Getting Us Back at Likweti Lodge

In June, at the Kids Emplorium Blogger’s Breakfast, I was fortunate enough to win a weekend away for two at Likweti Lodge from Thompsons Travel.

Likweti offers a relaxed and tranquil bush experience with nyala, warthog and sometimes even giraffe roaming freely through the Estate.

Located just 25km from the capital of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit, and an easy, four hour drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria, Likweti Lodge is the answer for couples looking for a malaria-free, accessible and affordable bush location.

General game abounds with herds of nyala and families of warthog wandering freeing through the camp while nocturnal sightings bush baby, porcupine, serval and genet complete this tranquil bush experience.

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The Hubby and I spent a total of 3 days and 2 nights in the beautiful Buffalo Room (room 8). What a beautiful setting! I’m a sucker for the mountains and we had the most beautiful view from our bed.

This was also the first time in 12 years (yes, 12 years!) that we have gone away as a couple without, at least, one child.

As much as I was looking forward to this little break, I felt like I was abandoning the children. I knew, in my head, that they were being well taken care off and loved by my father-in-law, but my heart ached at the thought of being away from them for so long. I finally got over myself two hours into the four hour trip to Mpumalanga.

Three days without cellphone signal in our little chalet, we did have wifi and signal up at the main lodge, was bliss and incredibly hard! What do we do when we are bored? WE check Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Not having access to social media and my e-mail made me re-evaluate my “relationship” with my phone. How much have I missed of the world around me and my children because I’m constantly checking my phone? Its a scary thought.

This weekend, The Hubby and I spent time chatting to each other and reacquainting ourselves. Do you know what I learned? Not only and I still deeply in love with him, but I actually like him. A lot! He’s witty, incredibly funny and super intelligent. We spent the weekend laughing together (at at each other) and we also spent time quietly reading and, in my case, writing. My favourite time was just sitting on the patio drinking our morning cup of tea and coffee.

MAN, I LOVE THIS MAN!!!!

I realised this weekend, on the first day actually, that we don’t spend nearly enough time together as a couple. Sure, we are together everyday. We parent together and live together, but we don’t do anything without the children, family or friends around. Its blinking crazy.

It’s so important, in a healthy relationship, not to loose sight of each other. Unfortunately I had (I cannot speak for him), but I am so glad that we have found our way back to each other.

This weekend was all about us. Likweti isn’t a game farm, its a bushveld farm estate that has some wild animals. We were fortunate enough to stumble, literally, across two giraffe on our walk up to the lodge on our way to dinner. I am night blind and didn’t see them, but The Hubby pointed them out to me and promptly gave me a heart attack! They were standing so still and quietly that had he not seen them, we would have missed them completely!!! They were less than 5 metres away from us. That was a once in a lifetime experience. We unfortunately didn’t have the camera with us, so we didn’t get a photo. We also didn’t see them again during our stay.

We didn’t do much in terms of going out while we were there. On Saturday we decided to take a drive around the farm and see what we could could find. To arrived at a look out point that looked over the citrus farms in the valley to the south of the farm. What a beautiful view.

We spent about an hour and a half exploring the country side and took photos of the animals we could find. The further we got from the Lodge, the more uneasy the animals were with our presence. Clearly the Nyala spend most of their time around the lodge and the accommodation area as they were rather tame and nonplussed by our presence.

We had gone on this little holiday with the intention of having a lazy weekend with long naps, but it ended up being so much more. We have learned, and remembered, why we love each other so much. It couldn’t have come at a better time for us. We are happier and closer than we have been in a long time.

I once read an article called “Why your kids should not be the most important people in your family” and, if I’m going to be completely honest, it both insulted and rung true for me. I had forgotten that The Hubby (along with myself, of course) is the reason we have this wonderful family. I didn’t want to admit it at the time, but I had really stopped putting our relationship, and him, first and at one point, it didn’t make the list at all.

This weekend changed me, for the better. It has made me a better wife and mother. We are a happier couple and as a result, our family is happier. I laugh easier and even the children commented on it toy, “Momma, you look happy!” It makes me sad to think that I haven’t been as happy as I thought.

The Hubby and I really enjoyed our time together, and have decided to take a weekend for us a few times a year now. It doesn’t have to be somewhere far. We are in the fortunate position to live close to the Pilansberg that has many places similar to Likweti, but not so far away. However, Likweti will definitely be seeing us again as we plan on taking the kidlets with us next time.

Remember, if you want to be in a happy, fulfilling relationship, you need to put the work into it. Relationships and love are not easy, they require work. Its not hard, we just have to take the time…