Makuleke’s Boabab Hill Bush Lodge was our home for 5 whole days. We were able to explore every nook and cranny in this magnificent wilderness. The game vehicle provided along with a guide took us along all the alluring dust roads branching off the main road where ‘ordinary’ people are not permitted to go.

They can only drive along the tar road that crosses the Luvubu River to Pafuri Gate.

Does this mean I was no longer ordinary?

Any visitor to this pristine exciting wilderness will not feel ordinary, and I can vouch for that.

Don’t be misled, we weren’t staying in a luxury lodge, but rather in what was once an old game ranger’s house. What made it ‘un-ordinary’?

To list a few reasons:

the ‘out of Africa’ verandah where we enjoyed coffee and snacks before our afternoon game ride

our friendly cook (Wendy) and housekeeper who welcomed us after each game ride with refreshing face cloths soaked in ice cold vanilla smelling water

thatched lapa where we enjoyed evening cocktails and delicious meals in the company of Mauritian Tomb bats

View from top of rock outcrop, Boabab Hill Bush House

a rocky outcrop towering above the house which we climbed to enjoy magnificent bushveld views

Writer in pool with Boabab in the background

swimming pool that I put to good use

It was, however, our neighbours that made me feel extra ‘un-ordinary’.

Nesting in the branches of a baobab overlooking the swimming pool was a flock of red-headed weavers. These busy little birds kept us entertained for hours while we lazed on the soft comfy cushions under the lapa. Other visitors were starlings, swallows, robins and bulbuls to name a few.

There was much excitement when an African Harrier Hawk decided to pop in. The weavers weren’t too happy, especially when he raided their nests for a free meal at their cost.

African Harrier Hawk raiding weaver nests

Our nighttime visitors were a little scarier.

Armed with a LED scorpion torchlight we scoured the yard in search of these weird and wonderful creatures. When the torch shines on scorpions in the dark they shine a phosphorescent blue and look bigger and even scarier. I was amazed how many there were around us, you don’t see them unless you have a torch to light them up. So when next time you wander outside in the African bush, take care, or preferably a LED torch!!

The purpose of our visit to this wilderness was to bird. I recorded just over 200 different species, with three new lifers. We were treated to flocks of hundreds of White Storks and Lesser Spotted Eagles, a number of different owls including the special and elusive Pels Fishing owl.

This gives good reason to write another blog which hopefully will come soon.