Bushmans Kloof game viewing

As a newcomer to this enigmatic wilderness reserve, I stood in awe on the first of January as the sun made its appearance in the east, painting the sky myriad, multi-coloured shades, at the onset of yet another glorious day here in the African bush.

January and February have been incredible months for game viewing and star gazing alike. However, before I divulge further news, I would very much like to share with you some of the poignant Christmas experiences that have enriched our existence. On Christmas Eve we were blessed with the onset of light, soothing rain, which transformed the arid bush into a hive of lively, chirpy activity, with birds, insects and animals (not to mention we humans) being transformed into happy, thankful creatures.
As a result of good rains this past winter, which provided the 'browsers & grazers' (grass feeders) with plenty of food and sufficient resistance to withstand the current dry spell, a large number of newborn bontebok, springbok and antelope made their debut over the Christmas period, enabling our guests to experience one of Nature's true wonders - newborn lambs entering the world.

Leopard sightings have been equally remarkable over this period, with sightings of at least three elusive 'spoors' (tracks) on numerous occasions by Field Guide Jacques Tredoux (aka 'Jacques the Extraordinaire'). We have had great success with our digital trail cameras which take photos when motion is detected, and have been able to monitor the movement patterns of two leopards previously collared on the reserve and fitted with GPS tracking devices: Kooitjie (male) and Amber (female).

The year certainly started off on a high note, with Bushmans Kloof achieving world fame when it was named one of the Top 101 Hotels of the World in the prestigious UK Tatler Travel Guide 2008. I felt very proud to belong to this great team when the news broke here at the reserve.
February seems indeed to be the universal month of love, and my wife Jannis and I have been utterly charmed by the sounds of a pair of spotted eagle owls mating just outside our home adjacent to the lodge, every night for an entire week, during this month of love. It seems the spirit of Valentine transcends humanity!

Bushmans Kloof is always an excellent destination for star gazing and watching the night skies, but the 21st of February was a special day as some of our guests were fortunate to bear witness to the lunar eclipse that took place between 03:45 and 06:00. Guide Jacques Tredoux accompanied Mr and Mrs Andre Schoon to a look out spot close to the Main Dam in the reserve, where these spectacular photographs were captured. Thanks very much to Mr Schoon for sharing his photographs of this unique occurrence with us! (see below)

We are always proud to provide a more streamlined experience for guests, and proudly announce that free High Speed Wireless Internet is now offered throughout the lodge, firmly cementing our link with the outside world and enabling our guests to stay in touch 24/7 while visiting us.

In closing, have a look at our upcoming Special Events and Winter Getaways (below) that offer the chance to experience Bushmans Kloof differently - from our haunting landscape of remarkable wind-sculpted rock formations framing vast beds of spectacular flowers and fynbos, to the natural beauty of indigenous wildlife roaming free among one of the world's largest open-air Bushman rock art galleries.

Before we know it winter will be on our doorstep, so visit us while the glorious summer weather is in full bloom here in the shadow of the majestic Cederberg mountains.
We look forward to seeing you soon!

Warm regards
Nelson Rodrigues

Lodge Manager