Shamwari Game Reserve is one of the World's leading Safari and. Game
Reserves. The challenge on this safari is to try to see the Big Five (Elephant, Lion
, ...
TRAVEL WITH CHRIS BROWN
SOUTH AFRICA – SAFARI Touching down in South Africa, Chris, Miguel and our South African competition winner, Shennae, head straight for the wilderness. Shamwari Game Reserve is one of the World’s leading Safari and Game Reserves. The challenge on this safari is to try to see the Big Five (Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard and Cape Buffalo). But Chris and Miguel take it one step further, waging a bet that they can ‘kiss’ one of the big five! With elephants, zebras, rhinos, giraffes and even a male lion ticked off their list, Chris meets with the Shamwari Head Vet, Dr Johan, to dart and aesthetes an elephant bull to take a blood sample. While it’s asleep Chris takes the opportunity to give the elephant a big smooch, winning the bet! So, Miguel has to cook dinner. He meets with the head chef Sharelda to make delicious traditional dishes, Lamb Neck and Shank Potjie and Pap. Everyone joins them for a South African Boma dinner around the fire.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is one of the most diverse and enchanting countries in the world, blessed with spectacular scenery and natural landscapes - soaring mountain peaks, dense and ancient forests, miles of unspoiled coastline, rolling flower fields and crystal-clear rivers. Its wildlife encounters stretch from diving with Great White Sharks to Safari’s with a chance to see the Big Five, and penguins waddling on the Cape. Then there’s the deserted Kalahari, iconic Table Mountain and Cape Point, Kruger National Park’s wildlife-stalked savannah, running through the east of the country and into Lesotho, the Drakensberg. KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park alone has five distinct ecosystems, attracting both zebras and dolphins. Positioned at the southern end of the African continent, the country also offers the world’s finest, award-winning safari lodges, five star resorts and spa-safaris. South Africa is a source of world-class wine and cuisine, from traditional comfort food to Michelin-star dining; a hearty Shebeen buffet or a gourmet banquet beneath a star-strewn African sky. South African people are some of the most upbeat, welcoming and humorous folk you’ll encounter anywhere, from farmers in the rural north who tell you to drive safely on those dirt roads, to Khayelitsha kids who wish you molo (‘good morning’ in Xhosa) Cape Town, also known as the Mother City, is the most affordable destination across the globe for Australian travellers, as announced earlier this year in TripAdvisor’s TripIndex Room Service 2013. SAA flies daily direct from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg. The flight duration is approximately 11 hours (from Perth) to 14 hours (from Sydney). For bookings please contact South African Airways: • •
Phone: 1300 435 972 Website: www.flysaa.com.au http://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-africa
THE BIG FIVE In Africa, the Big Five game animals are the Lion, African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, and R. The term big five game (sometimes capitalized or quoted as ‘Big Five’) was coined by big-game hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot. Subsequently the term was adopted by safari tour operators for marketing purposes. The term is used in most tourist and wildlife guides that discuss African wildlife safaris. The members of the Big Five were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved, rather than their size.
1 - The African Elephant • • •
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Widely recognized as the most impressive animal in Africa, the African Elephant measures between 3.2 and 4 meters at the shoulder and weigh an average of 6.5 tons. The elephant's trunk serves as a multipurpose tool for eating, cleaning, signaling, drinking water, digging, dusting and even as an extra limb when needed. Capable of reaching up to 7 meters in length, the elephant's trunk is a strong muscle that has the ability to twist tightly around objects and is mostly used for tearing wood from trees or when fighting. The second most recognizable feature of the elephant is no doubt its tusks. Essentially the tusks are elongated incisors which grow for most of the elephant's life and are thus an accurate gauge of an elephant's age. Elephants usually eat around 270-300kgs of food every day. http://www.southafrica.com/wildlife/elephant/
2 - The African Buffalo •
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The statuesque bovine buffalo has an imposing presence which demands a level of respect. Reaching a height at its shoulders of 1.5meters, the buffalo weighs on average a hefty 750kg's. Whilst both the male and female buffalo have horns, the male buffalo's horns are thicker and point upwards at the tips. The female buffalo's horns are slightly more 'dainty' but nevertheless just as dangerous. Its said that the most dangerous buffalo is a wounded one. Its potential agressive behavior makes it a suitable member of Africa's big 5.
http://www.southafrica.com/wildlife/buffalo/ 3 - The African Leopard • • • • •
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A mysterious and beautiful animal, the leopard is rather elusive and is therefore rarely spotted. It is amazingly powerful, an accomplished climber, is fearless and has the ability to kill animals far larger than itself. The spectacular coloring of the leopard is made up of either white or golden brown with black spots and rosettes. The leopard is a relatively light animal, weighing in at around 65kg's. The explosive jumping power of the leopard can be seen by its ability to leap over 20 feet horizontally and 10 feet vertically. To put that in perspective, from a standing start a leopard can jump over an elephant! For the most part, leopards are nocturnal but will often be spotted during in the early morning or late afternoon in many of South Africa's superb game reserves. http://www.southafrica.com/wildlife/leopard/
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- The Rhinoceros
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The rhinoceros is a large, primitive looking mammal that in fact dates from the Miocene era millions of years ago. In recent decades rhinos have been relentlessly hunted to the point of near extinction. Since 1970 the world rhino population has declined by 90 percent, with five species remaining in the world today, all of which are endangered. The black, or hooked-lipped rhino, along with all other rhino species, is an odd-toed ungulate (three toes on each foot). It has a thick, hairless, grey hide. Both the black and white rhino have two horns, the longer of which sits at the front of the nose.
. http://www.sa-venues.com/wildlife/wildlife_rhino.htm
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- The African Lion
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The lion is Africa's largest carnivore. Weighing in at a hefty 190kg's, the male lion is larger than the female African lion and also sports a beautiful mane of long hair on the head and face that extends down to the shoulders. The lions of Africa have a wide habitat. They roam over large areas and only avoid places like deserts and rain forests which make South Africa's numerous game parks the perfect habitat for these majestic animals to roam freely. Lions in general are the only sociable big cats. Females and cubs are always found together for long periods whilst the male lions only stop by periodically. Lions seem like lazy animals because they spend 20 hours a day resting and are only active during the cooler period of the day. The African lion is quite fast, being able to sprint up to 60km/hr but only for short distances. http://www.southafrica.com/wildlife/lion/
SHAMWARI GAME RESERVE •
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Stretching across a 61,000-acre patch of bush in South Africa's Eastern Cape, Shamwari is a rare mixture of luxury game park and sanctuary. You can spot wildlife or do volunteer work at the Born Free Foundation, where lions and leopards that have been mistreated or abused in captivity, are resettled. Shamwari Game Reserve is located 75 km outside Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It has been voted the World's Leading Safari and Game Reserve and Conservation Company for many consecutive years. An essential focus is the management, development and rehabilitation of an ecosystem that has been returned to a more natural condition after many years of farming. The Born Free Foundation jointly funds a sanctuary at Shamwari that gives lifetime care to several lions and leopards that have been discovered in poor conditions in circuses or zoos around the world. This stunning reserve boasts six unique and luxurious lodges, offering our guests a variety of choices. Long Lee Manor, a magnificent Edwardian Manor house, offers refined elegance and sweeping views over the gracious plains. Take a dip in either of the two swimming pools, indulge in the spa, relax in the comfort of the lounge or bar, and enjoy the al la carte restaurant before retiring to an elegant en-suite room. Bayethe Lodge is ideal for travellers seeking a true bush experience. Camouflaged under the trees, the Standard Tents ensure total comfort, along with a private deck and plunge pool. Alternatively, the chique Superior Tents provide the ultimate in luxury. One can experience pampering treatments in the bush spa, which overlooks a wonderful water hole.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Central Reservations Tel: +27 (0)41 509 3000
[email protected] www.shamwari.com/
WEBLINKS http://www.flysaa.com/au/en/home.action www.shamwari.com/
