Friday 24 February 2023

Botswana: The Africa Experience - Harena Trails Camp: new mobile camp in Central Tuli

The Africa Experience

We are super delighted to announce the opening of our new mobile camp in Central Tuli: Harena Trails Camp. Harena means 'our home' in Botswana.

Together with the Molema Community Trust we have developed, constructed, and operated two new camps in this virtual undisturbed wilderness area, of which one is operating already, our Harena Trails Camp!

We are thrilled to offer you a Welcome Package and very excited to welcome you soon to the beautiful Central Tuli area to experience all this beauty yourself.

About Harena Trails Camp

The spectacular area is no less close to 5000 hectares and offers lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, eland, and the elusive Brown Hyena. On top of this, it is home to a large breeding colony of cape vultures and thousands of bee-eater.

This is the first time dedicated 4-5 nights of walking safaris will be held in the Tuli, not only in a luxurious way but in a normally inaccessible, rugged, wild area. The trails lead over and through beautiful mountain ridges, koppies, valleys,  dry river beds, and through riparian forest areas. Observe herds of elephants in the distance and cross leopard and lion tracks. Home of the leopards and the hyenas, we set up camp in a new location every other day. 

Mountain biking in Central Tuli

Mountain bike lovers can enjoy much excitement here in Central Tuli! Work your way through a world of arid plains and sandy river beds where dust devils can eat their hearts out! Your experienced specialist field - guide will guide you through an amazing wilderness in remote Africa, The Central Tuli game reserve! This is a “big game” wilderness reserve with sightings of herds of elephants, impala antelopes, zebras, and crocodiles, to name a few. Guests will be following ancient elephant migration paths and cycling through scenery dotted with wildlife that will take your breath away.

As a welcome gift and the introduction of our new gem, we created a welcome package for you with 50% off the second night going forward. You can include walking safaris or Mountain bike trails during your stay. 

° On the first night, you will stay at  Koro Island Camp or Koro River Camp and your first rides or walks will be around in these areas, incorporating stretches around the magnificent Limpopo River. This will give you a bit of time to acclimatize. You will be accompanied by two “biking guides”.

° The second, third (fourth, and fifth) nights will be at our Harena Trails camp, approximately 30 km further into the bush,  This mobile camp will be set up at various locations during your stay. The locations vary from a stunning location on a drive river bed in a remote location to a location around the magnificent rugged koppies in a difficult-to-access area. Includes:  2 “biking guides” and a chef will prepare your meals.

° Your rides or walking safaris will go through areas with sand, rocks, koppies, valleys, and (dry) river beds and will give you an opportunity to view the (Central) Tuli in a way not many people can see. Your last night you will spend again in either Koro Island Camp or Koro River Camp.

° Inclusions: all meals, soft drinks, coffee and tea, all walking safaris, and game drives. (Valid for bookings and payments in March and April, traveling till November 30 2023).

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Wednesday 15 February 2023

Namibia: Okahirongo Elephant Lodge

Okahirongo Elephant Lodge, reimagined

Immersed in the great wilderness of Kaokoland in Namibia sits Okahirongo Elephant Lodge, a magnificent camp on the banks of the Hoarusib riverbed currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment. Due to reopen April 2023 and comprising seven private suites, a two bedroom private suite with open lounge area and a spectacular infinity pool, the lodge blends seamlessly with the otherworldly terrain, ushering in dramatic views of rugged mountains, shifting sand dunes and curious rock formations.

Luxurious living, naturally

This oasis is rendered in an organic architectural style that echoes the topography of the desert scape and makes fantastic use of local materials – think driftwood, clay and stone. Local customs and culture are referenced in the design, as seen in the striking dome roof, which is styled after a traditional Himba home.

Embrace peace in the elements

Each of the seven spacious suites has been designed as a sanctuary from the bright desert glare, decorated in soothing tones to encourage moments of reflection, repose and rest. Throw open the door to your private veranda and find solace in the shaded terrace and glamorous daybed – ideal for an afternoon nap or getting stuck into a novel. Keep an eye on the horizon and you might spot giraffes strolling along the river valley.

The tranquil ambience continues through to the en-suite bathrooms, where an indoor shower is carved from gentle, undulating lines and rendered in bleached-white plaster.

Elevated interiors that sing with style

Expect panoramic views from the generous communal spaces, which take in the sparkling azure of the infinity pool and majesty of the soaring peaks beyond. In the main lounge are chunky, recessed shelves either side of an open fire, dressed with terracotta amphorae, curios and inspiring books, exquisite details that add depth to the room and create pleasing silhouettes in the flickering light. In this peaceful setting, guests can relax with a glass of wine or cocktail before settling down to a delicious dinner in the dining room, now reimagined in opulent umber tones, offset by distressed wooden furniture and oversized rattan lampshades. As another action-packed day in one of the world's oldest desert landscapes comes to a close, guests are invited to gather at the traditional boma to sip and share around the flames, as the inky sky bursts into life from the light of a million twinkling stars.

Life-affirming adventures

Embrace life in the bush with a variety of activities distinct to Kaokoland. Embark on scenic drives with expert Himba guides and spot desert elephants, giraffe and plentiful gemsbok, springbok and kudu. If you prefer a spot of culture, then take a trip to the majestic clay castles of the Hoarusib River valley. These towering natural wonders are thousands of years old and soar hundreds of metres high from various gorges along the riverbed – thanks to the isolated location, you might well have them all to yourself. The mystery doesn’t end here – spot the Lone Men of Kaokoland while out on your scenic drives. These almost life-size rock sculptures blend in seamlessly with their surroundings, further adding to the extraordinary atmosphere.

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Monday 13 February 2023

South Africa: Slangkop Lighthouse, Kommetjie, Cape Town

Slangkop Lighthouse, Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa

Маяк Слангкоп (Змеиная Голова) в Коммики, Кейптаун, Южная Африка

#CapeTown #SouthAfrica #Slangkop #Dronesberg #ЮжнаяАфрика #Кейптаун #ЗападныйКейп #МаякСлангкоп

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Monday 6 February 2023

You can't park here - somewhere in South Africa

You can't park here - somewhere in South Africa

Парковка запрещена - Южная Африка

#SouthAfrica #ЮжнаяАфрика

ПОРТФОЛИО P5 ►https://bit.ly/2Vvbb6L

ТЕЛЕГРАМ ►https://t.me/ExploringNamibia

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Friday 3 February 2023

Cape Town: SS Kakapo wreck & Van der Polls

Once upon a time, in those very early days, there were no more than a handful of families in this vale of Vishoek (as Fish Hoek was first called). Of these, the Van der Polls became an integral part - a big, happy, hardworking family of five boys and two girls.

One little sister died at the age of 12 and was buried in the Kirsten graveyard at the Silvermyn which belonged to the grandparents of Mrs. Van der Poll.

On the grandfather’s side there had been the huge estate of Pollsmoor - the original Van der Poll home - so no wonder the boys were toughened to farming life - no easy job in those days of no electricity, nor water - tending the lamps and wood for the big coal stoves and getting up at dawn to milk the cows and feed the horses; a hard life, but a glorious one.

In fact, the Van der Polls have memories of a never-to-be-forgotten dawn after a mid-winter’s night in August 1899 when Mr Van der Poll senior was carrying his lantern outside to hang in the cowshed and two rough, unshaven men came staggering up the mountainside to their Brakkloof home.

These men had been shipwrecked from the Kakapo on Noordhoek beach and had seen a pin-point of light all that distance away at the Van der Poll farm-house and staggered on and on until they found refuge!

This is the grave stone of the 12 year old girl Michael referred to, "Magdalena Jacoba van der Poll".

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Thursday 2 February 2023

Fastjet Adds New Zimbabwe Destinations

Fastjet Adds New Zimbabwe Destinations

Fastjet Zimbabwe is to commence air services to two new domestic leisure destinations – Kariba and Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe – by late March 2023. The airline’s new services from Harare and Victoria Falls to Kariba Airport and Hwange National Park Airport will offer seamless connections for travellers to two of Zimbabwe’s top domestic tourism destinations, with scheduled flight connections using Embraer E120, 30-seat turboprop aircraft.

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Wednesday 1 February 2023

Zambia: Turkish Airlines Relaunches Lusaka Route

Turkish Airlines Relaunches Lusaka Route

Turkish Airlines is to relaunch its Lusaka service with two flights a week from March 26. The flights will go via Dar es Salaam. Outbound flights to Istanbul will operate on Mondays and Saturdays, and inbound flights on Sundays and Fridays. Flights depart from Lusaka at 02h50 and arrive in Istanbul at 14h40, after a flight of 10 hours 50 minutes.  Flights depart Istanbul 15h50 and arrive in Lusaka at 01h50 the following day. The route was launched in 2018 but was suspended in 2020 due to COVID.

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