Gone Twitching

When your father (in law) is Chairman of a birding club and he joins you on your stay at the Reserve, you are bound to know where this trip will take you. Co-owners Kirsty and Craig asked him to do a little write-up of his time:

“The Limpopo-Lipadi River Camp Lodges sit beautifully along the banks of the Limpopo River. The Tuli bushveld is currently scattered with colourful knob-thorn blossoms, while the first green leaves of the acacias hint at spring.

Waking up to the gentle sound of the river and the dawn chorus of bushveld birds is a rare pleasure and a perfect alarm clock. After a quick tea and rusks each morning, we set off with our expert guide, Actor, for the morning game drive. Sightings were excellent: leopard, lion, rhino, elephant, many graceful giraffes, and a range of antelope and small buck, including the dainty little Phuduhudu (Setswana for Steenbok).

Actor’s deep knowledge of the bush is remarkable. He reads the spoor on the sandy red roads as easily as we read a morning newspaper. “The elephants went this way, then turned back. They are heading for the waterhole. After breakfast.”

Limpopo-Lipadi offers countless small treasures too. With at least one keen birder in our group, we set a challenge to spot 100 bird species. The migrant raptors, bee-eaters, cuckoos and swallows were still away, which made the target ambitious. After four days, we had reached only 75, but a few good bursts brought the total to 107 species. Nothing like a little birding challenge.

Next time you visit, take a closer look at the birds. Arm yourself with a pair of binoculars and a bit of patience; it opens up a whole new world.”

Want to be a part of Limpopo-Lipadi’s adventures? For discreet information on share sales, contact generalmanager@limpopo-lipadi.org. To book a safari, request our rates via reservations@limpopo-lipadi.org or via WhatsApp: (+267) 76770191