LET US TAKE YOU DEEP INTO THE REAL AFRICA

LET US TAKE YOU DEEP INTO THE REAL AFRICA
Let us take you deep into the real Africa, where the wildlife still roam freely in totally unspoilt habitats and where you can witness some of the most awe-inspiring sights on earth. My name is Philip Gregory and I first travelled to Africa in the early 1990s and loved it so much so that I have created a company to help other people encounter African Safaris and the African Beaches. Africa Select specialise in Kenyan Safaris, Tanzanian Safaris, South African Safaris, Botswana Safaris and many more. Read my blog and visit my website to find out how I can help make your dream become a reality.

Wednesday 31 March 2010

SUMMER SAFARI SUPER SAVER


Valid June 21st to July 31st 2010

7 night trip INCLUDING return flights from UK and Lusaka to Mfuwe and an overnight in Lusaka just £3,140.00 per person inc International flights


Equates to approx 25% discount

Because of, or maybe despite the World Cup (we haven't yet quite worked out which!) we still have some spaces in camps at the end of June and into July so have come up with this AMAZING special offer to help you escape, or get closer to the World Cup action!! For football fans we can make sure you get to see the important matches and for those not wanting to have anything to do with the soccer.... the bush is a wonderful place to escape it all!


Fits perfectly with BA from Heathrow. Offer valid from June 21st to July 31st - no single supplement!

Itinerary;
Day 1 - Arrive Lusaka ex British Airways

Flight Lusaka to Mfuwe
6 nights in Norman Carr Safaris camps - exact order of camps to be decided 2 weeks prior to travel but at least 2 camps guaranteed


Day 7 - Flight to Lusaka
Transer for overnight at Pioneer Camp in Lusaka


Day 8 - transfer to Lusaka Airport for British Airways flight home

Includes international and domestic flights and transfers, full board accommodation and drinks, national park fees, all activities, laundry and taxes. Only extras are visa and flight departure fees. Offer applies only to new bookings.

Norman Carr Lodge & Bush Camps
Between our five camps we are able to offer the variety of a luxury safari lodge and a selection of the best Zambian bushcamps. You can choose between a longer safari holiday combining accommodation in all of our camps or alternatively an extended stay at just one or two.


Each of our Zambian safari holidays is individually tailored to meet your needs and each camp is designed differently in an attempt to offer our guests the true feeling of a safari adventure as they move from one camp to the next.

Most of our Zambian safari holidays start with a night or two in the luxury of Kapani Safari Lodge and then progress to accommodation in one of our bush camps. We are the only safari company in Zambia to offer a true walking safari from camp to camp. Our camps are situated along the course of the Luwi River, within easy walking distance from each other and all in areas renowned for their excellent wildlife. They range from the stylish simplicity of Luwi Bush Camp, one of the most traditional of all Zambia's bush camps, to the elegance and sophistication of Mchenja Camp.

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Governors' Camp Game Report, Masai Mara February 2010


The first couple of weeks of February were hot, with temperatures reaching 34 degrees celsius and mostly dry. Uncharacteristically for this time of year, it started to rain, and a fair amount too. The mornings have been dry with a combination of sun and cloud with rain arriving in the evenings and at times late at night. The wonderful combination of rain and sun has caused the grass to shoot up to almost a metre in places. All this rain has caused the Marsh to flow and pour out some sizable cat fish which the Fish Eagles are gorging on. The whole of the Mara is looking amazingly lush, healthy and green.

There have been and continue to be huge groups of elephants moving over the plains, into the forest and through the Marsh. The elephant are content to feed on just the grass, sedge and fruit from the Greenheart trees, giving the acacia woodland in the surrounding areas a much needed break and time to re-grow.

The plains game have moved to where there is shorter grass mostly along the river line, leaving the large breeding herds of buffalo on the long grass plains.

The arrival of the rain has been wonderful for the resident birdlife. The abundance of life in the Musiara Marsh has drawn a crowd of water birds namely Herons, Storks and Hammerkops all hunting frogs and smaller catfish. The European Stork has recently made an entrance into the Mara, no doubt following the rain and the bounty of food which materialises with it. With food a-plenty many birds have nested and either have eggs or chicks at the moment. The weavers have built their nests hanging over the lush riverbanks, some are still building and some attending to chicks. Plovers, Longclaws and other ground nesting birds also have eggs and chicks in their nests hidden in the long grass and a Martial Eagle was seen killing a Wattled Plover near the Musiara airstrip.

The invasion of caterpillars we had in the camps and forest at the end of last month has now turned into the most brilliant display of thousands of different kinds of butterflies and moths. The Vernonia and Maerua plants along the riverside are flowering and are a big attraction for the butterlies and moths.


The lion prides are all well settled and thriving. The staple diet at this time of year is the unlucky warthog as there are plenty of piglets after the rain. However, they are just a snack for large prides of hungry lions. They risk not only injury but their lives hunting larger, more dangerous animals in order to feed their cubs.

The Marsh Pride has been seen feeding on a couple of buffalo kills first thing in the morning, although they mostly hunt at night as they have the advantage of better night vision. The lionesses and sub-adults were seen hunting a strong, young male buffalo. Three had jumped on it trying to hold on whilst the buffalo ran with them and into the deeper water of the marsh where he managed to face them off with his menacing horns.

The Paradise Pride males made a hippo kill not far from the river at night. The hippo may have been too far away from the water (where they normally seek safety) or it may have been injured or sick. The five males and cubs were able to feed first, followed by the lionesses. Three days later the hippo was reduced to bones and skin, which the hyena also fed on.

We have had some great sightings of the female leopard near the camps. She has been seen feeding on a monitor lizard and on a separate occasion a White Stork at the marsh.

The large male leopard was spotted with an impala kill near the Mara River.

Our resident leopard Olive and her cubs are found on most days near the river, her cubs still with her but happy to spend their day resting a little distance from her. They will become more and more independent as they learn how to hunt properly and both will go their separate ways.


The three cheetah brothers have been back in the area and are very well. The mother and cub are thriving, having been in an area with many hyena leaving us extremely worried, but so far nothing untoward has happened. They were last seen on a Thompson Gazelle kill and were able to relax and finish it without any interference. Shakira and her three cubs are still on the other side of the river, she presently has no chance of coming back across the river after all the recent rain, unless she knows where the bridge is.

Two Rhino were sighted on Paradise Plain. It is encouraging to see them in pairs, as they may be either a mother and older calf (often adopted at this stage) or a mating pair. This is a wonderful sighting since between the Mara and the northern Serengeti we only have an estimated 20 or so rhino.

Wednesday 3 March 2010


When booking 2 adults on The Great Wilderness Journey, Migration Routes, The Great Namibia Journey or Spirit of the Namib, the second adult gets a 40% saving!

These safaris are Discoverer and Adventurer Explorations, deluxe mobile safaris that have the advantage of superb locations in private concessions, and itineraries that provide exciting encounters with the most diverse, renowned and scenic areas in Botswana and Namibia.Valid for new bookings only and for travel date beginning before 15 June 2010.

Tuesday 2 March 2010

An Extra Night in Zambia On Us


Experience the exciting Wilderness Safaris camps in Zambia with a 33% saving on accommodation.

Get one night free when staying for a
minimum of 3 nights in one or more of the following camps:

Kafue National Park: Shumba Camp, Kapinga Camp and Busanga Bush Camp.
South Luangwa National Park: Kalamu Lagoon Camp.
Valid for all new bookings travelling during June, July and November 2010. This special may not form part of the “Stay 7 Pay 6” offer.

Stay extra nights in the Bush on Us!


Explore our prime areas in Zimbabwe and Zambia with these special ‘circuit’ rates, which allow you to truly enjoy the amazing wild areas of Kafue, South Luangwa, Hwange and Mana Pools National Parks.
Spend three nights in each area/camp, with most packages including transfers, at an incredible price!

Some of the packages available include:
Mana Canoe Trail, Zimbabwe: from £411 per person sharing for a 3-night safari
Ruckomechi Camp, Zimbabwe: from £804 per person sharing per 3-night stay
Kalamu Walking Trail, Zambia: from £527 per person sharing for a 3-night safari
Lufupa Tented Camp, Zambia: from £699 per person sharing per 3-night stay

Valid for new bookings for travel up to and including 30 November 2010.