Newsletter

BREAKING NEWS

• Pulling down fences at Phinda Private Game Reserve: After years of negotiation, the fences between Phinda, Bumbeni, Mziki Pumalanga and Zuka (making up the Mun-ya-wana Conservancy) have been pulled down. This conservation victory for CC Africa increases Phinda’s traversing area by 3 500 hectares (8 650 acres), creating a barrier-free area of about 20 000 hectares (49 400 acres) for the newest addition to the Reserve – 16 black rhino! The Mun-ya-wana Conservancy has been chosen as the first partner site in Phase 1 of the groundbreaking WWF/Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Black Rhino Range Expansion Project. The intimate new Phinda Zuka Lodge will open for guests on 15 December 2004, comprising four bush cottages with verandas overlooking a waterhole. The sole-use Lodge is perfect for families or private parties of up to eight people. With a dedicated ranger, tracker and butler, as well as a private game-viewing vehicle, guests at Zuka Lodge will be able to tailormake every minute of their day. Watch this space for further updates.
• Phinda Forest Lodge (4th place), Londolozi Private Game Reserve (7th) and Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (8th) were rated in the top ten awards for Best Safari Camps in the latest
  US Condé Nast Traveler’s World’s Best Awards.

LODGE UPDATES

SOUTHERN SPOTLIGHT

Madikwe Safari Lodge, situated in the richly diverse and malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, is looking fabulous and is on track to open for guests on 15 November 2004. The Lodge comprises just three exclusive camps (totalling 16 suites) overlooking Madikwe’s game-filled plains – all with a simple yet sophisticated Madikwe style.

What’s new at Kwandwe (Eastern Cape)? Kwandwe Main Lodge boasts large, gorgeous new private pool decks with personal bars and service phones for instant delivery of delicious breakfasts or lunches, as well as new walls for extra privacy and new pathways to make it easier to get there. The nine exclusive suites have brand new curtains, upholstery, lampshades and throws. Kwandwe Ecca Lodge’s six wonderfully spacious stone-and-gabion suites now feature refreshingly cool private plunge pools.

EAST AFRICA NEWS

Klein's Camp (Serengeti, Northern Tanzania) was rated in USA Today’s ‘Top 10 great places to tread lightly on earth’, as a wonderful ecotourism travel destination that benefits biodiversity, conservation and local communities. Klein’s Camp’s private concession is leased from a Maasai community, who receive a meaningful portion of the camp’s revenue. Klein's and guest contributions also support a local clinic, schools and an organic garden. Click here to read the article.

What makes Southern Tanzania special? In CC Africa’s Lodge Manager’s words…

• Ras Kutani (Southern Tanzanian Coast), Pete Dunning: “Imagine the bush (coastal forest with butterflies, yellow baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys and thick-tailed bushbabies) meeting the beach (kilometres of empty, clean, white sand, big Indian Ocean rollers, dhows sailing past and a gentle breeze). Cocktails in the evening, the freshest fish and the coldest beer on the coast. Gentle Swahili service, huge beds and hammocks. Karibu Ras Kutani.”
• Jongomero (Ruaha National Park), Karen and Stuart: “You can read about it, see pictures about it but until you actually come to Jongomero, can you only really appreciate the remote, wild and unspoilt beauty of Ruaha National Park. You can drive for hours and never see another person and when you arrive back at camp you are completely spoilt by our wonderful staff.”
• Selous Safari Camp (Selous Game Reserve), Jess and Mike: “Exploring the Selous – whether it's the mighty Rufiji by boat, the vast and ever-changing landscape on open safari vehicles or sleeping under a mosquito net next to a hardwood fire in a remote fly camp, it is guaranteed to deliver adventure! The variety of activities, unique landscape, discreet service and spectacular wildlife have guests leaving...only to want to come back! Karibu Selous, you just have to experience it!”

The annual Great Migration of millions of wildebeest and other herbivores is still in the Masai Mara, Kenya. Click here for the latest exciting wildlife encounters.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Chocolate Pots
From the Kitchen Team @ Londolozi Private Game Reserve (South Africa)

• 285ml cream
• 200g best-quality dark chocolate broken into pieces
• 2 large egg yolks
• 45ml brandy
• 20g butter

Heat the cream in a thick-bottomed pan until nearly boiling. Remove and set aside for one minute before adding chocolate. Stir in until melted and smooth. Beat in egg yolks and brandy and stir well. Allow to cool slightly before adding in the butter, mix until smooth, and pour into individual serving pots.

The beauty of this dessert is that it is smooth, silky and rich. However, if you want to lighten the texture to make it into more of a mousse, then follow the above recipe but fold in two stiffly whipped egg whites before pouring into the pots. Small servings are the key.

Serves 4