You will know what the phrase, “Africa is not a place, it’s a feeling” means after visiting Garden Route Game Lodge.
When people hear you are from South Africa, one of the first associations they make is “safari”. It was only after our stay at Garden Route Game Lodge did I come to truly understand what this means – or at least, what it means for me. Let me explain.
Arriving at the Lodge
On arrival at the lodge you are greeted by a porter who is eager to help you and your belongings out the car, a much welcomed gesture especially if you have been travelling for a while. Checkin is quick and effortless and meeting some of the staff nearby is always nice as they will be your family away from home for the duration of your stay.
Next up is settling in to your room and surrounds before making your way outside and discovering that you are surrounded by beautiful plains so wide and vast, stretching across the horizon and beyond. That, is where you will meet your part Africa in the coming hours.
Scroll through the images below of the reserve and area for guests.
Our first safari was a morning one, leaving before the sun comes up gives you a real sense of adventure and purpose. The game viewing vehicle was extremely well kept and our field guide was knowledgable and expertly equipped to navigate the terrain, locate animals, offer facts and information while still being fun and friendly. Truly, I was very impressed at this and appreciate that this is no small task.
COLLABORATION PARTNER
Garden Route Game Lodge
DATE OF TRAVEL
June 2024
OFFERING
2 nights stay with x4 safari game drives, access to viewing decks, walking trails and games room.
Start your Morning with a Game Drive
On our first morning drive, the air was cold and there was a heavy mist, this somehow added to the sense of adventure and the unknown. It allowed us to witness even more of nature by not knowing fully what was out there and being in the natural enlivenment in its most natural state – somewhere most of us don’t spend enough time in – was an incredible feeling.
I am not sure what I was expecting but in the end we viewed 4 out of the 5 Big 5. This to me was absolutely remarkable. What I loved about this particular lodge is that we did not have to be out for hours at a time to get just one sighting of an animal, we were in fact so fortunate to view countless amounts of animals in different settings and at different points in their day. For example, we saw a group of Rhinoceros grazing together but just the next day saw a mother and her baby rhino together out drinking water and grazing on their own. We were able to get really close to the Rhino and take in just a few minutes of the majestic being – something I will not soon forgot.
We saw a male lion with three lioness with a kill they had made earlier that day – to me this is exceptionally rare. We saw a cheetah gain ground and chase after a group of buck, we saw elephants playing a galloping around the nearby plains, we saw buffalo, zebra, various beautiful and interesting bird species.
The Highlight of the Trip
The absolute highlight for me must be during our afternoon game drive where we tracked a group of giraffe, we were on the mission for quite some time and had made our way to the top of a mountainous area, quite remote as the road was not as travelled as the other parts, we were about to lose hope, when right at the top of the mountain as we were taking a slight bend, we spotted the beautiful elongated neck of the giraffe through the trees.
The happiness and joy our group felt at being able to see these creatures was real. As we took the bend, seeing the vegetation and bush open up more and revealing 6 or 7 more giraffe was absolutely spectacular. The sun was gently kissing the giraffes already golden fur, them grazing peacefully while we all looked on in awe and true happiness being able to experience them in this was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
As if this moment could not get any better, our guide offered us some sundowners and light snacks while we enjoyed the sunset and beautiful animals nearby. This was truly the highlight of our trip. We returned to the lodge that evening with smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts. I think our group would agree that we all left with a little bit of Africa in our souls.
Summer Moments in Winter
The other really special offering my family and I enjoyed was the pool area. Albeit we visited in winter, we were really lucky to have had warmish weather during the day and could make use of the heated pool. This located right at the edge overlooking the majestic plain and beautiful scenery. We absolutely loved this, being able to relax in the water while overlooking nature in all its glory was something to behold and savoured. One can’t help but wonder what remarkable creature is just out there.
I have to say after this experience I am somehow changed. I am not sure if it is because I have a new found love and appreciation for nature and wildlife, or if it is a desire to draw closer to this world. Perhaps it is a bit of both.
Thank you Garden Route Game Lodge for offering a world class experience and representing South Africa so well.
Wildlife photography by Matthew Loutzenhiser
Images of lodge rooms provided by lodge.
Noteworthy mentions that the lodge offered:
- A preplanned itinerary so that your trip is optimised and you don’t need to do any planning yourself.
- The dinner menu changes each night so there is an element of surprise.
- The lodge makes special occasions, special.
- Bonfire when returning from afternoon game drives with marshmallows to roast on the fire.
- Personalised notes and welcome letter offered a personalised touch.
- Kid friendly with colouring in at mealtimes and a games room.