Namibia: Lodges, campsites, roads etc. closed due to rain/floods

Namibian tourism info source tourbrief has sent out some updates on the current rain/flood situation in Namibia over the recent days:

update: (29 Jan 2011): click here for updates from 29 Jan 2011 onwards!

update (27 Jan 2011): According to the Auob Country Lodge management their campsite has been closed due to flooding and will remain closed for several days depending on the rains. The lodge is still open. The roads leading to Auob Country Lodge are currently drivable.

update (26 Jan 2011): Please enquire with Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch concerning the road condition before departing for the lodge, because the D1268 is flooded in places. It is better to drive from Mariental to Bagatelle than from Kalkrand. The C49 (M125) is very wet and slippery. A 4x4 is required. Namushasha Country Lodge  access road has a sign posted detour around a flooded area. UPDATE: The Tsondab River has stopped flooding, so that travellers can now take the C19 between Solitaire & Sesriem again. Generally the C19 is in a rather good condition.

update (25 Jan 2011): The C43 between Sesfontein & Opuwo and between Opuwo & Epupa Falls is in some parts in pretty bad condition. Please drive this road only with a 4x4. Alternatively use the C35 to drive from / to Opuwo. The Huab & Aba-Huab Rivers (Twyfelfontein Area) have not flooded yet. Most roads in the area are in a relative good condition. UPDATE: Tsumkwe Country Lodge advises travellers that the C44 from the B8 turn off to Tsumkwe is very wet and therefor slippery. Several of the smaller roads around town are acutally in a very bad condition. A 4x4 is required. Pls be should be extremely cautious when crossing any flooded road. 

update (22 Jan 2011): The Löwen River is in flood and part of the C12 between Seeheim and Holoog, en route to the Fish River Canyon lookout point, cannot be used. Please drive the B4 from Keetmanshoop and turn into the  D545. The road bypasses the flooded area and re-joins the C12. thx to tourbrief for the updates!


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The Savuti Channel has flooded and the road from Kasane to the Okavango Delta is closed. Travel between Namibia and Victoria Falls is not affected.

The Hakusembe River Lodge, situated 12 km from Rundu on the Rundu-Nkurunkuru Road, is temporarily closed due to high water levels in the Kavango River. The lodge itself is not flooded, but as precautionary measure the establishment is closed. The Lodge is expected to reopen in February 2011, subject to levels of the river. We'll keep you posted!

The Ndhovu Safari Lodge campsite, situated in the Mahango Game Reserve (Caprivi Strip), is closed due to flooding and will remain closed until the end of May 2011. The lodge is open and bookings are welcome.

Game drives in the reserve surrounding Onguma Bush Camp, Onguma Tree Top Camp, Onguma Tented Camp and Onguma - The Fort (all situated close to Etosha) may be temporarily disrupted due to rain.

• Game drives into Etosha are NOT affected.
• The roads to Onguma are NOT affected either.

Solitaire Country Lodge, situated in the little settlement of Solitaire some 80km from Sossusvlei, reports that the current rainfall is having an impact on:

• The C19 between Solitaire & Sesriem is generally in a good condition, but the Tsondab River is in flood and, depending on the rain, the road may not be able to be crossed for the next 2 to 3 days. Signs are up on the C19 at Solitaire and enquiries should be done at Solitaire.
• The C14 between Walvis Bay and Solitaire is corrugated in many places so please drive slowly
• The C14 between Solitaire and Maltahöhe is very wet and slippery, so please drive slowly.

Namibia protects its entire coastline as one National Park

With the declaration of the Dorob National Park on 01 Dec 2010, Namibia became the first continental country to have its entire coastline (with the exception of town lands) protected as a conservation area. The Namib-Skeleton Coast National Park stretches from the mouth of the Kunene River in the north to the mouth of the Orange River in the south, along the total length of the Namibian coastline of 1570 km. The National Park is the 8th largest protected area in the world, the 6th largest terrestrial protected area, and the largest park in Africa, covering an area of 107,540 km².
The park comprises four main terrestrial management areas:

• Sperrgebiet National Park
• Namib-Naukluft Park
• Skeleton Coast Park
• Dorob National Park

The name Dorob National Park derives from the word "Doro-!Hub", meaning "Dry Land". According to oral history this was the name the area between Lüderitz and Walvis Bay and up to the Kunene River during the 16th century.


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INFO - the areas around & to the north of Swakopmund now require permits to visit. If you intend to stop and explore the environment along the C34 coastal road, a permit is required. These are inexpensive and can be obtained easily in the coastal towns. If you intend just to drive the C34 without stopping, no permit is required.

Air France-KLM group: New destinations and frequencies to the African continent

The Air France-KLM group has anounced the opening of two new destinations in Africa:

• Kigali in Rwanda -  five weeekly flights by KLM
• Bata in Equatorial Guinea - two weekly flights by Air France

Air France-KLM has also increased its flight numbers to:

• Pointe-Noire in DR Congo
• Libreville in Gabon
• Malabo in Equatorial Guinea
• Dar es Salaam in Tanzania

Air France will also serve three new destintions from summer 2011:

• Freetown in Sierra Leone -two weekly flights
• Monrovia in Liberia - three weekly flights
• Tripoli in Libya - five weekly flights

In total, the Air France-KLM group has anounced an increase of 3.5% of its routes to Africa this winter 2010/11; 36 destinations served by Air France and KLM, 210 weekly frequencies; an even more extended network of 43 destinations in 31 countries, thanks to three African partners - Kenya Airways, TAAG Angola Airlines & Comair (South Africa).

Getaway Mag: Win a dream travel job that’s not a job at all!

Getaway.co.za, in conjunction with Fair Trade in and Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) and the National Development Agency (NDA) is offering an opportunity of a lifetime to one lucky travel junkie.

One country, one month and a whole lotta travelling!

Responsibilities:
Your job (if we can call it that) is to explore the best of Fair Trade travel in the south-east of South Africa (think Knysna, the Wild Coast, Drakensberg and much more!) take some great pictures and upload a short blog on your experiences once a day.

You'll need to have:

• A love for travel and travel writing
• A flair for photography
• Your own laptop and digital camera
• The freedom to hit the road for four weeks, starting 14 February 2011.

All your travel, food and accommodation costs will be covered, as well as your 3G connection and pocket money for the entire trip.

To enter, simply send Getaway.co.za a brief account (between 200 and 300 words) of your most interesting travel experience to date and two of your best travel photographs.  For more info, where to send the email & photos to etc. click here! Competition ends on 1 February 2011.

Plettenberg Bay voted the friendliest holiday spot in South Africa

South African budget airline kulula.com surveyed more than 1500 people from across the country, who were asked to vote for their friendliest destination. According to the survey, Plettenberg Bay is South Africa's friendliest holiday spot, followed closely by Ballito, the Drakensberg, Knysna and Camps Bay.



Travellers visiting Beaufort West, Tulbagh and the Bluff (Durban) shouldn't expect too much as the three are marking the country's unfriendliest spots in the survey. The Western Cape came out tops as the friendliest province of South Africa.

HostelBookers January Sale - up to 30% off! Sale extended to 28 Feb 2011

Whether you are heading back to school, college, work or just a bit down in the dumps with northern hemisphere wintry weather, January can be a dreary month. The best way to deal with these January blues is to book yourself a holiday. And with HostelBookers’ January Sale in full swing, now is the time to bag some 2011 deals and book accommodation with up to 30% off.

Here are just a few of the destinations featured in the sale:

Amsterdam
If you enjoyed a few too many mince pies at Christmas, Amsterdam is a great place to ease yourself into gentle activity. The city is made for cycling with well-mapped routes and cycle lanes. Alternatively, take it easy and wander the pretty streets or pop in to one of the many art galleries. If you are looking for hostels Amsterdam has plenty in the city centre.

Dublin
Whether or not you go in for a pint of the local Guinness brew, the pubs and bars are the city’s biggest draw. Here you can meet friendly Dubliners, savour the sounds of live and upbeat fiddle music and really get to grips with what makes Dublin tick. At hostels in Dublin you will find welcoming staff always happy to suggest things to see and do in the city.

Florence
A firm favourite amongst romantics and art-lovers, travellers will have the Uffizi, the Accademia and the Ponte Vecchio on their must-see list. But Florence rewards even the aimless wanderers with many historic buildings, beautiful churches and inviting trattorias.  If you are looking for a city centre youth hostel Florence has cheap accommodation near Santa Maria Nouvella train station, the Boboli Gardens and the Piazza della Signoria.

Kuala Lumpur
A welcome clash of old meets new awaits you in the Malaysian capital. Veg on delicious street food from vendors or settle in to one of the many Wi-Fi-enabled coffee houses. It might have a skyline dominated by skyscrapers but it is also one of the greenest cities in Southeast Asia. If you are looking for a hostel Kuala Lumpur offers cheap accommodation with plenty of character.

Los Angeles
With over 20 beaches to choose from Los Angeles really is the place to soak up the sunshine. There are plenty of people-watching opportunities along Venice Beach or have a whirlwind romance with the stars along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Look out for free events and a free breakfast at hostels in Los Angeles.

For all other destinations, see the January Sale page. This sale ends on 31st January

Kenya: fee increase at National Parks during high season

Kenya Wildlife Service has increased the entry fees for various National Parks and Reserves across Kenya. The new rates, valid since 01 Jan 2011, are mainly affecting foreigners visiting Lake Nakuru, Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Amboseli and Meru. The new fees will apply during the high season months of January, February, March, July, August, September and October.

• Lake Nakuru from US$60 to US$75
• Amboseli from US$60 to US$75
• Tsavo East from US$50 to US$60
• Tsavo West from US$50 to US$60
• Meru rised from US$50 to US$60

The name of the charges has also been changed from "park entry fees" to "conservation fees" to reflect that visitors to national parks are contributing to conservation and the continued survival of wildlife and their habitats for generations to come.

More info about the new fees can be found in the 2011 entry fee leaflet (pdf) and in the overview on coservation fees Jan - Dec 2011 (pdf).