恩科马齐野生动物保护区(Nkomazi Private Game Reserve)位于南非姆普马兰加省(Mpumalanga),距离约翰内斯堡约300公里。这片占地将近15000公顷的荒野不仅是野生动物的避难所,更被地质学家誉为地质学的圣杯。在这里,你脚下的岩石可以追溯到37亿年前。作为一处免疟疾的私人保护区,它比克鲁格国家公园更具私密性,同时也为那些不想提前服用抗疟药的旅行者提供了完美的萨法里选择。
恩科马齐坐落在巴伯顿山脉(Barberton Mountainland)之中,这里的地貌结构非常罕见。巴伯顿绿岩带包含了地球上保存最完好的原始地表,岩层中记录了早期生命的演化痕迹。驱车穿行在起伏的丘陵间,你会发现这里的景观极具层次感,从海拔600米的开阔河谷一直延伸到接近1900米的山顶。这种垂直分布造就了独特的小气候,使得这里能同时容纳高地草原动物和低地丛林动物。如果你对石头感兴趣,向导会指着某种奇特的绿色岩石告诉你,这是喷发温度极高的科马提岩(Komatiites),以流经此地的科马提河命名。
虽然这里为了维持生态平衡不引入犀牛,但非洲五霸中的狮子、大象、水牛和豹子均在此栖息。相比于大型猫科动物,恩科马齐的植被多样性更为惊人,其植物物种数量甚至超过了面积庞大的克鲁格国家公园。在这里抬头可以看到超过300种鸟类,低头则可能发现三处特有的珍稀蝴蝶品种,包括斯瓦内普尔蓝蝶(Swanepoel’s blue),这些生灵在全球范围内仅能在这一小块山脉中见到。清晨出发时,山间的雾气还没散尽,你可能会在灌木丛边撞见正在觅食的濒危猎豹。
恩科马齐的住宿只有大约10多顶豪华帐篷,错落有致地分布在科马提河沿岸。说是帐篷,其实是拥有五星级设施的独立别墅。每座营帐都铺着厚实的波斯地毯,配有巨大的维多利亚式浴缸和室外淋浴间。最让人惊喜的是私人观景露台上的小型跳水池。午后最惬意的事就是泡在池子里,看着河对岸的羚羊低头饮水。营地非常注重仪式感,早晨五点半会有工作人员轻轻唤醒你,递上一杯冒着热气的咖啡,那是开启长达3小时清晨猎游的最佳序曲。
钱的问题得算清楚,这里的房价通常包含了一日三餐和每天两次的驱车游猎。晚餐往往是在名为博马(Boma)的露天圆场举行,大家围着篝火分享白天的见闻。如果运气好,你会遇到一只名叫莫里斯(Maurice)的丛林娃娃(Bushbaby),它常在晚餐时分神出鬼没地讨要零食。这里的夜晚非常安静,由于没有任何光污染,向导会搬出专业望远镜带你辨认南十字座。在冬天的夜晚,抱着热水瓶躲进电热毯包裹的被窝,这种原始与现代的冲突感正是南非萨法里的魅力所在。
从约翰内斯堡驾车前往大约需要3.5小时。大部分路段路况良好,但进入保护区正门后,通往营地的最后几公里路面较为颠簸。如果你开的是小型轿车,建议提前联系营地,将车辆停在正门的停车场,由保护区的游猎车接送。如果自驾4x4越野车则可以直接开进营地。需要注意的是,保护区的大门有严格的关闭时间,通常在下午18:15之后就禁止非转运车辆进入,一定要算好出发时间。
说到出发时机,5月到9月的旱季是观赏动物的最佳季节。这时草木稀疏,动物们会聚集在科马提河附近饮水,很容易被肉眼发现。南非的冬天昼夜温差极大,清晨六点半出发时冷到需要抱着热水杯,甚至要穿上营地提供的抓绒斗篷。到了中午,气温又会升至20度以上,所以洋葱式穿法必不可少。10月到次年4月的雨季则会让山脉变得翠绿欲滴,虽然动物隐蔽性增强,但那是拍摄风景和观鸟的黄金期。
恩科马齐位于免疟疾区域,游客无需提前服用抗疟疾药物,这对于家庭旅行者或备孕人群非常友好。不过由于地处河边,夏季晚上仍会有普通蚊虫,建议准备一些基础避蚊喷雾。
为了保证安全和萨法里体验的安静,该保护区通常只接待12岁及以上的儿童。部分家庭帐篷房型可能允许12岁以下儿童入住,但5岁以下儿童通常严禁参加公共驱车游猎活动,建议出发前查看官网最新信息。
根据季节和房型不同,每人每晚的费用大约在4000至6000兰特左右,包含全餐和两次游猎。建议至少停留两晚,因为第一天抵达时往往只能赶上傍晚的一次猎游,三晚以上的行程能更完整地体验丛林步行和地质考察。
从约堡到保护区正门Grand Valley路段全程柏油路,普通家用车完全没问题。由于最后进入营地的山路对底盘有要求,非越野车主需在正门换乘保护区接驳车,该服务通常需要预约并可能产生额外费用。
这里能看到狮子、豹子、大象和水牛这四霸,由于生态平衡和反盗猎压力,目前保护区内并不常驻野生黑犀牛。不过这里的猎豹活跃度很高,是除了五霸之外最受游客欢迎的看点。
Maria Berdanis The lodge is beautiful and so are the rooms, I have been to many bush lodges and the room was definitely one of my favorites.the actual reserve was beautiful and our ranger amazing. The staff are extremely friendly however the management of the whole place not the greatest. For a 5* lodge there are certain things you as a guest shouldn’t have to tell the cleaning staff to do. The food was my least favorite (dead average) the main reason why I would hesitate to recommend. It felt like whatever left overs there were in the kitchen were put together to eat. For what you are paying to stay there you do expect something a bit better. I’m not saying fine dining just a bit more thought needs to go in the menu.
Ashleigh Jacobs Noticeable decline in service quality over the last few years we have visited. Nkomazi (hotel) has lost its sparkle, feels like its run on standard commercial practices, bland and impersonal. Very sad as it used to be our favourite place on earth. Food and wine menu, super average. Facilities and location of the actual game reserve are still great though. Unfortunately not sure we will revisit again.
Aimée Michelle Capuzzimati We had a wonderful time celebrating out 5 year wedding anniversary at Nkomazi. Amazing staff. Thomas was our game ranger. Great knowledge and an overall wonderful person. The tents felt incredibly luxurious and well equipped with everything you might need. Game viewing was incredible. Saw lion, cheetah, elephant, Buffalo and more. We're not experienced fishermen but we decided to try something new. Thomas took as to a great spot and showed us the ropes. While we were fishing, we saw a leopard crossing the river about 100m away. Once in a lifetime experience. Food was delicious. Nkomazi is only 3 hours away from JHB. We'll definitely be going back.
Hannboqueb The Game Reserve Nkomazi was a brilliant choice and fantastic experience. The whole staff is very well organized and showed us the way into the reserve by following them by car. Our tent was exeptional and had everything you could wish for. The view and terrace were our highlight, we were able to see and experience monkey and hippos close up. Our guide Sabelo was very knowledgeable and showed us how to find traces of animals in a, regarding the nature, very respectful way. He was able to track down different animals trough different methods and we were able to see amazing and beautiful wildlife which we will never forget. Thank you Sabelo!
Scheryl Booyjens My visit was an end of year getaway with my husbands company. The attention to detail and professionalism of staff was an absolute pleasure! The accommodation is absolutely amazing. Real luxury, with the most amazing views of the bush, river, and even some curious giraffes. The game drives were phenomenal, and so were the sundowners. I would definitely recommend it.