Rockfig is a privately owned safari lodge which is situated in the Western sector of Madikwe Game Reserve. Madikwe Game Reserve is a Malaria free area that provides you with an unforgettable game viewing experience. Madikwe has some of the best game viewing opportunities in the Southern part of Africa. The Reserve is home to a variety of game including the Big 5, tons of antelope and if you are extremely lucky the elusive pangolin. Upon arrival we were met by the lovely team at Rockfig including our host Brett and our guide Stephan. After a short orientation and taking of temperatures (because Covid has forced us to change our normal ways of life) we hopped onto the golf cart and Brett took us on a tour of the lodge. Along the tour we stopped off at a private hide which gets frequent elephant visitors as well as the beautiful birdlife seen around the waterhole. After this we unpacked the car (which the amazing team at Rockfig will do for you) and it was time to relax around our very own private pool including viewing deck and private waterhole not available to any other guests besides us which was definitely the highlight of our stay. There are 4 houses at Rockfig, the family villa (Inkwe – where we had the pleasure of staying which includes your private pool, vewing deck, waterhole as well as a private field guide for the duration of your stay) The Buffalo suit (Nare), Elephant Suit( Tlou) and Rhino Suit (Tshkudu). Before we knew it, it was time for our game drive. When staying at Rockfig you are given two game dives a day with an experienced and well-trained field guide. We were extremely lucky to be paired with Stephan who not only could answer every question we threw at him, he made sure that even when we saw the common impala we would be met with interesting facts about them (did you know on cold mornings impalas puff out their fur to regulate their temperatures to stay warm??). Our drives were scheduled for 05:30 in the morning and 16:30 in the afternoon and all drives were 3 and a half hours long. As we all know Madikwe is known for its amazing wildlife sightings and while a lot of the times people go to game reserves to see the big 5, on our trip my favorite sighting was of the cutest looking ground squirrels foraging around eating the new green shoots that can be seen all over the reserve just after the rains. With temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s (Degrees Celsius) and being avid game reserve visitors we knew that the game viewing may be a little slower than usual due to the extreme heat, however Stephan did not disappoint us with delivering on most of our viewing requests from lion, elephant, rhino (white and black), buffalo, cheetah with cubs and even the illusive brown hyena none of us could complain. From the moment we arrived at Rockfig to the sad goodbye when leaving we were treated with the most amazing attention to detail, friendly staff and memories to last a lifetime. This is definitely a lodge I will be back to, after all I still need to see my favorite animal - The Spotted Hyena. There is no Wi-Fi on a safari but you will find a better connection
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One would say that I am incredibly lucky to be able to travel across South Africa and neighboring countries. However sometimes I am put in very compromising situations where my honest opinion is needed. Especially when it comes to a place I hold so dearly to my heart. 3* budget accommodation in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve also known as Manyane is exactly that, 3 star budget accommodation. Manyane Resort lies next to the Manyane gateway of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve located in the North Western part of South Africa, famous worldwide for its amazing diversity of wildlife that makes their home here, including the Big 5. Described as 'rustic' which to me seems like an excuse for not maintained this 'rustic' destination is geared for family and friends looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for the great outdoors if you exclude the influx of public day visitors using the facilities on weekends and the disgusting mess of trash on the ground that is left behind from bus loads after they have gone. Now before you accuse me of hating everything about Manyane, Manyane was the first place I ever visited when I was 3 years old. Pilanesberg fed my love for animals and is the reason I chose a carer path that allows me to protect and fight for wildlife not only in Africa but all over the world. I visit the reserve at least once a month and most of those times I am camping in the electric Manyane campsite, which to me over the years has seriously improved from old dilapidated bathrooms in 2016/17 to beautiful modern bathrooms in 2018 fully equipped with separate toilets, showers and two bathtubs per ablution block, not to mention the electrical points to plug in hairdryers and shavers. The lighting in the bathrooms could be a bit brighter especially when you're up at 4 to enter the park at 5 to spot the best game. But I guess campers cant be choosy and you're getting more for what you're paying for in the campsite. So whats the reasoning behind my disappointment with Manyane? THE COTTAGES. The cottages feature a main bedroom, bathroom, TV (which had no remote to watch TV with), kitchenette, refrigerator, private patio, and air-conditioning. Plus, the 4-sleeper chalets have a loft bedroom, and I quote from their website "perfect for the kid", firstly if your kids suffer from asthma, allergies or are excessively tall for their age the loft is NOT for them. the thatch roof almost touches the bed and I found about 5 foreign insects in the bed and if that doesn't scare you the stairs leading to the loft definitely will there's no way you'd be able to carry your child up those stairs when they fall asleep on the uncomfortable couch downstairs. I was staying in the exceptionally small 4 sleeper cottage and woke up at 01:30 after being attacked by those same foreign insects and bed bug bites on my body which came to my attention in the morning after taking a low pressure shower (I would have had a better bath in Mankwe Dam) which took about 10 mins to heat up. A secluded braai area is allocated to each cottage and by secluded they really mean secluded there were no lights around the braai area and you have to walk about 10/15 meters from the patio door to the braai, remember you are in the bush and there are tons of poisonous insects and snakes in Pilanesberg including Black Mambas, in my opinion areas around the cottage should be well lit up. All cottages include breakfast, now as stated above I've been coming to Pilanesberg particularly Manyane for 20 years and at first the restaurant was amazing the food was fantastic and I would usually choose food from the restaurant over my dad's braai. However as the years went on the restaurant deteriorated , the food became bellow mediocre and the new staff were rude and unfriendly. I was told this was due to new management of the resort. So you can imagine after my night of bed bugs how I was dreading breakfast. To my surprise my perception of the restaurant changed. while the restaurant still looks exactly the same with the big 5 paintings and steel chairs for seating. The breakfast buffet was well presented and the food was hot, fresh and in plenty supply. I am vegan and unfortunately there were no vegan options for me besides toast (with no butter) and guava juice. But I cant mark them down for this, veganism is still new in South Africa and some major 5 star hotels don't even cater for my needs. Manyane Resort is all about taking a break from hectic city life. When camping you can find needed supplies in the on-site camping shop. Take a refreshing dip in the Resort pool or indulge in a spa treatment while the kids are on the playground. Despite my disappointment in the cottages at Manyane and also the fact that I would NOT recommend booking the cottages (Bakubung is a much better option). Manyane is the perfect spot to camp or sleep in the safari tents and unwind as you watch the sun set as well as the impala, kudu and the occasional giraffes walk past, remember to keep all your tents closed and all food products safely hidden from baboons and warthogs who will not hesitate to rip your tent apart to get to the food as you relax on another beautiful day spent in Pilanesberg.
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