Sunrise at the Earth Lodge Sabi Sabi Game Reserve. Game drives start bright and early with coffee and danishes at 5:00 a.m. Departures at 5:30 a.m.

The tree seen silhouetted is The Marula Tree and has a history as a source of nutrition dating back to 10,000 years B.C. and it is certainly one of Africa's botanical treasures.
The multiple uses of the tree, it's bark, leaves, fruit, nut and kernels are legendary. My favorite is when the fruit ripens and drops to the ground and lightly ferments ... the elephants, giraffes, warthogs, and other animals get wasted and the party gets started safari style !
http://youtu.be/D5E5TjkDvU0

The fruits are a good food source and high in vitamin C.
The skin can be boiled to make a drink or burnt to be used as a substitute for coffee.
The wood is soft for carving
The inner bark can be used to make rope and for making dye
They produce small tasty nuts which are rich in protein.
The Oil is used as a skin cosmetic.
Their green leaves are eaten to relieve heartburn.
The bark contains antihistamines

The fruit can also be cooked to produce jam, juices and alcoholic beverages like "Amarula" a delicious South African Cream Liqueur that substrates just fine for coffee creamer any time of the day as far as I'm concerned. It also is used to brew a very tasty, potent South African moonshine known locally as "Mampoer" after a local Chief who favored it. It is said to make grown men weep.

the Venda people of Southern Africa maintain that bark infusions can be used to determine the gender of an unborn child. If a woman wants a son the male tree is used, and for a daughter, the female tree. If the child of the opposite gender is born, the child is said to be very special as it was able to defy the spirits.

Oh, and did I mention it sacred.

#treetrove #goldenhour

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Body treatments, aromatherapy, hot stone massages, deep-tissue massages

"Great stay at the hotel. Food and hospitality were amazing!"

NT$11,253 total

includes taxes & fees

Aug 4 - Aug 5

"Beautiful location, wonderful facilities, unique stay. Would go back in a heartbeat!"

NT$26,356 total

includes taxes & fees

Aug 11 - Aug 12

"Is the best mis-sized hostel ive stayed in Alkebulan so far! Will stay again when in Kruger. For price paid it was worth it. App wont let me add photos"

NT$2,204 total

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Aug 9 - Aug 10

"Experience with elephants was special, but the lodge needs some TLC and lacks attentio to detail"

NT$20,934 total

includes taxes & fees

Aug 28 - Aug 29

"Our stay at the camp was perfect. Above all, our guide K-K was extremly helpfull and nice and showed us many animals and how and where they live. It was a highligt during our vacation in South Africa. "

"Experiencia incrivel de dormir em uma tenda bem no meio do parque Nacional Kruger. Ouvir os animais durante a noite foi um dos pontos altos da viagem. Além do safari duas vezes por dia ser espetacular! O guia Simon é super atencioso e muito bom!"

NT$31,183 total

includes taxes & fees

Aug 10 - Aug 11

"I had an amazing stay at Leopard Hills. The entire grounds are 5-star, all of the staff if there to cater to your every need and the location within Sabi Sand is fantastic for game drives! My stay here was worth every penny!"

NT$89,906 total

includes taxes & fees

Aug 13 - Aug 14

"Lovely lodge right at the entrance of Kruger, the staff were unbelievably welcoming, atmosphere was lovely and service was top notch!"

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Sabie River Bush Lodge

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Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps - Mantobeni

10/10 Excellent

"This is an exceptional property in the Manyeleti Game Reserve adjacent to the Kruger National Park. It is a magical place where Impala's roam the property and the elephants come to drink water from the pool. The "tents" are very nice with toilet facilities and showers and comfortable beds. The food was good, but the staff are the best! They do everything they can to meet your needs and wants. Everyday there are two game drives into the reserve where you can get very close to amazing game animals. The guides on these drives are very good at their jobs. Ours was named Brilliant and he truly was brilliant. He can find animals, birds and snakes at distance and at night in places I can barely see. He is amazing! We want to thank the staff for making our stay very special-Dan, Mavis, Trevor, Previous, Noa and other...and especially Brilliant!"

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