Great New Cape Town Tour - Spring Wildflowers!

August and September are peak months to view the blankets of wildflowers that cover the Western Cape just outside of Cape Town. If you are a nature-lover, be sure to ask Africa Easy to include this private, full day tour in your custom South Africa trip when traveling in August or September.



WEST COAST WILDFLOWER PRIVATE FULL DAY TOUR
9:00 - 16:30

This morning after breakfast we depart Cape Town, travelling on the West Coast Road towards Mamre and the Weylands Wildflower reserve.  This 80ha reserve is estimated to contain approximately 300 species of flowering plants from the yellow Ixia and the little yellow Geissorhiza to the Flax, which gives the veld its very pretty blue haze. We travel through the quirky town of Darling en-route to the Tinie Versveld Private Wildflower reserve. Originally owned by the Versveld family, who shared a love of nature, the reserve was donated in 1958 to the National Botanical Institute due to its conservation importance.  Our next stop is the West Coast National Park, where the azure waters of the Langebaan lagoon play host to thousands of migrating seabirds. We enjoy lunch near here (own account) before departing for Cape Town where we stop at Blaauberg Beach for iconic views across the bay of Table Mountain.

Migration Update from Tanzania

East Africa's Great Migration is the movement of three species of herbivores through Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve. The herbivores are following the rains and, in turn, the soft green grass that they eat. The Migration, which is comprised of 200,000 zebra, 500,000 Thomson's gazelle and 1.5 million wildebeest leading the show! It is truly a sight to behold! 


This time of the year, the Migration can be found in the Southern and Central Serengeti NP in Tanzania. As of this month, the largest concentrations of herds can be found just north of the Ndutu region near the Kusini area and Kusini Camp - just inside the park boundaries. Sightings of massive herds of zebra and wildebeest have been reported, and with the migrating herds come incredible predator sightings. With the rains approaching, the migration will continue into the Central Serengeti and will soon be found in the Seronera area.


SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK is the most famous wildlife park in Tanzania and is contiguous with the Masai Mara National Reserve in neighboring Kenya. There are literally millions of hoofed animals on the endless plains of the Serengeti. The wildebeest is the chief herbivore of the Serengeti and also the main prey of large carnivores such as lions and hyenas. Some of our favorite camps in the Serengeti include Mbalageti Camp, Kirawira Tented Camp, Mbuzi Mawe and Migration Camp - depending on the time of year, each camp can be ideal for viewing the migrating herds. Our Tanzania & Zanzibar Safari is an excellent option for great game viewing in Tanzania!

Nadia's West Africa Highlights!

Africa Easy's Nadia Eckhardt just returned from an expedition cruise to West Africa! Read on for her highlights of the "Explorer's Africa Voyage aboard Prince Albert II from Cape Town to Dakar"



West Africa was magical and a real exploratory adventure! I loved every minute of it :) It is very hard to single out some of the highlights....but the Catamaran Cruise out of Swakopmund, Namibia was special...an abundance of Bird life (including some very friendly Pelicans!), lots of curious seals and dolphins. The weather was glorious, our guides excellent and the Oysters and Champers added a very special touch! 


Cascata Sao Niocolau, or the St. Nicholas waterfall, located up high in the scenic mountainous region on the island of Sao Tome.  Shortly after our visit to the waterfall we toured the Monte Cafe coffee plantation and the chocolate factory....a real treat!


It has been years since I set foot on Principe and once again I had the pleasure of visiting the remote and picturesque Bom Bom Island Resort. We spent a wonderful day, snorkeling, hiking, birding, swimming and kayaking and exploring the town of San Antonio on Principe. 


A first for me.....we walked in on a traditional Vodoo Ceremony about an hour outside of Lome, Benin.  It was fascinating watching this very traditional scene but best part of all for me was entertaining and playing with the Kids after the Ceremony. We met and spent time with so many warm and welcoming people throughout our voyage along the coast of West Africa. 


We traveled in the lap of luxury while aboard Prince Albert II and once on shore we were taken care of by some very knowledgeable and experience guides including our team in The Gambia.  Here we are just before our last Zodiac landing to St James Island. 


Photos by Nadia Eckhardt.

Lodge Feature: Xugana Island Lodge

Xugana Island Lodge, located in the Okavango Delta of Botswana, is one of Africa Easy's favorite spots and has recently been rebuilt and completely updated. The lodge is situated on the shaded fringe of the island, and accommodates just 16 guests in reed and thatch lagoon-facing en-suite chalets with private viewing decks. As a water camp, the traveler's experience requires additional love and attention from the staff. There is a very special team of Batswana working at Xugana – who love their newly rebuilt camp – and are excited to welcome and extend their hospitality to each and every guest.

The rooms and the main structures have all been completely re-thatched and there is a new coat of paint and new Letaka walls where needed. Each room has been fitted with new sliding doors. The décor is fresh and features a “retro –Africa” feel and fits perfectly into Xugana. The greatest feature is the brand new and most expansive decking, both in front of the lodge as well as at each room.  The open-sided thatched lounge, bar and dining areas are set back under the ebony and African Mangosteen tree canopy. The swimming pool, located within the mature gardens in the centre of the island, is a perfect place to relax.  


At Xugana Island Lodge, travelers can either explore the delta by motorboat, mokoro, or take leisurely walks on surrounding islands in the concession. This provides the opportunity to experience a classic Okavango Delta safari. Birdwatching opportunities are outstanding, and fishing for bream and tigerfish is offered.


Our Best of Botswana Tour features the newly updated Xugana Island Lodge - come explore this Delta favorite with Africa Easy!

Hidden Wildlife Gems in Botswana

Botswana is famous for its amazing wildlife and limited numbers of travelers - and that's why it is one of our favorite safari destinations here at Africa Easy! While Botswana does have excellent national parks like Chobe National Park, there are also many private game reserves that carefully limit the number of travelers and keep the game viewing an intimate experience!


THE OKAVANGO DELTA is Botswana's premier attraction and an enormous oasis in the middle of the great Kalahari Desert. The Okavango River rises in central Angola, flows southeast across Namibia's Caprivi Strip before entering Botswana. The 'Delta' consists of roughly 6,000 square miles of intricate waterways and reed-lined channels interspersed with game-rich islands, creating a diverse ecosystem that supports the greatest concentration of game in Africa. In this desert country, the abundant water attracts vast quantities of wildlife, buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe, hippo, elephant, zebra, antelope and innumerable birds, which also provides largesse for the several groups that have fished and hunted here for centuries. The Okavango's islands are home to many of these private reserves and some of the best game viewing in Africa!


Our Best of Botswana tour visits several private reserves where Africa Easy travelers will be among just a handful of guests in the reserve. Game viewing in the private reserves is done by traditional mokoro or motor boats (if you are staying at a water camp), on foot and in 4x4 safari vehicles. 


Outside of the Okavango there are other excellent game viewing opportunities that also allow travelers to stay away from the crowds and explore the wilderness in near solitude. One of our favorite camps in the Makgadikgadi region is Leroo La Tau. The camp offers just 12 rooms and is an ideal base for exploring the park, game viewing and enjoying night drives. 

Contact Africa Easy for more information on planning a safari to Botswana's hidden gems!


Images courtesy Africa Easy and Leroo La Tau. 

2011 Gold List Hotels that we love in Africa

Conde Nast Traveler magazine compiles an extensive list of what they deem to be the top hotels in the World. Many hotels on the list are some of our favorite camps and lodges in Africa. Let's take a look at the Gold List for Botswana - home of idyllic African landscapes, amazing game viewing and a wide variety of safari activities. Ask Africa Easy how to include one or several of these camps in your custom Botswana safari or take a look at our Best of Botswana Safari. 




Camp Okavango - Enchanting Camp Okavango sits at the heart of the Okavango Delta on Nxaragha Island. Its main lodge features a cocktail bar, sitting area and wildlife reference library, with the dining room leading onto an expansive open-air patio where evenings around the fire can be enjoyed. 


Other facilities include a secluded bird-viewing hide and sundeck with plunge pool. Accommodating just 24 guests in custom African-style safari tents on raised teak platforms, Camp Okavango offers guests en-suite facilities and private viewing decks (photo above left). For guests who demand the ultimate in exclusivity, Camp Okavango has the Okavango Suite, a thatched cottage offering complete privacy.


All game-viewing activities are conducted by experienced guides and include exploring the Okavango Delta by mokoro or motorboat and tracking the larger game species on guided nature walks on the many surrounding islands.

Duma Tau - DumaTau Camp is a ten-roomed luxury tented camp located in the private 125 000-hectare Linyanti Wildlife Reserve which borders the western boundary of Chobe National Park in northern Botswana. It is situated close to the source of the Savute Channel on one of the many lagoons within the Linyanti Swamp system, which makes game drives along the Savute one of the highlights of a stay here.


DumaTau Camp lies under a shady grove of mangosteen trees, raised off the ground to overlook a large hippo-filled lagoon. The tents are spacious, under thatch with canvas walls, en-suite bathroom facilities and an outside shower. Guests can enjoy the night sounds of Africa from the comfort of their rooms, and shower under the stars! There is a dining room, pub, lounge, swimming pool and a special guest bathroom with a fantastic view.

Chief's Camp - The twelve luxury bush pavilions (photo right) at Sanctuary Chief's Camp are tucked away in the Mombo Concession, part of the world-renowned Moremi Game Reserve. This area is known as the 'predator capital of Africa' and is also home to large herds of elephant and buffalo, making Sanctuary Chief's the ideal place to experience African wildlife at close hand.


The guest pavilions are hidden away in a jackalberry and sausage tree woodland that is characteristic of the area. All have their own private decks and indoor and outdoor showers. Generously draped mosquito nets and traditional ceiling fans also feature. There is a communal decked living room with stunning views over the floodplains, while the dining area surrounds a fire pit on the very edge of the Piajio plains so that guests can continue their game viewing while enjoying fine cuisine and wines.


Mombo and Little Mombo -  Mombo Camp is located in the Mombo Concession on the northern tip of Chief's Island within the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. This area boasts enormous concentrations of plains game and predators - providing arguably the best big game viewing in all of Africa.


Built under large, shady trees and overlooking the floodplains which teem with wildlife all year round, Mombo Camp comprises nine spacious tents raised two meters from the ground. Bathrooms are en-suite, with both indoor and outdoor showers. Magnificent vistas are the order of the day, with all the rooms, the sala, long veranda and lounge area all taking advantage of the very best that the Okavango Delta has to offer. Mombo Camp's main living and dining areas are under thatch, but a boma makes for a delicious dinner under the stars. There is also a plunge pool in which to relax.


The best big game viewing experience starts on the veranda at Mombo Camp, with unbelievable concentrations of game occurring right in front of the camp. Guests often find animals wandering past, right under their rooms!


Vumbura Plains -  Vumbura Plains Camp comprises two separate seven-roomed satellite camps, each with its own raised dining, lounge and bar area tucked beneath a canopy of cool, shady, indigenous trees . Magnificent vistas across the Okavango Delta floodplains are a feature. A star-gazing deck with comfortable cushions protrudes into the floodplain, a place to gaze upwards, or a convivial camp fire setting.


Vumbura Plains Camp is unlike any safari camp you will have seen before. Each large, luxurious room is raised off the ground on wooden decks and each comprises a bedroom, lounge, shower and full en-suite bathroom. Outdoor showers are standard. It is open on three sides, and the billowing curtains between the various areas create the sense of a yacht floating through the floodplains. Each room also has a plunge pool and 'sala' - a comfortable area to lie and relax, watching the waving grasses of the floodplain.

What is a "land camp?"

We recently talked about "water camps" - how the camps are designed, what activities they offer and benefits of visiting that type of camp. With all Africa Easy safaris in Botswana, we recommend pairing land and water camps to experience the most diverse range of wildlife and activities available. 


A land camp is found either in the Linyanti/Selinda area (which this year high water has changed some of the dynamic of these land camps) or the in the Moremi Game Reserve/Mombo/Chief's Island region. Land camps offer traditional game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, as well as night drives where available (in private concessions only, not inside the Moremi Game Reserve). Some land camps have hides for viewing game. 

Large concentrations of plains game occur in areas that offer more land for them to graze. Travelers often see excellent sightings of zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo, elephant, wild dog (who need the open land for hunting), cheetah, lion and leopard. 


Some of our favorite land camps in Botswana are Mombo and Little Mombo Camps, Camp Moremi and Savute Safari Lodge. Our Best of Botswana Tour includes both land and water camps.  


Photos courtesy Desert & Delta Safaris.