AFRICA

Don't forget Africa. New itineraries available are for safaris to Wild Dogs, Bengweulu Swamps and other unusual parts of Zambia. Jo Meintjes Travel has linked up with an organisation offering a variety of tours to Uganda for chimpanzees and gorilla safaris.

NAMIBIA

Watch this space for unusual trips or enquire for other tours to this unique wilderness.

The new Leylandsdrift camp

BOTSWANA

Jo Meintjes went on one of the first voyages of the completely rebuilt and refurbished houseboat, Zambezi Queen in December 2009 which sails on the Chobe River. The ship has 14 en suite luxury cabins while the covered top deck is given over to the dining, pub and lounge area for superb game viewing opportunities. The windows fold right back to the open air but also have mosquito screen and shutters for use when required. In addition staff will take you on pontoon boats for close-up game viewing, or fishing. Typically they run 3 or 4 night cruises out of Kasane (serviced by Air Botswana) but the Zambezi Queen is available both for charter or individuals can join others on the regular departures. Transfers at extra cost can be arranged from Victoria Falls or Livingstone.

There was a superb dinner arranged in a boma on shore one night with star-gazing to follow. A half day game viewing was included in the price to visit Chobe National Park. Bird life like the African Fish Eagle and Spoonbill was prolific as were the big mammals: buffalo, hippo, elephant, lion and wild dog.

The owners have now sensibly organised that instead of many passport controls in/out of Botswana and Namibia clients will stay in Botswana waters theoretically for the time they are there. This is the country with more prolific game.

Go now while it is something of a secret although the London Times Travel correspondent was on board so it won’t be a secret for long! It’s a luxury treat but good value for money.

For more details and prices please contact Jo using the Enquiry form.

Typical scene from the Zambezi Queen of the Chobe River

After successfully running tours in 2004 and 2005 a tour to Mali to see the Dogon People and Timbuktu – Jo Meintjes can organise tours for individuals or your own groups. She visited Mali and visited Timbuktu in April 2006.

mali

A salt caravan:
Jo was incredibly lucky to see them as they are not usually operating in 45 °C heat in April, the hottest month in Mali. Each camel carries 4 tombstone-size blocks of rock salt weighing 20 kgs each. They have come from the mine at Taoudenni, Mali which is 23 days camel ride north of Timbuktu. There were three strings of camel in this caravan. You can see the salt blocks strapped to the side of the beast of burden.

maDAGASCAR

Two of the 16 species of lemur spotted during the 2005 tour besides many other animal and bird sightings.
Jo is nuts about lemurs so forgive the favouritism. Another successful tour was operated in 2007.

Golden Sifaka lemur at Lemur Island near Perinet where you visit the largest lemur: Indri Indri. Sifakas do a “sack race” skip across open areas.

Grey Bamboo lemur at Ranomafana Park tucking into his favourite snack – bamboo!

SKELETON COAST – NAMIBIA

This is one of Jo Meintjes’ favourite destinations since she flew over it and camped in
1983 when Louw Schoeman ran the family business: Skeleton Coast Safaris. Since his untimely death his sons and daughter have continued the same tradition to run a masterful operation. Jo revisited the area in 1993 and would visit again tomorrow. Below are examples of the photographs she took and she’s no professional photographer!