Fire Light Tours & Safaris creates magical holiday experiences that light the fire in your soul and leave you with memories that are imprinted in your heart and mind forever.

Kicking off with a city tour of Pretoria, we went past the menacing C-Max prison, which is still in use today, to visiting several historical milestones of note. We were over awed by the architectural wonder of Voortrekker Monument, and captivated by the lifestyle of the prominent President Paul Kruger of old. At Melrose House, we were exposed to former British splendor in true Victorian style. One would not visit America without taking a look at the White House and we suitably said our goodbye’s to the Pretoria City, at the very impressive Union Buildings. Everybody, inclusive of myself, learnt something new and valuable, as we took the time to make the most of the experience and address everyone’s questions elaborately. But not wanting to spoil the surprise, we’d rather you come and find out all the inside little stories that don’t appear in history books, for yourself.

Nothing can prepare one for that feeling you get when you descend down the valleys of Drakensberg (Dragon’s Mountain). Personally, I have never ceased to be amazed at the contrast between the enormous granite outcrops that jut out high above the surrounding ‘lowveld’. Some of the peaks are as high as 333 metres or 1000 feet!
Slowly passing through this area which is mostly intended for forestry industry, we meandered our way to the Park. The entrance, with Dravidian rocks of worship overhead, is a spectacular sight. Ancient tribes once held their ceremonies here and sensing the presence from another lifetime, it almost feels like sacrilege to intrude.

With normal vehicles not being able to travel beyond this point, civilization was left far behind, as we arrived at the Mthethomusha Game Reserve. This is an 8000 hectare reserve bordering on the Kruger National Park.

The reserve is situated on the wagon tracks of the original Jock of the Bushveld route, and the earth itself, carries the hidden wagon trails and adventures of a Staffordshire bull terrier called Jock of the Bushveld and its owner Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, in the days of the alluvial gold mining rush in the remote areas of Sabie and Pilgrims Rest. Come and put your ear to this ground and find out about the challenges that they faced in those early days whilst traversing the wilderness.

The reserve is home to the Big 5, including Wild Dog and Cheetah.

We could hear the roar of the lions close by, we felt the earth shudder as the elephants stomped on the ground and we watched in astonishment as the giraffes grazed by with their long necks protruding over the tops of the thorn trees. With the wild creatures in their natural habitat, we were quite a spectacle moving about with our eyes permanently squinted or glued to binoculars, to spot the cheetahs from the bushes!

One of the perks of staying here, is the fact that the reserve is a rich source of San-rock art, with over 250 sights estimated to be more than 1 500 years old! This represents one of the greatest concentrations of rock art per square kilometre found anywhere in South Africa.

The lodge features a breathtaking mountain top location, with a never-ending view of the Lebombo and Malelane Mountain Ranges - the giant Dravidian rocks of worship. In his book ‘Jock of the Bushveld ‘, Sir Percy Fitzpatrick wrote:

“Get up on some vantage point……….and look down there one day in the winter of the tropics as the heat and the bush of noon approach, and it will seem indeed a scene of peace and beauty - a place to rest and dream, where there is neither stir nor sound”.

Better I could not have described it myself. This distinctly charming mountain lodge spreads out across an impressive mountain ridge and boasts twenty elevated chalets and nine spacious family suites, all designed with a subtle blend of timber and thatch. Chalets and suites are all fully equipped and have private viewing decks with magnificent wraparound views of the surrounding valleys below.

The guest area features a game viewing and bird watching deck, a ‘Boma’ for starlight dining when weather permits, as well as a secluded swimming pool for guests to cool off in the midday summer’s heat.

Everyone had the time of their lives, with activities that cater for everyone’s taste. Apart from the morning and evening 4x4 game drives, your programme could include tracking the Big 5 on foot, which offers a completely different angle when it comes to game viewing, as it is more focused on the various elements that make up our eco-system.

There is also a visit to the local communities. Bongani is very involved with communal upliftment programmes and the reception and hospitality at the local village Luphisa are overwhelming. One gets to meet and talk with the locals and begin to understand their cultural background. You also get to meet the local medicine man (sangoma).

In conclusion, the 4 days spent at Bongani gave us the feeling of being part of an entirely different world. The experienced rangers and trackers with their intimate knowledge and the interpretive expression of the bush, turned the game drives into adventures, especially as it is very hard work to find game in this mountainous terrain.

Next time, don’t just read about it! We invite you to join us in our next trip to Bongani and have this wonderful experience for yourself. Contact us now for special rates for bookings in advance.