Sun Destinations Blog - Page 102 of 117

Marakapula’s Makubu Lodge Masterpiece

In the peace and quiet of the Marakapula Reserve, Makubu Lodge finds its home where the wild fig trees offer shade to the ground-dwelling animals, and the surging Selati River feeds the thirst of the elephants and the antelope. Warmly painted red, with thatched roofs covering high ceilings, and authentically African artefacts adorning the wooden surfaces, Makubu Lodge is a place of traditional luxury, inviting guests to stretch out in safari comfort.

Location, location, location. Nothing could more accurately describe the placement of this Kruger retreat. Tucked away in the community-owned, Big 5 Marakapula Reserve, Makubu is only a 20-minute drive from the Kruger National Park. Just outside the town of Phalaborwa in the beautiful Limpopo Province, the scenery at Marakapula is an undeniable attraction. Identified by the big, rounded heaps of boulders that interrupt the flat landscape, and the powerful flow of the Selati River, this reserve looks like an African paradise.

Elephants visited the lodge on my first day… and every day after that! Reclining on the private deck outside my individual, thatched chalet, an earth-shuddering crash resounded through the silence, then a satsified crunching commenced. There wasn’t much time for questioning what the sound was because the great, big culprits showed themselves on the riverbank soon enough. The next morning as we were enjoying our 05h30 breakfast before game drive, our guide called us outside and just where we were to board the vehicle, two elephants were munching happily on the mopane trees outside the lodge. An incredible moment to be able to stand and watch them move slowly through the bush.

Makubu Lodge spreads itself spaciously alongside the Selati River, having placed 7 chalets, quite literally, on the riverbank. The view is unbeatable, whether you are enjoying some solitude on your bedroom’s private wooden deck, or putting your feet up at the swimming pool, in the elevated lounge, or on the veranda beneath the biggest fig tree. One truly feels the tranquillity of Marakapula here, and a sense of being in a safari sanctuary, insisting that you connect with the natural beauty of the place.

Meals at Makubu Lodge are served either outside under the trees or indoors in the African-inspired dining room. A side table is topped with dishes of delicious home-cooked meals, freshly chopped salads, daily-baked bread rolls, and at dinner time, a couple of finely selected wines. It’s a help-yourself setup and a convivially set long table, which is abuzz with conversation every night. Spanish owner, Luis, is easy going and effortless, and after 12 years in the South African bush, safari has become a part of his style. Before dinner, Luis joins guests in the boma where a big campfire burns away and a table of (again, help yourself) drinks, ice, and tasty snacks are laid out on offer. By 21h00 when dinner is served, your appetite has worked up and the kitchen’s wonderful creations go down well.

Ambling off to bed in the evenings takes you away from the glowing lights of the lodge and along a lantern-lit pathway through the ‘secret garden’ vegetation and over a little wooden bridge. Comfortably spaced from one another, the rondavel-style chalets lead off the path and onto their own riverfront locations. The rooms are open-plan, with the ensuite bathroom leading off the bedroom without much of a barrier, although the shower and the toilet are behind their own separate doors. Each chalet has a very big stone bath that looks out the wide windows and onto the river, and the vanity cabinet is stocked with towels and bathroom products for guests to use. Incorporating wood into the room blends beautifully with the thatched roof, and the African art on the walls ties the theme together. There are ceiling fans and an air-conditioner for ultimate temperature control, and a fireplace with a mini-lounge that creates a warming ambience.

At night, the frogs come to life and chat away melodically, while deeper into the darkness one may hear the call of a lion, a hyena, or a leopard. Makubu Lodge truly offers a level of comfort in the immaculate Marakapula Reserve. Get ready for a superb safari experience.

The Magic of Marakapula

Just a short drive in a straight line from the Phalaborwa gate of the Kruger National Park lies the Marakapula Reserve. A Big 5 community-owned game reserve characterised by giant boulder hills, wild fig trees, and the Selati River, which courses through the property in its great, surging mass. On my first game drive I saw a leopard, crouching in the shade on the riverbank and looking quite wary of our vehicle. She was young and cautious and she quickly bolted into the long grass where her rosettes just showed through the greenery.

This reserve just looks like an animal paradise. Such an abundance of everything, from shade, to food, and water. One could imagine the smooth, chalk-coloured branches of sycamore fig trees being the perfect cradle for a lazy leopard, while the hundreds of butterfly-shaped mopane leaves flutter irresistibly in the wind, attracting elephants, giraffes, and kudus to browse. The roads have just the right amount of ‘bump’, as they are well maintained and graded, while the landscape deviates between riverfront lushness, golden grasses and stark winter trees, bare boulders, and baobabs.

This reserve is the result of a conservation effort to reintroduce wildlife onto the property and to promote tourism in an area that would benefit the Mashishimale Community of Phalaborwa. The land was returned to its rightful owners (the community) in 2007 as a 20 000 hectare piece of land that had been overfarmed and depleted of its wildlife. Over the years, in collaboration with the Kruger Park and a private company, Marakapula received its indigenous species once again, and the ecosystem resumed its natural order.

Nowadays, Marakapula – meaning ‘mountain that keeps the rain away’ – is home to lion, elephant, cheetah, leopard, rhino, hippo, waterbuck, baboon, kudu, zebra, giraffe, crocodile, impala, bushbuck, steenbok, and a wide variety of other creatures. The reeds along the Selati riverbank are alive with the croaking of frogs, while little kingfishers perch on the tall fronds swaying in the wind. Herons, cormorants, fish eagles, orioles, swallows, and barbets are only a few mentions of the incredible birdlife found here.

Elephants can be both seen and heard as they crash through the tall vegetation, determined to strip the bark and reach the inner layer of goodness. They break through the hard exterior using their tusks and release the red flesh, which they grasp with their trunks and then grind between their molars. At night, leopard and lion can be heard as they make their territory known, and early mornings are announced by the screeching banter from the troupe of baboons that come to drink in the light of day.

After years of being improperly used and without the community having the authority to reinvent their land, Marakapula was wasting away. The sheer beauty of the land, the life in the river, the intimidating presence of the giant fig trees and thousand-year-old baobabs were going uninhabited by Africa’s wildlife, and unnoticed by tourists to this country. Through the dedication of the local people and private companies, this wonderful piece of land now stands as an utterly unique destination for anyone wanting the grandeur of the Kruger National Park, and the undeniable sanctuary of a private game reserve with a luxury lodge to boot.

The Week in Pictures: Ultimate images from Kruger and Botswana

For the week in pictures this week, we’re portraying the best snaps from our camps in the Greater Kruger and in Botswana! It’s been a whirlwind of a week and one can’t help but envy these talented photographers for the gorgeous wildlife sightings they have enjoyed in our beloved Africa. As always, we love to share the epic sights with you, so here we we deliver this week’s best of the best. Enjoy!

Umkumbe Safari Lodge in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve needs little introduction. It is a firm favourite with absolute game viewing quality. This week, guide and photographer, Angele Rouillard, has been celebrating the rain and snapping away at the wildlife wonders that it has brought:

The bush never disappoints if you go in with an open mind and no expectations. This last week: wild dogs on our riverfront; Maxebeni (our large male leopard) slinking beneath my vehicle; the Charleston Pride back together again after a few months absence; early morning dust baths; little trunk training, and so much more. The rain has not dampened our spirits; it has done quite the opposite – it has invigorated us. We live & work in the best place on earth!

Close by in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, photographer and filmmaker, Kevin MacLaughlin, has been reaping the benefits of the activity around Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp, where a lioness is known to have cubs, and rhinos are making themselves seen:

Two rhinos have been seen on almost every drive over the past few days. Last night there was a massive lightning storm around nThambo and Africa on Foot with a bit of hail as well. That seemed to bring the bush to life for this morning’s drive. Mila and Lisa – Ross Pride lionesses – brought down a young kudu bull last night, and Lisa (female with cubs) looks very healthy after a good feed, which adds to the survival of her cubs. The kill was also very close to where she has hidden her cubs.

The Schlegel’s beaked blind snakes were also seen this morning, they spend most of their lives deep underground, surfacing every now and then when the ground becomes soft from the rain. They appeared to be burrowing into a termite mound. The one blind snake was double the size of the other one, possibly the female (possibly a mating pair).

Marakapula Big 5 Reserve, only 25km from the Phalaborwa gate of the Kruger National Park, offers day trips into the famous park, where Kevin enjoyed some exceptional wildlife sightings (after an elephant came to visit the lodge and a leopard was spotted on the riverbank on game drive!).

All the way in Botswana, the guests at Mapula Lodge have been enjoying some of the typical scenes of the Okavango Delta. Temperatures are soaring in the country as they enter the driest period just before the impending rain, and it is certain the animals are waiting with anticipation.

On the northern border of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Haina Kalahari Lodge lies in its own private wildlife reserve. With a waterhole right in front of camp, there’s little chance of have a game-free day, but just a short drive away and you’re in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve where photographer Em Gatland snapped these photos.

The Linyanti Marsh in Chobe National Park is where our authentic tented camp drinks in the beauty of this region. Overlooking the marshlands with Nambia’s Caprivi Strip on the horizon, Camp Linyanti is smack-bang in the middle of this wild, Botswana wonderland. Some gorgeous photo opportunities presented themselves, and here is the result:

Also in the world-renowned Chobe National Park, Camp Savuti positions itself ideally on the Savuti Channel. A bush camp with all the amenities you need to enjoy some time out in the bush, and an emphasis on the unbelievable game viewing quality, Camp Savuti is one for the experienced safari goers searching for ‘the next level’. This is one of the wildest places on earth.

Photoblog: When the Klaserie lions took down a buffalo

Recently there was great excitement emerging from the dry landscape of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve near Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp. Excitement that only lions could evoke. nThambo guests were on drive with guide, Matt Roberts, and Africa on Foot guests with guide, Francois Pienaar, traversing the familiar area and keeping a look out for tracks and signs leading to the lions. As explained by both guides in this incredible video of this event, the Ross Pride was seen stalking a herd of buffalo.

Suddenly, there was an attempt made by Ross Pride females, Mila and Lisa, and their ±1 year-old cubs to take down a young buffalo cow. The battle between buffaloes and lions is undying and it is always a tough fight; often leaving the lions hungry and the buffalo frazzled and exhausted. This cow got away…but this was not the end. Only moments later, the Ross Pride lionesses attacked an injured buffalo, and the 30-minute long struggle began.

Guests Sam Royston and Paul Dickinson were on the game vehicle at this very lucky time and captured the whole event on camera, getting some incredible photos of the brutal scene. There was a surprise lingering in the near future for the Ross Pride, in the form of 4 sub-adult male lions – strangers in the neighbourhood – who barged in on their fight and chased them off their nearly-dead buffalo prize. It was later speculated that the 4 young males belong to the Machaton Pride known in the Timbavati.

No-one predicted this sequence of events, but we are very grateful to Paul Dickinson for supplying us with his photos of this incredible act of nature. What an exceptional, if not horrific, sighting that is surely to remain in guests’ memories forever. Enjoy! All images copyright of Paul Dickinson. Watch the full video of the take-down here. Video by Kevin MacLaughlin.

Enter the 4 sub-adult males thought to be from the Machaton Pride of the Timbavati. The Ross Pride has done all of the hard work and these males came in an intimidated them off their kill, taking the final fight out of the buffalo and killing it. They then stayed on the kill until they were chased off by the Trilogy Males known to be mating with the Ross Pride females. The Trilogy Males did not even eat this buffalo, as they had already gorged themselves on their own buffalo kill that took place in the same area – at this stage, unbeknown to the rangers and guests who were present at this kill site.

Family Safari at Africa on Foot: The Video

Africa on Foot is our little gem in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, taking giant steps in the world of walking safaris and eco-friendly fun among the Big 5. Located in this private Greater Kruger reserve, the experience enjoyed by guests is exclusive and personal, and it is ideal for a family getaway.

There are 2 rooms that are designed to accommodate families of 4, and the home cooking is perfect for both children and adults. Africa on Foot’s expert rangers are young and passionate about this place they call home, making all game activities interesting and thoroughly enjoyable. Kids and parents alike will find a spot to kick back and relax in this informal environment, while game drives remain thrilling experiences out in the wild.

Watch this video capturing the unbeatable excitement of a children-friendly family safari filmed at Africa on Foot:

Bush facts for you from Nokana Safari Camp

There is so much beneath the surface of what you see on safari, it is certainly impossible to leave after your holiday knowing everything there is to know. The dynamics between certain animals, the symbiotic relationships, the dominance and territorial behaviours, and even the act of parenting are different throughout the wildlife kingdom. To keep your bush knowledge up to date and to keep learning these fascinating aspects of nature, we bring you Beautiful Bush Facts – a series of short video clips narrated by some of the guides at our top notch safari camps.

Here, at Nokana Safari Camp in the Greater Kruger region, guests get a wide experience of the area, indulging in day trips to the Kruger National Park, game drives in private big 5 game reserves, boat cruises on the Kruger’s Olifants River, and bush walks in private conservancies. The latest series of #BeautifulBushFacts is fresh from Nokana and includes the surprising parenting behaviour of African jacanas; the interesting explanation behind the shape of waterbuck horns; and the reason for the African darter’s wing-drying pose.

Take a look:

African jacanas build floating nests in the reeds, which are not anchored down in any way. While they are not physically protecting the eggs, the birds will cover the nest with grass and other river debris to hide it from predators. This bird is among those which are ‘polyandry’, meaning the females have many partners. See where this interesting dynamic leaves the eggs and the chicks of Africa jacanas in this video…

http://youtu.be/uF2mwtS1_bg?list=UUdMuQ1v4MRXTIdbqqw27bRA

The waterbuck has its typical ‘toilet seat’ markings around its tail and the males have great, big horns that reach straight up and then curve forward. Have you ever wondered why this is? Evolution at its finest. Find out here:

http://youtu.be/XREqEzAEiOY?list=UUdMuQ1v4MRXTIdbqqw27bRA

The African darter is typically seen perched on a log or a rock in or near to water with its wings spread out to the sides. These birds are also referred to as snakebirds because of the appearance they take on when the swim with just their head and neck sticking out. Find out why these water birds need to dry their wings out while others don’t.

http://youtu.be/ZWOfSwWBWzc?list=UUdMuQ1v4MRXTIdbqqw27bRA

The Week in Pictures: You want me to do what? And other safari fun!

Setting out for a walking safari at dawn into the Klaserie Big 5 reserve.

At Africa on Foot every morning begins with a walk on the Klaserie soil. Led by 2 guides with rifles, guests trek through the grassy woodlands discovering what animals have left behind the night before. Tracks and signs of the bush tell stories of fights in the night, and the territorial ownership of the land. Who prowls through the darkness leaving carefully placed footprints in the sand? Who leaves fresh dung on aged paths to and from water? When the sun rises, the guests at Africa on Foot take to these paths themselves and uncover the evidence of animal movement. Guides teach and guests take it in, enlightened, but sometimes, it’s just fun and games… Who wants to play Bok Drol Spoeg?

Safari veterans know it well, a popular game on walking safaris at Africa on Foot and elsewhere: Spoeg (meaning 'spit' in Afrikaans) requires guests line up and hurl a pellet of dry antelope dung as far as they can...using their mouths! It's not for everyone, but it's 'just to say you did it'.

Safari veterans know it well, a popular game on walking safaris at Africa on Foot and elsewhere: Bok Drol Spoeg (meaning ‘buck dung spit’ in Afrikaans) requires guests line up and hurl a pellet of dry antelope dung as far as they can…using their mouths! It’s not for everyone, but it’s ‘just to say you did it’.

Action shot playing 'spoeg' at Africa on Foot.

Action shot playing ‘bok drol spoeg’ at Africa on Foot.

Guests enjoying watching giraffe from the ground. This is Africa!

Watch this epic video of what a Big 5 walking safari at Africa on Foot is all about:

About 2 hours drive from Africa on Foot in the lush Limpopo Province, is a private community-owned Big 5 game reserve called Marakapula. Only a 25 minute drive to the Phalaborwa gate of the Kruger National Park, and located right on the Selati River, Makubu Lodge offers a diverse game viewing experience. Wonderfully African-inspired decor, a pool overlooking the river, and green-leafed fig trees towering over an arrangement of individual thatched chalets; Makubu feels like a safari retreat. This blog comes live from this very view of the Selati River, and Kevin MacLaughlin’s image of an elephant was captured as it was feeding just outside the front gate before game drive this morning.

Watch this space as Marakapula becomes the newest addition to Sun Destinations’ portfolio…

A visitor to Makubu Lodge in the Marakapula Reserve this morning.

A giraffe peers curiously through the foliage in the Marakapula Reserve.

Back in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, at the oxbow of the Klaserie River, nDzuti Safari Camp consistently offers superb family safaris on its green-lawned plot in a Big 5 playground. Only 8 people needed to fill the lodge, you can guarantee a private, tailor-made experience. On game drive, expect to see any of the adulated game species, but keep your eyes open for the finer details and you’ll realise just how much there is to see…

A buffalo looks on warily at guests on nDzuti’s game viewer. Image by Em Gatland.

A steenbok, one of the smallest antelopes in South Africa, glances back us on game drive. Image by Em Gatland.

Red-crested korhaan captured by Em Gatland at nDzuti Safari Camp.

Guest blog: lion cubs in the Klaserie!

Where the magic happens! Africa on Foot.

Mike and Fiona have come to the end of their safari this time (although we know it won’t be long until we see them again!), and we’ve just read about their last few days at Africa on Foot. There couldn’t have been a more magnificent ending if we could have planned it – lion cubs belonging to the Ross Pride have been found! And that’s not all… Read Fiona’s final blog post here:

Well the last few days here at Africa on Foot have been awesome. We have been seeing tracks for the male lions all over the property, but they are being very elusive. However, the 2 females have been on show quite a lot, and we have seen them on most drives. The best sighting was when they were both resting, with full bellies, on top of one of the dam walls. They then decided to go to the water for a drink, so we followed them. As we sat watching them drink from the opposite side of the dam, two huge bull elephants came over the dam wall behind us. The lionesses took one look at them and ran off, leaving the elephants to walk straight past us and drink from the dam right in from of the vehicle. It’s breath-taking when these animals get so close to us.

Ross Pride lioness relaxing on the dam wall.

Ross Pride lioness enjoying the peace at the dam before the elephant arrived.

And they’re off! Elephant bull arrives and claims the dam for himself.

Elephant claiming the dam for a drink after chasing the lionesses off their ground.

Watching the elephants from the game viewing vehicle.

Later that evening Enoch followed tracks, from the same dam, for a male lion – would we be lucky enough to finally find one?! Luckily (well, excellent tracking skills by Enoch) we found him, resting in a mopane thicket – not the easiest place to get to in a Land Rover. We stayed with him for some time, as he moved off, growling at us as he passed close by, before he lay down in the open for great photos. We caught up with him later, in the dark, where he was calling for his brothers.

Heading out on foot.

Tracker, Enoch, and a large rhino midden.

The following morning we set off on our morning walk in the bush. Stopping along the way to look at a large white rhino midden (or toilet, to the uninitiated). Suddenly over the radio, they announced that they had found Lisa, one of the lionesses with her 3 cubs! They are only a week old, and this is the first time they have been seen. We decided to cut short the walk and make our way to the sighting. There she was, hidden by the side of the road, with her tiny cubs suckling -what a privilege to see this rare sight. Lets just hope she takes good care of them, and we get to see them grow. To help them, it was decided to not view them anymore until they are a little bigger.

What a great way to finish our stay in the Klaserie, but as usual, we will be back in January to keep you updated, especially with the ever changing dynamics of the Ross Pride of lions, and their 3 small cubs.

The newest members of the Ross Pride, estimated to be about a week old. Photos by Mike and Fiona Clarke.

Guest blog: Lion, rhino and elephant activity in the Klaserie!

The characterful stripes of the Klaserie.

Mike and Fiona send us a lovely write-up from their holiday location in the Klaserie, telling us about the exciting game sightings they have enjoyed on game drive and, of course, on foot!

We are now back in our favourite place – the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, and nThambo and Africa on Foot camps. You know you are in for a good holiday when you are greeted with a warm smile and welcome from Lily, the manageress, and Luan, our ranger, at nThambo Tree Camp. As always, it’s nice to relax by the pool, or catch up on some much needed sleep, in the luxury tree house. The weather was very hot and the animals are out in abundance. General game, including impala, kudu, zebra and wildebeest all around on game drives, plus the family of warthogs coming to the local pan in front of the lodge for their daily drink.

nThambo Tree Camp’s splash pool, surrounded by the inviting sun loungers and looking out onto the unfenced Klaserie Reserve. Image by Em Gatland.

nThambo’s luxury treehouse-style accommodation. Image by Em Gatland.

At Africa on Foot we were greeted by Patrick, our ranger, amongst the laughter of children around camp. Africa on Foot is a family friendly camp, and its lovely to see the excitement on the children’s faces when they see animals for the first time, whether it be a lion, or a family of dwarf mongoose scurrying around a termite mound. As its name suggest, a big part of life here is not just about seeing the Big 5, but also seeing the small things on foot – the tracks, droppings and signs of animals, plus the trees and flowers. That said, we encountered a large, lone bull elephant on morning walk, about 50 metres in front of us – so different to see animals on foot.

Game drives have been good, so far. It’s always nice to see a ” tower” of giraffe feeding, oblivious to us watching them. It’s always entertaining watching elephants at this time of the year, busy destroying trees to get to the juicy, nutritious roots. Enoch, our tracker, spent an hour tracking 2 white rhinos. We finally found them in an open clearing, just as the sun was setting behind them (making for a stunning sighting and photo opportunity).

The highlight as always has been the lion sightings. We have seen 2 Ross Pride lionesses a couple of times so far. We came across Mila relaxing (very unladylike) with a full belly, by the side of a dam. She didn’t flinch as we drove up close. Suddenly her sister “Lisa” appeared over the dam wall, thirsty and desperate for a refreshing drink from the dam. Only at this point did Mila get up and walk around the dam to greet her sister.

We saw them both the following night in the darkness, trying to catch a warthog for their dinner. The warthog was deep in its burrow, and the 2 lionesses were busy digging to get him out. We sat watching them in the spotlight for almost an hour as they dug deeper and deeper, still not reaching the animal inside. We left them there, wishing them luck, as we headed back for our own dinner back at Africa on Foot. (We heard the next morning that rangers had been back to the sight and seen evidence that they had finally killed the warthog during the night). (See the Africa on Foot Facebook page for the video of the lioness digging for the warthog.)

We know The Trilogy male lions are in the area. We have seen their tracks and other evidence – including the remains of a hyena they had killed as competition for food, rather than their lunch. We have also heard them calling during the night from not too far away. Hopefully they will come calling tomorrow – fingers crossed, and we’ll keep you posted…

The Week in Pictures: lion cubs and the Linyanti sunset

A black-chested snake eagle takes off from its perch in the Savuti. (c) Kevin MacLaughlin

We’ve selected our camps in Botswana because of their pristine locations and excellent game activity. The Savuti is famous for its lions and elephants; the Linyanti is an undiscovered paradise, brimming with water-loving game; the Kalahari has a deserted beauty unmatched anywhere in the world; while the secluded north-western region of the Okavango Delta is a haven for birds and buffaloes.

This week we bring you some of the highlights from Haina Kalahari Lodge, Camp Linyanti, Mapula Lodge, and Camp Savuti. A round-up of photos that so aptly capture the essence of these areas, offering a glimpse into the activity that took place this week.

The king of beasts peers through the Kalahari bush near Haina Kalahari Lodge. (c) Em Gatland

A Kalahari natural, the black-backed jackal. Typically in the Kalahari, jackals and goshawks follow honey badgers hoping to grab a snack discarded by the badger. (c) Em Gatland

A clan of kudus gathers at the Haina Kalahari Lodge waterhole, their reflections filling the surface of the water. (c) Em Gatland

The iconic oryx – a striking image of the Kalahari desert. (c) Em Gatland

An elephant gives this baboon a stern warning with a quick shake of his head. Seen at Camp Linyanti. (c) Kevin MacLaughlin

Elephants on Linyanti marsh with the sun setting on the horizon. Camp Linyanti is an undiscovered gem. (c) Kevin MacLaughlin

You know you’ve hit the jackpot when your morning game drive involves a pride of lions and their cubs playing in the Savuti Marsh. Camp Savuti and its guests bumped into these cute cubs play-fighting in the water for everybody to see.