Lianshulu Lodge open again

Lianshulu Lodge under new Ownership

Lianshulu Lodge is open again under new ownership and management.

The ownership consists of Dutch nationals Alexander Van Heeren and Peter Van Langeveldt as well as Dusty Rodgers who is well known in the Namibian Tourism & Hospitality Industry and Reinhardt Küsters, a local shipping entrepreneur.
Lianshulu Lodges which includes Lianshulu Main Lodge and Lianshulu Bush Lodge on an 800 ha private concession in the Mudumu National Park along the Kwando River as well as Matota Island Lodge, situated on the Mudumu National Park cut line inside the Bayelerwa Conservancy in the Eastern Caprivi Strip of Namibia, will be incorporated into a fully fledged marketing & management company known as The Caprivi Collection with central reservations and marketing based in Swakopmund under the management of Anette Küsters who too is no stranger to the travel and airline industry in Namibia.

The company has already embarked on extensive renovations and refurbishments of the properties and Lianshulu Main Lodge is now open for bookings with the remaining two properties opening on a gradual phase-in as business demands this.

This development will see the company having traversing rights through over 300 000ha, equal to the size of Belgium, of one of the most pristine and unspoiled natural wildlife areas which now form part of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) spanning Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Angola.

Further to local activities, the company will soon offer access to safari circuits in Botswana via its own border post at Lianshulu Lodge.

A range of exclusive activities which includes river trips, transfers, bush picnics and overnight fly camps will be on offer with our affiliated properties within the area.

Air Namibia: Cancellation of flights during Festive Season - Dec 2011/ Jan 2012

Air Namibia confirms the cancellation of selected domestic and regional flights during the festive season from December 23, 2011 to January 02, 2012 for operational reasons.

 

Conditions of the procedure

• All passengers will be rerouted accordingly
• Passengers are to be rebooked at no fee
• AUTSW11M60911

Refund procedures:

• Apply for full refund on your net/published fare level via your GDS and quote the following reference number:
• AUTSW11M60911
• Full refunds for unused tickets will be granted regardless of terms and conditions of the fare (even non-refundable tickets).
• Please note: all refunds must be processed within 7days from receipt of request for the refund by passenger.

For more details please email us at info@southern-africa-travel.com

2 New products offered by Southern Africa Travel

Thrifty Car Rental:

When you are looking for the right vehicle to suit your travel needs book a Thrifty vehciel with Namibia Reservations. Thrifty offers various vehicles for every occasion.

Caprivi Houseboat Safari Lodge:

Caprivi Houseboat Safaris is an exclusive lodge nestled amid a lush green garden on the banks of the Zambezi River, a few kilometers east of Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi Region of Namibia, offering genuine hospitality in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. The lodge offers five rustic en suite chalets on the waters edge, a rose wood deck with lounge bar and swimming pool to relax in.

For more details or to make a booking email us at info@southern-africa-travel.com or visit our website for more establishments http://www.southern-africa-travel.com/

News from the Gondwana Collection

Five Flowers for a 'green' Roadhouse

For its eco-friendly management the Cañon Roadhouse was rewarded by Eco Awards Namibia with five desert flowers (highest ranking). Cañon Lodge and Namib Desert Lodge were awarded three desert flowers each. Decisive factors were the water recycling plants (for the gardens), the eco-friendly waste disposal and the Gondwana Eco Competition at their lodges and on the web.

Exploring Damaraland on foot

Two diverse new hiking trails at Damara Mopane Lodge offer guests the opportunity to explore the flora and fauna of Damaraland at their leisure. The Mountain Top Route (4 km) requires some climbing to reach a hilltop in the vicinity of the lodge. By contrast, the Valley Walking Trail is a leisurely 4-km-walk through diverse vegetation such as Mopane forest, grassy plains and thickets of Trumpet Thorn.

The Quiver Tree - a Victim of Climate Change?

Red alert for the quiver tree was declared at the climate conference in Copenhagen in January 2010. Aloe Dichotoma and nine other plant and animal species were added to the 'Red List'. There was indeed reason for concern: In many places in southern Namibia entire groups of quiver trees were dying while hardly any young trees were discovered. Climate change was seen as the main suspect.

For more information or to make a booking email us: info@southern-africa-travel.com or visit our website: http://www.southern-africa-travel.com/

Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Forestry: Foot & Mouth Desease Update in Caprivi

We received news that foot and mouth has become a problem again for the December season in the Caprivi area. Please see the information received from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Forestry:
 
MOVEMENT OF ANIMALS/PRODUCTS AND INFECTIOUS THINGS THROUGH VETERINARY ROAD BLOCKS, CAPRIVI.

1.    The following animals/infectious things may not under any circumstances be allowed to pass through the road blocks from any infected area:

·         All cloven hoofed animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and game.)

·         Raw red meat

·         Raw milk

·         Grass, hay, straw, reeds, Lucerne

·         Manure

·         Hides and skins and second hand jute bags

·         Bone, bone meal , carcass meal and blood meal

·         Large quantities of firewood i.e., vehicle load

·         Sour milk

·         Other products that might pose a risk – contact State Veterinarian.

2.    The following may cross the road block from an infected area:

·         Dogs and cats

·         Horses, donkeys and mules

·         Live or frozen poultry and birds, feathers, eggs and raw meat of poultry and birds

·         Fish, reptiles, frogs, worms

·         Vegetables, fruit, wild, free from manure or blood

·         Leafy vegetables such as cabbages, spinach, lettuce, celery, etc., if free from manure or blood.

·         Butter, margarine, cheese in original container/package

·         Sealed containers of pasteurized milk

·         Cooked meat/canned products/polony, Vienna’s in original/vacume packed container

·         Mealie – meal

·         Quarry stones for construction

·         Trophies (with taxidermy documents) wrapped in transparent material

 3   The following may cross the road block after spraying

     with 5% washing soda

·         Wood carvings, curios, mats, future manufactured from reads/grass

·         Small quantities of firewood less than 20kg

·         Horns

Dr. F. Joubert

Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer

Windhoek

Please do not hesitate to contact us for more details: info@southern-africa-travel.com

Air Namibia: Schedule adjustments

Amendments have been made to the current schedule, and the system is being updated accordingly.

Notably adjustments are highlighted below:

·        Effective 5 December 2011 until 24^th March 2012, SW 164 departure time from 06:30 to 07:00, and ensuing flight times changed accordingly,

·        Effective 5 December 2011 until 24^th March 2012, one rotation ERS-NDU-MPA, on Thursdays removed,

·        Effective 5 December 2011 until 24^th March 2012, the Rundu / Katima route changed to triangular (so that the aircraft does not return to NDU from MPA, but proceeds to ERS from MPA).

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

Exciting News from Sanctuary Retreats

An exciting announcement...

The annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards survey results are in! The votes are the combined opinions of 28,876 Condé Nast Traveler readers, some of the most discerning travellers in the world. We are delighted to announce that Sanctuary Chief’s Camp, Sanctuary Olonana and Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero were named #13, #18 and #19 respectively in the Top 35 Africa Resorts.

Walking in Mosi-oa-Tunya
Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma, Zambia

The new walking safari activity offered at Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma will now be available as an included activity at no additional cost to guests. Other activities included in the rate are sundowner cruises, a village tour, a tour of the Falls and game drives in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.

Delta Camp Transfers
Sanctuary Retreats, Botswana

Sanctuary Baines’ and Stanley’s Camps have resumed road transfers to and from the airstrip due to lower delta water levels. This will not affect boating excursions from Sanctuary Baines’ Camp. If the water levels rise during the rainy season, transfers will again be combined with a boat excursion.

Air Botswana Check in
Sanctuary Retreats, Botswana

Please note that passengers flying with Air Botswana from O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg will now need to check in at counters 72-74 and not counters 63-64 as before.  

For more establishments please visit our website at http://www.southern-africa-travel.com/ or email to info@southern-africa-travel.com