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Our neighbours have the most magnificent indigenous garden imaginable. It's a well kept local secret. The elusive neighbours are rather shy and prefer their paradise to remain untouched. Our valley borders this indigenous oasis. With special permission and assurances that we would leave behind no trace of our presence; we visited the 48 thousand hectare pristine natural expanse.
Spending a day in the protected wildlife reserve is an indescribable experience. It truly is a sanctuary to the magnificent animals who comfortably roam their beautiful African home - which is as much a sacred garden as it is secret one.
Sanbona is home to the famous big five - although the lion and elephant evaded us very effectively! We were close on their trail throughout the day. However it is their territory and we failed in tracking the king of beasts and the gentle herd of herbivores.
The indigenous landscape is alive with hidden life. We were excited to spot many inquisitive giraffe. Their graceful necks floating among the thorn tree tops as they foraged for the delicacies of young leaves.
In the dry but lush river bed a huge family of buffalo grazed with zebra closeby. The variety of plant life from valley to mountaintop to wide open savannah's is something to behold. No human gardener could plant such a wonderful paradise!
The evidence throughout the Cape of a long drought, is apparent in the reserve too. However, the lush green that colours the vista also bears testimony of the will to survive! Apart from the special day out in the special wildlife reserve the thriving life - both animal, bird and plant - had us all celebrating!
Although we did not see the fast moving elephant, from a gardening point of view, we were delighted with the trail of compost that marked their meander. When left to live the way they were created to, in their Secret Garden, this truly is a self contained and perfect eco-system.
Perhaps next time I should throw out a trail of .... ummm ... dung to get my personal indigenous gardener on the spoor @andrastia?
