It’s the start of Sun Destinations #AfricaTravelTuesdays and we’re excited to launch our very first guest feature in the form of a visual safari blog, provided by UK photographer Meg Donati. In today’s blog, Meg talks about the nThambo Tree Camp guest experience, covering each and every aspect of her stay last year, from her initial welcome to her amazing wildlife encounters…and everything in between.
We love to hear from our guests and now more than ever we want to encourage everyone to get digging in those holiday archives and to share their safari stories and memorable moments with us. To not only be featured across our online platforms but to also get involved by sharing the wonders of Africa with the world, keeping the travel inspiration alive.
> Get in touch to get involved <
Scroll down to see more from Meg’s glorious gallery and to read today’s guest feature blog.
Hey, Meg here! I’m a photographer from the U.K whose always felt a connection to Africa and I have always dreamed of visiting South Africa to go on a safari. Waking up to the sounds of lions roaring, witnessing the most beautiful sunrises and seeing wild animals in their natural habitat is what I have always imagined a safari to be all about. I had the most incredible time at nThambo Tree Camp and I would love to share my journey into the wilds of Africa with you.
As soon as we arrived at nThambo it felt like a piece of paradise. The front of the lodge has a beautiful garden full of cacti, succulents and flowers. The first thing that caught my eye was the incredible amount of butterflies that were fluttering around the garden. I had never seen so many butterflies in one place! There was a cheeky Red Hornbill trying to catch them who was clearly going to have a great breakfast!
nThambo was already feeling magical.
Game drive time! >> If you have ever been on safari you know how exciting each game drive is. If you haven’t experienced one then take my words and multiply the wonder by a thousand, because words will never do this experience justice. The beauty of being on a true African Safari is that the animals have complete free range. Never knowing what you might see on your drive just adds to the excitement.
nThambo also offers night drives which gives you a whole perspective of the bush. The bush is a whole new world at night, so I thoroughly recommend this experience. We saw Chameleons, a Spotted Genet and the sounds of the bush alone are enough to take your breath away. One night as we were enjoying a drink in the lounge, elephants came to drink at the camp water hole (great minds think alike ey?) So we sat there and just enjoyed watching them as we had our nightcap.
nThambo Tree Camp as its set in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve in the Greater Kruger region of South Africa. A great factor here, that you may not have thought about is that there can only be a limited number of vehicles and guests in the reserve at one time. Which in turn means with most sightings you get to be the only people with the animals making your safari truly special and private.
Instagram : @megsdonati / @megandonatiphotography
Click here to view my website : www.megandonatiphotography.com
Roaming photographer and videogapher, Teagan Cunniffe, was recently on assignment at Roam Private Game Reserve. She caught up with the team from Roam, and documented the darting and GPS collaring of one of the male cheetah. In her video she interviews Don from Roam and Dr Willem Burger from EWT. The darting and fitting of the collar was quite a procedure, with all hands on deck.
Below is Don and Abi’s update and account of the collar fitting.
Over the last few years, with the help of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), Roam has successfully introduced three cheetah onto the reserve. At the moment we’re keeping our fingers crossed for cubs. Any cubs born on the reserve will be re-introduced to a EWT cheetah program, which aims to expand their range and conserve these majestic cats.
The first to be introduced, two years ago, were a coalition of two brothers. On their own they don’t add value to the EWT conservation goals of diversified genetics so we introduced a female last year in the hopes of them reproducing. Female cheetah become sexual active at around 3-4 years old, which is the age bracket our female fits into. It is however extremely difficult to keep track of cheetah on Roam due to the landscape, so we needed a way to monitor how often she is meeting up with the coalition.
Upon introduction, all our cheetah were fitted with tracking collars and while the radio component (VHF) battery lasts for years the GPS component has a very short life, about 18 months. These collars also have the added benefit of helping us find the cats with guests when we track them on foot!!!
With the aid of the GPS collars we are able to track the cheetah remotely and download historical movement data. Not only does this give us an idea of where to find them when we need to, but it shows us how often they are in the same vicinity and how long they remain together. When mating cheetah should remain together for a few days and will mate regularly during this time. If mating was successful cubs would be born about three months later.
The GPS collar on the coalition needed replacing to ensure accurate monitoring of cheetah movement and meet ups. We called in Dr Willem Burger who specializes in big cat veterinary work and is our go-to vet for our cheetah. He successfully darted and fitted the largest male in the coalition with the collar last week! During the time of collaring, the smaller of the brothers stayed on the horizon watching and calling to his sibling throughout.
Photographer Teagan Cunniffe, who was on assignment at Roam to document the darting, and captured the entire day – including the heart-warming moment of the two reuniting.
The bustling hubs of city centres are in a comatose state. Industry has come to a stand still and human beings have retreated into their enclaves to comply with government lockdown rules. Across the world, one thing has become evident : Human beings are battling, but nature is recovering. The natural world is a choir of sounds normally drowned out by the chugging of trucks and assault of car horns.
Colours seem brighter, and amidst the fear and panic, our natural surrounds seem to be providing a sense of serenity. The Kruger bushveld is naturally a pristine, uncrowded and quiet part of the world. It appears our cities and residential areas are experiencing what we do on a daily basis : the calming effect of the natural world’s silence. When the busyness resumes, we encourage you to visit the bushveld to get in touch with that stillness.
Today, our Week in Pictures delves into the archives of our landscape and wide open spaces images. This is to show appreciation and gratitude for wide open spaces. When the madness has ceased we will never take our surrounds for granted, and will always take the time to look at things with “new eyes”.
Governments around the world are imposing stringent measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The travel industry is facing many challenges when it comes to this global pandemic. Communities are thwarting large events, and choosing to self-isolate to prevent further escalation of this worldwide pandemic. Today it’s our job to provide fodder for your armchair travelling – although confined, you can still let your mind wander. For this week’s “Week in Pictures” we’ve decided to provide visual inspiration and encourage you to start plotting your next safari to Africa. Your grand plans to see the big 5 might not come to fruition within the next couple of months; but you can use this time to start plotting and planning your safari to Africa in the upcoming months or 2021.
These are 4 of our favourite highlights to emerge from our Kruger camps:
Here are a few images to ogle over during your period of isolation. Keep updated by checking our Facebook page – it’s our aim to keep you occupied and inspired.
This week we’re celebrating Women’s Day by showcasing our female photographers’ images of the wild. The bushveld is rife with powerful females paving the way for the younger generations. Elephants are raised in matrilineal herds comprising all related females born into leadership positions, lionesses are protective over their pride yet they are powerful and ruthless killers, hyena clans are led by an alpha female and even ant colonies are led by a queen. Nurturing, strong and feminine – the female of the species is powerful. So here’s to celebrating this week’s images from the archives of our female photographers who rule the roost for this week’s “Week in Pictures”.
Naturally, for this week’s “Field Guide Feature (#FieldGuideFeature)” celebrated on our Instagram stories, we’ve chosen Angele Rouillard from Ezulwini Game Lodges. Angele is a contributing photographer at the luxurious Ezulwini River Lodge, and her photography is going from strength to strength. She consistently contributes photos and is certainly making strides with the field. Head on over to the Sun Destinations Insta account to view a portfolio of her images.
International Women’s Day is on March 8 and celebrates women’s achievements throughout history and across nations. It is also known as the United Nations (UN) Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.
This week we thought we’d keep it brief and shine the spotlight on just two major sightings. Walkers Bush Villa is ideally located in the big cat country in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, and is no stranger to unique lion and leopard sightings. Videographer Rogan Kerr filmed the dominant Black Dam male coming face to face with his sons, the Monwana males. It appears that the coalition of youngsters want to oust this local legend. In Rogan Kerr’s video of the Monwana males and Black Dam, you will see the tensions building.
The other highlight to have emerged was from the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, and this was a sighting of the African wild dogs. The dogs are notoriously nomadic, so seeing them is always cause for celebration. When the team found the painted wolves, they were just relaxing in the low lying shrubbery, conserving their energy. No major activity, but a noteworthy sighting nonetheless.
To wrap up, we’d like to wish every women out there a Happy Women’s Day – and GIRL POWER to you !
For travellers looking to induce some travel envy on their Instagram timelines, nothing beats the African bush. At Chacma Bush Camp in the Greater Kruger there are five particularly Insta-worthy locations that will have your followers swooning.
The private and secluded Maseke Balule Game Reserve boasts some of the most staggering views in the whole of the Kruger, and especially so around Chacma Bush Camp. You will lose your heart at this charming little lodge in the wilds of the lowveld, so make sure you capture loads of memories and take lots of mementos in the form of photographs and videos.
Chacma Bush Camp is named for the koppie that stands sentinel directly behind camp, which is home to a large troop of chacma baboons – and the odd klipspringer. In fact, the koppie is one of the perfect viewpoints from which to enjoy a bush sunset, G&T in hand. And don’t forget your phone or camera because this is one photo op you wouldn’t want to pass up. Once you’ve scrambled up (it’s not too high and nearly everyone should be able to make the short climb) sublime three-sixty degree vistas of the reserve await. The panoramic views mean you have a good chance of spotting some big game meandering through the foliage from here too, so keep an eye out for the hulking grey forms of big pachyderms.
The focal point of the camp, and a location where you would likely spend the majority of your downtime at Chacma, is the eminently inviting pool deck. Not only is the beautifully sparking pool a welcome reprieve from the searing bushveld heat, the deck is also a great vantage point from which to spot game at the waterhole directly in front of camp. So, while you’re soaking up sun on a lounger with your nose in a book, be sure to keep an eye on the waterhole for elephant, antelope and even lion coming for a sip, and have your camera at the ready to capture any such chance visitors.
If you’re lucky enough to book the Steenbok chalet (ideal for couples, while the Klipspringer and Grysbok suites are more suited to families) you’ll be privy to prime waterhole frontage. The Steenbok suite has a patio that practically spills on to the waterhole (don’t worry, a small fence keeps the bigger game at bay), securing the best view of whatever game decides to come down for a drink. The verandah is also completely private, so these front row seats are exclusive to guests of Steenbok, to be enjoyed in the morning over a cup of coffee, in the evening with a sunset tipple or at night when elephants might come for a noisy midnight splash. Keep a camera handy for these occasions, as this is as close as you’re likely to get to big game in the wild (just remember to turn off your flash!).
Chacma guides have a number of idyllic sundowner spots where they like to stop at during afternoon game drives. Of course, game drives are all about spotting wildlife and birds, but these sunset locations are an absolute highlight in themselves, one of which is high on an outcrop that overlooks the green undulations of the reserve, and a big glassy waterhole at the foot of it. In the gloaming after sunset, as the bush is plunged into an otherworldly pink, animals like to flock to the little waterhole far below, so keep an eye out – you might even get to see some of the shier sorts, leopard included. By then your guide will have laid out a spread of snacks and poured your libation of choice with which to clink and celebrate the rare beauty of this place. And remember to record some memories for the ’Gram while you’re there!
Another game drive haunt that Chacma guides like to frequent is a particular spot on the lush banks of the Olifants River. Huge fig trees line the bank here, providing plenty of shade and a cool place to have a mid-morning coffee or sundowner. It’s also a highly prolific location for bird watching. Look out for a variety of kingfishers – from malachite to woodland – and of course fish eagles, but also rarities such as Pel’s fishing owls, giant eagle owls and African spoonbills.
On the far bank you’re likely to see a row of sunbathing crocs, while hippos also like to loll about in this stretch of the river. It’s a magical site, so take your time here and make sure to get a couple of good snaps, because they’re sure to drive your Insta followers crazy with envy.
The Jellicles prance and dance around on stage, putting on quite a performance for their audience. CATS is a sung-through musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and has been going strong since its first show in May 1981. In the Kruger we have a live CATS performance most nights – whether it’s hearing them advertising territory during the dead of night or seeing them during diurnal hours; they’re consistently taking centre stage in the Kruger. Our “Jellicles” are the real deal, but they’re often just as dramatic as Broadway’s feline protagonists. This week has certainly been a week of cat sightings, a permanent life long show in the Greater Kruger.
This week, our participating camps include nThambo Tree Camp, Africa on Foot, Ezulwini Game Lodges and Walkers Bush Villa.
Let’s start with our favourite Panthera sighting of the week. This goes to Walkers Bush Villa in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Shirell and Charles spotted the Savanna female leopard with her two tiny, tiny little cubs. The mother wasn’t seen mating with any males, so we don’t know who sired the cubs. Lions have been spotted around the villa, and there have also been close-up sightings of an African wild cat.
Ad Break : Our camp of the week is Walkers Bush Villa, and our guide that is going to be featured in Field Guide Feature on Instagram (@SunDestinations)is…drum roll…Charles Delport. Charles and Shirell manage Walkers Bush Villa, and Charles is an experienced guide and photographer. Over recent months Charles has sent through a plethora of images and Walkers is rocking the sightings at the moment !
Klaserie camps Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp have – yet again – enjoyed prolific sightings of the Vuyela lions. This coalition, together with their lioness, have certainly staked a claim on the camps’ own backyard. A definitive CAT week in the Klaserie !
Ezulwini continues is steady stream of sightings and Angele is constantly at the helm of things, taking photos whenever she heads out on drive.
We trust these images have created the perfect memory.
He puts on his trusty taupe colour veldskoen (“desert shoes” for the English folk), ties his shoelaces with the finesse of an African fish eagle in flight, grabs his walking gear and crunches his way across the open tented camp to wake-up his Danish guests. The Danes sense of” Hygge” is interrupted when they’re urged to rise at the cockerel hour of 5:30 to embark on a walking trail in the Maseke Balule Game Reserve. But don’t worry, when the Danes return there’ll be a campfire, drink and food to welcome them back home. And once again, the Hygge is restored!
Trails guide Luan possesses arsenal of bushveld knowledge – his experience is as old as his trusty veldskoene (the same ones from the intro paragraph). Having grown-up in the bushveld and guided many wilderness trails, Luan is certainly the perfect candidate to lead Kruger walking safaris. Not only did his Danish guests learn about the surrounding flora and fauna, but they were also captivated by his stories of mind-blowing things that happen in the wild.
Local photographer – Em Gatland – joined the Danish family on trails. Her mission was simply to photograph the Wilderness Trails experience and deliver any news of epic on-foot sightings.
Trails guide Luan likes to cover all bases, so after a day of traipsing and fighting through heavy green vegetation (summer trails), he normally takes guests on an evening game drive to seek out nocturnal predators. It’s always quite nice to discover the tracks on foot during the day, learn about the “owners” whereabouts and locate them at night !
On foot we discover and learn about a delightful terrestrial world often ignored while in a game viewer. In our game viewer we get up close to predators and can cover a fair bit of ground.
Africa on Foot Wilderness Trails is the best of both worlds and offers a completely immersive wild experience in the Kruger’s back country.
We got hold of Em to ask her about the walking safari. She said, “We had quite a few sightings of elephants but they were mainly in the distance. The bush is so green and lush at the moment, so at times we really had to fight through some vegetation.
This meant that we had to keep our eyes peeled for game possibly hiding in the thickets. The landscape really is beautiful in the summer ! The normal suspects were seen while on foot : giraffe, small critters and a monitor lizard hiding out in a tree. A highlight was tracking the African wild dogs on foot, and then finding them later on during the game drive. Their tails were spotted first and then the unmistakable dancing and prancing of dogs happened right in front of us.”
All in all, it was yet another successful Trails expedition under our belts. Each trail holds something different when it comes to sightings, and the colours of landscapes are forever shifting when a new season emerges.
* Creative license : The bit about Luan’s veldskoen might have been embellished. We cannot confirm nor deny how the age of his vellies. It’s also to be noted that photographer Em also owns a pair of Hoedspruit-must-have-veldskoen, but they’re not from a bygone era. They also served her well on trails.
When we head out on game drive during the summer season, it’s similar to stepping straight inside an emerald gemstone. The various shades and hues of green provide such a spectacular backdrop for our photographers. So much is happening at our Kruger camps and we’ve enjoyed an array of reports of unique sightings across the board. Our two favourites are the ferocious and bloodthirsty Vuyelas tucking into a recent kill, and an African Rock python suffocating a little scrub hare. Plenty of crimson flesh flying around with all of these kills being conducted.
What’s New? Each “Week in Pictures” we are going to announce our camp and associated guide of the week in a series called #FieldGuideFeature. This guide’s images will be featured on the Sun Destinations Instagram account in our stories. Their images are recent, taken over the weeks prior to “Week in Pictures”. Our first camp is Umkumbe Safari Lodge, featuring guide Shaun Atkinson. Shaun is new to Umkumbe but clearly has a talent for photography. He has also sent through numerous updates over the past few weeks, with a few of our favourite ones being that of the lion cubs on a kill.
Umkumbe is fairly consistent with its stream of leopard and big cat sightings. Recent guests enjoyed a sighting of a massive leopard carrying its kill across the plains. But the sighting of the week has to be the sighting of an African rock python suffocating a scrub hare. Tanya’s image really evoked so many emotions, and is definitely our wildlife image of the week.
Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp
The Klaserie teams enjoyed an endearing sighting of jackal pups, which Rogan managed to capture on camera. However, the most enthralling sighting was seeing the Vuyela coalition in action. The lions ripped into their young wildebeest kill, shredding the carcass with such vigour. Crimson flesh was flying and tufts of hair were ruthlessly torn apart.
The African wild dogs have been the centre of attention at Chacma Bush Camp and they’re certainly enjoying the ready availability of prey sources. With so much greenery, it means that the herbivores are littering the landscape and there are plenty of young vulnerable individuals around.
The Balule is – yet again – pumping with sightings. The Olifants River is in full flow because of the recent rains, bringing with it a flurry of birds and beasts. The Machaton lions were spotted, along with huge concentrations of elephant.
The predators and big game of the Balule Nature Reserve provide fairly consistent and reliable sightings for our adventurous team of guides based at Ezulwini Game Lodges. But it’s the entire eco-system of this part of the world that opens up a world of wonder for first-time visitors. From the medicinal plants to the delicate flowers, armoured bugs and elegant antelope; there’s plenty of scope to learn about the often ignored elements of the bushveld. What we find delightfully enchanting about Ezulwini, is their appreciation for all things bushveld. Angele – lodge manager and guide – is passionate about photography, so we are often rewarded with a flow of images from week-to-week her time at the lodge.
After morning and evenings spent finding predators and learning about the biodiversity of the area; you are encouraged to make the most of your down time at the lodge. There are two lodge options – Billy’s and River, both with exquisite views. River Lodge is managed by Ange, who can probably help you out with your photography questions.
Located on the banks of the Olifants River, Ezulwini River Lodge feels like a riverfront hideaway. Perfectly placed in the midst of the riparian vegetation and designed to feel like a luxury extension of its environment, River Lodge is certainly a place of paradise.
The are 4 superior suites, each of which have large wooden decks, plunge pools, and views of the river beyond. These are our favourite suites and worth the extra cost.
The main areas include a bar, boma area, viewing deck and surrounding the convivial outdoor lounge. The elevated wooden deck under the canopy of trees is the perfect place to kick-back, relax and surround yourself with the choir of Kruger birdsong.
The safari lifestyle in the Balule Nature Reserve is absolute bliss. And game drives certainly never disappoint ! The below images are straight from Angele’s recent stint in the bushveld, which we’re more than happy to share.
