November 2011
WE HAVE HIPPOS!!
With a great whoosh and a snort, a seemingly quiet African dam suddenly erupts with the appearance of a great huge beast.
We have Hippos, and a beautiful deck for you to watch them playing in the water and munching the green grass below you.
The two adult females where brought from the Kruger and relocated here, we are very proud of the new members to the reserve and next year will be add a bull.
Some information for you,
Hippopotamus comes from two Greek words that mean river horse.
Hippos are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for about five minutes. They can even walk along the bottoms of rivers and lakes.
A hippo may eat up to 150 pounds (68 kilograms) of grass a night.
Two tusks, or canine teeth, in the hippo's lower jaw can grow more than a foot (30 centimeters) long.
Hippos eat only vegetation—grasses and water plants.
June 2011
Big 5
The phrase Big Five game was coined by the white hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot, the term big five for us at Bushfellows means another as we have just started with Lions and the Cape buffalo and soon to follow will be the white rhinoceros, Free roaming Leopards are found on the Koppies of the local area.
These wonderful beasts in their own way bring an incredible sense of calmness to the bush veld. We encourage Game drives and bushwalks to see these creatures in their natural environment.
As we are a new lodge and just coming to the sense of having some of the big five on our property- We entice you to come and enjoy them with us, and maybe on your next trip we will have the giant bush calmer the elephant.
April 2011
Tiger walk
Tiger walks start early in the morning due to the summer heat and in late afternoon once, it is cooler, normally the duration of the walk is 45min. Tiger shows begin at 14h00 daily. This really is an amazing and extra ordinary experience one of which is only available in limited locations in the world. Bookings are essential, Please Note there is a age restriction on all Tiger walks. Please feel free to enquire for further information on reservations@bushfellows.co.za or 013 261 2111/2246Both Bengal and Siberian Tigers are available to walk, male and/or female. This is unique experience and one at that only occurs in few locations within the world today. On the boarder of Bushfellows Game Lodge, lies Jugomaro Game Lodge. Jugomaro offers an exotic 'large feline' sanctuary.The Tiger walks begin at the base of the encampments and venture out into the African bush veld. Accompanied with the guests on the walk is the Tigers handler. The Tiger is walked on a 'leash' which can be held by guest during the walk.
Both, Bengal and Siberian Tigers are endangered and a threatened species, of the 8 different subspecies of the Tiger, 3 are already extinct today. Their historical range (severely diminished today) ran through Russia, Siberia, Iran, Afghanistan, India, China and southeast Asia, including the Indonesian islands.
The Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is found through the forests and grasslands of Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India and Nepal. It is the national animal of India. The estimated wild population of this subspecies is 3000 to 4600, most living in India. These tigers are under severe pressure from both habitat reduction and from poaching; some recipes in Chinese medicine (in particular cures for impotence) require parts of tigers. Project Tiger, an Indian conservation project launched in 1972, has had limited success in protecting this subspecies.
The North China Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), formerly the Amur or Siberian Tiger, alternately the Northeast China or Manchurian Tiger, is now confined almost totally to a very restricted part of eastern Russia. There are thought to be between 150 and 400 of these tigers in the wild today, and many populations are no longer considered to be genetically viable, meaning that they are subject to potentially catastrophic inbreeding.
Please come support our plea to increase awareness for the beautiful and once free roaming cats of the East.
Friday, 1 January 2011
Plans for 2011
Here at Bushfellows we are constantly on the lookout for additions to our unique guest experiences. Having said this, it is fitting to say we are in the process of exploring the introduction of a herd of buffalo to our wildlife and game experience. It is a true process, because of all the environmental impact studies, upgrading of fences etc. that have to be made. We will keep you up to date as far as this goes.
Also, another big event for us here at Bushfellows, and we believe for our guests too, is the arrival of our very own helicopter. Yes, Bushfellows will soon boast its own helipad and helicopter hangar. On special request, guests could be taken for rides with the helicopter, flown by our experienced pilot.
December 2010
Lookout Lodge
Bushfellows bought Carpe Diem recently and renamed it to The Lookout Lodge. The restoring of the lodge started short after and a lot of changes had been made.
The lodge is 7km outside of Groblersdal on the Bronkhorstspruit / Vaalfontein road towards Marble Hall and 26km from Marble hall. For those a little further it is only 1.5hours drive from Johannesburg Airport.
There are 16 chalets 5 of them are 2 bedrooms and sleep 4 comfortable and 11 1bedroom and sleeps 2. The chalets are big and all of them have en-suite bathrooms, closets, Mini bar fridge and DSTV.
The restaurant and bar in the main building has been restored and while sitting on the porch and look at the view of the landscape and listening to the birds you can sip away on a cold drink or a cup of coffee or tea. The menu has something for every taste bud from starter to dessert and our chef will not disappoint.
For meetings there is a conference centre that is fully equipped for all your need and it can accommodate up to 100 delegates in school room style.
For the perfect wedding there is a chapel and for the more outdoors couple a wedding in the garden is possible while the birds cheers you on.
The Jacuzzi is available for the romantic at heart and for the healthier person there is a Sauna also available.
