EDGE TRAVEL NEWS AND OFFERS - September 2012
BOTSWANA - CAMP LINYANTI - OPENING SPECIAL

Camp Linyanti, located deep within the Chobe National Park, is a brand new yet budget oriented safari camp. It is made up of 5 intimate, enchanting and purpose designed round canvas tents, offering views over the Linyanti Marsh. Accommodating up to 10 guests, facilities include en-suite bathrooms and open sky showers. Enjoy sundowners on your exclusive deck overlooking the Linyanti Lagoon and the horizon of Namibia’s Caprivi Strip. Camp Linyanti has opened private game drive routes in this remote part of the Chobe National Park, allowing guests access to this region of the park for the very first time! During the dry seasons the Linyanti is home to vast herds of elephant and buffalo, with predators abounding including lion, hyena, wilddog and resident leopard that patrol the riverine forest.
SPECIAL 3 night Package Camp Linyanti (Maun to Kasane)
Valid from 1st July to 30th October 2012
US$ 2,070 per person sharing
The above rate includes:
• Flight transfer from Maun Airport to Savuti airstrip • Return Game drive transfer from Savuti to Camp Linyanti • 3 nights at Camp Linyanti on a fully inclusive basis • All activities (game drives) • Flight transfer from Savuti airstrip to Kasane Airport • All local brand drinks • Tea & coffee- daily • Laundry • Park Fees
The above rates excludes:
• Premium brand drinks • Travel & medical insurance • Items of personal nature
SPECIAL 3 night Package Camp Linyanti (Maun to Kasane)
Valid from 1st July to 30th October 2012
US$ 2,070 per person sharing
The above rate includes:
• Flight transfer from Maun Airport to Savuti airstrip • Return Game drive transfer from Savuti to Camp Linyanti • 3 nights at Camp Linyanti on a fully inclusive basis • All activities (game drives) • Flight transfer from Savuti airstrip to Kasane Airport • All local brand drinks • Tea & coffee- daily • Laundry • Park Fees
The above rates excludes:
• Premium brand drinks • Travel & medical insurance • Items of personal nature
AND IN OTHER LOCAL TRAVEL NEWS
AIR BOTSWANA MAKES CHANGES ON THEIR FLIGHT BETWEEN MAUN AND CAPE TOWN - HOT OFF THE PRESS !
Air Botswana has already made changes to what was supposed to be a daily flight schedule between Cape Town and Maun, Botswana.
The new schedule that came into effect June 1st 2012, has been changed apparently due to lack of take up.
This is the current situation:
Air Botswana has taken Monday and Wednesday out of the schedule.
So until the 28th of October 2012 the schedule will be 5 days a week: Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat and Sun
Then from the 29th October 2012 until the 28th March 2013 - low season - they will fly 4 days a week: Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun
The flight which is just over 2 hours links the Okavango Delta to Cape Town non-stop. There will be one flight in either direction on a daily basis.
Flight times are as follows:
Departs Cape Town (CPT) at 09:45am - arriving Maun (MUB) at 12:25pm
Departs Maun (MUB) at 3:25pm - arriving Cape Town (CPT) at 5:55pm
The route is serviced by a BAE 146 jet, currently a 75 seater. There are plans to bring their newly acquired RJ, a 95 seater onto this route and the Johannesburg Maun route, but we will update everyone as "official" information becomes available.
The new schedule that came into effect June 1st 2012, has been changed apparently due to lack of take up.
This is the current situation:
Air Botswana has taken Monday and Wednesday out of the schedule.
So until the 28th of October 2012 the schedule will be 5 days a week: Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat and Sun
Then from the 29th October 2012 until the 28th March 2013 - low season - they will fly 4 days a week: Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun
The flight which is just over 2 hours links the Okavango Delta to Cape Town non-stop. There will be one flight in either direction on a daily basis.
Flight times are as follows:
Departs Cape Town (CPT) at 09:45am - arriving Maun (MUB) at 12:25pm
Departs Maun (MUB) at 3:25pm - arriving Cape Town (CPT) at 5:55pm
The route is serviced by a BAE 146 jet, currently a 75 seater. There are plans to bring their newly acquired RJ, a 95 seater onto this route and the Johannesburg Maun route, but we will update everyone as "official" information becomes available.
FREE WI-FI AT PROTEA HOTELS
The roll-out of the free Wi-Fi network into all Protea Hotels and African Pride Hotels in South Africa is complete and every GUEST will receive 100MB of data per day on the house (or rather on the hotel) each stay, no matter at which of the 90-odd hotels they check into across South Africa. For more info email us
FRANSCHHOEK WINE TRAM
The Franschhoek Wine Tram is set to launch later this year in the verdant Franschhoek Valley, making it the only wine growing region in the world where wine estates can be directly accessed by tram. View more info on their web site: http://winetram.co.za/ or email us
NGALA TENTED CAMP RE-OPENS IN A GREENER FORM
Ngala Tented Camp in the Kruger National Park has reopened after undergoing refurbishments.
The camp’s intimate new layout ensures that its six sophisticated safari tents are now more secluded from each other.
Constructed with a light footprint, each tent sits on a raised platform and was cleverly designed to incorporate existing trees, minimising environmental impact. The floors and roofs of the tented suites are made of double-lined canvas with insulation in the middle, thereby reducing the electricity required to heat and cool the tent. All lights are LED and air-conditioners are energy efficient. The camp’s stylish new interiors are a fusion of easy living and contemporary design. “We wanted to incorporate elements that draw on the beautiful bushveld landscape and grasslands, as well as the Shangaan culture prevalent in this region,” said interior Designer, Nicole Merlo. Each tent features outdoor showers, deep baths and private wooden decks overlooking the seasonal Timbavati river bed. For more info and pictures please email us
The camp’s intimate new layout ensures that its six sophisticated safari tents are now more secluded from each other.
Constructed with a light footprint, each tent sits on a raised platform and was cleverly designed to incorporate existing trees, minimising environmental impact. The floors and roofs of the tented suites are made of double-lined canvas with insulation in the middle, thereby reducing the electricity required to heat and cool the tent. All lights are LED and air-conditioners are energy efficient. The camp’s stylish new interiors are a fusion of easy living and contemporary design. “We wanted to incorporate elements that draw on the beautiful bushveld landscape and grasslands, as well as the Shangaan culture prevalent in this region,” said interior Designer, Nicole Merlo. Each tent features outdoor showers, deep baths and private wooden decks overlooking the seasonal Timbavati river bed. For more info and pictures please email us
NEW ZAMBIA CHARGE
First it was yellow fever inoculations, then stipulation that local currency should be used and to add to that Zambia’s National Airports Corporation (NACL) announced that an Aviation Infrastructure and Development charge will apply to both existing and new flight bookings, effective 01 September 2012. The charge will apply at Lusaka, Ndola, Mfuwe and Livingstone airports, and will be payable direct to the NACL airport offices along with departure and security taxes.
Charges:
Domestic - ZMK 28,000 per person
International – ZMK 56,000 per person
This converts to approximately USD 5.60 and USD 11.20 respectively at an average rate of exchange of USD 1 = ZMK 5,000.
The rate applies to adults, children and infants and would need to be paid in local currency. International travellers should verify with their airline whether the charge is included in their airfare or payable directly at the airport.
Charges:
Domestic - ZMK 28,000 per person
International – ZMK 56,000 per person
This converts to approximately USD 5.60 and USD 11.20 respectively at an average rate of exchange of USD 1 = ZMK 5,000.
The rate applies to adults, children and infants and would need to be paid in local currency. International travellers should verify with their airline whether the charge is included in their airfare or payable directly at the airport.