Knox

The speed of the safari Jeep suddenly accelerates, and our guide Neil Davison tells us to hold tight. “A leopard has been spotted,” he says as he performs a sharp U-turn and screeches down a sandy track. The chase is afoot.

It’s around 7am in the Welgevonden Game Reserve in South Africa’s Waterberg District — less than three hours from Johannesberg, its name refers to the many rivers, inland lakes and watering holes within its boundaries.