Yellow fever vaccination required for passengers travelling to and from Zambia

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revised the Yellow Fever vaccination recommendations for Africa. The South African Department of Health has subsequently issued a statement that all travellers from South Africa to Zambia and travellers from Zambia to South Africa will now require proof of yellow fever vaccination. Previously, this was not required.
All in-transit passengers between the two destinations, irrespective of the time period in transit, will also require proof of yellow fever vaccination.

Newsflash received from Sanctuary Retreats

For more information please contact us at info@southern-africa-travel.com

News from Okonjima & AfriCat

AfriCat wins 2011 Conservation Award @ Indaba SA.
7 May 2011 20h00:

AFRICAT WINS 2011 CONSERVATION AWARD @ INDABA, SA.
Category: BEST WILDLIFE ORGANISATION!
The finalists were . . .
AfriCat Foundation
Children in the Wilderness
David Sheldrick Trust Animal Orphanage
David Shepherd - David Shepherd Wildife Foundation
Endangered Wildlife Trust
Jane Goodall Institute
Ol Malo Trust
South Luangwa Conservation Society
Uthando
Wilderness Wildlife Trust

WINNER: The AfriCat Foundation
RUNNER UP: Children in the Wilderness
THIRD PLACE: David Sheldrick Trust Animal Orphanage

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO WORK SO HARD TO HELP THE CARNIVORES IN NAMIBIA! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!

Donna Hanssen
AfriCat Team

Press Release
In 1960 the world population stood at about 3 billion people. Today there are an estimated 7 billion living on the planet, and by the year 2050, that number is expected to grow to over 9 billion. A tripling of mankind’s number in a little over a single lifetime.

This raises the poignant question: how will the world feed all of these mouths? In the face of man’s need for food where will there be space on this tiny planet for the last few animals to roam as they always have? Where will the elephant live? The lion roar? The cheetah hunt?

Traditionally Namibia has been a land of livestock farmers, however today wildlife utilization has become a viable option for many a Namibian through tourism, hunting and the like. But it comes with a price - human-wildlife conflict - and it is this cost that the AfriCat Foundation has committed itself to tackle.

The AfriCat Foundation started out in 1992 as a small welfare organization when 'Chinga' the Cheetah was bought by the Hanssens at a cattle auction and given a home on Okonjima. Ever since, AfriCat has dedicated its efforts to rescuing carnivores from inhumane conditions, taken care of those too injured to be set free, rehabilitated and released more than 1 000 large carnivores back into the wild.

For more information please email us at info@southern-africa-travel.com or visit our sister website to make a booking www.namibiareservations.com/okonjimae.html

Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail reopens

The popular Fish River Canyon hiking trail will be reopened effective 3rd June 2011.
The trail had been closed due to flash floods which presented a danger to hikers. The water levels in the canyon have however subsided sufficiently to allow hikers to negotiate the 90 km long African marvel.
Please be aware that the Fish River Canyon is a fragile environment and remains subject to flash floods after an exceptional rainy season.
Visitors to the Fish River Canyon assume all risks while in the canyon and should come prepared with sufficient water.
Derived from NWR

For more details or to make a booking please email us at info@southern-africa-travel.com

Current Specials offered by Southern Africa Travel

Click on the links to find out more about the establishments that are on Special for all overnights done until 31.08.2011

Lake Oanob Resort
Kalahari Farmhouse
Vogelstrauskluft Country Lodge
Helmeringhausen Hotel
Hoodia Desert Lodge
Swakopmund Hotel
Damara Mopane Lodge
Emanya at Etosha
The Garden Lodge
Okavango River Lodge
La Petite Ferme
Peermont D’Oreale Grande Hotel
Mondazur Resort Estate
Ilala Lodge

For more information please do not hesitate to contact us at info@southern-africa-travel.com

Tsondab Valley Scenic Reserve new on Southern Africa Travel website

Tsondab Valley is a private Nature Park of 170km2. Bordering the Namib Naukluft Park on two sides, the Reserve’s varied landscape impresses with a combination of the red Namib dunes and typical African Camelthorn Savannah. Petrified (or ‘fossilised’) dunes, as ancient remains of the world’s oldest desert, magnificently formed into our 50m-deep ‘Secret Canyon’, as well as our ‘Blue Marble’ Mountains, may also be explored on the property.
Conveniently situated along the main tourist route C14 Walvis Bay – Sossusvlei, Tsondab Valley is not only an accommodation, but destinationfor nature friends & desert enthusiasts, especially photographers! Suitable for self-drivers and very small guided groups.

For more details visit our website at www.southern-africa-travel.com/item/tsondab-valley-scenic-reserve.html or email us at info@namibiareservations.com

Huab Lodge & BushSPA News

Huab Lodge & BushSPA been awarded for the 16th year in a row with the Gold Award of Excellence, we also will been honoured with the ECO-Award 2011 four flowers. Also Huab Lodge & BushSPA has been rated #1 Lodge at Tripadvisor based on independent guest reviews.
Huab Lodge & BushSPA has become the first Lodge in Namibia that has passed the accreditation and joined the Global Sustainability Tourism Council.
The most recent studies on Travelers indicate that price is not the main criteria for chosing a destination or accommodation. More important for the traveler is the experience, a personal and individual treatment and to feel at home away from home. This is exactly what Huab Lodge & BushSPA has been providing since 1993 and one of the main reasons that we have almost 20% returning guests. Many of them are returning year after year.
Huab Lodge & BushSPA provides a true unique experience instead of just an accomodation.

For information or to make a booking pleae contact us at info@namibiareservations.com
or visit our website at www.namibiareservations.com/huab_lodge.html

Fish River Hike unsafe to hike

This is an urgent notice to inform you that the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has declared the Fish River Hike unsafe to hike now.
The rains and subsequent flood has caused the current closure and it is uncertain when it will re-open, but it will not open earlier than the last day of May 2011.

For more information please do not hesitate to contact us at info@namibiareservations.com or visit our sister website for accommodation in this area at www.namibiareservations.com/canyone.html