Mosetlha Bush Camp trip report

We entered through Molatedi gate and saw hundreds of animals at Melorane waterhole. This scene reminded us of Okaukuejo and Okondeka waterholes in Etosha! 

Melorane waterhole when it's dry

elephant herd seeking shade under a tree

White rhinos and wildebeest seeking shade under a tree opposite Melorane

Across the road from Melorane, we saw a herd of elephants all together under one tree to get shade, and two rhinos and wildbeest congregating together under another tree.

These sights are unusual for Madikwe Game Reserve as there is usually a lot of rain but 2024 has seen far less rainfall than previous years.

We arrived at the Administration building at around 12pm, the pick up spot. Our driver was waiting to take us to Mosetlha Bush Camp.

After meeting the other guests and packing the game vehicle with our luggage it was time to set off for camp.

We were warmly welcomed by Caroline and the staff and introduced to our guides, Johnny and Justice. 

Caroline showed us round the camp and explained how everything works, nothing much had change since we were last there about 8 years ago.

There were just a few nice changes:  Each cabin now has their own ablutions with shower and separate toilet.....

The new bucket shower at Mosetlha bush camp

The new toilet at Mosetlha bush camp

you still get your hot water from a donkey - this is the charm and appeal of Mosetlha camp!

One of the donkeys heating up our water

The other new addition is the raised wooden viewing deck, allowing guests a place to relax while watching the sunrise or sunset and the passing parade of animals of course...!

The new viewing deck

Our lunch was served at 2.30pm- we had hamburgers with coleslaw salad and a jug of cucumber and mint infused water.

Hamburger with fresh tomato, onion, gherkin, cheese and lettuce. (I had two!)

Mosetlha Bush Camp trip report  game drive #1

We left camp around 4.30pm for our afternoon game drive and had a nice sighting of jackal lying in dried black mud plus some lazy lions.

Black backed jackal in dried mud

Lion chilling!

We got back from our game drive and went to freshen up before dinner. We had a choice- sit round the boma fire or go sit on the deck and relax just before dinner which was served at 8.30pm....

The boma

Dinner was a delicious Moroccan chicken dish with rice and to finish it off we had a Granadilla cheesecake and a bottle of our favorite wine!

Granadilla cheese cake

The lounge at blue hour

The lounge with dining-room behind

Mosetlha Bush Camp trip report  game drive #2

Just before our morning game drive we had coffee and rusks on the deck while watching the color coming in just before sunrise.

Watching the sky change colour from the viewing deck

We left the camp and headed for some game viewing. We spotted a klipspringer in golden light...

Male klipspringer

Our hunt for the cheetah mom and her 3 cubs paid off... 

Cheetah mom with one of her cubs

then we spotted lions with an impala kill which they had not yet fed on as they were to busy arguing...

Lions arguing

a white rhino mother and calf  - it's so good to see rhinos with their horns!

White rhinos

We then reached the eastern airstrip and saw this plane with unusual wheel coverings! We asked Justice why there were thorn bushes around the tires and he said he would show us why...

Tire protectors - safari-style!

He drove past the small 'airport' and we came across a lioness with her three male cubs just behind the building - they are chewing the airplane tyres - if they can get hold of them! 

mom in the background

The three young males with their mom

We went back to camp form our breakfast.....Breakfast was served at around 11am under the thatched dining area.

We had stewed fruit, fruit salad, yogurt, fruit juice, toast and pancakes.

Jen dishing up her breakfast

This is when Mario got stung in the mouth by a bee. Usually, it’s me that gets injured or has a mishap when we are away but this time it was Mario’s turn.

After breakfast it was time for a nice shower to cool off from the heat. 

We preferred to sit in the thatched lounge area because it was cooler, the viewing deck was another option which the other guests enjoyed.

Lunch at 2pm was a nice tuna pasta with a carrot salad, green salad and fresh bread rolls.

Mosetlha Bush Camp trip report  game drive #3

Our afternoon drive was around, 4.30pm and we saw a pride of lions (3 females and 1 male) attempting to stalk zebra but failed to catch them. The females were not happy about having the young male hanging around them, so there was a lot of snarling going on.

Unhappy Lioness at graveyard junction

We left the lions and went to Vleisfontein waterhole which is behind the admin building, there we saw loads of animals coming to drink - actually, we had 4 of the big five - elephants, buffalo, rhinos and lions...!

The buffalo was not going to move for the elephants, he was stating his claim to the waterhole

one of the lioness came drown for a drink in front of the elephant bull.

and here he sat relaxing...

An unusual sight, was this buffalo with crows! Usually oxpeckers are seen on the buffalo and antelope.

the crows were all over the buffalo and he didn't seem to mind one bit

Then we had a lovely sunset at our drink stop.....

Another great Madikwe sunset!

Should you decide to stay in camp you can have sundowners on the deck...!

a great sundowner spot....

Dinner was a braai of steak, chicken, wors, pap and tomato and onion sauce, curry cabbage and a dessert of mangos and cream. All was delicious!

The below picture is of our cabin, a wooden structure on stilts with open sides - it's rustic but very comfortable and has everything you need!

at night with the mosquito net down

Mosetlha Bush Camp trip report  game drive #4

On our last morning game drive, we left camp and headed for Valley view to get the sunrise...

another beautiful morning in Madikwe

Valley View sunrise

Our game drive took us down to the eastern and western springs where we found some wildebeest, they did not seem happy about something, so we stuck around for about 10 minutes and then out of the bush came Felix the male cheetah. He came down to the spring had a drink and then flopped down on a ridge to relax.

Felix the cheetah

After that we went on to Melorane waterhole and found large herds of wildebeest, zebras, 2 spotted hyenas and impala. The spotted hyena would wait until the elephants had left and then he would get into the waterhole while the plains game waited for him to finish his bath or swim...

The on lookers!

We then went back to Vleisfontain waterhole, were we had last seen the lions the night before and found the lions had made a kill. They were on a young elephant carcass.

young male sitting proudly with his catch

It was time to head back to camp for breakfast. Awaiting us was the famous Mosetlha griddle breakfast (eggs, peppers, tomato, bacon, sweet corn, onion and cheese) this was served with toast and fruit juice or tea and coffee.

look at this yummy breakfast!

It was time to say our goodbyes to Caroline and the staff then pack the game vehicle for our trip back to the Administration centre.

We left camp at 11am and arrived at the admin centre around 11h15, we then packed our car said goodbye to the other guest and left via Abjaterskop gate and arrived home around 16h00.

Thank you Caroline and team for another fantastic stay!

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