Sunrise to sunset at Baobab Ridge, and everything in between!

Have you wondered what to expect during your stay with us here in the wonderful wilderness of the Klaserie and what your days will look like? Will you have time for relaxation? What time will you need to get up each morning? What animals can you expect to see? Let's answer these questions and take a deeper dive into how you can spend your days and what's in store for you!

We'll start at the very beginning. Check-in is at 14h00, so if you're flying into nearby Eastgage Airport in Hoedspruit, you'll be getting a transfer to the lodge which can be arranged with us direct when making your booking. If you're driving yourselves, please don't get here earlier than 13h00 as we don't want your arrival to clash with guests who are checking out. Then you can enjoy a lovely lunch before checking into your room.

In the summer months our afternoon game drives usually leave at 4pm from the reception area, but your departure time will be confirmed with you over lunch and your drinks orders for the sundowner stop will also be taken. Then it's up to you how you spend the next couple of hours... You can settle into your room, take a nice siesta, or go to the beautiful pool deck and have a swim and relax on one of our uber-comfortable pool loungers, or chill in the lounge and have a refreshing drink from our bar.

Good afternoon!

When departure time for the afternoon/evening game drive nears, we suggest getting changed into comfortable, neutral-coloured clothing, popping a jersey or lightweight jacket in a backpack just in case, along with hats, sunglasses, binoculars, and camera gear and making sure you have applied sunscreen as the African sun can be overwhelming, especially in the summer months! (In the winter months you'll need to add in a fleece, beanie, and gloves as it can get very chilly when the sun goes down!)

Heading out into the wilderness of the Klaserie, you'll immediately be struck by the beauty of the landscapes you're driving through and the feeling of "wild" that envelopes you! You can expect so see plains species, from impala, wildebeest and zebra to giraffe, kudu and waterbuck, and a lot more besides. 

Our plains species don't form the huge herds that destinations like East Africa's Masai Mara and Serengeti are renowned for. We have a completely different habitat to the great plains region, so our animals form smaller groups and herds because of the different vegetation found here in the Klaserie. 

The birdlife in the Klaserie is amazing, so even if you've not been birding before, keep your eyes and ears open for some incredible, colourful species, especially in the summer months when we host a lot of inter-African, European, and Asian migrants. 

If you're lucky, you'll also see elephants, and perhaps a big cat or two. Or three! We've been fortunate of late with our lion and leopard sightings, so you never know. That's the beauty of a game drive - no two are ever the same and there is no way to predict what you are going to see. We always say that it's a privilege just to be out in the wilderness, everything else is a bonus!

Cheers to a great day!

On your afternoon/evening drive your guide will find the perfect place to stop for the obligatory safari tradition - sundowners. This is where you get off the vehicle and stetch your legs while your guide prepares drinks with which to toast the setting sun and the ending of another amazing day in Africa. There are always nibbles to accompany the drinks - just enough to keep you going until dinner time!

Setting off after sunset is amazing as the sky slowly darkens and the nocturnal creatures begin to appear. Expect to hear, and possibly see nightjars, pearl-spotted owlets, skops owls and lesser galagos (bushbabies) as they emerge from their nesting spots and roosts. The sky will also be filled with various species of bat and you'll hear their high-pitched squeaks, used for echo-location purposes.

Your guide will plug a spotlight into the game vehicle dashboard to allow him to scan for wildlife and interesting things after dark. The light often picks up the reflective eyes of nocturnal creatures. We don't shine the light on diurnal animals because, like us, their eyes absorb light and the spotlight is not good for them, causing temporary vision disruption.

You will eventually wind your way back to the lodge, where you'll be greeted by the duty manager or host and welcomed with a refreshing towel to remove the dust of the African wilderness from your faces! You have a choice of either going to your room to freshen up or to the bar for some pre-dinner drinks. Either way, we meet up in the bar before moving to the boma for dinner. If the weather is inclement, dinner is moved inside.

Dinner under the stars

At the boma you'll be seated on a large table with all of the other guests, next to a crackling log fire with the vaulted heavens dotted with billions of twinkling stars above you. The noises of the African night will be all around you in bush-style surround sound. It's an amazing experience to be outside at night, under some of the darkest skies in the world, making them perfect for stargazing. 

Dinner is a three-course affair and designed to make even the most discerning palates sing! You're welcome to accompany it with one of the fine South African wines on offer at our bar. If you're unsure which to choose, our staff will help you make a great selection to complement your food and preferences.

After dinner there's time for tea and coffee, or a brandy if you prefer. Then it's off to bed and a well-deserved night's rest.

In the summer months you'll need to be ready to roll for the morning game drive by 5am, in time to watch the sun rise over the savannah. So, a 04h30 alarm is the order of the day! We don't do wake-up calls anymore as most of our guests have cellphones to do this for us! Make sure to set your alarm yourself! And feel free to grab some coffee and rusks or biscuits in the dining room before you head out!

Good morning!

Morning game drives are a revelation as they give you the "news" of what's been going on during the night, thanks to tracks and signs left behind by various animals which will be seen and read by your guide. It's at this time of day that we often see leopards and lions, so keep your eyes peeled!

You'll stop along the way for a coffee and tea break and more cookies and muffins or similarly yummy baked goods before returning to the lodge for a wonderful breakfast of cereals, yoghurts, fresh fruits, more baked goodies and a hot dish of the day. The day is then yours to do with as you please before meeting for lunch and getting ready for your afternoon/evening game drive.

If you'd like to do a morning walk, please let us know and we'll see if this can be arranged with your guide. Walks take place usually in the morning to avoid the heat of the day and are not overly strenuous, allowing for all levels of fitness.

So that's it. An average day at Baobab Ridge. Rinse and repeat as often as you like! We hope to see you soon!