Rebuilt Wellness Facilities for Toka Leya Camp

Wilderness Safaris’ Toka Leya Camp, near Livingstone in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, has upgraded the wellness area and added a traditional Zambian massage to its spa menu. The new treatment can be enjoyed in the rebuilt spa or on guests’ private decks.

The wellness area has a separate spa treatment room with outdoor decking overlooking the Zambezi River, and a fitness room. The new spa treatment, Ukuchina, is an age-old massage technique that involves deep tissue massage using warm cloths on the body.

Toka Leya has 12 safari-style tents and an infinity pool.

Cheetah's in Botswana

Cheetah's are found throughout the wilderness areas of Botswana - even in the arid reaches of the Kalahari.

Best places to see them:
Chitabe in the Okavango Delta, Linyanti (in particular Kwando).

Cheetah have one of the highest success rates when it comes to hunting but of all the predators they are the most likely to have the kill stolen away. They have to eat very quickly once they have killed as other predators are quickly on the scene. Vultures have been known to steal kills from Cheetah.

Personal observations of Cheetah hunts reveal varying methodsof operation. A family group of a mother and her five offspring in the Savute Marsh would often use a flanking manoeuvre during a hunt.

Two individuals would flank a herd of Antelope before revealing themselves in a half hearted chase. The prey would scatter in all directions with at least one heading in the direction where the other three were waiting in ambush.

Although Cheetah rely on speed during a chase a great deal of patience and stalking goes into a hunt. During a chase prey is knocked to the ground in mid stride after which the cheetah suffocates the prey by clamping its jaws on the victim's air pipe.
Cheetah are susceptible to competition from other predators and are the first to move away from an area when competition gets too much. The previously mentioned group of Cheetah in the Savute eventually moved out of the area when Hyenas continually stole their kills.

The Hyenas developed the habit of following the group on a hunt and when a kill was made would move in immediately and steal the food.

Discover the Joy of the Open Air

The views are stunning, the air is clean, fresh and bracing...

The Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Park boasts the highest concentrations of rock art south of the Sahara, spectacular mountain peaks, rich biodiversity and rare fossils, bringing together the best of South Africa and Lesotho to form a spectacular cross-border mountain paradise.

Just Another Paradise

Situated on the scenic Route 62 and cupped between the Langeberg and Riviersonderend mountain ranges with the Breede River running through the valley.   

Endless exploration awaits you in the Robertson Wine Valley

Attractions

Attractions and things to do in and around Robertson area - including the towns of Ashton, Montagu, McGregor and Bonnievale. Great variety of things to do with Kids, Hiking trails, Mountain Biking, Cycling, Breede River boat trips, river rafting and fishing, Health and Wellness, Farmers' Markets, Horse riding and Horse Cart Trips, Sky diving, Rock Climbing, Mountain Tractor Rides, Food and Wine pairings, Arts and Crafts, Antiques and Collectibles.

In the Vineyards

SPRING :  The beginning of spring is the beginning of a new growing season in the vineyards. New shoots start emerging from the dormant buds and active growth commences. Spring is a very active time in the vineyards and activities such as fertilizing, shoot thinning and preventative sprays against fungal diseases takes place during this time. Shoot thinning is an activity where unnecessary and unwanted shoots are removed by hand in order to create a canopy microclimate which will be beneficial for wine quality. In areas where vine growing without supplementary irrigation is not possible, growers will also start irrigating during the spring period.

Towards the end of October and beginning of November the vines flower and after berry set the new bunches will start to develop. Other canopy management activities towards the end of spring include shoot positioning and tipping the growing tip of shoots in order to control growing vigor.

                                                                

Safari top the list for family holidays

Safari was by far the most popular family activity in the region, followed by adventure and beach activities. “Wildlife, ecology or bush experiences shared by the entire family are the most popular,” said Christian Grosch, MD of Airboat Afrika.

“Safari is an amazing way to gather the family together and create the experience of lifetime,” said Margie Jordan of US-based Jordan Executive Travel Service. She pointed out that in Southern Africa, families could secure an entire safari lodge.

Top destinations

1.Cape Town and the Western Cape

Cape Town came out as the top destination for families in Southern Africa. The Garden Route was noted for family-friendly options including Ostrich Safari Farm in Oudtshoorn, the Cango Caves, Featherbed Nature Reserve, Birds of Eden and Monkeyland.

2.South Africa

it is well-suited to self-drive holidays. Suggested that the availability of self-catering accommodation options positioned the country well for families.

3.KwaZulu Natal

The warm beaches in KwaZulu Natal were seen as a draw card for families, while uShaka Marine World in Durban was seen as must visit for families. The South Coast region in particular was described as a great family destination because of the many guest lodges, camping grounds and beach activities available. 

4.Botswana

“Botswana is definitely experiencing an increase in family travel,” said Walter Smith, MD of Desert & Delta Safaris.

Botswana offers Mother Nature's natural highlights with ease and authenticity. Small exclusive camps or lodges, private guides and activities focused on real natural experiences.”

5.Other highlights

Namibia was highlighted for the desert activities on offer.

Impodimo Game Lodge

Impodimo Game Lodge is set on a rocky ridge overlooking the vistas within the magnificent malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve of the North West Province of South Africa.

Rise in the morning to an African dawn and enjoy an early morning game drive with your dedicated professional ranger and tracker. Relax as your ranger guides you through the bush on a custom made open Land Rover searching out the secrets of nature. In the afternoon, when the heat of the African sun has diminished and the shadows are longer, head out on a sundowner safari to watch the sun set on this bushveld paradise and go in search of the more nocturnal creatures that now rule the bush.

Set out on a bush walk with your armed ranger and learn the art of tracking African game, enjoy the trees, birds and stunning scenery.

New activities for the whole family

 

Paddling in the mangroves

Machangulo Beach Lodge in Mozambique recently added stand-up paddle boards to its repertoire of water sports. This is a fun activity that the entire family can enjoy, combining it with a snorkelling picnic or a dhow sailing cruise. The mangrove forests near the lodge are an idyllic location to explore on the paddle boards. The lodge is reached by boat transfer from Maputo to the Santa Maria Peninsula.

Horse ride and picnic

A new activity for families at Legend Golf & Safari Resort and in the Entabeni Safari Conservancy in the Waterberg is horse riding. Two packages are on offer, combining a one- or two-hour ride with a picnic lunch. Rides are accompanied by a trained guide.

Berries and ‘buses’ on the Garden Route

At Fancourt, on the Garden Route in the Western Cape, eco-friendly tours are available on the recently introduced Eco-Rider, a two-wheeled battery-powered machine, with the ability to clamber over all types of terrain on the golfing estate. The activity is already popular with families, and is done under the guidance of a local guide. A day trip on the Outeniqua Power Van, a rail bus travelling from the Outeniqua Transport Museum through one of the most scenic routes in George against the backdrop of the Outeniqua Mountain, is another novel means of exploring the beauty of the Garden Route. Nearby, and ideal for families, is Redberry Farm for some strawberry picking. Visitors can also explore the large hedge maze, relax in the onsite tea garden, purchase home-made delicacies from the farm stall, while children enjoy mini train rides, bumper boats, and pony rides. Teenagers and younger children can socialise in the Teens Lounge or Kidz Club. Even babies are given special care at Fancourt, receiving their branded soft towels and face cloths.

Picking up bush skills

A meaningful conservation experience is now on offer in a remote corner at Gondwana Game Reserve on the Garden Route, where a tented eco camp has been established for 10 people in five tents. It comes with private staff who see to catering and tent service, and a dedicated field guide and vehicle for the duration of the stay. A six-day/five-night stay option enables guests to participate in wildlife and veld management, learn bush skills and volunteer in the local community. There are also specific weeks where a family programme is hosted. Says owner, Mark Rutherford: “They ensure the activities are not too long or too strenuous for the little ones, to keep them motivated and happy. Family projects are developed for all age groups to be able to actively participate. While the regular, more adult programme (16 years and up) brings in elements of wildlife monitoring and research, for the younger crowd they will substitute this with activities like fishing, treasure hunts and nature craft to keep it fun and interactive.” The reserve has the Big Five species, and is blanketed in fynbos.

New culinary route opens on Cape West Coast

West Coast Way Foodie Route, which showcases the diverse flavours to be found in this area, launched last week.

The route is a self-drive circular route with 10 stops – the West Coast National Park with Geelbek Restaurant; Langebaan; Saldanha Bay; Jacobsbaai; Paternoster and Cape Columbine; St Helena and Shelley Point; Velddrif; the West Coast Fossil Park; Hopefield; and the Thali Thali Game Lodge.

“The West Coast Way Foodie Route showcases the relationship between passion, innovation and food,” said Founder, Carmen Lerm.  

“It must be mentioned that this new route is located within an area of vast natural and cultural beauty,” added James Vos, South African Shadow Minister of Tourism.

The route launch began at Thali Thali Game Lodge with a traditional West Coast breakfast, followed by the official ribbon cutting ceremony at Herons Rest. Guests were then taken to Protea Hotel Saldanha Bay for oysters with a final stop at Saldanha Bay Cultural Village and Museum, showcasing the historic fishing houses of Hoedjieskop in Saldanha.

Other West Coast Way routes include the West Coast Way Scenic Route, the West Coast Way Berg Route and the West Coast Way Cultural Route.

“Tour operators can use these routes as part of their itinerary and easily find what they need to put bespoke and new packages together,” says Lerm.

The best lodges to see the wildebeest migration

The annual migration in East Africa is a memorable safari experience and a dream for many overseas visitors. Kim Emmanuel looks at some of the best places to stay when viewing the migration.

1.Sanctuary Serengeti Migration Camp
Robert Dixon, Senior Marketing & Digital Manager of Sanctuary Retreats, recommends the three of the group’s camps to best enjoy the wildebeest migration. “Rain is what motivates the migration and rules where the herds will be throughout the year,” said Dixon, adding that the best time to visit is July to October.
Sanctuary Serengeti Migration Camp in Tanzania is a seasonal camp that is located in the Western Serengeti from April – July, in the Northern Serengeti from August – November and in the Southern Serengeti from December – March each year.
This camp will move between three different locations, literally following the migration as it travels across the Serengeti, offering guests year round access to this incredible spectacle.
The camp offers 10 luxury safari tents each with their own en-suite bathrooms, indoor bucket shower and personal tent attendant.

2.Serengeti Serena safari Lodge

Serengeti Serena safari Lodge is located in the Serengeti National Park, 335 kilometres from Arusha, Tanzania where guests can enjoy a ringside seat of the annual migration of the wildebeest.
The lodge comprises 66 rooms of which one is a suite, two are handicap rooms, 26 twin rooms, 21 double rooms and 16 triple rooms (three pairs connecting rooms).
The lodge is accessible via a one hour flight from Arusha Airport to Seronera Air strip, followed by a transfer to the lodge 27 kilometres away.
Apart from witnessing the wildebeest migration, guests can enjoy game drives, hot air balloon safaris, walking safaris, nature walks, the swimming pool, acrobatic shows, cultural dances, video shows, a local guitarist, and board games.

3.Governors’ Camp

Governors’ Camp in Kenya’s Masai Mara is one of the best places to experience the migration.
"The camp presents an unmatched migration experience, more especially due to its ideal location and perfectly executed game drives," says Dave Bennett, Chief Sales Officer at Wilderness Safaris.
The camp is ideally located just north of several crossing points and adjacent to the renowned Paradise Plains where the BBC has filmed much of their migration footage.
The Governors’ Camp Collection comprises of seven luxury safari camps and lodges. The group also operate two aircraft, which are used to fly clients to and between camps.


4.Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Mara Serena Safari Lodge is located in the centre of the famous ‘Mara Triangle' of Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.
The lodge provides views over the savannah and down to the hippo-filled Mara River, where guests can view the annual migration.
The lodge comprises 74 rooms (including five family rooms and one suite, all of which are non-smoking), a central dining room, internal and external bar, swimming pool and sundeck, Maisha Safari Spa and Gym, and gift shop and business centre. Other facilities include satellite television, WiFi, 24-hour medical services, a conference centre and events facilities.
Transfers to the lodge by road from Nairobi are approximately five hours in duration, while Mara Serena Airstrip is two kilometres from the Masai Mara Serena Safari Lodge.

5.Sanctuary Kusini

Sanctuary Kusini is the only permanent camp in the remote southern part of the Serengeti, Tanzania, and is ideal for seeing cheetah and wildebeest that congregate on the grassy plains in the calving season from mid-December to March.
Sanctuary Kusini comprises 12 tents each with its own personal attendant, mosquito netting, hairdryers and in-room safe.
The camp's communal areas include a dining area, lounge and library, as well as a campfire.

6.Sanctuary Olonana

Sanctuary Olonana is a tented safari camp on a private stretch of the Mara River in Kenya's Masai Mara.
During the annual wildebeest migration, the action happens on the camp's doorstep.
The camp comprises 14 tents with en-suite bathrooms and offers game drives, cultural visits, bush dinners, sundowners, balloon flights and scenic flights.
In Nairobi, scheduled flights depart from Wilson Airport (approximately 45 minutes) to the Mara.

7.Porini Lion Camp

Porini Lion Camp in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Kenya, is the ideal base for the main Serengeti-Mara migration. The camp has some of the biggest big cat densities in Africa and this provides a lot of big cat action when the thousands of wildebeest are around.
Night game drives during migration time is when the lions, leopards, and hyenas are most active and offers opportunities to watch a hunt or a pride noisily feasting on a wildebeest. The camp is also situated in easy reach of some of the key Mara River crossing points for those that may be interested in seeing them.

8.&Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp

Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp is a luxury lodge located in the Western Serengeti, Tanzania, in the path of the Great Migration and its river crossings.
The lodge comprises 10 tented safari suites with overhead fans, outdoor showers, swimming pool, and Safari Shop. It can accommodate 20 guests.
Apart from the wildebeest migration, guests can also witness the topi, a species of antelope, migration from the lodge.

9.Porini Mara Camp.

Porini Mara Camp in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy, the first conservancy in the Mara, Kenya, set up as an exclusive area for wildlife and with a room density not exceeding 1 tent to 700 acres, is the ideal place for the calving of the Loita migration. This occurs at the same time as the calving in Ndutu, Serengeti and offers great photography opportunities and memories of new life and at times death by the over 30 lions found in Ol Kinyei.

10.Sayari Camp.

Sayari Camp is located in the far north of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
It comprises 15 tents that are split between two wings, with six tents in the smaller camp, to the north of the swimming pool, and nine in the bigger camp on the south side. Each wing has its own lounge and dining area, and a central swimming pool linking the two.

Each tent has its own en-suite bathrooms, with spacious showers and egg-shaped baths large enough for two, and offers views of the Serengeti plains.

Museums that tell the story of South Africa

1.The Apartheid Museum
En-route to Soweto, this museum is often combined with a day spent in the sprawling township providing a fitting introduction to its past. “The brilliance of the Apartheid Museum is that it presents the historical system which dominated South Africa in the 20th century in clear, graphic and sometimes chilling terms. The experience is made powerful and comprehensible through tremendous thought to the discreet elements which make up the exhibitions, which despite their often horrific content are always clean, clear and audible.”

2.‘Liberation Struggle’ museums 
The establishment of the Constitutional Court on the site of a former prison gave rise to Constitution Hill. Filled with symbolism of freedom and transparency, the site offers tours of buildings that once held heroes of the struggle captive, and now house the court that ensures human rights for all. Liliesleaf, the underground safe-house of ANC activists in the 1960s, was the site of a police raid in 1964 that resulted in the Rivonia Trial, which saw Mandela sentenced to life.
The Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum in Soweto highlights the 1976 uprising of students, and is named for the first youngster to be killed in the tragedy.  Also in the township, the one-time Orlando West residence of the Mandela family, the matchbox-size Mandela House, is a popular stop which displays much Mandela memorabilia.

3. Interpretation Centre Complex, Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site
“The theme of human development is very attractive because people see it as their own history which interests them more than anything else. Our storyline is the biography of humanity looked at in large. Homo naledi [a recent fossil discovery] was a catalyst for huge renewed interest in the shared origins of humanity in Africa.”

4. SAB World of Beer
A museum to the process of beer making, as well as a conference venue, this facility is operated by South African Breweries.  It was voted South Africa’s top tourist attraction in 2009 and 2011, says General Manager, Tony Rubin, and is currently rated second most popular Johannesburg museum on TripAdvisor.

“As a business, World of Beer is evolving all the time,” states Rubin. “In the past 12 months we have improved our offering by doing beer tasting packages, food and beer pairing lunches, Halloween tours, Valentine’s Day packages, rugby packages in partnership with sports marketing companies, Saint Patrick’s Day promotions, a new and improved Tap Room menu, team building packages, the list goes on.”

5. Voortrekker Monument
“The fact that the monument and museum represents and communicates a specific period is part of its DNA. This DNA tells a particular story. Most museums in the country have transformed their displays to include our post-1994 history, despite their themes, which often confuses foreigners who are not familiar with the detail of our country’s transformation.”

Paulsen points out that the facility is the only Afrikaans monument to have been awarded Grade 1 National Heritage Site status post-1994.  It is one of but a few remaining examples of Art Deco architecture, houses what is believed to be one of the longest marble friezes in the world as well as one of the six largest historical tapestries in Africa.

6. Ditsong Museum of Natural History
Visitors to this museum, which records 50 000 visitors a year, will notice some of its star attractions in the grounds – namely the skeleton of a whale fin and dinosaur models. Its human evolution display is a favourite for international visitors, who also take advantage of a behind-the-scenes tour of the Broom Room, named after Dr Robert Broom who discovered Mrs Ples. The room houses many of the most important fossils of early hominids in the world. The Austin Roberts bird hall is also popular, displaying over 870 Southern African bird species.The museum is located in central Pretoria, two blocks away from the Gautrain and Metrorail train station.

New restaurant opens on Sea Point promenade

Strolla, a new beach side restaurant, has opened on Cape Town’s Sea Point promenade by the Peninsula All-Suite Hotel. Strolla includes a coffee shop, restaurant and bar and offers indoor-outdoor and all-day dining. The restaurant is family friendly and has a kids’ area with beanbags, toys and video games.

    

       

                           

White Water Rafting

Zambezi River water levels have risen after heavy localized rains yesterday so we have moved to high water as of today, the 28th of January. The High Water run begins at Rapid #11 and goes to rapid #23.

Arguably the wildest white water in the world, rafting on the Zambezi River is an adrenaline rush not to be missed. The rapids on the Zambezi River are officially defined as “Grade 5” by the British Canoe Union (Grade 6 being commercially un-runnable). 

Clients should be reasonably fit for this activity, as there is a steep walk into & out of the Batoka Gorge as well as the white water rafting activity itself. 

 

Augrabies - Remarkable Sight

Few sights are as awesome or a sound as deafening as water thundering down the 56m Augrabies Waterfall when the Orange River is in full flood.

 The Khoi people called it ‘Aukoerebis’, or place of Great Noise, as this powerful flow of water is unleashed from rocky surroundings characterised by the 18km abyss of the Orange River Gorge. 

Picturesque names such as Moon Rock, Ararat and Echo Corner are descriptive of this rocky region. Klipspringer and kokerboom (quiver trees) stand in stark silhouette against the African sky, silent sentinels in a strangely unique environment where only those that are able to adapt ultimately survive. 

The 55 383 hectares on both the northern and southern sides of the Orange River provide sanctuary to a diversity of species, from the very smallest succulents, birds and reptiles to Hartmann's mountain zebra, springbok, gemsbok and giraffe. 

These foreboding black hills are another distinct landmark in Augrabies. Quartz-poor, these igneous rocks seem to form a natural border between the harsh environment of the gorge area and a more fertile area on the other side. The contrast between the two landscapes can best be seen from the top of Swart Rante.