African plans largest game park

By Letlhogile Lucas
BBC Focus on Africa, Gaborone

Plans to create the world's largest game park are being finalised at a meeting in Botswana in southern Africa.

The planned conservation area will straddle the borders of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

It is hoped the park will bring in tourists to such attractions as the Victoria Falls, Okavango swamps, Chobe National Park and Caprivi Strip.

Officials believe it will also help regional tourism ahead of the 2010 World Cup taking place in South Africa.

The prosposed Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Park will cost an estimated $100m to set up and is expected to contribute significantly to job creation in the five countries.

Africa's biggest game park at the moment is the 35,000-square-kilometre Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park on the borders of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.



Click to see a map of the area the park will cover
While the southern African region has big potential as a tourist destination, those meeting in Botswana's capital, Gaborone, say much needs to be done to attract tourists to the region.

At Thursday's gathering tourism ministers and environmental experts are hammering out a joint conservation policy.

"The major issue is about sustainable tourism," Botswana's Tourism Minister Kitso Mokaila told the BBC.

"Tourism is a revenue generator and therefore if we can get the conservation issue right then I think we can start talking more positively and more confidently about sustainable tourism."

Among the obstacles cited were the landmines scattered in the Cuando Cubango region of Angola, where a 27-year civil war ended in 2002.

"What we want right now is to make sure that the funds that are available for the de-mining to proceed as soon as possible," said Eduardoa Chingunji, Angola's tourism minister.

"But let's not forget that at times also the question of landmines in Angola is overblown... there are specific areas where there were battle lines for a long time - that's where you find the concentration.

"The priority right now is to de-mine a major part of the border that is between the countries," he said.

Another issue the ministers have been grappling with is the bad image associated with Zimbabwe that could well tarnish their park project.

Tourists tend to shun Zimbabwe because of the political and economic strife there.

But Mr Mokaila said he did not see politics coming in the way of business.

"When I was in the Victoria Falls all I could see were tourists all over the show. Obviously if the Zimbabwe situation were to change it would also enhance what we're doing.

"But I think that the very fact that we're also involved with them in these negotiations also assists their issues."

As well as finding a common position on issues of tourism and the management of the wildlife, it is also hoped that the project will assist in region's economic integration.

Welgevonden

DSC00296.JPG
Originally uploaded by arimathea

Driving in Welgevonden game reserve South Africa

African Safari

A montage of the animals seen on safari in South Africa

Ray Mears in Africa

Ray shows how to make rope from mother-in-law’s tongue, or Sansevieria trifasciata laurentii (Sansevieria)

Battle at Kruger

A battle between a pride of lions, a herd of buffalo, and 2 crocodiles at a watering hole in South Africa's Kruger National Park while on safari

Incredible video well worth watching

africa safari

Golf & Safari in South Africa

A new range of holidays in South Africa have been developed for the holidaymaker who wants to take a trip on the wild side while enjoying the more laid back pleasures of golf.

Visitors to South Africa can now take advantage of a golf safari, which takes them through a national park, visiting numerous golf clubs for a round on the way.

Ideal for the golf and animal lover, or the golfing-mad dad who also has a family of non-golfers to consider, Golf Tours usually combine golf drives with game drives.


All manner of wild life can be observed, none more so at the Skukuza Golf Club, unique in the fact that it is the only club actually in the national park.

At the nine-hole Skukuza, holidaymakers are as likely to see an antelope, warthog and hippo, as they are a birdie, eagle or albatross.

It’s amazing how difficult the par three, ninth hole becomes when you know the lake you have to drive across is home to hippos!

Guests enjoy five star safari hospitality with twice daily game drives to track down Africa’s Big Five – lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos.

Visit the Golf Holiday Guide in South Africa for more information

Kruger National Park Wilderness Trails

Wilderness trails in the Kruger National Park allow adventurous visitors a close personal encounter with nature by traversing large areas of unspoiled wilderness on foot, under the guidance of armed and experienced trail rangers.

Wilderness Trails
No persons under 12. Maximum 8 per trail. Participants spend 3 nights in a wilderness camp accompanied by a trail ranger costs approx R2400.00

Olifants River Back-Packing Trail
Depart from Olifants on Sundays and Wednesdays between 01 April and 31 October. Duration 3 nights. Bookings are made per trail. Approx R10600,00 per trail (max 8 persons)

Mountain Bike Trails
For Full day trail all 6 spaces must be reserved. Currently available from Olifants only. Morning: R325,00 Afternoon: R185,00 Full day: R685,00

Lebombo Motorised Trail
Maximum 4 persons per vehicle. Duration 4 nights. Participants to supply own catering and equipment. Approx R5200,00 per vehicle

Kruger National Park Accomodation

Accommodation in the Kruger national Park South Africa
Kruger National Park Accommodation styles range from standard bungalow, to luxury safari lodge, to basic camp site, with prices to suit every budget. So whether you are a family on holiday, a serious safari camper, or just looking for a weekend break, there's bound to be something for you.

Main Kruger Park Lodging and Rest Camps: Self-catering, economy family cottages and guesthouses. Bungalows, chalets and huts.

• Skukusa Restcamp in Kruger National Park is the biggest and probably the most popular rest camp situated in the heart of Big Five territory and is easily accessed by road and by air. Skukuza Restcamp in Kruger National Park is capable of accommodating over 500 guests with 104 camp sites, 21 furnished safari tents, 180 economy bungalows, 20 luxury bungalows, 15 guest/family cottages, one dormitory and 4 luxury guesthouses. The myriad of birds and wild game in the area is easily spotted by going on bush walks and game drives. Wildlife documentaries are shown in an outdoor amphitheatre. There is a magnificent 9 hole (18-tee), Par 72 golf course available for golf enthusiasts. There are also facilities such as a shop, ATM, internet cafe, restaurant, library, fuel station and more.
  
  
• Crocodile Bridge Restcamp
  Just a stone's throw from the Mozambican border and Maputo, Crocodile Bridge Camp is rich in local history and is the best half-way house you could wish for. Accommodation and lodging at Crocodile Bridge Restcamp comprises of bungalows, safari tents and caravan/tent camping sites. This area around Crocodile Bridge Restcamp in Kruger National Park is flat scattered with Marula trees alongside the Crocodile River. The game viewing area is known as the 'Southern Circle' and is renowned for its concentration of different prides of Lion with different hunting techniques and behavior. It has an abundance of prides, heards, troops, packs and swarms. It is home to a larger percentage of the Kruger National Park's total Rhino population.
  
  
  • 
    
  • An ideal camp from which to pursue the Big Five
  • Self-catering facilities are available for the independant camper
  • The camp comprises of bungalows, safari tents and camping sites
  • Amenities include a laundromat, grocery shop and liquor store
• Letaba Restcamp
  A green and thriving oasis, Letaba Camp offers comfortable accommodation with excellent game viewing especially for elephant and birds. The idyllic Letaba Rest Camp is situated on a sweeping bend of the Letaba River, midway between the southern and northern boundaries of the Kruger National Park, South Africa. At Letaba Camp you can choose between a guest house, cottage, bungalow, hut or a furnished safari tent, as well as camping and caravan sites for your lodging in Kruger Park.
  
  
  • Being close to 3 major dams, provides for excellent wildlife viewing
  • View game on a 3 hour night drive
  • Banking facilities, first aid and a fuel station are available
  • The Goldfields Environmental Education Centre is located within the camp
  • Guest houses, cottages, bungalows, huts or furnished safari tents
    
    
• Lower Sabie Restcamp
  From Lower Sabie Camp you have the opportunity to watch the endless procession of animals coming to drink at the Sabie River. A range of lodging options is available from a luxurious guesthouse to family cottages, huts, bungalows, safari tents and campsites at Lower Sabie Restcamp in Kruger Park. Lower Sabie’s accommodation caters to a variety of guest requirements.
  
  A very recent innovation at Lower Sabie Restcamp in Kruger Park has been the addition of dreamily romantic, semi-luxury 2-bedded tents, positioned so as to secure intimate privacy for each one.
  
  Each has its own small bathroom and kitchenette, and some have the added advantage of a river view for sightseeing. Three of the tents have been adapted for use by visitors with impaired mobility at Lower Sabie Restcamp in Kruger Park.
  
  
  • Large numbers of game are attracted to the plentiful water
  • An ideal family oriented camp with a wide range of activities
  • A wide variety of bird species will appeal to the avid bird watcher
  • Day and night game drives are available at Lower Sabie Restcamp
    
    
• Olifants Restcamp
  The Olifants River attracts large numbers of crocodile, lion and other game, The panoramic view from Olifants Rest Camp provides a perfect vantage point from which to spot wildlife.
  The 2, 3 and 4 single-roomed thatched bungalows fitted with en-suite facilities and kitchenettes afford panoramic views across the surrounding bushveld. One of the 2-bedded huts are specially fitted with aids for those with mobility difficulties, so they may also enjoy authentic Kruger Park lodging.
  
  Because Olifants Camp is situated in a transitional zone, 2 distinct types of vegetation can be found, offering a wide range of game. In the north, the low lying Mopane trees provide cover for Zebra, Impala, Kudu and Elephant.
  
  • Accommodation in bungalows, guest cottages and 2 luxury guesthouses
  • Picnic site and Kruger Park shopping facility
  • Abundance and diversity of wildlife and birds
  • Fully equipped Conference facilities accommodate 20 delegates
  • Mountain bike riding can be enjoyed

For more info and photos go to The Kruger National Park Safari Guide

Cape Town

Cape Town is the third most populous city in South Africa. It is the provincial capital of the Western Cape.

Cape Town is famous for its harbour as well as its natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, including such well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Often regarded as one of the world's most beautiful cities because of its geography, Cape Town is the most popular South African destination for tourism

Table Mountain
Arguably one of the most well-known mountains in Africa, Table Mountain provides a magnificent backdrop to cosmopolitan Cape Town.

Famous for the tablecloth of clouds that pours endlessly down its slopes when the south-easter blows, this is a mountain of many moods and offers walkers and hikers a range of routes that vary from strolls to rigorous hikes.
You decide whether you want to reach the summit and revel in spectacular views of the city or simply stroll along in the cool shade of indigenous forest – which ever you choose you won't be disappointed.
The ancient Afromontane forest has a fairy charm as vines and canopies create a magical atmosphere.

Signal Hill and Lion's Head
If you face Table Mountain and look right you will see Lion's Head and Signal Hill, two popular destinations in their own right.

Lion's Head is a short but popular hike that offers 360 degree views of the coastline, the City and Mountain.
Signal Hill offers excellent views of the City and harbour. It is from here that the noon day gun marks 12:00.
The peak to the left of Table Mountain is called Devil's Peak.

Cape of Good Hope:
So named by Portugal's King John II this area has captured the imagination of European sailors such as Dias who first named it the Cape of Storms in 1488 and later in 1580 Sir Francis Drake who called it the "The Fairest Cape in all the World."

Rich in cultural and natural heritage this is one of the top tourist destinations in South Africa and includes the famous Cape Point. Due to the variety of wildlife that occurs here it is the only section of the park that is fenced and visitors should look out for Eland, Red Hartebeest, Bontebok and Zebra.

Boulders Beach
Just around the corner from the seaside village of Simons Town turn left off main road to Boulders Visitor Centre to visit the famous colony of Jackass Penguins, so called for their hilarious braying call.
This beach is ideal for kids as immense boulders shelter the cove from currents and large waves - but please always take care.

Beaches
The park has a beach for all preferences. If you like to mingle with bronzed beach goers and enjoy a bit of a beach culture, try Llandudno on the Atlantic seaboard.

However, if you are more of a laidback beach user head south and try out Noordhoek, Kommetjie or Scarborough - all of which are spacious enough to accommodate crowds and are also good for watching the sun set.

The Cape of Good Hope section offers more wild and secluded beaches with the benefit of beaches on both the Atlantic and False Bay coasts.

Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
Cape Town's Victoria and Alfred Waterfront development has grabbed the imagination of Capetonian and visitor alike. With majestic Table Mountain as a backdrop and the unique interest of the 'working harbour', it is not surprising that the 'Waterfront' has become Cape Town's most popular attraction. Its success has largely been built upon local support and attracts over a million visitors a month, of which 70% are Capetonians.

Table Mountain National Park

Table Mountain National Park, South African jewel, international tourism icon and Natural World Heritage Site.

Situated at the southwestern tip of Africa, the Table Mountain National Park, part of the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site, encompasses the incredibly scenic Peninsula mountain chain stretching from Signal Hill in the north to Cape Point in the south - a distance of approximately 60 km.

The narrow finger of land with its beautiful valleys, bays and beaches is surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the warmer waters of False Bay and has within its boundaries two world-renowned landmarks - majestic Table Mountain and the legendary Cape of Good Hope.

Nowhere else in the world does an area of such spectacular beauty and such rich bio-diversity exist almost entirely within a metropolitan area - the thriving and cosmopolitan city of Cape Town.

The Park is recognised globally for its extraordinarily rich, diverse and unique fauna and flora - with rugged cliffs, steep slopes and sandy flats - is a truly remarkable natural, scenic, historical, cultural and recreational asset both locally and internationally. Nowhere else in the world does an area of such spectacular beauty and such rich bio-diversity exist almost entirely within a metropolitan area - the thriving and cosmopolitan city of Cape Town.

A unique feature of the Table mountain national park is that it is primarily an open access Park with only three points where conservation fees are payable, Cape of Good Hope, Boulders and Silvermine, the rest of the Park is open access and free for all to enjoy.

Outdoor Activities
3-Day Hoerikwaggo Table Mountain Trail
A luxury three-day, guided, portered, catered, hiking experience that links the cultural history of Cape Town city with the natural heritage of Table Mountain.

Mountain Biking
Several approved mountain biking trails exist within the park. These trails are limited to existing jeep tracks and roads only, and are found at Tokai Forest, Silvermine, Kloofnek to Mowbray Ridge and at the Cape of Good Hope. Mountain ClimbingThere are a number of approved climbing routes. Contact the Mountain Club of South Africa for further details, telephone (021) 465 3412.

Hang Gliding/Paragliding
This is available at Lion's Head and Silvermine.

Hiking Trails
There are many hiking trails within the park that appeal to a wide audience - from those wanting a short or leisurely walk to those seeking a longer and more challenging hike.

Water-based Activities
Spectacular beaches abound for sun-seekers. The numerous beaches and reefs encircling the Peninsula also permit surfing all year round, and the ample supply of wind in the Peninsula makes this area the ideal spot for wind-surfing and sailing enthusiasts. The clear waters of the Cape Peninsula also provide excellent scuba diving and snorkelling conditions, although a wetsuit is necessary to ward off the cold. There are tidal swimming pools at Oudekraal and at Bordjiesrif and Buffels Bay at the Cape of Good Hope.

Angling
This is a very popular pastime, although there are seasonal and area restrictions determining where, when and which marine resources may be caught. The seas around the peninsula are a Marine Protected Area and there are restricted zones where no extractive sports are allowed.

For more information: African Safari Guide, the internet resource on your safari holiday to Africa