Limpopo and One of her Wonderful Wildlife Lodges

South Africa’s Limpopo Province takes its name from the Limpopo River, famously referred to as the “great, grey-green, greasy Limpopo River” by Rudyard Kipling in one of his children’s tales in his “Just So Stories” publication, a collection of imaginative and imaginary trials and tribulations of various African wildlife species.

The river is great and decidedly grey-green, but greasy – hardly. Perhaps river levels were low and the Limpopo was flowing sluggishly on the day that Kipling passed by the watercourse or used his imagination and poetic talents to describe the river in these now well-known words.

When Kipling Came to Africa

Apparently, Kipling took his winter holidays in South Africa almost every year, beginning in 1898, so he may well have had personal knowledge and experience of this mighty river and the wildlife paradise through which it runs.

It’s highly unlikely that there were privately-owned wildlife lodges in this untamed South African bushveld area during Kipling’s time in South Africa.

In Limpopo (the province), and other upcountry areas of South Africa, winters are dry. Limpopo’s rainy season occurs during hot summer months, so it’s fairly safe to assume that the river was flowing slowly and a little lazily, hence this talented, internationally-renowned author and poet’s conclusion that it appeared to be greasy.

Driven by Demand

Driven by an ever-increasing demand for high-end accommodation in game reserves and on privately-owned bushveld properties, combined with a considerable gap in what was available at the time, various private wildlife lodges were established in the Limpopo’s bushveld regions: Zwahili Private Game Lodge & Spa being one of the best.

Discerning Guests’ Preferred Destination

Zwahili is a great destination for luxurious holidays and great getaways that feature diverse, freely-roaming wildlife species, bi-daily guided wildlife safaris, bushveld picnics, nature’s peace and tranquillity, luxurious accommodation, fine dining, and an on-site spa to enhance relaxation and recharge the body, mind and spirit. Over and above this, is the lodge’s exclusivity and the privacy to enjoy every moment of the experience. Our luxurious private wildlife lodge and reserve are undoubtedly the preferred destination for discerning guests.

Reminiscent of Victorian Grandeur

Although he’s a contentious historical figure today because of his political and social views, Kipling was an educated, well-travelled man during the heyday of the British Empire, and so he would probably have relished a stay in Zwahili’s lodge luxury, since certain appointments and décor elements are reminiscent of late Victorian style and grandeur, combined with distinctly African wildlife and other names, items, colours and textures.

African and Victorian Era-Inspired Elements and Features

• Panoramic views over wildlife terrain
• Cow and zebra skin rugs
• Kelims
• Use of reeds and/or cane in furnishings and window blinds, the latter also including woven bamboo
• Cane storage baskets
• Wooden roof beams and thatched roofs
• Brick or tented suite walls
• Filmy white curtains that waft in the gentle African breeze that enters through open windows and doors
• Pristine white mosquito nets, softly draped over queen or king sized beds, dressed in white linens
• Ceiling fans
• Slate-tiled, solid wood or stained and polished cement floors, some featuring embedded “animal” paw prints
• Wooden decking, window frames, doors, support pillars and wood or log balustrades
• Ball and claw foot (as well as more modern built-in) bathtubs
• Outdoor lanterns and lantern-lit pathways connecting units and main lodge buildings
• Woven throws for keeping lower limbs warm or snuggling inside or outdoors on chilly nights
• Colours and hues typical of Africa – browns, beiges, russets, tan, orange and amber shades, plus the odd touch of pale grey and, of course, sparkling clean, pure white – evoking fluffy white clouds in the big blue African summer sky

Whether you join our guided wildlife safaris on an open viewing vehicle, explore the territory on foot on a guided walk, or simply wish to relax at our lovely Limpopo lodge to watch the game passing by, we look forward to spoiling you in style and luxury at Zwahili.