Great news for anyone with a New Years Resolution to go and trek the endangered mountain gorilla – a real bucketlist ambition for many people.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have just announced massive reductions on gorilla and chimpanzee tracking fees – which now makes this more affordable.

Gorilla tracking permits have been reduced from USD 700 to USD 400 – a saving of USD 300!

And if you want to see more primates, chimpanzee tracking permits in Kibale have been reduced from USD 200 to USD 150 – a saving of USD 50.

This is only from 1st December 2020 and 31st March 2021 and does not apply on permits already purchased – only on new purchases.

If you would like to take advantage of this amazing deal, then why not check out our web pages about Uganda and maybe see if any of the itineraries featured here take your fancy? We can tailormake any itinerary to your requirements, so don’t worry if these don’t meet exactly what you would like to do – give one of our friendly consultants a call today or send us an email to info@travelbutlers.com and let us see if we can put together an itinerary that is perfect for you.

Really good news! As of Saturday 21st November, UK travellers no longer need to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return from a holiday to Namibia.

Namibia is a stunning country to visit and explore – the iconic sand dunes of Sossusvlei are a photographers dream; the wildlife of Etosha will delight first time safari goers and returning safari enthusiasts; the haunting beauty of the Skeleton Coast is a bucketlist adventure; and tracking the desert elephants in Damaraland makes for an exciting game drive experience.

You can choose to self-drive, or fly between destinations, or sit back and enjoy being part of a guided group tour. We have some holiday ideas already which you can see here – you can use these as a basis to create your own unique trip.

All travellers just need to present a negative COVID-19 test on arrival, which has to be less than 72 hours old when you land. If you have this, you can head straight off from the airport and enjoy your holiday to the full – after having handed in a health questionnaire form which we will send to you prior to departure.

We’re ready when you’re ready…contact one of our specialists today to get the ball rolling!

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The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced the country will reopen its borders for international visitors on October 1, 2020.

Speaking in a televised address yesterday evening (16th September), President Ramaphosa said “We are ready to open our doors again to the world and invite travellers to enjoy our mountains, our beaches, our vibrant cities, and our wildlife game parks in safety and confidence.”

South Africa imposed one of the world’s strictest lockdowns in order to control the spread of Covid-19 during the winter months, and the border has been closed to international visitors since 27th March. Now, as the whole southern hemisphere is moving into summer and infections are falling sharply, the lockdown is being eased and life is begining to return to normal.

Travel is likely to be restricted from countries that have high infection rates, although at the moment there is no indication of which countries this will apply to. A list of countries is expected to be published in the next couple of weeks based on the latest scientific data.

Whilst it appears there will be no mandatory quarantine on arrival in South Africa, there are a number of other changes to the normal entry requirements:

• On arrival, travellers will need to present a negative COVID-19 test result not older than 72 hours from time of departure.
• If a traveller does not have a negative COVID-19 test result from within 72 hours prior to departure, they will be required to remain in mandatory quarantine at their own cost. 
• All travellers will be screened on arrival and those presenting with symptoms will be required to remain in quarantine until a repeat COVID-19 test is conducted.
• All travellers will be asked to install the COVID Alert South Africa mobile app.

Just prior to the borders closing in March of this year, South Africa changed its visa exemption rules meaning that visitors from countries considered high risk at the time (including the UK, USA, China, France and Germany) were no longer able to travel to South Africa without a visa. We expect that this ruling will be reviewed in the coming weeks, and visa exemptions are likely to be reinstated for countries that are not on the restricted travel list.

COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the way we live, and travellers are having to adjust to the new protocols and procedures that have been put in place across the globe as international travel resumes.

Many of the destinations that we work with are already open or about to open to international visitors again, and all properties and transport providers across Africa are working within the Covid-Safe guidelines set by their governments and the World Health Organisation (WHO). In all instances, the well-being of both guests and staff is first and foremost in everyone’s minds, and care is being taken to ensure guests still enjoy a first class holiday experience.

There have been plenty or articles published elsewhere about the changes to international flights as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, so here we will focus on what you might expect once you arrive in Africa.

Going on a Safari

The good news is that the safari experience will be virtually unchanged as a result of Covid-19 protocols. If you are going on a Big 5 safari as part of your long-awaited holiday, you are natually ‘social distancing’ – which is a huge benefit from a Covid point of view!

Safari lodges generally only have a small number of rooms, so you are not in an environment surrounded by hundreds of other guests. The lodges are also generally pretty remote, and the staff tend to stay ‘on-site’ for up to 3 months at a time, so they also spend long periods social distancing from the rest of the world.

The main attractions of a safari are obviously the game drives and guided safari walks. This means you will be spending up to 6-8 hours outside in the fresh air, and more often than not the vehicle you are in could be miles away from the nearest other vehicle.

Out on game drives, some lodges are going to restrict the number of guests per vehicle to just 4, leaving a full row between people; others may have to put 6 on a vehicle; but we very much doubt you will be going out on a drive with as many as 9 or 10 on a vehicle. You may find even that you have a vehicle all to yourself, depending on the number of guests and number of vehicles available!

Between game drives, vehicles will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and it goes without saying that guests will not be allowed to use the guide’s wildlife books and binoculars whilst Covid precautions are in place.

If you are travelling in East Africa and have a driver-guide for the whole of your trip, then you are not sharing the game vehicle anyway with anyone else.

Overall, Covid-19 does not really impact on the all-important game-viewing part of your safari at all – if anything, being out with fewer other guests will enhance the whole experience.

That is not to say there will be no changes for guests staying at a safari lodge. You will not be greeted by a friendly handshake on arrival, and the welcoming smile will most likely be hidden behind a face mask.

Some lodges are adopting a guest temperature check on arrival (normally with a digital handheld temperature scanner aimed at your forehead) and other lodges may insist that this temperature check is done daily. Staff temperatures will also be taken and checked on a daily basis.

You may have to carry your own luggage to your room, but if you cannot, then the member of staff will disinfect your luggage handles before taking the bags for you.

Rooms will be cleaned/disinfected thoughly between departures and new arrivals, and you most likely will be allocated a dedicated team of staff, such as a waiter, guide/tracker team, and housekeeper. This will create your own ‘safari bubble’ with these staff members to ensure interactions are limited to just a small handful of people.

Each member of staff will wear a face mask and maybe gloves too, however should you really not want anyone coming into your room to clean it on a daily basis, just let the lodge know. The management team are there to make your stay as comfortable and as pleasant as possible.

Mealtimes will not be communal, and where possible the lodge will provide individual tables for each room. Of course, if you are a family or a group of friends travelling together and you want to eat together, that can be arranged.  If the lodge cannot provide individual tables, then guests will be seated at an appropriate distance from each other along a communal table.

Another thing to change at meal times will be a switch to plated meals instead of buffets.  You may also find that meal times are staggered at the larger lodges and held also in different locations, to avoid too many people in one area at any one time.

One tradition that is unlikely to change is sitting around the camp fire in the evening to exchange stories about the day’s adventures.  Just expect your seats to be set apart from each other, so softly spoken people may need speak-up to make sure they can be heard!

Staying at the Beach

For many people, their safari is often part of a longer safari and beach holiday, and rest assured that the beaches of Mauritius and Seychelles are far quieter than the overcrowded beaches of the UK and Europe.

A lot of the above protocols will also be adopted by staff in the beach resorts, but of course, the number of other guests around you will probably be a bit higher so you do need to be more aware of social distancing. 

Sun loungers around swimming pools will be distanced accordingly, and gyms/fitness centres may limit the number of guests allowed in at any one time.

Spas will generally be open, but treatments may be limited.

Guided tours may be limited in terms of the numbers permitted per tour, so prebooking anything would certainly be advisable to save disappointment, especially if you only have a limited number of days anywhere.

But depending which tropical island or beach you choose, what you might have is an endless stretch of nigh-on deserted white sand to walk along!

Cities and towns

Any visitors to cities and towns in Africa will find they need to take the same precautions that they do at home. Laws and customs do vary across the continent, however we would advise that you travel with a face mask in urban areas even in countries such as Tanzania where they are not required by law.

Transfers and light aircraft

If you are taking a transfer, you may not be offered a refreshing towel by your driver, instead you may be offered hand sanitiser instead. 

Your driver may want to clean your luggage handles before loading your bags into his car, otherwise you can of course do this yourself.

All the transfer vehicles will have been cleaned throughly before picking you up, with a particular emphasis on door handles and window buttons.

Your driver will be wearing a face mask, of course and he may politely request that for the duration of the transfer, you too wear a mask.

The same applies to light aircraft transfers as well, of course.

And Finally…

Africa has a vast wealth of amazing destinations that are largley unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic, and Travel Butlers, along with our friends and partners across Africa, are committed to ensuring travel to this remarkable continent can resume safely.

Our partners are all putting stringent measures in place to ensure that the health and safety of our clients is not compromised in any way, and all the holidays we book for our clients are completely tailor-made and have full financial protection under the ATOL or ABTOT scheme to give you complete peace of mind.

Tourism is an essential part of the conservation effort across Africa, and the travel suppliers and safari lodges across the continent are keen to welcome back visitors from overseas.

Africa really could be the perfect socially distanced, COVID-secure, and environmentally friendly conservation destination for your family safari or romantic getaway in 2021.

To start the process you can give us a call on 01932 428380, enquire via the website,  or email us at info@travelbutlers.com.

We’re ready when you’re ready. 

Londolozi has always been renowed for its excellent wildlife sightings across their 16,000 hectare private concession, which forms part of the world famous Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

Now they have something else to shout about – wild dog pups! For the first time in a decade, the alpha female of their wild dog clan has given birth to 10 cute, wriggling and hungry little pups.

There are fewer than 500 wild dogs in South Africa, and the species is high on the endangered list (and this is worldwide, not just in South Africa), so this new addition is really great news.

As well as the wild dog pups, Londolozi rangers have also seen two new leopard cubs and two cheetah cubs within the reserve whilst out on their daily patrolling drives.

The rangers here have spent many a happy hour watching the pups and the cubs, and cannot wait to share the experience with guests as and when the SA borders reopen to international tourism.

We’re ready when this happens to help you plan and book a holiday to South Africa and to see Londolozi’s new family members for yourself.

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Travel Butlers has been working with clients, airlines, and partners across Africa to postpone and reschedule holidays affected by the coronavirus travel restrictions since governments around the world started to put their countries into lockdown in March.

We are constantly monitoring the ever-changing situation as lockdowns are starting to be lifted, and whilst we have had to cancel and postpone all trips from the middle of March until the end of June, we remain hopeful that clients with holidays booked for the latter part of this year will still be able to travel as planned.

If you have a holiday booked with us that is due to depart in the next 6 weeks, we will have been in contact with you to discuss the options available. If you have paid a deposit for a holiday, we will be in touch before the balance is due, and in most instances we will be able to delay balance payment whilst we work with you to reschedule your trip. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your travel arrangements, please do get in touch by emailing your usual Travel Butlers contact who will be happy to help.

Looking forward we believe that Africa and the Indian Ocean will be the perfect choice for your first trip once international travel restarts.  The overwhelming majority of safari lodges and camps that we book across Africa have fewer than 10 guest rooms, and the vast national parks and safari reserves of Southern and East Africa have always been places that our clients go to enjoy the natural world without crowds of other visitors.  The island nations of  Seychelles and Mauritius have been relatively untouched by the Covid-19 pandemic and were declared virus free in May – the lockdowns here have already been lifted, and Seychelles opened its borders to international visitors on 1 June.

As countries around the world begin to come out of lockdown, it may be time to start planning your trip for later this year or sometime in 2021. Our partners are all putting stringent measures in place to ensure that the health and safety of our clients is not compromised in any way, and all the holidays we book for our clients are completely tailor-made and have full financial protection under the ATOL or ABTOT scheme to give you complete peace of mind. To start the process you can give us a call on 01932 428380, enquire via the website,  or email us at info@travelbutlers.com.

We’re ready when you’re ready. 

The island paradise of Seychelles has become the second country in the Indian Ocean to become free of Covid-19. The nation of fewer than one hundred thousand inhabitants reported 11 cases in total, and the last infected patient has tested negative for a number of consecutive days and is now considered to be fully recovered and virus free.

Earlier in the month, Mauritius declared total recoveries from coronavirus infections on May 11, 2020. The island nation’s official COVID-19 page said 322 people had recovered out of the 332 confirmed cases, with 10 people unfortunately passing away.

Both of these countries acted promptly to close borders and restrict internal movements in order to control spread of the virus.  Whilst there will inevitably be some new social distancing procedures and additional screening to ensure the virus is not reintroduced to either country, both are able to lift internal restrictions and start to look forward to reopening their borders to overseas visitors.

Seychelles International airport will reopen on June 1, 2020, and we expect to have confirmation of when the airport in Mauritius will open fairly shortly.

Hopefully this is indicative of a turning point in the battle against this terrible disease.  Namibia and Botswana have only had a handful of cases each, and will be hoping to be amongst the next countries to declare themselves virus free.

In the meantime, here are a few of our favourite places in Seychelles and Mauritius…it might be time to start planning your next holiday!

In a timely reminder that nothing lasts forever, reports from Zimbabwe and Zambia are showing that Victoria Falls has staged an epic recovery and are now in full flow just a few months after widespread reporting that the waters were at a historically low levels due to seasonal drought. In December of last year, stories about the drought were accompanied by alarming pictures showing the bare rockface of the Falls, but by April 2020 the waters had returned and the Falls were back at their magnificent best.

Of course, in the intervening period events in the wider world have temprarily shut down international tourism, so at the moment only residents of the towns of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Livingstone in Zambia are able to enjoy this spectacular sight. But nothing last forever, and as Zimbabwe and Zambia have both been relatively unaffected by the Covid-19 pandemic they are begining to ease their own internal lockdowns, and at the momenty the hope is that international tourists will be able to return to the Falls later in the year.

Hopefully the waters will still be close to their current spectaucular levels when international tourists do return, but even if the levels have dropped somewhat from their current highs there is plenty to attract visitors to the area.

Over the years the area around Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe/Zambia border has developed into one of Southern Africa’s leading adventure tourism destinations.  Clearly the main attraction of the area is still a visit to visit the Falls themselves, and for most visitors this will take around half a day if they do this with a guide and visit both the Zimbabwean and Zambian side of the Falls.   The evening cruises on the Zambezi are also immensely popular, and then after that we find a whole host of activities from microlight flights to white water rafting that are sure to provide spectacular memories for those brave enough to take them on.

1. Microlight flight over the Falls

Whilst the popular ‘Flight Of Angels’  helicopter flights offer wonderful views over Victoria Falls, a trip in a microlight offers a more exhilarating way to see the Falls from the air.

As with the helicopter flights, there are both 15 minute and 30 minute options available, however the fact that you are completely exposed to the elements in the microlight make this feel like a very different experience.  The microlights fly lower and slower than the helicopters, meaning you feel the spray on your skin, and as they are slower moving the 15 minute flight will stay closer to the Falls for the majority of the flight.  One thing to note is that you are not allowed to take your own camera on the flights due to safety and insurance issues, however there is a wing mounted camera that is operated by the pilot, and you can buy digital  copies of these pictures at the end of your trip.

2. The Devil’s Pool

The Devil’s Pool in only accessible when the Falls are at their lowest, between late August and early January, and this natural wonder provides an unforgettable vantage point with spectacular views of the Falls. For those who think they might be washed away as soon as they enter the water, fear not, as there is a natural rock wall that stops any anyone from being swept over.

The Devil’s Pool can only be reached as part of an organised trip, and these depart from the Royal Livingstone Hotel, and start with a short boat ride towards Livingstone Island in the middle of the river right by the edge of the Falls.  From here you will walk to a viewing point overlooking the Horseshoe Falls and the 108 meter drop of the Rainbow Falls,  and then you are taken to an area where you can see the Main Falls from a completely different angle that that seen from the visitor center on the other side of the gorge.  

With only a sheer drop and the rushing waters of the Zambezi around you, Devil’s Pool will showcase the unparalleled beauty and power of this natural wonder, giving you memories that will last a lifetime.

3. White water rafting on the Zambezi

Setting off at dawn with your fellow rafters, guests will all be taken up river for what will be one of the most incredible and exciting activities they’ll ever do.  From the drop off point, it is a short hike down a valley to the river, walking along small paths and having to climb down in some areas, making everyone feel like a true explorer. When everyone is down, no time is wasted in getting onto the river and letting the fun begin. The guide will give you some instructions and tips about safety, and then with a roar from the team, the adventure begins.

You will hear the roar of the rapids before you see them, and you won’t be disappointed with what lies ahead. As the adrenaline kicks in, and the water crashes around you, remember to keep paddling, and then before you know it, you are through and in the calmer water… that is until you tackle the next one!

After conquering that final rapid, guests will be left feeling exhausted, but it won’t matter. With a huge smile on your face and a new group of friends besides, have a look back at what you have just done with a feeling of amazement and satisfaction.

4. Bungee jump from the Victoria Falls bridge

Whist there are bungee jumps all over the world, there will be very few betters place to try out this incredible activity than at Victoria Falls. With the Zambezi River below you, and the falls thundering constantly in the background, guests will have to go a long way to find anything more dramatic.

Waiting in the queue on the bridge, watching as each person is given the countdown and then jumping, can be daunting at first. As you get closer and closer, the mind is racing and there is so much adrenaline that you cannot keep your feet still, until finally its time. With your feet just over the edge and nothing in front except one of the best views of the river, all anyone hears is the countdown. With your heart racing and arms out either side, you conquer the fear and jump, and everyone always does. With the river rapidly approaching suddenly you start to slow down, before going up, and then falling again. In that moment, the elation and joy of what you have just accomplished takes over, knowing from then on, if I can do this, I can do anything!

5. Victoria Falls gorge swing

Whilst nearly everyone knows about the famous bungee jump, the gorge swing can sometimes pass under the radar, but don’t be fooled as it offers an adrenaline fix rivaling all of the activities at Vic Falls.   When the guides have walked you through the safety procedures, a harness attached to the rope swing will be attached to the jumper.  With the guide offering some steady encouragement the jumper can walk to the edge of the platform, before getting ready to make the most memorable jump of their lives. 

Breaking free from the fear that was holding them in place, the feeling of free falling before swinging out over the raging waters below is something that is near impossible to describe, and it will take something very special to get a better rush of excitement anywhere.

AndBeyond Ngala Private Game Reserve has an exciting new addition to its impressive list of safari experiences, with the introduction of the Ngala Treehouse.

For guests who will be staying at either AndBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge or AndBeyond Ngala Tented camp, this luxurious private sanctuary adds a unique overnight wilderness experience that will create memories to last a lifetime.

Taking bookings from the 10^th February, this beautiful retreat will provide the ultimate sleep out under the stars, right in the middle of the reserve and far away from any distractions or interference from the outside world.

The Treehouse consists of 4 levels and 2 sleeping areas. The ground floor contains an open-plan dining area, where you can settle down to a delicious picnic or tapas style dinner.

If you continue up the stairs you will come to the bathroom. Here you will find a hot running walk-in shower, and a charming dressing table with a single vanity. There is also a separate W/C.

The third level has a kingsize bed surrounded by glass panels so you will always have a view to enjoy. The elevated sleep-out platform is at the very top under a retractable awning, surrounded by the bush and tree top canopies. The platform also acts as a comfortable open-air lounge during the day.

Ngala (meaning lion) is home to all of the Big Five, and is particularly well known for its large prides of lion. Along with the occasional sightings of wild dog, there are also large herds of elephant and buffalo.

This private reserve shares an unfenced border with the famous Kruger National Park, and consists of 14,700 hectares.

Enjoy the exclusivity of game drives within this concession area, along with the flexibility of day and night drives. For the more adventurous, guided bush walks are an excellent option.

Surrounded by home comforts including a well stocked bar and a selection of tasty treats, finish the day with a sundowner and toast the sunset, before settling down to a starlit picnic dinner.

The Samara Private Game Reserve, in the Great Karoo, is proudly celebrating the birth of their first litter of lion cubs, less than one year after they first introduced a new pride of lions to the reserve. This is a significant milestone for the reserve, as these are the first wild lions to roam and breed freely in the region for over 180 years.

The reserve first re-introduced lion at the beginning of 2019, which was one of several initiatives undertaken by the managment team here to restore the Great Karoo’s incredible biodiversity. This huge step also meant that the reserve is the first Big 5 private game reserve in the Great Karoo.

Speaking about the recent birth, founder Sarah Tompkins says “It’s a sign that our move to develop the landscape to create the conditions for new lion populations has been successful.”

Now home to over 65 species of mammal, 220 species of bird, 50 types of reptile and amphibian, the reserve’s growing wildlife diversity has been a true success story.

In 2017, elephants were reintroduced, and the herd was completed thanks to the introduction of 2 elephant bulls in November 2018.

Other notable species in Samara apart from the Big 5 include zebra, giraffe, aardvark and cheetah.

The reserve itself is located in the Graaff Reinet region of the Eastern Cape and encompasses 27,000 hectares of spectacular malaria-free Karoo wilderness, incorporating dramatic mountain terrains, sweeping plains and ancient rock art.

For more information or if you’re interested in staying here, check out our webpage in the link below.

https://www.travelbutlers.com/south-africa/safari/eastern-cape/samara-private-game-reserve/