Nicola Ann Art
Feb 14
by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Black & White, Nature, Off-Road 2 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, BeanOn Photography, Exploring, Gwahumbe Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, nature, Off-road, Rhino, Rugged Terrain, South Africa, Wildlife

Gwahumbe Game Lodge & Spa

Resistance is definitely futile when it comes to spending the day at Gwahumbe. Just over an hour’s drive from Durban, Gwahumbe Game Lodge & Spa is a favourite of mine to enjoy 4x4ing, game viewing and lunch all in a day.   As I’ve previously published a couple of blogs on the reserve, the last fourteen months ago, I’ll limit my words this time and allow the images to speak louder.   We only managed a distant sighting of the young male rhino, now grown in to an expert vehicle mock-charger. Bring it on! I secretly wished to experience such, but he didn’t even notice us with his head buried in the veld about twenty meters away from the vehicle, munching away on the lush grass.   Never in my entire life have I tasted a more succulent and perfectly cooked piece of kingklip fish. This is no exaggeration. Compliments to the chef!    
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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 […]
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Jun 08
by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Off-Road 2 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, Gwahumbe Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, Off-road, road accident, Rugged Terrain, Suzuki Jimny, Warwick Triangle

Suzuki Jimny: life saver!

I wouldn’t normally post a blog such as this; however, I want people to be aware of the danger associated with careless driving and speed, and of course I have to say thank you…   On Friday, 9th May, 2014, we left Gwahumbe after exploring the reserve in my Suzuki Jimny – taking it to its limits through the rivers and down the 4×4 only tracks.   I didn’t think my Jimny could have impressed me more until an hour later when we reached the new bridge over the Warwick Triangle.   As I was slowing down in the middle lane to join the stationary cars stopped at the red traffic light, I looked into my rear-view mirror and spotted a truck hurtling towards us at top speed from the left lane.  I tried to get out the way by moving in to the right lane where the truck hit the back of us and rammed the left side of my Jimny before it jumped in to the air twice before smashing into the barrier.   The truck skidded into 10 other vehicles.   If I was in my Kia Picanto only a month earlier I don’t think Peter, siting […]
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Apr 28
by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Nature, Off-Road, Wildlife 0 comments tags: 4x4, BeanOn Photography, Gwahumbe Game Reserve, hippo pool, lookout, Off-road, panoramas, rough-terrain, vistas, Wildlife

Gwahumbe Game Reserve

Less than an hour’s drive from Pinetown and you’ll find yourself amidst spectacular surroundings in KwaZulu-Natal.   Every turn, every bump on the 4×4 track at Gwahumbe Game Reserve is presented with a breath-taking vista; 2×4 wheel drive vehicles would also thrive, however, there is the option of being driven around by a ranger on a partly covered all-terrain vehicle/s belonging to the reserve.   After exploring – the cave, river crossings, views of the pea-green hippo pool from Thirsty’s Deck, water falling into a weir and an almost head-on collision with a male rhino standing guard to a herd of wildebeest and zebra – we could not resist dining at the main lodge’s restaurant overlooking gardens brimming with indigenous vegetation where we were showered with uncompromising hospitality and sensational and hearty food.   At the end, when paying our way at reception we almost insisted that they’d made a mistake when they’d taken off the entrance to the reserve from the total due to us enjoying a meal at the lodge.   A 4-star lodge that should boast 5-star for the scenery alone.   One of the activities includes mountain biking; imagine coming face to face with a rhino – oh the adrenaline. Guess […]
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