august 2009
I can’t stress how wonderful it was to be in Joys Camp watching buffalo, elephants, Grevy zebra and waterbuck at the water hole in front of camp. I truly believe that no other camp / Lodge in Kenya is able to give such a spectacle, from sitting at the bar!! While we where having bittings and drinks before dinner we watched a herd of about 30 Grevy zebra approach the water hole and then bunch together. The behaviour was a little strange and we wondered if it was because of the lights from the camp. Suddenly they all stampeded and went straight for the camp and broke the low subtle electric fence we have to keep the game out, we were all shocked and then right behind the Zebras was a lioness!
Yes we are struggling to keep the game out as the only green grass is inside the fence line. One elephant has worked out how to step over the two electric lines and has decided that going backwards is best.
The next day as we were leaving about 200 meters from camp we saw the most beautiful leopard on a tree trunk in perfect, "take a picture of me" style pose.
Jamie and Lara are doing a great job and the clients that left yesterday saw a cheetah and lion on their last game drive.
Ellerman House & Villa in the magnificient city of Cape Town and Singita's Lebombo or Sweni Lodge in the famed Kruger National Park are offering a combined long stay offer. When booking 3 nights at each property, receive a complimentary 4th night at both. This includes all the usual services and amenities (luxury return airport transfers, select house wines and spirits, in-room bar, guest pantry, laundry, etc at Ellerman; all meals, drinks, safari activities, etc at Singita). The offer is valid from 1 Aug – 15 Dec 2009 and 15 Jan – 15 Dec 2010 (excluding 1 Jun - 31 Jul 2010 during FIFA World Cup).
Annemarie Steenkamp, under the expert guidance of Executive Chef Margot Janse, is Le Quartier Français’ new Culinary Concierge. As a former sous chef in the award-winning Tasting Room, Annemarie is perfectly equipped to handle everything from restaurant bookings for any occasion to the creation of bespoke culinary experiences. She will share techniques, secret tips and tricks of the trade as well as introduce characters and stories of the Franschhoek valley to culinary guests. The service is offered exclusively to hotel guests.
Le Quartier Français is found in the heart of the Franschhoek Valley in the Cape Winelands.
A female Cheetah with four cubs has been sighted near Kwara Camp in the Okavango Delta. There were originally five in the litter but Kwara guides believe that one was killed by Lions or Hyenas in June. However, the other four are growing big and strong and will soon be ready to learn how to hunt with their mother.
The seven male ‘Lions of Kwara’ were seen feeding on a Hippo only 500 metres from Little Kwara Camp. Hippos are usually too large and fierce an animal for Lions to actively pursue but in this case the male coalition is afraid of nothing. Elsewhere, two new male Lion have been seen in the area and a pride of nine females with cubs are on the borders of the Mopane to the north.
Many of the guests at Kwara Camp have been fortunate enough to see Wild Dogs and Leopards as well on the same safari. A male Leopard was seen stalking a young Lechwe through the short grass but was unable to catch its prey.
General game is also abundant with Elephants, Giraffes, Zebras and Wildebeest all seen on a regular basis. The elusive Pangolin was also spotted close to Kwara Lagoon to everyone’s surprise.
Joanna Lumley embarks on a journey in September looking at cats through history. Her travels take her to AfriCat in Okanjima, where she spent a couple of days looking at its role in the conservation of big cats in Namibia. The show will be broadcast in 2 parts on ITV in the UK on the following dates:
- - Sunday, 6 September at 7pm
- - Sunday, 13 September at 7pm
- - The AfriCat story forms part 4 of programme 2 – the grand finale of the series!
AfriCat is a non-profit organisation founded in 1991 committed to long term conservation of Namibia's large carnivores, especially cheetahs and leopards. The AfriCat Foundation concentrates on four objectives in working towards its mission:
- - To create awareness and promote the tolerance of large carnivores among the farming community by assisting farmers in effective farm management techniques, including targeting problem predators as opposed to indiscriminate removal.
- - To educate youth about large carnivores and environmental awareness.
- - To research large carnivores, particularly cheetahs and leopards, on farmland and in captivity.
- - To provide humane housing, treatment and care for orphaned and injured animals.
For more information and images click AfriCat in Okanjima.
Heritage Day is one of South Africa's newly created public holidays and its significance rests in recognising aspects of South Africa culture which are both tangible and difficult to pin down: creative expression, our historical inheritance, language, the food we eat as well as the land in which we live.
Within a broader social and political context, the day's events are a powerful agent for promulgating a South Africa identity, fostering reconciliation and promoting the notion that variety is a national asset as opposed to igniting conflict.
Heritage has defined as "that which we inherit: the sum total of wild life and scenic parks, sites of scientific or historical importance, national monuments, historic buildings, works of art, literature and music, oral traditions and museum collections together with their documentation."
The Government determines a theme for each year’s celebrations.
Malawi’s Lake Of Stars Festival, described as second only to Glastonbury in the world of music festivals, this year moves location to the southern reaches of Lake Malawi – the Lake of Stars.
Such has been the festival’s growing popularity, a new site, capable of accommodating the numbers of international visitors attending the event, has been chosen. The Festival will be held from 15 to 18 October at the southern reaches of the Lake, based on the Sunbird Nkopola Lodge and with a host of other lodges and hotels nearby.
The eclectic mix of Western and African music draws an audience from across the world as well as being one of Malawi's most popular events in the year. The opportunities offered to international visitors to add to the Festival the chance to tour in one of Africa’s most attractive destinations are added attractions. Most visitors are keen to enjoy the water sports offered on the Lake, to view the magnificent scenery and to join a game safari, extending the four day festival into a fourteen day holiday.
For more information visit the Lake of Stars Festival website: www.lakeofstars.org
Nine Wild Dog puppies have been introduced to the world at Lagoon den site. The first brave pups began to appear earlier in the month and we expect them to remain at the den site for well into September until they are strong enough to travel with the pack.
Adults have been returning from hunting only to regurgitate previously swallowed meat for the youngsters to eat. Guests and guides were in a state of panic when Lion tracks were found in the vicinity of the den site. Luckily the cats decided to head away east towards the river and more palatable foods such as the large herds of hundreds of Buffalo in the area.
Elsewhere in the area Lions and Cheetah have been sighted regularly. Three Cheetah brothers have been ruling the roost in the upper Kwando area north of the camp and look in excellent condition.
As if a Wild Dog den was not a big enough treat, visitors to Lagoon are witnessing the extraordinary spectacle of a Hyena den as well!! Three sets of ten cubs are living at a disused termite mound close to Zebra pan guarded by several adult Hyenas and led by the enormous matriarch.
Some lucky guests on a morning stroll were treated to the extraordinary site of a pride of Lions pulling down a Giraffe not far from Nxai Camp. Guests were guided within safe distance of the kill and managed to get some good shots of the giant cats feasting on their prey.
The two male Cheetahs have been a frequent site recently – often seen stalking the Impala in the woodland or the Springbok on the pans. Nxai Pan is one of only three places in the world where you get the chance to see the similar Springbok and Impala in the same place at the same time.
The beautiful winter evenings have brought wonderful starry nights and fresh mornings with plenty of desert game to be seen. Jackals, Giraffes, Gemsbok, Hartebeest and bull Elephants are a regular site around the camp.
An exceptional Caracal sighting was seen by some Kwando Safaris staff on their way to the camp last week. Usually one of the shyest cats this was a truly unique viewing at close range. The diagnostic large, pointy black ears were clearly visible alongside piercing green emerald eyes.
Chitabe Camp in the Okavango Delta has had a facelift of note to its tented rooms, main area and library. Each of the eight tents have different artwork and themes which are expressed in the woods, colour and decor used. The bathrooms can be completely separated from the bedrooms with two sliding doors which are hidden behind the headboard and pull out fully to close the entrances on both sides. There is also a "night light" underneath the vanities which allows guests to have an ambient light in the bathroom should they need to get out of bed during the night. All eight units have outdoor showers.
The landmark Ellerman House & Villa in Cape Town's prestigious suburb of Bantry Bay reopened last week after an extensive refurbishment. The remainder 5 of the 11 bedrooms from last year's upgrade have all been refurbished with new colours, plasma TVs and all soft furnishings. Eight of the 11 bathrooms have been upgraded with new chrome fittings. The bathrooms in the gym area have been completely renovated and the Villa also underwent a soft refurbishment. The whole house has been repainted, ready for a busy season ahead.
Set to become one of Tanzania’s most iconic retreats, Sanctuary Swala Camp is now fully open following a US$1.5 million rebuild. The camp now offers guests a completely new safari experience of ‘luxury, naturally’ whilst causing minimum impact on the local environment.
Developed to the highest eco-friendly standards, the camp is located in a secluded area of Tarangire National Park. As one of the country’s most exciting yet least visited parks, guests will often only share their visit with the large herds of elephants that favour this exclusive corner of the park. It is also fast building a reputation for being one of the best locations to get up close to bat-eared foxes.
Each of the 12 luxurious canvas pavilions has been exquisitely designed to a spacious open plan basis, with large living area, king bed and en suite bathroom with both indoor and outdoor showers.
Floor to ceiling canvas windows lead onto large private lounge decks that overlook the main watering hole which regularly draws lions, leopards and resident bull elephants for which Sanctuary Swala Camp is famed.
A stunning infinity swimming pool has been added and the new main dining and lounge areas feature chic, contemporary African design below traditional thatched roof structures. The extensive decked area provides the perfect setting for leisurely sundowners and elegant al fresco dining whilst enjoying outstanding views over the waterhole and valley beyond.
Taking safari to a new level of "luxury", the camp is sumptuous whilst still retaining the feeling of living in the African bush. The wilderness experience is accentuated by unparalleled guiding expertise and will soon offer the exciting option of walking safaris.
Sightings of Spotted hyena in Lion Sands are quite rare due to their low numbers, therefore any sighting of these magnificent animals is a special one - but recently our guests were treated to the most incredible sighting!We had located a den site about a month ago after following an adult female hyena traveling down one of the roads at a rapid pace. She followed the road to the Hilda’s Rock area and then moved into the vegetation. There we found an incredible den site under a large rock, there were three cubs at the site, two cubs of approximately two months of age and one cub was younger than a month! We have had several awesome sightings of these cubs playing around the den site but last week we noticed that there were now five cubs! Two tiny cubs have now joined the clan and can be seen peering out of the dens site, still a little nervous to venture out.
For more information and pictures visit the official Lion Sands website.
Humpback Whales have recently been spotted east of the reefs of the Bazaruto Archipelago. Marlin Lodge is now offering seasonal whale watching trips. The Humpbacks feed in polar waters, giving birth during winter months in warmer tropical waters. These whales can reach 16 meters in length and weigh up to 36 tons. The cost per 3 hour outing is US$95 per person, for a minimum of 4 guests per boat. The whale watching trips are available until the end of September. Marlin Lodge has a 'Stay for 4, Pay for 3' offer valid until 10 December.
After a lot of waiting and guessing when the Wild dogs puppies at Lagoon Camp would give their first appearance – it has finally happened. On Sunday 19th July, 9 new puppies arrived. Their den is about 20 minutes away from Lagoon camp and the proud mother only showed them for the first time 1 week ago, and since then only in the evenings when the rest of the pack are around to “keep guard” of her babies. They have been seen eating regurgitated food that the rest of the pack bring back at siesta time after their twice a day hunt. Hyena pups are also in the area and as soon as we have some more information we will be sure to let you know.
For information on the lodge and pictures please visit Lagoon Camp.