My time on Lukanyo...

"My time on Lukanyo...

From the moment we turned off the road and in through the gates I knew it was going to be a trip to remember, the track to the lodge winding its way through the bush gave teasing glimpses of wildlife in all directions, Kudu grazing silently, Giraffe breaking the skyline above the canopy, then fleeting glances of Warthog dashing across before disappearing into the undergrowth, nature doing what it does best. As you arrive at the lodge perched on top of the hill, the rustic railway sleepers lining the steps embrace you as you make your way down past the braai and into the main lodge where the exposed beams of the impressive high ceiling show off the natural materials in the structure of the thatched roof. The beautiful open fireplace right in the middle of the room invites you in and creates a homely feeling especially in the evening with a glass of wine. When the morning sun breaks over the horizon the rolling valleys are flooded with light and the decking offers unlimited views across the misty lowland, although desperately tempting to just sit all day watching the shadows change as the sun moves around, there's stalking to be done. Having a guide who knows the land like the back of his hand helped enormously and meant that every step of the bush walks were planned and efficient, sometimes getting us to within a heart pumping twenty metres from the wildlife. The variation of walking never failed to inspire, from creeping through dried river beds to scaling the ridgeline in the footsteps of the baboons that had been there just minutes before, it was absolute magic. Inspiration for my painting is in abundance all around and the sense of distance from the real world so far away brought me peace and tranquility, the perfect environment in which to create. One moment that stood out and will be forever etched in my memory was sitting high on the rocky ridgeline looking down into the bush offering a rarely seen birds eye view over the spiralling horns of kudu working their way between the trees below, an incredible feeling of being totally invisible to the animals and at one with nature as I sat enjoying the warmth of the sun drenched rock as the evening cooled around me, this place has shot straight to the top as one of my favourite places to be in the world. 

Thank you for allowing me to enjoy your little slice of heaven."

Best wishes, 

Stephen