Book your safari for the month of August for ONLY R2995 per person per night.

All meals, daily bush walk and morning / afternoon game drives are included. Excludes drinks.

Cannot be combined with any other offer at Shamwari Lodges.

The Shamwari Game Reserve is 25,000 hectres of malaria-free, private game reserve situated in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The combination of luxury safari lodges and the outstanding work that the reserve does with the Born Free Foundation has earned them numerous travel industry and conservation awards over the years.

The reserve boasts 5 eco-systems, and supports many forms of plant, animal and bird life, including the Big 5 as well as wild dog, cheetah, hyena, giraffe, hippo, zebra and numerous antelope species.

Accommodation ranges from luxury tents to an Edwardian mansion in the heart of the bush.

Warning … not for the faint-hearted …. and especially not for python lovers ….

A remarkable wildlife ‘tug of war’ was witnessed by guests staying at Mala Mala recently, and was caught on camera by American photographer Josh Scheinert.

The 2m long African rock python was caught by a female leopard in long grass, but as she dragged it along behind her (still alive and wriggling frantically by this stage trying to escape), the python was ambushed by the leopard’s son, who proceeded to try and tug it away from his mother.

Mother leopard was having none of it though, and the two leopards ended up in a bizarre tug of war match for about 30 minutes. The battle only ended when the female leopard gave up, retreating to a tree while her son tucked in to his prize.

But he only ate a morsel before deciding it was not to his taste, and he discarded the snake’s body in the long grass.

I think you will agree …. wow !! It might be a bit gruesome, but it is not a sight that you see every day on safari !!!

Book 2 nights on safari at Lion Sands River Lodge and Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, in the exclusive Sabi Sand Game Reserve; OR at Tinga Legends and Tinga Narina lodges, in Big 5 Kruger Park PLUS 2 nights at Madikwe Safari Lodge, in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve AND RECEIVE A THIRD NIGHT AT MADIKWE SAFARI LODGE FREE.

• Valid from NOW until 30 April 2013.

Restrictions of Offer: May NOT be booked over the peak periods of 23 December 2011 – 3 January 2012 and 23 December 2012 – 3 January 2013 and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion.

Book 3 nights on safari at the following safari lodges, and receive 2 FREE nights at either the Cape Cadogan or More Quarters, in the buzzy and beautiful city of Cape Town – the perfect way start or end your safari trip of a lifetime.

Lion Sands River Lodge and Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, in the exclusive Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Tinga Legends and Tinga Narina lodges, in Big 5 Kruger Park

Madikwe Safari Lodge, in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve

• Valid from 1 October 2011 – 30 April 2013.
• Free accommodation will be either in a Standard Room at Cape Cadogan or a luxury apartment at More Quarters. If 3 nights are reserved at Ivory Lodge then a luxury room will be reserved at Cape Cadogan.

Restrictions of Offer: May NOT be booked over the peak periods of 23 December 2011 – 3 January 2012 and 23 December 2012 – 3 January 2013 and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion.

STAY 4 NIGHTS AND ONLY PAY FOR 3

• Valid from 1 October 2011 – 30 April 2013.
• Valid for all room categories at the following properties :

Lion Sands River Lodge and Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, in the exclusive Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Tinga Legends and Tinga Narina lodges, in Big 5 Kruger Park

Madikwe Safari Lodge, in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve

and Cape Cadogan and More Quarters, in the buzzy and beautiful city of Cape Town.

Restrictions of Offer: May NOT be booked over the peak periods of 23 December 2011 – 3 January 2012 and 23 December 2012 – 3 January 2013.

A unique opportunity to join African Vet Safaris for a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience, whilst also helping to conserve Africa’s wildlife through your participation.

Set in the northern area of KwaZulu Natal, this safari takes you ‘behind the scenes’, giving you the opportunity to interact with vets and guides while they go about their daily task of researching elephant herds and the endangered black rhino.

A key part of this research work is the capture and safe immobilisation of a chosen animal, in order to carry out various monitoring procedures – ear notching a rhino for positive identification and management reasons, and to help combat poaching, and also micro-chipping and blood sampling for research purposes; or placing a tracking collar on an elephant.

Although the focus of this safari will obviusly be on elephant and rhino, many other species will be viewed and enjoyed along the way.

The starting date is Sunday 4th September, and including one night in a Johannesburg hotel so that you can relax after your international flight, followed by 4 nights on safari, the cost of this adventure would be R31,290 per person sharing (single supplements will apply). The cost is based on a minimum of 6 guests participating in the safari, and is subject to a maximum of 8 guests.

The cost excludes international flights, but we can help arrange these too.

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Tracey Campbell at Travel Butlers by emailing tracey.campbell@travelbutlers.com.

Awesome phictures, courtesy of Savanna Private Game Reserve, situated in the world famous Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

Wouldn’t you love to experience this for yourself …. it’s easy, just contact us and we can book a safari here for you ! See, nothing in life is difficult really !!

Savanna is actually the first safari lodge we stayed at, about 10 years ago when I was a humble but hard working successful Account Director working in the heady world of advertising and Sales Promotion in Central London.

As a result of what turned out to be a 7 night stay here (we started off with just 4 nights, extended it to 5 … left and came back again for another 2 nights) we decided to end our turbulent love affair with the rat-race of the corporate world and start up Travel Butlers.

Because we want to help other people to get the same enjoyment out of a safari as we did that first magical time. And trust me, it is still magical, 10 years on !

Savanna has 4 luxury tented suites and 3 spacious executive tented suites. Rustic reed blinds, coir carpets, a draped canvas ceiling and built in lounge area all combine to create some of the most luxurious tents in Africa. Each suite has a fully-stocked mini bar, a spacious en-suite bathroom with outdoor and indoor showers, and a private veranda which is ideal for relaxing and absorbing the sounds of the African bush. The executive suites have their own lounge area and a private plunge pool.

There is also the exclusive 2 bedroomed Savanna Suite, ideal for families or friends travelling together, which also includes a private Land Rover and private dining options.

Now, if I was to say to you, you are going on safari and sleeping in a tent, what would your first images / thoughts be ? Of a 2 man dome tent, stuck in the middle of the bush, with lions and elephants sleeping outside the tent door keeping you company through the night ?

Possibly NOT of a spacious tent, including a bathroom with a freestanding bath, polished wooden floors, climate-control air-conditioning system, mini bar and tea / coffee-making facilities. Oh yes, and a covered deck that extends along the length of the tent, with uninterrupted views out of the African bush.

Not to mention an infinity-edge pool in the central guest area, ideal for relaxing around inbetween exciting game drives in search of Africas’ Big 5.

Well, if this appeals to those of you with a sense of adventure BUT who still like your luxuries, then you need to look no further than Buffalo Camp, in the Kapama Game Reserve – a 13,000 hectare fenced reserve situated near the Kruger National Park, which supports no less than 42 mammal species and approximately 350 bird species.

Rates here start from just R2,115 per person per night until the end of November, and for this you get 3 meals per day (special bush dinners can be arranged), tea / coffee, cakes, pastries and afternoon teatime snacks; 2 game drives daily (including night drive by spotlight) in open safari vehicles, accompanied by experienced rangers and expert Shangaan trackers; and complimentary road transfers between your Kapama accommodation and Eastgate Airport.

Picture of the week – sunrise over Sabi Sands. Kindly supplied by Savanna Private Game Reserve.

I think you will agree …. quite stunning.

They have arrived !

Monday 6th June, in the evening, saw the first arrivals of the Great Migration from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya.

This picture was taken from the banks of the Sand and Keekerok Rivers in the Masai Mara Reserve.