In South Africa you will find .. . .

Photo courtesy of Richard Millar

In South Africa, you will find:

The Largest Bird - Ostrich

The heaviest flying bird -  Kori Bustard

Photo courtesy Grant Marcus

The largest land animal - African Elephant

The smallest animal - Least Dwarf Shrew

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The tallest creature - Giraffe

The largest reptile - Leatherback Turtle

The largest antelope - Eland

The largest fish - Whale Shark

Photo courtesy of Richard Millar

The fastest mammal - Cheetah

The fastest moving animal -  Peregrine Falcon

 And the largest rhino population

Read more about wildlife, game reserves and game lodges on The Game Lodge Index

Getting to know.....Lions

Photo by PMdT Photography

Both male and female lions roar, and that roar can be heard over five miles away!


Lions are the only social cats, living in groups called prides.

Photo by Richard Millar 

Lions are the second largest living feline species, second only to the tiger.

Photo by PMdT Photography

Lion cubs have spots at birth that disappear with age.

Photo by Richard Millar 

While lions are inactive up to 21 hours a day, in the darkest, coolest hours of early morning the "queens of beasts" hunt as a team to catch a communal meal.


Young males, known as nomads, then wander around, forming coalitions and surviving on their own until they reach enough strength and maturity to take over a pride of their own.

Photo by Richard Millar 

Although only one out of five hunting events is successful, dominant malesalways eat first, lionesses next, and cubs scramble for scraps and leftovers.

Photo by Richard Millar 

There are only 2 populations of lions in the world that climb trees. Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda and Lake Manyara National Park inTanzania.

A Lions lifespan is 15 years in the wild

The lion has long been considered a symbol of power and this magnificent creature still symbolizes not only power but strength and beauty as well

Fun Facts about Impalas

Andrew Bachelor

Sometimes, Impala's are seen around every corner while on game drive. Many rangers tell of guests who enthusiastically photograph Impala's on their first drive, only to ignore them by the fourth or fifth drive as they are so abundant. 
Impala's are very graceful and here are a few interesting facts about them.


Impalas graze and browse, thereby maximising the availability of food

More reliant on vocal communication than most other antelope, the impala is capable of guttural grunts and roars that are easy to hear from a kilometre away.  

Jaime Naylor

For safety they move in herds as large as the available food will allow. They scatter in all directions if a predator should charge, leaping in strides of up to 12 meters.
Considered the "fast food" of the bush, especially with the black "M" (as in MacDonalds) on their rump.

PMdT Photography

Female Impala's do not have horns, only the males have horns. 
To attract a mate, the male impala's neck swells and a strong secretion covers head and neck. Both sexes have scent glands located above their rear hooves, marked by black tufts.

PMdT Photography

The impala is the only hoofed animal that allogrooms - mutual grooming from one animal to another - as well as grooming itself.

Richard Millar

Although its physical proportions are suggestive of a large gazelle, certain details of its anatomy and behaviour causes the impala to be classified in a group of its own. Impala’s social nature and the fact that it habituates thick bush, separate it from the gazelle.

Richard Millar

A pregnant female is capable of extending her gestation period by up to 2 weeks if the start of the summer rains are late, which will result in poor grazing value and thus poor nutritional value of her milk produced

Read more about wildlife and safaris on The Game Lodge Index

How to keep Christmas Green

Have yourself a Merry Green Christmas! This is a guest post from Nicole Lloyd at Idwala Game Lodge

Here are Idwala’s top tips for an eco-friendly Christmas:

E-Cards from Dyer Island Conservation

1. The Christmas tree – plastic Christmas trees use various substances which are harmful to the environment. Therefore we recommend using a potted tree or getting creative with dried trees or driftwood (great for anyone holidaying at the coast!). If nothing else, plant a tree in your garden and watch it grow during 2011 

2. Christmas cards – It’s unbelievable how many Christmas cards are sent out all over the world. Try to send an electronic greeting using many of the e-cards available online or buy cards made from recycled paper. If you receive Christmas cards, do the right thing after the big day, and recycle them. Send on of these cute penguin Christmas cards and support a good cause too

3. Wrapping paper – Tons and tons of wrapping paper is sold around the world during the festive season. To help do your bit for the environment consider sending gifts that don’t need wrapping (like gift vouchers), using recycled paper and using string or ribbon instead of sticky tape 

4. Candles – for the big meal, if you’re using candles, consider buying soy, beeswax or vegetable-based candles. The paraffin candles commonly used are not good for your health or for the environment.

5. Batteries – try to give gifts that don’t use batteries or change over to rechargeable batteries. Batteries contain toxic chemicals, don’t biodegrade and are difficult to recycle.

6. Give the best gift – Of course, there is always the option to give the gift that keeps on giving. Your time spent assisting at a charity or environmental organization can make a big difference.

7. Lights – Twinkling away all day and night, fairy lights around the house and Christmas tree can take up a lot of energy. Remember to switch them off when they’re not being used. Keep an eye out for solar powered rope lights which are making their way into stores everywhere. 

8. Kitchen tips – while cooking that turkey or gammon, remember to take care when using the oven. When you want to check your food, remove from the oven and close the oven door. Standing in front of an open oven wastes heat and energy. Only load your dishwasher once it is full and run an economy program. And finally, buy organic. Don’t support the intensive factory farms and the horrible effects they have on the environment (and your health). 

9. Plan ahead – as you open your gifts think about the next Christmas. We suggest saving wrapping paper, ribbon, gift bags and unused Christmas cards for Christmas 2011. 

10. Buy a thoughtful gift – Think about the impact your gift has on the environment. Buy local, buy fair-trade and support companies who are doing more than their part to help save our earth. Spread the word – Give a book on a subject related to helping the environment. Buy someone a beautifully made cloth shopping bag so that they won’t be using plastic shopping bags.

Idwala Game Lodge wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2011

Read more about Idwala Game Lodge on The Game Lodge Index

Most Socially Involved Lodges - Part 1

In Africa, tourism is leading other industry in social involvement. Many of the luxury game lodges in South Africa are involved in the empowerment of their local community. More lodges are being set up by communities and the benefits of the business is passed on to the entire community. Today we focus on the lodges that are actively contributing to the communities around them by employing locals, sponsoring schools and are Fairtrade accredited. 

Thakadu River Camp

Thakadu River Camp was opened in 2006 and is run by the local Molatedi community under the guidance of a trust and lies along the Marico River in the eastern section of the Madikwe game reserve. 
Read more on The Game Lodge Index 

Kololo Main Camp

The main camp area consists of a variety of accommodation types from self-catering to full board service. Depending on group sizes, different rooms can be booked together - some with adjoining common areas.
Read more on The Game Lodge Index

Tuningi Safari Lodge

Tuningi Safari Lodge is a 5-star lodge that markets itself as ‘colonial African chic’. Accommodating only 16 guests, Tuningi offers an intimate bush experience at the renowned Madikwe Game Reserve. .

Read more on The Game Lodge Index

Tuningi support the Suppingstad  Pre School. See more images here

Singita Game Lodges and Reserves

One of Singita’s least sung praises is its active involvement in various social development initiatives where it is heavily involved in development projects in its local community.

Read about Singita Boulders LodgeRead more

Read about Singita Castleton Camp Read more

Read about Singita Ebony LodgeRead more

Read about Singita LebomboRead more

Read about Singita Sweni Read more

Find out more about Singita's Giving Bach Approach

Djuma Game Reserve

Djuma Game Reserve and its respective lodges all have a strong commitment to the upliftment and empowerment of the local community. It is an active partner in the Buffelshoek Trust and is extensively involved in infrastructure, economic and social investment in the villages north of its borders. Wild Earth, an innovative live website which streams game drives and waterhole activity is based at Djuma.

Djuma-Galago Camp.aspx   Read more

Djuma Vuyatela Lodge.aspx   Read more

Read more about  lodges  on The Game Lodge Index

Fun Facts about Zebras

Photo taken by PMdTPhotography

There are three main species of zebra: Plains Zebra, Mountain Zebra and Grevy’s Zebra.

Plains Zebra (Equus quagga) are sometimes called common zebra, because they are the most common and geographically widespread. Plains subspecies include; Grant’s, Burchell’s, and Chapman’s or Damara.

There are two categories of Mountain Zebra: Hartman Mountain and Cape Mountain.

Grevy’s Zebras are thought to be the oldest zebra type.

There are various theories for the black and white stripes. The stripes are for camouflage, personal identification, a cooling method and/or protection from the tsetse fly.

The stripes are also believed to be a method of keeping cool. The black color tends to absorb radiation, the air near the black stripes get hotter, thereby forcing down the cooler air in the surroundings to the white stripes. This process eventually cools the animal.

Zebra foals are born brown and white instead of black and white.

They communicate with barks, brays, sniffs and snorts. Barks and brays are signals to get alert. While sniff is a welcome gesture, snorts are made when they are tense.

For the most part, the different species cannot interbreed.

The Quagga Zebra, a subspecies of the Plains Zebra is now extinct. 

Taken at Mala Mala

The way to tell whether a zebra is male or female from behind (aside from the obvious, of course) is to look under their tail - females have a broader black ’stripe’ between their back thighs than males.

When males fight each other over a female, they have been known to bite off their opponents tail.

Zebras often appear fat. This is just gas as a result of bacteria that is in their stomach to help them break down their food via fermentation

Like horses a male zebra is called a stallion. A female zebra is referred to as a mare

Zebras are social and bond in various ways. They often nibble at each other, rub their heads and shoulders and also sniff. Occasional fights are characterized by biting the legs and kicking.

The color blind predators get confused between the stripes and the grass blades

A zebra’s neck is the only place where fat is stored. The mane is a good indication of the health of the animal. An upright mane means a good layer of fat, which means a happy animal.

Zebra foal - Madikwe Game Reserve

The zebra’s backwards kick is powerful enough to break a lion’s neck / back or jaw.

When a foal is born the mother keeps all other zebras (even the members of her family) away from it for 2 or 3 days, until it learns to recognize her by sight, voice and smell

Zebras are important prey for lions and hyenas, and to some extent, for wild dogs, leopards and cheetahs. When a family group is attacked, the members form a semicircle, face the predator and watch it, ready to bite or strike should the attack continue.

 Zebras can run up to 40 miles per hour and baby zebras can run an hour after they are born!

The blue-eyed Zebra in Madikwe

Read more about  lodges where you can see Zebras on The Game Lodge Index

How to choose the best lodge for your experience?

How to choose the best lodge for your experience? 

There are many lodges to choose from and each seems as lovely as the next. Choosing a game lodge that meets your expectations is about more than just the location and the price. There are many more factors to consider and if you want to be certain that you’re getting a good once in a lifetime experience that will leave you with many happy memories.

Decide which reserve you want to visit as different areas have unique features that should be considered. Once you have chosen the area that meets your needs, you can select the reserve that is best for your visit and then choose a lodge that will enhance your experience.

Animals

You want to see wildlife and effective marketing has told you that you want to see the Big 5. Decide before hand what is important to you and what do you want to see. Then do the research to ensure that the particular animal you want to see is on the reserve you have chosen. If you want to see a good selection of animals and not necessarily all of the Big 5 then you have even more options available to you. Next decide how important it is to you that the animals are free roaming and not in enclosures and how important the conservation ethics of the reserve are. Finally, make sure you can see the animals you want to see in the place where you’re going.

Kichaka Game Lodge 

Setting

The setting of a lodge is often what makes it unique and can go a long way towards creating the atmosphere of a place. Consider whether you want a waterhole view, a view of the open plains, a river view, a dry riverbed view, a valley view or if you want to be secluded in the bush to feel part of the surroundings.

Chapungu Tented Camp

Style – Tented or not

Tented camps have evolved to offer a wide range of facilities and cater for even the most discerning traveler. Most tents are built on raised platforms, have large en-suite bathrooms and is a blend between canvas and concrete creating a secure yet intimate bush experience. Tented camps are ideal for the slightly more adventurous but are not suited to light sleepers. There is nothing like falling asleep to the sounds of the African bush but if you have a wild imagination, then you may prefer a quieter setting. Mobile safaris are the only ones who sleep in traditional tents. Modern camps with tented accommodation can often be some of the most luxurious and is a highly recommended experience.

Malaria and other medical concerns

Compared to city hotels, game lodge staff are usually better trained to act in a medical emergency and have a back up company to assist with urgent airlifts to the nearest hospital. If you require any medicines or need to be close to a hospital for whatever reason, then ensure you choose a lodge that has suitable access and is not located in the deep bush. Malaria is a serious risk to travelers visiting a tropical and subtropical area. Infected mosquitoes deliver a deadly bite, but not all mosquitos are dangerous. Be aware of the risk of malaria to the area you are traveling to. Take precautionary measures to reduce your chances of being bitten. Discuss your travel plans with your doctor and comply with the prophylactic prescribed, preferably one that won’t affect your safari experience. If you become ill with flu-like symptoms, after traveling to a malaria risk area, see a doctor immediately.

Family safaris at Jaci's Safari and Tree Lodge

Who is going with you?

The size of your group and the reason for your trip will influence your choice. If you’re a single traveler, find a lodge that is social, caters for single travelers and won’t be filled with newlyweds and couple orientated events. The age of the children you are traveling with will play a large role in choosing your lodge. Game drives are typically three to four hours long and this may be a bit long for the younger minds who can benefit from a shorter drive focused on their curiosities. If you’re a group of friends traveling together it may be worth your while fining a property that you could book exclusively and if you’re on honeymoon you may prefer a smaller property where you will be left alone.

The Spa at Royal Malewane

How long to you want to stay?

The length of time you have available and the amount of time you want to spend in the bush, will affect the type of lodge you select. Some lodges recommend a two night stay others recommend a four night stay. If you are on a tight schedule then it is recommended to stay for two nights. Should you decide to stay for longer than two nights, then look for a lodge that offers more than game drives such as walks, spa treatments, daily excursions or other activities.

Driving, walking or on horse back?

There are different ways to encounter the animals of the African bush and each holds its own appeal to various travelers.

Vehicle Safari

Game drives take place from the comfort of a vehicle and you can usually select a guided drive or a self drive. The most popular safari option is a guided game drive, ideal for first time visitors. Specially adapted 4x4 vehicles drive along a complex road network and some times, off road all in search of the perfect National Geographic style wildlife sighting. Trackers sit on the front of the vehicle and use animal tracks to seek out animals while qualified game rangers take you up close to the animals. The ranger and tracker have an extensive knowledge of the animals and their surroundings and can usually answer any question you may have about animals, plants or bird life. Some vehicles have a roof structure which keeps out the sun during the summer months and protects you from rain in the winter months. The open vehicles are better for a view of the animals and bird life but are more exposed to the elements. The 4x4 vehicles are usually comfortable with essential items such as blankets, ponchos and water being supplied.

Should you choose to visit a National Park or another reserve where you can drive yourself through the wildlife area. The roads are usually well maintained and your small rental should survive the trip, however, the lower vehicles may not have the best view over the bush thicket. If you do decide to take a self drive, remember to obey the rules and to stay in your vehicle at all times. Please note that many private game reserve do not permit guests to drive their own vehicles through the reserve

Walking Safari

Often combined with a vehicle safari, the walking safaris are always conducted by an experience guide who will be armed. Visitors are usually not permitted to walk on their own. On a bush walk, you have the opportunity to experience the sounds, the smells, and the smaller aspects of the bush life. You can see animals in their tranquil environment but you have less chance of seeing the Big 5 up close. You won’t get as close to an animal as a vehicle would, but there is a thrill in seeing an animal at eye level.

Horseback Safari

Ideal for those who love horses and have experience as a rider, this is unique way to experience the bush. Enjoy getting close to an animal, in the quiet setting of the bush, without the hum of an engine. You need to be confident and able to control a horse as they are regarded as natural prey and predators such as lions could stalk them.

Elephant back safaris

Quiet and gentle, this is an inspiring experience from the high vantage point of the largest land animal. Not very common, the elephant back safaris are highly trained in the bush and in handling elephants in the wild, allowing you to get up close to other animals in the bush. You will certainly enjoy the privilege of meeting an elephant this intimately.

Luxury or Rustic

Some lodges will cater to your every whim while others offer you a comfortable bed and a warm meal. Decide how important the level of service, the standard or comfort and the quality of cuisine is and then find the lodge that suits your needs.