Classic Representation adds Azura Retreats to its portfolio

Azura Benguerra & Azura Quilalea

          

Imagine an unspoilt island within a Marine National Park, deserted beaches of pure white sand that extend for miles, sparkling turquoise seas crisscrossed by local dhows plying their trade, sunny days and star studded nights…and you have Azura Mozambique.

Just 16 villas are nestled along one of the last undiscovered stretches of beach in the world, with all the creature comforts you could wish for, sparkling private pools, Mozambican Butler-hosts to look after your every need, fish and seafood fresh from the ocean, a fantastic range of activities and experiences, an African spa to relax in, all at a community based project where the local islanders benefit as much as you.

Azura is paradise found.

Valley Lodge in Magaliesburg adds hot-air ballooning to its offering

Valley Lodge & Spa in Magaliesburg, has partnered with Cloud 9 Balloon Rides to offer balloon rides from its new boma on the banks of the Magalies River.

Cloud 9 Balloon Rides, which is part of the well-established Harrop family of companies, is offering balloon rides for parties of between six and 24 or more people.

Gondwana Game Reserve near Mossel Bay

African Hotels and Adventures (AHA), the tourism property management business of Tourvest’s Accommodation and Activities division has secured the full management contract for the properties on the award-winning Gondwana Game Reserve near Mossel Bay.

The 11 000-hectare reserve is the only fynbos reserve with free-roaming Big Five game.  In addition to the Big Five, the reserve is also home to many endangered species including the Cape mountain zebra, black rhino and black harrier.

The reserve’s flagship Kwena Lodge comprises 14 suites modelled after traditional Khoi-San dwellings but with a modern twist.   Each suite has views of the surrounding Outeniqua and Swartberg mountain ranges.  The suites are equipped with clay pot fireplaces, deep baths, walk-in showers and internet access. The lodge itself features a large infinity pool, open-plan lounge and bar, a dining room set around two open fireplaces and an outdoor boma.  

 

The property is the company’s second along the Garden Route – it manages the popular The Rex boutique hotel in Knysna.

 

The reserve also has several large bush villas.  These privately situated two, three and four-bedroom bush villas are ideal for families or groups looking for more space and exclusivity.  The villas can be staffed with a personal field guide, chef and butler or rented on a luxury self-catering basis.

 

 “This is welcome addition to our growing portfolio of boutique hotels, lifestyle retreats and game lodges and we look forward to adding considerable value to the daily operational management and marketing efforts of this reserve,” said AHA managing director Neil Bald.   

Coming soon....Kubatana Camp.

Asilia Africa has announced it will open a new camp in Gorongosa National Park on July 1. 

Kubatana Camp will host six luxurious en-suite tents, as well as a comfortable mess area for relaxing. 

The light-weight camp will adhere to Asilia Africa’s high eco and sustainability credentials. Activities will include traditional game drives and walking safaris, as well as boating on Lake Urema, visiting the rainforest on Mount Gorongosa for hiking and birding and fly camping. 

“We are honoured to be part of what is certainly Africa’s most exciting conservation story. Today, Asilia Africa has a backbone of properties in the most famous nature and wildlife areas in the world and we want to use this knowledge and experience to help protect and develop Gorongosa National Park and to put Mozambique firmly back on the safari map,” said Bas Hochstenbach, Co-Founder and Commercial Director of Asilia. 

Greg Carr, President of the Gorongosa Restoration Project, said: “Asilia will not only provide a once-in-a-lifetime wilderness experience to its guests, but will join us as allies in our effort to create opportunity for local people and protect the ecosystem.”

 

Tswalu Game Reserve to acquire new game-viewing fleet

Tswalu Kalahari has taken delivery of the first of its new game-viewing vehicles, which were ordered as part of Tswalu's vision to provide an intimate safari experience to quests.

The vehicles have only four seats, as opposed to the customary nine, and are designed with comfort in mind.

According to Managing Director, Russel Binks, each vehicle has ample leg-room, removable photographic stands and bean bags for photographers wanting to capture the perfect shot, roll-up tables and a centre console for keeping safari accessories safe so they don't have to be repacked every day.

"Our guests can now have their very own vehicle, guide and tracker, which means that they are able to decide on their own programme for each day.  They can choose when to go game viewing, how long to stay out in the bush and when to stop for snacks and refreshments or a picnic," said Binks.  He added that guests could also stay at a sighting for as long as they wished.

RHINO POACHING

The final figure for the total number of rhinos poached in S A during 2012 is 668. The previous year’s figure was 452. A simple arithmetic calculation provides a stunning statistic: there was a year-on-year increase of 47.8%!!!!!

If this trend continues we can expect the number of rhinos to be poached in 2013 to be around the 987 mark !
The head of Sanparks has issued a statement that the number of rhinos poached in Kruger in 2012 is still less than the number of young born. What about the number of rhinos that died naturally ?

Are we going to wait until there is negative growth before we make this priority number ONE in conservation circles? I believe that more rangers are being employed and that sniffer dogs will be used at entrance gates. This is great news but we need to guard against fostering the impression that we have a complacent attitude. I often wonder for how much longer our guides will be able to show Rhinos to our tourists.

Celebrating Valentine's Day

 

Seeking a romantic getaway this Valentines Day for you and your loved one?  We cater for all your needs.

Contact us and we will arrange your romantic stay at any lodge or hotel of your liking.

We could suggest lodges and hotels, with the details you supply us with, that suit you and your partners needs.

So give us a call at +264 67 304716 or send an email to info@namibiareservations.com and we will come into contact with you soon.

New Pioneers Camp in Zimbabwe

Wild Frontiers Zimbabwe has announced that Pioneers Camp, a new luxury camp on the Zambezi River, is now open.
The camp is situated 17 kilometres from Victoria Falls inside the Upper Zambezi National park.

It has 1.5 kilometres of river frontage and currently hosts three tents.  A further three are expected to be completed by the end of this month.  The tents are en-suite with flush toilets and solar powered geysers and lighting.

The camp also hosts a central lounge and dining.

This new permanent tented camp is located inside the park, on a peacefully quiet stretch of shoreline with a natural spring-line through the site.  This water source attracts an abundance of wildlife throughout the year, making for fabulous game viewing opportunities right at the camp.

Activities include:

Game drives,

Boat cruises,

Canoeing,

Walking and fishing in the park.

The camp also offers a daily shuttle into town for activities.

Newest addition to Newmark Hotels, Coral Lodge in Mozambique

Coral Lodge in Mozambique is the newest addition to Newmark Hotels.  The lodge comprises 10 villas, each hosting informal sitting areas, a bedroom, bathroom and big terrace.  In two of the villas an extra bedroom is included for two children or an extra adult.  Five villas have direct ocean views, and the other five overlook the mangrove forest and Ilha de Moçambique.  Guest facilities include a lounge bar and restaurant, infinity pool and spa.

Coral Lodge is a modern, African-style beach resort, which offers you the latest in luxury and comfort while maintaining that authentic feel of Mozambican pureness.  The resort's design, by Dutch designer Edward van Vliet, incorporates the colors of its environment using wood and brightly-coloured textures.  These natural materials make the resort blend in perfectly with the surroundings.  We have made further use of the area's natural setting by building Coral Lodge's villas on top of the dunes.  This allows you to get full benefit of the incredible views and the constant breeze from the Indian Ocean.

A host of activities are available, including joining the chef on his daily visit to the local market and learning to cook authentic Mazambican dishes, exploring Varanda's mangrove forest by canoe or on foot, and fishing or sailing with the lodge's local dhow.  Other activities include snorkelling, windsurfing and whale watching between July and October.

We offer various packages ranging from a Romantic holiday to a Cultural & Historical experience.  Diving packages, relaxation packages and more...

The Zambian Kwacha

Zambian Kwacha, has been ‘re-based’. Government decided to remove three zeros from the currency to make it easier for people to understand and to avoid having to carry around large carrier bags full of money.

It is not a ‘devaluation’ and the currency and economy remain stable.

The Kwacha now sits at around 5 to the US dollar. You still need to obtain Kwacha as you enter Zambia to pay for various local taxes and any cash payments whilst you’re in Zambia. However, you can still buy your entry visa in USD as it is not possible to get Kwacha outside Zambia..

It is easy to withdraw cash from ATMs at the airport – Visa and Mastercard both work and most larger retail outlets and lodges can accept major credit cards. We advise guests to let their credit card company know if they are travelling to Zambia so that they don’t stop the card for suspicious use. They can also exchange USD, Sterling, Euros and most major currencies at the airports. 

Botswana's new Photographic Safari Boat at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero

     The new Photographic Safari Boat at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero features a lower and upper deck and can seat up to 18 guests on 360 degree swivel seats. The upper deck offers a great vantage point of the Chobe River and wildlife while the lower deck boasts a bar area and the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a scrumptious river breakfast, lunch or sundowners.

     Excursions on the new boat will form part of the included activities offered to guests and groups staying at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero and offers a great exclusive and intimate alternative to enjoying the Chobe area especially for photographic enthusiasts.