Activities

Activities

A safari is a journey of discovery, a chance to connect deeply with your surroundings. Immersing yourself in the rhythm of life in the bush is at the heart of a safari and being able to do so, is a privilege never to be taken for granted. Whether you’re drawn to the thrill of seeing the Big 5, the wonders of birding, seasonal frogging or cultural experiences, our expert guides are here to create a personalised experience tailored to your interests.

Game Drives

Imagine close encounters with newborn cheetah cubs or witnessing the raw power of a daring lion fight. At Amakhosi Safari Lodge, our qualified and experienced guides are eager to share their passion for the environment and look forward to taking you on a journey of discovery that immerses you in the wonders of the bush and where you are at one with your surroundings.

Guest experience:

“From one of the viewpoints we saw the Mkuze River meandering through a blend of savannah, wetlands and mountains. We had joined our ranger on an early morning game drive and as we enjoyed the changing scenery, we also learnt how each animal has their favourite grazing or hunting grounds. And along the way, we discovered fascinating insects and unique plants and learnt about the biodiversity of the area.

I found it incredibly exciting to explore the surroundings; in the bush anything can happen, especially at Amakhosi where wildlife is abundant and the Big 5 roam all over the reserve. Being in the company of a passionate guide who shares his intimate knowledge of the bush made our explorations all the more special. He knows the reserve like the back of his hand and took us to the very best areas, so that we could experience the real ‘Out of Africa’ feeling, time and again.

Being part of life in the bush is the essence of a safari and being able to do so is a privilege one should never take for granted.”

Bush Walks

Bush walks bring you closer to the heartbeat of the bush, immersing you in the power of nature. With knowledgeable guides leading the way, guests are treated to exciting, yet safe encounters with pristine fauna and flora.

Guest experience:

“Early morning in the veld was surprisingly crisp. It helped me to sharpen my senses, because I’m not an early bird and we had to get up at 4:30 am to join a game drive.

While we had tea with rusks, our guide told us gave us a break down of the drive ahead. On our return, and after a hearty brunch, we once again set off with our guide and tracker – but not before we were given a briefing and were told not to run in the event of a close encounter with game.

Ready and full of anticipation, we left the safety of the lodge, on foot. We discovered, step by step, a new world of amazing insects, colourful birds and all sizes of game, all playing their part in the cycle of life. For a city person like me, this slow-paced adventure gave me a chance to become aware of the magic in nature and how we are part of it.

Being on foot brought me even closer to the heartbeat of the bush. It reminded me of how small and fragile we are compared to the magnitude of nature.”

Frogging Safaris

Game walks of a different kind. From November to March each year, when the rains come, Amakhosi invites guests to discover the fascinating world of amphibians. Night safaris with qualified guides take you deep into the bush to marvel the spectrum of colours and the loud calling of mating frogs. But please note, this activity is seasonal, subject to availability and needs to be prearranged.

Guest experience:

“We drove under a starlit sky, deeper and deeper into the bush until we stopped at a waterhole and incidentally chased away a drinking rhino. I started wondering if I had the nerve for this kind of nocturnal exploration. Alwyn switched off the lights of the open-air Land Rover, turned on his headlamp and headed off towards the muddy water…

“Surely everything’s under control,” I told myself as I followed him in the dark. Most of the others had stayed behind at the lodge, preferring a sundowner to mud.

‘Yes, we’ve got a little tinker reed frog with us tonight. I can hear two rapid staccato taps, over there, between those reeds’, whispered Alwyn and slowly we ‘slop-slopped’ closer, the mud sucking our boots. And there it was, a tiny 3 mm bright yellow frog loudly calling for his mate. ‘How do you know who’s who?’ I asked. They might change colour, but each species has its own distinct call. I counted at least 12 different sounds, so we were well surrounded. ‘When you catch one, place it gently in the plastic bag’, I heard as I stretched out my hand. When in water a frog breathes largely through its skin, so touching it is quite hazardous. Totally entranced by their extravagant colours and designs, their big eyes and toe pads, I almost left the roaring sounds of the bush behind me, together with my fear for water spiders.

Exhilarated I listened to more frogs at a distant waterhole. They called out loudly, like a marching army. I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the experience. My frogging safari was topped off with the sight of a gorgeous red-legged kassina just before we drove back to the lodge to catch up on dinner.

We were profoundly affected by our bush experiences. As it turned out, we were surrounded by passionate people; Alwyn, the frog expert, showed all the symptoms of a fanatic.”

Birding

A very powerful eagle, the Stephanoaetus coronatus, hunts mainly monkeys and small forest antelope. It kills by severing the vertebrae of its prey or will drive its very long dewclaw through the back of the monkey’s skull. This crowned eagle prefers forest areas, but in the Amakhosi Private Game Reserve it is also found in riverine forest. The reserve has three breeding pairs.

Guest experience:

“My wife is a passionate ornithologist and was over the moon when she heard that the reserve is home to over 420 bird species. She bombarded our guide with questions and to her delight he knew all the answers.

“Did you hear that high pitched noise, like a blacksmith hitting metal with his hammer?” She wanted to know. “It’s a blacksmith lapwing nesting on the ground, near the water. It will viciously defend its nest against anything that comes close.” “How?” she continued. “By alarm calling continuously until the threat backs off!” he explained further. We enjoyed listening to the sounds of the bush and I ended up sharing her passion…”