As our current photo competition begins to draw to a close (last day for entries is 31st May), we have been looking through the entries and began to think about the difficult task of judging the winners of the cases of wine supplied by SA Wines Online.

There are a number of outstanding photos taken from many different parts of the region, and as you might expect there are many fantastic photos of wildlife taken in different areas.  One of the questions we are most frequently asked is “what will we see on safari?”, and whilst it is impossible to guarantee any sightings (these are wild animals after all) the links below will take you through to some of the guest photos we have received from visitors to two of the most popular game reserves:

Sabi Sand Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Shamwari Game Reserve (Eastern Cape)

Nationwide has confirmed this afternoon - 29 April 08 - that all flights have been cancelled until further notice. The airline is said to have grounded its flights due to cash-flow problems.

Nationwide tickets will unfortunately not be honoured by other airlines.

Anyone travelling in South Africa currently or within the next couple of days and who have flights booked on Nationwide Airlines are requested to arrive very early at all airports in order to make alternative arrangements with other airlines.

Should anyone request a refund for their Nationwide Flights, the airline has advised that paperwork will need to be completed and this will be followed up by the airline directly.

The Table Mountain Cableway in Cape Town will be closed for its Annual Maintenance from 14 July 2008 until the 03 August 2008. 

Visitors wanting to get to the top of the mountain at this time will have to do one of the popular hikes, many of which can be done without a guide.  Not surprisingly, it is a long slog to the top, and you should allow yourself plenty of time to get up and back down again - anything up to 6 hours if you also want to spend some time at the top.

The Cable Car will be running again from 04 th August.

We are delighted to offer the following Special Offer at Kariega Game Reserve:

3 nights for the price of 2 for stays at Main Lodge, River Lodge, or Ukhosi when you travel between May and September 2008.

The 3 lodges all offer a fully inclusive African safari including accommodation, all meals and 2 activities per day.  Activities include game drives, river cruises, hiking trails, fishing, bird watching, canoeing, mountain biking, and horse riding.

The three lodges each have their own distinctive style, with Main Lodge’s family accommodation in 2,3,and 4 bedroom chalets, and River Lodges’ stunning setting being particularly popular with guests.

You can read more about the three lodges and the special offer online here.

We have been advised that day visitors to the Kruger National Park (KNP) will no longer be able to book their entry as this will be done on a strict ‘first come, first served’ basis.

This decision has been taken as the day-visit booking system was creating logistical problems, and day visitors to the park are now advised to arrive as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

This change has no impact on guests staying at rest camps or safari lodges in the park which should still be pre-booked well in advance wherever possible.

The Drakensberg mountains in KwaZulu Natal are just a couple of hours north-west of Durban and are one of the most spectacular natural features of Africa.

Nature lovers will enjoy the many walking trails and hikes offered in the region, and in addition to soaking up the natural beauty of this World Heritage Site there are countless other activities including horse riding, fly-fishing, and art-courses to be enjoyed.

Whilst it would be possible to visit the mountains as a day trip from Durban or even Johannesburg, this really would be passing up the opportunity to stay in one of the most scenic parts of Africa. Accommodation around the Drakensberg range from clean comfortable lodges in the foothills of the mountains to luxurious guest houses and small hotels a little further out.

The less expensive places offer a clean, comfortable base from which to enjoy the great outdoors, whilst many of the more expensive places are the best of their type in the country and destinations in their own right, with excellent service and food presented in old colonial homesteads or restored farms.

We have been advised that the Zambian Government has now officially approved its dropping of  the visa waiver system, and now all visitors Zambia are required to pay for a visa on arrival.

This story was originally reported on our blog back on 28 January (see here for details), however, although the decision was enforced from the end of January, final Government approval was only confirmed recently.

 The following visa fees are payable upon entry for all visitors to Zambia:

 British Nationals:       £75.00 for single entry and £240.00 for multiple entry

American Nationals:  $135.00 for standard visa

Canadian Nationals:  $55.00 for standard visa

Other Nationalities:    $50.00 for single, $80.00 for double and $160.00 for multiple entry.

Shamwari  is the longest established of the private reserves near Port Elizabeth, and the combination of luxury safari lodges and the outstanding work that they do with the Born Free Foundation has earned them numerous travel industry and conservation awards over the years.

Travel Butlers are delighted to be able to offer an outstanding special offer at Shamwari’s lodges which is valid for stays between May and September 2008. 

During this time, guests staying for 2 nights at Shamwari are entitled to 3 complimentary nights at either the 5* Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town or other selected 5* properties in Cape Town, The Winelands, and the Garden Route. Click here for more details.

All the lodges on offer a fully inclusive African safari including accommodation, all meals and local drinks, 2 game drives per day in 4×4 vehicles, and an optional guided bush walk each day.

To get an idea of what you might expect to see on a safari at Shamwari, you can see a selection of photos sent to us by some of our guests during their stays at Shamwari.

THE Mount Nelson Hotel has officially opened its new spa, the Librisa Spa. The development has been housed in 6 Victorian buildings on the edge of the hotel’s property.

The spa has 8 treatment rooms, 4 of which have been equipped for couples. The spa also has a manicure and pedicure room, garden conservatory relaxation area, sauna and steam bath, and hot and cold plunge pools.

Treatments on offer include massages, wraps, facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures.

There will also be treatments aimed at men, teenagers and children.

South Africa and Namibia are both very well suited to self-drive holidays, and this is the most popular type of trip for visitors to both countries.

The driving experience will be very familiar to overseas visitors in many respects:  both countries drive on the left hand side of the road, and all signposts are written in English. 

As in Europe and much of the rest of the world, it is law to wear a seat belt at all times, and using a mobile phone when driving is prohibited. 

The main roads and highways are generally maintained in an good condition, especially in South Africa, however some more remote areas (including most of Namibia!) will have gravel roads which you will need to drive more cautiously on.

2WD or 4WD?
There are very few roads in South Africa where you would need a 4WD.  Even in the self-drive National Parks and safari areas such as Kruger or Hluhluwe, the roads are good and a 2WD can adequately cope with the odd bit of unevenness. 

The story is much the same in Namibia for most of the year, although if you are planing on going to very remote areas or travel extensively in the wet season then you may want to consider a 4WD vehicle.

Driving Licence
All drivers must have a valid driving licence from their country of residence. If the license is not printed in English, then you will need to obtain an International Drivers Licence.

Please note that the various car hire companies have different regulations regarding the length of time that you need to have held a driving licence, so it is advisable to check with your hire car company about their requirements.

Buying Petrol (Gas)
It is worth noting that none of the petrol stations in South Africa or Namibia are self-service, and they alos only accept locally issued credit cards, meaning visitors from overseas will need to keep some cash handy to buy fuel. 

You can read more about driving in South Africa and driving in Namibia on our website.