NOT to discredit game drives as a whole but also because I have only been on three, but I have always found them boring. Don’t come at me; it’s just been my experience. Perhaps I have never been on the ‘larney’ ones where you get up close and personal with the animals, particularly the predators. Still, on the limited occasions I did go, the animals were elusive and the hype around seeing them was not matched.
So when the Beekman Group, one of South Africa’s leading players in the property development and leisure sector, invited me to visit one of their many leisure resorts, I was undecided. The one thing that made me take the bait was that they said it would be a first-of-its-kind African game experience featuring some of the rarest game animals on the planet. So, I flew from Durban to OR Tambo International and then boarded a shuttle for a two-hour drive to The Kingdom Resort in Pilansberg.
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It is home to the awe-inspiring Rare Game Experience that combines the astonishing beauty of some of the rarest game animals on Earth with an informative and interactive wildlife experience. What’s more, these animals are not easily seen by the public anywhere else, except at The Kingdom Resort. First, we headed to our rooms to ‘freshen up’ as Mlondi Mkhize, the marketing campaign coordinator for Beekman Group, called it. Within an hour of arriving, we boarded an open 4×4 with an interactive tablet providing details about the rare game we would encounter.
No sooner had we entered the enclosure and spotted a Saddleback, a White-flanked, and a Black Impala. A little farther in and we came across Black, King, Copper and White Springbok.
Our guide, Magda Bester, was so passionate about the animals and has named them all. Amidst her detailing what makes the animals rare, my interest was piqued when she began explaining the love story of an oryx pair: ‘That’s Kleintjie, Garfield and Naledi.’ Rumour has it that Naledi is pregnant from Garfield, and according to Magda, they will be keeping a close eye on the mother-to-be.
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She said that all the animals are extraordinary and particularly uncommon due to a naturally recessive gene and are at significant risk in unregulated habitats due to their tendency to stand out from their herd and surroundings. Visitors to this completely carnivore-less game drive, suited for all ages, contribute to the conservation and protection of some of the most unique and at-risk African game animals ever.
The next day, we mounted quad bikes, and we were led by Magda, once again, for a one-of-a-kind quad-biking experience which I have to admit is not my cup of tea. The rugged terrain one has to traverse in quad biking is not for me. I had barely driven off when I plonked myself behind Magda and let her steer me through the enclosure on the quad bike. Only then did I enjoy it. While the others loved it, I was happy to sit behind Magda who gave me a running commentary on every animal that crossed our path, and there were many. The park houses 112 rare animals.
Book your tickets for the Rare Game Experience and make sure you take the family along where you are guaranteed to see some of the rarest animals in the world.
Visit www.raregame.co.za to enjoy the new Rare Game Experience.
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