Which bird species do you think is the biggest attraction to visitors of your lodge (please only name one species)?
Pel’s Fishing Owl
What is the name of your lodge, and since when has your lodge been operating?
Mapesu Private Game Reserve, started in 2014
How best to travel to your lodge?
Northbound on the N1, via Musina, 70km from Musina on the R572 Musina / Pontdrift Road.
Marsh Owl
What kind of services – except for accommodation and food – does your lodge offer to visiting birders?
We offer guided tours in Mapesu Private Game Reserve and Mapungubwe Eastern Section (Confluence point), as well as Mapungubwe Western Section (Maloutswa Hide).
Black-chested Snake-eagle
What makes your lodge special?
We are situated 23km from the Mapungubwe Confluence point, where South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe meet. Over 400 bird species have been recorded in this area.
Southern Carmine Bee-eater
What are the 10 – 20 most interesting birds that your lodge offers good chances to see?
- Tropical Boubou
- Broad-billed Roller
- Meyer’s Parrot
- Three-banded Courser
- Knob-billed Duck
- Meve’s Starling
- Pel’s Fishing Owl
- Verreaux’s Eagle-owl
- Dark Chanting Goshawk
- Southern Carmine Bee-eater
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
- Kori Bustard
- Grey-headed Bushshrike
- Retz’s Helmetshrike
- Secretarybird
- Bateleur
- Red-billed Buffalo Weaver
- Long-tailed Paradise Whydah
Verreaux’s Eagle-owl
What is the best time to visit your lodge, and why?
South African summer months (November to March), because this is when the migratory species arrive.
White-fronted Bee-eater
Is your lodge involved in conservation efforts? If yes, please describe them.
Yes, we do Endangered Wildlife Tracking, which offers illustrative and practical experience to the guests while tracking any one of our endangered animals, such as Cheetah, Wild dog, and Rhinos. We also offer Conservation drives, which the guests can book, and take part in various conservation projects like making bolsters for the road, removing alien plant species, and setting up camera traps. Doing fence checks and fixing the fence if necessary.
Barn Owl
What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in visiting your lodge? E.g., what to bring
- Binoculars
- Camera with a zoom lens
- Bird Field Guide OR Birding App
- Notebook or birding journal
- A nice wide-brim hat and Sunscreen
Meyer’s Parrot
Do you have activities for non-birders? If so, please describe.
Yes, we offer the following activities:
- Endangered Wildlife Tracking
- Game Drives
- Bush Walks
- Conservation Drives, Mapungubwe Confluence and Mapungubwe Western Section.
If any reader of 10,000 Birds is interested in staying at your lodge, how can they best contact you?
You can send us an email to bookings@mapesu.com or reach us by phone: +27 83 633 0795
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