A Kenyan Adventure

Safari in the Masai Mara

Having recently opened our East Africa office, we were very keen to showcase our new destination to potential clients. The opportunity presented itself sooner than expected with the generous support of Kenyan Airways and KLM, who assisted us in securing seats from Germany to Kenya. We promptly set about inviting all our top incentive clients on a true Kenyan Adventure.

Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi, the gateway for most European flights, is currently undergoing somewhat of a metamorphosis. New parking is under construction, which will certainly alleviate the congested parking site. Nevertheless, arrival is hassle-free, especially if one secures airside assistance and porters beforehand. From the Arrivals Hall it is a short walk to the parking lot, where coaches or 4x4 vehicles await, alternatively one can cross the road to the conveniently located domestic departures. For charter flights, it is a 30min road transfer to the local Wilson Airport.

Our guests arrived on the 06h30 flight from Amsterdam and were ready for the first phase of the trip; Nairobi to Mount Kenya. This scenic journey takes one from the bustling city out into the countryside in an easterly direction, passing the Abedare Mountains on the left and Mount Kenya on the right. It is an easy three-and-a-half hour drive. Along the route one passes “Matata’s” (I am sure you familiar with the phrase “Hakuna Matata” from the Lion King...) and “Boda-boda’s” mini-vans and motorcycle taxis respectively.

We spent out first night at the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club – a wonderful, colonial property set on the slopes of Mount Kenya. Originally the hunting lodge of William Holden and Stephanie Powers, this property has now been transformed into a deluxe resort. Sloping lawns, frequently graced by what I called Maribu Barbies (the Maribu Stork, definitely the winner of ugliest bird in Africa!), roll out to the base of the mountain. The hotel is reminiscent of a bygone era, from the silver service and sumptuous buffets to the elegant, well-appointed rooms. On-site, they have a choice of sporting activities as well as an Animal Orphanage which is well worth a visit. The equator literally runs through the hotel and this is easily demonstrated by a simple water experiment. After crossing the equator, each guest was handed a certificate by a Masaai Chief and his warriors. The GM hosted us for a magical evening at the Likki River Boma, complete with candles lighting the way, a traditional African BBQ and local entertainment. What a start ... dinner under the African Skies!

For incentive groups there are a number of offsite breakfast, lunch or dinner sites, as well as safari excursions located a mere hour’s drive from the resort. Certainly a worthwhile venue to combine with the Masai Mara or Lake Nakuru. In addition, fly-in options can be arranged via a helipad on the property or an airstrip situated approximately 30 minutes away.

Day two was off to an early start as we headed out to Lake Nakuru, but not before we were treated to an an iconic view of Mount Kenya at sunrise! Spectacular! The journey to Lake Nakuru took about five hours, mostly on tarred roads. A half-way stop at Thompsons Falls helped break the journey. Please note that it is possible to offer this as a fly-in package.

Lake Nakuru is renowned for its birdlife and in particular, its world-famous flocks of pink Flamingos. Unfortunately the viewing is seasonal, so we did not see as many as expected. Nevertheless, we did get some marvellous photo opportunities and the area includes a huge array of other wildlife from Lion, and Rhino to Hyena (they offer the Big Five - Lion, Rhino, Elephant, Leopard and Buffalo).

Spectacular scenery – right out of the movie “Out of Africa“ – teaming herds of animals, extraordinary birdlife and quality hotels, make Lake Nakuru a definite must in Kenya. We stayed at Sarova Lion Hills and viewed Lake Nakuru Lodge, the two main properties. They are both comfortable 4 star hotels and offer incentive-style events such as dinner on the lawns, tree planting programmes, local entertainment and more formal gala dinners.

Day three was the great trek from Lake Nakuru to the Masai Mara; a six hour journey, which covered a variety of terrains. Up till Narok, the last outpost before the Masai Mara, the road was in good condition, however between the town and the lodges, the road is currently in a terrible state. If budget allows, I definitely recommend a fly-in to the Masai Mara. Our first night in the Mara, was spent at the sublime Mara Bushtops – not quite located on the reserve, but a mere ten minutes outside the park. They have the advantage of a private concession, which is rare in this area. Ten exquisite safari tents, each with private jacuzzi, afford complete privacy. The cuisine is superb and we were very well looked after by attentive staff. Suitable for small, high-end incentive groups, or honeymoon couples only, this is the ultimate romantic hideaway.

Our second night was spent at the Sarova Mara Bush Camp; completely different in style but great for bigger groups – 73 tents in total. The tents are spread across expansive gardens which can also incorporated for events. A large communal pool is the hub of the property.

And now for the good part... the one which has brought millions of visitors to this region – game viewing. Vast open plains and gentle hills allow for some of the best safari viewing in the world. Large herds of animals, including the Big Five, are the main attraction. Of course, when the wildebeest and zebra start their annual migration from Tanzania between July and September, this is magnified into an awe-inspiring spectacle. We were very lucky to catch the first arrivals - the Tanzanian border was covered in black, which when viewed with binoculars, was a vast teeming herd of zebra. Taking advantage of the migration are the omnipresent big cats and crocodiles. In the words of Karen Blixen - "You know you are truly alive when you’re living among lions."

A minimum of 2 nights is recommended in the Mara, and wonderful incentive-style activities can be arranged, except for bush dinners, which the park does not allow. Included are bush breakfasts overlooking the hippo pools, champagne served by Masaai warriors in full regalia, sunset cocktails overlooking the plains, and possibly the highlight, a hot-air balloon ride over the Masai Mara.

Our penultimate day was spent completing our round trip, back on the road to the capital, Nairobi. Apart from the section to Narok, the roads were in good condition. Lunch hosted by Fiona and Marcus Mitchell at Kiambethu Tea Estate provided a welcome break. The tea plantation has been in their family for generations and they were very gracious hosts, serving us a home-style lunch on the lawns. Only 40kms from the city centre, this provided us with sufficient respite to brave the chaos that is Nairobi traffic. The Sarova Stanley Hotel is located right in the centre of the city and offers old school hospitality. Our last night’s celebration was held at the Tamarind Restaurant, sister to the more famous Carnivore Restaurant. Specialists in Dawa’s (traditional cocktails) and seafood platters, it was a fitting end to a superb trip.

Nairobi offers many incentive options, such as dinner on the lawns at the home of Karen Blixen, the famous Danish authoress whose life was immortalized in the movie “Out of Africa”, to a function at the city museum. Great day activities include a visit to Kazuri Bead Store and Factory and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. David Sheldrick was a Warden of Tsavo East National Park. In 1952 he started a haven for the rehabilitation of orphan Elephants, and his legacy continues at this venue on the outskirts of Nairobi.

Kenya truly has much to offer potential incentive programmes, with the Mombasa coastline adding a beach element into the mix. Combine this with Tanzania and the island of Zanzibar, and you have an unforgettable programme.

“Everything in Africa bites, but the safari bug is worst of all.” Brain Jackman

New flight routes – 2 new routes open up the safari circuit

Two new flights have recently been announced which will have a huge impact on the incentive industry in Southern Africa. At a time where clients are more budget conscious, and where length of stay has been reduced, they allow for direct connections between Cape Town and Victoria Falls, Zambia. And also Cape Town and Hoedspruit Airport, Mpumalanga, which means less traveling time for guests.

Zambezi Airlines, Zambia's leading domestic and regional carrier has commenced operations with three weekly flights between Cape Town and Livingstone in July this year. The airline will operate the route with a Boeing 737-500 aircraft configured for 99 economy and 12 business seats.
 

Zambezi Airlines

Cape Town to Livingstone
Flight Days: Mon, Wed and Fri
Depart 08:00 Arrive 11:10

Livingstone to Cape Town
Flight Days: Tue, Thu and Sun
Depart 14:00 Arrive 17:10

SA Express has announced the launch of flights between Cape Town and Hoedspruit, starting July 26. Hoedspruit Airport services the Kapama and Thornybush Game Reserves (Kapama, Thornybush & Ngala to name a few lodges). In addition to extensive market research, SA Express responds to customer travel trends by introducing this new route, says Inati Ntshanga, ceo of SA Express. The airline will operate the route with a 50-seater CRJ 200.
Cape Town to Hoedspruit
Flight Days: Tue and Thur
Depart 09:30 Arrive 12:10

Hoedspruit to Cape Town
Flight Days: Tue, Thu
Depart 12:45 Arrive 15:25

Queen Victoria Hotel – Latest 5* property opens at V&A Waterfront

The Queen Victoria Hotel is the newest addition to Newmark Hotel’s portfolio. What sets this 35 roomed, five-star boutique hotel apart is the attention to detail given by the creative team responsible for its development, who achieved this through their passion for awe-inspiring design.

From the creative brief of ‘where classic elegance meets contemporary design’, every effort has been made to ensure that the 35-room Queen Victoria Hotel is a haven of calm, luxury and understated opulence amongst the hustle and bustle of Cape Town’s popular V&A Waterfront.

The interiors create an ambience of peaceful elegance, through the use of greys and taupe’s, marble-clad walls, crystal chandeliers, white marble and wooden parquet flooring, not to mention the triple-volume foyer with its dramatic white spiral staircase, glass lift and crystal chandeliers. The signature shade of deep purple has been employed to add a touch of regal eccentricity as an ode to the historic figure after whom the hotel is named.

From the food and beverage offering at the hotel’s restaurant and bar – Dash - to the interior aesthetic, the Queen Victoria Hotel embodies a sense of international flair fused with local flavour. The menu at Dash is structured around classic French cuisine, with all ingredients sourced locally and seasonally, while ninety per cent of the interior pieces were sourced from local design geniuses.

We at Green Route are certainly excited to see the opening of this new 5* property hotel in the V&A Waterfront, one of the top tourists spots in Cape Town.

Queen Victoria Hotel, V&A Waterfront

EASTERN CAPE VS SABI SANDS – THE BIG GAME OFF! - seen through the eyes of our Senior Operations Manager

The Eastern Cape is home to numerous new lodges and I took this opportunity to explore the region. I was particularly interested to see how this area compared with the Sabi Sands, adjacent to the Kruger National Park, which is where we usually operate our incentive groups.

Shamwari Safari

GETTING THERE
Access to the Eastern Cape Game Lodges is quite simple, I flew on SA Express which was a 1 hr 15 minutes flight from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth (PE), the main hub of the region. There are also flights to and from Johannesburg. Port Elizabeth Airport was refurbished for the Soccer World Cup in 2010 and the airport is looking very modern and compact.

CLIMATE AND VEGETATION AND HISTORY
The Eastern Cape has a similar climate as the Kruger National Park. Travelling as I did over our winter it was also equally cold in the evening, but the days are sunny and warm. On one game drive, our one ranger read -3 C with wind chill factor, so my advice is dress warm! Kwandwe has the most extraordinary enormous baby romper padded suits with hoods and mittens for the game drives. They look hysterical, but really do the job.

The vegetation is very different to the Sabi Sands. It is called Eastern Cape Thicket and reminded me quite a bit of the Pilanesburg with alternating low rolling hills and open plains covered in thick low scrub bushes as well as Acacia thorn shrubs. There are very few trees, except in the ravines. Subsequently, the giraffes do most of their eating with their heads down.

The history of the area is fascinating and something that should be incorporated in the tour of the area. A lot of the farms are still owned by the same families that arrived in the area as the 1820 Settlers. Plus, the Great Fish River was the border where the white settlers and the Xhosa people first met and fought for many years. The nearby town of Grahamstown is the perfect place to study this.

An added advantage is that the area is Malaria free.


KWANDWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE (andBeyond and Relais & Chateaux)
Kwandwe, means “Place of the Blue Crane” in Xhosa
www.andbeyond.co.za

It takes approx 2hrs 30min to drive to Kwandwe from PE. The last ½ hour is on a gravel road. One first stops at the Heatherton Towers, which is reception for all the Camps. It is the original fortified farmhouse of the area. The reserve is 22,000 hectares and they have 30km of the Great Fish River frontage, which flows all year round. The lodges in the area start their game drives at 08h30 (in winter), otherwise they operate the same schedule as Sabi Sands in the summer months (namely 05h30 start). They have an airstrip that can take a Kingair 200 – it is a ½ flight from PE. They have the Big 5 (Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard and Buffalo), about 20 Lion (2 prides) and 50 Elephant. They also have a lot of game that one does not get to see very often further north – Eland, Springbok, Aardwolf, Aardvark, Blue Crane, Black Wildebeest, lots of Black Rhino, and Oryx. They have maintained the African villages on the property, with electric fencing, so the staff get to stay with their families. Kwandwe has 4 uniquely styled lodges.

a) Great Fish River Lodge
It is lovely, with 9 rooms spread along the river, all with private heated pools and under floor heating. The décor is done by Chris Brown, who does all the andBeyond properties. I spent the night here and it was very comfortable. I even saw Aardwolf for the first time on a game drive, which was amazing.

b) Melton Manor
I loved this property, it was my favourite at Kwandwe. It only has 4 rooms, so is perfect for a family unit. It offers a private chef and an open plan living area complete with huge fireplace and open kitchen. The décor was divine, all dark salmon and avocado colours, but very cozy like a private home, with a big central pool from where you can watch the animals grazing.

c) Ecca Lodge
This lodge is busy being refurbished and is very modern, all glass and wood. It has six gorgeous, huge rooms all with private pools. The bathrooms have one wall made up of mirror mosaic, which is stunning. This would be a fantastic summer camp.

Ecca Lodge

d) Uplands Homestead
This is a classic old farmhouse, with high ceilings and wooden floors. It is the only camp that has electric fencing as the pool is at the end of a long lawn. Prince Edward has stayed here several times and offers complete privacy. It has 3 rooms and these can only be booked for exclusive use.
Other activities on offer at Kwandwe include:
A Carnivore research day with a Dr Bisset - they track leopard (collared) and hyena.
Fishing in the river.
Rhino Capture. They dart and capture to put a microchip in the Rhino’s horn. They use a Robbi 44 helicopter and can take 2 passengers (plus pilot and vet). This is seasonal, but they can work around it to include clients. This activity is not available midsummer (Nov – March) as animals do not react well in the heat.

AMAKHALA RESERVE www.amakhala.co.za

This reserve is 7,000 hectares and is made up of 5 private farms that joined forces in 2000. They only have 2 Lion that are in an enclosed 1000 hectare area. All the camps are privately owned and managed (similar to the Madikwe region). We saw a cheetah with 5 semi adult cubs, which was amazing. In the Sabi Sands this would be rare due to the large number of other predators. Unfortunately, they will sell 4 of the cubs as the land cannot sustain more males than the one that they currently have. With regards to game viewing I was only able to go on one game drive - at the time of our visit we saw mostly buck and Giraffe. They do have between 15 & 20 Elephant and some Lion but no Leopard or Hippo.

a) Safari Lodge
This lodge was gorgeous with 11 rooms, but unfortunately in a soft game area – i.e. only buck and Elephant (no big cats). It was built by an artist couple, who, during our stay, were away exhibiting at the Grahamstown Festival. The attention to detail was wonderful. In my view it was the best camp in the whole reserve, with thatched half tents i.e. floors and roof, but tented walls. They have a deck with a telescope and heated seats. The breakfast looked fantastic. It would be great for locals who wanted to get away from it all.

b) Leeuwenhof Lodge
This was a lovely old farmhouse built in 1908, with lots of history, and still owned by the same family. The main house had 5 rooms, whilst the Shearers Lodge has 4 rooms. They have converted one of the old sheds into a chapel and the pub was an old stone grain cellar. It had a very nice family atmosphere. Unfortunately it is located right on a national highway.

c) Hlosi Lodge
It was very nice – big old style individual rondavel rooms, with open bathrooms and outdoor showers. The main area was very classic game lodge, with a high ceilinged thatch roof.

I have been advised that rhino darting is possible in this area, but requires careful planning well in advance.

SHAMWARI GAME RESERVE www.shamwari.com

Shamwari is now wholly owned by Dubai World. The reserve comprises of 25,000h of reclaimed farmlands. They offer the Big 5 which are free roaming. They are approximately 45 minutes drive from PE.

a) Long Lee Manor
This is a very elegant property – painted Mount Nelson Pink, but I was told that this is due to change. They have rooms in 3 different buildings and 2 big pools. There are 30 beautiful en-suite rooms - lots of duck egg blue and greys, with red touches and beautiful bathrooms. They have recently been renovated to increase the size of the rooms. From the lodge one looks out over the plains, where Riverdene, Sarili Lodge, Born Free Educational Centre and the Rehabilitation centre are situated. It has an old colonial feel to it and still beautifully maintained. They have an airstrip which can take a Kingair 200 – 16-seater. From Cape Town it is 1hr 30min charter. From PE it is 15 minutes. They also have a helipad for helicopter transfers. They have a spa with 2 treatment rooms, offering Decleor products and a small gym.

b) Eagles Crag
A very unusual lodge. It is in the more mountainous, northern region of the property. It is actually located in the middle of a ravine, so you look out at a rock face and the rooms are set in thick bush. It has 9 suites with private pools. The public areas are very modern - soft colours, steel handrails everywhere, big modern photos of animals, giraffe necks etc and glass walls. Downstairs are 2 conference rooms. There is a spa and gym. The food was amazing – I had a hamburger for lunch (I always believe that the real test of a kitchen is if they can cook the most basic food well…and it was a superb hamburger). The breakfast was excellent – crispy bacon without asking for it and a poached egg that was actually medium. The rooms are seriously stunning, but I would recommend this for couples or singles only, as the bath is open on one side, with a four poster bed in middle and basins, toilet and shower on other side (both with doors).

c) Lobengula
This was the previous owners private lodge, which has been closed since 2007. It has a 70’s feel with a sunken bar next to the pool, plus sunken lounge area around the fire in the living area. I have not seen this style for a long time. Quite fun actually, and very classic old camp – maybe they should reintroduce the whole theme. They are looking at doing a whole refurbishment in the near future.

d) Bayethe Tented Camp
This is their Honeymoon or couples camp, with 12 tents. They have built 3 new tents, which are stunning. Wooden flooring, with fireplaces and pools and the main area is overlooking a waterhole. I saw it at night, but it still looked great.

e) Riverdene
This is the camp especially for kids and families. It offers full time nannies and it is strategically fenced in. They run a special kiddies game drive - including a booklet that the kids have to complete - “My nose is called a trunk, what am I” and collecting pieces of black and white rhino dung etc. Very nicely done.

f) Sarili Lodge
This is a large house, very modern and refurbished, with 5 rooms. One has to take the whole lodge exclusively. It offers great views over the plain.

Born Free
This is a centre where they have Lion and Leopard in camps. These animals have been abused by humans and cannot be put back in the wild. Apparently, the one male lion hates people so much that it you go near the fence he will try to attack you! Needless to say, we looked from a viewing platform. They do a lot of educational for local schools here. There is no charge, but one can make a donation.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
This is exactly what it is. Animals come in from all over, to be healed and returned to the wild. There were baby warthogs (so cute), a young giraffe, a young rhino whose mother had been killed, and some black wildebeest.

My overall thoughts
The Eastern Cape offers a unique safari experience - as the Group Ecologist from Shamwari, John O’Brien said, “It is a conservancy of farmland that has been brought back to Bush”. At the end I cannot say one region is better than the other, as they all offer something different. It is important however to match your product to your clients needs and expectations. I do believe that the Eastern Cape deserves our support as it is so vital to develop and maintain new regions conserving our natural heritage.

Conference in Uganda – seen through the eyes of our General Manager

Kampala Serena Hotel

As a unique conference destination, Uganda ticks many boxes for delegates travelling from Europe. Companies are always looking for the next new destination. Uganda offers easy access from Europe, short travelling times and a unique African Conference with world class facilities for groups of all sizes.

PRO’s

• Ideally located at the very heart of Kampala, the Kampala Serena Hotel stands amidst 72 acres of landscaped grounds and water gardens. An oasis of cool and green, encircled by the seven hills of Kampala, this 152-room world-class hotel is the focal point of national, regional, business, political and social life.
• The Kampala Serena International Conference Centre is located within the secure hotel grounds. This conference centre has a large Auditorium and Plenary which can take from 200 – 1200pax. There are 7 additional breakout rooms with capacities ranging from 50 – 300pax. Most venues have a built in PA system, although additional sound and lighting is generally required and it is advisable to have on site technicians. The property hosted the CHOGM Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2007.
• There are two other 5* hotels in Kampala city centre, a mere 10 minute transfer away – The Kampala Sheraton (218 rooms) and the Emin Pasha Hotel (a small boutique hotel offering 20 rooms).
• A brand new Hilton Hotel is currently being built and will be completed early 2012. It’s location is within 10 minute drive of the Serena International Conference Centre
• The brand new Entebbe International Airport ensures custom clearing and immigration a quick and seamless process.
• I found the service from all providers to be very professional with friendly, able and willing staff – Ugandans in the main are an extremely generous and welcoming nation.
• Kampala is extremely safe destination despite recent troubles.
• Quality of buffet food for conference is good and varied and includes some local fair as well.
• Exciting pre and post trips for delegates – Gorilla Trekking, Lake Victoria, Queen Elizabeth National Park and the tree climbing lions, Murchison Falls, Source of the Nile and river rafting in Jinga.

CON’s

• Entebbe Airport is a minimum hour drive, during peak hour traffic can be more, from the city centre.
• Decor in the venues is a bit dated and could do with some additional full length table cloths and cocktail cloths for functions. We can arrange for this to be brought in from neighbouring centres. Would need to revisit the food menus particularly on how various courses are plated and presented, in order to bring up to European standards.

Green Route Africa NEWS UPDATE

Green Route Africa appoints representation in Italy
Green Route Africa recently appointed the company Excellence srl, based in Milan to represent us in Italy. We will be ably represented by Lorena Minuzzo.
Contact Details:
Lorena@excellencesrl.it
Ph: +39 051 4841310 Fax: +39 051 247165


Cape Town voted “No. 1 best destination in the world”  by TripAdvisor
“Cape Town is clearly the destination to beat,” commented Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson. “With beautiful scenery, great wine and gorgeous weather, it’s easy to see why Cape Town, which also played host to last year’s World Cup, has topped this year’s list.”

New flight routes – 2 new routes open up the safari circuit

Two new flights have recently been announced which will have a huge impact on the incentive industry in Southern Africa. At a time where clients are more budget conscious, and where length of stay has been reduced, they allow for direct connections between Cape Town and Victoria Falls, Zambia. And also Cape Town and Hoedspruit Airport, Mpumalanga, which means less traveling time for guests.

Zambezi Airlines

Zambezi Airlines, Zambia's leading domestic and regional carrier has commenced operations with three weekly flights between Cape Town and Livingstone in July this year. The airline will operate the route with a Boeing 737-500 aircraft configured for 99 economy and 12 business seats.

Cape Town to Livingstone
Flight Days: Mon, Wed and Fri
Depart 08:00 Arrive 11:10

Livingstone to Cape Town
Flight Days: Tue, Thu and Sun
Depart 14:00 Arrive 17:10

SA Express has announced the launch of flights between Cape Town and Hoedspruit, starting July 26. Hoedspruit Airport services the Kapama and Thornybush Game Reserves (Kapama, Thornybush & Ngala to name a few lodges). In addition to extensive market research, SA Express responds to customer travel trends by introducing this new route, says Inati Ntshanga, ceo of SA Express. The airline will operate the route with a 50-seater CRJ 200.

Cape Town to Hoedspruit
Flight Days: Tue and Thur
Depart 09:30 Arrive 12:10

Hoedspruit to Cape Town
Flight Days: Tue, Thu
Depart 12:45 Arrive 15:25