Happy New Year!

Courtesy of Grant Marcus Photography 


Happy New Year!!

Lodge of the Week - Sibuya Tented Camp

An African Eden

Arriving to a welcoming reception in the little coastal town of Kenton-on-Sea, guests are led down to the small marina to board an open boat. A gentle cruise up the Kariega River takes you to a cosy tented camp (either Forest or River Camp) tucked away in the riverine vegetation on the banks of the river. On route you will pass an array of stunning birdlife. The camps are rustic yet comfortable and the tents offer complete privacy. Most of the furniture has been crafted from wood and adds an authentic touch to your forested environment. There is no electricity in camp but there are enough solar powered lights and lanterns for guests to find their way around the walkways to their tents. The food is satisfying and your personal guide will share his bush experiences and knowledge with you around a camp fire or while dining. River Camp is a family orientated and caters for children of all ages whereas Forest Camp is adults only.

The Sibuya Game Reserve covers over 3000 hectares of absolutely stunning river frontage, flood plains, hills and lusciously green valleys. Guests depart from camp for game drives and walks via a short boat ride to various hop-off points where they transfer to a vehicle. The reserve hosts substantial numbers of general game typical of the African bush as well as a healthy white rhino population and a small herd of elephants. Sibuya is also home to a cheetah breeding project and guests can view these cats from an elevated position overlooking the cheetah area. Lions and buffalo are kept in separate quarantined areas on the property and are not free roaming. The reserve is a birding hotspot and those who are interested in spending time with creatures outside of the Big 5 will fall in love with Sibuya. It is a nature lover’s paradise. The guides are very experienced and take their time to entertain you with all facets of this pristine ecosystem. There are exemplary lookout points where guests can enjoy traditional sun downer drinks or mid morning tea and coffee breaks during the course of a game drive.

Sibuya is an ideal getaway for couples and small groups looking for something different. It’s comfortably rustic and soothingly intimate. The river around which the camps are situated is quiet for most of the year but can be busy from Mid December to early January when many South Africans spend there summer holidays in the Kenton-on-Sea area and more boats head upstream on the Kariega.

RATINGS BREAKDOWN
Core Ratings:	Sun Rays
Lodge and Camp	6.7
Safari Experience	6.8
Service	8.2
Facilities	2.8
Unique Rating	4.3
Conservation	4.1
Social involvement	3.8
OVERALL RATING:	7.3

For more information on this property or to find your ideal destination, please visit 

The Game Lodge Index

The Sequence of the Roller - Guest Post by Grant Marcus

Image by Grant Marcus

This is a guest post by Grant Marcus. You can view the original post as well as photos by Grant Marcus on his website, www.grantmarcus.com 

THE SEQUENCE OF THE ROLLER

On one of our morning drives we didn’t see much so it was over to the birds and smaller things in life  We stopped at a big old Marula tree to watch  two Lilac breasted rollers took turns in feeding the youngsters. These birds can get extremely a gressive when it comes to protecting the nest and chicks. We probably sat there for more then 20min. The female didn’t even let a lone glossy starling fly past the tree without her unleashing her fury on the poor starling. The glossy chap thought he was going on a slow Sunday morning drive when all of a sudden a blue missile chased after him.

The rollers are one of the most interesting birds to watch. They were busy collecting food items the whole time we were there.

Here are a few sequence shots of the birds at the nest :

All images courtesy of Grant Marcus

Photo of the Week - Lion yawn - by Grant Marcus

Grant Marcus is a field guide in Madikwe Game Reserve and he is based at Tuningi Safari Lodge. More of his images can be viewed on his website www.grantmarcus.com 

Read more about Madikwe Game Reserve on The Game Lodge Index

Lodge of the Week - Kapama Karula

Secluded and Enchanting

Set on the banks of the perennial Klaserie River amongst dense riparian vegetation the modern and uniquely designed Karula lodge offers pure class and luxury. The main living area is spacious and a combination of white stained wood and large glass panes makes it an attractive addition to the surrounding Acacia and Knobthorn woodland. The lounging area consists of an outside pool and dining area along with a large and inviting bar where both hot and cold meals are served for breakfast and lunch whilst dinners are enjoyed in the ‘boma’ (weather permitting). All of the fourteen secluded tented suites are open plan and set on elevated wooden platforms with en-suite bathrooms and outdoor showers. The air conditioned and aptly accessorised suites are decorated in accordance with the rest of the lodge and have the same white appearance. Apart from relaxing on the decks of their suites or the main living area, guests have the option of using the Kapama Wellness Centre for superb spa treatments or a work out at the gym - both of which are at Kapama River Lodge.

Karula Lodge is found in the south eastern section of the greater Kapama Game Reserve. The land is 14000 hectares in size and is one the largest privately owned reserves in South Africa which was once old farmland converted for eco-tourism purposes in 1987. Situated only 40 kilometres away from the famous Kruger National Park the reserve is home to good numbers of plains game, the Big 5 and excellent birding. Main activities include interpretive game drives or walks which are led by knowledgeable guides who help guests to experience memorable close up encounters with the local fauna and flora. Other optional activities include elephant back safaris at Camp Jabulani and the Cheetah Project - both of which are found on the property. Outside activities include white water rafting and cultural tours. A very special treat for couples or honeymooners visiting Kapama is the Romance Platform. This double story wooden platform can be booked for a night under the stars while little luxuries such as a mosquito net, white linen, champagne and stunning sunsets enhance a complete bushveld experience.

Kapama Karula is an ideal retreat for couples and honeymooners looking for a secluded and enchanting experience as well as being an excellent option for groups and families. The lodges open plan set up encourages guests to associate with each other making the atmosphere friendly and social. Despite the lodge being open to children it feels more suited to guests from young adults and older.

RATINGS BREAKDOWN
Core Ratings:	Sun Rays
Lodge and Camp	7.3
Safari Experience	6.5
Service	8.1
Facilities	5.2
Unique Rating	4.8
Conservation	5.4
Social involvement	7.7
OVERALL RATING:	7.9

For more information on this property or to find your ideal destination, please visit 

The Game Lodge Index

Squirrels up above and squirrels down below

This is a guest post by Chistine Marot. This post originally appeared on the Jaci's Lodges lodges blog and you can read it here

Keep an eye out for two different squirrel species found in Madikwe, one up above and the other down below!

As its name indicates, the tree squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi) lives its life in the safety of large trees, while the ground squirrel (Xerus inauris) prefers the sanctuary of a communal underground burrow.

The Tree Squirrel

The tree squirrel tends to have more of a greyish fur colouring than its ground-dwelling cousin, although there are variations in colouration depending on regional distribution. Tree squirrels are diurnal, foraging and feeding during the daylight hours on a diet of roots, grasses, buds, berries and insects, and sleeping at night. When threatened, they exhibit “mobbing” behaviour, when colony members make increasingly loud clicking sounds while flicking their tails to intimidate the source of a perceived threat.

Unlike the group mentality of the burrowing squirrel, tree species tend to live a solitary existence or cohabit in small family groups. Single animals need to be continually on high alert, relying on their wits to avoid danger. At the first sign of a threat they run up the nearest tree and lie quite still, flattened against a branch.

Young number one to three per litter, born in a tree hollow lined with grass and leaves. Three weeks after birth they emerge to explore the outside world. Once weaned from their mother the squirrel pups are expected to forage for their own food.

If you’re travelling near the centre of Madikwe, keep an eye out for the endearing South African ground squirrel which prefers the soft soil found in this region.

The ground squirrel has a yellowish-brown coat with a distinctive white stripe marking either side of its small body. Its bushy tail features two dark bands. Preferred habitats include spacious, arid regions areas such as open grassland and river floodplains. The chosen habitat must include suitable sand in which communal burrows are dug.

Ever alert Ground Squirrel

The ground squirrel is primarily herbivorous, feeding during the day on grass, roots, fruit, seeds and shrubs. On occasion it also feeds on insects. Unlike exotic squirrel species, this squirrel does not hibernate even though it lives in an underground burrow.

Typically these gregarious rodents live in small groups known as a dray or scurry, comprising six to nine animals of both sexes. However, mature males also tend to form exclusive larger groups of up to 20, known as bands. Bands are not territorial and seem content to share parts of a communal home range with other mixed groups, a behaviour which enhances their survival rate.

Females give birth to an annual litter of one to three young, known as pups or kits, between July and October.

Ground squirrels are endemic to arid and semi-arid regions of Southern Africa, including the Kalahari Desert, Succulent Karoo and Nama Karoo where rainfall is under 500mm per annum.

Buffalo - Growing Old - by Grant Marcus

This is a guest post by Grant Marcus. You can view the original post as well as photos by Grant Marcus on his website, www.grantmarcus.com 

GROWING OLD

This is the last post before the weekend.Buffalo are herd animals and rely on one another for protection. The group dynamics work like this : There are one dominant male with his sub-ordinant males beneath him and they are the protectors in the herd. When buffalo move around  especially towards water the females will be in the middle with their young in close proximity of them. The reason the males are on the outsides of the herd is to serve as protectors.

The bulls can not stay with the herd forever. Buffalo move around everyday and when the bulls get old they struggle to keep up with the herd and they fall behind eventually . These old bulls tend to hang around waterholes and riverines. We call the old bulls Daga (Like Gaga but with a D) boys, daga means concrete or cement. Buffalo suffer from the same condition as men when they grow older, hair loss ! So to help with skin protection they roll around in the mud with  a thick crust of dry mud on their bodies as result, therefore the name daga boy. These old boys form bachelor groups anything from 3-9 animals in one group. When they get older there senses deteriorate as well and with that their fuse grow shorter and they are a lot more grumpier then they were when they were young.

When you look these guys in the eyes there facial expression tells you that he is broke, lost his wife, his an alchoholic and that you owe him money. Very scary to bump into these guys on  a walking safari.

The next time when you see a daga boy you will understand why they look like they do. They are the animal for me that has the most characteristic features of all the pensioner animals out there.

Read more about Madikwe Game Reserve on The Game Lodge Index

Photo of the Week - Buffalo by Marlon du Toit

Buffalo by Marlon du Toit

Marlon is a ranger at Singita Lodges in Kruger National Park. 

Read more about wildlife and safaris on The Game Lodge Index