All the passengers were more prepared for a visit to the polar region rather than a hot Lowveld day in Mpumalanga. It may be spring in other parts of the southern hemisphere, but certainly not in Cape Town.

The pilot must have known about the heat up north when he gave the impression of not being able to control the air-conditioning, and as we sat on the runway in Cape Town, we sweltered in tropical heat.

Stepping out of the aircraft two-and-a-bit hours later, we were greeted by sweltering heat nearly matching the aircraft's interior. Thanks to SAA we were already acclimatised.

This was a spring day in the Lowveld and we could already see the trees were in bud.

The drive from Nelspruit to our camp in the southern section of Kruger took about two hours through one of the largest sugar-growing areas in the country, with a stop on the bridge across the Crocodile River to photograph crocodiles basking on the banks.

Just before 3pm and high tea at Jock Safari Lodge, we arrived and were shown to our accommodation.

For any foreign visitor who has never experienced the true African bush, the camp must be like entering a world they will never forget.

To either have read about Jock of the Bushveld, the dog Sir Percy Fitzpatrick immortalised in his book first published in 1907, or learning about him in the camp must leave a deep impression on their minds.

The accommodation is palatial and luxurious and is sited on the banks of the Mitomeni and Biyamiti rivers. Added to that, the sighting of buffalo or elephant just metres below the deck must have a huge, lasting impact on people more used to vast human crowds in an urban landscape.

Throughout the day, the chilling cry of a fish eagle echoed across the bush. At night there was much growling and rumbling as lions, hyenas and elephant communicated their whereabouts while they vied for territory.

A couple on honeymoon from Ireland, who were making their first landing in Africa were really blown away. Neither Alice or Gordon had ever seen an elephant, let alone almost being able to touch one from the safety of their boma.

Because we love walking in the bush, we had prebooked at least one walk through Kruger and enticed the Irish couple to join us.

We promised them it would be an unforgettable experience and far different from going on a game drive.

We met JV Silinda, guide tracker and head ranger for Jock Safari Lodge, the man who was to take full responsibility for our safety while out in the bush seeking those photographs, which help to prove that Africa is the best place in the world to visit.

As back-up, we met Vincent Smith, another highly trained guide, tracker and ranger.

I was naturally after that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture at least one photograph, which would really stand out in my collection.

As the sun rose and lit the sky, we walked, and while JV tracked white rhino and Vincent Smith backed us up, the pair from Ireland could not believe what he could read on the ground.

In the three hours we were out tracking through the bush the couple's brains must have been on overload. They quickly learnt to listen to every sound while taking in the smells as we moved carefully through the bush.

It is certainly a privilege to be out on foot in one of the world's foremost game reserves, especially as at any time you can meet any member of the Big Five.

While we walked and JV patiently explained all his findings as he read the signs of animals that had passed by, either in the night or during the past days, I scribbled down words tumbling from the visitors' mouths in my notebook.

Unbelievable silence. Vast open space. Is a rhino that big? What a fantastic sunrise. Lions passed in the night?

JV had just pointed out lion tracks with the traces of ant lions over them.

He carefully explained that ant lions – one of the small five – move around early in the morning and if their tracks are over the lion's then the lion passed in the night.

If it's the other way around, beware because lions are close by.

At breakfast, later in the morning, the guests were bubbling over with excitement about what they had seen and photographed.

The camp at Jock, owned by the Mantis group, only accommodates 24 people in 12 private suites and at Little Jock, a hop and skip down the road, a further six people in three private suites.

As one of only a few private concessions inside the Kruger National Park, the Jock camps offer guests the best of both worlds, with full access to game |viewing on the private roads in the concession, as well as the opportunity to view game from the public roads in Kruger.

The major advantage is that visitors to Jock Safari Lodge view game in private without the sometimes huge crowds in Kruger. This gives you the chance to get close to the wildlife with no outside disturbance. Any walk on the trail of the legendary dog, Jock of the Bushveld, is trod with the chance of a sighting of the Big Five, which will certainly remain in your memory for many years to come.

If you go...

• Getting to Jock Safari Lodge: SAA Airlink flies directly from Cape Town daily.
• By road: Driving from Johannesburg takes about two hours.
• Health: It is best to consult with your doctor regarding malaria prophylactics.
• Accommodation: Twelve double suites, all air-conditioned and overlooking the river, and three double suites at Little Jock.
• Bookings: Visit the Jock Safari Lodge website at www.jocksafarilodge.com
• Call 013 735 5200 or email at reservations@mantiscollection.com