Nicola Ann Art
Jan 18
by Nicola in 4x4, KwaZulu-Natal, Travel, Wildlife 0 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, BeanOn Photography, Big 5, Early morning, KwaZulu-Natal, nature, Off-road, South Africa, Sunrise, Wildlife, Zululand

Amakhosi Safari Lodge KwaZulu-Natal South Africa

This time, our adventure through Swaziland, as much off-road as on-road, prevented us from making the evening game drive at Amakhosi Safari Lodge, northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.   With hunger at bay, three trips to the waffle station at The Royal Swazi Spa Hotel near Mbabane, Swaziland later, we thought we’d given ourselves enough time to explore off-road and make the game drive.   Speaking of Swaziland, or now known as The Royal Kingdom of Eswatini, I ponder whether they’ll change their flag, as South Africa did…   After checking Google Maps (yes, as mentioned before, not always a good idea), we decided to head for the 4×4 only dirt tracks from Nhlangano through to Mhlosheni in Swaziland, straight through the Swaziland / South African border post as shown on Google and then onto the N2 freeway towards Pongola. Around thirty kilometres later we’d then arrive at the private game reserve, Amakhosi Safari Lodge, just in time for the sundowners in the heart of the African bushveld.   U-Turn Well, Google maps indicated a border post that did not exist, which was supposed to lead straight onto the N2 freeway about twenty kilometres outside of Pongola. A camouflage army tent […]
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Mar 07
by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Hiking, Nature, Off-Road, Sunrise, Sunset 1 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, BeanOn Photography, Early morning, Exploring, Free State, Golden Gate Hotel, hiking trails, Kiara Lodge, Maluti Mountains, nature, Off-road, Rugged Terrain, South Africa, Sunrise, Sunset, The Golden Gate National Park, Trout & Mallard

Kiara Resort, Maluti Mountains

This past Friday we drove an easy – with not one pothole in sight – four hours from Durbs to Kiara Resort nestled in the striking, sandstone Maluti / Maloti Mountains between the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the charming village of Clarens in the Free State.   From the moment we left Bergville we spotted herds of pure black wildebeest, small oribi antelope, eland antelope, blesbok antelope, springbok antelope, mountain reedbuck and zebra freely roaming the vast open scrublands at every meandering turn.   The temperature reached 34 degrees Celsius before midday. The car’s air-conditioning turned up to maximum failed at providing relief from the incredibly dry heat. And this is autumn?   With just over an hour to spare before check-in time at 3pm, we refuelled at the Golden Gate Hotel. While admiring the sandstone mountain range from the recently renovated hotel restaurant, we enjoyed a light, great value for money, lunch.   Kiara Resort’s reception area appeared in great need of a spruce up. Fortunately, the apartment style self-catering chalet allocated to us wasn’t in the same state as the reception area. Clean, new and modern, the spacious chalet, comfortable for six adults, deserved a three-plus-star […]
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Feb 21
by Nicola in 4x4, Nature, Safari, Wildlife 1 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, BeanOn Photography, Big 5, Buffalo, Early morning, Elephant, Exploring, KwaZulu-Natal, lion, nature, Off-road, Rhino, Rhino River Lodge, Rugged Terrain, South Africa, Sunrise, Sunset, Wildlife, Zululand

Rhino River Lodge: a sacred retreat

For me, after being away from home for nine months, nothing beats time in the bush. I chose Rhino River Lodge for a second visit because the first experience, eleven months ago, stayed with me every day since. I simply had to return. Again, expectations exceeded.   Less than 3 hours from Durban, just off the N2, Rhino River Lodge, home to the Big Five, warmly awaited us. Chelsea, Clair, Kyle and Alex to name but a few were all as welcoming as the African sun (not once have I complained about KZN’s amazingly humid heat). The day we arrived, the temperature reached thirty-six degrees Celsius, in the shade. What a greeting! A pity about the drought…   I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the knowledgeable and highly amusing ranger, Kyle, on both occasions. He threatened to name a meal after me for mispronouncing a Zulu word. I refuse to even attempt spelling it here. Swiftly moving on…   While on a game drive, a French tourist asked: “What’s the difference between impalas and springboks?” Kyle began: “Springboks are lighter in colour, and —” “Impalas don’t play rugby,” a fellow South African piped up.   Well, that tickled me!   An […]
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Dec 16
by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Nature, Off-Road, Safari, Sunrise, Sunset, Wildlife 0 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, Amakhosi Private Game Reserve, BeanOn Photography, Big 5, Early morning, Exploring, Five-Star Lodge, KwaZulu-Natal, Off-road, Pongola, Rugged Terrain, South Africa, Sunrise, Sunset, Wildlife, Zululand

Amakhosi Private Game Reserve

The day after Mauritius, from 14th – 17th December, I retreated to the middle of the bushveld at the stunning Amakhosi Private Game Reserve, on the banks of Zululand’s Mkuze River.   Surrounded by thick bushland, wetlands and mountains makes for spectacular vistas from one of the six luxurious river suites I stayed in, and found a challenge departing from.   The entire five-star experience – from the welcoming staff, the sensory cuisine, the game drives, the landscape, the animal sightings, the noises of the bush, the smells and the packed lunch given to you upon farewell – had you feeling like royalty; an experience fit for a king.   It was worth driving 4.5 hours from Durban to Pongola, and I plan to visit again sometime in the next few years.
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