Isn't it dangerous living amongst wild animals?
Occasionally, but very seldom, all of the large predators & the Big-5 are observed within Marloth Park including lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena, & elephant, even though most are not permanent residents. Moreover, plains game can inflict lethal wounds if threatened. Nevertheless, it is generally safe to walk & cycle in daylight if you are alert to your surroundings & don't interfere with the animals, but walking around after dark is ill advised even with a torch. After dark you should remain close to the cottage & do not rely on the fire for safety. It is a fallacy that animals fear fire. They respect it as we do, but they do not fear it, & quickly learn to differentiate between run-away fires & controlled fires. Never wonder off into the bush alone after dark, even a short distance. Snakes, spiders & scorpions are prolific, so exercise caution in long grass & thick bush, & look for webs spun between trees ahead of you. Check shoes before putting them on & don't walk barefoot especially in the dark. If bitten by a snake, don't panic but seek medical help immediately. If possible, try to identify the snake. Rest assured, there are few snakebite fatalities & snakes don't waste venom on things they cannot eat.
What about malaria?
Malaria is a risk, but Marloth Park takes preventative measures, as should you. After sunset you should wear long clothing, thick socks & shoes: mosquitoes can bite through thin socks & through 2 layers of stockings. Also apply insect repellent to exposed skin. We provide insecticide vaporizers in all the rooms, which you should switch on an hour before going to bed. All windows & doors are protected by insect netting, but they are of limited effectiveness, especially if left open.
Is smoking permitted?
Smoking is not permitted inside the cottage. You are free to smoke outside, but please do not discard your cigarette butts in the bush
Are pets allowed?
No. Unfortunately pets are not allowed under any circumstances. Apart from the dangers to your pet due to their natural inquisitiveness & inexperience in the bush, they could also startle the wildlife leading to injury or other undesirable consequences, & they might bring disease into the park.
Does the cottage have braai facilities?
Making fire in the bush has potentially disastrous consequences for the veld, wildlife & residents of the area. Furthermore, the cottage is thatched with wooden decks. For this reason, a dedicated fire pit is provided for braais. It is not to be used for building bonfires that have the potential to release flying cinders into the veld & surrounding bush. Please do not leave the fire unattended. Our staff will extinguish it once you retire for the night. Our staff will gladly light the fire for you if requested. A gas skottel and potjie pot (caldron) is also provided.
Can I get my car washed?
Yes. For a small fee our staff will wash your car.
Is firewood available?
Yes, wood is sold on site at Khumbula iAfrica. It is illegal to take wood, even dead wood, from the bush, as it plays a vital role in the ecology. Some wood, like Tamboti, gives off a poisonous gas when burnt that will taint your food & make you ill. Therefore, please do not collect wood from the bush.
Is there TV?
Yes, Khumbula iAfrica offers the full DSTV bouquet. Please note however, that noise pollution is of great concern to residents in Marloth Park, so please keep noise levels to a minimum.
What should I pack?
Apart from the things you usually pack when going on vacation, we recommend you consider packing the following: Torch Cash (no credit card facilities) Mosquito repellent Credit cards for restaurants/shops Toiletries Sun block Hat/cap Raincoat/windbreaker Swimming towels Swimming costume Camera and torch batteries Cameras, film, video tape, DVD Groceries (food & beverages) Binoculars Booking confirmation & map
We also recommend that you pack:
* Practical clothing and flat, lace-up hiking boots for walking in the bush.
* Long-sleeved and long-legged clothing for the evenings, as protection against mosquitoes.
* Passports, vehicle registration and insurance papers, triptyque/carnet, and photocopies of your credit cards, if you plan to travel to Mozambique or Swaziland.
What rules should I know about?
* The facilities and activities are used entirely at your own risk, and neither the owners nor staff will be held accountable for any loss or damage incurred, or any injury or loss of life.
* Smoking is not permitted in the cottage and please do not discard cigarette butts in the bush around the cottage. Ash trays are available.
* All insect nets and screen doors must be kept closed to prevent monkeys, baboons, and warthogs from entering and destroying the cottage.
* No pets are allowed.
* No fires are permitted other than in the fire pit provided.
* Do not remove plants or dead wood from the veld, and do not interfere with the wildlife.
* Noise levels must be kept to a minimum.
* If you break something, please inform the staff so they can replace it. A small fee will be levied per item broken.
* Crockery, cutlery and other items may not be removed from the cottage.
* Do not walk around in the bush after dark.
* The use of hand-held spot lights is strictly forbidden in Marloth Park and could lead to prosecution under the anti-poaching laws.
* Although not a rule, unnecessary driving at night is frowned upon.
* Do not drive off road nor enter other peoples' driveways, and try to avoid kicking up dust unnecessarily.
* Neither quad bikes nor motor cycles are permitted.
* Do not collect firewood from the veld, as dead wood plays a vital role in the ecology. Firewood is available on site and at the local stores.
* Do not litter.
Can we feed the animals?
Whilst we do not advocate feeding wild animals, we acknowledge that residents and visitors want to help the wildlife survive the current drought. In this context, we provide the following guidelines to ensure feeding is done responsibly.
1. Baboons and monkeys are easily attracted by food left out and bring trouble in their wake. Therefore, do not leave food out when there is no one around. Clean up before you leave. You can always put it back once you return or when wildlife appears.
2. Do not discard left-over or spoiled food, or old oil, in the bush, as this introduces alien bacteria into the environment that can make the animals sick.
3. Do not feed mealie pips to ruminants (antelopes, buffalo, and giraffe). Ruminants stuff themselves to the limit before lying down to ruminate, and maize ferments very quickly after coming into contact with the stomach bacteria. Fermentation causes gas, which results in colic and in severe cases, a slow and painful death. Zebra, although not ruminants, can suffer a similar fate.
4. uminants and zebra can be fed small quantities of cut up sweet potato, pumpkin, carrot, banana, cabbage and pawpaw.
5. Gem Tech pellets, specially developed by veterinary surgeons at Onderstepoort, are the best supplement for ruminants. They are made from acacia and mopane bushveld, and are balanced with correct amounts of protein, starch, fat, sugar, vitamins, and minerals. Most importantly, they contain roughage.
6. Warthogs can be fed mealie pips in small quantities.
7. Be careful not to leave plastic bags or polystyrene containers lying around. If they smell good to warthogs they will eat them! Warthogs eat just about anything, including carrion. In fact they've been known to chase wild dog and cheetah off kills.
8. Mongooses can be fed a little bread soaked in a mixture of egg and milk. It's a great favourite!
9. Do not scatter bones from the braai. This is often done in the mistaken belief that it will attract genets, but they prefer fresh food and will not scavenge. Instead, hyena and other undesirable (and dangerous) scavengers will be attracted.
10. well placed banana in a tree will attract both the lesser and thick-tailed bushbaby after dark. The lesser bushbaby arrives soon after sunset and the thick-tailed bushbaby 2 to 3 hours later.
11.o not scatter bird seed on bare soil as it stands a good chance of growing! Rather put out some fruit, which will attract both fruit and insect-eating birds.
When is the best time of year to visit?
Contrary to popular belief, there is no right time to visit the bush. Although game viewing can be easier in winter when the veld is dry & game accumulate at water holes, in summer the vegetation is lush & bird populations peak. Summer is also lambing season for the antelopes. Autumn heralds the rutting season & all the drama it brings with it. The climate is subtropical with very hot summers & warm, dry winters. Summer rains fall from October to March.
