Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
- 79,513
- Thread starter
- #1,221
Wacha wivu wa kipunga Dawasco inahusiana vp na natural attractions?Dawasco
Natural Attractions in Kenya and Tanzania
- Thread starter Geza Ulole
- Start date
mwaswast
JF-Expert Member
- May 12, 2014
- 12,777
- 6,454
Mkereketwa_Huyu
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 19, 2011
- 9,224
- 6,356
Not true...in the 1980's wazazi wangu walikuwa wanaishi Uingereza wakati Dr. Leakey alikuwa waziri wa utalii Kenya.....tulikuwa tunaona matangazo yao Uingereza wakiitangaza Serengeti na Kilimanjaro as part of Kenya mpaka na balozi wa Tanzania akaambiwa hii kitu akaingilia ndani. Katika maonyesho ya utalii Paris mwaka 1987, banda la Kenya lilikuwa na pamphlets za tembelea Kenya ndani ya package kulikuwa na Serengeti na Mount Kilimanjaro as part of Kenya Tours, watanzania wakatoa habari kuwa Serengeti na Kilimanjaro si part of Kenya na ukitaka kufika Serengeti au Kilimanjaro huwezi kuziona mpaka uwe na visa ya Tanzania kwa sababu ziko Tanzania si Kenya, Wakenya wakaona haibu...wakatoa hayo matangazo.
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
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- #1,224
So r u trying to ignore the British royal historical ties weigh more than cosmetic marketing by Kenya that even tourism stakeholders in Kenya complain?
How many novels talk of Tanzania compared to Kenya? From the Hemingway to Karen Bixen even to the Leakeys? Before Sportesa though (even not a tourism advert)? How many times have u seen Kenya tourism adverts on players? Or on buses or on stadiums or on airports or on International channels?
I can assure u we n Uganda did before them on CNN or Fox news or BBC or Goodmorning America. My friend, exhibitions is a very small part of marketing compared to banners and other means of marketing!
Mind u Ethiopian Airlines is our official marketing partner.
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
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- #1,225
ECO@AFRICA
Our Beautiful Planet: Tanzania's crimson 'stone animal' lake
Bright-red Lake Natron in Tanzania may not look inviting enough to take a dip – and that's a good thing: its water is extremely alkaline. The caustic lake has another strange quality: it appears to turn animals to stone.
The scarlet waters of Lake Natron in northern Tanzania are eye-catching enough by themselves. But when coupled with the sight of dead animals seemingly turned to stone, the lake appears even more eerie. So what's causing it?
The lake's extremely alkaline water has a pH as high as 10.5, similar to milk of magnesia, a treatment used to neutralize stomach acid. It owes its unusual chemistry to the surrounding volcanic geology: the minerals, particularly sodium carbonate, and salts created by volcanic processes flow into the lake from the surrounding hills. Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano, lies not far from the lake.
Lake Natron's very alkaline water has a pH of around 10.5 - too high for many animals
This raises the lake's alkalinity to far above water's normal neutral pH of 7. The lake actually takes its name from the naturally-occurring blend of chemicals it contains.
The water comes from mineral hot springs and a river, but the lake doesn't drain out to any sea or river – evaporation is how the shallow lake loses water, which can reach as high as 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit).
The stunning red color is caused by haloarchaea, microorganisms which love salty water
The reason for the lake’s colorful water is down to haloarchaea, microorganisams that flourish in its salty waters – the vermillion shade is even more stunning at the end of the dry season, when the water level is especially low.
While it may be paradise for haloarchaea, many creatures can't survive in such alkaline waters – but animals whose bodies are adapted to such pH levels also inhabit the lake, meaning Lake Natron is far from barren.
Lesser flamingoes flock to Lake Natron in their droves for breeding season
Flocks of flamingos, other birds and tilapia fish all call the lake their home. More than 2 million lesser flamingos use the lake as their primary breeding ground in Africa.
But when animals die and end up in the water, something odd happens: it looks like living animals turned to stone instantly on hitting the lake. But what actually happens is that the corpses of animals which died in the lake are sometimes preserved by the sodium carbonate minerals and other salts that were used by the ancient Egyptians for mummification - calcifying their bodies.
Our Beautiful Planet: Tanzania's crimson 'stone animal' lake | DW | 19.07.2018
Our Beautiful Planet: Tanzania's crimson 'stone animal' lake
Bright-red Lake Natron in Tanzania may not look inviting enough to take a dip – and that's a good thing: its water is extremely alkaline. The caustic lake has another strange quality: it appears to turn animals to stone.
The scarlet waters of Lake Natron in northern Tanzania are eye-catching enough by themselves. But when coupled with the sight of dead animals seemingly turned to stone, the lake appears even more eerie. So what's causing it?
The lake's extremely alkaline water has a pH as high as 10.5, similar to milk of magnesia, a treatment used to neutralize stomach acid. It owes its unusual chemistry to the surrounding volcanic geology: the minerals, particularly sodium carbonate, and salts created by volcanic processes flow into the lake from the surrounding hills. Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano, lies not far from the lake.
Lake Natron's very alkaline water has a pH of around 10.5 - too high for many animals
This raises the lake's alkalinity to far above water's normal neutral pH of 7. The lake actually takes its name from the naturally-occurring blend of chemicals it contains.
The water comes from mineral hot springs and a river, but the lake doesn't drain out to any sea or river – evaporation is how the shallow lake loses water, which can reach as high as 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit).
The stunning red color is caused by haloarchaea, microorganisms which love salty water
The reason for the lake’s colorful water is down to haloarchaea, microorganisams that flourish in its salty waters – the vermillion shade is even more stunning at the end of the dry season, when the water level is especially low.
While it may be paradise for haloarchaea, many creatures can't survive in such alkaline waters – but animals whose bodies are adapted to such pH levels also inhabit the lake, meaning Lake Natron is far from barren.
Lesser flamingoes flock to Lake Natron in their droves for breeding season
Flocks of flamingos, other birds and tilapia fish all call the lake their home. More than 2 million lesser flamingos use the lake as their primary breeding ground in Africa.
But when animals die and end up in the water, something odd happens: it looks like living animals turned to stone instantly on hitting the lake. But what actually happens is that the corpses of animals which died in the lake are sometimes preserved by the sodium carbonate minerals and other salts that were used by the ancient Egyptians for mummification - calcifying their bodies.
Our Beautiful Planet: Tanzania's crimson 'stone animal' lake | DW | 19.07.2018
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
- 79,513
- Thread starter
- #1,226
The Luxe New Way to Do Zanzibar
Zuri Zanzibar is taking the Tanzanian island to extraordinary new heights.
Famous for its colorful spices, turquoise waters, and silky sand beaches,Tanzania’s Zanzibar island is now home to a new world-class luxury resort: Zuri Zanzibar opened its doors on July 1 on the idyllic northern coast of Unguja. Thelong-awaited resort is the first investment on the Tanzanian archipelago by the elite Design Hotels. Zuri embraces the hotel collection’s “Original Experiences” concept with a stylish design that combines the architecture of traditional Zanzibar villages with a chic yet laidback beach-club vibe.
Zuri Zanzibar features 55 villas, bungalows, and suites, all with spacious private terraces overlooking a private stretch of western-facing beach. Staying true to the roots of the island, designers Jestico + Whiles elegantly combined authentic African flair with contemporary design and sustainable architecture, employing natural, locally-sourced materials and furnishings, including traditional African beadwork and art. The three-bedroom Ocean Front Luxury Villa is the resort’s most exclusive accommodation with its own private beach, hot tub, and swimming pool.
The local inspiration extends to Zuri Zanzibar’s cuisine as well, with seven restaurants and bars highlighting the island’s diverse flavors. Traditional African dishes receive a tropical twist at Upendo, the main restaurant serving fresh shrimp and other seafood seasoned with local spices from the four-acre Zuri Garden, while sundowners—a nod to the safari tradition of mainland Tanzania—are served at the laidback bar overlooking Kendwa beach. The spa also makes good use of the Zuri Garden: Its fresh herbs and flora supply ingredients for therapies, and its wild surroundings are a perfectly verdant spot for yoga and meditation sessions.
Beyond its stylish beachfront, the Zuri—whose name means “beautiful” in Swahili—is an ideal jumping-off point for island explorations. The resort’s guided tours include snorkeling with turtles near Mnemba Island, swimming with dolphins in Menai Bay, and tracking the rare red colobus monkey in the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park.
Zuri Zanzibar is taking the Tanzanian island to extraordinary new heights.
Famous for its colorful spices, turquoise waters, and silky sand beaches,Tanzania’s Zanzibar island is now home to a new world-class luxury resort: Zuri Zanzibar opened its doors on July 1 on the idyllic northern coast of Unguja. Thelong-awaited resort is the first investment on the Tanzanian archipelago by the elite Design Hotels. Zuri embraces the hotel collection’s “Original Experiences” concept with a stylish design that combines the architecture of traditional Zanzibar villages with a chic yet laidback beach-club vibe.
Zuri Zanzibar features 55 villas, bungalows, and suites, all with spacious private terraces overlooking a private stretch of western-facing beach. Staying true to the roots of the island, designers Jestico + Whiles elegantly combined authentic African flair with contemporary design and sustainable architecture, employing natural, locally-sourced materials and furnishings, including traditional African beadwork and art. The three-bedroom Ocean Front Luxury Villa is the resort’s most exclusive accommodation with its own private beach, hot tub, and swimming pool.
The local inspiration extends to Zuri Zanzibar’s cuisine as well, with seven restaurants and bars highlighting the island’s diverse flavors. Traditional African dishes receive a tropical twist at Upendo, the main restaurant serving fresh shrimp and other seafood seasoned with local spices from the four-acre Zuri Garden, while sundowners—a nod to the safari tradition of mainland Tanzania—are served at the laidback bar overlooking Kendwa beach. The spa also makes good use of the Zuri Garden: Its fresh herbs and flora supply ingredients for therapies, and its wild surroundings are a perfectly verdant spot for yoga and meditation sessions.
Beyond its stylish beachfront, the Zuri—whose name means “beautiful” in Swahili—is an ideal jumping-off point for island explorations. The resort’s guided tours include snorkeling with turtles near Mnemba Island, swimming with dolphins in Menai Bay, and tracking the rare red colobus monkey in the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park.
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
- 79,513
- Thread starter
- #1,227
Azura Selous: a star-studded Tanzanian safari
HOLDEN FRITH
JUL 25, 2018
TRAVEL
Lions, leopards and stunning night skies in a game park the size of Switzerland
Image 1 of23
Within an hour of touching down in southern Tanzania, I had encountered no fewer than six animals that, given half a chance, would have had me for lunch.
Guests usually receive a more gradual introduction to Azura Selous, but Joseph Kayoka, our guide, was itching to get into the bush. A leopard had been sighted near the airstrip, and if we missed our chance now we might spend the next four days trying (and quite possibly failing) to track it down.
The elusive leopard is perhaps responsible for more disappointed safari-goers than any other animal. Even in small, fenced parks they tend to glide off into the undergrowth long before human eyes can pick them out. Here in the Selous, an open game reserve the size of Switzerland, most will live out their whole lives unseen by visitors.
Joseph, however, had found an obliging exception: a four-year-old male dozing in a long patch of grass, who lifted his head for the camera as we approached. His eyes, soft and soulful, glowed limpid blue in the halflight of dusk. The four lions we passed on our way back to the lodge, and the eight-foot crocodile we spotted just afterwards, were almost an anticlimax.
Image 3 of23
Description
The handsome young creature posed for photographs
It was the perfect start to a safari, but in truth also a deceptive one. There would be times over the next three days when the Selous would make us - or rather Joseph - work hard before yielding its bounty.
Named after Frederick Courteney Selous, a British soldier and pioneering conservationist, the park is one of the oldest and largest in Africa. Its 20,000 square miles of grassland, forest, sandy hills and swampy valleys provide an unusually diverse range of habitats - and a final resting place for Selous, who died there in a skirmish with German troops during the First World War.
Game drives here traverse a bewildering variety of terrain, some textbook Africa - acacia trees and golden plains - others reminiscent of Italian olive groves or even English woodland. The big beasts are a bonus, but the Tanzanian landscape is a draw in itself when the animals are less than cooperative.
In fact, a morning spent in fruitless pursuit of an elephant felt less of a failure than an opportunity for Joseph to demonstrate the full range of his tracking techniques. From time to time he jumped out of the open-sided Land Rover to examine a footprint or pile of dung, assessing their freshness.
The most promising lead was the least obvious: a slender vine of climbing begonia lying in thick vegetation. I would never have noticed it had Joseph not loped across the dewy grass to examine the frayed end. An elephant had been chewing on it, and recently, he said. He steered the car off the track and headed due west: in the cool hour or two after dawn, elephants like to walk with the sun behind them, warming their ears.
SEE RELATED
Kalahari magic: life, death and luxury in the desert
Jack’s Camp and San Camp review: Botswana at its best
Tswalu Kalahari review: a five-star desert safari
As we climbed rolling hills and rocky outcrops, crossed streams and pushed through dense undergrowth, I felt as if we had slipped into uncharted territory, a new Eden gilded by the morning light.
Soon a dense patch of forest blocked our westerly route, but Joseph drove in between the trees, stopping now and again to lop off branches with his machete and ease the car through implausibly small gaps. We lurched down a steep bank, our arrival raising a swarm of dragonflies from the boggy woodland floor. They hovered for a moment, a shimmering cloud of emerald picked out in shafts of golden sunlight, and then they were gone.
And still there were no elephants. They may be the world’s biggest land animals, weighing in at six tons, but we couldn’t find one anywhere.
Joseph’s skill and patience paid off the next morning, as he was driving down a dry river bed lined with wild jasmine. He stopped suddenly and pointed to where, perched comically high on the bank above us, a bull elephant stood stock still, surrounded by foliage, hoping we might not have noticed him.
Image 11 of23
Description
The elusive elephant, finally in our sights...
We drove up out of the river bed, around the ribbon of trees and found him on the other side, munching his way through a mouthful of leaves. He was not, however, in the mood to receive visitors. As he flapped his ears and rocked back and forth, we declared our elephant-tracking mission a success and beat a retreat.
The encounter was still top of mind the following morning, when we set out on foot, without the protection of the 4x4. A walking safari, Joseph said, would bring us closer to the flora and fauna of the Selous. It would also, of course, bring it closer to us.
There are natural warning signs to look out for. Giraffe poo, for example, will reveal not only the gender of its creator (the male product is pointed at one end, the female dimpled at both), but also, potentially, the location of predators. A neat pile of droppings indicates a giraffe at leisure; a scattered trail betrays an animal in flight. Follow the breadcrumbs and you might end up face to face with whatever it was running from.
Image 7 of23
Description
A walking safari is an excellent way to get to know the ecosystem
Accompanied by Joseph, armed with 20 years’ guiding experience, and a ranger, armed with a rifle and named Goodluck, we were in safe hands. But still I felt a frisson as we crossed paths with a hyena and then, under a tree, found the fresh shin bone of an impala, dropped by a leopard from its perch in the canopy above.
Even the mundane can be remarkable. At one point Joseph pointed to a nondescript mark in the dust, about the size of a 50p piece. When the rains come, he said, this impala footprint will fill with water, drawing in birds that will bathe and splash, making the mud bath bigger. More rains will come, and then small mammals will drink from it, churning up the ground, making the hole bigger still. Years from now, there could be hippos wallowing in this dusty little hoofprint.
A good safari should change the way you look at the world, and this was our second shift of perspective in 12 hours. The evening before, we had sat around a campfire as the sky turned dark and the stars came out, and listened to a mind-expanding lecture on the solar system and what lies beyond. So far from the nearest source of light or air pollution, the night sky here is epically dark, and we counted out the shooting stars, satellites and planets - Venus, Jupiter and Mars are all visible to the naked eye - as we contemplated our place in the universe. Then we ate our dinner in a forest clearing, surrounded by paraffin lamps to ward off wild animals.
Image 15 of23
Description
Sundowners are a nightly safari ritual, here enjoyed on the banks of the Ruaha river
This is one of the few places on Earth that has always been theirs. Across Africa, land used for cash crops and cattle is gradually being turned back over to wilderness, but the Selous has never been farmed, fenced or settled. In fact there’s little sign of human habitation anywhere in the area, from any era - just a handful of glass beads, found on the bank of the Ruaha River a few miles upstream. They are thought to have been left by hunter-gatherers passing through the area about 1,000 years ago.
The thought played on my mind as I stood by the same river late one afternoon, ostensibly fishing but actually just watching the water slip past. What would have changed here in the millennium since those men and women floated past? Probably not all that much. Then too, there would have been hippos basking in the golden evening light, eagles cruising on thermals, scouring the bush for their prey, and somewhere out there, the lions and leopards, waiting for their chance as the stars came out.
I was drawn back into the present by a sharp tug on the line. I pulled back hard and the rod twitched and bowed under the strain.
“I've caught something,” I shouted across to the ranger.
“Is it Africa?” he replied. It was no doubt a question he’d asked of countless guests whose hook had snagged a rock on the river bed.
Then the line went slack and the rod leapt back. The fish had broken free, but the ranger wasn’t entirely wrong. I had caught Africa - or rather it had caught me.
Image 23 of23
Description
The river, called the Ruaha, runs all the way through the Selous
Azura Selous: what you need to know
Where is it?
At the quieter western end of the game reserve, Selous Azura is about 130 miles southwest of Dar es Salaam, in central southern Tanzania. Road access is impractical despite the relatively short distance from the city, but Selous Azura can book you on a light-aircraft flights to Sumbazi airstrip, a short drive from the lodge.
The landscape
The Selous offers a huge variety of habitats, ranging from dense woodland to green rolling hills and acacia-studded grassland reminiscent of the Serengeti. It is criss-crossed by seasonal rivers which fill after torrential rains. The Ruaha river, alongside Azura Selous, is in permanent flow.
Image 6 of23
Description
The reserve covers 20,000 square miles, and you may never see another vehicle during your stay
The game
The size and diversity of the Selous has attracted a large variety of animals, some of which you will see (and hear) from the comfort of your villa. Hippos bob and grunt in the river - and roam through the camp in search of grass during the night. Vervet monkeys may be seen bounding from rock to rock along the river bank, and impala will scatter from your path as you stroll in for lunch.
Out on game drives, you will see the bigger beasts. With two prides in the area, lions are a common sighting, as are giraffe, zebra, elephant and antelopes of all shapes and sizes. Hyena and leopard are more elusive but not uncommon. A pack of wild dogs periodically sets up its den near the lodge: if your visit coincides with theirs you’ll be lucky enough to spend some time with these rare carnivores.
Image 17 of23
Description
The central area of the lodge includes an open-sided lounge...
Accommodation and food
Azura Selous consists of 12 spacious villas arranged along the river, as well as a timber-framed restaurant, lounge and swimming pool. The villas are part brick, part canvas, and all include ensuite bathrooms with inside and outside showers - as well as sundecks and plunge pools. The tents are air-conditioned during the afternoons and evenings.
Food is delicious and skilfully made - and more true to its location than at many other lodges, which tend either towards incongruous European classics or large slabs of red meat. Here there's plenty of fish, prawns and salad, all served with a distinctively African twist - one night, for example, we had Nile perch, a sweet and meaty freshwater fish, with mango and red pepper salsa.
Meals are served a la carte at private tables - out in the bush for breakfast, and at various points around the main lodge for most lunches and dinners.
Image 16 of23
Description
Breakfast is laid on somewhere different each morning
When to go
Azura Selous is open from June to March, closing for two months for the wet season, when tracks through the park become impassable. The park is at its most photogenic (and coolest) in June and July, after the rains have washed the dust out of the air and carpeted the landscape in green - but animals are easier to find as the dry season wears on and they congregate around sources of water.
Price and booking
Azura Selous offers stays from £530 per person per night, excluding park fees, tourism levy and medivac insurance. Guests can get four nights for the price of three until 6 January 2019. For more information or to book, visit azura-retreats.com.
Flights from various UK airports to Dar es Salaam are available from about £400 return. Light aircraft transfers to Selous Azura cost about £335 return.
Azura Selous: a star-studded Tanzanian safari
HOLDEN FRITH
JUL 25, 2018
TRAVEL
Lions, leopards and stunning night skies in a game park the size of Switzerland
Image 1 of23
Within an hour of touching down in southern Tanzania, I had encountered no fewer than six animals that, given half a chance, would have had me for lunch.
Guests usually receive a more gradual introduction to Azura Selous, but Joseph Kayoka, our guide, was itching to get into the bush. A leopard had been sighted near the airstrip, and if we missed our chance now we might spend the next four days trying (and quite possibly failing) to track it down.
The elusive leopard is perhaps responsible for more disappointed safari-goers than any other animal. Even in small, fenced parks they tend to glide off into the undergrowth long before human eyes can pick them out. Here in the Selous, an open game reserve the size of Switzerland, most will live out their whole lives unseen by visitors.
Joseph, however, had found an obliging exception: a four-year-old male dozing in a long patch of grass, who lifted his head for the camera as we approached. His eyes, soft and soulful, glowed limpid blue in the halflight of dusk. The four lions we passed on our way back to the lodge, and the eight-foot crocodile we spotted just afterwards, were almost an anticlimax.
Image 3 of23
Description
The handsome young creature posed for photographs
It was the perfect start to a safari, but in truth also a deceptive one. There would be times over the next three days when the Selous would make us - or rather Joseph - work hard before yielding its bounty.
Named after Frederick Courteney Selous, a British soldier and pioneering conservationist, the park is one of the oldest and largest in Africa. Its 20,000 square miles of grassland, forest, sandy hills and swampy valleys provide an unusually diverse range of habitats - and a final resting place for Selous, who died there in a skirmish with German troops during the First World War.
Game drives here traverse a bewildering variety of terrain, some textbook Africa - acacia trees and golden plains - others reminiscent of Italian olive groves or even English woodland. The big beasts are a bonus, but the Tanzanian landscape is a draw in itself when the animals are less than cooperative.
In fact, a morning spent in fruitless pursuit of an elephant felt less of a failure than an opportunity for Joseph to demonstrate the full range of his tracking techniques. From time to time he jumped out of the open-sided Land Rover to examine a footprint or pile of dung, assessing their freshness.
The most promising lead was the least obvious: a slender vine of climbing begonia lying in thick vegetation. I would never have noticed it had Joseph not loped across the dewy grass to examine the frayed end. An elephant had been chewing on it, and recently, he said. He steered the car off the track and headed due west: in the cool hour or two after dawn, elephants like to walk with the sun behind them, warming their ears.
SEE RELATED
Kalahari magic: life, death and luxury in the desert
Jack’s Camp and San Camp review: Botswana at its best
Tswalu Kalahari review: a five-star desert safari
As we climbed rolling hills and rocky outcrops, crossed streams and pushed through dense undergrowth, I felt as if we had slipped into uncharted territory, a new Eden gilded by the morning light.
Soon a dense patch of forest blocked our westerly route, but Joseph drove in between the trees, stopping now and again to lop off branches with his machete and ease the car through implausibly small gaps. We lurched down a steep bank, our arrival raising a swarm of dragonflies from the boggy woodland floor. They hovered for a moment, a shimmering cloud of emerald picked out in shafts of golden sunlight, and then they were gone.
And still there were no elephants. They may be the world’s biggest land animals, weighing in at six tons, but we couldn’t find one anywhere.
Joseph’s skill and patience paid off the next morning, as he was driving down a dry river bed lined with wild jasmine. He stopped suddenly and pointed to where, perched comically high on the bank above us, a bull elephant stood stock still, surrounded by foliage, hoping we might not have noticed him.
Image 11 of23
Description
The elusive elephant, finally in our sights...
We drove up out of the river bed, around the ribbon of trees and found him on the other side, munching his way through a mouthful of leaves. He was not, however, in the mood to receive visitors. As he flapped his ears and rocked back and forth, we declared our elephant-tracking mission a success and beat a retreat.
The encounter was still top of mind the following morning, when we set out on foot, without the protection of the 4x4. A walking safari, Joseph said, would bring us closer to the flora and fauna of the Selous. It would also, of course, bring it closer to us.
There are natural warning signs to look out for. Giraffe poo, for example, will reveal not only the gender of its creator (the male product is pointed at one end, the female dimpled at both), but also, potentially, the location of predators. A neat pile of droppings indicates a giraffe at leisure; a scattered trail betrays an animal in flight. Follow the breadcrumbs and you might end up face to face with whatever it was running from.
Image 7 of23
Description
A walking safari is an excellent way to get to know the ecosystem
Accompanied by Joseph, armed with 20 years’ guiding experience, and a ranger, armed with a rifle and named Goodluck, we were in safe hands. But still I felt a frisson as we crossed paths with a hyena and then, under a tree, found the fresh shin bone of an impala, dropped by a leopard from its perch in the canopy above.
Even the mundane can be remarkable. At one point Joseph pointed to a nondescript mark in the dust, about the size of a 50p piece. When the rains come, he said, this impala footprint will fill with water, drawing in birds that will bathe and splash, making the mud bath bigger. More rains will come, and then small mammals will drink from it, churning up the ground, making the hole bigger still. Years from now, there could be hippos wallowing in this dusty little hoofprint.
A good safari should change the way you look at the world, and this was our second shift of perspective in 12 hours. The evening before, we had sat around a campfire as the sky turned dark and the stars came out, and listened to a mind-expanding lecture on the solar system and what lies beyond. So far from the nearest source of light or air pollution, the night sky here is epically dark, and we counted out the shooting stars, satellites and planets - Venus, Jupiter and Mars are all visible to the naked eye - as we contemplated our place in the universe. Then we ate our dinner in a forest clearing, surrounded by paraffin lamps to ward off wild animals.
Image 15 of23
Description
Sundowners are a nightly safari ritual, here enjoyed on the banks of the Ruaha river
This is one of the few places on Earth that has always been theirs. Across Africa, land used for cash crops and cattle is gradually being turned back over to wilderness, but the Selous has never been farmed, fenced or settled. In fact there’s little sign of human habitation anywhere in the area, from any era - just a handful of glass beads, found on the bank of the Ruaha River a few miles upstream. They are thought to have been left by hunter-gatherers passing through the area about 1,000 years ago.
The thought played on my mind as I stood by the same river late one afternoon, ostensibly fishing but actually just watching the water slip past. What would have changed here in the millennium since those men and women floated past? Probably not all that much. Then too, there would have been hippos basking in the golden evening light, eagles cruising on thermals, scouring the bush for their prey, and somewhere out there, the lions and leopards, waiting for their chance as the stars came out.
I was drawn back into the present by a sharp tug on the line. I pulled back hard and the rod twitched and bowed under the strain.
“I've caught something,” I shouted across to the ranger.
“Is it Africa?” he replied. It was no doubt a question he’d asked of countless guests whose hook had snagged a rock on the river bed.
Then the line went slack and the rod leapt back. The fish had broken free, but the ranger wasn’t entirely wrong. I had caught Africa - or rather it had caught me.
Image 23 of23
Description
The river, called the Ruaha, runs all the way through the Selous
Azura Selous: what you need to know
Where is it?
At the quieter western end of the game reserve, Selous Azura is about 130 miles southwest of Dar es Salaam, in central southern Tanzania. Road access is impractical despite the relatively short distance from the city, but Selous Azura can book you on a light-aircraft flights to Sumbazi airstrip, a short drive from the lodge.
The landscape
The Selous offers a huge variety of habitats, ranging from dense woodland to green rolling hills and acacia-studded grassland reminiscent of the Serengeti. It is criss-crossed by seasonal rivers which fill after torrential rains. The Ruaha river, alongside Azura Selous, is in permanent flow.
Image 6 of23
Description
The reserve covers 20,000 square miles, and you may never see another vehicle during your stay
The game
The size and diversity of the Selous has attracted a large variety of animals, some of which you will see (and hear) from the comfort of your villa. Hippos bob and grunt in the river - and roam through the camp in search of grass during the night. Vervet monkeys may be seen bounding from rock to rock along the river bank, and impala will scatter from your path as you stroll in for lunch.
Out on game drives, you will see the bigger beasts. With two prides in the area, lions are a common sighting, as are giraffe, zebra, elephant and antelopes of all shapes and sizes. Hyena and leopard are more elusive but not uncommon. A pack of wild dogs periodically sets up its den near the lodge: if your visit coincides with theirs you’ll be lucky enough to spend some time with these rare carnivores.
Image 17 of23
Description
The central area of the lodge includes an open-sided lounge...
Accommodation and food
Azura Selous consists of 12 spacious villas arranged along the river, as well as a timber-framed restaurant, lounge and swimming pool. The villas are part brick, part canvas, and all include ensuite bathrooms with inside and outside showers - as well as sundecks and plunge pools. The tents are air-conditioned during the afternoons and evenings.
Food is delicious and skilfully made - and more true to its location than at many other lodges, which tend either towards incongruous European classics or large slabs of red meat. Here there's plenty of fish, prawns and salad, all served with a distinctively African twist - one night, for example, we had Nile perch, a sweet and meaty freshwater fish, with mango and red pepper salsa.
Meals are served a la carte at private tables - out in the bush for breakfast, and at various points around the main lodge for most lunches and dinners.
Image 16 of23
Description
Breakfast is laid on somewhere different each morning
When to go
Azura Selous is open from June to March, closing for two months for the wet season, when tracks through the park become impassable. The park is at its most photogenic (and coolest) in June and July, after the rains have washed the dust out of the air and carpeted the landscape in green - but animals are easier to find as the dry season wears on and they congregate around sources of water.
Price and booking
Azura Selous offers stays from £530 per person per night, excluding park fees, tourism levy and medivac insurance. Guests can get four nights for the price of three until 6 January 2019. For more information or to book, visit azura-retreats.com.
Flights from various UK airports to Dar es Salaam are available from about £400 return. Light aircraft transfers to Selous Azura cost about £335 return.
Azura Selous: a star-studded Tanzanian safari
Geza Ulole
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Tourvest opens new luxury camp in Tanzania's Tarangire Park
AFRICA / 27 JUNE 2018, 12:00PM / IOL SUPPLIED
Lemala Mpingo Ridge - the new luxury tented camp in Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park
Integrated tourism group Tourvest has developed a new luxury tented camp in Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park. Called Lemala Mpingo Ridge, the camp will open its doors to the public on the 1st of July and is the second luxury camp in the Lemala collection, after Kuria Hills Lodge in the Serengeti, to be developed in Tanzania with another scheduled for opening in the Central Serengeti in October. Tourvest also manages the Lemala Kili Villas in Arusha, in plain sight of Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Lemala seasonal camps in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
“Tarangire is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania and offers beautiful scenery, including classic African savannahs, green hills, woodland and rivers," says Leanne Haigh, chief executive of the East African arm of Tourvest’s Accommodation and Activities division. "It is famous for its large herds of elephants, diverse birdlife and giant baobab trees.”
Lemala Mpingo Ridge sits on the edge of an escarpment, offering 180-degree panoramic views of the perennial Tarangire River and valley below. “Everywhere you look from the lodge you will get breathtaking views of the expansive terrain with Tarangire Hill to your right and, on a very clear day, Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro,” says Haigh. The main lodge sports a large lounge and bar, an indoor and outdoor dining area, a spa and a swimming pool.
The 15 tented suites have been carefully positioned not only to maximise privacy and views of the park but also to take full advantage of the cooling breezes on hot days. “The tents feature en-suite bathrooms, private decks, sunken outside lounges that convert to afternoon siesta beds, while a private outside bathtub and outdoor shower provide the much-needed relaxation required after a day out on safari,” she says, adding that eight new custom-designed, open-sided game drive vehicles will be delivered to Tourvest’s Lemala lodges in July to further improve the game viewing experience.
Haigh says it is Tourvest East Africa’s strategic objective to have a permanent and seasonal camp in each of the Tanzanian northern safari circuit’s key tourist attractions by 2020. In line with its policy of leaving the smallest environmental footprint possible, all lodges pursue eco-friendly water and power solutions.
Tourvest opens new luxury camp in Tanzania's Tarangire Park | IOL Travel
HOME
AFRICA / 27 JUNE 2018, 12:00PM / IOL SUPPLIED
Lemala Mpingo Ridge - the new luxury tented camp in Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park
Integrated tourism group Tourvest has developed a new luxury tented camp in Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park. Called Lemala Mpingo Ridge, the camp will open its doors to the public on the 1st of July and is the second luxury camp in the Lemala collection, after Kuria Hills Lodge in the Serengeti, to be developed in Tanzania with another scheduled for opening in the Central Serengeti in October. Tourvest also manages the Lemala Kili Villas in Arusha, in plain sight of Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Lemala seasonal camps in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
“Tarangire is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania and offers beautiful scenery, including classic African savannahs, green hills, woodland and rivers," says Leanne Haigh, chief executive of the East African arm of Tourvest’s Accommodation and Activities division. "It is famous for its large herds of elephants, diverse birdlife and giant baobab trees.”
Lemala Mpingo Ridge sits on the edge of an escarpment, offering 180-degree panoramic views of the perennial Tarangire River and valley below. “Everywhere you look from the lodge you will get breathtaking views of the expansive terrain with Tarangire Hill to your right and, on a very clear day, Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro,” says Haigh. The main lodge sports a large lounge and bar, an indoor and outdoor dining area, a spa and a swimming pool.
The 15 tented suites have been carefully positioned not only to maximise privacy and views of the park but also to take full advantage of the cooling breezes on hot days. “The tents feature en-suite bathrooms, private decks, sunken outside lounges that convert to afternoon siesta beds, while a private outside bathtub and outdoor shower provide the much-needed relaxation required after a day out on safari,” she says, adding that eight new custom-designed, open-sided game drive vehicles will be delivered to Tourvest’s Lemala lodges in July to further improve the game viewing experience.
Haigh says it is Tourvest East Africa’s strategic objective to have a permanent and seasonal camp in each of the Tanzanian northern safari circuit’s key tourist attractions by 2020. In line with its policy of leaving the smallest environmental footprint possible, all lodges pursue eco-friendly water and power solutions.
Tourvest opens new luxury camp in Tanzania's Tarangire Park | IOL Travel
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Geza Ulole
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The Interior Designer Behind Tanzania’s Hottest New Safari Lodges
JANUARY 18, 2018 5:56 PM
by LACY MORRIS
Caline Williams-Wynn
Photo: Feriyal Adams
Highlands
Photo: Courtesy of Asilia Africa
But when the interior design business got too hectic, Williams-Wynn had to make a choice: the shop or the design work. Design won, and 10 years into it, she acquired her first safari lodge project. “It’s weird, I just fell into it, and the projects keep coming,” she says. More than 90 percent of her portfolio comes from lodges, and she only takes residential projects on a repeat-client basis.
Highlands
Photo: Courtesy of Asilia Africa
Williams-Wynn is the face behind some of today’s hottest safari lodge openings, including the 2016 headline-making opening of The Highlands, a Ngorongoro Crater outpost by luxury safari outfitter, Asilia. Its design showcases the hallmark of Williams-Wynn: an unparalleled commitment to the local community and its building materials. “You’re actually part of the village here; you hear the bells from the cows every day,” she says, referring to the herds that belong to the local Masai people in the Tanzanian countryside. Williams-Wynn skipped traditional wall decor and instead sought the talents of renowned South African photographer Graham Springer, adorning the walls of the eight geometric dome-like tents with black-and-white portraits of local villagers. “It takes it to the next level when you can actually go and find these women dressed up in all their jewelry,” she notes.
Jabali
Photo: Courtesy of Asilia Africa
Her latest project, the just-opened Jabali Ridge (also by Asilia) in Southern Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, is “a bit up on a hill surrounded by all these huge beautiful boulders,” Williams-Wynn explains. “They’re the inspiration behind the whole thing.” Each of the eight stand-alone bungalows were built solely from locally sourced wood by local craftsmen and designed to meld seamlessly into the environment, their colors evoking the textures of the sea of baobab trees that dot an endless savanna from every which way you look. Inside, Williams-Wynn utilized fabrics from a local South African artisan to set an organic palette. “She takes a piece of natural linen and rolls it up in eucalyptus leaves then puts it into a solution,” Williams-Wynn explains. “It leaves an impression on the fabric, which is a lot like the pattern of the baobab trunks. It’s almost like she’s taken a photographic imprint and used the negatives.”
Jabali
Photo: Courtesy of Asilia Africa
This commitment to locality may be what allows Williams-Wynn the distinction of being Africa’s most in-demand safari lodge designer. Or maybe it’s her humility. “A company recently reached out to me and in the email, they said, ‘We want the world’s most renowned interior designer,’” she says. “I thought, My goodness, what are you doing!?”
The Interior Designer Behind Tanzania’s Hottest New Safari Lodges
JANUARY 18, 2018 5:56 PM
by LACY MORRIS
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Caline Williams-Wynn
Photo: Feriyal Adams
Highlands
Photo: Courtesy of Asilia Africa
But when the interior design business got too hectic, Williams-Wynn had to make a choice: the shop or the design work. Design won, and 10 years into it, she acquired her first safari lodge project. “It’s weird, I just fell into it, and the projects keep coming,” she says. More than 90 percent of her portfolio comes from lodges, and she only takes residential projects on a repeat-client basis.
Highlands
Photo: Courtesy of Asilia Africa
Williams-Wynn is the face behind some of today’s hottest safari lodge openings, including the 2016 headline-making opening of The Highlands, a Ngorongoro Crater outpost by luxury safari outfitter, Asilia. Its design showcases the hallmark of Williams-Wynn: an unparalleled commitment to the local community and its building materials. “You’re actually part of the village here; you hear the bells from the cows every day,” she says, referring to the herds that belong to the local Masai people in the Tanzanian countryside. Williams-Wynn skipped traditional wall decor and instead sought the talents of renowned South African photographer Graham Springer, adorning the walls of the eight geometric dome-like tents with black-and-white portraits of local villagers. “It takes it to the next level when you can actually go and find these women dressed up in all their jewelry,” she notes.
Jabali
Photo: Courtesy of Asilia Africa
Her latest project, the just-opened Jabali Ridge (also by Asilia) in Southern Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, is “a bit up on a hill surrounded by all these huge beautiful boulders,” Williams-Wynn explains. “They’re the inspiration behind the whole thing.” Each of the eight stand-alone bungalows were built solely from locally sourced wood by local craftsmen and designed to meld seamlessly into the environment, their colors evoking the textures of the sea of baobab trees that dot an endless savanna from every which way you look. Inside, Williams-Wynn utilized fabrics from a local South African artisan to set an organic palette. “She takes a piece of natural linen and rolls it up in eucalyptus leaves then puts it into a solution,” Williams-Wynn explains. “It leaves an impression on the fabric, which is a lot like the pattern of the baobab trunks. It’s almost like she’s taken a photographic imprint and used the negatives.”
Jabali
Photo: Courtesy of Asilia Africa
This commitment to locality may be what allows Williams-Wynn the distinction of being Africa’s most in-demand safari lodge designer. Or maybe it’s her humility. “A company recently reached out to me and in the email, they said, ‘We want the world’s most renowned interior designer,’” she says. “I thought, My goodness, what are you doing!?”
The Interior Designer Behind Tanzania’s Hottest New Safari Lodges
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S V Surovikin
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Unapajua hapa mkuu?
Geza Ulole
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DA MAN Magazine - Make Your Own Style! > Celebrities >International > Greg Kriek Talks About “The Serengeti Rules” And More Movies He’s In!
Greg Kriek Talks About “The Serengeti Rules” And More Movies He’s In!
Posted On June 20, 2018
IN FULL SWING. South African actor Greg Kriek talks about playing Tony Sinclair in the environmental documentary “The Serengeti Rules” along with his upcoming roles and thoughts on his accomplishments
Outfit by Vince
Chances are you’ve already seen Greg Kriek appear in quite a few movies. If you haven’t, then there’s a good chance that you will this year. With over than 40 films to his name, including “Momentum” and “Maze Runner: Death Cure,” Kriek is set to star in a lot of movies during the rest of 2018, including “Lake Placid: Legacy” and “The Serengeti Rules”, where he will be playing real life biologist Tony Sinclair. Kriek is also the lead man in the war drama “The Recce” and the coming-of-age surf movie “Deep End.” And that’s not all. It’s safe to say, we’re going to see a lot more of Kriek in the days to come.
Suit by Andrew Marc; shirt by Raga Man; tie by Calvin Klein
DA MAN: Hi Greg, thanks for having us. “The Serengeti Rules” has officially premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival at the end of April. Can you tell us a bit about how it was received?
Greg Kriek: Tribeca was hands down one of the best experiences I’ve ever had with a film. I am so proud of the final cut and am super proud of the entire team. The movie is so powerful and people were deeply impacted by it. The way it was presented, its global scope, its message of hope in gloomy times … and as the cherry on the cake I also got to meet the real Tony Sinclair in person for the first time.
I cannot wait for the public to see this beautifully crafted film. It was an honor to be part of this.
DA MAN: Your character, Tony Sinclair, is a real life biologist who has spent a long time researching the Serengeti, predator-prey theory, animal migration and ecology as a whole. How exactly do you prepare yourself to deal with such complex subjects?
Greg Kriek: I learnt so much in the preparation for the part. The Passion Pictures team was great in sending me actual BBC archival footage of Tony in the field. I also watched numerous interviews, documentaries and read Sean Carroll’s book “The Serengeti Rules” in preparation. Some of the things I learned was that when keystones are removed, ecosystems unravel and collapse—a phenomenon no one had imagined—or understood until Tony’s revolutionary discoveries. But with new knowledge also comes new hope. Tony’s work revealed the remarkable resilience of nature—and how the rules he discovered can be used to upgrade and restore the natural world.
Jacket by Frame; shirt by H&M
DA MAN: You also worked with an Oscar-winning team, not to mention three Emmy Award-winner Nicolas Brown. What was it like working with a team like that?
Greg Kriek: One of the best experiences with a director I’ve ever had, as well as with a crew. We formed a fantastic bond and it was so refreshing to work with a team that truly cared about their work. What a great time we had! The experience of filming out in the African wild and getting a taste of what it must have been like to do research in the field—where you have to wait for nature to reveal itself to you—was an absolute eye opener. Stories that matter really makes me come alive!
DA MAN: “The Serengeti Rules” focuses a lot on the balance of life. Has your involvement in this project changed your perspective—of nature, or humanity in general—in any way?
Greg Kriek: Absolutely. These days we mostly hear the doom and gloom when it comes to environmental issues. But this project really opened my eyes to the fact that it is possible to upgrade the environment. Technology combined with the right scientific research can be harnessed in so many incredible ways.
Shirt by Cos; belt by Suit Supply; jeans by 22/7;
socks by Sock it Up; shoes by Cole Haan
DA MAN: Aside from “The Serengeti Rules” you are also playing in “Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell,” the sixth title in the series. What can fans of the franchise expect from this new flick?
Greg Kriek: Fans of this cult franchise can expect a true homage to the original films. However, this particular film also offers a unique dive into the viscera and yuck that makes these sequels so much fun. It’s also great having it set in the Arctic this time round. I was like a kid in a candy store, getting to work with an amazing international cast, run from a few monsters, as one does, and do all the crazy things that make making movies the best career in the world.
DA MAN: On a slightly related note, you’re also set to star in the giant crocodile movie “Lake Placid: Legacy.” Can you give us a brief rundown of the film and a bit about Travis, the character you are playing?
Greg Kriek: “Lake Placid: Legacy” is a fresh and visceral reboot of the original series. Explorers stumble upon an island that harbors an abandoned facility and a deadly predator that is eager to feast on naive visitors.
I play Travis, a Ranger Rick kind of character that owns an adventure company—with his partner Penny—who reluctantly takes a team of explorers – to this abandoned facility and finds himself caught up in all the drama despite his hesitation.
Shirt by 22/7; pants by H&M
DA MAN: Other than “The Serengeti Rules,” “Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell” and “Lake Placid: Legacy,” what other films or projects do you have coming this year?
Greg Kriek: A film I’m extremely excited about is “The Recce”—a “Lone Survivor” meets “The Revenant” war drama—where I play the main character Henk Viljoen, who is wrongfully declared KIA behind enemy lines. Abandoned by his superiors, it’s a race for survival in which his mental and physical abilities are pushed to their limits, as he navigates his way through the treacherous Angolan war zone in an effort to make his way home to his loved ones. That releases this September.
I am also the leading man in “Deep End” where I play American surfer Cory Taylor in a gritty, coming-of-age surf flick releasing in theaters October. Beyond that, fans can catch me as Henry in “Last Ones Out” currently on Amazon, Caleb in “Samson” that just released in the U.S. and starts releasing in other parts of the world this June.
I also start filming a new sailing drama in a few weeks as the leading man, which is set to release in 2019.
DA MAN: Still, it does seem that you’re looking at quite a busy time ahead. Do you still find the time to engage in non-work activities or do you enjoy being constantly busy?
Greg Kriek: To work as an actor full time is a dream come true, so I really enjoy being busy. However, “all work and no play made Jack a dull boy.”
I really try to the best of my ability to plan short breaks away between projects. I actually have a hiking trip planned to Spain with my best friends later this year. I love jamming guitar, exploring outdoors and being out in the ocean. If I’m not working I try and steal as much time with friends and family as possible.
Jacket by Frame; shirt by GAP
DA MAN: Of all the films, documentaries and TV series you have done, which ones have been the most important milestones in your career?
Greg Kriek: Each film I’ve done was super special in its own right for so many reasons. However some of my most important career milestones include my first leading role in the biopic “Momentum,” playing leading man Tony Sinclair in “The Serengeti Rules,” the powerful war drama “The Recce” where I also play the lead, Caleb in “Samson” and naturally getting to act in popular franchises such as “Maze Runner,” “Tremors” and “Lake Placid.”
DA MAN: Lastly, at this stage of your career, with more than 40 films under your belt, how do you feel about how far you’ve come?
Greg Kriek: Sometimes I have to pinch myself. I am so incredibly grateful! It really is tough for actors from Africa to get a break into the international film industry. I only started acting fulltime five years ago and now I’ve had the privilege of getting to film all over the world, be the leading man of numerous projects and have gotten to work with some of my favorite actors like Morgan Freeman, James Purefoy, Dylan O Brien, Olga Kurylenko, Rutger Hauer and Barry Pepper.
It’s nothing less than an absolute dream come true for which I am truly grateful. I still have a lot of learning, growth and work ahead of me, but I understand that a career is a journey much like a marathon is not necessarily a sprint. And I am thankful for this chapter right here. I have learned that nothing is impossible if you stay humble and hustle hard. I’ve learned that you really cannot judge people. We all have a story. There is power in your story even when truth is stranger than fiction.
Shirt by Raga Man; pants by Levi’s; shoes by Cos
Photography Angel V. Prado
Styling Tayo Fajemisin
Grooming Albert Elizondo
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Greg Kriek Talks About “The Serengeti Rules” And More Movies He’s In!
Posted On June 20, 2018
IN FULL SWING. South African actor Greg Kriek talks about playing Tony Sinclair in the environmental documentary “The Serengeti Rules” along with his upcoming roles and thoughts on his accomplishments
Chances are you’ve already seen Greg Kriek appear in quite a few movies. If you haven’t, then there’s a good chance that you will this year. With over than 40 films to his name, including “Momentum” and “Maze Runner: Death Cure,” Kriek is set to star in a lot of movies during the rest of 2018, including “Lake Placid: Legacy” and “The Serengeti Rules”, where he will be playing real life biologist Tony Sinclair. Kriek is also the lead man in the war drama “The Recce” and the coming-of-age surf movie “Deep End.” And that’s not all. It’s safe to say, we’re going to see a lot more of Kriek in the days to come.
DA MAN: Hi Greg, thanks for having us. “The Serengeti Rules” has officially premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival at the end of April. Can you tell us a bit about how it was received?
Greg Kriek: Tribeca was hands down one of the best experiences I’ve ever had with a film. I am so proud of the final cut and am super proud of the entire team. The movie is so powerful and people were deeply impacted by it. The way it was presented, its global scope, its message of hope in gloomy times … and as the cherry on the cake I also got to meet the real Tony Sinclair in person for the first time.
I cannot wait for the public to see this beautifully crafted film. It was an honor to be part of this.
DA MAN: Your character, Tony Sinclair, is a real life biologist who has spent a long time researching the Serengeti, predator-prey theory, animal migration and ecology as a whole. How exactly do you prepare yourself to deal with such complex subjects?
Greg Kriek: I learnt so much in the preparation for the part. The Passion Pictures team was great in sending me actual BBC archival footage of Tony in the field. I also watched numerous interviews, documentaries and read Sean Carroll’s book “The Serengeti Rules” in preparation. Some of the things I learned was that when keystones are removed, ecosystems unravel and collapse—a phenomenon no one had imagined—or understood until Tony’s revolutionary discoveries. But with new knowledge also comes new hope. Tony’s work revealed the remarkable resilience of nature—and how the rules he discovered can be used to upgrade and restore the natural world.
DA MAN: You also worked with an Oscar-winning team, not to mention three Emmy Award-winner Nicolas Brown. What was it like working with a team like that?
Greg Kriek: One of the best experiences with a director I’ve ever had, as well as with a crew. We formed a fantastic bond and it was so refreshing to work with a team that truly cared about their work. What a great time we had! The experience of filming out in the African wild and getting a taste of what it must have been like to do research in the field—where you have to wait for nature to reveal itself to you—was an absolute eye opener. Stories that matter really makes me come alive!
DA MAN: “The Serengeti Rules” focuses a lot on the balance of life. Has your involvement in this project changed your perspective—of nature, or humanity in general—in any way?
Greg Kriek: Absolutely. These days we mostly hear the doom and gloom when it comes to environmental issues. But this project really opened my eyes to the fact that it is possible to upgrade the environment. Technology combined with the right scientific research can be harnessed in so many incredible ways.
socks by Sock it Up; shoes by Cole Haan
DA MAN: Aside from “The Serengeti Rules” you are also playing in “Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell,” the sixth title in the series. What can fans of the franchise expect from this new flick?
Greg Kriek: Fans of this cult franchise can expect a true homage to the original films. However, this particular film also offers a unique dive into the viscera and yuck that makes these sequels so much fun. It’s also great having it set in the Arctic this time round. I was like a kid in a candy store, getting to work with an amazing international cast, run from a few monsters, as one does, and do all the crazy things that make making movies the best career in the world.
DA MAN: On a slightly related note, you’re also set to star in the giant crocodile movie “Lake Placid: Legacy.” Can you give us a brief rundown of the film and a bit about Travis, the character you are playing?
Greg Kriek: “Lake Placid: Legacy” is a fresh and visceral reboot of the original series. Explorers stumble upon an island that harbors an abandoned facility and a deadly predator that is eager to feast on naive visitors.
I play Travis, a Ranger Rick kind of character that owns an adventure company—with his partner Penny—who reluctantly takes a team of explorers – to this abandoned facility and finds himself caught up in all the drama despite his hesitation.
DA MAN: Other than “The Serengeti Rules,” “Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell” and “Lake Placid: Legacy,” what other films or projects do you have coming this year?
Greg Kriek: A film I’m extremely excited about is “The Recce”—a “Lone Survivor” meets “The Revenant” war drama—where I play the main character Henk Viljoen, who is wrongfully declared KIA behind enemy lines. Abandoned by his superiors, it’s a race for survival in which his mental and physical abilities are pushed to their limits, as he navigates his way through the treacherous Angolan war zone in an effort to make his way home to his loved ones. That releases this September.
I am also the leading man in “Deep End” where I play American surfer Cory Taylor in a gritty, coming-of-age surf flick releasing in theaters October. Beyond that, fans can catch me as Henry in “Last Ones Out” currently on Amazon, Caleb in “Samson” that just released in the U.S. and starts releasing in other parts of the world this June.
I also start filming a new sailing drama in a few weeks as the leading man, which is set to release in 2019.
DA MAN: Still, it does seem that you’re looking at quite a busy time ahead. Do you still find the time to engage in non-work activities or do you enjoy being constantly busy?
Greg Kriek: To work as an actor full time is a dream come true, so I really enjoy being busy. However, “all work and no play made Jack a dull boy.”
I really try to the best of my ability to plan short breaks away between projects. I actually have a hiking trip planned to Spain with my best friends later this year. I love jamming guitar, exploring outdoors and being out in the ocean. If I’m not working I try and steal as much time with friends and family as possible.
DA MAN: Of all the films, documentaries and TV series you have done, which ones have been the most important milestones in your career?
Greg Kriek: Each film I’ve done was super special in its own right for so many reasons. However some of my most important career milestones include my first leading role in the biopic “Momentum,” playing leading man Tony Sinclair in “The Serengeti Rules,” the powerful war drama “The Recce” where I also play the lead, Caleb in “Samson” and naturally getting to act in popular franchises such as “Maze Runner,” “Tremors” and “Lake Placid.”
DA MAN: Lastly, at this stage of your career, with more than 40 films under your belt, how do you feel about how far you’ve come?
Greg Kriek: Sometimes I have to pinch myself. I am so incredibly grateful! It really is tough for actors from Africa to get a break into the international film industry. I only started acting fulltime five years ago and now I’ve had the privilege of getting to film all over the world, be the leading man of numerous projects and have gotten to work with some of my favorite actors like Morgan Freeman, James Purefoy, Dylan O Brien, Olga Kurylenko, Rutger Hauer and Barry Pepper.
It’s nothing less than an absolute dream come true for which I am truly grateful. I still have a lot of learning, growth and work ahead of me, but I understand that a career is a journey much like a marathon is not necessarily a sprint. And I am thankful for this chapter right here. I have learned that nothing is impossible if you stay humble and hustle hard. I’ve learned that you really cannot judge people. We all have a story. There is power in your story even when truth is stranger than fiction.
Photography Angel V. Prado
Styling Tayo Fajemisin
Grooming Albert Elizondo
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Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
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Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
- 79,513
- Thread starter
- #1,233
Contiki expands into Africa for first time
2 days ago
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For the past five years, the number one destination missing from Contiki’s product offering - as identified by passenger surveys, social media and third-party research - has been Africa.
Despite covering Morocco and Egypt in northern Africa, the call of wild adventures in eastern and sub-Saharan Africa has been strong, and today the global youth travel brand has announced a suite of new trips to the region.
While the brand has continually grown trips across Europe, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and North America, the announcement marks Contiki’s first new region since launching Latin America in 2010.
The move also represents the growing footprint of the millennial traveller seeking unfiltered adventure.
Four new trips will allow 18-35-year-old clients to explore South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya, plus five extension trips to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, relax on the beaches of Zanzibar or get up close to Gorillas in Uganda.
Accommodation is a strong point of differentiation.
While other youth operators in the region have opted for traditional camping, Contiki has hand selected renowned properties that offer the creature comforts of home, including Sentrim Hotels & Lodges.
Whether staying in hotels, safari lodges or permanent luxury safari tents, clients can look forward to comfortable beds, en-suites, patios and swimming pools after a big day of adventure.
Experiences make the trips.
With Contiki, clients have the opportunity to see the big five game (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo) in Kruger National Park, witness the great migration of the wildebeest in the Serengeti or Masai Mara, tick off one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World at the thunderous Victoria Falls, visit a baby elephant sanctuary and feed giraffes, all included in the cost of the trips.
In their free time, those who aren’t relaxing poolside can choose to spot tree-climbing lions from a sunrise hot air balloon over the Serengeti, bungee jump over the Victoria Falls, white water raft down the Zambezi River, go hippo spotting on the Chobe River or wine tasting in the Cape Winelands.
All entry fees are included.
Approximately 20 passengers per trip means swapping large coach travel instead for seven-seater pop-top safari vehicles across Eastern Africa and luxury mini buses in Southern Africa.
Flights are included from Cape Town to Johannesburg and Johannesburg to Victoria Falls allowing clients to spend more time on the ground, making the most of what the destination has to offer.
Contiki expands into Africa for first time
2 days ago
Welcome Googler! If you find this article interesting, you might want to subscribe to our Newsletter for the latest travel news.
For the past five years, the number one destination missing from Contiki’s product offering - as identified by passenger surveys, social media and third-party research - has been Africa.
Despite covering Morocco and Egypt in northern Africa, the call of wild adventures in eastern and sub-Saharan Africa has been strong, and today the global youth travel brand has announced a suite of new trips to the region.
While the brand has continually grown trips across Europe, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and North America, the announcement marks Contiki’s first new region since launching Latin America in 2010.
The move also represents the growing footprint of the millennial traveller seeking unfiltered adventure.
Four new trips will allow 18-35-year-old clients to explore South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya, plus five extension trips to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, relax on the beaches of Zanzibar or get up close to Gorillas in Uganda.
Accommodation is a strong point of differentiation.
While other youth operators in the region have opted for traditional camping, Contiki has hand selected renowned properties that offer the creature comforts of home, including Sentrim Hotels & Lodges.
Whether staying in hotels, safari lodges or permanent luxury safari tents, clients can look forward to comfortable beds, en-suites, patios and swimming pools after a big day of adventure.
Experiences make the trips.
With Contiki, clients have the opportunity to see the big five game (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo) in Kruger National Park, witness the great migration of the wildebeest in the Serengeti or Masai Mara, tick off one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World at the thunderous Victoria Falls, visit a baby elephant sanctuary and feed giraffes, all included in the cost of the trips.
In their free time, those who aren’t relaxing poolside can choose to spot tree-climbing lions from a sunrise hot air balloon over the Serengeti, bungee jump over the Victoria Falls, white water raft down the Zambezi River, go hippo spotting on the Chobe River or wine tasting in the Cape Winelands.
All entry fees are included.
Approximately 20 passengers per trip means swapping large coach travel instead for seven-seater pop-top safari vehicles across Eastern Africa and luxury mini buses in Southern Africa.
Flights are included from Cape Town to Johannesburg and Johannesburg to Victoria Falls allowing clients to spend more time on the ground, making the most of what the destination has to offer.
Contiki expands into Africa for first time
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
- 79,513
- Thread starter
- #1,234
Zanzibar chosen for first Tui Blue long-haul hotel
by Phil Davies Aug 2nd 2018, 08:21
Zanzibar chosen for first Tui Blue long-haul hotel
The first Tui Blue lifestyle hotel in a long-haul destination is to be opened in Zanzibar.
Tui Group has acquired a resort on the island off the Tanzania coast in east Africa to complement its portfolio in the Indian Ocean.
The property will be operated by the company from now and re-positioned as the Tui Blue Zanzibar for winter 2019-20.
“With the takeover of the resort designed in the African-Arab architectural style, the new lifestyle hotel brand will make its debut establishing its concept focused on authentic experiences within the holiday region in a long-haul destination,” the company said.
Alongside TUI Blue Zanzibar. The group will open another hotel in the island this winter, the Riu Palace Zanzibar.
Tui Blue managing director Artur Gerber said: “In delivering our growth roadmap, we are increasingly looking for holiday destinations facilitating profitable year-round operation due to their consistently warm climate.
“The ‘Dream of Zanzibar‘ hotel already features a very good occupancy rate and high customer satisfaction levels.
“The destination also features a wide range of cultural influences and excursion options. These are optimum conditions enabling us to create a unique holiday experience for our guests with our new hotel brand.”
The destination in the Indian Ocean is increasingly becoming a “trending destination,” not only for beach holidays after a safari trip, according to Tui.
http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/309005/zanzibar-chosen-for-first-tui-blue-long-haul-hotel
by Phil Davies Aug 2nd 2018, 08:21
Zanzibar chosen for first Tui Blue long-haul hotel
The first Tui Blue lifestyle hotel in a long-haul destination is to be opened in Zanzibar.
Tui Group has acquired a resort on the island off the Tanzania coast in east Africa to complement its portfolio in the Indian Ocean.
The property will be operated by the company from now and re-positioned as the Tui Blue Zanzibar for winter 2019-20.
“With the takeover of the resort designed in the African-Arab architectural style, the new lifestyle hotel brand will make its debut establishing its concept focused on authentic experiences within the holiday region in a long-haul destination,” the company said.
Alongside TUI Blue Zanzibar. The group will open another hotel in the island this winter, the Riu Palace Zanzibar.
Tui Blue managing director Artur Gerber said: “In delivering our growth roadmap, we are increasingly looking for holiday destinations facilitating profitable year-round operation due to their consistently warm climate.
“The ‘Dream of Zanzibar‘ hotel already features a very good occupancy rate and high customer satisfaction levels.
“The destination also features a wide range of cultural influences and excursion options. These are optimum conditions enabling us to create a unique holiday experience for our guests with our new hotel brand.”
The destination in the Indian Ocean is increasingly becoming a “trending destination,” not only for beach holidays after a safari trip, according to Tui.
http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/309005/zanzibar-chosen-for-first-tui-blue-long-haul-hotel
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
- 79,513
- Thread starter
- #1,235
Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
- 79,513
- Thread starter
- #1,236
#1
Zanzibar is the most romantic place in Africa
By NOMASWAZI NKOSI July 30, 2018
The island off the east coast of Africa has been named the most romantic place to visit on the continent
Mills and Boon, one of the world’s most popular romance fiction publishers, conducted a survey which revealed that the East African island is the most romantic place in Africa.
The semi-autonomous region of Tanzania was listed among the likes of Paris, Amsterdam and Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, as some of the most romantic travel destinations.
The publisher commissioned travel experts on which locations would work best for a romantic rendezvous, before 2 000 people voted on the shortlisted destinations.
READ MORE: COUPLES WHO TRAVEL TOGETHER HAVE BETTER SEX AND A DEEPER CONNECTION – STUDY
According to Travelstart.com, Zanzibar is among the top five best honeymoon destinations in Africa.
Whether you’re looking to spice up a long-standing romance or go on honeymoon, Zanzibar seems to be the top choice.
Here’s the top 20 most romantic destinations:
Zanzibar is the most romantic place in Africa
By NOMASWAZI NKOSI July 30, 2018
The island off the east coast of Africa has been named the most romantic place to visit on the continent
Mills and Boon, one of the world’s most popular romance fiction publishers, conducted a survey which revealed that the East African island is the most romantic place in Africa.
The semi-autonomous region of Tanzania was listed among the likes of Paris, Amsterdam and Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, as some of the most romantic travel destinations.
The publisher commissioned travel experts on which locations would work best for a romantic rendezvous, before 2 000 people voted on the shortlisted destinations.
READ MORE: COUPLES WHO TRAVEL TOGETHER HAVE BETTER SEX AND A DEEPER CONNECTION – STUDY
According to Travelstart.com, Zanzibar is among the top five best honeymoon destinations in Africa.
Whether you’re looking to spice up a long-standing romance or go on honeymoon, Zanzibar seems to be the top choice.
Here’s the top 20 most romantic destinations:
- Paris, France
- Santorini, Greece
- Venice, Italy
- Amalfi Coast, Italy
- Maui, Hawaii, USA
- Bruges, Belgium
- Bora Bora, Tahiti, French Polynesia
- Kirkjufell, Iceland
- Cerf Island, Seychelles
- The Gili Islands, Bali, Indonesia
- Petersburg, Russia
- Agra and the Taj Mahal, India
- Cliffs of Moher, Country Clare, Ireland
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
- Whitsunday Islands, Queensland
- Big Sur, Cali, USA
- San Francisco, USA
- Fuji Five Lakes, Japan
- Zanzibar, Tanzania
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
- 79,513
- Thread starter
- #1,237
The best African rail journeys for 2018
share
The Shongololo Express
Our rail experts offer a guide to the 10 best African rail journeys for 2018.
1. Rovos Rail
This luxury train of air-conditioned entirely en suite rooms with double or twin beds has to be the most comfortable way to see southern Africa – especially in a Royal Suite, which takes up half a carriage. The beautifully restored or appointed wood-panelled coaches include dining, lounge and observation cars, and there is a gift shop on board. Varying three to 15-day itineraries venture as far as Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Swakopmund in Namibia, but the most frequent route is between Cape Town and Pretoria. Most trains begin or end at Rovos Rail’s own Capital Park station near Pretoria.
From £1,127 per person sharing, including accommodation, meals and excursions as well as all beverages, including alcohol: 0027 12 315 8242;rovos.com
Lodgings on board Rovos Rail CREDIT: DOOKPHOTO/DOOK
2. Blue Train, South Africa
South Africa’s national railway luxury train is one of the oldest, derived from trains introduced in 1923, though frequently replaced or upgraded to become more luxurious. Oscillating between Cape Town and Pretoria, the two train sets each include two lounge cars, dining cars and an observation car, and some of the all en suite cabins have the rare facility of wheels of a full-sized bath. Southbound trains break the journey at Kimberley for a visit to the Big Hole and its Diamond Mine Museum, while northbound trains stop at Matjiesfontein for a sherry in the Lord Milner Hotel, founded in 1884 by James Douglas Logan, a Scottish railwayman.
From £900 per person sharing, including accommodation, meals and excursions as well as all beverages, including alcohol (except French champagne); 0027 12 334 8459; bluetrain.co.za
Cross South Africa in style CREDIT: SUPERTRAMP8 - FOTOLIA
3. Shongololo Express
Bought by Rovos Rail in 2016, the Shongololo Express is positioned to cater for those more concerned to see southern Africa than pay for an opulent train experience. Three 12 to 15-day itineraries are on offer, traversing South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. The 72 guests are accommodated in two categories of en suite cabins with double or twin beds – Emerald has a small lounge area, Gold does not – and there is a bar car and observation car as well as dining cars. One of the itineraries offers golfing and other options, and all visit game, historic or archaeological sites.
From £3,556 per person sharing, including accommodation, on-train meals and excursions: 0027 12 315 8242;shongololo.com
Inside the Shongololo Express
4. Tangier to Casablanca, Morocco
The first high-speed line in Morocco – and Africa – is due to open in mid-2018 between Tangier and Kenitra, which will reduce the journey time between Tangier and Casablanca from nearly five hours to just over two hours with connections on to Marrakech. TGV Duplex trains have been adapted for the climate with more powerful air conditioning and filters to prevent sand penetration of equipment. Those wanting to reach Morocco overland can board ferries to Tangier in Algeciras or Barcelona.
Prices still to be announced; oncf.ma
Tangier CREDIT: GETTY
5. Nairobi to Mombasa, Kenya
The new Chinese-built standard-gauge railway between Nairobi and Mombasa opened last May, reducing the journey time from a putative 16-24 hours by the old narrow-gauge line to just over four-and-three-quarter hours by the Intercity Train, the non-stop version of the Madaraka Express. The Country Train stops at eight intermediate stations. The air-conditioned train has a buffet car with table seating area for first class passengers only, a trolley service and complimentary water. Large windows allow good views over the Kapiti Plains and Tsavo National Park, so passengers would be unlucky not to see game.
First class £22 one way: booking by phone or online is not yet possible, but can be bought in advance by emailing a reliable agency, eastafricashuttles.com;krc.co.ke
6. Dar es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi
The 1,155-mile (1,860km) Tazara Railway between Tanzania’s largest city, Dar es Salaam, and Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia was the first of China’s railway-building projects in Africa, opening in 1975. It has had a chequered history, but new cars were put into service in 2016 to revitalise the railway and it has succeeded in attracting more tourists as a safer way to travel than road. Besides first and second class sleeping cars, and second and third class seated cars, there are usually two restaurant cars and a first class lounge car. Some couples pay for a four-berth cabin to secure sole occupancy. The journey often allows sightings of elephants, giraffes, zebra and antelope as it clips the Selous Game Reserve, and there is a spectacular mountain section with numerous bridges and tunnels. Coaches for Lusaka connect with the train at Kapiri Mposhi.
First class £34 one way; 00255 715 469239; krc.co.ke
7. Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
The overnight journey from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls is a world away from Rovos Rail, but some find the Zimbabwean wood-panelled coaches from another era and the sight of game more than compensate for shortcomings in other aspects of the experience. This year – in what is now the post-Mugabe Zimbabwe – a sleeper train is being introduced from Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park with refurbished “traditional” carriages. Passengers will board the train at Victoria Falls, have a three-course dinner and go to sleep as the train heads for Hwange. Guests will transfer on to the Elephant Express, an open-sided railcar designed for game viewing, which will take them to Ngamo on a two-hour transfer for the Imvelo Safari Lodge. Guests end up in a great safari area, so it is more interesting than the normal road or light aircraft transfers.
Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, first class £11 without bedding; for details of the Hwange train, contact Expert Africa;nrz.co.zw; expertafrica.com
Victoria Falls CREDIT: ©GUDKOVANDREY - STOCK.ADOBE.COM/GUDKOV.ANDREY.
8. Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, South Africa
For many years this 41-mile (67km) line was the most popular daytime tourist journey in South Africa, running for most of the way along the coast with a spectacular curved viaduct across the Kaaimans river and a long, low viaduct across the lagoon, before journey’s end at Knysna. National operator Transnet lost interest in the steam-hauled service and when no successor could be found, operation ceased in 2010. Now a new concession is in prospect, and it is hoped that services might resume before the 90th anniversary of the opening of the railway this year on Oct 28. Knysna lies on the Garden Route and is famous for its Oyster Festival.
Prices to be announced;outeniquachootjoe.com
Crossing the Kaaimans river CREDIT: GETTY
9. Royal Livingstone, Zambia
This five-coach dining train uses carriages restored by Rovos Rail and a steam locomotive to travel from Bushtracks Siding near Livingstone to the Victoria Falls Bridge, traversing a short section of what Rhodes hoped would become the Cape to Cairo railway. The train pauses for 20 minutes on the bridge before proceeding to Palm Grove siding for the six-course dinner stop and then returning to Bushtracks. Operating on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the train includes a lounge and observation car. Guests transfers between hotels/lodges and the train are part of the package.
£135 per person; contact Expert Africa 020 3405 6666; expertafrica.com
10. Cairo to Luxor, Egypt
There are two ways to travel by train to Luxor for its temple complex at nearby Karnak: the daytime air-conditioned express; and the overnight sleeper. To appreciate the Nile valley and the river’s feluccas (traditional wooden sailing boats) and thin banks of fertility, you have to defy government tourist restrictions on which trains tourists can buy tickets for and take the former. This entails simply boarding the train at Cairo’s impressive Ramses station and paying on board, hoping you find an empty seat, or buying a ticket ahead online (see seat61.com for detailed instructions).
Contributors: Adrian Bridge, Anthony Lambert, Tristan Rutherford, Michael Kerr, Steve McClarence
The best African rail journeys for 2018
share
- Telegraph Travel
Our rail experts offer a guide to the 10 best African rail journeys for 2018.
1. Rovos Rail
This luxury train of air-conditioned entirely en suite rooms with double or twin beds has to be the most comfortable way to see southern Africa – especially in a Royal Suite, which takes up half a carriage. The beautifully restored or appointed wood-panelled coaches include dining, lounge and observation cars, and there is a gift shop on board. Varying three to 15-day itineraries venture as far as Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Swakopmund in Namibia, but the most frequent route is between Cape Town and Pretoria. Most trains begin or end at Rovos Rail’s own Capital Park station near Pretoria.
From £1,127 per person sharing, including accommodation, meals and excursions as well as all beverages, including alcohol: 0027 12 315 8242;rovos.com
2. Blue Train, South Africa
South Africa’s national railway luxury train is one of the oldest, derived from trains introduced in 1923, though frequently replaced or upgraded to become more luxurious. Oscillating between Cape Town and Pretoria, the two train sets each include two lounge cars, dining cars and an observation car, and some of the all en suite cabins have the rare facility of wheels of a full-sized bath. Southbound trains break the journey at Kimberley for a visit to the Big Hole and its Diamond Mine Museum, while northbound trains stop at Matjiesfontein for a sherry in the Lord Milner Hotel, founded in 1884 by James Douglas Logan, a Scottish railwayman.
From £900 per person sharing, including accommodation, meals and excursions as well as all beverages, including alcohol (except French champagne); 0027 12 334 8459; bluetrain.co.za
3. Shongololo Express
Bought by Rovos Rail in 2016, the Shongololo Express is positioned to cater for those more concerned to see southern Africa than pay for an opulent train experience. Three 12 to 15-day itineraries are on offer, traversing South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. The 72 guests are accommodated in two categories of en suite cabins with double or twin beds – Emerald has a small lounge area, Gold does not – and there is a bar car and observation car as well as dining cars. One of the itineraries offers golfing and other options, and all visit game, historic or archaeological sites.
From £3,556 per person sharing, including accommodation, on-train meals and excursions: 0027 12 315 8242;shongololo.com
4. Tangier to Casablanca, Morocco
The first high-speed line in Morocco – and Africa – is due to open in mid-2018 between Tangier and Kenitra, which will reduce the journey time between Tangier and Casablanca from nearly five hours to just over two hours with connections on to Marrakech. TGV Duplex trains have been adapted for the climate with more powerful air conditioning and filters to prevent sand penetration of equipment. Those wanting to reach Morocco overland can board ferries to Tangier in Algeciras or Barcelona.
Prices still to be announced; oncf.ma
5. Nairobi to Mombasa, Kenya
The new Chinese-built standard-gauge railway between Nairobi and Mombasa opened last May, reducing the journey time from a putative 16-24 hours by the old narrow-gauge line to just over four-and-three-quarter hours by the Intercity Train, the non-stop version of the Madaraka Express. The Country Train stops at eight intermediate stations. The air-conditioned train has a buffet car with table seating area for first class passengers only, a trolley service and complimentary water. Large windows allow good views over the Kapiti Plains and Tsavo National Park, so passengers would be unlucky not to see game.
First class £22 one way: booking by phone or online is not yet possible, but can be bought in advance by emailing a reliable agency, eastafricashuttles.com;krc.co.ke
6. Dar es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi
The 1,155-mile (1,860km) Tazara Railway between Tanzania’s largest city, Dar es Salaam, and Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia was the first of China’s railway-building projects in Africa, opening in 1975. It has had a chequered history, but new cars were put into service in 2016 to revitalise the railway and it has succeeded in attracting more tourists as a safer way to travel than road. Besides first and second class sleeping cars, and second and third class seated cars, there are usually two restaurant cars and a first class lounge car. Some couples pay for a four-berth cabin to secure sole occupancy. The journey often allows sightings of elephants, giraffes, zebra and antelope as it clips the Selous Game Reserve, and there is a spectacular mountain section with numerous bridges and tunnels. Coaches for Lusaka connect with the train at Kapiri Mposhi.
First class £34 one way; 00255 715 469239; krc.co.ke
7. Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
The overnight journey from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls is a world away from Rovos Rail, but some find the Zimbabwean wood-panelled coaches from another era and the sight of game more than compensate for shortcomings in other aspects of the experience. This year – in what is now the post-Mugabe Zimbabwe – a sleeper train is being introduced from Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park with refurbished “traditional” carriages. Passengers will board the train at Victoria Falls, have a three-course dinner and go to sleep as the train heads for Hwange. Guests will transfer on to the Elephant Express, an open-sided railcar designed for game viewing, which will take them to Ngamo on a two-hour transfer for the Imvelo Safari Lodge. Guests end up in a great safari area, so it is more interesting than the normal road or light aircraft transfers.
Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, first class £11 without bedding; for details of the Hwange train, contact Expert Africa;nrz.co.zw; expertafrica.com
8. Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, South Africa
For many years this 41-mile (67km) line was the most popular daytime tourist journey in South Africa, running for most of the way along the coast with a spectacular curved viaduct across the Kaaimans river and a long, low viaduct across the lagoon, before journey’s end at Knysna. National operator Transnet lost interest in the steam-hauled service and when no successor could be found, operation ceased in 2010. Now a new concession is in prospect, and it is hoped that services might resume before the 90th anniversary of the opening of the railway this year on Oct 28. Knysna lies on the Garden Route and is famous for its Oyster Festival.
Prices to be announced;outeniquachootjoe.com
9. Royal Livingstone, Zambia
This five-coach dining train uses carriages restored by Rovos Rail and a steam locomotive to travel from Bushtracks Siding near Livingstone to the Victoria Falls Bridge, traversing a short section of what Rhodes hoped would become the Cape to Cairo railway. The train pauses for 20 minutes on the bridge before proceeding to Palm Grove siding for the six-course dinner stop and then returning to Bushtracks. Operating on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the train includes a lounge and observation car. Guests transfers between hotels/lodges and the train are part of the package.
£135 per person; contact Expert Africa 020 3405 6666; expertafrica.com
10. Cairo to Luxor, Egypt
There are two ways to travel by train to Luxor for its temple complex at nearby Karnak: the daytime air-conditioned express; and the overnight sleeper. To appreciate the Nile valley and the river’s feluccas (traditional wooden sailing boats) and thin banks of fertility, you have to defy government tourist restrictions on which trains tourists can buy tickets for and take the former. This entails simply boarding the train at Cairo’s impressive Ramses station and paying on board, hoping you find an empty seat, or buying a ticket ahead online (see seat61.com for detailed instructions).
Contributors: Adrian Bridge, Anthony Lambert, Tristan Rutherford, Michael Kerr, Steve McClarence
The best African rail journeys for 2018
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
- 79,513
- Thread starter
- #1,238
Celebrities on safari in Tanzania
by Dirk Janssens | Jun 14, 2017 | Machweo, Onsea House, Restaurant, Safari, Wellness |
When legendary footballer David Beckham came on safari recently, everybody knew immediately through social media.
Celebrities promote in this way safaris in Tanzania, climbing Kilimanjaro and/or beach holidays in Zanzibar.
Portuguese actress and model Rita Pereira who is on a safari with Soul of Tanzania checked out this morning atMachweo Wellness Retreat & Fine Dining . She posted “Good morning Arusha” with a picture of her breakfast at Machweo on her hyndia Instagramand within hours it reached more than 11,000 likes.
Rita Pereira is as cover model of the current summer issue of Women’s Health a great ambassador for our Wellness Retreat & Fine Dining.
We are expecting many more celebrities in the upcomming busy season and hope they will be as active on Instagram or Facebook to promote us.
Celebrities on safari in Tanzania | Onsea House
by Dirk Janssens | Jun 14, 2017 | Machweo, Onsea House, Restaurant, Safari, Wellness |
When legendary footballer David Beckham came on safari recently, everybody knew immediately through social media.
Celebrities promote in this way safaris in Tanzania, climbing Kilimanjaro and/or beach holidays in Zanzibar.
Portuguese actress and model Rita Pereira who is on a safari with Soul of Tanzania checked out this morning atMachweo Wellness Retreat & Fine Dining . She posted “Good morning Arusha” with a picture of her breakfast at Machweo on her hyndia Instagramand within hours it reached more than 11,000 likes.
Rita Pereira is as cover model of the current summer issue of Women’s Health a great ambassador for our Wellness Retreat & Fine Dining.
We are expecting many more celebrities in the upcomming busy season and hope they will be as active on Instagram or Facebook to promote us.
Celebrities on safari in Tanzania | Onsea House
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
- 79,513
- Thread starter
- #1,239
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,220
- 79,513
- Thread starter
- #1,240
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