Zimbabwe - Garth Jenman answers some tough questions (part 2)

Last newsletter we featured some questions and answers from our UK, US and SA Agents & Clients... (If you missed that newsletter you can click here to read it on our website). This newsletter Garth Jenman answers some more tough questions - specifically related to emergencies, air-lifts and medical treatment!

How would medical emergencies be handled? In the case of an emergency - would there be a helicopter? Would I be evacuated out of the country as I don't think that Zimbabwean hospitals would be great...?For emergencies and evacuations we recommend that our clients use MARS (Medical air rescue services)... MARS requires a nominal daily charge (per person) over and above any other travel insurance and guarantees immediate response & action! While you are getting urgent treatment, your international medical insurance might still be going through the approval procedure. MARS has an excellent track record; they have stabilized and evacuated people with ease in the past! On the private practice side; Zimbabwe has some very good doctors and many of them have been trained overseas, and some of them are very highly thought of! Accessing one of these doctors won't prove to be a problem if there is an emergency.

There are surprisingly good medical facilities, doctors and emergency evacuation services in Zimbabwe, as long as you have proper medical insurance which covers private facilities and services you won't have a problem. When it comes to critical hospital care, however, the best thing is evacuation to a good South African hospital.

Our General Advice:
1. Clients should have an International Medical Insurance package which includes emergency evacuation to a South Africa hospital
2. If they are travelling to remote areas in Zimbabwe, they should also purchase an emergency (pre hospital) air & road ambulance rescue package via Zimbabwe's Medical Air Rescue Service (MARS).

I would want to be evacuated from Zimbabwe immediately if something was to go wrong (political situation) - would you be able to handle this? If something was to go wrong in Zimbabwe evacuation would occur in the same process as if it was a medical emergency. With the correct international travel insurance and MARS cover, air rescue is possible for an emergency evacuation.

Most places we visit were never fully affected by the past politics but in the case of the unexpected we have contingency plans in place to deal with such crisis.

If medical help is needed what is the state of medicine and antibiotics? In the more developed and urbanised cities (like Bulawayo and Harare) there are private hospitals which have a good selection of antibiotics and medicine... Our safari vehicle is also equipped with a first aid medical bag which contains the basic necessities for any injuries or minor health concerns. But there are surprisingly good medical facilities, doctors and medicine available in Zimbabwe.

With contingency plans and the correct cover (like most African countries require) you should have no worries in Zimbabwe... If you have any comments or further questions then please visit our blog and leave a comment.

Experience a World in One Country... Lesotho on a pony!

Our World in One Country Safari now includes (since the beginning of 2010) Sani Pass and Lesotho... adding even more adventure and excitement to this safari and making it a 4x4 journey!

The Sani Pass (day 8) starts with a drive on the spectacular mountain road up the Sani Pass into the well-known entry point to Lesotho. It is the gateway to the 'Roof of Africa' scenic route that links the spectacular scenery of the Drakensberg with the mountains of northern Lesotho. You will definitely need to have your camera ready for this part of your safari...

Lesotho (days 9 - 10) is one of those places where you can travel for days, isolated from the world, in utter safety, with a backdrop of cinematic views of amethyst mountains, wide river valleys and sprays of alpine flowers! We enter Lesotho by crossing the border and making our way down the Sani Pass along an adventurous 4x4 route towards the western border of Lesotho. We arrive at Malealea Lodge which is situated in a remote part of Western Lesotho that is breathtaking in its beauty. This is a chance to experience traditional Basotho life. On day 10 we enjoy some pony trekking on Basotho Ponies through the magnificent landscapes that Lesotho has to offer.

** Pony trekking is a great highlight and we are really excited about having added this to our safari! You don't have to be an experienced rider to enjoy the experience... Explore this area on the back of a sure-footed Basotho Pony which means that you can trek deep into the mountains to places where no road leads to, transverse high above the river valleys, and ride along ridges feeling dwarfed by the infinite views.

Our World in One Country experience is priced from EUR 1299 / USD 1925 per person (Single Supplement EUR 80 / USD 120 plus a local payment of ZAR 1600). . Other highlights include: Mpumalanga Panorama Route, Game Drives in Kruger National Park, Kingdom of Swaziland, Cultural Experience and Game Drives in Zululand, Walking in the Drakensberg Mountains, Lesotho 4x4 Route, Garden Route, Cango Caves & Karoo and Cape Town. If you want more information please contact us on info@jenman.travel

** 10% discount on the departure date: 23 May 2010 **

Savuti Channel Flows again! Guma Camp flooding precautions...

The Savuti Channel is flowing past Savuti Elephant Camp in Botswana again after 27 years of being 'lost'. Covering over 100 km, it flows from the Linyanti River (fed from the Zibadianja Lagoon) through a gap in the Magwikhwe Sand Ridge, past Savute Elephant Camp. The channel is flowing towards its final destination, the Savuti Marsh!!! See the image - the dark green lines show the water flow...

Guma Camp is in this area and is one of the popular camps that we use on our Botswana Wildlife Breakaway Safari, our Northern & Southern Experience and our Northern & Southern Skies! Guma has put plans in place to ensure that they will not be affected with the flooding and that our clients can be transferred to the camp with ease! Guma is currently upgrading the camp and is making use of a 16-seater truck to transfer our clients through the floods - adding to the experience! If you do have any concerns then feel free to contact us on info@jenman.travel.

Host City 2010: Nelson Mandela Bay (June/July)

Nelson Mandela Bay is also known as Port Elizabeth, PE, the windy city and even the friendly city. Port Elizabeth is heaven for water sport fanatics... from surfing and sailing to scuba diving, you are sure to find a way to work on your tan, relax and explore your wild side.

What to do? Surfing, Sailing, Scuba-diving and many other fantastic water sport activities are on offer at the stunning beaches in Port Elizabeth! If you are looking for a safari or a cultural experience then we have some great ideas for you, such as: A day trip to the Addo Elephant National Park - Addo is a sanctuary to over 420 elephants, 450 Cape buffalo, black rhino, lion, a variety of antelope species, as well as the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo; A half day PE City Tour - PE bears the rich legacy of the first meetings of Khoisan, British, Dutch, German and Xhosa people. Highlights include; The Pier at Hobie Beach; City Centre and its historical buildings; Early Settler Museum; Fort Frederick and Settler's Park; A half day Township Tour - qualified local guides will explain the social history of the township, and answer your questions on a roller-coaster ride through this cultural area... you will also be taken to meet talented township artists at work and visit a community-run school.

Where to stay? Fifth Avenue Beach House is perfectly positioned only a hundred meters from Port Elizabeth's magnificent sandy beaches, and offers spacious accommodation in rooms with entrances onto a secluded tropical garden. A great option for families! Summerstrand Hotel, from the moment you step into the lobby of this stunning hotel you will begin to experience the subtle interplay of colours, artwork, light and music.....you'll feel special and pampered.... A great holiday option for young couples! La Provence Country House allows you the opportunity to relax & enjoy the tranquillity of this beautiful country estate, unique to Port Elizabeth, and set within a nature conservancy. A great option that is suited for everyone!

Where to eat? De Kelder Restaurant is the perfect place for cosy evenings, intimate encounters, corporate dinners and celebrations. The food is presented with style and class and a whole lot of flavour... Offering seafood, excellent meats and an array of stylish wines! Farriagers Restaurant & Bar has something on offer for everyone, whether it is breakfasts, corporate lunches, candle lit dinners, or merely a decadent Cappuccino with Double Chocolate Fudge Cake or a light meal on the terrace... You are guaranteed to have a great time! Hacklewood Hill Country House offers a combination of fine cordon bleu cuisine, starched white linen, cut glass and silver and an impressive collection of vintage wines housed in the authentic wine cellar, blend harmoniously into an experience of pure indulgence not to be missed.

If you need some help planning your trip to South Africa this year please don't hesitate to contact us!

Meet Tobias - Our German intern in the Marketing department

This month we decided to feature Tobias, the intern in our marketing department. Tobias joined Jenman Safaris on the 1st of February 2010 and has since made a great impression on all of us at Jenman! He has a great sense of humour and is fluent in English and German... and to our delight we discovered he knows some Spanish too! Tobias is living the life in Cape Town - experiencing as much as he can and sharing it all with us in the office... often telling us about places we haven't even heard of (shocking!). He also has started a fun blog project where every Tuesday he posts some information about his Cape Town experience as well as his comments about working at Jenman Safaris is! Check out http://africasafarisblog.com (week 1 blog) (week 2 blog) to see what he has to say!

We asked Tobias some questions as well as what his favourite restaurant in Cape Town is.

- What are you studying? I have been studying Tourism and Travel Management for two years now.
- Why did you decided to come to Cape Town? I wanted to get to know a different culture and I have always wanted to live in a metropolis because of all the opportunities - and Cape Town offers even more than I could have ever imagined. Plus if I can spend the German winter in sunny Cape Town... that's a pretty good reason to come to Cape Town!
- Where you have been in Cape Town so far? I have been to a lot of restaurants, bars and clubs. I have also gone to the beaches of Camp's Bay and Clifton and have even visited the townships of Guguletu and Imizamo Yethu. Last weekend I went to V&A Waterfront and then to Robben Island... There are so many more interesting places in Cape Town that I am not sure if 6 months is enough time to visit even half of them...
- From what you have learnt at Jenman Safaris, where would you like to go? I would absolutely love to go to Madagascar due to the great diversity of culture, wildlife and plants. In addition the island's nature is unspoilt and I am sure that one can have an amazing adventure there.

Your best restaurant so far in Cape Town? There are many awesome restaurants here in Cape Town, but the one I like the most probably is Rafiki's in Tamboerskloof. The food there isn't fancy but really delicious and there is always a great atmosphere. You don't have to dress up, just go there after the beach, and have a cold drink & a great time.

Thanks Tobias!

Cape Point Funicular upgrade

The popular Flying Dutchman funicular at Cape Point is to be replaced by a comfortable, more modern and more efficient funicular during the first quarter of this year. The current funicular - the only commercial operation of its kind in Africa - has been ferrying tourists up a steep incline from the bottom station to the old lighthouse for the past 13 years.

Although the funicular service will be suspended for three months, tourists will not be inconvenienced, thanks to a temporary bus service that has been put in place.

A new, improved Flying Dutchman will reopen for business on 24th April well ahead of an expected influx of tourists arriving in Cape Town for the 2010 FIFA World Cup... if you are interested in visiting Cape Point on a day trip we have a great option for you - ZAR 680 per person! This is one of our fantastic Cape Town day trips; we have more other great day trip options for you while you are in Cape Town - click here to see more.