It’s expected that around 50 million people will spend their vacation in Africa this year. That’s a mere 4% of all international travel, but the low figures do not reflect what a huge role tourism plays in many African economies. One out of every 20 jobs in Africa is in the tourist and travel industry. A small country like Rwanda has managed to turn its 200 mountain gorillas into a $200 million a year industry. Gorilla tourism has helped improve roads, schools and infrastructure in the Virunga region where the Gorillas live, as well as successfully conserving the gorilla habitat.

Developing Tourism
The tourist industry is growing at a respectable rate of 7.2% in Africa. This number has the potential to be much higher, but developing tourism requires a whole host of factors besides building a lovely lodge or hotel. A successful tourism sector relies on good safety and security, health and hygiene, infrastructure, education and training. Obviously supporting and investing in tourism will benefit many, not just those earning a living wage from working in the sector.

What’s Your Role as a Tourist in all This?

One of the most important ways you can benefit Africa’s economy is by choosing to vacation there! And while you’re enjoying your safari or cultural tour, make sure to shop locally and eat locally. Getting your tourist dollars to trickle down is important. Supporting local businesses is just as effective as donating money to a school. And if the local community benefits from tourism, then tourism has a much better chance of being sustainable and successful.

Promote a Positive Image of Africa
When you come back from a trip to Africa, tell your friends about it and share your wonderful photos on facebook. Don’t limit yourself to gorgeous landscapes and wildlife, include your interactions with everyday people too. Africa needs positive marketing and you can really help combat the negative picture that all too often appears in the news.

Be A Responsible Tourist
Make sure your vacation in Africa is a responsible one, so that everyone can benefit from your trip. At African Portfolio, we provide our clients with practical travel guidelines that underscore the importance of low-impact travel. We stress that the countries they are visiting are not merely ‘photo opportunities’ but living cultures of both people and animals. We believe that it is through mutual interaction, that genuine caring and learning is fostered.

With more than 900 species of birds in southern Africa and over 1300 in East Africa, it’s easy to understand why destinations like Botswana, Malawi, Uganda, and Kenya are immensely popular with twitchers. Even if you do not consider yourself a big fan of our feathered friends, you will be after your first safari. Because in Africa, even the most common birds are colorful. The iridescent lilac-breasted roller is as ubiquitous as the pigeon. Every tree or bush you pass en route to your next “big five” sighting, is filled with song and color. It’s difficult to ignore birds while on safari and impossible not to fall in love.

Traveling with a twitcher? Have no fear, many of the best birding destinations in Africa, happen to be located in major wildlife parks and reserves, so you can experience a wonderful safari side by side. Not a fan of the bush? You can enjoy great food, wine and art galleries with your twitching enthusiast, given that there are some 225 birds within 100 km of Cape Town alone. And that includes the African penguin!

What’s Different About a Birding Safari in Africa?

• Birders enjoy their safari in the wet season, sometimes called the “green season”.



• Birding safaris are led by expert guides who are avid ornithologists.
• Birding safaris will change camps frequently during a single safari in order to see as many different habitats as possible.
• Birding safaris will allow for lots of time on foot and out of a safari vehicle.
• Checklists, huge zoom lenses, spotting scopes, tripods and powerful binoculars, are essential packing items.
• Birding safaris can get you off the beaten-track. Birders are among our clients who will specially request information about Angola, Uganda, Ethiopia and Malawi to see some of Africa’s rarer birds, (like the Shoebill stork pictured here).

Note:

A twitcher is not the same as a bird watcher. The term twitcher is reserved for those who travel long distances to see a rare bird that would then be ticked, or checked off, on a list. A twitcher who fails to see a rare bird has dipped out. If other twitchers do see the bird, he may feel gripped off. Suppression is the act of concealing news of a rare bird from other twitchers.

If you would like more information about birding safaris, or any other “specialist” safari, contact us!

Susan, our senior travel consultant, recently enjoyed 9 days in Cape Town. Susan grew up in South Africa and has been to Cape Town many times, yet the city still manages to surprise her with its wealth of quality attractions. From fine dining to penguin-watching, here are some highlights from her recent visit.

Where to Stay in Cape Town

Cape Grace Hotel – I just love the decor and the very Cape Town feel of the property. Had a Table Mountain view from the room overlooking the Marina. It’s just the perfect location for those wanting to be on the V & A Waterfront. Just close enough to be there with a couple of minutes walk, yet far enough to be quiet and not in the hustle and bustle of the waterfront.

Cape Cadogan – I loved this property. Perfect small boutique hotel feel to it with excellent service and staff. Wonderful attention to detail. Our room was one of the superior rooms with a great balcony and a lovely view of Lions Head. Breakfast was delicious served in a lovely courtyard area for outdoor eating. The location is ideal – within walking distance from Company Gardens, SA Museum and several good restaurants like the Societi Bistro below.

Ellerman House – a most perfect, intimate property, with superb service and a fantastic setting with great ocean views. The service is excellent, nothing is too much trouble – you just have to ask. Had an amazing massage in the spa which is quite gorgeous.

Where to Eat in Cape Town

Societi Bistro in Gardens – Just 10 minutes walk from Cape Cadogan, the Bistro serves a mixture of French, Italian, and Vegetarian food. The restaurant is in a wonderful Georgian-style home, with great ambiance, service and food. We would definitely go back.

Wakame is right on the seafront in Green Point on the 2nd floor, which gives it awesome views of the sea so also a great place to have lunch. Fantastic sushi, great fish dishes, good service. Very busy at night with nice atmosphere.

Greek Fisherman – if you love Greek food this is a wonderful choice. The owner had a restaurant in Jo’burg that we frequented on a regular basis. The Greek Fisherman is on the Waterfront with great outdoor seating as well.

Sandbar in Camps Bay – a favorite of mine, great for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. Very casual, we had dinner there and enjoyed truly great food. It’s just across the road from Camps Bay beach.

Harbour House in Kalk Bay – fabulous setting and excellent seafood. Situated in the picturesque old world charm of Kalk Bay’s working harbour.

Cellars Hohenhort in Constantia. We ate lunch in the Conservatory – excellent food and great views of the beautiful gardens. Excellent place to stay too, accommodations are a mix of traditional and contemporary style.

Where to Savor the View

The Wheel of Excellence – built to entertain vistors during the World Cup, this huge Ferris wheel offers an amazing ride. It’s located on the V & A Waterfront and boasts 36 fully enclosed luxury cabins. Each of these cabins can hold eight people, they all have a glass floors and are air-conditioned. The round trip is a picturesque 20 minutes long and some of the sights you’ll see include:

• V&A Waterfront
• Cape Town Stadium
• Robben Island
• Table Mountain
• Cape Town City
• Paarl Mountains

Where to Take a Day-Drive

We had a wonderful drive to Hout Bay, over Chapman’s Peak, and on to Noordhoek . As you can tell from the above list of restaurants, we ate well along this route. We also visited Boulders beach and the penguins. Love the penguins, such fun to watch and so very endearing and comical.

Please contact us if you would like to know more about visiting Cape Town. We are all very familiar with the city and can custom create the perfect itinerary for you.

As Africa experts, we are often invited to be guest speakers and panelists at major travel shows and exhibits. One of the questions that crops up frequently at these events concerns the tourist visa. Tourist visas are a requirement for many African countries including Egypt, Tanzania, and Kenya. In some cases you can get a visa on arrival at the airport, in others you will need to plan ahead and get one from the embassy in advance. If you have a choice, getting a visa in advance does not necessarily save you time when you arrive at the airport, but it does save you from having to part with some precious foreign currency on arrival.

We usually recommend you first call the embassy or consulate of the country you are visiting to find out the most current requirements, since regulations can change day by day. We try and keep up with them, but it’s not always possible, and rules also vary depending on your nationality. Even in our own office we have different experiences, Yvette rarely needs to bother with visas in Africa, since she holds a South African passport.

Questions to Ask When You Call the Embassy or Consulate

• Can the tourist visa be issued at the airport or land border – or do you need to get it in advance?
• Will you need proof of an airline ticket purchase or tour itinerary?
• How long is the tourist visa valid for?
• Does the validity of the tourist visa start once issued, or on arrival in the country?
• How much does it cost and what is the accepted method of payment?
• Ask if you need a “single” or “multiple” entry visa based on your planned trip itinerary
• How long does it take to process the visa?

Once you’ve gathered all the information, make sure you get the right application form and follow all the guidelines. It’s likely you will need some passport photos, a money order, and a passport with blank pages that is valid for at least six months after you arrive in the country.

We recommend you start the visa process at least a month before you depart on your trip so you have ample time to get your passport back with the visa in it. If you need multiple visas for a safari that encompasses several countries it may be worth using a visa agency to avoid a lot of mailing back and forth. Click here for a list of agencies.

Part of what we strive for at African Portfolio is to provide unique, customized itineraries for our clients. We love to involve our clients with the planning and choosing of hotels, routes and safaris. By being informed about your trip every step of the way, you will know exactly what borders you may be crossing, and what cities you will be flying into. This will make it easy to ensure you get the right tourist visa in good time for your trip of a lifetime!

Diane had the joy of spending five days on Mnemba island recently. It’s a miracle she managed to drag herself away to get back to work — it truly is a slice of paradise. If you’ve ever dreamed of a private island with white beaches, a warm clear blue ocean, luxury chalets, and spectacular snorkeling right off the beach, Mnemba is the place for you. As Diane put it – “I would have no hesitation in encouraging anyone who had the budget, to include Mnemba in an East Africa itinerary or in fact to make it a single purpose destination”. And that’s from our resident self-declared “non-beach” person.

Where is Mnemba Island?
The private island of Mnemba, lies 2.8 miles (4.5 kms) off of the north–eastern tip of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean. The island is about 1 mile in circumference and surrounded by an atoll of coral reefs. Most visitors will fly into Zanzibar and take an hour drive to the northern coast. From there it’s a 20 minute boat ride to Mnemba. You arrive directly on the beach, no jetties here, so be prepared to get your feet wet!

Where to Stay on Mnemba
The only place to stay on the island is at the Mnemba Island Lodge in one of ten bandas (individual, traditionally built chalets). Each banda is located directly on the beach, with private beach sala and traditional Zanzibari sunbeds. The bandas are luxuriously simple, with an open air concept that allows for lovely cooling breezes. Each banda comes with its own butler offering personable and professional service. You can spend your entire stay wearing nothing but a swimsuit, no need to dress in anything else for breakfast, lunch or dinner. All meals are served on the beach (weather permitting), it is sophisticated but totally casual. There’s a main lounge and bar that has a selection of board games, a good library and even a TV. The rates are all-inclusive and include all activities.

What’s it Like on Mnemba?
As Diane put it, “the sand was as fine and white as I have ever seen, yet wasn’t hot. I could walk around the entire island in 20 minutes”. There’s lots of beautiful nature to explore both on land and in the water. Green turtles come to lay their eggs on the island, so you can watch them swim in the ocean and see their babies hatch on the beach. You can opt to go deep sea fishing or diving at any time. There are certified diving instructors on the island. Snorkeling is fabulous here, there are more than 300 species of fish to marvel at. Birders bring your binoculars, there’s plenty to see here. Nights are spent looking at the stars, enjoying a delicious dinner of fresh fish with a cool glass of wine, and listening to the ocean waves. Mnemba island is malaria-free, and there are no snakes or scorpions on the island. Shoes are optional.

When is the Best Time to Visit Mnemba?
The best time to visit Mnemba is from June to March, to avoid the rains. The rains generally fall in April/May and in November. But it is nice and warm year round, with average temperatures around 26°C/79°F.

Is Mnemba a Family Destination?
We would not hesitate to recommend Mnemba to anyone, but if you have younger children, they may get bored. Other than relaxing, swimming, snorkeling and diving, there is not much else to do. It is the perfect destination for couples or a group of friends.

I want to Go!
If Mnemba sounds like your ideal vacation spot, please contact us, we’ll get you there. We may even join you …

We’re very excited to be able to offer our African Portfolio clients an exclusive safari with renowned wildlife photographer Christian Sperka. We met Christian 3 years ago at a charity auction and immediately fell in love with his work. If anyone has been to our office, our walls are adorned with his spectacular wildlife prints.

About Christian Sperka

Christian is a German-born photographer who currently resides in Nashville where he has a gallery. He has an extensive library of wildlife portraits and conducts photo workshops on African safaris. He is the resident professional photographer at the Nashville Zoo where he teaches classes for amateurs and professionals. Christian is a passionate animal conservationist and has been photographing Africa’s wildlife for over a decade. Browse through some of his work by clicking here.

About our Exclusive Photo Safari – July 1 – 5, 2011

African Portfolio guests will join Christian Sperka at the Waterbuck private lodge at Kings Camp in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve. Christian will be hosting workshops and also join the group in the open-air vehicles during daily safaris in the bush. Just imagine the coffee table album you’ll be able to show off! See more details about the safari itinerary….

The Timbavati reserve covers about 60,000 hectares of pristine African bush and is part of the world-famous Kruger National Park. The Kings Camp offers the ultimate in a safari vacation, featuring an air-conditioned four-bedroom private villa with a personal butler and chef. The camp is situated on a dry river bank and affords great views of game.

Why Take a Photo Safari?

Animals wear camouflage and move quickly. Roads are bumpy and the African sun is bright, very bright. All of these factors really affect the amateur photographer’s ability to take good wildlife shots. There’s nothing more disappointing than seeing a breathtaking cheetah on the run, and only being able to show your family back home a blur with a tail. Christian will be offering workshops that will focus on how to shoot animals in the wild, in flight and on the run, regardless of skill level. He recommends using a digital SLR camera with at least a 300 mm lens to get the best results.

All wildlife images © Christian Sperka

“We’re already going to Amboseli for the views of Kilimanjaro and the great numbers of elephants, and to the Masai Mara to see the big cats and predators, possibly the migrating herds crossing the Mara River, and a hot air balloon flight over the plains. Why would we also include Samburu National Reserve on our trip to Kenya?” asked a client earlier this week.

Well – for one thing the Samburu. The Samburu people, that is. They own most of the land around the park, and they are the ones who will teach your children how to brush their teeth with a twig from the right type of tree, carve bows and arrows, or identify the tiny prints of a dik-dik in the sand. Trips to the local Samburu markets (usually on Wednesdays and Thursdays) are always a treat. They offer a rare opportunity to see the art and beauty of the Samburu culture through their jewelry and clothing in a perfectly authentic setting.

Situated alongside the Ewaso Nyiro River, there is typically enough water to attract wildlife from the surrounding savannah plains, and Samburu has become know for it’s own collection of unique and rare inhabitants: The Samburu Special Five.

The Beisa Oryx are beautiful large, non-jumping antelopes. Their grey coats are almost “artistically” embellished with a white underside, separated from the grey by a stripe of black, more black stripes where the head attaches to the neck, along the nose and from the eye to the mouth and on the forehead. Their elegant horns are thin and straight and grow up to 3 feet long.

The word Gerenuk comes from the Somali language, meaning “giraffe-necked”, Gerenuks eat tender leaves and shoots of prickly bushes and trees from higher places than most other gazelles and antelopes by standing up on their hind legs, and stretching out their long necks. It is quite a sight to behold. Gerenuks rarely drink water, because they get enough from the plants they eat, which allows them to skip the dangerous waterhole-routine at sunset, and survive in their dry habitat.

Grevy’s Zebras are also known as the Imperial Zebra. They are taller, have larger ears and narrower stripes than other kinds of zebras, and while they once ranged through most of Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, today they are an endangered species of roughly 2,500 living in the wild and confined mostly to this part of northern Kenya.

The Somali Ostrich looks a lot like other ostriches, but the skin on their necks and thighs is grey-blue (not pink). The males’ becoming bright blue during the mating season.  Unlike other ostriches, the Somali do not like open plains, but prefer bush and scrubland where they live solitary or in pairs.

Reticulated giraffe are also known as Somali giraffe, but most noted for their beautiful and distinctive pattern: large, deep red polygonal patches are outlined sharply by bright white lines.

I know what you’re thinking:  a giraffe is a giraffe is a giraffe, and a zebra is a zebra is a zebra right? But take it from me, you will surprise yourself to find how exciting it is when you start noticing these types of distinctions, so to complete your collection with pictures of these peculiar creatures…. go to Samburu!

It’s that time of year when we pull out the Amarula Coffee Surprise and treat ourselves to a little cocktail. Yvette is heading home for Christmas and sunshine, while the rest of us will hold the fort in freezing Connecticut.

Christmas is celebrated throughout South Africa, a little like here in the US. There are lots of different religions and cultures, but fake snow and (sweaty) Santas can be seen everywhere. Christmas day is a national holiday, and the 26th of December is too. That’s thanks to the British, and it’s called “Boxing Day”.

Christmas Eve is a time for caroling, and the churches will be filled to the brim. Christmas day is usually spent having lunch outside with paper hats and crackers. Meats are roasted and families spend the day together. For those with little money, a common Christmas gift for the children is a brand new school uniform. The school year starts in January in South Africa, after a long summer holiday.

New Year’s Eve is widely celebrated in the usual fashion. Nightclubs, bars and restaurants will all have special events to welcome in 2011. On January 1st, Cape Town enjoys a colorful Minstrel Carnival – “Kaapse Klopse”, with parades and bands.

We‘d also like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for the festive season and a very Happy New Year. Or as Yvette would say ‘Voorspoedige nuwe jaar” … but only try and pronounce that in private.

Judy Donahue, our Savor South Africa contest winner, has recently returned from her trip and sent us a lovely letter filled with her impressions of South Africa. Here are some excerpts:

After more than a year of anticipation, we are actually on our way to South Africa! It still seems almost impossible to believe that I was so fortunate to win a contest with such an incredible prize of visiting this amazing country on a luxury tour staying at three gorgeous Tintswalo lodges! I will be ever grateful to my friend, Betty, who suggested that members of our book club enter the contest—I’m so glad I listened to her!

I am glad to be here at Tintswalo Waterfall, and we are warmly greeted and shown to our room, “The Mongolian Pony,” overlooking the polo fields. I like the name of the room and hope we will be like those ponies, who are known for their strength and stamina, during this trip.

We dress for the bush, wearing our new insect-repellent safari clothes and hoping we don’t look too much like “Great White Hunter” wannabes. Our short flight takes us to Nelspruit Airport and the Manyeleti Reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park.

I ask our guide to please check the bed area and she does so with graceful tolerance. No snakes. I feel like a six-year-old, and my husband is in the next room pretending not to know me.

As we are led to a table on the broad deck overlooking a riverbed, lunch appears: a tasty stir-fry of fresh vegetables, chicken strips, and noodles, followed by a fruit tart—perfect sustenance for our first foray into the bush. A Yellow billed Hornbill lands on our table, cocks his head as if to say “It’s about time!” and flies off with a strip of chicken fluttering in his bill like a ribbon.

At home we had been cautioned not to get our hopes up to see a leopard as they are solitary creatures and hard to find. However, the other guests had seen one the previous day and were quite thrilled about it. I had a strong case of “Leopard Envy” and hoped that we could be so lucky. Luck was more than with us, for over the next two days, we saw not only the Big Five
(lion, leopard, rhino, water buffalo, elephant) twice, but also many, many more animals and birds way beyond our expectations.

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