Mabula Private Game Reserve in the Waterberg has introduced two male cheetah, transported from Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in the Western Cape. This is the first time cheetah have been introduced to the reserve.

Upon arrival in the reserve, the two animals spent a few weeks in a boma where they were carefully monitored by Reserve Manager,Ryno Erasmus, as well as Dr Yolanda Pretorius from the reserve research division, and her team. “Time in the boma is very important as it allows animals to become familiar with their surroundings and curbs their instinct to run away, in an attempt to return to where they came from,” says Erasmus.

The two-and-a-half-year-old cats are completely independent from their mother and have been hunting on their own for at least six months.

For guests staying at either Vumbura Plains, Little Vumbura or Duba Plains, they can now enjoy and take part in a village tour from the camps.

The tour involves travelling by helicopter on a 15 minute scenic flight each way to the local village of Gunotsoga, which is a small community village with a population of about 750 people.

The tour will include being met by the chief, seeing the primary school and local clinic and visiting the local ironmonger and see how various implements are forged. The approximate 3 hour trip is designed to enhance guests’ understanding of local Setswana life and culture.

Chief’s Camp, situated in the heart of the Okavango Delta, has been awarded a “World’s Best” coveted award from Travel + Leisure.

From a survey by the readers of Travel + Leisure, the camp has been rated as one of the top resorts and camps in Africa and the number one safari lodge in Botswana.

Chief’s Camp lies on Chief’s Island, one of the many islands created by the seasonal floodwaters of the Okavango Delta. The camp is tucked away in the exclusive Mombo Concession, part of the world-renowned Moremi Game Reserve. This is the predator capital of Africa and the game viewing is awe-inspiring …lions, leopard, cheetah, hyena and jackals abound, as do elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and impala. Chief’s Camp is particularly famous for its wild dog population. The concession is also a paradise for ornithologists, boasting over 500 species of birds.

Twelve secluded, luxury bush pavilions are designed for ultimate privacy and comfort, and to offer you a front row seat for this rich and rewarding African adventure. Each pavilion features a thatched roof, spacious seating area, en-suite facilities with indoor and outdoor shower as well as a private game viewing deck with hammock and deck chairs.

The main lodge area houses the dining area, curio shop, library and reception area. There is also an exquisite swimming pool and a range of spa treatments are offered by the beauty therapist in a poolside treatment sala (high season only).

After nearly 30 years of low flows, interspersed with occasional average flows and then the highs of 2008 and 2009, this wetland is receiving a record inflow in 2010 – a hugely important event for the biodiversity of the Okavango and northern Botswana in general.

The flood is an eagerly anticipated annual phenomenon. The level of each year’s flood is primarily dependant on rainfall in the catchment areas in Angola as well as rainfall over the Delta itself and there is a distinct short and long term cycle to the inflows and flooding patterns of the Okavango and associated river systems.

The extent and duration of the previous season’s rainfall and flood also have a major effect on the ensuing season. As 2008 and 2009 were both above average flood years, this has collectively led to this so-called ‘super year’ of 2010. These “wet” cycles usually last 10-15 years, so 2010 is about three years into the wet cycle, moving out of the dry cycle experienced between 1985 and 2005.

What is truly exciting is that the water levels of 2010 are going to be on a par with those last seen in the 1970s, primarily due to the following:

• The current high water tables as a result of both 2008 and 2009 inputs from flood and rainfall.
• Increased inflows from the two feeding Angolan rivers (Cubango and Quito) in 2010 which have arrived earlier than usual in the Delta.
• Above average rains over the Okavango Delta itself, with intense rainfall events as late as April (rainfall recorded exceeded 890 mm for the season).

This very special occurrence, cyclical in nature, is much needed in maintaining greater biodiversity. The annual flooding regimes retain the very essence of the Okavango Delta – a veritable Garden of Eden. The effects are fantastic, as large grassland areas and floodplains that have not been inundated for many years and even decades, become flooded, and a continued recharge of groundwater takes place.

The Okavango Delta will be gradually inundated with crystal clear, lifegiving water. Islands will be rejuvenated and distal lakes like Ngami and Mababe will fill. Linked to Mababe and fed from the Linyanti/Kwando system the Savute Channel can be expected to have a major increase in flows, resuscitating the famed Savute Marsh at the terminal end of the channel.

The Selinda Spillway has now also joined up with the Savute Channel for only the 2nd time in 30 years.

Grassy plains can be expected to be flooded by mid 2010, and important changes in vegetation structures and the resultant movement of animal life will occur. All over northern Botswana the effects will be felt.

The water levels are expected to drop slowly this year, and the flood season is expected to last until September or October and even into November when one can expect large numbers of birds to concentrate on the drying floodplains and so called “fish traps”. The floodplains are even expected to still be partially full when the next rain season arrives in November or December, setting the stage for another excellent flood in 2011.

The next few seasons are going to offer wonderful opportunities to experience the Okavango Delta in all its glory…

A new single entry visa is being piloted, in preparation for visitors coming over to South Africa for the World Cup.

This will mean that people wanting to travel to not just South Africa, but the neighbouring countries too (Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland) will only need one visa to cover all countries.

Mozambique is the first country who intend introducing the single visa, known as Univisa. The visa is primarily aimed at tourists from Europe and the United States.

Travel Butlers are delighted to announce that Chief’s Camp, in the exclusive Mombo Concession of the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana, will re-open next week on Wednesday 21st April. The lodge has been closed for a period while extensive upgrades were made to the camp, including extending the camp’s main lounge and dining area.

Also, for anyone thinking of travelling here during May and June, the camp is offering a Stay for 4, Pay for 3 night deal ! Contact us now to make an enquiry !

In the opening of Botswana’s Parliament and in the recent Botswana budget speech, it was announced that VAT (Value Added Tax) will be increased from 10% to 12%, effective from 01 April 2010, in that country.

Something momentous has just happened in Botswana! For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Okavango Delta system has joined with the game-rich floodplains of the Kwando / Linyanti river system.

The joining point is the Selinda Spillway, a waterway which runs through the 320,000 acre Selinda Reserve.

Air Botswana has expanded its fleet and route network, to now enable guests to more easily access both the Okavango Delta, which is the world’s largest inland wetland area, comprising of nearly 16,000 square kilometres of lagoons, island and channels and the famous Chobe National Park, renowned for its large elephant population, where herds in excess of 200 elephants can often be sighted during game drives.

With the addition of 2 new 68-seat aircrafts into the fleet, the airline can now offer daily direct flights from the O.R. Tambo International Airport to Maun, the gateway to the Delta, or 3 times weekly direct flights to Kasane, the gateway to Chobe. Air Botswana also operates a flight schedule between Maun and Kasane, providing a convenient link between these premier safari destinations.

Botswana has experienced abnormally heavy rains during its flood season this year, which has led to exceptionally high water levels in the Okavango Delta.

The rain that fell was about 600 mm compared to the usual 400 mm, but it has been the distribution of the rain over the whole growing season which has made the difference. Many marshes are now full of water and will probably remain so throughout the winter, and some riverbeds, which have been dry for decades, are flowing strongly.

This has all had a positive impact on the majority of animals found in the region. The area is expecting a record crop of young antelope this year, which in turn, will have a positive effect on the predator populations in months and years to come.

Some lodges are also going to be offering catch-and-release fishing to guests. Guests will be be able to enjoy relaxing on a boat and soaking in the views while waiting for the fish to bite.

Other activities offered by lodges will include :

Eagle Island Camp is offering guests a combination of a helicopter and motorboat game-viewing experience. Guests start the trip with a helicopter flight over the main tributaries and then land on a deserted island to enjoy a champagne brunch, returning to camp via motorboat.

Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp and offering scenic boat rides from the camp to the Moremi Game Reserve. After an early breakfast at the camp, guests will depart at 7 am for a full-day boating adventure across the Delta. Guides will point out some of the main attractions including water lilies, reed frogs, dragonflies, unusual antelope species and an array of birdlife. A full picnic lunch will be served on a deserted Delta island. The adventure ends back at the camp in time for afternoon high tea.