One of our Sun Safaris Consultants, Anne-Marie, treated her husband Alex, to a 3 night visit to nThambo Tree Camp and Africa on Foot. Below is Alex’s feedback:
The Africa on Foot lounge and bar area
“I want to go back ASAP !
I have visited the Kruger three times in the last 18 months and each time the experience never fails. I always want to go back.
On this occasion, my awesome wife spoilt me by taking me away for four days to two private lodges for my birthday. With all due respect, I could not have asked for a better birthday gift – a male elephant in must mock-charging the vehicle, 6 white rhino sightings, a spotted gennet sighting, a sighting of 3 buffalo herds with a total of about 100 buffalo, and to top it all off – The Ross Pride !
My journey to the bush started off on Monday morning, 24 September. Ashtons collected us at the OR Tambo International Airport. One always dreads the apparent 6 hour trip, but the ride seems to get shorter each time. Before we knew it, we were being dropped off at Bones Pub. The only unfortunate thing about this trip was to see the devastation that the flood of a few months ago had caused to Jos Max, there was literally nothing there. Anyway, I felt sorry for the owners for about 10 seconds and then boarded the “Landy” for the ride to the lodge. Isaac, a legend of a tracker and mock-charging elephant stopper was our driver. Loaded, with an American co-visitor as a our accompanying passenger, we entered the gates to paradise.
Going through the gates brings on an automatic feeling of relaxation. It’s amazing, I should put up a set of those gates at the complex where I live – hopefully I can experience that feeling whenever I come home !
Our first stop was Ntambo Tented Camp. Luxury tents on stilts about 3-4 metres high overlooking the bush. Need I say more ? It was fantastic and more than I expected. That is what I meant above, every time the trip ceases to fail. Tranquility, serenity, the wild. A formula I approve of at all times.
We were greeted by Kyle, the student ranger. Awesome guy, welcoming. The usual, sign the indemnity and enjoy your stay. The “lounge area” is a decked platform with a splash pool that elephants drink out of. The view is of the bush. Yellow-billed and red-billed hornets are all over. Bateleur eagles are always soaring. “Go away” birds calling. Damn, this is it. A couple of Savannah’s and we were settled.
We jumped on the first game drive, a night drive with Gawie, our ranger and Isaac our tracker. Some cool sightings, but no cats ! Well at least real cats – we saw a spotted gennet but it slipped into a hole in a tree as soon as the spotlight hit it. Some buck, a few rhino and some elephant. All in all, a good drive.
The entrance to Africa on Foot
The next morning I slept in. Enjoyed the comfort of the room and silence of the morning. The night was not so silent. The camp was visited by 10 hyena – who as usual, were having a good laugh. The rangers spotted them at about 5am drinking out of the little watering hole in front of the camp.
Some good breakfast was had after which we went on a bush walk for about 2.5 hours. I learnt quite a bit, including the fact that there is a substitute for toilet paper in the bush in case you need to go and do not have the appropriate wiping apparatus in your possession. No animals though, just some birds, but all in all, educational ( and good to get some exercise !)
We returned to the camp, I had little snooze, woke up for lunch. A healthy meal and off we went on another night drive. Again, no cats ! Rhino, buffalo and elephant, and the usual – impala. We saw some kudu and waterbuck as well. “Shumting long” as Isaac tells us this is what visitors from the East call giraffe. A good drive, sundowners and off we went back to camp. Scrumtuous meal and off to bed. No mosquitoes – thank goodness !
The next day, Wednesday 26 September, was my birthday. I had a sense that today we were going to see lion ! I get that sense because deep down inside I am a lion. But yet again, on the morning drive, no cats ! Just some browsers and grazers and some birds of prey. But I still felt we were going to see lion that day.
After this we packed our bags and headed off to the next camp for one night – Africa on Foot. We arrived at Africa on Foot and were greeted by Ryan. We offloaded our bags and just hung out…some more savannahs and off we went on a night drive with Enoch…what a great night drive….. Thanks Enoch !
The chalets at nThambo Tree Camp
We saw the Ross Pride in full quota. 2 male lions, 4 female lions, 2 sub-adults and 3 cubs. What a sighting. We first caught up with them at a watering hole. The watering hole was not a flat, open watering hole. Instead, it was in some sort of a hollow in the ground. Animals need to walk down a little embankment to get to the water. As we arrived, we were greeted…..both male lions and one female lion started roaring and calling for the rest of the Ross Pride. What an awesome sound ! The roars resonated through my chest….my adrenalin started pumping….this is what I came for. One of the male lions was in the hollow…so now I would like you to imagine amplifying a male lions roar 10 fold, increase the bass level 5 fold and add some echo effects !!!!! Yes, this is what it was like….think of HD surround sound and you will know how the one male lion’s roar sounded….we followed these 4 lion to the rest of the pride, lying in the middle of the road a few hundred metres away…We drove behind one of the male lions as he lumbered down the dirt road not giving a hoot at the fact that there was a vehicle behind him. Every now and again, he would peer over his shoulder as if to say…”you just wait for me to pull over…then you can you pass”. I have never seen lion greet each other and it was a sight to behold. The sub-adults came running to the female lion and started calling softly while licking and rubbing themselves against the female lion…you could see their excitement at the fact the elders had returned. We sat around for a few minutes, watching them….what a way to finish off my birthday.
That evening, we celebrated my birthday with a couple from Oz, and a couple from Canada. Some ice cold Savannah’s, springbok shots and red wine…and the party was on…I would like thank Africa on Foot for the lovely chocolate birthday cake and “Happy birthday” song which the ladies sang in Shangaan. I really appreciated that gesture…thank you once again. After much drinks and talking, it was off to bed for a good night’s rest.
I obviously slept in the next morning…woke up, had a good breakfast, packed the bags, loaded and off we went. We were leaving the bush…the drive out of the park seemed longer…I did not want to leave this serene territory. I want to come back ASAP.”
