Showing posts with label Oddballs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oddballs. Show all posts

Tuesday, 8 December 2020

Footsteps in Africa: reopening of Botswana camps

Footsteps in Africa

We're making your return easier than ever.

At last the year is coming to an end. We can all breath a sigh of relief and look towards the light coming towards us from what looks like the end of the tunnel. We are elated that the international travel restrictions have been lifted and Botswana’s borders will be open to international carriers from today.

This year has brought an ever-changing onslaught of news and information that was relevant one day and irrelevant the next. Needless to say, this has kept us on our toes. It is always our intention to share accurate and concise information with our trade partners and receiving anything but from the world at large, gave us pause.

The state of affairs as they directly relate to us including, border openings, quarantine provisions and protocols for travel both here and abroad have been ambiguous up until now. Finally, we have clarity around the opening of borders with international travel for all nationalities commencing from December into Botswana with transit through South Africa unhindered. In addition, we have had the news of a vaccine, which has bolstered our belief that after one more winter in the Northern Hemisphere the situation will begin to ease.

While waiting for a coherent response to international travel our lodge owners and operations teams have been cautious in choosing opening dates. However, throughout the collection dates have now been set. We are excited to announce that all of the camps and lodges within the collection will focus the coming months on refurbishing, undergoing necessary maintenance, and giving staff training to refresh their already well-honed skills. In addition they will be ensuring that they have established and are familiar with the new protocols and standards of care for our guest’s health and wellbeing.

Below are the reopening dates for the collection:

Delta Camp: 15th March 2021

Deception Valley Lodge: 1st April 2021

Camp Savuti: 1st April 2021

Camp Linyanti: 1st April 2021

Oddballs’ Camp: 1st June 2021

Oddballs’ Enclave: 1st June 2021

Should you have a booking due to travel before these opening dates we will be contacting you directly. 

Reopening Specials:

To celebrate the reopening we have some incredible last minute and local residents’ specials.

Contact us for more details.

New Terms and Conditions:

We are aware that although people across the world are eager to travel again as soon as possible, this year has left many reluctant to commit to bookings and payments unless there is flexibility in the terms. We are committed to providing our partners and in turn their guests security and flexibility and have therefore updated our bookings terms and conditions which will be affective on all NEW bookings made after 1st November 2020.

If travel is affected by any COVID19 related issues as follows:

° Borders closures or travel bans issued in either travellers originating, transit or destination country.

° The Government in the guest’s country of origin OR destination country imposes a mandatory quarantine and guests are unable to travel

° International flights are cancelled, and the guests are unable to travel

° Guests test positive for COVID-19 prior to arrival (proof will be required) and a vaccine not have been available to them beforehand

° Lodge or camp is closed in-country due to COVID-19 reasons

All guests travelling must be covered by their own fully comprehensive travel and medical insurance policy valid from the date that they confirm the booking with us.

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Botswana: water levels in our Okavango Camps

Update on water levels in our Okavango Camps

This summer, while extremely beautiful in Botswana, has been very hot and dry. The rains have been well below average and unfortunately Angola has also had disappointing precipitation. As a result, the annual inundation of flood water has yet to show itself in the Okavango Delta.

Our properties in the Okavango: Delta Camp, Oddballs’ and Oddballs’ Enclave are still dry. The Boro River channel has not yet filled and only very short mokoro activities are being offered to cross the channel in certain places where you cannot walk. Water is expected any day, but as with every year, we cannot predict exactly when it will arrive. It is safe to say that that the flood is late this year and it could easily be another 6-8 weeks before proper mokoro activities, as we are accustomed, are being offered.

What we can say is that as a result of the scarceness of water sources, the game is exceptional. Guests are regularly seeing lion, hyena, leopard and even cheetah. Wild dogs have been seen along with herds of over 1000 buffalo. Naturally all of the grazers are there sipping from the waters edge and eating the grasses in the molapo. It is a veritable Eden.

We understand that missing mokoro activities can be disappointing to guests and we don’t want to disappoint. Please prepare your guests so that their expectations are met when they arrive. The experience of visiting the Okavango is entirely predicated on being in true nature. True nature is unpredictable and variations occur each and every month and year in the Okavango Delta. This year water will be scarce, but game will be plenty.
Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com