ULTIMATE AFRICA SAFARIS
Ultimate Africa travel and wildlife news archive May 2005 Botswana to Host Military Peace Initiative, May 15 2005 The International Military Peace Initiative, involving 16 African countries and co-hosted by Botswana and France, will be taking place in Botswana around Maun, Kasane, Gumare and Sehitwa between June 8-24, 2005. Approximately 3,000 military personnel will be involved in the event which, in line with United Nations objectives, is aimed at enhancing the peace keeping capabilities of African nations. This military presence will be evident at the Maun and Kasane Airports and as such we would like to give you early notification of this event. No alarm need be raised by the military presence and the event is in no way linked to the wildlife areas in which most safaris occur. Ngorongoro Crater to Allow Half Day Visits Only, May 15 2005 Visits to Tanzania's famed Ngorongoro Crater will be limited as of the first of July 2005. In order to minimize crowding and preserve the World Heritage Site the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority has made the decision to allow only "half day visits." Exact details of how this will be enforced are still forth coming. Gudigwa Village Closes, May 15 2005 Wilderness Safaris has announced that they will no longer be marketing Gudigwa Camp in Botswana's Okavango Delta. The Bukakhwe Cultural Conservation Trust has closed Gudigwa Camp for the time being and is engaging with another operator to market and manage this property. As yet a date for the reopening of Gudigwa has not been set and as such Wilderness regrets that all existing bookings from Gudigwa must be moved to suitable alternative camps. Damaraland Camp Wins Ultimate Ecotourism Award, May 15 2005 The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) named Damaraland Camp in Namibia as the overall winner of the 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Conservation Award. This award is one of the top two global travel environmental awards, sponsored by British Airways, AVIS, BBC World and TIME magazine amongst others, and aimed at recognizing and promoting the world's leading examples of best practice in responsible tourism. Ten years ago, the area around Damaraland Camp was in decline; there was no formal conservation protection, wildlife numbers were in rapidly diminishing and unemployment was close to 100%. Today, due to the successful partnership between the Damaraland Community and Wilderness Safaris of southern Africa, and the implementation of a viable eco-tourism model, around 180,000 hectares of land are under conservancy protection, wildlife numbers are thriving and the local community have employment and money in the bank. The award is testimony to the fact that Damaraland Camp and the Torra Conservancy have revolutionized community conservation in Namibia. Wilderness Safaris Camp and Lodge Updates, May 15 2005 In South Africa Wilderness Safaris' Pafuri Camp is nearing completion and scheduled to open in June this year. The camp will have 20 thatched rooms built along the Luvuvhu River. For many years, giraffe have been locally extinct in the Pafuri region. In late April 2005, five giraffe were darted in the Satara area of Kruger, by Kruger's Capture Unit and were transported to the Makuleke Concession close to Pafuri Camp where they were released. Six white rhino will join the giraffe in June - the first to be released in the north of Kruger since local extinction around the turn of the nineteenth century. In Botswana Wilderness Safaris is excited to announce that they will now be marketing the Selinda Concession (NG16) which has been bought by Dereck and Beverly Joubert. Selinda is known for its wild dog packs and hippo-hunting lion prides. Selinda is adjacent to Wilderness Safaris' Linyanti concession (NG 15) and is an important ecological link between the Linyanti and Okavango systems via the unique Selinda Spillway. Selinda and Zibalianja camps as well as Selinda Walking Trails will be available. Wilderness has found potable water at San Camp in Botswana's Kalahari. The camp will now have running water and flush toilets. Jack's Camp will be getting a plunge pool and each room will now have a fan. At Chitabe Trails Camp all the rooms have been raised onto teak decks. In 2004 Alistair Rankin and others acquired Elephant Back Safaris. Due to various circumstances they have sold their interest back to the original owner, Randall Moore. Randall will not be managing the camp but has committed to looking after any issues regarding the elephants if necessary. Guests will be hosted by Gara who is steeped in the magic of Abu. Wilderness Safaris will continue to do the marketing and reservations. Wilderness Safaris on Today Show Again, May 22 2005 NBC's Today Show on Monday, May 23, 2005 will feature Wilderness Safaris' Pafuri Camp in Kruger National Park, South Africa! NBC's Today Show ran a competition, "Things to do Before You Drop Dead" and Barbara Lansdon, who had a lifelong dream to visit Africa, was the lucky winner. Between studying and raising a family, Barbara had never had the opportunity to fulfill her dream, so she entered NBC's competition and her dream became a reality! The Today Show brought Barbara and her sister, Alison Gonzalez, out to Wilderness Safaris' Pafuri Camp last week. This was Barbara's first time out of the States and she was completely blown away by this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Ultimate Africa Safaris in United Airlines Magazine, May 31 2005 United Airlines in flight magazine "Hemispheres" will be running an article on Ultimate African Safaris in their June issue. Ultimate Africa will be noted as a contact. New Website for Ultimate Africa, May 31 2005 Ultimate Africa will be launching an entirely new website late June 2005. Cape Grace Hotel Voted Number 1, May 31 2005 Cape Town's Cape Grace was rated the #1 city hotel in Africa & The Middle East and #5 overall in the region for service by the readers of Travel + Leisure, in their 2004 World's Best Service Awards. Return to Weekly Update Archive |
