Be sure to keep an eye out for this weeks chat which promises to be the most revealing and exciting chat in the series to date!

In this weeks chat:

Industry News

• Wilderness Safaris App for iPad
• Rare sighting of the Yellow form of the Crimson breasted Shrike
• Xigera Camp in Botswana go’s 100% Solar Powered

Main Feature

• Affordable wildlife experiences
• Mosethlha Bush Camp
• Selous Tented Camp
• Gomo Gomo Game Lodge
• Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Destination of the Week

• The Morukuru Family of Lodges in Madikwe Game Reserve

As has been common for Kenya and Tanzania for many years, South African Department of Health has decided Zambian travelers will also require a yellow fever vaccination certificate. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revised the Yellow Fever vaccination recommendations for Africa. The South African Department of Health has issued the following information regarding the requirements for travellers from and to South Africa:

• Zambia: Returning travellers from South Africa to Zambia and those travelling from Zambia to South Africa will now require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination. Previously, proof of Yellow Fever vaccination was not required.
• Tanzania: Returning travellers from South Africa to Tanzania and those travelling from Tanzania to South Africa will require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination. This is unchanged from the present regulations.

All in-transit passengers between the two destinations, irrespective of the time period in transit, will also require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination.

We would like to highlight that our investigations into the date of inception of the above recommendations suggest that the effective date has been set as 1 July 2011. Travellers immunized against Yellow Fever are issued with an internationally recognized vaccination certificate for inspection by immigration officials. The international health regulations concerning Yellow Fever are unequivocal, and unvaccinated travellers may face denial of entry, or even quarantine in certain circumstances.

Vaccinations are available in Livingstone at US$80.00 and Victoria Falls at US$50.00 per person, and in South Africa at ZAR 430.00 per person, subject to change.

NOTE: A yellow fever vaccination needs to be done no less than 10 days prior to travelling.

The list countries for which a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into South Africa are as below:

• Angola
• Argentina
• Benin
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad, Colombia
• Guinea-Bissau, Congo
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Ecuador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Ethiopia
• French Guyana
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guyana
• Kenya
• Liberia
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Rwanda
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Suriname
• Togo
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Uganda
• United Republic of Tanzania
• Venezuela
• Zambia

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It is also a common question raised on a number of travel forums on the web and, having guided in a number of these conservation areas over the years, one would think that it would be easy for me to provide an outright answer in favour of one area… but that is not the case.

You see, its just not that simple, each area has its own unique attractions, vegetation, climate, wildlife, lodges, operational procedures. These are just a few of the factors that contribute to the overall appeal of an area. What I can do though, is highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each of the reserves, which would make it a lot easier for you to decide which of these magnificent conservation areas would best suite your needs, expectations, and budget. I will hopefully make this a monthly post in the Destinations category over the next couple of months as I look comparing the following:

• Madikwe vs. Pilanesberg
• Kruger National Park vs. Madikwe
• South Africa vs Botswana

I have kept the areas to those which I have personal experience with but will be looking into getting guest posts from people in the Natal and Eastern Cape Regions as well. Please feel free to contact me and let me know if there are any other areas that you would like to compare and I will see what I can do.

Location & Getting There

The Madikwe Game Reserve is situated against the Botswana border, around four  hours drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria. Madikwe has two airstrips (one in the East which is currently being upgraded and tarred, and a gravel strip in the West). Access to the eastern side of the reserve is via the Molatedi or Derdepoort Gates and includes a section of approximately 30km on gravel road. Access to the West is via Abjaterskop, Wonderboom or Tau Gates and  is almost exclusively on good quality tar roads via the small town of Zeerust.

Access to the Kruger National Park and the surrounding Private Game reserves is all via good quality tar road with a number of routes available depending on the location of the specific lodge. By road this can take anywhere from 5 (southern sections) to 8 hours (northern sections). Scheduled flights depart from ORT international for either Nelspruit or Eastgate Airport just outside of Hoedspruit, with the option of private charter flights which will land at lodge specific airstrips throughout the region.

A Brief History

Kruger National Park and the Associated Private Nature Reserves

At this point it is important that we differentiate between the greater Kruger National Park (KNP) and the so called Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) which are effectively fenced into Kruger National Park. Collectively, the APNR represents around 1,800 square kilometres (180,000 ha) of land dedicated to conservation. The fences between Kruger National Park and the APNR were removed in 1993 effectively increasing the size of the Kruger National Park. The majority of luxurious commercial lodges are in fact located in the APNR portion of KNP, with only a handful being located on private concessions in the greater KNP. Effectively, the area is an amalgamation of many privately owned pieces of land which vary in size. Each of the lodges in this area have specific traversing agreements with their neighbours with concessions ranging in size from just a couple of hundred hectares, to a couple of thousand hectares.

Madikwe

Madikwe Game Reserve was officially announced to the public in August 1991 and is now one of South Africa’s largest game reserves. Madikwe has the distinction of being one of the few game reserves in the world to be proclaimed purely on the grounds of being the most appropriate and sustainable land use for an area. The reserve consists of vast plains of open woodlands and grasslands, dissected by the rugged Rant van Tweedepoort, and bordered in the south by the Dwarsberg Mountains. The area is dotted with huge rocky hills, known as inselbergs. The entire reserve has been enclosed in a 150 km perimeter fence which has been electrified to prevent the escape of elephants and the larger predators.

In order to compare apples with apples, we will be comparing the APNR and some of the other smaller private Game Reserves in the general region of the Kruger National Park with Madikwe Game Reserve.

The wildlife experience

Kruger’s APNR

The lowveld region of South Africa is renowned for its sightings of the Big 5. Elephants, Buffalo, Lions and Leopard are seen regularly in this region with cheetah, white Rhino and wild dog seen less frequently. The large herds of Buffalo, numbering in the hundreds, and relaxed Elephants are definitely a highlight of this region.

General game sightings however are somewhat different to those experienced in other parts of the country. Impala occur in large numbers and along with buffalo, form the main prey base for predators in this region. In general, sightings of Zebra and Wildebeest are restricted to the larger open areas and are not seen regularly whilst out on drive.

It is interesting to note that as a result of the concessions and traversing agreements between lodges in the APNR that sometimes you might find yourself in a sighting following a pride of lions down a road until you reach a point where your guide will no longer be able to stick with the animals as they have moved onto property where he is not allowed to traverse! Always enquire about the total area that a lodge has traversing rights with to avoid this sort of situation from happening.

Madikwe

Madikwe’s game viewing is of a very high standard, aided by the fact that all guides are in radio contact with one another, and provides regular sightings of zebra, Impala, wildebeest, giraffe, warthog, white rhino, lion, wild dog, elephant, white rhino, brown hyena, and spotted hyena. Leopard sightings in Madikwe have always been a topic of discussion but the sightings are becoming a lot more frequent as individuals are becoming more relaxed with the presence of vehicles in the area. Along with Buffalo and Black Rhino, Leopard are  now seen fairly regularly in the reserve.

Sightings in both areas are generally limited to a maximum of 3 vehicles in order to maintain the feeling of exclusivity and to ensure the animals’ well being. Overall, and this is a personal opinion, I would say that Madikwe offers far better general game viewing (and is probably one of the best reserves to view white rhino); with differences in sighting frequency for elephants, and lions being negligible; whilst the APNR definitely dominates in the frequency and quality of Leopard and Buffalo sightings.

Accommodation options

Kruger’s APNR

Accommodation options in this region range from small intimate bush camps with no electricty, to luxury  lodges of varying size, right through to the much larger hotel type establishments. Rates range from around R 1 500.00 pp/night sharing to in excess of R 8 000.00 pp/night sharing. These rates usually include two guided game activities (walks or drives) per day, accommodation, all meals, and depending on the lodge, all local beverages and house wines.

Some examples of lodges:

Madikwe

Accommodation options in Madikwe are dominated by luxurious private lodges ranging in size from 10 to 60 beds, including a very comfortable bush camp (with no electricity or running water). Prices range from around R 1 500.00 pp/night sharing for the bush camp, right up to in excess of R 8 000.00 pp/night sharing for some of the more exclusive camps. These rates usually include two guided game activities (walks or drives) per day, accommodation, all meals, and depending on the lodge, all local beverages and house wines.

Some examples of lodges:

How long should I stay for?

Due to the sheer size of the Kruger National Park region one could easily start with a camp located in the northern section of the KNP for 2/3 nights and then move down the one of the lodges in APNR for another 3/4 nights. The size of the area and diversity of vegetation and habitat types ensures that you wouldn’t get bored in this region over the period of several days. The distance from JHB makes it very difficult to justify spending less than 3 nights (2 nights at a push) in this region though.

Madikwe on the other hand is much smaller and less diverse then KNP and the APNR. Its proximity to JHB makes it ideal for a quick 2 night getaway but ideally I would recommend 3 or 4 nights to really relax and appreciate the stark beauty of this region.

Which one should I choose?

Essentially, the two biggest factors in deciding which of these conservation areas is best suited for you will boil down to your budget and time that you have available. The standard of lodges in both Madikwe and the APNR are great and I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed with the overall experience. Both areas are great for first time visitors with Madikwe being my choice for those interested in seeing large numbers of general game, lions, elephant and rhino. The APNR on the other hand would be the preferred option for those seeking big game such as Lion, Buffalo, Elephant and Leopard.

From a Photography perspective, both areas provide excellent photographic opportunities. My choice would be the APNR as the vegetation in Madikwe  (and  again, this is a generalisation) makes it pretty difficult to compose an image that does not contain any visual distractions behind your subject.

If you have any additional words of wisdom to add, please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the post. Also, if you require additionall information or would like assistance with putting together a tailormade itinerary to either of these parks, please contact me directly.

We are proud to add the Finfoot Lake Reserve and Lodge to our portfolio of properties and feel that this will extend our offerings to the local and corporate markets. This review will provide you with all you need to know about this fantastic reserve.

Location

Finfoot is situated just 90 minutes from Johannesburg and 30 minutes from Sun City and boasts 8km of pristine water frontage on their 3500 hectare reserve.

Accommodation

Finfoot can accommodate up to 50 guests in 25 comfortable, standard rooms. Each chalet has been equipped with Air-conditioning, storage for clothes and en suite bathrooms, with both shower and bathtub facilities for maximum comfort. These chalets have thatch ceilings, earthly print fabrics and indigenous wood furniture which finfoot has used to retain the African, Bushveld feel to it. The camp is fenced off from the bigger game and guests can walk back to their rooms in the evenings without needing to be escorted by any guides.

In addition to these 25 chalets, there are also two recently built luxury self catering family villas. One Villa is an 8 sleeper, and the other a 10 sleeper, they are fully furnished with kitchen, lounge, bedrooms and bathrooms with bathtub and shower facilities, outside shower and private pool in a secluded area. These Villas are placed sufficiently far apart to ensure privacy and relaxation. Despite activities coming at an additional cost, these villas are ideal for a family get away!

Food

The food at Finfoot is of a very high standard! The breakfasts on offer included yoghurts, cereals, fresh fruits , croissants and freshly baked muffins as well as the hot breakfast option, and for the very hungry, you could have both! Lunch and dinner is set up as a buffet menu with 2 options available with great salads and vegetables on offer as well as a cheese and biscuit platter at lunch times. The deserts were absolutely scrumptious! There are a wide range of soft drinks, local alcoholic beverages and spirits available.

Activities

Over our one night stay we were not only treated to a game drive but we were also treated to a Sunset Barge Cruise, which was a completely different experience!

• BARGE CRUISE

With the 8km of pristine water frontage, we were able to get onto the deck and experience a spectacular sunset cruise. The boat can accommodate up to 10 people comfortably and allows for a fantastic cruise around the lake, where you can sit back and relax, sipping on a sundowner enjoying the incredible scenery, witness a gorgeous African Sunset and you may even see some game coming down to the water to drink! There is exceptional bird life to be seen, up to 400 species, and also provides great photographic opportunities. The dam is also well known for its fly and bait angling and offers diverse species such as the Carp, Yellow, Kurper, Black Bass and Barbel. These are some of the images taken during our sundowner cruise:

• GAME DRIVES

Finfoot pride themselves in offering one of the richest diversities of game, bird and plant life in South Africa and can be viewed in open Landrovers, as well as Canoeing and Bushwalks. Some of the more exciting animals that we got to see on our game drive included Sable, Roan  and Buffalo! We were also lucky enough to see jackal, Zebra, Kudu, White Rhino and loads more general game. The bush itself is relatively open and makes for good game viewing and photogrpahy. Brett, our Ranger, was very knowledgeable about the bush and we can guarantee you that you will learn some interesting facts from these fantastic rangers.

• BUSH WALKS

The bush walks offered are an experience of the wild. The Rangers will give you a hands on feel for this special reserve. Spoor identification, bird and animal calls, tree and grass identification and animal behaviour are just some of the things you will experience on your walk.

• CANOEING

The canoes provide a great way to explore the lake – whether you’re fishing or just wanting some quiet time for yourself or your family, this is the way to do it. Finfoot have a selection of high quality canoes to choose from – from small seaters to larger canoes that can hold up to 6 people.

• CORPORATE/TEAM BUILDING

Finfoot offer some great Team building experiences for the modern, smaller corporate team building events.  The conference rooms cater for all requirements of the group. Fully equipped, Finfoot offer great facilities for an effective presentation. There are 2 air-conditioned conference rooms seating from 10 to 60 delegates, as well as breakaway options. Tea and coffee is served on the deck, overlooking prime bushveld.

• • Eco-challenge
  • GPS bushwalks
  • Canoeing Activities
  • Lateral thinking brainteasers
  • These Events are tailor made to your needs.

Overall Experience

If you are looking for a bush experience where you can come and unwind, relax and enjoy bush and damn, then this is the place for you. Smaller groups and families should rather make use of the luxury villas whilst larger groups and corporates will be better suited to utilising the main lodge. The barge cruise is definately a unique experience and avid birders will be kept busy for hours.

Africa is vast with many national parks and game reserves located in remote wilderness areas. Often as with Botswana, the only way to reach them is with a small aircraft. Typically, aircraft are not airliners. They are relatively small and therefore always have strict luggage and weight restrictions. A variety of safety issues also dictate the luggage restrictions; from the small baggage stowage bays, length of runways to fuel limitiations, etc. Your safety in the air always comes first so beware, pilots will simply not fly when the plane is overweight!!

Tips & Guidelines

Here are some valuable guidelines when flying to a safari destination in Africa:

• Maximum luggage weight is 20kg’s per person including carry-on luggage if more than one bag and camera equipment.
• Check the baggage dimentions permitted by each airline. Airlines vary, however the average dimentions for soft bags should be: 25cm (10 inches) wide by 30 cm (12 inches) high & 62 cm (24 inches) long.
• Remember not to keep all valuables including all camera equipment in your hand held luggage. Never place any valuables in your luggage. It will be stolen.
• The colour of the bag is irrelevant so Luggage size and weight is important as long as its a SOFT BAG (all sides) with no rigid sides or wheels.
• Bags need to be squashed and pushed into the often small storay pods under the aircraft. Your bags will not be kept clean!
• Passengers weighing over 115 kg’s should advise in advance, as an extra seat might have to be costed into the package. This is purely for SAFETY reasons.
• *Excess baggage can be stored at most international airports or with your touring company. (Please ensure this is pre arranged prior to departure)

The science to safari packing

Plan your packing list in advance and don’t pack things “just in case”.

• Neutral tones of brown, khaki, olive, sand, taupe, grey, green, etc are preferable when on safari or walking in the bush.
• Folding items individually into squares is the worst way to pack – its space inefficient and increases creasing. Instead, roll clothes into sausages placing them on top of each other.
• Shoes are bulkiest – always wear the biggest / heaviest items of clothing / shoes on the plane.
• 99% of the lodges and camps you will stay at offer or include a laundry service, however it’s advisable to bring with a small container of soap suds or liquid for delicates and smalls.

Safe travels!

• Botswana Travel Diary | Days 1-3 | Chitabe & Jao
• Botswana Travel Diary | Days 4 – 6 | Little Vumbura and Kings Poool
• Botswana FAQ’s  and General Travel Information
• The Okavango Delta | The Story Behind The World’s Largest Inland Delta System
• Fully inclusive travel packages to Botswana (Premier Packages & Classsic Packages)
• We will also have some amazing SPECIAL OFFERS for South African Residents

The aim of this post is twofold. The first objective is to provide some answers to the most common or frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) around travel in Botswana. The second, is to provide you with a platform for asking questions which you may not have found the answer to, so please feel free to leave your question as a comment at the bottom of the post and I will do my best to get the correct information for you. I hope that this will be a valuable resource!

What makes Botswana so special?

In all my years of guiding and travelling in Africa, I have never been so awe-inspired by the natural beauty of an area. Botswana’s government has adopted a high quality and  low volume tourism policy which now employs a large percentage of its population whilst still preserving the environment. It is this policy which has seen Botswana take centre stage as one of the few true wilderness regions left in the world. Add to this the fact that the Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta system in the world (covering an area of 15 000 square kilometres) and you have an absolute haven for wildlife viewing.

When is the best time to visit Botswana?

The “peak season” (and most expensive time to travel) in Botswana is generally regarded as being between July and October, with the “Low” or “Green season” being from December through until May. June and November are generally regarded as the shoulder seasons which break-up the Peak and Low Season. The main attraction in Botswana is to experience the concentrations of game which dominate the flood plains of the Okavago Delta during the winter months, when floodwaters flow from their catchment areas in the moist central African highlands over 1000km away and spill onto this massive flood plain.

This does not mean that the low or green season is not good for game viewing!

On the contrary, the green season is a great time for birding and wildlife viewing (click here to see our travel diary for a trip conducted in January 2011) and there are many special offers and reduced rates to be enjoyed for travelling over this period. The only down side (in my opinion) is that these are the wettest months in Botswana with afternoon thundershowers being a regular occurrence. The result is that the bush and grass becomes very thick – making game viewing challenging from around February/March.

Can I see the BIG 5 in Botswana?

Botswana is home to all of the BIG 5 (Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhino) BUT rhino are restricted to Chief’s Island in the Okavango Delta.In my honest opinion, the sheer scale of the wilderness regions coupled with the diversity and abundance of wildlife makes up for the localised distribution of rhino in Botswana.

What camera gear should I take with me when travelling to Botswana?

Photographic opportunities abound in this area! My recommendation is that you have at least one versatile telephoto lens (like a 80-400mm or 100-400mm for example) for wildlife and birds, coupled with a good wide angle lens (10-20mm or 17-85mm for example). The wide angle lens will allow you to capture the fantastic landscapes whilst out on drives or boat trips as well as some incredible aerial views whilst flying between camps. Remember to take a large memory card (16GB) or portable external hard drive with you so that you don’t run out of storage space! A polarising filter will come in handy when capturing landscapes and for removing glare and reflections from the water.

Are the lodges and camps in Botswana child friendly?

Most of the lodges and camps in Botswana will only take children under the age of 12 if  you make use of  a private vehicle at an additional daily rate.

What wildlife/Game Viewing Activities are on offer?

This is where Botswana really shines! Activities at the lodges will vary according to the season and their location.

Camps are generally classified into one of three categories:

• Land Based Camps (offering walking and game drives)
• Water Based Camps (offering boat cruises, fishing, canoeing, and mokoro trips)
• Combination Camps (offering a combination of water and land based activities depending on the season)

Camps in the Savuti region are land based as there are no channels or rivers to navigate, whilst camps in the Linyanti region offer seasonal water activities in combination with game drives. Most itineraries will provide a combination of camps and activities in order to give you the full Botswana experience.

Which is the best region to visit in Botswana?

This is a very difficult question to answer as Botswana is such a diverse country which ranges from the central kalahari region in the south of the country, to the Okavamgo Delta in the North West. To further confuse things, wildlife or game viewing activities (ranging from game drives through to boat cruises) also vary according to the camp/concession that you are visiting. I personally believe that the best way to experience what Botswana has to offer is to opt for a package which combines a variety of camps in different regions (each with their own specific activities and eco-system). Click here and we’ll put together a bespoke package which will cater for your ever need.

How do I get to the camps in Botswana?

As you can imagine, many of the camps are only accessible by light aircrafts and/or small motor boats (depending on the time of year). Most itineraries will feature Kasane (in the North Eastern Corner of Botswana), Livingstone (Zambia) or Maun (just south of the Okavango Delta) as the starting and/or ending point. Itineraries generally include all of the light aircraft transfers between camps and back to one of these main centres. International flights from Johannesburg can be arranged to Maun (approximately 2 hours) , Kasane or Livingstone (approximately 2 hours).

What travel documents do I need?

All visitors to Botswana must have a passport which is valid for at least 6 months beyond their intended departure date from Botswana. Visitors to southern Africa must ensure they have enough blank VISA pages (not endorsement pages) in their passports. We recommend at least 3 pages (or even 4 if you are travelling through more than one country on your journey). If there is insufficient space in the passport then entry into a country could be denied.

What kind of medical precautions to I need to take?

We recommend that you consult your physician or health department for the latest health and anti-malaria precautions.

What is the climate like?

The weather in this region is generally pleasant throughout the year – warm to hot days, and cool to warm nights. During the winter months however (May to September), it can get really cold at night and in the early morning, particularly when on safari, so pack accordingly – very warm clothing including an anorak/winter jacket, a beanie, scarf and gloves are recommended.

Summer is from November to the end of March and usually brings very high temperatures. It is also the rainy season and cloud coverage and rain can cool things down, although only usually for a short period of time. The winter season begins in May and ends in August. This is also the dry season when virtually no rainfall occurs. Winter days are invariably sunny and cool to warm; however, evening and night temperatures can drop below freezing point in some areas. The in-between periods – April/early May and September/October – still tend to be dry, but the days are cooler than in summer and the nights are warmer than in winter.

Why does Moya Wa Tenga use Wilderness Safaris properties in Botswana?

Wilderness Safaris is a responsible ecotourism and conservation company that believes in protecting the pristine wilderness areas of southern Africa. Their ethical approach to conservation and tourism, coupled with their excellent service levels fit in well the high standards that I have set for Moya Wa Tenga Safaris.

I feel safe in the knowledge that all my guests that are sent through to Botswana (should I not accompany them as a private guide) will be looked after in the same manner that they would when under my personal care here in South Africa. Wilderness Safaris also own and manage properties in some of the most pristine and sought after concessions in Botswana. Their low density approach to tourism means that one can really experience a true african wilderness without the continual hassle of other vehicles and groups.

These special packages are based on departure and return to Maun and are fully inclusive of luxury accommodation, internal transfers in light aircraft, meals, drinks, 2 wildlife activities per day, park fees and departure taxes!

Find out more about our Botswana packages here.

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