The S56 Mpongolo Loop: Lions, Ele Umbrellas & 2,000+ Buffalo

The Loop That Teaches Patience

The S56 isn’t just a road it’s a mood. One that changes by the hour. On a cool morning, I rolled out early with the INEOS Grenadier idling low and the Three Lads & a Toucan steaming strong. Within minutes, the bush began to wake ground hornbills booming, doves cooing, and a soft pink sky rolling open.

The first lions were flat cats, sprawled across the opposite bank like spilled gold. Then came elephants dozens of them calves lying flat under their mothers, shaded by living umbrellas.

Further on, I stopped at a lookout where two thousand buffalo rolled through dust like a living tide. The sound of it filled my chest a heartbeat of Africa itself all in the quest for water.

Tips for the Loop

• Drive slow (20–25 km/h tops)

• Bring patience — and water

• Early-morning light is golden for photography

• Respect distance — this loop belongs to elephants

What’s your favourite Kruger loop?

• S56 Mpongolo
• S50 Red Rocks
• S100 Satara stretch
• Letaba River Drive

Reader Question:

If you could name your own Kruger loop, what would you call it

and why? Drop your loop ideas at howzit@khakibush.com and get it in the next magazine!