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Latest South African Game Safari Update
Last update: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tau Game Lodge announces the latest South African Game Safari News & Info:
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2011 has been a very good year, and the last month has been even better. We have finished the festive season with a bang. In the month of December we had quite a lot of rain and as a result of that the rangers expected game viewing to be a bit down; with the bush being filled with water puddles, the animals generally do not have to move as much to and from the main water sources.
To our surprise the game viewing has been exceptional and we have been seeing at least 3 to 4 out of the big 5 with every set of guests. Some guests have even seen 6 out of the magnificent 7 which includes lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, elephant, buffalo and rhino. This just shows that Madikwe itself is rapidly growing into a very exquisite game reserve. If we had to refer back to all of the sightings we have had this year, we would be surprized to see how much the previously rare sightings like Leopard and Wild Dog have increased.
This month has just proven to me once again that it does not matter how much you expect, nature can and will give you anything at any given time.
Gerard Ramage
Picture: by Ernest Maetla
I have recently come back from leave, and I can’t believe how much the bush has changed in the last 2weeks. With all the rain we’ve had, it is looking breathtakingly green and lush.
I’ve been lucky to start off with some very nice guests. They stayed at the lodge for 4 nights, and it was a family of 10 from Holland.
One particular sighting that my Dutch guests and I experienced was a breeding herd of elephants. We spotted about fifteen elephants ranging from all sizes. There were three little youngsters that decided to see how brave they were, and they encouraged each other to playfully try and “charge” the cruiser. My guests and I thought this was extremely funny. This carried on for about 5 minutes, then one of the mothers decided to come and check out the scene with the three little youngers as well, she stood two meters away from the cruiser to have a good inspection of us. Shortly after that another three females made their way next to the cruiser, and before we knew it we had four adult females and 5 youngsters all two meters away from the cruiser, we only realised a little while later why the elephants decided to park off next to us. There was a small heap of sand that kept them entertained for about 20 minutes where the youngsters were rolling around in.
Once the youngsters decided they had enough, the females slowly got them all together and headed off into the thickets. It was a spectacular sighting that we had encountered and it was all my guests could talk about on the way home.
Magan Matern
December in South Africa can get really hot! It is right in the peak of summer with temperatures sometimes soaring to 40 degrees Celsius. Luckily this is also the middle of the rainy season. The midday heat quite often gets interrupted with a thunderstorm or two, but because of all this rain, animals are not forced to travel to permanent dams for a drink. Now all the little pans and ditches fill up to create small watering holes scattered throughout the bush.
Bearing this in mind, we set out on our journey of discovery to see what Madikwe had in store for us. Just as the sun revealed itself over the horizon we came across two white Rhino’s and a breeding herd of about 20 elephants milling around the edge of Tlou dam.
After the giant herbivores quenched their thirst, they set off again on their never ending search for nourishment. This is when we spotted the 3 big cats. A lioness called the Etali female and her two youngsters were slowly making their way towards the dam in full stalking mode, with their eyes fixed on what they had hoped to be breakfast. The small herd of blue wildebeest grazing nearby were completely unaware of the approaching danger.
You could see every muscle tensing as the lions made their slow approach and in the blink of an eye the chase was on. One of the youngsters dashed past the vehicle with mom right on his heels. The wildebeest scattered in all directions with the big cats in hot pursuit. Within seconds it was all over! Unfortunately for the lions it was another failed attempt and one by one they made their way back to the water for a drink.
After witnessing this wild scene, we sat in awe at the wonder of creation and the delicate balance all life exists in.
Marlize Conradi
We started our beautiful morning around our waterhole doing some birding. There were quite a few birds in the area, but the most beautiful ones were the Marabou storks. After we viewed our water hole, we decided to leave the area. A few minutes later we had a nice journey of giraffe walking along the road towards our lodge. I parked off the road and switched off the engine. We watched them slowly passing our vehicle.
After this nice sighting of giraffe we left them slowly heading towards our water hole. As we carried on with our drive, we were fortunate enough to bump into the big pack of wild dogs sprinting towards our vehicle. I stopped, and they passed us. After they had passed, I turned the car around, and we followed them for almost a kilometre. The Alpha male spotted a large group of impala, and all of the dogs followed him. They caught a small Impala lamb, and all of them started ripping the little impala piece by piece. This little ‘snack” was not enough for the rest of the animals and they carried on hunting. They passed Madonna, which is one of our hills around Madikwe. We heard some sounds of fighting. The bush was quite thick and we lost visual for the time being. I tried to put the nose of our vehicle in the thickets, and luckily we picked them up again. I scanned around to see what the noise was all about. There was nothing to see, but a few seconds later I looked up on top of the trees, and guess what…. I spotted a male leopard in a Tamboti tree.
My guests were so happy and they fired away with their cameras. It was quite nice to look at the interaction between the two species. Even though the bush was really thick and green, which makes it difficult to spot animals, my guests and I really had a good time.
Thank you Madikwe for such a nice Christmas present.
Ernest Maetla
Madikwe is a field of green at the moment with water around every corner. Something that does not make game viewing very easy………………..
All the rain does not only bring a lot of water all over the bush, but the grass gets longer and thicker, and so do the shrubs. Not the best conditions for spotting your favourite animal, but as always the bush surprised us. We had quite a few good sightings of leopard and wild dogs. Even in the best of weather conditions, these are not too often seen. This time of the year is also known for a lot of births, especially for the antelope species. The reason for this is that with all of the rain, the nutritional levels in the grass and leaves are very high. Just what a lactating mother needs to produce good milk and also provides good feeding for the youngsters once they start feeding on the vegetation.
All of these young antelope around, also provides some easy meals for the predators in the park. Although lions do not have a specific time of the year to give birth, this is also a good time for them to raise young. With the grass and shrubs being so thick, it provides sufficient cover for the mother to hide her young, and easy meals are around so she can get back to her young as soon as possible.
We were lucky enough to see some of these young lions on one of our drives.
One of the females in our area has recently given birth to two cubs, and she was showing them off very proudly to us. They were lying in an area where the grass was not too long, and we were able to see them perfectly. We watched them for quite some time as they rolled over each other, and jumped on top off mom just to tumble down her backside again.
What a sighting this was, and definitely not something we would have expected in these weather conditions. Just once again a reminder to expect the unexpected in Madikwe.
Stefan Steenkamp
Leopards, leopards and more leopards!!!This seems to be the theme around Tau game lodge as of late. Just the other morning I was driving with some guests and managed to spot a leopard in an old Leadwood tree. As the morning twilight spread across the land, he stretched and clawed the tree before disembarking on a leisurely morning walk. We followed him for 45min before heading off to explore the other wonders of the bush.
A few days later I was able to catch up with our friend the leopard again, and as evening was drawing to a close he decided to stalk some baby wildebeest in the clearing in front of our vehicle. Maintaining a crouched posture so low I lost visual of him barely 5 metres from our vehicle, he continued his stealthy approach. As we all waited on the edge of our seats, the phantom bounded across the clearing at over 80kph and managed to claim his prize. He was quick to take the carcass away with him to the safety of a nearby tree where he could feed in peace.
As if all these amazing sightings were not enough I was blessed yet again. It was late afternoon when I heard over the radio that one of the rangers had found a leopard, as I was not too far from the area I decided to respond. My happiness was plain as day as when I saw the female leopard. She had a 4 month old cub with her and we were able to approach and get some amazing photos capturing all the elegance and grace that only a leopard can truly embrace. The sighting have once again been amazing and it is always pleasing to see the one generation of wildlife paving the foundations for the next.
Grant Botha
For more pictures taken by our rangers you can go to the following links:
http://photo-africa-stock.com/view_photog.php?photogid=11 for Bradley
Picture by: Stefan Steenkamp |
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GUEST FEEDBACK
" I just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our recent stay at Tau Game Lodge. We were only there for 2 days, but we enjoyed ourselves immensely. The staff were wonderful and the venue was superb. We had Megan as our Ranger and she was great - knowlegeable, friendly and had a great sense of humor. We are trying to arrange another visit to your facility next year. When we do come back, we will certainly request that Megan once again be assigned as our Ranger. Thanks again for a wonderful experience.
Terry and Vickie Rockwell December 2011
" We had such a marvelous time at Tau. What a beautiful location. There was constant activity at the water hole. The staff were aways a step ahead of us. We loved our chalet and the outdoor shower. The food was always beautifully presented and delicious! However, it was our guide, Grant, that made our trip so memorable. He was so knowledgeable and went above and beyond expectations to provide us a great experience. We will forever have beautiful pictures and memories of Tau...
Dale Lien November 2011
" Hi there , we want to thank every person at Tau for their warm welcome , friendliness and hospitality . This was by far my best holiday ever , better than Mala – Mala ,Sabi –sabi .
Keep it like that ! I already tell my friends and family , see you soon".
Pierre Nel November 2011
" We`d say "marvelous, trip of a lifetime, the very best,couldn`t have been better" in all the languages you listed.........but only have barely passable French.........but our thanks to Nelia, Marcus, Tumi, Poppy, Grant, and so many others who made our stay so special...... and those adorable children at the school! We`ll send pictures for them. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Don and Sheila Lauda November 2011
" We absolutely loved our safari experience at Tau and thank all of the staff there who made it so memorable. The kindness and patience shown to our children, Harry, Chappy and Milly, truly touched us and made our stay amazing! We love Morah and enjoyed each game drive. She is so knowledgable and enthusiastic about her job. We learned so much about the animals at Madiweke through her expertise. Our accommodations were fabulous...plenty of room for a family of 5. The amenities were superior and decor and furnishings beautifully displayed. We will definately be back again! Many thanks!"
Michelle Havin November 2011
" To The Whole Team at Tau
I would like to pass on my thanks to the entire team at Tau for making our recent visit such a memorable event.
My small group have not stopped raving about their trip which started in Antwerp Belgium, finished in Gaborone, where we visited the DTC Botswana and Jwaneng Diamond mine, but the thing they have spoken most about was their time at Tau.
The peaceful setting, the meals, staff, accommodation and of course the game drives were all memorable. Some of us where fortunate enough to be involved in the “Escaped Lion Hunt” and to also witness a kill which I believe are fairly rare experiences.
Another highlight of the trip was our visit to the village and the local schools. We were all captivated by the children and their wholehearted dancing and singing performance.
So a very BIG THANK YOU to all the team.
I hope that we will bring another group to Tau in 2012"
Barry Jackson JGBS PTY November 2011
" Incredible and Perfect stay, would certainly recommend to others and hope to be back very soon!."
Ramon Partida October 2011
"Beyond our wildest expectations. Thanks it was such a memorable experience."
Christina Selian - September 2011
" I would particularly like to emphasise how good my girlfriend and I found our ranger, Dave - he is a great guide and the lodge is lucky to have him - and we were lucky to be able to share dinner with him."
Nicholas Midgley- September 2011
" The best weekend Ever. I couldn`t have asked for anything more and receieved so much more than I had ever expected. Morah, our ranger is a star, and the staff were exceptional! i will continue to recommend Tau Game Lodge to Everyone! Thank you for an exceptional time. I hope to return Soon!!."
Sarah Gowans September 2011
"It was absolute wonderful, seeing all the big 5 inone day, was a great experience. Thanks again to gerard and Marilize for such wonderful game drives. Will definitely visit again."
M van Heerden September 2011
" We are back from our weekend away in Madikwe at Tau Lodge and we had a wonderful time! The resort was amazing! We really enjoyed our stay with excellent food, friend staff and beautiful scenery. Our game drives were also superb as we ended up seeing 4 of the big 5 (not the leopard). Thank you VERY much for recommending the lodge to us."
Amanda Skinn September - UPenn Botswana
"Kath, the boys and I managed to fly back to Dubai after spending another fantastic week at Tau.
Once again, a million that to you, Stefan, Brad, my best chefs Merlin and John, Poppy and everyone who made our stay so enjoyable. We truly love it and wil be booking up next year as well.
I thought I would let you know that Kath and I and Barney, Ralph and Tristan really enjoyed our mini trip to your school. It was great fun for everyone.
I especialy liked the football penalties !! You have achieved success with the children, wearing school uniforms, the vegi patch etc. Everyone had a smile on their face. It was a very special and humbling moment during our week. You should really feel proud of what has been achieved there. many thanks for everything."
Ben Holt August 2011 Dubai
"Our sincere thanks to you all for another memorable stay at Tau. The staff were wonderful, caring and went out of their way to treat like us like Kings. Great service all round.
Gerhard was a great and attentive host and our game drives were certainly successful - the Big Five and the cherry on the top the female leopard and her little cub. Gerhard`s apprentice, Marelise, was as helpful and friendly. A special thanks to Gerhard for our sentimental journey out to the Place of the Rocks.
I could not think of a better place to introduce our grandson to the delights of the bush, and he was very thrilled with his kiddies presentation pack.
Thank you all once again - we will be back next year."
Pam & Leon Venter August 2011 SA
"Whilst my wife has been to Tau with me several times on the VS conferences, this was the first time we took our children and easily the best visit I have had there over the years
The weekend was not too busy so there was plenty of time to relax and enjoy the facilities
Marcus was as charming as ever, Ernest was easily the best ranger we have had, the game life (all the big five) were there on show for us and the meals were more sit down ala carte than buffet and allowed Merlin to show his skills
This was certainly the highlight of our visit to South Africa
Thanks again to all your team for a truly memorable experience"
Joseph Alwan- VS Australia
" We had a wonderful time at TAU lodge. Ernest was a great guide and ranger. Also thanks to the whole TAU Lodge Team!
Lennard appreciated the present very much and is currently enjoying it."
Henning Kohne - Germany April 2011
"My husband and I have just returned from 3 wonderful days at Tau where we received 5 star treatment. The staff are so helpful and friendly, the food 5 star, and the ranger who took us out on the game drives is a young girl called Yolandi who made sure that every drive was a memorable experience. We saw some amazing sights the highlight being an impala kill by wild dogs on the last evening. What a privilege to have witnessed this, all thanks to Yolandi who took off into the bush following the sounds to find them.
Many thanks again, we thoroughly enjoyed this amazing place and hope to visit again some day. "
Ros Steytler 24 March 2011
"All the staff was wonderful! Yolandi was an amazing guide! "
Carol Leligdon February 2011
" The warmth and hospitality was exceptional. Tumi was very charming, Morah the game ranger was outstanding and Merlin the chef went out of his way to ensure that our dietary requirements were met. In fact, all the staff were fantastic. email correspondence before our travel was dealt with promptly. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay."
Sabrina Ward 13 December 2010
" Our room was superb - outdoor and indoor showers, luxurious tub bath, spacious sitting area with an outdoor patio and huge glass doors opening to views of the lodge`s waterhole and all the animals it attracts. Twice an elephant bathed less than 100 feet from our room, we could watch him from our bed!
The main lodge and grounds were just as appealing with a beautiful wood bar opening to an upper deck veranda, multiple patios, dinning and sitting areas, spa and an inviting swimming pool. The service was attentive and friendly and our game ranger Dave was an endless supply of good cheer and knowledge on the reserve`s amazing birds, animals and rugged natural environment. And then there was the food... from early morning snacks to breakfast, lunch, high tea, "sundowners" & snacks and evening dinner it was excellent, plentiful and elegantly presented.
A world class safari experience that for us was worth every penny. "
Lou Harbrecht -USA 9 November 2010
"Dear Jackie, Thanks to you and your team for all the hard work leading up to the wedding and on the day itself. Markus and his team excelled themselves with the preparations.
All those visiting from Australia and elsewhere had `the time of their lives`, the whole experience, the setting of the lodge, the food, the friendly and helpful service, the support of Tumi and Poppy, and the patience and skill of the rangers, all added up to a wonderful experience for Sethunya and myself and all our friends and family.
Thanks also directly to yourself for all the detailed support and organisation that went into the day, especially your patience, with the ever changing arrangements."
Rowan Gillies - Australia 1 November 2010
"I would just like to thank you and all the staff at Tau Lodge for a wonderful few days. It was everything I expected and so much more,
The staff were friendly, accommodating and down to earth. We all felt very at home.
Could you please give special thanks to Garrath, I did not get the chance to thank him for putting up with us.
I will come back - one day.........."
Fiona Chapman Australia 2 November 2010
" Just wanted to say that we had a fantastic trip and stay at Tau.
All were very impressed with the high standard of service, balanced with a good warm and friendly attitude towards guests.
The lodge is looking great and we had so much game coming down to the waterhole it was ridiculous. Loads of Ele, even two lions drinking in front while the rest of us were out on a drive.
Bush dinner went ahead even though there was talk of lions in the area. Boma dinner was lovely, and all in all the visit was amazing.
One problem though …..our stay was two short. Next time I will push for 3 nights.
Conference venue and facilities are also amazing and I will def keep Tau in mind when we next have a group coming through to us.
Thanks for all your effort in making this last trip a success. And thanks to all at Tau for their hard work.
Special mention of all the guides who did a great job. Its not often you get a camp that size where all the guides are of a high standard and they all impressed us without exception."
Rich Prangley South Africa 17 August 2010
"My wife, son and I spent a memorable 2 nights at Tau over the past long weekend and wish to record our sincere appreciation for a fantastic stay.
The staff, especially Marcus who greeted us on arrival, Jeanette who babysat for us and our ranger Gerard all stand out in terms of excellent service and deserve to be commended. Gerard especially went out of his way to ensure that we were able to experience as much of the game as possible on the game drives and even arranged a guided walk in the reserve on our last day. A close encounter with a particularly irate elephant on a drive was professionally handled with our safety never in question.
The accommodation, setting, meals and general atmosphere at Tau are first class.
Thanks once again, we will definitely be back and I would not hesitate to recommend Tau to colleagues and friends. "
Mike Brandon- Morningside South Africa 11 August 2010
"My experience at Tau was amazing and I cannot ever forget the excellent time I’d at the Lodge and game drives.".
Vishal Anand -Ottawa Practice 05 January 2010
" I`m writing to say thank you very much indeed for a most wonderful stay at Tau. It`d be fair to say that I know a thing or two about the safari industry but even an old cynic like me was blown away by the Tau experience. The lodge itself is delightful and very well run by Malcolm and his team. There is a good, relaxed atmosphere and the facilities are excellent. We were lucky to get good weather and better game sightings but what made the trip was our guide Morah. I`m an ex-guide myself but even I sat open-mouthed at her depth of knowledge, professionalism and passion - it was an absolute delight to explore Madikwe with her. And all my 8-year old daughter has been saying since is how she wants to be a game ranger when she grows up. I was especially impressed with Morah`s attention to detail, her focus on safety and her ability to make any aspect of the bush - no matter how small or insignificant - interesting. Without wanting to lapse into hyperbole I am confidant that this young woman will grow into one of the country`s top female guides.
Well done Tau, I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the lodge to our product department and thank you again for refreshing my soul and providing my daughter with a holiday of a lifetime."
Dominic Chadbon
Content Developer 12 October 2009
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We recently had the pleasure of staying at Tau Game Lodge for several nights during a 3 week trip to South Africa. It was our first time in an African Lodge and needless to say it was a truly amazing experience. Even though we knew it would be great, the accommodation was far better than we had imagined and our safari stay was most definitely the highlight of our trip. The staff were incredibly friendly and we were always well looked after. We just loved having dinner under the stars and breakfast in the bush. Our room was beautiful and the outdoor shower was such a unique experience for us.
We had an amazing time at Tau and enjoyed every minute of our stay. We were incredibly privileged to see such a variety of animals, plants and birds and came out with some stunning photos. Our ranger Brad was great company and extremely knowledgable. His wealth of experience meant that we were always informed and every day we left our drives having learnt more than the previous day. It was also great to chat with Brad at breakfast and dinner, hearing the many exciting stories he had to tell. His friendly attitude and courteous manner was part of what made every day one to look forward to.
Our safari stay was one of the best experiences of our lives so far – We certainly felt like kings.
Rest assured we will be spreading the word about Tau Lodge here in New Zealand for many many years to come.
Thank you for a truly amazing experience"
Rochelle Harris & Wade Johnson 10/08/09
"Tau Lodge was truly excellent – we all had an absolutely fantastic time. The accommodation was top, the staff were all wonderful and Gerard our guide really made the stay a memorable event. I can’t say enough to praise the whole operation – everything superb and I would definitely recommend Tau to anyone I know interested in a safari in RSA. We would certainly go back to Tau again.
Cheers"
Crowhurst / Grigffin 02/07/09
" First of all, I`d like to thank all the Tau staff for the most kindly attention dedicated to me and my wife during our stay. It was our first time in an African Lodge and all of our expectations were completely overcome.
The experience to see animals in their own habitat, assisted by a professional like Ernest was priceless and we don`t have any doubts that his attitude and friendly smile were absolutely decisive for our wonderful experience.
Besides the animals, the chance to watch Brazil and Bafanas with friends (lodge staff) was unique and very pleasant!
Be sure that we`re already talking about the Tau to all of our friends!
And please, send our best wishes to all the staff and specially to Ernest ("the" best tracker!)"
Silvio 30/06/09
" Dear Malcolm,
Many thanks to you and your team for looking after us so incredibly well this last weekend. Brad, Denzil and Dave were all excellent and ensured that everybody thoroughly enjoyed the game drives. The catering staff were also excellent and went out of their way to ensure that everybody was well looked after. Altogether, your team could not have done a better job!"
Peter Hibbit -Imperial Bank 04/06/09
" To the management and staff at Tau,
we would like to thank you for a fantastic time we had with you
in early March,especially David our ranger (the bird man of Tau!!)
Keep up the good work and we hope to see you next year."
Haydn & Eve Jones 07/04/09
"We had an amazing time at Tau and enjoyed every minute. We were privileged to see so many wonderful animals, birds and scenery and learnt so much from our fantastic ranger, Edmund, who really made the holiday for us. He was great company, really knowledgable and we never minded getting up at 5.30 in the morning!
We also found that everyone at Tau made a real effort to make our stay very special. All the staff were so thoughtful and friendly from the waiters and chefs to the receptionists, cleaners and gardeners, and I found the atmosphere very relaxed and welcoming. Everything was well thought out and organised, such as the welcome back from each game drive. The food was great and I particularly liked the way we got to eat in different parts of the lodge for each meal. One night we were even treated to dinner in our own room with the whole balcony lit up with candles and decorated with flowers - we felt like royalty! On another night, it was my birthday and I was treated to the traditional song and dance and made a big fuss of - the staff were great!
All in all, lovely memories and a one of the best experiences of our lives."
Anne Caine 14/03/09
"It is a week since I spent a night at Tau and I have been meaning to congratulate you and your staff on a great stay. Being a tourist guide I and looking from the outside I was really taken in by your staffs sincerity in helping the tourist/guest.
Malcom was a star accommodating everyone, nothing was too much trouble for him. Thank you Mark for organising the walk – Ondrej says that was his high light just the adventure and the smells of the bush at such close hand.
Poppy you are awesome, you have your fingers on all the right button with such professionalism. You are a jack of all trades and so helpful.
Jaco I think that’s his name the Chef – You food is out of this world. So tasty and well presented and the pride you take in your creations thank you
The dining room staff as well as the porter thank you you were all so pleasant and helpful
Lastly Thank you Tau for making the tourist fell so much at home"
Milca 09/03/09
" my wife and I, and her daughter and boyfriend, spent this past weekend at Tau Game Lodge. I was hugely impressed with the way we were received and treated.
Our ranger was Edmund Fourie and he was excellent – informative and entertaining, and yet constantly respectful of the bush and its true owners. I’ve met a number of rangers and he was as good as the very best. And then on Saturday, your hospitality staff responded to our mentioning that it was my wife’s birthday by baking an extraordinary cake – at record speed – and celebrating the event with song and dance. We were really moved. Plase accept my appreciation and congratulations."
John Perlman 04/03/09
"Have now spoken to everyone from this group and the feedback was just fantastic!
They where so happy with the stay at TAU – they saw all the big 5 , had fantastic professional rangers and all over good service. The food was excellent and so was the cottages!
I can say – THANKS to everyone involved for making their trip a success! "
Anita Gustafson - Upmarket travel Sweden 15/02/09
"RANGERS AT TAU
Just a note to say a BIG thank u.
The hospitality and service that we received from all of u is greatly appreciated.
The way in which the game drives were conducted and the information that was shared with the guests was great. I am not one who needs to “ blow bubbles up peoples asses” but one ranger in particular needs a special mention. THE VANDERBIJLPARK GIT Yes u know who u are.
Guys I will contact u in the near future to forward a google article address.
THE TAU PRIDE CAN BE PROUD"
Martin & Linda Dixon 08/12/08
"We are back at home and we thank you very much for the fantastic stay we had by you.
It was a very amazing travel and we thank all the staff for the welcome.
Valentin has a special mind for Gerard the ranger.
THANK YOU."
Thierry Bottarel France 08/12/08
"Dear Markus, I hope you have recovered from our stay and that the rest of the gang did not cause too much trouble.
From Johnny and my side, we would just like to thank you for a wonderful wonderful day!
Thank you soo much for making it such a special day for Stella and Derek and for all your hard work! I really appreciate it.
And thank you also to all your staff - everyone loved the food, the service was fantastic and I can only speak for Brad and John as they were the only 2 guys we went on game drives with, but they were fantastic too.
We all had an amazing stay and will definately recommend Tau Lodge to everyone. Once again, THANKS!"
Kirsten 08/12/08
Sassen Wedding
" would like to take this opportunity to really thank the lodge for the outstanding hospitality they gave us. I had been around in different game reserves and lodges Tau and Madikwe game reserve have by far exceeded our expectations we really go deep into the African bush our game drives have been fantastic food has been great the chalets you know it’s a great value for money. Last but not least would like to thank our game ranger Dave he was so nice to us we really enjoyed our drives with you
To the whole Tau team I say keep up the good work
See you soon"
Sabelo Nsibande 27/10/08
" We (myself, my wife and our three kids) spent three fantastic days at Tau Game lodge, from the 1st to the 3rd August past, and we would like to thank you not only for your kind attention but also for all the fantastic sights we saw on the game drives thanks to Brad – pls give him our best regards.
We took many fantastic photos and videos to remember later on.
Definitively if we decide to go back to Africa, we will be back to Tau Game Lodge again."
António Martins 12/10/08
"We are in Perth on our way home from a wonderful time. The wedding went off beautifully and we loved our African experience together with a plethora of animals . Glyn saw the big 5 and he and Christopher took some stunning photos of the Leopard.
We loved the lodge and everyone from Poppy and Marcus and the rangers were just terrific."
Elizabeth Jamieson 14/10/08
"Hi All.
I spent a glorious weekend at the Tau Lodge this weekend. I read that your motto is to make people feel like a King.
Well you indeed live up to that motto I have never experienced service like I did this weekend and want to compliment all staff from the warm reception to the ranger John to the chefs, the bar lady and gentlemen, the SPA, the waiters and the cleaners.
I have been to many 5 stars in Sandton and Cape Town but nothing that blew my mind the way your staff did.
It takes hard work to get a team of people work in such excellence and it also takes a type of caliber of people to deliver.
So to all at the TAU Lodge
Thanks a million and you definitely have the right to call yourselves 5 STAR"
Marco Hartogh 26/09/08
" Just got back to Australia and am writing to thank you and the staff at Tau (particularly Wynand) for making our visit such a success.
On our arrival we were greeted by over 100 elephants coming down to Tau`s waterhole for a drink and bathe. I`ve spent much time in parks in Botswana and Kenya and that was as good as it gets. I was also really pleased to see part of the big wild dog pack, plus a confrontation between a lion and an elephant (the elephant won!) plus a big herd of buffalo. The birdlife was also marvellous not least in the lodge`s gardens.
Once again, thanks for everything. We certainly hope to be back before too long.
All the best"
Mitch Reardon 19/09/08
" To the team at TAU,
We would like to say a BIG thank you for a great weekend we had at the lodge this past weekend. Pete and I thoroughly enjoyed it – thanks to Dave, Gerard and all the team. Dave has so much knowledge and was more than happy to share this with us – keep up the enthusiasm Dave – you made our weekend the BEST
Thanks once again and we will be back."
Di and Pete Francis 08/09/08
" Just wanted to drop you a quick email to say a very very very big thank you for all that you did this past weekend to make our day so so special.
Everything was perfect!
I just wanted to share with you some of the comments that we have received so far about you guys:
Tau is amazing – what a venue
Markus was great – very helpful
What a beautiful venue – when can we come back???
The best wedding we have ever been to – what a divine setting"
Debi Franconi 23/08/08
" Kid-friendly Game Lodge for sure!
We had a fantastic stay. The lodge staff were excellent with my kids and kept them well entertained and spoilt while my hubby and I could enjoy our wedding anniversary weekend with our kids, but without worrying about them. The Ranger was excellent with our son on the game drive and he got to see Elephant and lion amongst others. Our 2 1/2 year old didn`t miss out as he enjoyed viewing the elephant, wilderbeest and lion drinking and bathing in the watering hole right in front of our room. What a fabulous weekend"
Gillian Meier 21/07/08
" Recent guest can`t stay off your site...something looks exciting..what`s up at Waterhole right now???? Looks like several lions between bush ..did they make a kill?? Gotta know...I`m still living on Tau Time...hahaha ....Wynand ruined us for city life and we won`t be long returning to Tau...it`s in our blood....never loved any place so much in our lives...tell Moss to keep the food warm... and turn the heat up in the chalet....Oh lmy, I want to come back right now...hats off to all of you for the most thrilling time ever....we definitely saw the Big 5 and thanks to the enthusiasm and bravado of Wynand, we must have seen the Big All!! What a thrill....we`ll never forget our time at Tau and are already looking at ways to get back. Hello and thanks to the whole Staff for a most memorable time...!"
Kathi & Paul Neidlinger
Atlanta, Georgia,USA 16/06/08
" Hi Malcolm,
Just a word of thanks to you and your team for the outstanding job that was done with my Heineken group, the group were extremely happy with the levels of service and the general manner of all of your staff, from the house keeping ladies right up to the managers on duty and rangers.
From my point of view, it was an absolute pleasure to work with a bunch of professional people who understand what it takes to work with 5 star clients. !"
Gerard van Meygaarden 09/05/08
" Thank you we had a great time – pity about the weather and the animals hiding!
Our children had a ball – one of the most CHILD FRIENDLY game reserves we have ever been to! Please send our thanks to MARCUS for entertaining them so well!"
Audrey Gray 05/05/08
"Dear Brad,
We just wanted to say how much we enjoyed our trip to Tau and let you and the rest of the team know that we will be back. The game viewings and birds were fantastic. It was our first view to Madikwe and we enjoyed learning more about Madikwe with its interesting geology, reflecting on the history and also seeing the most amasing cloud formations. We have come back home with the most amasing photos and wonderful memories of our trip."
Annette Wilson 21/04/08
"We are barely back in Switzerland after our wonderful 8 days stay in Tau game lodge and our hearts are still full of the most wonderful experience. We enjoyed the warm atmosphere, smiling faces and great service throughout the lodge. Every day we were looking forward to the extensive breakfast buffet, the wonderfully prepared lunch packets on our game drives and the delicious dinners. Big thanks to the chef Johan and his staff in the kitchen! Our special thanks go to our ranger Hein who impressed us so much with his knowledge about wildlive and nature in Africa. Especially our daughter Aurelia (8) loved his vivid stories and insights. Not only we had awesome moments and encounters with the big fives but also he showed us the world of the smaller animals like ants, termites, crickets, thousand feet and (yes) snakes! We hugely enjoyed his company and had a lot of fun and laughter together even, or especially when we got stuck in the mud! Our stay at Tau was an unforgettable one and we cant’ wait to get back!"
Angelika Franklin and Aurelia 30/03/08
Join the Tau Pride
Tau Game lodge has now got its own Tau VIP card , When joining the Tau Pride you will also receive monthly news letters, the Tau calendar and many additional special touches while staying at the lodge. Please contact us for more details in connection with the Tau VIP the card
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Fly to the lodge from Johannesburg International Airport
In a joint venture between Federal Air and Madikwe charter Scheduled daily flights are now departing from O.R. Thambo (Jhb) International Airport and return.
Picture By Stefan Steenkamp
Flights will depart Jhb Int. Year Round Fridays and Sundays at 10h00 (check-in 09h00) or at 13h00 (Check-in 12h00)and arrive at Madikwe airstrip only 1 hour later. The return flights depart Madikwe at either 11h30 or 14h30 to arrive in JHb at 12h30 or 15h30 respectively.) Also available on other days of the week in high season (JANUARY, APRIL, OCTOBER & DECEMBER)
Flights applicable on all days (except Fridays & Sundays- as above) in the months FEBRUARY, MARCH, MAY, JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER & NOVEMBER departing Jhb at 11h00 ( arriving 12h00) and departing Madikwe 12h30 (arriving 13h30)
Return fare is R 4285.- per adult and R 3295.- per child (2-12 years) applicable as per 1 June 2011
An Airstrip fee of R 50.- per person on landing currently applies.
The guest will be met off their flight by a guest relations team and taken to the Executive lounge where bar service, teas & coffees, shower and Internet facilities are offered f.o.c. Flights are either by twin engine aircraft or Cessna Grand Caravans (12 seats) 20kg soft luggage is permitted per person on the flights and free storage facilites are available.
Tau Game Lodge has a direct online booking system so flights can be booked and confirmed immediately through our reservation office.
Road transfers from door-to door can be arranged and the average rate at the moment is R 6500.- for a return trip.
Picture below by Marelize Conradie
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Tau endeavours to keep you up to date on the latest and greatest South African game safari news and info.
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