Game Drives at Chitwa Chitwa Lodge in Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa

The first night drive continued with sightings of lions and other game while one ranger drove and another perched on the hood of the vehicle tracking scat, spoor and shining a big floodlight on the animals only if they were not actively hunting. Bad, bad to interrupt animals out looking for dinner. Every now and then, the driver would turn the engines off and we'd just sit and listen for a while while the rangers and Pat interpreted the forest and savannah sounds. It is also completely amazing to watch rangers at work. We're sitting in the vehicle with darkness all around and all of a sudden the ranger will say, "There's a lion in the bush about 500 feet ahead of us." What lion? What bush? How in the heck do they pick out these specks hidden in the forest? 'Tis a puzzlement and marvel to watch them work.

A little important game drive etiquette and other information:

- Be quiet or the animals will disappear. Do not call out to anyone.

- Don't wear bright colored clothing. Khaki, beige, browns or any other dull colors to blend in with the surroundings is the way to go.

- Carry your cameras in protective bags and baggies. Don't be like idiot me who carelessly placed a camera on the floor of the vehicle once in Kenya. You've got it...that took care of the mechanism in that camera along with a plentitude of dust.

Sabi Sand lions

- Bring light jackets along for both early morning and evening game drives. It's very cool at those hours and we always wore long pants on the evening drives. Most of the lodges also have blankets inside the vehicles to wrap around yourself. Don't worry about bugs. There was never a bug problem except for one huge Rhinoceros Beetle (Rhino Beetle) taking a stroll on the bar at Chitwa Chitwa one night.

Rhinoceros Beetle enjoying sundowners at Chitwa Chitwa Day 2 dinner.jpg

enjoying our pre-dinner wine at Chitwa Chitwa

This was our first close encounter with a Rhinoceros Beetle and a few interesting facts are: they use their horns in mating battles against other males; popular Asian pets because they are clean and easy to maintain; and are the strongest animals on the planet in relation to their own size.

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It would be difficult to get more intimate and private with capacity for only 12 guests at this luxury lodge. Chitwa Chitwa was originally a private retreat of the Brink family, and now focuses on both hospitality and conservation. We returned after one night game drive and were led in the darkness to their boma, an enclosure made of reeds or thorn bushes used in the bush for protection, for dinner. This high boma was exquisitely set for us with a fire in the middle and is a typical South African boma braai experience. Selected South African wines, excellent Mediterranean/African meats and cuisine before falling asleep like a rock. The staff would awaken us, all too soon in the darkness for the early morning game drive.