Viewing Hides

While game drives in open vehicles are the staple safari activity all over Africa Limpopo-Lipadi is not just about replicating what everyone else does. After a few days the repetitive morning and afternoon schedule of drives can sometimes become a little monotonous and we understand that our shareholders and visitors want something extra. So to provide another new dimension to wildlife viewing we have started to create a network of viewing hides strategically placed across the reserve.

Our long-term goal is to expand and improve from these beginnings until we have well placed hides at each major year-round waterhole and a few other popular locations. The hides are kitted out with canvas chairs and are a perfect place to while away a few hours enjoying the sounds of the bush all around and seeing what creatures come into view. Read more about the individual hides below and check out some of the pictures taken by our shareholders from them in the mini-gallery!

Mbusi Hide

Mbusi is a busy intersection of numerous game trails and a favourite watering point for game in the area. The hide is located on the western side of a large open patch of ground that gives herds of animals plenty of opportunity to spot anything trying to stalk them. Able to seat eight people the hide overlooks the whole space and gives views towards Lipadi Hill in the distance. Groups of impala 100-strong visit regularly and there have been up to 80 wildebeeste seen at once. Waterbuck, giraffe, kudu, steenbok and warthog are also regulars with occasional visits by elephant, eland and gemsbok. A pair of black-backed jackals are based in the area and frequently seen in the mornings while spotted and brown hyena drink here too. A number of leopards use Mbusi and have even been watched leaping from the large apple-leaf tree! Mbusi is a regular location for our trail cameras due to the volume of game visiting - why not check out the gallery or read about the latest events at this waterhole?

Mogorosi Hide

Set on the line of the dry Mogorosi River this semi-natural waterhole is a hive of activity on the western side of the reserve. The only source of water for kilometres in every direction it attracts huge numbers of game in the dry season. Shareholders have seen literally hundreds of animals coming down to drink in a single morning and its interesting to watch their different behaviours. Impala drink nervously from the water's edge startling at the slightest noise of gust of wind. Wildebeeste approach en masse wading right out into the middle of the water alongside groups of eland. Zebra are cautious, often one individual approaches while the rest of the herd wait on the edge of the tree line until they get the all clear. The natural riverline supports dense vegetation along a narrow gully that provides an ideal stalking route for the leopards that frequent Mogorosi - shareholders have regularly seen them here and even within months of the hide construction their tracks are often found in the soft sand right underneath! The large numbers of trees around Mogorosi support varied birdlife.

Magermans Hide

Magermans hide takes advantage of an old water reservoir that used to support a cattle watering point here in the past. As the walls cracked the tank was rebuilt but we have taken the opportunity to clean up the old concrete shell and install viewing portholes that provide a panoramic vantage point. Here you can sit just metres from the water and watch groups of impala drink completely oblivious to your presence. The open-top nature of this hide also means you can enjoy great birdwatching as flocks of small birds gather in the bushes around the hide and goshawks make diving attacks on them.

Hippo Pools Hide

Set only a few feet from the edge of the Limpopo River this hide overlooks the hippo pools, a stretch of permanently flooded water much loved by the local pod of hippo. The hide is within easy walking distance of River Camp and provides a great spot for a quiet morning or sundowner. In spring huge flocks of red-billed quelea gather in the reedbeds at night, conducting an elaborate display in the sky above as they arrive. Watching tens of thousands of them wheel and turn in the changing colours of sunset is a spectacle not to be missed. During the day bushbuck and the occasional kudu can be seen grazing on some of the islands while crocodiles glide past silently in the water.

Old Man's Dam and Tholo Dam

These two hides overlook other waterholes on the reserve but are smaller than our newly developed hides.

Hide Mini-Gallery