January 2010
Another year has passed and I usually like to reflect a little on what has happened and take the best from it, learn from the mistakes and not dwell on the bad stuff!!
2009 was indeed a time of highs and lows but you know what? We had a wonderful travel year and, of course, Hilary and I enjoyed seeing new places and re-acquainting with old favourites in Zimbabwe. We have interesting memories of Tanzania and all that it showed us. Many hours of travelling along not so great roads to check out 18 lodges in 8 days, sleep deprivation due to very early starts and late nights, but feeling very happy that we have selected great destinations for our clients and removed the not so good from our recommended list! Zimbabwe is still fresh in our minds and we have bookings already for February.
Our other favourites – Savanna, Chiawa, the Okavango Delta and Namibia saw many visitors from us and, without exception, we had wonderful feedback.
We also had the inevitable minor problems – a client with a tummy bug that required a re-arrange of their itinerary as he could not leave the lodge on due date, missing documents on arrival in Joburg (that were located shortly after arrival with no issues for the client) and the odd delayed flight from Sydney by Qantas. (One was delayed until the next day and required some frantic communications to and from South Africa!). Even with these inconveniences everyone still had an amazing holiday.
Our business has grown very satisfactorily during the year and we exceeded 2008/2009 financial year numbers within the first 5 months of this year. Thanks to all of our travelling clients who have entrusted their Safaris to us. The “GFC” has certainly had an effect on world tourism and travel and yet we seem to have escaped lightly. I guess our destinations still offer many positives to travellers - generally great value, unique wild life, friendly people who welcome you to their countries, adventure and excitement and finally the “holiday of a lifetime”. Africa just gets to you once you have been there and we have had a number of repeat trips by clients who so enjoyed themselves that they have travelled again – one three times in three years!
Special Invitational Trip 2011
I am planning to lead a very special trip to Southern Africa for August/September 2011! Yes it is a long way ahead but we need to book some places exclusively and you need the time to make the appropriate plans to join us.
This will be by invitation only and will consist of only 8 couples plus Hilary and myself. It will be top drawer and we will visit some of my favourite places in Southern Africa. Eagle Island Camp in the Okavango Delta, Savute Elephant Camp in Northern Botswana, Victoria Falls, Chiawa on the lower Zambezi River, Savanna in the Sabi Sands. This will take two weeks and then we will have an optional extension of a week covering Cape Town, Cape wine route staying in Franschhoek then a drive through the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay and then back to Joburg from George and home.
If you would like to be included please contact me at your earliest opportunity as I will be making bookings soon as some of the lodges will need to be booked out fully for our exclusive use. The full itinerary will be finalised soon and I can let you have a copy.
It will be a fantastic opportunity to witness some of the best wild life viewing in the world, stay at some of the most fascinating places, involve you in an incredible adventure and see some truly magnificent scenery. It will be all inclusive and I promise a memorable experience.
Postcard from Zimbabwe by Hilary
I am afraid that Hilary apologises for not having her next instalment on Zimbabwe as promised but the holiday season got to her and she has been playing hostess to many visitors but assures me that next month will be THE month to read the thrilling final instalment!!
News from Savanna Private Game Reserve
(With thanks and acknowledgement to Paddy Hagelthorn and the staff of Savanna for text)
At the beginning of this month we had just over 25 mm of rain, which is the amount we need to ensure that we can burn selected areas and get a green flush immediately afterwards. This we duly did, and were very lucky to get follow up rains shortly afterwards, which has made the whole of Savanna property a sight to behold. The varied hues of green in the bush make this time of the year beautiful for viewing and photographic opportunities. The burns went without incident and it is amazing how quickly the animals move back into these areas, once the burn is over. One elephant bull went back a little too quickly, however, and there was an amusing incident of him like a cat on a hot tin roof, beetling back onto an unburnt area!
This November we have had 216 mm of rain, which is way above average. With the onset of the rains, the impala start giving birth in earnest and little lambs have been popping up all over the place. By mid-December most of the impala lambing will have taken place. This provides a wonderful food source for all the predators, but by flooding the market over a short period, there is a far higher survival rate than if the impala gave birth over a prolonged period.
Most of the migratory birds are now back, and those birds that breed here are frantically displaying, building nests and rearing chicks. Most of the resident birds are also breeding, as it is a season of plenty, which makes it much easier for them to feed their chicks.
Lion viewing has been exceptionally good again this month. Four of the Mapogo (big males) and four of the Ximungwe females have been together often, and mating with the Ximungwe pride continues. We are not sure how many of the females are pregnant, but we are going to stop predicting this, as every month they prove us wrong! What we will do in future newsletters is let you know once they have had their cubs! Having said this, it is believed that one female – the one with the short tail – has already had her cubs just north of our boundary, but still on our concession. Watch this space for more news!
A big surprise was that one of the Ottawa females has produced cubs near the river, and most of us didn’t even know she was pregnant! This is unusual, as the older cubs that they still have, are approximately two and a half years old and still with the pride. Normally, when the young males are chased out by the adult males, the young females either form their own pride or stay with the mother to form a bigger pride, before the mothers produce cubs again. I suppose we all have to change with the times and accept that modern trends have even moved into the animal world!
Two of the Mapogo had an altercation over the Ximugwe females. Unfortunately, the actual conflict was not seen by any of us, but as the photograph shows, they definitely made contact, and this particular male seems to have been the loser. Over the past several months there have been plenty of short, sharp altercations, but with nothing more than egos dented and bloodied nose or lip. One would have thought that a hierarchy structure would have developed by now.
The Ximungwe pride and the four Mapogo have had a field day this month as the buffalo herds have been camped on our area. At the beginning of the month they killed five buffalo of varying ages in three days!
The Sparta pride which consists of 12 lions made a brief appearance on our traversing area this month, but they were only here for one day, before returning east to the core of their territory.
As with the mating lions, the Makubela female leopard has also proved us wrong! Last month we had reported that she had given birth, but she is in fact still pregnant, and was seen a few days ago moving from one termite mound to another. She is possibly looking for a den-site, and we will certainly let you know as soon as there are any further developments.
This month, we have had frequent viewing of the Metsi female leopard, who is definitely trying to establish her territory on the western side of our property. This does conflict slightly with her mother, Mambiri, but they seem to be sorting out territorial boundaries. Mambiri, however, still has her cub, and although we have not seen them that much this month, the cub is still doing extremely well – she has a relaxed and placid nature, which bodes well for our leopard viewing in the future.
A new young male leopard has been seen on the north western side of Savannas’ property. He is believed to have come from the east near the Kruger Park boundary, and his age is estimated to be just under two years. It is unlikely that this male will stay in the area for any length of time, as he is a nomadic male and will be chased from pillar to post by dominant males, until such time that he is old enough and strong enough to compete for his own territory.
As with the mating lions, the Makubela female leopard has also proved us wrong! Last month we had reported that she had given birth, but she is in fact still pregnant, and was seen a few days ago moving from one termite mound to another. She is possibly looking for a den-site, and we will certainly let you know as soon as there are any further developments.
With the rains the rhinos have split up and moved into larger areas and the concentrations are no longer around the waterholes, as there are little puddles all over the bush where they are able to drink and wallow. So we are not seeing large groups on the game drives, but there are still regular sightings, especially on the burnt areas where the short grasses provide ideal grazing areas for them.
We recently had a wonderful sighting of a newborn elephant calf less than 8 hours old. The placenta was located about 800 metres from where the elephant calf was. This little calf walked straight up to the vehicle and proceeded to try to nuzzle the cool box! The mother was not too concerned, but eventually guided the youngster away from the vehicle, and they went on their way. We were able to put a video clip on YouTube of this incident, so if any of you would like to see it, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYPQ8XjouF4
News from Kenya
Rekero Camp Habari
Having arrived at Rekero mid last season, nothing could have prepared me for my own epic ‘safari’. As our first calendar year draws to an end I would like to share with you why I now believe I have arrived in what can be only described as ‘heaven on earth’.
As I sit here in anticipation of another stunning African sunset I think of other experiences from my short existence in the Masai Mara. Waking up to the sun’s first rays bursting through the netting of my tent, the energetic patter of rain drops falling on the parched ground radiating the smell of freshly mown grass, the plinking and tinkering of the little tree frogs at dusk and the midnight sky punctuated with tens of thousands of stars…...and of course the wildlife: the leopards rasping, the lions roaring and the wildebeest grunting; all coexisting in this great cycle of life. I think to myself ‘How did I not find this place sooner?’
The Mara and Rekero work together to produce an experience that few will sample anywhere else on Earth. It is a testament to the Beaton family, all the staff and Jackson for the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into providing a personal experience for all that was summed up by Karen Blixen many years ago:
“There is something about safari life that makes you forget all your sorrows as if you had drunk half a bottle of champagne – bubbling over with heartfelt gratitude for being alive”
News from South Africa
Tswalu Kalahari
2010 marks a very special occasion - Tswalu Kalahari's 10th birthday under the ownership of the Oppenheimer family!
For many years South Africa's southern Kalahari was a land ravaged by cattle-farming and neglect. When Nicky Oppenheimer and his family bought the property a decade ago, they committed their passion to the Kalahari and set a mission to restore the land to itself.
Today, guests will find an immense reserve covering an area of over 100, 000 hectares restored to its pristine state. The landscape, vegetation and animal diversity is extraordinary and every member of the Tswalu team is committed to upholding our conservation vision.
In 2010 Tswalu Kalahari will begin a special Year of Celebration with new guest activities, celebration rates, special offers and new conservation targets. As the next year unfolds we will share our ten year celebration story with you.
Wilderness Safaris News
Botswana
Kalahari Plains Camp is still on track to open early December, and from an environmental point of view is looking outstanding. There is a substantial solar array in the back-of-house area (below left) that will power most of the camp, as well as guttering that functions for rainwater collection - and of course a solar water heater at each tent. By pushing the boundaries of how technology can help our carbon footprint, Kalahari Plains aims to be our most eco-friendly camp yet!
The HMS Zib - a boat being built for Zarafa Camp - will be operational probably from the end of January 2010. It will be used for cruises on the Zibadianja Lagoon (below middle) and along the Selinda Spillway, with brunches on board and possibly dinners in the evenings, especially on evenings with a full moon.
A "Children's Tree house" is being built for kids to hang out in at Chitabe Camp. In the style of a "Robinson Crusoe tree house" the area will have a library full of African storybooks, as well as flora and fauna books, all geared for kids, along with comfy cushions on which to laze and read. Activities will include painting ceramics and fabric paints (all with animal themes), doing puzzles and learn about the area using seed pods, a 'spoor' sandpit and clay for moulding animals plus a CD player for listening to animal and bird calls. Here children can keep themselves entertained for the hours between game drives, leaving parents to have an afternoon siesta knowing that the kids are in a safe place.
Abu Camp is closed from January to mid-May for refurbishment of the main area, elephant boma and back of house. Additions include a library which will house all research material on elephants, a large pool and star beds for sleep-outs in the boma. The focus will be more on the holistic elephant experience, where guests form a bond not only with the elephants themselves but also with their fellow guests at the camp.
Jao Camp will be closed from 9 January to 11 March for major refurbishments, including rethatching the roofs of the main area and all the guest rooms. There is nothing quite like a beautiful newly thatched roof... The Jao Spa is being taken to the next level with the addition of a double treatment room and provision of some water therapies. Jao is very much about relaxation and, surrounded as it is by the beautiful Delta environment, we would like to give our guests the opportunity to rejuvenate in a safari spa, which will be green and eco-friendly, with the focus on traditional African treatments.
Zambia
At The River Club, the summer house/snooker room, the colonnade (covered walkway connecting the summer house to the main area) and the tennis pavilion are all complete. The tennis court is nearing completion; racquets and balls are supplied at the Club.
The River Club was also the recipient of a Best of Zambia Award last week, in the Heritage and Culture category. This category aims to recognise tourism operations that cultivate a greater understanding of Zambian history, heritage and/or culture. The 2009 Zambia Tourism Awards promote and reward excellence in tourism operations, recognised as the tourism industry's most prestigious function, attracting wide media coverage and enthusiastic industry-wide support. The 2009 Zambia Tourism Awards were initiated by the public sector through the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources and the Tourism Council of Zambia. Below left are proud recipients: Eugene and Christelle Marais of The River Club and Charles and Linda van Rensburg, Wilderness Safaris Zambia.
An exciting addition to Wilderness Safaris' offering in South Luangwa will be the Kalamu Walking Trail which will operate on demand for six guests at a time: it is a two-night trail that starts and ends at Kalamu Lagoon Camp, with one night spent on our new Star-bed Platforms and the second at the new Chinengwe Riverbed Camp. Perfect for adventure lovers, guests will be able to see a larger part of the concession on the other side of the river whilst at night they'll be able to see the stars rise and set in the comfort of their platform homes - as well as a very different yet beautiful view of the Luangwa River.
Hot air ballooning is literally taking off in Kafue National Park! It will begin in 2010, and operate between 01 August and 31 October and will be offered as a complementary activity at Shumba, Kapinga and Busanga Bush Camps on any 3-night booking. The one-hour balloon flight can accommodate 6 guests per flight and culminates in a champagne breakfast.
Namibia
Kulala Desert Lodge underwent a recent refurb which included a rebuild of the main area - opening it up and doubling its size. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows were then fitted to make the most of the stunning dune views and an expansive (and shaded) new deck added in front. This new area is regularly used for star-gazing dinners and sunset drinks. The rooms were refurbished with new furniture and softs to match the 'lightened and brightened' atmosphere of the new main area.
Explorations News
Selinda Canoe Trail completed its first season to much fanfare and rave reviews. Guests who experienced this once in a lifetime opportunity have spread the word quickly. The Selinda Canoe Trails has been listed in National Geographic Adventure's November issue as one of the "25 Best New Trips for 2010". The departure dates for next year have been confirmed so please join us for this truly authentic experience.
Special Photos
Neil Whyte has been sending us some truly magnificent photographs from game drives and I include this close up Elephant for your viewing pleasure. Thanks to Neil and we acknowledge his copyright.
Close
As I write this on New Years Eve we will tonight see the old year out and a new one in. We wish all our friends, clients and readers a very happy, healthy and successful 2010. We look forward to arranging a safari for you and trust that you will continue to have some fun with our Message Stick!
Happy Safaris!
John
61 (0)2 4984 9747
61 (0)411 749 627
jma@destinationsafrica.com.au
www.destinationsafrica.com.au