Phinda Safari Accommodation ♡

 

We stayed at 2 different places during our recent safari to Phinda Private Game Reserve, each with its own distinctive personality and charm.

 

 

Bayala Lodge is an upmarket privately owned safari lodge.  Decor in the main reception and lounge area is upmarket and contemporary safari chic. 

 

 

  

 The bar and dining areas spill out onto a courtyard overlooking a swimming pool, with accomodation in rooms in a horse shoe shape around the pool.

 

We were then very fortunate to move on and stay at the small Bayete Tented Camp, which is available to And Beyond staff etc only.

I loved that small animals could roam freely around within this camp - and adored the charm and understatedness of eating meals outside around the boma fire, or overlooking the water hole under the trees.

 

The meals and service was absolutely superb, and the luxuries within the tents were just perfect!

 

Check out my other posts for other activities done on the Rangers Course.

For beautiful wildlife photography see https://www.instagram.com/robforrest.photography/

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Phinda Forest Walk & Fossils ♡

 

Phinda Private Game Reserve is home to a very unique forest.  We were luck enough to do a guided walk when we were there recently.

The forest is home to the second smallest orchid in the world - fascinating!

JR Janse Van Rensburg was our passionate and interesting guide:

 

So many unusual and interesting things.  Including the broken eagles nest that decanted months of gruesome leftovers, some of which our ranger Matt van Wieringen recorded on his instagram feed:

 

 

At another site the next day JR showed us a range of fascinating fossils at Phinda:

 

 

Check out my other posts for other activities done on the Rangers Course.

For beautiful wildlife photography see https://www.instagram.com/robforrest.photography/

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Elephant Adventures & Camera Traps ♡

Life in the bush is never dull, not even during lockdown.

During our recent trip to Phinda Private Game Reserve to do a school organised Ranger's course we had a very close encounter with some elephants who did not respect social distancing!

 

 

We were all VERY relieved when our ranger took evasive action and reversed out of the general area.

 

 

 On a more rewarding note, setting a camera trap with a fresh kill yielded some great evening footage when collected and viewed the following day:

Check out my other posts for other activities done on the Rangers Course.

For beautiful wildlife photography see https://www.instagram.com/robforrest.photography/

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Bush Fire Fighting ♡

 

As part of the Rangers Course at Phinda earlier this month the boys were taught how to start and put out a controlled bush fire.

Beating out the fire was hot and smoky work

Fire-fighting not for the feint-hearted, even in a controlled situation like this one

Very necessary work required to maintain the game reserve.

This crew is responsible for maintenance at Phinda - their vital work includes fencing, infrastructure maintenance and controlled firebreaks within the game reserve.

We left with a new-found appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work required to keep a game reserve operating smoothly.

Check out my other posts for other activities done on the Rangers Course.

For beautiful wildlife photography see https://www.instagram.com/robforrest.photography/

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Bird Ringing ♡

 Here are my pics from the bird ringing experience we had at Phinda Private Game Reserve recently. 

My son has loved the birds and the bush since childhood and is an avid wildlife photographer.  For his beautiful wildlife photography see https://www.instagram.com/robforrest.photography/

 

  

Each bird is weighed, ringed and recorded.  They are under absolutely no stress and fly away to rejoin their friends in the bush happily after being released.

 

  

 

 Such dedication from the research team, and it was so lovely to be up close and able to handle these gorgeous birds. 

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