Limpopo's Limpokwena

This 2400 hectare private nature reserve nestles at the confluence of 2 rivers, the Limpopo and the Mogalakwena, overlooking Tuli Block in Botswana

The drought has impacted life in this region and Limpokwena has not been spared, everything waits for the rain

We are most fortunate to have the lodge to ourselves for our entire stay. Above is the lounge, dining and kitchen building

The bar and pool room ideally located near the pool

The fire pit between bar and dining rooms

The lodge consists of 4 comfortable bungalow's and a family unit

Accommodation includes 1 game driver per day and after a refreshing swim we head off for our first afternoon drive through the reserve

Mopane trees await the worms that will bring a glut of food to the region. They are harvested weeks into the rainy season but here at Limpokwena, the worm will pupate into the large emperor moth

Fever trees, Sausage trees and Mopane trees make up the riverine forest with a smattering of Baobabs inland. From the small amount of rain fallen, grass is evident and the trees are covered in a lush greenery

Thinking about dinner? The yellow billed stork wades in the shallows using its beak to probe for small fish, crabs, frogs and other aquatic critters

Far off Marico and Crocodile Rivers join to become the Limpopo. Notwane River on the edge of the Kalahari desert and the Olifants River are the Limpopo's main tributaries and can contribute 1,233 million m3 of water per year

A deck on the Mogalakwena allows you to listen to silence, it has so much to say

The lodge waterhole, a great spot for birding

A new day to explore at sunrise and the drought is evident all over the reserve

A stately old tree ends its life in the Limpopo

Bee eaters are a wonder to watch and the little bee eaters are here in large numbers

The Mogalakwena River means 'fierce crocodile' in Tswana and flows from the eastern side of the Waterberg basin as the Nyl before heading northwards. It is affected by a five-year rain cycle in which the river is virtually dry for 5 years

A Groundscraper Thrush silhouetted against the sky

In the sweltering heat of the day, I'm under trees identifying and photographing birds. The illusive Black-headed Oriole's melodious whistle tantalizes but eventually I snap him up

I cannot clearly identify this cuckoo. Its either a Levaillants or an African Stripped Cuckoo. Either way, it is a thrill to see as cuckoo's are notoriously illusive birds

The Limpopo is not a river running from one bank to another. Islands abound and are rich pickings for a picnic

Its almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream

The early bird catches the worm so they say, waterhole magic at dawn, catching this coucal drinking

By now you've noticed my love affair with trees

Groundscraper Thrushs use vegetation and spider-webs to build its nest and lines it with feathers

Its breeding season and the woodland kingfishers are highly vocal, their song reverberating through the trees along the river bank

Only one place to be in 38 degree temps...

Cross the bridge onto Island tented Camp, surrounded by the Limpopo, and lose yourself to the wilderness for a few magical days

There is no WiFi in the bushveld, but you will find a better connection

Thank you Riley and Syanne for a wonderful visit to your special patch of Africa. May the rains arrive soon