Newsletter

SOUTH AFRICA NEWS

• Ngala Tented Safari Camp (Kruger National Park): Air-conditioning has been installed in each of the six intimate tented suites. The 26 000 BTU units are the most powerful domestic air conditioners available and have both heating and cooling functions to keep temperatures regulated.
• Bongani Mountain Lodge (Mpumalanga): Guests recently witnessed a thrilling sighting of wild dogs. Visit www.wildwatch.com for more interesting sightings observed by CC Africa’s rangers and guides.
• Phinda Private Game Reserve (KwaZulu-Natal): Following the recent rains at Phinda, most of the dams and pans are full again, the Mzinene River has flooded and the Inkwazi floodplain is very wet. Birding has subsequently been excellent and ranger Ross Goode recently spotted Woodward Batis in the Sand Forest – the first record of this coastal forest bird at Phinda. It is the perfect opportunity to enjoy Birding @ Phinda – a Specialist Safari led by expert birding rangers in a private 4x4 safari vehicle.

SOUTHERN AFRICA FOCUS

• Matetsi Water Lodge (Victoria Falls): Guest delight continues…personal bars in each suite are stocked according to guests’ specific needs.
• Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge (Namibia): Massages in your villa conducted by a professional therapist and early morning yoga classes on the dunes are now offered at the Lodge.
• Specialist Photographic Safaris: Accompanied throughout by a specialist CC Africa photographic ranger, each exhilarating Photographic Safari is custom-made to suit your clients’ specific photographic interests. It offers an incredible opportunity to capture the Okavango Delta, Sossusvlei Dunes and Victoria Falls on film, whilst enjoying accommodation at our unique Southern African lodges.

SPOTLIGHT ON EAST AFRICA

TANZANIA

• Reminder: Grumeti River Camp, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge and Klein’s Camp are closed during the rainy months of April and May – don’t forget to book now for June. As mentioned last month, Mnemba Island Lodge (Zanzibar) will be closed from 15 March to 15 June 2004…watch this space for further updates.

• Great Migration Update: “On 2 March, I was driving from Ngorongoro Crater Lodge to Grumeti River Camp and as I reached the border between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Park I saw the most amazing sight – the whole area between the Serengeti border and The Nabi Hill Gate was covered with wildebeest…I estimate at least 1.3 million animals! As I drove on through Nabi gate I found an enormous herd of zebra, probably around 150 000 animals, all heading towards the Simba Kopjes”, Mussa Muthayo, Grumeti River Camp Assistant Manager. Visit www.wildwatch.com for regular Migration updates.

KENYA

• Kichwa Tembo (Masai Mara): All rangers at Kichwa Tembo have just completed their first grading exams, forming part of a rigorous training programme that we’ve launched in East Africa to ensure our guides are the best of the best.

EXPEDITIONS UPDATE

Safari Highlight: The new Galton’s Africa – an eight-day, fully serviced fly-in Great Explorer Safari in Namibia – features the magnificent Namib Desert, walks in Damaraland and the Namib-Naukluft National Park, as well as the game-rich Etosha National Park.