at Sopa late yesterday. Did the crater game drive today which was great and on to Lake Masek tomorrow. Our guide is terrific.

Thanks so much for all your help.

A few kind words can make a day from great to even greater – thanks Tom & Sharon!

Jan Cerny & Kristin McMurtrie

South Africa

15th August – 2nd September, 2012

YOUR HONEYMOON ADVENTURE

Created, designed and planned by Timothy Jackson of

Jackson’s African Safaris &

Vintage Destinations

Wednesday, 15th August – Friday, 17th August, 2012

Arrive Cape Town

Arrival at Cape Town International Airport at 10h05am.

Car rental collection (Group C, Nissan 1.6/similar, Standard Cover,

Unlimited km, GPS equipped).

Weather permitting, visit to table Mountain (by cableway).

Overnight at The Commodore (4*), safe walking distance (5 minutes) from

V&A Waterfront.

http://www.thecommodore.co.za/

Standard double room, breakfast included + shark diving trip

Arrive in Cape Town today and collect your hire vehicle from the Eurocar desk before driving to the hotel.

Overlooking the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront with views of Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Harbour and the Atlantic Ocean is The Commodore, Legacy’s flagship hotel in Cape Town. The Commodore offers 236 elegantly furnished standard rooms and suites. All rooms have individual air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities, bathroom with toilet and separate bath and shower, direct dial phones, electric razor plugs, hair dryers, DStv and 24-hour room service. The service ethic is one of utmost efficiency, allowing you to leave everything to us so that you can find time to enjoy the beautiful ‘Mother City’.

Enjoy two full days in Cape Town during which you will have time to experience some of the many varied sights of this area. Cape Point nature reserve is a beautiful area to visit, with Boulders Beach penguin colony en-route, this area is the World’s smallest floral kingdom and boasts the unique fynbos vegetation. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are also well worth a visit, as is Table Mountain, the Waterfront area, Robben Island and the many city museums.

On 17th August you will enjoy a full day shark diving experience! You will be collected from the hotel early in the morning and transferred to Gansbaai.

http://www.sharkdivingunlimited.com/

Join Great White Shark expert Michael Rutzen, world famous for free diving with Great White Sharks on one of the highest rated Conservation/Education Experiences in the world.

Seeing the greatest and one of the oldest animals on the planet is truly a unique, awe-inspiring and a humbling experience. Most people arrive with fear and trepidation and leave with admiration and a newfound respect for these majestic animals.

Experience the thrill of being underwater and surrounded by Great White Sharks! Feel the exposure of free diving while remaining safe inside the cage, or participate from the boat and see the Great White Shark in all its magnificence.

Trips are weather dependent, last approximately 4 hours and your launch time will be confirmed well in advance of your trip. Meet for breakfast at the crew house, a picnic lunch and soft drinks are packed on board the Barracuda. Towels and Diving Equipment is provided & there are hot shower facilities at the crew house.

You DO NOT need to be a qualified diver to enter the cage as we use a simple breath hold technique.

Shark Diving Unlimited is committed to show you Great White Sharks in the most environment friendly way possible. We DO NOT offer any adrenalin rush trips and only use this opportunity to observe these magnificent animals for conservation minded excursions.

Our videographer will make a movie of your trip that is available immediately after your return to the Crew House. This Movie will also be accompanied by one of our world class documentaries “Sharks – Man Eaters or Misunderstood” that aired on the BBC, and was made in conjunction with Blue Planet Aquarium and the Editor of the England Dive Magazine.

Traditional home made vegetable soup, home baked scones, muffins and homemade bread is also served after the trip. There will be a screening of your daytrip movie and one of five of our documentaries.

Launch times will be confirmed well in advance before your trip and alternative arrangements are made in case of bad weather. Despite our 99.99% success rate, these are wild animals and sightings cannot be guaranteed. However in the unlikely event that we don’t find sharks they will offer you a free trip!

Saturday, 18th August & Sunday, 19th August, 2012

Cape Town – Franschhoek

La Fontaine, breakfast included + guided wine tasting tour

http://www.lafontainefranschhoek.co.za/

From Cape Town take the N1 National Road and take exit 47 to Franschhoek / Klapmuts. Follow the signs to Franschhoek via Simondium on the R45. It takes about 45 minutes to drive to Franschhoek from Cape Town and Franschhoek has the added advantage of being centrally situated, wherever you are coming from.

Entering the village from Cape Town, follow the main road (R45/Huguenot Street) through the village. Turn left into La Rochelle street (Absa Bank is on the corner). At the 4-way stop turn right into Dirkie Uys Street, La Fontaine is the 2nd building on the left hand side No 21.

La Fontaine in Franschhoek offers 14 spacious en-suite double rooms across two heritage properties. Five en-suite double rooms are provided upstairs, and one en-suite double room downstairs in the main house. Three garden suites are set in peaceful pool and garden surroundings. Two family friendly garden suites and three luxury rooms are situated in Campbell House, our adjoining late 19th century home.

Children are welcome and are accommodated in our family garden suites. Ground level rooms are wheelchair accessible. Buffet & English breakfasts are served under the vines & in the dining room. A swimming pool (standard family size) is on site for those warm afternoons, both properties have beautiful mountain views, and safe off street parking is provided. Free Wifi access is available in all the rooms. The central location allows easy walking distance to restaurants, shops and galleries. Nearby optional activities include golf, wine tasting, hiking, fly-fishing, horse riding and cycling. +27 (0)21 876 2112

www.happyholiday.co.za – A visit to the Franschhoek and Stellenbosch vineyards is a favourite tour. While spending a day in the Stellenbosch region you will enjoy good South African wines, learn about these wines, enjoy good food and soak up the beauty of Stellenbosch and surroundings.

The following is offered on the wine tour:

• Experienced wine tour guide

• Master Tasting at Fairview with 8 wines paired with their cheeses and a chocolate and port tasting after lunch

• Wine tasting on 4 Cape vineyards

• We concentrate on quality rather than quantity

• We highlight the historical part of Stellenbosch

• Lunch on a vineyard – either in Stellenbosch or in Franschhoek (not included in the price of the tour)

On a wine tour, we would like you to sit back, relax and let your guide be your host for the day.

Monday, 20th August – Wednesday, 22nd August, 2012

Franschhoek – Durban

Sandals Guest House, Umhlanga, Durban

Breakfast included + Durban day trip as indicated

www.sandalsumhlanga.co.za

Today you will drive back to Cape Town Airport and leave your hire car there before connecting with your flight to Durban. Upon arrival at Durban Airport you will be collected by a transfer driver and make your way to Umhlanga.

Sandals Guest House is centrally situated in the quiet residential area of Umhlanga Rocks in the Greater Durban area, only 200 metres from the beach and one block away from the village where there is an abundance of top class restaurants and coffee shops. The four, five star luxury en-suite rooms are all uniquely and individually styled in warm earthy tones.

For tranquillity and some light stress relief, you can relax and soak up the sun around the beautiful swimming pool, whilst taking in the view of the sea from the expansive patio or enjoy a sundowner while watching the Umhlanga sunsets from the open bar area.

ADSL Internet access is available and the guest house accommodation is equipped with wireless hot spots, so whether you are on business, golfing, touring or celebrating a special occasion, Sandals Guest House is ideal for those who enjoy that little something extra. For warm hospitality and a quality experience, your hosts Iain and Ingrid Schouten, welcome you. +27 (0)31 561 3973

Your hire vehicle will be delivered to the guest house late in the afternoon of the 22nd.

www.touristotours.com

On 21st or 22nd August you will be picked up from Hotel at 9am. Travel along the ‘Golden Mile’ overlooking the Indian Ocean towards the entrance of Africa’s busiest harbour. Continue along Victoria Embankment to the Indian Market for a truly oriental experience. En route to the Botanic Gardens stop at a Berea Viewing point to enjoy a breath-taking view of Durban to take photos of the City. Drive into the CBD to see the City Hall, Post Office and Farwell Square, where the first White settlers pitched their tents in 1824. See the old Court House where Mahatma Gandhi worked. Drive past the Playhouse Opera Building, and take a look at the Yacht Harbour. See the Sugar Terminals, some of the biggest in the world.

Enjoy general sightseeing in some Durban Residential areas where the big tour busses don’t go. Drive to Moses Mabida stadium with a chance to take the sky car to the top of the arch, not included in price (R75.00 pp). You will be dropped off at uSaka Marine World to spend a few hours, entrance fees included. Later you will be picked up from Marine World and transferred back to the guest house.

Thursday, 23rd August & Friday, 24th August, 2012

Durban – Sodwana Bay

Coral Divers, Sodwana Bay, en-suite cabin, dinner & breakfast included

Day dive for one person with equipment hire NOT INCLUDED, and needs to be booked by yourselves in the days prior to your stay.

www.coraldivers.co.za

Directions from Durban: Take the N2 North from Durban. Take the Hluhluwe turnoff and at the stop sign turn right. Directions from the N2 turn off to Hluhluwe: Drive for approximately 2,5km and you will reach Hluhluwe town. Go straight over all the traffic circles (4 circles) following the signs to Sodwana Bay. After the last circle you will turn left. Continue along this road until you see the sign for Sodwana Bay. Turn right and go over the railway line. This 85km stretch of road is tarred all the way to Sodwana Bay.

The road will take you to Mbwazwana, where you will need to turn right and follow the signs to Sodwana Bay. Enter through the National Parks Board Gate 1 (you will be required to pay a gate entry fee). At the National Parks Board Gate 2 you will need to inform the guard of your booking at Coral Divers and you will be required to fill in a parks board form. Take this form with you when you check in at Coral Divers. Follow the signs to Coral Divers.

Coral Divers is a PADI 5 star Gold Palm IDC Centre and a National Geographic Dive Centre situated in Sodwana Bay, South Africa. We are proud to be able to provide all levels of PADI scuba instruction from Bubble Maker to Instructor Development Courses as well as accommodation and dive charters.

Lying within the boundaries of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, Sodwana Bay provides the travelling diver with a vast array of unspoilt coral reefs populated with a huge diversity of Indo-Pacific fish & invertebrates. Apart from the great diving & beautiful coral reefs, the area offers fun and excitement for the non-diver too. From quad bike riding, horse riding, kiteboarding and paintballing to day trips to Makhasa Game Reserve for Rhino or Buffalo tracking on foot, you’re sure to find something that appeals to you, your friends and/or family.

Coral Divers offers you a very comfortable diving holiday experience while retaining the rustic appeal of an out-of-the-way bush camp. The area is covered with dense coastal forest offering exquisite scenery, bird watching, and a number of small mammals including Bush Babies, Genets, Duiker and Striped Mongoose. Petrol & Diesel are available from the petrol station in the National Park, and there is a small supermarket which can provide you with essentials such as food, drink and sun block.

There are a couple of restaurants both within and outside of the Park, as well as the local night club, ‘ Maak ‘n Jol’, where you can dance the night away. Sodwana is also within driving distance of a number of amazing game reserves including Makhasa Game Reserve, Mkhuze Game Reserve, Phinda Game Reserve & the Hluhluwe Mfolozi Park. +27 (0)35 571 0290

Saturday, 25th August, 2012

Sodwana Bay – Durban – Johannesburg

Pepperwood Lodge, Johannesburg, breakfast included

http://www.pepperwoodlodge.co.za/

Today you will drive back to Durban Airport and leave your hire vehicle there in time to connect with your flight to Johannesburg. Here your guide Rhodes will collect you and transfer you to your overnight accommodation.

Welcome to Pepperwood Lodge – Pepperwood is a home style Bed & Breakfast, well situated in a quiet suburb in Northern Randburg, where a great night’s sleep and a delicious breakfast are offered. Relax next to a sparkling pool under the big pecan nuts trees in summer, maybe a swim under the stars at night. In winter there is a big wood burning fireplace to keep you warm and cosy in the guest’s lounge, great to enjoy your book or newspaper next to.

Location, location, location – Pepperwood is so well situated – close to Montecasino, Fourways, The Coca-cola Dome, Olivedale Clinic, N1 highway, Northriding, Kya Sands, Northlands Deco Park, Northgate, Lanseria Airport. Ideal for business and leisure guests.

Guests are given their own remote & keys for independent access and cars are parked under lights behind electric gates all night. We have a high priority on security. We have a 24 hour security response company servicing Pepperwood to ensure our guests safety.

Breakfast consists of Full English breakfast (Eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms & tomato) also a comprehensive Breakfast Buffet including Cereals, Muffins, Yoghurt, Fresh fruit salad a Meat & Cheese platter, fresh orange juice, tea & coffee & toast. A selection of homemade jams and marmalade. We are more than happy to provide alternative food for those with special diets, please just ask. Our breakfasts keep our guests coming back for more.

Our rooms are spacious and comfortable – some with their own private dining area or kitchenette. All the rooms have bar fridges, fans, heating, DSTV & uncapped WiFi free to our guests. +27 (0)11 704 1439

Sunday, 26th August – Tuesday, 28th August, 2012

Johannesburg – Northern Kruger

The Outpost, Northern Kruger National Park

All meals & activities included

http://www.theoutpost.co.za/

Today you will travel with Rhodes, by road to The Outpost. The Outpost lies in a vast wilderness area in the northernmost part of Kruger National Park. This region, called the Makuleke Region, is bordered to the north by the Limpopo River and Zimbabwe and to the east by Crooks Corner and Mozambique.

Using simple, clean lines and combining elements of steel, concrete and open space, the unashamedly contemporary design of The Outpost emphasises its beautiful surrounds but blends and preserves the wilderness that is its home.

The Outpost comprises one large main building and twelve stand-alone living spaces set on the side of a hill overlooking the Luvuvhu River, all connected by a half kilometre long walkway made of Zimbabwean teak. The contemporary design of each Space makes use of concrete and steel with retractable canvas sliders which open to afford a 180 degree view of the Luvuvhu River valley. The living area of each Space comprises an outdoor terrace with daybed, indoor lounge and bedroom with king size bed under mosquito netting, as well as an en-suite bathroom with award-winning bath and shower. Goose down duvets adds a touch of luxury to your comfort.

The region measures some 28,000 hectares and is home to large herds of elephant and buffalo. The mountainous terrain is attractive to leopard and the region has resident prides of lion. Rhino were recently reintroduced and guests visiting The Outpost are likely to see various fauna and flora endemic to this remote corner of the Kruger National Park. The diverse terrain of the region includes mopane woodlands, fever tree forests, acacia thickets and some of the largest and oldest baobab trees. +27 (0)11 327 3910

I will add Rhodes phone number here closer to departure…. You will be with Rhodes during your safari for walks and drives, as you all decide daily. You will have your own vehicle and the full attention of Rhodes while at the Outpost.

Wednesday, 29th August – Friday, 31st August, 2012

Northern Kruger – Sabi Sands

Idube Lodge, Sabi Sand area of Kruger, Makubela Suite, all meals & activities included

http://www.idube.com/

Today Rhodes will drive you from The Outpost to the town of Hoedspruit where you will meet a driver from Eastgate Safaris for the transfer to Idube.

Idube is located within the Sabi-sands game reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park area and home to a large variety of wildlife including the ‘Big Five’ Buffalo, Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Cheetah. Guided game drives and bush walks are included and guests are accompanied by experienced trackers to make the most of this unique environment. Accommodation is provided in a Makubela Suite. Relax under the shady canopy of trees around the boulder swimming pool, or take botanical walks through the lodge grounds.

The lodge is set in an indigenous garden of tall trees and cool, green lawns watered only with recycled water. Originally designed to blend into the bush with rough, natural coloured bricks, plastered walls, and the round outside showers have been added creating a pleasing contrast. Tiled roofs create a clean, cool interior. The thatched bar and entertainment areas have an immediate appeal and are the focal areas for guests to gather. The open lounge is a great place to relax, whilst waiting to see what animals will come wandering in front of the lodge.

The swimming pool is well situated for both bird watching and game viewing, whilst cooling off with a refreshing drink in hand. Idube happily hosts families of nyala and warthogs, which are seen almost daily around the entire lodge area. Many guests prefer just to sit on their private deck enjoying the quiet and watching squirrels, monkeys or the many other creatures that have made Idube their home. +27 (0)13 735 5459

The Makubela Suites are Idube’s brand new suites completed in February 2011. Take a walk down the wooden walkway and you will be in your own private world, apart from any other buildings and completely surrounded by natural bush.

Each spacious suite has an entrance hall, bedroom and lounge, large bathroom, including bath and shower, and a separate outside shower, which are accessible from both the bathroom and the outside deck. The 2 suites can be made inter-leading.

Suites each have a mini-bar, tea and coffee facilities, safe, hairdryer, overhead fan, air conditioner, mosquito net and mosquito screens on windows. Rooms open up with sliding/ folding doors on 2 sides to a large wooden patio, into which is set a private pool. The view is all out to the bush beyond and the animals wandering freely across the clearing.

As part of the Makubela package, dinner can served at your suite. The lantern lit romantic dinner served on the private deck will add another unforgettable memory of your Idube holiday

Saturday, 1st September, 2012

Sabi Sands – Mpumalanga

Camp Jabulani, Mpumalanga, all meals & activities plus most drinks included

http://www.campjabulani.com/

Drive today with Eastgate Safaris from Idube to Hoedspruit where you will be met and escorted in an open safari vehicle, the 30 minute drive to Jabulani. Camp Jabulani is a family-owned and managed private luxury safari lodge located within the private Kapama Game Reserve in Hoedspruit, South Africa (in close proximity to the Kruger National Park, and scenic Mpumalanga region). With a Relais & Chateaux accreditation, this camp is guaranteed to offer first class accommodation, cuisine, facilities and personalized service.

But its most notable feature is the herd of trained African elephants which were rescued by the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre.

Visitors can experience the extraordinary impact of interacting personally with the mammoth animals on daily elephant rides (the only night safari in the world!), around the waterhole as they swim and play, and in the wild habitat surrounding their stables.

This luxurious camp has only 6 suites – never more than 12 guests, while the exclusive Zindoga Villa is suited to the family traveler, or the client who prefers the more exclusive experience.

Some of Camp Jabulani’s notable offerings include the daily elephant back safaris, safari drives in the Big Five private Kapama Reserve, visits to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, indulgent treatments in the outdoor Therapy Lapa, gastronomic delights at the hands of the masterful culinary team, and hot air balloon excursions over the reserve.

The Roode Family has a long history in the South African wildlife community, with Lente Roode as founder of the renowned Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. It was their commitment to the cause of rescuing and providing a safe haven for orphaned, injured and vulnerable animal species that saw the conceptualization and creation of Camp Jabulani.

Sunday, 2nd September, 2012

Mpumalanga – Johannesburg

Fly out of Johannesburg

After an inclusive early morning activity today, take a 30 minute road transfer to Hoedspruit Airport and arrive in time to connect with your scheduled flight to Johannesburg. Return to Johannesburg in time to connect with your flight back home.

Crystal Stevenson

Botswana 2013

May 14th – 29th, 2013

(Space Confirmed April 24th, 2012)

Created, designed and planned by Timothy Jackson of Jackson’s African Safaris &

Vintage Destinations

May 14th, 15th & 16th, 2013

Arrive Livingstone, Zambia (Victoria Falls)

Islands of Siankaba, Livingstone

Fully Inclusive (Some exceptions/Optional Activities)

Rhino walk on the 15th

Accommodation: Islands of Siankaba, Livingstone

When you arrive today in Livingstone you will be welcomed by your Jackson’s African Safaris representative and transferred 22km up along the course of the Zambezi to the Islands of Siankaba.

The Islands of Siankaba luxury lodge is located on two private islands in the middle of the mighty Zambezi River situated between the ‘Seventh Wonder of the Natural World’, the magnificent Victoria Falls, and the world famous Chobe National Park.

The lodge has been developed as a luxurious five star retreat with outstanding cuisine and uncompromising levels of personal service to exclusively sleep just fourteen guests. Each of Siankaba’s seven secluded chalets has been uniquely designed to maximize comfort and privacy whilst boasting spectacular views of the Zambezi River.

The unique features of the lodge are the series of walkways and bridges that link the two islands together. The quirky design incorporates the use of natural materials that blend in with the feel of the surrounding bush while taking full advantage of the beauty of the riverine setting. This makes it the perfect retreat for discerning travelers who wish to witness the wonderful Victoria Falls yet also escape the crowds and enjoy being in an area of exceptional natural beauty with quiet, unspoiled surroundings.

There is plenty to do in the immediate vicinity of the lodge. The village tour, escorted by one of the local staff from the area, is extremely worthwhile and gives a good insight into the role of positive tourism in community development. Mokoro trips in locally-made dugout canoes, leisurely sunset pontoon cruises to spot drinking game and waterbirds, self-guided island forest walks, fabulous fishing and a de-stressing African massage are all available to Siankaba guests. Also included is a guided trip to Victoria Falls which is of course a must, plus an inclusive walking safari in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, in search of white rhino.

May 17th, 18th & 19th, 2013

Livingstone – Kasane (Botswana)

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before you receive an inclusive transfer over the Zambezi River and on to Kasane Airport in Botswana. You will need to clear customs at the borders. More detail will be provided on visas and entry into these countries as we prepare for your trip of a lifetime. In Kasane you will board a light aircraft flight, departing at approx. 10.30AM into the heart of the Okavango Delta to Jao Camp.

Wilderness Air Botswana – seat rates

Scheduled Seat Flight

10:30 Depart from Kasane

10:55 Arrival in Jao Camp

Accommodation: Jao Camp

Rooms: Tented Room/s

Includes: All meals, daily activities, laundry and drinks (excluding premium import brands and champagne)

In the central region of the concession, vast open floodplains provide some of the most stunning scenery Botswana has to offer. Jao Camp lies in the southern side of the plains, an area with beautiful islands fringed with riverine forests.

Jao Camp has nine spacious, beautiful tents, each individually handcrafted. These twin-bedded canvas and thatched rooms are situated beneath a canopy of shady trees and have en-suite facilities, as well as an outdoor shower for the more adventurous. Built on raised decks, each has a private sala for afternoon siestas and offers wonderful views of the spectacular surrounding floodplains of Botswana. In addition to the lounge and dining area, there are two plunge pools and an outdoor boma for dining under the stars, complemented by wines from an excellent wine cellar. Jao Camp also has a spa where a wide range of massage therapies are offered. For more information please visit www.jaospa.com.

Mokoro, boat trips, fishing, day and night game drives and birding are usually on offer all year round due to the abundance of wildlife in Botswana. There are two platform hides in the concession. During an unusually high flood season, game drives begin by boating out to nearby Hunda Island where the vehicles are waiting, and the drive begins from there. Huge herds of red lechwe can be seen, followed by their primary predator – prides of lion. Other game typical of Botswana include elephant, buffalo, leopard, tsessebe, zebra and wildebeest, hippo and crocodile. Many bird species are resident such as Meyer’s Parrot, African Harrier Hawk, Black egret, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Malachite Kingfisher, Hamerkop and Black Crake being some of the avian treasures found at Jao Camp.

May 20th, 21st & 22nd, 2013

Depart Jao Camp – Mombo Camp

Accommodation: Mombo Camp

Rooms: Tented Room/s

Included: All meals, daily activities, laundry and drinks (excluding premium import brands and champagne)

Mombo Camp is located in the Mombo Concession on the northern tip of Chief’s Island within the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. This area boasts enormous concentrations of plains game and predators – providing arguably the best big game viewing in all of Africa.

Built under large, shady trees and overlooking the floodplains which team with wildlife all year round, Mombo Camp comprises nine spacious tents raised two metres from the ground. Bathrooms are en suite, with both indoor and outdoor showers. Magnificent vistas are the order of the day, with all the rooms, the sala, long veranda and lounge area taking advantage of the very best that the Okavango Delta has to offer. Mombo Camp’s main living and dining areas are under thatch, but a boma adds traditional flavour to a delicious dinner under the stars. There is also a plunge pool in which to relax.

The best big game viewing experience starts on the veranda at Mombo Camp, with wonderful concentrations of game occurring right in front of the camp. Guests often find animals wandering past, right under their rooms!

Activities at Mombo Camp include morning and afternoon game drives. Open 4x4s provide an excellent vantage for viewing the high concentrations of plains game and all the predators – including the big cats. Lion sightings are frequent. Guests at Mombo Camp can also expect to see leopard, wild dog, spotted hyaena, large herds of buffalo, elephant, white rhino, southern giraffe, blue wildebeest and Burchell’s zebra.

Black and white rhino have been reintroduced to the region with outstanding success (albeit most are further away from Mombo Camp), thanks to the Botswana Rhino Reintroduction Programme.

May 23rd, 24th & 25th, 2013

Depart Mombo Camp – Jacks Camp

Wilderness Air Botswana – Charters

Charter Flight

Depart from Mombo Camp

Arrival in Jack’s Camp

Private Charter

Accommodation: Jack’s Camp

Rooms: Standard Room/s

Included: All meals, daily activities and drinks (excluding premium import brands).

While on a trapping expedition in the Makgadikgadi Pans during the 60s, Jack Bousfield stumbled upon a site that so captured his imagination that he set up camp under an acacia tree with the unshakeable expectation that others would feel the same.

The camp’s hub, a romantic canvas pavilion of low spires and finials, with a fluttering valance beneath its eaves, could have come straight from a mediaeval jousting tourney, were it not a deciduous green. Three poles support the main chamber where everyone meets for lavish and elegant meals at a long communal dining table.

Ten green roomy and stylish canvas tents with en-suite bathrooms and indoor and outdoor showers (for those who want to feel the Kalahari breeze on their skin) have been fashioned in classical style and are set into a palm grove creating an oasis of civilization in what can be the harshest of stark environments.

A relic of one of the world’s largest super-lakes, the Makgadikgadi dried up thousands of years ago as a result of the continued shifting of the earth’s crust. When the lake was formed, some five to seven million years ago, its shores were the setting for the mysterious transition from ape to man.

Venturing far into the centre of the Makgadikgadi, on 4-wheel-drive quad bikes, guests are able to explore remote archaeological sites, periodically discovering never-before-documented fossil beds of extinct giant zebra and hippo. The fact that you can travel across the pans at great speed and still arrive nowhere only underlines the pan’s immensity.

A safari to Jack’s Camp is also a complete desert experience, focusing on species unique to the area such as aardvark, gemsbok and springbok. It is the only place where guests are virtually guaranteed to see the rare and elusive brown hyaena and are able to walk through the Kalahari with a gang of habituated, yet wild meerkats (suricates)!

During the wet season the landscape transforms. Clouds of flamingo and other migratory birds descend from the heavens to decorate the watery grasslands. Herds of zebra and wildebeest materialize, drawn by the lush grass, and for several months, the desert is teeming with game and predators.

The guides at Jack’s are an erudite breed. Often graduate students who combine research with guiding, they team up with a small group of Zu/’hoasi Bushmen to guide our guests on the morning’s walks and game drives.

May 26th, 27th & 28th, 2013

Depart Jacks Camp – Abu Camp

Wilderness Air Botswana – seat rates

Scheduled Seat Flight

Depart from Jacks Camp

Arrival in Abu Camp

Accommodation: Abu Camp

Rooms: Tented Room/s

Includes: All meals, daily activities, laundry, park fees and drinks (excluding premium import brands).

Kindly note that the Elephant rides are limited to 5 guests per activity.

No Elephant interaction available on Fridays.

Abu Camp, set in a pristine pocket of riverine forest, is situated in a vast private reserve of 180 000 hectares (400 000 acres) Botswana’s Okavango Delta.

Named after a very special bull elephant, Abu Camp was the original base camp when Africa’s first elephant back safaris were pioneered in the Delta 17 years ago. Today it is located in a grove of magnificent hardwood trees on the edge of a large lagoon at the edge of the Okavango Delta with a resident school of hippo.

An imaginative use of canvas and pole has created a unique style of tent: high ceilings, wide and airy spaces, blending in flawlessly with the natural surroundings. Each of the six en-suite accommodation units has its own distinctive furnishings and fittings, many of them antique, imparting an air of opulence amid the bush setting. Each tent has its own private elevated teak deck sculpted around one of the lofty sycomore figs or jackalberry trees with vistas the likes of which only the Okavango Delta can boast.

Well-lit pathways link the Abu Camp tents with the main lounge and dining area. High vaulted tenting opens out onto a tiered teak deck surrounding a giant termite mound, one of the characteristic sights of the Okavango Delta. The lounge is replete with comfortable antique furnishings and boasts an absorbing library of field guides and illustrated volumes on the wildlife surrounding the camp, as well as throughout the Okavango Delta. A well-stocked bar provides drinks and cocktails for post-safari sundowners around a camp fire while most of the meals are taken al fresco on the deck. Nearby a secluded plunge pool enables guests to cool off and relax.

With its shady trees and views overlooking the tranquil lagoon, Abu Camp is a haven of peace and seclusion.

Abu Camp is unique in that it allows guests to interact with the resident elephant herd, meeting each individual and initiating a journey into the complex behaviour of the largest land mammal on Earth. Guests at Abu Camp are invited to become part of the elephant herd during their stay: watching the evening feeding, sharing the simple joy of a frolicking youngster, and accompanying them on foot as they move through the bush. These elephant encounters provide unforgettable magical moments. And viewing wildlife from atop an elephant allows a closer approach to other animals than can be achieved when simply walking as an obvious human figure.

Abu Camp also offers morning and afternoon game drives, night drives and nature walks to view the abundance of fauna and flora in the area. During the seasonal floods of the Okavango Delta, guests are invited to take to the waters in the mokoros, the traditional poled craft used in the Okavango Delta.

May 29th, 2013

Abu Camp – Maun

Wilderness Air Botswana – seat rates

Scheduled Seat Flight

15:05 Depart from Abu Camp

15:35 Arrival in Maun

*A morning departure may be needed depending on your outbound flight details at time of booking.

Looking forward to preparing you Crystal for this trip of a lifetime!

Again Many Thanks for your booking,

Timothy

Proflight reserves the right to not take your ‘extra’ luggage, and have it placed on the next available flight.  These are smaller aircraft, and weight is a safety issue.  The next available flight could be 1 or two days.  The message here is travel lite!

They are traveling from Malawi where they have visited teachers in the country that their college has trained in the USA over the years.  They go back and visit the teachers to establish the success of the program.  The college has an ongoing project training teachers.

Jeff last visited South Luangwa 20 years ago.

They will be staying at Thornicroft Lodge for 4 days, a nice short diversion from work in Malawi.  Keep up the good work in Malawi Jeff.  Again, Many Thanks for your booking.

Responsible Travel –

Jeff, try and visit  the COMACO building near the filling station and see how the Zambian Wildlife Societies, Community Market project etc helps the entire Luangwa Valley area.

Day 2& 3: – After a light snack with tea & coffee we depart for a morning drive at 06H00. All game drives are undertaken in open game viewing vehicles, to optimise your pleasure and experience. Drinks and snacks are taken along for your enjoyment whilst in the park. Depending on game sightings, we return to the lodge at 11 for a scrumptious “brunch”. An afternoon rest, swim, tea then we again head out for our afternoon/ night drive at around 16H00 – returning to the lodge at 20H00.  Evening Dinner.

Day 4: – This morning a more leisurely start to the day with breakfast after which we pack up and return back to Lilongwe. A picnic lunch is eaten en route and ETA in the city is 1500. A free drop off service is offered in Lilongwe.

Luangwa Valley – 9050 sq km of pristine woodland and riverine vegetation plays host to over 40 mammal and 650 bird species. The South Luangwa has been described as the premier park in Africa foremost for the variety of species seen when visiting. A visit to Malawi and Zambia would be totally incomplete without experiencing the sheer magnitude and delight of this unique area.

Thornicroft – This newly built Lodge is situated on the banks of the Luangwa River overlooking the National Park. The lodge offers luxurious accommodation in double canvass and stone en suite chalets each with their own private verandah.. Each room has been carefully positioned to afford guests maximum privacy and the attention to detail in the chalets makes them luxurious. Professionally guided drives are undertaken in specially modified 4 wheel drive game viewing vehicles to enhance your pleasure and experience.

Included in the above package: All transport Lilongwe return, 3 nights beautiful lodge accommodation, all meals, 4 X game drives.

Excluded in the above package: Drinks, visa fees [if applicable], park entrance fees [$ 50 p/p], game walks [seasonal].