New Owner for Simbavati

Afval, Simbavati's New Owner

He fell from his nest 3 months ago. We knew he wouldn't make it on his own, because he was only about a week old, therefore we adopted him - not knowing that the adopted child would take over as owner of the lodge!

Priority number one was to give the poor fellow a name. Nobody wants to go through life as a no-name brand. There was only one name that was suitable for him: Afval. Afval is an Afrikaans word that means to fall down. Afval fell down from his nest, therefore his name is Afval.

Afval was hand raised on Kitty Formula powdered milk. Every 3 hours he had to be fed and then his tummy had to be wiped with a wet piece of cotton wool to teach him how to pee and to poo! Fortunately he slept through from day 1, so his adoption daddy (that's me) could sleep through as well.

After a month Aval was not happy to be confined to his little picnic basket room anymore. We decided he would now be able to survive in the wild, therefore we let him out every day. He was fine with that from the start, but still came back to our rondawel at night. When the sun sets, he charges back to our rondawel and snuggles up under the duvet. He now sleeps in his new room, our washing basket - but when it is very cold, he snuggles in behind my back!

He learnt very soon that breakfast is served at 09:30 and lunch at 14:45. Exactly on time he arrives for breakfast and lunch, preferring to eat with the guests from their plates and have a sip of their juice from their glasses - obviously we don't allow him, but he comes back to try everyday. (Fortunately he is in bed at 8 when dinner is served. Can you imagine him at the dinner table???) The rest of the day he spends around the lodge in trees and on the deck with guests. He nibbles on their finger tips, sleeps on their laps and walks around with them on their shoulders!

He is the most popular one at the lodge. He has to pose for photo shoots every day and gets greeted personally when guests depart. He featured in the Globe and Mail in Canada and is going to be the main character in a children's story book in India. Afval is now rated as part of the big 6. His advantage above the big 5 is that he loves to be with people.

In his own eyes he is the true owner of Simbavati River Lodge!

Walk on the wild side proves itself a worthy trip of a lifetime

Article in the Canadian paper, THE GLOBE AND MA I L on SATURDAY, J U LY 1 7, 2010

Walk on the wild side proves itself a worthy trip of a lifetime

We rolled just into Simbavati River Lodge just in time for the afternoon game drive. Quickly dropping our bags, we hopped aboard an awaiting Land Rover, joining guests from Australia and the U.S. seated in rows in the back of the open-air vehicle. Our guide, a 30-somethingyear- old South African conservationist named Adam, took us on an exhilarating and informative ride along bumpy dirt roads, sandy river washes and occasionally directly through the bush. From his perch on the front bumper, our tracker Daniel interpreted animal footprints in the dry earth, skilfully contributing to the quest.
Some creatures, like the spotted leopards, were so well camouflaged that even when Daniel pointed at them, our novice posse – with necks craned and cameras at the ready – was still challenged to see the beasts. As we approached the white lion mother and her cubs nestled in the tall grass, Adam cut the motor, coasting us to a stop no more than eight feet from the big cats; we were all awestruck. We had been told to stay hush and seated. And no one made a peep, save for the clicks of camera shutters and an occasional sigh of wonderment.
Later, with the sun setting, we paused for a break – beer, wine and a snack served on the Rover’s hood. Adam explained that like many of the region’s animals, the lions blithely accepted game drives as part of their environment. Should someone stand or get out of a vehicle, it would be a different story. Point noted. Back at the lodge that evening, we feasted around a roaring fire – steaks and chicken skewers with mashed celeriac, salad and soups served camp-style.
At bedtime, we were escorted to our hut and respectfully asked to remain there until morning. Our lodging was, after all, smack in the bush. There are no fences. Wild animals – like an elephant and leopard that passed through camp during our stay – roam freely. Simbavati’s combination of creature comforts and integration with nature lent a spiritual dimension to the experience.
Each morning, we were awakened at 5:30 for the day’s first game drive, which we started out wrapped in thick blankets to keep warm until the sun was high. About midday we returned for brunch, spending the next several hours at the lodge, nothing but the peaceful buzz and stirrings of the African bush in the air. We napped, read books and lingered on the lodge’s large deck overlooking the lazy Simbavati River – watching the hippos bob, catching glimpses of raucous baboons and playing with the lodge’s affable squirrel, Afal.
Following a hearty lunch, we ventured out for an afternoon game drive. While the hunt requires patience – there are no guarantees you will find the animals you seek – we were blessed with many extraordinary close encounters, among them massive elephants munching on trees and a two-tonne rhino silently grazing.
The experience was extraordinary, breathtaking – leaving a slight heaviness in our hearts when it was time to say goodbye.