Curious Creatures

Giraffes are always regarded as such elegant creatures, with their long slender legs and their stretched out necks, not to mention their long eyelashes that will make any women envious. At Ubizane we are regularly treated to up close experience with these giants of the bush. 

One of their frequent ‘hangouts’ is the Ubizane parking area, where you truly get a grasp on their immense size, when they stand next parked car.

Inquisitively peeping around the bushes at the days happenings of the lodge, it seems with every day that passes the tower of Giraffes get a little bit braver.    

Giraffes are not all that seem congregate at the Ubizane Parking area, Vervet monkeys also tend to favour the shaded area. As many of you who have visited us before know, the vervet monkeys can be particularly mischievous, and all too often they find themselves in quite a pickle!

This particular monkey thought a guest’s car would make a fine resting place after the mornings gallivanting. You can only image the mischievous events that he is busy planning!   

Being tucked away in the bush, the parking lot is not the only hot spot for glimpsing game, Throughout the Ubizane property there I always something going on!

Whether it is birds scourging around in the leaf litter, or a shy Nyala having an afternoon drink from one of the many ponds on the property; to even a Terrapin basking in the late afternoon sun!

At Ubizane you are guaranteed to never have a dull moment! 

The Heart of a Lion

 The winter air brushed against our cheeks, while the Ubizane Land Rover chugges through the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park, the dry winter bush creating an ideal game viewing opportunity.

Slowing down to get a better viewing of a Rhino and her calf, a rustle in the nearby grass catches our attention but in the hazy morning light, it is difficult to get a clear view. 

Then we see it! Lions, 5 of them! Perched on the edge of our seats with anticipation, we eagerly watch them as they stealthily walk through the bush, without stirring a single blade of grass. Walking with purpose, the lions seem to be on the hunt moving off in the direction of the Rhino and her calf. Surely they are not the brave?   

At first, the female in the front gives the Rhino a cautious wide birth, wary of her colossal size and strength. Ears pricked and facing in the direction of the approaching lions, the young calf bravely stands guard alongside its mother. The youngster’s tensions begin to rise as 1 lion gets a bit too close for comfort; crouched low in a stalking posture the lion ambles on, in front of the Rhino. 

Not having any of this the mother rhino raises her immense head, almost as a warning to the inexperienced lioness. Still not catching the hint, the mother and her calf casually walk towards the lioness, almost as if to give ‘Back off or else...’   stare. Scurrying out of harm’s way, the lioness’s hasty retreat comes to a halt not too far from the Rhino and her calf, and casually looks back at the meal that could have been.  

Night Life at Ubizane

Coming to the bush means different things to various people. There are some who simply wish to escape the hustle and bustle of city; others are in search of the Big 5 and some who are simply astonished by the wide open spaces, fresh air and breath-taking views. Here at Ubizane, we are fortunate enough to cater to all of the above. Situated within a 1200 hectare reserve, we are a mere 4 kilometers from Hluhluwe Town and a stone throw away from Hluhluwe Umfolozi National Park. 

As the sun sinks, your African experience doesn’t end, a whole different world awakens from its deep slumber.

The birds are the first to kick start the evening’s hustle n bustle with their loud ‘chitter chatter’ and frantic foraging for that last tasty snack, before the sun bids its final farewell.  

The vast African sky is probably the most noticeable feature at night, countless stars scattered across the sky sparkling with pride. At first glance the vast night sky appears to be just an accumulation of tiny lights all crowded together. Allowing your eyes time to adjust to the mysterious darkness that now cloaks the earth, you soon start to see numerous constellations.  

While you lose yourself in the sheer beauty of the night sky, the gentle tune of a cricket and the glisten of a Nyala’s reflection at a moonlit waterhole a few meters away, distract you momentarily from Orion's belt, the Southern Cross, The Three Sisters and Scorpio.