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Last Minute EXCELENT Rates at Shamwari

Friday, August 12th, 2011

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

shamwari-lionAll 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.

Safari Combo Deal

Friday, July 29th, 2011

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 and receive 2 FREE nights in Cape Town

Friday, July 29th, 2011

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 / Pay 3 until April 2013 !

Friday, July 29th, 2011

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.

New Look for Buffalo Camp in the Kapama Game Reserve

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

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 ?

kbc-1Possibly 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.

kbc-3Well, 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.

A truly lovely compliment …

Monday, July 11th, 2011

We get a lot of nice compliments about our services from happy customers, but this one in particular is lovely – from Diana Garretts, who went to South Africa for her honeymoon in June :

I thought I had a pretty good idea of where we wanted to stay along the Garden Route, and then I found Travel Butlers! Tracey was full of great suggestions while always bearing in mind what we had actually asked for. She was infinitely patient helping us tweak our plans until we had the itinerary which gave us a really perfect honeymoon. Tracey also helped my son set up an awesome surprise wedding present for us in Cape Town – thank you so much. We would recommend Travel Butlers without hesitation and only wish you covered another continent! If ever we go back to Africa we will be in touch.

Whale Watching Season has Officially BEGUN !!

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Whale watching is one of the major attractions of the Western Cape, and Hermanus and Gansbaai are the 2 main areas for whale watching, either boat-based or land-based.

whaleThe first Southern Right whale has been spotted in Walker Bay at Hermanus, so this is now officially the start of the whale watching season !

Having been whale watching myself at Hermanus, I would definately recommend including this in your itinerary if you are in this area. I would also recommend actually staying in Hermanus for at least one or 2 nights if time permits, especially if you want to go out on a boat. The boats tend to leave early in the morning, as they go out with first tides, so this would mean a VERY early start from Cape Town (around the 5.30 am time) to ensure you arrive in time – and let’s be honest, unless you are on safari do you really want to get up that early ??

You can read more about whale watching in Hermanus, and check out the hotels and guest houses that we recommend by clicking here.

We also recommend Dyer Island Cruises or Southern Right Charters if you are looking for an operator to go out with.

Lion Sands River Lodge Special Offer Price – Only with Travel Butlers

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

Lion Sands River Lodge, in the southern portion of the 65,000 hectare Sabi Sand Game Reserve, is situated on a private area of prime game-viewing land. The lodge is built on the banks of the Sabie River, facing due East so that it catches the sun as it rises over the Kruger National Park.

02_2261The game viewing is truly superb, with lion and leopard sightings a speciality, as well as buffalo, elephant, rhino, antelope, giraffe, cheetah, zebra and many other species of both animal and birds.

Guests are accommodated in 20 luxurious thatched chalets, each with an en-suite bathroom with outdoor and inside showers, and a private wooden viewing deck with a view of the river. The bedroom area is air-conditioned with an over-head fan. All rooms have mini bars and telephone access.

05We are delighted to offer the following FANTASTIC rates for anyone wanting to stay here from 1st October until the end of the year, in a Luxury Room :

1st October 2011 until 22nd December 2011 – you pay only R4415 per person per night.

23rd December 2011 until 3rd January 2012 – even over this High Season, you will pay only R4,905 per person per night. MINIMUM 3 NIGHT BOOKING REQUIRED.

016_16Rates are fully inclusive of 2 daily game drives in open Land Rovers, 3 meals daily, game drive refreshments, tea / coffee, and Skukuza airport transfers. Subject to weather conditions, the rate also includes bush breakfasts and bush dinners, bush walks, full moon walks, wildlife lectures, safari lunches, hippopotamus river tour and astronomy.

For more details and to ask us to check availability now and make a booking for you, call or email us today.

Budget feeling a little ‘Hollow’ ?

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

If it is, then don’t worry, take advantage of one or more of these Stay for 3 Nights, Only Pay for 2 at the following Hollow Hotels properties, valid from 1st June until the end of September :

Hippo Hollow Country Estate or Perry’s Bridge Hollow, both in Hazyview – perfect either to explore the Kruger Park from or as a place to stay before / after a safari here

Knysna Hollow Country Estate – great for a stay along the beautiful Garden Route (not valid however during the famous Knysna Oyster Festival at the beginning of July)

Cape Town Hollow or Hollow in the Square – and we really don’t need to sell the highlights or a reason to stay in Cape Town !!

Urgent Notification – Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

The Yellow Fever vaccination recommendations for Africa have been revised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Following this revision, the South African Department of Health has issued a statement regarding the requirements for travel between South Africa and Zambia.

All passengers travelling from Zambia to South Africa, and vice versa, will now require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination. This was not a requirement before.

In-transit passengers will also require proof of vaccination.

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