Thanda Privite Wildlife Preserve

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On May 8, we flew from Johannesburg to Richards Bay and then had a car transfer to Thanda Private Wildlife Reserve. We spent four nights at the Intibane Camp where we stayed in thatched chalets complete with fans, air conditioning and en suite bathroom. We were joined by prize-winning wildlife tracker, Massimo Rebuzzi, and owner of the African Bush Company (https://www.africanbushco.com). Massi has close to two decades of guiding and tracking experience.

Massi taught us how to identify tracks and scat and interpret a variety of animal behavioral signs. On foot and in open-aired safari vehicles we explored trails, dirt roads, and waterholes found in this game rich area. Our days started at the crack of dawn, armed with binoculars, cameras, and flasks of hot coffee. After a full morning, we returned to camp for breakfast and rest and then headed out again in the late afternoon. We also were able enjoy night drives.

One of the highlights was witnessing a confrontation between several lions and a Cape Buffalo. We were in an open-air safari truck watch the drama unfolding ~50 yards away. At one point, a lioness came over to our truck and walked right next to where I was sitting. I was sweating bullets. Massi advised, “just don’t stand up and you’ll be fine”. Apparently as long as we were sitting, the wildlife considered us as part of the large safari truck and left us alone. At one point, as we were watching the lions and buffalo, we noticed that two Rhinoceros were standing just a few feet behind our truck, watching us watching the lions and buffalo. Never a dull moment in the bush!