Honour Way News
South Africa
I am so excited to have been approached by Jaci and Jan to represent them. I have known them for several years now since we all met on the Classics Stand at one of the many shows and admire the passion and drive they both have for everything they do as well as the people around them. I have also had some fabulous times staying with them and their wonderful family at the lodge.
This month I had a whirlwind visit to the Madikwe to celebrate our working together and as always everyone spoiled me thoroughly. After a long night flight, my first afternoon was spent sat out on the veranda of the new safari suite with an ice cold glass of wine watching the ele’s mucking around dunking each other in the river right in front of me for several hours. Further game viewing was excellent on the afternoon and morning drives with fab sightings of both black and white rhino as well as lions keeping their eyes on some tasty giraffes in the area.
What I admire most about Jaci’s Lodges is the atmosphere at the lodge amongst all the staff… The Lodge has now been operating for 7 years and staff is valued as most important in the success of the lodge. What Jaci and Jan have created is a staff trust which owns 25.1% shares in the company owning both Tree Lodge and Safari Lodge. A member becomes part of this trust after 5 years service. They currently have 15 members in the Staff Trust. It is their belief that by empowering staff like this they are actually working for themselves and therefore genuinely strive to ensure every guests staying at Jaci’s has the most amazing experience.
www.jacislodges.com
Zambia
We are delighted to announce that Sausage Tree Camp has been nominated for a Good Safari Guide Award (2009), in the following category/categories: Best Property Africa; Best Property South Africa. – MORE NEXT TIME.
CONGRATULATIONS JASON!
News from Alan and Niccy – Managers at Sausage Tree Camp (new this season)
The summer heat is upon us and the lions are still clashing claws and fangs as the pride of 5 from Zimbabwe are still in the area. The injured cub from one of the first clashes is on the mend and seems to be getting stronger by the day. The main pride managed to bring down a young elephant so that kept them full for a day or two. As the days heat up we are finding the guests enjoying the water based activities more, so loads of canoeing, game cruises and fishing.
The game viewing from the river is spectacular at the moment as all the animals are coming down to the river in the late afternoons. Nothing much can beat a great sunset and a gin and tonic on the Zambezi River. The fishing is coming along nicely and many large tigers have been caught. The elephant movement through camp has gone up a notch and we are getting some very relaxed breeding herds coming through. Elephants drinking from the swimming pools have become a regular sight much to all our guests delight.
Caren Banks who until recently represented Sausage Tree Camp to the American market has just been back for a visit. She sent me some news to add to the newsletter.. Sausage Tree Camp has two great new honeymoon suites but in order to stop us from fighting over who had the best room none of us got one… HOWEVER we still spent our evenings arguing over who had the best room and in the end we decided we all did. The rooms have all been refurbished this year and look fantastic. WE all won!!!!
As always we were thoroughly spoiled both with wonderful surprise lunches and dinners as well as fantastic game viewing leaving us with some great memories of this very special place…
www.sausagetreecamp.com
On the 1st of November 2008 we will close Sindabezi Island for 5 months with a big opening on the 1st April 2009. We are not only planning a refurbishment – in fact the island will be completely rebuilt. The design of the new island is now in its final phase and we can hardly wait to see our vision realized. The Nuthouse has exceeded all our expectations and continues to astound and delight all our guests. The new Sindabezi Island will take the Tongabezi legacy even further.
There will be quite a few surprises but there is one secret I can share with you already. One of the chalets will receive a bit of extra attention and when the island opens on the 1st of April 2009 it will be offered to special guests as a Honeymoon chalet. Sindabezi Island is a magical place and its special charm and unique castaway Island reputation and candlelit atmosphere will not be changed.
At Tongabezi lodge our gorgeous dhows add an extra dimension not only to sunset river trips but also to our view of the Zambezi, our shop has been stocked with new treats and we are planning a bumper Christmas delivery to make buying presents irresistible! Our unique TONGABEZI TRUST SCHOOL Tujatane Christmas Cards are now on sale as well – in our shop and through Silvia Harris
(silviaharris@ntlworld.com)
The Devils armchair pool is now open for the rest of the year and our more adventurous guests have also started guided walks across the top of the Falls to Livingstone Island.
www.tongabezi.com
Uganda
Head Office News
Quick update for those of you who are
unsure…
The Uganda Safari Company and Wildplaces are one and the same company. The Uganda Safari Company deals with all ground handling for Uganda and Wildplaces comprises Emin Pasha Hotel, Clouds, Semliki and Apoka….
Agatha and Gabriella are no longer working in the office and replacing them we have Onzi Muyindo, 25 years old…hailing from Arua in West Nile. Onzi joined the Emin Pasha Hotel in 2007 and now has joined the reservations Team at our Head Office. Onzi looks after all the reservations for the 3 Lodge Properties…Clouds, Apoka and Semliki. Her email address is info@wildplacesafrica.com.
We are planning further additions to the sales team at head office and will announce these next month.
Semliki News
Forest elephants in Semliki are being seen in abundance. These days they are very mobile, moving across the savannah instead of spending time in the swamps. Large groups of forest elephants, including many young calves are common sightings both during the day and on night game drives.
Chimpanzee tracking is better than ever as many of the chimps favorite fruit trees are now in season. They tend to congregate in large groups around these trees giving researchers an excellent opportunity to collect data and further their studies of this very unique chimpanzee community. Both researchers and guests have been delighted with some very special sightings of the latest chimp offspring as they learn to play and demonstrate their newly acquired jumping skills.
Another piece of good news is the opening of a new ranger outpost within the reserve. Semliki Safari Lodge was pleased to provide the tents for this new ranger posting which will be used to monitor bush fires throughout the dry season. This is an important effort to stem the spread of fires within the reserve so that specific vegetation and habitats can be protected.
www.safariuganda.com
www.wildplacesafrica.com
Fact of the Day – Animal groupings
August newsletter answer - A TROOP of Baboons. – Well done and thank you to those who sent in their answers… I also want to thank Sharon from Bailey Robinson for her suggestion for this month’s fact of the day….
Next month - What do we call this group of birds /
swallows?
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