january 2011
When planning a trip these days it’s only natural when looking for that perfect location for your holiday or honeymoon to consider safety and the risk of crime, especially if it’s a country that you have never been to before or do not know much about.
The saying no news is good news’ is very reasonable when you consider that the media has a big part to play in our perception of the risk of travelling. South Africa is a country often featured in the news with various statistics quoted making it sound somewhat different to the reality many people find when they get there.
In June 2010 South Africa successfully hosted the Football World Cup. Previous negative perceptions regarding the crime in the country were dismantled and surveys conducted in the country during the event showed that 70% of tourists felt safe in South Africa, while 26.4% believed they were very safe. Only 3.8% felt they were somewhat unsafe. Nine out of ten foreigners visiting South Africa for the purposes of the World Cup say that they would recommend South Africa to friends or family as a holiday destination, according to African Response's World Cup Visitor Survey.
If you visit the website of the British & Foreign Commonwealth Office there are no restrictions on travel to South Africa. It states that 479,192 British Nationals visited South Africa in 2009 and most visits were trouble free. It also states that there is a high level of crime but that most violent crimes often occur in townships or isolated areas away from tourist spots. Interestingly if you visit the travel advice page for the United States or India for example it offers similar advice on safety and security against crime as it does for South Africa. Also interesting is a report released by the FCO at the beginning of 2010 which indicated that British tourists are statistically safer visiting South Africa than they are visiting Spain or Germany.
Everyone knows there are muggings and worse happen in New York or Rio de Janeiro but it doesn’t stop tourists visiting these cities. Why are we more fearful about South Africa? Is it because we don’t know as much about it? The overall risk to tourists from violent crime is low, despite the figures featured in the media about the country as a whole. It is vital to take all statistics in context so that you can make informed decisions about travel to the beautiful country of South Africa. Always bear in mind just how successfully the country hosted millions of international tourists without major incident during the World Cup.
Good advice for travel safety anywhere in the world is don’t do anything you would not do in any other big city of this world, or at home. Just as certain areas of New York, London or Rome would be ‘no go’ areas for tourists so are the township areas or certain city centre hot spots of South Africa.
The best advice we can offer is to listen to the locals. South Africans are on the whole friendly and accommodating people who are happy to assist. Avoid carrying around large amounts of cash: as in any foreign country, there are criminals who can spot a tourist and will be looking for opportunities. Also keep expensive items such as video cameras and laptops concealed when you are in areas where there are many people or areas that are unfamiliar to you.
Essentially just follow the rules, use your common sense, but don’t be paranoid.
We have been organising holidays to South Africa for 7 years and have sent thousands of tourists to South Africa. There has never, in all of that time been any major incidents to report. Our clients have returned safely with glowing reports about the beauty of the country, the friendliness of the people and the cultural diversity.
We regularly travel to South Africa ourselves and we have family and friends living in South Africa. If you are unsure about things we are the experts. Your safety and your enjoyment is our priority. We hope that, if you haven’t already you will soon enjoy a trip to one of the most interesting and beautiful places on this planet.
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Everyone has their own memories of Africa they take away with them, but the wildlife makes for some of the most magical to remember. Here are some of our favourite wildlife encounters.
Exploring the magnificent Okavango Delta in Botswana – besides being a Mecca for birds the waters of the Okavango attract a host of species making Botswana one of the best safari experiences around. The pristine environment adds to the experience as you lazily float along one of the channels in a mokoro (dug out canoe) on the lookout for watering elephants and grunting hippos. Swap the boat for a 4x4 and you have exciting game drives following prides of lion or packs of wild dog out on the hunt in huge herds of buffalo or antelope.
Up close and personal with the ‘Big 5’ in South Africa – Generally the private reserves in South Africa offer some of the best up close game viewing across the whole continent. You will find yourselves holding your breath in amazement as you sit just meters away from a leopard playing with her young cub in the fading light after your sundowners or creeping towards a herd of elephants in your open Land Rover as they happily munch away on the trees around you.
The great migration – the annual pattern of the wildebeest takes them on a journey through Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Masai Mara. Floods of animals running in columns, grazing as far as the eye can see, engaged in excited battles during the rutting season and of course the infamous river crossings make the great migration one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles you can witness.
Tracking the Mountain Gorilla – whether you go for Rwanda or Uganda tracking endangered mountain gorillas is a moving experience. Listening to them communicating with each other in low grunts, surrounded by the smell of freshly crushed foliage, as they roll around and play together. Coming so close to such gentle yet powerful animals is enough to melt anyone’s heart.
Walking in the wilds in Zambia – walking safaris are always different and exciting but with Zambia being the birth place of the walking safari they offer some of the best experiences around. Being on ground level just meters away from some elephant scratching against an uprooted tree sends a feeling of electric through you as you feel exposed, yet more at one with the bush than on any safari you have been on to date.
With so many encounters to choose from its hard to narrow them down, there is so much to discover. Why not have your own personal African wildlife experience with an itinerary tailored to you, focused on making that trip of a lifetime.
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For many years Zimbabwe was a very popular country for tourists as it is arguably one of Africa’s most beautiful countries. Events in the recent past caused a huge drop in the number of tourists willing to visit the country.
Those that have travelled to Zimbabwe in the past two years almost always report a very different image of the country than that which has been portrayed in the media. Despite being forced to sacrifice so much, Zimbabweans have not lost their humour or resolve and it often the interaction with the locals which makes the holidays so special.
With one of the world’s best climates; wonderful scenery and diverse habitats; excellent game densities in the national parks and safari guides who are some of the most qualified in Africa, Zimbabwe has so much to offer tourists. And with so few visiting the country, those who do can expect royal treatment!
Zimbabwe boasts several major tourist attractions. Probably the most well known is Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River. The Falls are shared with Zambia and are located in the north west of Zimbabwe. During your stay at Victoria Falls you can choose to relax along the river or explore the local area known for offering high adrenalin activities such as helicopter or microlight over the falls, white water rafting and bungee-jumping.
Along the Zambezi lies Mana Pools National Park, located on the floodplains of Africa's Great Rift Valley and offering superb wildlife viewing as well as incredible fishing and fantastic birding. For some of Zimbabwe’s best wildlife viewing there is its most famous national park, Hwange, home to some southern Africa's last great elephant, buffalo and sable herds.
Zimbabwe is unusual in Africa in that there are a number of ancient ruined cities built in a unique dry stone style. The most famous of these are the Great Zimbabwe ruins in Masvingo.
The Matobo Hills are an area of granite kopjes and wooded valleys commencing some 22 miles south of Bulawayo. The Hills were formed over 2,000 million years ago with granite being forced to the surface, then being eroded to produce smooth "whaleback dwalas" and broken kopjes, strewn with boulders and interspersed with thickets of vegetation. They have become famous and a tourist attraction due to their ancient shapes and local wildlife. Cecil John Rhodes and other early pioneers like Leander Starr Jameson are buried in these hills at a site named World's View.
As such, there is much to attract the traveller, from wildlife viewing and adrenalin adventures to delving into the history of the Zimbabwean people going back thousands of years. Colonialism remains etched in all sorts of ways, but local traditions are visible.
Wilderness Safaris who operate 3 camps in Hwange National Park tell us that confirmed bookings for the 2011 season are almost treble those of 2010. Says Wilderness’ Manager of Sustainability, Chris Roche: “Hwange bookings are absolutely getting better. We have seen a 25% increase in occupancy in the last six months and even the UK market, which has fastidiously avoided Zimbabwe, is starting to return.” Roche says wildlife has even improved over the past decade and that the camps are largely frequented by American and French tourists. “Zimbabwe has just got something special,” says Roche. “The charm of the people, the quality of the guiding and the dedication for tourism are unbeatable.”
It is very easy to travel into Zimbabwe which is most instances will be via South Africa or another neighbouring country. Zimbabwe can also be combined with other countries to create a fun twin centre holiday, something like a beach break in Mozambique or Mauritius or a city break in Cape Town.
In terms of safety, with the right advice on areas to visit and means of travel Zimbabwe, visitors should have a trouble free holiday. If it were not the case the tourism figures would not be continuously increasing. Mahlatini are very excited to be able arrange tours in Zimbabwe and allow more visitors to discover the gems that this country has to offer.
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You may find yourself asking ‘where in the world is Welgevonden Game Reserve? I’ve never heard of it’, and therein lies the magic of it!
Welgevonden Game Reserve is a 37,500 ha private game reserve located conveniently north of Johannesburg, in South Africa. It is also contiguous with Marakele National Park.
It’s easily accessible so you can just pick up a hire car and drive yourself the three hours to the reserve, allowing you to watch the scenery change as you reach the Waterberg Plateau. Once you arrive you can simply relax and allow your rangers to take you on a safari experience throughout this pristine, exclusive wilderness.
The reserve is malaria free, making it not only a great spot for families but also adults do not have to consider the ins and outs of malaria prophylactics and the side effects that may follow.
Besides being a home to all of the ‘Big 5’ species Welgevonden is home to over 50 different mammal species and prolific birdlife. It also has one of the largest populations of white rhino on any private reserve in Africa.
Out on the grassy plains you can spy a variety of antelope, from the largest species – the eland, to the smallest species – the shy duiker. The plains are dotted with giraffe, zebra, buffalo, warthog and the big cats that follow them. Lion make themselves quite at home on the reserve as well as cheetah and leopard.
It’s a pleasure to set out on an exciting night drive, the buzz of cicadas all around you and the cool night air against your skin, in search of rare species such as the brown hyena or elusive leopard, aardvark or aardwolf. The reserve’s leopard research, involved in conservation, has caught pictures of some stunning leopards as well as other unusual cats with the use of their trip camera system, all of which you could spot on your safari.
The benefit of a private reserve over a national park is that you get more exclusivity to your experience. Vehicle numbers are limited and each vehicle on the reserve is driven by a professional ranger, to allow you to get a more rounded and complete safari. This also ensures that the reserve remains protected and there is little impact from people, exactly the way it should be.
Besides the safari experience there is a choice of lodges you can stay in on the reserve. A couple of our favourites are Shibula Lodge & Bush Spa and Makweti Safari Lodge.
Shibula has the acclaim of being voted ‘one of the top ten most romantic destinations in South Africa’ by Getaway Travel Magazine as well being recommended by many others. It offers the discerning traveller a classic luxurious retreat. With opulent features such as bubbly Jacuzzis, romantic fireplaces and private pools each room has its own special something to entice. The lodge can also boast a great location within the reserve with its surrounding area being home to the highest concentration of leopard.
Makweti’s intimate surroundings accommodate just ten privileged guests reserving an air of tranquillity and elegance. Maintaining a feel for old Africa the lodge melts into its rugged surroundings, with a focus on using local materials. Each room has a distinctly African style to it with romantic features such as private plunge pools looking out into the bush, indoor and outdoor showers and quintessentially Victorian bathtubs.
A stay at the Welgevonden Game Reserve is really easily combined with locations such as Cape Town, Mauritius or Mozambique thanks to its convenience to Johannesburg. The short transfer from the reserve to the airport allows you to connect with many different schedules making it the perfect safari retreat to include in any trip to Africa.
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As we begin a brand new year looking back at 2010 brings up a sad set of statistics for African rhinos. Last year in South Africa alone, more than 260 rhinos were killed due to poaching. This is nearly double the number was recorded in 2009.
The modern face of poaching generally consists of slick military-style operations using high tech equipment such as helicopters and night vision equipment. Such groups targeting privately owned reserves as well as national parks. The reason for the increase in the slaughter of rhinos across Africa is due to the high price attained by illegally selling rhino horn to the Eastern Market.
Rhino horns have been coveted by many different groups for centuries for their decorative appearance when carved, and their supposed healing properties. Currently, in the East, horns are used in the creation of sacred daggers in counties like Yemen and Oman but their use in medicine is generally found further east across China, India and South East Asia.
It’s a common misconception that the horn is ground up and used as an aphrodisiac. It is actually believed to be a pure ingredient for the treatment of fever and convulsions, and those who believe in the ingredient think that alternatives are less reliable because they do not come from a pure source. Because a rhino horn is made of Keratin (a substance found in nails, hair and animal hooves) science has proven that the concentrations given in Eastern Medicine are as effective as it would be to chew on your own finger nails.
The story of the white rhino is one of conservation’s success stories. Thanks to breeding programmes in South Africa the White rhino was brought back from the brink of extinction. These increasing figures cast a dark cloud over the hard work and efforts of everyone involved in this success.
There is hope against the horrors of poaching. This is found in the forms of government organisations working together and conservation organisations like the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the World Wildlife Foundation.
The WWF declared September to be Rhino Month. Schemes like this increase donations which help to supply anti-poaching units with the equipment they need and raise world awareness of the plight of the rhino. Government organisations are not only focusing on the security of these animals but also on ensuring a harder crack down on those brought to prosecution for poaching activities, the legislation behind rhino horn trade and education of the public so the message will spread.
Travelling to Africa allows you to see these animals in the wild, where they are meant to be. Seeing them like this and the knowledge that is passed on to you from your rangers gives you a better understanding of these animals. Finding out more about them, and then telling others about your travels and what you have seen makes you a part of the long term solution to save African Rhinos.
We had only been walking for about 15 minutes when we heard a commotion ahead of us. A raw primate scream echoed around the trees. The gorillas were up ahead, and all of the noise was a little startling. Were they grumpy this morning? Were we going to find ourselves in the middle of a gorilla battle?
David, our guide, stopped us and advised us we would soon be with the gorillas, and gave us a final briefing calming us down in the process! My heart was still pounding and my hands steadily shaking as we left the path and waded into the dense vegetation. Suddenly it was really happening and I would be face to face with gorillas.
As we noticed the first large female in front of us I think I held my breath as we slowly scrambled past. She was sitting in a patch of flattened vegetation, chewing on leaves and fresh green stems seeming oblivious to our presence just a few meters away.
David called us on up the hill to set us in the middle of the group. There were youngsters hanging from the trees above us, adults sat around relaxing and eating and the huge silverback keeping an eye on proceedings as he too enjoyed breakfast. The smell of the freshly crushed foliage was heavy in the air and we all stood round in hushed awe.
With some unspoken command slowly all the gorillas would move off to the next spot for tasty treats, the youngsters sliding down their trees like tiny, furry firemen. They moved so gracefully and swiftly through the forest and in contrast we all stumbled along to keep up.
The gorillas would communicate with each other with low deep grunts or sounds that even resembled a deep bark. As they crossed the path up ahead you would catch their unique musky scent and realise the power behind their huge frame.
We watched as they found a tree filled with dead wood, which is a particular delicacy to gorillas. They reached in and scooped out the best bits of the tree to snack on. It was easy to see the intelligence that lay behind their inquisitive eyes.
Babies would cling to their mother’s thick fur or be found playing with others on the ground before the entire group, including the great silverback, ascended high into the trees marking that our hour with the gorillas was up.
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