Jamala Madikwe | Natural Elegance

Nov 152011
 

“Jamala,” means “natural elegance” in Swahili.  According to my recent experience at Jamala it well deserves its name!

Jamala Madikwe’s five freestanding villas blend perfectly into the landscape and combine the feeling of an exotic wilderness refuge with extravagant luxury. The standards for service, accommodation and food are absolutely top notch! You can lounge outdoors in a secluded rim-flow pool or your own open-air shower. Each day I enjoyed relaxing on my private deck while taking in the beautiful views of the savannah and the action at the watering hole always busy with game.

Jamala is tucked within the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, a 185,000-acre prime game-viewing region in South Africa’s North West province, and echoes with the calls of birds and vervet monkeys. The reserve offers a variety of landscapes from vast open plains and dense bushveld to towering rocky peaks. Because the reserve lies within a transition zone between Lowveld bushveld and the Kalahari thornveld, it is home to life from both ecosystems, including more than 300 species of birds and impressive populations of the famous Big Five. Another major attraction is the area’s healthy population of endangered African wild dog. Madikwe is an ancient land where nature abounds and at Jamala travelers have a luxurious front row seat! Highly recommended!

-Cherri Briggs, owner of EXPLORE

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Extraordinary 3-tusk Elephant Sighting at Nxai Pan!

Jun 222010
 

From our friends at Kwando Safaris:

While staying at Kwando’s Nxai Pan camp, Stuart Arnold, a Botswana-basednxai pan 3 tusk elephant sighting professional photographer was amazed to spot an unusual elephant drinking at the waterhole at the front of the camp.  Upon closer inspection it was discovered that the elephant carried an amazing 3 tusks!!

The tusks of an African Elephant grow continuously throughout their life –  a bull elephant’s tusks can grow up to 18 cm in a year. Tusks are an elephant’s tool and they are used for a variety of tasks including digging for water and roots or to strip bark from trees.

All elephant’s, like humans are either right- or left-handed, favoring a right or left tusk. The most often used tusk, is generally shorter due to wear and tear.  While the majority of elephants have two tusks, occasionally individual elephants exhibit abnormal growth which can include additional tusks.  Such examples are extremely rare.  As one can see from the images, the elephant is a mature bull and therefore has managed to live a long life despite his unusual third tusk.

nxai pan 3 tusk elephant sighting

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Chindeni Bushcamp reopens with a new look

Jun 152010
 

Chindeni BushcampJust in time for this year’s safari season in the beautiful South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, Chindeni Bushcamp has reopened with a stunning new look!

The common areas of Chindeni Camp have been redesigned and rebuilt and the tents have fabulous new furniture.   The commanding views of the Chayumba Lagoon and nearby Chindeni Hills are as spectacular as ever and the resident hippos are ready to serenade you as you enjoy your tranquil evenings.Chindeni Bushcamp

Spend your time on exciting game walks, game drives and night drives.  Just recently the surrounding area of Chindeni has set a new sightings “record”… seven different leopards seen on one night drive!

If relaxation is what you’re looking for… park yourself in a deckchair at camp to watch the abundance of game that is drawn to the lagoon at different times of the day and become mesmerized by the elephants playing and bathing, the sunbathing crocodiles and thirsty cats.

Click here to see video from the Bushcamp Company on the new look of Chindeni

Chindeni Bushcamp

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The Victoria Falls Hotel is back!

Jun 022010
 

Victoria Falls HotelThe brochures often refer to the Victoria Falls Hotel as “the grand dame of the Falls”… Well in this case the hype is true. A grander queen doesn’t exist in Africa! And she has a new spring in her step after recent renovations which brought the hotel back to its original colonial era glory… with a few nods to contemporary comfort.  The hotel has not lost charm of its classic ambiance, unlike almost all other refurbished hotels. And its just minutes away from the world famous Victoria Falls.  You see the spray from the falls on the balcony at lunch, and hear its quiet thunder all night.

Set in lush tropical gardens within Victoria Falls National Park, it provides a tranquility and seclusion that is hard found anywhere. The hotel has all of the luxuries you could want including air-conditioned rooms, satellite television, room service, floodlit tennis courts, an Edwardian-style swimming pool, lounges, reading rooms, restaurants and more. But all in grand, nostalgic style.  I never tire of wandering the halls after dinner in the dining room where the same old gents have played the piano and horn for the last 20 years.  The artwork and colonial ads and cartoons are fascinating.  A museum within a hotel.  The food is good as well… maybe for the first time ever!  With a great young chef from Scotland who has a fondness for fresh Scottish Salmon!  I am sure Livingstone would have walked a few extra hundred miles for a taste of fresh salmon in dill.

The Victoria Falls Hotel is definitely back!   My favorite hotel in all of Africa.

-Cherri Briggs, President, EXPLORE inc.

Victoria Falls Hotel

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Mfuwe Lodge Reopens after Refurbishment

Jun 022010
 

We are excited to inform you that Mfuwe Lodge, situated in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, reopened to guests on the 1st of May, with a brand new look, after a major upgrade and refurbishment.  Whilst the essential structure and design of the lodge remains the same considerable changes have been made to decor, furnishings, lighting and all facilities to give the lodge a whole new look.

Click here to view a video of the elephants in the Mfuwe reception!

Mfuwe Lodge is built between two spectacular lagoons.  The open plan design keeps the comfort and relaxation of guests in mind, but also capitalizes on the fact that an African wilderness experience is a blend of colors and textures, sounds, aromas and sights unmatched anywhere else in the world.

A new curio shop has been created and reception, bar and dining areas have been remodeled.  A new pizza oven/braii area has been installed.  The main deck area has been refurbished and an outdoor lounge and dining area has been incorporated.  The infinity swimming pool was re-lined and given a new look, and as an added benefit, solar “farms” have been erected to provide hot water in a more environmentally friendly way.

Each chalet provides 24 hour power and is equipped with a ceiling fan, refrigerator, tea and coffee making facilities, mosquito nets, brand new bathrooms, new furnishings and windows.  Aa private newly remodeled verandah in each chalet overlooks one of the lagoons where you can view some of Africa’s majestic wildlife as animals come down to drink.

The South Luangwa National Park, located in the eastern part of the Zambia, covers an area of 3500 square miles.  It is renowned for its beauty and its varied habitats which support one of Africa’s richest concentrations of game and birdlife.  Luangwa boasts Africa’s largest population of leopard. Over 50 species of large mammal and some 400 species of bird thrive in this last haven of wild Africa.  During a stay in the South Luangwa Valley you are bound to see the large elephant herds of up to 50 individuals, an abundant number of buffalo, fourteen antelope species and Thornicroft’s giraffe, unique to the Valley.  This area is also known for its healthy population of all the big predators.  The meandering Luangwa River with its many ox-bow lagoons and shady ebony groves forms the eastern boundary of the Park while the western horizon is dominated by the spectacular Muchinga escarpment, rising almost a kilometer from the valley floor.

Learn more about Mfuwe Lodge and the surrounding area at http://www.mfuwelodge.com/.

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The Brand New Zambezi Queen

May 282010
 

I must admit, life doesn’t get much better than relaxing and being pampered aboard a 5-star cruise boat… unless of course you are in the midst of Africa’s most beautiful ecosystem cruising the Chobe River.  Bordered by Botswana and Namibia, the Chobe is home to the largest concentration of elephants on earth and a huge diversity of other wildlife from buffalo to lion, hyena, puku, impala, giraffe…the entire Ark! The brand new Zambezi Queen gives you luxury and wildlife all at once.

The contemporary design of the boat is a nice contrast after experiencing some of Botswana’s classic safari lodges. zambezi queen bedroomIt offers 14 opulent cabins, a small outdoor plunge pool for cooling off in the hot months, a very chic bar with a classy/cool lounge area and wood-burning fireplace, an air-conditioned library filled with documentaries on African history and wildlife and meals created by qualified South African chefs.

From your cabin balcony or the top deck you have outstanding game viewing.  You also have the option of participating in land excursions on either the Botswana or Namibian side (which are included in the price).  The area is home to over 400 different species of bird, 120,000 elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion and the rare puku among others.

Make sure when you’re booking with us to ask for advice regarding which rooms are cooler (only the reading room has air conditioning).  This is a great option to combine with Zambia, Zimbabwe or other parts of Botswana such as the Eden-like Utopia of the Okavango Delta!

zambezi queen

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The Selous Project – Lukula Selous

May 262010
 

My husband Richard and I went to Lukula in the remote Selous in Tanzania and found the Africa we haven’t seen in many years… WILD  WILD WILD! I loved this camp as it fully retains the wild spirit of Africa. Though remote, it has a good level of comfort and great ‘Swahili/Safari Style” with a strong dash of colonial character thrown in for good measure.  This part of the Selous is completely unaffected by tourists. The  gorgeous landscape and  great game are the main drawcard, but it’s not for everyone.  If you need a blow dryer and a spa, rule this one out. Though you may be lucky with a surprise bubble bath and champagne in the middle of a sand bar!  It’s fabulous for a small group of friends who are looking for a real wilderness experience and a great adventure as there are only four luxury tents.  Being in the safari business I have traveled all over Africa and visited virtually every lodge worth seeing…this is at the very top of my list of favorites!

-Cherri Briggs

President, EXPLORE, Inc.

The Selous Project - Lukula Selous

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Holiday Travel in Africa – 2010 is filling fast!

May 212010
 

Want to go to Africa for the holidays?  Go somewhere warmer?  This is a great time to visit but be aware lodges are filling up for 2010.

Email us if you’d like more information -  info@exploreafrica.net – we’d love to help you plan your holiday!

The Great MigrationTHE GREAT MIGRATION

Have you always wanted to see Africa’s Great Migration, one of the greatest spectacles of the natural world?  The time to go is in December, January and February, but because so many people want to see this mass movement of over 2 million animals, lodges are beginning to fill up already.

From the vast Serengeti plains in Tanzania to the champagne-colored hills of Kenya’s Maasai Mara, over 1.4 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra and gazelle migrate in a clockwise fashion over 1,800 miles each year in search of rain-ripened grass. It is truly a staggering experience!  Encounter the vast herds of the wildebeest migration as they fan out in a seemingly un-endless blanket across the landscape.

The thundering hooves of the herds and the enormous clouds of fine red dust they leave in their wake have become an icon of East African safari. Filled with dramatic encounters, this incredible journey takes the herds across fast-flowing rivers inhabited by some of Africa’s largest crocodiles and plains filled with predators.

Cape TownHOLIDAY TIME  IN CAPE TOWN

Thinking of traveling to warmer climates around Christmas time?  Cape Town is a great option, but unless you book early it is almost impossible to find a room.

Cape Town is a city where old and new harmoniously converge in history, architecture, cultural pursuits and the essence of its people.  It is dominated by a towering, table-shaped mountain, set on a peninsula of soaring, rocky heights and lush valleys, where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.

The fast pace and bright lights of the city meld effortlessly with a choice of white sandy beaches, magnificent green areas with rivers, vleis and dams and a floral kingdom that is wholly unique to the Cape.  There are also plenty of must-sees to check off your list like Robben Island, Cape Point and the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.  All of this combined with the spectacular warm climate make Cape Town a fantastic destination.

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