Monday, July 7, 2008

Showtime in Kenya!

It is wildebeest season again and the sounds fill the night air. - the migration has officially started! Concentrations of plains game under the acacia trees, mass together in preparation for one of the world’s greatest phenomena – the Great Migration.

The stage in the Mara is now set for the world's most fascinating wildlife spectacle: the migration is on its way from the Serengeti’s Endless Plains to the Masai Mara. The wildebeest are preceded by the zebra ‘chomping’ the longer grass in preparation for them.

A herd of almost 2,000 wildebeest have crossed the border from the Serengeti near Sand River gate, with a similar number crossing at Roots Crossing. This head of the southern migration is taking their traditional route towards Roan Hill, while others entered the central Mara plains via the western side of the hill.

The weather has played havoc with the traditional migration this year. Intermittent rain in April grassed the plains in green, which soon dried due to the dry spells in May and June. This dry and overgrown grass is now expected to slow the migration's movement northwards.

Looking into the Serengeti from the Sand River, herds of zebra and wildebeest on eastern and western sides of Naima-Lumbwa Hill can be seen heading northwards. The higher concentration is south of the Mara River and Sand River confluence, with the recently burnt area being the main attraction.

Kenya winters in the Mara are gentle affairs.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Airline charges have taken effect

I will try to keep you updated on all the airline charges as best I can. They seem to change every day, adding more and more fees.

Here's what I know today:
United, USAirways and Delta are charging $25 if you call them on the phone to make a reservation; American charges $20; Alaska, Continental, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue and Northwest charge $15; Southwest does not charge to talk to you.

These airlines will charge $15 for the 1st checked bag each way starting on Aug 18: American, United & USAirways

These airlines charge $25 for the 2nd checked bag each way: All except Southwest

Note: on domestic flights only for now. The fee does not apply to Elite members in their frequent fliers program.

Most airlines charge a fee for priority seats between $5-109.00; check with your airline at time of booking as this varies within one airline as well.

USAirways charge for everything onboard including water and softdrinks. Most airlines are charging from $5-10 for a snack onboard. Many don't accept cash, just creditcards for purchases onboard.

They also charge for oversized bags, overweight bags, curbside checkin and for traveling with pets and children traveling alone. These fees can be in the $100's of dollars.

Ticket change fees are now up to $150 on American, Continental, Hawaiian, United and USAirways.

I'll try to keep up, but it's a challenge.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

From Water to Pans – A Report from Botswana

From Water to Pans – A Report from Botswana
By Kristina Trowbridge, WinWin Vacations, May 2008
More pictures at http://www.kristinasafari.com/Albums/africa.htm

Botswana is about the glittering waters of the Okavango Delta,
that give birth and life to all creatures of the Kalahari.
Botswana is about the glittering stars above the Makgadikgadi Pans,
that shine vibrantly adding sparkles to the sky that totally engulf you there.
Botswana is home to the Bushmen with ancestries that go back millions of years.
Botswana is a well kept secret visited by only a few privileged souls.

I travelled to Botswana with my husband Tom on invitation by Ker & Downey on an educational safari.
I arrived in Maun tired from Indaba and travelling around Southern Africa for over 3 weeks hoping for a slower pace of safari. Imagine 2 nights at Okuti Camp, 3 nights with Unchartered Africa luxury camping and 3 nights at Jack’s! Okuti Camp did not disappoint.

Totally rebuilt from the bottom up with the most unusual tents anywhere it was indeed pure luxury. The Camp is located alongside the Moanachira River, as it flows into the Xakanaxa Lagoon, in the famous and beautiful Moremi Game Reserve. Located right on the water channel with a hippo trail below our deck, who could ask for anything more.
We choose the relaxing boat trip with Nelson on the Xakanaxa Lagoon as our first game drive and our first sundowner in Botswana. Here you see the most beautiful sunsets in all of Africa. Just amazing! The sky seems to be on fire, reflecting back from the lagoon like a mirror image. WOW!
After a scrumptious dinner and surprise entertainment by the staff around the campfire, we were ready to crash.
Moremi Game Reserve offers some of the most spectacular game viewing in Botswana.
Here we encountered this young bull in a trunk to trunk stand-off with our vehicle (yes, we have one too!), a pride of lions on the airport runway, a female leopard with 2 young cubs, grazing impalas and kudus, red lechwe running through the water, incredibly beautifully colored birds like the lilac-breasted roller and some extremely rare species of birds like the wattled crane and slaty egret.

A typical day at Okuti Camp offers morning and afternoon activities on land and water, with a packed lunch or returning to camp for lunch, then a siesta in the heat of the day and back out exploring again in the evening with a “sundowner” before returning for dinner. The evenings end with relaxing around the campfire watching the friendly staff singing and dancing, most definitely enjoying it as much as the guests they are entertaining.

It’s time to go camping … in style: And we’re off to adventure in the bush. Here we go! Nothing can stop us. Introducing Ralph and Kaelo - our incredibly knowledgeable guides from Uncharted Africa Safari Company. Uncharted Africa Safari Company was founded in 1993 by Ralph Bousfield in memory of his legendary (some say infamous) father, Jack Bousfield. I think Ralph is already legendary in his own right. Each mobile safari with Ralph is an experience and you can expect only the totally unexpected! Our first camp by the Xini Lagoon was our first surprise. Here we were surrounded by hippos and their songs, continuing all night like a dream come true. The tents are luxuriously appointed with real beds and pure white cotton sheets and feather bedding. All have bucket showers and a throne attached, which flushes the normal way. You couldn’t be more comfortable: enter the gourmet meals! These are coming from nowhere. The “kitchen” is just a few wooden boxes and a fire with some pots. Better food you cannot get even at the Ritz in Paris!!! Uncharted Africa Safari Co. is renowned for fresh tastes and original interpretations of classic dishes, many invented by Ralph’s mother or sister. All bread is baked daily on the coals in trunk ovens.

The highlight of our mobile safari in the Moremi Game Reserve was fly-camping on Xhobega Island. We spent all afternoon getting there on a double-decked boat, cruising through the papyrus on the Moanachira River. We stopped for lunch and a swim along the way at the Sand Bank.
After a sumptuous dinner in camp, Ralph took us out in the Xhobega Lagoon where he literally reached out and grabbed a baby crocodile (just like Steve Irwin). This was an experience I will never forget: hearing that baby croc cry out like they do, … and in person … well to me is indescribable. Ralph didn’t harm it in any way, but it just wouldn’t relax as we all had to pet it, of course. When Ralph released it back into the lagoon, it turned around to try to bite him, but Ralph was prepared for that, so the croc missed and swam away. I’m sorry, I didn’t bring my camera.

The next morning, we went back on the boat and caught a charter flight to Jack’s Camp in the Makgadikgadi Pans. The large pans of Makgadikgadi are the most visible remnants of a lake that was formed more than five million years ago. I found it be a vast wilderness of endless space and timelessness. This is where Jack Bousfield lived and raised his family. Ralph was the youngest child. He grew up trapping wildlife with his father, so he’s full of interesting information about just about everything in nature, which he constantly unravels for his guests like some madman from outer space. He talked faster than my brain could absorb it even though I concentrated, because I didn’t want to miss a word. Ralph stands 6 foot 2” and wears a lion mane around his head.
Here we got to experience a group of habituated Meerkats waking up and coming out of their burrows in the early morning. Oh, how I had longed for this moment! I was hoping that one would climb up on my head and use me for a look-out post, but today they were just sunning themselves before starting their foraging for breakfast. When they were warm, off they went, tail straight up, stopping to dig out what they could find to eat, like scorpions, frogs and lizards. As difficult as it was to leave them, they would forage for food for the rest of the day and we didn’t want to disturb them too long.

In the afternoon, we set out into the Makgadikgadi Pans on quad bikes. We rode those bikes into the sunset and disappeared into nowhere. I had no idea a place like this existed on earth. There’s absolutely nothing out there. The sky and the stars touched the ground and enveloped us like we were in a planetarium. It made me feel insignificant on earth, but still so privileged to be able to experience this. It puts your own life in perspective, makes you think; makes you appreciate all life, our earth and our roles to keep it pure and simple. As I was contemplating all this, Ralph again had a few surprises for us. I don’t want to spoil it for those of you who will follow, so I’m not going to say what the surprises are.

What would the Kalahari be without the San people or Bushmen as they themselves still prefer to be called? Ralph has an extremely close relationship with them and he understands their plight. He has arranged for clients staying at Jack’s or San’s Camps to have a walk with them for a few hours. Our leader was Cobra.

Cobra and his 3 young Bushmen taught us about their way of life, how they use the available plants as food and medicine, how they make fire, how they catch birds in a snare and how they dig up scorpions, and how the play games and have fun.
That evening, Ralph escorted us to the Brown Hyena den, where this 3 months old cub just emerged from hiding after sunset. Ralph wants to habituate the cubs to people as he has done with their mother, but for now we kept our distance to not stress them. It was such a privilege to be able to see one of these rare and elusive animals. Later, an aardwolf circled around the area and the mother hyena showed up after dark at which point two more cubs emerged from the den.
The next morning our safari came to an end with our flights back to Johannesburg.
This was an experience that few people will ever have.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

United Airlines up the ante on checked luggage

Following American Airline's lead earlier this year, United Airlines has announced two changes to its domestic checked-bag policy. The service fee to check one bag for domestic travel will be $15 each way, the second bag will cost you $25 each way and the fee to check three or more bags, overweight bags or items that require special handling will increase from $100 to $125 and from $200 to $250, depending on the item.
United said the changes apply to customers who purchase a ticket on or after June 13, for travel within the U.S. and to & from Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on or after August 18. The $15 service fee does not apply to customers who are flying in United First or United Business or who have premier status with United or any Star Alliance airline. Details on United's checked bag policy are available at www.united.com/baggage

The airlines are blaming high fuel prices to pursue new revenue opportunities, but are afraid to raise the airfares, so instead they are adding surcharges, which amounts to the same thing at the end of the day (for the passenger). The airlines think they are continuing to offer competitive air fares trying to beat each other's lowest fares, thus only beating themselves into bankruptcy. I think it's time to re-regulate the airlines and the entire transportation system in the US, which includes air traffic control and train service for short distances.

United estimates that the new $15 service fee will bring them approximately $275 million a year. How are they going to collect this fee? Everyone will bring more luggage onboard and fill the overhead bins quickly. When those are full, where do the rest of the stuff go? Can you imagine the delays this will cause as the flight attendants will have to collect this fee and check the extra bags brought onboard. Will they charge for early boarding next?

For itineraries that include international flights (except Canada), checking a first and second bag will continue to be free for now, and the cost to check more than two bags or items that are overweight or require special handling varies by destination.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

From Mala Mala

Mala Mala lives up to its reputation of having the best game viewing in South Africa. This morning we saw 2 lion prides with cubs ranging from 2 - 11 months old and also the huge Roller Coaster male, who runs both prides, the Styx and the Eyrefield. Last afternoon, right before sunset we encountered about 300 Cape Buffalo going down to the Sand River to drink. It was an amazing scene that needs to be seen in person to appreciate it. We encountered Leopards too, but cheetah are best seen at Phinda. There we saw a mother with two tiny cubs.
Lukimbi is located in the southern part of Kruger NP. We flew from Phinda to there. The lodge is situated on the Crocodile River on a large concession with excellent game viewing, but nothing can compare to Sabi Sands with all the relaxed animals there.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Travelling in Namibia

I have now been travelling in Namibia for a week and I can report how beautiful this country is. It's a geologist's dream for sure. The wilderness is being preserved here and it's not very populated due to the dry /harsh conditions for survival. The Himba people still do live in their ancient tradition and a visit to a village is unforgettable. The landscapes and scenery cannot be described. You will see ancient lakebeds called (salt)pans, magnificient sand dunes with colors from white to deep reds and many different shapes and hights. Except for Mali, this is the only place to see the desert elephants. They are smaller that the African ellies, with longer legs and trunks as they have to travel long distances to find water and reach high for something to eat. There are only about 300 left, but in Namibia they are well protected now. I was fortunate to see them 3 times and with two very tiny babies still fitting under their mommies' tummies. Also the springbok, black-faced impala and the gemsbok aka oryx. The waterholes aEtosha National Park are very busy and full of life.

The way to do this type of safari is to take a flying safari so you can see the contrasts from the air. You will see the pans, the mountains laying flat down from geological uplifts and the shifting sand dunes of course. They got 200 mililiters of rain this season compared to a normal 80, so the green contrasts are stunning. What an amazing experience! I wish I could publish pictures here right now, but I'm at an internet cafe, so it's not possible.

I'm on my way shortly to Phinda and Kruger National Park after the Indaba conference in Durban. I hope to have access soon again to post more.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Kristina is Travelling in Africa during May 2008

I'm again travelling to Africa departing May 1st on NW Airlines via Amsterdam to Johannesburg. I will attend a travel trade conference in Durban, South Africa and visit Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. I will be open for business again on June 5th. While I'm in Africa, I will post to this blog whenever possible.

Here's my itinerary:
1-May dep SEA NW34 at 1:00pm
2-May dep AMS KL591 arrive JNB at 9:10pm
Stay at Aftonio Guest House in Johannesburg
3-May dep JNB SA76 at 1:20pm arrive Windhoek Namibia at 2:20pm, stay at The Elegant B&B, Windhoek
4-May fly on a small charter to Onguma Tented Camp, Etosha NP
5-May fly on to Okahirongo Elephant Lodge, Kaokoland
6-May fly on to Mowani Mountain Camp, Damaraland
7-May fly via Swakopmund to Wolvedans Dunes Lodge, NamibRand for 2 nights
9-May return to Windhoek, fly SA75 at 12:50pm to JNB and switch to BA6221 at 6pm arrive Durban at 7:10pm
Stay at Protea Umhlanga Hotel in Durban for 3 nights while attending the Indaba Travel Trade show
12-May Road Transfer from Durban to Phinda, Stay at Phinda Mountain Lodge
13-May Stay at CC Africa's Phinda Forest Lodge
14-May fly by charter flight from Phinda to Malelane and Transfer from Malelane to Lukimbi Lodge for 2 nights
16-May Road Transfer from Lukimbi to Mala Mala for 3 nights, Sabi Sands in Kruger NP
19-May Road Transfer from Mala Mala to Idube private concession, Sabi Sands, Kruger NP for 2 nights
21-May Road Transfer by Idube to Exeter Dulini private Lodge, CC Africa
22-May Road Transfer Dulini to Exeter River Lodge, CC Africa, Kruger NP
23-May fly back to Joburg via Federal Air at 1:30pm - arrive at 3pm, stay at Aftonio Guest House again, Tom departs Seattle NW 34 at 1pm
24-May Cullinan Diamond Mine tour; Stay at D'Oreale Grande Hotel with Tom
25-May depart JNB for Maun, Botswana on BP212 at 10:00 am, Stay at Ker & Downey's newly renovated Okuti Camp, Moremi GR, Okavango Delta for 2 nights
27-May embark for 3 nights on a Luxury Mobile Safari with Unchartered Africa Safari Company
30-May stay at Jack's Camp in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in the Kalahari for 3 nights
2-Jun fly back to Johannesburg from Maun and board KL592 at 11:30pm for Amsterdam
3-Jun arrive AMS and change to NW33 arrive SEA at 2:10pm, Arrive Home