Can we do more for our wildlife?

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Lucinda

Wildlife news and conservation stories are hot in the press at the moment. With the recent exposure of a Rhino poaching syndicate; the talk of Elephant hunting in East Africa; the sad poisoning of the Hoaruseb pride of Lions in Namibia; the burning of illegal Ivory by Kenya’s President with a street value of $100 million; the “Serengeti Highway” debate, approved, not approved, good for some, not good for others; Botswana’s stance to ban all hunting; Gorillas being butchered – wild life concerns are endless and all demand immediate attention. Sometimes I feel the earth is saying “enough” when we consider all the natural disasters that have occurred in the last decade. What is our wild life saying?

Even today I read an article that the Masai Mara – one of the most famous National Parks in the world – has lost more than two thirds of its wildlife over the last three decades – that is all in my life time! Are we able to do something?

It can be tough to be forward thinking. To wonder what it would be like not have wildlife reserves. To think about our kids and grandkids and what they might not see. There are so few fighting for the rights of our animals and protecting them. The odds against these individuals and organizations are huge….yet they are passionate and committed!

The big threats out there are drought, population pressure, tourism overdevelopment and political mismanagement. These are all huge topics. Africa is a continent that has been torn by war, natural disasters like flooding, famine, drought, minimal education and in many cases, wildlife that knows no borders and boundaries.

I don’t really know what the answers are. I guess, the more we talk about things and the more we expose – made easier these days by the internet – the more people will join together in preserving our wildlife. We have to keep remembering that every little bit counts, it doesn’t matter how insignificant we think it might be. We have some of the most awesome wildlife attractions in the world and there are positive results that do keep shining through as the war on Rhino poaching shows: decreased from 40 Rhinos poached in March 2011 to only 2 poached in June! So please lets all make an effort!

We need to protect and preserve!

Posted in Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda | Tagged africa, big 5, East africa, elephant, gorilla's, ivory, kenya, lion, masai mara, namibia, rhino poaching, serengeti highway, tanzania | Leave a comment

On your way to the Kruger Park?

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Lucinda

Stop over at Hippo Hollow before your Safari

One of the best things about work in the tourism industry in Africa is that we have the opportunity to see many, if not most, of the places we recommend daily for clients. This gives us a huge advantage as we are able to create perfect vacations for our clients.

One of my colleagues Lise recently did a family trip to the Kruger National Park. This was a vacation for them so even though it sounds great to be visiting lodges all the time as part of your job, sometimes you do have to have a proper break. So they hired a private house in a reserve and spent a week relaxing there.

Lise did manage to make one quick stop with the family en route. I don’t often post direct feedback like this but Lise really did come back with plenty of praise for Hippo Hollow. I thought there would be lots of you out there who found it helpful as the Kruger Park is such a popular destination to visit in South Africa.

So in Lise’s words, a change from mine!

“Hippo Hollow is a well priced lodge outside Kruger and I was expecting it to be fairly nice but not spectacular. Well I couldn’t have been more mistaken!
Hippo Hollow is fantastic value for money and offers exceptional service. The staff couldn’t do enough for us and were always friendly.

We had a chalet with a kiddies loft and a stunning view of the river. We woke up to the elephants wandering on the other side of the river, much to my husband’s delight – I have never seen him get out of bed so fast! I would definitely recommend the chalets over the hotel rooms, just for the views.

The highlight for us was the evening buffet which sported not only a fabulous array of traditional foods, but the chief himself and his troop of dancers. The program was fun, just the right length and ended up with some of the other diners joining in. The chief stays for dinner, so you can chat to him about traditional life in the area if you want to.

I highly recommend Hippo Hollow for good clean family fun en route to your safari, or a nice easy stop over for couples on a self drive tour looking to visit the Kruger National Park or Panorama Route”

Always great to get first hand feedback so thanks Lise for making the effort!

View looking out over the gardens and river

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari | Tagged africa, big 5, elephants, family safari, family vacation, hippo hollow, kruger park, lise, panorama route, self drive holiday, self drive vacation, south africa, travel, tribal dancing | Leave a comment

Photo of the Week: Tame Hippos on Safari

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Lucinda

A must before your Safari

If you haven’t yet heard the remarkable story of Jessica the Hippo – then you are missing out! A visit to her sanctuary is a must if you find yourself with some time before your Kruger Safari begins and you are staying in the Hoedspruit area. Have a look at these classic photos from Lise who has just been to visit.

The friendly Hippo

Can't believe I am kissing a Hippo!

If you would like to learn more about this remarkable creature and her story then you can watch this clip for all the details.

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, classic safari, family safari, South Africa | Tagged family safari, hippo sanctuary, hippos, hoedspruit, jessica the hippo, kruger park, kruger safari, lise, south africa | Leave a comment

One of Africa’s deadliest mammals – the hippo!

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Lucinda

Learn about this African safari icon

There was a bit of focus on the Hippo last week – with Lise’s visit to Hippo Hollow and then also finding out about the almost human hippo, Jessica. I thought it might be worthwhile to delve a bit into these huge animals and see what interesting things I could find out about them.

As much as I love the Big 5 – I always enjoy looking for hippo when out on safari. I find them pretty awesome creatures! They are fairly common throughout Southern Africa’s National Parks, obviously in those parks where there is water…..so you not going to find hippos in Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans or Namibia’s Etosha!
If you are looking for abundant numbers of hippo then my advice is the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, particularly at the end of the dry season! I have never seen such dense populations, literally hundreds and hundreds in huge pods. The reason you get to see such numbers is because the wet season ends around March / April so by the time the rains arrive after the dry season, usually early November – there is very limited water in the normally water logged Luangwa River. So the hippos are reduced to very specific areas of the river, that still have some water.

This does result in some super aggressive behavior, and we were witness to some spectacular duels in the week we were in the Luangwa Valley. That said – a hippo will rarely kill another. They will generally stop fighting when it becomes clear that one is stronger than the other. However to humans, they are incredibly dangerous and are one of the biggest killers in Africa.

Abundant hippo pods in the South Luangwa River

Here are a few facts I thought I would share about the hippo:

After the elephant the hippo is the second largest land animal, but the third largest by weight behind the white rhinoceros
During the day they remain in or close to water and mud, this helps protect them from sunburn. At dusk they come onto the land to graze, sometimes traveling as far as 8km (5miles)
They are herbivores. Their digestive system has not adapted to eat meat
They can outrun a human on land – with speeds up to 30km/h (for short distances)
They can run along the bottom of a river due to their specific gravity
Adult hippos will surface to breathe every 3 – 5 minutes. This is an “automated” process and will happen even if the hippo is sleeping. It will raise to breathe without waking itself

This is usually what you are looking for

Posted in Africa, big 5 safari, Botswana, classic safari, family safari, Namibia, South Africa | Tagged africa, african safari, botswana, dangerous mammals big 5, etosha, hippo hollow, hippos, jessica the hippo, lise, makgadikgadi pans, namibia, rhino, safaris, south africa, south luangwa national park, southern africa, southern africa national parks, zambia | Leave a comment

Photo of the Week: Wildebeest Migration First Hand

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Lucinda

The action of the migration

A reminder that the migration is in full swing at the moment in East Africa. We received an update this week from one of our partners Asilia who operate luxury camps in the area. Have a read as to what they are currently seeing:

“This week has been fantastic as we had a chance to see the big five and the most amazing and interesting thing was when we found seven lions and one bull of rhino laying down close to each other facing. This event happened at bologonja plains the way to nyamarumbwa, no natural mechanism is perfect. The three cheetah brothers have been seen almost everyday and we have been sometimes seeing them hunting which was so good to guests. Also the leopard has been spotted around the mama kent gully on the tree with a kill of a male impala. Lions keep on roaring each night and have been seen along bolongoja river, mama kent gully, lamai plains, wogakurya kopjes.

We would like to say that this week has been fantastic as the great wildbeest crossing happened in front of the camp when the guests were having their delicious lunch, suddenly everyone left the lunch and ran to see the greatest crossing which took 1 ½ hr. This was an unforgattable life experience to everyone who did see this crossing.”

Wildlife Report from Olakira Camp 2011

Posted in Africa, big 5 safari, classic safari, Kenya, Tanzania | Tagged annual migration, asilia, big 5, East africa, kenya, lion, masai mara, serengeti, tanzania, wildebeest migration | Leave a comment

The famine in Somalia – an African crisis

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Lucinda

Somalian Crisis

We sometimes forget how lucky we are. How much we have and how much we actually should be grateful for. There are people in the world that have so much less, and we just don’t give back often enough. The famine crisis that has been top of the news for the last couple of weeks is happening on our doorstep in Africa. Somalia is not a destination that we specialize in, and logically with all the other challenges Southern, South and East Africa face, ones efforts should probably be focused on areas that have a direct impact on our business.

However, this humanitarian crisis has seeped into our hearts. The more coverage out there, the more disturbing images that go around the world of starving children, the more you hear of the unbelievable stories of people actually making it to a feeding centre alive – the more we realized that we have to try and make a contribution.

So we are making a donation on every booking we receive for the months of August and September. We are donating to the UNICEF Horn of Africa Fund. The UN estimates that around 770,000 people have fled to refugee camps and about $1.3 billion is needed to address this crisis.

The Horn of Africa is notorious for long-term cycles of severe hunger. But with decades of failed crops, climate changes, and economic crises – the current drought (the worst since 1951) has increased malnutrition, killed and weakened livestock, increased food prices and basically driven up famine and hunger. Innocent people are suffering and we would really like to make a difference. If you need to know more about what UNICEF is doing you can visit their site here.

Otherwise, know that we are also doing something to give back to our fragile continent.

Posted in Africa, Kenya | Tagged africa, african drought, East africa, famine, horn of africa, somalia, south africa, southern africa, starving children, UN aid, UNICEF, world hunger fund | Leave a comment

View of the Week: Islands of Siankaba

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Lucinda

I thought I would have a change from the usual Picture of the Week and rotate it with my favorite View of the Week. I am such a view fanatic! And for me it is one of the most important things when I look at my accommodation options. So with very happy clients this week raving about their trip, I selected one of the stunning spots they went to:

The Chalets at Islands of Siankaba. Why would you want to be anywhere else……other than sitting on your deck overlooking the Mighty Zambezi?

Your private piece of river front on the Zambezi River

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, classic safari, luxury safari, Zambia | Tagged islands of siankaba, livingstone, victoria falls, view of the week, zambezi river | Leave a comment

How to choose that African Safari

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Lucinda

Tips for choosing the right Safari Vacation

We are often asked in this business where the best place to go on safari is. People ask this without realizing the choice that is out there and without really thinking about what it is they want to get out of the experience. Everyone is different, and we are all looking for that awesome “thing” that we can tell all our friends about, or that will last a lifetime.

By choosing a Safari destination you are one up on everybody already! It is a totally unique, mind blowing, awesome thing. You will never experience anything like it, anywhere else in the world. That is why Africa is so unique! That should be enough to sell you on the ultimate vacation…..but if you still need some pointers on how to choose the right Safari, below are a few pointers:

1. When do you want to go? – The biggest thing to remember is that the seasons are opposite way round in the southern hemisphere, where most of your big safari destinations are. So summer in the northern hemisphere is winter in the southern. The good thing about this is that winter in the southern hemisphere is generally the best time for game viewing. The general lack of rain in the winter months keeps the vegetation dry and short – this allows for much easier spotting of wildlife or the big 5.

2. Even though winter months are generally better for game viewing, the summer months also provide their advantages. These are primarily better package deals due to the “low season”, but it also provides a more intimate safari experience. The summer months are not as busy as the winter months. My favorite summer safari experience are the magical, electric thunder storms. Paints a safari in a whole new light.

3. You should consider if you are looking for a Malaria free safari or if you are comfortable taking prophylactics or other precautions. Certainly there are times when a Malaria risk is not good – usually involving pregnant ladies or very young babies. There are not many areas that are Malaria free, but South Africa has 2 locations – Madikwe and the Eastern Cape.

4. The final pointer for today is your budget. Everyone has a budget in mind when going on vacation and a safari vacation is no different. The advantage about Safari’s is the broad range of price choice over a wide range of destinations. Some countries offer value for money, others offer the ultimate in privacy and exclusivity, some have been hosting safaris for generations, while others allow for pristine wilderness.

So you need to decide what your important factors are for this ultimate vacation experience. Next week I will highlight a few more that should really help you make the perfect decision!

One of the Big 5 - The King of the Savanna

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, Botswana, family safari, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia | Tagged africa, african safaris, big 5, botswana, eastern cape, kruger national park, madikwe, malaria free safari, south africa, ultimate safari, zambia | Leave a comment

A story about the Cheetah – a Safari highlight

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Lucinda

The beautiful Cheetah

A newsletter popped into my inbox yesterday from a lodge in the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa. At the bottom they added some really interesting facts about Cheetahs which I didn’t know. So I thought I would do a little research and see what else I could learn for myself.

Here are the facts in the newsletter from Nambiti Hills:

- A cheetah’s body temperature at rest is around 39ºC (102.2F). When the cheetah hunts, her body temperature gets up to 242.5ºC (468.5F)!
- A cheetah can eat 14 kg of meat in a sitting. That’s close to one third of her body weight
- A cheetah’s heart, liver and lungs are nearly three times the size of those of a lioness. That’s because they need to get as much oxygen into their system as they can

Using a few resources I found a few other things about the Cheetah that I don’t think are common known facts:

- A cheetah can go from 0 to 60 miles (96 kilometers) an hour in only three seconds
- The cheetah hunts by vision rather than by scent. Prey is stalked to within 10–30 m (33–98 ft), then chased. This is usually over in less than a minute, and if the cheetah fails to make a catch quickly, it will give up. The cheetah has an average hunting success rate of around 50%
- When cheetahs run fast they use their tales to steer. Their tails work like a rudder of a boat to help them turn the direction they want to go
- Cheetahs do not roar like lions, but purr just like a domestic cat. They also chirp like a bird, hiss, whine, growl in anger or fright and moan in distress
- The cheetah has a small head with high-set eyes. Black “tear marks”, which run from the corner of its eyes down the sides of the nose to its mouth, keep the sun out of its eyes and make it one of the most deadly hunters
- It is the only felid with non-retractable claws and pads that, by their scope, disallow gripping (therefore cheetah cannot climb vertical trees, although they are generally capable of reaching easily accessible branches).

Most wild cheetahs are found in Eastern and South Western Africa. Perhaps only 7,000 to 10,000 of them remain, and those are under pressure as the wide-open grasslands they favor are disappearing at the hands of human settlers. The average life cycle for a Cheetah is up to 12 years in the wild, but most survive around 8 years and in captivity they can live up to 20 years.

If you looking to see these animals in action then chat to us about a vacation to Phinda, the Eastern Cape, Namibia or Tanzania and we can tailor make the perfect itinerary for you! I have only seen these beautiful mammals a couple of times in my life and always hold my breath. I find them magic!

And in case you have missed it – don’t forget to go and see The Last of the Lions, a National Geographic movie!

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, luxury safari, Namibia, private safari, South Africa, Tanzania | Tagged africa, african safari, big 5, cheetah, East africa, family safari, kwazulu Natal, lion, malaria free safari, nambiti hills, namibia, phinda, south africa, tanzania, the last of the lions | Leave a comment

Photo of the Week: The Cheetah

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Lucinda

Some stunning images taken in the Masai Mara

Below is a seletion of stunning pictures taken recently in the Masai Mara. These tie in nicely with my blog posting from Wednesday. They really are such beautiful animals. So much majesty and poise!

Posted in Africa, Kenya | Tagged african safari, big 5, cheetah, kenya, liesl, masai mara, photographic safari | Leave a comment

John & the good work by Project Luangwa – Zambia

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Lucinda

Project Luangwa – Mfuwe, Zambia

I am often humbled by the newsletters that pop into my inbox as the weeks fly by. There are many many people doing amazing good out there. Through these newsletters we are reminded of how easy it is to actually contribute to someone else’s life who’s so less fortunate. We often forget how little others actually have. And how little it is we need to contribute to make a massive difference to someone else.

John the shy 5 year old

I was very touched by the story I read on Friday about John. His little life’s tale was circulated in the Project Luangwa Newsletter, along with a few other amazing things they get up too. But John’s story touched my heart. Kids seem to have a way of doing that. They are so innocent, so forced into their situations and surroundings without any choice. John was born with legs that finish just above the knee and only one hand. To make it just a bit harder for him, even his “good” hand has the two middle fingers fused together.

John still has the innocence and ability that children seem to have of seeing past his disabilities. He still tries hard to participate and play with the other kids. But he obviously struggles to keep up with them. He has siblings, who help him as much as possible, but he is also a growing child and there is only so much they are able to carry him around.

An appeal was made in the Project Luangwa newsletter to try and get funds together to get John a sturdy wheelchair that would last in the harsh African environment. The target amount needed was £460 and so far the appeal has managed to raise £630 for John’s new wheelchair. If you have anything spare and would like to contribute even a small amount, please donate here and help this shy 5 year old boy.

The power of donation is huge. And the smallest amounts, when all added together make the biggest difference. Thanks to everyone who is making a difference!

Posted in Africa, Zambia | Tagged african safari, giving back, john project luangwa, luangwa valley, mfuwe, project luangwa, south luangwa, zambia | 1 Comment

How to choose your Safari – Part 2

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Lucinda

Choosing the right safari

Last week I promised a few more tips on how to choose the right safari. Last week I covered:

1. When do you want to go?
2. Winter vs Summer?
3. Malaria Free Safaris?
4. Your budget?

With these 4 questions covered we can look at getting a little more specific about your experience.

Once you have covered the above the next thing that I would ask is what kind of vacation or safari are you looking for and who are you traveling with?
There are options out there that are more suited to families, older generations, honeymooners, adventurers, 1st time safari goers and those looking to volunteer and give something back. So believe it or not, this is an important consideration and really helps your consultant provide you with the product best suited to you.

Although your budget might decide where you can go – it would be good for you to have an idea about this too? There are plenty of choices out there – somewhere like East Africa with Kenya and Tanzania and of course the Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda – has been on the safari circuit for decades. They are awesome destinations for game viewing and they can be busy and expensive. Botswana is going to give you an exclusive wilderness experience. I think it has been said that there are more beds in the Cape Town Waterfront, then in the whole of Botswana! Because of this exclusivity there is a premium cost attached to staying in this beautiful country.
South Africa has marketed itself well over the years and certainly is a destination that has something for everyone. So if you are looking for other experiences to include with your Safari, then perhaps South Africa is the right place for you. Of course – if you like Deserts……nothing compares to dunes and ancient paths in Namibia.

The last thing I would consider when making my safari choice is how much support these establishments are providing to the local communities and how much they are giving back to wildlife. This is actually something that you do find often now and I think it is an important consideration. You want to know that you are also giving back to the local people and wildlife you are seeing.

In this way we all play a small part in preserving our Earth’s amazing treasures. I hope this has been useful. I always value any comments or thoughts so please feel free to add yours!

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, Botswana, family safari, gorilla safari, honeymoon safari, Kenya, luxury safari, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda | Tagged african safari, big 5, botswana, cape town waterfront, community projects, East africa, family safari, gorilla trekking, kenya, malaria free safari, namibia, rwanda, south africa, tanzania, uganda | Leave a comment

My Favorite African Places

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Lucinda

That ultimate African destination

With Irene causing havoc along the coast of the USA it is a good time to remind you of why you should visit our beautiful continent Africa! I have also covered some good tips on how to choose your Safari in previous blog posts (so go back and have a look) which just adds substance to the above!

The main difficultly I have with this subject is actually where to start! There is so much here to indulge in. You are also spoilt for type of holiday – from adventure, to romance, viby cities to desolate wilderness, vacations for retired folks as well as vacations for families! Maybe the easy way to do this is to list some of my favorites and hopefully that sparks off a desire in you to get away from the first world havoc and come and see what Africa is all about!

Having grown up in South Africa I have been privileged enough to regularly enjoy areas like the Kruger National Park, Garden Route, Kwa-Zulu Natal, and even the Malaria free areas of the Eastern Cape and Madikwe. I can speak endlessly about the sea, mountains, wildlife, people and just awesome beauty that South Africa holds. It honestly is one of the most beautiful countries I have been too – and I have traveled fairly extensively! If you want variety – South Africa is it!

My favorite for game experiences has to be Zambia and the South Luangwa National Park. I don’t think I have ever seen so many lion and the hippos – wow! But the other awesome thing about South Luangwa is the walking. If you’ve had a few safari experiences in your life and are looking for something a little different, than walking safaris are the way to go! It is super thrilling and you really have the opportunity to get very close to nature and wildlife.

I also relish the opportunity to get away from it all, leave the rat race behind. I love going to places where I don’t see many people, have amazing views, can see millions of stars at night (this is quite common throughout Africa actually!) and have experiences that are just totally different to everyday life. One country that gave me all of this was Namibia. The baron vast endlessness……..and honestly, it is impossible to take a bad photo (unless of course you stupidly have your camera on the wrong settings)! Namibia delivers on so many levels.

My final thoughts for today are with the Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana. A truly magical place that not many people have the opportunity of experiencing! The desert adapted wildlife throws a whole new perspective on how remarkable nature is. Whether you travel in the wet season or the dry season this place puts the world into perspective and reminds you of what is actually important.

Don’t forget to contact us if you want any advice on the above! Or please let me know your favorite places?

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, Botswana, classic safari, family safari, honeymoon safari, Namibia, South Africa, walking safari | Tagged africa, african safari, big 5, big 5 safari, botswana, desert adapted wildlife, eastern cape, family safari, garden route, honeymoon safari, kruger park, kwa-zulu Natal, lion, madikwe, makgadikgadi pans, malaria free safari, namibia, natal, south africa, south luangwa, ultimate safari, walking safari, zambia | Leave a comment

Vultures & their International Day of awareness

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Lucinda

Vultures in Africa’s food chain

I learnt this week that International Vulture Day occurs on the first Saturday in September each year. So this year falls on 3rd of September which amazingly (the year is flying by) is this coming weekend. The event was started by the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Birds of Prey Programme and its partners and associates. There are a few organizations worldwide highlighting this cause and it even has its own Awareness Day Wikispace.

I have learnt that there are 2 distinct groups of vultures – Old World Vultures and New World Vultures. Old World vultures live in Africa, Asia and Europe and the latter New World Vultures prefer the warmer more temperate climate of the Americas. South Africa is home to 9 vulture species, 7 of which face the threat of extinction.

There are many factors that have contributed to the endangered status of vultures. Some of these include: poisoning, persecution, power lines, drowning and shortage of food in drier countries. There has also been an increase in the illegal trade of live birds, and a greater use of the bird in traditional medicine. A final very interesting fact is their loss of habitat – amazingly to the increasing population of elephants. Less trees means less nesting! So ironically in saving the one, you are tampering with the environment of another!

A few other interesting points that I found in my reading:

- There are 23 species of vulture in total
- Between Old World and New World Vultures are found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica
- Old World Vultures don’t have a good sense of smell but have unbelievable eyesight, being able to spot a small animal carcass from 4 miles away
- Vultures can eat up to 20 times their body weight in one sitting
- All are scavengers and specialize in feeding on carcasses
- Vultures have a digestive system that contains special acids that dissolve anthrax, botulism, and cholera bacteria
- They are social birds which means you will often see several feeding together on the same carcass. By consuming carcasses vultures help prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases. Therefore, they too are very important in natures food chain.

And my final word – did you know that a group of vultures is called a venue, and when they are circling in the air they are known as a kettle!

Play your part in International Vulture Awareness Day – Saturday 3rd of September!

Lappet-faced vulture taken by photographer Stefano Pesarelli

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, luxury safari, South Africa, Tanzania | Tagged africa, birds of prey, endangered species, endangered wildlife trust, lappet-faced vulture, new world vultures, old world vultures, safaris, south africa, traditional medicine, vulture awareness day | 1 Comment

View of the Week – Sunrise in Busanga Plains

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Lucinda

Wilderness Safaris Shumba Camp – Zambia

We were chatting in the office this week about Zambia and what a fantasic safari destination it is. That of course reminded me of my Friday photo of the week and more importantly this week – the View of the Week!

My colleague Lise was recounting her time on the Busanga Plains in Zambia’s Kafue National Park and spoke specifically about the “loo’s with views” We couldn’t find her images from her trip there but I had a dig around and found this beatiful sunrise image from Shumba Camp.

Shumba Camp is a premier camp in the Wilderness Safaris Portfolio. Wouldn’t you love to watch the sunrise from this spectacular setting?

Sunrise over the Busanga Plains from your luxury safari tent

Kafue National Park is one of the largest in Africa. It is remote, wild and diverse. With abudant game and bird life – it is a destination for any repeat safari goer!

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, classic safari, luxury safari, Zambia | Tagged african safaris, busanga plains, kafue national park, lise, premier camp, shumba camp, wilderness safaris, zambia | Leave a comment

Client Feedback: An Awesome African Safari

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Lucinda

African Adventure - South Africa, Zambia & Botswana

Some great in depth feedback from clients who have recently traveled with us. Open, honest & some super footage at the end too. Enjoy the read and if you need any advice or thoughts on the properties or itinerary they mention please get in touch with us and we will happily help you out:

Dear Jeff,

I hope your trip was as wonderful as ours! Marvelous and memorable. Thanks for all the help with planning. We were picked up everywhere we were supposed to be and ushered where we needed to be. Flights were all on time. But, this was clearly not a “restful” vacation as we were never up after 6:30 a.m. Go, go, go!

Kensington Place was beautiful and we certainly could have had a few extra days in Cape Town – love that city. My bike ride was awesome and I can highly recommend irideafrica.com for rentals and guiding. My route is here: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/46512042 . Mark went to the horse race track but didn’t win a thing all day – he had a blast.

Transfer to Vic Falls went well and I can certainly recommend Islands of Siankaba. Beautiful property, very relaxing, and nice to be away from all the activity closer to the falls. We can also highly recommend the Rhino Walk in Mosi oa Tunya Park, especially for guests not doing a South African safari and who won’t have a chance to see rhino otherwise. I am sorry we missed other things at Vic Falls, though, so you might suggest an extra day there to do Devil’s Armchair, white water rafting or other activities. The helicopter ride was ok, and if we hadn’t done it we’d be sorry we missed it, but now that we’ve done it, we could have lived without it, especially in the drier season when the falls are so amazing and visible from ground level. Plus, there was a bit of an attitude on the flight as the helicopter company had some mechanical issue before we got there and so some very young kid was rather upset that he had to wait, kinda making his family and everyone else a bit stressed.

Heading to Chobe was also easy with a smooth transfer. Chobe Under Canvas, I think was our favorite camp. Although it was “glamping,” really cold in the mornings, and incredibly secluded, the staff and the wildlife made it the highlight destination. Could have done an extra day here, too, and the list of wildlife we saw here was impressive. Ten minutes into the camp we saw a leopard!

On to Baines Camp. I think our favorite thing about Baines was the fact that there were only two other couples, one of whom we came to learn is good friends with some neighbors in Lost River. Small world. We had fun with them and ran into them again on the way to Jo’burg. We did the “sleep on the balcony” thing at Baines and were surprised by an elephant chomping grass and bumping into the railing not 5 feet from our bed. Pretty cool! They also did an amazing private dinner for our anniversary, which was extra special.

Finally, we were at Eagle Island, a lovely camp but after having such incredible privacy – none of the other camps had more than three other couples staying – Eagle Island was full up and crowded. We loved the communal meals at the other camps, whereas Eagle Island/Orient Express does separate tables as a corporate rule. Because Baines and Eagle Island offered more water options, I’d recommend three days at one or the other, but not both, and use the extra days so you can have an extra day(s) in Cape Town, Vic Falls and/or Chobe.

The amazing thing about Chobe was just the sheer volume and diversity of wildlife. Nothing like it anywhere else. Once we’d been to Chobe, going on a game drive elsewhere was cool because we could see the other tourists, who’d not been to Chobe, getting really excited about seeing an impala or elephant a quarter mile away! In a sense, Chobe “ruined” it for us by spoiling us. What a treat! I’d probably recommend going to Chobe last, because guests will be totally blown away.

Everywhere we went, the food and weather throughout was incredible – great meals, no “stomach” issues, barely a cloud in the sky the whole two weeks. And, as you’d told us, there was no issue at all with being gay at any property. Not even a glance. Thank you also for the champagne treat. We shared it with others and it was really special. We appreciate that.

Before I saw your message this morning, I was just saying to Mark, “I want to go back to Africa.” He does, too. I’m thinking Namibia!

Thanks again for everything. Mark, you and Lise gave me an amazing birthday I will never forget.

Scott & Mark also got some super footage while they were away which they loaded up on YouTube. I have chosen a couple of clips which I think are great – enjoy!

Elephants in the Mud | Energetic Lions | Super Staff

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, Botswana, classic safari, luxury safari, South Africa, Zambia | Tagged african adventure, african safari, baines camp, big 5 safari, cape town, chobe national park, chobe under canvas, eagle island, flight of the angels, islands of siankaba, jeff, joburg, kensington place, lise, okavango delta, orient express, rhino walk, south africa, table mountain, vic falls, victoria falls, zambia | Leave a comment

Photo of the Week: Kruger Park Sunset

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Lucinda

Why the Kruger Park is such a Safari favorite

One of my colleagues has recently done a trip up to the Kruger Park, and it is always awesome to see the pictures they come back with. As much as I love the animals, I also love those sunsets! Here is my favorite one from her trip, taken on game drive at Simbambili:

Kruger Park Sunset

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, classic safari, honeymoon safari, luxury safari, South Africa | Tagged african holiday, african safari, african sunset, big 5 safari, kruger park, simbambili, south africa | Leave a comment

A significant piece of History – STEVE BIKO – 12 September 1977

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Lucinda

Some South African History

There are some fairly significant historical moments around this time. The most notable this year of course is the 10th anniversary of 9/11 – a tragedy beyond comprehension, and a fairly important piece of American history. Our hearts go out to all those who are mourning and remembering their losses at this time.

I think times like this are good for reflection and remembrance. In South Africa today – 12 September – we also have a noteworthy piece of our past to reflect on. In 1977 a young man by the name of Steve Biko died while in police custody. He was only 30 years old. He was interrogated in Police Room 619 for 22 hours, tortured and beaten so severely that he went into a coma. He suffered a major head injury while in police custody. It was reported at the time that this head injury was a result of an attempted suicide by Biko, “hitting his head against the wall”. At deaths door, he was thrown into the back of a land rover and driven 1,100km from Port Elizabeth to Pretoria where he was admitted to a prison with hospital facilities. He died shortly after arrival at the hospital – it was the 12th of September 1977.

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia - Steve Biko

The police at the time also claimed that he died due to an extended hunger strike. However, an autopsy done reveals that he died from a brain hemorrhage caused by massive injuries to the head. I was 3 years old at the time – so this is not a death that I remember consciously. But I have to question why older people at the time did not think it was strange that a political activist in Apartheid South Africa died while in police custody?

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

It is South Africa’s current Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille, working alongside a personal journalist friend of Steve Biko’s, Donald Wood who exposed the police coverup in 1977. This was a high profile case at the time and it got a massive amount of international exposure. Biko was the founder of the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa and would empower much of the urban black population. He played a part in the organizing of protests which led to the Soweto Uprising on the 16th of June 1976 where a heavily armed police force fired on innocent school children, killing many.

There is no doubt, that were Steve Biko still alive today, he would have played a significant part in the rebuilding of South Africa, the Rainbow Nation. And it is a reminder for those of us that live in these times, how terribly important freedom of expression is!

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, family safari, South Africa | Tagged 9/11, apartheid, black consciousness movement, donald wood, eastern cape, helen zille, police room 619, port elizabeth, pretoria, south africa, south african history, soweto uprising, steve biko | Leave a comment

View of the Week: Nosy Iranja – Madagascar

Posted on September 16, 2011 by Lucinda

Tropical Paradise off the coast of Madagascar

Today it finally feels like summer is on the way in Cape Town. After a week of rainy and cold weather – the sun is out brightly and we feel like we are on the path to flops, shorts, beaches and tans!

So I am inspired again by the warm Indian Ocean and the coast of Madagascar! Don’t you just want to escape from the world, kick off your shoes, get your toes in the sand and relax here – with this view!

That morning sea view - Nosy Iranja - Madagascar

Have a great weekend dreaming of that tropical paradise!

Posted in Africa, honeymoon safari | Tagged african honeymoons, barefoot luxury, cape town, indian ocean, madagascar, nosy iranja, south africa | Leave a comment

World Rhino Day – 22 September 2011

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Lucinda

One of the Big 5 – Rhinos on Safari

I have done a blog post before on Rhino poaching when it was all looking like it was getting out of control a couple of months ago. There was a huge outcry and then things looked like they calmed down a bit and some progress was being made……but suddenly it has all gone way out of control again and I read that a Rhino is being killed every 22 hours!! There is a big protest that is going to happen tomorrow in Cape Town, South Africa, outside our parliament buildings, calling on our government to do more to help save these endangered animals that are being so ruthlessly killed for their horns.

Let’s hope that progress is made world-wide in recognizing the plight of one of Africa’s most famous animals.

Family of White Rhinos

I found a few interesting bits of information about the Rhino that I thought I would share in honor of their day tomorrow:

- The collective noun for a group of Rhinos is a crash or herd
- The main difference between the Black Rhino and White Rhino is the shape of their mouths
- The White Rhino have broad flat lips for grazing
- The Black Rhino has long pointed lips for eating foliage
- Rhino horns consist of Keratin only – the same type of protein that makes up hair and fingernails
- There are 5 species of Rhino of which 3 are classified as critically endangered
- 2 species native to Africa and 3 species native to southern Asia
- The biggest predator of Rhinos are humans

If you are in South Africa you can help and donate to many organizations. You can also buy a bag from Supermarket Chain Woolworths and proceeds go automatically to help Rhinos. Have a look at this quick video I found:

Save the Rhinos from Extinction

And just a reminder for how wonderful these animals are – some really cute footage of a Mom and baby posted by Londolozi earlier this week:

Mom and Baby

Please all do something!

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, luxury safari, private safari, South Africa | Tagged africa, african safaris, big 5, cape town, londolozi, rhino poaching, rhinos, save the rhino, south africa, woolworths | Leave a comment

The great migration – the gory aftermath

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Vanessa

Being in East Africa’s Masai Mara and Serengeti national parks during the annual migration is high up on every animal lover’s wish list. The awesomeness is in the sheer numbers and the opportunity to witness one of
nature’s most incredible spectacles. Not everybody is lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time to see the famous River Crossings – when thousands of wildebeest, on auto-pilot, launch themselves as one into crocodile infested rivers with a seemingly blind faith in ‘safety in numbers’.

As nature has it, there are casualties and this is good news for the predators – the crocodiles, hyena, jackal, other small mammals and ultimately squabbling parties of vulture and ugly marabou storks.

jackal & vulture 'tidying up' in the Serengeti

But be prepared. The aftermath of the migration is not for the faint hearted. You will need a strong stomach. The river banks and immediate surrounds are literally littered with carcasses being chewed and pecked. Grim as it may be, this is all part of nature’s big plan as hundreds of creatures, birds and insects ultimately benefit from the gory slaughter.

Vultures and a 'picked clean' carcass

If you would like to visit East Africa and see the migration it is best to start planning and booking your trip now. It is tricky choosing which safari camps to book as it all depends on the time of year and whether you travel to Tanzania or Kenya or both. Talk to one of our African Safari Consultants for more advice and info.

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, Kenya, luxury safari, private safari, Tanzania | Tagged africa, african safari, big 5, big 5 safari, East africa, kenya, marabou stork, masai mara, migration, river crossing, safari, safaris, scavengers, serengeti, tanzania, vultures, wildebeest | 1 Comment

Wildlife pic of the week: The African Buffalo

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Vanessa

The African Buffalo is a respected member of the Big Five even though he might look like a mellow bovine. His cousins in the East, the Asian Water Buffalo, can be domesticated. Not this guy! He is extremely dangerous, and is capable of killing a lion. He is on the trophy wish list of big game hunters and I am pleased to report that he has gored and maimed many a hunter! You have heard the expression – ‘like a wounded buffalo’ to describe someone who is so mad with rage and attacks relentlessly again and again…Those geeky looking horns actually act as a ‘shield’ and the thick bone is capable of stopping a rifle bullet. We do NOT condone big game hunting! But we do encourage you to join an African Safaris photographic safari to the Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sands, the South Luangwa National Park, the Lower Zambezi National Park, the Masai Mara and the Serengeti.

It is thrilling to be in a safari vehicle amongst a herd of buffalo. You are quite safe if you stay in the vehicle, but you definitely get a sense of their power and potential danger.

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, Botswana, classic safari, Kenya, luxury safari, private safari, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe | Tagged africa, african buffalo, african safari, against hunting, anti hunting, big 5, big 5 safari, buffalo, buffalo herd, conservation, East africa, kruger national park, kruger park, malaria free safari, masai mara, photgraphic safari, photography, sabi sand, safari, safaris, serengeti, south africa, wildlife photography | Leave a comment

Trip feedback: Cape Town, Rovos Rail, Botswana, Vic Falls

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Vanessa

Hi Liesl and Jeff,

We’re back home reflecting on our trip as John goes through his hundreds of photographs. We just want to let you know how fantastic our trip was! From beginning to end all worked out to be all we wanted and more.

Our time in Cape Town was excellent — including being actually able to meet you, Liesl. As we told you before, Pepe was an excellent guide — not only with her expertise and wanting to share all with us, but she was truly like one of the family. Our visit to the Ncedolwethu Educare Center was very special. We felt privileged to be able to give them some materials for the children.

The Rovos Rail was very enjoyable. People on board were enjoyable, staff very helpful, food fantastic, and a great way to see central South Africa. Sidney, our driver from the train to Athol Place and then to the airport was most helpful. It was great to then see him when we returned to the airport with our suitcase in tow. He was just one of the many super people we met!

Our transportation went from 747/777 KLM to a Caravan to a Cessna 207 to a helicopter, from vans to Land Rovers, and even included a motor boat (across the Zambezi). All were great!

On Safari, we saw all of the Big Five plus a multitude of animals and a beautiful array of birds. Included was the first spotting of a white rhino in the last several weeks at Mombo and following a pride of lions from laying around and cubs playing, to their stalking a herd of buffalo, isolating one and eventually taking it down. National Geographic definitely abridges their footage and removes the sound track! What an experience!!! All of the camps were excellent, with highly knowledgeable guides who made sure that we saw all.

Thank you so very much for the work you did to put this together for us! It was truly a fantastic dream of a lifetime trip!!!

Karen and John

Posted in Client Testimonials | Tagged africa, african safari, big 5, big 5 safari, botswana, cape town, liesl, lion, mombo, national geographic, safari, safari guide, south africa | Leave a comment

We’ve been nominated for Travel & Leisure magazine’s A-List Travel Agent awards!

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Vanessa

“As long time T&L (Travel & Leisure Magazine) readers and subscribers, we want to tell you about our recent trip to South Africa, Botswana, Zambia & Namibia, and to nominate our Tour Operator, African Safari Consultants, for your 2012 A-List. We were celebrating our 20th anniversary, and wanted to plan a “trip of a lifetime.” We knew we wanted to go to Africa, but had no idea where to start or how to narrow down our choices. Enter African Safari Consultants. With over fifteen years of experience, and a wonderful, informative website, ASC’s head honchos Jeff Ward in NY and Liesl Matthews in Cape Town worked tirelessly with us to figure out which countries, habitats, and lodges would best suit our needs. They were wonderful at planning a trip that fit our budget, and the varied needs of two old fogies, as well as our teenage children. They were endlessly patient as we went back and forth about cost, level of luxury, and types of lodges, giving advice that was helpful, accurate, and based on a thorough first-hand knowledge of the locations we were considering. They even considered when we would need unscheduled down time (after our two day journey from IAH-LHR-CPT), and when we would be happy to go-go-go.

We were particularly cognizant of the value of having someone in NY and in Cape Town looking out for us when, in the middle of our trip, a Chilean volcano eruption caused the cancellation of one of our flights. Liesl quickly got us rebooked and all of our downline transfers re-organized so that we were able to rejoin our intended itinerary as soon as the skies cleared. This had the potential to be a nightmare, but ended up being a small blip on our radar screens thanks to the excellent in-country support of ASC.

Our expectations were high, but our trip far surpassed them. Every part of the trip was just as advertised by the folks at ASC. There were no unpleasant surprises, and we would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone planning a trip to Africa.

We would be happy to answer any questions you might have about our experience with ASC.”

Jill & John Pollock, Houston, TX

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, Botswana, Client Testimonials, family safari, luxury safari, Namibia, private safari, South Africa, Zambia | Tagged africa, african safari, big 5, big 5 safari, botswana, cape town, family safari, Jeff Ward, liesl, Liesl Matthews, south africa, travelling with teenagers | Leave a comment

Pic of the week : Hippo by Stephen Raffay

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Vanessa

Hippopotamus amphibius – “river horse”

This great shot of a hippo showing off his incisors was taken by Stephen Raffay, a professional photographer who is currently on safari in the Kruger National Park area care of africansafaris.com. Contrary to popular belief, this old guy is not yawning or opening up wide for the dentist…! This is a typical display of aggression towards younger bull hippos.

Stephen visited Mala Mala Game Reserve and Tinga Safari Lodge. If you would like to see more of Stephen’s wildlife photography or order prints, here is his website raffayphoto

Old Big-Mouth in the foreground. Rhino mother and calf are reflected in the water in the background

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, classic safari, luxury safari, private safari, South Africa | Tagged africa, african safari, hippos, kruger national park, kruger park, Mala Mala, photographic safari, safari, safaris, south africa, southern africa, tinga | Leave a comment

Frank client feedback about Sabi Sands safari and Vic Falls

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Vanessa

Trip feedback: Notten’s Bush Camp, Kirkman’s Camp, The Royal Livinstone

Liesl & Jeff, Thanks for checking in….we will get back to you with more granular details, but suffice it to say that the safari at Notten’s suggestion was utterly brilliant. We would go back for sure. The staff, the physical plant, the food, the execution was perfection. Kirkman’s was just ok (food not so good, rooms fine but not great, wildlife viewing spectacular.) In retrospect, Kirkman’s was bigger, had more groups, and we much preferred the more intimate setting of Notten’s- as a private camp.

Transfers and flights were fine. No disruptions.

Livingstone: the Victoria Falls were amazing. The Royal Livingstone Hotel was…..I would portray it as all dressed up for the party, with no understanding of protocol of how to act at a party. They had all the accoutrements, but poor in execution. I would say very poor.

More later…..trying to catch up on being out for so long, but wanted to give you some feedback.

Beth

Posted in Client Testimonials | Tagged africa, african safari, big 5 safari, kirkmans camp, kruger national park, kruger park, nottens bush camp, sabi sand, safari, safaris, south africa, the royal livingstone hotel, victoria falls | Leave a comment

Birders vs non-birders on safari

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Vanessa

Non-birders on safari

Now here is a dilemma. We recently had a couple who all in all had a fantastic safari in Botswana and Kruger except for one recurring problem….They proclaimed to not be very interested in birds, but just as luck would have it, they found themselves on game drives with keen birders, or twitchers or bird fundis or whatever other
name you give to people who want to stop, reach for their binoculars, and identify and observe our little feathered friends! Our clients found this boring and frustrating, and would have preferred to have spent the time
tracking the Big Five as opposed to sitting in hushed bird-watching mode.

Now this is a tricky potentially explosive situation! And as a safari operator, I have given a solution some thought.

Firstly, serious birders would let us know that they are looking for a specialist birding trip and we would arrange a birding guide and exclusive use of the safari vehicle accordingly. Fanatical birders can be quite weird and potentially intimidating! They are known to travel vast distances in extreme conditions to tick off a sought-after rare species. Dinner table conversation will be exclusively about birds and brag stories about which SBB (small brown bird) was spotted where. They are a mixed bag of humans, coming from all walks of life but will definately have a pair of super-binoculars hanging around their neck at all times.

In this particular case, the other guests on the game vehicle were most likely just keen birders who love seeing the animals, but who have seen their share of lazy lions lying in the shade. These folk have probably been on safari a few times and want to learn more about the birds and the trees. It is generally first-time safari goers who aren’t particularly interested in birds and the ‘Little Five’, and who still have a lot to learn about the African bush. For them (and our recent past clients), being on safari with keen birders can be dull and seemingly time wasting. I am tempted to say to these folks ‘sit back, relax and enjoy the sounds and smells of the bush…you never know what might walk out from under a tree off to the left while everyone else has binoculars glued to their faces looking right!!!‘ But in all seriousness, the solution lies in the hands of the safari lodges. Lodge staff and rangers should chat to their guests and get an idea of their interests and then, if possible, assign them to separate safari vehicles so that…birds of a feather can flock together!

African Jacana - his long toes allow him to 'walk on water'

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, Botswana, classic safari, luxury safari, private safari, South Africa | Tagged africa, african jacana, african safari, big 5, big 5 safari, birders, birding safari, birds, botswana, game drives, game vehicle, kruger national park, kruger park, safari lodge, south africa, southern africa | Leave a comment

Red Hartebeest collides with mountain biker

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Vanessa

A jaw dropping YouTube clip was recently circulated like wild fire on all the major news networks and social media platforms. You must have seen it by now – the guy on a mountain bike who gets slammed into by a flying antelope.

Click to view clip : Red Hartebeest collides with biker

If we sold mountain bikes, helmets, or insurance we’d be focussing on the guy. But this is an African Safari’s blog and so here is a bit more about the antelope (which was unharmed in the accident by the way).

It was a Red Hartebeest, a common species which occurs throughout the grasslands of Southern and East Africa. It is the second fastest antelope in Africa reaching speeds of up to 65 km/h. (The fastest antelope is the Tssesebe) A Red Haartebeest is about 1.5m (5ft) tall and weighs between 120-200kg (265-440lb) The word hartebeest originally comes from the Dutch spreaking Boer settlers who thought it looked like a deer. Hert in Dutch means ‘deer’ and beest is ‘beast’.

Being a common widespread species, and supposedly not threatened, it is a firm favourite in the hunting fraternity. We do not condone hunting AT ALL! Instead we urge you to invest in a good camera and come on a photographic safari. However, if the thrill of mountain biking in the bush appeals to you, it can be arranged. Selected non-Big Five game reserves allow controlled mountain biking trails. For more information contact one of our African Safari Consultants

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, big 5 safari, private safari, South Africa, walking safari | Tagged african safari, big 5, big 5 safari, hartebeest, kwa-zulu Natal, mountain bike, mountain biker, red hartebeest, safari, safaris, south africa, southern africa | Leave a comment

Zambia’s Great Bat Migration

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Cameron

If asked what was the world’s largest mammal migration, most people would probably guess the annual migration of wildebeest across the plains of the Masai Mara. And they’d be wrong…

Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, African Safaris, walking safari, Zambia | Tagged africa, Bats, Kasanka, Largest Mammal Migration, migration, zambia | Leave a comment

Ulusaba Client Feedback

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Cameron

Brian Kalchbrenner recently returned from the African Safari of his dreams, including Sir Richard Branson’s beautiful Ulusaba lodge in South Africa. Brian had the following to say to his African Safari Consultant guru… Continue reading →

Posted in Client Testimonials | Tagged richard branson, safari, south africa, ulusaba | Leave a comment

Tanzania Tour Diary

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Cameron

Our Safari Honcho, Jeff Ward, recently spent a week exploring the beautiful country of Tanzania. The below are excerpts of his trip as he recounts his amazing experiences…

Day 1:

I arrive at the Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha after a long spell of travelling. It’s the perfect spot for a one night pre or post safari stay, and it has a wonderful day room scenario for the late KLM flights out of JRO.

The Hotel has that old world charm that reminds me of the Mount Nelson in Cape Town… the perfect place to take Gran to tea.

The next day, I headed out to Tarangire National Park. The drive was extremely long but there was lots of good game on the way, including a python in a tree!

Day 2

The rooms at Tarangire Tree Tops Lodge are all built around a big old Baobab and Marula trees. A real tree house feel with great views.

Tarangire Tree Tops

There’s a watering hole right at the front of the lodge where we saw baboons playing (and fighting) while we had lunch.

Swala Sanctuary Camp

This under-canvas camp is right in the middle of the Tarangire National Park, so you can’t beat the location. With 12 tents, this is one of my all-time favorites. The camp was completely renovated in 2009 and it shows. The place looks terrific. The large tents are permanently fixed on platforms and have full amenities. There is an outdoor shower for each room, with most overlooking the VERY active water hole. Guests at breakfast witnessed a mama lion snacking on a baby warthog this morning. The new managers are in the process of introducing walking safaris, which will be cool.

Swala Sanctuary Lodge

Day 4:

Manyara Serena Lodge

We did not have an appointment here, but Adam, my Akorn Driver/Guide thought it might be worthwhile to see.

We got a quick tour of the Manyara Serena which is right at the top of the escarpment. It has 67 rooms and was built in the 1990s. It was spacious, open, and clean, and had beautiful gardens for the grounds.

The lodge has amazing views out over Manyara and also has a refreshing pool that also overlooks the fertile valley below.

Manyara Serena Lodge

After breakfast at Manyara Ranch, we headed north-west past Lake Manyara National Park and up the Great Rift Valley escarpment headed to the Karatu Highlands, where it was lush, green, and very pretty.

Karatu Highlands

Gibbs Farm

I loved this place. They were expecting us and made us feel so welcome. We were immediately offered lunch from the buffet, which offered food that was almost completely grown on the farm (yes, the best meal I’d had so far). The front-office manager dined with us and was available to answer all of my questions. The environment was calm, serene and very relaxing.

Gibbs Farm Bedroom

The lodge sits adjacent to the Ngorongoro Crater National Park and has amazing views that overlook the highlands. There are 21 rooms — 3 older ones (2 of which are in the old home), and 18 new ones. All rooms are basically suites with sleeping, lounging and outside terrace areas. They are very, very well done and remind me a lot of LQF in Franschhoek. There are numerous “Rhythm of the Farm” activities offered and guests can basically stay busy all day (starting with bread baking at 6:30 am). Free activities include farm and garden tours, but there are also many other lower-priced activities in the park (hiking, mountain biking, etc.).

Best time of year to visit is June/July/August (especially for birding) and November/December when everything is green and the gardens are blooming.

At the end of the inspection, they gave me a 10-minute massage with a Masai traditional healer. It was amazing. I’m sold.

Masai Traditional Healer

Manor Lodge

I loved this place, too, as it totally hit the JW-POSH button. It’s beautiful, it’s luxurious. The lodge is only 3 years old and it’s impeccable. Every guest will have each meal in a different location (of course, weather permitting). The have 4 horses (retired Kenyan polo ponies), a massage room, and a manicurist/pedicurist on staff.

The grounds are the loveliest I’ve seen in Tanzania. And the staff were all incredibly friendly.

Manor at Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorogoro Crater Lodge

Wow! This place is definitely over the top and understandably the most expensive lodge around. The B&B product is very, very tight and the customer experience is one of the best I’d had this trip.

Each room has sweeping views of the crater, and is huge with separate living, terrace, sleeping, and mombo-sized bath areas. Any one of these rooms would be perfect for honeymooners. The Tree Camp rooms are somewhat smaller and have somewhat obstructed views of the crater, due to the foliage.

The lodge is great for honeymooners and families alike.

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Day 5:

Serena Crater Lodge

Best suited for tour groups or those seeking less-expensive accommodation on the Crater, and cannot afford the Ngorogoro Crater Lodge.

Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

Lake Masek Tented Lodge

Actually not in the Serengeti National Park, but instead in the Ngorogoro conservation area. This is a lovely 20-tent property owned also by Tanzanian entrepreneur Willy Chamulo. Tents are nicely appointed with tubs and outdoor showers. Built in 2009, the camp is 100% solar powered – nice one Willy!

Best lodge in the area…

Lake Masek Tented Lodge

Sanctuary Kusini Tented Camp

After a long day of driving, I was so happy to get to this lodge. There’s a large rock formation adjacent to the camp, which is fun to climb and has a stunning 360-view of the Serengeti.

Sanctuary Kusini

Day 6:

After leaving Kasini, we continued through the Serengeti to Dunia Camp.

Dunia is a permanent tented camp lodge. The camp is 100% solar powered and has bucket showers available 24/7. There is also power available in the tents. It’s well appointed and the staff greeted me warmly. The camp feels like a luxury, mobile tented camp, but rustically elegant and a bit nicer than the standard mobile option.

Dunia Camp

Bilila Kempinski / Four Seasons

Built in 2009 this large, luxury lodge hotel is owned by a wealthy Arab investor so its super luxurious, world-class and very pretty. It has 2 dining venues, wine cellar, large spa, pool area, and sweeping views of the plains.

Perfect for guests who want a large, luxury lodge experience. Not for those who want an intimate camp.

Bilila Kempinski Lodge

Kirawira Tented Camp

This camp, built in 1998 is part of the Serena hotel group (which I learned is part of the Aga Khan’s empire). It’s a SLH (Small Luxury Hotel) property and the common areas have a clubby, intimate feel to them. There are 25 tents, all of which are on vaulted platforms offering amazing views of the Serengeti..

The one thing I didn’t like was the decor of the tent rooms. It looked like it had not been updated since opening, and the bedding was definitely not up to international luxury standards (i.e. duvet covers instead of cotton/poly bedspreads).

The management was welcoming and accommodating and the camp is in a great location with excellent common areas and views. I couldn’t find anything wrong with this place other than the outdated room decor.

Kirawira Tented Camp

&Beyond Grumeti Tented Camp

For my 6th night on the road, we stayed in Grumeti camp, which is located on a tributary of the Grumeti river, inside the Serengeti national park. The most interesting aspect of the lodge’s location is the large number of hippo in the river right in front of main lodge. There are 3 families and the hippos are very rambunctious (i.e. active and loud). Across the tributary, on the other side, there’s also a lot of other game viewing (giraffes, monkeys, impala, etc).

The staff here was VERY high-touch, with on-going name usage with all guests. The &Beyond lodges all stand out above the rest in their customer service and friendly, confident levels of service (as opposed to Sanctuary’s very timid, unconfident lodge wait staff). There’s a butler assigned to every guest, who is there for every whim (and meal).

I found the food above-average, and some of the best I had on the trip.

Singita-Grumeti Camp

Day 7:

After leaving Grumeti Camp, we were able to do a site inspection at one of the Singita Grumeti camps:

Singita Sabora Lodge

The first of the 3 Singita lodges in the Grumeti concession, adjacent to the Serengeti national park, this luxury tented camp is run like the other Singita proprieties — all-inclusive with game package. Basically, all the East Africa tour operators drop the clients at the lodge and step away.

There are 9 luxurious tents, built on platforms, that are suite-sized. 6 of the tents are arranged in pairs (but still can be sold as singles), sharing a library tent between them.

The lodge is pure Singita in every aspect. It’s luxurious, serene, and tasteful on all fronts. There is a pool, spa, tennis courts, wifi throughout, and air conditioning in the tents.

Sabora sits out in the middle of the plains and is beautifully located. There’s nothing around besides the resident family of zebras in the camp, just in front of the main lodge.

The game is starting to come back after years of depletion.

Game viewing at Singita

After flying back to Arusha, and then to DAR, I transferred by land out to the Ras Kutani Beach Lodge.

With no traffic, it’s a 1:15 drive from the DAR airport (mine was 1:45 in traffic), or a 12-minute air hop. This lodge provides a very nice, relaxing alternative for an after-safari beach experience. The lodge is part of the Selous safari company portfolio, along with their 2 Selous lodges. The property has 4 suites, with private plunge pools, 9 “castaway chic” cottages, and 1 family cottage. a few of the cottages have lagoon views.

Their cottages have large verandas with hammocks, spacious king/twin rooms, and large bath areas. The resort is super causal, with most guests walking around barefoot. There’s a beautiful beach with very warm water for those mid afternoon dips.

For my return flight out, I had a 7am air hop transfer back to DAR, in more than enough time for my 8:35 am BA flight back to London.

Ras Kutani is a well-kept secret and the perfect solution for guests needing to overnight in Dar es Salaam. Two nights here after the northern circuit, or Selous, is the perfect way to end a safari. It’s also closer than Zanzibar and provides a good alternative.

Ras Kutani Beach

All said, Tanzania is a beautiful country with plenty to offer a variety of visitors. Get in touch with us here at African Safari Consultants and we’ll make sure your trip is as unforgettable as Jeff’s.

Posted in Africa, big 5 safari, classic safari, family safari, honeymoon safari, luxury safari, Tanzania | Tagged Arusha, Bilila Kempinski, Dunia Camp, Gibbs Farm, Grumeti Tented Camp, Karatu Highlands, Kirawira Tented Camp, Lake Masek Tented Lodge, Manyara Serena Lodge, Masai, Mount Meru Hotel, Ngorogoro Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater National Park, Ras Kutani, Sanctuary Kusini Tented Camp, Serena Crater Lodge, serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Singita Sabora Lodge, Swala Sanctuary Camp, tanzania, Tarangire National Park, Tarangire Tree Tops Lodge, zanzibar | Leave a comment

Where in the world is Matt Lauer?

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Cameron

NBC’s popular TV show “Where in the World is Matt Lauer” began it’s 10th season today, with the location clue reading as follows:

It conjures up thoughts of a child’s worst fright, but there are no people to scare in this skier’s delight

Any guesses?

Matt is (of course) referring to the sand ski haven of the Skeleton Coast in Namibia. The skeleton coast is aptly named as shipwrecks and animal skeletons dot the desert landscape. Only the tough survive out here!

Along with the shipwrecks, the area is famed for it’s distinctive Welwitschia plants (considered living fossils) which are indigenous to the region. These hardy plants thrive in the harshest of conditions and some individuals may be as many as 2000 years old!

The fascinating Welwitchia plant.

Colonies of Cape Fur seals are found all along the coast whilst inland one can expect to see animals as diverse as elephants and crocodiles to a myriad of bird life.

The skeleton coast provides adventurous types with a real ‘off the beaten track’ feel, and one cannot but marvel at the fascinating landscape which all sorts of weird and wonderful fauna and flora call home.

The Skeleton Coast is famed for it's many shipwrecks.

Speak to African Safari Consultants to arrange your Skeleton Coast experience.

Posted in Africa, Must See, Namibia | Tagged Matt Lauer, namibia, NBC, Skeleton Coast, Where in the World is Matt Lauer | Leave a comment