Mbazo Safari Lodge is a safari lodge in Pilanesberg ,South Africa . The cooperation with the Petite Five provided inspiration for the concept design of the Mbazo Pilanesberg experience. The magnificent seven are on display at the lodge, but we chose to focus on the critters. The Elephant shrew, a small, insect-eating mammal with a long nose, inspired the colour change. Elephant shrews are plentiful in Pilanesberg; however they are rarely seen. The species also digs little conical tunnels in the earth in the way of a bandicoot, while some may use natural crevices or create leaf nests. The concept for the veiled-style backdrop came from the conical animal, as did the earthy colour tone chosen. The lodge vanishes in the Tambotie maze, offering a protected African jungle ambiance with only five handcrafted weavers' nests for the selected node. The tiny dwelling, inspired by the magnificent colour patterns of Buffalo weavers, creates awe when entering the nest. As the ritual nudges your sole, you can feel the graze of African artists. The up-and-coming African Artiste provided the fine art. The red-billed buffalo weaver has been observed in small family groups or large flocks, so as a discriminating guest, you can book the lodge as a couple, family, or large flock, capable of serving up to ten callers. The leopard tortoise, a huge and highly patterned tortoise found in the Pilanesberg savannas, inspired the main bivouac. This tortoise is a grazer, preferring semi-arid, thorny to grassland habitats. They may live in abandoned aardvark holes in both extreme heat and cold conditions. Leopard tortoises do not dig except to build nests in which to lay their eggs. It grazes intensively on mixed grasses due to its preference for open grassland settings. Succulents and thistles are other favourites. The walkways are shaped like the wings of a Dragonfly, a member of the Antlion family, soaring above the earth and creating a concourse for the diminutive five to roam freely. The Rhino beetle, the last of the tiny five making an appearance in the Mbazo experience, comes to life at our Starlit boma. When the sun goes down, this theatre of African dreams comes alive to the beat of the African drum. Twinkling stars, with all the delicate camp lights in red, so as not to detract from the African night sky's brilliance. Welcome to the dream crater, Pilanesberg, Mbazo
