The first Thursday of every month in Cape Town has gone not for the birds, but for the artists.

Simply deemed ‘First Thursdays’, the art-walk encourages Capetonians and passers-through alike to savor the crisp evening air of the Mother City while exploring and appreciating its ever-growing art scene. Consisting of anywhere from 15 to 20 permanent galleries and pop-up venues, the walk welcomes visitors to meander from venue to venue eating, drinking, shopping and enjoying the city’s creative culture.

During First Thursdays, participating galleries are open until 9pm as opposed to the usual 5pm and the contributing galleries and exhibitions rotate in order to keep the event fresh month after month. Many of the most relevant and current African artists have displayed their works during First Thursday including Dillon Marsh, Matthew Hindley and Sanell Aggenbach. Old and new, modern and classic, South African and international – there is something for everyone at First Thursday.

But do not think you have to be a studied art aficionado to attend, the buzz and energy of the crowd is alone enough to spark excitement in anyone. It is hoped that soon the art-walk will spill between the galleries’ walls and onto the streets, exuding a more festival-esque atmosphere with shops open after hours, gourmet food trucks and music in the streets.

Began in 2012, with a consort of only eight participating galleries, the event was the brainchild of Stellenbosch University graduate and culture-enthusiast Gareth Pearson. Beyond a love of art, Pearson wanted to attract the people of Cape Town onto the streets after dusk, something atypical in the city. His challenge was met with gusto by the people of Cape Town who eagerly flock to the art walk’s main strip, the creative hotbed that lies between Wale and Strand streets.

More than just a walk, Pearson is a firm believer that interacting on the streets and in a public space can lead to rich experiences and shared little moments that reveal all the things that we, as people, have in common.

So if you find yourself in Cape Town on a First Thursday, do not miss this chance to mingle with the locals and perhaps add a piece of South African art to your collection.

CLICK HERE for more information about First Thursday

CLICK HERE for more of ROAR AFRICA’s insider knowledge of Cape Town

There's another sale on with South African Airways and it's a wonderful time of year to escape winter up north and visit southern Africa!

Book before January 21st for a trip between January 20th and March 31st.

$1,479 plus taxes round trip FOR TWO!
(New York or Washington DC to Johannesburg or Cape Town.)

Other great deals to cities elsewhere in South Africa and to Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, and other countries.

Details on the special found here.
Contact us to arrange the trip: 1 877 ROAR AFR or info@roarafrica.com

How large is Africa? Larger than the U.S.A., Mexico, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the whole of Europe combined!

This study by Kai Krause helps us understand just how large Africa is. It's his contribution to combating alarming immapancy - insufficient geographical knowledge.

It just goes to show that there is plenty of exploring to do in Africa!

This study is in the public domain. For more click here.

South African Airlines (SAA) is running a special you might like to take advantage of.
Travel September 13 through December 9th. Book by October 1st.

With summer winding down, it is the perfect time for you to take advantage of this terrific deal. It's also a wonderful time to visit southern Africa. It's Spring down south -A great time for safari, after the Cape winter, whale season, and all without the summer crowds.

Fly from New York (JFK) or Washington D.C. (IAD) to Cape Town or Johannesburg, South Africa. Plus great low fares also available from other US cities.

Low fares, excellent schedules and award-winning service, the time has never been better to turn that dream trip to Africa into a reality!

Travel September 13 through December 9th. BOOK BY OCTOBER 1st!

Click here for the special. We'll arrange the rest.

This month Deborah Calmeyer of ROAR AFRICA features on the cover of Business Traveler Magazine. The first in their "Woman in Business" series. Jeff Heilman reveals some of her challenges and triumphs from growing up with a lioness to launching and running the company in New York. You can read it here at Business Traveler online (page 38) OR below (click to enlarge).

EMMY-nominated TravelScope: "When you think of Africa you hardly think of a beautiful beach, but in Mozambique, Africa that’s exactly what you should be thinking about. Joseph traveled to Mozambique for one of two shows on Africa that will be featured in Travelscope TV Season IV – which begins airing in June 2010. After the long flight from the U.S. aboard South African Airways, Joseph joined Geoff Calmeyer of Roar Africa on a sun-soaked, white-sand beach in Mozambique. "
Click here to listen to the interview.

Marca.com has published an amazing World Cup Schedule online. It's a dial which allows you to click and view the match schedule by Date, Stadium, Group/Stage and Team - All on one screen.

To try it click here.

Source: www.marca.com

South African Airways is advertising a last minute limited availability fare to get you to the World Cup. Click the advertisement to enlarge or click here for more. At ROAR AFRICA we are still managing to find people last minute accommodation for the World Cup.
It's still possible! Call us on +1 877 ROAR AFR.

*** flysaa special ***

Last Minute SUMMER FARES

World Cup flights from only $725 (each way).

Book now as we are days away from the WORLD coming to South Africa. We have reserved special fares with limited availability just for this monumental event. Let Africa's Most Awarded Airline take you there.
Flights from: New York or D.C. with great fares available from other select cities in the U.S.
Flights to: Johannesburg and Cape Town South Africa
We've gathered our lowest fares on select flights making booking a trip to South Africa this summer easier than even. BOOK NOW!

*****

Congratulations to TravelScope, the documentary travel series for television that has just been nominated for an Emmy. ROAR AFRICA hosted TravelScope last year for the filming of two episodes of the new season which begins next month: South Africa - On Safari and Mozambique.The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced the nominees for the 37th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards on May 12th. Travelscope is nominated for an Emmy® in the Outstanding Special Class Series category.

You can read more about the filming of these two episodes on our BLOG: Safari & Mozambique or on Travelscope's website (see below).
Travelscope press release.
Episodes ROAR AFRICA hosted: South Africa - On Safari & Mozambique

Press Release from SAA: [Shortened by ROAR AFRICA]

JetBlue Airways and South African Airways Proudly Announce New Interline Agreement

-- Effective May 12, 2010, travelers can purchase flights between several JetBlue destinations and 40 SAA cities in Southern Africa via New York’s JFK Airport--

New York (May 7, 2010) – New York’s hometown airline JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU) and South African Airways (SAA), Africa’s most awarded airline, announced today that they have established a comprehensive interline agreement, providing new and convenient connection options for both SAA and JetBlue customers wishing to travel between the U.S. and Southern Africa. Effective May 12, 2010, customers will be able to purchase a single itinerary for travel on flights of both carriers in one simple transaction, enjoying easy connecting service between select JetBlue cities and 40 cities in the South African Airways network via JFK. ....

New York’s JFK is a key gateway for SAA with their daily non-stop flights to South Africa and is also the base of operations for JetBlue Airways, where it is the largest domestic airline. By working together at JFK the carriers will offer more options for travel between the United Stated and Southern Africa and provide customers with a smooth travel experience.

This new partnership will offer increased convenience to customers on both sides of the Atlantic by allowing customers to travel on one single e-ticket and by offering through check-in. Customers will be able to check their bags to their final destination and receive boarding cards for both carriers’ flights upon check-in with either JetBlue in the U.S. or SAA in Southern Africa.

....

Marc Cavaliere, executive vice president, North America for South African Airways: “Additionally, there are great synergies in service between the two airlines as we both put a premium on customer service and satisfaction,” he added. “Perhaps best of all, this agreement comes just in time for the soccer championship in South Africa, and is a new and convenient way for JetBlue customers to experience the excitement of the tournament.”

......

South African Airways has a specially-created corporate division in place dedicated to ensuring that fans have the most comfortable and convenient service to and between the World Cup matches, including a round-the-clock domestic African flight schedule that will make it easy to fly to and from matches in the different cities. This schedule will complement SAA’s already extensive flight schedule throughout Southern Africa that connects with the airline’s daily flights from New York/JFK.

In addition, all South African Airways flights in Johannesburg depart from the new, state-of-the-art Terminal B, providing for smooth and timely flight connections through a beautiful and modern terminal packed with many shopping, dining and relaxation options. A new lounge will provide Premium Business Class passengers with a luxurious haven in which to catch up on work, grab a bite to eat, or freshen up with revitalizing rainfall showers. Upon arrival in New York customers will transfer to JetBlue’s new state-of-the-art Terminal 5 at JFK with its wide array of shopping and dining options as well as free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal and enjoy a seamless connection into the JetBlue network.

Domestic service in the U.S. will be operated by JetBlue’s fleet of Airbus A320 and EMBRAER E190 aircraft. Both aircraft feature comfy leather seats equipped with personal seatback TVs that offer JetBlue’s signature in-flight entertainment: 36 channels of free, live DIRECTV programming and more than 100 channels of free XM Satellite radio. On flights longer than two hours, a selection of first-run movies and bonus features from JetBlue Features is also available.

About South African Airways

South African Airways features daily nonstop service from the U.S. to South Africa with morning departures from New York JFK, and afternoon direct service from Washington Dulles (with a stop in Dakar, Senegal) that offer travel convenience and award-winning service with state-of-the-art Airbus A340 aircraft. Travelers in Premium Business Class enjoy 180° fully flat-bed seats, and in economy class enjoy the most legroom versus competitors......SAA’s unrivaled network, featuring seamless connections to nearly 20 destinations within South Africa, and more than 25 cities across the rest of the continent, makes the airline the savvy traveler’s “gateway to Africa.” .....For more information on South African Airways, please call (800) 722-9675 or visit www.flysaa.com, where travelers can sign up to be notified of great travel deals and vacation packages.

About JetBlue Airways

Voted "Most Eco-Friendly Airline" by Zagat's Airline Survey in 2008 and 2009, New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. In 2009, the carrier also ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Low-Cost Carriers in North America" by J.D. Power and Associates, a customer satisfaction recognition received for the fifth year in a row....For information or reservations call 1-800-JET-BLUE (1-800-538-2583), TTY/TDD 1-800-336-5530 or visit www.jetblue.com.

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

That's tricky and very personal. Here's a short and simple take on binoculars:

Trade-offs are basically between: size, weight, magnification and light. So it depends what you want them for.

Specifications look like this: (leaving out the more technical specs)

• 7 x 30
• 8 x 42
• 10 x 40 ....

The first number is magnification.
If it's too high you'll probably have trouble with keeping the view steady. You will probably not be using a tripod - they will be hand-held in a land rover. Go for minimum 7 and max 10. For safari 8 x 42 is great. For something like boating (due to movement) you might stick with 7x magnification. Got a steady hand? Try 10x.

The second number is lens diameter.
This translates into the amount of light the lens farthest from you lets in and thus the clarity of image. For safari specifically you are best off with a larger number here because much of your game viewing is in low light conditions: early and late in the day. That means that for safari the small compact binocs are not ideal. However you don't go on safari every day so don't get too hung up on this. You might use a small pair more often because you will be more inclined to take them with you.

Lenses:
There are two systems for binocs:

1. Double lenses: first lens magnifies, second re-inverts the image.
2. Prism. lens magnifies, prisms re-inverts image. Prisms are generally better. The image quality should be preferable.

Brands of choice:
Top three: Leica, Zeiss and Swarovski. (and the prices unfortunately match!) Leica might be more robust. Nikon, Bushnell and Steiner are good as are some others though purists will tell you that there are no "good" binocs, there are only excellent ones and "bad" ones and the first three brands are certainly excellent.

Other things to consider:
Durability, waterproofing, fog-proofing, magnifying, nitrogen-filled, field of view..... don't get too hung up on this stuff unless your needs are very specific.

Conclusion:
Decide what you want them for and consider "lugability" - weight & size. I like small compact binocs and am fine with some loss of image clarity. In fact I carry a tiny 6x16 monocular. I think it cost me about $40. Great for hiking and climbing trips. Not great for safari but then I tend to have it with me 10x as often as others have their binocs so that makes up for it. :)

• Consider those top three brands first
• Magnification: 7 to 10
• Lens diameter: as large as possible. 42 is great but you'll sacrifice that if you are going for compact ones.
• Prism system. Again- a sacrifice if you go ultra-compact

And remember: you don't have to have your own binoculars. The lodges usually provide a pair to share. Roar Africa guides do as well.

There's a fun article in Travel + Leisure about some of the most outrageous concierge requests received. Many of the surprising requests were met. One request submitted by Roar Africa was a little tricky to fulfill:

Douglas Rogers writes:
Not every outrageous demand can be met. Deborah Calmeyer of the New York–based Roar Africa travel company recalls an American client at Lions Sands safari lodge in South Africa. “He wanted the staff to place an engagement ring on a string around the neck of a male lion and parade the animal into the lodge towards his future wife. They had to explain to him that perhaps this wasn’t a very good idea.”

It seems there are people who don't realize that their safari is not in Disney World.

Click here for the article online in Travel + Leisure.

South African Airways (SAA) is currently advertising very inexpensive fares to South Africa between August 11th and September 11th 2009. $1,034 for a round trip from New York or Washington DC to Johannesburg is a price we haven't seen in years. They call it the Sizzling Summer Special and you can link to it here.

It's a great time of year for safari and you won't have to pay peak rates at the hotels. You do have to book by July 15th.

Travel Weekly contributor Ben Roussel traveled to South Africa with Roar Africa. He sat down with Roar Africa co-owner and tour guide Geoff Calmeyer, who discussed misperceptions about tourism in southern Africa and how his company differs from other tour operators.

Here follows a copy of Ben Roussel's interview with Geoff as published in the latest issue of Travel Weekly here or below.

(Click to enlarge)

Please be advised that South African Airways has opened a new terminal for all their flights and at this time, it is located too far from the existing baggage handling facilities to allow for timeous connections between flights.

In most cases luggage is unfortunately not making connecting flights. This is applicable to International, Regional and Domestic Air - for example from London or Washington to Cape Town or from Durban to New York. It is strongly advised that all guests traveling on South African Airways through Johannesburg, should check-in their luggage as far as Johannesburg, take possession of their luggage in Johannesburg and then rebook it onto their connecting flight. In this way they can ensure their luggage arrives at their final destination timeously. This situation is expected to continue for the foreseeable future so we would also recommend allowing for greater connection times – at least 3 hours.

Parts of southern Africa are malaria areas and you should therefore consider taking precaution on your trip. We are not medical experts at ROAR Africa so we advise you to consult your doctor. What follows (click the picture) is some advice from Getaway magazine for your consideration.

Personally I try to avoid being bitten by being vigilant with mosquito repellent, mosquito nets (provided at most lodges) and loose long clothing. As the article recommends you should remain aware after your return home. Your local doctor may not be looking for or immediately recognize the symptoms if he or she does not know you were in a Malaria area.

Note that not all areas are malaria areas. Most of South Africa, Namibia and southern Botswana are malaria free. We can therefore create a trip including a safari in malaria-free areas if you prefer. Call us if you have any concerns.

Airline Children's Meals: Did you know that many airlines – including Qantas, United and South African Airways (known as SAA) – offer special infant and children's meals?

The SAA chefs developed a "Child Meal" for children ages 2 to 6 years but also have perks such as skycots, baby meals including pasteurized baby food for under-2s, snacks of milk, formula or fruit juice and cuddly toys on board for infants. Speaking of menus, at South African Airways, a Kosher menu has been added to other meal services. Air Chefs and National Quality Solutions, in conjunction with SAA, launched a Kosher Hotline so passengers on SAA and several other airlines may request Kosher meal.

Be sure to pre-order the child-friendly meals when you make your ticket reservations.

It's not surprising that South African Airways is amongst the premier airlines of the world and has been voted ‘Best Airline to Africa’ from the UK for 13 consecutive years.

Here are 9 more Family Travel Tips from Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO of citibabes:

2. Always bring something new that your child has not played with yet and surprise them with it for the long journey.

3. Always, always pack extra clothes for the long flight. Bring things that you can layer.

4. But don't pack too much, that will only add to the burden.

5. Don't underestimate the power of your child's favorite book! This will come in handy when you're trying to get your child to sleep in a strange place at a strange time.

6. DVDs. If you do watch DVDs, make sure to buy a portable DVD player with the longest battery life possible. Get your children excited about your destination by learning a few words of the local lingo with language videos during a long flight.

7. Travel activity kits! Fun packs come with everything you need to keep children occupied for hours: a coloring book, activity pad, crayons, bubbles and a puzzle.

8. Create a travel journal with your children. Not only do the pages allow for days of work and creativity (and some quiet time!), a travel journal makes a wonderful keepsake for both children and parents.

9. Bring some simple open-ended materials for sculpting and play. My children love using aluminum foil for sculpting animals or creating mini works of art. Another favorite is pipe cleaners. Simple and re-usable.

10. But most of all have FUN! Travel is a great way to connect as a family, enrich your children's lives, foster a lifelong love of travel and make memories that last a lifetime!

For more about kids on safari see our previous BLOG post here.

I'm not sure which was the greater thrill; cowering in front of a massive silverback appropriately named Marvel on the slopes of a Virunga volcano, or that evening- my 23rd birthday- too thrilled to be tiered, basking in the afterglow of the experience with a banana beer in my hand and staring out at the red glow from Tonga volcano erupting in the valley below... our next destination.

With one of Oscar's harem, 1992

A lot of people have seen the Mountain Gorillas in Central Africa. Many, though undoubtedly far fewer, have seen Lowland Gorillas. All that's really required today is the desire and money. This sometimes makes my moment seem less special though certainly no less treasured by me. The fact is it was pretty damn special.

I think what added to the reward was that it was a high point of many months of travel across Africa. Relatively speaking this safari (Swahili: journey) was made without money. I was 22 when my friend Oren Kaplan and I, having just finished University, set off hitchhiking in South Africa with a sign saying "Cape to Cairo". It was 1992. We were two young, white South African males headed north at the tail-end of Apartheid. We loved the fact that we were sometimes the first of our demographic to arrive at a place (even receiving "first" visas) and that we were something other than what was expected of us when we got there.

We were rewarded with generosity and growth because let's face it; nobody is who you expect when you get there. We used only local means of transport which often meant legs but always meant that we were thoroughly immersed in, no... we were part of the experience. After a few months, and years of experiences, we reached the Gorillas in central Africa.

The Fearsome Ninja: Napping and up close

The first Gorillas I saw were Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Congo (then Zaire). Very few people were visiting the country back then because most consulate websites had warnings not to due to unrest. That was intriguing in itself but that's a different tale; one about guerrillas. Perhaps it was slightly reckless but it was the most rewarding month of the journey. The Lowland Gorillas were in Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, west of lake Kivu which borders Rwanda. We spent about 2 hours tracking Ninja, his harem and "kids". It was like hiking through a giant bowl of salad after which you suddenly found out that they were all around you. What a moment that was! Ninja was unfazed by our presence. In fact Ninja the Napper would have been an appropriate name. He had mastered the art.

The first photo in this post of me with one of "Oscar's girls" was actually taken weeks later on the Zaire/Congo side of the Virunga volcanoes further north. This is my favourite safari moment captured perfectly on film by my friend and travel buddy Jim Buckley. Of course it was months before we actually saw that he did nail the picture because we had no digital camera back then. We spent a few days up at Djomba Hut on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes and visited two Mountain Gorilla families whilst there. The entry in my diary on May 25th begins "It's so pleasant here we're having difficulty leaving...".

If I go back I will probably never be as close to the gorillas as I was then. Visits were not as controlled back then and we were not as conscious of the possibility of spreading flu or something to the gorillas. The babies actually came and crawled onto us licking our arms where they could taste the salt from our sweat. They reminded us of children as they clambered about testing things and each other. Pulling sticks, hanging on branches... learning what does and doesn't work with some amusing results usually preceded by a loud cracking sound.

Of the three families we visited only one had a silverback, the 35 year-old Marvel, who showed any aggression. We followed protocol cowering and avoiding eye-contact. It got a little intense being curled up with a 400 pound silverback leaning right over us. It worked out fine though- apparently Marvel always knew he was the boss and didn't have to prove it. (Most Intense Safari Moment for sure.)

The More Fearsome Marvel

It's no wonder that banana beer brewed in a pit tasted so good that night; dead flies and all. We had tracked down our cousins on the side of this dormant volcano in the Rift Valley. In four days time we would have completed our walk across this valley to the source of that red glow, complete with gushing lava, and we would witness and contemplate the great continent rifting live in front of us.

Good news from Fort Lauderdale, Fla today: South African Airways announced that it will operate a new non-stop service from New York JFK to Johannesburg beginning May 1, 2009. Flight SA204 will now depart at 11:35AM and arrive in Johannesburg at 8:45AM the following day. This opens up a host of connections taking more travelers to more of Africa through SAA’s Johannesburg hub.

Roar Africa is excited about this addition as it will benefit both business and leisure travelers. It means we can ensure you are enjoying a cocktail on safari or a swim at the beach at one of many southern Africa destinations on the day of arrival. Same-day connections will take you to Cape Town, Durban, Indian Ocean islands, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and many other destinations in some cases by mid-day.

The schedule change has also been hailed as wonderful news by other SAA travel and business partners from the US and from other African destinations already served by SAA.

South African Airways features the only nonstop service from the U.S. to South Africa with daily departures from Washington, D.C. (until April 30th, with a stop in Dakar commencing May 1), and daily direct service from New York (operating non stop effective May 1). While SA204 will operate non stop to Johannesburg, South Africa, flight SA203 returning from Johannesburg to New York will continue to make a brief stop in Dakar, Senegal, and will continue to depart from Johannesburg at 7:05PM arriving into JFK at 7:40AM the following morning.

Travelers in premium class enjoy 180° fully flat-bed seats, and in economy class enjoy the most legroom versus competitors. Every seat on board offers an individual on-demand entertainment system, plush pillow, warm blanket and amenity kit. SAA’s unrivaled network makes the airline the “gateway to Africa.”

For more information call us at Roar Africa (+1 877 ROAR AFR) or contact South African Airways.