The Shiduli Experience

The Shiduli Experience

What can we say about this place. It can only be experienced to be appreciated. We have run out of superlatives to describe its luxury and service and the safari experiences. The Shiduli Lodge is a lodge within the Karawonge Private game Reserve, just out of Hoedspruit, and not far from Kruger national park. It is a must do for everyone.

The food is divine. Extravagent buffet breakfasts and 3 course lunch and dinners every day. We are starting to look like our own breed of Hippo family. Biltong, crocodile, springbok and borewoers have all been consumed on top of the usual 5 star affair. They put on a brier (BBQ) for us the other night. All the staff took part and performed singing and dancing for us. Of course we joined in. The servants and guides at this place are some of the most genuinely friendly and infectious beaming people. They have the most amazing smiles and happy, friendly nature.  Rose is my favourite. She is a beautiful big young African mama who just laughs and giggles every time we see her. Shake that body “one more time!” Fannie our barman is a dead ringer for Eddie Murphy in Coming to America! He, He, He, He!

The Safari’s are unbelievable. We cannot even try to relay the awe of these animals up so close or feelings of fear, adrenaline, pure excitement and survival all at the same time. Each trip has brought its own massive highlights.  Morris and Lewis (our guide and tracker) have done so much for us and the boys we will never forget. Mixing it with herds of Zebra and Giraffe. Staring down Rhino’s as they block our path.  Walking out of the jeep amongst the Cheetahs.  And then of course the Elephants and the Lions.

On the first morning trail, after watching Hippo’s frolick in a waterhole, we managed to track two female Lionesses and their 4 cubs. I could not believe we could follow along the tracks with them. The females would occasionally stop and sit and guard whilst the cubs played boyishly around.  They were on the lookout for food and could have turned on us at anytime.

Apparently the open jeeps are safe! Most of the animals (Impala, Wildebeest, Ynala, Warthogs, Waterbucks, Zebra, Giraffe, etc) move away as we approach. Sadly, after few trips they have become the “cows” out there. You have to be quick with camera to get a head shot as they quickly turn away and we end up with the obligatory bum shot as they walk off. The rhino generally stand and face off with us for a while, put some doubt in our mind as to their intentions, then they walk away. The big cats see the jeep with us in it as a whole, therefore, too big for them. They don’t recognise us as tasty, well fed dinner riding along in a jeep. Pretty much we can get comfortably to about 10m away from the animals and stop. It is up to them if they want to move away or come closer!

The ride is massively uncomfortable being bashed by the steel framing of the 4 wheel drive, travelling around over bumpy roads,  and sitting cramped for 6 to 8 hrs a day. The back is taking a hammering, and thighs and hips bruised all over, but somehow we still keep going back for more.

The guides are only genuinely scared of the elephants and we need to try and get in behind the herd and their path of travel. On two separate occasions we have come across them face to face on narrow trails and had to back up and vacate very quickly. Frightening stuff when a massive bull elephant the size of a Mack truck with his fifth leg, ears flapping and huge tusks is heading at you.

But the most truly petrifying encounters for us have been with Zero, the alpha male Lion (Madorta) and ruler of the land here. The first was within the first ten minutes of us being here when we pulled up beside him and his Zebra kill. As if we weren’t apprehensive enough on our first ever safari. We all nearly wet our pants when it looked up at us. Fortunately he was full after eating for 2 days so just wanted to rest. Not the case last night when on dusk, he literally walked towards and alongside us, within one metre away. On the hunt for food and roaring out to the females. Truly shit yourself, frozen stiff stuff.  Told “do not move!” but still taking photos with a flash on not knowing what it was going to do. When the moment passed and with all limbs and both boys still accounted for, we bloody followed him! Struggled to get to sleep even hours after that encounter. Again this morning we came across him asleep some 8km from where we’d had the life scared out of us just as we were pulling up for our morning coffee stop. Fortunately he was exhausted and sleepy and we got some great photos.

Two more safaris to go, and who knows what thrills and encounters we are going to have...on the hunt for the elusive Leopard now......