South Africa 2025 -Umlani Bushcamp- The New Year.

It is my last day at Umlani Bushcamp. 

I’m not sure why the fate wanted me to start and finish the year in South Africa.

One year ago, I was in Umkomaas, at the Agulhas House Diving Center.

This year, I end and start the year in the African bush.

The last game of the day is exciting. I’m sitting next to David, the ex manager of the camp, a Brit that moved permanently to South Africa, but now he’s on holiday. He has a nice sense of humor and says things such as: “I’ll leave right after dinner, I have a party with the hyenas for the new year”.  We are informed that a pack of wild dogs is on the hunt. All the cars are gathered at the same point and we are waiting for them. It’s amazing. We hear them barking before we see them and finally they arrive. One of them has a springbok in his mouth and the rest of the pack is chasing him, trying to steal his prey. In the end they don’t succeed and he runs away with its meal. Exhausted, they look now for water, but as it didn’t rain enough, many puddles are dry. 

David informs me that the wild dog is a super predator, in fact 90% of his attacks is successful, more than double of the attacks of lions and leopards. However they are an endangered species. We are very lucky to have seen them.

When we are back, Michaela informs us that the New Year’s Eve dinner must finish at 10.00 pm at the latest. Usually we go back to our huts at 9.00, considering that it is the New Year’s Eve, we are allowed 1 hour more around, but the morning game will start at 5.30 am, No exception. Basically, we are going to celebrate on Dubai timezone. For the occasions they have joined all the tables into a a central one, so that we are gathered all together. It looks like animals also get excited, because while waiting for dinner, to be served, we see a couple of honey badgers around and a hyena.I’m traveling solo, but I don’t feel lonely at all. On the contrary. The mood around the table is warm and merry as it were a family dinner. The tiramisu tastes super Italian, like the one of my cousin Franci. 

As midnight – well, rather 10.00 pm – approaches, Michaela proposes a very special way to open the champagne bottle for the toast: sabrage and she gives us a demonstration. Her performance is outstanding and it is even more impressive if you consider that she doesn’t have a saber but a kitchen knife, that anyway works perfectly well. She also gives classes to the youngest guest, so that when midnight comes in Dubai, the bottle of champagne is timely open. 

We are then sent to bed so that we can get at least a few hours sleep. 

At 5.00, when the staff comes to call me for the morning games of 5.30, I am ready. This is my last drive and then I will head to the airport.

During the drive, I say “thank you” and “goodbye” to every animal we see. 

At a certain point, Elvis hears the baboons screaming and suspecting something is going on, starts following the noice. That’s how he finds the lions feasting with a gnu. I can’t express what I feel contemplating that scene on my last game. It’s a great goodbye gift.

Back from the drive we gather for breakfast and again it is Michaela shaking the routine. ”I’m going to start the new year with a Bloody Mary, does anybody want to join?”

That’s a great way to enter 2025, so I raise my hand and I receive my red spicy cocktail and put the glass next to my morning coffee. 

May my 2025 be as strong, flavored and spicy as this Bloody Mary at the Umlani Bushcamp.