Makgadikgadi Pans National Park - Botswana

Meno A Kwena Tented Camp

Camp Kalahari 

Jack's Camp 

Cresta Hotels - Zimbabwe

Hotel Bulawayo

 

Cresta Lodge

Jameson Hotel

Oasis Hotel

5 of Botswana's Most Famous Places

Moremi Wildlife Reserve

Arguably the most beautiful wildlife sanctuary in Africa, this game reserve lies in the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Mopane tree canopies dominate the dry landscapes and the rest of the area is a combination of floodplain grasses, riverine woodland and permanent delta. The reserve supports one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in Africa and includes endangered wild dogs, herds of elephants and the ‘Big Five.’

Kubu Island

Kubu Island is easily one of the most beautiful places to visit in Botswana and was once described by Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson as the most astonishing place he’d ever been! It’s actually a dry granite rock island engulfed by a white sea of salt in the Makgadikgadi Pan. The island is now protected as a national monument, with visit proceeds going towards helping the local community.

Nxai Pan National park

Nearby this national park consists of Nxai Pan, which is one of the Makgadikgadi Pan salt flats. Characterised by sand dunes, vast salt pans, the famous Baines baobab trees it’s a beautiful place which of course offers excellent opportunities to see bird and wildlife. Open all-year round, it’s located in northeastern Botswana so it’s easy to combine a visit with the nearby Okavango Delta and the Chobe.

Makgadikgadi Pan

Another place with an unearthly beauty is the Makgadikgadi pans, the largest salt pans in the world. Located in the middle of the dry savanna of northeastern Botswana, it’s the remains a huge lake which dried up thousands of years ago. The salt-encrusted pans are flat and arid and come complete with a skyline which appears to go on forever. Camping safaris to spot the resident zebra, wildebeest their predators are a good option for more adventurous travellers.

Okavango Delta

Arguably the most beautiful wildlife sanctuary in Africa, this game reserve lies in the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Mopane tree canopies dominate the dry landscapes and the rest of the area is a combination of floodplain grasses, riverine woodland and permanent delta. The reserve supports one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in Africa and includes endangered wild dogs, herds of elephants and the ‘Big Five.’

Fire outbreak in the Kruger National Park

A fire broke out on Monday morning at Camp Shawu in the Kruger National Park.

The fire was still burning by mid-morning and an investigation was under way. The camp would be closed, said Chris Pollard, General Manager of Camp Shawu and owner of Newco Hospitality.

The entire front of the house, kitchen and dining area have burned down. 

No injuries have been reported and no rooms were affected.

Pollard said guests would likely be re-accommodated at the group’s other units, such as Shishangeni Lodge and Camp Shonga, and would be moved accordingly.

 

“The staff reacted absolutely brilliantly. The guests were moved; they went off on a game drive,” said Pollard.

Guides in the field report...

Bushwalk

We left the lodge early morning for bushwalk and just outside Tremisana Lodge was one cheetah walking along Olifants road and we followed it for almost ten minutes. He had come to drink at Tremisana Dam which is pumping as it is the only water in a radius of 5 km. During the bushwalk we saw four zebras, impalas and one elephant bull that was very relaxed. Late in the afternoon Tanya saw the cheetah eating impala right next to the road and she called us on the radio. We drove straight to the area and we found the cheetah busy feeding. It was very close and visible and also very rare to see a cheetah - it is one of the endangered species in Kruger - they estimate only 180 to 200 cheetahs are left.


Guide Report
The dry conditions continue. This has left animals in desperate need of grazing as well as fresh water supplies.
 
 It has however made sighting prolific around the few places with water. The hippos have been the ones suffering the most, with such a major drop in water levels. They have been forced to share small puddles of water, which can lead to fighting amongst the mature males. In some cases, they have caked themselves in mud to survive the heat of the sun.

The elephant numbers are impressively high. When coming across most major water sources, you almost sure to find a herd. Elephants enjoy water a great deal and cannot survive without it for very long and it’s especially stressful for the young calves.

The one herd I came across had parked themselves around a cement man-made water hole. There were also several zebras, eager to have a drink. The elephants however had decided that this was their private water hole. As soon as the zebra went anywhere near the water hole, the elephants would rush forwards and chase them away.

The poor zebras eventually gave up and moved off in the opposite direction, leaving the adult elephants to suck up huge amounts of water with their trunks, while the calves just climbed right inside and rolled around in the refreshing water.

The buffalos are equally dependent on the water as the elephants and require at least a drink first thing in the morning and then later on in the afternoon. I’ve come across several big herds of at least a hundred individuals, mainly during the afternoon session.

The weaker ones not quite managing in these testing times and are often taken down by lions. When driving around Kruger, you are sure to see at least one fresh carcass of a buffalo.

The big cat sightings have been great - my most memorable one has to be several lionesses and their cubs playing in the rocks. We headed down south after stopping at Satara rest camp for lunch, mainly hoping to find a leopard. The leopard had unfortunately left its tree, only leaving scraps from an impala kill, nestled in the upper branches.

We however gathered information about a pride of lions not far away.

The lions were lying in the shade of a Natal Mahogany tree. We counted four females and at least six cubs. The cubs had split into two groups, the adventurous ones and the mommy’s babies. The adventurous ones had found a few large boulders in the river bed, and were have loads of fun climbing up and down then popping out from the gaps in-between.

The mommy’s babies found a safer option with their moms, just relaxing in the shade. A great lion sighting and awesome to see so many little cubs looking so healthy.

The leopard might not have shown up in the early afternoon, but we did get to see one five hundred metres from the gate. He was lying in the shade feeding on a warthog.

Go Wild on a Family Safari

New Children’s Retreat in Botswana

Reopening just in time for the high season, the newly refurbished Sanctuary Chief’s Camp will have its own dedicated kid’s area, designed with children aged six upwards in mind. The area includes a fancy dress corner and a nature table, where guides are on hand to help young guests identify wildlife by their droppings. There’s even an entertainment zone for kids aged 11+ complete with PlayStation and table football. So there’s no chance that your little animals will get bored once the excitement of the morning’s predator safari game drive is over.

Make tracks to South Africa

Where better to spot the ‘Big Five’ than with a visit to the malaria-free, wildlife-rich Madikwe Game Reserve. Renowned for offering children the quintessential African safari experience, one of the main draws of the Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge is its Junior Ranger Course offered to children 12 and over (children of all ages are welcome when the lodge is booked exclusively). Here your mini Bear Grylls will learn survival, tracking and orientation skills whilst the rangers help instil an appreciation of why conservation is vital to preserve the African plains and the creatures who call them home.

Star gazing in Zambia

Overlooking the game-filled valleys of South Luangwa National Park, the historic hilltop Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge has thought of everything to encourage younger guests to embrace its stunning natural surroundings. Activities at the one-time holiday haven of Zambia’s first president range from crafting papier maché African masks and elephant dung paper to making a camp fire around which your little angels can admire the night sky with marshmallows and a warming cup of hot chocolate.

Reconnect with Mother Nature

What better way to encourage your children’s spirit of adventure than with a child-friendly treasure hunt. Let them search for hidden clues and then collect indigenous flora on a guided walking safari within the spectacular grounds.  At Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero families can venture into the heart of the Botswana bush on especially shortened game drives.  Then, after returning to your new riverside home, there’s plenty of time for the kids to indulge in a pizza-making session with the lodge’s Chef whilst you wallow in the luxurious split-level pool.

Treehouse memories to treasure

Hoping to combine quality family time with the ultimate in luxury safaris? If so, our Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma may have just the answer. With 12 treehouses connected by wooden walkways, and two exclusive family houses, each with their own private vehicle, chef and plunge pool, this boutique Zambezi lodge is just 7 miles from Victoria Falls yet feels a million miles from reality. As the sun sets on this special place, why not enjoy a relaxing sundowner cruise, leaving the kids mesmerised by the guides’ tales of African explorers round the camp fire.

Minister gives an update on visa regulations...

 

The Department of Tourism is working closely with the Department of Home Affairs to ensure that an amendment to the country’s immigration regulations is published. The amendment would put into effect the recommendation that minors from visa-exempt countries would not need to produce an unabridged birth certificate when travelling to South Africa.

Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, told Tourism Update as much on the side-lines of the Meetings Africa show, taking place this week in Sandton.
“Right now we are focusing on putting into effect the Cabinet decisions,” said Hanekom. He said minors from visa-exempt countries would no longer be required to travel with the document, although they would be recommended to carry it, as is the case in other countries. Hanekom added that minors from countries requiring visas were required to produce this document for the visa application process.

“We are working very closely with the Department of Home Affairs to get the necessary agreed upon amendment, which will put into effect the Cabinet decision,” said Hanekom.

According to the Minister, there are a few quick wins for the sector to capitalise on in the current climate. He says these are intensive marketing to encourage people to visit South Africa and removing visa impediments as quickly as possible.

On this latter point, the Minister says an accredited tourism company programme has been rolled out in China, allowing Chinese tourists to make applications through their travel agent and therefore no longer needing to apply for visas in person. Hanekom pointed to the growth in arrivals out of this market in the past few months. He added that a similar programme would be rolled out in India in the next few weeks. “That will be a quick win.”
According to the Minister, conditions are favourable in China because Ebola is no longer a factor and the people who cancelled their trips because of it, still want to come to South Africa while the exchange rate is favourable and there is no longer a visa impediment affecting this market. He says all these factors will result in rapid growth from China.

Speaking about long-term wins for the sector, Hanekom said ongoing work must be done to improve the country’s tourism offering – its visitor experience and destination offering. He said this included skills development and improving key attractions.

Victoria Falls River Lodge unveils new spa

Victoria Falls River Lodge, in the Zambezi National Park, has built the new Toa Spa, which offers guests a place to relax while overlooking the Zambezi River.

The spa is set on a raised deck and uses products from Africology, a natural, eco-friendly and holistic spa and skincare company in South Africa.

The lodge also has a new riverside bar that overlooks the river and offers birding and wildlife viewing spots.

De Hoop Collection

 

Our TOP reasons to choose De Hoop Collection...

Great Nature, Wildlife and Coastal combination gives a diverse experience.
- Ideal stop over along the Garden Route (we suggest a minimum 2 night stay)
- Perfect holiday destination for families, couples, groups, honeymooners and wedding parties
- World-class whale watching in Season
- Paradise for keen bird enthusiasts - De Hoop Reserve has around 259 bird species

Top Activities at De Hoop... 

- Eco Boat Cruise
- Land based whale watching
- Walking trails
- Mountain biking
- Guided bird walks

 - Game drives

- Rock pool tours

- Star gazing
- Tennis court (Opstal)
- 2 Swimming pools (Opstal)
- Boules court (Opstal)
- Guided Eco-Quad Biking

Accommodation types to choose from...

On the Wild Side...

Mammals – over 86 species - most common: eland, bontebok, baboon, Cape mountain zebra, grey rhebuck, duiker, steenbok etc. - Marine life: Southern Right Whales, dolphins and seals occur in the waters off the coast (3 nautical mile protected marine reserve) - Birds – over 259 species - some of which include: Cape griffon vultures, ostriches, African oyster catcher and many more.