Travel Butlers African Safari Blog.

For anyone planning their South African holiday in advance, it is so refreshing to have just heard that the Amakhala Game Reserve have announced that they are HOLDING their current 2010 rates throughout 2011.

They are also going to continue to offer the excellent Special Offer deal of Stay for 4 Nights, Pay for 3 during January, February, March and April 2011, and during the low season months of May, June, July, August and September 2011 they are offering a Stay for 3 nights, Only Pay for 2 deal.

All in all - a winner all round for anyone wanting to experience exciting game drives in search of the Big 5 in a malaria-free environment !

Call us now to make your booking …. why wait any longer !!

Abalone Guest Lodge, situated situated midway between the town centre and the beautiful white beaches of Hermanus, has re-opened its doors and is welcoming guests again, having just finished an extensive renovation project, which has seen this extremely popular guest house shut for several months.

The renovations have included the introduction of a water-wise indigenous garden, a sparkling rim-flo swimming pool, and extensive rain water reservoirs. The interior has also undergone a facelift, with some major changes to the rooms, now enabling guests staying here to enjoy not only more privacy but also to take advantage of the beautiful views.

Delta Airlines have just announced that they are adding more services from Atlanta in the States to Johannesburg in July and August.

This is in response to an increase in demand for flights - and as a result, more than 4,700 extra seats are being offered over these months alone.

The additional flights will be on a B777-200LR aircraft, which offers 45 fully flat / 180 degree seats in BusinessElite and 233 seats in economy class. In seat entertainment is available on demand at every seat too throughout the aircraft.

Here’s to welcoming even more American tourists to South Africa soon !

Stay for 5 nights for the price of 4 at More Quarters Apartments in Cape Town. Offer valid for travel between 1 December 2010 and 31 January 2011 (but excluding travel over the Christmas and New Period between 20th December 2010 and 7th January 2011).

The More Quarters apartments are conveniently located just off fashionable Kloof Street, with some of Cape Towns’ finest restaurants just a leisurely stroll away. Enjoy the buzz and breakfast at an array of street side cafes, and be pampered by the committed staff during your stay here.

Guests can choose from luxury one or 2 bedroomed apartments, or Redcliffe House, which has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.

Book 3 nights at Lion Sands River Lodge in the Sabi Sand Reserve and receive 2 nights FREE in Cape Town, either in a Standard Room at the Cape Cadogan, or a Luxury Apartment at More Quarters Apartments !

Both the properties in Cape Town are conveniently located just off fashionable Kloof Street, with some of Cape Towns’ finest restaurants just a leisurely stroll away.

Valid for travel between 1 April 2010 and 30 September 2010 (excluding travel over the World Cup period, between 1st June 2010 and 18th July 2010) AND between 1 December 2010 and 31 January 2011 (excluding travel over the Christmas and New Year period between 20th December 2010 and 7th January 2011). This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Book 3 nights at the exclusive 5* Lion Sands Ivory Lodge in the world-famous Sabi Sand Reserve and receive 2 nights FREE in a Luxury Room in the Cape Cadogan, in the heart of the ‘Mother City’, Cape Town.

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, in the southern portion of the 65,000 hectare Sabi Sand Game Reserve, is built on the banks of the Sabie River. Game viewing in search of Africa’s Big 5 - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo - are conducted in open Land Rovers every morning and afternoon. The 6 ultra luxurious suites all have en-suite bathrooms with outdoor and inside showers, a courtyard, lounge with fireplace, wooden viewing deck, patio and private plunge pool.

Cape Cadogan is conveniently located just off the fashionable Kloof Street, with some of Cape Towns’ finest restaurants just a leisurely stroll away.

Valid for travel between 1 April 2010 and 30 September 2010 (excluding travel over the World Cup period, between 1st June 2010 and 18th July 2010) AND between 1 December 2010 and 31 January 2011 (excluding travel over the Christmas and New Year period between 20th December 2010 and 7th January 2011). This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Stay for 5 nights for the price of 4 at Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel in Cape Town between 1 December 2010 and 31 January 2011 (BUT excluding travel over the Christmas and New Year period between 20th December 2010 until 7th January 2011).

The Cape Cadogan is a stately double-storeyed Georgian and Victorian building that dates back to the beginning of the 19th century, and was declared a national monument in 1984.

The hotel is situated in the heart of Cape Town, just off the fashionable Kloof Street, so some of Cape Towns’ finest restaurants are a leisurely stroll away, and you are just a short drive from the beaches at Camps Bay, Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront.

This boutique hotel is well known for its comfortable, luxurious atmosphere. The 12 luxuriously appointed en-suite bedrooms are decorated with an eclectic mix of contemporary and antique furniture using dramatic fabrics to maximum effect.

Stay for 5 nights for the price of 4 at Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel in Cape Town !

The Cape Cadogan is a stately double-storeyed Georgian and Victorian building that dates back to the beginning of the 19th century, and was declared a national monument in 1984.

The hotel is situated in the heart of Cape Town, just off the fashionable Kloof Street, so some of Cape Towns’ finest restaurants are a leisurely stroll away, and you are just a short drive from the beaches at Camps Bay, Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront.

This boutique hotel is well known for its comfortable, luxurious atmosphere.

Your stay will include breakfast, and this offer is valid for travel between 1 April 2010 and 30 September 2010 (but excluding travel during the World Cup period between 1st June 2010 and 18th July 2010).
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Travel Butlers are delighted to announce that the latest Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) certified business is the 4* Peech Hotel in Melrose, Johannesburg.

Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa is a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainable tourism development. They award businesses who demonstrate their commitment to Fair Trade by adopting policies for fair wages and working conditions, fair purchasing, fair operations, equitable distribution of benefits and respect for human rights, culture and environment.

The hotel has a proven track record of operating in an environmentally responsible manner, and this has been the mainstay behind their recent FTTSA certification.

The hotel’s policies include solar water geysers which service the entire property as well as drinking water that is filtered on site. They also make use of refillable glass bottles, thereby helping to minimise the evergrowing use of plastic bottles which is unfortunately a growing concern for environmentalists worldwide.

On top of all this, the hotel gardens are watered with processed and recycled rain and bath / shower water.

The Peech Hotel also invest in the local community, and has actively supported Little Eden Children’s Home for a long time. Help includes donating items such as linen and crockery to the charity, and the staff of Little Eden are incentivised with offers of hotel stays.

Hotel guests are also welcome to support this charity by voluntarily contributing R5 for each night that they stay at the hotel, and the hotel then matches the donation.

The Peech Hotel gives preference to local and BEE-rated businesses and purchases Fair Trade products on a regular basis. Support for new and emerging suppliers in the local area is significant: for example, the hotel assisted a local man to obtain a car loan and guaranteed that they would utilise his services for guest transfers and staff transport. In addition, the hotel also assisted a local woman to establish her laundry business by supporting her on a regular basis.

Johannesburg is becoming more and more accessible !

A new daily direct service is soon to be launched by Jet Airways between Mumbai and Johannesburg, starting on April 15, subject to regulatory approval.

Jet Airways will be running an A330-200 aircraft, and will offer 30 seats in Business Class / Première and 190 seats in Economy class.

Première passengers will enjoy a 180-degree flat bed with lumbar support and massage systems, oversized table, laptop power, telephone, SMS, email and live text news and on-demand in-flight entertainment.

Flights will depart Mumbai at 02h05, arriving in Johannesburg at 07h35 - so absolutely ideal for then connecting with an onwards flight over to the Kruger for a safari, or getting down to Cape Town in time for a spot of lunch !

The return service will depart Johannesburg at 11h00, arriving in Mumbai at 23h30.