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2009 News Archive |
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2009 Africa Travel News and Tips December 3, 2009 - Botswana Voted Most Peaceful Country Do you yearn to experience the thrill of an African safari, but concerns about safety and stability of a country have you thinking twice about booking your trip? Head to Botswana. Not only is the country considered one of the premier safari destinations on the continent, it is ranked by The Institute for Economics and Peace as the most peaceful nation in Africa. This independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit research institute is dedicated to developing the inter-relationships between business, peace and economic development, and produces the annual Global Peace Index. Now in its third year, the Index ranks 144 nations according to their ‘absence of violence’. The GPI is composed of qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources, which combine factors internal to a country and external to it. Botswana ranks 1st in Africa and 34th in the world out of 144 nations. October 21, 2009 - Mombo Camp #1 Botswana's Mombo and Little Mombo camps were voted the #1 Resort in Africa in the 2009 Condé Nast Traveler (USA) Readers’ Choice Awards. Both camps achieved a ranking of 97.1 also placing them at the number 10 slot on the World Top 100 list as well – a list described by the magazine as “…the hotels, resorts and cruise lines that achieved near perfection”! The 2009 survey ranked the best cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines, hotels and resorts worldwide and was open to all readers. 25 008 readers voted on more than 10 000 properties and destinations. The criteria (rated on a five-point scale) covered activities, atmosphere/ambience, beaches, friendliness, lodging, restaurants, and scenery to come to the overall score. Mombo and Little Mombo’s impressive ranking was also the result of a new demand from customers – who are now seeking out properties with low numbers of rooms. In addition, Mombo prides itself in offering the best wildlife viewing in all of Botswana. In addition Wilderness Safaris' Jao Camp came 6th, Savuti Camp 7th, Vumbura Plains 14th, Xigera 20th and Kulala Desert Lodge 36th - all in the Top 50 Resort in Africa! September 25, 2009 - Johannesburg Luggage Problems In light of the ongoing problematic situation with baggage transfers at Johannesburg's OR Tambo Airport, we continue to encourage all passengers, to check their baggage only to Johannesburg and not their final destination. You would then collect your bags and check them for your onward flight. If you are able to travel with carry-on luggage only this would be even better. We also recommend allowing for greater connection times when possible – at least 3 hours. August 21, 2009 - New Lower Zambezi Canoe option for 2010 We have received word that one of the lodges on the Lower Zambezi River in Zambia will be introducing a multi day canoe safari option! This will combine wonderfully with time in South Luangwa and at Victoria Falls! July 7, 2009 - Robin and Jo Pope to Retire Robin and Jo Pope have decided that from February 2010 they will step away from the mainstream of Robin Pope Safaris administration and day to day operations. The will continue on as shareholders, directors, and torchbearers. Robin will continue to do specialized guiding for Robin Pope Safaris. They will be designing a new home outside Lusaka, Zambia from where they will be based. July 7, 2009 - Kaya Mawa to Undergo Major Refurb! On the 1st November 2009 Kaya Mawa is closing for major refurbishments including new vehicles, four new boats, new interior design of all rooms and brand new bathrooms (2 rooms will become suites with a second floor Zanzibar chill out space and 2 further suites will go even further with their own private infinity pools). They will reopen on April 1, 2010 with an exclusive suite with a 10 meter infinity pool, 2 additional rooms with a shared pool, a spa, a bar and dining area on the beach, a watersport center with a dedicated PADI diving school (2 qualified instructors) and a 4 bedroom luxury villa 1 km from the lodge. July 7, 2009 - Saxon to Expand The super-luxury Saxon Boutique Hotel and Spa in Sandton, South Africa, has announced that with the purchase of its adjacent property, the hotel is expanding with three new villas comprising 29 additional suites, due to open in 2010. Long a favorite with upscale leisure and business travelers alike, the Saxon’s expansion will more than double the current capacity of 24 suites to 53 suites. Each of the villas will have its own pool, terrace and lounge as well as a boardroom which may be converted into a dining room, a satellite kitchen and butler service. Villa One will offer seven interconnecting suites on one level. The suites will be similar to the open plan design of the hotel’s popular Egoli Suites. Villa Two and Villa Three will be two stories each with the ground level providing seven interconnecting suites as in Villa One. The upper level of each will contain four one-bedroom Presidential Suites which may be converted into two 2-Bedroom Platinum Suites. Additional parking will be available with 200 underground parking bays. Each villa will have its own underground lift to transfer guests from the parking lot. June 15, 2009 - SAA Cancels Johannesburg - Maun Flights In early May 2009 South African Airways announced that it would launch daily roundtrip flights between Johannesburg, South Africa and Maun, Botswana. These flights were to start July 1, 2009. We were skeptical as we have seen many airlines over the years announce new routings and then cancel them (such as direct flights on Nationwide Airlines between Livingstone, Zambia and Kilimanjaro, Tanzania or Chicago to Johannesburg, South Africa on South African Airways). Many clients have asked to be booked on these new flights however we suggested they instead the book the "tried and true" Air Botswana flights. Our caution was prudent as we have just confirmed that this new route aboard South African Airways has been cancelled. June 15, 2009 - Johannesburg Airport Luggage Delays! South African Airways has opened a new terminal for all their flights and at this time, it is located too far from the existing baggage handling facilities to allow for timeous connections between flights. In most cases luggage is unfortunately not making connecting flights. This is applicable to International, Regional and Domestic flights - for example from London or Washington to Cape Town or from Durban to New York. It is strongly advised that all guests travelling on South African Airways through Johannesburg, should check-in their luggage as far as Johannesburg, take possession of their luggage in Johannesburg and then rebook it onto their connecting flight. In this way they can ensure their luggage arrives at their final destination timeously. This situation is expected to continue for the foreseeable future so we would also recommend allowing for greater connection times when possible – at least 3 hours. June 15, 2009 - Update Johannesburg Airport Luggage Delays! Luggage handling on all SAA and BA fights arriving from the Cape Town area (Cape Town, George, Port Elizabeth and East London) at Johannesburg International Airport for onward regional flights has recently experienced severe delays. This has resulted in connecting flights leaving without the guests’ luggage on board. Guests have, in most cases, only received their luggage 24-48 hours after arrival at their final destination with some guests not receiving their luggage at all. It is strongly advised that guests travelling from the Cape Town area via Johannesburg en route to regional destinations (Maun, Windhoek etc) should check-in their luggage as far as Johannesburg, take possession of their luggage in Johannesburg and then rebook it onto their connecting flight. In this way they can ensure their luggage arrives at their final destination timeously. This situation is expected to continue for the foreseeable future so we would also recommend allowing for greater connection times – at least 3 hours.” June 11, 2009 - Okavango Update Botswana's Okavango Delta seasonal floods are reaching their peak....even though the rains are long gone and the days are getting shorter (marking the beginning of the long dry season) the annual flood is proving to be very high this year. This is fantastic for wildlife viewing as animals are forced onto dry land areas. June 11, 2009 - Savuti Channel Flowing! After drying up 28 years ago, the Savute Channel in Botswana is flowing again! The “mystery” river ceased flowing in the summer of 1982 and has stayed dry until now. When fully flooded, the Savute Channel is 100 kilometers long. June 11, 2009 - Wild Dogs at Savuti There us a new pack of 21 (yes 21) wild dogs at Savute Elephan Camp in Botswana! They have been spotted regularly over the past month. Leopard sightings have been exceptionally good as well - often sighting more than one leopard on each wildlife viewing drive! June 9, 2009 - Rain in Botswana! Unusual June rains in Botswana will affect guests staying at Jack's Camp and Camp Kalahari as quad biking will be stopped for the next several weeks. June 9, 2009 - 12 Apostles Getting Soft Refurbishment Some rooms at Cape Town's beautiful Twelve Apostles Hotel will undergo soft décor refurbishments and all guest bathrooms will also be upgraded. In addition The Café will be undergoing extensive refurbishments in June and July. As a result of this work the Cafe will be closed for this period. Guests will be accommodated for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the fine-dining Azure Restaurant, which boasts panoramic Atlantic views, faultless service and elegant style. Alternatively, guests can unwind at the stunningly refurbished Leopard Room Bar and Lounge and enjoy light snacks, salads and sandwiches. The award winning Sanctuary Spa will be closed for a week from June 29, 2009 to July 5, 2009 inclusive for a soft refurbishment and annual maintenance. Hotel guests can still have treatments in their room and in the outdoor gazebos during the scheduled closure and the list of treatments is available on request. June 9, 2009 - Facelift for Victoria and Alfred Hotel Cape Town's Victoria and Alfred Hotel is undergoing refursbishments until the end of August 2009. Improvements include upgrading all rooms on the first and second floor, converting the double rooms into executive and junior suites and re-decorating the corridors on both floors. No construction is necessary during this upgrade phase and therefore noise levels and inconvenience to guests will be at a minimum. June 9, 2009 - New Zanzibar Lodge Looks Intriguing Kilindi is a new 15 unit piece of functional art currently along a picturesque-perfect stretch of Northern Zanzibar. Designed by Neil Rocher in conjunction with some long-serving Tanzanian specialists, Kilindi brings a welcome dash of pizazz to the island. Standing watch over the time-honoured Dhow Routes, along a crescent of coral-bright sand, each of the fifteen pavilions embrace cascading rain-water pools lush tropical gardens and domed private spaces of rest, indulgence and well-being. The style will be henceforth known as Zanzibaroque, homage to the unique synthesis of the island's endemic social and historical culture. The domes collect the rainwater, the sleeping areas straddle its storage, and the pools circulate it. They call this logically-eco, rather than eco-logical, because it seemed the obvious thing to do. We look forward to visiting and sharing our opinions. May 29, 2009 - Delta Offers Daily Flight to Johannesburg Delta Airlines has announced daily nonstop flights between between Atlanta and Johannesburg. Beginning June 2, 2009. Flight 201 will depart Atlanta at 8:05 PM arriving in Johannesburg at 5:10 PM the next day. The return flight departs Johannesburg at 9:05 PM and arrives in Atlanta at 7:20 AM the next morning. May 5, 2009 - Direct Flight Kruger to Victoria Falls Hooray! Icon Expeditions is now flying direct between Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls. The Skukuza to Livingstone flight, which is 2 hours and 20 minutes in length (+ approximately 40 minutes for an immigration stop in Polokwane), takes 18 passengers on Tuesdays and Fridays! The flights depart at 12:00 PM arriving at 3:10 PM. This flight operates from Livingstone to Skukuza on Wednesdays and Saturdays departing at 10:30 AM and arriving at 1:30 PM. April 27, 2009 - US Lifts Zimbabwe Travel Warning The US State Department has lifted its US travel warning to Zimbabwe. A State Department spokesperson says it lifted the warning because “there was a return of basic medical, food and fuel services.” April 27, 2009 - New Botswana Canoe Safari Option The Selinda Spillway is the setting for Botswana's newest safari adventure safari. The high waters flowing through northern Botswana this year will cause the Selinda Spillway to flow like it has not done for nearly three decades. Set in the heart of the private 300,000 acre Selinda Reserve, a new canoe route will begin a downstream from Motswiri Camp in the north-east of the Okavango Delta and travel eastwards along the Selinda Spillway towards the Kwando and Linyanti Rivers (close to where Selinda and Zarafa Camps are located). The "Selinda Canoe Trail" is a 3 night / 4 day professionally guided safari with roughly 3 full days paddling, over the safari's 4 day duration, covering a distance of roughly 70 kilometers. Each of the nights will be spent in fly camps along the way at no particular pre-arranged site. Where you finish at the end of the day's paddling is where you will camp that night. The area is well known for elephant, buffalo, sable antelope, roan antelope, wild dog and you could very well come across cheetah, lion, leopard and variety of other species. As you may imagine, it is also a birding paradise. If there happens to be something that warrants investigation, you will stop on the banks and take a short walk into the bush. A brunch will be taken around mid morning and light snacks will be available throughout the day for sustenance until dinner. At the end of the Selinda Canoe Trail guests will be transferred to the Selinda Airstrip at around midday. The "Selinda Canoe Trail" is US $1,450 per person (just under US $500 per person during high season - great value!) and combines well with visits to the Moremi, Okavango and / or Savuti / Linyanti areas of Botswana. This includes all tented accommodation, activities including canoeing and walking, meals, drinks and transfers from the Motswiri Airfield and to the Selinda airstrips. Guaranteed departures May 23 to October 6, 2009. April 1, 2009 - Over the Counter Medicine Causing Trouble for Travelers in Zambia The US State Department notes that the Zambian Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has recently detained a number of US passport holders for possession of Benadryl and other over-the-counter medications which contain small quantities of diphenhydramine, an active ingredient that is on Zambia’s list of controlled substances. Although unaware of these restrictions, Americans have been charged with drug trafficking offenses, had their passports confiscated, and been jailed. As a result, any American visiting Zambia should consider leaving all non-prescription medications behind. When traveling with prescription medications, Americans should bring a doctor’s prescription and ensure that the medication is in its original bottle. Any American stopped by the DEC for possession of over-the-counter medications should contact the US Embassy at 0211-250-955 as soon as possible. April 1, 2009 - Fire at Skeleton Coast Camp The kitchen and main camp area at Namibia's Skeleton Coast Camp were burnt to the ground on March 30. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been established, but fortunately there were no guests in camp at the time and there were no injuries to camp staff. The fire did not spread beyond the main area and all guest tents remain intact. The camp is closed with immediate effect to allow the erection of a temporary main area and kitchen and will reopen April 8. Building will continue until May 20, 2009 when the camp should be back to normal (all building activity will take place while guests are out of camp. Fortunately dinners at this time of year are, for the most part, served under the stars so guests' dining will not be inconvenienced. April 1, 2009 - Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp Closed Namibia's Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp will be closed until June 1, 2010. April 1, 2009 - Robben Island August Closure Cape Town's famed Robben Island will be closed to tourists August 3-16, 2009 in order to carry out essential maintenance. April 1, 2009 - South African Airways Johannesburg Airport Changes Announced South African Airways’ (SAA) domestic and international operations will move to the Central Terminal Building at Johannesburg's O.R Tambo International Airport this April. SAA will be the only airline to manage all of its operations from this terminal, later to be renamed Terminal B by the Airports Company of South Africa. Other airlines will run their international operations from Terminal A. All SAA passengers will check in from this area, irrespective of their destination. This will also include all services SAA renders to other carriers in Johannesburg. The move is in response to changes at the airport in Johannesburg where terminals will no longer be used exclusively to process international or domestic passengers. SAA’s domestic ticket sales desk moved to the terminal in March. March 17, 2009 - Table Mountain Closure Cape Town's famed Table Mountain cablecar will be closed July 20 through August 16, 2009 for annual maintenance. March 17, 2009 - No Credit Cards in Zimbabwe The main credit card companies in Zimbabwe have stopped operating. Therefore travelers to Zimbabwe are advised to make all payments in cash. March 11, 2009 - Travel Specials 2009 is shaping up to be an INCREDIBLE value year for an Africa safari with savings over 55% as hotels, lodges and camps are offering an unprecedented number of specials to entice visitors! We have compiled a country by country list of the offers that we consider worthy of attention! Some of the most spectacular specials include free nights, low season pricing during high season and guaranteed 2009 rates for travel in 2010! Click here to view our list of specials. March 11, 2009 - Ultimate Africa to Appear on PBS PBS Channel 2 in South Florida will be hosting its annual on air auction April 25 and 26, 2009. Ultimate Africa Safaris has joined with Channel 2 offering a 10 day trip to South Africa valued at over US $20,000. To learn more please visit Channel2.org March 11, 2009 - Botswana to Feature on Weekly HBO Broadcast Alexander McCall Smith’s worldwide hit series of novels, the first of which was titled “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency”, has been adapted for television and will soon be premiered on HBO in a series that replaces “The Sopranos”. The two-hour pilot, directed by the late Anthony Minghella, premieres on Sunday 29 March 2009 on HBO and will be followed each Sunday during prime time (check local listings) for the next six weeks by a weekly installment of Mma Ramotswe’s adventures. The larger than life Precious Ramotswe, fictional owner of Botswana’s only female-owned detective agency, is played by Grammy Award-winner Jill Scott with the series having been shot on location in Botswana recently. The series provides a lighthearted insight into day-to-day Botswana life and is an entertaining and enlightening way for those who have travelled to Botswana or who will do so in the near future to connect with this unique democracy. March 11, 2009 - Rhino Rescue Botswana on National Geographic Award winning film makers Dereck and Beverly Joubert recently completed a project on Botswana’s rhino. It is going to be screened on the March 14, 2009 on National Geographic (please check for local times). Anyone who has travelled to Mombo Camp (or Little Mombo) in the last 6 years, or traveling to Botswana, might enjoy watching! |
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