Last Updated on December 9, 2021 by Kevin Agar
10th-13th February 2020
We drove from Mimi’s Retreat Ramsgate to Lake Eland Game Reserve in the Oribi Gorge, stopping on the way to do some shopping as we had to cook for ourselves here. Upon arrival we were told that the price for our reservation had changed but were pleasantly surprised when we were told they had a weekday special of half price. A great start which only got better when we drove to our accommodation.

The braai area
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Outside seating with view of the lake
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Sleeping area
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Lake Eland accommodation kitchen
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Lake Eland accommodation
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Seating area
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Outside seating with view across valley
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Lake Eland accommodation No.23 at the end of the row
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Lake Eland accommodation of 8 cabins on this lake
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The braai
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Elegant Grasshopper, Zonocerus elegans
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Frog near the shower
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Snake in the bathroom
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After unpacking and getting our bearings we went for a game drive and went as far as the suspension bridge. Not being a lover of heights I wasn’t looking forward to crossing the bridge but did manage it.

Lake Eland from the Oribi Gorge
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Sandra posing
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The start of the walk across the suspension bridge
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View of the Oribi Gorge
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Me on the suspension bridge
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Sandra on the suspension bridge
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Sandra on the platform over the gorge
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View of the Oribi Gorge
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The suspension bridge over a gorge
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One of the information areas
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We also passed the ziplines but it was very quiet and as Sandra wanted to try them we decided to return the next day and see if anyone was doing it and then make a decision. I had said before seeing them that as Sandra wanted to do it then I’d also take part. Should have looked before making the decision, but I’d give my word so off we went.

Kitted out for the start
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Sandra setting off
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Not only 680m long but 300m high
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The zipline group
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We did game drives in the mornings and evening and although there wasn’t the big five it was still a great place. Very peaceful and we managed to get some great shots of birds and animals.

One of the many game roads in the reserve
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Burchell's Coucal, Centropus burchellii
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African Stonechat, Saxicola torquatus
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White-throated Swallow, Hirundo albigularis
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Here’s a list of the birds we saw during our stay at Lake Eland Game Reserve
African Pipit, African Stonechat, Barn Swallow, Black Sparrowhawk, Blacksmith Lapwing, Black-tailed skimmer, Burchell’s Coucal, Cape Crow, Cape Grassbird, Cape Wagtail, Common Fiscal, Common Waxbill, Croaking Cisticola, Dark-capped Bulbul, Familiar Chat, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Fork-tailed Drongo, Grey Crowned-crane, Jackal Buzzard, Lanner Falcon, Long-crested Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, Moorhen, Red-backed Shrike, Red-collared Widowbird, Red-throated Wryneck, Rufous-naped Lark, Southern Boubou, Speckled Pigeon, Spur-winged Goose, Steppe Buzzard, White-faced Whistling Duck, White-throated Swallow, Yellow-Throated Longclaw, Zitting Cisticola
To see all bird photographs then please visit Birds of South Africa
This is a list of some of the other wildlife we saw
African Monarch, Blesbok, Blue Water Lily, Burchell’s Zebra, Cape Giraffe, Elegant Grasshopper, Frog, Impala, Millipede, Snake

Cape Giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa
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Burchell's Zebra, Equus burchelli
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/2000 s. f/10 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM
To see all wildlife photographs then please visit Wildlife of South Africa
As we were in the Lake Eland Game Reserve we were at the top of the gorge looking down, so we decided to leave the reserve and find the road that led down to the river at the bottom. Was a great drive on a very small road but it did give us a different perspective of the gorge.

Mzimkhulwana river in the Oribi Gorge
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Picnic area by the Mzimkhulwana river in the Oribi Gorge
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We were quite sad to leave Lake Eland Game Reserve but it was time to move on to our last accommodation at the The Cavern Drakensberg Resort and Spa which was to be our little bit of Luxury before flying home.