Wednesday 31 May 2017

Namibia: Namib Dune Star Camp

Namib Dune Star Camp

Namib Dune Star Camp is situated on the crest of ancient sand dunes overlooking the spectacular landscape of the Namib Desert.

Best described as a soft adventure camp, Namib Dune Star Camp offers the thrill of being out in the desert yet provides luxuries like soft beds and hot showers. The intimate camp has nine cabins, with a fair distance between them. Each cabin has an en-suite bathroom, a large bedroom and a spacious deck. The rooms are equipped with a double bed that can be wheeled out for a night under the southern skies. Each room has an extra non movable
single bed making it perfect for families or friends. Extra bedding is supplied for those cooler winter nights under the stars.


The central area’s wide balcony has unrivalled vistas and is the ideal place to sip on a sundowner drink as the
sun bathes the landscape in gold. Sunset is followed by a delicious dinner under a blanket of twinkling stars.


Namib Dune Star Camp is an eco-friendly camp where careful consideration has been taken in the design and
construction to ensure that it leaves a minimum footprint. Solar panels on the cabins provide hot water and lights, and water is pumped from a nearby borehole. Hot water and electricity is limited and no fan, air conditioning or plug points (power sockets) are available. This means that guests are required to step lightly in the desert
environment and be mindful of the resources.

Namib Dune Star Camp allows guests the privilege of spending time in the desert wilderness with its exceptional
views, clean air, open spaces and bright starlit sky.


The Dune Star experience is a one-night once-in-a-lifetime Namib Desert opportunity.
Itinerary
Day 1:
Check-in at Namib Desert Lodge in Namibian Summer Time*: arrival latest at 15:30 to leave for Namib Dune Star Camp at 16:30.
Check-in at Namib Desert Lodge in Namibian Winter Time*: arrival latest at 14:00 to leave for Namib Dune Star Camp at 15:00.
(*Namibian Summer Time applies from the first Sunday in September to the first Saturday in April; Namibian Winter Time applies from the first Sunday in April to the first Saturday in September.)

Kindly note that guests arriving late for the shuttle departing to Dune Star Camp will be charged a surcharge of N$100 per person.
Drive to Namib Dune Star Camp in a 4x4 vehicle. Guests´ luggage will be transferred to Namib Dune Star Camp.
Check-in at Namib Dune Star Camp.
Guided dune walk of approximately 1 hour at Namib Dune Star Camp.
Day 2:
Early start: wake-up call at 5:30 a.m. with coffee / tea / biscuits at the bungalow, followed by a guided sunrise walk (approximately 1 hour) in the surrounding dunes of the Namib Dune Star Camp.
After the walk, you will have time to freshen up and depart on a 30 minute drive back to Namib Desert Lodge, where a hearty breakfast awaits you.
Kindly note that the shuttle for your breakfast at Namib Desert Lodge only departs from Namib Dune Star Camp between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. Unfortunately no earlier shuttle is available. Please plan your further journey on this day or excursions to Sossusvlei accordingly.
 

Keep in mind:
To make the excursion worthwhile and enjoyable, we recommend a one-night stay at Namib Desert Lodge, followed by a night at Namib Dune Star Camp, or vice versa.
When staying at Namib Desert Lodge, please note that check-out time is 10:00 a.m. No day-rooms are available at Namib Desert Lodge.
For the nature walk, remember to wear comfortable shoes and a hat.
Guides are English speaking.
Your rate for the Namib Dune Star Camp is bed and breakfast based, therefore dinners, drinks and any extras incurred during your stay must be paid at the reception of Namib Desert Lodge on departure.
Gondwana is known for having child friendly lodges. We regret that the Namib Dune Star Camp is not suitable for children aged 12 years or younger.

YouTube channel: Exploring Namibia
Aerial photo/video service & other inquiries contact: info@traveltonamibia.com

Thursday 25 May 2017

Botswana: Tourism Development levy changes

Botswana Tourism board advised of changes to the new Tourism Development levy that will come into effect on the 1st of June.
CHILDREN AGED NINE YEARS AND YOUNGER
WILL BE EXEMPT FROM THE LEVY.

Reminder of the levy details received by our Botswana office follows:
The Ministry of Environment Natural Resources’ Conservation and Tourism through the Botswana Tourism Organisation is announcing the introduction of an obligatory Tourism Development Levy (TDL)
How much is the levy?
Travellers to Botswana will pay USD30.00.

Purpose of the Levy
The objective of the Levy is to raise funds for conservation and national tourism development in order to support the growth of the industry and broaden the tourism base, resultantly improving the lives of the people of Botswana.

Who is eligible to pay?
All visitors to Botswana in exception of residents and citizens of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states.
Please note: Children aged nine years and younger will be exempt from this levy.

Where is the levy collected?
The Levy is payable at all ports of entry including airports and border posts, starting 1st June 2017

How is the payment done?
Payments are done at the ports of entry through electronic payment machines through cash (US Dollars), debit and credit card. After the payment, a unique receipt corresponding to the passport will be automatically generated. The receipt should then be presented to Immigration Officials. The passport and the receipt will be stamped and handed back to the traveller. The receipt will valid for a 30 day period and can be used for multiple entry.

YouTube channel: Exploring Namibia
Aerial photo/video service & other inquiries contact: info@traveltonamibia.com

Botswana: Third Bridge access update

#Xomae #ThirdBridgeBotswana #Bodumatau

Xomae Group (PTY) LTD is with great pleasure to inform all concerned that Third Bridge Campsite can be accessed as from the 05th of May 2017. An alternative access road on your left by the Bodumatau junction have been identified/constructed with signage to indicate which route to travel on to Third Bridge campsite. Please note that the detour is only 2.4 km from the Bodumatau junction to the Third Bridge main road. There will be another detour just before First Bridge which is also well signaged to avoid driving through water.
YouTube channel: Exploring Namibia
Aerial photo/video service & other inquiries contact: info@traveltonamibia.com


Tuesday 23 May 2017

Namibia: The 3rd annual Brandberg Rhino Run and Ride

#UgabRiverRhinoCamp #BrandbergRhinoRunRide #BrandbergMountain #DaurebIsibCamp

The 3rd annual Brandberg Rhino Run and Ride will take place in Uis on Sunday, 11 June 2017. The event is organised by Nico and Riana Scholtz under their family brand 'Touch and Go'. Funds are raised through this event for the Namibian non-profit organisation, Save the Rhino Trust. The main sponsors are KPMG and RMB Namibia. Bruce Fordyce, long distance running legend and 9 times winner of the Comrades Marathon will attend the event and perform as guest speaker.

Activities on the Sunday will include an approximate 26 km trail run, approximate 13 km trail run and an approximate 7 km fun run/walk, as well as an approximate 31 km mountain bike ride. The mountain bike event will start at 6 am, shortly followed by the running events. The start and finish will be at the Daureb Isib Campsite in Uis. Prize giving takes place at 10 am and will be preceded by a short kiddies run for children under the age of 10.

As a prequel to the running and cycling events on Sunday, the Brandberg FKT Challenge will take place on the Friday, 9 June. The Challenge will entail athletes to compete to improve on the Fastest Know Time (FKT) of 8hrs6min, set by American Fred Zalokar in 2015, up and down Brandberg Mountain. A select group of 10 very fit and able athletes will take place in this event. Tobie Verwey, the Namibian trail athlete who finished in 10th place at the recent 4 Deserts Sahara multistage ultra marathon will be among the hopefuls for the NAD10 000 reward for a new FKT.

All events will take place on trails and tracks within the Tsiseb conservancy with the Brandberg, a National Heritage site, as focal point. The courses are unfenced, unspoilt and sensitive to human impact. The organisers enforce a strict policy racing ‘green’, to prevent impact on the environment while still enjoying the benefits of the natural outdoors. Runners and riders will carry their own water and snacks, and are required to take out what they take in. No off-road driving will be permitted and spectators will only be allowed to support on national roads. For the sake of conserving the sensitive aspects of the Brandberg, only 10 participants will be allowed to take part in the Brandberg FKT Challenge.

Cash prizes will be awarded to athletes, male and female, able to best improve on previous years' records for the same events.

Records held are:

·        Brandberg FKT approximate 25km, 4000m altitude gain and loss, Fred Zalokar 8hrs6min
·        13km Albertinus Goeieman 55m24s
·        13km Bernice van der Westhuizen 1h10min
·        26km Erich Goeieman 1h36min
·        26km Risa Dryer 2h21min
·        31km Luke Munting 1h15min32s
·        31km Lelani Swart 1h31min

This is the first year the event will take place on a Sunday. With most athletes travelling from the coast and far inland, this should allow them to attend the event without having to take the Friday off from work.

Race number pickup will be on the Saturday afternoon at the Daureb Isib Campsite in Uis. On the Saturday evening there will be an informal social braai at the same venue. An auction of luxury accommodation and adventure packages, as well as valuable collector’s items such as autographed books and photo prints will take place during dinner. Catering will be done by the Cactus and Coffee restaurant and will amount to NAD100 per person. Patrons are to bring their own cutlery, drinks, a camp chair or picnic blanket and a head torch.

Race attendance is by pre-registration only and closes on 4 June 2017.

YouTube channel: Exploring Namibia
Aerial photo/video service & other inquiries contact: info@traveltonamibia.com

Zambia: Proflight new flights to Lower Zambezi & Kafue National Park

LIVINGSTONE - LOWER ZAMBEZI DIRECT
Exciting news! Proflight has announced the introduction of a Livingstone-Lower Zambezi direct flight route for the 2018 safari season. The daily flights will operate on the Cessna Caravan, capacity of up to 12 passengers, between 15 June 2018 and 15 October 2018.  The departure from Livingstone is morning and the arrival back to Livingstone is evening.  The fare on these flights will be the same as the “via Lusaka” fare.

SCHEDULED SERVICES TO LUFUPA AIRSTRIP, KAFUE, COMMENCED
Flights services into Lufupa airstrip in Kafue National Park for the 2018 safari season are being introduced. The flights will be operated by the Cessna Caravan, capacity between 10-12 passengers. They will operate four times weekly in peak safari months June through October and twice weekly in shoulder season months April, May and November. The flight times offer convenient connections to/from Mfuwe, Livingstone, Lower Zambezi and Liuwa Plains.

YouTube channel: Exploring Namibia
Aerial photo/video service & other inquiries contact: info@traveltonamibia.com

Monday 22 May 2017

Namibia: Establishment of two new tourism organisations

Establishment of two new tourism organisations

THE Ministry of Environment and Tourism has appointed a National Tourism Competitiveness Advisory Council (NTCAC) and Inter-Ministerial Committee on Tourism Development (ICTD).

The NTCAC, made up of 32 members selected from various government agencies and non-governmental organisations, such as Namibia Wildlife Resorts, the Namibia Training Authority, Namibia University of Science and Technology and the Tour Guides Association of Namibia, will be a think tank to advise government on tourism business and investment matters.

The council will also advise the ministry on challenges hindering growth of the tourism sector.

The ICTD, with 34 members selected from 18 ministries and two government agencies, will serve as an intermediary between the public sector, ministries and various agencies to harmonise different government policies that impact on tourism.

ICTD members were selected from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration; Ministry of Information and Communication Technology; the National Planning Commission and the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation.

All members of the committees will serve for two years.

Announcing the two bodies on Monday, environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta said Namibia has limited resources which should be used wisely to attain solid social and economic return on investments.

"We want to be sure that we spend our money well," he said.

The minister explained that the ICTD will particularly address factors hindering the growth of local tourism, while the council will be responsible for transforming the industry into an attractive destination for tourists and investment.

The national sustainable tourism growth and development strategy and national tourism investment profile and promotion strategy were also launched during the event.

These strategies will address constraints and the strategic repositioning of the tourism sector as a key national economic and development sector.

YouTube channel: Exploring Namibia
Aerial photo/video service & other inquiries contact: info@traveltonamibia.com

Thursday 18 May 2017

Namibia: renovations at Norotshama Resort | Норотшама Намибия

#НоротшамаНамибия #Norotshama #Namibia #RenovationsNorotshama

Notice from Norotshama Resort

Please be advised that our restaurant and bar areas will be closed for renovations starting April 2017 for a proximately 6 months, with expected completion 1st October 2017.
We will have a temporary bar+kitchen with outdoor shaded seating for guests who have booked in advance.

While the lodge remains a preferred choice of many families and business travelers alike, these extensive renovations will allow us to provide the very best experience to our valued clients.

Renovations daily will take place 8.am -6:30pm with drilling occurring after 9am.

During the renovations period we apologize for any inconvenience and offer our sincerest thanks for your patience and support.
YouTube channel: Exploring Namibia
Aerial photo/video service & other inquiries contact: info@traveltonamibia.com

Friday 12 May 2017

Namibia: Water Shortage In Ohangwena Region

Water Shortage In Ohangwena Region

Kindly be advised that Ongula Village Homestead Lodge has been affected by water shortage that is currently experienced in Ohangwena Region. The national water supply corporation (Namwater) have not yet indicated as when this situation will be contained.

The water pressure is very low to fill up the water tank for tap water, however the Lodge have prepared big water containers that will be provided to guests for use at their rooms. Normal shower facilities will be affected and therefore african-style bucket shower will be adopted, providing an authentic adventure.

Please note that this situation is temporary, however we would like you to advice your clients accordingly to be aware of what they might experience with the water shortage situation in the region. Should water crisis pro-long, we will inform you.

YouTube channel: Exploring Namibia
Aerial photo/video service & other inquiries contact: info@traveltonamibia.com

Thursday 11 May 2017

Beeline Russia stolen money | Деньги украденные Билайном

#БилайнУкраденныеДеньги #Жулики #БойкотБилайн #BeelineStolenMoney #AvoidBeeline

Обращение в Роспотребнадзор

Украденные деньги

Списали 200 рублей

Вчера Билайн ограбил меня на 200 рублей, списав за входящий звонок. Избегайте Билайн поскольку компания незаконно списывает деньги с номеров. Обращение в Роспотребнадзор направлено.