August Updates from the Island Safari Team

Hi Guys,

Just some quick updates for August.I implore the blog readers out there, to please email me at: david@island-safari.com, if there are any questions.Here follows the updates:

Update 1:

Country: Seychelles

Update: New Properties

Info: IFA Hotels and Resorts, in partnership with Indian Ocean Resorts, plans to develop a luxury hotel, residence and village marina resort on the Seychelles island of Sainte Anne.

The R3,2bn mixed-use development, Zilwa, will feature a five-star hotel, serviced residences and luxury facilities and amenities. Zilwa will be located in the Sainte Anne Marine National Park. It will include a marina that has a number of pools, a spa and beach club.

The Round Island Resort is being built in the Sainte Anne National Park. Expected to open in th third quarter of 2008, the resort will have 10 individual de luxe private chalets with private pools, outdoor decking and gazebo with beach access. The resort will also have a spa on the premises.

The second property, the Waterfront, should open in 2010 on the Roche Caiman Waterfront on Mahé. It will comprise 40 de luxe rooms, suites and serviced apartments, a private marina, a lifestyle spa, conference facilities, boutiques, art galleries and other retail outlets.Both properties will be part of the new Seychelles brand, ‘Enchanted’.

Did You Know?

Country: Seychelles

Resort: Lemuria

Info: Did you know that two species of endangered sea turtles nest on the beaches of Lemuria Resort? These are the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas).Hawksbill Turtles are classified as a "critically endangered" species by the IUCN. Although the species is very rare in most places, Seychelles hosts one of the largest remaining nesting populations in the world today. The Seychelles hawksbills are unusual because they nest during the day. Elsewhere they nest at night, as do most other species of turtles including the 'endangered' Green Turtle.

Where: The most likely beaches to see turtles nesting are on Grande Anse Kerlan and at Anse Georgette

When: The peak nesting season is from October through January. These are the most likely months to see female turtles up on the beach. Sea turtle eggs take about two months to hatch. Peak hatching season is from December through March.

What: Adult Hawksbills weigh about 60 - 70 kgs and lay about 150 - 250 eggs in each nest. Green Turtles can weigh 200 kilos, but they lay fewer eggs. Newly hatched baby turtles only weigh about 40 grams.

It is our pleasure to announce that with effective from 6th September 2007 Nigel Hoareau will be the Turtle Manager for Constance Lemuria Resort. Nigel has been working with the Marine Parks Authority and thus his knowledge of environment and marine life will be of great benefitto Lemuria Resort and most importantly to our Guests. His duties will include – turtle monitoring during the nesting season, tracking number of turtlescoming to the beach, ensuring that guests receive relevant communication during the turtle season, training Lemuria Beach staff, liaising with the environment representatives with regards to the beaches, turtles etc.

Update 2:

Country: Botswana

Update: Lodges of Botswana

Info: I'm writing this from Delta Camp again, and it's that time of year – the camp full of elephant, shaking the palm trees night and day, and wandering around lik sheep. The guests are agog. Yesterday during lunch elephant, giraffe and four magnificent kudu bulls all visible from the table, and a family of otters porpoising down the channel. Leopard with up to three cubs on the island, unusual number, and Fowler x 5 saw two lions feeding on a young giraffe they killed last night, on their morning walk. Hippo grunting, wattled cranes croaking, fish eagles fish eagling, the rattle of pots and pans........business as usual.

The weather has turned perfect, cool nights, a little chilly in the morning but soo warming to blissful days.Clear skies still, very few fires this year (so far), and non of that noisome August wind we sometimes suffer, and long may that last. A fantastic display of shooting stars the night before last as we pass through, according to one of our guests, the tail of a passing comet.

Lena taking a well-earned break, relieved by Shex, who was Binky's assistant manager in the dark ages, and yours truly, so brace yourselves for complaints. I'll try not to call anyone a bitch, my instincts notwithstanding.

Some Delta Air news - we will, within a week or so, have added a G8 Airvan to our fleet. The Airvan is the 'coming' bush plane, an Australian concoction that hasproved itself in this environment. It is a rather slow single but has the advantage of having 7 passenger seats, which will make scheduling easier and take the pressure off our existing fleet during this busy time. It has large windows and excellent visibility, so those passengers not concentrating on their air-sickness bags will have an excellent view of the (slowly) passing scenery.

Update 3:

Country: Zambia

Islands of Siankaba

Info: Firstly may I take this opportunity to let everyone know that we will be closing the lodge from the 14th January to the 14th February 2008 so that we can raise the height of our bridges to avoid the closure we had in March this year due to high river levels. Obviously we are attempting to avoid a repeat of the closure and hope you will all understand that this is for the long term betterment of the lodge. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience it may cause.

Update 4:

Country: Mozambique

Company: Pelican Air Services

Info: PELICAN Air Services will begin offering flights from OR Tambo International (ORTIA) and Kruger Mpumalanga International (KMIA) to Inhambane in Mozambique return, from September 4. Direct flights from ORTIA to Inhambane will depart Wednesdays and Sundays at 10h25, arriving at Inhambane at 12h45. The return flight will depart Inhambane at 14h45 and arrive at ORTIA at 17h20 the same day. On Tuesdays and Fridays the service will collect passengers at KMIA before continuing on to Inhambane. Flights will depart ORTIA at 10h25, stop at KMIA at 12h00 and arrive at Inhambane at 13h15. The return flight will depart Inhambane at 14h00, stop at KMIA at 15h15 and arrive at ORTIA at 17h10 the same day.A combination of the Beechcraft 1900 and ATR42 will be operated on the route.

Update 5:

Country: Namibia

Area Info: Twyfelfontein

Info: TWYFELFONTEIN in the north-west of Namibia is the first site in that country to be added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. The site’s rock art was investigated by archaeological experts and found to be of ‘outstanding universal value’. It is one of the largest concentrations of rock carvings in Africa, comprising carvings of rhinos, elephants, ostriches and giraffes.

The property also has six painted rock shelters with motifs of human figures in red ochre. Objects like stone artefacts and ostrich eggshell beads dating back to the Late Stone Age have also been excavated from certain parts of the property.

Update 6:

Country: South Africa

Area of Interest: Table Mountain

Info: THE Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) has issued a warning for visitors planning to hike on the mountain.

This comes after two groups of tourists were attacked in separate incidents while hiking last week. Phumeza Mqxashe, communications manger for TMNP, said this was the seventh mugging incident to take place on Table Mountain this year and that the park received around 4,1m visits in a year.

Mgxashe advised that visitors hike in big groups, carry minimal valuables and alert the TMNP visitor safety rangers of any suspicious-looking characters.

TMNP has acquired kennels for the five dogs used in patrols in the northern section of the park. Its visitor safety team comprises 52 rangers and there are also 200 safety volunteers who patrol various parts of the mountain over weekends.

Company: Samara Private Game Reserve

Info: A NEW exclusive use accommodation option is to open in the Samara Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape on November 1.The Manor House will accommodate eight guests in four air-conditioned suites all comprising en-suite bathrooms and offering views over the Karoo landscape. The suites will include indoor and outdoor showers and free-standing baths.

The Manor House features an infinity pool, which descends into a natural water hole where game can be viewed, a Boma, veranda and dining and breakfast room. Guests will have access to their own ranger, chef and butler.Samara already offers accommodation in the Karoo Lodge, comprising three lodge suites and three Karoo suites.

Company: Peermont Global

Info: A NEW three-star hotel, The Metcourt, is being built at the Emperors Palace Hotel Casino and Convention Resort. The 248-room hotel, scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2008, will be located on the north-west boundary of the Emperors Palace complex on Jones Road. It is estimated to cost around R170m to develop and will feature a large ground floor reception area, business centre, boardroom, residents’ pool areas and buffet-style restaurant. There will also be large dedicated facilities for the arrival and check-in of tour groups.

The Metcourt will be managed by Peermont and is the fourth hotel at Emperors Palace.The existing hotels include the five-star D’oreale Grande, the three-star Mondior Concorde and the three-star Metcourt Laurel.

Back again for some more Island Safari updates!

Hi Guys,

I am back today, bringing you all the latest news and updates from the Island Safari camp.Sorry for the delay, but as I stated. I was gone for a while, but now I am back again.So without further delay, here follows all the updates for July 2007.

Update 1:

Company: Zambia Airways

Info: Due to the demand on Livingstone flights, we have decided to re-open our evening Livingstone flight at an earlier time for the month of August.Please note that Q3502/503 will operate on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun at timings below For August.This gives us additional MFULVI, NLALVI and LVINLA connections on select days, as below.

We have also increased capacity on Q3500/501 LUNLVILUN on Tue, Thu, Sat for August. This flight will be operated by both Embraer and 1900, to allow extra capacity.

Therefore, if you were looking for seats in August to L’stone, please re-check availability now.For individual existing bookings on August Q3502/503, our Email Centre will be advising you on the new PNR details:

Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
502 LUNLVI 1515-1615
503 LVILUN 1635-1735
802 MFULVI 1350-1615 (Mon, Wed, Fri)
401 NLALVI 1400-1615 (Wed, Fri)
503 LVINLA 1635-1830 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun)


Update 2:

Country: Mozambique

Company: Rani Resorts

info: Indigo Bay Island Resort and Spa welcomed guests at the beginning of July, following closure of the hotel for renovations after Cyclone Favio struck the Bazaruto Archipelago in February. The Beach Chalets, guest areas and all activities are fully operational. The Bay View Villas will be complete in August and the spectacular Sanctuary Spa will be operational later in the year. It seems everyone wants a taste of the newly-opened Indigo Bay – whether to escape from the cold Southern Hemisphere winter or to escape to an exotic African island haven - August is filling up rapidly. We urge you to book soon to avoid disappointment


New Lugenda Concession

Info: Rani Resorts has been granted a second concession in the Niassa Reserve, northern Mozambique. With Lugenda Wilderness Camp as Rani Resorts' first venture into thisextraordinary wilderness wonderland, the new concession will add further value to the region and our guests' experience. Located within the Niassa Reserve.

Pemba Spa Open

Info: Earlier this month, the first of four planned Sanctuary Spas in Mozambique, The Sanctuary Spa at Pemba Beach, opened its doors to Pemba Beach Hotel and Spa guests and the frontier town of Pemba.

With a steam chamber, dry and wet treatment rooms, as well as an outside double treatment room overlooking the azure Indian Ocean, a seaside Hydro pool and Juice Bar, The Sanctuary Spa at Pemba Beach provides an oasis of relaxation, revitalisation and rejuvenation for your body, mind and soul in a truly remarkable setting.

Marlon Fishing Season

Info:Only three months to go until the Marlin fishing season in the Bazaruto
Archipelago begins. We are delighted to offer you special packages which include either 4 (or 6) nights' accommodation at Indigo Bay Island Resort and Spa with 3 (or 5) full day fishing excursions, where our professional skippers and crew will help you on your quest to tackle the mighty Marlin! Food (or is that bait?) for a fisherman's soul...

Update 3:

Country: South Africa

SA Horseback Safaris: Important Update

Info: Please note the following instructions from our car transfer company with regards to collection of clients from Johannesburg airport, effective from 1st September 2007.

Important Notice : Due to the on going re-construction of the O.R.Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport Waterberg Transfers would like to suggest the following meet and greet strategy for the future to ensure all guest receive the best possible service when being meet by their driver. In preparation for the FIFA 2010 world cup football tournament many of the existing terminals are currently under construction and with some entrances in the arrivals lounge only measuring 1 metre wide this is proving to be problem with clients finding the Waterberg Transfers designated driver.

We would like to suggest that from the 01st September 2007 all clients arriving on International flight only, to be instructed by reservations / agents / lodges /hotels to make their way to the Information desk in International Arrivals where their driver will be waiting with sign in hand. This will avoid the clients having to read 100's of signs before finding their name. The information desk at international arrivals in positioned in the centre of the arrivals lounge and is well sign posted. There are a lot less people around this area which should make finding clients much easier.

The information desk is also central to all currency exchange and close to bathrooms/toilets and shops.On a separate note, can I please ask that you try to persuade all clients to take the option of the car transfer as opposed to flying to Nelspruit Airport from Johannesburg. We are seeing a high incidence of lost baggage for clients taking this route and it really does take much longer than the car transfer direct from Johannesburg.

Company: Sun International

Info: Due to emergency repairs that need to be carried out on the pool at The Table Bay Hotel please note that the whole pool area will be closed with effect from 23 July to 31 August 2007. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Company: Sefofane Air Charters

Info: SEFOFANE Air Charters has introduced new flights between Lanseria and Welgevonden Game Reserve in Limpopo. The flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays departing Lanseria at 10h30 with the return flight departing Welgevonden at 15h20. Depending on the number of passengers, the aircraft used for this route will either be a Cessna Grand Caravan, Cessna 402 or Cessna 210. If passengers then need to be transported to the Pafuri Camp in the Kruger National Park, this can be arranged. This is in addition to the existing flights between Lanseria and Pafuri.