ROAR AFRICA is dedicated to sharing the majesty of Africa - its lush terrain, diverse wildlife, and beautiful people - with the world. To do this, we work closely with many lodges and hotels, fostering trusted partnerships to ensure that our guests are in the very best hands.

One of our favorites, Singita, is a portfolio of remarkable lodges that do more than just deliver an incomparable consumer experience. In an age where the destruction of pristine wilderness is seemingly beyond repair, Singita is making a profound difference in many parts of our beloved continent. They are orchestrating an interdependent relationship between communities, wildlife and tourism that ensures true sustainability, and the ability to embrace and share it. Anyone familiar with tourism in Africa will tell that it is no secret: Singita is blazing a trail which is seldom achieved on this scale anywhere else on the continent. 

The Singita properties and the people that work there are shining examples of Africa as a place for innovation, adventure, growth, and hope. Recently posted on Singita's blog, the below video is of Joyful Nghala, a recent graduate of Singita School of Cooking - an 18-month program to encourage the development of culinary skills and employment opportunities among local youth, and one of the many ways Singita is positively impacting its community. Joyful is now employed at Singita Lebombo lodge in Kruger National Park, and continues to nurture her passion and broaden her future opportunities daily. 

Watch this heartwearming video to learn more about Joyful Nghala and the Singita School of Cooking...

From the Londolozi Blog by Rich Laburn:


Boyd Matson and his fellow travellers from National Geographic were just with us at Londolozi.  Sent by ROAR AFRICA, Boyd is a renowned traveller, writer and radio show host who has been contributing stories to Nat Geo for many years.  During his time at Londolozi he was guided by our favourite weekly photographer, Talley Smith, and decided to turn the tables by capturing her on camera.

Talley turned out to be the perfect PR agent for the hyena as she talks about the interesting behaviour and dynamics and this creature.   The full radio interview appeared on National Geographic Weekend in the USA.  Enjoy!

In October ROAR AFRICA hosted the well known Travel Scope show hosts, Joseph and Julie Rosendo, on a trip to southern Africa to film a new TV documentary. Sustainable conservation was the theme of our visit starting at Camp Jabulani in the greater Kruger National Park and ending on the Indian ocean island of Bazaruto.

Joseph on safari

We rose early to catch the sunrise over Africa before a game drive. After breakfast we took a walk with and interacted with sixteen wild (but rescued and trained) elephants. Read more about Camp Jabulani in my September post. Filming and touching five ton bull elephants out in the bush is a privilege of a life time. The focus here and at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre was wildlife conservation, but the important complement to this was what followed our animal adventure each day: visits to local Shangaan villages and schools to understand more about the native culture and discover how they coexist with and benefit from tourism.

Filming the documentary at Camp Jabulani

It is a challenge to educate all humans as to the value of wild life. It is the wild life that brings tourists so as to create employment and wealth. The goals are to conserve the ecology for mutual long term benefit of man, animals, birds, plants – each caring for the other – that is sustainable conservation. To do this effectively the private lodges and reserves we partner with are involved in community projects, for example, building schools. Lion Sands who hosted us in 6 star luxury, has helped build the Henna Pre-school. more about this and other projects on our website in the ROAR AFRICA Cares section- click here. Standards of living of staff working in hospitality are improving along with the education and futures of their children.

Field audio engineer David Stevens finds a ready assistant in the village.

From Lion Sands Private Reserve in South Africa we headed northeast to the Bazaruto archipelago in Mozambique. Here we were hosted by Indigo Bay Island Resort and Spa and Azura Resort. This is a true island paradise of sparkling turquoise waters and beautiful beaches. Most guests relax more than they ever thought possible here, but for us it was early starts and late finishes as we captured paradise on film. Horseriding, diving, sailing dhouws and sand-boarding down 300 foot high dunes amongst other activities . We'll have to go back for Kuta Katila which on Bazaruto means "roll your reed mat out on the sand, lay back and relax.”

More about the Mozambique portion of the trip in the next installment.

Stay tuned for the 2010 release of this series on television.

Joseph on a traditional dhouw in Mozambique.

More about the trip on the Travel Scope site here:

• TravelScope
• Joseph on safari
• Joseph on Bazaruto, Mozambique

Just two nights ago 9 lions attacked a large buffalo bull right at the lodge. This image was taken by Lee Dicks (lodge GM) from the lodge deck where I enjoyed a more peaceful cocktail just a week ago. The lions took on the largest male buffalo in the herd in an attempted kill. Their offensive lasted about an hour of wave after wave of attacks.

Battle from lodge deck, Lee Dicks, Tintswalo lodge

"Eventually the big boy managed to drag himself into the waterhole - the Lion’s obviously didn’t want an evening swim and accepted their defeat." Tintswalo

Here is a photograph of the more tranquil deck. It's a good reminder that you are not so much "on safari" as "in safari". Amazing wildlife experiences, both large and small, happen all around you.

The Tintswalo Deck looking tranquil

Tintswalo Safari Lodge is located within the Manyeleti Private Game reserve which borders Kruger National Park. With only two commercially operated lodges, a maximum of 8 safari vehicles traverse the reserve. Each vehicle therefore has the equivalent of 2937 hectares to itself. Tintswalo Safari suites and lodge are all situated along a beautiful seasonal river bed among an ancient sycamore tree grove.

In just 29 days time, on August 17th, privately owned South African airline Airlink will start connecting two sought after destinations. You will be able to fly directly from Nelspruit (which is close to Kruger National Park, South Africa) to Livingstone (which is at Victoria Falls in Zambia).

Here's the schedule (Day, Flight#, Route, Departure, Arrival)
Mon, Wed, Fri SA8870 Nelspruit to Livingstone 11h35 13h50
Mon, Wed, Fri SA8871 Livingstone to Nelspruit 14h20 16h45

Londolozi has just been featured in InStyle Magazine Weddings 2009 as an Eco-Friendly honeymoon destination.

Londolozi (Zulu: "to protect") is one of Roar Africa's favorite lodges with 83 years of history as a game reserve. The first camp was set up as a hunting escape on the Sand River (near Kruger National Park in South Africa) by the great-grandfathers of the current Varty and Taylor families. That camp had none of the luxuries of the five star (make that 6 star!) accommodations you'll find there today. It is also no longer a hunting reserve either. The Vartys changed that 35 years ago when they built a wildlife conservation reserve which today hosts some of the most fantastic wildlife in the area. There are no longer any fences between Londolozi and Kruger Park so animals can migrate over this vast area. Fortunately for Londolozi they seem to like it right there!

Granite Camp

What makes them Eco-Friendly?
For 35 years they have been committed to guarding the wildlife. Here's a quick look at some of the Londolozi eco-friendly initiatives:

Land Care:

• Micro catchment Management increases drought resistance
• Alien plant Control keeps invasive species at bay
• Bush clearing restores diverse habitats (There is debate about the pros and cons of bush clearing)

Zero Emissions Safari Vehicle:
Londolozi has the first zero-emissions safari vehicle: A battery powered 4x4!

Leopards of Londolozi:
It is well known that Londolozi is one of the best places in the world to see leopards. The partnership between man and these beautiful and usually shy cats has been developed over generations at Londolozi and visitors often have multiple leopard sightings.

Londolozi is known as one of Africa's finest safari reserves. There are four camps each with their own look and feel.

Now THAT'S a bath!

For more on Londolozi see two other posts:
Yoga in The Bush
And a the radio interview:
Safari's aren't just for game viewing anymore

Or: Londolozi

Singita Lodge in Kruger National Park has implemented a creative way to help the community, develop their staff and staff their kitchen with exceptional talent. It was born out of the remoteness of their Kruger Concession locations (Singita Lebombo and Sweni Lodges) and their desire to help the community. We visited the remarkable school last month and congratulate them on their creative program and success. Here's their story.

SINGITA SCHOOL OF COOKING - HISTORY, PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

Background

Four factors came together to create the Singita Cooking School:

• Singita Kruger National Park’s real desire and that of many of its guests, to assist in the active development of local communities was proving challenging because of the very remoteness of the lodge. The villages where most of their staff had their homes were a 3 hour drive away.
• Staffing its kitchens with skilled, inspired and qualified chefs meant recruiting from the far away cities. Local staff with the right foundation skills to thrive and progress were proving almost impossible to locate. There were very few success stories of local enthusiastic staff moving up through the kitchen ranks. This was a situation which needed to change.
• The Singita staff village had a kitchen large enough to accommodate 8 chefs operating comfortably in their own workspace.
• Kurt Abrahams, a Senior Sous Chef at Singita Sweni, SKNP, of 4 years service with the company and possessing outstanding culinary skills and a passion for staff development, put forward a proposal that he commence training “interns” from the local community, in parallel with his normal work.
  

From these 4 strands the Singita Cooking School was born.

Such a program was practical – we had the committed trainer to hand and the perfect facility. Such a program was a hands-on practical way to assist the distantly-situated community in a sustainable way. One up-skilled person with a good job and sound prospects has a multiplying effect on his/her immediate family and the broader community. Besides the income provided, they can also provide much needed inspiration, energy and leadership to depressed under-developed areas.

As a result, at the end of 2007, Kurt vacated his position as Sweni Head Chef and became the full-time trainer and mentor. The kitchen was equipped with all the necessary equipment to house a full-scale cooking school for up to 10 trainees. An advertisement went out to the local community for youth who were passionate about cooking and becoming trained Commis Chefs. And the first group of trainees started “school” in January 2007 ensuring that the Singita Cooking School “started cooking”!

How the Cooking School works

1. The Singita Cooking School is a community development program aimed at equipping 8 youth from the local community – over each 12 month period - with an enthusiasm for cooking and the foundation skills required to commence a successful career as a Chef.

2. It is a 1 year full time Learnership program for 8 students.

3. The program is advertised in the local community – by word of mouth, posters and flyers.

4. Each student receives a chef’s uniform and essential kitchen equipment and is provided with either transport or accommodation to ensure their daily attendance at classes. Students are paid a monthly stipend during their training.

5. The program is a combination of theoretical and practical training, aimed at building knowledge, skills and confidence to enable the trainee to take up a Commis Chef position in a professional kitchen and to drive their own careers into the future.

6. Students gain practical skills by “practicing” on Singita staff and, on occasions, by working in the Singita Lebombo kitchen to gain exposure on the preparation of food for guests. Staff have benefited from the far healthier preparation of their food and an enhanced “culinary experience”.

7. In addition to the culinary aspect, the program includes the development of life skills and a focus on improving spoken English.

8. Students are assessed as they progress and have to be found competent in all modules in order to graduate from the School.

9. On completion of the training program, students are assisted to apply for positions as Commis Chefs within Singita and with other lodges situated close to or within the Kruger National Park.

10. To ensure the continued development of those trainees that it employs into its kitchens, Singita is now rolling out a Part B to this program: a 2½ year Commis Chef development program run by the Head Chefs of each Singita kitchen. All Commis Chefs will be equipped to fill any new Chef d’ Partie vacancies that might arise.

Our Cooking School trainees – two examples:

Mavis Mongoe – a past student

One of the students from the first Singita Cooking School class is Mavis. She lives in a village called Welverdient, which is very close to the Singita’s road exit from the Reserve. She was 21 when she joined the program. One of 4 siblings, since leaving school she had had a short stint of experience working as a general assistant in a Burger ranch when she had traveled to Johannesburg to try and find work after leaving school. She reports that her future was looking bleak. She was selected to join the Cooking School because of her enthusiastic attitude and an interest in cooking. She was obviously intelligent, an organized approach and had good interpersonal skills.

Once she concluded the course she was offered a position in the Singita Lebombo kitchen where she continues her training under the beady eye of Clinton Drake, the Head Chef who was recently recognized as an Relais & Chateau “Rising Star”. She has a bright future ahead. Clinton says of Mavis: “She has real potential and is growing in confidence and skill on a daily basis. I am struck by the difference to her life that resulted from her applying to be part of the fledgling Singita Cooking School. She says that without it she would either still be at home doing nothing or would be looking for work in the far away city. The Cooking School has given her the very real chance to fulfill her own potential.”

Adelari Ndlovu – a past student

Adelari is one of the 8 students selected to participate in the 2nd Singita Cooking School program, which commenced in the latter part of 2007. After leaving school he had sought work and had managed to get a casual position as a gardener at a lodge in the Kruger Park. His home is also in Welverdient, where his mother raised him and his 10 siblings completely on her own. As such there were no funds available for any further education. He is a shy and retiring young man but the selection panel chose him because of his obvious determination to get ahead. He had a real interest in working in the kitchen which was awakened when working at the lodge. Another point that impressed the selection panel was his commitment to his local community. He was personally campaigning for the installation of running water and electricity to his village. (This is reportedly about to become a reality!) Since commencing the program he has shown a real tenacity and commitment that augurs well for his future.

To date:

Since its opening in January 2007, the Singita School of Cooking has had 14 students complete its course. Of these, Singita has absorbed 6 of them into its own kitchens. Tskakani Mathebula, a student from the very first intake, was voted as Employee of the Month at Singita Sabi Sands. Other students have been assisted to find employment in other lodges, with several of them currently working in lodge kitchens. Yet others have gone on to continue their studies still further.

A contribution?

The Singita Cooking School was made possible by Singita’s practical commitment (funding, expertise and resources) to making a difference to the lives of local, unemployed youth and, in no small part, to the financial contributions made by some of its concerned guests. Such funding helps ensure both the sustainability of the program and determines the number of students the School can accommodate.

The wildlife in the Kruger National Park is quite accustomed to safari vehicles in its midst and so seldom runs away from or charges vehicles. However, everyone has a bad day sometimes as in this case where an irritable elephant cow decided to charge our Land Rover.

We were not particularly close (and certainly not threatening), but we could see that she was irritable and protective of the herd. There's a bit of a standoff as we hold back and give her space to move on. For a moment it looks like she's going to do just that but then she has a change of heart.

Depending on the situation backing away can actually increase the elephant's confidence and cause them to charge. You can see this happening after the stalemate when we do back-off. The situation was well-read and handled by our guide Diedre and tracker Sidwell (banging on the vehicle to deter the elephant) from Singita Lebombo lodge. We discovered that Deidre has superb uphill reversing skills on rocky jeep tracks. We gave the herd a wide berth and continued on our adventure.


Oh....and that elephant looked rather more intimidating from where we were sitting.

** Hot off the press **

The new issue of Business Traveler Magazine (April 2009) contains the following Great Escape article by Adam Rodriguez on his safari in South Africa. The safari was arranged by Roar Africa. Click the image on the right for the original or read the full text reproduced below.

Rain Dance

Adam Rodriguez enjoys the animal parade prompted by a good rainfall in South Africa.

In South Africa, there are few things as important as water. Valued by man and beast alike, a good rainstorm brings everyone together. While I had spent an afternoon chatting with the other guests on a rained-out safari a few months prior to this trip, I was fortunate enough to arrive at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge shortly after the soaking rain, and thus able to reap the benefits without losing a day in the park.

Of course, a good rainstorm doesn’t just bring people together in idle chatter. Like a favorite neighborhood bar for the locals, the swollen river behind my private villa at the exclusive, six-unit Ivory Lodge attracted all sorts of nearby wildlife, and I was even lucky enough to see plenty from the comfort of my own patio. One afternoon, as I took my daily dip in my private heated pool, I spied a mother hippo, with her baby in tow, waddling out of the river. Later on, a handful of elephants happened to amble toward the riverbank as a Lion Sands sommelier taught me about the wine he had just poured.

Adding to the daily parade of animals was the gracious hospitality of the entire staff. Friendly and easygoing, there was no request too big or too small. Not only did I get the rare bonus of an elephant spotting during my wine tasting, but the experience was extended to twice the scheduled time, at no additional cost. Even with a menu of four courses at every meal, each more tantalizing than the next, the kitchen accommodated my obscure appeal for ostrich steak and watermelon juice without a moment’s hesitation.

The villa itself was as modern and elegant as any urban retreat, with ebony and ivory motifs, a king-sized bed draped in mosquito netting, indoor/outdoor showers, and a full-sized refrigerator, stocked with standardsized bottles of liquor, juices and snacks. But I hardly had room for any of these snacks or drinks—tempting as they were—as our sunset drives included cocktails and appetizers, perhaps my favorite part of the day, especially with so many animals out enjoying the rehydrated, post-rainfall evening.

Of course, it’s worth mentioning that the rain isn’t always a blessing on this strip of land. Built along the Sabie River, which cuts its way through South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park in the northeast, excessive rains demolished the 70-year-old camp just over eight years ago. However, the fourthgeneration owners were quick to rebuild, Great Escape lion sands ivory lodge reinventing it as a top-end luxury retreat on nearly 10,000 acres.

A notable addition to Lion Sands’ River Lodge and Ivory Lodge properties is two tree houses, which offer all of the amenities of a luxury room, with nothing between you and the stars but a thin layer of mosquito netting covering the bed. Guests are escorted to the tree house at sunset for Champagne and an al fresco dinner, and then retire beneath the night sky, lulled to sleep by the nocturnal sounds of the surrounding bush.

I’ve been on numerous African safaris, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this lodge to any of my friends. I had a memorable time, thanks to the well thought-out and lavish facilities. While the rains may have once destroyed a cherished family camp, the same rains paved the way for its truly remarkable rebirth as Lion Sands—once again, bringing everyone together.

DETAILS

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, Sabie Sands Game, Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa; tel.+27-11-484-9911; www.lionsands.com/lodges/ivory.php

For booking from the U.S., contact Deborah Calmeyer at Roar Africa, tel. 877-762-7237; e-mail deb@roarafrica.com.

Yesterday our friends at Lion Sands witnessed a wonderful and very private affair: an elephant mother giving birth to a healthy calf.

Elephants seek a secluded place to give birth and are accompanied by other females to act as guards. The tiny calves (av. 120kg and 90cm at shoulder) are subject to predation and will stay very close to the mother even walking under her belly and between her legs. The photos show the protective lager the elephants formed for the occasion as well as the tiny new addition safely ensconced between them.

Photos with permission. For the full story, more about elephant gestation, and additional pictures visit Lion Sands Safari Journal.

Two of our favorite lodges and South Africa's most sought after Relais & Châteaux properties are offering a wonderful special "The Sense of South Africa". From Cape charm to African safari excitement- The Sense of South Africa has it all!

Le Quartier Français, Franschhoek & Singita Game Reserves, in the Sabi Sand and Kruger National Park, have joined forces to bring you a sumptuous 6 night treat.

Book 3 nights at Le Quartier Français and 3 nights at any of Singita's South African Lodges (Singita Ebony or Boulders in the Sabi Sand or Singita Lebombo or Sweni in the Kruger National Park) and experience an intimate, never-to-be-forgotten, escape from everyday life.

The Sense of South Africa Experience Includes:

At Le Quartier Français

• 3 nights accommodation, including breakfast, in a Four Quarters Suite
• Fully stocked bar
• Sensual couples massage & romantic turndown
• 3 course bistro dinner in iCi & an 8 Course Tasting Menu (with wine) at the Tasting Room
• Wine & charcuterie tasting at Môreson Wine Farm & a half day personalized wine tour

At Singita

• 3 nights accommodation at one of Singita's South African lodges
• Breakfast, lunch & dinner daily, teas & coffees & all drinks**
• Bottle of South African Méthode Cap Classique on arrival
• 2 open Land Rover safaris a day
• Walking safaris with an experienced guide
• Relaxing Swedish massage spa treatment
• Private wine tasting & dinner

**Includes all premium wines, spirits and liqueurs and excludes champagne

Rate: R41,850.00 per person sharing-no single rates apply
Availability: 01 February-15 December 2009.
Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

ROAR Africa can include this as part of any other experience we create for you.

For more on Singita see our comprehensive previous post or Singita.
For more on Le Quartier Français.

I came across this moving story in the The Natal Witness , 13 Feb 2009, by Schalk van Schalkwyk:

Goodbye, old friend

Kruger National Park — Tourists watched in tears as an elephant bull bade farewell to its “friend”, the deceased bull Alexander. The bull tried to chase vultures and hyenas away from Alexander’s carcass and even tried to pick him up.

Alexander, one of the Kruger National Park’s largest elephants and a familiar sight in the area around the Mopani Rest Camp, died last weekend, apparently of a heart attack. Tourists parked near the carcass watched as an elephant bull arrived there and tried to lift up its friend. The carcass was about 20 metres away from the main road.

“I don’t know whether he was saying goodbye or whether he was trying to wake him,” said Susan Andjelkovac, an honorary game ranger.

The bull first chased the hyenas and the vultures away. He then tried to manoeuvre his big tusks under Alexander’s head. During one of the attempts, one of Alexander’s tusks nearly pierced one of the bull’s eyes. By then, game reserve personnel had already removed Alexander’s heart and lungs for examination, and the scavengers had also got stuck into the approximately six tons of meat.

Andjelkovac relates: “The bull sniffed and touched Alexander all over with its trunk. When it could not lift Alexander, it went and sat down on top of him. It even urinated on him.

“I cried so much. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen something like this. I can’t get it out of my mind. A guy in a car next to me and my sister-in-law asked us with much concern whether we were okay, we were crying so much.”

After trying for about half an hour to get Alexander up, the elephant bull suddenly left. It later appeared that he had just gone to have a drink of water, as he was back again a little while later. Another 15 minutes later, he seemed to realise that his old pal would not be able to get up again. He then placed his trunk over the spine of the carcass and stood dead still for about a minute before disappearing into the trees.

That evening in the camp, some of the women said they had not seen such passionate love for a friend in a long time. They said that everyone — men, women and children — “bawled their eyes out”.

Alexander’s grieving “friend” broke off one of the dead elephant bull’s tusks with one tug, while a team of workers took 45 minutes to pull the other one out.

Game ranger Johann Oelofse told what happened when they arrived to remove the tusks.

“He [the ‘friend’] first chased off a bunch of vultures before rubbing up against Alexander’s body. Then he took the tusk between his own trunk and tusk and there was a crack as he pulled the tusk out..’’

The tusks will be stored in the ivory safe at Skukuza.

*****

Note from Rob: There are many stories of elephants apparently mourning their dead but we must be careful when we ascribe human emotions to animal behaviour. We don't know what the elephants are doing when they investigate the bones of their deceased. Elephants often closely examine tusks they find in the field, and even carry them around as if they recognize their former owners. It was reported on censorbugbear that Alexander's "friend" carried the tusk he removed towards the rangers and left it about 8m from them before returning to the body.

According to a report on IOL, Johann Oelofse of Mooiplaas, Kruger National Park, dismissed speculation that Alexander and the bull were ‘old friends’, saying:
"We don't know they were friends. ... Probably in their wanderings of this area, they spent quite a bit of time together. But the bulls are very solitary. There's no strong coalition between them. It's not like they were bosom buddies and the one was really crying out. Until we start speaking elephantese, we'll never know."

Whatever these beautiful creatures are doing when apparently mourning it is clear that we do not fully understand them. They seem capable of greater understanding and consciousness than most people credit them with and they deserve our respect.

Picture from Die Beeld newspaper.

Those passionate about health and awareness will love this special journey Roar Africa has created with partner lodges Londolozi and The Steenberg. Yoga in the South African bush and Winelands is designed to reflect and harmonize with the rhythms and cycles of nature.


Safari: 3-4 days.

Spend three nights at Londolozi Game Reserve where yoga is practiced daily amid an awesome spectacle of nature. In between sessions, you’ll thrill to the sight of magnificent wild life in their natural habitat with two game drives daily. You’ll stay at Varty Camp where the luxurious accommodations are raised off the ground beneath a cathedral of trees. Each room has a private swimming pool on a timber deck that overlooks the riverine bush. In addition to the daily yoga class (suitable for beginners or intermediates), guests may choose to enjoy a private session alongside the cool rush of the Sand River, while greeting the morning sun on the yoga deck, or even on a game drive. Massages are also available as is Pilates and a Cardiovascular Room with experts offering fitness using unique workouts inspired by animal agility.

The massage space at Londolozi Life was designed by a holistic therapist to create a space in harmony with the elements, ensuring a meditative experience that quietens the mind, rejuvenates energy and creates inner balance. Therapies on offer in the centre include Swedish massage, aromatherapy, Thai Massage and reiki healing. All therapies are also offered in the privacy of your room or deck.

Other activities include lectures and tours of a model Shangane Cultural Village, a visit to the Craft Centre, Learning Centre and pre-school, full moon walks, clay pigeon shooting, bush running, tracking adventures, all day walking expeditions, overnight bush sleep outs, deep ecology discussions, and fishing on the Sand River.

Cape Town/Winelands: 3-4 days.

You’ll continue your spiritual journey with three nights at the historic Steenberg Hotel, with its award-winning winery, challenging golf course, hikes, and spa treatments that do as much for the soul as for the body. The hotel is minutes from Cape Town, one of the most beautiful cities on earth and full of fascinating history.

The Spa at Steenberg is operated by the experienced Ginkgo Spa & Wellness Group. The ambience is earthy and relaxing. There are five beautifully fitted rooms each offering distinctive experiences, spacious and comfortable they encapsulate the essence of well being. Read more on The Steenberg here.

Roar Africa will arrange for you to visit the Cape of Good Hope, the famed Table Mountain, Robben Island, Cape Town’s vibrant Waterfront, and much much more.

Last month’s post on South African National Park’s (SANPark’s) new Elephant Management Policy presented some background on elephant populations and their management as well as an outline of the new 2008 SANParks Elephant Management Policy. This was more or less a summary of SANPark’s position and it is fitting to present some alternative views.

The most controversial aspect of the new policy is probably that it re-introduces elephant culling. Culling was extensive in Kruger National Park (KNP) between 1967 and 1994. In 1994 it was challenged by Animal Rights Scientists and a moratorium was placed on culling. An agreement was made in 1996 to cull only in certain impact areas but was never implemented.

Culling is presented by SANParks as being one of a number of methods necessary to control elephant populations and makes a point of it needing to be implemented “with caution and after all other alternatives have been considered”. Of course not everyone feels that it’s necessary. Many people believe that it is really being implemented for economic reasons. SANParks clearly recognizes the economic benefits. The SANParks policy includes the following statement: “Because elephants are efficient converters of bulk plant materials into secondary products sought after by man the principle of sustainable use of these products should be permitted”. Revenue is generated from the animal parts and a stockpile of valuable ivory could lead to pressure to market the product despite the current ban on ivory trade.

One alternative to culling presented by scientists is contraception. It is included in SANParks policy but some claim it should replace culling entirely. Will Travers, CEO of the Born Free Foundation says “Leading scientists have reported that it costs around £50 to contracept each elephant. If you look at the number of reproductively viable female elephants in Kruger (roughly 3,700-4,500) that means that for between £180,000 and £225,000, a contraception programme could be implemented throughout Kruger National Park. For a country with a GDP that outstrips most other African economies more than ten-fold, (SA GDP 2005 US 239 billion) this is peanuts. I have no doubt the authorities could afford it if they really wanted to”.

For additional reading on this topic see:
South Africa lifts ban on Culling, Born Free Foundation
Summary for Policy Makers, Assessment of South African Elephant Management, 2007
A scientific perspective on the management of elephants in the Kruger National Park and elsewhere.
South African Journal of Science 102, September/October 2006
Elephants face a bleak and Cruel future in Southern Africa, Animal Rights Africa
Roar Africa Blog posts:
- Elephant Management Policy, SANParks
- Green Hunting of Elephants
- Mac’s Migration

In April 2008 South African National Parks (SANParks) published their new Elephant Management Policy for South African National Parks. This is a brief précis of the introductory document. It includes some background on elephant management in South Africa and the new policy. More complete information is available from SANParks here.

Historical distribution and population

Historically elephants were distributed over almost the entire area covered by the present day South Africa. Exceptions were the Drakensberg Mountains and the arid central Karoo. It is difficult to estimate how populous they once were but by 1890 the population had been decimated by ivory hunting, human settlement and agricultural expansion. About 120 elephants remained in pockets around Knysna, Addo, the Olifants Gorge area and Sihangwe (Tembe). Fortunately people took conservation action at around this time and so began the era of recovery. There are now about 21,000 elephants in South Africa and 270,000 across the Southern African region.

Approach to Conservation

Prior to 1930 conservation management was focused on the preservation of parks as natural areas and on restocking their game populations. The National Protected Areas Act of 1926 introduced new stakeholders- tourists. With them came the potential for future revenue and a shift from the laissez faire management approach (protection from hunting) to ‘management by intervention’. Efforts were made to preserve the landscape and the game populations and the land were managed accordingly with the sinking of boreholes, creation of dams and so on. By the 1960s management by intervention had intensified to ‘command and control’ – a term given to the prevailing worldwide approach to natural resource management at the time. This highly interventionist management style was aimed at maintaining the ‘balance of nature’ and the pristine state of the environment. What was not considered was that the “ideal” landscape being maintained (as it was remembered from around 1900) was simply a reflection of recent conditions and not the natural environmental state without human influence.

Elephants have the most dramatic effect on vegetation and in the 1960’s, given the conservation approach at the time, the carrying capacity of Kruger National Park (KNP) was generally agreed to be about 7,000 elephants. Between 1968 and 1995 this policy resulted in about 17,000 elephants being removed from KNP, 2,500 of which were live transfers to other conservation areas. Over time the aggressive management in KNP had surprising and unwelcome consequences and a longer term view of has come to bear. Since the ban on culling in 1995 the population has grown to over 20,000.


Ecologists now believe that it is the existence of flux, variation and diversity that gives ecosystems their resilience in the face of extreme events. It is now expected that the natural environment should be more of a patchwork of vegetation in various states of impact and regeneration. This forms the basis of ‘hierarchical patch dynamics’– the current theoretical framework of choice for landscape ecologists.

Conservation management has become a lot more complex. Firstly we have the recognition of the flux of nature. Secondly, there are many more stakeholders now being considered. Tourism, the public, neighbouring communities, animal welfare groups and scientists to name a few. And thirdly since the conservation areas have unnatural boundaries preventing migration our protected areas are not large enough or diverse enough to allow elephant impacts to continue unchecked or unmanaged. Population management is necessary to prevent possible loss of biodiversity.

SANParks has chosen an adaptive management approach to managing ecosystems within South Africa’s national parks. Elephant management is but one component of a broader ecosystem management process that focuses on maintaining ecological processes, flux and diversity. A locally derived form of Adaptive Management termed Strategic Adaptive Management (SAM) has been developed through an interactive process with national and provincial conservation agencies.

In February 2008, following an extensive consultation process, The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, announced the new norms and standards for elephant management in South Africa. These new norms and standards allow for the following management options should management be considered necessary to achieve the objectives of a particular park:

To manage the size, composition or rate of growth of a wild elephant population:

• Contraception
• Range manipulation (management of water or food supply, controlled use of fire,
• fencing, creation of corridors of movement between different areas; or range expansion)
• Translocation
• Culling

To manage the distribution of a wild elephant population within the boundaries of the area:

• Contraception
• Range manipulation (management of water or food supply, controlled use of fire,
• fencing, creation of corridors of movement between different areas; or range expansion)
• Translocation

According to the 2008 norms and standards:

• Management interventions must take into account the social structure of elephant populations, and take measures to avoid stress and disturbance to elephants.
• Where lethal measures are necessary these should be undertaken with caution and after all other alternatives have been considered.
• Because elephants are efficient converters of bulk plant materials into secondary products sought after by man the principle of sustainable use of these products should be permitted.

This picture courtesy of Lion Sands

This is a brief summary with some direct extracts from “An Introduction to A New Elephant Management Policy for South African National Parks”, April 2008. For further information please visit SANParks here.

In the 1960s, in an effort to boost game numbers, the Water for Wildlife project was started and erected about 300 windmills in Kruger National Park. The waterholes attracted game into the area. At first this seemed a good thing; only decades later did the results show that with the impalas and zebras the waterholes attracted also brought more predators into the area. Before the waterholes, these dryer areas supported roan antelope, which are much easier for lions to catch — the roans weren't able to compete. The park has started to close the waterholes, and let nature take its course.

The windmills pump water into drinking troughs for animals. This amusing sequence of photographs taken last month shows an elephant using it's own preferred technique of drinking straight from the tank. The waterhole is at Tihonganyeni (near Mopani, Kruger National Park).

Scientists are puzzled by mysterious mass deaths of crocodiles along the Oliphants River in South Africa- home of the densest population of Nile crocodiles in Africa. They were first noticed late in May and to date at least 30 crocodiles have been found dead and exhibiting similar symptoms of a distinctive yellow-orange hardened fat in their tails.

Tissue samples have been sent to the University of Pretoria's Onderstepoort for further analysis and veterinary surgeons, scientists, researchers, rangers and managers met in Skukuza in the Kruger National Park on Tuesday, June 3^rd to discuss the discovery. Kruger National Park's Head of Department for Scientific Services, Danie Pienaar, said that they do not know the cause yet but it is believed at this stage that the yellow-orange fat is a condition known as Pansteatitis which is usually associated with the consumption of rotten or rancid fish.

Pansteatitis, also called steatitis or yellow fat disease is a nutritionally mediated condition usually associated with the feeding of certain types of fish oil or unsaturated fatty acids of fish origin in a diet poor in vitamin E. It occurs regularly in mink, cats, pigs and poultry, all of which are fed on high fish diets. While no dead fish or other animals were found in the Oliphants River, the dead crocodiles contained yellow-orange hardened fat in their tails — usually a sign of eating rotten fish.

Pienaar said the Olifants River was the most polluted river in the park and the system had experienced further strain from the Massingir Dam that has pushed back into the Olifants Gorge, causing sediments to be deposited.

Visitors to the Kruger National Park need not worry about their own health as water utilized from the Olifants River is exhaustively monitored before declared fit for human consumption.

Those of you who found our Green Hunting Elephants (i.e. non-lethal hunting) post on February 5th interesting might also be interested to hear more about one of the stars of this program: Mac the elephant.

I received an email recently from Steve and Michelle Henley with an update on Mac's condition and progress. That email follows below.

Here is some useful jargon before you read it:
KNP = Kruger National Park (in South Africa)
APNR = Associated Private Nature Reserves
Musth = a periodic condition in bull elephants characterized by a thick, tar-like secretion called temporin from the temporal ducts and, far more notably, by highly aggressive behaviour. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musth)

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From: Henley
Subject: Following Mac

Dear Landowners and interested parties,

We would just like to tell you all about the exciting news that Mac is back within the APNR and he is looking as impressive as ever!

For those of you who have not yet met Mac or heard about him, we have attached a picture of him and what follows is some background information: Every year since we first collared him in 2002 he has made an annual trek from Shingwedzi in the KNP to the APNR when he comes into musth. Mac gets his name from Tony McClellan, who first sponsored his satellite collar. He moves a distance of approximately 200km in 10 days from the north of Kruger to the south of Timbavati PNR. Last year we were sorry to hear that he was found in very bad body condition with a serious foot injury. The Kruger National Park kindly darted him and treated his wound. Because of his injury and bad body condition he skipped his annual musth cycle and never came down to the Private Reserves. This year we went to check up on his body condition to find him fat and healthy by the end of March. We were sure that he would make his incredible journey when he comes into musth which usually occurs between mid-April to mid-May. He came into musth on the 1st of April and regrettably we missed part of his journey south because of his early musth cycle. Nevertheless, the BBC Natural History Unit wanted to produce a story on Mac as part of their series 'World on the Move'.

Steve and I were asked to follow Mac on his journey southward and we were kindly granted permission to follow him day and night through Kruger into the Private Reserves along management tracks and into the remote wilderness areas of the Kruger. We have had an incredible time and have recorded some of our experiences for the BBC website. Below and attached you will find more details on the programme and also the website where you can read up on some of the reports (at the end of this email). We have just returned from following Mac. When he was about 3km north of the Olifants river we decided to come out at Phalaborwa gate (Saturday morning) and to wait for him as he entered the APNR as we were advised that we would struggle to follow him south of the Olifants and between the APNR. We rushed up to meet Mac and caught him coming into the reserves along the Rietvlei/Ntsiri cutline in the APNR (late Saturday afternoon). When we left him he was still moving south and had just reached Ndolphu.

We hope that now that he is in the APNR you will have the privilege of meeting up with this gentle giant. We will keep checking up on him periodically now that he is back in the heart of the APNR...

Take care

Michelle and Steve Henley
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For the latest on Mac’s progress you can also visit BBC Radio’s “World on the Move”. WOtM tracks the migration of animals:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/worldonthemove/reports/mac-on-the-move-day-nine/

Earlier this month I was fortunate enough to be hosted at the recently opened "1933 at Lion Sands", the latest addition to the More family’s safari Lodges- Lion Sands Ivory Lodge and Lions Sands River Lodge. Lions Sands is one of Roar Africa’s favourite hand-picked boutique lodges. And it is not only our favourite- It has been named in Tatler Magazine’s "101 Best Hotels in the World".

Lion Sands is a luxurious, intimate, socially and environmentally conscious family-owned lodge built and run by the More family. Nicholas and Robert More are the current owners but the family has owned this reserve in Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger National Park) since 1933 when their great grandfather Guy Chalkley fell in love with and bought the land. This is where the name of their new lodge “1933 at Lion Sands” comes from.

1933 at Lion Sands, the new addition, is in fact not new at all. It is the family homestead which has been converted into a private safari lodge complete with Chalkley’s old chests, family photos and so on. It is an exclusive camp on the banks of the Sabie River and consists of four beautiful private suites and a children’s dormitory. In true form nothing has been overlooked. There is even a room for an Au Pair. The food and service are exceptional and given the exclusivity of the lodge- they are all focused on accommodating only your party’s exact needs. That could be from the cuisine your private chef prepares to game viewing in your private Land Rover, or to whatever else you can practically dream of.

The main lodge is designed to blend into the environment, with large windows and sliding doors, and a muted colour scheme. You’ll find yourself living both inside and out enjoying the views and game viewing directly from your suite, the private wrap around balcony, or from the 13.5m lap pool. Timber and thatch add charm and the kitchen opens onto a dining area that’s equally suited to informal family meals or formal dinners.

This is the perfect private camp for a family or group desiring an exceptional experience and luxurious home away from home. Thanks Rob and Nicholas and congratulations to the team Lion Sands!

See more on Lion Sands and some of Roar Africa's other chosen lodges here.

"It's the thrill of the chase, not the kill, that delights the heart of the hunter…." ANON

Hunting, conservation and elephants- how do those three come together? Green-hunting is the answer. Roar Africa does not support hunting generally but there are times when hunting can benefit conservation of animals. For example the non-lethal, green-hunting of elephants. Clients enjoy the thrill of the hunt whilst contributing to conservation both scientifically and financially, and without depleting the dominant elephant bull population-essential to the health and social dynamics of elephant herds.

This concept has been pioneered by Save the Elephants and Timbavati Private Nature Reserve on the western border of the famous Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. Hunters pay to dart large bull elephants which have been depleted though excessive hunting and poaching. They then get involved collecting data on the unconcious elephant for both scientific reasons and for the creation of their eco-friendly trophy. It is a thrilling experience and one kind of hunting which we would love to share with you.

Meet Mac the 100+ pound-per-tusk, green hunting emissary and get a detailed account at Save the Elephants. The charity was founded in 1993 by Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton who made a pioneering study of elephant behaviour in the late '60s in Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania.
http://www.save-the-elephants.org/regions.asp?linkID=10&contentID=17