There is always more to any situation than meets the eye and at Kosi Forest Lodge the way to enjoy that is to relax and become one with the natural surroundings. Time, well spent, in this hammock was exactly what I needed after a stress-filled drive from our overnight stop. Following what we thought was the correct route turned out to be a mistake and added a couple of hours to our drive time as we took the “scenic route” to the transport pick-up point in Kosi Bay. Luckily all’s well that ends well and time in this aforementioned hammock was well earned.
The plant life in this wetland forest is truly spectacular and the peace and tranquillity of the lodge surroundings allowed both my wife and me to enjoy that.
A sub-adult Palm-nut Vulture, a first for me! Not normally found in the Lowveld.
And not too far away, this adult in her nest in a palm tree…
It is not only the wildlife that fascinated me but the insects or in this case caterpillars as well. I discovered this one while I was sitting in the compact bird hide on the property, just a short walk from the receptions area (and the hammock.)
And when all grown up, the caterpillar turns into this beautiful butterfly…even if their lifespan is short, it is lived to the full.
By keeping my eyes open for new experiences while walking to the estuary, I found this rather interesting growth on one of the trees.
“Can you hear banjo music”? I think I can. Shades of the 1972 movie titled “Deliverance”. An iconic movie of its time and one that was NOT for the faint-hearted. But, thanks to our expert guide, our time on this estuary was not fraught with any danger and we were able to relax and enjoy the scenery and the birdlife as we glided along.
Hiding in plain sight. This tiny Malachite Kingfisher watched as we stopped to admire it.
A Saddle-billed stork making its way through the wetland shallows on the hunt for a tasty morsel.
This caught my attention near the swimming pool. I am not certain what it is but it was rather interesting.
And just a short distance away, this dragonfly, taking a moment to rest.
The meals that come out of the kitchen were healthy and delicious, like this salad that was part of our lunch. Considering that the lodge is buried deep in the forest and is many km away from the nearest town, yet the chef was consistently able to surprise us with fresh and tasty produce.
Our accommodation, deep into the forest and surrounded by the crazy sounds of a myriad of insects and nocturnal animals who scampered around once the sun had set.
A coffee and tea station(with biscuits) was a welcome addition as it eliminated the need to walk back and forth the lounge at the main building.
And, of course, a comfy bed with proper crisp cotton linen. Who could ask for anything more?
And finally, an armoured beetle crossed my path and stopped just long enough for me to snap a picture.
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