Tag: Wildlife

Phinda Mountain Lodge: Dramatic Landscapes above Conservation Success

Posted on by James

The Lebombo mountains are perhaps some of the most wildlife-rich on the planet, yet are not well known outside local circles. They don’t feature snow-capped peaks or jagged ridges rising to unimaginable heights. They are in fact not the most impressive range. Yet probably along no other range of hills and mountains will you find more leopards, more lions, more elephants, and more amazing encounters than in the Lebombos.
Stretching from the north of the Kruger National park all the way down its eastern edge, down through Swaziland into South Africa, they start tapering out just as they reach one of this latter country’s finest safari destinations; Phinda Mountain Lodge.

Phinda Reserve is one of conservation’s greatest success stories. Formed from denuded pineapple farms and restocked with wildlife during the 90s, Phinda is now one of the most biodiverse reserves in Southern Africa, comprising over 70 000 acres of Big 5 country with an impressive bird list of 436.

Mountain Lodge was one of the original camps built here, and its three room types (suites, cottages – which can be turned into adjoining family style cottages – and family suite) mean there is something for every type of traveller.

If it’s romance you’re after, there will be more than enough solitude for you and your partner… why not book a private vehicle?
If you’re travelling with a family, great! The &Beyond WildChild program will keep your kids entertained with interactive adventures, perfect for mum and dad to enjoy some down-time.

Apart form world-class game viewing, it is the pioneering conservation experiences that Phinda now offers that are setting it apart from much of the rest of the industry. As a guest, it is now possible to accompany rangers and scientists in their careful monitoring programs of endangered species like Black Rhinos and Pangolins.
Participating in a rhino notching or dehorning, or laying your hands on a sleeping elephant while researchers attach a collar to it is an experience that will leave you truly moved.

Then of course there is the wildlife. Phinda is famed for its cheetahs in particular, with “the Marsh” – an open area in the north of the reserve – offering great hunting grounds for these fastest mammals on earth.
As you move through an amazing range of habitats (the unique Sand Forest is a must-visit!) you will encounter elephants, lions, black and white rhino, leopard, and an entire supporting cast of antelope and other small inhabitants of the bush.

Phinda is most definitely part of only a small group of lodges that continue to set the standard in both luxury wildlife experiences and conservation initiatives. At only a few hours drive from Durban or an easy flight in, it is also one of South Africa’s most accessible lodges for a quick weekend away…

With &Beyond offering special rates at the moment, get in touch if you fancy a trip to one of the country’s premier safari destinations…

One of Africa’s Most Breathtaking Views

Posted on by James

Wildlife Photographer and Guide James Tyrrell recently visited Angama Mara, perched on the lip of the Oloololo Escarpment overlooking Kenya’s Maasai Mara. He is adamant that walking on to the deck for the first time and taking in the view below him is one of his all-time favourite safari moments.

Read what he had to say in a recent Angama Mara blog post here:

After more than a decade of living and working in the African bush, the truly “Wow” moments are inevitably going to be harder to come by.

Despite retaining the same level of childhood excitement I have always felt when heading out on a game drive or bush walk, it was always going to happen that over the years with a certain amount of repetition (and I hesitate to use that word, since nothing in the bush is ever the same), there would be just the slightest drop off in the impact a sighting would have on me. Actually, I guess it’s more a case of working in the bush for so long means it’s just harder to pick specific sightings out of the literally thousands you will have accumulated over the course of my career, just like Kilimanjaro would be tougher to point out if it was part of a mountain range instead of being free-standing. Maybe not the best metaphor, but it’s the closest I can think of.

The first time I saw a leopard hoist a kill will be indelibly imprinted on my mind for the rest of my days, but my twenty fifth time is a bit harder to zero in on. It’s not that one becomes jaded – not at all – but more that you have an absolute surplus of experiences to choose from, and many of them start to merge into each other over the years.

Having a moment then, in which you know, in the moment itself, that this is going to stay with you forever, becomes a rarity.

Walking on to the Angama Mara deck for the first time was one such moment for me.

Angama Kenya Iconic Africa Luxury Safaris

I can still go back to it in my head and feel the same sense of wonder and awe. I can still see what the light was doing and how cloud shadows danced on the grassland far below, and I can still hear the air rushing over the white-backed vulture’s wings as it soared past, beneath me.

It’s not often that I am truly at a loss for words, but seeing Africa laid out before me in all its vastness was something that upon consideration would have made anything spoken superfluous.

There’s a surrealism to that view that grips you. It’s almost like a live version of the love-child of Google Earth and the best nature documentary you’ve seen.
When elephants look like ants, the teeming herds of wildebeest resemble a moving carpet and you can make out every little twist and turn in the Mara River in the distance, you know you are somewhere special.

“Moments of Discovery” are one of the first things one learns about when training as a guide. They come in a multitude of forms; from the first time a guest exits their plane to the first time they enter their room, to their first encounter with a lion.
Hundreds of little moments – some more noticeably impactful than others – that aggregate over the course of a safari to create an intangible experiential synergy…

Each one is an opportunity for a guest to reconfirm to themselves – whether consciously or subconsciously – that this, right here, right now, is where they ought to be.
The top guides, lodges and companies in the safari industry – and other industries as well – recognise these moments of discovery as being instrumental in making guests or customers want to return time and time again.

One rare occasions, one single moment of discovery is all it takes for a guest to say to themselves, “I could go home right now, and I’d be happy”. More often than not these are the wildlife sightings normally associated with National Geographic; a leopard hoisting a kill, a wild crossing during the great migration or a pride of lions taking down a buffalo bull in the rain.
Sometimes though, they are something else, and for me, it was walking out onto the Angama Mara deck.

When such a moment occurs before a guest has even gone on safari, you’re onto a pretty good thing.

The view breathes life into your soul and captures your imagination.

A safari lodge that can do that is one that’s always going to occupy a special place in its guests’ hearts.

I know it does in mine.

Singita Castleton: Leopards, Luxury and Lawn Tennis

Posted on by James

Whilst many would have played a casual game of Sunday tennis and wandered off the court to drink a refreshing post-game G&T, very few would have done it with a pride of lions in attendance, or served for the set with an elephant casually feeding from a nearby marula tree.
Yet both scenarios are a distinct possibility at Singita Castleton, an exclusive-use camp in the heart of South Africa’s Sabi Sand Reserve.

The former home of Luke Bailes’s (Singita’s Founder) Grandfather, Castleton Camp combines the most refined elements of a private safari lodge with the rustic charm of a country farmhouse.
The property sleeps up to 12 people, perfect for larger and extended families, or travelling groups who would like a camp all to themselves. Two Land Rovers would cater for a full camp, covering twice as much ground with double the chances of finding the wildlife for which the area is famed. Of course one doesn’t even have to leave the camp to enjoy spectacular sightings. A large waterhole at the end of the clearing in front of the swimming pool ensures a constant stream of wild visitors, with a resident waterbuck population always in attendance, elephants and rhinos moving through daily to quench their thirst, and the predators often skulking in the shadows nearby. Singita Sabi Sand, of which Castleton Camp is a part, forms part of a greater leopard population that is the densest yet measured in Africa, and sightings of these often elusive cats are common, even from the verandah.

Whats The Difference Between Game reserve And National Park Leopard

The layout of Castleton is a main homestead area flanked by six double en-suite cottages. The extensive wine cellar, country style kitchen and tennis court, as well as state-of-the-art wellness facilities such as a fitness centre, yoga pavilion and double and single massage treatment rooms ensure that guests lack for nothing that is to be found in the larger camps further north towards the Sand River.

The outdoor boma is partially open to the surrounding bush, so dinner under the stars is alive with the possibility of spotting a nocturnal visitor.

Exclusive-use camps like Singita Castleton are swiftly gaining in popularity throughout the industry, and are redefining what the idea of “luxury” is. It’s not just about thread-count, the exclusive wine list or the wifi speed, but rather it’s the ability to have only you and your closest friends and/or family sharing an intimate wildlife experience second to none.
One of the first exclusive-use camps of its kind, Singita Castleton has had years to refine its offering to a point where it really is the industry leader, and one would be hard-pressed to find an offering of similar quality anywhere in Africa.

 

South African Resilience Always Wins

Posted on by James

Another surge of Covid cases has seen Christmas effectively getting terminated for the international tourists that traditionally flock to South African shores at this time of year, but in true South African fashion, we look upon setbacks as merely that: setbacks. We embrace life with humour and are always able to see the positive, no matter how bleak things may look in the moment. We know that this too shall pass…

Not to be disheartened by the travel doom and gloom, The Daily Maverick – South Africa’s leading independent online newspaper – took to the press and released this wonderfully candid and reaffirming article, which we felt we didn’t want to try to put into our own words, as they already said it best. The writer was referring specifically to Giving Tuesday, which, according to the DM themselves is “essentially a global generosity movement where we repent for our overspending sins from Black Friday and Cyber Monday and give to those in greater need than ourselves.”

Enjoy (and UK residents please take this as tongue-in-cheek)…

Giving Tuesday is upon us.

The only thing many South Africans would like to give right now is two fingers to the UK for their knee-jerk (emphasis on jerk) reaction to the discovery of the Omicron variant by placing South Africa and our neighbours back on their travel Red List. The world followed and cut South Africa off, too.

As President Cyril Ramaphosa stated on Sunday evening: “The prohibition of travel is not informed by science.”  

South Africans have become accustomed to crisis-surfing: load shedding, water shortages, insurrection(s), the pandemic, vaccine inequality, a bruised and battered economy. But the overwhelming reaction when the world cut us off (after despair) was one of pride. Social media exploded with gratitude and cheers for our epidemiologists who were the first to track TWO variants of Covid-19. And for their skills, transparency and integrity in disclosing the discovery. It was leadership.

Photograph courtesy Alexandros Michailidis/Shutterstock

It’s sometimes easy to forget that we have a lot to be proud of.

  • South African scientists and doctors are renowned for being among the very best in the world;
  • Our film industry is widely recognised as global leaders in their craft, welcoming foreign film crews who come to work with our talent and our landscapes;
  • Our culinary expertise and restaurants feature in the top lists around the world;
  • We breed innovation – Elon Musk and Mark Shuttleworth have changed the world of tech and are just two examples of what South Africa can produce;
  • Artists and writers like Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Damon Galgut, Nadine Gordimer and Trevor Noah are South African names held on high around the world;
  • We gave the world Jerusalema!;
  • And then there’s the Springboks. Let’s not ever forget that we’re THREE-time world champs. Take that, England.

The best and brightest exist in this country – including the talent and grit of the journalists at Daily Maverick – and this is what we’re working every day to protect. If we can get the basics right, and ensure a functioning country for all who live here, we can all focus on creating a society where our talents flourish and thrive. No country, especially one as rich in resources and talent (and experience) as ours, should be endangered by a single travel ban.

As the move to shut international borders to South Africans showed, we’re on our own. It doesn’t have to feel as daunting as it might sound, though: if anything, every crisis we’ve survived has proved our ability to band together, knuckle down and – most importantly – help each other.

It’s hard to succinctly describe what it means to be South African. “Diverse” is one way. “Enjoys a dop and a braai” is another. But ultimately, what makes us South African is that despite our differences, when the chips are down, we’re good at standing together.

Right now, many holiday plans have been ruined, long-awaited family reunions have been postponed (again) and jobs and income have been threatened or lost. It feels like a knockout blow to a nation that was already on the ropes. And still, we support each other.

We agree wholeheartedly with their sentiments. “When the chips are down, we’re good at standing together”.

South Africa is an amazing country. Its scenic grandeur, its wildlife, its history, the fact that one man could unite 45 million people and bring them back from the brink of civil war (that’s Nelson Mandela, in case you were wondering)… Seldom before in humanity’s past has a nation been as divided as South Africa was during apartheid, yet we are still here, stronger together, building for a better future. No nation is without its struggles, and it would simply be naive to think that having come from centuries of struggle, the gap between the haves and have-nots would be bridged overnight just because of the advent of democracy. We still have a long way to go as a nation, but everywhere you look in this beautiful country it seems that people are determined to move in the right direction.

That, I think, is one of our greatest gifts. No matter what life throws at us, as a collective we stay upbeat. As individuals our humour and optimism is always evident, and even more so when you scale up to the entire country.

The heart of South Africa is its people, and the heart will always beat strongly.

When things open up once more – which they surely will do – this incredible country will be waiting to welcome international travellers back with open arms. Come and see what we’re all about!

Marataba: Conservation and Tourism Intertwined

Posted on by James

The new narrative of ecotourism is about far more than simply viewing animals in their natural habitat.
It’s experiential, it’s immersive, and more than anything, it’s about the visitor to African shores feeling like their stay has made a difference. More and more safari operators are giving guests the chance to go behind the scenes as it were, in order to see – and more importantly to participate in – the work being done on the ground to save Africa’s wildlife and her wild spaces.

Marataba has long been one of our favourite reserves.
Only a few hours drive from Johannesburg, malaria-free, and blessed with fantastic game viewing, it has practically sold itself. Now however, Marataba are spearheading the way a bush visit should be conducted; their Conservation Camps are allowing guests the opportunity to actively participate in the reserve’s conservation efforts.

Rhino poaching has been an ever-growing problem across Africa for years, and South Africa has been particularly hard hit. For too long however, there has been a distinct disconnect between what is being done to protect the species and the guests who are able to view rhinos in the wild. Marataba have realised that by making their rhino conservation efforts accessible, viewable, and most importantly, experiential, people will be far more aware of what it takes to both monitor and protect the species.
Understanding a cause enables one to get behind it far more effectively.

Both white and black rhinos occur at Marataba; a mixture of clearings and thornveld provide adequate habitat for both species (white rhinos are grazers and prefer more open terrain; black rhinos are browsers and prefer thicker vegetation). A proper understanding of the behaviour and movement patterns of the individuals across the reserve can go a long way towards informing anti-poaching and conservation efforts, and so an individual recognition system using an ear notching pattern has been implemented at Marataba.

The way we see ecotourism going in the future is the kind of offering coming out of the Marataba Conservation Camps; the three-day Rhino Conservation Safari.

During a rhino registration and identification procedure, guests will help immobilise and notch the animal and insert a DNA microchip into the horns and body. Tissue is collected and the DNA is submitted to the RHoDIS database (Rhinoceros DNA indexing system), a national DNA database.
It’s one thing to watch a rhino from the comfort of a game drive vehicle. It’s a completely different experience to touch one’s bare skin, to feel its breath on your hand and to play a part in an operation that will directly contribute to the survival of its species.

More and more experiences like this are becoming available in the ecotourism sector. We are firm believers in the idea that the more connected a person can feel to a place, a species, or even an individual animal, the more likely that person is to become invested in whatever maintain’s that entity’s future.

It’s not only the Rhino Conservation Safari that is offered at the Marataba Conservation camps. Guests can assist in fence patrols, elephant or cheetah monitoring, and a host of other activities that will help give a far more enriching understanding about what conservation really involves.

At the end of the day, that’s exactly what it should be about.

Mala Mala Magic

Posted on by James

When you abut the Sabi Sand Reserve – one of the most wildlife-rich areas on the planet – and your hashtag is still #itsallaboutthewildlife, there is probably something special going on.

Mala Mala, one of the first photographic safari destinations in South Africa, has long been revered for its incredible sightings, of the big cats in particular.
20 kilometres of pristine Sand River frontage offer guests unrivalled viewing opportunities, especially during the dry winter months when water is scarce and a plethora of game makes a daily pilgrimage down to the river to drink.
Although other reserves in the area boast similar wildlife densities, it is Mala Mala’s terrain that sets it apart, with the open sandy riverbed making any animal moving around just that much easier to spot, while also allowing for unobstructed photographic opportunities.

It is not just the game drives in which the wildlife features prominently; the camps themselves are constantly alive with nyala, baboons and monkeys, and views through the ancient jackalberry trees down to Sand River allow guests to sit on the verandahs of their suites and enjoy the march past of Africa’s greatest show. Elephants visit the camp almost daily, lions are regularly sighted from the decks, and scarcely does a day go by when the bark of a bushbuck or the chattering of monkeys isn’t heard from the treetops, indicating the presence of a leopard.

The rooms themselves are a wonderful blend of contemporary luxury and nostalgic decor that throws back to the early safari days. Guests have a choice not only of rooms (different size options are available), but camps as well, with three Mala Mala camps offering something slightly different to the discerning visitor.

Mala Mala Camp (formerly known as Main Camp) is the largest of the three, with ten luxury suites, eight luxury rooms and one luxury single suite. A pool, wifi area and library mean guests can stay connected if they really need to access emails and the outside world during off times from bush excursions.
Sable Camp, just next door, is a slightly smaller, more intimate version of MalaMala Camp and is ideal for those seeking a more private and secluded safari experience. This camp boasts seven suites, some of which can accommodate three guests sharing. The camp can be exclusively booked for between fourteen and twenty people.

The final jewel in the Mala Mala crown is Rattray’s Camp, sited a few kilometres downstream along the Sand River. Rattray’s is the most exclusive of the three camps, tucked away by itself, and only allowing a maximum of four guests per game drive vehicle. Flexible game drive times discussed with your ranger allow for all-day excursions to fully soak up the magic of the African bush.

In the context of modern safari, luxury is about far more than a simple thread count or what’s available behind the bar. It’s about time in nature, feeling like there’s no one else on earth, totally immersed in the experience.

With over 13 000ha to traverse and one of the highest wildlife concentrations in Africa, Mala Mala defines wild luxury.

 

 

Africa is Opening More and More

Posted on by James

It’s certainly been a rough year-and-a-half for the travel fundis, and for the industry as a whole. Confined at home for months, then confined to your home country, and even eighteen months in, many of you have been told that a mandatory two-week quarantine period will be enforced as soon as you return home from your overseas sojourn. Not appealing, we know!


But the light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter and brighter, as seemingly each week another country in Africa opens up for travel. Most of the more prominent safari destinations have fallen off international red lists, regulations are easing all over the world, vaccinations have been rolled out, and although things certainly aren’t fully back to normal, there is an air of normalcy in the air that is making us more excited than we’ve been for a long time to fully welcome international visitors to African shores once more.

Kenya was recently struck off the international red list, visitors from the UK no longer have to quarantine upon their return from South Africa, and Rwanda and its gorillas is easier to visit than it has been for a long, long time. We’ve stated it before, but want to repeat that there literally is no better time to satisfy your travel cravings than right now. Many safari operators are offering insane discounts, popular areas are still quiet, and the strict covid guidelines that have made many people reluctant to venture overseas are enforced so efficiently that being out in the wilds on safari is actually pretty much the safest place to be right now, if any lingering doubts about Covid still remain.

We currently have many guests travelling with us, and without an exception the feedback has been the wonderful tranquility, the soothing of the soul by being back in the wild after so long, and the exclusive feel of almost every lodge given the current reduced occupancies. It’s a bit of an internal dilemma; wishing for business to return to how it it was as soon as possible, but also relishing in the quiet times that are currently greeting every visitor to the bush.

If you want to experience world class game viewing, relax on a beach in a Mozambiquan archipelago, or enjoy the sights and sounds of South Africa’s Mother City Cape Town, don’t wait! The light at the end of the tunnel is certainly approaching, but for the traveller that light is likely to be accompanied by higher occupancies and back-to-normal prices.

Incredible value in safari has never been easier to come by than now.

Get in touch…

A Camp All to Yourself: the New Normal of Luxury Safari

Posted on by James

Humans can be funny creatures. No matter how exquisite the experience, we still ask ourselves “how could this be just that tiny bit better?”.
Often when it comes to idyllic destinations, we find ourselves wishing that it was just us there; either our family or only the group of friends we are travelling with. A whole camp all to ourselves, somewhere in the African wilderness.
Given that the capacity of bush camps is regularly 20 or so guests though, this is a tough order, as the majority of travelling groups aren’t as big as that.

However, recent developments in the safari industry have seen a marked move towards the development of smaller, exclusive-use camps, and given that the trends are leaning more and more towards longer stays, these homes-in-the-bush are coming into greater and greater demand.

Your own private ranger and game drive vehicle, your own chef, the freedom to decide on your own timetable… imagine the ultimate flexibility in the ultimate luxury, with the ultimate wildlife viewing experience right on your doorstep.

We’ve picked a few of our favourite exclusive-use camps for you to ponder on…

Singita Castleton

Feel like a game of lawn tennis whilst elephants lumber slowly past and a herd of wildebeest grazes peacefully in the distance? Then Singita Castleton is for you.


A conversion of the Bailes family homestead (the Singita founders) in the year 2000, Castleton Camp is positioned on a sprawling open hillside overlooking a pristine waterhole. Many are the lion sightings from the open lawns in front of the main area, and the central positioning of the camp within the greater reserve means that all sections and habitats are equally accessible.


Sip a gin and tonic on the edge of the expansive pool during the warmth of the African midday, or enjoy a glass of fine wine under the stars around the fire, where everything is forgotten and the conversations are just those between you and the people you have chosen to travel with.
Singita Castleton is truly a special place.

Londolozi Pioneer Camp

Since the 70s Londolozi has been the blueprint African Safari destination. THE place to view leopards, the lodge is set in the Sabi Sand Reserve, and boasts 5 magnificent camps strung out along the Sand River, all operating independently of one another.


The western-most camp, Pioneer, although not specifically classified as an exclusive-use camp, generally has its three stunning suites hired out by travelling groups or families, and its separation from the rest of the Londolozi Camps is such that you truly feel as if you are miles from anyone else. The spacious rooms all have uninterrupted views over the Sand River, and breeding herds of elephants are almost a constant feature in front of the camp decks.

The beauty of Pioneer Camp is that one still has access to the rest of the Londolozi Camps, so a trip to the Healing House, the Boutique Living Shop or children’s involvement in the Cubs’ Den program are all easily facilitated.

Pioneer Camp normally takes six guests in its three suites, but for visiting families the rooms can be tweaked to easily accommodate more family members, and capacity can be pushed to 12.

Royal Malewane Africa House

Royal Malewane’s reputation precedes it as one of the ultimate African Safaris. Sought out by celebrities aplenty, their experienced guiding team and prolific game viewing are already world-renowned.

 

Now add in the recent addition to their portfolio of the Africa House, an exclusive-use villa that sleeps up to twelve guests, and you have the perfect destination for a large family getaway.
Africa House is a totally self-contained bush paradise where you can relax in the most opulent and easy-going style. Although designed to suit families and close-knit travelling groups, each of the six air-conditioned rooms has its own private deck and outdoor shower, and magnificent views of the surrounding bush.

Angama Safari Camp

Tucked away at the base of the Oloololo Escarpment (although officially the site is mobile and able to change locations) and a few kilometres south of the main Angama Mara Camp, the Safari Camp, which sleeps up to 8 guests, is perfectly placed to avoid the busier sections of the reserve, and is far enough away from other camps to be able to enjoy the first part of game drive hours without any other vehicles near.

The camp is tented, and having just a wall of canvas between you and the African bush makes for a wonderfully immersive experience, with the evening song of the nightjars and the roar of the lions making sure your stay feels like a true connection to the primal part of yourself.
The light footprint of the Safari Camp is exemplary, and this is a place where you genuinely feel as though you are leaving the world behind.

The above four camps are by no means the only ones in our extensive list, they are just a few of our favourites.
In a travel climate in which Covid fears are steadily dissipating but many are still nervous about mingling with other guests, exclusive-use camps have seen a dramatic rise in popularity.
Given their very nature however, the timing of a booking is more important than ever, so get in touch with us if this sounds like the kind of safari stay that you’d be interested in…

The NEW Dulini Moya

Posted on by James

The Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa is world-famous for its wildlife viewing – particularly of leopards – and there is now a new jewel in its crown; Dulini Moya, tucked away on the banks of the Mabrak River in the western sector of the park.

Whether it’s a luxury escape you’re after, tranquility, time in nature, or some of the most exciting game viewing on the planet, Dulini Moya has it all.

The boutique lodge, with only six beautifully appointed chalets, blends so seamlessly with its surroundings that at no point do you feel as if you’re removed from the wilderness in which you find yourself. Leopards are known to wander right through the camp, elephants are regular features in front of your room, and with each suite having its own private viewing space, you may well feel as if it’s just you, the wildlife, and no one else for miles around.

Private plunge pools on the deck of each suite allow for a cool refuge in the summer, and romantic room interiors are the perfect place to snuggle up in the chill of a winter evening, with the Scops owls calling from the canopy of an overhanging leadwood tree and the southern skies shining overhead in all their glory.

Game drives of course, are one of the main reasons of anyone’s visit to the bush, and Dulini will deliver. With one of the highest recorded leopard densities in the world, the Sabi Sand reserve is the place to view these big cats, and their Big 5 brethren are never far away. Lions, elephants, buffalo and rhino are all regularly encountered, with a myriad of other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians completing the ensemble.
And when arriving back at the lodge after drive you will be greeted by warm smiles and laughter.
As Dulini say themselves:

The safari may be at the epicentre of Dulini offering, but care and the touch of personal relationship are at its heart.

The leopard viewing at Dulini is nothing short of spectacular.
A lioness closes an eye to avoid a wayward tail from one of her cubs.

Dulini Moya promises to break new grounds in the luxury boutique lodge space. Their emphasis on sustainable conservation, local community empowerment and ethical tourism is fast becoming the new normal in the safari industry, and this is certainly one property that does it with aplomb.

Feel free to get in touch if you want to know more about Dulini Moya, or indeed the rest of the Dulini Collection.
There are some spectacular specials on offer right now, so don’t wait too long…

 

Madikwe Safari Lodge: the Perfect Mid-Week Getaway

Posted on by James

One of South Africa’s lesser known game reserves, but one of its most ecologically diverse, the 75000ha Madikwe Game Reserve is a hidden gem of wildlife viewing.

A comfortable forty minute flight from Johannesburg – or just over four hours drive for those who enjoy a short road trip – and situated in a malaria-free area, Madikwe has been wowing visitors since 1991 when the park was first declared. Known primarily for its elephant herds – the park has a higher density of these huge herbivores than any other protected area in South Africa – and packs of African Wild Dogs, Madikwe boasts a number of full board lodges, and with the current midweek specials currently being run by Madikwe Safari Lodge, there is no better time to nip out for a few days bush break.

The beautifully appointed main area in Dithaba Lodge.
Madikwe Safari Lodger experiences some of the most amazing sunsets in Africa.

Three extravagant camps – Kopano (4 suites), Lelapa (12 suites) and Dithaba (4 suites) – are spread between two picturesque and boulder-strewn hills on the eastern side of the reserve.The two smaller camps offer a slightly more intimate experience and are perfect for romantic couples or small groups, whilst Lelapa the largest of the three camps is the more family-oriented, with specialised rangers and facilities for budding young naturalists.

Dining under the African night sky is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry.
Children are welcome at Madikwe Safari Lodge

The stunning camps are defined by a laid-back feeling and incredibly friendly staff, who immediately make you feel like you are at your very own holiday home. Experienced guides bring the complex biomes of Madikwe to life in front of your eyes, and the limit of a maximum of three vehicles allowed in a sighting maintains the intimate feel of the experience even when you are out on game drive.

The diversity of habitats found in Madikwe is part of what makes it so special.
Opulence abounds back at the lodge.

Madikwe rests on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. It is semi-arid, receiving just 350mm of rain annually but despite this supports an astonishing variety of fauna and flora. More than 60 species of mammal have been recorded at Madikwe and the bird list is now topping 350 species.

Lantern-lit pathways in the evening maintain a beautifully natural feeling.
Elephants are plentiful throughout the reserve.

In the east, Madikwe is bounded by the Marico River – a perennial stream that grows until it eventually forms the mighty Limpopo of Rudyard Kipling fame. To the west lies the Kalahari and the northern border is the national boundary with Botswana. The south is bounded by the purple and red Dwarsberg Hills. Undulating woodlands stretch north from the hills eventually falling over the Tweedepoort escarpment onto the low lying savannahs and grassland. The plains are dotted with inselbergs where baboons, hyrax and klipspringer keep a watchful eye for the attentions of Africa’s elusive leopard.

The views across the reserve are simply unbeatable.

Whilst maybe not as well-known as some of its counterparts towards the Kruger Park, Madikwe Safari Lodge offers an experience in every way as comfortable, exciting, widlife-rich and ultimately rewarding as any lodge in South Africa.

Contact us to find out more about the incredible specials Madikwe Safari Lodge is currently running…

 

 

 

Kicheche Safari Camps: Hidden Gems in a Huge Landscape

Posted on by James

Kenya’s Maasai Mara ecosystem is subdivided into a number of areas; the Mara Triangle in the west which forms the edge of the grasslands where it rises up into the Oloololo escarpment, the Maasai Mara National Reserve, which has its own private camps and is where public vehicles can access too, and on the norther edge, a number of conservancies, which operate in conjunction with local communities and traditional pastoralists.

All sections are unfenced and open to each other, allowing free movement of wildlife.

Although not receiving as much press as the sectors to the south, the northern conservancies boast just as spectacular game viewing, if not more so, as well as operating with far fewer vehicles in a sighting. And it is in these areas, prolific with wildlife, that you find the Kicheche camps.

Valley Camp in the Naboisho conservancy is tucked discreetly away in acacia woodland on a hillside, and it is not uncommon to see 20 different cheetahs in a week’s stay here. In the west, Kicheche Mara Camp is in the Mara North conservancy, where world-famous Leopard Gorge is to be found and where so many iconic wildlife documentaries have been filmed.
And in the middle sits Kicheche Bush Camp, set back in the tree-line alongside an expansive grassy plain. This is the lurking ground of the leopard Fig, who featured prominently in the National Geographic Documentary “Jade Eyed Leopard”.

All three camps are small enough to retain that sense of intimacy with guests, in which you don’t feel like a number, but part of things. Valley and Bush Camp have only six tents each, while Mara Camp is only slightly bigger with eight.
Many of the guides have been with Kicheche for well over a decade, and their experience shows in their intimate knowledge of the area. This is especially true when it comes to photography, and Kicheche is ultimately a photographer’s dream. Open skylines, an abundance of wildlife, lion numbers like you wouldn’t believe… combine this with the specially adapted Kicheche photographic vehicles and guides who understand everything from backlighting to depth of field, and you couldn’t ask for anything more, except maybe a memory card or two, as yours are sure to fill up given the prolific number of photographic opportunities.

Kicheche gets it right in the “feeling”; that intangible sense that you are somewhere that you ought to be. That synergy of all the smaller details that can seem so formulaic on paper yet is so difficult to achieve in reality. It’s the staff, the accommodation, the wildlife, the setting. It’s all of them yet none of them.
It’s an ever-elusive element that very few destinations produce, yet Kicheche have, through their own secret formula, got it right…

 

 

 

Angama Mara: Endless Horizons Over Africa

Posted on by James

There are few places on the African continent that are so picturesque, let alone iconic, but the picnic site at Angama Mara overlooking the Masai Mara grasslands has to be top of the list.

Imagine gazing down over somewhere in the region of a million herbivores, from the very same spot that Robert Redford and Meryl Streep picnicked in Out of Africa; hot air balloons floating in the still Kenyan air beneath you, swallows swooping all around, and the stillness of the magnificent continent stretched out to the hazy horizon.
As fancifully romantic as this sounds, it really is an experience you can live. Angama Mara offers intimate picnics for two at the little koppie (rocky outcrop) next to their southern camp, right where Out of Africa was filmed, or at least that scene from it.

But it is far more than a simple picnic that has guests travelling from all over the world to this stunning camp, perched literally on the rim of Africa. The wildlife, the staff, the views that take one’s breath away… take your pick of any one of multiple reasons that have made Angama the award-winning camp that it is today.

The first time you walk out on to the deck of the main lodge will be a moment you won’t forget in a hurry. You truly feel as if you are gazing out over the rest of the world.
Perched up on top of the Oolololo Escarpment, Angama Mara sits above the Mara Triangle, an incredibly wildlife-rich area best known for the wildebeest crossings that take place there every year as the migrating herds thunder across the Mara River, braving crocodiles, often raging water levels, and often marauding lion prides waiting on the riverbank.
Yet it’s not only about the migration: year round the wildlife viewing is stunning, with black rhino, elephant, leopards, cheetahs and many more being constant features of the terrain, even when the wildebeest herds (that get funnelled into the triangle by the steep walls of the escarpment itself) have turned back south.

Photography plays a key role in the safari experience at Angama, and their dedicated photographic studio is at the core of their media offerings.
Guests can learn the fundamentals of photography, hire a private photographic guide, and even print their own photographs on canvas as a special memento to take home. Few destinations in Africa lend themselves so well to wildlife photography as the Masai Mara and its sweeping plains.

The Angama experience is ultimately as well-rounded as one can find, with activities ranging from traditional game drives to balloon flights to cultural immersions. This is a place where the true meaning of safari can be understood, in the very place where the word originated.

To stand on Angama’s deck and gaze out over endless horizons is to gaze out at limitless, beautiful possibility…

 

Vumbura Plains: the Ultimate Water and Land Safari

Posted on by James

The Okavango Delta is an utterly unique wildlife destination.

Formed thanks to a shift in the earth’s tectonics which rendered the Okavango River unable to reach the sea, the delta now sits as an inland paradise; a union of land, water and sky which is as close as one can get to finding a true wildlife Eden.

The Vumbura camps are set right on the water’s edge, meaning you are often almost IN the wildlife experience right from the deck.

Sitting along the delta’s northern edge lies Vumbura Plains, one of Wilderness Safaris’ Premier Camp offerings. 14 luxuriously appointed chalets line a pristine waterway in which elephants wade daily, otters regularly swim past, and the plethora of birdlife that defines the Okavango is a constant spectacle.

Vumbura Plains is separated into Vumbura North and South, with the separate camps boasting slightly different decor and a slightly different emphasis, with the south camp being geared more towards couples on honeymoon and the north camp aimed at families and larger groups.

Glass frontage means an almost unobstructed view to the outside and its wildlife treasures and views.

The wildlife viewing between the two is essentially the same though – incredible – and even just the walk between your room and the main lodge area along the raised walkway is almost sure to gift you a sighting of some sort. The semi-aquatic lechwe and multiple other antelope species are regularly seen grazing behind the camp, and the warning chatter of monkeys is a regular audio cue that signals a leopard is on the prowl.

The ubiquitous lechwe of the Okavango go bounding through the shallows.
Set low down the water’s edge, the Vumbura Camp makes you feel as if you are part of nature, instead of slightly removed from it.

The suites themselves all feature a private plunge pool set on a broad deck, with expansive views out over the lagoon on which the lodge is situated. The decks are set low so that visitors are regularly afforded eye-level views of elephants feeding in the aquatic grasses growing beneath the delta’s surface.

Imagine having a dip in the lazy midday warmth and the world’s largest land mammal just happens to be feeding only a few feet from your pool!

Set in the shade of magnificent riparian trees, each suite at Vumbura Plains is an experience unto itself.
Look up from where you’re swimming in your private plunge pool, and a sight like this might well meet your eye…

The camp itself is one thing – and is so impressive it’s almost reason enough not to head out on game drive – but it’s the wildlife that people travel all the way round the world to see, and Vumbura will certainly not disappoint. The diverse mosaic of habitats, from seasonally inundated channels to small islands, acacia woodlands and expansive grasslands, means that a diversity of species can be supported too.
There is a constant lion presence in the area, leopards are regularly sighted draped from the boughs of the impressive Jackalberry trees, and tssessebe, sable, kudu and giraffe are all found in relative abundance. The bird life is also impressive, and Okavango specials like the rosy-throated longclaw and long-toed lapwing are regularly sighted.

Water activities round off Vumbura’s offering as one of the most complete wildlife and nature experiences out there.

Vumbura Plains is truly one of the jewels in the Wilderness Safari – and Botswanan – crown.
Luxury suites, an amazing mix of water-and land-based activities, wildlife around every corner, suites that you could spend all day lounging in… it is the definition of what a luxury safari should be.

The Leopards of Londolozi

Posted on by James

It’s been over 40 years since Londolozi first viewed the original Mother Leopard, a young female who for some reason was more relaxed around the Land rovers than her predecessors or conspecifics on the reserve at the time.

For the next decade, Londolozi co-founder and Tracker Elmon Mhlongo would follow her life, watching as she raised no fewer than 9 litters of cubs to independence; a feat that has not been recorded in a leopardess since.

Londolozi offers the perfect leopard habitat…

The early years at Londolozi did not feature leopards as part of the standard viewing on a game drive. Conflict with man over the course of the previous half-century had made them skittish, wary, and extremely distrustful of anything unnatural in their environment, which included vehicles and people on foot.
Tracks in the sand, the remains of a kill stashed high in a tree or even a fleeting glimpse in the spotlight after dark were all the evidence the early visitors to Londolozi had of this elusive predator.

A female leopard comes scurrying down from the canopy of a marula tree.

Yet when the Mother Leopard arrived and allowed people into her secret world, all that changed. Her cubs grew up recognising that a Land Rover parked at a respectful distance was neither a threat nor a food source, and their cubs in turn did the same. From that first female came generations and a subsequent dynasty of habituated leopards, which quickly put Londolozi on the map as the place to view them; a reputation it continues to enjoy to this day.

A male leopard stares right back into the camera while drinking…

Not only does Londolozi currently sit in the heart of the densest leopard population yet recorded in Africa, with the bulk of the cats completely ignoring the presence of the game drive vehicles, but the rangers and trackers – many of whom have lived and worked on the land for decades – have an intimate knowledge of most of the individuals.
Life-histories, relatedness, matrilines, territories… it has all been recorded in one of the most closely documented records of a leopard population known on the African continent.

A leopard cub peers cautiously out from behind a tree as its mother moves away from it.

Although there is no such thing as a guarantee in the African bush, Londolozi is as near as can be going to provide leopard viewing the likes of which you’ve never experienced before. The almost supernatural skill of the Londolozi trackers and rangers is almost certain to give you front row seats to what has to be some of the greatest wildlife sightings on earth, with the enigmatic leopard more than likely taking centre stage.
It’s an experience that has guests returning year after year to follow the lives of these magnificent cats, and one that is certain to redefine the way you view the symbiosis between man and wild…

Ngala Tented Camp: Canvas and Luxury in Wildlife Heaven

Posted on by James

A common misconception when hearing the word “tented” is to think of a more rustic experience.

Well, &Beyond’s Ngala Tented Camp will turn that idea on its head.
Nine luxurious tents, all on raised platforms and blending perfectly into the riverine habitat, offer the visitor every comfort they may desire. Each suite is air-conditioned, providing comfort during the warmer summer months, and comes equipped with electric blankets for the chilly winters.
The tents are spaced in such a way that each is completely private, making this the perfect romantic getaway for couples, but the camp is also small enough to make it a fantastic exclusive-use destination for entire families.

The main area of Ngala Tented Camp is a wonderful place to lounge during the day when the sun is high.
All the tents at Ngala Tented Camp feature indoor and outdoor showers, with the outdoor almost always being the preferred choice…
Wildlife can appear at any moment from the surrounding bush, meaning an encounter from the pool loungers is always possible…

Discreetly tucked away on the banks of the seasonal Timbavati River, the camp is located in the Ngala Private Game Reserve, which in turn is part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park, the largest transfrontier park in the world, comprising over 6 million hectares of pristine wildlife habitat. Ngala itself has over 14 000ha of exclusive traversing, meaning the bush is yours to explore with your ranger and tracker as you would like; on foot or in the vehicle. Off-roading is allowed in a sensitive manner, so close-up sightings of wildlife are practically a guarantee.

Incredible encounters on foot are possible if walks are conducted in the right way.
Leopards are a regular feature on a game drive at Ngala.

Ngala shares an unfenced border with the Kruger National Park itself, and the sheer abundance of wildlife to be viewed on the reserve reflects that. Africa’s famed Big 5 are all to be found here, and sightings are expertly conducted by experienced rangers and trackers. After a day or two you start struggling to remember what you saw when, so readily do the sightings flow into one another.

“Ngala” is the local word for lion, and there is no shortage of them on the reserve.

Ngala Tented Camp really is the perfect place for a bush immersion; connect with nature and ultimately yourself through star-gazing, sleep-outs on a private deck, being up close and personal with magnificent wildlife, or simply by lounging by the poolside in the day, where something is bound to wander out of the vegetation into the riverbed below.

If it is ultimate comfort whilst still feeling as close to the wilderness as you can be that you are after, Ngala Tented Camp is for you…