/ Private Safaris - Leading South African Tour Operator & African Safari Specialist
   
August 2010
 
In this issue:
Hotel News  
    A gem in the Winelands crown  
  Spa News  
    New Africa Spa adds a touch of luxury  
  Lodge News  
    A nature lovers paradise  
  Zimbabwe News  
    Kanga Bush Camp opens  
  Namibia News  
    Wolwedans Dune Camp completes refurbishment  
  Mozambique News  
    Gorongosa National Park opening up to private operators  
    Hotel News  
  Delaire Hotel and Spa - a gem in the winelands crown
 
On the crest of the dramatic Helshoogte Mountain Pass in the Stellenbosch winelands just 45 minutes drive from Cape Town, is where you will find Delaire Graff Estate Hotel and Spa.

Here understated elegance blends with classic and indigenous architecture; exceptional accommodation; state-of-the-art-design; luxurious food and wine in one of the most exquisite natural settings.

Simple contemporary forms and spacious volumes open onto wooden decks and create a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. Décor consists of sumptuous colours and textures that have been inspired by nature.

Accommodation in ten completely private lodges create the ultimate sense of luxury. The reception area features a private dining room, conference facilities and a boutique cinema.

The estate’s restaurant with its breathtaking views of the Stellenbosch valley and mountains offers fresh, seasonal-inspired menus bursting with flavours. Guests are able to dine on the terrace under a canopy of oak trees, or within the restaurant.

Sustainability is more than just an abstract concept here, with special care being taken to minimise electrical consumption and save water, while opting for natural renewable materials like stone and wood throughout.

Special touches include custom-created, locally produced organic bathroom amenities and contemporary art from the owner's private art collection.

The emphasis at the hotel is on seclusion and taking pleasure in the simple things such as silence, fresh seasonal food, discreet service, special people, romance and the environment.
For more information please contact Kuoni Private Safaris.

 
 
  Spa News  
  Protea Hotel Kruger Gate's new Africa Spa adds a touch of luxury  
 
Protea Hotel Kruger Gate is now offering guests all the pampering they desire in between viewing the Big Five! Their recently opened luxury spa compliments the beautiful views and natural surrounding beauty perfectly.

Just 100m from the Kruger National Park's Paul Kruger Gate, the hotel is renowned for its spectacular tree house-style setting and is an ideal location from which to experience wildlife first-hand.

Spa treatments and a variety of packages are available either at the spa or in the comfort of one of the 96 luxury en-suite rooms or 7 chalets. The spa is open to all, with hotel guests receiving preferential rates and booking availability.
For more information please contact Kuoni Private Safaris.
 
  Lodge News  
  The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa - a nature lovers paradise
The Gorge - luxury private villa overlooking the impressive reserve
The Gorge Game Lodge and Spa - swimming pool with a view
 
Nestled in the majestic Oribi Gorge, an unspoiled part of KwaZulu-Natal's South Coast region, is where you will find The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa.

Just a 90 minute drive from Durban, the lodge offers incredible views of one of the most spectacular natural wonders while providing unsurpassed hospitality, world class service and exquisite fine dining.

Designed to experience the indigenous surroundings of the gorge, the lodge has been built with minimal disruption to the native fauna and flora. Five exclusive luxury villas are built on the edge of impressive sandstone cliffs and boast double volume glass which offer a breathtaking view of the surrounding nature reserve.

Their open plan restaurant is the place to relax with a pre-dinner drink and indulge in sumptuous meals. Dinners can also be held at one the themed boma venues. For those hot summer days, guests can enjoy the refreshing swimming pool.

A fully-equipped day spa with its numerous treatment options allow guests a revitalizing experience in this breathtaking environment.

Nature lovers can participate in informative guided trails and game drives through the indigenous coastal forests with its rich bio-diversity. Golf and beach visits are a short driving drive away while plenty of adventure activities are also available in the vicinity.

For more information please contact Kuoni Private Safaris.
 
  Zimbabwe News
  Kanga Bush Camp opens
Relaxing lounge area at Kanga Bush Camp
 
The recently opened Kanga Bush Camp, set in the heart of Mana Pools National Park at Kanga Pan, provides visitors with their own Private Africa and access to the famous game rich flood plains of Mana Pools.

The Pan attracts great game in big concentrations as it is the only water source found in the floodplain above the river. Lion, wild dog and leopard are often sighted here, while large herds of buffalo can be found in the Mopane woodland and open plains.

Kanga is the old Africa in a new era and consists of a 12 bedded tented camp with outdoor shower and basins over-looking the water hole. The main area of the camp is built on decking and has a relaxing lounge area under large shady trees that overlook a splash pool and the Pan - an ideal location to watch for game while sipping away on a sundowner.

Visitors have the choice of open vehicle game drives, night drives or walking safaris with an experienced professional guide - an exceptional opportunity in the national parks of Africa. Activities such as canoeing can be organised on request. This area boasts the Kanga Pride of Lion that are heard almost every night and tracking them on foot is one of the major highlights of a stay at Kanga Bush Camp!
Article courtesy Wild Zambezi News
    Namibia News  
  Wolwedans Dune Camp completes refurbishment  
 
Wolwedans has now completed its impressive refurbishment programme of Wolwedans Dune Camp. This eco-friendly camp, located in a private nature reserve within the Namib Rand just south of Sossusvlei, was first established in 1994.

Alongside the Skeleton Coast the Namib Rand remains one of the few places in the world where one truly feels that you have left civilization behind. The charm of the camp lies in its tranquil, intimate atmosphere that captures the romance of a bygone era.

The camp sleeps 12 guests in beautifully appointed tented chalets nestled in an unspoilt setting of terracotta coloured dunes that overlook a stunning landscape. The tents, pitched on wooden platforms have spacious decks that allow for safe sleep-outs under the stars. The sundowner deck with its fireplace, is the central meeting point of the camp and makes for a cosy and relaxed ambience.

The camp offers a down-to-earth experience with its rustic but unique atmosphere that attracts the more adventurous traveller, while providing a rather elegant camping experience. Wolwedans Dune Camp has once again reinvented itself to maintain its position as one of the most sought after and most luxurious camps in Namibia.
For more information please contact Kuoni Private Safaris Namibia.
 
    Mozambique News  
 
Gorongosa National Park
  Gorongosa opening to private operators for sustainable tourism  
 
Gorongosa National Park has opened itself up to operations from private tourism suppliers, with the call by the Mozambique government for bids to develop seven areas of the park, specifically designated for sustainable tourism development.

Each area will host two to five luxury tented camps, fly camps and lodges with as many as 100 beds. The park currently only has nine double air-conditioned cabanas, a restaurant and swimming pools situated in Chitengo.

Adhering to the park’s construction restrictions, the camps and lodges will be built on land that is already considered disturbed; near (but not in) wetlands, karsts, breeding grounds;areas where there are restricted game drives and guided walks as well as some tourism development areas or “wilderness zones” where excursions will be limited.

The chosen projects will be selected by the Mozambican Ministry of Tourism and the Gorongosa Restoration Project and will also need to meet the park’s high ecological standards. Final review and approval is still to be confirmed and contracts will be awarded in September.
For more information please contact Kuoni Private Safaris.
 
  © Copyright Private Safaris 2006 Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy