Next Stop: Sekala Lodge

This morning we took our last safari drive at Madikwe Game Reserve. We were on the lookout for a male lion that had been spotted, but unfortunately we never came across him. We did see a few other wonderful things, though, including a rarer sighting: a bird called the kori bustard, the heaviest flying bird in the world. And we also saw a Pied Crow. Of course we saw more zebra, wildabeest, and other ruminant, hooved animals.



During our coffee break, Hardy the ranger and I took part in a special activity — spitting impala poo. My superior spitting skills won the day; I shot mine about 25 feet.


After the game drive, we enjoyed another fantastic full breakfast, then got cleaned up before heading out. We drove about 100 miles, mostly on dirt roads, some on poorly paved roads to private game reserve and the Sakala Lodge, where we’ll spend three nights. The drive took roughly four hours.


Just as we left the reserve we drove along the outside border for a few miles. There we saw a group of six giraffe. 


We saw some evidence of farming along the way. We passed a large sunflower farm and noticed cotton stuck to the bushes beside the road, probably snatched from a truck transporting it. We know it was cotton because we stoped to investigate. The fluff with seeds was certainly cotton. 

The last 30 minutes was a fairly nice paved road, so we could go faster. We saw a warthog with three babies along the road but I couldn’t get a picture. 😟

Once we arrived to Welgevonden Game Reserve (90,000 acres), we waited just a few minutes to be picked up by our lodge. The drive from the gate of the reserve to the Sekala Lodge is about 45 minutes and on the way we saw rhino, baboons, and warthogs. I was able to get a picture of the warthogs this time.



The landscape and terrain is entirely different in this area. Hilly and semi mountainous. It’s very beautiful.


We weren’t sure if it could be any better than Tao Lodge that we just left. But upon arrival, we realized that it is going to be as good or better. The accommodations are fantastic, and I have my own little casita.


After a snack and being shown to our rooms, we all rested a little bit and then gathered for dinner just after 7 o’clock. 

There are only ten guests at this lodge. Very intimate. We all are together outdoors. 




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