MATTANU PRIVATE GAME RESERVE A BREED APART

the vermillion sun peeks over the horizon, spreading its soft morning glow across the African bush, verdant with recent rain.

I find myself at Mattanu Private Game Reserve, about 40 minute’s drive from Kimberley in the vast, semi-arid Northern Cape Province of South Africa.

At six in the morning, the heat is already making its insidious way across the land and we have to do this thing relatively quickly before it gets too hot.

“This thing” being the darting of buffalo from the helicopter, as one does on a Monday morning, of course. We are the guests of famous wildlife veterinarian, Doctor Johan Kriek and his family, who own and operate the lodge and this rare game breeding farm.

“Don’t go near the back rotors, it will