Saturday 18 May 2019
Saturday morning
was time to check out (after a two night stay) of the Palace of Lost City. After breakfast and a quick round at the shopping centre, the members boarded
the coach for the next destination, Mabula Private Game Reserve. After a drive
of around three hours we reached the Mabula Game Reserve. As we neared the
destination we could feel the gradual change in the surrounding. The terrain
become flatter, drier & rougher.
Also after being used to the luxury of the
grand Palace of Lost City the boarding & lodging quarters at the Mabula Game
Lodge looked more down to earth ( (i) as
in furnishing & decor AND also (ii) as in horizontal & not vertical unlike the
multi storeyed lodging in earlier hotels) & basic.
The passengers were
instructed to take along (by way of luggage) only enough clothing for the over
night stay as the rest of the luggage would be locked in the coach and we would
not have access to the same.
As we reached
the Game Reserve, the weather was bright, sunny & hot. After a good lunch we
proceeded to the rooms for a small rest. Some visited the small curio shop.
From the room we could see deer and wart hog roaming in the grounds outside.
The
Reserve authorities gave strict instructions to always keep the room doors
closed.
By around 330 PM
we left for the evening safari. Groups of 7 to 8 persons in vehicle with an
experienced ranger who also doubled up as the driver of the vehicle. Nuria was
the ranger in charge of the group to which I belonged. She informed that jackets
/ blankets were available in the jeep, should we require them. The safari started
quite pleasantly with everyone participating enthusiastically. Initially our
group was able to sight wart hogs, several zebras, monkeys, different types of
deer, a couple of jackals & several birds & small animals native to
that area.
As the evening
approached it started getting cold. As it was an open jeep we felt the fall in outside
temperature even more due to the wind rushing in as we traveled. By 600 PM our
focus was more on keeping ourselves warm than in observing the beautiful sunset
in the south African forests.
So far we could not see any of the big five.
After sunset the fall in the atmospheric temperature was felt even more &
we had to request Nuria for the jackets and/or blankets which she had offered
earlier. After sunset it became very dark & much more colder than ever. However
towards the end of the safari we managed to sight a group of elephants near a
watering hole. Immediately after, we returned to the lodge. After a wholesome dinner
which everyone relished, I retired to bed with my favourite novel as most of
the others moved to the hall where a Bollywood DJ party awaited them.
We had to meet Nuria in the safari jeep next day morning at 630 AM for the early morning safari where we would hopefully sight the remaining 4 of the big 5.
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