Aviation & Safety Magazine – Our Visit to Pumba
BY GARY & BELINDA WIBLIN
Alright I’ll admit it. I have never been particularly partial to the idea of going to game farms and here I was about to embark on a visit to Pumba Game Lodge, overlooking the Kariega Lake in a malaria-free valley just Southwest of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. It was with a feeling of uncertainty that I packed the family into the family saloon and off we set on a sunny Friday afternoon.
After some confusion as to which turnoff we were supposed to take we found ourselves parked at the entrance to what looked to be a lovely setting indeed. After driving a few more kilometers along a meandering gravel road, stopping every so often to let various game, grudgingly move out of the way, we arrived at the main lodge and were soon being ushered down to our lodgings for the night. Of course, ‘lodgings’ is probably not a suitable work for the opulent luxury we found ourselves in and I was soon standing on our expansive deck, overlooking the lake, with an ice-cold frostie in my hand. Our unit had two separate bedrooms, one either side of the main lounge area, and the main bedroom had a large Jacuzzi smack-bang in the middle of it. Belinda even managed to get in there the next morning but, er, that’s an article for a different magazine perhaps? I also decided to sample the ‘open-air’ shower outside, just to be one with nature an’ all, and while I was doing just that, I noticed a lady strolling about inside our bungalow, pottering about doing this and that. I quickly aborted the rest of my shower, covered the family jewels, and went inside again to grab a towel and regain some dignity. She seemed more surprised than I though, so all was well.
After dressing I toddled up to the main lodge again to join the rest of the family and we went to where our game ranger Jonathan was waiting to take us all on a game drive. Since I was going to go up the runway in progress with Dale rather we bade each other farewell and Belinda, Ashleigh and Gavin set off for what turned out to be a fascinating few hours with Jonathan. He apparently manages to get the vehicle right in among a herd of placid elephants and these regal creatures then come right up to the vehicle to inspect its human cargo. I must admit I was then glad I hadn’t gone but the family apparently loved it. I was just pleased those elephants weren’t in the mood to sample my children right then but apparently they don’t do that often.
I in the meantime had been picked up by Dale and went bouncing all the way up the mountain to have a look at the runway they are building there. Well it looks like they have chosen a perfect spot for it and when they are finished it will be able to accept aircraft up to Kings Airs, and possibly larger. The runway will still be a few months in the building though and it is my intention to go in there with a Baron or similar when the runway is ready for testing. The idea is to encourage pilots to use Pumba as a holiday destination and even just a stopover on longer journeys, and of course provide the necessary infrastructure to allow charter operators to include Pumba on their list of destinations.
Pumba is of course a mere 50nm from Port Elizabeth as an Arrow flies (geddit geddit …..a Piper Arrow) so most light aircraft will take a mere 30 minutes or so maximum to get there and of course the bigger aircraft will get there in double-quick time so, catching Scareways down to PE and then chartering a flight to Pumba won’t break the bank either. This fantastic destination really is just a chip and a putt from anywhere in South Africa and offers everything the bigger, more well-known lodges do, and more I believe.
The evening we sat out on the open deck having a delicious supper, with Gavin telling us all about the game drive he had enjoyed so much. So much in fact that, early the next morning, he was again riding with another group on another game drive with Jonathan, while we lazed in bed, before strolling up for a fantastic breakfast.
All to soon it was time to get back into the family car and head on home. It was with some sadness that we bade farewell to our fantastic hosts and a couple of hours later it was all just a memory, but a darn good one!
BELINDA’S VIEW
We recently had the pleasure of being invited for a one-night stay at the ever popular, and most charming, Pumba Water Lodge in the Eastern Cape, which is a luxury 5-star, Big Five Game Reserve overlooking Lake Kariega, about an hours drive form PE. There are in fact two luxury 5-star lodges on the property with the other being the Msenge Bush Lodge, which includes a Health Spa.
When we arrived we were warmly met and given a refreshing drink before being escorted to our room. It was fairly rushed in that we wanted to be on time for the game drive at 3.30pm so there wasn’t much time to ooh and aah over the magnificent chalet that was designated to us. With the Editor having had the Jetstream strapped to his butt all morning he wasn’t all that keen to still go for a game drive, however our two kids and I weren’t going to miss it for the world. We met out front again and were introduced to our dashing Game Ranger, Jonathan, to whom our 10-year old son took an instant liking. He was fortunate enough to sit upfront with him and ask a million of questions. Jono seemed to be used to all the questions though and gladly answered each and every one of them, what an expert Ranger he seemed to be. We had a couple from the UK, and one from Germany with us in the Landover and they seemed to be in awe of the essence of Africa giving them the chance to experience the various species of wild animals, as well as birds. Pumba Private Game Reserve stretches over an area of 6 000 hectares, which makes it the 3rd largest privately owned Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. Pumba Reserve was conceived by born and bred PE blokes being game rancher Dale Howarth and Hotelier Trevor Lombard, which then led to the creation of the reserve in 2004.
After the game drive we then met in the lounge area for some sundowners and a scrumptious meal before heading back to our chalet. Pumba offers 12 luxury thatched chalets. Ours was magnificently furnished and equipped to world class standards, so ultimately luxurious, with air conditioning, floor heating, heated towel rails, Jacuzzi, outdoor showers (if you want to be one with nature), and even our own private pool out on the wooden deck.
With Gavin having enjoyed the game drive so much he decided to go on the early morning drive with Jono and luckily for him he saw a few more animals that weren’t seen during our afternoon drive the day before. Once Gavin got back we had a hearty breakfast and then bade farewell to all and headed back home.
Those of you who want to experience the closeness of nature and yet not be completely without your usual comforts should really consider an away weekend to Pumba. Why not consider an African dream wedding this is the perfect venue for you to share your special day with family and friends.
We hope to visit Pumba later in the year but in an aircraft this time so that we can land on their currently under construction airstrip. We will then be able to give you the co-ordinates, location, elevation and length and general comments on landing there, and whether animals need to be cleared from the runway etc.
