Fish Eagle Safaris

African Safari Update # 12
May/June 1999

In this issue:

Now that we have all hopefully settled the score with Uncle Sam, we can turn our minds to more pleasant things, such as the prospect of a trip to Africa. Africa. Just six letters but loaded with mystery and adventure, discovery and excitement. The summer and fall of 1999 is as good a time as ever to visit southern Africa. For one thing, you won't have to put up with the hoopla - or the prices - of the millennium madness. For another, veld conditions are superb and game-viewing prospects excellent. Most parts of Zimbabwe, especially the Hwange and Kariba areas, recorded much higher than average rainfall this season, so the country will be a great safari destination for the remainder of 1999. The same is true for Northern Botswana, with the Okavango Delta looking as good as I have ever seen it. South Africa's Kruger National Park is in equally good shape.

Best of Namibia Wing Safari

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our February 1999 educational trip to Namibia where we visited Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp, Damaraland Tented Camp and Ongava Lodge, at Etosha. Of the three camps we stayed at think my favorite was probably Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp. The thatched chalets with their individual plunge pools and panoramic desert vistas were superb - so was our local guide Chris. The dunes at Sossusvlei are magical and climbing one of them was a highlight of the trip. Unlike most safaris you do get exercise on this one!

The next destination, Damaraland was very dry and rather hot, but we were successful in finding the rare and elusive desert elephants in the Huab River Bed, which made it all bearable. The weather there is much nicer in winter, by the way. Our tent (#7) was the closest one to the camp's plunge pool which we used - a lot! On the way to Damaraland the flight goes all along the coastline with a lunch stop on the beach at Swakopmund - fresh oysters and crayfish with waves breaking in the background.

The final stop on the Best of Namibia Wing Safari is the luxurious Ongava Lodge, which is every bit the equal of the famous MalaMala Main Camp in terms of comfort and amenities, complete with air-conditioning and mini-bar. From the striking main lodge we observed plenty of activity at the waterhole; we didn't really need the all-day game drive into Etosha. A highlight at Ongava was finding a group of four White Rhino on foot, and we also sighted cheetah and elephant, not to mention giraffe, kudu, gemsbok etc.

Namibia is very diverse (desert and dunes, culture and game-viewing) and is especially recommended for people who have already been to a big game' destination in Africa.

Botswana Trip Report

Last summer we also enjoyed a superb trip with Wilderness Safaris in Botswana and Zimbabwe. My Botswana trip report will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect in this wonderful part of Africa. In just 10 days there in late May & June, we saw close on 50 lions - twice seen hunting - once for buffalo and the other time for kudu; leopard on three different occasions including one with the remains of an impala in a tree and another one with a youngster; African wild dog three times, once just seconds after they had taken down an impala; and cheetah twice, the latter sighting of a female knocking down and delivering' an impala to her five youngsters. She patiently waited in the shade until they had their fill, before she moved in and fed herself, keeping a wary eye on the horde of hungry vultures moving in. This is not to mention the multiple other fantastic sightings including scores of elephants, magnificent sable antelope, a martial eagle on a fresh impala kill, a 'Giraffic Park' scene at one of the camps with as many as 23 giraffe in one area, all staring at cheetah; some superb night drives (including my first ever sighting of Aardwolf ), etc. etc.

Revised 1999 Brochures

We have just received a shipment of newly revised 1999 brochures. Whether you are planning your first trip to Africa or your fifteenth one, you are sure to benefit from the wealth of information about the various camps, overland safaris and fly-in trips in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. If you'd like a free copy, please call us at 800 513-5222 or send an e-mail to info@fisheaglesafaris.com any time.

Personal safety in southern Africa

Much has been written and said lately about the issue of personal safety in Africa, but on all three my recent visits to Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia, I was reminded just how peaceful and quiet these countries are. In Botswana, especially in the private concessions in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve and in the Okavango Delta, it is rare to have more than one or two vehicles at even exceptional game-viewing events, such as a cheetah or wild dog 'kill'. In Zimbabwe, out on Lake Kariba on a game-viewing outing by boat, we literally did not see anybody else for miles around. Even more so in Namibia, where the isolation and privacy of a camp such as Damaraland Tented Camp is probably unrivaled.

Price reduction for November 1999 Jacana Safaris, Botswana

Wilderness Safaris have reduced the prices of the November Jacana safaris for 1999 down to "off-peak" season rates once again, i.e. $3,400 per person sharing, which is $900 less than the high season price. This new price will apply to BFM16 and BFV16 (31 Oct -12 Nov) as well as BFM17 and BFV17 (14-26 Nov). So if you are thinking about a trip for the fall, this would be an excellent choice. Folks who signed up for a Jacana Safari last November - and the year before that - experienced some of the best game-viewing ever.

Here is what Merv Macmedan had to say about his November 1999 trip: "In a nutshell, the trip [Nov. '98 Jacana Safari with Rocktail Bay/Ndumo Wilderness Camp & Cape Town add-on] was a trip of a lifetime. We had wonderful shoulder-season weather, great guides, gourmet food, and saw marvelous things. I was especially impressed at how much ACTION there was to see.

For example, we saw:

1. Lions playing tug-of-war with a guide's safari hat on a fallen tree (excellent visibility, but we were wondering what happened to the guide ...)

2. Leopard Tortoises fighting (they try to hook their shells under the opponent's to overturn him, and one was so dumb that when he did overturn the other he kept on pushing, which only righted his opponent again. It was also fun to watch them simultaneously take "time outs" to rest.)

3. A crocodile struggling with a fish in his mouth too large to swallow; he cut it in two, flung half away on the grass, whereupon a Fish Eagle swooped down, posed for me as he stood over "his" piece of fish, then flew up in a tree to eat it.

4. A leopard climbed up a tree with his dinner (an African Wild Cat) which he ate in front of us, while a Hyena longingly envied the scraps that occasionally fell below.

5. Two cheetahs with thin bellies walking slowly, who our guide thought might be hungry enough to stalk dinner. We drove alongside until they saw their prey, whereupon they switched gears and gave us a wonderful speed demonstration. (Unfortunately we couldn't follow them into the thicket to see what they got for dinner.)

6. Two sightings of the rare Black Rhinos, and many Whites; hippos, buffaloes, an African python crawling across our road, dung beetles pushing their dung houses along the ruts, bush pigs, bush baby, monitor lizard, black mamba, baboons, monkeys, and much more.

7. Elephants throwing mud over themselves, then hosing themselves off in the river ... and one who courteously sprayed his mate.

8. At Rocktail Bay, a human 3-year old baby was playing on the beach with a colorful pail-and-shovel set when a Yellowbilled Kite circled over, then dive-bombed the baby trying to get the shovel, apparently thinking it was edible. That was an exciting moment!

These action events made me wish I had a video camera!

What else can I say? My companion and I were impressed with the camp logistics - flying the food into Botswana from South Africa, for example, and preparing exquisite, gourmet meals every day (unfailingly with wine!) under such primitive conditions. Wilderness Safaris did a fine job even by US standards and I would not hesitate to recommend them to someone considering a similar safari."

Camping safaris in Kenya

Steve Turner reports that the first consignment of EAOS' new "trails camping" equipment that they imported from South Africa arrived in late 1998 and is available for use.

Sleeping accommodations are 2-man 2.2m cube "Hennie Dome Tents" (so you can stand upright inside them). Made of heavy duty rip-stop canvas they are really compact and very sturdy with a good steel pole structure (i.e. not those horrible little nylon things). They even have a small verandah that you can sit under and watch the world go by.

Furnishings include a small stool per person, thick bedding rolls (3 inches thick) and canvas beds over steel frames. All bedding - sheets, warm blankets, pillows, towels etc. is provided - don't panic it's really comfortable. For every two tents there is a toilet/shower combination tent (same style and dimensions as the sleeping tents) - which includes a hot water bucket shower "a-la-bush" and a chemical "porta-loo" (which is a bit more hygienic than a "pit loo"). A large flysheet & dining table / chairs etc. complete a comfortable dining area and for sitting around the campfires in the evening. Fully stocked bar will be available - all drinks as with all camping are "on the house". These camps will staffed by slightly less members of domestic staff that usual, however there are no chores for the participants to do (unless they want to help).

There is nothing cheap and nasty about this operation - this is "quality camping" but using lightweight gear to allow EAOS to really stray off the beaten track and not be restricted by supply trucks. This is all deliberately kept very lightweight so that they can fit sufficient equipment for a maximum of 8 passengers into a single 3/4 Ton Land Rover Trailer, that can be pulled behind a four wheel drive vehicle.

The equipment will mostly be used for escorted walking safaris that George Sutton is leading. George is EAOS' new specialist guide with experience ranging from escorted walking safaris in the Maasai lands of southern Kenya (Mara & Loita Hills), to anthropological research in the northern deserts around Turkana and Chalbi. George was born in the foothills of the Aberdare Mountain where his parents were managing a coffee estate very close to today's Sangare Ranch. His quiet-spoken personality and in-depth knowledge of Kenya's eco-systems make George and ideal program leader - for a specialized walking safari or a general interest tour group.

The costing on a lightweight "Fly-Camping /walking" Tented Camp safari is approximately $260 per person per night in twin accommodation, based on a group of 4 persons traveling together. There is a single Room Supplement of $50 per person per night.

Affordable Safari in Kenya

Our East African associates EAOS suggest the following 12-day trip in Kenya for folks who would like to keep the costs in the moderate range, yet still enjoy the best of what Kenya has to offer in the way of wildlife and diverse scenery.

Day 1: Arrive, transfer, overnight Boulevard Hotel, Nairobi.
Day 2: Fly to Mombasa, drive to Taita.
Day 2-5: 4 overnights Galla Camp.
Day 6: Overnight train to Nairobi.
Day 7+8: Drive to Lake Elmenteita.
- 2 overnights Delamere's Camp.
Day 9-11 Drive Nairobi, Fly to Masai Mara.
- 3 overnights Mara River Camp.
Day 12: Fly to Nairobi; Dayroom, Depart.

Cost per person is approximately $2,200 from Nairobi (low season discount available).

Galla Camp is situated on the Taita / Rukinga Wildlife Conservancy - an enormous 170,000 acre (some 3 times larger than Ngorongoro Crater) stretch of unspoiled private wilderness that is nestled between Tsavo East and West . It forms a vital corridor route across the "Taru Desert" for a population of almost one thousand elephants, (and in excess of one hundred lion) as they migrate between the Galana River in Tsavo East to south to the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Lake Jipe in Tsavo West. We operate escorted walking safaris - day and night game drives - and "fly-camping".

Specialized Photographic Safari in Namibia

There are few countries in the world which offer better opportunities for photography than Namibia with its stark desert and dune scenery, abundant wildlife and colorful peoples. For keen photographers, we are offering a specialized photography safari to Namibia next year, which will be an excellent opportunity for them to improve their skills under the guidance of a professional resident photographer. This fourteen day tour from March 26 to April 8, 2000 will visit the Kalahari Desert, Namib Desert and dunes of Sossusvlei, the Skeleton Coast, Damaraland, Etosha National Park, and the Waterberg Plateau. The trip is guided by experienced Namibian photographer, Amy Schoeman.

The price of $3,835 per person sharing from Windhoek includes en suite accommodation, all meals, entrance fees, airport transfers, and accommodation in Windhoek. On board drinks are provided. Bar accounts and laundry are excluded. Other than in Swakopmund, all lodges and camps have swimming pools. Group size is minimum four, maximum six per vehicle. The vehicle is a ten seater, air conditioned Minibus. Single room supplement is $670.

Tour leader Amy Schoeman was born in England and educated in Namibia and South Africa. For the past 20 years she has specialized in taking photographs in the Namib Desert and the remote north-western regions of Namibia, concentrating on the Skeleton Coast, Damaraland, and Kaokoland. Ms. Schoeman has several publications to her name: Skeleton Coast (1984), Notes on Nature (1984), Tones & Textures (1988), Notes on Nature 2 (1988), a portfolio Last Light (1989), and a calendar, Presence of the Past (1994). An updated version of Skeleton Coast appeared in February 1996. She currently lives in Windhoek, working as a free-lance writer and photographer. In 1997 Ms. Schoeman was awarded a Fellowship by the Professional Photographers of Southern Africa.

Blue Train 'Starry Starry Night' Millenium Celebration

The Blue Train, voted "The World's Leading Luxury Train" (1998 World Travel Awards) is offering 160 guests one of the world's greatest millennium parties. The Blue Train' s "Starry Starry Night" Millennium Celebration will be one of the most exclusive parties in the world on this mystical night. Limited to only 80 couples who will be guaranteed to have a most magical time. It will be a night of revelry, feasting, fireworks and musical entertainment, all in the Blue Train tradition of elegance and luxury.

On December 31 1999, the eve of the millennium, one Blue Train will travel south from Pretoria and the second Blue Train will travel north from Cape Town. The two trains will meet halfway en route, in the heart of the Karoo semi-desert wilderness for a party to end all parties. Five star cuisine and entertainment will be presented under a dramatic canopy of the millions of stars that make the Karoo one of the most spectacular night skies on the planet.

The precise location of the party is a well guarded secret to protect the exclusivity of the Blue Train's Millennium guests. The chosen site will give guests a truly unique African experience and a party they will never forget. The party begins the moment guests board the trains. The Blue Train's renowned chefs are already preparing a special millennium menu featuring the finest food and vintage wines.

When the trains arrive at the secret location in the heart of the Karoo, guests will find that even though they are in the middle of this remote, unspoiled wilderness, that no luxury will be lacking. Top-rated live entertainment will be featured and a specially constructed open air dance floor in the shadow of a typical Karoo kopje (hill), will allow guests to dance the night away. Lighting will be romantic and subtle in order not to detract from the blaze of stars in the heavens above. After the event the two trains will continue their journeys to Pretoria and Cape Town.

The Blue Train Millennium party will be one of the world's finest and most exciting as what is on offer is so unique. Only 80 couples in the entire world will be fortunate to experience this Starry Starry Night and welcome the new Millennium in the freedom of this unique part of Africa.

The Millennium rates of $3,835 per Deluxe Suite or $4,000 per Luxury Suite are inclusive of the cost of the 25 hour train journey, the Blue Train Karoo Millennium Extravaganza; all meals, snacks, teas, & coffees, room service, all drinks, garment pressing and - personal butler service for each carriage (8 guests per carriage).

For further information on any of the above items please contact:

Fish Eagle Safaris
11152 Westheimer #150
Houston, TX 77042
Tel 1-800-513-5222 (USA and Canada)
Tel 713-467-5222 (from outside North America)
Fax 713/467-3208
E-mail: info@fisheaglesafaris.com


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Fish Eagle Safaris
11152 Westheimer #150
Houston, TX 77042
Tel 1-800-513-5222 (USA and Canada)
Tel 713-467-5222 (from outside North America)
Fax 713/467-3208
E-mail: info@fisheaglesafaris.com
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