AfricanOverlandTours.com BLOG

Due to the heavy rainfall Kenya has been experiencing over the last few weeks, some of the ‘sand’ roads have become quite tricky to navigate. As a result there have been instances where vehicles are getting stuck in the mud due to the slippery and uneven road surfaces.

While it is possible to free them without assistance on some occasions, on others it becomes necessary to call in a tractor to assist. The crew do try their utmost to ensure the group do still get to partake in the scheduled activities for the day, although there are some rare occasions where this is not possible.

If you are travelling to the Masai Mara area over the coming weeks that there may be some delays.

This will be great news if they implement it.

The introduction of a single tourist visa for East Africa could be implemented by as soon as June.

The East African Community (EAC) ministerial council on Tourism and Wildlife Management at a meeting of the Sectoral Council considered the report of the task force on the study for the introduction of the single tourist visa in the East African community.

The ministers directed the secretariat to expedite the process for the implementation to June this year.

A work plan for the study and piloting of single tourist visa from February to September 2010 has been developed and test runs are expected to involve nationals from South Africa, the UK, USA, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, Japan, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium and the Scandinavian countries.
www.tourismupdate.co.za

White Water Rafting on the mighty Zambezi River has resumed after a four month closure due to high water levels.

“Full Day High Water Rafting will commence from rapid number 11″ says Clive Bradford of Wild Horizons. Rapids run during the high water full day rafting include “The Terminators I and II”, “Double Trouble” and “Oblivion”.

Please read the information below – as rafting has been closed for four months, you may need to refresh your memory…

HIGH WATER - FULL DAY
(No half days)

Dates 29th May – approximately 1st August
Rapids No. 11- No.25
Meeting Place Wild Horizons Lookout
Check In Time 8.00am
Return Vic. Falls Approximately 3.00 pm
Lunch Lunch is served at the top of the gorge at the end of the day.

Thanks for the update from Wild Horizons

Some great news out of Zimbabwe.

The United States and Germany have lifted warnings, issued in 2002, against travel to Zimbabwe. The announcement comes a week after Japan lifted travel warnings on Zimbabwe. It is expected to generate an influx of tourist arrivals.

Report by TravelHub

www.africanoverlandtours.com

Events for the coming week:

1. A1GP Motor racing, Johannesburg: Feb 20-22
2. Kirstenbosch Concert - Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Carmina Burana: Feb 22
3. Eddie Grant Live, Durban, PE, CT, Sun City: Feb 22-28
4. FNB Dance Umbrella, Johannesburg: Feb 25-March 15
5. Kijani Kenya Music Festival, Nairobi: Feb 26-March 8
6. Marula Festival, Phalaborwa (Limpopo): Feb 26-28
7. Robertson Hands-On-Wine Festival: Feb 27-March 1
8. Design Indaba, Cape Town: Feb 27-March 1
9. Cape Town Pride Parade: Feb 28
10. Walk of Art Festival, Cape Town: Feb 28-March 1

A taste of what’s to come: April/May/June

1. Maitisong Festival, Gaborone: March 27-April 5
2. Taste of Cape Town: April 2-5
3. Cape Town International Jazz Festival: April 3-4
4. Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK), Oudtshoorn: April 4-11
5. Splashy Fen Music Festival, Drakensberg: April 9-13
6. Two Oceans Marathon, Cape Town: April 11
7. Lambert’s Bay Crayfish & Cultural Festival: April 23-26
8. SA Cheese Festival, Cape Winelands: April 24-27
9. Opera Africa Presents Princess Magogo, Johannesburg: April 26-May 10
10. Prince Albert Town & Olive Festival: May 1-2
11. Cederberg Arts Festival: May 1-3
12. Robertson Wacky Wine Weekend: June 4-7
13. ABSA Kirkwood Wildlife Festival, Eastern Cape: June 26-29
14. Tulbagh Christmas in Winter: June 27-28

And don’t forget the following natural spectacles:

1. Fish River Canyon Hike, Namibia: Trail open April 15-Sept 15
2. Sardine Run, Wild Coast and KZN South Coast: May-July
3. The Great Wildebeest Migration, Tanzania and Kenya: May-Sept

Thanks Travelhub.co.za for the update.

Here is a graphic map of the malarial regions in Africa. The only countries in Southern Africa with small exposure to malaria are South Africa and Namibia.

Zambia Visa Requirements

Zambia Immigration documentation has confirmed that a Statutory Instrument on the new visa fees has been signed following the decision by Government to reduce these fees.

This welcome and positive move for tourism in Zambia means that all nationality categories who are required to pay for a visa to enter into Zambia will all now pay a standard rate rather than the previous tiered rate which was more expensive for some nationalities than others.

Good news is that the Zambian government has also re-implemented the day entry visa whereby any person who is required to pay for a visa to enter Zambia and wants to visit for the purpose of day touring (i.e. going from Chobe, Botswana into Livingstone, Zambia for an elephant experience or from the Vic Falls, Zimbabwe side to the Falls, Zambia side etc), can now do so at a cost of US$20 per person. 

Please note: that Multiple entry visa’s are only issued at the Immigration Department’s headquarters in Lusaka and the following consulates abroad: London, Pretoria, Lubumbashi, New Delhi, Beijing and Lilongwe.

Update compliments from Wilderness Safaris

Hi there,

We have just added a new feature to our site to help you find 2009 tours best suited to your dates. It currently has over 140 tours listed and over 3000 departures on it but we are adding more as the 2009 dates are released. The tours are all for 2009 and 2010.

We hope that you this will help you see what tours are departing around your days.  I personally quite like the idea that you can click through the months and see what trips are departing when.

http://www.africanoverlandtours.com/africa-overland-calendar-search.php 

If you have any questions you can always email on info@escape4africa.com

Cheers

Andrew

HAPPPPPPPY BIRTHDAY MADIBA!

Mr Mandela is 90 today and we are just so proud to have had him bring South Africa to were it is today!

Thank you Madiba for making this country such a beautiful place.

Best wishes for the year ahead!

From the team at Escape 4 Africa and www.africanoverlandtours.com

FERRY SCHEDULE (Dar to Zanzibar and vice versa)

Ferries (Daily departures from Dar es Salaam)  Time

From DAR to ZNZ

Flying Horse and Aziza                              1230 (slow ferry 3.5hours)

Sea Bus                                                    1400

Sea Bus                                                    1600

Sea Express                                              0730

Sea Star                                                    1030

Mega Speed                                               0730

Mega Speed departs 0930 HRS on Sundays from Dar.

Ferry Times as follows:

1^st Ferry leaving at 07:30 hrs be there at the port 30 minutes before departure times…speed ferry taking 2 hrs time…not less 40 $.

2^nd Ferry leaves at 10:00 hrs ..2 hrs time across.

3^rd  Ferry departs at 12:00 hrs…slow ferry…3 and half hrs time to Zanzibar.

4th’ Ferry departs at 14:00 hrs…2 hrs time across.

5^th  ferry departs at 16:00 hrs…2 hrs time…and this is the last ferry for the day.

Ferries (Daily departures from Dar es Salaam)  Time

From ZNZ to DAR

Flying Horse and Aziza                                2200

Sea Bus                                                     1400

Sea Bus                                                     1600

Sea Express                                               0730

Sea Star                                                     1030

Mega Speed                                               1400

Flying Horse and Azizi depart 2200HRs arrive Dar 0600HRS the following morning.

Price of the ferry from Dar es Salaam to Stonetown, Zanzibar: non-residents $20 inclusive of tax $5 for the slow ferry. The fast catamaran: $40 and $5 tax

Hope that helps with planning your Zanzibar arrival and departure.

Andrew

www.africanoverlandtours.com