MY MANYONI

 

It’s so cool to have that special place you like going to. The place that doesn’t disappoint.

You look forward to going there, being there and it’s always sad to leave.

Rhino RiverLodge in Manyoni Private Game Reserve is that place for me. We have been a couple of times as it’s conveniently just down the road (from Pongola) and also a quick and easy three hours on the N2 north from Durban.

We stay in the Homestead, which is separate from the main lodge, but still close enough to enjoy the frills of the lodge. We decided to feed ourselves during the day and dine in style in the evenings.

On our first night we were treated to a candle-light dinner in the riverbed. A boma style fire kept us warm and we ate well. Bush braais can be tricky but the chef cooked to perfection.

Hala was our ranger and he ticked all the boxes for great game sightings.

We captured four out of the big five – the elusive leopard slipped through our fingers.

In the spotlight we found two male lions - an adult male escorted by an older gent who is teaching him a few tricks. We were pleased to see that they hunted well the next day, with wildebeest on the menu. We encountered a lioness and her three cubs who were clearly on the hunt and listened to the zebra frantically barking as they got closer. We didn’t see if they were successful. Not sure I have the stomach for that.

And on the way back for brekkie, almost close to touch, was a male cheetah.

The rhino were on show – without horns but with babies. A herd of elephant also put on a grand display.

Game was abundant – loads of impala, nyala, kudu, giraffe, wildebeest and zebra. The bird life was plentiful and we came across a crowned eagle who had bagged a young monkey.

Manyoni's Conservation Initiatives have several active projects which are well worth supporting. They are especially vigilant in protecting rhino.

Covid has turned tourism on its head, but it has given local tourists the opportunity to enjoy destinations that have budget challenges. So have a look around for good deals. Zululand winters are fabulous.

LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE. INDEED.

It is always such a special treat to be included in out rides at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve. I am a bit of a plodder and was grateful that my steed for the day was Badger. He is a gracious old gent and understands my need to take it slowly. My companions were clearly much better riders than myself and they kindly tolerated my lack of horsemanship.

Pakamisa is the best place to amble through the pristine bush. 




The horses have been trained to accept the wildlife we encounter, and they too remain calm in our presence.

Isabella Stepski, who owns Pakamisa, led our ride. She was born in a saddle and her love for horses is so obvious. Her horses are in excellent condition as is their livery. Isabella welcomes volunteers who spend anything up to 3 months at the reserve escorting guests on rides. They look so elegant on horseback and maybe one day I will get there too. Most volunteers come from Europe – Germany, Austria and Switzerland. As many guests are European they feel quite at home chatting in their mother tongue.

The balmy sky was quite dramatic with the threat of a storm. The afternoon light was so beautiful and taking it slowly we went through tamboti forests and down farm roads making it easy to forget all the troubles of the world.

Learning the Zulu names for the animals is fun on a ride. Pakamisa has a journey of giraffe, or indlulamithi, who are so used to posing for photographs with riders, etching the memory of the encounter forever.  We came across a small group with a youngster who put on a lovely show for us, bucking as he slipped deeper into the forest. The warthog, ntibane, are great opportunists and frequently hang around the stables, greedy for scraps. 

A family of ostrich, intshe, are also always close by. They have raised many chicks in the past, but this year their nest of eggs was vandalized by predators. Eggs are laid in a communal nest called a dump nest, which can hold about 60 eggs at one time. The Zulus haven’t quite wrapped their head around a name for impala, and they remain as ‘mpala’. These delicate antelope will start rutting soon and their guttural call can be heard day and night. Kudu in Zulu are called mgankla or tshabalala – what a fun name! The way they negotiate the thickets with their majestic horns is incredible. Finally, the comedians of the bush, nkhonhoni or blue wildebeest can keep you entertained for ages.

So, despite not galloping on the beautiful open plains at Pakamisa I believe we all had a magical ride taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the Zululand bushveld. We were rewarded with a spectacular storm drenching the reserve with much needed rain.

Thank you Badger for this wonderful experience.

Click here for more information about Pakamisa Private Game Reserve