Luxury Safari news

Luxury Safari news from Africa; hold the page!

Exciting new activities at Samara March sees the launch of many exciting new developments. On the 21st of March Samara will be running it's special “Easter Eggs, Bugs and Bunnies” programme and with this will launch the start of their new child programme. The weekend kicks off with fresh baked hot cross buns, plenty of games and activities and an Easter egg hunt on the lawns of Karoo Lodge. Family travel has been growing steadily at Samara and with this in mind Samara has looked to developing a more comprehensive and exciting children’s programme for our young guests. The programme is being developed in conjunction with Future Nature, it will offer families with children of all ages wonderful opportunities to explore, fuelling enthusiasm for the bush and educating them about the natural environment.
Also launching in March are the”Samara Sleep Outs”, this allows our guests the opportunity to sleep under the stars. Samara provide everything to ensure a comfortable night out in the wilderness. ‘Sleep Outs” provide a great opportunity to sleep under the stars, listen to the sounds of the bush and feel at one with nature. This offers a wonderful “camp out” experience for families who can sit under the stars while roasting marshmallows on the open fire.

Later this year we will be launching the long awaited horse trails on Samara. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the secrets of Samara’s unexplored valleys and plains on horse back, one of the most natural ways to enjoy nature and game viewing. Riding excursions will cater to all riding abilities and will be lead by qualified guides on well trained and cared for horses.
For more details on all these activities please visit our website on http://www.vipvillas.com/ and contact us via the email address.


For those of you who have visited our magnificent mountain plateaus on Kondoa Mountain may find this latest history update amusing.
During WW2, a Karoo farm manager at Kondoa, Ralph Kluegen, was interned as the South African authorities thought him guilty of spying. Most people in the area thought this a bit far fetched, however in 1953, while renovating a building, Douglas Parkes was amazed to find a Transmitter in the stable loft.
Apparently warnings had been heard on the German controlled radio, that those who had joined up to serve with the DMR (the local regiment) and were about to sail for North Africa, would be in danger of that vessel being torpedoed by submarine. This had been given some credibility when it was clear that the Germans had the departure date correct and even the name of the ship! How could this have happened? Eventually it dawned on Graaff Reinetters that a certain jeweller in town who often drove out to Kondoa was the culprit, obviously he and Ralph Kluegen had been the informers.
March Game Sightings. With all the good rains lately the seasons really have been changing and many antelope are dropping young, both the Eland & Kudu have already birthed their calves, about 3 months earlier than expected. Many other antelope species are pregnant so we are looking forward to many more youngsters on Samara. Sibella’s cubs are growing fast and looking big, strong and extremely healthy. As usual Sibella is being an excellent mother, making regular kills, mostly Kudu calves, for her youngsters to feed off. Guests have been awed, going off on foot and getting up close to Sibella and cubs, often viewing the family feeding off a fresh kill.
Buffalo sightings have also been excellent and mostly effortless. They have been spotted many time lately, enjoying the green lawns just outside Karoo Lodge. Now is the time to visit so look to book here!