Botswana Lions on NatGeo this Friday, December 14, 2011
Tune in this Friday, December 16th to Nat Geo WILD TV at 8pm ET/PT to catch "The Last Lions." Following Dereck and Beverly Joubert's interview on ABC Nightline where the couple discussed the founding Big Cats Initiative, watch as a determined lioness and her three cubs fight to survive in Botswana's Okavango Delta. Winner of three prestigious awards at the 2011 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival.

Walking Safaris in Botswana, December 7, 2011
For the time being, walking from Wilderness Safaris camps in Botswana will be on a request basis. Currently there is a shortage of qualified walking guides in Botswana and therefore walks cannot be guaranteed.  Please let us know in advance if you are interested in walking and we will endeavour to meet this requirement accordingly, bearing in mind that walking is dependent on qualified guide leave schedules, vegetation/seasonality and water levels – safety is the number one priority.

With regards to the Jao concession in particular (including Jao, Kwetsani, Tubu Tree Camp and Jacana), the owners have made the call at this time to not offer walking at all camps for both the reasons mentioned above and a shortage of suitable walking areas due to the changing dynamics of water and land.

KLM Flies to Zambia, November 29, 2011
From May 15, 2012 KLM will offer direct flights 3 times weekly between Amsterdam and Lusaka, Zambia.

Abu Camp Elephant to Give Birth, November 25, 2011
Sherini, one of the famed elephants of Abu Camp, is to give birth to her third calf in mid to end December 2011. Sherini is one of the original six young elephant orphans saved from a cull in the Kruger National Park. Known for her maternal attributes of calmness, patience and a loving nature, she has given birth to Pula and Abu, and all at Abu Camp are waiting with bated breath for the latest arrival of the Abu elephant family. This wonderful event however means that certain steps have had to be taken at Abu Camp to ensure the safety of both humans and animals, from Sherini herself (to ensure a healthy birth) to the herd as a whole. Therefore, prior to the birth, and in order to have as little stress as possible on the expectant mother, Sherini will not be ridden from the end of November 2011 until the end of January 2012 – only three guests at a time will be able to ride over this period. Because elephants tend to become very excited at the birth of a calf, as well as very protective – particularly for the first few days of a calf’s life – no elephant experiences will take place for five days following the birth. After the initial five days, the calf should be stronger and move more confident, allowing guests to participate in elephant activities. The arrival of a new born calf will provide guests with an exciting and personal window into the life of a family herd of pachyderms. Of course the activity is immeasurably enhanced as the focus of the herd – and the guests – is all on the newest member of the Abu family. As with all elephant safari activities at Abu, the safety of the herd and guests during this exciting time takes precedence. For the first few days while the calf “finds its legs,” the elephants will remain close to camp and guests will be able to participate fully in all the other elephant activities in camp – game drives, mokoro excursions, the Star Bed and more – aside from the once-in-a-lifetime experience of watching the herd interact with the days-old calf – something only a privileged few get to witness.

Matt Lauer Broadcasts from Namibia, November 15, 2011
Wilderness Safaris Namibia was chosen as the first location for the 10th anniversary of the TODAY Show’s popular “Where in the World is Matt Lauer?” series.  As Namibia was revealed as Lauer’s first secret location with him standing atop a sand dune – which he later skied down – at the start of TODAY, he remarked, “We’re in one of the most amazing countries we’ve been to in the 10 years I’ve been doing this series.  It’s like something out of a movie.” TODAY’s crews experienced a number of the regions in which Wilderness Safaris Namibia operates, from the stupendous Sossusvlei dunes to the starkly beautiful Damaraland. Matt marvelled at the conservation success story of Namibia, including the protection of the unique and endangered desert-adapted black rhino. Savannah Guthrie — who was waiting for Matt on the coast — was in awe of the amazing desert-adapted elephants that thrive in the area. TODAY crews also spent time interacting with the people of the country, including the Himba. “The people are the best part about the country,” said Guthrie.  “They are so friendly and welcoming.”

Devil's Pool Reopens, September 15, 2011
Water levels on the Zambezi River are now low enough to allow swimming to the Devil's Pool during the Livingstone Island Lunch!

Yellow Fever Certificate Needed If you Visit Zambia, September 15 2011
As of October 1, 2011 travelers who have been in Zambia and wish to enter South Africa will require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination. It does not matter if you were only in transit in Zambia and did not leave the airport. It does not matter if you are only transferring to a homeward flight in South Africa and not leaving the airport. You will still require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination.
 
We encourage clients to be immunized against Yellow Fever no fewer than 10 days prior to travel and to be issued with an internationally recognized vaccination certificate for inspection by South African immigration officials. The international health regulations concerning Yellow Fever are unequivocal, and unvaccinated travelers may face denial of entry, or even quarantine in certain circumstances.
 
Travelers that are pregnant, HIV positive, undergoing chemotherapy, or with a suppressed immune system should be able to procure an exemption certificate from a registered yellow fever vaccination center. A letter from a GP will not be sufficient. Travelers over the age of 60 may also qualify for an exemption.

River Club Fitness Center / Spa Lost in Fire, September 15 2011
The River Club unfortunately has lost their spa and gym due to fire. The River Club still has a good running/walking nature trail, tennis court and swimming pool for guests who wish to exercise. The rebuild is likely to commence at the end of 2011.

Look Outside Livingstone Airport for your Guide, September 15 2011
Livingstone Airport Management in Zambia has advised that all tour operators have to wait for their guests outside the waiting lounge below the stairs - essentially outside, because the inside area is very congested (especially during peak hours). Please be aware that this means that your drivers/guide may not be visible in the arrivals hall when you first come through.

Elephant Back Safaris from Toka Leya Camp, September 15, 2011
Please note that effective immediately, if you have guests staying at Toka Leya Camp, and they would like to do an Elephant Back Safari, they will be charged an additional US$15.00 per person return for road transfers to and from the Elephant Back Safaris, which is over and above the activity rate.

Yellow Fever Update, July 22 2011
The requirement for travelers to have a Yellow Fever vaccination if they have visited Zambia and are traveling to or through South Africa has been dropped.

Royal Zambezi Airstrip Fee Increase, July 7 2011
Royal Zambezi Airstrip management on the Lower Zambezi in Zambia have decided, without warning, to impose a $25 per person levy on each passenger access to Royal Airstrip. They propose to raise this to $65 per passenger per access in 2012!

Serengeti Highway Update, July 7 2011
Environmentalists and animal lovers are cautiously welcoming a compromise over plans to build a road project through Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. However, the door remains open for a devastating disruption of one of the planet's great animal migrations, warns an NGO dedicated to monitoring the site. At a meeting in Paris last month, the United Nations world heritage body, UNESCO, said Tanzania had come reconsider its plans to build a highway between Arusha  and Musoma, on the banks of Lake Victoria. The original plans would have seen some 53 kilometers of highway cut through the north of the UNESCO-listed Serengeti Park. Environmentalists warned that this would have severely impacted millions of animals, including wildebeest and zebras that migrate annually from Serengeti into the Masai Mara in Kenya. According to latest plans, roads outside the wildlife sanctuary will be paved, but those inside and leading to the Serengeti will not. "The project is still there without a shadow of a doubt. But the road will be unpaved, so there will be no tarmac road or highway traversing through the Serengeti National Park," said Tanzania's Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Ezekiel Maige.

Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest migrate from the Serengeti into Kenya every year and the proposed road was part of the government's efforts to promote economic development in the country. Tanzania has increased its budget for infrastructure for the coming year by 85 percent to 2.78 trillion Tanzanian shillings (1.2 billion euros). The government has argued that the country isn't doing enough for its people relative to what it does for its wildlife. Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world "We understand that there is a lot of resistance from environmentalists, but we have to balance between people's development, especially efficient transportation and conservation issues," Maige said. Environmentalists say the natural spectacle is a major draw for tourists, and they are campaigning for alternative routes. They have been gaining increasing support, too, from the likes of scientists, the World Bank and the German government.

German Development Minister Dirk Niebel said he was pleased with the Tanzanian government's willingness to look at different solutions. Niebel has commissioned the government-owned development bank, the German Reconstruction Credit Institute (KfW), to develop plans for alternative routes. According to Niebel, these plans aim to preserve the unique ecosystem of the Serengeti and advance the region's economic development.

Serengeti Watch, a nonprofit organization opposed to a commercial highway across the Serengeti, acknowledged that the situation had improved, but said that the threat was far from over. The group's co-founder, David Blanton, is uncomfortable with government assurances that the segments of the road within the park's north will remain gravel. "At present, it hardly qualifies as gravel under any conventional understanding of the term. Whether this now gives room for upgrading the road to a true, all-weather, high quality gravel road is the big question," Blanton told Deutsche Welle. Blanton added that since the road through the park would connect two tarmac roads on either side of the Serengeti, "the connection of the two will forever be a threat". Serengeti Watch fears that commercial traffic could gradually grow and with it, pressure to build a fence to protect the road. Fences to protect roads have ended migrations elsewhere, environmentalists warn, killing off the animals that need to move for water. Serengeti Watch also fears that increased settlement on the edges of the national park might eventually choke off and fragment the wildlife migration zone.

The Zoological Society Frankfurt (ZGF) has published a report analyzing the different options of a road through the Serengeti versus two alternative roads running south of the park. The conservation society's spokesperson Sigrid Keiser welcomed the Tanzanian government's decision to leave the stretch of the road running through the national park unpaved. "It doesn't mean the Serengeti is saved for all times, but it's all about positive reinforcement to stress that the decision taken is going in the right direction," Sigrid Keiser said. Keiser said it was now important that all international partners pulled in the same direction and fulfilled their pledges to fund alternative solutions. She added that distributor roads should also remain unpaved, in addition to the stretches of road within the park. Keiser said it was also important to leave the Tanzania National Park Authority (TANAPA) in charge of the new road and not the Tanzania National Road Agency (TANROADS). She expected TANAPA to enforce speed limits and other appropriate rules, such as no driving at night-time. According to Keiser, all these measures should make the gravel road less attractive to motorists and thus reduce commercial traffic in the Serengeti.

Serengeti Watch is continuing to hold out for an alternative route. "The most important thing is for the government to adopt the alternate southern route around the Serengeti. The southern route is much preferable for maximum social and economic development," Blanton said. Proponents of an alternative southern route claim it would be cheaper, shorter and link more agricultural markets. The government disputes this. In February, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete rejected the idea, saying it would not meet the needs of communities living on the north side of the park. 

Table Mountain Cablecar Closed for Maintenance, July 18 2011
As happens each year at this time the Table Mountain cablecar in Cape Town, South Africa closes today for its annual manintenance. It will reopen August 1, 2011.

Serra Cafema Opening Delayed Again, July 7, 2011
Namibia's Serra Cafema will not reopen until August 15, 2011.

Zimbabwe Airport Taxes Postponed, June 1, 2011
Further to previous communiqués where we were advised that from 1 April 2011 a new airport tax (AIDEF) was going to be introduced in Zimbabwe to fund the upgrading of its’ airports, we have been advised that this has now been postponed and additional charges are not being levied at this time. Should this change, we will let you know:

*The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe has postponed the introduction the proposed new levy for domestic and international travellers at the country’s airports citing logistical and administrative challenges. CAAZ introduced the Aviation Infrastructure Development Fund last month to raise money from travellers for infrastructure development and equipment modernisation. Under the proposed levy, which was supposed to be introduced on May 1 Zimbabwe’s domestic and international air travellers would pay an extra $10 and $30 in levies respectively. Diplomats, direct transit passengers and children under 2 were exempted from the tax. The money raised would have been used to upgrade the country’s airports."

Southern African Winter, June 1, 2011
Winter has arrived in southern Africa and we would like to ask you to remind guests to include warm clothes when they pack for their safari as it can get very cold at night and in the early mornings, especially on late afternoon/evening and early morning game activities. We recommend warm/thermal pyjamas, underwear and socks; good closed walking shoes; warm jersey or fleece plus anorak or parka; a scarf; gloves and beanies/woollen hats. Layers work well as it does warm up during the day. 

Serra Cafema Closure Extended Again!, June 1, 2011
Serra Cafema's will remain closed until July 27, 2011 when it will reopen.

Yellow Fever Notification, May 27, 2011
The South African Department of Health has made changes to Yellow Fever requirements for travelers to South Africa. This is a requirement made by South Africa, not Tanzania or Zambia.
 
Travelers flying from either Tanzania or Zambia to South Africa will now require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination. It does not matter if you were only in transit in Tanzania or Zambia and did not leave the airport. You will still require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination.
 
This notice was given on May 27, 2011 however there still seems to be some discrepancy as to the date of inception of the above recommendations. The date of July 1, 2011 has been mentioned but as we have yet to receive an official notification from the government department we cannot confirm this and whether it is already being actioned at ports of entry. As it takes 10 days for the inoculation to be effective we would hope there would be a period where leniency will be granted.

We therefore encourage clients with immediate effect to be immunized against Yellow Fever and to be issued with an internationally recognized vaccination certificate for inspection by immigration officials. The international health regulations concerning Yellow Fever are unequivocal, and unvaccinated travellers may face denial of entry, or even quarantine in certain circumstances.

Vaccinations are available in Livingstone at US$80 and Victoria Falls at US$50 per person. In South Africa vaccinations are available for R430 (roughly US $60) per person. These prices are subject to change.

Serra Cafema Closure Extended, April 15, 2011
Due to heavy rains Serra Cafema Camp will remain closed until June 30, 2011.

Save $925 on Migration Routes, April 4, 2011
New bookings on the Botswana Migration Routes trip departing before June 30, 2011 will save $925 per person! That is a savings of 20%!

Chitabe Lediba Reopens, April 2, 2011
The newly rebuilt Chitabe Lediba Camp in Botswana has reopened. Each of the 5 rooms is built to the same standard of nearby Chitabe Camp. Rooms are spacious with large sliding glass doors. Th bathrooms have double sinks, toilet, shower and even a second outdoor shower. Tent 3 is perfect for families with young children, as this unit has a connecting corridor between the rooms, each with their own bathroom. Family Tent 5 has an exquisite setting with extended decking in the front connecting the two units. In addition to the complete rebuild of the rooms, Chitabe Lediba has a new swimming pool and all decking surrounding the pool has been replaced. 

DumaTau Camp Update, April 2, 2011
DumaTau Camp in the Linyanti Area of Botswana has had a bit of a facelift which included the sanding and varnishing of furniture, outside showers and the pool deck. A number of fabrics were replaced and 4 new vehicles will be heading into camp shortly. A new activity is also going to be introduced, whereby the Barge will be relocated to the Savuti Channel and utilised by DumaTau for cruises - brunch, dinner, sundowners, private gatherings etc.  Please do note that the re-build or new DumaTau Camp has not yet been confirmed for this year.

Abu Camp Reminder, April 2, 2011
Abu Camp re-opened today after an extensive refurbishment, renovation and re-build with a complete overhaul of rooms and public areas, the construction of a one-of-a-kind “star bed” suspended above the elephant boma and the introduction of solar power and other sustainability initiatives. Please note that Friday is a rest day for the elephant herd so there will be no interaction possible on that day!

Serra Cafema Camp Temporary Closure, April 2, 2011
Due to continued high rains in the catchment area in Angola and resultant filling of dams to capacity on the Kunene River, the sluice gates are remaining open which has resulted in rising water levels of the Kunene. Serra Cafema Camp in Namibia is now essentially an island, surrounded by water, with access and facilities being impacted. Should the waters recede in the next few days/weeks, there will be some flood damage which will need to be addressed. Namibia Operations have therefore taken the decision to close the camp until April 30, 2011. We will get in touch with all affected clients.

New Zimbabwe Airport Tax, April 2 2011
We have been advised that with effect from April 1, 2011, a new airport tax (AIDEF) is being introduced in Zimbabwe to fund the upgrading of its’ airports. This tax needs to be paid directly by the client on departure from Zimbabwe per light aircraft/private charter and will be included in the costs of any scheduled/commercial airline ticket. This is in addition to the existing Departure Tax.

Domestic flights – US$ 10 departure tax plus US$10 AIDEF fees
International Flights – US$35 departure tax plus US$30 AIDEF fees

Rafting on the Zambezi, April 2 2011
Note that the “High Water” season for rafting on the Zambezi River is in place due to high water levels, and white water rafting has been closed until June for safety reasons.

Migration Routes Upgrade, February 19, 2011
All Migration Routes group departures until May 31, 2011 will be upgraded to Toka Leya Camp and from June 1 to December 31, 2011 to either Toka Leya or The River Club - all at no additional cost! Cool!

Ruckomechi Camp 2011 Opening Date, February 19, 2011
Ruckomechi Camp will open April 1 instead of May 1 this year due to increased demand for Zimbabwe. If the rains prevent the Mana West airstrip from being used, then guests will fly from Victoria Falls to Chirundu and be transferred by boat to the camp.

New Duma Tau Camp Coming, February 19, 2011
Whilst the original DumaTau Camp will re-open on March 1, 2011 following some maintenance an all-new DumaTau Camp will open a few kilometers away from the current location overlooking the picturesque Osprey Lagoon. A confirmed opening date and further details will be announced later in 2011.

Wilderness Safaris No Longer Marketing Abu Camp, February 19, 2011
Wilderness Safaris will no longer be marketing Abu Camp and the elephant experience in Botswana.

Duba Plains to Close Late 2011, February 19, 2011
Word on the street is Duba Plains Camp will close in late 2011 and be rebuilt as Premier level camp... exciting stuff.

Wilderness Safaris Wins Accolades, Janaury 6, 2011
Mombo and Little Mombo again topped Conde Nast Traveler's Africa and Middle East category with the highest overall score of 98.4. Mombo was followed closely by Jao Camp with 94.3, while other Wilderness camps that achieved outstanding overall scores were DumaTau Camp in the Linyanti and Vumbura Plains Camp in the Okavango Delta.

These properties also excelled in specific categories, such as best location, best food, best design and best activities. Mombo and Little Mombo, Jao, DumaTau and Vumbura Plains received perfect scores of 100 in the Best Location category, while Mombo and Little Mombo achieved 96.3 in the Best Food group and Vumbura Plains scored 100 under Best Design. In the Best Activities category Mombo and Little Mombo attained a score of 100, while Jao and DumaTau both scored 97.1!