Tour
Includes:
·
Vehicles
used for transfers are mini vans.
·
Transfer
from the Navigator to Richard Bay airport
and assistance in checking in for your
flight
·
Scheduled
flight from Richards Bay to Johannesburg
·
Meet and
greet at Johannesburg International Airport
and assistance with transferring to Federal
Air Charter Terminal for your flight to the
Madikwe Game Reserve
·
Scheduled
Charter flight from Johannesburg to Madikwe
Hills
·
Game drives
in 4x4 Land Rover with
only FOUR guests per vehicle while
at Mateya.
· Mateya
Safari Lodge includes all meals, tea/coffee,
wildlife activities, laundry and all
beverages excluding premium wines from the
wine cellar.
·
Scheduled
Charter flight from Madikwe to Johannesburg
·
Meet and
greet and assistance in transferring to
Johannesburg terminal and checking in for
your Cape Town flight
·
Scheduled
flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town
·
Meet and
greet in Cape Town airport on arrival
·
Transfer
from Cape Town airport to the Navigator
·
All
transfers between airports and hotels/camps
in South Africa.
·
All meals as
specified (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D =
Dinner).
·
Twenty-four
hour stand-by contact number.
Tour Does
Not Include:
·
See note
under pricing regarding flight and luggage
restrictions. Overweight luggage not
included.
·
International air tickets or taxes and
Airport departure taxes
·
Items of a
personal nature (film, toiletries,
gratuities, excess baggage fees, etc.)
·
Beverages
and laundry except as mentioned above
·
Any entrance
fees not mentioned above
·
Personal
travel insurance
·
Visas and
passports
·
Other items
not specifically quoted
·
Guidelines
for tips will be suggested.
November 17:
Depart the Navigator and fly to Johannesburg
You will be
met at the Navigator by a Ker & Downey
representative and transferred to the
Richards Bay airport where you will be
assisted in checking in for your flight to
Johannesburg.
Upon arrival
in Johannesburg, collect your bags and meet
your Ker & Downey representative outside
baggage claim and transfer to the Federal
Air terminal for your charter flight to
Madikwe Hills Game Reserve.
Your
scheduled charter flight with Madikwe Air
Charters will depart Johannesburg at 11:15
am
The Parks
Board decided to create the MADIKWE GAME
RESERVE, situated in a malaria free area,
not only to conserve the fauna and flora,
but also to provide a sanctuary to visitors
from afar, as well as a more favorable
environment to the local people. Due to the
elevation of Madikwe Game Reserve it will be
a little cooler at this time of the year. It
will still be very hot in the afternoons.
Mateya
offers five luxurious
air conditioned rooms, private plunge
pools, all inclusive of local wines and
sprits, all meals, laundry and two game
drives per day and walks in the bush.
Johannesburg to Madikwe Game Reserve staying
at Mateya
MATEYA LODGE
This link
will connect you to
www.ngaire.smugmug.com
where
you can view BK Africa’s pictures of Mateya
Safari Lodge.
http://www.ngaire.smugmug.com/gallery/1558312#75247041
Mateya
Safari Lodge is one of the most
prestigious lodges of its kind in the
world and certainly one of the most
exclusive in Southern Africa. Located
in the spectacular 75,000 hectare
Madikwe Game Reserve, Mateya is the
ultimate compliment of exquisite
architectural design and comfort
enhanced by the splendor of a pristine
African setting. The lodge consists of
five individually designed, air
conditioned, luxury thatched-roof suites
with private plunge pools on spacious
decks. Each suite offers
huge bathrooms
and outdoor showers and fireplaces.
Total luxury! This is a room you just
want to stay in and never leave. The
details here are truly amazing right
down to all the coat hangers being
padded. No item has been overlooked to
make your experience as luxurious as
possible. Each suite blends with
their natural surroundings and offers
uninterrupted views of the waterhole and
plains.
Guests can enjoy a balance of
sophistication and comfort in total
privacy and harmony with nature,
savoring the rare pleasure of their very
own secluded slice of Africa.
Only FOUR guests per Land Rover, one
of only a few lodges that offer this
with most game lodges having six to
eight people per vehicle.
The
history of man is rooted in the Madikwe
landscape. As you open your heart to the
beauty of Madikwe, you will bear witness
to the ancient pulse of mankind. It is
where histories and beauty are entwined
and fed by tales of romance. It is here
that the famous explorer, Sir David
Livingstone fell in love and married
Mary Moffat.
The
Mateya Lodge draws inspiration from
ancient ruins that closely resemble
those found in Zimbabwe. The ruins are
witness to a journey made by the great
Queen Mateya who, threatened by drought
in Zimbabwe, embarked on a journey in
search of Modjadji, the Rain Queen. On
her return she settled within the
splendor of the Madikwe landscape. Today
a majestic bronze statue stands proud in
resemblance of the queen.
The elegance and prestige of the Mateya
Lodge, set in the rocky outcrop of the
Gabbo Hills, pays perfect homage to her
memory. It is at Mateya that the unique
fusion of African heritage is drawn
together with the utmost finesse and
style. Guests with a thirst for
unsurpassed blend of beauty, discerning
taste and cultural delights can relax
and indulge in the inspiration drawn
from every corner of the continent
In celebration of a rich history of
diversity and the untamed beauty to
which the lodge is home, Mateya Safari
Lodge has acquired one of the world's
finest collections of art from
throughout the continent. Each piece
purposefully chosen for the way in which
its canvas captivates a vibrant feel for
Africa.
Proudly,
Mateya Safari Lodge is home to 21
original paintings by Paul Augustinus
for whom the vast landscapes and
abundance of wildlife have been an
emotive inspiration. Nothing quite
captivates the vitality and exhilaration
of the wild like Robert Glen's
magnificent bronze sculpture of an agile
Lioness attempting to bring down a
leaping impala – 'Near Miss'.
Overnight Mateya Safari Lodge
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Bedroom |
Bathroom |
Deck with private plunge pool |
.
November
17th , 18th , and 19th
Enjoy the activities of the Mateya game lodge.
You will be
met at the Cape Town airport and transferred
to the Navigator docked in the harbor to
arrive two days before the Navigator departs
Cape Town. This gives you
two days in Cape
Town to visit this beautiful city.
The Navigator
sails on November 22 at
4.00 pm.
PRICING and AIR OPTIONS FOR SAFARI
Price will fluctuate with the Rand vs.
Dollar exchange rates, we are floating in
RAND.
The last 12 months rate ranged from 6.5 to
7.8 we based our $US estimate on 7.0 rand
this could go up or down.
Price based on 2008 rates and the only
variance will be the scheduled service air
fares may change.
Mateya Safari
Lodge
27,006 Rand per
person (US $3858 @ 7.0 exchange rate)
Flights
from Richards Bay to Johannesburg and
Johannesburg to Cape Town are included
However, the airfare costs are based on
current pricing and airfares could increase
by November 2008
Pricing of the air is not confirmed until
time of final payment and ticketing.
.
Baggage
restrictions are 44lbs per person in SOFT
sided duffle type bags.
Contact
your Brown and
Keene Consultant
or
info@brownandkeene.com
Brown and
Keene Travel
14160
Dallas Parkway, Suite 450
Dallas,
Texas 75254
Phone:
1-800-856-1155
IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR YOUR TRIP
|
Tickets:
Your final itinerary and scheduled electronic airline tickets
from Richards Bay to Johannesburg and
Johannesburg to Cape Town is all the
documentation you will receive prior to
departure. Charter flights and Safari camps
do not work by vouchers and your official
itinerary is your proof of booking.
Climate:
Temperatures will be from 70 to 85 degrees
in Cape Town and approximately in the 65’s
to 90’s in the game parks. Cape Town will
be in summer season and we should have dry
sunny weather. This is also the summer
season at the game parks and it can be very
hot in the afternoons. This is the rainy
season in the bush, so we may experience
some rain during our stay.
Safari Clothes:
Safaris can be dusty - tan, khaki and other
neutral colors are most practical. You may
need a sweater or jacket when game viewing
in the early morning hours and when outdoors
in the evening. Bring a hat for sun
protection, especially to wear in the
vehicles while driving in the parks since
the tops are left open for game viewing and
photography. Generally you will not need
heavy footwear unless you plan to do much
walking. A pair of comfortable walking
shoes, tennis shoes or desert boots will
do. The clothes made by Columbia Sports
Wear do work nicely for safari. They are
comfortable and cool. However, you can
actually go on safari in blue jeans. You are
in a land rover so your legs don’t show to
the animals. The rule of thumb is not to
wear bright colors. The land rovers and
people blend into the scenery. Khaki, olive
green or brown are the best colors. No hot
pink, red or bright blue, etc. Black does
attract bugs so it is best not to wear black
on safari. Buy safari clothes if you wish,
but it is not necessary. It will be cool in
the early morning and when the sun goes
down. You need a light windbreaker. Layer is
the rule of the day as it will warm up
considerably to quite hot when the sun comes
out. Remember that laundry is included
complimentary at the game parks. So really a
maximum of two outfits is all you need as
you can just launder one set while you wear
another --- pack light.
Baggage –
PACK LIGHT: Richards
Bay to Johannesburg and Johannesburg
to Cape Town - the domestic flights are
restricted to 44lbs of luggage per person.
Safari flights restricted to 44lbs in
soft-sided luggage. No wheeled cases for
safari flights. These bags will be squeezed
into a small aircraft and must be flexible.
Just buy a cheap nylon duffle bag to use for
this excursion. The type that will fold to a
small pouch in your suitcase would work
well, nothing fancy.
Rain Gear:
The land rovers carry water ponchos and
blankets if you are caught in the rain or it
is unseasonably cool. You will have all the
coverage you need. I do suggest taking a
jacket for when the sun goes down and to
shelter you from any light rain you might
encounter.
Evenings
for Dinner:
Safari evening attire is very casual. In
fact you do not even need to change after
your game drive. Slacks, jeans and tops are
all that is needed, no dressing for dinner
required. If ladies bring a change of shoes
be sure they are low heeled and closed toe.
Carry lightweight sleepwear, as blankets are
readily available. The rooms all have
security safes however we strongly suggest
you do not bring any expensive jewelry.
Safari camps are VERY casual.
Accessories:
A pair of dark glasses is a necessity along
with a hat that provides protection from the
sun. Many people need to use protective
sunburn cream or sunscreen. If you wear
prescription glasses, take an extra pair if
you have them. Carry binoculars for added
pleasure in game viewing. A lightweight
six‑power pair would probably be adequate
and easy to hold.
It is
advisable to have insect repellent such as
Cutters. Wash'n'Dry towelettes are always
useful to freshen up while in the bush, as
are Kleenex packets. Chap stick or
moisturizing creams are good to have. The
insect repellant towelettes and we found
these to be less messy than the tubes or
lotions that leak and have to always be in
plastic bags. Madikwe Hills and Mateya
provide insect repellant in your room.
Extra items
to consider; playing cards, swimsuit –
private plunge pools at the camps, paperback
books and a traveling alarm clock. A small
flashlight can also be a nice accessory.
Ziploc bags are very handy when using
duffle bags. It helps to separate items.
Malaria
and Health Concerns:
This is the
wet season in the bush, so the likelihood of
mosquitoes is there but at Madikwe Game
Reserve there is no Malaria. The elevation
is too high to support the mosquito that
carries malaria. No other shots or
medications are required.
Water
Safety:
The water in all the areas of South Africa
that we are going to is safe to drink – even
in the bush. Bottled water is provided in
the rooms for your convenience. Brushing
your teeth with tap water is no problem.
Voltage and
Electrical Appliances:
Throughout Africa the usual voltage is
220-240 AC. A voltage converter will be
necessary for appliances that run on 110-120
AC and a plug adapter for South Africa. Most
camps will provide the necessary outlets or
adapters. Hairdryers are provided in all
rooms. If you bring your own hairdryer you
need to be sure that your hairdryer or
curling iron is DUAL voltage and
automatically changes when plugged in. Many
hairdryers and curling irons are dual
voltage now, as are most travel items and
computers. Be sure and check the voltage
requirements of your electrical devices
before plugging in the device using a plug
adapter.
REMEMBER: PLUG ADAPTERS
ALONE DO NOT CHANGE THE VOLTAGE! IF YOU PLUG
A 110 VOLT DEVICE INTO A 220 VOLT RECEPTACLE
THE DEVICE WILL BE TOAST!
Computers and Telephones:
There is one guest computer in both camps,
the connection can be slow and there are no
wireless connections. Most cell phones will
not work here, there is telephone
communication, but please remember you truly
are “in the bush” and things do not work the
same as they do in a city environment.
Spa Services:
Spa services are available and you can book
an appointment on arrival.
Photography:
For
photographing birds and game, a telephoto
lens is essential. Minimum size recommended
is 200mm. With larger lenses you get better
results, but with a 500mm lens, you may have
problems holding it, but also from the
shimmering heat haze. As a general rule,
lenses up to 300mm can be satisfactorily
hand held, but larger lenses need some form
of support. Remember that tripods
are generally impractical for game
photography that must be done from inside
the vehicle. The fastest type of film
available should be used in the early
mornings and evenings.
For digital
photography be sure to bring plenty of
memory cards and an extra battery. Don’t
forget to bring your battery charger and be
sure it is rated for 220 volts. You will be
able to charge your batteries in the camps.
Regarding Film:
Use film with which you are familiar. Big
lenses often require fast film, and
depending upon the conditions, you will need
to bring some fast film such as AA 400 or
1000. You may want to use both print and
slide film. Film is expensive and difficult
to obtain, so bring double what you would
expect to use (minimum 3 rolls per day).
Transport all film in carry-on luggage using
lead foil bags for protection against X-rays
and ask for hand inspections at airports if
possible. Do not mail film home from
Africa.
Remember
that the one constant is the sudden
speed at which the action will break. Be
prepared for the unexpected and keep your
camera handy. When the drama unfolds for
you, don't be stingy with the film - take
shots freely.
Credit Card
Companies:
Remember to let your credit card company
know you are traveling to Africa so you will
have no problems using your credit cards.
Insurance:
Remember to bring details of your travel
insurance in case of an emergency.
If there
are any other questions not answered here,
please feel free to contact us for
clarification.
