The restaurant, which provided the setting of last night’s fabulous plated dinner, looks a little forlorn in its emptiness, as does the foyer. From the looks of it, we are the first ones out.

“Morning, Fransje”. Emile is already waiting for us beside the game drive vehicle and helps me to unload some of our stuff on the first row of seats while Anne is tucking into another quick coffee and a biscuit at a specially laid out table in front of the lodge.

With the crepuscular light lifting, the bush reverberates with the sweet sounds of birds as we start our first-morning safari. Cape Turtle doves are cooing at the dawn and, as we snuggle beneath a warm blanket, we contently watch the sun’s bright burly body ascend from the depths of the horizon.

Leaving the open plains with the various species of ungulates, Emile manoeuvres the vehicle along a sandy track and through a beautiful forested area before negotiating a very steep, stony track up the slope of a mountain. Holding on tight to the metal handrail in front of us, we are bouncing along with our seats until we reach the plateau where, as word has it, Mabula’s elephants have been active for the last few days. Unfortunately, despite Emile’s best efforts, we only come across numerous piles of dung.

Originally published on https://mabula.com/mabula-game-lodge-fransje-van-riel-day-2/

With our guide Emile Laubscher at the wheel, the olive green safari vehicle trundles away and picks up speed as we leave Mabula Game Lodge behind us and head off into the game-rich bush. Was it really only this morning that we ordered a hurried cappuccino and shared a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich at the Mug and Bean at Cape Town’s domestic departures? A two-hour flight to Johannesburg and an almost equally long two-hour road transfer later we have arrived; it suddenly, and rather curiously, seems a lifetime ago.

Excited about our first afternoon game drive in the Greater Mabula Private Game Reserve, which comprises of three farms on the north, west and south sides of the 12 000 hectare property, we sit back and admire the stunning backdrop of the Waterberg landscape. Several wildebeest are coursing along the veld to our left, along with a bobbing line of adult zebra. In the nearby distance, a number of impalas with shiny brown velvety coats are gently browsing upon the abundant grass. The scenery is quintessentially African, with sweeping, rolling vistas, acacia dotted grasslands and mixed bushveld. It is the perfect habitat to sustain the Big Five, along with many other iconic wildlife species, including cheetah, warthog, giraffe, a wide variety of plains game such as kudu, waterbuck and sable, and crocodile and hippo.

It is a beautiful autumn day and, since recent rains have been plentiful, the bush is vibrantly green and fresh. The distant mountains allow for an infinite sense of perspective while we meander along the sandy track that winds through stands of silver cluster trees and wild Seringa trees.

On our right, we pass the stables, from where Mabula guests can opt to explore the bush on horseback. A couple of zebra are peacefully grazing a short distance away from the horses. Continuing along the road, we head towards an area with thick bush before eventually resurfacing on the southern side of the reserve, where the resident lion pride resides.

The bright light has softened as the sun gradually lowers her vast body towards the west, allowing for beautiful colours to spread across the grassy plains. Natal spur francolins are pedalling at top speed criss-cross in front of the vehicle until finally giving up on their frantic road running to dash into the undergrowth of yellow thatch grass. Emile stops the vehicle and peers down at the ground on his right-hand side of the vehicle and points to a definitive large spoor. There are big cats around, and the tracks are very fresh!

The problem is that the grass is very high; shoulder-height at least; is there truly any chance of seeing the big cats in the now golden rays of the slowly setting African sun?

We move slowly, scanning left and right, right and left until Emile stops the vehicle and almost, as if himself in surprise, exclaims: LIONS!

Jaws drop as three magnificent lionesses are calmly and distinctly unhurriedly padding on the road, right in front of us. The oldest of the three, at the remarkable age of 17 years old, brings up the rear. She is keeping up, but we can see that her body is showing signs of her advanced age. She stops to lap at some water from a small puddle in the road and as we slowly draw up, we notice a wound close to her right temple, which Emile tells us he will call in.

Having quenched her thirst, she resumes her way, following the other two lionesses for about half a kilometre along the road, where they turn a corner.

All three lionesses keep to the road, offering us an exceptionally close and intimate experience before they eventually veer off into what seems a dense curtain of tall thick grass. Within seconds they have completely vanished; not even the smallest of movements any longer discernible to even the best trained eye.

As if perfectly orchestrated, the setting sun languished stretches her pink and golden rays down across the safari landscape and we head back to stop at what feels like a magical place. A scattering of ancient rocky boulders, strewn across the ground amidst fig trees is the perfect spot for sundowners and the chance to express our excitement at what we have just seen.

Already, so soon after arriving here, Mabula has managed to root itself deep into our souls.

Good news from Reserve Manager Isiah Banda who confirms that the lioness is recovered and healed up nicely since the visit of Fransje.

Originally published on https://mabula.com/mabula-game-lodge-fransje-van-riel-day-1/