AFRICAN SNIPPETS NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2010
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SERENA TO OPEN NEW SAFARI CAMP IN SOYSAMBU
Serena Hotels will commence construction of a new luxury tented camp, The Lake Elementaita Serena camp in Kenya in April 2010, scheduled to open on 15th December 2010, offering a blend of exclusivity and adventure. This tented camp will comprise 25 luxury units located along the shores of the flamingo and pelican fringed Lake Elementaita within the Soysambu Conservancy which is approximately 120km from Nairobi and 30Km from Lake Nakuru National Park. Facilities will include a dining and lounge area, spa and swimming pool enjoying magnificent views of the Lake.
RECONSTRUCTION OF SAMBURU SERENA SAFARI LODGE
Following the flash flood damage of 4th March 2010 in the Samburu area of Kenya, Serena has, after much research and investigation, identified a new location within the Isiolo/Buffalo Springs National Reserve on which to build the new Samburu Serena Safari Lodge. The chosen spot is on a hill behind where the previous lodge stood, and has impressive rock formations, vegetation and a spectacular backdrop with views of the river and the hills around Samburu. The new luxury lodge will have a reduced room inventory and excellent leisure and nature activities – an opportunity created through disaster, to improve significantly on the old lodge. It is hoped that the new lodge will open around the middle of 2011. www.serenahotels.com
SERENA GROWS ITS PORTFOLIO IN UGANDA
Serena also recently expanded its Ugandan portfolio of properties by signing a management contract for the newly refurbished Lake Victoria Serena Resort near the capital city of Kampala, to complement Serena’s existing five-star city hotel, The Kampala Serena Hotel. Set on the shores of Africa’s largest fresh water Lake and source of the River Nile, Lake Victoria, facilities at the 124-bedroom resort include a range of restaurants and bars, conferencing facilities, a health club and a luxury Maisha-branded spa. A 18-hole championship golf course is also being built on site and is expected to open by Christmas 2010. www.serenahotels.com
STAY ABOARD RANI’S BROADBILL CATAMARAN
Rani Resorts has launched “Broadbill”, a specialised fishing boat, in Pemba, northern Mozambique. The 42-foot catamaran comes with safety gear, tackle, lures and bait. There are three double cabins on board, as well as two bathrooms and air-conditioning. The boat is available for fully catered charters and has an 800 nautical mile range. The captain and crew have been trained to find the best fishing grounds based on sea and weather conditions. Broadbill offers live-aboard boat trips to the popular game fishing destination of St Lazarus Banks, an underwater mountain rising from a depth of 2,3km to within six metres of the surface. Combinations of island hopping and fishing trips are also on offer. Guests can request video camera footage and coverage of the fishing action, while individual photos can be printed on the boat to take home. www.raniresorts.com
RANI RESORTS MOVE OFFICES AFTER FIRE
Please note that Rani Resorts have had to move offices to a new address in Bryanston, Johannesburg due to a fire that destroyed their offices on 14th February. Please note their new details:
Wedgefield Office Park, Nozala Building, Ground Floor, 17 Muswell Rd (off William Nicol), Bryanston
Tel: +27 11 463 6313
After-Hours Reservations Assistance: +27 (0)83 642 1663
Fax: +27 11 463 6320
RANI RESORTS FREE NIGHT PACKAGES ANNOUNCED
Rani Resorts have announced various long stay packages. If guests stay between 5 and 9 nights, they qualify for 1 free night at Indigo Bay, Matemo, Medjumbe and Lugenda Wildreness Camp. Stays of 3 nights or longer get a free night at Pemba Beach Hotel & Spa and the Stanley & Livingstone Hotel. Stays of 10 or more nights get two nights free at any property. For full details on the free night offers visit http://www.ethosmarketing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2010-FREE-NIGHT-OFFERS-DEC09.pdf
RANI HONEYMOON PACKAGES – BRIDES PAY 50%
Rani Resorts go out of their way to make honeymooners feel special with loads of extra goodies, savings and VIP benefits to make every stay extra special and memorable. However, in times like these, its savings in the wallet that make all the difference … which is why Rani is only charging Brides 50% on their accommodation for stays of 4 nights or more!
On top of this massive saving, Honeymooners also get personal touches like a Congratulations card from the General Manager, surprise gifts and welcome gifts such as, fruit platters and sparkling wine in their rooms on arrival, private romantic dinners in gorgeous settings, romantic turndowns and also things like free spa treatments, snorkelling trips and Arab dhow cruises, depending on which Rani property they are staying at. For a full list of honeymoon packages please visit: http://www.ethosmarketing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2010-HONEYMOON-PACKAGES-DEC09.pdf .
Contact us for wedding packages on info@ethosmarketing.co.uk
STEENBERG HOTEL RATED THE 6TH TOP LUXURY HOTEL IN ALL OF AFRICA
The Steenberg Hotel in Cape Town has been rated among the Top Ten Luxury Hotels in Africa in the prestigious 2010 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards. The annual TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards honour the world’s best hotels, who earn their distinction from those who know them best – real travellers. This year, these travellers accorded Steenberg Hotel a coveted 6th place among the Top Ten Luxury Hotels in Africa. Hotels selected for a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award, are recognized for their outstanding service, value and quality. We are inordinately proud to be named among them.
CATHARINA’S SCOOPS DINERS CLUB WINE STEWARD OF THE YEAR AND DIAMOND WINELIST AWARD
Steenberg was also very proud when 26-Year old Pearl Oliver of Catharina’s the Restaurant was named winner in the category Best Wine Steward/Sommelier in the prestigious 2009 Diners Club International Winelist of the Year competition – the first woman to receive this prestigious title. An amazing feat considering when Pearl was first appointed as Waitron at Catherina’s in 2002, she had never tasted wine before!
Underscoring the world-class food and wine experience at Catherina’s, the restaurant has also been recently named one of only 40 Diamond Awards winners in South Africa, marking the second consecutive year that Steenberg’s wine list has been recognized by Diners Club amongst South Africa’s top restaurant wine lists.
STEENBERG HOTEL ANNOUNCES SEASONAL ‘EXCLUSIVE USE’ OFFER FOR HISTORICAL MANOR HOUSE
In the wake of increasing demand for luxurious, ‘villa-style’ accommodation, both for business and leisure, the gracious Steenberg Hotel has introduced a special offer of R13 000 per night, for the exclusive use of its historical, 5 bedroom Manor House, providing guests with the unique opportunity to overnight in a National Monument. The offer runs from April to September 2010, excluding World Cup Soccer dates, and is valid for a stay of 2 nights or more.
THE BLUE TRAIN 2010 GOLF & SAFARI PACKAGES
The Blue Train is offering two amazing Golfers Breakaways this year, departing 9 – 13 September 2010 and 18 – 22 November 2010. This 4-night package, departing on a Thursday evening, includes a return overnight journey on The Blue Train and 2 nights at Fairmont Zimbali Lodge on a B&B basis. It also includes 2 rounds of golf at Zimbali Golf Estate (including green fees and cart hire) OR a R700-00 voucher to use at Camelot Spa at Zimbali for non-golfers. Guests on the train also get a surprise gift on board and whilst at Zimbali each guest will receive a R510.00 meal voucher for use in Zimbali’s restaurants. The return road transfers from the station to Zimbali are also included. The cost of this package is R10,485 per person sharing in a Deluxe suite. For more information visit http://www.ethosmarketing.co.uk/blue-train-zimbali-2010/
There is also a popular safari package on offer that combines a return trip from Pretoria to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve with 2 nights at Ivory Tree Game Lodge. Dates the trip is running are 16 – 19 September 2010 and 30 December 2010 – 02 January 2011. Please visit http://www.ethosmarketing.co.uk/blue-train-safari-in-style for more details.
AMAKHOSI SAFARI LODGE KIDS STAY FREE IN JULY/AUG – & ENJOY THE LITTLE EXPLORERS PROGRAMME
Fantastic news for families… not only does Amakhosi Safari Lodge in Zululand welcome children of all ages but kids under the age of 12 can now stay for free between 14th July and 30th September 2010 in the family suites. A saving of up to around £200 per night – meaning a family of 4 can stay for around £400 per night full board which is unheard of value for money for a five star private game lodge! Plus the lodge is launching its Little Explorers Children’s programme next month, which will keep children busy and learning at the same time. Please note there are only 2 family suites available so there will only ever be a maximum of 4 children at the lodge at any given time to maintain the exclusivity for other guests. For more information on the kids programme please visit http://www.ethosmarketing.co.uk/amakhosi-little-explorers/
To read the latest blog and for a spine-tingling listen-in on the King of Amakhosi roaring in full force click on http://amakhosilodge.blogspot.com/2010/03/king-of-amakhosi-is-calling.html
GARONGA VOTED THIRD IN TOP 10 INCLUSIVE RESORTS
Garonga is delighted to have been voted 3rd in the TripAdvisor’s Traveler’ Choice Awards in the category “Top 10 All Inclusive Resorts in the World”. It was tipped as a “magical experience” with 100% of the reviewers recommending it.
To read a few of the reviews please visit http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g471865-d502926-Reviews-Garonga_Safari_Camp-Makalali_Private_Game_Reserve_Limpopo.html
GARONGA GREENING
Garonga has just made a huge investment into alternative energies in order to become more eco and environmentally friendly. When the camp reopens this month after its annual TLC session,
an impressive 40% of the power needed to operate Garonga Safari Camp, Little Garonga, and the staff village will be generated by newly installed solar panels. New hot water pumps have replaced electric geysers in the luxury tents and a Bio-Digester now converts waste food into a gas which is then used to power the Staff Kitchen. A new water treatment system is also being installed that will clean and filter all wastewater and pump it via Gravity down into the Dam/waterhole in front of the Camp to create a larger wetland for Animals and Waders. www.garonga.com
MONT ROCHELLE – MIKO & WEDDINGS
Mont Rochelle Mountain Vineyards in Franschhoek launched its much-anticipated premier red wine: the MIKO Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 towards the end of last year. Blended by young wine maker Dustin Osborne (27) to fulfil Mont Rochelle’s MIKO premium range, the red blend comprises of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7.5% Petit Verdot, and 7.5% Syrah. All grapes used were grown on the Mont Rochelle farm, showcasing the top quality fruit produced on the Franschhoek Mountains.
Don’t forget that Mont Rochelle is the perfect place for an exclusive-use Winelands Wedding! The hotel can cater for up to 60 guests in Mange Tout or the Country Kitchen– but also provides the option of a marquee tent in the gardens or in the vineyard itself for wedding groups of up to 120 guests. The hotel has 22 rooms but there is also other accommodation in the valley should more accommodation be required. Menus are tailored to specific tastes and budgets and Marika will assist with arranging all the other services required such as flowers, photographers etc. For more details email sales@montrochelle.co.za
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