In this newsletter:

• Zambia: Allure of Africa as it Once Was

• The Best Time for Game Viewing in South Africa

• Luxury Game Viewing in the world renown Kruger National Park

• Africa Romance and the Uyaphi.com Weddings Page

• Special Deal: Imbali Safari Special

1) Our Africa travel consultants have the knowledge and expertise in all the products and destinations we offer.

2) We are accredited by SATSA and ATTA.

3) With our offices based in Cape Town, South Africa, should a problem arise, we will be able to respond to the relative issue in the same time zone as you are located. We are contactable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

4) Since all products and services are pre–paid through Uyaphi.com you are never surprised with any additional costs, with this in mind you can budget properly for your Africa safari.

5) Uyaphi.com does not charge any credit card surcharges.

Uyaphi.com’s service shines bright as the African Sun...

“ ...We had a wonderful time on our trip!! The Outlook lodge was absolutely perfect for us!! The safari was great and everyone was so kind and helpful. We would definitely recommend you to anyone following in our footsteps... The scenery was breathtaking!! Thanks so much for everything!! ...”

Danielle and Julie (United States)

Greetings from Uyaphi.com headquarters in sunny Muizenberg, Cape Town!

The fun and games of the festive season are now little more than a distant memory as we all get stuck into 2009 and all it promises. With any luck this will be the year for your dreamed of Safari, a chance to experience the best wilderness destinations and year-round warm weather.

Happy Reading and Travel Safe!

Regards,
The Uyaphi.com Team

Zambia: Allure of Africa as it Once Was

Zambia is a favourite of Safari veterans. While tourist infrastructure is relatively undeveloped, the high-end safari market thrives; locations are hard to beat and many of Uyaphi’s preferred operators are legendary in the Safari world. This is true African adventure!

Zambia is criss-crossed by two major river systems that provide unsurpassed fishing opportunities, 17 magnificent waterfalls, dramatic floodplains, a plethora of lakes and breathtaking locations. Opportunities for adventure abound: River Rafting, Bungi jumping, Abseiling, and Canoeing Safaris in some of the wildest locations you’ll encounter.

Livingstone has fast become the destination of choice for people visiting Victoria Falls. While most agree that the best views are on the Zimbabwean side, many prefer the political stability and renowned friendliness of their Zambian hosts.

The Kafue River flows through the populous towns of the ‘copper belt’ to the vast Busanga Plain and Zambia's oldest Game Reserve, Kafue National Park . This immense 22,400 km2 Reserve is renowned for its huge herds of antelope, and of course their accompanying predators.

Onwards to the Kafue flats, an enormous shallow flood plain and the Lochinvar National Park, particularly well known for its 30,000 endemic Kafue lechwe, an antelope specially adapted to wading in the soggy conditions of the flats which become inundated during the rainy season. The abundant waters also make for unsurpassed birding with over 420 recorded species.

The south-western extension of Africa’s Great Rift Valley is Luangwa Valley, a vast wilderness paradise drained by the Luangwa River. There is very little human habitation other than safari lodges offering some of the most wild and untouched African bush experiences.

Changing seasons transform the landscape of South Luangwa National Park from dry bushveld in winter to a lush impenetrable green wonderland in the wet summer months. This is the home of the original walking safari. Game viewing opportunities are superb with 60 animal species and over 400 different bird species to look out for. The only notable exception is the rhino, sadly poached to extinction.

Read more about our Zambia Safaris

The Best Time for Game Viewing in South Africa

June/July is midwinter in South Africa, which means low season rates and very good value for travelers. What’s more, this is also the best time to see game ...

Winter in South Africa is the dry season, which means that the vegetation is sparse, and visibility for game spotting improves immensely. Anyone who has strained their eyes staring into dense bush on the back of a safari Landrover desperately trying to find signs of animal life will appreciate the benefits of a little less undergrowth!

Added to this, many of the water sources dry up and animals run out of options for finding water in their usual spots. This means that they are sure to converge at water holes. The best tip for game spotting is to stay put at a waterhole and get sucked into the bush soap opera that unfolds around you. There may be little action when you arrive but patience is sure to be rewarded as the animals emerge from the undergrowth, each taking their turn to parade down to the water’s edge to drink. And while you wait, there will always be something going on: a baboon troop at play, foraging meerkats, or dung beetles struggling with their load.


On a Guided Safari game drives are a feature of every dawn and dusk, the best time for most animal activity.

The adventurous may prefer to take themselves on a Self Drive Safari. South Africa’s game reserves are well catered to self-drive travelers and there is nothing quite as satisfying as spotting an animal for yourself.

Of course you are closest to the wild when you are on foot and a Walking Safari is the perfect way to truly experience the full drama of the African bush.

Luxury Game Viewing in world renowned
Kruger National Park

There are 7 private concessions licensed to operate within the boundary of South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Here guests can expect every modern luxury and excellent dining while getting to enjoy the natural wonders that the Kruger National Park has to offer. Take advantage of winter game viewing at this selection of Uyaphi’s favourites:


Imbali Concession
A 10,000-hectare private concession area in the western reaches of the Park.

Imbali Safari Lodge has 12 immaculate suites on the banks of the Nwatswitswonto River featuring large expanses of glass and magnificent wooden decks for better game-viewing. Private plunge pools have views over the riverbed and the plains beyond.

Hoyo Hoyo Tsonga Lodge is set on the banks of the Mluwati River boasting 6 luxurious traditional tsonga huts. Glimpse the culture and lifestyle of the Shangaan people; the legendary boma feast hosted by the resident Shangaan Chief is a must.

Hamiltons Tented Camp offers 6 magnificent tented chalets with slipper baths and outdoor showers with a superb view of the Ngwenyeni Dam. This bush camp is a favourite: unrivalled design, service, ambience and personalised cuisine.


Singita Concession
A huge 15,000-hectare concession in the eastern reaches of the Park.

Singita Lebombo Lodge has 15 lofty rooms that hug the mountainside offering unsurpassed views from sparsely adorned spaces created of wall-to-wall glass.

Singita Sweni Lodge offers more of a personal feel to its sister lodge with 6 suites flanking the Sweni River. Even when you’re indoors, you feel close to the river and trees due to the floor-to-ceiling glass walls.


Jock of the Bushveld Concession
A 6,000-hectare concession in the south.

Jock Safari Lodge was one of the first privately owned camps, magnificently situated at the confluence of the Mitomeni and Biyamiti Rivers (the pool literally sits at the confluence!) 12 luxury air-conditioned suites with private outdoor salas overlook the river. Little Jock is a more private experience with 3 luxurious suites to ensure that personal service is a priority.


Makuleke Concession
A massive 24,000-hectare concession in the remote northern reaches of the park

Pafuri Camp features 20 luxurious tented rooms looking out over the Luvuvhu River in the wildest and most biodiverse corner of the Park. This scenic area is the ancestral home of the Makuleke people and nearby Crook's Corner sees the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers and 3 countries meet: Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique.


Mutlumuvi Concession
This 12,000-hectare concession in the west shares 15 kilometres of unfenced boundary with the famous Mala Mala and Sabi Sand reserves. This is the home of the Rhino Walking Safari, where you can experience a 4-day or 6-day wilderness adventure.

Rhino Post Safari Camp is set under magnificent Tamboti trees. Stilts raise the 8 spaciously appointed suites allowing superb views of the Mutlumuvi riverbed from bedroom, bathroom and private deck. Plains Camp features 4 African explorer-style tents nestled in an Acacia Knobthorn thicket that overlooks the spectacular Timbitene Plain and its abundant wildlife.

Africa Romance and the Uyaphi.com Weddings Page

Your wedding will be one of the most important occasions of your life, so you want it to be extra special, memorable … and very romantic.

The allure of Africa is perfect for your special day, whether you are barefoot in beachsand or tying the knot in an exotic setting deep in the bush. The advantage of an African wedding location is that year-round perfect weather makes an outdoor wedding a particularly viable option.

Uyaphi.com has put together a portfolio of African wedding options for your special day, whether it’s just the two of you … or a gathering of the people you’d most like to share this important occasion with. The great thing about a destination wedding is that you get to spend quality time with friends and family in a perfect location.

Our wedding planners are experts in romantic travel and are on hand to customise your wedding package in the most romantic settings you could dream of.

Click here to view the Uyaphi.com Wedding Page

Featured Deal:
Imbali Safari Special

Indulge in luxury and comfort on a Kruger Park adventure. If you book a getaway of 3 nights or more to any of the participating Kruger Park Imbali luxury lodges, you receive at least one free return flight from Johannesburg!

This offer is valid until 30 April 2009. Click here to hear more.

Participating lodges:
Imbali Safari Lodge, Hoyo Hoyo Tsonga Lodge, Hamiltons Tented Camp

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