Guests at Buffalo Ridge Safari Lodge had a surprise visit from an opportunistic elephant, who simply couldn’t resist the cool, crystal clear, swimming pool water on a hot spring day in Madikwe Game Reserve. 

Photographed by 18 year old Tom Rudolphie of The Netherlands.

 Buffalo Ridge is a community owned safari lodge in the beautiful Madikwe Game Reserve of northern South Africa, near the Botswana border. I love this area.

For more reviews of lodges inside Madikwe on this blog see:

http://www.safaritart.com/?p=618

http://www.safaritart.com/?p=248

Do you speak Russian? If so, perhaps you can tell me what the comment below says. It’s nice to know this site has readers from all over the world, even if I can’t always understand what they say!

Here’s some news about eco-friendly safari camps and ‘green’ safari lodges that go the extra mile take care of the environment:

Garonga Safari Camp

Garonga Safari Camp in the Makalali Reserve (not too far from Kruger National Park) ensures that all rubbish is separated and foodstuffs are used for warthogs and kudu in winter.  They also have a water system whereby all used water is pumped into filtration pits and after 2 years is suitable for release to be drunk by animals.  They have started to grow their own organic vegetable garden (baboon-proof at the moment) which will find their way onto guest’s plates at Garonga Safari Camp and supplement staff rations.

Jaci’s Safari Lodge & Jaci’s Tree Lodge, Madikwe Game Reserve

 An exciting indigenous tree nursery project has been initiated by Jaci’s - by teaching the community to collect seeds and germinate indigenous trees for resale both within and outside of the Madikwe Game Reserve. This project has gained significant success and has generated valuable funds to be used within the greater scheme of the community driven waste management solution, including the benefit of planting over 300 trees in the game reserve.

 Ant’s Nest & Ant’s Hill, Waterberg

The objective of the Ant Collection is to create sustainable tourism by means of conserving the environment around us, enriching the lives of our guests and staff alike as well as uplifting the community and providing as much skills development to the locals as possible

Motswari Safari Lodge, Timbavati, nr Kruger

 Getting passed as a ‘Fair Trade in Tourism’  product is tangible evidence of commitment to the land and its people. It’s not an easy process, so any lodge that goes through it really wants to demonstrate fair trade practices. Motswari was particularly commended by Fair Trade in Tourism for their investments in community health and education and the maintenance of a family-friendly staff village, which is a critical strategy for combating HIV/AIDS in the game lodge industry.

If you want to know more about these places contact me at: safaritart@wydahtours.com 

Lion action at Tuningi on 31 August 2009

These curious young lions and lionesses came to see the goings-on as guests from Tuningi Safari Lodge enjoyed their sundowner game drive drinks & snacks in the Madikwe Game Reserve. Madikwe Collection game rangers and guests watched from a safe distance as the lions investigated the contents of the cooler boxes.

“Evening game drives include a short stop for bushveld snacks and sundowner drinks, allowing guests to stretch their legs and, in this case, get close and personal with the ‘locals’.” - commented Grant Marcus, Senior game ranger and photographer of these pictures.

I had a great time at Tuningi, while I was writing the Exclusives Safari Lodges of South Africa book. During that visit an elephant came to drink out of the dam just a few metres from the swimming pool.

They have an excellent kids safari programme too, and a separate area for children on safari to avoid them get too noisy for other guests.

Tuningi Safari Lodge is nice an intimate with four luxury suites and a further two family cottages with two bedrooms and adjoining lounge, kitchenette and dining room. Little Tuningi is a part of the main lodge but can be booked as stand alone accommodation for those that want the place to themselves. Little Tuningi has a double room and a family unit as well as a private pool and boma (for outdoor meals around the fire).

For rates contact: safaritart@wydahtours.com.

My first introduction to Makanyane Safari Lodge was a face to face meeting with an elephant at the door of my cottage. “I’ll just go and shoo him away, said the lodge manager, Garth Kew. So he walked towards said elephant and shouted “Shoo!”  Elephant ignored him, so Garth ran towards him waving his arms shouting “Stop eating my trees.”

Ele got a fright and like a dog caught being naughty, tucked his tail between his squeezed-tight buttocks and took off at high speed down the path, straight towards me!

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