The underground observation lounge has a name: "Tshembo Hide"

In the month of September we looked for a name for our new, underground observation hide right next to the waterhole. There was a competition on Rhulani’s social media (Facebook & Instagram), where we received many wonderful suggestions. Now the jury has made a decision from the shortlisted proposals. Our hide is called "Tshembo Hide", and the winner is Tristyn Ross.

We wanted to have a special name for this special place. The lounge, which is only a few meters away from the waterhole, where constantly animals are passing by, can be reached through a tunnel from the main area. Elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes and sometimes also lions, hyenas, wild dogs and much more can be observed through wide narrow windows at floor level.

"Tshembo" is a Xitsonga word and it means "Hope". Xitsonga is an official language in South Africa and is spoken in the northeast by around 3.5 million people. Tshembo expresses the expectation and desire for a thing, it describes a person or thing giving cause for hope.

If we consider the special and difficult time in which we completed the impressive construction, and in the global pandemic we not have know what our future will look like, "Tshembo" is a wonderful name.

We thank and congratulate Tristyn Ross for the wonderful suggestion and are pleased that we will welcome you as the winner in November for a two-night stay