Travel Butlers African Safari Blog.

AIRLINK has confirmed that it will operate a new route from Kruger to Livingstone (for Victoria Falls) from August 17.

Airlink’s service will operate directly from Kruger Mpumalanga / Nelspruit (airport code MQP) to Livingstone in Zambia (airport code LVI) initially on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with the intention to grow frequency corresponding with demand.

This will avoid the current need for Kruger travellers to stay overnight or connect in Johannesburg prior to flying to Livingstone. The opportunity is then for travellers to enjoy a game drive and breakfast at their bush lodge before travelling to Livingstone and enjoying, on the same day, an evening sunset cruise on the Zambezi. For people travelling from Livingstone to Kruger, they can enjoy a walk to the Falls in the morning, then breakfast and mid-morning activities before travelling to Kruger to enjoy dinner and the first night in the bush.

Flights will depart Nelspruit Kruger at 11.55 am, arriving in Livingstone at 1.50 pm. The return flight will depart Livingstone at 2.20 pm, arriving in Nelspruit Kruger at 4.45 pm.

Keen to see leopards in the wild?   This video (appropriately enough taken at Leopard Hills) is a good example of why the Sabi Sands Reserve in the Greater Kruger Park is probably the best place anywhere to see leopard. 

We have just been passed the special offer for Notten’s Bush Camp in the Sabi Sands Reserve:

Reduced rate of only R2500 per person per night at Nottens for bookings made in March 2009 for travel in March 2009. The rate includes accommodation, meals, 2 game drives each day and an optional bush walk, and this represents a saving of R600 (19%) on the regular price.

We are delighted to be able to offer a special 20% discount for all new bookings made at Lion Sands River Lodge from travel between now and the end of February 2009.

Lion Sands is located on the banks of the Sabie River and is widely regarded as having one of the best locations in the Sabi Sands Reserve. 

The rooms have recently been refurbished, and with tempretures in Kruger reaching 30%, lots of new born animals at this time of year, and the Rand still remaining weak against sterling, the US Dollar and the Euro, this is a great opportunity to visit one of Africa’s great safari lodges.

Savanna is a beautiful tented camp in the Sabi Sand area of the Greater Kruger National Park, and has long been a favourite of both us here at Travel Butlers and our guests.  Savanna was the first place that owners Tracey & Paul Campbell went on safari many years ago and it was the amazing game viewing of the area along with the enthusiasm of Paddy and his team and wonderful tented suites that first got them hooked on safaris.

We are delighted to be able to offer substantial discounts at Savanna for anyone able to travel before the 15th March this year.  The discounted rates are nearly 20% off the normal rates for this time of year, and are available for both Savanna Luxury Suites and Savanna Executive Suites.

Following our recent trip to Swaziland we have added a few pages of information for anyone thinking about including a night or two in this charming Kingdom as part of a longer trip to the area.

Swaziland’s location between the Kruger National Park and the many attractions of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Coastline (including St Lucia, Phinda and much more) means that it makes an ideal stop-over between these two areas.  And as the border controls are quick and easy (15 minutes or so), South African Rand are accepted throughout Swaziland, and the country is well known for it’s friendy and relaxed people and vibrant craft markets, this really is an excellent addition to any trip to Southern Africa.

We are delighted to announce a  Notten’s Bush Camp Special Offer for December 08 & January 09.

Notten’s is one of the best-kept secrets of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. This friendly and informal family-run lodge offers a unique blend of luxury and comfort, balanced with the sheer simplicity and natural atmosphere of the bush.  This is Africa how you have imagined it, and is right in the heart of the best big-5 game viewing area in South Africa.

The special offer rate of R2500 per person per night is a discount of R600 per person on the usual published rate, and means that a couple staying 3 nights would save R3600 (approx £250!) on the usual published price.  This is a great offer and makes the idea of getting away from the cold wet Northern Hemisphere winter seem all the more appealing!

The Times is reporting that British model Katie Price, also known as Jordan, and singer Peter André have  renewed their wedding vows at the Thornybush Game Lodge near the Great Kruger Park.

Nic Griffin, chief executive of the Thornybush Group, said the couple appeared very much in love:  “They basically wanted to crush the rumours that they are separating. I can vouch for the fact that they are madly in love.

“Katie loved it here. The bush did something to her … half an hour after they got off their plane I could see her start to relax. She was a changed lady.”

The couple and their entourage of seven flew to Thornybush in a private jet two weeks ago. They then jetted to Cape Town, where they spent time at the Grootbos Nature Reserve just outside Gansbaai.

Day visitors to the Kruger National Park will again be able to book ahead of time to secure their entrance to South Africa’s most well known National Park.

Visitors who wish to use this facility should be advised that advanced bookings can be made no less than one day prior to date of arrival at the Kruger National Park and that using this facility will come at a minimal and non-refundable cost per person of R20 per adult and R10 per child entering the Park. This fee will be payable (in advance) by all who wish to make a day visitor booking in advance. Guests with day visitor bookings will also be expected to arrive at the booked gate by not later than 1 pm on the date of booking, after which time the booking lapses. Advanced day-visitor bookings will only constitute 60% of the gate’s day visitor quota, with 40% being kept open for visitors to enter on a first-come first-served basis. The gate quotas are limits per gate on the number of day visitors that the area and infrastructure adjacent to each gate is able to support to ensure a good visitor experience.

We are delighted to be able to offer Lion Sands River Lodge for the incredible price of only R2500 per person per night for guests who are able to travel between now and 30th April this year.

This special short notice deal represents a saving of R1780 (42%!) per person per night vs the published rate of R4280, and the rate includes accommodation, meals, and 2 game drives each day.

Lion Sands River Lodge is one of the best know lodges in the world-renowned Sabi Sand Reserve on the western side of the Greater Kruger Park, and boasts a fantastic location right on the Sabie river with some of the best game viewing in the reserve.

The rooms have just been refurbished in the last 12 months, and with the rand now very weak vs other major currencies this offer really does represent amazing value for overseas visitors.