When you come and stay with us at eKhaya Bush Villa we encourage you to get out and about in our own “back yard” – Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate. Exploring our beautiful home is an absolute must for our guests. Because we don’t have the Big Five (with the exception of leopard, which occur naturally on the estate) it’s safe to walk around during the day, or hire a mountain bike and explore on two wheels. You’ll often see giraffe and other plains game in our beautiful green belt – a wilderness area set aside for wildlife criss-crossed by hiking and biking trails and a network of dirt roads for game drives. So don’t forget to bring your walking shoes with you!

When you’re out exploring, or for that matter sitting by the pool with a large gin and tonic in your hand, you’re sure to hear the “clarion call” of the crested francolin, which usually rings out in the mornings and early evenings. It’s a big sound generated by one of our most underrated birds here in the Greater Kruger region. Often overlooked, the crested francolin is usually found in pairs or small groups foraging in the undergrowth for bulbs, seeds, berries and insects. Although it can fly, it prefers to run for cover in dense vegetation when threatened. We encourage guests to bring a pair of binoculars with them because our birdlife here is phenomenal, and we’re always keen to help them get hooked on birding!