I reviewed the book on Adrian Gardiner at the request of his son Paul, so he graciously invited me to spend a weekend at Founders Lodge, which is on the property adjacent to Shamwari, of the Mantis Collection. As many readers may know, Shamwari is a 25,000 ha big five game reserve developed by Adrian and located some 80 kms from Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) en route to Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown).
We arrived in the rain – and although it was much needed in the Eastern Cape, I dreaded the prospect of spending three hours in an open game vehicle trying to spot game in cold, wet weather.
Clad in our ponchos we set off as I pondered how our ranger “JV” was going to keep us entertained as we sloshed through puddles, with the cloud ceiling just above our heads; the hills shrouded in mist; with an English couple just arrived from the gloom of the European winter looking more miserable than the weather!
But I could not have been more delighted, because he instilled a sense of anticipation and excitement in us that was infectious, and in no time at all, we were talking excitedly about what could be around the next bend. And there was plenty! It was as if the general game were energized by the gentle rain and were out on the plains to enjoy it. The evening game drive ended with us parked next to the dominant male lion, thrilled by his roaring to tell any possible suitors that they were not welcome.
We returned to the Lodge in the early evening, which has a somewhat Victorian character and a different feel to other bush lodges that I have visited. The original manor house was converted from what was Adrian’s original homestead with the “Library” his private study where the planning of the Shamwari reserve took place. After a ‘not too much, not too little’ sumptuous meal we wandered down to the underground hide which, being at eye level, overlooks a waterhole in front of the lodge. Wonderful to watch two of the big five having an evening drink just meters away from us!
One must admire Adrian’s passion for establishing the Eastern Cape is a big five destination for both local and the European and the US markets, which are now both well established. And he is not without a sense of humour…when challenged by the Sabi Sand reserves on the inappropriateness of advertising the Eastern Cape as ‘malaria free’, Adrian’s response was that he was more than happy for their byline to be ‘free malaria’!
Founders Lodge comes highly recommended; the game viewing is excellent with no more than two vehicles allowed on a sighting. The topography is magnificent and very different to the bushveld in the north of the country – there are so many vantage points where one can look out over vast plains with significant quantities of general game. The hospitality at the lodge is warm and friendly with delicious and varied cuisine.
Worth a ‘must’ visit!
By Steuart Pennington
The post Game drives in the rain appeared first on The Home Of Great South African News.
