“Makalali, Private Game Reserve” von Jutta Birmele       

Makalali is a private Game reserve, approx. 4 1/2 hours from Johannesburg away.

With a size of 30'000 acre, it’s situated on the Makhutsi River.

1997 Makalali was highly awarded for its innovative architecture and Design as well as for its excellent cooking (one of Africa’s top ten eating establishments).

After we passed the portal to the Makalali Game Reserve with our minibus, we still had to drive quite some kilometers over bumpy road till to an Airstrip, where Chris our ranger was already expecting us.

After a friendly hello and a cool drink in the shadow of a hut, we repacked and then were transported on the open Landrover through hard-to-travel areas up to the Lodge .

The unusual, however deeply African architectural style and the cordial greetings had the effect that we felt ourselves like being in a beautiful fairy tale.

After a further refreshment in the open hall directly at the river, we went straight to our first game observation.

Not long and Chris and Sam our two pathfinders showed us the first lions , a love couple, just starting a new family.

After we had watched the lions a certain time, we drove on.

Suddenly Sam became little jerky. He pointed into a direction and ordered Chris to follow.

As the car stopped we detected not far from us two cheetahs.

The cheetahs came nearer and nearer, according to Chris two brothers.

On a close clearing the cheetahs had established themselves and observed hungrily some prey in the distance.

Quite a while they sat like that, till suddenly the hunt opened. With a tremendous speed they took up the pursuit and we in the jeep after them like crazy.

Chris was not afraid of any obstacle, so we would not miss the high point of the chase, the hunting down of the game, but then “tssss”.

One tire had a got a leakage.

It was already in the dusk, which is of course the very active time of wild animals on the hunt.

Chris had asked us to step out of the car, so he and Sam could change the wheel. After 5 minutes the work was already completed, but for me it was there longest minutes of my entire life.

Ever I did not have such fear!

After been back in the Lodge, those in the meantime illuminated by burning torches/flares, a further high point was expecting us.

And we enjoyed the outstanding African Dinner in this wonderful mysterious atmosphere the wild bush had created.

Later, much later, to be protected from wild animals, everyone was led by a Guide to its sleeping place.

Perhaps these huts were another small sensation, but I will tell from them on a other occasion…..

An exciting day went to an end. One of many still to follow.

Would you like to contact Jutta? You can. Email to:  jubi@freesurf.ch