“Change brings opportunity”

– Nido Qubein

And the opportunities are endless!

It is with great excitement that we can inform you about a new and exciting development at Pitse Lodge. For a number of years, the Sterkfontein property which comprises of over 3000 hectares of privately owned (owned by Pitse Lodge) pristine land adjacent to Welgevonden Game Reserve, in the south of the reserve, has been open to all Welgevonden members. In April this year, a decision was made to resurrect the fence line between Welgevonden and Sterkfontein, removing this land from the big-5 game reserve and allowing us to manage it independently. Having removed this land from the reserve, we will be able to offer an array of non-big 5 activities to all our guests. Some of the activities which we plan to offer in 2016 will include – fishing for trophy size bass, birding excursions in the wetlands and open fields, walking, hiking beautiful mountains, bicycle riding on open dirt tracks and game drives to view an abundance of general game in close proximities.

This is a wonderful opportunity to incorporate other activities into ones stay at Pitse Lodge, as the Sterkfontein property will be used solely by the guests staying at the lodge. The entrance to the Sterkfontein property is a short 10 minute drive from Pitse Lodge. This allows for early morning walks, watching the sunrise and viewing animals on the open plains while they awake to the rise of the sun, at the same time enjoying the fresh air of the bushveld, in a safe non-big 5 environment.

For those guests who wish to join their family and friends on the Sterkfontein property but prefer to not partake in an activity, you can relax in peace and quiet with a cup of coffee in hand or something cold to quench your thirst on those hot summers days, at the green house, while the others are out on bike rides or trying their hand at catching that trophy bass.

Green House is an 80 year old farm house, which we will be refurbishing to allow our guests an area to sit and relax in.

Please note – Pitse Lodge is still located in Welgevonden Game Reserve and our daily big-5 game drives in Welgevonden Game Reserve, as well as day trips into the North of the reserve, will continue as normal from the lodge. Sterkfontein offers additional activities to allow guests to enjoy the bushveld and nature while stretching your legs with the array of activities on offer. It is always great to be on game drives but it is also very important to slow down and look at your feet and see all the smaller things that one passes by while on a game drive vehicle – this is what one will be able to experience on Sterkfontein – bush walks.

Sterkfontein was originally farm lands where cash crops such as maize and tobacco were planted on the open fields. We have a number of environmental management projects underway which are transforming the fields back into their original state prior to the farming activities. During your visit to Sterkfontein we will gladly take you around and explain to you the number of projects underway.

With a total of nine dams on the property, Sterkfontein is an extremely important water source for many other properties downstream – eventually ending up in the Limpopo River system. A hike to the source of the water flowing out of a natural spring half way up the amphitheater is always a very rewarding experience.

In April we started with the first introduction of ± 450 head of game / wild animals onto the property. The farm is now stocked with an abundance of general game. The species introduced include – Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Zebra, Impala, Waterbuck and Blesbok. These animals which were introduced are doing very well and have all started to calf this summer. The introduced animals joined other species already on the property such as – Kudu, Eland, Reedbuck, Warthog, and Klipspringer. In 2016 we plan to add Giraffe to the property which will be a wonderful addition.

With a number of new exciting activities on offer for you to enjoy during your stay at Pitse Lodge, we are sure that guests are going to continue to thoroughly enjoy their stay at the lodge. Guests often enquire about going on a walk or doing some form of activity to allow them to burn off some energy after the wonderful meals served at the lodge. Sterkfontein is going to be the ideal place for one to do this and at the same time enjoy the peace and quiet of nature right at your feet…

We look forward to welcoming you in 2016 and showing you all the wonderful things, Sterkfontein has to offer…

We would like to wish you and your Family all the best for New Year ahead!

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Ingredients

• 3 x Beetroots
• Balsamic vinegar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Salt and pepper
• Five spices
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Baby rocket leaves
• 2 x Goats cheese
• 6 x Eggs

Method

• Peel and slice the beetroot into very thin slices.
• Mix beetroot slices with balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, five spices, olive oil and salt & pepper.
• Boil the beetroot on a medium heat for 10 minutes.
• In the meantime, poach the eggs for 5 minutes and allow to cool.
• Once the beetroot is cooked and has cooled down, you can now plate the dish.
• Place the slices of beetroot on the plate in a circular fashion.
• Add the baby rocket leaves to the center of the beetroot slices.
• Top the rocket with the poached egg and crumble the goat’s cheese on top of the egg.
• Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and garnish with salt and pepper.

Makes – 6 starters.