The Congo is a former French colony with a population of 4 million people, most of which live in southwest urban centres leaving the northern rainforest sparsely populated and pristine.   The Odzala National Park is 13, 600 sq km (1,360 mill hectares) and part of the world’s second largest expanse of tropical rainforest.  

For the tourist what is particularly appealing about this park is the fact that 6 habituated groups of Western lowland gorilla (approx.16 animals in each) live in a 5km by 5km area making them much easier to find in such a large area.  The park also hosts Central Africa’s highest density of chimpanzees and has significant populations of forest elephant.  The altitude is low and the terrain isn’t mountainous making for easy access gorilla trekking.  For those looking for something really off the beaten track you don’t get much better than this with only 50 tourist visits recorded last year!   Best of all, unlike Rwanda and Uganda there are no gorilla permits to pay (usually $750 per person). 

The park isn’t all about gorillas; there are plenty of other primate species present and around 100 mammal species including forest buffalo, sitatunga, the rare Golden Cat, spotted hyena, leopard in high densities and even rumours of lion in the savannah.  Bird watchers will also be awed by the recorded 430 bird species present.

The camp itself has two locations, the first, Lango Camp (6 rooms) is situated at the edge of the savannah overlooking the Bai with visits to the savannah and saline / Bai (swampy, grassy area in the rainforest).  From the camp you can also enjoy river trips on the Lekoli and Mambili rivers.  The second is called Ngaga Camp and is based in the heart of a Marantaceae forest.   It is here where you can experience the gorillas first-hand accompanied by researchers.  The camps are raised 4 m above ground and are creatively designed, using naturally sourced materials and taking inspiration from the local B’Aka Pygmy groups. 

The camps are reached by an approximately 2.5 hour light aircraft flight from Brazzaville.  On arrival it is then a further 40 min to Lango Camp or a 2.5 hour drive to Ngaga Camp.   International access is either Air France from Paris, Inter Air from Johannesburg or Kenya Airways from Nairobi. 

Activities on offer from the camps include informative talks, guided forest walks, day and night game drives, boat trips, fishing, gorilla tracking, bird walks, night walks and game viewing from hides. 

Arguably the best time to visit would be in the ‘dry’ seasons, either Jun – Aug or Dec – Jan.  That said being a rainforest one can expect rain year round and don’t necessarily be put off travelling at other times of the year, simply ask your Mahlatini travel consultant for advice.

Sound exciting?  Start dusting off those boots and get planning this very unique holiday experience.  You could be one of the first visitors to the camp and one of very few to see the unique Odzala National Park. 

Photo credits: Dana Allen, Andrew Johnson and Mike & Marion Myers

1.  How long have you worked in travel and what attracted you to this career?

I have worked in travel for around 8 years now.  I was first attracted to the career by the opportunities for travel.

2.  What is your role at Mahlatini?

I am a travel consultant. 

3.  What is the most rewarding element of your job?

The most rewarding thing is getting feedback from people, many of whom have described their trips as their dream holiday.  People’s holidays are really important quality time with their loved ones and knowing we created long lasting memories is very satisfying.

4.  What destinations in Africa and the Indian Ocean have you visited?  

I have this past weekend returned from 2 weeks travelling South Africa and last year I was lucky enough to visit Mauritius.

5.  Name some of most memorable things you have been lucky enough to experience with Mahlatini

Encountering a cheetah with her kill on a lucky game drive in the Thornybush Reserve.

Seeing 3 leopards in a day whilst staying in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.

Watching a beautiful interaction between a 1 year old rhino calf with her mum. 

Standing on my balcony one night at Kirkman’s Camp (in the Sabi Sands Reserve) and seeing 2 bull elephants right in front of me! 

A ‘walking with lions’ experience in Mauritius.

An unforgettable wine tasting at Lanzerac Wine Estate in Stellenbosch.

6.  Where will your next African destination with Mahlatini be?

Having just returned from South Africa, my next trip is as yet unplanned but I am always hopeful of when I am next ‘called up’ for an educational trip.  It’s a hard job but someone has to do it!

7.  Which country in Africa are you most looking forward to visiting?

That is difficult to say.  From listening to the discussions of my colleagues who have travelled extensively around Africa, every country has something which appeals.  Currently the idea of Zambia really attracts me. I have always wanted to see the Victoria Falls and following my recent first introduction to safari I am ready to take the next step and visit a ‘wilder’ wilderness area. Zambia seems to fit that bill.

8.  Do you have a favourite country or region in Africa?

From my experience so far I would say that the Kruger region in South Africa is something special.  The game viewing there is simply astounding and I will always treasure the memories of my first safari here. 

9.  Do you have a favourite hotel or camp in Africa?

I simply loved my stay at Dulini Lodge in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve (Greater Kruger).  It was the camaraderie of the staff that really sealed it for me as well as the stunning rooms and superb game viewing.  

10.  Where else in the world have you been lucky enough to visit? 

I have been very privileged to have travelled extensively through Europe and North America.  I have also visited the Caribbean and various parts of Asia.

11.  If you won the lottery tomorrow where would be the first place in the world that you would visit?

You can’t ask that question to a person so totally passionate about travel!  It is impossible to answer.  I would simply buy a round the world ticket and spend as long as needs be travelling every place of interest.

12.  What are your favourite things about being on a safari?

The sounds were something very special, obviously something I had never encountered before.  I loved the feeling of being so far away from the city and of course all of the wildlife encounters.  What really makes a safari so memorable is the encounters you have with the staff and other guests at the lodge/camp.  Sharing campfire stories under the stars with a gin and tonic in hand – now THAT is a holiday!

13.  What are your pros and cons of travel?

As I am sure most people would say I hate airports and delays but I will endure them for that feeling of excitement as you step off the plane into a new destination.  What a thrill!

From Swakopmund to Sossusvlei we flew for a time along the Kuiseb Canyon, which is the dividing line between the typical Namibian terrain and the sands of the Namib Desert. The dunes at Sossusvlei are 135 million years old and were created by sand being carried south-west in the wind from the Kalahari Desert and then being dumped by the cold wind coming off the Atlantic Ocean and up from the Orange River (the border with South Africa). The striking terracotta colour of the dunes, especially at Sossusvlei, is the result of the iron oxide content of the sand.

Joas (better known as Jo), our guide from Kulala Wilderness Camp, met us and took us to the camp where we met Dios and Petronella, the camp managers, and enjoyed an excellent lunch before heading for the customary siesta followed by sundowners and the best sunset yet!

Next morning we arrived at the dunes just as the sun was coming up. The colours were a mixture of terracotta mixed with pink, purple and gold and deep shade, often with the outlines of dead trees in the foreground – a photographer’s dream! The occasional oryx or springbok gave vitality to the scene.

We stopped first at ‘Dune 45’ (all the dunes carry numbers), which was ‘only’ 90 metres high! Deryck and Ann resisted the challenge of a climb but I had a go. Even though it is only 90 meters high it is quite a challenge! Due to the deep sand each stride only takes you about 10% of the intended distance! I reckon I made it about 2/3 the way up, at which point I easily persuaded myself that the views wouldn’t get any better if I went any higher!

For the next 5km it was definitely 4×4 territory and even then we saw one 4×4 stuck up to its axles. Thankfully Jo knew how to handle our vehicle. As we neared the Dead Vlei we could see ‘Big Daddy’, at almost 400 metres it’s the highest sand dune in the world and is the only other dune you’re allowed to climb. On the other side of the valley we could see another big dune, ‘Big Mama’. We were told that the Sossusvlei dunes extend either side of the valley for at least 80km.

The Dead Vlei is just over a kilometre walk (in searing heat!) from the parking area. Some 800 years ago it was a swamp then over time the accumulation of sand cut off the water source. All the trees died and the swamp became a ‘dead’ vlei. It is sheltered, dry and hot so there are no insects to destroy the trees and no wind to blow them down. The stark black outlines of the trees against the white pan with a background of terracotta, pink and gold sand is truly amazing. The colours change as the sun waxes and wanes so it is a constantly changing kaleidoscope of shades.   

Next morning it was up early for me to go on the hot-air balloon flight which took off at sunrise.   Looking down on the dunes, the sunlight and shadows were a sight to behold. There wasn’t much wind so we were able to hover over the eastern end of the dunes looking west which was ideal. Big Daddy and Big Mama were sticking their heads up in the distance. After about an hour, the pilot did a precision landing on the trailer and we enjoyed an excellent champagne breakfast complete with white tablecloths and table napkins in the middle of the desert! Over breakfast the pilot explained that ballooning was so much safer inNamibiadue to the absence of power lines, highways etc. and, of course, the weather.

One of my abiding memories was looking down on the thousands of ‘fairy rings’. They are commonplace in this area and apparently nobody has come to a definitive conclusion as to what causes them. One of the theories is that it is due to the poison from the roots of dead Euphorbia bushes.

That evening, on our sundowner drive, we visitedSesriemCanyon, which was carved out of the desert and only became visible when you were right at its edge. It must have been 30/40 meters deep and only had the odd pool of water at the bottom. You could just imagine the raging torrent that rushes through it after rain as it is only 5/6 metres wide.  Jo and I climbed down to the bottom and he explained how snakes fall over the edge and drop 30/40 metres to the bottom. I am glad to say none appeared while we were there! The only animal life was a solitary baboon hanging on to a rock on the side and some warthogs that scurried away when we climbed back up again.

After sundowners it was back to camp and time to pack our bags for our departure the following morning – Deryck & Ann back to Joburg and me on to Wolwedans.  

I was picked up for the drive to Wolwedans by Philip, who was to be my next guide. Wolwedans was created about 15 years ago by someone whose dream it was to save the environment in the area from the degradation of livestock farming. He acquired several farms and created a private nature reserve covering a huge area. Some species, such as cheetah and leopard, have been reintroduced to the area but we didn’t have the good fortune to see any unfortunately.

The terrain here is quite different. The dunes are much lower but are an even darker red. There was also quite a bit more vegetation.

During the evening drive we saw lightning and heard thunder rumbling around the hills, making for a spectacular sunset due to the heavy cloud formations.

Over dinner and throughout the night the thunder and lightning continued but next morning it was still dry so we headed off on our game drive. We mustn’t have been more than an hour out on the drive when the rain started to come down and I reckon the temperature fell by 15-20 degrees. Despite being well wrapped up we were frozen and, by mutual agreement, we abandoned the drive and headed back to camp. My luck must have run out! Apparently it rains on average 15 days a year inNamibiaand I was there for 1½ of them!

To compensate for this, the food at Wolwedans was excellent – they run a school for aspiring local chefs at the concession. Moreover, the Windhoek Lager was still excellent and after dinner, my new-found American friend, Kurt and I found a bottle of Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey!

Next day, the storm had cleared, so Philip and I headed off on a game drive hoping to find a leopard or two. We had no luck with the leopard but the terrain, with sizeable hills of enormous boulders, looked promising. There were plenty of springbok, oryx, ostrich and black-backed jackals and we even saw a Quiver Tree. The highlight came near the camp where Philip almost turned the jeep over as a result of violently swerving off the track to avoid aCapeCobra. It must have been about 3½ metres long! Philip insisted that I get out of the jeep to take a closer look! At this point the cobra was going across the track and appeared to be heading off but he changed his mind and turned back and started heading down the track towards us. When he lifted up his head and stared at us it was time to get back into the jeep and quick!

By now the weather was looking up and the sun had come out again so the last evening drive and sundowners were excellent.  It was the perfect way to end a perfect trip to a stunningly beautiful country.  I am well and truly ‘bitten’ by the Africa bug.  In fact, Ann, Deryck and I are already planning our 2013 expedition to Zambia so watch this space….

The first leg of our journey was to Desert Rhino Camp which lies in the 450 000-hectare Palmwag Concession. This region is marked for its tranquil, minimalist beauty, its arid-adapted wildlife and the largest free roaming black rhino population in Africa. 

That first morning, we left for Desert Rhino Camp from Eros Airport in downtown Windhoek. Our pilot Andy was also a very skilled guide and gave us a great briefing on what we would see. The flight would take about an hour and 45 minutes and he strongly recommended that we visited the bathroom before we took off!

All we saw en route was 2, or maybe 3 remote settlements, which demonstrates just how isolated Desert Rhino Camp is. The views of the mountainous terrain and especially the geological formations were stunning but were only a forerunner of what was to come.

On the rocky ride to the camp with our guide, Raymond, we saw some mountain zebra along with oryx and springbok. Agnes, the camp manager, met us and we were escorted to our ‘tents’ which were so luxurious that they would put some hotel accommodation in the so-called ‘developed world’ to shame! 

Following afternoon tea we were off on our first sundowner drive.  The terrain had very little vegetation except in ‘oases-like’ areas and the ground was rocky, leading to bumpy rides. The ‘African Massages’ inNamibiaare different toBotswana’s – your back gets much more of a pummelling inNamibia!

The desert-adapted vegetation is fascinating.  The Shepherd’s Tree, with its bright white trunk and wide spread to provide shelter for shepherds (from the sun – not the rain!), was quite commonplace and Euphorbia plants were everywhere. Raymond told us about a self-drive safari group who had used a dead Euphorbia plant as kindling for a barbeque – of the 26 people in the group, 25 died from a combination of the toxic fumes and from eating the meat that had been exposed to the toxins. The one member of the group who survived hadn’t participated in the barbeque because he hadn’t felt well beforehand.

Then there were the weird-looking Welwitschia plants which look dead but some have been carbon dated to being around 1500 years old.

Most sunsets in Africa are spectacular and I can’t remember whether this one was particularly dramatic but, in any event, the Windhoek lager was excellent and it goes without saying that the scenery was dramatic.

Over dinner Raymond told us about the plans for the following day – to find a black rhino. The three trackers from the Save the Rhino Trust joined us for dinner and explained how they would head off about half an hour before us and if they located a rhino they would contact us by radio.  They said that it would be a bit like finding a needle in a haystack! We were told not to wear any deodorants or perfumes as the rhino’s sense of smell was very acute. If we got to track a rhino on foot we would have to walk in single file with about a metre between us. Rhinos have very poor sight so that way we would just appear as a single blur and wouldn’t seem so much of a threat.  The animal’s hearing is also very acute and we were told not to talk.

After about an hour and a half on the ‘road’ (if you could call it that!), Raymond got the call. The trackers had found recent rhino ‘spoor’ (footprints). He put his foot to the floor and we caught up with the trackers some minutes later. The rhino had gone between two mountains and it was agreed that we should drive around to the back of the mountain to the right and then cut across to the gap. We had a very exhilarating African massage as Raymond booted it over a very rocky road.  The end result, however, was well worth it!

We jumped out of the vehicle and walked in single file towards a small hill to the left of the valley. The walk was over very loose rocks and we had one or two ‘stumbles’ on the way and didn’t maintain the single file too well. Arriving at the top, we saw the rhino standing maybe 120/150 metres below us. He wasn’t looking in our direction but as soon as he heard the ‘click’ from my camera he looked up and decided to move on. He didn’t hit the rhino’s maximum speed of 100 metres in 7 seconds but it wasn’t long before he was disappearing into the vast expanse of the Damaraland desert. We had been warned there was only a 50/50 chance of seeing a rhino, so we were very pleased with the results of our morning.

As we enjoyed our picnic lunch under the shade of the only tree for miles, the trackers told us they were able to tell, just from his spoor, which particular rhino they were tracking, even before they saw him. The one we had seen was ‘Getaway’, a 35-year-old male. There were only about 30 rhinos in the trackers’ area and the trackers had names for most of them. Getaway was known to be very skittish, hence the name. Another was called ‘Don’t Worry’ because he was very laid back! The trackers were presently worried about an elderly female who was pregnant. They were concerned that she couldn’t sustain her baby. We were fascinated to know how they could possibly see any spoor on the hard, rocky ground and they explained that they also looked for stones disturbed by 1500kg rhinos.

The guides showed us the very extensive and detailed reports they had to submit to the Rhino Trust head office and told us they were very pleased to see ‘Getaway’ because the last sighting of him was back in 2011 and he had only been seen five times in 2010.    

The next day we headed off in a different direction but unfortunately there was a strong wind which was not conducive to tracking so after about three hours we packed it in and found a suitable picnic lunch spot to enjoy the superb spread. 

On each sundowner drive Raymond took us in different directions and this time he had left the best wine till the last! For whatever reason, the scenery and especially the lighting were breathtaking. We saw mountain zebra grazing with some kudu and then it was back to base for our final dinner at Desert Rhino Camp.

After dinner, when Agnes accompanied Deryck and Ann to their tent, she spotted four eyes, possibly 100/150 metres away, staring at the main camp building.  Whoever the eyes belonged to had been watching us having our dinner! The following morning she walked over to where the ‘eyes’ had been and came back to tell us that she could see from the spoor that they ‘belonged’ to a couple of lions!

Sadly it was time to say our goodbyes to the wonderful people at Desert Rhino Camp and head off to the dunes of Sossusvlei. 

This Sunday the BBC will be screening the first in an 8 part series which is tipped to be the most ambitious live wildlife series ever undertaken.  The show entitled Planet Earth Live will be hosted by Top Gear’s Richard Hammond and Countryfile’s Julia Bradbury.   They, together with the world’s best natural history film-makers will present us with real-time stories from around the globe of the world’s most charismatic animals.

The show has used the talents of the experts and cameramen/women from award winning programmes such as Frozen Planet, Big Cat Diaries and Springwatch.  May is a critical time for the Earth’s young animals and throughout the month the teams will screen three hours of footage a week for three consecutive weeks.

As the live drama unfolds nature will write the script so we are warned to expect the unexpected as the lives of many wild youngsters hang in the balance.   See black bears in Minnesota, grey whales in the Pacific, baby elephants and lions in Kenya, macaque monkeys in Sri Lanka and meerkats in South Africa.

As African Travel Specialists with personal experience of the Masai Mara in Kenya, we are particularly keen to see Richard fulfill a childhood dream by tracking the Marsh pride of lions.  Made famous by the Big Cat Diary this pride is at a crucial time in their history with a pride takeover having just taken place.  A lioness and her cubs have escaped and with limited food their survival hangs in the balance.  We have inside knowledge that Richard and the crew has been operating from Governors Camp where both Sarah and Claire from Mahlatini have stayed before.

Julia will be there as black bear families in Minnesota emerge from their dens with their newborn cubs and will follow the epic migration of grey whales and their calves on the Pacific coast.

This huge broadcast event will go out live via satellite and has been billed as the ultimate global wildlife drama.   The show’s boss Tim Scoones has described it as ‘the most editorially, technically and logistically ambitious live wildlife event we’ve ever undertaken.’

The first episode will screen this Sunday on BBC1 at 19:50.

Photo credits

http://www.babyanimalz.com/

http://www.animalfactguide.com/

http://www.bajatravelvacations.com/

http://www.firstpeople.us/

How long have you worked in travel and what attracted you to this career?

I haven’t always worked in travel.  I worked as a teacher for a few years before deciding to follow my passion and make travel a career.

2.  What is your role at Mahlatini?

I have filled a variety of roles at Mahlatini, however, my current role is marketing and training.

3.  What is the most rewarding element of your job?

Whilst working in sales I found it immensely rewarding when people returned from their trips having had such a memorable holiday.  I loved sharing with them my love for Africa.  Currently I enjoy the interactions I have with fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter.

4.  What destinations in Africa and the Indian Ocean have you visited?

Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana

5.  Name some of most memorable things you have been lucky enough to experience whilst working with Mahlatini

Hot air ballooning above the Masai Mara in Kenya; Gorilla Tracking in Uganda; my Honeymoon in Botswana; a walking safari in Zambia; seeing the wildebeest migration in Tanzania, the list is endless!

6.  Where will your next African destination with Mahlatini be?

Being a new mum, there isn’t any trips planned for the immediate future unfortunately.  That said, however, Greg and myself are lucky enough to travel back to South Africa once a year.

7.  Which country in Africa are you most looking forward to visiting?

Anywhere I haven’t seen but particularly Namibia and Zimbabwe.

8.  Do you have a favourite country or region in Africa?

My favourite has always been Uganda.  There is something so special about that country that I just can’t put my finger on it.  The best wildlife experience of my life was seeing the mountain gorillas.

9.  Do you have a favourite hotel or camp in Africa?

Wow, that is a difficult one as I have been privileged enough to stay in so many incredible camps and hotels.  What actually sticks out in my memory is a mobile camp that was set up for us on a walking safari through the South Luangwa in Zambia (with Robin Pope Safaris).  It was very simple but the back to basics element really made it that much more special.

10.  Where else in the world have you been lucky enough to visit?

I have visited a number of countries in Europe and also backpacked around India, Australia and New Zealand.

11.  If you won the lottery tomorrow where would be the first place in the world that you would visit?

What a difficult question, there are just so many places on the planet I want to see, possibly Brazil?  I would also love to do a road trip across the USA and Canada.

12.  What are your favourite things about being on a safari?

Being miles from the stresses of city life and hearing the sounds of the bush all around me.  It is so soothing.  I can’t leave out the ‘sundowners’ experience either.  Gin and tonics at sunset, nothing beats it!   I am really looking forward to introducing my baby son to the African bush.

13.  What are your pros and cons of travel?

Pros – the thrill of ticking another country off of your list

Cons – busy airports, delays, long flights and jet lag

Huberta is likely to have been born near St. Lucia Estuary in Zululand.   We will never know just what strange impulse made Huberta the Hippo suddenly leave her muddy lagoon and begin her great trek southwards but it became the start of one of the most delightfully dotty animal adventures of all time.

Many have speculated on why Huberta set off on this extremely long journey.  Some have said that she wanted to visit ancestral haunts of hippos that had previously lived further to the south.  Others said she was looking for a lost friend and yet others believed that she had witnessed her mother being killed and she had wanted to flee as far as possible from the place of this tragedy.  The real motive we will never know and perhaps it is nicer to think that she just felt that she needed some adventure in her life!

As she crossed roads and railways and visited towns and cities it became obvious that this was no shy animal.  She ate her way through parks, gardens and farms and tramped over golf courses.   That said, however, she became a master in avoiding people. She travelled mainly at night and in spite of being constantly pursued by journalists and other enthusiasts, she succeeded in escaping in the dense bushes and swamps and nobody saw anything more from her than her footprints. That’s why many details on her journey aren’t available, just sketchy information from various places she visited.   One photo does exist, taken on a sugar cane farm, early on in her journey.  It appeared in the Natal Mercury newspaper, igniting the initial interest.  She soon became famous across South Africa and even became known across the globe with international publications picking up on the story.  The press initially thought that she was a male hippo and nicknamed her Hubert.  Later, when her true identity was discovered, she was renamed Huberta.

She broke up her journey for a while and settled herself in the lagoon at the mouth of the Mhlanga River (some 200km from her home).  She seemed to enjoy her new home and her status as a minor celebrity.  She attracted crowds who would throw fruit, sugar cane and other tidbits to her.    At this point there was a failed attempt by hunters to capture her and put her into Johannesburg Zoo.

As she became more famous she was declared by the Natal Provincial Council as royal game and it became illegal to hunt or catch her.    She was awarded mythical status by the Zulu and Xhosa peoples who came to believe that she possessed the spirit of a great chief.

Following this stop she headed south to Durban where she was seen by tourists walking along one of the beaches and swimming in the sea.  One night she was even seen ambling down the main street of the town!  She trampled all over the elite Beachwood Golf Course and arrived uninvited to a party at Durban Country Club, sauntering along the veranda in front of the partygoers.

Finally Huberta reached East London in March 1931 after having crossed 122 rivers and having had a number of rest stops along the way.  She was reported sighted one evening by a freight train driver who noticed an obstruction on the rails.  The obstruction was Huberta lying across the track!   After much commotion she finally woke up and slowly and lazily walked away.

The Holywood version of the story would have Huberta spending the rest of her days wallowing in a river, exhausted after her epic journey.  Unfortunately there was no Holywood ending for poor Huberta.    In April 1931 three hunters shot and killed her whilst she was basking in the Keiskamma River.   Her body was later found floating downstream.    After a national outcry the killers were fined £25 each for hunting royal game.  They pleaded ignorance about her identity.

The news of her death sent shock waves around the country and the world.  Foreign newspapers such as Punch and The Chicago Tribune wrote tributes and the event was even discussed in the South African parliament.  People from around the country sent sympathy cards, donations and wreaths.

Huberta’s body was sent to a taxidermist in London and after her return to South Africa in 1932, more than 20 000 people flocked to see the mounted animal as she stood in her glory at the Durban Museum.  Today the preserved, stuffed body can be seen at the Amathole Museum in King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape.

Very recently another hippo, a male, departed on a similar journey to that of Huberta but unfortunately didn’t make it even as far as Durban.  He came too close to densely inhabited areas and there were worries that he would harm someone and the authorities decided to kill him.    Luckily modern photographers were lucky enough to capture him frolicking in the sea.

http://www.buffalocity.gov.za/visitors/huberta.stm

http://eng.hrosi.org/?id=91

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huberta_(hippopotamus)

http://www.infobarrel.com

http://www.wildcoastholidays.com/history/huberta-the hippo.html

http://www.museum.za.net/content/view/52/38/

http://www.fhiser.org.za/kronoswitz.pdf

http://www.essortment.com/all/animalsstories_rxak.htm

http://www.zululandzigzag.co.za//south_africa/kwazulu/natal/hippo/…..

http://roarafrica.blogspot.com/2008/07/surfing-hippo.html

1. How long have you worked in travel and what attracted you to this career?

In 2005/6 I took a year out to join a group travelling overland through Africa from Gibraltar to Cape Town, covering 25 countries in total.  After completing my MSc I had initially intended to move into a career in renewable energy, however, after this year travelling Africa it was hard to imagine a career in an area that was not Africa focussed.

2. What is your role at Mahlatini?

I work as a travel consultant, dealing with enquires for holidays throughout East and Southern Africa.

3. What is the most rewarding element of your job?

The easy answer would be the familiarisation trips to Africa which as travel consultants we take each year. We need to have intimate knowledge of the locations that we sell in Africa to offer the best advice to our clients.  There is nothing better than personal experience. I also get a huge amount of satisfaction on a day to day basis constructing itineraries that I know will amount to incredible holidays!

4. What destinations in Africa and the Indian Ocean have you visited?

I have been fortunate enough to have visited every country in Africa that Mahlatini offer holidays to. Of these countries I would say that I have visited Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Namibia the most.

5. Name some of most memorable things you have been lucky enough to experience with Mahlatini.

Finding that the animals leaning against my tent during a night spent at Kwiahal Camp in Ruaha, Tanzania were in fact a pride of lions! Watching a cheetah take down an impala in the Serengeti and later to see dozens of vultures leaving nothing but bones… the whole event lasted only 45 minutes! Getting mock charged by a silverback gorilla in Bwindi Forrest, Uganda. Watching shooting stars from a bank of the Rufiji River in the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania. Walking around Mnemba Island (off the coast of Tanzania)… it’s hard to imagine that I will ever see a more stunning beach in my life!

6. Where will your next African destination with Mahlatini be?

I am hoping to visit either Namibia on a self-drive trip or visit Rwanda.   There are also discussions about me climbing Kilimanjaro very soon.

7. Which country in Africa are you most looking forward to visiting?

Mozambique. Although I did visit the country very briefly on my overland trip through Africa, I only reached a place called Tofo Beach. I would love to visit the country again to take in more of the sights and to go scuba diving in the north.

8. Do you have a favourite country or region in Africa?

That is an incredibly hard question to answer; each country just has so much to offer in its own right. Personally I would say that my favourite country in Africa is Uganda. I have had the most amazing experiences here from white-water rafting down the rapids at the start of the river Nile to gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest.

9. Do you have a favourite hotel or camp in Africa?

So far my favourite safari lodge has to be Beho Beho in Selous, Tanzania. It is a stunning lodge in its own right, the food and service are superb but it is the quality of the guiding here that really made the experience for me. It was like having David Attenborough as your own personal safari guide! My favourite beach destination has been Mnemba Island off the coast of Tanzania.  I am really hoping to have to chance to visit it again.

10. Where else in the world have you been lucky enough to visit?

So far most of my travels have been in Africa but I have also visited most of Western Europe. There is still so much more that I would like to see.

11. If you won the lottery tomorrow where would be the first place in the world that you would visit?

I think it would have to be the trek into the depths of the Himalayas.

12. What are your favourite things about being on a safari?

I love the feeling you get when you are in the African bush, the sounds, smells and sights are the most amazing combination. I also love the anticipation, you just never know what to expect on a day to day basis.

13. What are your pros and cons of working in travel?

The pros are the travel perks that you get through the job. Travel is the only industry where you can put your visited destinations down as CV criteria!  The cons are few but perhaps it would be dealing with airlines, sometimes they can be very inflexible.

The Sani Pass was once a rough mule trail where tough drovers used mules or donkeys to carry down wool and mohair, returning with blankets, clothing and maize meal.  In 1955 David Alexander opened up the pass to vehicle traffic using 4 wheel drive vehicles he had seen on service in World War 2.  His company Mokhotlong Mountain Transport was the first to operate on the pass, only to be followed by many more.

Today tourists journey the pass with one of these expert 4×4 companies or take the plunge themselves.  To drive the pass one requires an above average driving experience. On occasion one can see the remains of vehicles that have not succeeded in navigating the steep gradients and poor traction surfaces.  Over the years there has been a catalogue of frightening stories of failed attempts to ascend the pass.    The road is bumpy, the heart-stopping switchbacks twist back and forth up the mountain, but most will argue that it is worth every nervous second and odd moment of blind panic.   Those reaching the top have often been heard to mutter ‘I need a drink after that!’  As if by magic a pub appears!  At 2874 metres above sea level, it is the highest in Africa.  As long as you don’t plan on descending that day or journeying onwards in Lesotho, you may decide to partake in a cold glass of the local Maluti Lager to calm the nerves and enjoy the views. 

The Pass is often closed due to weather conditions, particularly in winter where one risks snow and ice on the roads.   Many 4×4 enthusiasts will say that the real challenge of the Sani Pass is an ascent or descent in the rain when the roads are extremely wet and muddy.  A good, reliable 4 wheel drive vehicle with good clearance is essential when tackling the Sani Pass.  Added features to modern 4 wheel drive vehicles, such as the Ford Ranger’s ‘electronic shift on the fly’, electronic stability programme and traction control have arguably moved 4×4 vehicles to a different level, making journeys such as the Sani Pass far more comfortable, safe and enjoyable.

Sources:

http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionskzn/sani-pass.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sani_Pass

http://www.antbear.de/sani-pass.htm

http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/1060452

http://blog.travelpod.com/

http://www.friendsoflesotho.org/

A new pride of lions – 4 adults and two cubs about a year old – moved into the area early in the month. They spent some time following a herd of buffalos, but were not seen to have been successful in a hunt. It will be interesting times when this pride bumps into the regular lions of the area – though they may have just been sneaking through their territory, in the hope of catching some food.

The three cheetah brothers were seen early on in the month, but then headed north into an area that we could not follow. Another type of cat – the caracal – was a more unusual sighting this month.

There were several leopard sightings, including a female leopard who was chased up a tree by the wild dogs. However, her patience paid off, and the dogs lost interest. When they moved off, she climbed down the tree, and fed on the carcass of an impala that was located about 50m by the tree. The dogs themselves hunted a young kudu for themselves that afternoon. Earlier in the month, we had also seen a male leopard who had pulled an impala into a tree and was oblivious to the hours we were able to spend watching him eat and relax.

Quite amazingly, all wild dog puppies have survived and are coming close to matching the adults in size. Now able to cover large distances as a pack together, they have been moving through the Kwando concession, going towards Lebala camp and then back again to the north-west every few days. This provides a challenge for the tracker and guide teams, but adds to the excitement, as hard hours of tracking are put in with the reward of a great sighting of the dogs at the end.

In addition to the known jackal dens from previous months, a hyena den has been discovered. Interestingly, there appears to be only one female hyena suckling her two young in this den. Three porcupines were seen coming out of a hole near the den, with the baby hyena snuffling around the hole when they had left.

The more unusual antelope – roan, sable and eland were all seen several times this month, together with regular sightings of giraffe, wildebeest, zebras and tsessebes. Breeding herds of elephants are seen throughout the area, and the bulls are still coming into camp – possibly looking for the marula fruit which is about to ripen.

Nxai Pan

The female cheetah with her two young cubs is still being seen regularly – every day or two in the month of March.  Although we were not lucky enough to see her kill, she and her cubs are obviously well fed, and we often saw her resting and relaxing close to the waterholes. One morning, a jackal got a bit too close for comfort to the cheetahs –jackals often follow predators to see if they can scavenge any part of a kill that is made. On this occasion, the cheetah cub took offence, and chased the jackal, managing to hit it with a paw. The jackals escaped, but ran off calling in distress.

The recent rains have allowed fresh green grass to grown, making good grazing and attracting good general game including springbok, zebra and oryx. This in turn encourages the predators to the area, so as well as the cheetahs, we have had several sightings of the Nxai Pan pride of lions – a group of six adults with three young. One of the females was also seen with an unidentified male along Baobab Loop.

The larger groupings of zebras have started to move back towards Magkadigadi Pans, but there are still good sized herds of around 30 individuals left enjoying the grass around the pan.

The elephant bulls spend much of their time strolling around looking for good sources of food, but because of the limited amount of water available, they usually come via the camp waterhole at some point during the day, pushing the general game out of the way to drink.

Tau Pan

The Tau Pan pride of lions were seen most days this month – often around the water hole near the camp. There was a bit of a concern on the 11th of the month, when it appeared two cubs were missing, and the females were slightly bloodied – it was thought possibly an intruding lion had been involved in a fight with the pride. Luckily after five days, all the Tau Pan pride, including the six cubs, were seen together again, looking in good condition. , Towards the end of the month, they were spotted feeding on a giraffe, which they managed to finish in one day! Two days later they pulled down an oryx during the night, and had finished it by noon the next day. It takes a lot to feed four adults, and six fast-growing cubs!

There were several sightings of leopards, including one male that spent 20minutes in the late afternoon relaxing on the road, before sauntering off.

After the March rains, the antelope seem to be increasing in the area – lots of oryx, springbok, and wildebeest seen around Tau pan and along the road to Deception Valley. The beginning of the month saw a few new additions: oryx and springbok babies were seen following their mothers closely in the Tau Pan area.

Investigating a cloud of dust that didn’t seem to be decreasing in the breeze, a honeybadger was found digging in the ground. A couple of jackals stood off close to one side, interested in what the honey badger might discover, After about 15 minutes, the honey badger dragged a dead young warthog out of the burrow. The jackals tried to claim the prize, but were put off by the hissing and growling of the honey badger, as he trotted off into the bush with the warthog dangling from his mouth.

Another unusual sighting was of a snouted cobra, which was attempting to hunt ground squirrels. The squirrels, however, were having none of it: a head to head fight between both species ended with the cobra slinking off down a hole, perhaps for a bit of a rest from the chirruping and chattering ‘prey’.

An interesting sighting of a pale chanting goshawk attempting to grab a guineafowl resulted in the goshawk being kicked and flung across the ground – leaving with a few bruises and a few less feathers!