Friday, December 07, 2007

Samara Whispers and Christmas Wishies - A recipe to tantalize the tastebuds...

Hey Guys,

As we are in the Christmas spirit already, I thought, that this time around I should maybe post a recipe for those who specifically has a sweet tooth at this time of the year.I hope maybe some of our readers will try this out and maybe vote in the poll that I will put up in the navigation.So enjoy and happy holidays!!

Click on the image to enlarge:




The Island Safari Team

Island Safari December 2007 Update

Hey Guys,


First off I want to wish all of our readers a happy festive season and prosperous new year, and may 2008 be just as good as 2007 has been.This update include news from Zambia,Namibia,South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Sun International.As always, if you have some more questions or inquiries about Island Safari, you can email me at: david@island-safari.com


On with the updates then.


Update 1:

Country: Zambia

Update About: Norman Carr Park Entry Fees

Update Info:

We have recently been told that Park Entry fees and bush camp lease fees in the South Luangwa are to be increased for 2008. We have calculated the financial impact that this will have on our company and decided that we can not afford to absorb the burden of these extra costs.

We are therefore increasing the rates at our 4 bush camps by US$20 per day, the rates at Kapani Lodge will remain unaltered. We will be implementing this increase for all bookings on which deposits have not already been paid to us.

We do apologise for the inconvenience that this is bound to cause and trust that you can work with us to make this process as smooth and painless as possible.

Update 2:

Country: Botswana

Update About: African Bushcamps Info

Update Info:

NEW! Linyanti Walking Safaris: This is a mobile tented camping safari experience focused on walking within the private concession in the Chobe Enclave part of the Linyanti. This is an adventure that will awaken you to the heart beat of Africa and its true wilderness.

Distance walked each day will vary depending on the capabilities of the group and what their interests are with many stops for water, picnic breakfasts, lunches and many interesting sightings along the way. Each day the camp may move, dependent on where the wildlife action is. This is an adventure safari for those that seek to explore the wild and remote wilderness area on foot. Close-up safe encounters on foot with elephant, buffalo and lion are not uncommon in the hands of the best professional guides whose first passion is to interpret and bring to life every aspect of the bush.

Accommodation is in stand-in spacious tents with comfortable beds and en-suite private bathroom facilities. The Linyanti area is best known for its large populations of Elephant and buffalo that congregate in vast numbers especially during the dry season. Lion, sable, roan, leopard, wild dog, and a number of the plains game can be enjoyed in the Linyanti. The rare and elusive sitatunga antelope, red lechwe, hippo and crocodile can be found in the surrounding marshes.

Guaranteed departures based on two people on our set departure dates. Maximum people per safari is six. All other walking safaris other than the set dates will be based on departures according to request including private departures, minimum four people and minimum three nights. Minimum number of people on the set departure dates is 2 people.

Update 3:

Country: Mozambique

Update About: Mozambique's main border post

Update Info:

MOZAMBIQUE’S main border post with South Africa at Ressano Garcia is open 24 hours a day until January 15. This is to speed up the movement of tourists during the busy festive season. The southern regional director of Mozambican customs, Goncalves Mandava, has also called for an increase in the number of customs and immigration staff at the border post.

Update 4:

Country: South Africa

Update About: Botlierskop reserve being closed.

Update Info:

The Reserve has closed after floods caused severe damage to the property.While repair workha begun, the reserve expects to reopen only in April 2008. Activities such as game drives, horse-back safaris and bush walks will recommence in January 2008. Botelierskop's reservatio office remains open, but all existing bookings are being cancelled with guests being referred to Buffelsdrift Game Lodge near Oudtshoorn. Restaurant bookings are referred to Café Gannet Restaurant in Mossel Bay. According the Marcia Holm, office manager at Mossel Bay Tourism, the areas most affected are the low-lying areas at Great Brak River where several homes and a caravan park were damaged as well as Little Brak River where floods caused extensive damage to the beach and adjacent facilities. Holm said repairs to the beach and facilities at Little Brak River should be completed by the end of the week.

Update 5:

Country: South Africa

Update About: Sun International hotel price increases

Update Info:

Please note that the following meal prices at the Sun City Hotel have increased as follows
with immediate effect:

Buffet Lunch at the Sun Terrace Restaurant has increased from R145 to R150 per person
Buffet Dinner at the Calabash Restaurant has increased from R145 to R150 per person

Update 6:

Country: Namibia

Update About: Islands in Africa Reservations Department

Update Info:

Islands in Africa

For those who have dealt with Karis in Islands in Africa's reservations department, who has formed an integral part with Islands in Africa's team for so long, has left.We wish her every success and good health!Meanwhile, should you have any reservations inquiries please direct them to either Nosihle,Vicky, Susan or Phil – res@islandsinafrica.com, safari@islandsinafrica.com

Monday, December 03, 2007

Island Safari November Update

Hey Guys,

I have to quickly make an apology for this update being so late, seems that we are already in December.Well with out further ridue here follows the updates:

Update 1:

Country: Zambia

Update On: General Info on Zambia

Update Info:

A bridge is due to be constructed next year that will ease the flow of tourists between Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.The bridge will be constructed in Kazungula, crossing the Zambezi, and will replace the ferry that currently transports vehicles and passengers from Botswana into Zambia and back. “This is an important development for Zambia and her neighbouring countries as the route is not only used by tourists but for intertrading and the transport of cargo particularly from SA,” said Solistor Cheelo, manager Southern Africa and Australia for the Zambia National Tourist Board. He said that although there hadn't been a problem with congestion at this crossing yet, passengers often had to wait for the ferry, causing delays in their travel time.

THE Zambian government is improving access to the Kafue National Park from Livingstone via the southern Dundumwezi gate. The government has been in a tender process and is in its final stages of awarding a tender to a developer for improving the condition of the roads.The Dundumwezi gate lies approximately 120 km from Livingstone and, with the improved roads, tourists will be able to access the national park in less than a two hours' drive.

Currently, during the rainy season, the southern gate is often inaccessible from Livingstone, forcing visitors to travel via Lusaka, a much farther route. Solistor Cheelo, manager Southern Africa and Australia for the Zambia National Tourist Board, said the improved roads would ensure year-round accessibility. “With the extended runway at Livingstone, bigger aircraft means more tourists. They need to know that Kafue is an excellent attraction and there's more to Zambia than just the Falls,” he added. The park is home to over 400 species of birds and wildlife. Construction is due to begin in 2008.

Update 2:

Country: Zambia

Update About: Wildlife Camp

Update Info:

The visa waiver letters continue to hound us and please bear with us while we try to impress on immigration that the current system is not working efficiently.

Visa waivers – Lusaka airport – as we have still been having problems with the visa waivers going “missing” and have now engaged the services of a company in Lusaka who will ensure the visa waiver is delivered and that they will meet the guests and help them with the visa formalities and take them to the departure lounge. The cost for this is $15 per person and pleas let me know if you would like to offer this service to your guests.

Update 3:

Country: Botswana

Update About: Footsteps

Update Info:

Deception Valley Lodge in Botswana is currently building a new two-bedroom suite. The Kalahari suite can accommodate up to four guests. The guests will have access to a private vehicle with guide and tracker as well as a private chef. The suite will operate independently from the rest of the lodge and is expected to be complete by the end of April 2008.

Update 4:

Country: Botswana

Update About: Orient Express Safaris

Update Info:

In an effort to accommodate the growing trend of family and multi generational travel, Orient-Express Safaris will - from January 2008 - accept children of 8 years and older at all three Northern Botswana camps: Eagle Island Camp, Khwai River Lodge and Savute Elephant Camp.Additionally, children of 8 years and older will be welcome to participate in all activities as all our guides will be fully versed in entertaining children as well as adults!

Update 5:

Country: Botswana

Update About:
CC Africa

Update Info:

CC AFRICA will launch two semi-permanent luxury tented camps in Botswana next year, Chobe Under Canvas and Savute Under Canvas. Both camps will comprise six Hemingway-style mobile tents, each with a double bed, en-suite bathroom, flushing toilet and bucket shower. The camps will have no electricity or running water.Each camp will have two vehicles equipped with fridges, safes and plug points to charge electronic equipment. Activities on offer will include twice-daily game drives. Chobe Under Canvas has access to two CC Africa-operated boats on the Chobe River, so guests can substitute a game drive for a game-viewing cruise. Other activities include limited walking safaris. The camps will open March 2008. CC Africa is also planning to open another two camps in the southern part of the Okavango Delta in Botswana next year. The camps will both initially sleep six and at a later stage 12.

Update 6:

Country: South Africa

Update About: Garonga Safari Camp

Update Info:

GARONGA Safari Camp situated in the Makalali Conservancy in Limpopo, is opening the exclusive use camp, Little Garonga, on December 10.

Little Garonga will comprise the current Hambleden suite, which is being converted into a two-bed roomed suite with an adjoining room. In addition to this suite, there will also be two new suites, Buckingham and Chiltern, linked to Hambleden by wooden pathways.

The three suites are suited to a family or group of friends of up to six adults and two children. Guests at Little Garonga will have their own guide, vehicle, chef and host. Children from the age of six will be allowed at the camp.

Update 7:

Country:
South Africa

Update About: National Parks

Update Info:

Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Festus Mogae of Botswana and Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia have officially opened the Mata Mata Tourist Access Facility (Port of entry) betwee South Africa and Namibia on 12 October 2007, within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (TFP).

This access facility will enable tourists to travel between the three countries via shorter routes and with easier access. It will also see the region benefiting from the 2010 Fifa World Cup by showcasing its unique eco-tourism products and thus foster regional socio-economic development. Kgalagadi TFP, Southern Africa's first transfrontier park, incorporates the Gemsbok National Park in Botswana and the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa. It is a popular tourist destination because of its 4 x 4 wilderness trails.

Later in the month, the ministers of environment and tourism and home affairs will open the Sendelingsdrift Tourist Access Facility and launch the pontoon that tourists will use to cross the Orange River, which forms the international border between South Africa and Namibia within the Ai/Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. The opening of Mata Mata and Sendelingsdrift Tourist Access Facilities are keys to the strategy for desert tourism which explores the natural linkage between Kgalagadi and Ai/Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier parks, South Africa's Augrabies Falls National Park and the soon to be declared Sperregebiet National Park in Namibia.