Ranger Diaries

February has been a rather interesting month. I have not seen so much rain in a very long time. We had nearly 360mm of rain in less than a week and just over 400mm in less than a month. The bush is beautiful, so lush, so green and the river has been flowing from one bank to the other. We even had 3 or 4 days where we could not even cross the drainage at the lodge or cross the river. With all this beauty comes its challenges, like limited areas to drive, and vehicles getting stuck. We had 6 vehicles stuck in our traverse area in two days, including a tractor. For the genuine bush lovers, this did not stop them, they were still out there with us enjoying what nature had to offer, even though sightings were a little slower than what we are used to. There is just so much water at the moment in the bush and small drainages, no animal is forced to go to the river or a watering hole.

The bushveld is blooming in the summertime. Loads of beautiful, colourful flowers. The water dams and rivers are full and flowing strongly. And there are plenty of wildlife babies. Welcome to another update from the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and Makumu Private Game Lodge, your home away from home. I will be covering some of the exciting things that we encountered over the last month.

I will be covering all the sightings we had during December 2022.

We have reached the end of 2022. We’ve had a great year and we feel privileged to end it off in this beautiful place called home. We’ve had our first good rain this season and with it being so hot and dry, animals have been everywhere, especially around Makumu. All the waterholes have abundant wildlife and birds lurking around on these hot summer days. We just went to go and sit around the waterhole and wait for the animals to come to us. The lodge watering hole was also extremely busy with animals and guests are being kept busy the whole day with animals coming and going, from tons of giraffes to big groups of elephants, even rhinos! Lets’ look into some crazy wildlife sightings below…

Welcome back to another exciting update on our adventures here in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. I will be covering all the exciting things that happened over November.

Summer is here in full force with temperatures rising to 38’C. We received some amazing rainfall this past month and you can see the results in the luscious green bushveld. And this is only the beginning.

I will be covering all the sightings we had during October 2022.

Where to start with this report, it has been an epic month sighting-wise. With September and October being 2 of the driest months and temperatures rising it always provides good sightings. The bush is extremely dry and thinned out, the river system is hardly flowing, a small narrow little stream at best, waterholes are pumping with the game and then the odd chance of a spectacular lightning storm as we approach our rainy season. Days are long and nights are short as we leave quite early in the mornings the catch the beautiful sunrise and later in the afternoons to avoid the heat of the day.

Welcome back to another exciting update on our adventures here in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. I will be covering all the exciting things that happened over September.

The winter season is slowly fading away and the hot summer air is moving in strong with temperatures rising to 35’C. But we can still enjoy our winter bush, which is still dry and clear for a few more weeks before the rains move in.

The mornings are chilly, AD and I have been wearing 2 shorts and gloves for the morning drives, it does however warm up very nicely within the first hour. We still advise our guests to wear a nice warm jacket in the mornings and to tuck the hot water bottles right under the jacket, almost cuddling with it.

The days are pleasant though with temperatures still reaching mid to high 20‘C which is a beautiful summer day in most European countries, some guests are even starting to spend their days around the pool and in the pool. The night sky is breathtaking as always, sitting around the boma fire in the evenings is an absolute joy, chatting away, listening to the evening sounds and appreciating the still quiet beauty nature has to offer while enjoying a drink. Game drives have been great and the bush has thinned out a lot.

Welcome back to a chilly, yet exciting update on our adventures here in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. I will be covering all the thrilling sightings that happened during July 2022.

We are right in the middle of winter; the mornings are crispy cold. The sunrise and sunsets are beyond spectacular with their orange rays over the winter bushveld. Most trees have dropped their leaves, and the grass has thinned out, even though there is still plenty of food and water around. The days are pleasant as we still average temperatures in the low to mid 20ᵒC.

I will be covering all the wonderful sightings that happened during June 2022, and what a lucky month we have had.

The mornings are very crisp with the late rainfall we had in May, with lots of dew when we start our game drives, yet AD and I are still wearing shorts :-) We did however layer up and do advise the guests to be prepared when going out on game drives. The days are pleasant with temperatures still reaching mid 20‘C which is a beautiful summer day in most European countries. The night sky is breathtaking, the Milky way so bright it almost looks like a white cloud above us with the crackling wood fire warming our feet and hands as we sit around the boma fire enjoying a glass of wine.

Game drives have been great and the bush has thinned out a lot with lots of prominent animal pathways all leading to different water sources. We have started with bushwalks again.

Welcome back to yet another exciting update on our adventures here in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. I will be covering all the thrilling sightings that happened during May.

We are heading into winter. The mornings are chilly, which means it is that time of year where we get out the hot water bottles, blankets, gloves and a nice warm tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. The bush luscious green is slowly fading to a rustier brown and yellow winter colours. The days are pleasant as we still have average temperatures in the low to mid 20ᵒC.

I will be covering all the wonderful sightings that happened during April 2022.

The mornings are cooling down, it is crisp, with beautiful dew drops on the grass and spider webs. The days are pleasant and the evenings just perfect with the breath-taking sky as we sit around the bush TV (Fire) chatting away, listening to the Hyena calling in the distance.

Game drives have exceeded expectations and the bush has thinned out quite a lot with lots of prominent animal pathways starting to form. We had some late rain, which pushed a few greens through all the browns, it is truly beautiful.

The cold temperatures are slowly moving in. Which calls for late night gatherings around the fire with a blanket and hot chocolate. Welcome to another update from the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and Makumu Private Game Lodge, your home away from home. I will be covering some of the exciting things that we encountered over the last month.

I will be covering all the wonderful sightings that happened during February 2022.

It is the end of our summer period; we are moving into autumn. Temperatures are still high and days still warm, this one of the advantages to our location. The bush is still lush and leaves still green, even though you can see that the grass is slowly starting to fade. Soon our migratory birds will start moving and day by day their numbers will go down to none, to “see you next year.”

Game Drives have exceeded expectations with the thick bush right throughout the traverse. Once again patience and persistence were key and paid of with really good sightings.

Summer is still in full force with hot temperature, regular rainstorms, luscious greenery, and flowing rivers. Welcome to another update from the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and Makumu Private Game Lodge, your home away from home. I will be covering some of the exciting things that we encountered over the last month.

The bushveld is blooming with beautiful flowers, vegetation, full water dams and loads of wildlife babies. Welcome to another update from the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and Makumu Private Game Lodge, your home away from home. I will be covering some of the exciting things that we encountered over the last month.

I will be covering all the wonderful sightings that happened during November 2021.

It is summer, we had a few thunderstorms already and the bush is starting to change, beautiful fresh green leaves all over, short green grass is starting to show and so many flowers. Truly a beautiful time of the year with the sights and sounds of our migrant birds that has returned and also our very interesting little dung beetles, that you can sit and watch for hours.

“I bless the rains down in Africa”’ - Toto. Summer is here and we can’t be more excited for what’s to come. Beautiful, green, lush’s bushveld and African rainstorms. Welcome to another update from the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and Makumu Private Game Lodge, your home away from home. I will be covering some of the exciting things that we encountered over the last 2 months.

Welcome back to another exciting update on our adventures here in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. I will be covering all the thrilling sightings that happened during September 2021.

Welcome back to another exciting update on our adventures here in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. I will be covering all the exciting things that happened over August…

Welcome back to a chilly, yet exciting update on our adventures here in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. I will be covering all the thrilling sightings that happened during July 2021.

Winter is slowly approaching, which means early morning coffees, hot water bottles and late night fires around the dinner table. Welcome to another update from the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and Makumu Private Game Lodge, your home away from home. I will be covering some of the exciting things that we encountered over the last 2 months.

After a very wet and green summer, autumn has finally arrived, March is still way greener than last year, but there are small changes, like the cooler nights and the crisp cool mornings out on our morning drives, welcome to another update from the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and Makumu Private Game Lodge, your home away from home. I will be covering some of the exciting things that we encountered over the last 2 months.

Welcome back to another exciting update on our adventures here in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. I will be covering all the exciting things that happened over October- November.

We are at the start of summer, and already have we reached temperatures in the low 40’s (degrees Celsius). Apart from the heat this, must be one of my favourite times of year (as spring moves into summer) with that first bit of rain and all the green starting to pop up all over, giving some colour to the still-existing winter browns and yellows.

Welcome back for another update from the beautiful Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and Makumu Private Game Lodge!

It has been very dry, and this is causing the most amazing sunrises and sunsets. Due to the dust gathering within the atmosphere, it causes the glare of the rising or setting light to reflect red as you look over the horizons.

A warm welcome back to another update on our exciting adventures here in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. It is an absolute privilege to call this place, with all its amazing views and rolling hills, HOME!! I will be covering all the exciting things that happened over June- July…

Welcome back for another update from the Wild West of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve!! I will be covering updates from April and May in this blog entry…

A wonderful welcome to all of you reading our first wildlife sightings report! This will be a regular instalment which Matt and Morné will alternate writing.

Please keep following our blog for other great features and updates from the bush and of course the lodge and kitchen as well!