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.

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 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.

The 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, 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.

The 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.

We 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.

Rates 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.

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 !!

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.

Congratulations to Summerwood, in Swellendam, for winning the category “Guest House Style Large” at the annual AA Travel Guides American Express Accommodation Awards event, held recently in Durban.

This unique mansion, originally built in 1904, was designed by an Italian architect and has been lovingly restored and furnished to make your stay here extremely comfortable and enjoyable. If you are looking for peace and quiet, then Summerwood is the place to come. The 9 bedrooms are all individually and tastefully decorated.

For anyone who wants to do something a little different, and really be able to tell people back home that they had a close encounter with a lion, check out the new ‘Walk with Lions’ programme that has recently been launched on the Zorgfontein Eco and Wildlife Reserve at Great Brak River, just outside Mossel Bay on the Garden Route.

Up to 8 visitors at a time get the chance to walk with 3 young cubs and their mothers, for about 90 minutes in a strictly controlled environment (which also means no petting of the animals). The walks take place twice a day, and anyone can go on the walks as long as they are older than 10 years and over 1.5 meters tall.

The cubs all come from different litters, and are currently 6 months old. The mothers were rescued from potential hunting programmes, and have been raised by hand by the reserve’s owner, Mariné Neethling.

Happy Birthday to Thula, who was the worlds first Rhinophant when she was introduced to the world 2 years ago today on 1st of April 2009 !

Proud parents Heidi (Rhino Mum) and Mabula (Elephant Dad) have since had three more Rhinophant children including a set of twins.

All of the offspring are doing well, and there are plans at other reserves in to look at spreading the population further.

Get in touch if you’d like to see these exceptional animals in the wild, and we can tell you all about them!

British Airways, operated by Comair Limited, announced that it will soon be servicing all major South African coastal routes, and will commence flights between Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town at the end of this month.

BA will offer daily return flights from the following destinations from 27 March 2011: – King Shaka International Airport to Port Elizabeth International Airport – Port Elizabeth International Airport to King Shaka International Airport – Port Elizabeth International Airport to Cape Town International Airport – Cape Town International Airport to Port Elizabeth International Airport.