6 August 2008 – Winter is well on it\u2019s way to southern Africa in June, so Claire & I decided to visit the warmer, rain free Waterberg region north of Tshwane (new name for Pretoria) and call on two relatively little known neighbouring private game reserves of Marakele and Welgevonden, 33000 and 35000 hectares in size respectively and offering the Big 5 experience. We selected three leading properties for our evaluation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A little more about the reserves before we knock on their front \ndoor. Exclusivity is assured through the banning of private vehicles \nwithin both reserves. Guests arrive at a peripheral welcoming area and \nare met by their lodge hosts. This is an excellent idea and affords \nexcellent management of the Reserves. Another distinct advantage is the \nmalaria free environment. In today\u2019s world, many of our clients are \nrequesting wildlife experiences in malaria free facilities. For the \nwilderness and African safari purest, the diversity of their topography \nhad Claire & me held in raptures, endless vistas, slow, winding \nrivers meandering across hard bedrock combined with a strong influence \nof various habitats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our first port of call promised to be exciting and a revelation. Marataba Safari Company in the Marakele Private Game Reserve is billed as one of the finest lodges within the Waterberg region. We expected a mercurial combination of a bygone era blended with the demands of today\u2019s modern, discerning safari client. We were not let down. The entrance to Marataba combines elements of water, flora and earth in an enchanting and yet purposeful manner. Part of the Hunters Hotels portfolio with an awesome pedigree to match, their management team gave Claire & me a glimpse of what a well-run, team-orientated lodge should feel like. It would be remise of me to forget to talk about their tented accommodation. These units were amongst the very best I have experienced in ten years of African travels<\/a>. Spacious, well appointed and offering the little touches only the very best properties do, it was an absolute pleasure to spend the little time we had ensconced within our room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately we have to share with you one aspect of a technical \nnature. A successful African wildlife or safari experience is based not \nso much on the appointments of your accommodation, or in the prowess of \nthe team at base, no, it is found in the experience and knowledge of \nyour ranger. You will spend in the region of eight to ten hours a day in\n his\/her company and because of this, their ability to transfer their \nknowledge to you at the level you request is paramount. We did not find \nthis to be the case at Marataba. We have taken this up with both camp \nmanagement & their company directors and have received a favourable \nresponse from them in this regard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Both dinner & breakfast were superb! Beautifully prepared and \npresented by not only very amiable and competent staff but also by the \nmanagement team, a strong showing of team work. Marataba is ideal for \nthose wishing to get away to a five star lodge where pampering, \nconsummate hospitality and hugely knowledgeable staff abound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our second port of call was at the recommendation of a colleague of ours. <\/strong>Clearwater Lodges have two intimate, separate and very private lodges within the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve and we stayed at Tshetshepi Lodge. Five suites is the extent here supplying ten guests with the traditional Relais & Chateaux five C\u2019s – Care, Calm, Charm, Cuisine & Character. Nestled against a towering mountain and with the sound of a gentle brook nearby, our hosts welcomed us into their \u201chome\u201c with great pride and obvious concern for our welfare. Our aim at Africa Tamed is to bring you, our clients, friends and African Tamed family our evaluation of properties we feel warrant this in the endeavour to stimulate your \u201c thirst for Our Africa \u201c. We put great credence in integrity, well grounded knowledge and in the case of wildlife experiences, the ranger responsible to introduce you to Mother nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dave did us all proud! He exuded confidence, anecdotes abounded, and \nhis knowledge of both flora & fauna was substantial. Over the eight \nhours in Dave\u2019s hands (two game drives), his sense of purpose, transfer \nof knowledge and inter guest rapport was exceptional. As we would expect\n at a Relais & Chateaux property, the accommodation was excellent, \nspacious and in tune with the environment. We met for pre dinner drinks \nwith the other guests in front of a roaring fireplace. Another special \ntime of the day on an African safari, when stories are shared, the \nconversation is light and the enticing fragrances waft through from the \nkitchen. Debbie (Dave\u2019s wife and co host) had ensured our meal requests \nwe well looked after. Gathered around a large table in the company of \ninteresting co guests and in the very capable hands of Dave & \nDebbie, the evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our last port of call was to be Makweti Safari Lodge. Whether this was arranged as our last port of call deliberately or not, it certainly was a great one with which to end our trip. Makweti Safari Lodge, in the same vein as Tshetshepi is in the hands of a management couple. It is obviously key to have the right couple at the right properties. This young, effusive and energetic couple fit Makweti like a glove. On our afternoon and early morning game drives, we witnessed a number of interesting mammals big & small. We were well informed as to the balance between man & Mother Nature and how at Makweti, a number of in house projects were underway to ensure the correct management of their area of responsibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You will appreciate that we have witnessed and sighted a large number of the wildlife on offer in Africa. Here though we spotted the illusive bush pig and caught a fleeting glance of brown hyena. As the only guests in house, Claire & I were afforded our own rooms (a luxury we seldom expect) and had dinner in the company of our two attentive hosts. We dined on creative cuisine, drank a bottle of the best South African sparkling wine and celebrated the first anniversary of Africa Tamed Tours & Travel! Claire\u2019s dream of creating a very different travel company<\/a> instilled with her own ideas, experiences and keen sense of integrity came of age tonight. In true modesty found within Claire, she graciously blew out the candle poised in her grandiose Pavlova pudding, thanked our hosts for recognising the special occasion and uttered the inimitable words \u201cwe have only just begun\u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n Welgevonden Private Game reserve has a number of alternative properties, some privately owned,\n some open for commercial use. Our evaluation would indicate this an \nideal Reserve to visit to initiate you to an authentic wildlife and \nsafari experience but found the density of the Big 5 to be a little \ndisappointing but this should be weighted up against the exemplary level\n of accommodation and that key element of passionate bushwhackers \nlooking after you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n ABOUT THE AUTHOR – Africa Tamed is a successful tour operator, based in Cape Town, South Africa offering unique, value added vacation packages to Southern Africa<\/a>. Contact them now to design your all inclusive vacations to Southern Africa. Source: Free Articles<\/a> from ArticlesFactory.com <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 6 August 2008 – Winter is well on it\u2019s way to southern Africa in June, so Claire & I decided to visit the warmer, rain free Waterberg region north of Tshwane (new name for Pretoria) and call on two relatively little known neighbouring private game reserves of Marakele and Welgevonden, 33000 and 35000 hectares in…<\/p>\nWhat we have to share with you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Private lodges within the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve <\/h2>\n\n\n\n