Honour Way News
April and May were very exciting months for Honour Way.
I have pleasure in announcing a new client in Malawi - KAYA MAWA on Likoma Island.
More details to follow.
I am also thrilled to announce that Carolyn Price has joined the Honour Way office.
Carolyn Price has been involved in African tourism for many years and has travelled
extensively throughout Southern & Central Africa. In between working as an African
Product Manager in Australia, she spent 8 years living and working in Zambia,
including long stints at Tongabezi and Sausage Tree Camp and more recently, the
Luangwa Valley. Carolyn has a strong marketing and travel industry background with
an in-depth knowledge of our destinations and portfolio, and is a natural addition
to the company.
I am delighted with this development at Honour Way and I know Carolyn is very much
looking forward to working with you all.
I have just spent the most unbelievable 2 months back in Africa traveling to Malawi,
Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa and I am still reeling from my experiences,
but as soon as I come back down to earth again, I will definitely share some of them
with you. I don't think I have ever seen so much amazing wildlife in such short periods
of time.
RATES:Please note that 2010 rates, as well as special packages for the remainder of 2009 have
been released, so if you have any questions or need these to be sent to you, then please
do not hesitate to contact me or my clients direct.
Botswana
The Ker & Downey Botswana Safari 2009
Due to its resounding success we have continued with the Ker & Downey Botswana
Safari for 2010, a "positive package / itinerary" which contributes a percentage
of its profits to Bana Ba Letsatsi - Ker & Downey Botswana's social responsibility
programme. Further details to follow in the coming months about the progress with
this programme.
For information and rates please contact nicky@kerdowney.bw
For 2010 Edo's will be doing their own reservations and you can either book them
direct on edoscamp@gmail.com or through KDB on info@kerdowney.bw
Post Indaba, eight weary travellers made their way from Durban up to Maun in anticipation
of a four day Ker & Downey Botswana educational trip and were NOT disappointed by
their experiences during their stay.
Shaun from ADVENTURA has kindly summed his encounters up for me...
"Our trip... Well what can I say... Just the transfer
from Shinde airstrip to the Footsteps Camp blew us away to such an extent it left
us feeling we did not need to go on any further game drives; elephant, leopard,
lion killing warthog just to name a few exciting sightings. All the Indaba cobwebs
were definitely cleared away quite quickly. Another lion kill at Okuti - this time
a zebra falling prey and to top it all a wonderful mokoro trip at Kanana that
provided us with a view of the elusive Pels fishing owl. We really enjoyed our
trip with Ker & Downey; it was just what one would want from a Okavango Delta
experience - a good variety of accommodation, loads of activities; game drives,
bush walks, fishing, boat rides, mokoro and then freakish transfers that produce
miracles (just had to mention that again as the trip really started with a bang).
Staff were really friendly, and the watering staff at Okuti particularly, they were
a blast. Well this was definitely worth a visit, especially being hosted by you
Honour - you are the best!"
I'd like to add that Kanana is really looking lovely
with its recent upgrades of the tents, and we eagerly await the formal images to show
you all the changes. We even had a moment to relax in the new pool area, cooling our
toes in the clear blue waters.
www.kerdowneybotswana.com
Malawi
Momentous Kaya Mawa news!!!
We suggest pouring yourself a cup of tea and getting settled in for the following breaking press
On the 1st November 2009 we are closing for major refurbishments.
Our island hospitality and style is legendary and we are planning to improve on our current theme.
Giving all our guests (and agents!) even more of what they love:
- We have already bought new vehicles and have four new boats arriving throughout
the year
- Upgrading all our rooms with beautiful innovative interior design and brand new
bathrooms
- Two rooms will become suites with a second floor Zanzibar chill out space
- Two further suites will go even further with their own private infinity pools
Sound good? Hold your horses as we are only just getting started... When we reopen on 1 April 2010 we
will also be proud to offer:
- An exclusive suite with a 10 m infinity pool
- Two additional rooms with a shared pool
- Our very own private spa
- A bar and dining area on the beach
- A watersport centre with a dedicated PADI diving school (2 qualified instructors)
- A four bedroom luxury villa 1 km from the lodge which is currently under construction!
Also important is the new airstrip which was opened on Likoma Island by the President of
Malawi on Saturday, 18th April 2009. The plan is that this becomes an international airport
in the next year which will make the links with other countries much smoother.
...BUT this is still not the entire story!
So watch this space for more exciting news over the months to come.
South Africa
Following a wonderful four days with Ker & Downey in Botswana - three of us
continued our very easy journey from Maun down to Gabarone where Jan from
Jaci's was waiting to take us into the Madikwe and more specifically, of
course, to Jaci's Lodges where a wonderful boma dinner awaited us. But not
before we had a chance to quickly freshen up in our rooms and appreciate the
toasty underfloor heating, together with the electric blankets it is the
ideal antidote for the winter chill which has settled in quite early this
year. Do not forget those warm socks and fleeces if you are lucky enough to
head out on safari soon. You will need them.
Throughout my two days here, our luck continued and I finally had my first
Madikwe wild dog sighting. Sarah Hoyland from the Classic Safari Company
sent me this lovely feedback for my newsletter.
"Thanks so much for having me to stay. It was brief but brilliant! To
be honest I had forgotten just how great your lodge is. I'd forgotten
about the super hosting team, the entertaining chef, the ambience of the
boma, the underfloor heating in the suites, the hairdryer (yes I'm a girly
girl at heart!), the phenomenal food (that chicken pie was divine - and
yes that would be the chicken pie that I ordered along with eggs so that
I didn't miss out and could honestly say I had tried it all) and then
there's the awesome landscape, home to amazing wildlife. Two big ticks
whilst I was with you - rhino and painted hunting dog. And both on one
morning game drive. It doesn't get much better than that for a seasoned
safari chick. And of course I must mention the chauffeur transfer from
Gabs - thanks Jan! What a painless exercise that transfer appears to be.
I will definitely be recommending that option to clients. I am supremely
confident that the clients I have booked for the coming months will be
totally satisfied.
Since my return to the office I have reiterated to my team, on several
occasions, just how super I think Jaci's lodges are. I am confident that
you will see increased bed nights from us!"
Jaci's Island Dining
It has been a little over a year since Jaci's Tree Lodge opened their
secluded and quaint little river dining site, it has provided guests
with many a romantic dinner, fun breakfast and chilled lunch. The river
site, which is totally unseen from the lodge and doesn't have any
noticeable access paths, is a real surprise for all first-time visitors
and a real treat for those who have dined there before. With the occasional
elephant herd browsing past and sometimes even a glimpse of an African
Finfoot, it is not surprising that we have now opened a new river site
for our Safari Lodge too.
We are happy to announce the opening of our new island site which has
been in the making for quite some time now, due to other exciting projects,
such as our enormous rondaval (round hut) style kiddies' playroom, the
upgrading of our Safari Suite into a bigger family unit (now able to
accommodate two small families), new decks for our ever popular Nare Suite
(Buffalo Suite) and last but not least, additional staff accommodation for
some members of our staff who are now heading for their seventh year at Jaci's.
The island site was actually planned for opening after Easter, which normally
demarcates the end of the rainy season in Madikwe. However, opening was
brought forward when we discovered an important date for some of our guests
in camp. It was for this reason we decided to put all hands on deck and stamp
out the last of the crater style elephant and hippo footprints that seemed to
have been accumulating on the island and have it ready for a special occasion.
Kees van Leeuwen a return guest to Jaci's unveiled the island together with his
mother for their special day. The weather favoured us it always seems to in sunny
Madikwe, and their lunch was a huge success and an occasion never to be forgotten.
This obviously wasn't before the whole of Jaci's Safari Lodge team gathered to
enjoy the final moment when the island swung into operation, and with huge smiles
and laughter everybody came together for a brief photo opportunity.
Next time you're with us please ask for a quick tour of our ever popular river
sites, or request a quiet afternoon resting in a hammock under giant River Bush
Willows below Jaci's Tree Lodge.
www.madikwe.com
Zambia
Introducing the new Kigelia House
The new "Kigelia House" (scientific name for the Sausage Tree), opening
on the 20th June, will consist of two bedrooms, both with en-suite
including baths, twin showers and basins; large plunge pool; fully
stocked bar and dining table for private meals; huge open plan living
area with leather sofas, day beds and sundeck chairs. It will be the
closest accommodation to the Zambezi River with a beautiful teak deck
sweeping across the entire front of the suite, offering amazing panoramic
views. The Kigelia house is ideally suited to small groups (two couples)
and/or families. We are currently working on a kiddies adventure and
educational program, which will be finalised over the next few weeks.
Rooms: 2 (1 x King & 1 x Twin - The twin can be converted into a second King)
Pax: 4 (with enough room to add 1 single bed into each bedroom)
Age: 8+
A private guide will be offered to all groups/families staying in the
Kigelia House
2009 Opening Special
2 pax full rate @ $695pppn and accompanying pax at $100pppn (under 18 years)
or $200pppn (over 18 years). Min. 3 pax Valid for all New bookings only.
Meet the staff looking after your guests
In our last newsletter we introduced you to the guides at Sausage Tree Camp.
Our guides are constantly working to improve their skills and enhance their
knowledge and guiding experiences. The start of the season is always a good
time for reflection and a beautiful time to get there so some of them spent
April participating in a training program organised by the Conservation Lower
Zambezi and EcoTraining, pioneers and leaders in practical wildlife and
nature-based training programs in Southern Africa.
The training and exams went well and the following guides from Sausage Tree
Camp took part and passed:
Chris: Driving and canoeing
Marshall: Canoeing
Alan: Walking
Victor: Boating
Wisdom: Boating
Alan (manager at Sausage Tree Camp) was involved in some of the training
he lectured on boating mechanics and fishing and participated in the walking
part of the training course. He sent me some feedback on the training given.
"The guide training went well as did the first aid courses. I think those
that attended the guide training benefited a great deal from it. It was
in-depth and informative both for the beginner and the more advanced. I
think the success in our exams can be attributed to the guiding courses.
I found that the level of the exams this year were of a very high standard
and think this is good for the lower Zambezi. I was an examiner on the
driving, boating and the canoeing courses, and the candidates that passed
I can confidently say deserved to pass, as you could see a lot of time and
effort was put into studying."
This month meet the Muchinda's / Butlers
- Simon Banda = Our senior muchinda who is determined to give each guest
the best experience. A dependable and articulate man.
- James Mweemba = Our funny man! Loves a good laugh and always has the
other staff singing. You can always hear where he is working!
- Alan Musonda = A very hard working man with a gentle nature and kind
smile.
- Shepard Mulenganehanzi = One of our youngest muchindas who loves his
job and this shows in the quality of his work.
- Arnold Kanzala = A ready smile and easy demeanour make him a favourte
with our guests.
- Clever Nyatsanga = A laugh a minute, easily identified by his brightly
coloured shoes! Dynamite really does come in small packages.
- William Muhanaga = Our newest Muchinda who quietly goes about his job
and charms his guests.
www.sausagetreecamp.com
Following two months of patience our protected rhinos finally allowed
a Tonga family to view them - all reports are that the rhinos are in
good health and adapting well to their new environment. The Baby Bump
watch has begun! The Wild dogs have been more reserved and there have
been no new sightings of late. (They might be on holiday in Zimbabwe!)
The Tongabezi garden continues to amaze. Our specialist gardener Ron
Freeman has now started making fabulous organic fertilizer - allowing
our veggies to grow even bigger and greener and they will certainly be
completely chemical free!
Aggie has returned from holiday with renewed vigour and she is marshalling
the valets. A Tongabezi beauty therapist Rhoda has given birth to a baby
boy and Mildred has completed her training in the front office and been
offered a position as a full time employee! She is also in charge of a
new addition to our front office; Mianda is a Tujatane graduate and
success story.
The Sindabezi build is continuing in spite of rain, shine and record
breaking floods and soil erosion, this is all due to the mammoth and
simply heroic efforts of our project manager. The team motto has become:
"This is not Sindalazy here we conquer the Zambezi!"
The river rose to record levels this year - but receded at a good pace
as well with minimum damage left behind. It did give us the excuse for
a bit of a soft refurb in the affected rooms. Thank you all so much for
your support during this difficult and uncertain period.
This year Tongabezi selected three employees as representatives for
Labour day. Isaac the Valet, Simon the Chef and Felix who wears both
Gardener and Boatman caps, were singled out for the great passion with
which they approach their daily tasks and for the fact that they consistently
go that extra mile - inspiring other workers and of course impressing our
guests.
There is still time left to take advantage of the great special offers
for 2009. Make sure you know all about our Free House upgrade, Garden
Cottage family special and of course the fabulous Sindabezi re-opening
special
www.tongabezi.com
Uganda
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.
Apoka
Uganda Kob (the country's national animal) was recently spotted near Apoka!
This is a very exciting and unusual event: while common elsewhere in Uganda,
(including Semliki Safari Lodge), Kob are not known to be found in this region.
This individual was seen congregating with some Waterbuck, close relatives
of Kob (they are of the same Genus, Kobus). Kob are the fastest growing
antelope in the world, and have recovered well in some areas of prior
disturbance. Seeing one in Kidepo is a good sign for Uganda's wild places -
the fact that it was able to travel to Kidepo from somewhere else means other
wildlife may also be able to travel between parks, a necessity for healthy
biodiversity.
Semliki
Semliki Safari Lodge recently got its first look at a spotted hyena in the
reserve! Hyenas were nearly extirpated from the reserve during the
troublesome 70's, 80's and even part of the 90's. Tracks have been spotted
only twice before in the reserve. It is likely that hyenas, in similar fashion
to many of Semliki's elephants and buffalo, are able to cross the border from
DRC and run the 20 km gauntlet of cattle ranches before reaching the reserve.
Seen by local herdsman as a threat to livestock, any hyena lucky enough to reach
the reserve will hopefully have the sense to stay here. This hyena is a welcome
new resident and we hope its nightly whooping songs will attract more hyenas.
At the end of 2008 Kristen coordinated a donation of prenatal supplies with a
U.S. university and has continued work on her community health programmes into
this year. These supplies were distributed in March to traditional birth
attendants working in the villages around the reserve. Kristen is also
considering coupling the health courses with an educational conservation
awareness session as well this year. David Kawamala, a full time waiter at
the lodge, is also Kristen's community projects translator. He is taking
driving lessons at the lodge in order to expand his support role with the
community work.
Clouds by Gary Segal
Greetings from a fairly dry Nkuringo! Now that my partner, Tamara Hartin,
has joined me I am hoping that I can manage to improve our communication
from the middle of southwestern Uganda to the rest of the outside world.
I must say I have never worked in such an organised office and I am enjoying
the fact that I am no longer the lone silverback. She has gotten stuck right
into the running of the lodge and community developments. We are all happy
on the top of Nkuringo Hill and would love to share the goings on in our
small village.
The Nkuringo Orphans Group is still embracing our guests with a passion
that blows us and the visitors away every time, although due to the quiet period,
the performances for guests have been few and far between. Rehearsals continue -
you would think that they are going to perform at the Sydney Opera House with
their strict schedules!
The 5 sponsored children are excelling, and I was completely amazed with their
progress when I fetched them from school in Kisoro to come home for the Easter
holidays. It truly is amazing what a difference this sponsorship has made to all
of them and the communities of Nkuringo are very thankful for this opportunity.
We have also managed to raise enough money now to buy the children their
stationery requirements for the second term which has made them the envy of
their fellow students.
Other Community Developments
The new Rushaga group of gorillas is about to open for tourism in May. This is
going to be exciting... It's about 45 minutes drive from the lodge and has 30
family members, and although the trekking is tough, it is also an amazing
experience with a different habitat and a larger family group.
I have been concentrating a lot of my time during the quiet season on training
the guides for the community walks and they are coming along nicely.
Our pig family has increased by four with one of our females giving birth -
the Clouds left-over food is obviously agreeing with them!!!
I occasionally remind myself of a wild horse, and Tamara often has to pull
the reins back and get me to focus, as there is just so much that I would
love to get started with. All in good time!
Plans for the coming months
We are building a Spa which is going to be amazing... will keep everyone updated
on that. The staff are really becoming one big close knit family with everyone
becoming more and more confident. I am very proud of them.
www.wildplacesafrica.com
Make Me Smile Summer Party Fundraiser!
Carolyn has asked me if I would just put the word out about a summer party
being held on 11th July 2009, in Weybridge, to raise money for Malimba
Community School in Mfuwe, Zambia. It's a remarkable story; a school started
by a local teacher who saw a huge need to have a school in the area (about
half a mile from Tribal Textiles). Most children were walking 2-6 kms to
school every day before Malimba was opened. She began the school under a
temporary grass structure, purely on her on initiative and then continued with
very strong direct support from the community. A lot of the labour that went
into paths, the early school rooms, etc was by volunteers from the surrounding
villages. It's gone on to grow from there, as you'll read about in the link.
www.makemesmile.org
The Malimba School fund is managed and supported by: Tribal Textiles, Adrian &
Christina Carr and the Zambian National Aids Network. All the funds that Make Me
Smile raise are given directly to the Malimba SchoolFund.
http://www.tribaltextiles.co.zm/malimba/about.php
The party is on Saturday 11th July 2009 at the Vandals Rugby Club in Weybridge,
Surrey. All proceeds will go to the Malimba Community School in Mfuwe, Zambia,
in memory of Jo Harris. There is a huge variety of great tombola prizes to be
won on the night, including dinner at the Ivy, private yoga sessions, and beauty
treatments, we have incredible artwork, holidays and private flights to be
auctioned, delicious food and exciting live entertainment!
Fact of the Day - Animal groupings
April newsletter answer - Lots of answers received
with several options THANK YOU - One funny person replied saying the group of
guinea fowl was also known as DINNER! BUT the correct answer - a group of guinea
fowl is called a RASP or CONFUSION.
Next month - What do we call a group of vultures?
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