Mvuu Camp/Lodge MalawiMalawi Safari Report - June 2004
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Clear blue skies, chilly mornings and all the time drying out���. By the end of June there is very little palatable grass left in Liwonde National Park. The open areas east of the Lodge have taken on the dry barren desert appearance usually only seen in the last weeks of the dry season. There is not a blade of grass left in the area, piles of elephant dung are scattered every few meters across the sandy exposed earth and the Acacia tortilis have been heavily shredded, with broken branches and strips of bark dangling from their trunks. On the night of the 12th the elephants returned to finish off a job started last November. They ate away at the scarred trunk of the Baobab in the middle of the open area, eventually toppling the massive tree bringing to an end, in a single night, what has been a feature of the landscape for hundreds of years. The hippo have given up their nightly migrations into the interior of the park and instead spend their nights grazing on the last remaining areas of grass along the edge of the marshes. The entire elephant population has moved to the river, with numerous small herds scattered from Chinguni in the south to Mvera in the north. By the end of the month most boat trips during the heat of the day were recording well over a hundred elephant in a two to three hour period. The nightly nocturnal visits to the lodge by breeding herds to feed in the lush riverine vegetation along the edge of the lagoon have once again become the norm. The Mopane leaves have started turning to a golden brown colour, carpeting the woodland floors with rich rusty colours in the late afternoon light. The water holes scattered inland have mostly died out with only a handful still supporting small muddy puddles at their centre. Towers of billowing smoke that mark the perennial bush fires that rush through the tall dry thatching grass in the east of the park have become a feature on the distant eastern horizon. Only the nightly chill in the air and crisp clear skies in the morning give any indication that the height of the dry season is still to come.
As the month progressed so the level of crocodile activity in the lagoon increased as the crocs moved into their breeding season. The large territorial male has recommenced frequent high profile patrols around the lagoon in a routine that takes him from the shallows at the eastern end of the lagoon, past the tents, below the dining area and along the edge of the walkway out to the mouth of the lagoon before looping back around close to the far bank before returning. Every few meters it surfaces, exhaling with a loud hissing noise to make sure any potential challengers are fully aware that they enter the lagoon at their peril. When not on patrol it positions itself high on the sand bank opposite tent 3 in a very impressive display of bulk and armoury, showing off assets that make it one of the most efficient predators on the planet.
The Boehm's bee eaters have started nesting and are seen in numbers perching low in the branches along the lodge pathways, before swooping on an unsuspecting insect flying past. A sharp snapping noise as the bird grabs the insect and returns to the perch to batter its victim on the branch before swallowing it whole. The persistent watcher is soon rewarded as the birds frequently return to their nests and give away the small hole in the ground with a few scratch marks around the edge of it, the only sign of activity going on below. Out along the edge of the water the usual residents ensure that any-one spending a quiet half hour in the hammocks on the tent balconies is entertained with an insight into the bustling goings on of life in the lagoon. The large open billed stork is a constant fixture, perched on one of the dead Acacia's over the water, watching life go by. The pair of fish eagles sit high in the fever trees, recording the passing of time with their echoing call that for many visitors is the signature tune of Africa. Down on the water lilies and grasses of the floating island at the lagoon edge, Black crake, Squacco and Green backed heron, Little bittern, Cattle egrets, African jacana's and numerous Weavers, Warblers and Prinia's all strive to make a living in a busy world. A rustling in the leaves under the thickets, reveals the slow methodical movements of a large monitor lizard, creeping toward the water while all the time the background melody as the robins and palm thrushes strive to out perform each other.
By the second week of the month elephant herds had arrived is such numbers along the river that it became impossible to even begin to explain to guests that two months ago we had to search far and wide to get even a glimpse of an elephant. Breeding herds appear out of the mopane woodland in the early hours of the morning, heading west to the marshes and river. They follow the tree lines along the long dry sandy river beds of the Ntangaye, Nangondo, Namandanje and Mwalasi rivers before plunging into the still waters of the lagoons at the mouths of the rivers flooded back inland from the Shire River. They spend the day light hours submerged up to their midriffs feeding in the tall reeds and marshes. The flood plain south of the Ntangaye River has become a fascinating hot spot of late afternoon activity. To the south lies large stretches of uninterrupted marsh, that comes to an abrupt halt as the tall riverine thickets along of Ntagaye River protrude right to the edge of the Shire. To the north the marshes give away to the high river banks in the area of Mvuu. Numerous herds of elephant spend the day slowly moving north through the marshes before arriving at the open flood plains of the southern Ntangaye by late afternoon. From here they rush across the open areas into the thickets to the north. Several herds often appearing at once out of the reeds, followed by the ever present wondering bulls. Huge social gatherings have been occurring at the edge of the thickets as the breeding herds meet and offer their greetings. Calves and young bulls are noisily disciplined as they get carried away in the excitement of meeting distant relatives, while the large solitary bulls use the opportunity to prove their dominance to the young bulls still attached to the breeding herds. On the evening of the 21st we parked the vehicle alongside the fever tree grove on the edge of the southern Ntangaye flood plain. In the golden light of the late afternoon we watched as five breeding herds of between 10 - 20 in each emerged out of the tall reeds in the south, hurried in close formation across the open flood plain and stop at the edge of the tree line. Three large bulls waited at the edge of the reeds to greet each herd before rushing with them across the grass plain only to return within a few minutes to disappear into the reeds of the marsh and then reappear with the next herd. Each time the young bulls of the herd were singled out for special attention. The much larger bulls place their tusks and trunk on the smaller bull's forehead letting out a screech before driving the young bull backward for ten meters or so before it broke and ran for cover in the thickets.
The buffalo herds are still out in the far north eastern sector of the park, spoor can frequently been seen in the block between the northern sanctuary fence line, East road and the Old Niafulu Hills road. There are a number of water holes in this section all of which appear to be within a few weeks of completely drying out. In the last week of the month a couple of large bush fires spread in from the eastern park boundary and burnt much of the remaining grazing in the area so I suspect the herds will be forced to move in the next few weeks. If their movement patterns from last year are repeated they should move south into the grasslands immediately to the north of the Niafulu hills where a large water hole still has some water reserves. As this too dries out they then moved further south to the Mwalasi area. Both of these areas are within striking range of our game drives so we will hopefully record an increase in sightings in the coming months.
We have opened a new game drive road, aptly named Sable road, that cuts west from east road though the cathedral Mopane woodlands to eventually emerge at Mvera drive and the Shire. Late afternoon drives along this road have provided us with some fantastic sable viewing. Several breeding herds, numbering between 50 - 80 animals, have been recorded on each drive along a grassland spur that runs along a shallow drainage line. This road has added a fantastic new dimension to the game drives by cutting right through the heartland of the sables favourite habitat and providing the sort of sable viewing previously only a feature in the last few weeks of the dry season as the sable emerge from the woodland areas to drink at the Shire.
The Kudu bulls are still in close attendance to the small breeding herds frequently seen in the thicket areas. The highlight of the month was on the 28th when the Ntagaye herd appeared out of the thickets and strode out onto the open flood plain of the southern Ntangaye. The herd is made up of three mature females, three calves from last season, a young bull of 2-3 years and closely followed by a very large bull with spiral horns that must be close to two meters towering above him. One of the females appeared to be in season and was being followed very closely by the young bull. The dominant bull looked on without showing any undue concern. We then watched for more than half an hour as the young bull repeatedly mounted the female, without even as much as a glance of protest from the large bull in attendance. Obviously it hasn't read the books about the large dominant bulls chasing the young bulls from the herd and thus preventing interbreeding.
Drives in the breeding sanctuary have remained fairly quiet with sightings of sable, Liechtenstein's hartebeest and zebra. On the 14th the scouts on an anti poaching patrol reported coming across a leopard in the vicinity of the Mwalasi river mouth. On seeing them it apparently climbed down from the tree where it was resting and disappeared into the thickets.
Night drives in the second half of the month were a bit quiet with the combination of full moon and relatively cold temperatures keeping activity to a minimum. However we got very excited on the night of the 22nd when the spotlight beam revealed the small scurrying shape of a striped polecat in the vicinity of Staff and Flycatcher road junction. The second record in two months and only one of a handful of sightings in the ten years of the lodge's existence. A pangolin was also reported in the same area from one of the drives from the camp, again a once or twice a year occurrence. Civet and porcupine have continued to show up at regular intervals and sightings of genet, thick tailed and lesser bush baby, white-tailed and marsh mongooses are frequently recorded. The jackals have moved north into the area between crocodile sandbank and Old cormorant colony and are only seen occasionally at the moment. We have been treated to some excellent owl sightings with Pel's, white-faced, barred, wood, scops, giant eagle and spotted eagle owls all been record during the month.
The activity in the breeding colony of White breasted cormorants has reached fever pitch as the huge number of chicks scream for attention from the adults returning from their fishing sorties to the north. The commotion can be heard for more than a kilometre along the river. On the afternoon of the 6th I was sitting in the vehicle on the northern banks of the lagoon watching the hive of activity in the white coated Borassus palms across the water. I noticed that one of the palms right in the middle of the colony looked strangely out of place. Its leaves were the pale green colour of the palms further down stream away from the colony. The cormorants without exception were avoiding this tree. Closer inspection revealed a much larger nest tucked in above the clumps of Borassus fruit with the unmistakable shaped head of an adult fish eagle protruded from the top of the nest. A second bird called from the dead Lead wood to the north of the lagoon and its mate in the nest responded. Completely intrigued by the bird's choice of nesting sight I settled down to watch. Sure enough within half an hour the male Fish-eagle swooped off its perch and darted into the mass confusion of Cormorants in the colony. It made two or three unsuccessful attempts to catch a fleeing cormorant in flight before settling just above its nest. On three occasions since during the month we have watched as this scene was repeated and have twice found the fish eagles feeding on cormorants. While fish eagles in general have been quite often recorded to be catching and feeding on other birds, the deliberate sighting of a nest in amongst such an abundant food source as provided in the cormorant colony is something fascinating.
We recorded a very creditable 203 species of birds during the month, with three additions to our year to date records: African Black Sunbird, Southern Banded Snake eagle and a Southern Pochard. Of the Liwonde specials Lillian's Love Birds are prolific at the moment attracted in large flocks to feed on the small orange yellow fruit clustered on the top of the Euphorbias (ingens). We have recorded Brown breasted Barbets on three occasions and were once again treated to the sight of two Pel's fishing owls roosting high in an acacia albida during an early morning walk in the southern Ntangai thickets. The group of resident Spur-wing plovers has appeared to have expanded their range with a number of sightings of a second group of up to four birds in the vicinity of Borassus palm in the north to complement the frequent sightings in the vicinity of the Ntangaye mouth to the south. We have also had some very nice late afternoon sightings of a pair of White-backed night herons in the lagoon at the cormorant colony.
Mvuu Camp is situated just south of Mvuu Lodge on the banks of the Shire River in Malawi's Liwonde National Park.
It offers a wide range of options including camping, self catering and full board rates with activities. The activities on offer are the same as Mvuu Wilderness Lodge, but the camp is better suited either to families or those on a budget as rates are very reasonable.
A particularly rewarding way of arriving at Mvuu Camp is via the boat trip from Liwonde Town. This river trip takes you 30 kilometres along the Shire offering an excellent chance to see game and birds en route and also the ever changing scenery and vegetation along the banks.
There are nine comfortable walk in tents with shared facilities and five en suite brick chalets. A large wood and thatch dining and lounge area is situated nearby and offers a magnificent view upstream to the north. There is also a specially constructed boma for dinners under the stars.
among the "specials".
Elephant and Sable Antelope occur in large numbers, as do Hippo, Crocodile, Impala and Waterbuck. Leopard, Serval and the rare Oribi may occasionally be seen. Black Rhino have been reintroduced from South Africa's Kruger National Park, as have Zebra, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, and Buffalo from elsewhere within Malawi.
Birds are prolific, especially along the Shire River where African Fish Eagle, Palmnut Vulture, African Skimmer and Pel's Fishing Owl are fairly common. Bohm's Beeeater, Lilian's Lovebird, Bat Hawk, Livingstone's Flycatcher, Whitebacked Night Heron and Brownbreasted Barbet are among the "specials."
LOCATION
� Situated to the south of Lake Malawi in the Liwonde National Park, the camp is built overlooking the Shire River, the main drainage river from Lake Malawi.
PRICING / CHILD POLICY
High Season: July to October, Easter and Christmas
Low Season: Rest of the year
Children over the age of 8 are welcome.
ACCOMMODATION
Number of tents:
5 Tents in total consisting of:
� 4 twin bedded tents
� 1 honeymoon tent with bath
� Guides/tour leaders accommodated in guest accommodation if available otherwise in staff quarters
This camp can accommodate ten guests; larger groups can also be accommodated in the nearby Mvuu Camp which sleeps up to 36 guests.
Tent details:
� Private veranda overlooking secluded lagoon
� En-suite facilities with a shower
� Tents are mosquito proofed
� Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each room
CAMP DESCRIPTION
Communal Area:
� Dining room and pub under thatch
� Swimming pool
GAME VIEWING
Superb area for Elephant, Hippo and Crocodile during the drier months in the middle of the year. Kudu, Sable, Impala, Waterbuck and Warthog are seen as well as Serval, Civet, Mongoose and Genets on night drives. Baboon, Vervet Monkeys, Bushbuck, Oribi, Leopard, Lion and Bush pig are also found and the birdlife is spectacular all year - Boems Bee-eater.
ACTIVITIES
� Game drives in 1 x 10 seater vehicle
� Night drives
� Boating in 1 x 10 seater safari boat
� Walks with experienced guides
� River Safaris
� The highlight here is superb river cruises where guests may get close to Hippos, Crocodile and wonderful birdlife. There is a Black Rhino re-introduction program and it is possible (with special permission) to visit the Rhino sanctuary in the park, which also contains Liechtenstein's Hartebeest and Buffalo.
SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Below is only a suggestion as to what may happen in camp - as daily wildlife sightings tend to throw the schedule right out of schedule.
06h00 Game Walk
07h00 Breakfast
08h00 Boat safari
12h00 Lunch
16h00 Game Drive
19h00 Dinner, table d' h�te or occasionally curry buffet or braai (barbecue)
ELECTRICITY & WATER
� 220v generator
� 12v solar for lights in the tents
� No plugs in the tents but can use plugs at reception if necessary
DRINKS POLICY
Drinks are not included in the nightly tariff and are charged to the guests account.
LAUNDRY POLICY
Daily service, included in the nightly tariff
EXTRAS PAYMENT
Payment can be affected by cash or the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
FLYING TIMES
To/from Lilongwe 55 minutes
To/from Blantyre 40 minutes
To/from Club Makalolo 20 minutes
AIRSTRIP DETAILS
Mvuu (Makanga)
Airstrip co-ordinates:
S 14.15, E35.18
1000m long
GRATUITY SCHEDULE
The following is the suggested gratuity schedule only and is subject to service standards:
Guides - US$5.00 per person per day
General Camp Staff - US$3.00 per person per day
Specialist Guides (if applicable) - US$10.00 per person per day
*`�*-.,_,.-*`�*-.,_,.-*�
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Malawi Guest Trip Report
David Chamberlain
vacationtechnician.com
Dear David,
I am trying to send you my feedback now, but it is very difficult as everything was perfect.
Lilongwe: Mr. Zack was the first person whom we met and he was so friendly. He organised everything for us and even cleared my chaos as we returned (I lost my boarding card!).
Heuglins: Lovely Tammy, heartily and sweet, wonderful accommodation and food! What was the building used for in former days?
Mvuu Lodge: Richard was so nice, he did everything for us, we had a different schedule every day, we visited the school, went up by speed boat to Lake Malombe, had breakfast in the bush etc. I think you know the lodge there. For me it was the one with the most "heart", the scenery, the tents, the inside of the tents, the welcome letter, the good-bye hippo, the friendly staff etc. etc. I just felt at home there and I was very sad to leave. Thank you again for offering this destination.
Transfer in Malawi: Private charter with Frank, punctual and a wonderful scenic flight underneath the clouds.
Kafunta: First a little disappointment, so big and "civilised" after Mvuu. But then we felt very comfortable too and were able to love the incredible view ! Tourists not so "serious" as in Mvuu.
Ron and Greg took us and 2 other visitors to the Island Bush Camp, it was wonderful. We did a lot of hiking, no buffalos or lions (Thank God for it!). Very well organised, we always had tea and sundowner in the bush, crossed the Lunga River barefoot and other adventures.
Suggestion: 2 nights after the bush in the lodge would be better, you can have your laundry done and relax a little bit because it was very strenuous (long trip during the day).
Transfer flight to Lower Zambesi was changed, we flew early in the morning and had to change planes in Lusaka. Usually we were a bit worried because nobody was able to tell us which plane we should catch in Lusaka but stuff from Airwaves did everything for us and we had just a brake for the toilet.
Lower Zambesi: Thanks god, only 2 nights in Sausage Tree! But wait a moment, I will explain.Transfer was by boat what we really enjoyed after all the driving in Kafunta. They kept us in Sausage Tree for lunch and a little rest and in the afternoon we arrived in Old Mondoro. There was no manager there, just Andrew our guide and the staff did everything perfect, just themselves, amazing! I really loved it there, we had the elephants crossing the river, only 2 or 4 guests, a wonderful scenery (have you ever been there? The woods are like in a fairy tale there!), beautiful walks and game drives and a really bush atmosphere!
The transfer to Sausage Tree was a game drive and we were able to realize the change of the vegetation and scenery. Great!
Sausage Tree: No critics at all but not what I expected! After this incredible trip with just a few guests the 14 tourist in Sausage Tree nearly "killed" us. Mostly English because of the BBC report I think the majority of them didn`t go there because of the bush but because it is a "must" and many of them felt very proud of being in a camp which was on TV! We were used to serious and interested safari guests who always were punctual. In Sausage Tree we always were delayed because people didn`t come in time. Nevertheless Kelly did a great job and organised a schedule for everybody.
So Mvuu was more and Sausage Tree was less of what I expected, but no critic at all! Maybe there is more tourism in the Lower Zambesi NP because of the Vic Falls. People visit the Falls and the park and then fly to Mauritius and so the 2 other places were more authentic for us.
Lusaka: Our pilot found the Holiday Inn shuttle bus for us and helped us with our luggage. In the hotel we were informed that we had a private transfer back to the airport, I think you booked us as VIPs everywhere?!
We went shopping there. As they changed our schedule in Mfuwe we only had 15 minutes for Tribal Textiles which I really regretted as I would have been interested in the production. But you can`t get everything! So Kelley wrote us down some markets in Lusaka where we were able to do our shopping. And as this was our "hippo Holiday" I bought a really big one (15 kgs!) which I packed in a new backpack and it arrived here! I am very happy because it is standing in front of our front door and is reminding me of this incredible trip. By the way I named it Richard!
Thank you very much for this perfect and well done organisation, I doubt if such a trip would be possible in Europe! I hope I can afford a trip sometimes again, my biggest wish is to go to the bush with my husband. But he can`t take any malaria prophylaxis so we won`t risk it. But if I could, I would take him to the Mvuu Lodge!
I hope that we keep contact somehow and I hope Ursula will send her feedback too. But no complaints from her either!
Thanks again for having organised and booked this wonderful trip for us and greetings to everybody I mentioned.
Many greetings from Austria.
Yours,
Martina
Mvuu Camp is situated just south of Mvuu Lodge on the banks of the Shire River in Malawi's Liwonde National Park.
It offers a wide range of options including camping, self catering and full board rates with activities. The activities on offer are the same as Mvuu Wilderness Lodge, but the camp is better suited either to families or those on a budget as rates are very reasonable.
A particularly rewarding way of arriving at Mvuu Camp is via the boat trip from Liwonde Town. This river trip takes you 30 kilometres along the Shire offering an excellent chance to see game and birds en route and also the ever changing scenery and vegetation along the banks.
There are nine comfortable walk in tents with shared facilities and five en suite brick chalets. A large wood and thatch dining and lounge area is situated nearby and offers a magnificent view upstream to the north. There is also a specially constructed boma for dinners under the stars.
among the "specials".
Elephant and Sable Antelope occur in large numbers, as do Hippo, Crocodile, Impala and Waterbuck. Leopard, Serval and the rare Oribi may occasionally be seen. Black Rhino have been reintroduced from South Africa's Kruger National Park, as have Zebra, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, and Buffalo from elsewhere within Malawi.
Birds are prolific, especially along the Shire River where African Fish Eagle, Palmnut Vulture, African Skimmer and Pel's Fishing Owl are fairly common. Bohm's Beeeater, Lilian's Lovebird, Bat Hawk, Livingstone's Flycatcher, Whitebacked Night Heron and Brownbreasted Barbet are among the "specials".
LOCATION� Situated to the south of Lake Malawi in the Liwonde National Park, the camp is built overlooking the Shire River, the main drainage river from Lake Malawi.
PRICING / CHILD POLICY
High Season: July to October, Easter and Christmas
Low Season: Rest of the year
Children over the age of 8 are welcome.
ACCOMMODATION
Number of tents:
5 Tents in total consisting of:
� 4 twin bedded tents
� 1 honeymoon tent with bath
� Guides/tour leaders accommodated in guest accommodation if available otherwise in staff quarters
This camp can accommodate ten guests; larger groups can also be accommodated in the nearby Mvuu Camp which sleeps up to 36 guests.
Tent details:� Private veranda overlooking secluded lagoon
� En-suite facilities with a shower
� Tents are mosquito proofed
� Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each room
CAMP DESCRIPTION
Communal Area:
� Dining room and pub under thatch
� Swimming pool
GAME VIEWING
Superb area for Elephant, Hippo and Crocodile during the drier months in the middle of the year. Kudu, Sable, Impala, Waterbuck and Warthog are seen as well as Serval, Civet, Mongoose and Genets on night drives. Baboon, Vervet Monkeys, Bushbuck, Oribi, Leopard, Lion and Bush pig are also found and the birdlife is spectacular all year - Boems Bee-eater.
ACTIVITIES� Game drives in 1 x 10 seater vehicle
� Night drives
� Boating in 1 x 10 seater safari boat
� Walks with experienced guides
� River Safaris
� The highlight here is superb river cruises where guests may get close to Hippos, Crocodile and wonderful birdlife. There is a Black Rhino re-introduction program and it is possible (with special permission) to visit the Rhino sanctuary in the park, which also contains Liechtenstein's Hartebeest and Buffalo.
SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Below is only a suggestion as to what may happen in camp - as daily wildlife sightings tend to throw the schedule right out of schedule.
06h00 Game Walk
07h00 Breakfast
08h00 Boat safari
12h00 Lunch
16h00 Game Drive
19h00 Dinner, table d' h�te or occasionally curry buffet or braai (barbecue)
ELECTRICITY & WATER� 220v generator
� 12v solar for lights in the tents
� No plugs in the tents but can use plugs at reception if necessary
DRINKS POLICY
Drinks are not included in the nightly tariff and are charged to the guests account.
LAUNDRY POLICY
Daily service, included in the nightly tariff
EXTRAS PAYMENT
Payment can be affected by cash or the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
FLYING TIMES
To/from Lilongwe 55 minutes
To/from Blantyre 40 minutes
To/from Club Makalolo 20 minutes
AIRSTRIP DETAILS
Mvuu (Makanga)
Airstrip co-ordinates:
S 14.15, E35.18
1000m long
GRATUITY SCHEDULE
The following is the suggested gratuity schedule only and is subject to service standards:
Guides - US$5.00 per person per day
General Camp Staff - US$3.00 per person per day
Specialist Guides (if applicable) - US$10.00 per person per day
*`�*-.,_,.-*`�*-.,_,.-*�
Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.
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Little Kulala Safari Report - June 2004
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The weather in June has been one which is definitely introducing the winter temperature especially in the late evening and early morning with our coldest night being 3 degrees!! The morning temperature in general was a bit kinder to us with a usual 10 degrees, but don't feel discouraged there are plenty of our guests still sleeping on our star beds looking at the stars. The temperature during the day is wonderful and comfortable ranging between 25 and 29 degrees.
Everybody is enjoying the closed vehicles on the morning to drive to Sossusvlei and the hike to Deadvlei and to conquer Big Daddy. Even with the nature drives one needs to remember to take some warm clothes along. Very exciting at the beginning of June we had the transit of Venus across the Sun and for a couple of hours in the morning everyone's noses were facing skywards looking at the sun with protective eclipse glasses, we are definitely ready for the next one.
Orion and the beautiful Saturn are not visible anymore but in the morning Venus is back in action as the morning star. Exciting constellations visible this month are Scorpio, Southern Cross and in the north we are able to see part of Orsa Major or better known as the Big Dipper.
Our little water hole has become increasingly popular with most, including daily visits from six resident ostrich; our big group of Oryx lead by an albino are coming to the water hole quite frequently and of course our faithful groups of springbok. More often in the evenings lately, we have been lucky with predator sightings including the Spotted Eagle owl, Jackals, however, our Spotted Hyaena are shy at the waterhole, we hear them most nights during their howling concerts. An unusual sighting this month was a Blacksmith Plover which found a home at our waterhole for two days.
Little Kulala is situated on a large private reserve, bordering the Namib Naukluft Park, in the heart of the Namib. The camp offers magnificent views of the famous red dunes of Sossusvlei, mountainous scenery and vast open plains.
Little Kulala has eight thatched and canvas chalets of Kulalas, each built on a wooden platform to provide maximum airflow. A popular option with outdoor enthusiasts is to sleep under the stars - mattresses are placed on private stargazing platform on top of each room.
The main lodge has a lounge, bar, dining area and plunge pool, with a view of the dunes. The verandah overlooks a waterhole. Early morning guided game drives to the spectacular dunes are through a private gate on the Tsauchab River.
Game drives and walks are also offered on the private reserve. Here, guests can enjoy incredible views, desert game and smaller desert fauna and flora. Another option, at an extra cost, is early morning ballooning, beginning at first light.
The 60-minute balloon safari offers a truly unique experience to soar silently above the magnificent sand dunes and desert - with a champagne breakfast served at your landing site.
On the edge of the oldest desert in the world, this is not a game rich area, however, whatever game we see is interesting and dramatised by the contrast between the desert and animals like Springbok, Gemsbok (Oryx) and Ostrich who manage to survive in these harsh conditions.
Night drives using spotlights often encounter small mammals such as Aardwolf, Bat Eared Fox, Hares and sometimes Spotted Hyenas
LOCATION� Kulala is 350 km south of Windhoek and can easily be reached by sedan car.
� The entrance is situated 17 km south of Sesriem on the road 826 (follow the signpost with arrows on the C36).
PRICING / CHILD POLICY
High Season: July to October
Shoulder Season: January to June & November to December
☼ Children over the age of 8 years are welcome
ACCOMMODATION
Number of units:
Eight chalets in total comprising:
� 7 x "kulalas" each with twin beds (there are 4 extra beds available for children/triples)
� 1 x family room which sleeps 5
� 4 x tour leader/guides can be accommodated in rondavels
19 guests in total can be accommodated plus tour leaders
Chalet details:� Each "kulala" is especially adapted to the unique desert conditions, built on a platform to ensure maximum airflow, thatch roof provide a cool respite from the sun
� Ceiling fans ensure a breeze at all times.
� All rooms are en-suite with shower, flush toilet and hand basin.
� Each room has a private veranda with view of the majestic dunes without seeing the neighbours.
� A private rooftop area on top of the bathroom gives guests the opportunity of spending a night under the magnificent night sky for which bedrolls are available.
CAMP DESCRIPTION� The main lodge comprises of the reception, lounge, bar, dining room and veranda.
� Thatch roofed
� There is a swimming pool with shaded area if guests want to relax
GAME VIEWING
A water hole in front of the main building gives the opportunity to see Oryx, Springbok, Bat Eared Fox, Aardwolf, Ostrich and Jackals. Some Spotted Hyenas can be heard at night.
ACTIVITIES� Nature drives into the desert in 3 x 10 seater and 1 x 6 seater 4 x 4 vehicles
� Walking Trails
� Visits to Bushman painting sites
� Visit to Sossusvlei and Sesriem
� Balloon safaris (additional cost, even if guests are on Fully Inclusive rate. Closed 15 January to 15 February)
� Horse riding safari (on request and at an additional cost)
� The Scenic sundowner tour is one of the best scenic safaris in the Namib. This exclusive tour is ended with a Champagne sundowner.
� Private vehicles can be booked at an additional cost, subject to availability.
SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Below is only a suggestion as to what may happen in camp - as daily wildlife sightings tend to throw the schedule right out of schedule.
05h00 - Wake Up
05h30 - Light breakfast is served
05h55 - Depart on Sossusvlei excursion
Full buffet brunch is served on the dunes
Return to Lodge
15h45 - Depart on afternoon activity
19h00 - Dinner at the Lodge
ELECTRICITY & WATER� Solar heating for hot water
� 220v power is available in each kulala camp 24 hours a day
� Video battery recharging facilities are available; please bring spare battery and adaptors.
DRINKS POLICY
Drinks on game drives and house-wine at dinner are included in the Fully Inclusive rate. All other drinks are excluded unless pre-arranged (for an extra cost all drinks can be included).
LAUNDRY POLICY
A daily laundry service is included in the nightly tariff.
EXTRAS PAYMENT
Payment can be affected by: Travellers' cheques, cash or Visa/MasterCard
FLYING / DRIVING TIMES
To/from Windhoek 1 hour 15 mins
To/from Swakopmund 1 hour
Self drive � 5 hours from/to Windhoek (350 Km)
Self drive � 6 hours from/to Swakopmund (380 Km)
AIRSTRIP DETAILS
Geluk Airstrip co-ordinates
S 24.40.6, E 015.48.1
Gravel surface
15 minutes from camp
GRATUITY SCHEDULE
The following is the suggested gratuity schedule only and is subject to service standards:
R 100 per guest per day. This will be divided up amongst the camp staff.
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Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
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Serra Cafema Namibia Safari Report - June 04
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June has been a great month for Serra Cafema. We were very busy with the peak season starting. Our guests came from all over the world, from as far as New Zealand and as close as South Africa. Serra Cafema is a knock out for our guests, some saying they now no longer have to go to the moon, Serra Cafema is better.
The Himba tribe continues to amaze people. Even though not many of them have remained at the village, they still give the guests a good impression on how they live in this barren area. They really have such a rich culture, there is so much to learn from them.
We still have not had any rain, however, some of the animals are returning to the area. Temperatures have dropped somewhat in the mornings and evenings, however, the fireplace in the main area is very cozy and the best spot to warm up and relax after a long day out on the quad bikes. We are also getting more and more foggy mornings in camp, it sure makes getting out of bed very difficult.
The water level of the Kunene is going down quite rapidly, making the boat trips shorter and the crocodile viewing better with a 3 meter croc daily waiting at the rapids close to camp. The bird life is great. Night life has been booming with regular sightings of Black-backed Jackal and Brown Hyaena around camp.
Serra Cafema remains the best place to end your safari in Namibia, or even Botswana. After a hectic safari of getting up early in the mornings and being kept busy throughout the day, Serra Cafema is the spot to come and relax at. Our activities will also keep you busy, but the water in the late afternoons and evenings will sooth your soul back to normality.
Come see for yourselves how beautiful our dunes and mountains are, this is a little peace of heaven on earth.
Serra Cafema Camp is one of the most remote camps in all of Southern Africa and offers one of the most memorable experiences in Namibia. The small 16 bedded camp, whose only access is by aircraft, is located in the extreme north-west of Namibia and is further away from Namibia's capital city, Windhoek, than from Botswana's Okavango Delta.
Serra Cafema shares this region with the wonderful and colourful Himba people who are some of the last true nomadic people of Africa. The Kunene River is the only permanent source of water and creates an oasis along its banks surrounded by rugged mountains and sand dunes.
The camp is situated under big shady Albida trees overlooking the Kunene River and comprises 8 canvas and thatched chalets that are raised off the ground, each with its own en-suite bathroom. Other facilities include a small swimming pool, dining room and bar. One goes to sleep at night to the gurgling water sounds from the rapid just downstream from camp.
In stark contrast, during the day, guests spend their time exploring one of the planet's driest deserts. Activities include enjoying the breath-taking landscape scenes with Springbok, Ostrich and Oryx dotted here and there, traversing the sand dunes in 4x4 Landrovers and boating on the Kunene River where we can watch for the Kunene crocodiles.
Walking in the remote mountain and river valleys are also a highlight. Serra Cafema is often visited by the native Ovahimba families who live in the nearby vicinity, which gives guests the opportunity to learn about their lifestyle and traditions.
Guests can get into some of the massive sand dunes to the west of the camp.
Game viewing in this area is limited to large herds of Oryx and springbok in the Hartman's valley. The Kunene River has a large population of Nile Crocodiles. Cinderella Waxbills, Rufous Bellied Palmtrush and Grey Kestrels are three species of bird not seen anywhere else in southern Africa, Palm nut vultures are seen occasionally as well as a number of the Namibian endemics. There are also a number of endemic reptiles.
LOCATION- Situated on the southern bank of the Kunene River
- At the foot of the Hartman's valley.
PRICING / CHILD POLICY
High Season: July to October
Shoulder Season: January to June & November to December
Children over the age of 8 years are welcome
ACCOMMODATION
Number of tents:
7 tents comprising of:
- 1 double tent with king size bed
- 4 twin tents
- 1 family tent
- 2 en-suite guide / pilot rooms.
This camp can accommodate 15 guests (if including a family) plus tour leaders.
Tent details- En-suite bathrooms with indoor and outside shower.
- Private viewing decks overlooking the Kunene river valley and the Serra Cafema hills.
- Overhead fan
- Large mosquito nets
- Large luxuriously appointed Meru tents which are raised off the ground
CAMP DESCRIPTION- Situated under big, shady Albia trees with uninterrupted views of the Kunene river valley.
- The camp is elevated on wooden decks with walkways to each tent.
- Small pool
- Dining area and bar
GAME VIEWING
Game viewing in this area is limited to large herds of Oryx and springbok in the Hartman's valley. The Kunene River has a large population of Nile Crocodiles. Cinderella Waxbills, Rufous Bellied Palmtrush and Grey Kestrels are three species of bird not seen anywhere else in southern Africa, Palm nut vultures are seen occasionally as well as a number of the Namibian endemics. There are also a number of endemic reptiles.
ACTIVITIES- Nature drives in Hatman's valley in open land rovers.
- Traversing the sand dunes on quad bikes
- Boating on the Kunene River
- Walks in the valleys and at the waterfalls
- Visit to a working Himba village
- Full day outings with picnic lunch
SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Below is only a suggestion as to what may happen in camp - as daily wildlife sightings tend to throw the schedule right out of schedule.
06h00 - Wake up
07h00 - Full breakfast
07h30 - Depart on full day outing which can include walking, visiting a nearby village, quad biking or boating on the Kunene River. A picnic lunch is included
19h00 - A three course dinner is served in camp
Stargazing
ELECTRICITY AND WATER- 12v Power with facility to charge video battery
- Water is solar heated
- 12v power for lighting and fans in the tents
DRINKS POLICY
Drinks on game drives and house-wine at dinner are included. All other drinks are excluded unless pre-arranged (for an extra cost all drinks can be included).
LAUNDRY POLICY
Daily service is included in the nightly tariff
EXTRAS PAYMENT
Payment can be affected by cash, travellers' cheques or Visa/MasterCard
FLYING TIME
Windhoek 3hrs 20 mins
Swakopmund 2hrs 30 mins
AIRSTRIP DETAILS
Hartmann Valley and following are the airstrip details:
Latitude: S17 22 37.0
Longitude: E012 15 22.0
Altitude: 1900ft
Length: 850m
Heading: 02/20
GRATUITY SCHEDULE
The following is the suggested gratuity schedule only and is subject to service standards:
R100 per guest per day. This will be divided up amongst the camp staff.
SUGGESTED LUGGAGE LIST
1. Good quality sunglasses - preferably polarized. Tinted fashion glasses are not good in strong light
2. Sun hat
3. Golf-shirts, T-shirts and long-sleeved cotton shirts
4. Shorts/skirts
5. Long trousers/slacks
6. Track suit
7. More formal attire for your stay at prestigious city hotels or on one of the luxury trains.
8. Underwear (sports bra recommended on game drives as the roads can be bumpy and uneven) and socks
9. Good walking shoes (running/tennis shoes are fine)
10. Sandals
11. Swimming costume
12. Warm winter jersey
13. Warm Anorak or Parka and scarf / gloves for the cold winter months (May to September)
14. Light rain gear for summer months (late November to April)
15. Camera equipment and plenty of film
16. If you wear contact lenses, we recommend that you bring along a pair of glasses in case you get irritation from the dust
17. BINOCULARS - ESSENTIAL (Night vision binoculars are not essential but highly recommended if your safari includes night activities)
18. Newman's bird book if you are a keen birder
19. Personal toiletries (basic amenities supplied by most establishments)
20. Malaria tablets (if applicable)
21. Moisturizing cream & suntan lotion
22. Insect repellent e.g. Tabard, Rid, Jungle Juice, etc
23. Basic medical kit (aspirins, plasters, Immodium, antiseptic cream and Anti-histamine cream etc)
24. Tissues/"Wet Ones"
25. Visas, tickets, passports, money etc
26. Waterproof/dustproof bags/cover for your cameras.
Please note that bright colours and white are NOT advised whilst on safari. Please remember that there may be a restriction on luggage limits on your safari - please ensure that you have the details from your agent according to your itinerary and ask your agent ahead of time if you would like details on the feasibility and costs of taking excess luggage with you on any of these restricted luggage safaris.
*`�*-.,_,.-*`�*-.,_,.-*�
Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.
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Makalolo Camp Zimbabwe Safari Report - June 2004
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Either we've all acclimatised to the Hwange weather or Mother Nature is saving a cold surprise for later! The winter weather has been quite bearable with minimum temperatures ranging between 3 and 12 degrees Celsius. Overall, these sunny days have boasted a comfortable average of 27 degrees Celsius and the pleasant temperatures can be attributed to the cloud cover that has been keeping the warmth in. However, after sunset, the temperatures drop quite rapidly and it is necessary to wrap up! Some guests have donned their bath robes on the morning and evening drives and have started a new fashion trend at Makalolo!
On 8 June we witnessed the transition of Venus with the sun - looking through welding helmet glass; Venus was seen as a small dot on the lower right hand side of the sun's circumference. Considering the last one was seen 1000 years ago, it was quite a highlight for our young generation!
False Mopane and Zambezi Teak appear to be the only trees resilient enough to withstand the colder temperatures and proudly display their green foliage amongst the surrounding tones of brown, tan, khaki and yellow. The abundance of dry grass carpeting the plains could be a potential fire hazard this season, which our pans seem well prepared for! The bush is brittle and thinning out gradually as awesome herds of buffalo and elephants plough and mow through the desiccated maze of moisture less vegetation. Seas of skeletal dried wild hibiscus will hopefully be eradicated in the process, as they are making the landscape look rather unkempt.
Some of our guests had the privilege of experiencing the big six all in one day, plus wild dogs and honey badgers thrown in for good measure! Our most memorable sighting of the month was that of a very relaxed rhino cow and calf captured at Little Mbiza amongst the tall golden grass in the soft light just before sunset. Foster and his guests did an approach on a male rhino whilst on a walk at Mbiza and everyone found that rather exhilarating! Leopard sightings are improving drastically and most of them have been close encounters! Most sightings have been on the way back into camp from evening game drives and have been on the road which junctions the road to our compound - obviously, this is a young male clambering around familiar territory which is being seen on a regular basis!
Wild dogs have once again hit the headlines as our resident pack of 5 has been sighted hunting and killing both impala and kudu at Ngweshla. One misty morning, we heard the cry of a young animal in front of tent 9, and upon investigation, discovered the dogs devouring the body a young kudu cow. After eating their full, they sunned themselves at the pan in front of camp for a few hours.
During an evening of dinner table conversation, our guides debated the size of honey badgers! It was very ironic that on the following morning's transfer to the airstrip, a honey badger was nearly flattened when it ran onto the road in front of the vehicle! That same evening, a pair of honey badgers was seen at Somavundla and apparently this had been the best honey badger sighting for Doug Kew. After having not seen honey badgers in our concession for some time, as well as the guides contesting whose size was more accurate, it made for fantastic first hand experience for our guests!
Lion sightings have been poor, due to the fact that our former resident pride now belongs to Linkwasha! Apparently the new male in or concession (aka Vuka) has been lingering around Little Mak. Though his spoor has been seen on the road on several occasions, he himself has been extremely elusive but Lion Research has confirmed that he is definitely in the Little Mak area. On an evening drive to Mbiza, game drive guests and guides discovered the fresh carcass of a young collared lioness. The remains were brought back to camp for research purposes and it is believed that the 18 month old lioness was killed by the eight young male cubs that are part of the pride prowling around Linkwasha, intending on forming their own coalition/s. Foster recovered the skull from this young lioness and has put it on display in our living area!
Elephant and buffalo activity have been outstanding! Elephants are congregating in large herds around various mineral licks and water holes and are still amazing our guests with their frequent visits to the swimming pool for a quick drink. Valentine awed guests on an afternoon drive with the sighting of a baby buffalo that had been born just minutes before! They witnessed the mother buffalo eating the after birth!
Some good probability sightings for the month have been as follows: 100% for elephant, giraffe, impala, black-backed jackal, springhare, wildebeest and zebra. Aardwolf 3%, bat-eared fox 13%, lesser bush baby 3%, bush buck 3%, buffalo 87%, caracal 3%, cheetah 7%, eland 27%, genet 7%, honey badger 7%, hyaena 7%, hunting dog 10%, side-striped jackal 43%, kudu 53%, leopard 20%, lion 17%, rhino 13%, roan 13% and wildcat 3%.
Red-billed francolins have topped the charts this month with their breeding behaviour! We are seeing new little clutches of chicks running around camp almost on a weekly basis! Twice during the month, the guinea fowls in front of camp have had close encounters with a Martial Eagle! One morning the guinea fowls went into a raucous flutter as a Martial swooped down onto the flustered flock and connected with a guinea fowl in mid-flight! Fortunately for the guinea fowl it was a near miss and it escaped unscathed, bar a few feathers which we retrieved for display purposes! The second time it happened, the guinea fowls had wisened up to the Martial's tactics and made for the trees! A little banded goshawk was seen drinking in the bird bath outside the dining area on a very cold winter's morning. We spotted a juvenile crowned crane waking across the plains at Ngweshla with both parents. We were rather excited with this finding because it proved that our familiar friends' nest had withstood the abundance of water during the rainy season and they had a young one to prove it!
Makalolo Plains is situated in a remote area within the vast Hwange National Park and is one of the few camps built within the Park. Hwange is legendary for its wonderful array of wildlife and massive herds of Elephant and Buffalo - especially in the dryer winter months.
There are excellent opportunities to view game from open 4x4 vehicles during the early morning and late afternoon, when game is most active. Foot safaris are also offered, and are accompanied by an armed professional guide. The camp is set in a unique location, overlooking the Samavundhla Pan - which attracts game in good concentrations.
The entire camp is raised on wooden boardwalks and platforms, giving guests excellent views over the waterhole and floodplain in front of the camp. Accommodation consists of nine large, comfortable tented rooms with en-suite shower, toilet and basin - all with hot and cold running water.
There is an outdoor shower for those who enjoy showering under the stars. The lighting in the rooms is battery powered - ensuring peace and quiet in camp. Meals are enjoyed in the separate raised dining area.
There is also a lounge, pub and plunge pool. The camp has hides overlooking the waterhole, which allow guests to enjoy close up game viewing.
Summer sees the large antelope herds migrate onto the plains, closely followed by their predators. Elephants, Buffalo, Sable, Roan, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Impala and sometimes even Gemsbok can be seen here. The area is one of the best for predators - Lion, Leopard, Wild Dog and Cheetah are regularly sighted, along with the smaller African Wild Cat, Serval, Honey Badger, Civet and Hyena. The area has a number of waterholes which attract game in large concentrations, especially during the winter months. Guests can sit at a waterhole and watch the passing parade of animals as they come to quench their thirst. For the bird watcher, Makalolo offers a wonderful range of birding, from Miombo species right through to the Kalahari species.
LOCATION
o Situated in the South Eastern section of Hwange National Park on a private concession.
PRICING
High Season: 1 July - 31 October
Low Season: 1 January - 30 June and November/December
ACCOMMODATION
There are nine tents consisting of:
Seven twin bedded tents (can be set up as double beds if required)
One honeymoon tent, and one tour leader or guest tent.
This camp can accommodate 16 guests and one tour leader or 18 guests, if all in one group, with tour leader in basic staff accommodation.
Sold to a maximum of 16 guests on a FIT basis
Tent details:
o Luxury tents raised off the ground on teak decking
o En-suite bathrooms within tents with showers
o Fans
o Tents have outside showers
o Honeymoon tent has an outside bath
o Wooden doors, and no zips
o Mosquito proof
o Gas radiator heaters in winter months
o Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each room
CAMP DESCRIPTION
The camp is built on a raised teak platform under thatch overlooking the Somavundhla plain, and set in a stand of teak trees.
o Telescope for on-deck viewing
o Plunge pool on raised deck
o Curio shop
o Conference facilities available on request, if group books out whole camp o Dining room, lounge and pub are thatched
o Library
o Game viewing platform
o Bunker hide in pan in front of camp
GAME VIEWING
There are Lion, large herds of Elephant, Buffalo, Hyena, Giraffe, Sable, Wildebeest, Impala, Waterbuck and Reed Buck.
The highlight here is the large open plains, where one can see large quantities of animals. Summer game viewing is excellent with Wildebeest, Zebra and Eland found in abundance on the plains. In winter the water holes are magnets for Elephant and on some days each water hole can get up to 1000 Elephants coming down to drink.
ACTIVITIES
o Game drives in 2x7-seater and 2x9-seater vehicles (wind-resistant ponchos are provided during winter months)
o Walking safaris with armed professional guide
o Bunker hide underground in front of camp next to waterholes
o Hides in the trees overlooking waterhole
SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Below is only a suggestion as to what may happen in camp - as daily wildlife sightings tend to throw the schedule right out of schedule.
summer/winter
05h00/06h00 - Wake Up
05h30/06h30 - Light breakfast
06h00/07h00 - Game drive, canoeing, boating, walk with drinks and snacks
10h30/11h00 - Brunch/lunch
- Option to rest or sit at hides
15h30/15h30 - Afternoon tea
16h00/16h00 - Game drive / walk with drinks and snacks
20h00/20h00 - Dinner under the stars or under thatch
ELECTRICITY & WATER
o Camp has 220v generator-powered electricity, power is stored in 12v batteries which power the lights and fans in the rooms
o Video camera batteries can be charged while out on a game drive
o Water for showers etc is heated by solar power
DRINKS POLICY
All drinks are included in the nightly tariff, except for imported champagne and hard to obtain drinks such as Bourbon.
LAUNDRY POLICY
Daily service, weather permitting, included in the nightly tariff.
EXTRAS PAYMENT
Curios and/or tips/gratuities will be billed to the tent number and settled on check-out. Payment can be made in cash (US$), travellers' cheques and Visa or MasterCard credit cards.
If guests wish to tip, our recommended tipping schedule is as follows:
Guides - US$5.00 per person per day
General camp staff - US$3.00 per person per day
Specialist guides (if applicable) - US$10.00 per person per day. This is the suggested gratuity schedule only and is subject to service standards.
FLYING TIMES
to/from Hwange Airport - 20 minutes
Victoria Falls to the camp's strip - 55 minutes
Makalolo to Giraffe Springs - 30 minutes
AIR STRIP DETAILS
Linkwasha airstrip is located 30 minutes' drive from camp.
Air strip co-ordinates: S19.07.93, E27.12.79
1000m long, grass strip, can take King Airs 90's, provided that they have high flotation landing gear.
HEALTH
There are a few basic health matters that require care and attention. We are obviously not medical practitioners and the following points are recommended guidelines only. Please consult your doctor and also check with your health department prior to departure for any changes in health regulations.
a) Malaria
Malaria within South Africa's borders is only prevalent in a few areas. It is encountered mainly in northern and eastern Mpumalanga, northern Kwa-Zulu Natal, and the border areas of the Northern and North West Provinces. Malaria is also common in the lower lying areas of Swaziland. It can also be found throughout Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and much of Botswana. Northern Namibia is also a malaria area. Should you be visiting these areas malaria precautions are advised.
Malaria transmission is at its highest during the warmer and wetter months of November through to April. From May through to October the risks of acquiring malaria are reduced.
The malaria parasite requires a human host in order to complete its life cycle. In most cases, our camps are situated in remote, unpopulated areas, so the chances of contracting malaria are very slim. Nonetheless, it is worth taking preventative measures.
Both chloroquine-resistant and normal strains of malaria are prevalent in Africa. Malaria is transmitted by a very small percentage of female Anopheles mosquitoes. They are only active in the early evening and throughout the night, at the times when one is usually sleeping or sitting around the campfire.
MALARIA prophylactic recommendations for southern African travellers:
Expert opinion differs regarding the best approach to malaria prophylaxis. It is important to bear in mind that malaria may be contracted despite chemoprophylaxis, especially in areas where chloroquine resistance has been reported. Please remember that the best insurance is the preventative kind: avoid being bitten by using mosquito repellents liberally. Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers/slacks in the evenings. If staying in a bungalow or tent, spray with an insecticide like DOOM to kill any mosquitoes that may have flown into your room. Mosquito coils are effective.
If you become ill on your return, while still on prophylaxis or even once you have stopped taking them, ensure that your doctor does everything to establish that your illness is not malaria.
Malaria is not a serious problem if you are sensible and take basic precautions. There have been very few cases of our guests contracting malaria during our 19 years to date, of operation.
b) Water
It is very important that you drink plenty of water especially during the warmer months. It is generally recommended that guests drink at least 2 to 3 litres (4 to 6 pints) of water per day to limit the effects of dehydration. This excludes tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages, which act as diuretics and can actually contribute to dehydration.
Generally, water throughout Southern Africa is safe to drink directly from the tap. However, bottled water is readily available, so please do not allow yourself to become dehydrated.
c) Other Health Issues
There are no other health issues that one needs to be overly concerned with.
GUESTS COMMENTS
"Thank you for making our 40th anniversary celebration so very memorable! We had the most incredible guide spottings - just unbelievable! We definitely will spread the word about how wonderful game and staff are!" BARB & JIM GIFFORD, WISCONSIN, USA
"Thank you Foster, Tendai and Shelley for a wonderful time here at Makalolo. We loved all the personal attention and friendly atmosphere here. Yay for the walking safari - right up to that big white rhino! I'm sure some of our best photographs and best memories will be from you guys here!" THE HEARD FAMILY, WASHINGTON DC, USA
"Thanks so much to all for a wonderful and heart warming experience here! It's a magical place full of very special moments. Can't think of a place I'd rather be". DENISE LANDAU, COLORADO, USA
Hakuna Mutata from all at Makalolo!
*`�*-.,_,.-*`�*-.,_,.-*�
Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.
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The VacationTechnician Company Conservation Campaign
Plan a Linkwasha Safari with vacationtechnician.com
Linkwasha Safari Report - June 2004
June has brought us a bit of everything as far as weather is concerned. The beginning of the month was freezing, our lowest temp being 2 deg C at 7 o'clock in the morning!!! Towards the middle of the month some cloud blew in from the south. This certainly warmed things up for us at night and early in the morning. The last half of the month the days generally started off with a cold breeze coming in from the south east and cloudy to begin with. Most clouds would have dissipated by midday. Our highest temp for the month was 27 deg C.
The Linkwasha concession looks in fine shape. The bush is full of colour now with the various trees leaves starting to turn, especially the bright yellow of the Ordeals behind camp. The grass on the plains in front of camp still fairly long and although mostly golden brown there are still a few patches of green grass. The plains at Ngamo have been well grazed by all the Wildebeest and Zebra but a good amount of grass still remains. Waterholes are all looking good and the unpumped natural holes still have good amounts of water.
Despite the constant change in the weather here this month, especially with the cold wind, our species total for this month stood at an impressive 38! Our daily average was 19,5 species and on our best day 23 species were seen.
The Bat Eared Foxes are all coming out just after midday now to escape the cold nights and mornings, and we regularly have a group of 6 feeding on the plains in front of camp.
Aardwolf have been seen on 3 occasions this month, twice near camp and the other from Back Pans. It seems the one near camp is becoming very relaxed with the vehicles now enabling guests to get a good view of this rare nocturnal mammal. Huge herds of Buffalo are now starting to reappear at the waterholes and are all in great condition. Most herds have a good number of young in them.
The big Eland herds have moved off the plains now and remaining are a few small herds of bulls. Elephants made a huge come back at the beginning of the month and we were starting to have them drink out of the swimming pool regularly at night. As soon as the cloudy weather blew in the bigger herds moved off.
Most of the Elephant sightings have been of small breeding herds or bulls. We darted and removed a snare from a 3 year old calf at Ostrich Pan on the 27th. All went well and the calf was seen again in the herd and doing well on the 30th near Back Pans.
Ngamo has been amazing this month for Giraffe where we have sighted some herds in excess of 20 animals. Hyaenas have been very vocal at night around camp and on one evening we were disturbed at the fire by some chasing Wildebeest right through the camp.
The young male Leopard is still patrolling the boardwalks in camp and one often picks up his sandy tracks on the concrete of the main building. One night guests driving back to tent # 9 & 10 spent about 15 minutes with him as he climbed into a Leadwood on the lookout for Spinghare. Lion sightings this month have been very good. We have been spending good time with the pride of 10 and also with the huge Black Maned chap who comes through to check that all's in order with his ladies. We spent a whole morning with the pride at Back Pans as they chased and harassed a troop of baboons for about 30 minutes before tuning their focus on a small herd of Buffalo coming down to drink. We positioned the vehicles on some raised ground and then patiently sat and watched as they stalked the grazing Buffalo. They approached the Buffalo from three different directions and after 45 minutes one young male started the charge. The Buffalo scattered in all directions and after 5 minutes of what seemed like total chaos 3 young males and a young lioness separated a cow from the herd. They jumped onto its back trying to bite the spine and only once the forth lion jumped on its back did it actually go to ground. As they are inexperienced hunters at this stage they were not able to kill the Buffalo and all the bellowing attracted the attention of the now gathered herd. They rushed back, charging, and chased the lions off the shocked cow. She was up in a second and staggered back, amazed at the change of events, into the safety of the herd. While all this was happening one of the adult lionesses killed a small calf that had also been separated. In a short space of time she too was driven off the carcass and the Buffalo would not let he lions feed for over an hour as they guarded the dead calf. All this happened within 30 yards of the vehicle and completely out in the open, a truly awesome experience!
Sightings of the Rhino have been great. He seems to do circuits of the concession and his favorite hang outs are in front of camp, Scotts Pan, Back Pans and Ngamo. We have had no further sightings of the cow with her calf.
Our sighting percentages for this month are : Aardwolf 13%, Bat Eared Fox 87% , Buffalo 83% , Eland 43% ,Elephants 100% , Giraffe 100% , Spotted Hyaena 43% , Leopard 13% , Lion 40% , White Rhino 33% and Sable 73%.
Birding Linkwasha
This months total was 137 species. The pair of Wattled Cranes which arrived late last month are still at Ngamo and with all the water still there are plenty of water birds hanging around on the fringes of the pans. Other interesting sightings were 8 Painted Snipe feeding together at the main pan, the pair of White-backed Ducks in the Hippo pool with ducklings, a White-headed Vulture on a nest near Scotts Pan, Arnot's Chats in the False Mopane Forrest at Ostrich Pan, A Southern Boubou at Ngamo in the Acacia Woodland and a female Cape Shovellor at Ngamo Pan.
Linkwasha Camp is divided into two luxury tented camps - one with seven tents, and the other with three. Linkwasha is situated in a private concession area within Hwange National Park. The area includes many diverse habitats, including Kalahari savannah, acacia woodlands, as well as palm islands and teak forests.
This habitat diversity attracts many different animal populations and over 400 species of birds. The area is known for its big game, particularly the predators, as well as large herds of Elephants and Buffalo during the winter months. Summer months offer a complete contrast, as many of the plains-game (and their predators) migrate to this section of the park to enjoy the lush grazing on the open savannah. Game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, hides and guided walks form part of the Linkwasha experience.
The tented rooms, built under thatch, are large and comfortable. Each room has en-suite facilities including a shower, basin, and flush toilet - and an outdoor shower. A raised walkway links the rooms, the lounge and dining room. Each room overlooks an expansive plain in front of camp - so different species of game can be sighted on the savannah.
NOTED GAME VIEWING
The area is known during our winter months for its big game, in particular large concentrations of Elephant and Buffalo. Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and Hyena are regulars, and their prey includes all the plains game. Roan and Sable are seen in the woodlands. Birdlife is abundant and diverse. During the summer, after the first rains, we see a large influx of the plains game - Eland, Zebra, Giraffe and Wildebeest arrive in large concentrations to feed off the new grasses and shrubs on the plains, closely followed by their predators.
LOCATION
o The camps are situated within the South Eastern section of Hwange National Park on a private concession bordering onto Makalolo Plain's concession in Zimbabwe.
PRICING
High Season: 1 July - 31 October
Low Season: 1 January - 30 June and November/December
Camp Descriptions
There are two camps next to each other. A three-roomed camp and a seven-roomed camp, which means we can accommodate 6,14 or 20 guests.
Linkwasha Camp Main:
There are seven tents in total consisting of:
six twin bedded tents
One honeymoon tent with outside bath
This camp can accommodate 14 guests.
Little Linkwasha Camp:
Three tents in total consisting of:
Two twin bedded tents
One honeymoon tent with outside bath
This camp can accommodate six guests.
Tour leader accommodation is in staff area, with shared bathroom
Tent details:
o En-suite bathrooms in tent
o Outdoor showers
o Fans
o Mosquito proof
o Wooden doors
o Luxury tents under thatch
o Gas radiator heaters in the winter months
o Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each room
CAMP DESCRIPTION
o Slightly raised decks under thatch
o Plunge pool in each camp
o Fantastic views across the floodplains and waterhole
o Curio shop
o Library
o Outdoor boma for dinner under the stars as well as regular dining room under thatch
GAME VIEWING
Lion, large herds of Elephant, Buffalo, Hyena, Giraffe, Sable, Wildebeest, Impala, Waterbuck, Reed Buck.
The large open plains allow one to see large quantities of animals. Summer game viewing is excellent with Wildebeest, Zebra and Eland found in abundance on the plains. In winter the water holes are magnets for Elephant and on some days each water hole can get up to 1000 Elephants coming down to drink.
ACTIVITIES
o Game drives in 3x7 and 1x9-seater 4x4 landrovers
o Walking safaris with an armed professional guide
o Hides
o Wind and water resistant ponchos are provided for game drives
SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Below is only a suggestion as to what may happen in camp - as daily wildlife sightings tend to throw the schedule right out of schedule.
summer/winter
05h00/06h00 - Wake Up
05h30/06h30 - Light breakfast
06h00/07h00 - Game drive, canoeing, boating, walk with drinks & snacks
10h30/11h00 - Brunch/lunch
- Option to rest or sit at hides
15h30/15h30 - Afternoon tea
16h00/16h00 - Game drive / walk with drinks and snacks
20h00/20h00 - Dinner under the stars or under thatch
ELECTRICITY & WATER
o Camp has 220v generator-powered electricity, power is stored in 12v batteries which power the lights and fans in the rooms
o Video camera batteries can be charged while on a game drive
o Water for showers etc is heated by solar power
DRINKS POLICY
All drinks are included in the nightly tariff, except for imported champagne and hard to obtain drinks such as Bourbon.
LAUNDRY POLICY
Daily service, weather permitting, included in the nightly tariff.
EXTRAS PAYMENT
Curios and/or tips/gratuities will be billed to the tent number and settled on check-out. Payment can be made by cash (US$), travellers' cheques, and Visa or MasterCard credit cards.
If guests wish to tip, our recommended tipping schedule is as follows:
Guides - US$5.00 per person per day
General camp staff - US$3.00 per person per day
Specialist guides (if applicable) - US$10.00 per person per day. This is the suggested gratuity schedule only and is subject to service standards.
FLYING TIMES
to/from Victoria Falls - 50-60 minutes
to/from Hwange airport - 20 minutes
Makalolo to Giraffe Springs - 30 minutes
AIR STRIP DETAILS
Linkwasha airstrip is located 45 minutes' drive from camp.
Linkwasha airstrip co-ordinates: S 19.07.93, E 027.11.79
1000m long, grass strip, can take King Airs 90's, provided that they have high flotation landing gear.
GUEST COMMENTS
P.S & S.S - CT - USA - "Thank you for the Rhino and the Lions. We were charmed by the peaceful surroundings and the troubles of the world seemed to vanish! Wish all people were able to experience this "wild" life!"
A.B - CA - USA - "What a wonderful time and super guides. Best sunset pictures ever!"
K.D & D.D - WA - USA - "FANTASTIC! INCREDIBLE! A piece of heaven!! Great rooms, incredible food and warm and hospitable hosts. We could not have wished for more. It has met our expectations in every way!"
*`�*-.,_,.-*`�*-.,_,.-*�
Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.
Safari Field Reports
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Botswana natur pur Safari mit vacationtechnician.com
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11 Tage im n�rdlichen Botswana
(Participation Camping Safari)
1. Tag: Victoria Falls
Ankunft in wo sich die Teilnehmer dieser Safari (startet normalerweise an einem Mittwoch Abend) bei der Ilala Lodge treffen. Nach der Teilnehmerbegr�ssung folgt eine allgemeine Diskussion der vorliegenden Safari. Die G�ste die schon am morgen in Victoria Falls eintreffen, k�nnen den Tag ausnutzen um die vielen Ausflugsm�glichkeiten die hier geboten werden, in Anspruch zu nehmen (Tour der Victoria F�lle, Flug �ber die F�lle, Wildwasserfahrten usw). Bitte beachten das Ausfl�ge wie Wildwasserfahrten einen vollen Tag in Anspruch nehmen, und zu so einem Ausflug bitte einen weiteren Tag vorweg in Victoria Falls dazu buchen. Die �bernachtung heute mit Fr�hst�ck bei der Ilala Lodge ist im Preis miteinbegriffen.
2. & 3. Tag: Chobe National Park
Heute morgen verl��t die Safarigruppe Victoria Falls und die Reise f�hrt zu dem ber�hmten, der ca 85 km von Victoria Falls entfernt gelegen ist. Das Camp wird heute an dem Ufer des Chobe Flusses inmitten des Chobe National Parks, aufgeschlagen. Dieses ist Elefantengegend, und viele grosse Herden sind hier nicht selten. Aber auch viele Wasserv�gel und Antilopenarten wie z.B. die seltene Puku Antilope, sind hier Zuhause. Die Vegetation dieses Gebietes ist sehr vielseitig und die vielen Raubtiere, wie L�wen, Leoparden und Geparden sind nat�rlich auch hier vorzufinden.
4. & 5. Tag: Savute bis zum Chobe National Park
Die Reise f�hrt heute weiter in die einmalige Savute Landschaft, wo das Camp nicht weit entfernt des nun trockenen aufgeschlagen wird. Die grossen Antilopenherden hier, versichern eine reiche Konzentration an Raubtieren wie L�wen, Geparden, Hy�nen und selbst Wildhunden. Geniessen Sie die Wildniss Afrikas aus erster Hand, die Ihnen ausgezeichnete Fotogelegenheiten bieten kann.
6. bis 8. Tag: Moremi Wildreservat
Heute morgen velassen Sie Savuti und die Fahrt f�hrt in das ber�hmte Moremi Wildreservat in dem Herzen des . Der Kontrast zwischen der grassbewachsenen Savutilandschaft, und der des langsam fliessenden Wassers des Okavangodeltas ist enorm. Hier inmitten eines der sch�nsten Wildreservaten des s�dlichen Afrikas, wird ein privates Camp unter dem freien Himmel aufgeschlagen. Die n�chsten zwei Tage sind erf�llt von Wildbeobachtungsausfl�gen in einem offenen Safariwagen. In diesem Gebiet sind L�wenscharen, T�pfelhy�nen und Wildhunde Zuhause, und Sie erforschen von dem Safariwagen die offenen Grassl�nder, �berflutungsgebiete und den Busch auf der Suche nach diesen und vielen anderen einmaligen afrikanischen Tieren.
9. & 10. Tag: Okavango Delta
Von dem Moremi Wildreservat f�hrt die Fahrt weiter nach Maun. Von hier folgt der Flug per Kleinflugzeug in das Herz des Okavango-Deltas zu einem der Wilderness Safaris Camps in dem Mokoro-Aktivit�ten geboten werden. Hier in dem Delta verbringen die Teilnehmer die n�chsten zwei N�chte der Safari. Sie erforschen die kristallklaren papyrusums�umten Kan�le, die mit Lilien bewachsenen Lagunen und die gr�nen Inseln dieses einmaligen �kosystems. Das Transportmittel hier sind die speziellen Kanus, Mokoros genannt, die von den Banyei-Bootsm�nnern durch die Wasserlandschaften gestakt werden. Hier bietet sich die einmalige Gelegenheit die vielen kleinen, und grossen Tiere des Deltas aus unmittelbarer N�he in Ruhe zu beobachten. Mit ein wenig Gl�ck sehen Sie hier vielleicht eine scheue Sitatunga Antilope (eine vom Aussterben bedrohte Sumpfantilope), B�ffel und auch Litschi-Antilopen um nur einige zu nennen. Diese reiche Wasserlandschaft ist nat�rlich auch ein Wasservogelparadies. Abends unter dem endlosen afrikanischen Sternenhimmel k�nnen Sie in dem kleinen privaten Camp die einmalige Ruhe des Deltas geniessen, die nur von den Lauten der Nachtv�gel, wie Eulen und Nachtschwalben, oder aus der Ferne rufenden L�wen und Nilpferden, unterbrochen wird.
11. Tag: Ende der Safari
Heute, nach einem kurzen Flug �ber die wundersch�ne Landschaft des Okavangodeltas ended Ihre Safari in Maun, rechtzeitig f�r Ihren weiteren Anschlussflug.
Was ist im Preis eingebegriffen
Diese Safari ist auf einer Basis der aktiven Teilnahme, und ist daher eine echte Campingsafari und schliesst den Gebrauch einer Camping Austattung, mit Aussnahme eines Schlafsacks, ein. Sie k�nnen jedoch auch durch Wilderness Safaris entweder einen Schlafsack mieten (kostet 30.00 Euro) oder je nach Wunsch auch eine komplette Ausr�stung, bestehend aus: Schlafsack, Kopfkissen und Handtuch, mieten (Kosten betragen 40.00 Euro). Alle Mahlzeiten sind eingeschlossen, bis auf die in der Ilala Lodge, in Victoria Falls, welche auf einer �bernachtung mit Fr�hst�ck basiert ist. Zwei t�gliche Wildbeobachtungsfahrten bei allen Camps, alle Ausfl�ge und Transfers in offenen Safariwagen, Mokoros and Kleinflugzeugen; die Dienste des Rangers und Camp-personals sind im Preis eingeschlossen. Die Nationalparkgeb�hren sind auch im Preis eingeschlossen, werden jedoch separat aufgef�hrt (158 Euro pro Person � Preise unter Vorbehalt). Die verpflichtendenden Zimbabwe Tourismus Geb�hren sind auch im Preis einbegriffen.
Was ist NICHT im Preis eingebegriffen
Alle Linien- und regional Fl�ge zwischen den L�ndern des s�dlichen Afrikas und deren Flughafensteuern (falls nicht anders vereinbart); alle pers�nlichen Ausgaben; Visas und deren Geb�hren; jegliche neuen Tourismussteuern die von den jeglichen Botswana und Zimbabwe Regierungen implimentiert worden sind; jegliche Trinkgelder und alle Aktivit�ten die nicht im Reiseprogramm ausgeschrieben sind. Bitte beachten Sie das die zimbabwische Regierung zur Zeit eine weitere Ausreisesteuer von US$ 30.00 berechnet, und diese mu� in Bar bei der Ausreise gezahlt werden (die exakten Geb�hren bitte bei der Hand haben, denn es wird kein Wechselgeld ausgezahlt!). Die Eintrittsgeb�hren zu den Victoria Falls sind nicht im Preis einbegriffen.
Bitte beachten Sie folgendes:
� Optionsbuchungen k�nnen nur 21 Tage lang gehalten werden. Nachdem diese Zeitspanne verstrichen ist, ist eine Kaution von 10% des Buchungspreises zahlbar falls diese Reise fest gebucht werden soll, falls nicht, verf�llt die Optionsbuchung nach 21 Tagen.
� Eine Rechung f�r eine eventuell ausstehende Differenz der Buchungskosten wird 8 Wochen vor des ersten Reisetages angefertigt, und die Gesamtkosten der Reise m�ssen 4 Wochen vor Abreise gezahlt sein. Bitte beachten Sie das kein Gast in unsere Camps reisen darf bevor die gesamten Buchungskosten nicht in voll gezahlt worden ist.
� Unsere allgemeinen Grundbedingungen zu Buchungen sind ausf�hrlich auf der letzten Seite unserer Brosch�re beschrieben und sind auf alle Reisebuchungen zutreffend. Falls Sie eine Kopie der dieser Grundbedingungen ben�tigen, k�nnen wir diese bei Nachfrage gerne zuschicken.
� Die Beschaffung jeglicher Visas ist ihre Verantwortung. Falls Sie weiter Fragen hierzu haben sollten, bitte kontaktieren Sie uns, oder Ihre Reiseagentur zwecks weiterer Information.
� Die Gep�cksbeschr�nkung auf den Interlodge Charterfl�gen ist 12 kg pro Person, in weiche Taschen verpackt sein m�ssen (dies schliesst jegliches Handgep�ck und Kameraausstattung ein). Falls Reisende diese Beschr�nkung �berschreiten, werden erhebliche Kosten zur Verfrachtung dieses extra Gep�cks auf die G�ste zukommen, denn dieses Gep�ck wird per Privatcharterflug durch das n�rdlichen Botswana geflogen werden m�ssen.
� Bei dieser Form von aktiver Safari werden die Teilnehmer ihre eigene W�sche waschen m�ssen, jedoch Waschbecken werden hierzu zur Verf�gung gestellt.
� Alle Teilnehmer m�ssen vor Begin der Safari eine umfassende Reiseversicherung zur etwaigen Stornierung oder Reisegep�cksverlust abschliessen, die w�hrend der gesamten Reise g�ltig ist.
� Die allgemeinen Stornobedingungen der Firma Wilderness Safaris sind g�ltig, und sollten Teilnehmer einen Anschlussflug oder Flug verpassen, oder Flugversp�tungen haben sind die Stornobedingungen bei Nichteintreffen eines Gastes g�ltig. Bitte versichen Sie das Sie eine angemessene Reiseversicherung diesbez�glich vor Ihrer Abreise in Anspruch genommen haben.
*`�*-.,_,.-*`�*-.,_,.-*�
Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.