Safari Archives - Nicola Ann Art

Dec 20

by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Nature, Off-Road, Safari, South Africa, Sunrise, Sunset, Travel 0 comments tags: Motswari Giraffe’s Nest, Nicola Ann Art, Safari, South Africa, Timbavati and Umbabat Private Nature Reserve

Five-star Safari & Adventure At Motswari Geiger’s Camp

FROM ESWATINI BACK TO SOUTH AFRICA Resuming our Southern Africa adventure, we left Piggs Peak, Eswatini and explored as much off-road as possible before reaching the five-star safari experience Motswari Geiger’s Camp in the Timbavati and Umbabat Private Nature Reserve, South Africa in time for the afternoon and evening game drive. JUST THE TWO OF US We had the entire camp, a ranger and a tracker to ourselves, the only two booked in at the main reserve. A novelty, something neither of us had before experienced; as if deliberately arranged, but so happened by sensational chance. MOTSWARI GIRAFFE’S NEST Straight after the afternoon game drive, the ranger dropped us off at Motswari Giraffe’s Nest, so that we could witness the dramatic sunset; well worth cutting the drive short. While enveloped by untamed wilderness, as far as the eye could wander, we spent our first night in a luxurious nest, high above the ground in a treetop overlooking Xanatsi Dam. The chef had prepared our dinner and breakfast, with bowls of snacks and as many soft and alcoholic drinks as desired. Both the food and the drinks would last at least a few days. STAY ALERT – DON’T GET HURT We […]

Apr 07

Tala Private Game Reserve’s Gems: Five Adult Rhinos

With the craving gnawing at my heart, it had been thirty days plus since I’d last seen a rhino. Just under forty-five minutes from Durban we arrived at Tala, amidst the thick mist from the drizzling rain. Resistance is futile when a craving is upon thee… After paying our dues at the gate we headed up the hill to the right in search of Tala Private Game Reserve’s gems: five adult rhinos. Okay, we cheated a little and asked the guard at the gate where they were last spotted. And there they were… Five large, healthy rhinocerotidaes (commonly known as rhinoceroses) huddled together on a mound of earth, resting while the rain gently fell. We spent about thirty minutes watching them stretch and roll over, as though their comfort in the damp truly mattered. After exploring the reserve, relishing a packed breakfast at the Hippo Hide, a coffee at the restaurant’s veranda and bouncing along the 4×4 only tracks, we returned to the rhinos up and about munching their way through the grass. Such spectacular creatures! As I’ve previously published a post on Tala Private Game Reserve about a year ago, I shall keep this one brief. […]

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 […]

Jun 16

by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Dubai, Nature, Off-Road, Safari, Sunset 4 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, bbq, BeanOn Photography, camel riding, Desert Safari, Dubai Desert, Dubai Diary, dune bashing, Exploring, Marsh Fun Travel & Tours, nature, Off-road, quad-biking, Sunset

Dubai Diary: Dubai-Desert-Safari

My Dubai Diary, a total of 4 days experiencing Dubai, a thrill-seeking 4×4 dune bashing during a Dubai-Desert-Safari. Just after 3:30pm a driver from Marsh Fun Travel & Tours picked us up and drove us, just over an hour to the desert. As they offer tailor-made itineraries, we opted to hire a 4×4 vehicle and driver for just the two of us (ooh there’s a song in that somewhere…) to avoid sharing with other tourists. Just before the 4-wheel-drive safari started, we were able to freshen up, drink tea or water while the tyres on the vehicle were deflated. A hot wind didn’t provide any relief from the 40 degree Celsius heat and 69% humidity. Durban’s mild, cool even, in comparison to Dubai. Almost 20 minutes of already dune bashing, the driver asked if we wanted to experience speed. “Yes,” I shouted excitedly. Oh how I wished I had my Suzuki Jimny – it made me ache with nostalgia, and especially crave off-roading in KwaZulu-Natal. The driver sped up to a high ridge of a dune and the vehicle had to be counter steered so as not to flip and roll down the other side. Oh so […]

Dec 24

by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Cycling, Nature, Off-Road, Safari, Wildlife 0 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, BeanOn Photography, Challenge, cycling, Early morning, Gwahumbe Game Reserve, Jimny, KwaZulu-Natal, Off-road, Rhino, Rugged Terrain, South Africa, Suzuki, Suzuki Jimny, Wildlife

Fancy mountain biking with a rhino?

Can you even imagine mountain biking with a rhino…? Well, unfortunately – of course I did it hoping for the ultimate experience, a beastly encounter that would make the heart drop to the foot and adrenalin force the blood to violently pump – it didn’t happen while on two wheels. After exhausting ourselves by bicycle through the spectacular Gwahumbe (Saturday morning, 13 December) a favourite private game reserve for a day visit (because of the rugged landscape, and amazingly it’s just over an hour’s dive from Durban), we jumped in to my Jimny. The climb down to the hippo pool brought us head-on with the rhino. We ensured we kept our distance, and that he was aware of our presence. A non existent exist strategy caused the brain to deal with many jumbled thoughts – in other words, we were trapped. He appeared to be relaxed, and while munching the grass on the edge of the track he glanced in our direction and moved closer and towards us. I felt my body stiffen, my heart do somersaults, goose flesh ripple all over my body the moment his nose touched, albeit it a gentle touch, the Jimny’s nudge […]

Nov 21

Phinda Vlei Lodge

A second visit to stunning Phinda, this time two nights and three days at Vlei Lodge exceeds all expectations once again. After all, each of the six private suites has its own swimming pool overlooking the vlei (wetland) on the edge of a forest. Despite all being booked, the lodge feels as peaceful as the surrounding bushveld. Upon arrival, about a three-hour drive from King Shaka Airport, Friday lunchtime, a two-course meal awaits to fill the gap until high tea is served just before the evening game drive. Of course it is not compulsory to eat everything; however, when the five-star quality food tastes as good as it looks #ResistanceIsFutile. I probably ate a month’s worth of calories in three days – who keeps score when one’s on holiday anyway? Not to forget the three course dinner, snacks served in the middle of the bush during the game drives, morning and evening and then the hearty breakfast which consisted of your own personal continental buffet tray brought to rest alongside the table, for nibbling on while a hot plate of whatever your taste buds crave is being prepared. All meals are served out on the open deck, weather permitting, […]

Dec 16

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.

Oct 03

Lions Valley Lodge

Lions Valley Lodge, http://www.lionsvalley.co.za/, a stunning five-star experience enveloped in virgin bushveld of 21,000 acres within the Nambiti Conservancy, Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal. The lodge is built true African chic with an infinity pool and decking and main boma-style restaurant that all overlook the spectacular view across the valley, where herds of impala and zebra quench their thirsts. Immersed in history, there are two memorial sites on the reserve commemorating the Boer and English troops that did not make it through the Battle of Elandslaagte, 21st October 1899. The one and only thing I disliked about the luxury experience was thinking about the lioness mating with her offspring after photographing the pair close up, as close as possible… Of course there was no end to snapping away with my camera, almost like a video, and feeling in awe of being so close to lions in the “semi” wild…

Jun 19

Sacrilege, but I don’t care!

Just over 4 years ago a dear friend bought me my first DSLR camera for a birthday. Talk about being bowled over by the receipt of an unexpected gift. Of course he’d chosen the brand he’d always used, the camera I’d always wanted that came with a 18 – 55 mm lens. Later the same friend spoiled me with a telephoto 28 – 300mm and then a stunning macro. Anyway, I loved this camera despite feeling it never lived up to what I’d researched its potential to be. I thought that perhaps I needed to practice more, learn the camera to its depths and that’s what I did for the next 4 or so years, but still the quality of my picture taking didn’t live up to my expectations. I wanted to buy a new camera; however, since getting the property ladder rolling I thought I’d better disperse the desire, the desire as violent as a hurricane ripping up buildings, as far away from my heart as possible. Whilst doing my best, my camera stopped working; the shutter did not release yet everything else appeared to be working fine or rather displaying correctly on the screen. […]