In May this year Helen and I visited Bushwa Game Lodge. For a long time we wanted to stay in the Waterberg as we drove through it every time we travelled to Mashatu and it always looked diverse and fascinating. Bushwa is located about 15 kilometres north east of the town, Vaalwater in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The main lodge is positioned on top of a koppie which creates a wonderful vista across the Waterberg plains. Bushwa is located in a massive basin with the Waterberg mountains to the south and a mountainous and hilly region in front of Lephalale about 60 kilometres north west of Bushwa.

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us” ~ Anonymous

Bushwa was a farm which is in the process of being rewilded into a private game reserve. It has some unusual species such as Sable and Roan antelope. It is also home to buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest and zebra and the smaller antelope like nyala, impala, reedbuck and duikers. This male Roan antelope was in great condition. This species is named for its roan coloured (a reddish brown) neck, back and sides. It has a white underbelly, a black face and cheeks with white eyebrows which spread half way down its nose. It also has a short, erect mane and a light beard.

This striking male Sable antelope was grazing in an open grass area. He is still a relatively young bull as the sweep of his scimitar shaped horns had not fully curved back yet. The herbivores have a relatively peaceful time as Bushwa does not have lions. It does have smaller predators such as Black-backed jackal, Brown hyaena, Caracal, Civet, Genet and it must have leopards though the bush was thick so the chances of seeing one was low.

The couple of days we spent at Bushwa were mainly overcast, cold and the wind was blowing. That said there is always that break in the clouds that allows the sunshine to pour in over the plains adding splashes of brightness and warmth to the skies.

“Time spent outdoors reminds us that we’re part of something larger: a beautiful universe brimming with endless possibilities” ~ Unknown Author

The bush is thick in many areas and there was quite a lot of water around even in May. The buffaloes seemed to enjoy the thick bush. There were a few buffalo bulls with huge bosses.

The Waterberg is known for its biodiversity both in terms of flora and fauna. There was plenty of birdlife though the cold weather and wind kept most of them sheltered of the thick bush. This male Cocqui francolin stopped in the middle of the track to have a good look at us while we were travelling on one of the dirt tracks one overcast morning.

A petite and beautiful Marico flycatcher hawking insects one afternoon when it had cleared and warmed up a bit.

Bushwa appeared to have a thriving herd of Roan antelope. The next image shows one family herd comprising a bull, two adult females, an adolescent and a newly born calf. These Roan were accompanied by Oxpeckers, Glossy starlings and Blacksmith lapwings all of which were benefiting from the antelopes disturbing insects as they moved through the grasses.

“The greatest adventure is what lies ahead. Each day brings new possibilities for exploration and discovery.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

Judging from the small piece of umbilical cord under its belly, this Roan calf must have been one or two weeks old. When the calf is born, its mother usually conceals it in tall grass and does not wander too far from it but the protective environment in Bushwa allowed a change in behaviour. Roan are primarily grazers, preferring to crop the top portions of grasses, especially stands of medium to tall grass stands in open savannas.

The Roan bull was protective of his offspring and did not let his new born wander too far from the family. The male Roan antelope is large and usually only Eland and Buffalo can exceed it in weight. The Roan antelope stands 135–160 centimetres at the shoulder, and weighs 230–320 kilograms.

The Waterberg Biosphere Reserve is home to many endemic and insects, reptiles and fish species, making it an extremely important conservation area. The birding too in this area is excellent. This Southern black tit was very busy feeding on the fruit of a tree outside our bedroom.

The Waterberg savanna consists of rolling grasslands and a semi-deciduous forest, with trees such as Mountain syringa, Silver cluster-leaf and Lavender tree. The canopy is mostly leafless during the dry winter. Native grasses include signal grass, goose grass and heather-topped grass.

““When the sun is setting, leave whatever you are doing and watch it.” ~ Mehmet Murat İldan

The view from Bushwa’s main lodge looking across the swimming pool deck onto the plain below at sunset. As is so often the case the clouds cleared on our last evening.

The UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere Reserve was designated in 2001 and comprises a total area of just over 654 000 hectares. It is situated in the Bushveld district in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The Waterberg, is a water catchment area for this arid region. The area consists of low mountain ranges and escarpments with poor soils and a relatively low level of economic activity, much of which is now eco-tourism oriented.

“The living environment is the biosphere, the thin layer around the world of living organisms. We’re part of that. Our existence is dependent on it in ways that people haven’t even begun to appreciate. Our existence depends not just on its existence, but its stability and its richness.” ~ E. O. Wilson

The vegetation is dominated by different veld types characteristic of mountainous savannah areas which creates a rich biodiversity with more than 5,500 species of plants, 129 mammals, and 350 bird species. It is also home to at least 18 threatened or scarce plants species, 11 bird species, 4 reptile species, 4 species of fish, one butterfly species and 18 endangered mammals. All are deemed of the utmost importance for biodiversity conservation.

“There is no glory in star or blossom till looked upon by a loving eye; There is no fragrance in April breezes till breathed with joy as they wander by.” ~ William Cullen Bryant

Our Bushwa trip has whetted our appetite to explore this part of South Africa more extensively, perhaps in 2024.

We hope you had a wonderful festive holiday and wish you an inspired 2024.

Explore, seek to understand, marvel at its interconnectedness and let it be.

Have fun, Mike