Spring Has Sprung

It was summer when the Covid-19 global lockdown started. Since then Mashatu has been closed to guests, but life for our most precious asset – the land and the creatures that inhabit it – continues as normal.  Winter has come and gone, and spring has sprung. The temperatures are rising and days are getting longer again.

Spring is the height of the dry season here, with hot, dry weather and sparse vegetation. You can almost hear nature holding its breath, waiting for the first African summer storm.

It’s a time of plenty for the predators as they take advantage of the weaker herbivores. Our resident photographer, Aubrey Tseleng, has been at Mashatu for most of the lockdown period and has amassed a smorgasbord of predator action photos.

And just as nature holds its breath waiting for rain, so too is there a sense of anticipation at our camps as the staff await the return of our guests.  We are hopeful that the borders will open in time for the transformation of the environment as it bursts into myriad shades of green. Just as the animals will have an added spring in their step, so too will our team at Mashatu as they get back to doing what they love – making every visitors’ safari an unforgettable one.

Soon the animal species will start calving and we too at Mashatu, will have a new baby.  Our new addition to the family is our eco-luxury Mashatu Euphorbia lodge which will officially be welcoming guests towards the middle of summer.

There’s so much to look forward to in the coming months – the air will be filled with the serenading sounds of returning migratory birds, the camps will once again echo with the sounds of excited chatter and laughter of guests, and as the sun sets each day sundowners will be enjoyed with a new sense of appreciation for the beauty around us.  Bring on summer, bring on the return of guests – we are ready!

Blog by Janet Kleyn.