IMPORTANT INFORMATION - Change to Visa Fee Structure for Zambia

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Please note the attached new Visa regime, announced by Zambia on 26 January 2008 with immediate effect.

Please be advised that with immediate effect all clients that come into Zambia will have to pay VISAS upon arrival into Zambia . All VISA waivers have been scraped off by the Zambian Government .There will be no more Manifest prepared by any Hotels or Lodges at all.
All clients that arrived today had to pay Visas at the Airport, also note that there was no notice to this effect.

Obviously this has caused great confusion and we will lobby the Government with immediate effect to at least provide a notice period but preferably return to the waiver system.

We are trying to obtain information as to whether there has also been an amendment to the day visitor visas for Zambia and will revert if and when new information is available.

How to get to Leroo La Tau

In order to assist everyone in understanding how to get to Leroo La Tau, below please find the details from Maun and Serowe:

Out of Maun on the Nata road

About 50km from Maun go through Makalamabedi veterinary fence (NO red meat products, wear seatbelt & have driver's license ready!)
Another 30km and turn right for Motopi/Rakops/Serowe (turnoff is opposite a radio mast on the left)
After 2km cross the bridge and soon after that turn left at the 4 way stop (following the tar)
After about 50-55km turn left at the Leroo La Tau sign onto 6km of sand to the lodge (4x4 required for this road)

From Serowe head for Mopipi
After about 200km (past Letlakhane but about 10km before Orapa) turn left for Mopipi
After about 70km continue through Mopipi
After about 65km continue past Rykops
After about 80km continue past Khumaga
After about 6-8km turn right at the Leroo La Tau sign onto 6km of sand track to the lodge
(Soon after crossing the double fence about 1km from the lodge, BEWARE of the electric fence across the road!!)

The above directions include estimated distances. Self drive travellers will need a 4x4 for the last 6-8km’s to Leroo.

A Weekend at Savute Safari Lodge

Story by Derek Flatt - Desert and Delta Safaris Managing Director

"We arrived at Savuti at 4 p.m. on Friday 4th January. The veld was gloriously green with all the recent rain that is still falling regularly. In fact it rained everyday of our stay there, including two substantial storms on Saturday and Sunday.

We checked in to Savute Safari Lodge, and decided against a game drive, there was lots of elephant activity going on at the waterhole in front to keep us interested. Our friends who had been there for 2 days already told us of sightings of a wild dog pack that morning, and a leopard the day before that they had watched stalking (unsuccessfully) an ostrich on wild dog vlei. They had also had a wonderful time birdwatching, all the migrants are in, and the pans, being full of water are alive with all the waders and ducks and geese. They had some wonderful pictures of knob-billed ducks “grazing” – stripping grass stalks of their seeds, and a great series of a Kori Bustard in full display and “booming” while carrying two freeloading carmine bee-eaters on his back.

The next day was overcast and cool. The morning drive on the marsh yielded tsessebe, wildebeest, herds of zebra, ostrich, elephants and a small herd of buffalo near Marabout pan, all busy feeding on the lush grass growth the rain has brought. Also out and about were numerous bat eared foxes and myriad birds. Other guests had a very special sighting of two juvenile aardwolves basking in the sun outside their den in the marsh. Energy, their guide, had spotted the mother there about 2 weeks before, and, making a shrewd assumption by her behaviour that she had cubs, had been keeping an eye on the area. The reward was these two cubs which the guests got great pictures of. Very unusual and exciting. We dodged rain showers all the way back to the lodge at midday, and took some time out after brunch.

The rain had cleared by about 4 p.m. so we spent the evening drive around Harvey’s pan. For the first time in three years there is a hippo in Harvey’s. A big bull, quite scarred, who gave us some great threat displays, yawning widely and showing off his formidable tusks.

We found the wild dog pack at Harvey’s, getting ready to hunt. We followed them a short while until they disappeared off into the Phyllonoptera scrub, intent on food. They are in wonderful condition; this time of year is so good for all the wildlife.

There was a lot of rain that night, but the morning was clear so it was back to the marsh. All the animals were out again – we were never out of sight of something as we made our way down to the southern end. There we ran into three lions – two beautiful big maned males and an adult lioness. The lioness and one male were mating, so staying close together and looking rather tired! The other male was lying by himself about two hundred metres away and looking rather distant and aloof. We drove closer to him and he gave us a rather grumpy growl and stalked off in a huff, so he was obviously not happy about the love match nearby!

At brunch we heard that Energy’s guests had seen leopard that morning, the same one from Friday, Energy has been watching for his tracks, and also a pair of cheetah on the eastern side of the marsh. That makes all three big cats in one day – and this in the “off” season! Other guests had also seen the lions.

The evening drive took us off in the direction of Harvey’s again. Before we got there we saw what looked like a branch in the track. On closer inspection this tuned out to be a snouted cobra in banded phase – about 1.8 metres long. And right beside it was a largish puff adder, which the cobra seemed to be nudging with its nose.

We stopped to watch what turned out to be a sighting of a lifetime. The cobra had obviously bitten the puff adder at least once already. The nudging was to see if the poison had taken effect. It had not, as the puff adder coiled back in a classic strike pose and bit the cobra just behind the head. The cobra moved back and then bit the puff adder again, holding on and pumping venom into it. It still held on even as the puff adder struck again.

The cobra then stayed close, nudging the other snake now and again, waiting for the venom to take effect. Obviously it got the reaction (or lack of) that it was waiting for because after a couple of minutes it moved round to the adder’s head, opened its mouth wide, unhinging its jaws, and started to engulf the adder head first. The adder was very puffed up, and obviously not dead yet, so the cobra had some difficulty getting the process started. As it “walked” its jaws forward taking in more of the adder, so it slid backwards into the short grass on the side of the track, obviously needing purchase for its body to help getting the other snake down.

We watched the process until the cobra had ingested its meal, re-hinged his jaws, and moved on – at speed and with purpose, and looking as slim as if he had nothing inside him. The whole action took about 45 minutes.

We went on to Harvey’s and saw elephants, zebra, an insouciant looking hyena and lots of birds, but I must say, after witnessing the snakes enact their bit of “bush life in the raw” – we were not, I am ashamed to say, quite as excited as we could have been.
The other guests, who had missed our drama, had nevertheless again seen cheetah, and the wild dog pack.

This is Savuti in January, in the middle of a good rainy season, when the game viewing is supposed to be at its worst! What an amazing place.

I have to add that, for my son, our resident reptile expert, this was an outstanding experience, and to have him there to clarify matters, such as snakes, particularly puff adders, being a favourite prey of snouted cobras, and that the cobras are immune to other snakes’ venom, added to the experience”

Chobe Game Lodge To Renovate The Swimming Pool In April/May 2008

Chobe Game Lodge would like to update you of our plans to renovate the main swimming pool area of the lodge in April/May of 2008. The pool area will be closed for renovations from 15 April 2008 to 31 May 2008.

The pool renovation will entail the removal of current brick paving and we will re-marbelite the pool (Abbotsford green). We will also be changing the current pool area into a natural rock pool with waterfall and splash pool under the waterfall. The new pool will have under water lighting (LED), rock coping around the pool area trees and general pool area. Additional rock features will be built and we are going to cover all the pool area walls and stairs with natural rock cladding. We will be installing a new water articulation system with filters during this renovation.

We understand that renovations can be disruptive, but we will do everything possible to accommodate the guests over this period by trying to keep noise levels down whilst guests are not on activities and provide 2 suite swimming pools (205 & 402/401) as alternative venues for guests who are wanting to swim during the renovation period.

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience to guests – we are sure that the new swimming pool area will be an exciting attraction to future guests to Chobe Game Lodge. Due to the nature of the refurbishment work, we are forced to accomplish this outside of our yearly rainfall cycle and therefore have to do this in the months of April/May.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should there be additional queries.

LEROO LA TAU – WHAT IS HAPPENING

In September of 2007 we announced that Leroo La Tau is destined to compliment the Desert and Delta Safaris product base in Botswana.

Leroo La Tau, overlooking the western boundary of the Makgadikgadi National Park, is built above the Boteti River on cliffs over 15m high. This gives guests a raised vantage point resulting in numerous spectacular wildlife sightings. During the dry season this area is populated by up to 30 000 wildebeest and zebra which have migrated to the Makgadikgadi in search of grazing. The migration brings with it an increase in levels of predator activity. You may even experience the exhilaration of being caught in a stampede zone as predators hunt around the lodge. However Leroo La Tau is not only about lion zebra and wildebeest. The area around the lodge also boasts Chobe Bushbuck, Leopard, Brown and Spotted Hyena, Impala, Kudu, Jackal, Porcupines, Genets, Caracal and White Rhino to name but a few. Most unique however, are the Crocodile and an amazing pod of Hippo which have survived in extremely adverse conditions for over 12 years. Making this area of the Boteti a unique haven for large herds and predators alike.

Leroo La Tau currently offers 7 East African Meru style tents each with its own ensuite bathroom and raised on wooden decks. The main lounge and dining room area’s with their inviting wooden and thatch finishing’s offer guests the opportunity to sit back and relax at the bar while listening to the wide variety of night sounds so characteristic of the African bush.

The lodge offers a variety of activities including both day and night drives as well as the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of Africa on guided walks. Also on offer for guests on extended stays are day trips out to Baines Baobabs and Nxai Pan to enhance extra insight into this unique area and it’s history.

In September 2007, Desert and Delta Safaris took over the management and marketing of the lodge. Since then, the lodge has undergone general focused maintenance and refurbishment taking current bookings and guest activities into consideration.

As this is a very arid region and the herds of animals rely on the seepage water from the Boteti River. Our immediate priority was to ensure that an effective system was in place to ensure that we could assist with the water supply to the waterhole. Our maintenance team went to work on building seepage retainer tanks in the riverbed which will ensure a steady feed of water into the waterholes.

Herewith images of the work that was done installing the retainer tanks and seepage into the waterholes for the animals.

Other odd jobs and general maintenance has been done to the lodge grounds and facilities since September. This series of images depict this work:

The lawn in September - and the lawn in December

Installation of the new swimming pool - and a picture of the new swimming pool.

The old generator room - and the new generator room.

On 31 January 2008, we will be closing the lodge to effect major re-build and refurbishment. We intend to open the lodge on 01 June 2008 as a fully fledged Desert and Delta Safaris lodge sporting 12 new chalets overlooking the Boteti River. There will also be various amendments and minor changes to the main lodge structure and guest facilities at the lodge. We will keep you updated on these changes as we progress with the refurbishment.

John Khata at Camp Okavango

John Khata started working at Camp Okavango in December of 1980 and is still there today.

Herewith an extract from a recent interview with him:

I was born in Sazita west of Chief`s island, in 1944. My mother is MmaTshumokwe, my Father `s name is Kata. My real name is Odumetse Kata. My parents moved from Sazita to Motoo still in the delta next to Qaruga. The interesting story which I have is when my parents visited our relatives or their relatives at Qwaga still in Chief`s island. I was young that time but when we came back after visiting my mother and her grand mother got lost on the way back, they went missing for about two weeks in chief`s island, I was with them, the reason was they were crossing the whole chief`s island from west to east, then when they come back from east to west they had a big storm and rain then they lost because of the storm, and it was only two ladies. They had no fire, they couldn’t make fire, and we survived by digging water lilies and eating the berries and figs like fig cocomora. We did that the whole two weeks until some other hunters found us and took us to our home. Our relatives and family were looking and searching for us until they got tired and they thought that we were dead.

In our culture when you are three months old your father has to take you to big river, like big channel or lagoon and dip you in three times, they believe that to do so while you are young you will never be scared of water. When you are about 8 years your father takes you out to teach you how to hunt and how to sleep in the bush without being scared. I went out one day with my father and other people going hunting, then we camped, we had old people and boys. The other evening we were sitting around the fire, one boy moved like three or four metres from us cutting the grass to use it as mattress and then lion came out of nowhere and grabbed the guy and ran away, until now nobody found the boy. Then we moved from there to Mojei we were grown that time, that time I knew everything. Our old parents believed that the best education is to learn the bush not going to school, that’s why I didn’t go to school. Because in our old lives to have money you have to sell animal skins, mokoros and some meat because animals were still free.

I started working for Oryx Safaris for Mr Haroon as a skinner and then changed to gun bearer or tracker. When I left hunting then I was employed by Bird Safaris for Mr Jack we were catching the birds on different places, from Moremaoto to Makgadikgadi and in the delta. We usually stopped at Tsao, we were catching the baby Zebra, we used to drive very fast in the middle of Zebra herds and throw a rope on the neck of baby then we quickly inject it then load it in the vehicle. While we were doing this the government decided to move people from the delta to come closer to the town so that the can learn how to read and write. Every body was moved out of the delta in 1980. I crossed over to Camp Okavango by mokoro because we heard that they are going to build a camp. The camp wasn’t existing, I was employed before the camp was built. I helped the construction, when the camp finished in 1983 I was employed as a grounds man, then because I knew mokoro they promoted me as a poler, then I learnt my birds there nobody taught me anything like birds or English I have learnt my English from the Tourists. The birds I have some birds on bird safari. Then I continued with my guiding until now. ~ end.

NOVEMBER 2007 REPORT BY MUNIHANGO SAKHI LIMBO: GROUP TRAINER / HIV AND AIDS COORDINATOR

CHOBE HOLDINGS STAFF WELLNESS PROGRAMME AND WORKPLACE INTERVENTION SRATEGY FOR HIV AND AIDS

Introduction

Our workplace intervention started in 2002 with D.D.S. Managing Director Mr Derek Flatt drawing the first HIV and AIDS policy, which was communicated to the employees and also with Chobe Holdings Managing Director Mr Jonathan Gibson who hired the company doctor (Dr Andre Birkenstock). He moves around the lodges with a three dimensional approach (healthy mind, body and soul). We also use the services of Pastor Canaan Chatukuta who visits our lodges and takes care of the spiritual side of mental health promoting Christian values for behaviour change and relationships.

We have enjoyed a close association with outside organisations such as (now closed) C.O.C.E.P.W.A., and with the help of the International Labour Organisation (I.L.O.), the Botswana Business Coalition on Aids (B.B.C.A.) our focal people, lay counsellors and peer educators have received training and development.

With all the support we got from all these people we made our way up till where we proudly stand today recognised as one of the leaders in out industry when it comes to workplace interventions around HIV and AIDS. We received Red Ribbon awards for “best practices” fortwo years in recognition of our workplace interventions and we were also chosen as one of 13 companies by the I.L.O. to be assisted with behaviour change interventions and training.

1. Policy

The first policy was drawn and communicated to all employees in 2003. In 2007 the policy was changed from H.I.V. and A.I.D.S. to Staff Wellness and follows the I.L.O. principles. Before it was changed we were only focusing on H.I.V. and A.I.D.S., now we focus on the general health and other aspects like stress, violence etc. The new policy includes job security for those needing extended time off for medical reasons or to care for family members. This is because we recognise the fact that the majority of our employees are either infected or affected by this pandemic.

2. Prevention

In all our lodges we have condom distribution programme, where all the employees have access to both female and male condoms. Peer educators teach their peers the correct way of using condoms and they do demonstrations. The company Doctor and the staff welfare officers do pre and post test counselling (V.T.C.) being fully trained officers for counselling and HIV testing) and also conduct information, education and communication. Materials are provided e.g. posters, books and videos. As mentioned already we have gone beyond HIV and AIDS and we are looking at the general health of our employees. I have conducted training in house with staff doing policy, condom demonstrations, role plays and as well as training Peer educators, we have implemented staff wellness committees in the lodges. We also have a monthly staff newsletter as well as a suggestion scheme.

We have monthly themes which the peer educators teach the employees every month, the themes include the topics like stress, relationships, and diseases like cancer, heart disease, obesity and many more. There is a correspondence course (Way To Happiness developed by Ron Hubbard in the U.S.) which some of our employees are enrolling for, it teaches people how to live a moral, positive and healthy life. All our Managers in the lodges are trained in first aid and trauma care so they can handle some of the situations out there in the bush and they can assist employees with certain medications. We provide flights, meals and accommodation to the Government District Health Teams (D.H.T.) visiting the lodges on a monthly basis to conduct primary health care, V.T.C. and issue government program drugs like family planning and I.P.T. (TB prevention drug), P.M.T.C.T. (Prevention from mother to child drug therapy). The company doctor visits monthly as well and liaison with the D.H.T. and Maun or Kasane General Hospitals regarding referrals of patients.

3. Treatment, Care and Support

The company has appointed a full time HIV and AIDS coordinator who oversees all the programmes in the company and there are 7 lay counsellors and 14 peer educators trained in-house. Peer educators do monthly talks to the staff at the staff village and they also do individual counselling. our HR Manager represents the H.A.T.A.B Health committee on D.M.S.A.C. (District Multi-Sectoral HIV and AIDS committee).

(Picture Above): Limbo training staff from Sekoma Island Lodge.

4. Stigma Reduction

In our company we try to reduce stigma by participating in green ribbon campaign (“I know my status”). If someone is wearing the ribbon it’s a symbol of knowing one’s status. We also celebrate world aids day with our guests. on this day we do prayers, singing, poems and speech where we share with our guests on what the country and the company are doing to the people of Botswana, and we invite our guests to share with us about their countries. We also involved our guests in activities to celebrate Botswana’s month of prayer in September each year. We are proud of the fact that over 90% of our staff now know their HIV status.

5. Community Outreach

We are dedicated to helping other organisations to have programmes like ours. At the moment we are helping one of our suppliers here in Maun and Kasane to educate their employees and drawing up the workplace policy. we are also working with charity organisations like Love Botswana Outreach Mission and Bana Ba Letsatsi (caring for children at risk). We have a donation programme in the company where our employees and guests donate money and the money is used to support these organisations by buying materials/goods for them. Over the last few months we have contributed over 5000.00 Pula to Love Botswana Outreach mission (for a new orphanage). The money was used to buy an electric geyser and air conditioner. We have employed two boys from Bana Ba Letsatsi on their school holidays to help them earn a living and we intend assisting them with buying school uniforms in the new year.

(Picture above: Desert and Delta Safaris staff handing over the staff donation to Love Botswana Outreach Mission.)

6. The Way Forward

Our goals are to have all our employees following the principles of positive living and to have all staff who need ARV (Anti-retroviral) drugs enrolled on the Government MASA program. We want to have 0% deaths from aids related illnesses in our company and a 0% rate of new infections. We want to do as much as we can on community out-reach and we want our employees to know that they have job security and feel no discrimination. We are also aiming at uplifting the status of women in our staff villages through attitude and behaviour change. We are aiming at having 0% babies born HIV positive to employees’ families. We are also addressing the issue of multiple partners in the lodges, through the development of spiritual values. All our endeavours are in line with the Vision 2016 objectives of the Botswana Government which are to have an “educated, informed, prosperous, productive, innovative, compassionate, just, caring, safe, secure, open, democratic, accountable, moral, tolerant, united and proud nation”! Our management and staff are proud of these principles and enjoy sharing their achievements and the success with Government programs with our guests.

Recent Sightings at Camp Moremi

MC and Michelle Report from Camp Moremi - 26 November 2007

Wow, it has been a great month in the history of Camp Moremi animal sightings. One hot morning, one of our guides Mod, was out tracking a cheetah when he came across a WHITE RHINO at Bodumatau in the Xakanaxa area. He radioed in with much excitement so he could share this incredible sighting with all the other guides. Guides made their way to the area quickly so that all the guests could see this amazing find! For all of our guides this is the first time in their lives that they have seen a rhino!

Why is this so incredible?
The rhino population has decreased radically world wide over the years because of poaching for their valuable horns. It has become so bad that in some areas rhinos are now extinct. In Botswana the rhino population in the late 70’s was on the brink of extinction. The Botswana Government and the private sector realized this drastic decline and embarked on a program of breeding rhinos in captivity and re-introducing them into the wild. Between 1967 and 1980, ninety five rhinos were reintroduced into Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park, sadly with this reintroduction poaching increased and with the lack of protection, this population of rhino was almost wiped out by the late 1980’s. Due to the decreased numbers, the Bamangwato Tribe decided to set aside an area for the protection of rhino, this is known today as the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. In the late 1990’s – early 2000’s a number of white and black rhinos were reintroduced into the Moremi Game Reserve. Up until 2007 Camp Moremi has not sighted any rhinos and that is why it was such an exciting and incredible day for all, the day Mod stumbled across the white rhino! Since that day we spotted the white rhino again at Dead Tree Island.

Personally, I was so delighted to see just the spoor of the rhino. I had to go all the way to Kruger National Park in South Africa to see my first rhino in the wild, so it brings me great joy to know that rhinos are once again roaming the Moremi Game Reserve. I hope many more opportunities will be had to see these spectacular animals but we all must remember their turbulent past and make every effort to ensure their continued protection.

Soccer Match at Camp Moremi – Team Moremi vs. Team Portugal

Team Photo

On Tuesday the 20th of November a challenge was made by a group of visiting agents from Abreu, Portugal! They wanted to have an international friendly against Team Moremi! So while Team Portugal where out on their game drive, we organized a soccer ball and the lawn was prepared. After a delicious brunch, the chairs were put in place for the goals and team photos were taken. Mc was appointed the official referee with a life jacket whistle to keep everyone in check. The fans stood on the side-lines cheering on their teams. The first half was action packed with Golesedi scoring 2 goals. The Portuguese team came back and managed to equalize the score. Some of the Portuguese fans tried to move the goal posts but were kept in order by the referee. The defense from both teams was fantastic and everybody was playing their best! At half time the score was equal with 2 goals each.

Full contact action at Camp Moremi

Refreshments were well deserved at half time and a great laugh was had by all. The second half began with a few substitutions from both sides. The game once again was filled with heaps of energy and in the first few minutes Team Portugal scored a goal! But the score was shortly equalized by Malani! The final whistle was blown and the score was 3 – 3! Both teams thoroughly enjoyed the game! The game brought about a great team spirit and an afternoon filled with many laughs and smiles! The game will be remembered by all for many years to come. Team Moremi is looking forward to a rematch one day and the Mundial group suggested it should take place on their home soil – Portugal!

Responsible Tourism - Not Just Lip Service

We pride ourselves in the strength of our workforce, which we have sourced where possible from the local communities within the areas that we operate in. Citizen development within our tourism practices are a proud reality and an extremely successful achievement for Desert and Delta Safaris.

Every aspect of our operation is monitored in terms of environmental impact, and we work hard to maintain high standards of environmental care. By working together to conserve the wildlife areas of Botswana we are ensuring guests an exclusive and intact wilderness experience, as well as maintaining the pristine beauty of the area for future generations. This mentality is a great contributing factor to the reason why Desert and Delta Safaris have been awarded so many operational concessions within the National Parks by the Botswana Government.

Responsible travel is a catch phrase, which is beginning to slip into conversations more and more frequently. The average traveller is far more aware and concerned about supporting operators which in turn are protecting the environment and taking an active role in Social Responsibility within their destinations of operation. Come and experience these achievements with Desert & Delta Safaris on your next visit to Botswana.

We will highlight more specific posts in due course which will specifically highlight our achievements and ongoing commitements as we strive to be Botswana's most responsible Tour Operator.