I often bemoan the obsession about the “Big 5”, and it is right … many of the very largest animals are not in the Big 5 (how about the giraffe, or the hippo?), and also many of the prettiest or most interesting aren’t in that group either (cheetahs anyone?). It’s an old-fashioned hunter term that should really be done away with … but it is proving to be having many lives.

For me, what an African safari is all about is discovering the full range of animals, and that’s many hundreds of them. In fact we have about 400 species of birds alone on our reserve … some of them tiny, and super cute, to the most impressive, such as the elephant, the largest animal on land.

Here’s what I mean by tiny and cute: the bush baby! It’s the smallest of all primates (yes, it is a small monkey), and they are just adorable. Hard to see them up-close, as they are very shy, so it is all the more amazing to see them so close-up. Adorable!

And when I talk about impressive and close-up, well, this is it!!

We have had some amazing sightings again over recent days. The elephants and lions are back down south on the reserve and we are spoilt for choice once again.

We spotted Zebra, Giraffe (as always MANY) and beautiful photo opportunities.

We tracked and found the cheetahs near Riversdale gate cuddled up together to fight the cold. These two brothers truly are inseparable. And they are so photogenic!

We had audio of the elephants the whole day at the lodge, we heard them breaking branches and trumpeting around the Presidential Suites. So we had an idea of where they were. We set off in the afternoon and found them smack bang right on the Vuyani entrance road. About 500 m from the lodge. The whole herd together!

They posed no threat whatsoever as they were just curious. Really cool sighting! And I imagine for some quite nerve wrecking. We spotted them again in the morning on the entrance road. And they were once again calm and cool and munching away.

We tracked and found the Lions along with MRL guides just west of the Vuyani Safari Lodge near the riverbed.

Rex had audio of them in the morning and informed the guys. They all set out to find the cats and spotted them not too far from Vuyani Lodge having a snooze in the morning sun. Just amazing sightings … !

Well, in 2016, a lot actually!

We added 3 amazing honeymoon suite chalets, with large private decks, and stunning double outdoor showers. But not just that … we added a large additional building, for dinners with open kitchen, a spa room, and an outdoor space for drinks right in the heart of African nature. See the photos below of the additions that have, again, moved the needle for the Vuyani Safari Lodge.

We had a professional photographer, who managed to take some stunning shots of the new spaces, as well as a mind-blowing air shot of the entire complex. Amazing.

Gives you a very good idea of what I mean when I say “Bush Lodge”. It doesn’t get any closer to the bush experience. You’re not right in it, you’re part of it.

For all our future guests: a lot to be looking forward to!

For guests who have already stayed with us: Come back, there’s a lot of new things to discover!

Bernard