South Africa – Ngala Lodge
In the Mpumalanga province, on the western edge of the Kruger National Park, lies the Ngala Lodge. You usually need an all-terrain car to get to the lodge. The area around Ngala Lodge is pure wilderness. Two safaris a day are carried out by the experienced and well-trained rangers, early in the morning before sunrise and late in the afternoon until nightfall. In this way, we were also able to observe nocturnal animals. The game drives are conducted in open Land Rovers. The park is characterized by a great variety of plants and animals. The natural beauties of this region have captivated us again and again and captivated us.
This luxurious dream of Africa borders the Kruger National Park to the north and is located about 515 kilometers from Johannesburg. The journey takes us through the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains, past the famous Blyde River Canyon, the Grand Canyon of South Africa and through the Strydom Tunnel. Ngala Game Lodge is located in the South African Lowveld on the banks of the Mopane River in the north of the wildlife sanctuary, while Ngala Tented Safari Camp, the luxury tented camp, is located on the banks of the Timbavati River, which only carries seasonal water. The landscape is generally flat and slightly undulating. The main form is bush savannah with forest strips along the Timbavati River, which flows through the area from west to east.
Our ranger is an experienced and trained gamekeeper and at the same time a tracker. Game drives take us in an open off-road vehicle (Landy) through the approximately 15,000 ha area rich in game, which is known above all for its many lions. Ngala also means lion on Shangaan.
The lodge was the first private safari reserve in the world-famous Kruger National Park. Ngala has exclusive rights of use over 15000 of the two million hectares of the Kruger National Park, which is one of the most biodiverse and important big game parks on the continent. On our first safari we want to see one of the “Big Five”. In the open Land Rover Defender we stalk through the bush savannah. Our ranger sits at the wheel and his helper positions himself at the front on a small seat above the left fender, so that a report can be made immediately if game is sighted.
It doesn’t take long and we first meet a small herd of elephants. We approach the huge animals carefully to within a few meters. The bull wags his ears vigorously and trumpets frantically, which immediately causes our ranger to increase the escape distance by engaging reverse gear. We do not want to get involved in a direct confrontation. African elephants are the largest land mammals on earth. Bulls reach a height of over 3 m, and weigh up to 6 tons. The tusks weigh around 60 kg. Elephant cows grow to about 2.50 m tall and weigh 3000 – 3500 kg. The elephants’ ears reach a height of 2 m and a width of 1.5 m. The skin of the huge animals has a thickness of 3 cm. It requires sufficient care, which is carried out in mud baths.
Elephants hear and smell excellently, but eyesight is quite weak. Their diet consists of herbs and bushes, leaves and twigs, roots and tree bark. Fruits are a delicacy for elephants. The elephants have a food requirement of about 300 kg per day, which is why they spend about two thirds of their lives eating. The great need for food means that the habitat for other animal species is becoming smaller and smaller. In addition, the elephants, which cover long distances on their migration, cannot be stopped by fences and barriers. They simply tear them down.
As a result, other animal species also leave the park, which are resettled in elaborate actions. The elephants have only 4 to 5 hours to sleep. The main feeding times are morning, afternoon and night. The family forms an association of elephant cows with all children. One group is led by the largest, usually oldest elephant cow. It determines where and at what pace it goes. Young male offspring leave the family at the age of 12 to 13.
The bulls join together in small herds of about 10 animals or they live as solitary animals. When bulls become capable of reproduction, they start looking for a suitable female. After a gestation period of 22 months, the female elephant gives birth to a calf. The elephants communicate via infrasound. Very low sounds that are not audible to the human ear are emitted. The elephants have a life expectancy of about 60 years. Their death is determined by the condition of the dentition. Elephant teeth grow back throughout their lives. They have 6 teeth per half of the jaw. As soon as these are used up, the life of an elephant also ends.
On our further game drive we meet a group of zebras who are resting under a shady group of trees. This gives us enough time to observe the animals in peace. The group behaviour of the zebras is extremely remarkable. The animals live in smaller groups of up to 20 animals, which are led by a lead stallion. Families usually stay together for many years. If one of the animals is lost, the group often searches for it. After the game drive of several hours, we also need a little break now. The many impressions have to be processed first. Brigitte refreshes herself with the drinks she has brought with her from the cooler.
