Drifters Drumbeat - March 2022: news from Drifters

Drifters Drumbeat - March 2022

The wheels are turning and we are gaining traction

Drifters are happy to report that since the beginning of the year we have successfully run a number of tours in Uganda, Botswana, South Africa and the Kruger park, and feedback from all the guests on these tours has been fantastic, despite some inconvenience due to Covid restrictions. Guests have complimented us at the ease at which the tours have run. We anticipate a total scrapping of PCR tests for all Southern African destinations in the upcoming weeks. So watch this space.

The annual Indaba trade show will be reintroduced in May again this year, Drifters will be present as usual- are we going to see you there? if not Gary and Ken will be undertaking an extensive long overdue marketing trip to all of our European colleagues in May/June to update you all on our latest products changes.

Bookings are on the increase

On the bookings front we are pleased to see a spike in activity for bookings later in the year, Botswana Uganda and the Kruger are still firm favourites. Over the last few weeks we have seen a dramatic increase in our Namibia Enquiries as well as our East Africa departures, so the wheels are in motion to start those tours as well. Please enquire with our reservations as to the latest confirmed departures, as well as all the other tours.

NEWS FROM NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

Zimbabwe

All borders are open and passengers are able to move freely subject to a Negative PCR test. Wild Horizons, our activity partners in the falls have confirmed that the falls are majestic due to the abundance of rainfall received. This makes it an exciting adventure for the River rafting adrenalin junkies out there. Visitors to the falls are growing by the day. So when planning your next trip with us, be it our 16 day Botswana Camping or Accommodated tour or our Cape Town to Johannesburg via Victoria falls Camping and Accommodated tours, make a point of looking at The Wild Horizons activities. They are assured in showing you a remote wonderland of rivers, rainforests and a wide array of adrenalin induced activities that only the Falls has to offer.

Botswana

Botswana has scrapped PCR tests for fully Vaccinated travelers. So there is no time like the present to tick this amazing destination off of your bucket list. The Delta is filling up fast, the landscape is the greenest it has been for years, and the elephant and Hippo population is prolific, with many close encounters being had by our guests within the camp boundaries in the Parks, for those who have seen the Parks in the dry season, it may well worth coming to see the transformation.

Namibia

Namibia which is known for its dry and arid landscape has also undergone a transformation with the seasonal rains. As we head into Autumn, the days and nights are definitely getting cooler, so it the perfect time to visit. News in from Swakopmund is that for the 1st time in 11 years the Swakop river flooded and the river finally reached the sea.

Latest News Tour spotlight:

South Africa 18 day Eco explorer.

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS

•”Big Five” animal viewing

• Guided open vehicle game drives

• Kruger National Park

• Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland)

• Isimangaliso Wetland Park

• Royal Natal Park Tugela Gorge Walk

• “Barrier of Spears” Drakensberg Mountains

• Wild Coast Coastal hike to “Hole in the Wall”

• Mountain Zebra Park

• Addo Elephant National Park

• Tsitsikamma National Park

• Pristine beaches

• Garden Route Fauna and Flora delight Penguins

• Cape Agulhas (Southernmost Tip of the Africa)

• Cape Town

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South Africa: Lammergeier Hide Giants Castle Nature Reserve

Deon Small is a Drakensberg (South Africa) guide who is sometimes referred to as the Vulture Whisperer as he talks about his special connection with these scavengers and shares his knowledge. So if this is your thing getting hold of Deon is a top tip.

The bearded vulture or Lammergeier is most famous for its method of dropping bones from a height and once broken these vultures eat the marrow inside. The bearded vulture is one of the shyest of vultures and lives a mostly solitary existence, on remote mountains and cliff faces. 

A highlight offered to bird enthusiasts is a visit to the famous Lammergeier Hide located in the Giants Castle Nature reserve. From here you can get up close and personal with bearded vulture sightings and is a particularly special opportunity for birding photographers.

The vulture hide 'feeding season' is May to September, and bookings open in the previous November. Access is by 4x4 vehicle, provided by yourself or by the reserve. Alternatively, enquire about professional guides who will take you there or accompany you. 

These impressive birds are classed as endangered in South Africa and can be seen soaring overhead on clear days. Vulture restaurants, however, are no fast food events. A lot of patience and some luck come into the equation. Its quite clear though some of the best images of bearded vultures have been taken from this hide.

5 Tips for Bearded Vulture photographers:

° Go where the birds are. The best site in South Africa to photograph Bearded Vultures is at Giants Castle Nature Reserve which provides one of the most predictable places to see them. The birds are attracted by regular and respectful feeding and photographers seldom leave the area without good sightings.

° Have patience, and pick the weather conditions. Predictable behaviour patterns include that Beaded Vultures tend to come in to feed in the mornings of clear, low-wind days.  They simply won’t arrive if it’s overcast, misty or blowing a gale.

° Use a camera that can capture motion.  The faster and longer the lens on your camera the better the photos you will be able to take of birds.  Ideally you need to be able to use a shutter speed in excess of 1/1000th/sec to get the clear, focused pictures that are so impressive.  A typical kit lens with a 250mm zoom will give you surprising respectable results.

° Focus on the bird, not the scenery.  Adjusting your F-stop down allows you to create an image that has your targeted bird in focus, with the background less intrusive.  Because the birds are very large, if you start with an F-stop between F5 and F8 you have the best option to get the whole bird in focus – but not the distraction of the background. For a photographer, the wonderful red ring around the eyes makes the first rule of animal photography "focus on the eye" a lot easier than many other birds.

° Use familiar settings.  If you are nervous about getting your camera’s manual settings wrong and prefer pre-programmed modes, use the ‘sports’ mode. Typically the birds stay at the feeding site for no more than two minutes at a time.  That’s not the time to be dithering about your camera settings.  You will have time while waiting for the birds to fly in. Use that to try a few different settings so that you are happy to concentrate on the birds and the composition when they arrive.

Where should you stay when visiting the lammergeier Hide?

° Game Castle Main Camp. The biggest benefit is that its right there. All accommodation is equipped for self-catering and there is also the Izimbali restaurant  and bar provides guests with the option of simple catered meals 

° Antbear Lodge. This has got to be my top tip. Situated near to Giants Castle Nature Reserve this accommodation establishment offers a unique sustainable eco-experience inside a luxury cave. Their farm to plate concept for meals are special and Antbear Lodge the only establishment I have ever found to even make their own cheese. This is an experience in itself,

° White Mountain Lodge. Also situated near to Giants Castle Nature reserve white mountain lodge offers very affordable self-catering accommodation.

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South Africa: Breaking news - Drakensberg is home to the world's highest waterfall | Водопад Тугела Южная Африка

Breaking news - Drakensberg is home to the world's highest waterfall

Officially the worlds highest waterfall is in South Africa

The Tugela Falls is now accepted as the world's tallest waterfall as a revisited validation was done and that it is actually the tallest waterfall in the world, rather than Venezuela's Angel Falls. The combined total drop of its five distinct free-leaping falls is officially 948 m. You have got to put the Tugela Falls on your bucket list.

Tugela Falls is a complex of seasonal waterfalls located in the Drakensberg (Dragon's Mountains) of Royal Natal National Park in KwaZulu-Natal Province, Republic of South Africa. It is now accepted as the world's tallest waterfall as a revisited validation was done and that it is actually the tallest waterfall in the world, rather than Venezuela's Angel Falls.

The combined total drop of its five distinct free-leaping falls is officially 948 m. In 2016, however, a Czech scientific expedition took new measurements, making the falls 983 m tall. The data were sent to the World Waterfall Database for confirmation. The source of the Tugela River (Zulu for "sudden") is the Mont-Aux-Sources plateau which extends several kilometers beyond The Amphitheater escarpment from which the falls drop.

Height controversy

Tugela falls as it flows off the escarpment showing the first drop and cascade

There is an argument that Tugela Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world, rather than the more commonly cited Angel Falls. This argument is based on two likely inaccuracies regarding the presumed heights of the respective falls.

Firstly, many now believe that Angel Falls is not as tall as it was initially surveyed by American journalist Ruth Robertson in 1949. The quoted figure of 979 m corresponds almost precisely with the difference in altitude between the top of the falls and the confluence of the Rio Gauja and the Río Churún, which is roughly 2 km away from the base of the Auyan Tepui escarpment and 1.6 km downstream from the last segment of the Rio Gauja that could possibly be considered a "waterfall".

The starting altitude of Angel Falls is often given as 1,500 m, from which the falls plunge a vertical 807 m, then proceed to cascade for approximately 0.4 km with relatively little altitude loss, before a final drop of 30 m below the Talus Rapids, near the famous viewpoint known as Mirador Laime. After this the Rio Gauja flows with very little altitude loss, with nothing approaching a waterfall or even cascade before it empties into the Río Churún. However, the altitude of Mirador Laime is usually given as approximately 700 m, which would suggest that Angel Falls is only about 800 meters in total height (roughly the height of the first drop).

Angel Falls, however, is almost universally regarded as having the tallest single uninterrupted drop of any waterfall in the world (the total height of Tugela Falls, even though possibly the tallest on Earth, is divided into five smaller tiers, and its tallest individual tier is 411 m). Even this measurement invites some debate, however, as some botanical sources list the height of Angel Falls' tallest drop as 738 m, rather than the usually cited 807 m.

Access

At the right time of year, the falls are easily visible from the main road into the park, especially after a heavy rain. There is an undeveloped camp site and mountain hut immediately above the falls.

There are two trails to Tugela Falls. The most spectacular trail is to the top of Mont-Aux-Sources, which starts at "The Sentinel" car park (through Phuthaditjhaba on the R57, approximately two hours drive from Royal Natal National Park via the R74, 90 minutes from Harrismith via the R712, or 80 minutes from Golden Gate Highlands National Park). From here it is a relatively easy climb to the top of the Amphitheatre, however it does take about 4.5 to 8 hours round-trip depending on fitness level. Access to the summit is via two chain ladders. This is the only day hiking trail which leads to the top of the Drakensberg escarpment. Another trail to the foot of the Tugela Falls starts at Royal Natal National Park. The easy 7 km gradient up the Tugela Gorge winds through indigenous forests. The last part of the hike to Tugela Falls is a boulder hop. A little chain ladder leads over the final stretch for a view of the falls rushing down the amphitheater in a series of five cascades.

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South Africa: Drakensberg 4x4 destination | Дракенсберг Южная Африка

The Drakensberg is an interesting 4x4 destination

With so many challenging 4x4 options the Drakensberg has got to be one of the top offroad destinations in South Africa?

Are you a 4x4 enthusiast? well if that's the case this region is about to blow you away. Something that came up in conversation the other day was how you can get involved and help create even more 4x4 trails. How cool would it be to head out on a rudimentary trail with your 4x4 and trail blaze a new route. Turns out this option is also available for bike clubs and 4x4 clubs.

Ideas for your off road experience

Use your own vehicle

Sani Pass 4x4 Trail . Take a Tour Up Sani Pass and Experience Lesotho - You can take your own 4x4 up the pass or join one of the Sani Pass tour operators. This is a fairly challenging 4x4 route with access from Himeville in the southern Drakensberg. The pass twists and climbs upwards, beneath towering cliffs and buttresses, reaching the top of the Drakensberg escarpment at 2873 m. You need a passport to cross the border post into Lesotho. 

Mikes Pass - This 4x4 trail is located in the Cathedral Peak Section of the Central Drakensberg. This 32km trail is one of the most scenically beautiful anywhere. It includes some steep climbs and a hair-raising 7km downhill on the pass.

Thule Beacon Trail - From St Bernards Peak in East Griqualand. This trail is renowned as a tough 4x4 trail that takes you high into the southern Drakensberg mountains. The experts say that this trail is much tougher than Sani Pass. 

Berg to Bush Trail (3 nights). The exciting Berg to Bush trail takes you from Mafefe Camp in the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains across different nature reserves and terrains. Enjoy an incredible experience taking in the views of the Drakensberg Range, the wildlife of Letaba Ranch, and a rugged 4x4 journey complete with bush camping.

Retief’s Pass, Drakensberg. In 1837 Piet Retief’s party of voortrekkers braved the Drakensberg in their quest for freedom and a land (Natal) of their own. The original trail carved by their ox wagons is known as Retief’s pass.The pass was declared a national monument in February 1977.

Get involved

Giants Castle - Antbear Lodge invites you to extend the 4x4 trails on this rugged property. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for 4x4 and off road clubs to get together and  help to establish the trails on the farm

Monks Cowl – Ardmore Guest Farm is an organic timber farm with rudimentary 4x4 trails. Let Paul guide you to some of the most fun 4x4ing around.

Quad bikes and motorbike trails

Drakensberg Quad Tracks and Adventures operate from Cathedral Peak Hotel in the central Drakensberg. The quad bike track meanders through the foothills of the Drakensberg up to Lake William for a half way stop. The elevation of this spot allows breathtaking views. The Quad Ride is enjoyable for the less and more experienced offering a safe and enjoyable experience for the whole family.

All Out Adventures - The quad experience includes a lesson on riding safely together off road in a group, followed by an outride on purpose built mountain trails. The whole experience lasts 1-1.5 hours depending on the group.

Accommodation in the Drakensberg

Antbear Eco Lodge & Farm

Overnight  in a secluded luxury cave with a Jacuzzi spa bath and open fireplace. Glass doors open on to a deck with an uninterrupted panoramic view of the Drakensberg Mountains. With hammock chairs on the deck this is the perfect a location for a sun downer. You can opt for a private dining experience on the deck of your cave under the stars.

Antbear Lodge is  a perfect base to explore the very best of the Drakensberg region. We use our own organic vegetable garden. We have our own chickens for eggs, cows for milk, make own cheese. Butter and yogurt and bake our own bread. 

Pet friendly too. Come and share some of Andrew’s and Conny’s dream of a sustainable lifestyle.

Ardmore Guest Farm

Ardmore Guest Farm is situated in the scenic Champagne Valley in the Central Drakensberg. You will enjoy stunning views of the three highest peaks in South Africa. Mafadi (highest peak at 3450m) Injisuti Dome (second highest at 3410m) and the majestic Champagne Castle (third highest at 3377m) which are all situated in South Africa’s latest World Heritage Site. This is a malaria free area.

You will be receiving a warm welcome which makes all the difference and that's what Ardmore Guest Farm excels at. This is great for children too who will love the ducks, goats, sheep and the fact that you can bring your pet along.

Great food and friendly staff. If you want a tranquil spot in a great location, then Ardmore Guest Farm is for you! Your stay will be memorable and thoroughly enjoyed.

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South Africa: Drakensberg a great agritourism destination | Дракенсберг Южная Африка

What makes the Drakensberg in South Africa such a great agri-tourism destination?

Have you ever considered to spend your holiday on a “real, working farm” which offers all kinds of agri-tourism attractions. You can bottle feed lambs, collect eggs from the free range hens, watch the cows being milked and help pick the ingredients for your evening meal. Strawberries taste best eaten directly as you pick them.

Some of the activities on offer include learning to make cheese, animal petting farms and so much more. Children delight in petting the animals and watching some of the farming activities. Life is lived at a gentler pace where outdoors and open space are valued more than video games.

Ideas for your agri-tourism experience

Learn to make cheese. At Antbear Lodge the milk comes from their own cows and this one day course allows you to learn how to make cheese in small quantities. Generally its best to start with the simple feta cheeses and work your way up to mozzarella, goude and peccorino. There is something special about being able to take home some cheese that you have just helped make.

Get your hands dirty with some woodwork - Woodworking skills can be learned and at the same time you can make something to take back with you.

Experience farm life be warned, once you have been here a few days you might want to stay forever.

Great for children

Petting farm – Young children can enjoy interacting with farm animals and watch the cow being milked. Of course they need to be up early. Then there are chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, horses, donkeys, a mule, sheep, pigs and more to be discovered.

Mountain biking – There is no greater fun than getting the bikes out and riding the dirt trails around the farm.

Hiking Trails – Farms are renowned for the excellent hiking opportunities they offer. Get out and explore the hills with spectacular views of the Drakensberg Mountains.

Horse Rides – If you are going to visit a farm then you are in for a treat. Go for an outride and enjoy the nature.

Activities available while in these agri-tourism environments.

Enjoy cool river walks or long hillside hikes through the trails surrounding the cottages and neighboring farms.

Cheese Tasting. At Marakesh Cheese Farm Visitors can expect to be taken through a tasting of between 8 to 10 different types of cheese, (depending on the time of year) with an informative discussion about each type of cheese. This is one that is not to be missed.

Romesco offers olive tasting with some of the most interesting options being chili Kalamata or even a berry kalamata.

Visit the Drakensberg Brewery and enjoy a pure mountain brew.

Spend the day at a farmers market. Expect to find local produce, bespoke goods and services, an eatery, and a beer garden. There is certainly something for everyone and remember local food and supplies support local families!

Agri-Tourism experiences in the Drakensberg

Antbear Eco Lodge & Farm

Antbear Farm is a working farm that has a heard of Nguni Cattle and has a small scale organic food producing farming environment for self sufficiency. Previously it was a dairy farm that had been left to go to ruin. Andrew and Conny have done extraordinary things that have brought new life to a once abandoned piece of land. The farm is now home to horses, donkeys, goats, ducks, chickens, geese, turkeys, dogs, cows, pigs and a few cats most of which have been taken in as rescues.

Antbear Lodge through its agritourism concept gives you a chance to learn about the lives of rural people, their culture and their customs while creating employment. Agritourism results in skills development, closer communities, and new opportunities for rural women.  The potential of Agritourism in South Africa to uplift local communities is huge and is very much supported by us.

Young children can enjoy interacting with farm animals and watch the cow being milked. Of course they need to be up early. Then there are chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, horses, donkeys, a mule, sheep, pigs and more to be discovered. You can try bass fishing in one of the farm dams and there is plenty of excellent bird watching all over the farm.

Antbear Lodge excels at hospitality. This is an agri-tourism holiday you will remember forever.

Ardmore Guest Farm

Ardmore Guest Farm is situated in the scenic Champagne Valley in the Central Drakensberg. You will enjoy stunning views of the three highest peaks in South Africa. Mafadi (highest peak at 3450m) Injisuti Dome (second highest at 3410m) and the majestic Champagne Castle (third highest at 3377m) which are all situated in South Africa’s latest World Heritage Site. This is a malaria free area.

You will receiving a warm welcome which makes all the difference and that's what Ardmore Guest Farm excels at. This is a great for children too who will love the ducks, goats, sheep and the fact that you can bring your pet along.

Great food and friendly staff. If you want a tranquil spot in a great location, then Ardmore Guest Farm is for you! Your stay will be memorable and thoroughly enjoyed.

Experience the Drakensberg, Estcourt, 3310, South Africa.

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South Africa: Experience the Drakensberg news

'Massive' Snowfall in Drakensberg, South Africa

Get the best value this winter in a never to be seen again offer of 50% off. Antbear Lodge and Ardmore Guest Farm have just agreed to my idea of the best winter special ever for the next 7 days.

The Drakensberg is the best destination in South Africa for snow.

Brace yourself … Its already snowing in the Drakensberg and more snow is predicted for this winter. These really are the words you want to hear when we are talking about the Drakensberg Mountains. Snow just makes the Drakensberg Mountains even more dramatic and spectacular. Its cozy fires and old brown sherry and spectacular views.

Some of the best places to see snow in the Drakensberg

° Giants Castle is situated in the Central Drakensberg and offers some of the most spectacular snow views of the Drakensberg Mountains. This is one of the best Drakensberg snow locations if you are looking to see the snow views. Access is easy with a tar road which means even if there is snow on the road you can still drive.

° Highmoor is the highest KZN Wildlife camp in the Drakesberg so its little wonder the Highmoor experiences more snow than any other part of the Drakensberg Mountains. Whats makes Highmoor such a perfect snow attraction is that there is a tar road that will take you right up to the camp. If you wish to play in the snow this is the best Drakensberg snow location by far.

° Underberg and Sani Pass While it’s not guaranteed to snow every year, the quaint southern Drakensberg villages of Underberg and Himeville are great bases for 4x4 trips up Sani Pass, where winter snow is more or less assured. To make the most of the snow at the top of the pass book a 4x4 excursion.

° Central Drakensberg If you’re feeling active and find the idea of hiking through snow appealing, this part of the Drakensberg is for you. The weather here tends to be more stable during winter and, after a snowstorm, conditions can become bright and clear for days.

Antbear Lodge

Antbear Lodge offers way more than stunning views of the Drakensberg. This lodge is the ideal base for your winter getaway in the Drakensberg. We offer  accommodation in various configurations some family units with upstairs lofts for kids. Pet friendly too.

Antbear Lodge can offer a private dining experience for you and your guests in our wine cellar. This is perfect for your family to be in its own bubble from the pandemic health perspective. Plan for slow and decadent meals, and freshly cooked breakfasts or brunches that often become a 2-hour affairs.

Ardmore Guest Farm

Ardmore Guest Farm is in the beautiful Champagne Valley of the Central Drakensberg provides cosy farm-style, Dinner, bed-and-breakfast and self catering accommodation.

Ardmore Guest farm has created 4 separate dining areas so that your family can dine in a completely private setting.

How is the Drakensberg reacting to COVID 19 risks?

The short answer is that we are doing a lot. We take your safety seriously. We are prepared according to the current  FEDHASA and TBCSA guidelines. Staff have been trained and understand the recommended COVID 19 protocols needed to protect themselves and protect you. Incl. PPE, hand hygiene, social distancing, wearing masks always and cleaning with the mandatory disinfectants. Some places have even implemented a contact-less check-in procedure, have a procedure in place should staff or guests display symptoms and also has a dedicated unit available should quarantine become a necessity. Places we deal with are ethical and have a 100% refund policy in place should you have to cancel because of COVID 19 lockdowns or infections.

You can rest assured you will be safer in the Drakensberg than at home!

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