At the end of each year, South Africa’s warm sunny days and festive spirit coincide with a birthing season for many animal species, bringing adorable new life to the country’s wildlands.
Travellers from across the country and around the globe come to experience the unique wonders of Lalibela Wildlife Reserve’s Eastern Cape terrain. Those who visit any time between November and January stand a chance to witness the miracle of birth, with abundant sightings of baby antelope, zebra, elephant, and perhaps even the more elusive cheetah, dotted across the reserve.
Synchronised birthing is the reason behind December’s flurry of young fauna. Impala, a medium-sized antelope, will usually drop the first lambs of the season. Blesbok, another type of antelope endemic to Southern Africa, are close behind. The Blesbok is easy to tell apart from others, sporting striking white facial markings and a horizontal brown line between its eyes. Red hartebeest, kudu, eland, and black wildebeest all reach the end of their gestation period during high summer, and by then, the reserve is alive with fawn-coloured, big-eyed young finding their way in the world beyond the womb on wobbly legs.
Species like zebra, giraffe, rhino, and elephant produce young throughout the year, including December, and guests will see families frequenting the watering holes, even from the comfort of the six luxury lodges where they are staying. The skies too are aflutter with new life: warm weather sees birds making their nests, while migratory species like the European starling and various cuckoo species journey to Lalibela’s hospitable ecosystem.
Lalibela’s professional and experienced guides know the hidden corners of the bushveld better than anyone, enabling them to direct visitors to secluded spots where sightings are most likely to happen. Vehicle-based and walking safaris offer different views of the landscape, giving guests the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the wild.
This year, Lalibela celebrates birthing season with a rebirth all of its own, having recently rebranded from Lalibela Game Reserve to Lalibela Wildlife Reserve, a new name that better reflects its focus on conservation and habitat protection.
‘As a conservation-first reserve, we’re committed to restoring land once occupied by humans, livestock and alien vegetation such as black wattle back to a pristine wilderness where we protect not just the habitat, but also the animals and the people who care for it,’ says Johann Lombard, CEO of Lalibela Wildlife Reserve. ‘Changing our name to Lalibela Wildlife Reserve better reflects our mission and purpose: a non-consumptive reserve dedicated to preserving wildlife and ecosystems – from animals to plants to insects. There’s no better time to make this change than during the birthing season, when our reserve is teeming with new life,’ he says.
Although suitable for year-round travel, a December visit to Lalibela provides an exciting vantage point from which to experience nature’s abundance and celebrate the magic of new beginnings.
Adding to the excitement of the summer season is the reserve’s lush new Travel Lounge, offering visitors yet another space to unwind. Armed with a vision to create a space for relaxation where arriving guests can immediately immerse themselves in the magic of the safari experience, the Lalibela team set about refurbishing a spacious 20-year old building. Now, the area is filled with natural light and comfortable seating, and a deli is available for early and late arrivals. The Travel Lounge also tells Lalibela’s story – a viewing table showcases skulls, bones, artifacts and tools, while a video presentation and timeline display trace the property’s evolution from a dairy farm to the thriving wildlife reserve it is today.
For more information or to book your stay, visit https://lalibela.net/