Kanaan Lodge - Cyferfontein 10

04/12/2024

Every year on December 4th, International Cheetah Day raises global awareness about the urgent need to save cheetahs from extinction.

These sleek, slender big cats are easily recognized by their long legs and short yellowish-tan fur adorned with thousands of black spots- typically between 2,000 and 3,000-which provide excellent camouflage.

The name "cheetah" originates from the Hindi word 'chita', meaning "spotted one."

International Cheetah Day serves as a crucial reminder of the collective effort needed to protect these incredible animals and secure their place in the wild.

By raising awareness and supporting conservation efforts, we can help secure a future for the cheetah and ensure that future generations can marvel at the fastest land animal on Earth.

DID YOU KNOW?

🐆The cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal. They can run 110 kph, which is as fast as cars drive on the highway. The cheetah can reach its top speed in just 3 seconds!

🐆Cheetahs have “tear marks” that run from the inside corners of their eyes down to the outside edges of their mouth. These marks help reflect the glare of the sun when they are hunting during the day. They work just like the black marks that football players put under their eyes during the games. These marks also work like the sights on a rifle, to help the cheetah “aim” and stay focused on their prey when they are hunting.

🐆The cheetah has a long, muscular tail that has a flat shape. The tail almost functions like a rudder on a boat because they use it to help control their steering and keep their balance when running very fast.

🐆Cheetah cubs have long tall hair that runs from their neck all the way down to the base of their tail, which is called the mantle. The mantle makes a cheetah cub look like a honey badger and makes them blend into tall grass, which helps keep them safe from threats like lions and hyenas.

🐆The cheetah’s fur is covered in solid black spots, and so is their skin! The black fur actually grows out of the black spots on their skin.

🐆When cheetahs are running full speed, their stride (length between steps) is 6-7 meters. Their feet only touch the ground twice during each stride.

🐆A mother cheetah usually cares for anywhere from 2 to 8 cubs per litter, but cubs are often the target of other predators and many do not survive past the first year.

🐆There are fewer than 7,500 cheetahs left in the wild, making the cheetah Africa’s most endangered big cat

29/10/2024

Just another night at Kanaan Lodge!
Two determined elephants decided to drop by, adding a bit of wild charm to the evening while they seems to be in desperate search for water.. they found what they were looking for by damaging the water pipes.

These mischievous giants never fail to keep things interesting around here!
Nature always finds a way to keep us on our toes! 🐘

14/08/2024

The elephants made a surprise appearance at Kanaan Lodge earlier tonight, reminding us of the wild beauty that surrounds us. Moments like these make this place truly special! 🐘 "

12/08/2024

12 August
World Elephant Day

World Elephant Day is a rallying call for people to support organizations that are working to stop the illegal poaching and trade of elephant ivory and other wildlife products, protect wild elephant habitat, and provide sanctuaries and alternative habitats for domestic elephants to live freely.”

The elephant is loved, revered and respected by people and cultures around the world, yet we balance on the brink of seeing the last of this magnificent creature. We admire elephants in part because they demonstrate what we consider the finest human traits: empathy, self-awareness, and social intelligence.

Elephants have, for a long time, been one of the most sought-after mammals to view on a game drive; their sheer size and familial structures are a wonder and a privilege to behold. Mabalingwe Nature Reserve is home to a large herd of Savannah Elephants, also referred to as a memory of elephants, and for this reason, we thought we’d share our ten most-loved elephant facts.

SPECIES
There are three distinct species of elephant, namely: African Bush (Savannah) Elephant, African Forest Elephant and the Asian Elephant. Of the three species, the African Bush Elephant is not only the largest species but also the most abundant, while the Asian Elephant is the most endangered.

WEIGHT
An African Bush Elephant bull can weigh anywhere between two and six tonnes. At the larger end of the scale, that is the equivalent of 500 gold bars or three-and-a-half Volkswagen Polos! The largest African Bull Elephant that was ever recorded weighed approximately 11 tonnes and lived in Angola. It is believed that this massive creature cannot jump because of its size; making it the only mammal who can’t!

TRUNKS
The trunk of an elephant is a highly sophisticated tool used for breathing, smelling, gripping and calling. The trunk has over 40 000 muscles; 39 350 more than all of the muscles in the human body combined! Elephants use their trunks in many different ways, including lifting 350 kilogrammes or as a snorkel to cross deep rivers.

SNORKELLING
Speaking of snorkelling elephants! Did you know? Elephants cannot swim, but wade along the bottom of a river with their trunks held high above the surface and will push off the riverbed to reach the surface if it is too deep, to get air. They will also progress across the water in single file, so they can hold onto one another, or stay touching.

TUSKS
Tusks are another interesting part of the elephant. Elephants favour the one over the other, like a human being left- or right-handed. One-third of the tusk is hidden from the naked eye and is actually fused deep within the head of the elephant. These elongated incisors are used as a defence mechanism against predators or competition, but also to strip bark from trees, or uproot shrubs. “Tuskers” are a lineage of African Elephants with the longest, heaviest tusks; in excess of 45 kilo’s each. This gene pool is significantly small, however, and not many remain.

SKIN
While an elephant’s skin may look rough and very wrinkly, it is actually supple and soft to the touch. The wrinkles in their skin help to hold moisture against their bodies which is one of the reasons why they take mud baths. Another reason for these baths is to protect their skin from the sun and insect bites. Their skin makes up 900 kilogrammes of their weight, and while it can be an inch thick in certain areas, it is 1/10th that over their ears.

KEEP COOL
Climate control is another surprising talent of the majestic elephant. Elephants use their ears to keep cool, by flapping and pumping blood through the blood vessels in the ears. Elephants create a breeze over the surface area and then push blood through the ears to cool it before it returns to the rest of the body. It is also recently believed that elephants have greater control over their blood flow than previously thought and can choose to send blood to “hot spots”, areas where the skin is thinner, to cool the blood.

EARS AND TOES
Elephant hearing is another complex system, because elephants not only hear with their ears but with their feet, too! Elephants can detect a range between 12 hertz (hz) and 12 000 hz (humans range is 20hz to 20 000hz) and frequently make use of infrasonic sound (below the human low range) to communicate over long distance. But this isn’t the only way elephants chat over distance; they use their feet! Elephants have very sensitive nerve endings in their feet and trunks. They will create low rumbles and vibrations which can travel up to 10km away, where another elephant will hear the message. The message is carried through these nerve-endings in the feet and trunk, into the large bones within the inner ear structure.

FAMILY
The familial bond between elephants in a herd is strong. Elephants take care of each other’s young, form close friendships and mourn the death of family members. Females typically live in close groups, while bulls will roam independently, or as part of a loosely-knit male group. These groups can make connections as well, and will regularly communicate through rumbling sounds.

MEMORY
The saying, “An elephant never forgets” is not far from the truth; they are known to be highly intelligent creatures. During drought, matriarchs will lead their herds to watering-holes that they have visited previously. The herd will dig with their tusks, trunks and feet to find the water supply. Other animals will then make use of this water source once the elephants have moved on.

These ten facts just prove how magnificent elephants truly are; how powerful, intelligent and incredible! The next time you stumble across the memory of elephants at Mabalingwe Nature Reserve, remember these wonderful facts.

In closing, let us be reminded of the elephant tusks in South Africa’s coat of arms that represent wisdom, strength and eternity. Let us be wise and safeguard elephants and African folklore, surrounding these incredible beings, for years to come. Let us show the strength to protect elephants for future generations.

Let us work together to ensure that elephants are alive and thriving for the rest of eternity. Let the legend live on…

10/08/2024

🐾WORLD LION DAY 🐾

Today, we invite you to celebrate one of the most majestic species to walk the earth.

It's World Lion Day!

Each year on August 10, lion lover's around the globe use this day to bring awareness to the declining population of lions and stretch the importance of protecting lions and their habitats.

Remember on this occassion that a lion never roars after a kill.
Achieve and let your actions speak.

Book your visit to the Predator Park at Mabalingwe to get a closer look at the mighty king of the jungle.

Happy World Lion Day from everyone at Kanaan Lodge! 🦁

🦁 The lion is an iconic symbol of Africa, associated with courage, royalty and strength. Yet this keystone species is extinct in many African countries and ...

09/08/2024

🌸 Happy Women's Day from Kanaan Lodge! 🌸

Today, we celebrate the incredible women who inspire, nurture, and lead with grace and strength. At Kanaan Lodge, we are surrounded by the beauty of nature, just as we are by the beauty of the women in our lives.

To all the women who walk in harmony with nature and bring light into the world, this day is for you. May you continue to blossom, just like the stunning landscapes that surround us.

Happy Women's Day! 💐

08/08/2024

Kanaan Lodge and TinFix Auto Body Repair Sponsorship

SterStatus Golf Event Longest Drive Award

On the 1st of August 2024, the SterStatus Golf Event saw incredible performances on the green, but one drive stood out above the rest. Sponsored by Kanaan Lodge and Tinfix AutoBody, the prize for the longest drive of the day was fiercely contested.

The winner receives a spectacular two-night luxury bush getaway at Kanaan Private Lodge, situated in the picturesque Cyferfontein camp of the Mabalingwe Nature Reserve, just outside Bela Bela.

This prize, valued at R20,000, promises an unforgettable experience amidst nature's tranquility.

As we celebrate Women's Month this August, it is with great pride and excitement that we announce the very deserving lady winner of this coveted prize - .

Johande's exceptional drive not only secured her victory but also demonstrated remarkable skill and prowess, showing her opponents how it's done.

We extend our congratulations to Johande and look forward to hearing about her wonderful stay at Kanaan Private Lodge.

16/07/2024

World Snake Day - 16 July 2024

This day of recognition was established to help people learn more about these fascinating but misrepresented reptiles and to highlight the vital role they play in the balance of nature.

Snakes are an ancient reptile. Records show they have existed for at least 100 Million years. There are 3,900 known species of snake worldwide, where they inhabit every continent except Antarctica.

Snakes are feared for their threat to humans, but less than a sixth of the 3,900 species are venomous and less than 200 species are able to kill a human.

With education we can help identify those that pose no risk and live harmoniously with those that do. It is only the snake that can provide us anti-venom for snake bites after all!

It’s a surprisingly little known fact that snakes sit in the middle of food chains, not only do they eat a wide variety of small mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and insects but are predated upon by birds of prey, hedgehogs, other snakes, owls and badgers to name a few. Their conservation supports the entire ecosystems and helps endangered species.

Let the scales fall from your eyes with these “fang-tastic” snake facts.

🐍 Even though snakes move like there is nothing more than wriggling muscle around them, they actually have a large set of ribs that protect their insides

🐍 Snakes will shed their skin between 4 and 12 times a year. As the snake grows, the skin does not grow with it. The skin becomes tight and therefore falls off. They have a new layer waiting under the old one!

🐍 Snakes have jaws that can open very wide. This is because a lot of their prey is large. They don't have regular mouths like we do to break food down, so they take it whole. Their stomach will break down the prey.

🐍 The longest snake out there is over 6 metres in length and is a type of python

🐍 A snake uses its tongue to help it smell.

🐍 Five species of snakes can fly.

🐍 Snakes had back legs for 70 million years before losing them

🐍 While snakes do not have external ears or eardrums, their skin, muscles, and bones carry sound vibrations to their inner ears.

🐍 Snakes don't have eyelids, so they have to sleep with their eyes open. Despite this, their brains still shut down when sleeping, just like other animals. A sleeping snake may look like it's glaring at you, but it's actually unconscious!

🐍 Snakes lack the brain structures to feel emotion, but do have the ability to trust you. Despite this, snakes can be very loveable in their behaviour as they can recognise you when kept as a pet.

Please help us celebrate the beauty, grace and diversity of snakes and respect the amazing abilities of these wonderful creatures who are so underrated for all the good they do.

Please do not let other’s hatred and misinformation and fear destroy a creature that has just as much right as we do to exist on this Earth. Their continued existence depends on us humans.

Visit Kanaan Lodge and you might be lucky enough to catch a quick glimpse of our slithering friends as Mabalingwe is home to various snake species known to the area.

Don’t miss the opportunity – make your booking today on [email protected] za

05/07/2024

Book your breakaway today

21/06/2024

Did you know?

A giraffe's neck is too short to reach the ground 😲

29/05/2024

Willem and Nala, our resident Nyala bull and ewe at Kanaan lodge never fails to disappoint as they meet and greet the guests. Proud to have them as our Welcoming committee 🐾

21/05/2024

Kanaan Lodge - Cyferfontein 10 , Mabalingwe, Bela Bela

Luxurious self-catering accommodation
4 air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms
Sleeps 8 guests
Fantastic view
Swimming pool
Fully equipped open-plan kitchen
Boma
Barbecue facilities
Fireplace
WiFi
Full DSTV
Inverter system
Wheelchair friendly
Game vehicle for self-drive (additional cost)

For more information,
contact Michelle at 083 650 6695 or email [email protected]

03/05/2024

INTERNATIONAL LEOPARD DAY

Every year on May 3, the world turns its attention to one of nature’s most exquisite and elusive creatures – the leopard – during International Leopard Day.

This special day serves not only to celebrate the stunning beauty and incredible adaptability of leopards but also to highlight the urgent need for their conservation.

International Leopard Day sheds light on the challenges facing leopard populations, including habitat loss, poaching, human-wildlife conflict and illegal trading.

Leopard Facts

🐆 Most leopards are light coloured and have dark spots on their fur. These spots are called “rosettes” because their shape is similar to that of a rose. There are also black leopards, too, whose spots are hard to see because their fur is so dark.
Leopards can be found in various places around the world – they live in Sub-Saharan Africa, northeast Africa, Central Asia, India and China.

🐆 Leopards can run at up to 58km/h! They can leap 6m forward through the air.

🐆 Leopards are very solitary and spend most of their time alone. They each have their own territory, and leave scratches on trees, urine scent marks and p**p to warn other leopards to stay away! Males and females will cross territories, but only to mate.

🐆 These big cats have a varied diet and enjoy different kinds of grub. They eat bugs, fish, antelope, monkeys, rodents, and deer.

🐆 Leopards are skilled climbers and like to rest in the branches of trees during the day. They often carry their prey up into the trees so that scavengers, such as hyenas, don’t steal their meal.

🐆 Nocturnal animals, leopards are active at night when they venture out in search for food. They mostly spend their days resting, camouflaged in the trees or hiding in caves.
When it comes to hunting for food, these big cats know their stuff! When a leopard spots a potential meal, it approaches with legs bent and head low, so as not to be seen. It then stalks its prey carefully and quietly, until it’s five to ten metres within range. Then…. pounce! The leopard dashes forward and takes down its victim with a bite to the throat or neck. Small prey, such as small birds or mice, will receive a fatal blow from the feline’s paw.

🐆 Female leopards give birth any time of the year – when they do, they usually give birth to two or three cubs. Mothers stay with their cubs until they are about two years old, when they are old enough to hunt and take care of themselves.

🐆 Leopards communicate with each other through distinctive calls. For instance, when a male wants to make another leopard aware of his presence, he’ll make a hoarse, raspy cough. They also growl when angry and, like domestic cats, purr when happy and relaxed.

Next time when you visit Kanaan Lodge, be sure to book your animal feeding session at the Mabalingwe Predator Park to come up close and personal with one of these majestic animals.

17/04/2024

Happy Bat Appreciation Day!

Bats are one of the most misunderstood mammals out there. Lots of misconceptions and myths around where they roost, what they eat, diseases they supposedly carry and all sorts of doom and gloom stories. These myths and unfounded beliefs are typically passed down from one generation to another, and it is important that organisations and individuals that are passionate about these flying superheroes engage with the public, educate and raise awareness on how critical they actually are to the worlds ecology and food security, in turn breaking the circle of misbeliefs and turning it into appreciation and love for the bats.

Truth:
They are intelligent, highly social flying mammals with wonderful individual personalities. They have strong bonds to their family, and while known to squabble (which family doesn’t 😝) they are gentle creatures with no interest in harming humans but skilfully feeding on insects, fruit and nectar.

Through their feeding habits they pollinate many different plants, disperse seeds from many important trees and plants which in turn has a direct impact on food security and biodiversity.

At Free Wildlife, we rehabilitate many different bat species every year. Most common are Cape Serotines, Rusty Pipistrelle’s and Yellow-bellied House Bats with some Free Tail Bats and Fruit Bats.

While some bat species have adapted very well to urban living the pressure of ever-increasing development and with it, the destruction of habitat is one of the threats. Living in our roofs and having to hunt at night while our cats and dogs are on the prowl is another major one – over 80% of bat admissions at our rehab centre are due to injuries from cats & dogs.

We absolutely love bats and will continue to rescue, rehabilitate and release these wonderful creatures. Let’s stand together for the future conservation of our bats and our world as we know it.

16/04/2024

Save The Elephant Day 2024

On April 16th 2024, people around the world come together to celebrate 'Save the Elephant Day', a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of elephants and advocating for their protection and conservation. As majestic and intelligent creatures, elephants play a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems and deserve our utmost respect and protection. Let’s look at the significance of this day and the urgent need to safeguard these magnificent animals for generations to come.

The importance of elephants

Elephants, the largest land animals on Earth, are species that play a crucial role in shaping their habitats and ecosystems. As herbivores, elephants help maintain the balance of plant and animal populations by shaping landscapes through their feeding and foraging behaviours. They also create water sources for other species by digging water holes during droughts and act as seed dispersers, contributing to the regeneration of forests and savannas. Additionally, elephants are highly intelligent and social animals, forming tight-knit family bonds and exhibiting complex behaviours and emotions that rival those of humans.

Threat facing elephants

Despite their importance and iconic status, elephants face numerous threats to their survival, primarily due to human activities. Habitat loss and fragmentation, driven by deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urban developments, have led to the loss of critical elephant habitats and corridors, pushing these magnificent creatures into conflict with humans. Poaching for ivory and other body parts remains a significant threat, fuelled by demand for elephant tusks in illegal wildlife trade markets. Climate change, human-wildlife conflict, and captivity related issues also pose additional challenges to elephant conservation efforts worldwide.

The call to action

Save the Elephant Day serves as a rallying cry for individuals, organisations, governments and communities to take action and protect these iconic animals from extinction. By raising awareness, advocating for stronger wildlife protection laws, supporting anti-poaching efforts and promoting sustainable land use practices, we can help safeguard elephant populations and their habitats for future generations. Additionally, efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade, reduce human-elephant conflict and promote responsible tourism can contribute to the long term conservation of elephants and the preservation of biodiversity.

To experience these majestic animals book your visit to Kanaan Lodge where you might be lucky enough to get up close and personal with one of the gentle giants when they drop by for a water stop.