“Absolutely beautiful, exquisitely decorated and great views”; “heaven on Earth is a place called M’kepi”; “the wildlife is spectacular and the peaceful surroundings will stay in my heart for a long, long time.”
These are just some of the comments written over the past 20 years in the leather-bound visitors’ book at M’kepi, a private wildlife conservancy and hunting lodge in the Waterberg district of Limpopo Province. Its thatched four-bedroom Tambotie Lodge, set in the midst of namesake tall, straight trees, was the setting for a wonderful family get-together in October. Our visit was characterized by generosity and abundance, with attention to the smallest detail.
We had set off from Johannesburg at dawn, passing Pretoria and Bela Bela, until urban sprawl gave way to savanna and mixed bushveld. Shopping mall signs evolved into rustic directions to Bobbejaanstert and Jakkalsgat, and we spotted displays of ancient vehicles used to mine iron ore in the district. Finally, tar turned to farm tracks whose characteristic ochre-coloured dust tinged the rocks and tree bark.
Within the hour we were unpacked and relaxing on a vast semi-circular woven couch piled with cream cushions, overlooking a stone-edged swimming pool. Antelope grazed serenely, bush squirrels scampered under the trees and the guttural calls of hornbills echoed from a kloof.
The abundance of game made for magical forays. We frequently spotted buck such as kudu, sable, roan antelope, waterbuck, nyala and eland, as well as exotic species like black impala, black springbok and golden wildebeest. Other game included buffalo, giraffe, warthog, baboons and monkeys. One evening, gathered for sundowners at a crest named Chapman’s Peak, we heard a guttural animal cry that we suspected was a sign of a kill.
What a treat to return from an evening game drive to a circle of camp chairs enclosing a pile of burning logs, with Consol solar jars shedding their glow, a promise of long chats into the night.
A highlight was an alfresco breakfast cooked in a stone boma at the nearby Maroela bush camp. “There’s not a cloud in sight,” said my son, as we cooked bacon and eggs over the central fire pit. An ingenious Dover stove system ensured hot water for a shower, and attesting to the wild outdoors, an enormous blue-tinged centipede emerged from the sink plughole.
M’kepi offers activities such as hunting with an experienced tracker, clay pigeon shooting, bush walks and mountain biking. Some waterholes have hides and nearly 400 birds have been identified in the area, ranging from eagles to waxbills. It’s a serene get-away-from-it-all within easy reach of Johannesburg and perfect for get-togethers with friends and family.
Getting there: M’kepi game lodge is a three hour drive from Johannesburg, via Brits or Bela Bela, the latter recommended. No need for a four-wheel drive vehicle. The lodge offers a landing strip for small planes and a helicopter hangar.
Find out more: https://mkepi.co.za/ | bookings@mpeki.co.za.
Images: Judy Bryant
