Southern & East Africa Supplement 2012

All About February 2012

Your one-stop guideto all the latest news and developments

in Southern & East Africa

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www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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Southern & East Africa

S01 S & E Africa 2012 Supp Start_Layout 1 17/02/2012 15:39 Page 1

eth smarketing

� The Selous is the largest National Park in Africa- four times the size of the Serengeti and largereven than Switzerland!

� Home to the Big 5 including 70% of Tanzania'selephants and the rare, endangered wild dog.

� Highlights include guided game drives,and walking safaris.

� Enjoy sundowners on the river bankand boat cruises on the mighty Rufiji.

� Luxury tents at Selous Luxury Camp or chaletsat Mivumo River Lodge on a full board basis.

� The remote islands of the Quirimbas inNorthern Mozambique - renowned fortheir natural, cultural and historical beauty.

� Tropical islands with dazzling white beachesand azure waters.

� Snorkelling, fishing, and watersports -with coral reefs to ‘dive’ for!

� The romance of sunset cruisesand remote island picnics.

� Matemo Island and Medjumbe Private Islandoffer unrivalled hospitality and relaxationon a full board basis.

For further information contact:

01403 243 [email protected]

www.ethosmarketing.co.uk@ethos__marketing

www.serenahotels.com – www.raniresorts.com

Serena Hotels and Rani Resorts join together to bring youtwo remote African experiences blended into one unique holiday package

Selous Game Reserve Selous Luxury Camp Medjumbe Island Matemo Island

2in1

2 by 2 Holidays is offering this package from just £3,995 pps, including 4 nights safari at Selous Luxury Camp followed

by 1 night at Pemba Beach Hotel & Spa and 3 nights at Matemo Island including flights with British Airways from

Heathrow to Dar Es Salaam on a Full Board basis including local drinks. If guests would like even more exclusivity,

the Mivumo River Lodge, Pemba and Medjumbe Private Island package is available from £4,495 pps. Valid until Dec 2012.

4 nights in the stunning Selous National Reserve 4 nights in unspoilt Mozambique

fus onMozambiqueTanzania &

www.2by2holidays.co.uk / 01582 766 122 / [email protected]


All about Southern and East Africa starts here

Welcome to thethird issue of AllAbout Southern

and East Africa, packed withtips to help you sell moreof this wonderful region.

Remember you can sellSouthern and East Africawith confidence, as notonly are the hotels andlodges of a high standard,but so are the local guides– and their experience issecond to none. “The bestholiday of our lives” is whatwe hear over and overagain from satisfiedcustomers.

The trend towardscustomers buying cheaperaccommodation hascontinued this year, so the

good news is that holiday prices to the region have come downsignificantly because of currency weakness and also because manylodges have reduced their prices. This means safari holidays are nowmore affordable than ever, starting from £1,295 per person for aseven-night, self-drive safari, including flights. In addition to a widerange of luxury hotels and lodges, the region also offers manydelightful guest houses and national park rest camps, which are alsoideal for delivering great value.

There is something incredibly special about experiencing thewildlife of Africa up close, but there is so much more besides – suchas outstanding food and wine, many adventure activities,spectacular scenery under warm blue skies and a kaleidoscope offascinating cultures. So for an enriching and inspiring once-in-a-lifetime experience, encourage your customers to book their nextholiday to Southern and East Africa.

Claire Farley2by2 HolidaysThe Africa SpecialistsFollow 2by2 Holidays on Twitter @2by2holidays

All about Southern & East Africa 3_

Published by

Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX

Tel: 020-7834 6661Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe

Written and researched by: Angela CroninEmail: [email protected]

Design/Layout: Prashanth AP & Genaro SantosPrinted by: Wyndeham Grange Limited

Cover Picture: iStockISSN: 0956-2419

CONTENTS

Zambia 17

South Africa 5

Kenya 26

Namibia 23

Luxury rail travel 30Regional

round-up 33

Claire FarleyBotswana 19


Mo

za

mb

iq

ue

Ch

an

ne

l

Draken

sberg

Ghaa

pPla

teau

Na

mi

bD

es

er

t

Kaokoveld

Muc

hing

aM

ts.

Kirinyaga(Mt. Kenya)

Kilimanjaro

Towerkop

Kompasberg

ThabanaNtlenyana

Brandberg

Mt. Mulanje

Rungwe Mt.

Mont auxSources

Spitskop

Ben Macdhui

N A M I B I A

MOZAMBIQUE

LESOTHO

SWAZILAND

REPUBLIC OFSOUTH AFRICA

K a l a h a r iD e s e r t

B OT S WA N A

Z A M B I A

MALAWI

Pemba Island

Mafia Island

K E N Y A

T A N Z A N I A

Cape ofGood Hope

Z I M B A B W E

CapeAgulhas

Great Karroo

N a m a q u a l a n d

D a m a ra l a n d

O v a m b o l a n d

O k a v a n g oD e l t a

Makgadikgadi

Ilha do Bazaruto

Zanzibar Island

VictoriaFalls

Mwanza

Arusha

Tanga

ZanzibarDar es Salaam

Nakuru

Nairobi

Mombasa

Marsabit

Garissa

Mbala

Kigoma Tabora

Dodoma

Iringa

Mbeya Kilwa Masoko

Voi

Kisumu

Lichinga

MocambiqueNampula

QuelimaneInhamitanga

Mzuzu

Lilongwe

ZombaBlantyre

KasamaLindi

Mtwara

Songea

Mutare

Tete

Pemba

Chinde

Polokwane

Grootfontein

Francistown

Serowe

GaboroneKanye

Harare

Gweru

BulawayoBeira

Inhambane

Xai-Xai

ChililabombweNdola

Chipata

Kabwe

Mongu

Lusaka

Livingstone

Maun

Mahalapye

Hwange Kadoma

Masvingo

Musina

Pretoria

Johannesburg

Tsumeb

GobabisSwakopmund

Mariental

KeetmanshoopLüderitz

Maputo

Mpika

Kitwe

Walvis BayWindhoek

Port NollothSpringbok

Worcester

Cape Town

Karasburg

Rustenburg

VereenigingVryburg

Kroonstad

Upington Ladysmith

Pietermaritzburg

KokstadDe Aar

Queenstown

Beaufort West

East London

OudtshoornPort Elizabeth

Mossel Bay

Mbabane

Mafetang

Kimberley

Bloemfontein

Durban

Maseru

LakeRudolf

L a keV i c t o r i a

LakeRukwa

LakeNyasa

LakeKariba

LakeNgami

EtoshaPan

LakeMweru

LakeBangweulu

LakeTanganyika

All about Southern & East Africa4

Map


South Africa can no doubt teachBritain a lesson or two about thepros and cons of hosting a major

sporting event.With all eyes on London this year as

the capital city prepares to host the2012 Olympics, there has been a lot oftalk about how putting Britain on theglobal stage for a whole month in thesummer will be extremely beneficial forthe inbound tourism market.

However, VisitBritain has forecast that30.7million visitors will head to Britainnext year – roughly the same numberwho are recorded as visiting in 2011,citing the Olympics as much of turn-offfor some potential tourists as they are areason to travel for others.

South Africa had a similar experiencewhen it hosted the World Cup; while visitornumbers were definitely up on 2009,they weren’t as high as they had hoped.

With experience showing that hostingglobal events can often lead to a slumpin visitors in following years, South Africahas refused to rest on its laurels, andpost-World Cup, the tourism authoritieshave been really busy working to buildon the tournament’s success.

The legacy left behind by the WorldCup is impressive with improvements toaccessibility and infrastructure acrossthe whole country. Some £15.7 millionwas invested in the road infrastructure

alone, a new airport was opened at LaMercy, just north of Durban, along withenhancements to Johannesburg andCape Town airports.

Commenting on the World Cup legacy,Roshene Singh, chief marketing officer,South African Tourism said: "We cannotunderestimate the impact the World Cuphas had on South Africa's tourismindustry. The 2010 World Cup allowedus to show the world that South Africa iscapable, equipped, experienced andready to provide visitors with anincredible, unique and thoroughlyunforgettable holiday experience."

To keep the momentum going, SouthAfrican Tourism in the UK launched anationwide ‘My Mission’ marketing drivelast year with the objective ofshowcasing the variety of experiencesavailable in the country.

The crux of the campaign was thefocus on four celebrities, JamieTheakston, Chris Packham, GloriaHunniford and Monty Don, who eachtravelled to South Africa to pursue theirown particular dream holidays. Theirexperiences were relayed through aconsumer campaign launched to givefour couples the chance to follow in thecelebrities’ footsteps, using TV, cinema,print and social media.

The ‘My Mission’ campaign formedpart of a global ‘Leave Ordinary Behind’

promotion aimed at introducing theworld to South Africa’s lifestyle tourismthat complements its wildlife, luxury andadventure travel offerings.

UK agents are playing a crucial role inhelping SAT achieve its goal of boostingvisitor numbers to 13.5 million by 2015.At the same time, SAT knows howvaluable agents are to them, so theyensure that travel consultants have asmuch help with selling holidays to SouthAfrica as possible.

The Southafricaexpert.comdedicated training site for agents is setto have a new edition that will act as anintuitive point-of-sale tool for thoseplanning itineraries for their customers.In addition, several fam trips androadshows are planned for 2012,although dates have yet to be confirmed.

SAT has also teamed up with Africaspecialist 2by2 Holidays to offer a luckyagent the chance to win a tailor-madeholiday for two to South Africa. To findout how to enter, log on towww.2by2holidays.co.uk

Over the next 10 pages, we look atwhat this diverse country has to offervisitors, along with news from hotels,the airlines and experience providers.

We start off with the province of theZulu Kingdom of Kwa-Zulu Natal, whichis proving very popular with first-timersand repeat visitors. ■

All about Southern & East Africa 5

South Africa

South AfricaGlobal marketing campaigns highlighting the country’s diverse offeringis helping to keep the spotlight on South Africa post-World Cup.

S02 S & E Africa 2012 Supp South Africa 01_Layout 1 20/02/2012 18:24 Page 5


South Africa

Africa specialist 2by2 Holidays has a lot to celebratethis year.The operator won the prestigious £25,000 SouthAfrica Tourism Ubuntu marketing award and hasused the money to launch a consumer andagents’ competition, which will run from 20February to 25 March and give the luckywinning agent a tailor-made holiday to SouthAfrica, worth up to £5,000. Second and third prizesare two places on a fam trip to South Africa.The Feel Different competition will ask agents to log on to2by2 Holidays' website (www.2by2holidays.co.uk) wherethey will find a link on to the competition site. To enter,

agents must tell 2by2 Holidays how they want to feeldifferent, for example, I want to feel… relaxed and

de-stressed because I juggle many roles and spenda lot of time away from home in a demandingindustry. Each week, for five weeks, five finalists will bechosen and put forward to the ultimate final.

At the end of five weeks, a winner and tworunners-up will be selected from the 25 finalists.

Meanwhile, 2by2 Holidays is offering clients the chanceto watch the England rugby team take on the Springboks inDurban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth as part of thesummer tour. Prices start at £1,195 excluding flights.

2by2 Holidays teams up with SAT to launch £5,000 competition

Getting to South Africa: South AfricanAirways, British Airways and Virgin Atlanticoperate direct services to Johannesburgand Cape Town. The flying time is 10-and-half-hours to Johannesburg and 12 hours toCape Town. The time difference is twohours in the UK winter and an hour in thesummer. Most of the other major airlinesalso fly to South Africa via their hubs,including Air France, KLM, Swiss, Lufthansa,Iberia, Emirates, Kenya Airways, Etihadand Qatar.

How to get around: By road: South Africa has a first-class roadinfrastructure and the majority of visitorsopt for self-drive holidays. However,transfers between hotels/lodges andescorted tours are also very popular. By air: the internal flight network iscomprehensive and makes it easy to havea multi-centred holiday around the nineprovinces. By train: There are some trains that canalso be used to get from one place toanother. The luxury Blue Train and theequally luxury Rovos Rail trains are icons of

rail travel. Alternatively there is theShosholoza Meyl that has a variety ofroutes to choose from. Do I need a visa? No. Languages: there are 11 differentlanguages but English is the most widelyspoken. Weather: South Africa is a year-round destination. The Western Cape has aMediterranean climate, with warmsummers, and cooler winters. The furthernorth and east you go, the weatherbecomes warmer, particularly in KwaZuluNatal, where conditions are quite humid. InMpumalanga, the province visitors aremost likely to go to see Kruger NationalPark, the best time to visit is the dry seasonfrom June – September. Inoculations: all your vaccinations must beup to date and malaria tablets are requiredfor Kruger, Limpopo and northern KwaZuluNatal.

Regional highlightsWestern Cape: Cape Town, Table Mountain,Robben Island, Cape Point, Winelands andwhale watching at Hermanus.Eastern Cape: Garden Route, Tsitsikamma

National Park, Addo Elephant NationalPark, private game reserves, Grahamstown,the Karoo and the Wild CoastKwaZulu-Natal: Drakensberg, Anglo-Boerand Anglo-Zulu battlefields, HluhluweGame Reserve, Greater St Lucia Wetlands,Durban and spectacular coastline.Mpumalanga: Kruger National Park, SabiSands and the Panorama RouteLimpopo: Kruger National Park, lots ofprivate game reserves, Waterberg andMapungubwe National Park.Gauteng: Johannesburg, Soweto, Cradle ofHumankind, Apartheid Museum,Constitution Hill, Sandton and Pretoria.Northwest Province: Pilanesberg GameReserve, Sun City, Madikwe Game Reserveand Magaliesberg Mountains.Northern Cape: Kimberly, rafting on theOrange River, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Parkand Augrabies Falls National Park.Free State: Bloemfontein and Golden GateNational Park.

For more information: Southafrica.netFor agent online training:Southafricaexpert.com

Get the facts


The lowdown onKwa-Zulu Natal

If it’s awe-inspiring scenery that floats your boat, thenKwaZulu-Natal is the place to set sail for. From theDrakensberg mountains and the rolling midlands, to the

outstanding beaches of Durban, the scenery provides a fantasticbackdrop to a holiday experience full of adventure and culture,underpinned by the legacy of the warrior tribe of the Zulus. Itswarm climate makes it an all-year-round destination, so let’scheck out what there is for visitors to see and do in this province.

The great outdoorsDurban: known as surf city and the gateway to KwaZulu Natal,Durban is home to the Golden Mile of sun-drenched beaches.Rocktail beach: on the Maputaland Coastal Forest Reserve innorthern Kwazulu-Natal, Rocktail and Thonga beach areparticularly impressive for their diving and whale watching .Drakensberg Mountains are the place to head to if you lovehiking, horse-riding and bird watching. These mountains are alsofamous for their ancient San Bushmen rock art paintings. The wildlifeiSimangaliso Wetland Park: South Africa’s first World HeritageSite, it has major lake systems, eight interlinking ecosystems,most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests, 526 bird speciesand the area’s largest population of hippos and crocodiles. Aliwal shoal: a rocky reef just off the coastline, it is a popularspot with divers as it is famous for tropical fish and turtles.Hluhluwe-Imfolozi: a game reserve on the Elephant Coast, whichis world renowned for its white rhino conservation project. The cultureThe Battlefields: if one of your favourite movie moments isMichael Caine as Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead in Zulu, thenKwaZulu Natal is the place for you. The province, also knownas the Zulu kingdom, is highly regarded for the military tacticsof its Zulu tribe, successfully employed in wars against theBoers and the British. There are lots of tours available sovisitors can immerse themselves in the Zulu culture at villagesin the province, while there are a number of battlefieldstourism routes.Durban: as well as its mile of beaches, Durban is a culturalmelting pot, which is home to a rich Indian culture as well asthe Jumma Mujid, the largest mosque in the southernhemisphere. There are plenty of activities to immerse yourselfin, from the marine life at uShaka Marine World, to the waterslides at Water World, fishing charters and sundowner cruises.

Accommodation on the block:Granny Mouse is a country-house hotel country with a spa in theNatal Midlands Meander, at the foot of the DrakensbergMountains. Room rates start at £145.Ghost mountain Inn is situated at the foot of the GhostMountain in Mkuze and is a good base from which to exploreMaputaland and the Elephant Coast. Room rates start at £99. Packages2by2 Holidays offers a 16-day Durban, Drakensberg, ZuluBattlefields, Hluhluwe safari and St Lucia (iSimangaliso) self-drivefrom £1,995 including fights. ■


South Africa


2by2 Holidays offers a nine-nightCape Town and Kruger National Parksafari from £1,895 including flights.

A visit to Cape Town isn’t complete without a trip out to Robben Island, the home toNelson Mandela for 27 years. Without question Mandela is the world’s most famouspolitical prisoner, and he lived in a five square metre prison cell on Robben Island fornearly a third of his life. Now a World Heritage site, the island is a popular touristattraction so it is advisable to book your tickets in advance of your arrival.

Whether you are visiting Cape Town on a mini break or as part of a South African adventure, there is no denying that this cityby the sea ticks all the right boxes when it comes to holiday expectations.From stunning scenery, adventurous experiences, sophisticated nightlife and if you want to, the chance to squeeze in a shortday on safari even if you are on a flying visit.

Cape Town and beyond

Table Mountain is a must as the 360degree views of Cape Town arespectacular. If you buy the ticketsonline before you go, the 10-minutereturn trip in the cable car to thetop of the mountain costs £14. Ifyou fancy a bit of a challenge, youcan walk up to the summit byfollowing some of the hiking routes,or if you really want to awaken yoursenses, then try rock climbing up tothe top.

Out and about

All about Southern & East Africa

Robben Island

South Africa’s most visited destination, the V&A Waterfront offers a combination ofstylish shops, restaurants, nightlife and tourist attractions including museums.

Victoria and Alfred Waterfront

Declared a World Heritage site in 2004, these botanical gardens are set against thebackdrop of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak and are home to more than 22,000indigenous plants. There is a conservatory, herb gardens, historic ponds andfountains and a cycad garden.

Cape Peninsula is a popular day trip that can be done as a self-drive tour or as part of anescorted tour with stop-offs at the upmarket towns of Clifton, Camps Bay and Hout Bay.Also, a visit to Boulders Beach, home to a colony of African penguins, is a must.

Again as a self-drive or as part of an escorted tour, many visitors opt to head 45 minutesout of town to experience the vineyards of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. If you find awine that you particularly like, then the winery will be more than happy to ship it to theUK as you can only bring two bottles back home. Many visitors also stay in the winelandsfor a couple of nights. Stellenbosch, which is the second oldest town in South Africa isalso home to a university, and so has a well-developed café culture, and bar scene.Franschhoek holds to its French roots, and is now the gourmet capital of South Africa.

Cape Town packages

8

South Africa

Kirstenbosch Gardens

There are a number of museums towhile away a few hours in. Theseinclude: the Iziko Museums, anamalgamation of national museumslocated near the city centre, alongwhat is called the Museum Mile; andDistrict Six Museum looks at thehistory of a vibrant community thatwas forcibly removed in theapartheid era. There are also morethan 100 art galleries.

Museums

The Winelands Route

Cape Peninsula



Starting with Route 62, the world’slongest wine route and one of the mostspectacular drives around, continue toOudtshoorn in the Karoo and on to thescenic Garden Route. It normally takesaround seven days, but you can extendthe trip by driving the route at aleisurely pace taking in more sightsalong the way.Where does it start? Stretching morethan 530 miles along the Western Capeto the Eastern Cape, the journey beginsin Cape Town and finishes in thebeautiful coastal city of Port Elizabeth.Highlights: the drive from Cape Town toKnysna, is gorgeous as it passes through

many small, picturesque towns. Stop inat Swellendam to experience CapeDutch architecture at its best.Several hours south of Cape Town is thesouthernmost tip of Africa, CapeAgulhas, where the Atlantic and Indianoceans meet. The journey to CapeAgulhas will take visitors through thescenic Overberg, along the Whale Coast.If you fancy getting up close to somewhales, take a detour to Hermanus, atown famous for its whale-watchingexcursions. Also, there are the CangoCaves near Oudtshoorn, the TsitsikammaForest and the Swartberg Mountains toexplore.

Anything for adrenaline junkies? Ohyes. Shark cage diving in Gansbaai, seakayaking in Knysna, hiking along theOtter Trail, ostrich riding inOudtshoorn, bungee jumping atBloukrans Bridge in Nature's Valley, andscuba diving along the East Coast.When you arrive at Port Elizabeth,there are plenty of beaches to enjoybefore heading out to the malaria-freegame reserves of the Eastern Cape.Prices: 2by2 Holidays offers a 16-nightCape Town, Garden Route and EastCape safari holiday in the Amakhalagame reserve from £1,795 per person,including flights.

The Garden Route

Stretching from the Blyde River Canyon to the Kruger National Park,the Kruger2Canyon Nature Reserve is renowned for its spectacularlandscape that encapsulates four million hectares of savannah,woodlands, montane grasslands and afromontane forests.

A UNESCO-recognised biosphere, the Kruger2Canyon regionprovides a lot of opportunity to get the adrenaline pumping withsome adventurous activities or for the more laid-back among us,there is the option to kick-back and take in the wildlife from theback of a 4x4.

Fast factsWhat is there to do? Perhaps the most famous game reserve in theworld, Kruger is home to a wide spectrum of safari lodges, from threestar to five star. Visitors hope to see all of the big five and more,which they can do on lodge game drives in open-top vehicles, onguided walking tours, or by hiring their own vehicle and usingSANParks rest camps in the Kruger Park.What about the Blyde River Canyon? At 16 miles long and 2,500deep, it is one of the world's most spectacular canyons. Full of lushvegetation it is also one of the world's greenest canyon. Visitorsshould make the most of their surroundings and try out some of theactivities on offer in the region. These include: river rafting, mountainbiking, microlighting or rock climbing. More sedate options includebirdwatching, stargazing, fly fishing, golf, hot-air balloon rides or apicnic by a waterfall.How do I get to Kruger? You can either drive from Johannesburg orPretoria, or fly to Mpumalanga Airport, Hoedspruit Airport orPhalaborwa Airport.Best time to visit: this destination is good any time of year but Aprilto September are perfect months when the grass is lower and theanimals visit the water holes to drink so they are easier to find.How much? 2by2 Holidays offers a 14-night Kruger Park, Cape Townand Garden Route package from £1,595 including flights.

The Kruger Factor Wheelchair-accessible safaris


South Africa

2by2 Holidays offers a wide range ofwheelchair-accessible holidays.

The Africa specialist’s strong relationshipswith ground handlers, accommodationproviders and tour guides in southern and eastAfrica allow the operator to arrangewheelchair-accessible accommodation, arrangeaccessible transfers and tours in speciallyadapted vehicles and arrange accessibleactivities such as ascending Table Mountain ina wheelchair by cable car, or going on safari.

2by2 Holidays sales and marketing directorClaire Farley says “We do our outmost to offerclients who need wheelchair accessibleholidays the same experience we offereveryone else.

“Often it is the very small things that we dothat matter the most, for example, going to anelephant park where visitors can touch anelephant; touch a cheetah at a wildlife park; orsee penguins on the beach.”


11

South Africa

Come & visit us at the Travel Bulle n Southern & East Africa Showcase event at Shaka Zulu on Tuesday March 6th and learn more about the province of

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN for short) in South Africa. This immediately puts you in with a chance to WIN a place on an amazing fam trip depar ng on the 19th

March and returning on the 27th March to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa!

To learn more, join our short training course – www.kwazuluexperts.com

Register bookings with SAA fl ights that include KwaZulu-Natal and be in with a chance to WIN a holiday for 2 to KZN!

South African Airways has introduced a new Airbus A330-200aircraft on its route from Heathrow to Cape Town.

All aircraft feature a two-class configuration: business class andeconomy class, with 180-degree fully flat-bed seats in business. Also,new In-flight Entertainment technology has been integrated intothe seat structure with all seats in economy offering a selection ofon-demand movies, TV shows, and games. SAA operates daily non-stop flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town from Heathrow.

SAA has also started flying from Johannesburg to the Rwandancapital of Kigali and onwards to Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi.These flights are now available for reservations in the globaldistribution systems and via flysaa.com.

The route from Johannesburg to Kigali and Bujumbura will beserviced three times a week by an SAA’s A319 aircraft. SAA has alsostarted flights to Ndola in Zambia.

SAA adds new Airbus A330

All about Southern & East Africa

Riding safari specialist Horizon Horseback has unveiled anew nine-day Wildlife and Winelands horse-riding package.The experience combines four days’ of horse riding amongherds of South African wildlife in 25,000 acres of bushveldin the Waterberg Biosphere, followed by four days of riding

in the Cape Winelands Biosphere with the days in thesaddle peppered with wine tasting, fine cuisine and spapampering.2by2 Holidays offers this10-night, full-board riding safarifrom £2,995 including flights.

Wildlife and Winelands package


Hotel hotlineFrom city to safari, we spoke to the experts to get some recommendations for placesto turn up, tune in and drop out

Eastern CapeOceana Beach and Wildlife ReserveLocation: the five-star OceanaBeach and Wildlife Reserve islocated on a four-mile stretchof private beach overlookingthe Indian Ocean, just outside the fishing village of Port Alfred,halfway between Port Elizabeth and East London.Accommodation: 10 private suites make up this safari lodge. Themain lodge has three rooms connected to a game room completewith pool table and shuffleboard, while the Ocean suites each offera king-sized four-poster bed and his and hers bathrooms. ThePrivate Oceana House also has three bedrooms with en-suitebaths, a private kitchen complete with a personal chef.Anything else? Oceana’s USP is the fact that it is one of the fewprivate game reserves on the beach in South Africa, so guests cancombine surfing, snorkelling, and swimming in the ocean withdaily game drives on the reserve. The resort has a gym and steam

room overlook the infinity swimming pool, a fully-service spa, twotreatment rooms with heated treatment beds and whirlpool baths.How much? Room rates start at £325 per person per night

The WinelandsBabylonstorenLocation: Babylonstoren is a 250-hectare wine farm on thecrossroads of Paarl, Stellenboschand Franschhoek where the firstvines were planted 300 years ago.Accommodation: six one-bedroom suites, twoone-bedroom cottages and four two-bedroom cottages.Anything else? Guests can enjoy guided walks around the farmthrough the vineyards and orchards, cycling, canoeing/rowing andfishing on the farm dams. How much? £247 per night based on two sharing.

Limpopo ProvinceLocation: Garonga Safari Camp is a small, intimate retreat in theMakalali game reserve.Accommodation: Garonga has just six safari tents, so it has a realboutique feel.Anything else? All meals, drinks, guided game drives and walkingsafaris are included in the price along with special elements suchas the Garonga Soul Safari, the romantic bush bath for two underthe stars and the overnight sleep-out deck experience in thereserve.How much? All-Inclusive rates from £207 per person per night andno single supplement. ■

Kwa-Zulu NatalOaklands Country ManorLocation: Oaklands CountryManor is a small, family-runcountry hotel betweenJohannesburg and Durban. Highup on Van Reenan’s Pass, itboasts some spectacular viewsand is perfectly placed for thefirst stop on a self-drive from Johannesburg to Drakensberg.Accommodation: the hotel can accommodate 32 guests. It has fiveen-suite rooms facing the garden, four family suites that canaccommodate four guests and the Hilltop House which sleeps six.


South Africa


Anything else? Perfect for those who love mountains and the greatoutdoors, the hotel is in the perfect location for walking, cycling,birdwatching, canoeing, fishing and horse-riding in its own poloclub. Tennis and volleyball are also available.How much? £75 per night based on two sharing.

Cape TownPepper Club Hotel and SpaLocation: Pepper Club is a luxury hotel in Cape Town and itsbeach club, situated on the Camps Bay beachfront, is perceivedto be a ground-breaking concept in the South African hotelindustry as it combines a luxury hotel with a beach club.Accommodation: the 20-storey hotel consists of 210residences, including the penthouse suite.Anything else? The hotel features an Odeon cinema, swimmingpools with panoramic views, beach restaurant and bar, a gym,the Cayenne Spa, 24-hour concierge service and security. How much? A two-night stay as part of a special offer that isavailable from 1 April to 30 September costs £549 per person.Taj Cape TownLocation: situated in the cultural heart of Cape Town close toSt. George's Cathedral (the former base of Desmond Tutu), the

oldest church in South Africa, Groote Kirk, the SA Museum, theSlave Lodge Museum, and the city’s art galleries.Accommodation: the Taj has 177 rooms with a focus onopulence and luxury. The Heritage suites have more of acolonial feel, whereas the Tower rooms have a contemporaryedge.Anything else? Taj Cape Town has carved out a reputation forits restaurants, which include the Bombay Brasserie, a fine-dining Indian Restaurant, Mint, an all-day informal restaurant aswell as the seafood and champagne bar The Twankey. Thehotel’s Jiva Grande Spa draws on ancient Indian healing wisdomof Ayurveda. It also has a fitness centre and business centre.

South Africa


Jaci’s Safari Lodge in Madikwe GameReserve has celebrated its 12thbirthday with a refurbishment.Owners Jan and Jaci Van Heterenenlisted the help of Sally Barnard andher colleague Adele from The BeachHouse interiors in Hermanus to dothe interior design. The Beach House introduced texturedplain colours, fabrics with prints thatpicked up the surroundings of boththe animals, and the fabric designsused by the locals. The refurb took two months tocomplete and the final product wasunveiled at the end of last year.

Jaci’s refurb

Luxury Cape Town hotel Cape Grace has teamed up with TswaluKalahari game reserve to offer a Cape Town/safari adventurepackage.

The seven-night package includes two nights’ bed and breakfastat Cape Grace with a third night free plus four nights’ full boardon safari at Tswalu Kalahari, return flights to the game reservefrom Cape Town, transfers and a Malori night under-the-starsexperience.

Prices lead in at £6,160 per room and includes accommodation,transfers and charter flights to and from Tswalu Kalahari.

The Cape Grace is also offering guests a Rare and ExtraordinaryExperience package in partnership with luxury jewellery brandPlatandia.

Guests who stay in the hotel’s top suites will have the

opportunity to accessdiamonds, rare tanzaniteand other stunning gemsfrom the privacy of theirown room alongside abespoke consultationwith the Plantandia’sMaster Goldsmith. Platandia is also offering the gift of a ¼ caratdiamond valued at 10% of the room rate as a parting gift.

Prices lead in at £919 per double room per night and are basedon a minimum stay of three consecutive nights, transfers, a bottleof chilled sparkling wine, home-made chocolates in-room onarrival, luxury chauffeur transfer to Platandia for a private viewingof gemstones or choose to have the viewing in Suite.

Hotel offers city and safari deal

South African luxury hotel chain SunInternational has added to its portfolio ofproperties with the acquisition of the WildCoast Sun resort in the Eastern Cape andthe Grayston Hotel in Johannesburg and Although located in the Eastern Cape, theWild Coast Sun is just a mile south ofKwaZulu-Natal and is set in 640 hectares oftropical gardens that overlook the IndianOcean. It also has a championship golfcourse.Since it acquired the property in 2009, SunInternational has embarked on a majorrefurbishment of the property, investing

£33 million in increasing the resort’saccommodation offering by 150 rooms,bringing the room total to 396. The hotel’scasino,restaurants and bars have beenrevamped and a new water park, WildWaves has been introduced. All the work isdue to be completed early this year.Meanwhile, Sun International has alsostarted work on its new Johannesburgproperty, the Grayston Hotel, with a majorrefurbishment of the property’s 346 roomsand public areas already underway.The hotel group hopes to reopen theproperty as a four-star-plus under the Sun

International brand early next year.A landmark Sandton property inJohannesburg's Square Mile, the Graystonis a popular stopover point for both leisureand business inbound visitors who arrivefrom abroad en route to other propertiesaround the country, especially Sun City,Cape Town and Livingstone. It is a prime location given its closeproximity to the Johannesburg StockExchange, The Sandton Convention Centre,the commercial and retail district, theGautrain and significant landscapedgardens that surround the hotel.

Sun International adds to portfolio


South Africa

A resort in the Drakensburg mountains is offering an eco-friendly spa experiencepackage for the whole family.Located high in the dramatic landscape of the Cathkin Peak region, the Drakensburg SunLifestyle Resort has launched the Spoilt Green Eco Spa, which uses chemical-free EsseOrganic Skincare products.The family spa experience includes treatments for the whole family, with prices startingat £11 for an express facial, which is suitable for children.

It’s a family affair as Drakensburg hotel offersspa treatments for the whole family


A boutique hotel in Cape Town haslaunched a health and lifestyle initiative.Ellerman House’s Healthy Livingprogramme encompasses healthieralternatives for all meals, exercise, spatreatments and relaxation options witha healthy living concierge on hand toassist guests in designing a plan to suittheir individual needs.The hotel is located in vast privategardens in Bantry Bay and is close towalking, running and cycling routes inand around Cape Town that guestslooking for some exercise can make themost of. Prices start at £380 per roomper night and include private,chauffeur-driven airport transfer;complimentary shuttle to and fromCape Town’s V&A Waterfront,breakfasts, a fully stocked in-room bar,guest pantry and in-between mealoptions and sunset cocktails.

A safari lodge located in the Sabi Sabigame reserve has introduced a specialoffer for 2012.The Bush Lodge has put together a three-night fly-in deal staying at its bush lodgefrom May to July for £1,324 per personbased on two people sharing.This package includes either a one-way orreturn internal flight from Johannesburg,accommodation, open Land Rover safarisby day and at night accompanied byqualified rangers and Shangaan trackers,environmental awareness walking safaris,

sundowner drinks, selected beverages,South African house wines and local taxes.

Meanwhile, Earth Lodge in Sabi Sabi hasrecently been renovated. It has 13 suites,private plunge pools, en-suite glass frontedbathrooms, outdoor showers, butler servicesand viewing decks.Also, the spas in the Earth Lodge andBush Lodge have introduced a newtreatment that features innovativetreatments from Babor and Africology. At the Bush Lodge Spa, a menu oftreatments have been developedspecially for children. These include theelephant foot print and the busy bee.

Sabi Sabi rolls out new fly-in packages for 2012

Ellerman rollsout healthpackage

A family hotel on the Garden Route isoffering kids-stay-free packages in lowand high seasons, excluding the Easterand Christmas holidays.The rate applies to children under 12,with room rates for adults leading in at£100 per person per night. The priceincludes breakfast, use of the TherapySuite’s sauna, steam room and gym,transfers to Nature’s Valley beach, wifi,use of quad and mountain bikes andtennis courts, and children’s pony rides. Situated near the beach town ofPlettenberg Bay, Kurland consists of 12 suites. The luxury and family suites have loftrooms that can accommodate up to four children.The hotel also has playrooms, swings and swimming pools with nannies provided tolook after the children while the parents relax.Kurland is situated within the Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve so families can enjoyequestrian activities, forest walks, unspoilt beaches in Nature’s Valley National Parkand water sports such as surfing or scuba diving, whale and dolphin watching andeven extreme activities such as bungee jumping or sky diving. They can also visitnearby farm-style shops, the world’s largest free flight bird sanctuary andMonkeyland, the world’s first free-roaming multi-species Primate Sanctuary. Kurlandalso boasts its own championship polo ground, private stables and tuition centre.

It’s child’s play with Kurland

Sir Richard Branson’s private game reserve Ulusaba in Kruger National Park is offeringguests the chance to stay four nights for the price of three.The offer, which also applies to reservations of five nights which are available for theprice of four, is valid for any new arrivals before 31st July.There are three categories of lodges at Ulusaba, safari lodge, rock lodge and cliff lodge.Prices start at £395 per person per night for stays at safari lodge, £574 for rock lodgeand £1,048 for cliff lodge.Ulusaba also has a kids-go-free offer until 18 December. Up to two children travellingwith one or more adults can stay at Rock Lodge at no extra charge.

Ulusaba offers free night deal


South Africa


North West Province, South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa

Victoria Falls, Zambia

Discover the beauty and delight of unspoilt Africa as you follow the sun on its travels across the southerntip. Indulge in 5-star luxury and sophistication on your journey from vibrant cosmopolitan surrounds,through an ancient African kingdom and into the untamed thunder of Victoria Falls. Each step you takeis made in unparalleled comfort, enjoying all that three of the world’s premier 5-star hotels have to offer.

To discover more about the Route of the African Sun call +44 (0) 1491 419600or email [email protected]

A N U N FO RG E T TA B L E J O U R N E Y T H RO U G H A N I N C R E D I B L E L A N D.

www.suninternational.com

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S04 S & E Africa 2012 Supp Zambia_Layout 1 20/02/2012 18:29 Page 16

ZambiaIf waterfalls, wildlife andwonders of the world arehigh on your must-do list,then head to Zambia, homeof the walking safari, for anexperience of a lifetime

Like most of its African neighbours,Zambia ticks all the right boxes whenit comes to game reserves teeming

with wildlife and luxury safari camps, butone thing that this stunning country canclaim that most of the others can’t isbeing home to one of the seven naturalwonders of the world.

Described as “the smoke that thunders”by David Livingstone, the intrepid explorerwho discovered them, a visit to SouthernAfrica isn’t complete without spending a dayor two at the magnificent Victoria Falls.

Accessible from both Zambia orZimbabwe, the falls set the theme for anAfrican experience that differentiatesitself from others.

Zambia is home to 18 waterfalls and asa country has the largest water resourcesin the whole of southern Africa with fivehuge lakes and a number of rivers, themost famous of which is the Zambezi.

As a consequence, the experientialtourism providers in Zambia have madethe most of the country’s huge supply ofwater with lots of activities that visitorscan enjoy. These include: tiger and flyfishing; canoeing safaris; houseboatingholidays; white-water rafting; kayakingand river surfing; rafting; bungee jumpinginto the deep gorge below the VictoriaFalls; abseiling; canoeing down theZambezi; elephant back trails and walkingwith lions – the list is endless.

So let’s find out what Zambia is upto in 2012.

Baines River CampBaines’ River Camp located on the

northern bank of the Zambezi River, in theChiawa Partnership Park has put togetherfour specialist workshop packages.

The camp, which is just across fromZimbabwe’s Mana Pools World Heritagesite, with the Lower Zambezi NationalPark only a 20-minute boat ride away, isoffering guests the chance to take part inelephant workshops, photographic safaris,fly-fishing clinics and birdwatching.

The five-night Vanishing Giants of Africaelephant workshops allows guests theopportunity to explore the world of theelephants and observe them withexperienced guides and wildlife vet JohanMarais. The workshops run from 27 Augustto 1 September and the 10 September to15 September.

Photographer and travel writer DavidRogers and guides will escort keensnappers on the photographic safaris thattake in the Zambezi River, its islands andbush. These courses will run from 16-21April and 16-21 July.

The fly-fishing clinics are hosted byKeith Clover of Tourette Fishing andBaines guides, with guests getting top tipson fly-fishing the African way.

The bird-watching workshops are led byornithologist David Johnson and will focuson the Zambezi Valley.

All of the packages cost £2,052, exceptthe fly-fishing clinics, which cost £2,368.

Wilderness CollectionThe Wilderness Collection is offeringguests staying three nights or more at itsBusanga Bush Camp, Kapinga or ShumbaCamps the chance to enjoy hot-air

ballooning trips over the Busanga Plainsduring August, September and October.

Meanwhile, the group has introducedbeds raised on elevated wooden platformsunder star-studded skies to its KalamuStarbed Camp in Zambia’s South LuangwaNational Park. Guests arrive at theplatform before sunset and have a privatedinner, usually departing soon after dawnthe following morning by driving, boatingor walking back to the lodge.

Royal Chundu Luxury lodgeRoyal Chundu Luxury Zambezi Lodge ispulling out all the stops to make surefamilies can make the most of theirsafari breaks.

Staff at the lodge, which has 14suites on the banks of the Zambeziriver, meet guests on arrival to discussactivity options with the family, givingeach child a river safari adventure packcontaining small gifts. The children arethen treated to a welcoming treasurehunt to help them familiarisethemselves with the Royal Chundustaff and surroundings.

Mfuwe LodgeGuests at Bushcamp Company’s MfuweLodge in the South Luangwa Valley ofZambia have been treated to some closeencounters with some of the wildlife inthe reserve recently.

Elephant Wonky Tusk and her broodhave been strolling through the receptionat the lodge and their regular sightingsinside the reception have proved to be areal hit with the guests.


Zambia

Norman Carr Safaris offers walking safarisalong the Luwi dry river bed


An 11-day trip to Zambia including accommodation at MfuweLodge and two of Bushman Company’s other camps leads in at£4,055 per person. This price includes international flights andtaxes, all internal flights and transfers, all meals, drinks and allguided safari activities.

Norman Carr SafarisSafari specialist Norman Carr Safaris is offering guests thechance to take a walk on the wilde side with a sleep-out-under-the-stars experience in the Luwi dry river bed in South Luangwa.

The camp-out will offer safari goers the chance to experiencethe thrill of the first safari pioneers as they sleep out with just abed roll and a mosquito net.

Guests venture out from the remotest bushcamp on foot inmid afternoon, find a spot to camp, make the camp fire for agame rangers’ dinner which they help to cook themselves.

Norman Carr Safaris has also put together an eight-nightprivately guided Luwi River Trail safari adventure.

The camps only have four rooms each and are powered withsolar energy. Guests are able to set their own pace and createtheir own adventure with a guide and scout. ■


Zambia

Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world.It can be accessed from either Zambia or Zimbabwe, but one ofthe advantages of visiting from the Zambian side is visitors getto swim in a natural pool just before the edge of the upper falls.When is the best time to go? July to September is best. AvoidOctober and November as the Zambian side is dry. December toMarch is rainy.Where should I stay? There are a number of lodges to choosefrom, including Tongabezi Lodge, Sindabezi Island and theRoyal Livingstone Hotel.What can I do when I am there? There are a few ways to visitthe falls.Victoria Falls walk: facing the falls is a wall of basalt cushionedby a rainforest. A path along the edge of the forest offers someamazing views of the fallsViewing locations: the Knife Edge bridge, the Victoria Fallsbridge and the Lookout Tree are great vantage points. Ahelicopter ride over the falls will give you some great photoopportunities, while a boat ride down the Zambezi river is apopular option.For the extreme: bungee jumping, white water rafting, horseriding and elephant-back safaris are also available. Package: 2by2 Holidays offers a nine-night South LuangwaNational Park and Victoria Falls holiday from £2,295 includinginternational flights.

Victoria Falls

Wonky Tusk strolls through the reception at Mfuwe Lodge

The Royal Chundu Luxury Zambezi Lodge


BotswanaFrom safaris that reflect on the pioneers of the past tocruising down the Zambezi, Botswana promises to givevisitors a big bang for their buck

The landlocked southern Africacountry of Botswana hasestablished itself as a safari

destination that delivers low-impacttourism and exclusive experiences.

We catch up with some of thecountry’s safari lodges and experienceproviders to get the lowdown on what ishappening in the country that boasts avast and varied landscape, 38% of whichis dedicated to national parks andreserves.

Pangolin Photo A new venture designed to equipphotographers of all levels with the skillsand equipment they need to capturethose elusive shots has launched in theChobe region of Botswana.

Pangolin Photos was set up byphotographers for photographers andwill offer guests the chance to ride in aspecially designed Unimog to accessremote areas and difficult terrains. Thevehicle has eight photographer’s seatswith optimum viewing potential andmounting for zoom lenses.

On the water, Pangolin operates aboat specifically adapted for wildlifephotography. Onboard, cameras arecustom mounted and attached to seatsthat rotate a full 360 degrees.

Offering photography enthusiaststailor-made courses to suit theirindividual requirements, courses caneither be incorporated into an existingvisit to the region, or be bookedseparately as a more comprehensivesafari spending time in the bush and on

the river capturing amazing wildlifemoments.

The courses can accommodate groupsof up to eight photographers bothoverland and by boat, top he of therange cameras and special lens areprovided at no extra cost.

Selinda Canoe TrailWilderness Safaris is offeringadventurous visitors the opportunity toenjoy a four-day canoe experience alongthe Selinda Spillway.

The high waters flowing throughnorthern Botswana in 2009 and 2010caused the Selinda Spillway to flow in away that it has not done for nearly threedecades. This has enabled adventurersthe opportunity to experience a rare first– the Selinda Canoe Trail.

The Selinda Canoe Trail will navigatealong the 28-mile Selinda Spillway overfour days, camping along the banks ofthe river at the end of the day. The areais well known for elephant, buffalo, roanantelope, and wild dog. Other possiblesightings include cheetah, lion, leopardand variety of other species. It is also abirder’s paradise with some 300 speciesto be seen.

The canoe trail starts at the SelindaAirfield where all participants meet ataround midday before travelling nearlythree hours westward until they arrive atthe starting point. This three-night safaricomprises roughly two full days and twohalf-days (the first afternoon and thelast morning) of paddling to cover thedistance. All three nights will be spent in

fly camps along the way at no particularpre-arranged site.

Each canoe has two guests, their bedrolls and bags and participants paddletheir own canoes each day. No previouspaddling or canoeing experience isneeded as tuition will be given. At theend of the trail, guests are transferred tothe Selinda Airstrip in the late morningfor their departure or onward stay ateither Zarafa or Selinda camps.

Prices for the canoe trail start at£1,116 per person for the four days andinclude camping accommodation, meals,scheduled activities, conservancy fees,return airstrip transfers (Selinda airstrip),alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

Wilderness Collection The Wilderness Collection, a new brandfrom Wilderness Safaris, was launchedrecently following the signing of theoperating and marketing contracts forAbu Camp in the Okavango Delta.

The accommodation at Abu Campincludes six private villas, all withextended private decks overlooking thelagoon.

During the day guests can enjoy aninsightful elephant experience with theAbu elephant herd, many of whom havebeen rescued from captivity,abandonment or injury. An extensivenew camp library has also beenintroduced along with the one-of-a-kind‘star bed’ in the elephant boma

Also, the Chitabe Lediba Camp hasrecently reopened following arefurbishment that includes an entirely


Botswana

See the wildlife from the wateron the Selinda Canoe Trail

S05 S & E Africa 2012 Supp Botswana_Layout 1 20/02/2012 18:30 Page 19

Botswana Tourism 6 Stratford Place, London, W1C 1AY +44 (0)207 647 1018

...redefining safari

just a safari, Botswanais a complete experience.

MORE THAN

Email: [email protected] www.botswanatourism.org.uk

,

MORE THANN

,


new décor and design shift that nowmirrors its sister, Chitabe Camp. Eachroom has sliding doors and outdoorshowers, there are two family rooms andeach room has its own en-suite facilities.In the main area, improvements includea new swimming pool with expandeddecking and thatched gazebo.

Meanwhile, visitors who want toexplore the Okavango Delta might bekeen to make the most of the DeltaAdventurer, which allows guests thechance to explore the area on foot, bytraditional mokoro and on game drives.The first camp, Xigera Mokoro Trails, isset up on an island in the remote Xigeraarea, exposing the permanently floodedinner Delta. Here the islands andwaterways enable close encounters withmany bird species and diverse wildlife. Alight aircraft charter takes guests toKhwai Discoverer Camp just north of theKhwai River where woodland meetsfloodplains, wetlands and grasslands,home to an array of large mammals andpredators.

Camp Kuzuma Just four miles outside the town ofKasane in the Kuzuma Forest Reserve,Camp Kuzuma has opened overlooking aregularly frequented waterhole and openplains of the Kuzuma Pans.

The camp pays homage to theexplorers of the1800s, such as HenryStanley and David Livingstone with fiveluxury tented camps that arereminiscent of the days of DavidLivingstone. The luxury suites’bathrooms offer high-back Victorianbaths, double basins, double insideshowers and outside showers.

Camp Kuzuma has a spa with a varietyof treatments, a large main area, diningroom, bar and lounge/library withwooden decks leading to the infinityswimming pool overlooking a naturalwatering hole.

Guests can use the lodge as a base toexplore the surrounding areas such asthe Chobe reserve, the Chobe River orthe Victoria Falls.

Guests staying for two nights can geta third night free with prices leading inat £253 per person per night.

African Bush CampsAfrican safari specialist African BushCamps has a number of properties andexperiences in Botswana that it is keento promote to the trade

The first experience is the Linyanti

Walking Safari in the Chobe enclave,which is well known for its largepopulations of elephant and buffalo. Thisis a mobile tented camping safariexperience focused on walking withinthe private concession in the ChobeEnclave part of the Linyanti.

Experienced guides move the camp towhere all the wildlife action is, so howmuch the camp moves is dependent onthe amount of activity there is.

Accommodation is in stand-inspacious tents with beds and en-suiteprivate bathroom facilities.

African Bush Camps also has a small12-bedded tented camp on the banks ofthe Linyanti marshes in a privatereserve, which borders the westernboundary of Chobe in the ChobeEnclave. The camp is limited to small


Botswana

Baines Baobabs - these seven giant trees werenamed after the artist/adventurer Thomas Baines

who painted them back in 1862


groups who seek a personalisedexperience in a private concession awayfrom the main tourist’s routes.Activities from the camp consist ofgame drives, walking, game viewing byspotlight and hides.

Located on the sands above theancient river bed, African Bush Camps’Saile Tented Camp is an intimate campwith four Meru-style tents, each ofwhich has en-suite bathroom facilitiesand bucket showers. The focus here ison an authentic and wild safariexperience and this area’s relativeremoteness makes it a favoured wildsafari destination.

The company also runs a mobiletented camp in Nxai Pan National Park.Once thought to be the largest saltpansin the world today, Nxai Pan, situatedjust southeast of the Okavango Delta, isa flat grass-covered pan dotted withislands of clustered acacia atortilistrees and mopane woodland, which ishome to an array of wildlife includingspringbok, giraffe, blue wildebeest,gemsbok, eland, greater kudu, redhartebeest, spotted hyena, cheetah,leopard, jackal and brown hyena.

Tuli Safari LodgeA safari lodge in the eastern-most

corner of Botswana is offering visitorsthe chance to enjoy an overnight stayfor a lead-in price of £76 per person pernight.

Tuli Safari Lodge is set in spaciousgrounds along the banks of the LimpopoRiver against a backdrop of sandstoneoutcrops. It has eight lodges, aswimming pool and a number of game-viewing points

Guests can make the most of theirsurroundings by going on guided gamedrives and walks, discovering hidestucked away in the bush (where you caneven sleep out over night), enjoyinghorse rides in the wild and visiting localcommunities.

Zambezi QueenIf you would prefer to see the wildlife ofBotswana from the comfort of a luxuryriver boat, then you should consider theZambezi Queen.

The five-star river cruiser, with 10suites and four master suites, operatestwo and three-night itineraries fromKasane in Botswana along the ChobeRiver or from the Impalila air strip inNamibia.

Guests on board the boat will be ableto relax and take in the wildlife thatflock to the river banks, which includes

elephants, lions, leopards, herds ofbuffalo and antelope, hippos andcrocodiles in the waters alongside.

A two or three-night stay on ZambeziQueen includes all meals; drinks withmeals and during game drives; water-based game viewing on smaller boats;land-based 4x4 game viewing inBotswana’s Chobe National Park; tigerfishing in season; bird watching fromsmaller boats and land-based culturaltours of local villages.

Footsteps in AfricaThe largest circuit of independentcamps, lodges and services in Botswana,Footsteps in Africa banner offers a one-stop shop of experiences in Botswanawith a number of lodges in key tourismareas in the north, includingMakgadikgadi and Nxai Pans, CentralKalahari, Okavango Delta, Moremi GameReserve and Chobe National Park.

All of the properties under Footsteps’umbrella are small and independentlyowned and are classified into three maincategories: superior, which includesspacious, en-suite accommodation;classic, which offers comfortableaccommodation with an emphasis onthe area the camp is in; and rustic,which offers basic, dome-tentaccommodation.

Footsteps also owns a chartercompany, Delta Air that services allthese areas. ■


Botswana

Capital: Gaborone Language: English and Setswana Currency: PulaPopulation: 1.8 millionTime difference: +2 hoursWhen to go: the months between Apriland November when animals migratetowards the waterways of the OkavangoDelta, is the best time to go. Visa: none required Health: typhoid, polio, tetanus andyellow fever are advised along with anti-malaria tablets. Getting there: fly from London viaJohannesburg and then on to Maun, thegateway to the Okavango Delta. Visitorsthen travel to lodges by light aircraft.

Get the facts


Like many destinations over the lastfew years, tourism to Namibia hasfallen foul of the global economic

recession with the country seeing a slightdecline in visitors from the UK in 2010.

But the Namibia Tourism Board is notresting on its laurels. Last year, the NTBlaunched global campaigns and initiativesto increase its tourism arrivals followingthe launch of its new slogan, Namibia –Endless Horizons.

In the UK for 2012, NTB is set to havean increased focus on social media andonline, integrating Facebook into all of itscampaigns.

It is increasing its activity with thetrade, with agent roadshows across threeUK cities which will include agent trainingand event workshops, product managermeetings and the opportunity fordelegates to win a high profile trip toNamibia at each event inclusive of flights.

There is so much to learn aboutNamibia and what makes it stand outfrom the safari crowd? Travel Bulletin hasput together a must-read guide to thisspectacular country to help you get togrips with this amazing destination. Fromits spectacular desert ecosystems andwildlife to its richly coloured sand dunes,vast plains, savannahs teeming withAfrican game and rugged mountains,Namibia promises to enliven all yoursenses

EtoshaEtosha National Park is one of Africa’spremier reserves. This large park, largely

free of human influence, covers over 8500square miles. of the northern landscape,and has as its central feature the EtoshaPan (a dried-out saline lake), surroundedby grasslands and bush. Etosha is knownfor its huge elephant population, whilezebra, blue wildebeest, springbok andgemsbok also roam the plains, and lionsare common. Theblack-faced impala and Damara dikdik aredistinctive to the area.

DamaralandThe Damaraland Wilderness Reserve is aprivately operated area full of beautiful,arid and mountainous scenery. Wildlifecan be sparse, but desert elephant, blackrhino, lion, desert-dwelling giraffe andHartmann’s mountain zebra inhabit someof the reserve.

Fish River CanyonThe huge Fish River Canyon follows theFish River to the Orange River, which thenflows to the Atlantic. Varied and unusualwildlife and vegetation complement thespectacular scenery and an abundance ofred aloe gives an otherworldly feel to thelandscape. Rock dwellers like mountainzebras, rock rabbits, baboons, klipspringersand ground squirrels inhabit the area andKudus and leopards are also present, butare more elusive.

Northeastern ReservesThe Caprivi Strip, bordered by Botswanato the south and Angola and Zambia inthe north, has three reserves: Mudumu,

Caprivi and Mamili. Mudumu and Mamili,unlike many other Namibian parks, allowopen vehicles and walking safaris.Mahango Game Reserve is a sceniclandscape dotted with striking, majesticbaobab trees. The park surrounds theKavango River and is adjacent to theCaprivi Reserve. The wildlife includeselephant, bushbuck, reedbuck, impala,tsessebe, kudu and the rare sitatunga,there are also spectacular birds like thefish eagle, and wattle and crowned cranes.The Caprivi Game Reserve featureslechwe, sable antelope, hippo, roanantelope, buffalo and crocodile, as well asa variety of waterfowl.

Namib-NaukluftThe Namib-Naukluft National Park insouthern Namibia combines the formerNamib Desert and Naukluft MountainZebra parks. The park, known for itsdiamonds, is one of the world’s largest.Mountain zebra, gemsbok, springbok andostrich roam the region and the duneshouse unique creatures like the shovel-nosed lizard, the golden mole and thetranslucent Palmato gecko.

The Sandavis area includes the coastlineand bays where fresh water seeps underthe dunes and runs into a saltwaterlagoon. The mountainous landscape of theNaukluft region has many picturesquerock formations and a variety of beautifulhiking trails. Mountain zebra, rock rabbits,klipspringer, black eagles, baboon, cheetahand many other creatures inhabit thearea.


NamibiaNamibia looks to capitalise on its growing popularity withglobal marketing campaigns and initiatives for 2012.

Namibia

S06 S & E Africa 2012 Supp Namibia_Layout 1 20/02/2012 18:33 Page 23

SWAKOPMUNDSwakopmund is the resort town that is in the centre of Namibia’s coastal region. Locatedbetween the Skeleton Coast and Namib-Naukluft parks and surrounded by the spectacularNamib Desert, the town has some beautiful German colonial architecture.

WINDHOEKWindhoek, the capital of Namibia, is found in the central highlands. The city blends theflavours of German, English and Dutch colonists with the native African cultures. Its sights

include the threeWindhoek castles, builtbetween 1913 and 1918,and the State Museum atthe Alte Feste, andWindhoek’s city centrealso has the sprawlinggardens of Zoo Park. Thegovernment seat is thebeautiful and historic "InkPalace". ■


Namibia

Namibia offers a range of activitiesfrom the extreme to the relaxingincluding water sports, golf, diving,hiking, hot air ballooning,skydiving, sand skiing, paragliding,abseiling and stargazing. One popular activity is Birding.Namibia is home to over 630 birdspecies. While the majority of theseoccur in the water-rich north-eastern regions of Kavango andCaprivi, and at the coast, aconsiderable number are found inthe desert, such as Dune lark andHartlaub's francolin.

Activities and Adventure

Air Namibia has added to its fleet withthe recent addition of the Airbus A319-100, which will serve routes betweenWindhoek and Accra, Johannesburg,Cape Town and Luanda. The new A319 offers a two classconfiguration of business and economyacross 112 seats, 96 in Economy and16 in Business class.Air Namibia’s improved frequency onits regional network, new routes and

aircraft, allow for new tours andimproved access to Southern Africa.Last year, the airline acquired threeERJ 135 aircraft as part of its fleetrenewal process and replaced theformer Beechcraft model used on itsdomestic and regional flights. Thisallowed the airline to introduce twonew routes from Johannesburg toWalvis Bay and Windhoek to Rundu,as well as increase the frequency of

many of its former routes such WalvisBay to Cape Town and Windhoek toLuanda. Air Namibia serves the UK market viafeeder flights with British Airways andonward connections to Windhoek viaFrankfurt. Air Namibia’s departure andarrival times six days per week offerthe best connections from the UK andallow passengers a full day uponarrival and departure.

Air Namibia boosts fleet with A319-100

Dolomite camp opens in western EtoshaNamibia Wildlife Resorts has officially opened the Dolomitecamp in the ecologically significant western part of Etosha, anarea previously closed off to tourism. Nestled in the dolomite outcrops of the western EtoshaNational Park, it is hoped that Dolomite Camp will increasetourism traffic in and around western Etosha, Damaraland andthe Great Kunene Region.Etosha National Park is Namibia’s second largest park and isalso the oldest and best known of Namibia’s 22 protectedareas. The Namibia Wildlife Resorts operates four camps insidethe northeastern section of the park – Okaukuejo Camp, HalaliCamp, Namutoni Camp and Onkoshi Camp – and DolomiteCamp is the first inside the western part of Etosha.The Camp has a lounge, bar and restaurant area, from where awalkway leads to thatched, en-suite chalets of which two havetheir own plunge pools. With 15 waterholes nearby, DolomiteCamp offers a number of places from which to spot wildlife.

Windhoek’s first all-suite hotel opensThe Olive Exclusive, Windhoek’s first all-suite luxury hotel, hasopened. The property has: four premier suites, each with theirown private plunge pool and views over the olive trees andmountains; three junior suites that are suitable for families; anin-house restaurant; and a swimming pool.

Wilderness gets the massage outWilderness Safaris has introduced some new treatments atspas at two of its camps in Namibia.Guests will be able to call on the services of a massagetherapist at Wilderness’s desert retreat of Little Kulala inSossusvlei in the Namib Desert and Serra Cafema, which islocated in the northwest of Namibia on the banks of theKunene River in the Hartmann Valley. Meanwhile, Wilderness Adventures has added guided quad-biking on the Kulala Wilderness Reserve, which allows gueststhe chance to see the reserve from a different perspective.

Namibia Hotel News



KenyaThe Royal connection, golf, carnival and festival events, and lots for wildlife lovers andadrenaline junkies alike mean record-breaking visitor numbers in 2011

If you asked tourism officials to sum up2011 for Kenya, the phrase “it was a bitof a rollercoaster ride” would not be far

from their lips.The year got off to a good start for the

East Africa country, when it bathed in thespotlight of the great royal proposal.Prince William popped the question toKate Middleton while the two were onholiday at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy,which proved to be great PR for Kenya.

Fast forward a few months and Kenyawas back in the spotlight for all the wrongreasons. The high-profile kidnapping andmurder of a British couple holidaying onthe island of Lamu by Somali pirates had amomentary effect on bookings.

The incident prompted the ForeignOffice to advise against all travel to theKenya-Somalia border regions, but thepopular tourist areas of Mombasa and theparks and game reserves are safe locationsto visit so it’s business as usual.

And while arrival figures for the last sixmonths of 2011 are not yet available, ifthe first six months are anything to go by,then figures for last year look set to bewell up on 2010 – January 2011 alonewas 40% ahead of January 2010.

Also, this year will see another Royalconnection for Kenya as the Queencelebrates her Diamond Jubilee. It was 60years ago that Princess Elizabeth arrived inKenya, only to hear the sad news abouther father, King George VI’s death, andreturn to the UK as Queen Elizabeth II.

The Kenya Tourist board will be keen tofocus on the strong links between Kenyaand the UK – its largest overseas market –and over the next four pages, we will begetting the lowdown on some of theKTB’s plans for this year, as well as what ishappening in the hotel scene in Kenya aswell as what the country has to offervisitors besides sun, sea and safari,

GolfKenya has emerged as a significant playerin the competitive field of internationalgolf tourism and the Kenya GolfMarketing Alliance has produced a brandnew Kenya golf guide for visitors to thecountry to discover its many spectacularcourses and facilities.

The Kenya Open Golf Championshiptakes place in March and April, with 150competitors. The tournament, played atthe Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi, makes

up part of the PGA European ChallengeTour. www.kenyaopengolf.com

MICEThe country is also carving out a place foritself in the meeting, incentive, conferenceand events (MICE) market, which accountsfor 14% of annual tourism to Kenya. As aresult, the government is planning toenhance the country’s businessinfrastructure with new conventioncentres to be built in Mombasa andKisumu in 2012.

Magical Kenya Travel ExpoThe KTB organised a two-day MagicalKenya Travel Expo in Nairobi in Octoberand 150 travel agents, operators andmedia from around the world, including10 managers from UK operators. Theevent is expected to become an annualexpo and will eventually incorporate theentire East African region.

Kenya AirwaysThe country’s flag carrier has confirmedthat it will take delivery of nine newBoeing 787-7 Dreamliners in the lastquarter of 2013.

The airline has placed a firm order fornine aircraft with an option to take fourmore as part of its fleet modernisationand route expansion capacity, replacing itsBoeing 767 aircraft and opening up newlong-haul routes.

Kenya Airways has also increased thenumber of flights between Nairobi andDar Es Salaam from four to five a day aswell as unveiling plans to introduce newroutes. These include services to Eldoret,Kilimanjaro, Abuja, Beirut, Mauritius,Malakal-S.Sudan, Cape Town, Mwanza,Windhoek and Lamu.

Meanwhile, the airline has also addedto its reservations team at Heathrow. RitaPlatt, Karen Chandra and Manisha Varsanihave joined as reservations agents, while


Kenya

S07 S & E Africa 2012 Supp Kenya_Layout 1 20/02/2012 18:36 Page 26

Alexis Charalambous has been appointed to the role of groupsales executive.

Kenya Airways offers 10 flights a week from Heathrow toNairobi and now offers 55 connections to destinationsthroughout Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Etihad AirwaysThe Abu Dhabi airline is to start a daily service from its hub toNairobi – the airline’s first east Africa destination.

The service will be operated by a two class A320 aircraft with16 business class and 120 economy seats. ■


Kenya

Time Difference: +3 hours GMT Location: bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania andSomali Republic, with 300 miles of Indian Ocean coast. TheEquator runs through the centre of the country Capital: Nairobi Language: English.Currency: Kenya Shilling, dollars, pounds and euros also widelyaccepted Climate: With pleasant overall conditions all year round,temperatures are consistent throughout the year and cool for anequatorial region, ranging mostly from the high 20°Cs to low30°Cs. Passport / Visa information: All visitors are also required toobtain an entry visa either from the Kenya High Commission inLondon or purchased on arrival.Getting there: Virgin Atlantic, Kenya Airways and British Airwaysoffer a large number of flights out of Heathrow. Qatar Airwaysalso offer scheduled flights to Nairobi from Heathrow, Gatwick,Manchester and Birmingham Airports via Doha, as well as Swissvia Zurich, Emirates via Dubai and KLM via Amsterdam. Charterservices are available into Mombasa on the coast. Flights fromthe UK take approximately eight hours.

FACT BOX

Exclusive African Treasures has recently completed arefurbishment on the main lodge area of its Royal MaraSafari Lodge on the banks of the Mara River, in the WesternKoyiaki conservation area.The river is home to more than 200 hippos and guests cannow sit in the restaurant and bar in the main lodge area andwatch the hippos in the river. The lodge offers a blend of theclassic tented safari camp with the amenities of a lodge andis located directly on the great wildebeest migration route. Room rates start at £135 per person per night full board.It is also just 10 minutes from leopard gorge, the locationfor the filming of the BBC’s Big Cat Diary.Exclusive African Treasures’ property Mutamaiyu House inMugie Wildlife Conservancy in Laikipia, a district in northernKenya, has seen its rhino conservation project go fromstrength to strength, with 26 black rhino in theconservation area. Room rates for Mutamaiyu House lead inat £200 per person full board including drinksTwo new leopard cubs have been born at Exclusive AfricanTreasures’ Oserian Conservancy bringing the total numberto 26 in the conservancy.

Royal Mara Safari Lodge refurbished



Kenya

On safariJoy’s CampLocation: an oasis in the arid lands ofSamburu; Joy’s Camp is built on the site ofJoy Adamson’s tented home in ShabaNational Reserve in northern Kenya, a 15-minute drive from Joy’s Camp Airstrip.Accommodation: seven doubles and threetwin tents – all en suite. The tents can fittwo extra beds, to accommodate childrenunder the age of 16 only. Activities: day and night game drives,guided bush walks, bush breakfasts alongEwaso Nyiro River and Gorge, sundownersand cultural visits to a Boran Village.What makes it special? it is the very sitewhere conservationist Joy Adamson livedwith her animals and reintroduced Pennythe leopard to the wild and wrote her lastbook, Queen of Sheba. The campincorporates a small museum of JoyAdamson memorabilia.

Cottar’s Private ConservancyLocation: situated in Olderikesi, South EastMasai Mara, in a concession bordering theSerengeti and Loliondo reserves.Accommodation: six 1920s-style whiteen-suite tents, four family tented suitesand one private house that canaccommodate up to 10 guests.Activities: day and night game drives,guided bush walks , bush meals,sundowners and cultural visits, riverswimming and fishing.What makes it special? more than 90years of history, with a focus on luxuryand quality incorporates original safariantiques from the 1920s.

Elsa’s KopjeLocation: in Meru National Park. Elsa’sKopje is almost invisible to the eye as youapproach its home on Mughwango Hill. Accommodation: nine open-plan cottages,seven doubles and two twin rooms, all

with en-suite bathrooms, one HoneymoonSuite and Elsa’s Private House.Activities: day and night game drives ,guided bush walks , bush meals,sundowners and cultural visits to the Tanariver and fishing.What makes it special? Elsa’s Kopje is agreat upmarket location to view rhino intheir natural habitat in Kenya.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Location: Lewa Safari Camp is situatedwithin the wildlife/rhino conservancy,with game viewing from camp and viewsof Mount Kenya to the south and the aridlowlands to the north.Accommodation: 12 en-suite tents andthree rooms can fit an extra bed for children.Activities: game drives, guided bush walks,swimming pool, bush breakfasts,sundowners, horse-riding, and educationaltalks on the history and the day to dayoperation of the Conservancy What makes it special? As if the Kate andWilliam effect isn’t enough to attract thecrowds, guests at Lewa can expect to beinvolved in its community-based conservationprojects specifically for the black rhinoand the endangered Grevy’s zebra.

On the beachKinondo Kwetu, Galu Beach, SouthCoast Location: on a private beach south ofDiani, just outside Mombasa.Accommodation: seven suites in theMama Taa Villa, three double cottages, onedouble storey cottage and the Mama TinaVilla with one double room with ensuitebathroom and 2 single rooms.Activities: scuba diving lessons,snorkelling, sailing, canoeing, kite surfing,deep-sea fishing, wind surfing, waterskiing, boat excursions, cultural visits toKinondo village and game drives inShimba Hills National Reserve.

What makes it special? Kinondo Kwetucaters for all levels of scuba divingenthusiasts and the reef is located soclose to the coast, that dives can betaken as near as 5 minutes away by boat.The resort also runs yoga retreats. It alsohas its own stables and 5 horses soguests can go horse-riding along thebeach.

Tijara BeachLocation: a luxury hideaway situated ashort distance south of Mombasa Islandin Pungu.Accommodation: only four individuallysituated cottages in gardens close to thebeach Activities: snorkelling along the reef, birdwatching or beach and cave walks. Plus,for keen golfers, Tijara Beach is close toany of the three Mombasa courses.What makes it special? Its intimate,exclusive feel makes it a perfect spot forhoneymoons and couples that want theultimate chill out hotel to relax in. Theowners are a married couple who workedin the corporate world for many yearsand decided to quit the rat race in searchof peach and tranquility, so they reallyhave created a haven from the outsideworld in Tijara Beach.

Lantana Galu BeachLocation: on Galu beach south of Diani,just outside Mombasa.Accommodation: there are 47 roomscomprising of one, two and three-bedapartments and villas. It has two poolsand a beach-side restaurantActivities: diving, snorkelling, kite surfing,windsurfing, deep-sea fishing, dolphinsafaris, jet skiing, micro-light flights alongthe coast, quad biking and cycling.What makes it special? it’s new to theUK market and offers great water sportsand spa facilities too. ■

From safari to sun, sea and sand, we caught up with the experts toget the lowdown on the hotels, lodges and resorts available in Kenya

Hotel hotline



Kenya

Royal connectionsIt’s the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee thisyear, but did you know she found outshe was to become Queen while she wasin Kenya? Following her stay at TreetopsLodge in Aberdare National Park, on the 6February 1952, the royal couple returnedto their Kenyan home, Sagana Lodge, inMount Kenya, where Queen Elizabethwas told the tragic news of her Father’sdeath.

Big game expert, James Corbett, whowas acting as a guide for the royal couplelater wrote the famous lines in theTreetops visitor book, “For the first timein the history of the world, a young girlclimbed into a tree one day a Princessand after having what she described asher most thrilling experience she climbeddown from the tree next day a Queen”.The Disney effectFilmed in Kenya’s dramatic Masai MaraNational Reserve, Disney’s African Catswill be on general release in cinemasacross the UK from 20 April.

African Cats follows two cat familiesas they fight for survival on Kenya’s vastAfrican plains. Narrated by Samuel LJackson, the film focuses on Sita and hercheetah cubs and Laila the lioness withher daughter Mara as they embark ontheir journeys through Kenya.

Did you know?

Hemingways is opening a new Nairobiluxury hotel in August, situated in thesuburb of Karen. The hotel is aplantation-style building with 45 suitesoverlooking the Ngong Hills.

The iconic Treetops Lodge, (picturedbelow) in Aberdare National Park hasreopened following its refurbishment,which improved guest facilities andservices.

Basecamp Explorer who hosted BarakObama and his family during their visitto Kenya, have opened a new camp. Lyingin a secluded valley within the private50,000-acre Naboisho Conservancy, thiseco-lodge is home to just 10 tentedsuites and offers guests an opportunityto get close to the wildlife while being

immersed in the Masai culture andfolklore.

The new Amani Tiwi Beach Resort, nearDiani beach in Mombasa, with 209 rooms,has opened. The resort’s 197-metre-longoutdoor swimming pool will be the largestin Mombasa. It will also have its ownbeach and is a hotspot for turtle watching.

Sun Africa Hotels has announced thesoft opening of Sovereign Suites, anaristocratic colonial-style, all-suite hotel20 minutes’ drive from Nairobi. SovereignSuites has a two-acre private fish damsurrounded by tea plantations and flowerfarms. The hotel offers 16 suites, and apenthouse.

Hotel update

Cheli and Peacock havelaunched a range of2012 bookingincentives across itssafari lodges and campsin Kenya.

The six-night circuitincentives offers a 10%discount on daily ratesfor six nights or moreat a combination ofC&P Portfolioproperties. The 10-nightcircuit incentiveincludes a 15%discount.

The five-night long-stay incentive is bookfive nights at any oneof the C&P Portfolioproperties, excludingKinondo Kwetu, andreceive a 15% discountoff accommodation.

The seven-night,long-stay incentive applies to seven-night bookings at Kinondo Kwetu andincludes a 10% discount off daily accommodation rates.

Meanwhile, Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp opened the doors to its new privatehouse at the beginning of this year. The luxury private house in the MasaiMara sleeps 10 guests in five en suite bedrooms and has its own staff of eight.

Tortilis Camp in Amboseli recently opened its new family tent so theproperty now has two family units – the private house and family tent.

Cheli and Peacock rolls out booking incentives


If you thought going on safari was allabout jumping in the back of a 4x4and tearing around a game reserve

tracking down rhinos and cheetahs, thenthink again.

Luxury African rail operators Blue Trainand Rovos Rail have some awe-inspiringjourneys that are guaranteed to makeyou wish that you let the train take thestrain more often. Luxury South Africanrail operator Blue Train is inviting allagents who sell Southern Africa toparticipate in a new interactive, onlineBlue Train training programme.

Agents who complete the module willreceive a complimentary gift and thechance to win a trip on board the BlueTrain in South Africa between Cape Townand Pretoria for two people. Theexperience is worth more than £1,200.

Consultants who are interested intaking part in the on-line training need

to contact Blue Train’s UK representativeEthos Marketing for the link and apassword to access the training course,which includes seven short modules andends with a short multiple choice quiz atthe end which gives them the chance towin the trip.

Meanwhile, the luxury train operator,which operates a 27-hour overnightservice between Pretoria and Cape Town,also has a number of packages for 2012,including a last-minute one for couples.The offer means partners will pay justhalf price in a deluxe suite on The BlueTrain, which means a saving of more then£480 per suite. So a suite that wouldnormally cost £1,900, now costs £1,500.

To get this offer, the journey must bebooked and taken by the end of March.

Blue Train has also teamed up with anumber of hotels to offer packages thatinclude complimentary nights.

The Blue Train has launched a newpackage giving guests the choice of acomplimentary night at the SheratonPretoria, the 131 on Herbert BakerBoutique Hotel or the Westin Cape Town.

Rovos RailLuxury train operator Rovos Rail has aselection of journeys available to bookthis year.

Its epic offering for this year is its 14-day Cape Town to Dar es Salaam inTanzania, which has two departures – 30June to 13 July and 29 September to 12October.

Starting in Cape Town, the Pride ofAfrica heads through the historic villageof Matjiesfontein, the diamond town ofKimberley and the capital city ofPretoria, before arriving in MadikweGame Reserve for a two-night stay. Thetrain then passes through Botswana intoZimbabwe where guests overnight at theVictoria Falls Hotel. After crossing theZambezi River, the train travels northeastthrough Zambia where guests can enjoya bush walk at Chisimba Falls. The traincontinues the climb towards theZambian/Tanzanian border, almost themidpoint between Africa’s two Great RiftValley lakes. Descend into the Rift Valleyitself and witness spectacular scenery asthe train negotiates the tunnels,switchbacks and viaducts of theescarpment. Early on the last day, thetrain passes through the Selous GameReserve.

Prices for the journey lead in at £7,680and include a three-night pre-train tourof Cape Town with a stay at the Cape


Rail

Luxury on the railsOne of the best ways to explore Africa is the old-fashioned way – from the comfort of a train carriage

S08 S & E Africa 2012 Supp Rail_Layout 1 20/02/2012 18:46 Page 30


Grace hotel, 14 nights in a Pullman Suite on boardthe train, meals, drinks and excursions.

Rovos’ nine-day Namiba Safari leaves Pretoria forSwakopmund on 26 April, returning on 6 May.

The Pride of Africa departs from Pretoria forKimberley, centre of one of the world’s most famousdiamond rushes before traversing the vistas of thearid Northern Cape into Namibia at Ariamsvlei.There is an excursion to the Fish River Canyonbefore the train continues across the Kalahari Desertto Namibia’s capital, Windhoek for a short city tour.Guests then fly to the Sossusvlei, a stunning pan inthe Namib Desert surrounded by enormous red sanddunes. After a night’s stay with desert drives and abush dinner, guests rejoin the train in Windhoek andcontinue overnight to Tsumeb. A night is spent atthe Mokuti Game Lodge on the eastern edge of thegame-rich Etosha National Park. The journey thencontinues on to Swakopmund, a perfectly preserved19th-century German Hansa town set between thedunes of the Namib desert and the Atlantic Ocean.

Prices lead in at £3,540 and includeaccommodation, meals, drinks and excursions.

The nine-day African Golf Collage also has twodeparture dates – 17 May and 8 November.

Leaving Pretoria, the train winds its way tojourney’s end in Cape Town and includes a golfingand safari on the way. Prices start at £3,540 andinclude accommodation, meals, drinks andexcursions.

Finally, the three-day Durban safari experience isavailable until September 30 and explores thebeauty and culture of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Prices startat £1,066. ■

Blue Trains• There are actually two Blue Trains to ensure there are

regular scheduled departures. These are very similar in décor but have a slightly different composition.

• Train 1 sleeps 74 guests, including a paraplegic suite.• Train 2 sleeps 58 guests. It has an observation

car/conference facility at the end, with windows on three sides for maximum enjoyment of the passing scenery.

• Both trains offer a choice of deluxe and luxury suites, the main difference being that the luxury suites are a meter longer and have a full-sized bath rather than a three-quarter. Deluxe suites come with a choice of either a shower or three-quarter bath.

• The journey: Blue Train mainly runs between Cape Town and Pretoria in either direction, with occasional alternative routes to Durban, Pilanesberg and Kruger. It can also be chartered for incentives or corporate functions such as product launches

Fast facts


Rail

A champagne reception is provided for all departures. Each sleeper carriage, accommodates five Pullman suites orthree Deluxe suites or two Royal Suites.Deluxe and Royal suites have permanent beds made up 24 hoursa day. Pullman suites have couches which can be converted tosingle or double beds. Two comfortable chairs per suite in Royal and Deluxe Suites withdaytime couch in Pullman. Bar fridge in each suite and all alcoholic and non-alcoholicbeverages are complimentary. Royal suites have full bathtub and separate shower. Meals are at one sitting allowing guests to linger as long as theychoose. The Observation Car at the rear of the train has an open deck. The train travels at a maximum speed of 38 miles per hour toallow for greater comfort and scenic appreciation.

Fast facts

Rovos Rail


Tanzania/MozambiqueSerena Hotels has teamed up with RaniResorts to launch two Tanzania andMozambique Fusion packages.

The offer, which is valid until 31December, combines four nights in theSelous National Reserve with fournights in Northern Mozambique, 3 ofwhich are on the islands of theQuirimbas Archipelago.

There are two packages available: fournights at Mivumo River Lodge followedby 1 night at Pemba Beach Hotel andSpa and three nights at MedjumbePrivate Island, with prices leading in at£3,015; or four nights at Selous LuxuryCamp followed by one night at PembaBeach Hotel and Spa and three nights atMatemo Island, which starts at £2,598.

The packages including all scheduledinternal flights, airport transfer, full-board accommodation includingbeverages except in Pemba where itincludes B&B only. Also included areactivities such as game drives, gamewalks and boat excursions in Tanzaniaand non-motorisedactivities/equipment in Mozambique.International flights are excluded.

Ras KutaniA boutique beach retreat on the

southern Tanzania coastline just 20miles from Dar es Salaam is making aname for its self with the conservationattempts of its owner Charles Dobie.

The Ras Kutani is set within 100 acresof tropical coastal forest alongTanzania’s coastline, and it is thanks tothe efforts of Dobie that this forest hasbeen saved, cultivated and is nowcontinuously patrolled in order toprotect it and retain its natural beauty.

The forest boasts 132 differentspecies of trees, including mango treesand the Marula tree. Guests at RasKutani can learn all about theconservation efforts with the From TreeTo Tree self-guided tour.

Accommodation at the resort includesnine open-fronted cottages, each withen suite bathroom, large verandah witha covered sand floor, seating area,hammocks and views of Indian Ocean.

&BeyondLuxury adventure and safari provider&Beyond has launched a new packagein Tanzania designed for first-timers tothe safari experience or small groups offamily and friends.

The seven-night Guided Group Safarisare the first in a series of planned setdepartures that will leave on the first

Sunday of every month with scheduledflights from Arusha Airport.

Guests spend one night in Arusha andtwo nights each at three of &Beyond’slodges in Tanzania: Ngorongoro CraterLodge (pictured above); Lake ManyaraTree Lodge; Klein’s Camp; GrumetiSerengeti Tented Camp; and SerengetiUnder Canvas. All departures areaccompanied by a &Beyond safari guide.

The tour leads in at £3,770 per personfor a seven-night trip and includesaccommodation, transfers, full board,park fees and daily safari activities.

Singita Game ReservesSingita Game Reserves has launched theSingita Explore, a mobile safariexperience through the Singita GrumetiReserves, a private concession situatedalong the western corridor of Tanzania’sSerengeti.

The Singita Explore can accommodatebetween two and 12 guests and itsroute is set in accordance to nature,rainfall patterns, vegetation and gamemovements that include the annualwildebeest migration. The camp will befully staffed at all times with a privateguide and game viewing vehicle, chefand camp host.

Guests will return from game drives


Regional round-up

From Malawi to Mozambique, we get the latest updateon hotels, safari lodges and airlines

Regional round-up

S09 S & E Africa 2012 Supp Regional round-up_Layout 1 20/02/2012 18:41 Page 33

to en-suite hideaways with canvas wallframes and contemporary details.

Luke Bailes, CEO of Singita GameReserves, says: “With Singita Explore wesee the return of raw authenticity todays spent in the bush and nights undercanvas in the wilderness. Luxury is stillthere, but we’re doing it differently.”

Singita Explore also offers equestrianmobile tented safaris.

Fully inclusive rates for SingitaExplore lead in at £584 per person pernight, and require a minimum of twopersons per booking and a minimumstay of two nights in any one mobilelocation.

Precision AirTanzanian airline Precision Air hasincreased its fleet size to 11 with thedelivery of its second Boeing 737-300.

The new aircraft has helped the airlineto increase capacity on its existingflights and look to add new destinationsto its route map.

The carrier has also launched a new

flight to Johannesburg from Dar EsSalaam, increasing the number of timesit flies there a week from four to five.

Precision Air has started flying to theComoros Islands, bring the total numberof destinations it serves to 14.

The airline has also revamped itswebsite to make booking flights easier.The site can now accept visa payments.

ZanzibarA luxury retreat on Pemba Island haslaunched a special package for 2012.

Guests staying for four nights at thebeach lodge of Fundu Lagoon only payfor three as long as they visit from nowuntil 15 April, 15 June to 30 June, 1November to 22 December and 1 March2013 to 15 April 2013. This offer is validon all room rates.

The hotel is situated on a remotebeach on the south western side of theisland and is only accessible by boat,making it the epitome of a bare-footparadise. There are 18 rooms thatconsist of designer tents and thatch

roofs all with sea views. The focus of theresort is on enjoying the peace andquiet of the surrounding environment.

MozambiqueAn island resort has recently reopenedon Mozambique’s QuirimbasArchipelago after a six-monthrenovation project.

The Azura at Qulialea now has a newwater sports centre to fully embrace theisland’s diving, a refurbished front ofhouse with bar and relaxation area, astate-of-the-art TV and media roomand a new kitchen in which to recreateAzura’s renowned five-star cuisine.

The nine villas have been expandedand revamped with three categories forguests to choose from; sunrise villaswith stunning sea views, sunset villaswith a beachside sala and refreshingoutside shower and Villa Quilalea, whichis located on the cliff top with a plungepool.

Prices start from $595 per person pernight.


Regional round-up

The boutique beach retreat of Ras Kutanion the southern Tanzanian coast


The White Pearl resort comprises chicand contemporary all-suiteaccommodation and it is aimed at guestsseeking an active beach break, a postsafari 'chill out' or a relaxing andrestorative retreat.

The resort features 22 ocean-facingsuites with private plunge pools, indoorand outdoor showers and terraces fordining and lounging; a restaurant andbeach bar; beach shop and dive centre.

MalawiMajete Wildlife Reserve, situated inMalawi’s lower Shire valley is on its way tobecoming a big five park, havingundertaken wildlife reintroductionprogramme.

More than £1.5 million has beeninvested in introducing 2,550 head ofwildlife including elephant, buffalo, sableand black rhino to the park since 2003

The plan to gradually introduce bigcats back into the park started lastOctober with the introduction of twoleopards re-located from the KrugerNational Park with six more planned aspart of the Majete restockingprogramme, which will culminate in thereintroduction of lion in 2012.

Robin Pope SafarisSafari experience specialists Robin PopeSafaris is introducing a new itinerary inApril to South Luangwa National Park inMalawi.

The new five-night itinerary will allowvisitors to explore small gullies by boatduring the high waters as well as beingable to visit parts of the national parkalmost exclusively on their own as manyof the roads are unpassable during thistime of the year.

Prices for the five-night experience leadin at £1,177 per person.

UgandaA new five-star resort has opened inUganda on the banks of the Munyangariver facing the Bwindi ImpenetrableNational Park, home to a large number ofmountain gorillas.

The Mahogany Springs offers guestsmountain views and all-suiteaccommodation, which each have theirown private terraces together with en

suite bathrooms and advancedmosquito net system.

Guest at the hotel can take part in aGorillas In The Mist - Tracking, which willgive them the opportunity to spend anhour with the primates.

SwazilandSwaziland is pulling out all the stops toincrease the number of visitors it attractsthis year.

The Swaziland Tourist office islaunching a new optimised website withGoogles maps and regular news feeds,providing updates combined with a tradedownload area and social mediaintegration.

Meanwhile, national airline SwazilandAirlink has acquired a Embraer 135 jetaircraft as well as increasing its flightfrequency between Manzini andJohannesbug. There is now a service everythree hours.

Hotels are also raising the bar inSwaziland. Veki’s Guesthouse in Mbabanehas added two new self-cateringcottages, while Foresters Arms Hotel, ashort drive from Mbabane, is now offeringfree wifi, has launched a new websitealong with signing up to Facebook andTwitter and has introduced some newdishes to its menu.

Mananga Club in Tshaneni is nowoffering sunset cruises on the Sandriver dam and has upgraded its golf

course, while Assegai Inn has added aseventh room to its hotel.

ZimbabweAfrican Bush Camps is launched an air taxitype initiative in April to promote travel toZimbabwe.

Safari Logistics is aimed at making airtravel to some of Zimbabwe’s top wildlifeand safari areas more cost effective. Thesedestinations include Victoria Falls,Hwange, Lake Kariba in Matusadona andMana Pools.

There will be three scheduleddepartures a week from Victoria Falls at8am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.Areas served by the route will includeManga, Bumi, Kariba, Hwange, Mana,Dandawa and Victoria Falls.

The schedule is run on a first book firstserve basis and seats are limited.

Prices will start at £184 one way.African Bush Camps has also opened a

family-friendly lodge in the heart ofHwange National Park, which is known asthe land of the giants for its big elephantherds.

Somalisa is an authentic bush camp, ablend of old African charm and eleganceoffering guests an exclusive safari experience.

The camp consists of six furnishedcanvas tents with en suite bathrooms,flush toilet and alfresco bush showers.

The main decking area includes a smallsplash pool overlooking the natural pan. ■

Guests staying at Mahogany Springs in Uganda get to encounter gorillas in the mist


Regional round-up



Documents

Southern & East Africa Supplement 2012