A Special Place Called Thali Thali

Description

Finally the day arrived when we were off to the Thali Thali Game Lodge. So with my sense of wanderlust burning with veracity we set off on the road to Langebaan. About an hour or so outside of Cape Town we finally arrived at our destination, car laden with cameras and bags, and soon we were making our way down the long dirt road towards the lodge. Our arrival was immediately greeted by a heard of springbuck and a zebra grazing casually in the open fields whilst the curious eyes of the emu’s nesting in the long grasses stuck out to inspect the new visitors.

Before long we were at the lodge, from the onset a rustic but beautiful set of tents and buildings, nestled in a setting that in no time had transported me to a world of peace and tranquility; a far cry from the busy highway from which, moments before we had just come. We were greeted, welcome drinks in hand by the manager and her team of friendly staff, all eager and excited to have two new faces amongst the crowd, a sense of warmth and general appreciation could be felt in the air.

After being welcomed we were escorted to our rooms, from the outside well put together and from the inside humble, but nonetheless visually intriguing and beautifully adorned. After settling in, we made our way outside and were once again greeted by a family of emu’s who had wondered around our tents.

As the day slipped away and the moon began to rise, the sounds of the night gently began, arousing our ears with a beautiful cacophony of harmonies. We indulged in some light, yet delicious meals at the lodge’s restaurant enjoying the views of the open and serene expanse of land lit gently by the light of the moon. Making our way back to the lodge, we were greeted by a herd of deer who were grazing around the pool. Naturally shy and cautious, I gently eased my way towards one of them and after a few minutes, the beautiful creature’s trust was gained and for my patience I received a cold nose on the palm of my hand. With the closing of another beautiful night and the wet earth from the rains earlier that day smelling like sweet nectar, we settled in.

With daybreak, one is awoken with the beautiful songs of what sounds like a thousand tiny birds all singing to the sun, for anyone who has a sense of appreciation for the outdoors, a beautiful way to be ushered into the new day. On our second day at the lodge we were greeted by another visitor, a zebra who frequently visits the area. Weary of us, he allowed us to get close enough to take a few photos without disturbing his meal. Our game drive planned later that day was the first of its kind for both of us.

Sat in the back of the game vehicle and covered comfortably with blankets, cameras on hand, we set off. As we soon found out the Thali Thali property was in fact much larger than we had both expected, with acres upon acres of ground and dozens of wild animals. Along the way we encountered Duikers, Oryx, herds of Gemsbok and even a few snakes which our game driver was brave enough to catch with his bare hands for the sake of informing his audience.

Crossing the expanse of land little by little we were showered with knowledge about the land, its history and the animals which reside there before reaching the furthest corner of the property. Here, in the shade of the Bluegum trees, enjoying a peaceful meal of leaves, a family of giraffes went about their business, towering over us like skyscrapers; truly a magnificent site to see.

Our evening was ended with a fire in our personal braai pit, outside our tent and a beautiful meal, enjoying the beautiful sunset and before long staring up in awe at the wondrous constellations of stars shining brightly across the night sky.

The next morning with a few sad goodbyes we bid farewell to the lodge and its accommodating and warm staff, leaving behind the lodge, but taking with us a truly unforgettable experience. My mind still drifts back to the time we spent there, one thought lingering. Our time there taught us that there can always be found a certain kind of beauty in adventure, and we found it, at Thali Thali