Welcome to the first issue of our Newsletter, bringing you good wishes across the miles plus our latest news from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.  Traditionally, Zulu love letters are messages woven in beads by Zulu maidens and sent as symbols of love or affection.  Each colour means something such as white for purity, black for missing you, green for pining and red for true, bleeding love.

Ethos Marketing is very proud of the fact that we know the province pretty much backwards, have experienced over 100 properties first hand between us, and have 6 fantastic properties in our portfolio at the moment which compliment each other perfectly – offering the best of some of the many KZN experiences on offer.   This portfolio includes the Cathedral Peak Hotel in the Drakensberg Mountains, the Fordoun Hotel & Spa on the Midlands Meander, Isandlwana Lodge in the Battlefields, Ghost Mountain Inn on the Elephant Coast, and two very different safari experiences in Zululand at Amakhosi Lodge and Pakamisa Private Game Reserve.  Click on the links to visit our website for useful fact sheets, the latest newsletters and press releases and each property’s high res image gallery – plus an itinerary suggestion combining them all for the ultimate KZN experience!

KZN AWARENESS GENERATED IN THE UK

We are delighted to confirm that 6.5 million people in the UK, who read the Tescos Magazine (one of the main grocery chains in the UK) will know more about KwaZulu-Natal and our clients come May/June.

Ethos Marketing has arranged a competition in this, the largest read women’s magazine in the UK, in conjunction with SAA and a tour operator partner, Africa Collection.

The coverage is worth a whopping ÂŁ30,000!

Fordoun is offering a fantastic new “Energy for Life” 4-day Transformation Course.  Created by Fordoun and energy consultants Terri Nash and Brenda McFie, the course not only re energises you, but most importantly provides a way to understand and subtly transform the way you live your life in order to gain optimum health, realize your highest potential and wake up each day feeling joyful. Courses are run regularly throughout the year and run from Sunday afternoons through to Thursday noon, and include various treatments and activities including Intensive Bio Energy Rebalance, Duku Duku Stick Massage, Quantum BioFeedback, Floatation Therapy, Aromatherapy, Rasul African Clay Steam as well as various talks, walks and yoga sessions – to mention but a few!  The price of the course is R7,300 per person sharing including all meals.  Full details on the package are available here.  Contact info@ethosmarketing.co.uk for a list of proposed dates.

Fordoun’s spa has been recognized in the House and Leisure Best Spa in the House and 2009 Leisure/Visa Best of SA competition. An extraordinary feature at the spa is the opportunity to have a private consultation with Dr Elliot Ndlovu, a Traditional sangoma (spiritual healer) and inyanga (medicinal healer).

Read the recent write-up on the Fordoun experience including their community projects as reviewed by US based Simon & Baker as well as a detailed review of the Spa, including some fantastic images.

SUMMER HOLIDAY FAMILY SAFARI? KIDS STAY FREE IN JULY/AUGUST!

Don’t forget that Amakhosi Safari Lodge welcomes children of all ages.  Their rates during the August UK summer holidays drop to as little as R 2’200 per adult and BREAKING NEWS is that they have waived the charge (usually R1,100) for children under the age of 12 years from 14 July until 30 September 2010  in the TWO Luxury Family River Suites. These 2 suites have a separate lounge area with fold-out beds for children.   The days are hot and sunny, whilst evenings are chilly and ideal for snuggling up around a camp fire under the stars.  The best time of year for game viewing!  So that’s under ÂŁ400 per night for a family of 4!  Please note however that there are only 2 suites that cater for families, which means that they can take a maximum of 4 children at Amakhosi Lodge at any given time.  Outside of this July/Aug 2010 period, normal child rates apply.

Special kiddie meals and times are catered for and babysitters are available for children under the age of 8 years during scheduled morning and afternoon game drives.  They are launching their Amakhosi Little Explorers Children’s Programme from April 2010 for children 3 years and older aimed at entertaining and educating them about the wildlife and local culture.  The Explorers Package costs an additional R350 which covers all activities, their Explorer’s activity bag (complete with magic bath beans, bug viewer, activity books and South African sweeties amongst other things – see above!) plus  all meals.  Activities include movies (wildlife and animation), arts and crafts (including Zulu beading and Nature-based collages)  as well as a range of games, toys and puzzles.

Amakhosi Safari Lodge has been nominated for a Good Safari Guide Award (2010), in the following category/categories: Best Camp; Best Community Camp; Best Eco Camp; Best Camp Cuisine.  If you are a fan, please vote to  support Amakhosi’s nomination by visiting … http://www.goodsafariguide.com/awards/nominate_property.aspx Voting closes on 20th March!!!

Pakamisa – the name in Zulu means “to lift up”  – and Pakamisa promises to raise both guests’ spirits and eyebrows – especially when they spot the views for the first time!   Superbly located on the high plateau of the Pakamisa Mountain, the lodge affords breathtaking vistas over the evergreen valley and plains of the Pongola River and the surrounding mountains.  It offers sheer luxury and space for the discerning traveller who likes to venture off the beaten track, for honeymooners looking for an exclusive (just 8 spacious suites!), private slice of paradise – or for those who enjoy the outdoors and horse riding.  Owner, Isabella Von Stepski is an Austrian baroness who has created this beautiful lodge with its adjoining Arabian horse stud in this pristine African wilderness.  Nothing can compare to a safari on horseback, without the man-made sounds of a Landrover engine you can get up close and personal with the reserve’s abundant game including giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, red hartebeest, warthog, bushpig, baboon, a wide range of antelope as well as many smaller mammals, predators and reptiles. The bird life, too, is prolific and varied.  There are beginner-riding courses available for both adults and children and much longer, challenging trails available to suit experienced riders.  Meals are an occasion and service is impeccable.  Guided game drives and bush walks are also offered, as are activities such as archery lessons and clay target shooting.

Cathedral Peak is a family-run, family-friendly resort in possibly the most beautiful location I have ever stayed. It is surrounded by the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Mountains (a World Heritage Site) – and it has uninterrupted views of the famous Cathedral and its bell. I had always dreamed of getting married there in the beautiful little chapel with glass wall behind the altar – so I was surprised, returning years later with a 4 year old, how perfect it is for a young family too!

The hotel has just had a major revamp and they were busy celebrating their new 4 star grading when we were there with a shiny new sign at the door! We stayed in a Deluxe family room that had a sliding door in the middle, which was perfect because my little boy was with us, but not in our room as such. The bathrooms were beautiful and modern with a massive shower. Nice big fluffy towels – a personal favourite! Ours had a little patio and a garden. I did pop my nose into a few of the newly refurbished rooms (I am nosy like that!) and was really impressed with the way they have been decorated. It is definitely worth spending a little extra to get the luxury rooms as they are huge, beautiful and have the all-important views!

We spent a lot of time at the pool, which was great as the rock pool is heated for cooler days. My little one enjoyed the kiddies playground and games room – and couldn’t get enough of the mini golf course. He even made it all the way to Doreen falls for a picnic – which took us 2 hours up and 1 hour down the mountain, armed with a map. He proudly wore his “Little Peaker” t-shirt that the hotel gave him for his first mountain hike! We didn’t get a chance to try out the horse riding and I am still kicking myself for not jumping at the opportunity to do their helicopter flight. There was enough there to keep you busy all week if need be – even in bad weather!

We enjoyed sundowners on the patio each evening and watched the sun set behind the mountains, which was breathtaking. The food was buffet style each night and because we ate early, our son joined us in the main dining room (no children allowed after 20h00 in the main dining room), rather than the kiddies’ dining room because it was during the school term and there weren’t many other children around. The food was varied and delicious and the puddings were to die for. We also enjoyed the free tea and cakes on the patio every afternoon – probably a little too much! A nice touch was that every night they popped a newsletter on our bed that had an African themed story to read to my son before bed, which he loved. They really made us feel special and part of their family!

FESTIVAL: The Annual Royal Reed Dance Festival

WHEN: 11-12 September 2010 (to be confirmed)

WHERE: The KwaNyokeni Palace in Nongoma, Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal

The Reed Dance is symbolic of purity, fertility and mutual respect between the royal bloodline and the Zulu people, as well as a cultural rite of passage for young girls as they approach womanhood. Thousands of maidens make the trip from far and wide to the Palace to perform a traditional song and dance for His Majesty King Zwelithini Goodwill kaBhekuzulu.

The highlight of the dance is the presentation of the reeds by the maidens to the King, symbolizing their contribution in building the Zulu nation.   The myth is that if a girl is not pure her reed will break when presenting it to the King, publicly disgracing her and her community. The King now uses this opportunity to educate his people on issues like HIV/AIDS.

Isandlwana Lodge has a special Reed Dance Package over the weekend of 11th /12th September 2010.  If guests stay for a minimum of 3 nights, they qualify for a discounted rate of just R1300.00 per person per night sharing, including all meals. They can look forward to a special picnic lunch and will be transferred to and from the Reed Dance at no additional cost.  Guests will also qualify for a discounted rate on their battlefield tours, paying R375.00 per person instead of R400.00.

PLEASE NOTE: If guests only wish to stay for 1 or 2 nights then they are still entitled to the picnic lunch and the complimentary transfers to and from the Reed Dance however the rate will revert back to the standard low season rate of R1600 per person per night. (High Season rate is R1800.00).  Please note the Reed Dance date is subject to change, at the discretion of The King.  However we have been assured this is very unlikely.

Isandlwana Lodge offers twelve luxury rooms all en-suite and tastefully decorated in a mixture of traditional and modern styles. The Lodge is carved into the iNyoni rock formation on top of which the Zulu commander stood during the battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879 with panoramic views over the battlefield.  Activities include Battlefield Tours, a rural village experience, walks and birding.  It is the closest luxury lodge to the Palace where the reed dance will be taking place.

Please click here to read the review by Simon and Baker or on the link below for the detailed description of the property. http://simonandbaker.com/isandlwana.html

Ghost Mountain Inn has a lot to be proud of.  Besides their brand new logo (You saw it here first!), they have just completed their R10-million refurbishment that included:

A facelift to the front of the hotel, with new entrance, water features, paved parking and new Porte Couchere.
The upgrading of 8 Family rooms into Superior, spacious rooms with a sofa and lounge area. These have been tastefully decorated and include flat screen TV’s with satellite channels. These rooms have either a King sized or two ¾-sized twin beds.  They also have beautiful new bathrooms with a large tub,  spacious shower and a separate toilet area.  They all have patios overlooking the indigenous garden or the pool.   One Superior room is fully handicap compliant.
The upgrading of the terrace and Roy’s bar that looks out onto the pool and indigenous garden.  The area is much more spacious with elegant African décor and furnishings.  The terrace is now air-conditioned and has a large fireplace for the cooler months.
New Kitchens, stores and offices with the latest equipment to ensure maximum efficiency.

This family-run 4 star hotel offers some of the most luxurious, affordable accommodation you will find anywhere in South Africa.  Rates start from just R565 (£47) per person including breakfast!  It is centrally located for exploring numerous game and coastal reserves and offers a wealth of activities including amazing game viewing boat trips on Lake Jozini.

Please become a fan of their Facebook group for the latest news and special offers
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mkuze-South-Africa/Ghost-Mountain-Inn/209715462395