Durban - It was one of the saddest but most beautiful moments of my life and it took place at Nambiti Private Game Reserve.
We were on a quiet evening game drive, one of many on the trip, and there they were. A big mama rhino and her calf, grazing quietly in the bush.
The game ranger pulled up quietly and one could almost see the magnetic pull between mother and calf as they munched away. It was in that moment that I realised that this might be the last time that I ever witness this sight. That perhaps in five years time, there will be no rhino left. That perhaps when the calf is old enough some money hungry poachers will kill it for its horn and sell it to some rich git on the far eastern side of the world.
But, as with so many other issues, I got over it and enjoyed the five-star luxury that is Nambiti.
It is the only big five game reserve in the northern KwaZulu-Natal region. The 22 000-acre, malaria-free reserve was founded by Rob le Sueur. He cleverly purchased a number of cattle and mealie farms to create the reserve, which is also abundant in fauna and flora. There are more than 30 species of game including cheetah, hyena, giraffe, hippo and a variety of game.
This is mainly due to the Sundays River, which flows through the reserve.
There are two spectacular 40m waterfalls. We were treated to a luxurious braai on the banks of the river where just upstream the water cascaded down.
It is also in the middle of historical battlefields.
In the beginning when we were told by our guide that we were going to spend the day atop a hill learning about the Anglo-Boer wars, I felt like spending the day snug in my luxury lodge. How very boring. But how very wrong I was.
The Battle of Elandslaagte in 1899 was full of fascinating tales of deceit and trickery as well as bravery and valour and a huge amount of partying. It felt good to be a South African on the hill where the war stories were told. The towns below were brought to life and I could almost see the bloody battle that took place. The British Lancers charged at the Boers, not once, not twice, but three times. Nasty.
Nambiti has also made history of its own.
With the resolution of a land claim by the Zulu Senzo’kuhle Nkos’uodada community in 2009, a company called Nambiti Private Game Reserve came into being. The company holds a long-term lease over the reserve and 10 lodge owners within the reserve are the shareholders, as are representatives from the community.
It was explained that due to the level of inclusion by the community in terms of job creation, there is little poaching on the reserve.
Aside from the abundance of wildlife, the lodges are an experience on their own.
There are lodges on the hills overlooking the mighty waterfalls.
There are lodges where each house is separate from the other so that you believe you are the only human on the planet. Another overlooks a watering hole, where, during sundowners on your own private patio, you can see the elephants and buck having their last drink of the day.
Others cater for the party crowd. Rent out an entire lodge for your wedding or 21st birthday and the party can go on for days.
Each lodge offers game drives twice daily, fine dining as well as picnics and boma dinners. There are also pool areas for those madly hot KZN days.
Service in the lodges is five star. Certain lodges offer basic, wholesome food while others pride themselves on their cuisine.
The dining area in each lodge is situated with a magnificent view so as to remind you of just how majestic Nambiti’s natural beauty is.
The experience is all-encompassing, from the big five, the sunsets, the waterfalls, the river, the battlefields and the luxury to the fact that it is malaria free.
It is roughly three hours by car from Durban and four hours from Joburg. - Saturday Star