Travel Butlers African Safari Blog.

We are delighted to now be able to include more information on the increasingly popular Welgevonden Reserve which is located just three hours north of Durban in the Malaria Free Wtaerberg area of South Africa.

Tracey & Paul have recently returned from this region and were very impressed by the beautiful reserve, excellent game viewing, and the standard of the lodges in the region…we are sure you will love it too! 

Personal highlights for Tracey & Paul were the stay at Clifftop Lodge (which is immaculate) and a wonderful sighting of a lioness with her two young cubs….magical!

A fire has been raging in the Zuurberg Mountain area of the Addo Elephant National Park since Sunday afternoon, August 10.

The blaze, which is still burning, has destroyed an estimated 7,000 hectares of fynbos and grassland vegetation in the mountainous areas of the park.

However, South African National Parks (SANParks) affirms that the region’s tourist accommodation and infrastructure have not been affected. This includes the Addo Rest Camp, main game area and Camp Matyholweni. Visitors were evacuated from Narina Bush Camp yesterday afternoon as a safety precaution, although the fire has not reached the area in which the camp is located. The situation is being monitored.

The Zuurberg Mountain Village, which is a private resort located on the borders of the park, has sustained considerable damage. Owner, Henri Alant, confirms: “The chapel and function venue have been destroyed and 29 rooms burnt out. We estimate the damage to be around R20m to repair. As a result, the property will be closed until December 15.”

Park rangers, assisted by Cacadu District and Working for Fire teams, continue to battle the wildfire as extremely dry conditions and strong winds hamper efforts to contain the blaze.

SANParks asserts that visitors to the National Park would not be affected, apart from being able to participate in the hiking trails and guided horse trails in the Zuurberg Mountains.

The fire has affected smaller animals in the area but as of yet there have been no reports of deaths of large animals such as eland, kudu and red hartebeest.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

THE Riverdene Lodge in the Shamwari Game Reserve has been newly renovated to accommodate adults and children, and now has a children’s programme for families. 

The newly renovated accommodation at Riverdene Lodge features 2 supervised playrooms for children’s activities and supervised lawns with a jungle gym; a sports and social programme which incorporates soccer, cricket, treasure hunts and swimming. A special children’s menu is available, and child minders are available at all times.

Upon arrival, each child will automatically receive a Born Free Foundation certificate and a fluffy toy. Daily game drives for children and their parents will be organised with trips to the Born Free Centres and the Shamwari Film Studio. 

Children will be introduced to the Shamwari Game Reserve and Born Free Foundation’s challenge to promote the conservation of species and the protection of habitats whilst maintaining a compassionate approach to the welfare of animals.     

At the Shamwari Film Studio, children will be shown where the popular international Unearthed 2 series was filmed, produced and edited. Children will also be exposed to the filming of the new wildlife series entitled Shamwari: A Wild Life, which will be launched in September 2008.

Lastly, children staying at the Riverdene Lodge will be invited to take part in the special education programme at the Shamwari Animal Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre.

We have just been informed that there is quite a lot of availability throughout the Sun City Resort between 17 August 2008 to 22 August 2008.

Only a 2 hour drive from Johannesburg, Sun City is an endless world of entertainment, leisure, sport and recreation.

There is a choice of 25 restaurants, spectacular theatrical shows, cinemas, bars, nightclubs, live music venues, a world-class casino and a games arcade. There is a fully equipped health club, 11 tennis courts, bowls greens and squash courts, plus horse riding, mountain biking, archery, clay pigeon shooting and quad biking. Golfers will be in their element as Sun City offers two 18 hole championship golf courses.

The neighbouring Pilanesberg National Park is a malaria free area, and home to the Big 5 of the African bush. Guests can explore the Park in their own car, or on day and night guided game drives, by hot air balloon, or even by elephant back!

The Palace of the Lost City and The Cascades Hotel both offer the highest standards in 5* luxury , and the 4* Sun City Hotel and 3* Cabanas Hotel complete the hotel offering - meaning that this combination of all 4 hotels will appeal to all budgets.

We would be delighted to discuss any short notice enquiries over this period - please contact one of our consultants to ask us to check availability and send you a quotation.

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 early Easter this year means that the contrast between weather in South Africa and the UK over the holiday period is even  more marked than usual.

Whilst much of the UK is forecast to have a cold-snap over the Easter weekend, Cape Town is set to see clear skies and temperatures of up to 29°c over the next 5 days.

The picture is the same over the rest of the country, with Kruger seeing some showers today but then turning dry with plenty of clear skies and temperatures up to 30°c over the weekend.

With the tourist exchange rates for the Rand currently floating around the R15.00 = £1.00, sunny skies and some places still reporting late availability, it might not be too late to book a short notice getaway to South Africa this Easter.

We are delighted to be able to offer another special offer to any guests looking for a short notice safari.

Jaci’s Safari Lodge and Jaci’s Tree Lodge are two of the best known and most popular lodges in the malaria-free Madikwe Game reserve (particularly amongst people looking for a family safari), and guests who can travel between 1 April and 30 April 2008 can now save around 24% vs the regular price.

The short notice rate of R2850 per person per night includes all meals, teas and game drives/walks, “jungle drive” and child-minding services.

The rate quoted is per person sharing and excludes any road or air transfers to and from the lodge, all airport taxes and applicable Madikwe entrance fees.

CC Africa has almost completed its R20m refurbishment on Phinda Mountain Lodge in the Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal.

The upgraded lodge now features 25 new suites, 18 of which are already open to guests, as well as transformed guest areas.

The new suites comprise an en-suite bathroom, private sitting area, veranda with private plunge pool and outdoor shower.

The lodge has a central alfresco courtyard and new sitting areas that lead out on to a shaded terrace and three-tiered veranda, with wraparound views of the Ubombo Mountains and surrounding bushveld. A safari shop has opened on the premises, and an open-air boma, swimming pool and shaded observation deck are now available to guests.

Travel Butlers are delighted to announce  a photo competition that we are running in association with SA Wines Online where you could win one of 3 cases of South African wine. 

Each year we are sent hundreds of photos by people whose holidays we have helped to organise, and rather than leave them to collect metaphorical dust on a forgotten computer somewhere we have decided that we should share them with visitors to our website and offer prizes for the 3 very best pictures.

The competition is open to anyone who booked their trip through Travel Butlers, and the closing date for entries is 31st May 2008.

Entries will be published on our web site, and we will be judging the competition and notifying the winners in June - the 3 best pictures will each win a mixed case of 6 premium South African Wines with a value of £60.

About SA Wines Online – get a £10 discount on your first order.
Shortlisted as Decanter Online Wine Merchant for 2007, SA Wines Online has the largest range of fine South African wines in the UK. You will find your favourites all in one place and have them delivered directly to your door anywhere in the UK.

Get a £10 discount on your first wine order at: http://www.sawinesonline.co.uk/.

We are delighted to confirm that we will be offering 3 nights for the price of 2 at safari lodges in the Kariega Reserve for people travelling between 1 May and 30 September.

The Kariega reserve is ideal for families who are enjoying a holiday in Cape Town or the Eastern Cape who are also looking to include a safari in their trip.

The reserve is malaria free, and the main lodge has a number of 2, 3, and 4 bedroom chalets where it is possible for larger families and groups requiring a single room to stay very cost effectively.

Also as the reserve has an area without more dangerous game in it (i.e. no lions or elephants) guests are also welcome to walk, cycle, or canoe through parts of the reserve which gives a great opportunity to see giraffes, zebra, antelope and other species without being stuck in a vehicle.

The reserve is also only one of two in the area which can offer river cruises, and is also only a short drive from the coast and beaches at Kenton-on-Sea.

Children of any age are welcome. Rates available on request. Children under 5 are not allowed on normal game drives. Babysitting services are available.