Grandest of Finales

Sadly, after 4 weeks on the road, it was almost time to bring our adventure to a close. We always try to finish our trips with something a bit special, and the finale of this trip coincided with Mel's birthday, warranting something extra special.

We decided that a 5-star lodge should do the trick nicely. Southern Africa isn't short on choice, but we needed to find one that wasn't too far out of our way. In a straight line between the Central Kalahari and Johannesburg is Madikwe Private Game Reserve. Once a derelict farm, this marvel of conservation is now the 5th largest reserve in South Africa. Spanning 750km2, and open to patrons of the lodges only, we'd read that this might be our best chance to see a rhino.

Rhinos are critically endangered, owing to poachers that service the lunatics who believe that rhino horn will provide them with imaginary powers. We hadn't seen rhinos yet (not even in Khama Rhino Sanctuary), and they were the last of the "Big 5" left for us to spot. We'd done a lot of research prior to booking one of the handful of lodges in Madikwe, and we eventually landed on Motswiri (the local word for the Leadwood Tree). For those who aren't aware, two nights in a really high-end lodge can cost the same as a small second-hand car (not exaggerating), so we were hoping Madikwe gave us a nice balance between luxury and "affordability". We weren't disappointed!

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the staff who offered welcome drinks and warm wash cloths. Our bags and cars were whisked away, and we were treated to the most amazing 2 days! The food was sensational, the chalets were massive (only 6 of them), and the staff were wonderful. The stay was all-inclusive, with a ranger-led game drive each morning and evening. On the evening of Mel's birthday we asked our jovial guide, Elliott, if he might be able to find us a rhino. To our amazement, he found 10!

Motswiri was the perfect way to finish what had already been a brilliant safari. We'd covered about 6,000km, across 3 countries, and seen nature at its most fundamental. There were nights without showers, covered in dust, smelling like smoke...and I would happily have turned around and done another 5 weeks of the same!

Until next time, goodbye, Mother Africa.Weiterlesen