Many on this forum know all about me, the fact that I live in South Africa, and that I have a huge passion for nature. I have some amazing news that I am just dying to share...
My uncle has always wanted to own his own business, and my brother has always wanted to manage one, so it made sense that they would find one together. This past weekend they, along with my aunt and grandfather, went to look at a potential place that is for sale, and instantly fell in love. After discussing it with the rest of the family, it was decided that this was the place they were going to buy. They discussed it with us, because due to the size of the place, we will all have to pitch in and help running it. We are also all putting in money towards it, so that we all have a "share" in a way, as the price is (S.A currency) R5.5 million. This may seem like a lot, but it really isn't for what we're paying for. We start the payment process on Friday, and in a few months time it will be ours
My family is going to be the sole owners of Kulungi Riverside Lodge
This is a beautiful lodge in Grietjie game reserve, which makes up part of the Bulule game reserve, and is open to and part of the Kruger National Park. It is situated on the banks of the Oliphant's river, in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, and is just amazing. There is no fence around the lodge, which means that animals of all kinds end up "visiting", and since it is a Big 5 area, that includes lion, elephant, and other game, which is hugely exciting lol.
The accommidation is amazing, there is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom self-catering house, 2 self-catering chalets that sleep 4, 5 thatched chalets that sleep 3, and 2 luxury tents. All complete with air con and fans
Offered facilities are a dining area and bar, a swimming pool, a boma where a bonfire will be lit each night for guests to sit by, and a reception that offers internet.
I am hugely excited about this place, and I say it is a life changing experience because during peak tourist seasons I will be living at the lodge, as my brother and I will be working as game rangers. Even though we are both very young, (he's 21, I'm 19) we are both fully qualified rangers, having been trained with FGASA (Field Guide Association of South Africa) and will be conducting the activies.We will offer the following:
Morning walks
3 day walks
Morning, sunset and evening drives
Half day and full day drives in the Kruger Park
Quad bike tours, and
Horseback tours.
As I said, this is a Big 5 area, and the lack of a fence especially means that my brother and I will have to keep our rifles with us at all times, because even though guests are well aware of the dangers, and stay at their own risk, it is still our job to keep them safe. Fortunately (or unfortunately, as I see it), we both have had experience bringing down a dangerous animal, so we are well prepared.
Here are some pictures the current owners gave to us. The first few are some shots of the lodge, the next are of some animals encountered in and closely around the lodge, and the last is my brother and I at Skukuza camp in KNP after completing our FGASA course last year. (We had just come back from a week long practical which is why we look so filthy lol.) Just to let you know, the rhino is not being harmed. After the poor things family got poached, it wandered into camp and refused to leave, so in the pic it's being relocated
My uncle has always wanted to own his own business, and my brother has always wanted to manage one, so it made sense that they would find one together. This past weekend they, along with my aunt and grandfather, went to look at a potential place that is for sale, and instantly fell in love. After discussing it with the rest of the family, it was decided that this was the place they were going to buy. They discussed it with us, because due to the size of the place, we will all have to pitch in and help running it. We are also all putting in money towards it, so that we all have a "share" in a way, as the price is (S.A currency) R5.5 million. This may seem like a lot, but it really isn't for what we're paying for. We start the payment process on Friday, and in a few months time it will be ours
My family is going to be the sole owners of Kulungi Riverside Lodge
This is a beautiful lodge in Grietjie game reserve, which makes up part of the Bulule game reserve, and is open to and part of the Kruger National Park. It is situated on the banks of the Oliphant's river, in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, and is just amazing. There is no fence around the lodge, which means that animals of all kinds end up "visiting", and since it is a Big 5 area, that includes lion, elephant, and other game, which is hugely exciting lol.
The accommidation is amazing, there is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom self-catering house, 2 self-catering chalets that sleep 4, 5 thatched chalets that sleep 3, and 2 luxury tents. All complete with air con and fans
Offered facilities are a dining area and bar, a swimming pool, a boma where a bonfire will be lit each night for guests to sit by, and a reception that offers internet.
I am hugely excited about this place, and I say it is a life changing experience because during peak tourist seasons I will be living at the lodge, as my brother and I will be working as game rangers. Even though we are both very young, (he's 21, I'm 19) we are both fully qualified rangers, having been trained with FGASA (Field Guide Association of South Africa) and will be conducting the activies.We will offer the following:
Morning walks
3 day walks
Morning, sunset and evening drives
Half day and full day drives in the Kruger Park
Quad bike tours, and
Horseback tours.
As I said, this is a Big 5 area, and the lack of a fence especially means that my brother and I will have to keep our rifles with us at all times, because even though guests are well aware of the dangers, and stay at their own risk, it is still our job to keep them safe. Fortunately (or unfortunately, as I see it), we both have had experience bringing down a dangerous animal, so we are well prepared.
Here are some pictures the current owners gave to us. The first few are some shots of the lodge, the next are of some animals encountered in and closely around the lodge, and the last is my brother and I at Skukuza camp in KNP after completing our FGASA course last year. (We had just come back from a week long practical which is why we look so filthy lol.) Just to let you know, the rhino is not being harmed. After the poor things family got poached, it wandered into camp and refused to leave, so in the pic it's being relocated