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The Week in Pictures : Wide Open Spaces

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”.

The Week in Pictures : Images to Ogle Over During Isolation

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:

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp have seen the Vuyelas for 5 consecutive days in a row.
African wild dogs trotting down the road and in other sightings in the Klaserie.
Nsala Safari Camp watched a lioness relocating her newborn cubs.
Walkers Bush Villa enjoyed a unique sighting of a scuffle between the Black Dam male lion and his sons.

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.

The Week in Pictures : Girl Power. In Celebration of Women’s Day.

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 !

Five Insta-worthy Spots at Chacma Bush Camp

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.

Climb the Kop

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.

Hit the deck

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.

Stay in Steenbok Chalet

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!).

Higher Ground

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!

Down by the River

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 Week in Pictures : (Kruger) CATS, A Live Broadway Musical

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.

Kruger Walking Safaris : Tales and Tails from Trails

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.

The Week in Pictures : Summer Backdrops and Crimson Kills

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 Safari Lodge

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.

Chacma Bush Camp

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.

Ezulwini Game Lodges

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 Safari Lifestyle at Enchanting Ezulwini

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.

Valentine’s Day : Meet a Few of Our Khaki-Clad Couples

The bushveld is a breeding ground for love : romantic love, love of the wild and love of landscapes. This Valentine’s Day we want you to find inspiration in nature and create space for love. Intuitively we all know that the great outdoors has the ability to strip us of our city slicker woes and help us in the quest to find inner peace. The bushveld is a primitive, rugged place that reminds us that love, harmony, kindness and synchronicity between body and earth is key to wellbeing. Find the realness within, and you’ll find a sense of connection. A few of our khaki-clad couples found developed a connection in the bushveld, and fell in love. Today we’re going to introduce these couples and find out their story. Remember…couples that play together, stay together !

Chacma Bush Camp

Brit and Jay manage Chacma Bush Camp. This is their story.

Brit says, ” Jay and I will be together for 5 years on the 5^th June 2020 and will be saying I do on the 6^th June 2020. We both have a passion for the bush and our passion brought us together. We met at a small lodge in the Northern Sabi Sands before moving to the Western sector of the Sands where we have spent the last four years together and have now just recently started at Chacma Bush Camp.

A bit of a cliché but our first date would have been the highlight of the rest of our lives together. Jason had prepared a small bush dinner for just the two of us around the fire in a dry riverbed. While we dinned around the fire, we had 2 Honey badger scurry past, a White Rhino and a Leopard vocalising only a few meters away. “

Africa on Foot

We’ve selected two couples from Africa on Foot that opted to be in our Valentine’s Day shoot. We do have other couples in the Klaserie, but these are the ones that don’t mind the spotlight.

AD and Cherie are the camp managers of Africa on Foot, and they are high school sweethearts.

Cherie says, “Ad and I both come from the same small town Kimberley. We were in the same primary school, high school and church. Our paths constantly crossed, yet we did not know each other. Until one Sunday morning I received a message from the 17 year old boy saying I looked very pretty at Sunday school. I was 15 years old, so clearly I had all the butterflies in the world when the cutest boy at church noticed me.We became the bestest of friends. Although we are COMPLETE opposites we have all the same interests. One of the main ones being the love for nature and the outdoors.

Therefore, after 6 years we are extremely blessed that we get to call the bush our home – with wildlife on our doorsteps and a best friend to share this experience with. There is no better place in the world to fall in love.”

We have yet another couple from Africa on Foot, who’ve been a massive part of the Africa on Foot team for years ! It’s none other than Judy and Alfie, valuable employees of Africa on Foot.

Judy says, “Hello, I’m Judy Machaile from Mozambique. When I met Alfredo Cuambe at Chokwe it was 2002 -13 September. He is the 1 I call my husband today. We have 2 kids – we named them Suzan and Adele, a first and second born. God bless us with cute baby girls. My husband – we love each other and the memories that we have! My man, he’s a caring, sharing & loveable man. I adore him very much. We came here to South Africa to work but every time we go home to see our family members.”

Roam Private Game Reserve

Abi and Don have plenty of experience when it come managing luxury lodges. This power couple both possess an exceptional amount of knowledge about the wild and conservation. Here’s how they met…

Abi says that when she was based at Phinda, Don was a trainee guide and she worked at reception. Abi spotted him outside of the ranger’s room, and thought to herself, “Who on earth is this kid”? ! Both parties spent plenty of time together, learning about the grasses and the trees. They helped each other out. Their connection to the wild and each other grew. She said it wasn’t the most glamorous start to a relationship, but Don did something right – today they’re happily married with a beautiful son.

And their first date? Well, it’s not for everyone ! Their first date involved stripping and hacking up an impala carcass. their second date was a bit more romantic. Date number two involved taking the game viewer out to a local dam, where they ate pizza and watched elephants swimming. This was in 2007 and 2008 they formally started dating.

Ezulwini Game Lodges

Craig manages River Lodge with the support of his loving wife, Angele. So just how did these two meet? Interestingly enough, Facebook was responsible for this couple’s story. They meet through the “people you know” section and turns out that they had a similar circle of friends. They were like two ships passing in the night, until they eventually met up and the stars aligned.

Walkers Bush Villa

Charles and Shirell manage the exclusive Walkers Bush Villa in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Both parties are super efficient and come with a world of guiding, managing and business experience.

Here’s their story :

Shirell says, “Charles and I met in Pietermaritzburg, KZN in 2008. Charles was already guiding and I was finishing up my business degree. I joined Charles in the bush shortly after, and 12 years later we are happily married and still loving life in the bush.”

The Week in Pictures : Predators and Pretty Things

For this week’s “Week in Pictures”, we’re sharing a few recent predator images of big cats. Lions seem to be the theme for this week, leaving the leopards to slink away in the background. We’re offering a showcase of exceptional images from our photographers, highlighting a few of the sightings from the week.

In an effort to give our field guides and budding photographers more exposure, we’ve decide to launch a “Field Guide Feature”. Each week guides are encouraged to send through images of their week in the wild. From the pool of images that’s collated for our Week in Pictures, we’ll select one camp and associated guide to feature. The “Field Guide Feature” will happen after the Week in Pictures and will be a series of stories shared on Instagram. The individual and camp will be announced in Week in Pictures, and his/her images will be splashed across the ol’ Insta. The first Field Guide Feature will launch on 21 Feb.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

A highlight of the week for Umkumbe Safari Lodge was the sighting of the Mhangeni lionesses and ever powerful Othawa male lion. Jade captured an incredible image of the Mhangeni lions resting among the marula fruits and a beautiful side profile of a king, the Othawa male. There’s never a dull moment in the Sabi Sand !

Ezulwini Game Lodges

The elephant herds are loving the watery traverse around River Lodge. They seem to be in abundance at the moment, which would make sense given that summer is in full swing; which means there’s plenty of water around. Thunderstorms are expected in the next week, which means we’ll see an influx of water-loving giants to the area. The Kudyela Pride of lions continue to provide us with consistent sightings, ensuring that the Ezulwini team enjoys reliable lion sightings.

Angele says, “The Kudyela Pride of lions is growing in numbers and as such, there is a constant demand for a steady food supply. In the last month, we’ve witnessed different members of the pride feasting on adult & young giraffe as well kudu cows. More recently, the pride has been spotted in fragmented groupings. Only time will tell if this becomes a permanent split.”

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

We’ve just played catch-up with guide JC, who alerted us to the fact that team Klaserie have just enjoyed an African wild dog sighting. JC says that it’s the largest pack he’s ever seen in 2 years of guiding at Africa on Foot. The pack strutted across the heated landscape and headed straight for a cooling off session at the waterhole. In other predator news, the Vuyela lions were seen patrolling their territory, and an unknown leopard was spotted huddling a branch in the lofty treetops. The stream of unique sightings continues, and the elephants herds are just as present as they were last week.