South Africa: Drumbeat Drifters Newsletter

Latest News

HAPPY NEW YEAR from the management and staff of Drifters.

The start of 2022 promises new beginnings for the tourism industry worldwide, and we sincerely hope that this pandemic is a thing of the past and we can dust off the disappointment and heartache of the last 2 years and set the wheels in motion for a rebirth of over landing and the tourism industry in general

South Africa removed from the Red List - AGAIN

Tours:

We are really encouraged to see country after country dropping their restrictions and allowing free travel once again - This is good news for our clients. The feeling is that we will see the resumption of bookings again quite soon! We are ready and waiting. We do have numerous tour departures our tours. So contact Drifters for the latest availability.

Regards

Gary, Ken & the Drifters Team

Feedback from our New 18 SA eco explorer:

Tugela Gorge hike was amazing, and the 3 different nights in the foothills of the Drakensberg, were mind-blowing.

Coffee Bay - and the hole in the wall was amazing, the hike breathtaking, and the sea was so blue.

Storms River Mouth was a highlight

Some of our confirmed departures for the 1st Quarter 2022:

Uganda 13 day Camping

Departing 9th January & 6th February

Kruger Park

30th January, 20th February

Botswana 16 day Camping

5th February

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Namibia: Atlantic West Coast shipwrecks: "Irmgard" & "Islander" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Irmgard" & "Islander" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

46. "Irmgard"

Date: 1978

Grosse Bucht, Luderitz

"Irmgard" wreck is located in Luderitz Grosse Bucht ("Large Bay"), a bay along the coast near coastal town. The vessel belonged to the father of Mr. Ulf Grunewald, Luderitz Nest Hotel's owner. Mr. Hans Kustner built the boat in his garage in the space of a year, so that he could catch crayfish.

He named it after his sister, Irmgard, and used it for a long time before selling it and moving to Windhoek. Upon its initial launch, it was the first flat-bottomed steel boat to be built in Luderitz. Unfortunately, the new crew was asleep on the boat one night when a terrible storm caused the anchor to break off from the boat which was then strewn onto the rocks and eventually onto the beach at Grosse Bucht in 1978/1979. Now only a skeleton of the boat is visible.

47. "Islander"

Date: July 1973

Rocky Point

In July 1973 the 21 metre 139 gross ton fishing vessel Islander, registered in San Diego, USA, ran aground about 70 km north of Rocky Point close to the Angolan border. It was built in San Diego in 1972 with a powerful 630 hp diesel engine. One of the crew lost his life, while the others managed to reach the shore safely. As they had not managed to send a distress signal, no one knew of their predicament. The captain and first officer decided to walk to Rocky Point to look for help. While this was happening, Bernabe de la Bat, the director of the division of Nature Conservation and Tourism of the South West Africa Administration, was on an inspection flight in the Skeleton Coast National Park. On the flight, they saw a vehicle driving in the park. At the time, the conservation department was having problems with people illegally entering the newly proclaimed park. Suspecting the occupants were on an illegal fishing trip, they flew low over the vehicle and from its registration number, deduced it was from another government office further east. De la Bat was tempted to have the culprits apprehended by his rangers. For reasons of inter-departmental diplomacy, he decided not to pursue the matter and left the culprits to continue their journey. This decision probably saved the lives of the Islander’s crew. When the two exhausted men finally staggered to Rocky Point, they found their saviors fishing. Fortunately, they had a radio in the vehicle and could summon help. Had it not been for the illegal anglers, the aptly named Skeleton Coast would have claimed more victims.

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Namibia: Atlantic West Coast shipwrecks: Horing Bay wreck & "Hunsbrook" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: Horing Bay wreck & "Hunsbrook" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

44. Horing Bay wreck

Date: unknown

From time to time anglers mention a large steel wreck being visible at low tide near Horing Bay. Its origin is unknown. Presumably it is a wreck from the pre-colonial period. David Krynauw tried to find references in this regard but without success. No clues could be traced at Lloyds registers of London either.

45. "Hunsbrook"

Date: 07.11.1919

9 miles south of Walvis Bay

This steel steamship was stranded in fog and wrecked on Pelican Point in Walvis Bay in Namibia.

Is it "Hunsbrook"?:

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Namibia: Atlantic West Coast shipwrecks: "Hondeklip" & "Hope" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Hondeklip" & "Hope" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

42. "Hondeklip"

Date: July 1928

Meob Bay

The accident reason: fire on board.

43. "Hope"

Date: 14.05.1804

South of Walvis Bay

In 1804 the American whaler Hope was lost just south of Sandwich Harbour. Except for two survivors who were rescued in the Sandwich Harbour lagoon, all crew members were murdered by Strandlopers.

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Namibia: Atlantic West Coast shipwrecks: "Heraclides" & "Hoeveld 1" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Heraclides" & "Hoeveld 1" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

40. "Heraclides"

Date: 26.10.1907

Hottentot Bay

41. "Hoeveld 1"

Date: 23.11.1968

North of Meob Bay (Fischersbrunn)

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Namibia: Atlantic West Coast shipwrecks: "Hendrik Ibsen" & "Henrietta Spasheti" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Hendrik Ibsen" & "Henrietta Spasheti" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

38. "Hendrik Ibsen"

Date: 1896

Cape Cross

There is a small graveyard near the seal colony at Cape Cross, bordering Atlantic Ocean with old weathered wooden crosses as witnesses of harsh conditions endured by the men on the isolated barren coastline without adequate supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables that made them susceptible to scurvy. The ships that carried supplies and transported the Cape Cross riches back to Europe were carriers of disease and their sailors were prone to scurvy. Without a harbour and with the strong seas and winds, several ships were wrecked along the coastline, including the Norwegian ship Hendrik Ibsent that sank off Cape Cross. One of the survivors, August Hasselund, subsequently worked for the Damaraland Guano Company for many years. After World War I he again worked at Cape Cross for another concessionaire and died in 1959.

39. "Henrietta Spasheti"

Date: 14.07.1968

165 nautical miles north of Walvis Bay, near Koigabmond

"Henrietta Spasheti", the 90-foot trawler, ran aground on 14 July 1968 while moving inshore to fix their bearings, under command of Captain W.S. Gillion. The incident occurred 165 miles north of Walvis Bay. The crew of ten was able to get ashore safely in a life raft. Police Landrovers under command of G. Brand and Port Captain Bob Harding brought them back to Walvis Bay. This wreck can be seen at the most southern border of Torra Bay. Nature Conservation erected a signboard north of the Ugab River, on the Torra Bay road.

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Namibia: Atlantic West Coast shipwrecks: "Hans die Skipper" & "Heideveld" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Hans die Skipper" & "Heideveld" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

36. "Hans die Skipper"

Date: 08.05.1970

Conception Bay

37. "Heideveld"

Date: August 1968

South of Horing Bay

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Namibia: Atlantic West Coast shipwrecks: "Gethen" & "Guernsey Lilly" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Gethen" & "Guernsey Lilly" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

34. "Gethen"

Date: 26.01.1954

Henties Bay

Gethen, the fishing trawler, was stranded at Henties Bay's North Dune and became one of the most well-known shipwrecks at the west coast. The wreck was used by local anglers for fishing from her in high tide but nothing is lest of it as the rough Atlantic disintegrated Gethen's body to pieces. Many vessel pieces and artifacts were carried away by local visitors and parts of its structure was also used as firewood. The late Mr. Keet mentioned amongst others that the nameplate of this boat was kept as a decoration at one of the holiday houses at Henties Bay. It is possible that the engine block is still visible during low tide.

35. "Guernsey Lilly"

Date: 1840s

Ichaboe Island

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Namibia: Bush Telegraph Greetings

Coming to our senses - Greetings

Omicron! Red alert in Europe: 'major incident' in London, lockdown in the Netherlands, quarantine barriers around and contact restrictions in Germany.

Here in Namibia, on the other hand, serenity prevails. Although Omicron is already much more dominant. The government decreased the maximum limit for gatherings from 500 to 200 people. And had a million masks distributed – to bus companies that transport thousands of Namibians during the holidays. That's it...

Why the difference? Obviously: In Europe, many more people live in a much smaller space. On average, people are much older. And it's winter there right now.

Namibia, on the other hand, has summer and vastness to offer. Etosha. Waterberg. Sossusvlei. Naukluft. Kalahari. Places with 7-day incidences tending towards zero. Ideal places for people who want to escape Omicron and the constant stress of changing measures.

It is completely paradoxical, then, that many European countries are sealing themselves off from southern Africa. They should actually rather encourage their citizens to travel to countries like Namibia. Less risk of being infected in the great outdoors. And for the home country every citizen travelling abroad is one less person to whom the virus can spread).

Another paradox: travellers are often treated with hostility as being irresponsible egoists at home. In fact, every vacationer helps countries like Namibia to recover from Corona and travel restrictions. Tourism is personal development aid on equal terms. Unique experiences for travellers, income for people as well as money for nature conservation in the host country.

Maybe Omicron will bring people to their senses a little. By making them realise

° that it is neither the first nor the last virus that makes the rounds worldwide,

° that we have to learn to live with viruses like Corona without barricading ourselves at home,

° that you cannot tell people for years what they have to do and what not to do without plausibly explaining, based on data, that these measures can have the desired effect,

° that a global pandemic cannot be successfully combatted if everyone thinks of nothing but oneself, be it regarding travel regulations or vaccine patents,

° and that it is thanks to Corona to have disclosed many hidden grievances between and within countries.

May Omicron prove to be a mild finale to the Corona pandemic and a transition to an annual flu wave, as virologists have forecasted under reserve.

May it enable countries like Namibia to achieve herd immunity without many fatalities, in a natural way, and without making rich biotechnology companies even richer.

But above all (this selfish wish should be allowed): May Omicron be done with Africa, Europe and the rest of the world by May.

So that from July after three years (!) Namibia can finally experience a reasonably normal high season again without unfair travel restrictions.

For the hundreds of thousands of Namibia fans all over the world. For the tens of thousands of Namibians who live from tourism. And for nature, which tourism helps protect and which is Namibia's most valuable sustainable export article.

With this in mind, from the zero-incidence area of ​​the Namibian bush, I wish you a contemplative festive season and a new year 2022 that will be coming to its senses.

Sven-Eric Stender

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Zambia: Simalaha Conservancy news and Chundukwa Lodge special offers

MULI BWANJI FROM ZAMBIA! 

We have a wonderful New Year Offer for clients looking for a retreat on the River to welcome in the New Year, as well as a once-off self-catering offer for those wishing to really 'Go Wild' at our beautiful camp in the Simalaha Conservancy.

As we welcome in the Rainy Season and bid 2021 farewell, we would like to thank you, our agents, DMC's and partners in travel, for your wonderful support in an ever-changing and challenging year.

“Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain.” We look forward to welcoming you in 2022! 

Doug & Gail

Some good news for Zambia!

The following information has been updated as of 21st December 2021

Update on Zambia Travel Guidelines  

° All travellers arriving in Zambia must provide a negative PCR test taken no more than 72hrs before departure as before.

° Removal of all requirements to test on arrival.

° Removal of the list of "High Risk" countries and the need to quarantine on arrival.

FESTIVE SEASON OFFERS

New Year at Chundukwa Lodge

Offer valid from 20 Dec 2021 – 20 Jan 2022

Stay with us in a luxury River Chalet on a Full-Board Basis including a sunset cruise & New Year's Eve Feast & Festivities!

2-3 Night Stay only $220.00 per person sharing*

Long-Stay Discounted Rate will apply.

- New Years Eve - 

Join us for a magical New Year with family & friends as we share our traditional gourmet cuisine with spit-roasted lamb, delicious champagne and plenty of R&R.

T&C's Apply! Min Stay 2 Nights.

Single Supplement Applies.

Kindly note our River Chalets are not suitable for children U10 years due to safety.

Chundu Cottage - Self-Catering Offer

Offer valid from 20 Dec 2021 – 20 Jan 2022

3 nights or more only US$ 300.00* for the cottage per night, including a complimentary sunset cruise per person per stay!

Refundable Deposit Required: US$ 200 or Kwacha equivalent for breakages to be paid in cash on arrival. Maximum 6 clients may be accommodated.

Ready to go wild this Christmas?

Simalaha Horse Safaris – Christmas & New Year Offer

Stay at our beautiful camp in the Simalaha Conservancy on a self-catering basis.

Wild - Sustainable – Unforgettable!

- Choose your Stay -

Only US$ 90.00 per person per night including Conservancy Fees, linen, towels, housekeeping services & our in-house cook at your disposal! 

Valid now until 27 Dec 2021

Or US$ 70.00 per person per night including Conservancy Fees - excluding linen, towels & staff. A team will be available to assist with lighting the boilers & basic cleaning. 

Valid now until 5 Jan 2022

T&C's Apply! Min Stay 3 Nights. 

Min 4, Max 8 Guests.

Self-Drive to the Simalaha Conservancy.

No horse-riding is included in this offer.

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