From Quarry to Wetland: The Story Behind Jaci’s Terrapin Hide

Some of the most memorable places in the bush begin with an unexpected idea.

At Jaci’s Private Lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve, the story behind the Terrapin Hide began with something far less glamorous: an old quarry.

Today, that former quarry has become a living wetland and the setting for one of Jaci’s most distinctive wildlife experiences. At its centre sits the Terrapin Hide, a purpose built, water level photographic hide reached through an underground tunnel.

This is the story of how Jaci’s wetland came to life, how the Terrapin Hide was built, and why the experience has become so special for wildlife lovers and photographers in Madikwe.

“Behind where the entrance to Tree Lodge was, was actually a quarry.”

— Jan van Heteren, co-founder

 

 

 

From an Old Quarry to a Wetland

When Jan and the team were planning the former Tree Lodge, they received permission to add another 16 beds.

As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment presented to Parks Board, the team proposed something different for the old quarry behind the lodge: instead of leaving it as an unused excavation, they would transform it into a wetland.

The plan included an overflow into a second wetland area, creating a system that could support grasses, reeds, birds and other wildlife.

What began as a practical environmental solution would eventually become an important part of the landscape around Jaci’s.

 

How Jaci’s Wetland Is Fed

The wetland was designed around water the lodge already had.

Greywater from the lodge passes through a treatment system before reaching the wetland.

The process included:

1. Eight 5,000-litre tanks filled with stone, where bacteria help break down particles in the water.
2. A sand filter.
3. A “fishbone” pipe system that spreads the water evenly across a bed of washed river sand.
4. The treated water then drains into the wetland.

Over time, the old quarry developed into a functioning wetland environment rather than simply remaining an empty hole in the ground.

 

How the Terrapin Hide Was Built

The idea for placing a hide in the middle of the wetland came during a visit from Guts and Janine of Pangolin Safaris.

As Jan remembers it, after a couple of beers, Guts looked across the wetland and asked why they did not simply put a hide in the middle of it.

“Oh, we can just put it over there and, you know, we’ll put a tunnel down.”

The idea sounded simple.

Building it was not.

Before construction could begin, the wetland had to be emptied. It took more than 60 days of pumping before the water level was low enough for work to proceed.

An underground tunnel was then installed, allowing guests to enter the hide without walking openly across the waterhole.

The hide was then constructed in the centre of the wetland, placing guests almost directly at water level.

That combination — an underground approach and an eye-level view of the waterhole — is what gives the Terrapin Hide its distinctive character today.

 

Jaci’s Terrapin Hide in Madikwe

The Terrapin Hide is a purpose-built, water-level hide positioned within an active waterhole in Madikwe Game Reserve.

Guests enter through the underground tunnel and emerge with the water almost at eye level.

Instead of looking down at wildlife from a vehicle or elevated deck, visitors experience the waterhole from a much lower perspective.

For photographers, that angle can completely change the image.

Elephants, buffalo, birds and other animals may approach the water directly in front of the hide, creating opportunities for intimate, ground-level wildlife photography that can be difficult to achieve from a game vehicle.

This is one of the reasons the Terrapin Hide has become such an important part of the photographic safari experience at Jaci’s.

For guests interested in photography, specialist guiding and photographic equipment hire may also be available, subject to availability and prior arrangement.

Find out more about the Terrapin Hide →

 

A Water-Level Hide for Wildlife Photography

A water-level hide offers a very different perspective from traditional safari viewing.

Instead of photographing an elephant or buffalo from above, photographers can work much closer to the animal’s natural eye line.

That lower angle can create a greater sense of scale, depth and connection with the subject.

The setting also allows guests to spend time quietly observing the waterhole rather than constantly moving from one sighting to another.

Sometimes the experience is about photography.

Sometimes it is simply about sitting still and watching the wetland come to life.

 

 

Wildlife Around Jaci’s Wetland

The old quarry is now surrounded by grasses, reeds, waterbirds and nesting sites.

The water also attracts a wide variety of wildlife.

Animals and birds recorded around the wetland include:

• Wild dogs, which regularly hunt around the area and may chase prey towards the water.
• African fish eagles, which have been visiting increasingly often.
• Verreaux’s eagle-owls, with a pair returning to nest around the wetland.
• Lions.
• Leopards.
• Brown hyenas.
• Buffalo.

Many of these visitors are also captured on the wetland webcam.

The wetland attracts an even wider variety of wildlife than what has been captured on the webcam, including hippos, rhinos, various antelope species and numerous other birds.

 

 

From the Terrapin Hide to the Naledi Sleepout

The wetland was not the only idea shaped by a desire to bring guests closer to the bush.

Another was the Naledi Sleepout.

Jan shared the idea with Jaci’s father, Cris, and together they created a secluded place where guests could spend a night beneath the African sky.

Today, the Naledi Sleepout is a raised platform overlooking its own private waterhole.

Guests sleep beneath the open sky with the sounds of the bush around them.

The experience includes:

• A canopied queen-size bed.
• A private KolKol hot tub.
• An en-suite bathroom.
• An outdoor shower.
• Views over a private waterhole.

The Naledi Sleepout is available as an add-on to a stay at Jaci’s, subject to availability and an additional cost.

Find out more about the Naledi Sleepout →

 

A Different Way to Experience Madikwe

The story behind the Terrapin Hide is ultimately about much more than building a photographic hide.

It is about looking at an old quarry and seeing the possibility of something different.

A wetland was created.

Wildlife moved in.

A tunnel was built.

And a place that once served little purpose became one of the most distinctive spaces at Jaci’s Private Lodge.

For guests, the result is an opportunity to experience Madikwe at water level — quietly, patiently and sometimes only a few metres away from the wildlife that comes to drink.

For photographers, it offers a perspective that few traditional safari viewpoints can provide.

And for Jaci’s, it remains part of a larger story of finding new ways for guests to feel connected to the landscape.

Watch the full four-minute film, told in Jan’s own words:
https://youtu.be/K3OeCFCbGDk

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Jaci’s Terrapin Hide

What is the Terrapin Hide at Jaci’s?

The Terrapin Hide is a purpose-built, water-level wildlife and photographic hide at Jaci’s Private Lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve. Guests enter through an underground tunnel and view the waterhole from close to eye level.

How did the Terrapin Hide begin?

The Terrapin Hide began as part of a wider project to transform an old quarry near the former Tree Lodge into a wetland. The idea for placing a hide in the centre of the wetland came during a visit from Guts and Janine of Pangolin Safaris.

How was the Terrapin Hide built?

Before construction began, the wetland had to be emptied, which took more than 60 days of pumping. A tunnel was then installed beneath the wetland, leading to the hide built in the middle of the waterhole.

Where does Jaci’s wetland get its water?

The wetland is fed by treated greywater from the lodge. The water passes through stone-filled tanks, a sand filter and a pipe system that distributes it over washed river sand before it drains into the wetland.

Why is the Terrapin Hide good for wildlife photography?

The hide sits close to water level, allowing photographers to capture animals from a low, eye-level perspective. Wildlife such as elephants, buffalo and birds may approach the water directly in front of the hide.

What wildlife can be seen around the wetland?

Wild dogs, African fish eagles, Verreaux’s eagle-owls, lions, leopards, brown hyenas, buffalo, hippos, rhinos, various antelope species and a wide variety of other birds have all been recorded around the wetland.

Is the Terrapin Hide suitable for photographic safaris?

Yes. The Terrapin Hide is particularly well suited to wildlife photography because of its low position and close proximity to the waterhole. Specialist guiding and photographic equipment hire may also be available by prior arrangement and subject to availability.

Where is the Terrapin Hide?

The Terrapin Hide is located at Jaci’s Private Lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa.

What is the Naledi Sleepout?

The Naledi Sleepout is a raised overnight platform overlooking a private waterhole. It includes a canopied queen-size bed, private KolKol hot tub, en-suite bathroom and outdoor shower, and is available as an add-on to a stay subject to availability and an additional cost.