12 Feb Malaria-Free Accommodation in the Bushveld
Malaria-Free Bushveld and Big Game Plus Luxury Accommodation
Malaria was once the scourge of certain parts of the African Continent. When Britain and other countries began extending their empires and territories, this disease was widely encountered both north and south of the equator on the African Continent, where almost no settlements with proper accommodation existed.
In South Africa, malaria afflicted Europeans throughout many parts of the country that now has not been associated with the disease for a long time, due to successful early campaigns to rid those parts of the mosquito species that act as carriers. Even towns and cities, such as Durban, Pretoria, and Upington once experienced breakouts of malaria, when environmental conditions were favourable for breeding mosquitos.
Affected areas included north-eastern parts of the Lowveld in Mpumalanga (formerly the Eastern Transvaal), the then Northern Transvaal (now Limpopo Province), and the northern-eastern sectors of KwaZulu-Natal. Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, and Malawi were other over-border regions that were similarly affected by the occurrence of malaria.
Fortunately for the earlier inhabitants and inland settlers in South Africa, some regions were malaria-free, or were subsequently rendered so by treating patients with an extract of quinine bark and eradicating anopheles mosquitos responsible for spreading the disease. Consequently, settlements, towns, and eventually, cities that offered formal lodging to travellers and visitors were to develop in these healthier environments, which have basically been malaria-free for more than a century.
In the Air at Night
En route to the Christian Holy Lands, (or so they intended and thought), in about the mid-1800s, the Voortrekkers crossed into untamed, largely uninhabited bushveld territories during their Great Trek. Well into their journey northwards, considering where they started, the Trekkers crossed into what is now the Limpopo Province, where a new peril befell them.
Here they encountered a mysterious fever of unknown origin. With no other explanation for the cause of this disease known to these simple-living, normally hardy folk, they associated it with unhealthy or poisonous nighttime air, since their accommodation was on wheels. They slept in or under their wagons.
Malaria-Free
Today, however, our nights (and days) are glorious in the Waterberg part of Limpopo that is home to Welgevonden Game Reserve, as well as our luxury game lodge, Fifty Seven Waterberg. There is virtually no chance of coming into contact with female anopheles mozzies or poison wafting about in the night air.
The Waterberg is malaria-free. Unlike some other natural wilderness, game-rich regions that are favourite destinations for visitors who wish to have an authentic South African bushveld breakaway with accommodation included, our private reserve and lodge offer a malaria-free experience, plus much more to delight and surprise our guests.
Surprisingly Spacious Accommodation
The private guest accommodation at Fifty Seven Waterberg consists of ten super spacious suites. None are smaller than 80 m2, and each sleeps and accommodates two adults. Because we wish to preserve the pristine environment, game animals’ natural habitat and behaviour, the privacy of our guests’ accommodation facilities and the top standards of our lodge’s service excellence, we limit the number of visitors we accommodate at any one time.
Guests do not miss a moment of their bushveld adventure, not even when occupying their private accommodation suites. Every suite is designed to incorporate floor to ceiling glass panes, allow the occupants to view passing game at leisure, and enjoy the feeling of being immersed in the magical malaria-free bushveld.