Gap Year Experiences

Mabula madness

Sunday 1 February 2009

I blog to you from the scenic retreat of Inkosana Lodge in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains, a spectacular range of 3,000m + peaks that separates South Africa from the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. We arrived here yesterday after saying goodbye to Johannesburg for the third and final time. We signed off with a bang, eating and drinking alongside some of the city's high-rollers and big spenders at The Baron, a lively spot in downtown Sandton.

This night out was in distinct contrast to the second week of the Game Reserve Program which was spent camping out in the Bush at Mabula's stunning Game Park. A back-to-basics approach is essential to really appreciate the natural beauty of this area and everyone got fully involved in the whole camping vibe, even if people are clearly relieved to be back to the comfort of a solid bed surrounded by four walls!

During the course of an eventful week we managed to survive a lightning strike on a building we had lunch at, some unforgettably close encounters with big 5 animals and an adrenalin-fuelled session with a semi-automatic 9mm pistol. These are three separate incidents I hasten to add - a hand gun would be of little use faced with a charging bull rhinocerous! That said, the rhino was in no way provoked, it turned out that there are two sub-adult males starting to threaten his dominance and he had been a little tetchy to say the least.

The highlight of the week's game viewing however has to be the sighting of the planet's largest land animal, the African Elephant. Jock, the local ecologist, has what can only be described as an impossibly close relationship with Mabula's ten elephants. They seem to obey his every command, allowing everyone on the back of the bukkie to reach out and touch the incredible beasts. For a full forty minutes the guys watched them go about their business right in front of them, with every photo angle possible covered.

Despite some pretty hectic electric storms and swimming in the newly created river by the campsite, everyone has managed to develop a healthy-looking skin colour as we head for the beach at the end of this week, but we'll be sure to update the diary before then.

Bye for now
Doug