Safari……a word so regularly used today and a holiday/trip in which many from all over the world venture on to discover wildlife, culture and adventure. The word “safar” actually derives from the Arabic verb which translates to mean “to make a journey” – “safari” being a Swahili synonym of safar.
Safaris started around the trade industry where prized items – even people – were sold across vast landscapes. This fortunately changed in the 20th century with the slave trade being abolished, which resulted in safaris becoming a leisurely focus with fun and exploration as opposed to a business focus.
This is what the Tshukudu Private Game Reserve aims to consistently provide – a wildlife journey full of excitement and experience. Showing people the alluring nature of South Africa and it’s richness in biodiversity – taking people on their own unique endeavours – haven’t we all watched Indiana Jones and wished we had the hat and the excitement?!
Such game reserves would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the increased price of wildlife in comparison to the price of cattle! Cattle farming used to dominate the area of what is now Tshukudu Game Reserve and the farmers used to shoot the wildlife to protect the cattle – how times change! The cattle also introduced large encroacher tree species (i.e. sickle bush) which took over the landscape and prevented other tree species and vegetation to grow – to this day we are still fighting to rid of this!
30 years ago, the Sussens family bought the farm and transformed the area into what is today known as the Tshukudu Game Reserve – named Tshukudu as this is the Sotho word for “Rhino” and the rhino was the first animal to be reintroduced into the area after the years of cattle farming. The rhino was just the start…..
With 5,000 hectares of beautiful landscape, the reserve habituates the most incredible animals I have ever seen, from a family of lions, elephant herds, hyena, a rhino and its calf, to orphaned leopards, and orphaned cheetahs that join you on bush walks or chill around the lodge pool.
There is nothing like sitting around the tranquil pool at the lodge, with an array of bird calls surrounding the air and all of a sudden hearing the distinct sound of the lions roaring close by. You get visions of watching Mufasa in The Lion King stood on Pride Rock and think to yourself how you never thought when watching the Disney film as a child that one day you would see such scenes in reality!
Spending each day here at the reserve is a dream and living here in South Africa is me “making my journey”!
Carnivores and Conservation 