On one of the highest hills , overlooking the rugged valleys
of the Nambiti Game Reserve, is one of my favourite venues, the incredible, Five
star, Umzolozolo Private Safari Lodge.
We just had to revisit this wonderful, luxurious Game Lodge,
indulge ourselves, be pampered and meet
the new staff we had heard so much about,
since our previous visit.
Yip, I value the people directly involved with guests at a
Lodge, as the most important of staff members, they can add so much to ones
experience. Umzolozolo has not lost its touch. The management couple, Dave and
Debbie certainly made our visit memorable.
Then probably the person who spends the most time with guests, and to me
probably the most important person, is the guide. Rowan made our game drives so interesting, here we have a tracker of note ! He so nearly
had our first sighting of leopard at the Nambiti Game Reserve secured for us. .
Next time.
We were so fortunate to have Dave accompany Lana, Rowan and
I on one of the game drives, to expound his knowledge on the local flora. That
was special, with Lana and he prattling off in Latin as we discovered this new,
( to us), plant, reidentified that species, and in between, saw a multitude of
our mammalian friends as well. Such intense game drives couldn’t get much
better. We learn so much on these visits
whilst having fun too. I must try that wild Basil in one of my next kitchen
concoctions. Stagger grass - Zephyranthes Atamasco - could be worth a try??
What would it do for me if it gets the Zebra on a high? That might be too
radical. Did the local San try the Datura stramonium, known locally as Malpit,
which is believed to have originated in the Americas, but is now found here. It
is a powerful hallucinogen and deliriant and used spiritually, for the intense
visions it produces when ingested. Then
the myriad variety of colourful flowers bringing the veld to life in glorious
speckled technicolour. Dave's knowledge was so expansive and intriguing.
More wonderful staff, Bridgette who has been with Umzolozolo
for years is certainly expert at getting rid of one’s tensions – her massage
technique, the aromatic oils, coupled with the magnificent view from the Spa,
which has one of the best vantage positions and outlook at the Lodge, had me
rejuvenated, Lana too. No wonder Spa’s are becoming so popular at Lodges. One
cannot merely rely on the rough roads and game drive vehicles to give you the
necessary manipulations and therapy.!
We arrived at Umzolozolo at about 12h30 and the spoliations
began. Refreshing vanilla towels, orange
and cherry drink and then to our room. This time it was to be the
‘Presidential suite’. Quite lovely with all one could wish for to add to the
pampering.
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| Presidential suite |
A steaming Jacuzzi, comfortable loungers on the enormous sun deck,
an inside, an enormous bed, huge stone bath with the entire window disappearing
when opened, to offer an almost alfresco bathtime, and with this view – Ooh !
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| The Presidential Bathroom - Umzolozolo |
Outdoor showers too if you really wanted to be there with nature. Every
comfort, a well stocked bar and large flat screen TV, if you had to watch the
rugby. Hang on leave the TV, it stayed off , this has privacy, comfort and romance.
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| Umzolozolo - Presidential suite |
Felicia met us for luncheon and produced gourmet fillet
kebabs, crumbed chicken, delicious salad and effusive smiles. Pity I don’t have a sweet tooth, or do I, the
chocolate pecan nut pie for dessert was just so good. We enjoyed a cup of
coffee on the Lodge veranda with views fore-ever.
Time for a soothing massage or maybe a nap to set the relax
mode in readiness for the afternoon game drive. Ready the cameras !
Rowan found lion for us. Mattresses of them, lying all about
– then it was dusk and the felines
became active, the large male mating,
the cubs eyeing then following the game
drive vehicle with evil intent, naughty!
Rowan let them be, without encouraging their “playful” unsolicited intentions.
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| Inquisitive or just naughty? |
So besides the lion, there were wonderful sightings of
giraffe,
kudu,
zebra,
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| The one on the right is pregnant |
impala, eland and even two jackal. There had been some
rain around and the sun and clouds creating some very pleasing images as we
sipped our wine and snacked on biltong, chips and pretzels.
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| Sundowners |
This set the tone for the evening , on our return to the
Lodge we opted to proceed directly to the Bar where we were hosted by Dave,
giving us an insight to the happenings at Nambiti Game Reserve. Debbie joined
us for dinner which made for such a pleasant evening.
Dinner was a delight. Imagine Tomato and Zuccini soup
followed by a very interesting seafood pot with a divine crispy topping.
Umzolozolo Lodge’s Lamb shank is legendry and I should have
chosen that yet again. Instead I opted for the Dorado with couscous and lemon
and caper sauce. There was also another favourite cut of mine on the menu,
rib-eye steak in pepper sauce, all dishes also with a stir fry veg option. The
meal was really excellent and the conversation,
superb. The wine was good too. Then more with the Marula pudding. Was Dave being polite in taking us
back to our suite or would that be Lodge policy? Anyway we made it. Might be
easier when they have their golf cart commissioned. I seemed to trip on things.
We woke to blue skies, hot espresso, yes they too have
realised that I like good coffee and there it was, a Sprada, super coffee
machine and I knew how to operate it. I’m getting to learn how to operate all
these oh so important Barrista substitutes.
Then into the game viewer and out into the bracing early
morning freshness. What a delightful
morning drive. Steenbuck, giraffe,
wildebeest, zebra gambolling like youngsters and with
focus today slightly off the flora and
more on the Avifauna, we had some super raptors, recently arrived from the
Russian steppes along with the local African mix.
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| Steppe Buzzard |
We even had some stumpy nosed
rhino and to our delight one of the
newest of impala nuzzling up to its mother
for some sustenance,
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| Impala only a day old |
Hartebeest too.
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| Hartebeest and very new calf |
The meals at Umzolozolo are a delight. The coffee excellent,
the people amazing , the views go on almost forever with the rolling hills of
Zululand disappearing in the Tugela River lowveld haze. The game drives produce
some spectacular game viewing with four of the Big 5 regularly seen and now,
even elusive leopard are being sighted more frequently. Back at the Lodge, what
now? Well the Spa was our choice and a good one too. I could do this! No wonder
we are such a relaxed couple.!
The tariffs at Umzolozolo are really affordable and such incredible value for money,
especially when considering the excellence of this venue.
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| Family suite - Main |
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| Family suite - twin |
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| Family suite bathroom |
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| Luxury suite - Umzolozolo |
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| Luxury suite bathroom - Umzolozolo |
With regular specials especially during my
favourite time to visit this Game park, Winter, check our website for these
special reduced rates that makes Umzolozolo so accessible to our South African clients http://www.nambitireservations.co.za/Umzolozolo_Lodge_Nambiti.asp
Photographs by Jeremy and Lana Williamson
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