Where is the wildebeest migration

The wildebeest migration is now in the Mara Trianlge area and the wildebeest and zebra herds have been criss crossing the Mara river and the Talek river looking for fresh grazing.

Migration map

Migration map

The migration numbers are now reaching their peak and there are animals at every turn!

Wildebeest migration

Wildebeest migration

Many crossings take place close to a stretch of river called Paradise Crossing where lions and crocodiles have been making easy kills on a daily basis.

Wildebeest migration river crossing

Wildebeest migration river crossing

About the migration:

From the Serengeti plains to the hills of Kenya’s Masai Mara over 1million wildebeest and some 200,000 zebra and gazelle migrate in a clockwise direction over 1,800 miles each year in search of fresh rain water and ripe grass.

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Big Cat Initiative

In the 1800′s there were an esimated 1.2million lions in the wild covering the whole of Africa and the middle east including Iraq, Iran and India.

African Lions

African Lions

By the 1940′s the number had to dropped to an estimated 450,000 with the middle east having no lions present at all and many parts of north Africa having wiped out the big cat.

Modern day numbers now hover around the 20,000 mark as central African countries destroy habitat, food and water sources. The numbers are set to plumet even furhter and by 2020 southern and eastern Africa are thought to be the only places left to see a wild lion roaming the savanah.

National Geographic have set up the Big Cat Initiative in order to stop the loss of these wonderful beasts. National Geographic are encouraging people to apply for grants in order to put schemes in place that will help to stop the decline in numbers.

Projects encouraged;

* Innovative projects with quick results for saving lions
* Anti-poaching programs
* Projects that test new technology
* Educational projects focused on community
* Projects that establish economic incentives for local people to ensure long-term survival of lions

For more information visit the National Geographic initiative

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CTICC WineX Wine Festival

The Cape Town International Covention Centre is to host the RMB WineX wine festival on the 19 & 20 August.

Cape Winelands

Cape Winelands

There will be over 1200 wines on show and available for tasting from wine makers from all over the world. As well as the wines, there will also be the latest news and information on winemaking, the most beautiful glassware, coolers (home storage) and wine racks.

Some of the great wine makers from South Africa will be present including Neberburg, Groot Constantia (South Africas oldest wine estate), Constantia Uitsig, Delaire Graff Estate and Tokara to name a few.

The prices range from R90 – R120 and includes a tasting glass and unlimited wine tasting. For more information and to book your tickets visit the Winex website

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Zanzibar Holidays

Zanzibar consists of two main islands of Unguja Island and Pemba Island and is located 30 miles off of the mainland of the African country of Tanzania.

Zanzibar

Zanzibar

Zanzibar has been occupied by many different ruler and countries such as the Persians, the Portuguese and the British Empire has led to a multicultural society and many different building styles in the cities of Zanzibar.

Stone Town

Stone Town

The beaches and waters around the island offer some of the best diving and snorkeling anywhere in the world with its intricate coral reef structures which ensures plenty of marine wildlife to see.

Zanzibar

Zanzibar

Wildlife on the island is fairly restricted due to the island habitat, but it is possible to spot the ellusive Zanzibar leopard and the Zanzibar red colobus monkey. In the more rural areas there are also many different butterfly species to see. There are also common animals such as bush-pigs, small antelopes and civets.

Zanzibar is also home to the Zanzibar International Film Festival, which is also known as the Festival of the Dhow Countries. During July, this event showcases the best of the Swahili Coast arts scene, including Zanzibar’s favorite music, Taarab.

Sailing on Zanzibar

Sailing on Zanzibar

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One&Only NEW SPECIAL OFFER

oneonly-restaurant-spa

One&Only Journey’s Special Offer Valid 15 July – 26 September 2010

“Two-for-one Dining and Two-for-one Spa” – Combine two-for-one dining experiences and two-for-one spa treatments with any existing offer at One&Only Cape Town and any other One&Only Resort.
The two-for-one dining special is available at all restaurants on food basis only (excludes beverages) and the two-for-one spa special is applicable to all spa treatments.

Terms and Conditions:-

The special is available on a 3 night minimum stay only.
Subject to availability at the time of reservation.
The offer is applicable for one meal and one spa treatment per person per stay.

Chobe Lion Cubs Practice Their Stalk

Two female lion cubs

These two young female lion cubs are in practice for the years ahead when they will have to hunt and kill to keep their pride fed and strong. These two will take their place in the deadly African Savuti pride in the Savuti reserve in the Chobe National Park in Botswana.

Lion Cubs

The Savuti pride of lions gained notoriety when it was discovered they hunt Elephants, a remarkable feat considering an average male African elephant weighs in at around 6,000 KG and a male lion weighs between 180 – 250 KG. It is still unclear if this is happening regularly enough to say that the Lions of Savuti now hunt elephants but it certainly is a new and interesting development.

Female Lions

Contact the African Travel Experts and let them organise your Chobe Safari

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2010 Tri Nations So Far

The Tri Nations 2010 tournament is now two games old and the All Blacks have easily strode out to two convincing wins over the World Champion South African Springboks.

New Zealand V South Africa

New Zealand V South Africa

The first game played at Eden Park in New Zealand was a one sided affair with the All Blacks winning with comfort; 32-12.

Full match review of game one

The second game was played at a rainy and windy Wellington also in New Zealand saw a slightly improved Springboks team still beaten with ease 31 – 17

Full match review of game two

South Africa now head to Brisbane next Saturday where Australia feel the Springboks are weak and ripe for a hiding.

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Poachers Caught at Kruger

Over the weekend of July 10th four Rhino poachers were caught in the Kruger Park with two freshly chopped rhino horns, AK-47 assault rifles, bolt action rifles and an axe. Another suspected poacher was caught on Monday after gunshots were heard ringing through the bush, when rangers caught the guy they could find no dead animals within the area.

Rhino at Kruger Park

Rhino at Kruger Park

In the Kruger Park there are roughly 350 black rhino and thought to be 12000 white rhino in the park.

Book your 3 Day Kruger Park Safari with the African Travel Experts now.

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Rare Cape Leopard Gives Birth

The Cape Leopard is a rare and shy predator that once roamed the Western Cape freely, unfortunately it has experienced habitat loss due to mass urbanisation of its natural habitat. It is also removed from farm lands and other private lands.

In January Quinton Martins the founder of the Cape Leopard Trust, whos job it is to protect the Cape Leopards and also to educate the general public, found the den of a female leopard with two new born cubs. The two were no more than a few days old. All three have been tracked and monitored since then hoping that the cubs would survive the hot summer months and cold autumn/winter months..

Recently an infrared camera was triggerd by the female and one of the cubs by the Wemmershoek dam;

Spot the small second tail of the cub

Spot the small second tail of the cub

The first image proved to inconclusive as only small tail could be seen; but a day later a clear image of the cub was captured at the same spot;

Cape Leopard Cub

Cape Leopard Cub

We hope to be able to bring you more amazing images of these rare predators and follow the progress of the cubs.

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World Travel Awards

The World Travel Awards ceremony was held on Wednesday 7th July in Johannesburg to award cities, countries, hotels, resorts and spas for outstanding services in travel and tourism.

Cape Town scooped the top prize in the Africa category and was awarded the leading African destination for the 6th time in the last 10 years.

Surfers Corner Huts

South Africa tourism was also awarded Africas leading tourist board an accolade they have won for the last 3 years running.

Cape Town and South Africa in general has been in the lime light due to the 2010 world cup being held in the country during June and July – the football is expected to leave a lasting legacy and in turn should increase the quality of service that is provided to visitors for years to come.

For a full break down of all the winners in the Africa category visit the official site.

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