Let me try to describe where we're staying. The area used to be a large cattle farm -- almost 1000 hectares (about 2500 acres). I usually think of a cattle ranch as a big expanse of grassland. Here, however, it means sort of a scrubland forest. From what I can tell, maybe 20 years ago, or so, the farm was converted to a nature reserve. I'm not sure what that entailed other than no more cattle being raised on it. About 10 years ago, it became a private big game estate (Leadwood Big Game Estate if anyone's interested) -- 94 one hectare home lots were established in the reserve. I don't know how many now have homes on them. I'm guessing it is less than 1/2 (but evidently there are only 4 lots left -- better act fast if you're thinking about buying). The house we're staying in was built a few years ago. No neighboring houses are within sight and few are visible from the road.
We've met a few of the other residents. Everyone is extremely nice and welcoming...even though we're only here for 2 months. Clearly Maleni and Kobus told their friends that we were coming and, since we might not know what we've gotten ourselves into, to welcome us. There are community WhatsApp and Telegram group chats with neighbors sharing all kinds of information from game sightings (making sure everyone is "aware" of where the lions are) to traffic conditions (yesterday a truck broke down on one of the roads -- since it is just a single lane, people needed to know to go around the other way).
The "main" roads in the estate are all well maintained dirt roads. It is about 3 or 4 miles from our house out to the real main (paved) road that goes into town. About 1/2 this distance is through the estate and about 1/2 is through the neighboring orange grove (separated by a big fence -- to keep the animals out, or in, depending on your point of view). The drive takes about 15 minutes, depending on what we stop to look at on the way -- there is a watering hole on the way and we've seen zebras, giraffes, baboons, warthogs and monkeys heading over to quench their thirst.
Throughout the rest of the estate, there are game tracks -- rougher dirt roads that are accessed by open air safari jeeps. You need to be certified to drive on these. I don't know what certification takes, but I think there is a pretty extensive training. Some of the residents head out once or twice (in the early morning and late afternoon) almost every day on safari drives. A few have been kind enough to offer to take us with them whenever we'd like to go along. So far we've been out with Kevin (one of those times with his wife Greer, too) a couple times and have plans to go with a couple other people coming up.
Kevin has 30 years experience with big game management throughout Africa. He has an incredible wealth of knowledge about ecology, plants, animals, birds...enough to keep a running commentary when we go out... and can answer any question that pops into our heads. As we drive around he might stop suddenly and point out a bird or a small mammal along the way. With him, we found the pride of female lions (six lions that sometimes stick together) and 2 of the 3 male lions (that roam around on their own and occasionally go bother the females), the rhinos, as well as a bunch of other animals and birds. (Pictures below)
This reserve is relatively small (especially compared to the nearby Kruger National Park) but is bordered by a few other reserves -- one slightly larger and one about 3 times as big. These reserves have "dropped their fences," meaning that the fences between them have been removed, making one big area where the animals are free to roam. Many species you come upon along the roads, at the dam getting a drink, etc., but the more elusive ones (the rhinos, elephants, lions, cheetahs) are hard to find and that's where Kevin, and the other dedicated folks who do drives many nights each week, earn their due - they almost always find the big ones. And the sunsets are fantastic.
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