Special visas for 2009, 2010 World Cup fans

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs is to issue special "event visas" for soccer fans coming to the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup and 2010 Fifa World Cup, enabling fans to use dedicated counters at major airports around the world for pre-clearance before they arrive in the country.
South African immigration officials - who are able to speak in several languages - will be stationed at several of the busiest airports around the world, including in the UK, India, Dubai and Hong Kong, where fans will be able to go through a free pre-screening and pre-clearance process.
This will be the first time that such a visa is used by a country hosting a major world event.
The immigration officials will also be equipped with hi-tech devices for scanning passports or travel documents. By electronically capturing information from the documents, officials will save time by not having to type in information.

Game viewing on horseback

GUESTS visiting any of the lodges in the Kapama, Thornybush and Timbavati reserves can now combine their stay with the experience of game viewing on horseback. Wildlife Encounters has launched River Horse Safaris, offering guests the opportunity to ride along side herds of impala, giraffe and other animals in the bush.

Guided outrides of one to two hours are available every morning and afternoon with arranged transfers from surrounding lodges. Guests can extend their visit in the bush with the overnight option, which includes an afternoon and morning outride, choosing to stay at the main camp or the specially constructed hideout with adjacent paddock.

Walking Safari's in Madikwe Game Reserve

TUNINGI Safari Lodge has finally announced the introduction of walking safaris in the Madikwe Game Reserve.
"After two years of dreadful, endless paperwork, we have finally received gun licenses for the lodge," says a spokesperson for the property, explaining that this means it can now offer walks in the bush.
The walks are not meant for guests to go chasing the biggest and most dangerous animals; the walks give guides a chance to showcase the smaller things in the wild.
"They will teach you how to track an animal and how to identify a poisonous plant and how to make a toothbrush in the veld. They will find birds' nests and eggs, rhino scrubbing posts and teach you about the termite mounds. The knowledge they have to share with you is endless!"

By law, children are not permitted to go on the walks because the reserve is a dangerous Big Five area. Instead they will be entertained back at the lodge with various activities such as t-shirt painting, treasure hunts and clay moulding among others.

A walk in the bush is the only way to really experince the African bush, to become "one" with the bush.

Definitive African Expreince

MALAMALA and Mashatu camps have launched a combination package called the Definitive African Experience. Guests will spend two nights at MalaMala followed by three nights at Mashatu Game Reserve. Included is the flight between the two reserves.
The package includes en-suite accommodation, all meals and snacks, game drives in open four wheel drive safari vehicles and a choice of one adventure or research activity at Mashatu which will be either a cycling or walking safari, a predator or ivory drive or a star gazing bush dinner. The itineraries will operate weekly, and are based on a minimum of two confirmed guests.

The two lodges compliment each other and it is a great mixture to allow guests to experience two different parts of Southern Africa. Malamala is situated in the world renowned Sabie Sands Reserve which borders on the Kruger National Park, Mashatu is in the Tuli block on the south eastern tip of Botswana and has a variety of biospheres from open plains, wetlands, forests and riverine areas.

Both lodges offer excellent game viewing opportunities. Contact Go Safari for more details

ULUSABA RICHARD BRANSONS PRIVATE GAME LODGE

FREE NIGHTS AT ULUSABA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
We are delighted to offer a complimentary night at Ulusaba for arrivals between 2nd January and 31st March 2009.
Stay 4 nights at Ulusaba for the price of 3! or, stay a little longer and...
Stay 5 nights for the price of 4! or, stay even longer and ...
Stay 7 nights for the price of 5!
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KIDS GO FREE OFFER 2009
Between the 2nd January and the 31st December 2009 up to two children under the age of 12 years travelling with one or more adults can stay at Rock Lodge at no extra charge.

Canoe the Zambezi & visit Victoria Falls

Special offer for January 2009

Explore the upper Zambezi River on a canoe and overnight in the bush for a night. Round off the trip with a visit to Victoria Falls and enjoy some of the many activities on offer.

5 day package from R5 894.00 pps ex JHB (Add R1 225 airline charges. Total R7119.00)

The world is indeed going through some significant change to shed the excesses of the past, and there are lot of doomsday profits jumping on the bandwagon. The communists are having a field day on their soap boxes ridiculing the global capitalist failures ; well I say hindsight is an exact science! There is no perfect system and the world economy will recover from this temporary setback. People will adapt because they have to; it is as simple as that, but they will certainly not stop smelling the flowers! South Africa is such a great and affordable destination that I have to spread the ''gospel''.

Where else can you have a great Kudu steak and top quality wine for less than $10 each! There is a package for every conceivable budget! All travel professionals will sharpen their pencils during the next 12-18 months. I can guarantee they will offer you better deals! Every market operates on supply and demand, and this oversupply of tourism products will decrease prices significantly. Five star hotels in South Africa are dropping their prices! If you have a burning desire to experience an African Safari it is the time to start planning your trip. Most people outside the industry do not know that it is possible to have a great Safari at 5 star lodges that charge a 1/3 less than the so-called high end establishments. Select your vacation months carefully to get the best deals. Peak season travel is not necessary when visiting South Africa, where you have great weather for 10 months of the year. The period between peak and winters months are best for good deals. The northern Safari regions are even accessible during the colder months of winter - May, June and July. Day time temperatures are quite good!(20 to 25 Deg.C).

The best advise I can give is to do more homework before you travel to a destination; speak to someone who has been there and don't leave it all to the local travel agent. They often do not know a particular market and then find a local expert to prepare a travel package. Guess how many layers of commission you are paying for then? Local experts will put a complete tailored(4*+) package together for as little as $200 -250 per person (including accommodation, transport, taxes, services of a driver and some meals). Your dollar buys a lot more in this emerging market where the currency weakened significantly as a result of the credit crunch fallout!.

The Internet is a great tool for research and there are millions of honest business people advertising their services. Doing a quick credibility check is also easy when finding a South African travel service provider. The best tour operators will give you detailed feedback without expecting anything in return. Only when conditions of sale have been met will they expect a small deposit, which will leave you with months to save for the rest of your vacation. Plan your trip at least 6-12 months in advance. That way you are able to find the best possible deal while putting money away on a monthly basis for your trip.

Happy Travels

Tertius - New Fusion