We are at that time of the year again, winter has arrived! The bush is wearing its winter coat once again! We have the blankets and hot water bottles back on the game drive vehicles and game viewing has been spectacular! The trees and grass are not as lush anymore, which gives you a better view of all the amazing wildlife living around us. We had a wonderful month at the lodge, with guests from all over the world. If you have some last-minute safari plans, be sure to contact our reservations office for some last-minute availability during our winter months. Come and enjoy an evening around the fire in the boma with us and witness the most beautiful night sky Africa has to offer!

In the beginning of May Etienne, Marlet, Roané and I once again took on the journey to Durban to attend the annual Tourism Indaba. Our fresh, white stand drew a lot of attention and we received loads of compliments. Thank you to each and everyone who visited our stand. We met with loads of our well-known agents, but also got to meet a few new and upcoming ones. I am sure we will have many more years of good business relations with all of them.

With winter creeping up upon us, we see more and more activity at our waterholes, which is the ideal spot for the trapcam. However, the area around the airstrip is still a very popular gathering point for the plains game. The trapcam was in just the perfect spot to get some amazing sunsets, hundreds of impalas, beautiful giraffes and a leopard! This unknown leopard crossed the road just minutes after the last game drive vehicle came past.

So, a few months ago I mentioned a big maintenance project happening at the lodge. I am bursting at the seams from pride. Our project is complete and the new addition to our lodge, Elephant Luxury Family Suite, has already left guests breathless. Elephant suite has two en-suite bedrooms, with a view that can suck you in. We are extremely pleased with the end product and I am convinced that guest will definitely feel the same. If you are planning a family holiday, be sure to contact our reservations office for a booking – get ready to be amazed!

As always, we had some staff birthdays to celebrate. I celebrated my birthday on the 3^rd and just the following day, Oom Etienne Swart had his special day. Although Oom Etienne lives in Bothaville, his birthday is still special to us. Then, just before the month came to an end, Amu celebrated her birthday on the 29^th. Amu is a very familiar face in our dining room, always dressed with a smile. To all our readers who celebrated their birthdays in May, I hope your day was filled with happiness and laughter!

Our recipe for the month will turn you into a pastry master. This easy chocolate bread recipe shared by Head chef Yolandi, will definitely prove that there is no excuse not to have that “freshly baked bread” aroma in your kitchen.

Chocolate Bread

Ingredients

900g Flour
60g Sugar
15g Salt
2 Packets dry yeast
600ml Luke warm water
2 Cups Chocolate drops

Method

Mix together the flour, sugar and salt. Add in the yeast and mix well.
Add the chocolate and combine well.
Pour in the water to form a ball. Knead the dough until soft and smooth. Leave to proof for 15 min.
After 15 min place into a bread tin and set aside to prove for another 15 min.
Brush with milk and bake for 30 min at 180°C till golden brown.

Serve and enjoy!

All the best till next month,
Tersia Fouché