Launch of Chobe’s Zambezi Queen

Experience the thrill of a unique African safari from the deck of your own private suite aboard a luxury 45 meter boat based on the magnificent Chobe River. The world famous Chobe National Park, with its teeming wildlife and approximately 120 000 elephants and over 400 species of birds, makes this an exceptional wildlife safari experience, and one of the densest populations of wildlife on the African continent. And you have the opportunity to experience this in the most exclusive way possible – On board the Zambezi Queen. Zambezi Queen cruises along the shores of the Chobe River and is uniquely situated only a few kilometers from a point where 4 African countries meet, namely Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is also only 80km by road from one of the great wonders of the world - the magnificent Victoria Falls.

This unique cruise circuit on the Chobe River involves either a two night or three night stay on the Zambezi Queen, with set departures on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and includes collection from Botswana immigration at Kasane on the banks of Chobe River, or Impilila airstrip on the Namibian side (special arrangements can be made for other land transfer requirements).

All your meals are prepared by skilled chefs, specially imported South African wines will be expertly paired with your gourmet meals and complimentary drinks will be provided with all activities whether land or boat based. All water-based game viewing is done on their smaller boats (getting you closer to the animals), as well as land-based 4x4 game viewing in Botswana’s Chobe National Park daily.

Additional activities you can enjoy while you’re on board, include Tiger and bream fishing in season, bird watching from smaller boats and land-based cultural tour of a local village, and these are all part of the all inclusive package. This really is in our opinion the best, and most exclusive way to experience the Chobe.

For any further information or assistance with planning your trip to Chobe or Botswana and Southern Africa, please contact one of our travel consultants on res@africanexclusivetravel.com or visit our website on www.AfricanExclusiveTravel.com

The Battlefields will still blow you away

An area renowned for some of the most gruesome and remarkable wars in all South African History, must be the Kwa-Zulu Natal midlands regions, also now known as the Battlefields. It attracts tourists from around the globe, in particularly British nationals, who would like to hear, and take a moment to feel the reinter-action of what happened in the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer wars over 130 years ago.

You can spend so much time in this area, just visiting all the sites, and of course the many natural scenic beauties like The Drakensberg Mountain Range, game viewing in the Spioenkop Nature Reserve, Howick Falls and many other breathtaking sites, like the Valley of a Thousand Hills, but we have put together a package that combines the best of the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer war sites, in two very special lodges, with the most interactive, holistic and insightful tours possible over the 5 day trip. Read more HERE

With only a few hours away from Durban it’s a great way to combine your time enjoying the beaches and warm water, and then round off with a historical step-back-in-time, and some of Africa’s most gorgeous scenery. For any further information or assistance with planning you trip to The Battlefields or KwaZulu Natal and South Africa, please contact one of our travel consultants on res@africanexclusivetravel.com or visit our website on www.AfricanExclusiveTravel.com

Shark Tales

By Kerith Platts Some may ask: what compels you to dress up like a seal, chuck large quantities of oily fish, entrails into the water, and then proceeds to throw yourself into a cage, just off a shark infested island? They may wonder as to the logic of actively pursuing the encounter with one of the sea’s most notorious predators ....and the reason.....because it is fun! Cape Town, and the surrounding towns like Hermanus, are renowned for being one of the best locations to view whales, however not many know that just 2 hours outside of Central Cape Town along the False Bay coastline, in little town called Gansbaai, exists one of the world’s best shark viewing sites. If you are a thrill seeker, or simply a wildlife enthusiast, this is for you. Like most people, my initial reaction to the thought of coming up close to a great white shark is horror, real or imagined, however once briefed and en-route to Dyer Island’s Shark Alley, you soon realise that the experienced White Shark Projects “shark team” operate a competent and safety conscious enterprise. With marine conservation as their creed, White Sharks Projects aim to create social awareness on the dwindling numbers of sharks, as well as to discard the misconceptions of the general public towards sharks, their habits and their role in an increasingly threatened marine environment.

All seriousness aside, witnessing a great white shark in the flesh; in its natural habitat just meters away from you is a thrilling and incredible experience, that will stay with you long after the scary images from Jaws have been left out at sea.

For any further information or assistance with planning this excursion as part of your trip to Southern Africa, please contact one of our travel consultants on res@africanexclusivetravel.com or visit our website on www.AfricanExclusiveTravel.com

Rail Journeys: Which track will you take?

Travelling by Rail in South Africa is more of a destination in itself, rather than just a means to get from one point to another, and generally comes with a suite price tag. African Exclusive Travel, as I’m sure you all know by now, specialises in tailor-making itineraries to Southern Africa, and having travelled to most of the areas ourselves, we feel that "consulting", as we call it in this industry, is rather our personal recommendations, and working one-on-one directly with you, we can plan the perfect trips according to YOUR preferences and dates, and give you an in-depth comparison between offerings, to assist with the planning process of your holiday.

So if you’re wanting to take a trip on one of our luxurious trains during your visit to Southern Africa, these are the things you need to consider:

Rovos Rail:

Known as The Pride of Africa and The Most Luxurious Train in the World, the Rovos Rail is the Grand Old Dame of the rail tracks. With carriages dating back to 1911, the minute you step on board you will be transformed into a bygone era, giving you the sense of royalty and sheer appreciation for how exquisitely each coach has been restored, for the amazing dated artwork, and the fact that you are sure to be accommodated in the most spacious train suites in the world. It’s slow, sedated and relaxed… Just sit back and enjoy the scenery.

The Blue Train:

The window to the Soul of South Africa: The Blue Train, also an ultra luxurious train, brings you a more modern vibe to train travel than its competitor. Rooms are equipped with Televisions, radios, movie channels, as well as a private digital entertainment centre and an inviting selection of music CDs. It is a much newer train, so only takes 24 hours from Cape Town to Pretoria, where the same routing takes Rovos Rail 2 days.

Both Trains have amazing cuisine, endless wine lists, butler services, and you are sure of amazing service on both, but it depends on your preference... Do you want a sophisticated step-back-in-time or a luxurious modern acquaintance? Let us know what you would prefer.

For any further information or assistance with planning your trip on either of these Trains and Southern Africa, please contact one of our travel consultants on res@africanexclusivetravel.com or visit our website on www.AfricanExclusiveTravel.com

Heavenly Matemo Island Lodge

For those of you who follow our Travel Blog, you’ll know we often have the opportunity to visit some of Africa’s finest locations in order to give you our best recommendations, and bring you the very best in terms of experience and locations to enjoy your exclusive holidays.

African Exclusive Travel recently visited a few properties in Mozambique, and would just like to highlight the one that stood out so far from the rest that it’s possibly on our “top 5 destinations in Africa to visit” list.

Kathy taking a scuba diving course to get better aquainted with the sealife

Matemo Island resort, located in the Mozambique Quirimbas Archipelago, is a little piece of heaven. You access it from Air from Pemba, and from the minute you arrive, and are handed a cocktail, the relaxation sets in, and a 3 or 4 day holiday will seem like 2 weeks. Each of the accommodation bungalows open up on to the soft white sand, leading you to the clear turquoise waters of the warm Indian Ocean. You can step out of your hammock, and into a snorkelers and divers paradise. (please read more on our website) I would like to commend Matemo not only on their gorgeous setting, and great accommodation, but on the level of service, which outweighs anything I have experienced in a long while. From management to dive instructors and porters – nothing was too much trouble, and although our time was not long there, it blew me away.

Matemo is running excellent value for money specials, and honeymoon packages throughout 2009 and 2010, so if Mozambique is on your “to see” list when travelling to Africa – Matemo is the place to go.

Kathy meeting a few of the local children on the beach

For any further information or assistance with planning your trip to Mozambique, please contact one of our travel consultants on res@africanexclusivetravel.com or visit our website on www.AfricanExclusiveTravel.com