Win a weekend for two at Umkhumbi Lodge! Your prize includes dinner, bed and breakfast, a half day game drive in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve and a 2.5 hour guided kayak on the St Lucia Estuary. See below for more information!
Our Environmental Awareness Course with Mid Kent College is now featured in an educational catalogue!
A round up of all the fantastic pictures that have made it onto the facebook page of our lodge in South Africa.
Every day we put a new photo on our Facebook page, we’ve put a selection of them here!
At Umkhumbi lodge we are proud to say that each room has a resident Velvet gecko (they stay outside, don’t worry!) The Velvet gecko is on the IUCN list due to it’s rarity. One species of the Velvet gecko is so rare that it was only recently rediscovered!
They are larger than the non-indigenous Tropical house geckos that are so prominent here in South Africa. They have been known to grow up to 120mm in length (and that is just the body, add the tail on as well and you have a fairly substantial portion of gecko!).
The scales of the Velvet Gecko overlap slightly giving it an almost velvet-like feel
So, I hear you ask, if they are so big; How on Earth do they run up the walls? How do they not fall off the ceiling?
Well, each toe is covered with large, wide pads. These pads are covered with tiny little hairs, shorter than 2 diameters of a human hair(1) and much thinner, it is these hairs that allow geckos to run up even the smoothest surface. Each of these hairs is subject to a weak molecular attraction – Van Der Waals theory – which gives geckos the ability to be able to hang from a wall by just one fingertip. This adhesive effect is very strong and the tiny hairs only become detached by changing their angle (almost like velcro).
The texture of a geckos 'fingerprint' helps them stick to even the smoothest of surfaces.
For more information about the discovery, read this and this from the Lewis & Clark College, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of California at Santa Barbara, and Stanford University.
Yet another fantastic review of Umkhumbi Lodge, this time at the TheTravelEditor.com
Check it out here!
http://www.thetraveleditor.com/article/8963/Hotel_Reviews_Safari_Bush_living_at_Umkhumbi_Lodge.html
It was with heavy hearts last week that we said goodbye to 8 of our guests who came to Umkhumbi Lodge to film the latest promotional video for Tourism KZN.
From Kayaking with crocs, spa treatments, and even jumping off of a football stadium roof – there was plenty to film!
Our film stars were:
Peter from South African Airways (SAA).
Peter doing his croc-dundee impression before kayaking in St Lucia
Samantha from Travel2.
Snuggling Fluffy at Umkhumbi Lodge
Yaksha from Thomas Cook.
First time snorkeller Yaksha was amazed by the all fish at Kosi Bay!
Lindsey from TUI (Thompsons).
Weeeeeee! Lindsey and Peter both went for a big swing in Durban!
Bruce from Travel Counsellors.
Queue the baywatch music as Bruce rocks up at the beach!
Claire from TTG (Travel Trade Gazette).
Claire takes a stroll in the shade of the palms at Kosi Bay
our Cameraman Blair “The Kiwi”
Marvelling at the muscles in the African elephants trunk
And of course Storm from Tourism KZN who was responsible for unleashing this motley crew on KwaZulu Natal.
Jumping for joy! (no she didn't fall off)
After a week of seeing Vader but being unable to capture him on photo we were successful yesterday! He looks in good condition and judging by the speed he shot off at, he is as happy as Larry with his new home.
All in all a good day, we located Lucas the little Black Mamba and even Chelsea the big Black Mamba had decided to disengage herself from her nice warm bed and venture outside for a spot of sunbathing.
After a week of eluding us she was so keen to show us she was still alive that we almost stepped on her! Only when we’d seen her did she decide that that was enough and she shot off into the bush again. Presumably tag-teaming with Lucas to keep us on our toes and searching further and further into the bush for the both of them.
Day 1
Lets talk cameras!
Everyone looked a little confused at the beginning of the course
A big thanks to African Imagery for hosting their recent photo workshop with us here at Umkhumbi Lodge in Hluhluwe.
Well, ok, not exactly dinosaurs, but pretty close! Today was spent at Zulu Croc – the crocodile centre a mere 5 minute drive from Umkhumbi Lodge.
Everyone was a bit shy at first and stayed as a group around a single enclosure – it wasn’t long however until everyone was lying on the ground trying to get some nice crocodile close-ups through the fences.
The crocs were very considerate and sat nice and close to the fences
More confident with their cameras and eager to get on!
Then it was time for the photography workshop to really begin. Here is where Roger De La Harpe and all attendees (gently) picked apart images. It’s great, not only did we learn from our mistakes but everyone elses as well.
Day 2 – Afternoon
Portrait photography!
Ntombi in her beads
Poor Ntombi she had the joyful job of posing for us. Ntombi works at the lodge, and as well as cleaning the rooms, feeding the iguanas and occasionally being one of our servers at the lappa, she now had to smile until her cheeks hurt (thankfully Ntombi is so usually always so cheerful this isn’t too much of a problem for her)!
Dressed in beaded clothes Ntombi was the perfect model for us.
Poor Ntombi surrounded by all our flashes. She looked stunning though!
And I have to say, I have a lot of respect for fashion magazine photographers, people are not as easy to shoot as they look!
Day 3 – Last day :’(
Touch up class and snakes!
The morning started with a brief critique of our shots of Ntombi and then Roger further helped us to enhance the beauty of our shots with some five minute touch ups using Adobe Lightroom.
To finish up, snakes.
From Antons collection in the garage: juvenile Puff Adder, juvenile Gaboon Adder and a Variable Bush Viper.
Pics to follow!
Arriving at Hlane Royal National Park, the Waterhole by the restaurant was like a scene out of the Lion King!
Rhino, Hippo, Elephants, Impala, Stork, Ox Peckers and Crocodile, all that was missing was the Giraffe!
The Rhino tries to find his way to the water past the hippos, croc and elephants
The elephant looks smug after seeing off that pesky Rhino!
The croc sunbathes on the sand waiting for an easy lunch
Once the coast was clear the whole elephant family came down to the water hole
With one look the hippo tells the Rhino to stay away from their part of the water
The Rhino flops to the ground and sulks while he waits for the Hippos, Croc and Elephants to let him to the water.
Another evening drive for Stephanie and Adrian Tonight followed by an early morning mountain bike ride around the park (to say they are excited would be an understatement!)
The last full day of their nature tour in South Africa sees Stephanie and Adrian taking to the water once more in St Lucia.
Again, these waters contain both Hippos and Crocodiles, but this time Stephanie and Adrian are on Kayaks.
Paddling in the waters with Hippos and crocs doesn’t seem like such a good idea as you carry your paddle to the waters edge…
And they're off! Stephanie and Adrian glide across the surface leaving Justin to catch up with them
…but after the first few strokes of the paddle you are soaring across the water and all thoughts of turning back are gone from your mind.
Stephanie and Adrian leave Justin in their dust!
Lead by our trusty guide Justin, Stephanie and Adrian ventured out in search of the Hippos, Crocs and birdlife of the estuary.
Justin - our guide.
A juvenile fish eagle swoops after the adult female with her eel catch.
"Goliath Heron...way over there!"
Justin takes them closer to the Goliath Heron
Now we know why it is called Goliath, it is massive!
Feeling the breeze from the Goliath herons wings.
Once more Adrian and Stephanie have decided that they’re not ready to leave South Africa yet.
Stephanie and Adrian try to paddle off into the sunset together.
But we caught them and brought them back!
Over so soon... can we go again please?!
Don’t worry you two, the estuary, the crocodiles, the hippos and the kayaks will still be here when you get back!
Missing a leg, Stephanie and Adrian finished their kayak unscathed...
Adrian and Stephanie enjoyed yesterdays full day game drive so much that they’ve decided to go on another one!
They’ve clocked the Big 5 – but it would appear that’s not enough, they want to see a Cheetah in the wild and they want black rhino.
Good luck!
Well done Adrian!
On todays game drive he spotted the first Lion, and before the game ranger!
That never happens!!
Be proud 
Today was a busy day!
The morning was spent tickling and feeding elephants…
Steph was so determined not to leave South Africa, she climbed in!
Unable to handle the extra wife, Adrian tries to convince Rambo (the elephant) to go to the pub for some male bonding
The afternoon was spent having a spot of lunch at Ilala Weavers (and shopping) and then a tour around a local township.
And then the last item on the days agenda is a bit of a hardship….
cuddling cheetah!!
Not quite sure what Kitten and co, will make of Stephanie and Adrians new pet...
