Sun Destinations

On my third day at nDuzti, I sat on the porch watching tree squirrels scurry from trunk to trunk while a hungry hare hoppity-hopped its way across the expansive green lawn in search of nosh. To my left, slow-motion giraffes drank from a waterhole, while their fellow thirst-quenched impala-friends succeeded in restlessly scaring each other into a scatter, like a bunch of nervous guinea fowl. That’s when I realised that even without spotting the big five in the last couple days, my safari experience at nDzuti would’ve been just as spectacular.

Welcome to nDzuti

The untarred road leading up to the safari lodge slithered through grassland broken by Acacias, elephants and giraffes. I arrived at nDzuti having just experienced a transfer which doubled as a game drive, and was greeted with a warm welcome by Bruce and Judy who run the lodge.

The thatched lodge gives off a homely atmosphere with its leather couches, Honesty Bar and feel-good art that hangs on the walls. Although, the enormous showers are nothing like I’d have at home. Seriously, the shower is large enough to comfortably accommodate a post-game-drive scrub-down with you, your significant other and a baby elephant.

Venturing off into the wilderness

Klaserie Private Nature Reserve shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park which means you’re in big five territory.

Each morning our day started at 5:45 am with a cheerful wake-up call through the bedroom door. On the other side of the door, a light breakfast and piping hot cup of coffee awaited… as did the excitement of an early morning game drive. The guides have an incredible amount of knowledge and didn’t miss an opportunity to share quirky stories and fun facts with us as we ventured further into the reserve, spotting wildlife and brilliant bird life along the way.

Satisfying more than a taste for the wild

I don’t know how they found her, but their cook – Mama Sienna – is what I call an African queen of the kitchen. The joy in her smile almost outshone the gratefulness in mine when I thanked her for the most delicious spinach pie I’d ever tasted.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner had to be the most scrumptious, love-filled feasts you could wrap your tongue around in that part of the world. To top the dining experience off, meals were rolled out on a viewing deck overlooking a well-attended waterhole. It was also the perfect spot for reading, taking a dip in the turquoise pool, or gathering around the fire pit.

The fire side banter

In the evening I gathered around the open-air fire pit with guests from around the world. With my hands wrapped around a frosty Savanna from the Honesty Bar, we all exchanged stories of our travels and previous game drive sighting experiences. We laughed, swapped email addresses and enjoyed the magical atmosphere that the stars overhead and the call of wild dogs lent to the experience.

With so much to see, photograph, eat and enjoy, the evening could’ve quite possibly been ticking into the wee hours. All I know is that by 9 pm it felt like midnight and it was time for bed.

As I curled up under the down duvet, I silently thanked past guests for the shining reviews they had left on Trip Advisor, which fuelled my excitement for experiencing nDzuti.

So when I think about it, seeing the big five on a safari is only a fraction of the enjoyment of the experience as a whole. A safari is about so much more than just tracking wildlife, and I feel nDzuti understands exactly that.