For guests staying at either Vumbura Plains, Little Vumbura or Duba Plains, they can now enjoy and take part in a village tour from the camps.

The tour involves travelling by helicopter on a 15 minute scenic flight each way to the local village of Gunotsoga, which is a small community village with a population of about 750 people.

The tour will include being met by the chief, seeing the primary school and local clinic and visiting the local ironmonger and see how various implements are forged. The approximate 3 hour trip is designed to enhance guests’ understanding of local Setswana life and culture.

Families who want to enjoy a family safari with their children can now book a tailormade safari adventure at Phinda.

Both educational and fun-filled, this safari includes a private safari vehicle, as well as a dedicated ranger specialised in guiding trips with children.

The ranger will spend time with the family on arrival, helping them to plan each thrilling day according to the children’s ages, their interests and the season. Just some of the exciting adventures on offer include:

• Animal tracking walks during which children make plaster casts of animal tracks

• Insect hunts with ultraviolet lights to learn about nocturnal insects

• Treasure hunts through the bush

• Specially planned game drives during which youngsters are given the opportunity to feel, smell, listen and see their environment

• Making animals out of clay, tree bark rubbings, painting with sand, palm frond weaving and traditional beading

• Basic astronomy

• Canoeing, boating and fishing

The cost for the family safari is currently R6,120 for a maximum of 6 guests, excluding accommodation. In addition to the dedicated family safaris, Phinda will continue to run an exciting programme of children’s activities at their child-friendly lodges.

Azura is Mozambique’s first luxury ‘eco’ boutique retreat. Built entirely by hand by the local community and operated in partnership with them, it has just 14 villas, each with their own infinity pool and designed for both pampering and barefoot escapism. There is also a spa, with 2 double treatment rooms located right on the beach and open to the breezes.

Guests here recently have been lucky enough to enjoy the company of some special visitors … .3 humpback whales are currently residing in the ocean just a short way from the island. Snorkelling and diving trips have meant guests get really close up to these gentle giants of ocean.

Other exciting ocean sightings include the elusive dugongs, baby manta rays, eagle rays and sharks.

Despite being a natural honeymoon destination, Azura is also very popular with families, and they have a new specific kiddies programme to keep the youngsters happy while their parents relax and enjoy the pure white sand and sparkling turquoise seas that Azura is famed for. Click on the link below to read more about what is on offer for families :

Children’s Programme

Finally, as already mentioned, Azura are very active within the local community, and they have just opened the island’s only school which they have built, helped by many guests who have generously contributed to Azura’s Rainbow Fund. Not only do the children have a brand new school building but they will soon be smartly kitted out in school uniform donated by one of the guests.

Guests who choose to stay at Little Kulala, Kulala Desert Lodge and Kulala Wilderness Camp can now enjoy something completely different as an added activity – a camel ride !

3 rides are currently offered – a 10 minute ‘hop on / hop off’ ride literally for those people who want to say ‘been there / done it’ kind of thing; a short Photo Dune Ride and a longer Sundowner Ride.

On the Sundowner Ride, guests ride out to a designated spot, where a table with drinks and snacks have been set up, and after sunset the riders decide whether to go back to the camp on the camels or by vehicle. My only piece of advice … don’t have too many sundowner drinks if you choose the camel option !

Similar to the balloon rides, the camel activity is offered by an independent operator, Camels Namibia, based on the reserve.

For the epitome in luxury travel, why not consider taking a classic train journey across South Africa’s beautiful countryside as part of your holiday plans.

For a limited period only (ie selected dates in September), we are offering a 7 night package that includes 2 nights at the St James in False Bay, followed by 2 nights on the exclusive Rovos Rail up to Pretoria, then one night in Pretoria itself, and ending with 2 nights on safari at the malaria-free Entabeni Private Game Reserve.

For more information, click on this link :

Cape Town, Rovos Rail and a Safari

Please contact us immediately to check availability and make a booking.

We have just listed this great property on our database / website :

Jewel on 32 – situated in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg.

The 6 beautiful guest rooms all have a “gem theme” , and each has its own en-suite bathroom, desk and chair and appropriately-coloured décor options. Each room comes standard with a flat screen television with satellite (cable) channels, air conditioning / heating, tea / coffee facilities, a safe for your valuables and a hair dryer.

The 4* guest house is located in Jukskei Park, just minutes away from Monte Casino with its bird park and excellent shopping and dining attractions. The guest house is also close to the Fourways shopping centre and the Coca Cola Dome (for musical events / concerts). The Cradle of Humankind, which offers heritage sites of cultural, historical and geological interest, is about 45 minutes away. Sun City and the world-famous Pilanesberg National Park (a Big Five and malaria-free zone) is a drive of about 90 minutes.

Transfers from either OR Tambo International or Lanseria airports can be easily arranged.

The rates are fantastic … just R1,450 per double or single room per night, including a full English breakfast.

Contact us today to check availability and to make a booking !

Hornbills, when mating, will find a tree with an empty hole, and having successfully mated, the male hornbill leaves, but the female remains and waits to lay the eggs.

During this process, however, she loses all her feathers – I would also stay in a hole if this happened to me, I must admit.

The male, during this time, blocks up the hole, leaving just a small enough gap through which to pass her food. Obviously, this act is to protect her and the unborn chicks from unwanted predator attention, but I secretly think he is just embarrassed by her appearance and doesn’t want the rest of the world to know that his partner is now featherless and looking slightly odd.

Once the chicks have hatched, the female’s feathers begin to grow back, but she will not leave the nest until her feathers are all fully back to normal.

The female is therefore extremely reliable on the male during the incubation period, as without his food supply both her and her chicks would not survive. Let’s just hope the male hornbill is extremely careful when out on his food seaches ….

Number 3 in the folklore series … hope you are enjoying them !

Why the Rhino is Bad-Tempered

In the Beginning, the Giraffe had a normal neck, and looked a bit like a large Antelope.

One year, there was a terrible drought. All the waterholes dried up, and all the grass became very parched and bitter tasting. All the animals were extremely hungry.

Giraffe realised that the leaves on the tree tops were still fresh and tasty, and he tried to stretch his neck upwards to reach them, but couldn’t.

His friend, Rhino, seeing his friend try this, laughed at how silly he looked.

Giraffe was annoyed at being laughed at, and stormed off into the bush. He passed an old man who asked why Giraffe was so angry. Giraffe told him.

“Never mind,” said the old man. “I am a witchdoctor, and I have a special herb here which will make your friend Rhino regret laughing at you.”

He gave the herb to Giraffe, who ate it quickly.

Suddenly, Giraffe had the strangest feeling. His neck was getting longer!

He felt very dizzy as the ground started to get further and further away, and closed his eyes.

When he reopened them, he could see the lucious leaves at the top of the trees were level with his head, and he eagerly began to eat them.

When Rhino heard what had happened to his friend, he became very bad-tempered, and to this day, the Rhino is still in a bad mood.

Samara Private Game Reserve encompasses 29,000 hectares of malaria-free spectacular Karoo wilderness. The reserve offers a tremendous game experience for those hoping to see cheetah (there is an excellent wild cheetah breeding programme in operation here), mountain zebra, the once-endangered white rhino, big herds of plains game such as kudu, eland, black wildebeest and beautiful birds, such as the rare blue crane.

The reserve is only a 2.5 hour drive from Port Elizabeth, making it an ideal end to any family holiday that takes in some of the Garden Route too.

For any bookings made between now and the 1st November, Samara are offering these fantastic deals for families :

• Pay for 2 nights and receive the 3rd night completely free

• Children under 14 years of age will only pay 50% if sharing with an adult – and children under 8 stay for free

• During a 3 night stay, one adult will receive a complimentary shoulder / back / neck massage – I would imagine this will appeal to all mothers !!

• Baby sitting services are provided free of charge

• Children get a specialised kiddies menu

• Because children under the age of 8 may not accompany their parents on game drives, they can enjoy a whole host of kiddy-friendly activities, such as their own shortened game drives (with popcorn and snacks), face painting, baking with the chef, orienteering courses, sketch your own Bushman paintings, star-naming, making animals from natural products, puzzles, crafting with African beads, insect and bug appreciation – plus all children receive a free gift on arrival

• All families will get a treasure hunt walk in the bush with their ranger

• Family picnics can also be arranged

For a stay here if booked with Travel Butlers, we are offering the following rates :

August : Adults pay R2,845 per person sharing per night
September : Adults pay R3,535 per person sharing per night
October : Adults pay R3,730 per person sharing per night

Children rates as quoted above.

The rate includes all meals, tea and coffee, 2 game drives daily for the adults, local house wines and soft beverages. PLEASE NOTE: All other drinks are NOT included.

Stay for 4 nights, only pay for 3 at Mateya Safari Lodge, situated in the spectacular 76,000 hectare malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve.

As well as elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo, the Reserve is also home to wild dog, cheetah, plains game including gemsbok, springbok, zebra and giraffe, and over 340 species of birds. Experienced game rangers and trackers will be on hand to take you on game drives and guided walking safaris.

Each of the 5 suites is adorned with original African artworks and hand-crafted mahogany furnishings that reflect the very essence of the reserve. Your en-sutie bathroom is complete with a secluded open-air shower. Whether your are looking out at the game by the waterhole, relaxing in front of your custom designed fireplace, lying under the shade of your window sala, or immersing in the cool water of your rim-flow pool, each and every feature of your suite provides total privacy and comfort.

Valid for travel between 1st October 2010 and 15th December 2010 … so don’t delay … BOOK TODAY !!!!!