The luxury Lindbergh Lodge, only three hours from
A Slice of Serengeti
It is as if, centuries ago, a corner of the Serengeti broke away and roamed down Africa to settle finally in the rich diamond fields round Wolmaransstad. Here the serene unspoiled plains stretch for kilometres, interspersed with symbols of the African bush – the majestic acacia and teeming herds of game.
A giraffe, as the sunset paints the evening orange and purple, splays its forelegs and takes a long drink.
Singing Opera for Cows
In 1907, Albert Lindbergh, the founder of CNA, acquired the farm Vaalboschfontein in this area with the intention of using it for shooting parties and as a cattle and horse stud. In Charles van Onselen’s The Seed is Mine the estate is often mentioned as the place at which Kas Maine was given sole care of the first racehorse imported from
His son, Mickie, a great opera lover, learnt to perform opuses by training a farmhand to mime his actions. Later, when his compositions were perfected, he developed a canal system that circled the estate so that he could float around in a gondola singing opera for the cows. It was here that he received a vision to return this piece of heaven to Mother Nature and open a game lodge. A few years later he stripped at the vulture restaurant and shot himself.
Lindbergh Lodge
Today the lodge, run by his daughter Diana, boasts 3 000 head of plains game and countless varieties of birds. As night descends over the lapa next to the vulture restaurant, the strains of an opera singer can be heard drifting on the breeze. It is then that one is reminded of what makes this place special.
This gracious, thatched establishment has standard, luxury and deluxe accommodation, some with patios and fireplaces. There are a swimming pool, balloon safaris, walks, game viewing hides and night drives. But best of all is the fine dining. Highly recommended.
