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known as wild rosemary – when lambs eat this, it
flavours the meat that they later provide. Another
remarkable plant that we saw was a poisonous bush
whose tips had been nibbled off by antelopes; the
animals know that eating just a little of the leaves can
clear their stomachs of parasites. In these surrounds,
the Bushmen lived off everything that grew, and
benefited frommuch of what we might pass by without
noticing.
Beside the main lodge are gardens that supply fresh
produce for the Bushmans Kloof chefs. Immaculately
maintained, they are a pleasure to saunter through
while enjoying the sight of herbs, veggie patches
and orchards.
A final word
For those wanting more than the daily game drive
through the reserve, there’s a selection of well-marked
hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty. I smiled
when reading one of the pointers on the map given to
hikers: “Take a breather at the big tree with its roots in
the rocks.” It would surely stand out.
We made the most of our surroundings by
participating in less-vigorous activities that were suited
to the whole family – cycling on the provided bikes
and canoeing on the calm dam, and just soaking in
the vast expanse of nature.
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