Madikwe Moments Blog
Pedals 4 Paws project raises funds for African wild dogs
24 March 2012The African wild dog is very close to our hearts here at Jaci’s, and being based in the Madikwe Reserve means we are very privileged to see these amazing animals on a regular basis. When you are on a game drive and observe a large pack of dogs playfully interacting with each other, it is hard to believe that they are on the critically endangered wildlife list.
Thandi and Themba’s Story
23 March 2012The story of Thandi and Themba, the two courageous Rhino from Kariega Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape.
Get out of my dam Duck
5 March 2012Elephants like to take themselves very seriously, but they are actually very amusing creatures, especially the younger ones.
A Sunday morning stroll.
A Sunday morning in the Madikwe
by A. Vermeulen – 7 February 2012This was a morning to remember! Just as the sun was starting to peak its head over the horizon, we saw a pack of Wild Dogs trotting down the dirt road…
Full marks for Jaci’s Safari Lodge
by Kate Turkington – 22 December 2011Veteran travel writer Kate Turkington visits Jaci’s Safari Lodge and enthuses…
Oh yes, I’d heard all about it. Jaci’s Safari Lodge in Madikwe. Reputed to be one of the best – if not the best – safari lodge in Madikwe.
Injured young rhino rescued at dusk
by Deon de Villiers – 1 March 2011It hasn’t been long since the death of our favourite black rhino Kwezi (named after the bright morning star in isiXhosa). Kwezi lived a long and successful life in the dense riverine forest around Jaci’s and provided much enjoyment with her friendly approaches to our wide-eyed guests.
Kwezi’s passing was not a huge surprise to those who followed her movements closely, as she was losing condition fast. As quickly as she declined, however, her young calf was turning into a strong and independent young bull. His courage both surprised and inspired us in the final moments of his mother’s death, as he left her side almost immediately after she took her last breath and headed into the dense bush on his own.
A tribute to a very special rhino
by Neil Steedman – 18 January 2011As someone who lives in the bush, I am constantly subjected to the ways of nature – some of them very beautiful and some hauntingly tragic. The last few days have seen me in a state of virtual mourning.
Jaci’s is set in a prime location along the banks of the well-known Groot Marico River, in the middle of a tamboti tree forest. Being located in a forest in what is essentially semi-desert terrain has allowed us to experience some wonderful things and see amazing creatures. Herds of buffalo frequent the area, but even better is the density of black rhinos found here and the frequency of the sightings of these magnificent creatures.
What made our locality even more special was the constant sighting of one black rhino in particular – Kwezi.
Hambani kahle Thlabatini
by Brett Hoy – 18 January 2011The rise of the morning sun met them halfway down the escarpment, the sweat beads already appearing on their foreheads. It was going to be a scorcher of a day. The dust roared out behind the rattling Landy, coating the backs of their necks as the canvas roof flapped open and closed.
When called away from their concession the men knew that it meant one thing, and one thing only. There was work to be done.
To Shadrach, the valley was his home, where he had spent his youth herding his father’s goats and boron cattle – a breed as hard as nails and resistant to the ever-persistent tsetse flies. They were fine cattle. Shadrach prided himself in looking after them and ensuring that the cows did not struggle with their calving and that the new-born calves would get the colostrum they needed. While walking with these cattle he grew fond of the area that was his home and grew to know the elephant herds that shared this place with him. The old matriarchs and young bulls all became a part of his life as a herdsman.
Going on a bush walk is a truly magical experience
by Sean van der Merwe – 19 November 2010The few privileged individuals who have enjoyed the experience say that walking in the African bush is one of the most sense-enhancing experiences imaginable.
As a safari guide in the Madikwe Game Reserve, I love this time of year. It’s an excellent time for a “walk in the park”, so to speak.
Bush walks are one of my favourite safari activities. The sounds, sights and smells of the wild are truly spectacular, and a bush walk is not always about the animals that you may encounter. It’s about being sensually aware and observing the smaller things that make up the bigger picture.
Ethics versus guest experience
by Johan van Zyl – 17 November 2010Many guests, especially those visiting Africa for the first time, are of the belief that ethical considerations can be overlooked and that the experience itself is more important than related concerns. Guests travelling through different reserves might not understand the myriad ethical issues dealt with by guides every day, so I’d like to provide some examples of what I mean.
A few weeks ago a guide in a certain reserve saw a leopard cub wandering alone, in all likelihood abandoned by its mother.
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