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.

1St Island Safari updates for October

Hi Folks,

Following is the first Island Safari updates for October.While I am sitting here typing this, I am enjoying the warm sun that we are starting to get here down in cape town.This is usually a sign that summer is fast approaching us and yes I am ready for it.Anyway here follows the updates.
As for any questions, pleas don't refrain to email me at: david@island-safari.com
I would gladly answer all your questions.

Update 1:

Country: South Africa

Update About: South Africa Tourism Sector

Update Info: SA's tourism needs a reality check: THE tourism boom reported by SA tourism authorities could better be described as a tourism time bomb.

Colin Bell, CEO of the Great Plains Safari Company, this week disputed the claim of a tourism boom that would deliver the government's upliftment and transformation goals ahead of 2010. SA's tourism authorities and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (Deat), in particular, said Bell, needed a reality check.

Bell described the annual tourist arrival growth to South Africa as “pathetic” when excluding neighbouring states.He said the country's overall lack of meaningful rural community involvement in the tourism and wildlife industry was “disastrous” and unless this was addressed through real delivery and meaningful policy changes, the country could face civil unrest and crime at unprecedented levels in these rural areas as impoverished communities struggled to survive.

“There are not enough tourists, particularly not in our rural areas, as not enough tourism products have been allowed to be developed in partnership with communities in rural areas. Annual tourism growth rates are poor and our statistics are meaningless, except to those in government positions who have vested interests. Effective marketing, and in particular sales processes, must be put in place to address the serious shortage of non-neighbour tourists,” said Bell.

Bell said SA Tourism's statistics of 8,5m tourists in 2006 really consisted of less than 2m non-neighbour tourists, while the remaining 6,5m were visitors/tourists from neighbouring countries, counted numerous times as they crossed borders.

Total tourism growth rates when one excludes Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe from our numbers were 2, 4% in 2002/3; 1, 77% in 2003/4; 1, 68% in 2004/5 and 5, 46% in 2005/6, compared to 11, 4% in sub-Saharan Africa and up to 20% for some of our competitors. “That is no tourism boom!” charged Colin.

Deat and the provinces in particular, he added, lacked “genuine willingness” to meaningfully involve rural communities in tourism, besides the rhetoric to the contrary. He also accused Deat and the “impervious layer of bureaucracy” in the provinces of delaying progress, citing the alleged example of the failed attempt to create a Pondo National Park while Deat officials had letters stating the park extension could go ahead.

“Companies have spent millions in winning tenders in the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park and down the Wild Coast. Tenders that were awarded in 2003 but until today there is not a brick in the ground!” said Bell. Only 0, 64% of turnover earned by the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park is to be ploughed back into the local community, which he said was resulting in communities becoming disillusioned.

Update 2:

Country: Southern Africa

Update On: Southern Africa Tourism Sector

Update Info: SOUTHERN Africa receives only 1, 8% of global tourism arrivals and 1% of world tourism receipts, according to Remmy Makumbe, acting chief director of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) secretariat.

He told a hospitality investment conference hosted by the Tourism Business Council of SA (TBCSA) in Cape Town that currently tourists to the region didn't spend enough because of insufficient tourism experiences and value offerings.

He said prerequisites for tourism investment in SADC included a universal visa ('uni-visa') for the SADC region which should be in place in time for the World Cup in 2010.

2010 was also a key milestone for liberalising air transport in SADC, with an implementation plan for opening Southern African skies expected to be announced after the WTTC summit in September 2008.

Another challenge to be overcome was electricity supply in the region, which was expected to outstrip demand by 2010.

He said SADC aimed to use the World Cup as a springboard for tourism growth in the region and to position brand Southern Africa. All SADC countries needed to contribute to and benefit from the hosting of the event.

Update 3:

Country: Mozambique

Update On: Mozambique Tourism Sector

Update Info: AT least R3, 1bn (US$450m) is to be invested to unlock Mozambique's tourism potential.The Mozambican government and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have launched a Mozambique Anchor Investment Programme to mobilise investment of R1bn (US$150m) each at three key sites over the next few years and to develop related SMME and community opportunities.

IFC tourism operations officer, Irene Visser, says investment will be in:

* High-end boutique eco-tourism game lodges with strong community involvement at Maputo Special Reserve and in Zambézia province (northern Mozambique). Investment will be sought from well-known regional and international companies.
* Mixed-use developments (hotels, residential and golf) catering for a range of market segments in southern Mozambique.
* Exclusive beach resorts for the well-heeled international market in northern Mozambique.

Phase one during the past six months, involved site selection, designing a detailed implementation programme and an investor survey.

Phase two over the next two years, will involve the development of master plans, environmental and social development plans and marketing the investment opportunities.

Phase three, in year three, will involve developing SMME supply chains in partnership with the investors, developing community opportunities and building local capacity.

Visser says the aim is to provide quality anchor investment projects that will:

* Become the catalyst for other infrastructure investments in Mozambique.
* Create employment and economic benefits in rural areas through SMME
spin-offs
* Provide a sustainable business model that can be replicated
* Improve the investment climate and give Mozambique a stronger tourism
investment image.

She says Mozambique has all the ingredients to be one of Africa's top tourism destinations, with 2 700 km of tropical coastline, 15% of the country declared Protected Areas and an intriguing culture. However, despite high interest from tourists and investors, to date there has been little quality investment in the country because prospective investors perceive investment procedures and access to land as too difficult.As a result, tourism to date has not delivered on its expectations in terms of job creation, community
opportunities and economic impact.

Update 4:

Country: Zambia

Update On: Wildlife Camp

Update On: We have also noticed a large amount of waivers going “missing” so please do warn the guests that there is a possibility of this. It is an issue we are trying to address and do our utmost to ensure they are delivered but we cannot be held liable if they go missing after we have sent them in. If anyone does have to pay also please make sure they get an official receipt as the more money that goes directly into pockets the large this problem gets!

Unfortunately a scam has been noticed by a few travellers where on arrival a guest may ask for a specific number of days and fewer days are being put into the passport and then on their departure from Zambia they are being fined for “overstaying” Please can everyone check the dates given BEFORE leaving the immigration desk.

Update 5:

Country: Botswana

Update On: Nitani Christmas 2007

Update Info: We have decided that for guests who join us for Christmas at Nitani, this year, we are going to offer the following:

1. Pay for 4 nights and get the 5th night free.
2. Complimentary "His & Hers" back massage
3. Complimentary Bottle of Sparkling wine.

Validity dates: Friday 21st December to Thursday 27th December.

We will also be offering Hot Air Balloon flights on 23rd & 26th December @ SA Rands 2650 per person per flight.Please note that these flights must be booked in advance.

Update 6:

Country: South Africa

Update On: Le Quartier Français accommodation

Update Info: THE Le Quartier Français has added a new accommodation option called The Cottage.

The Cottage is across the road from the hotel and can accommodate a whole family. It comprises two en-suite bedrooms, of which one is twin-bedded and the other features a king-size bed, two lounges with fireplaces and a fully equipped open-plan kitchen and dining area. All rooms open on to a private garden and swimming pool.

It also has a laundry room with washing machine and tumble dryer, TVs with DSTV and Wi-Fi Internet. Guests receive complimentary wine on arrival and a newspaper, milk; fresh fruit juice and pastries are delivered to The Cottage every morning.