Zimbabwe has been through a lot of struggle over the the past 10 years, but we are excited that this beautiful country is coming back into the spotlight. We at Hills of Africa Travel have always known that it is one of the most beautiful countries in the world offering fantastic game viewing, amazing scenery and the warm, friendly and inviting people. So if you are thinking of going on an African safari vacation we encourage you to put Zimbabwe on your bucket list. You will be able to explore the mighty Victoria Falls and take part in some adrenaline rush activities; visit Africa’s wilderness haven Hwange National Park; enjoy the beautiful Mana Pools National Park on an “untraditional” safari amongst other exciting adventures.

As one of the ways to improve its infrastructure and start offering the traveler a first class service, Zimbabwe has implemented with immediate effect, a new departure tax called the AIDEF (Aviation Infrastructural Development Fund) which is as follows:

For all international flights departing from Zimbabwe Airports (Victoria Falls, Harare, Bulawayo and Chiredzi/Buffalo Range) – USD35.00 departure tax + USD15.00 AIDEF (total of USD50.00) per person

For all domestic flights departing from a serviced airport (Victoria Falls, Harare, Kariba, Hwange and Chiredzi/Buffalo Range) – USD10.00 departure tax + USD5.00 AIDEF (total of USD15.00) per person

This new fee structure has been in place since 31st January 2012. If you have airline tickets to Zimbabwe that have already been issued, please take note that you will have to pay these extra charges on departure.

Please do let us know if you have any questions. We hope this new tax will make Zimbabwe’s airports up to first class standard, as the country will be at the forefront of African safaris very soon, we have no doubt!

If you are thinking of taking an African Safari Vacation, we would love to help you. Please call us on 800-940-9344 to talk with one of our safari consultants.

Recently, I traveled to Zambia to explore the South Luangwa and experience the rich game it so proudly boasts.  I soon learned that the South Luangwa National Park does in fact offer a vast abundance of game with no shortage of unexplored, unspoiled wilderness.

After staying at Mfuwe Lodge for one night, we were met by our guide Manda Chisanga who drove us the back way to Bilimungwe.  The night before we had been drenched with 2 inches of rain, so getting there was impossible using the short route.  Our drive took us up over the mountains and was about a 2.5 hour drive.  I was excited to meet Manda as he was joint-winner of Wanderlust Magazine’s Paul Morrison guide of the year award in 2006 and had quite a reputation of being a very good safari guide.  Manda was charming, well-mannered and very knowledgeable about the area and shares his passion for this beautiful area.  I learned so much with Manda on one of our walking safaris and if you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to walk with him, you will appreciate his ability to explain a safari life in detail.

Bilimungwe has recently been through a major renovation and is looking stunning. It is set in a riverine woodland environment with sausage trees, evergreen Natal mahogany trees, tall Winterthorn trees overlooking three waterholes where the hippo come and munch away at night. During the day, the waterhole was visited by a family of warthogs that gave me much entertainment as I sat on my deck and watched them. Also visiting were baboons, puku, impala and plenty of bird life. Even a family of elephant arrived to have a drink before walking through the camp and between the chalets.

Bilimungwe only has 4 chalets which cater to a maximum of 8 people. The rooms are beautiful and I did not want to leave; very spacious and luxurious, with handcrafted wood sinks, showers and vanities. I particularly loved having a cold shower outside on the balmy hot afternoons before going out for my game drive.

Mike, the camp manager is wonderful and an excellent host.  I was very impressed with his desire to be more “solar” friendly.  On one occasion he brought out the solar stove and baked fresh bread for lunch.  It was scrumptious! The meals are served family style, which is an easy way to get to know everyone in a relaxed and casual environment – especially if you are a solo traveler. On our first night, Mike and his team prepared a delicious three course meal for us and then we got to enjoy an evening of peaceful stargazing – what a treat.

Our game drives with Manda were exhilarating and exciting.  Of course we all wanted to find that elusive leopard and so off we went in search…  Manda can tell that there is leopard activity around and tells us he smells something.  Eventually he points and calmly says, “see that”.  Of course none of us had seen anything, but we take his word for it and up we travel in the vehicle to go and see it!  There hanging in the arms of a sausage tree is an impala carcass.  No leopard is to be found anywhere though.  And who do we see next, coming down the road – a sneaky and very excited hyena. No leopard is to be found anywhere though.

After having a much needed siesta and of course my cold shower, it was time to head back to find our leopard. As is the case in the African bush, not everything goes the way you want it to go. We arrived after dark (and too dark to share photographs, sorry!) to find the hyena with our leopard’s prize catch but still no sign of the leopard. But Manda would not let us down. He continued to search when out of the corner of his eye saw a tail move in the long golden grass. After sitting for a while, the leopard got up and moved herself towards the Sausage tree to see if she could find any remains of her kill. It was amazing to see her sniff, look upwards in a hopeful way, sniff again, and then move away knowing that it was time to move on and find another source of food. What an experience it was to witness this scene.

Our next stop is Chindeni, but I will never forget our time at Bili – located in a truly beautiful and remote part of the world … where you feel completely a part of the nature that surrounds you. There are no other vehicles to come across making you feel like you have this special part of the world all to yourself. The scenery in November is so different than any I have been in during the green season. The water levels are very low and we found ourselves spending a lot of time on the very dry river beds (sometimes getting stuck!). But so beautiful.

Have you ever been on an African safari to South Luangwa National Park in Zambia?  We would love to hear your highlights of your trip and please do visit us on Facebook and post some photographs of your trip.

Whether you’d like to bask in the luxury of a renowned hotel or surround yourself with the rustic charm of mobile or semi-mobile tent lodges, you can plan an ecotourism vacation to Africa that will live up to all your dreams.

In order to ensure that your trip meets your expectations and contributes to more ecologically sustainable practices in Africa, take the time to follow through on each of these pre-travel items.

#1: Choose a reputable sustainable tourism agency.

There are many of ecotourism companies that arrange trips to Africa. When choosing the one you work with, consider its trustworthiness (i.e. whether it actually promotes environmentally friendly practices) and its expertise in planning the type of vacation you want.

Specifically, look for…

• Knowledgeable staff members. The people you talk with should be able to offer you plentiful information about ecotourism activities and programs where you plan to travel, and should explain how these efforts affect the health of the environment. Ask specific questions to educate yourself and determine whether the company has done its homework.

• Sustainable tourism credentials. Certification from outside bodies that regulate ecotourism is a sign that a company has real chops in the sustainable travel industry. Hills of Africa (with which this blog is affiliated) is certified by Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA), a major regulator of ecotourism in Africa. Another positive sign is that a company works in conjunction with (or has established of its own accord) a conservation foundation.

• Evidence of travel partners. Experienced eco-travel companies generally have Africa-based partners that include safari guides, hotels and other accommodations, tour guides, and more. Get a list of travel partners from any company you consider working with, and research the partners on your own. This will give you an idea of whether a vacation planned by this company will meet your criteria for an excellent trip.

• Testimonials from satisfied clients. Testimonials provide some of the clearest evidence of a company’s success (or failure)! If you can’t find evidence of testimonials on a travel company’s website, ask about them.

#2: Learn about your options.

Planning your trip to Africa will involve three major planning categories: accommodations, activities, and dining (once you’ve taken care of transportation). Speak with your travel agent about your options for each of these, and research them on your own to get an idea of how you want to spend your time.

#3: Choose your accommodations.

If you’re on a budget, consider “treating” yourself to some luxury accommodations and balancing these with more rustic options in other locations. Your choices for where to stay will run the gamut, so be sure to do location-specific research before committing so you know what to expect from each place you stay!

You may also consider choosing your accommodations based on which you perceive to be the most “eco-friendly.” Most sustainable accommodations provide information about their specific efforts to conserve resources, and those efforts range from using solar panels to building only with renewable materials to offering tours only on foot or bike.

#4: Plan your activities!

As you research your activities, be sure to learn about the ecological impact each has. Some safaris, for example, donate part of every fee to conservation efforts. If you prefer to get off the beaten path, consider asking your travel guide about places you can volunteer your time and energy to help build sustainable structures or participate in service activities.

Start Planning Your Sustainable Trip to Africa!

If you can hardly contain your excitement for your next ecotourism adventure to Africa, feel free to contact our eco-travel agency for more information!

Whether you’ve been dreaming about a trip to Africa since you first learned about the continent or have developed a yen to travel there more recently, you probably have a long list of reasons why you’d like to visit.

One of the most popular reasons to visit Africa is to view its abundant wildlife on a safari vacation. Unlike many highly developed Western countries, much of the African continent remains open, where large animals roam freely and in such profusion that visitors can observe their majesty at close quarters.

Another reason Africa draws visitors is because of the landscapes: rugged mountains, sweeping plains, and the way rainstorms, rainbows, and sunsets set off these features.

Regardless of your initial reason for visiting Africa, you’ll probably come away from your trip deeply touched by something other than the continent’s inspiring landscapes or stunning animals. After journeying to Africa, you will almost certainly be profoundly affected by the people you meet there.

Africa’s People

Again and again, travelers to Africa exclaim about the generosity, kindness, and hospitality among the people they meet on their trips. Many people find that the energy of the people in Africa has a transformative effect on them, giving them fresh insight into their lives and their world.

Safari guides, tour leaders, merchants, and residents alike often strike visitors to Africa with their joy in serving others. In addition to the people who call Africa home, most travelers encounter natives of the rest of the world (including Europe, Australia, North America, and Asia) who also touch their lives in meaningful ways.

Lifelong Friendships

Experiencing something new has profound effects on the human psyche, and we tend to form unique bonds with those who share new experiences with us. That’s why so many travelers to Africa find that, 20 years after their first trip, they are still in contact with the people they met on that journey—and often are planning to meet up again in another African locale!

As you prepare for your next trip to Africa, leave some time for conversations with the people you meet along the way. More than anything else, these genuine encounters are what make travel meaningful and rewarding.

Have you ever met a lifelong friend while traveling? Tell us about it below!

Located on the southeastern coast of Africa, Namibia offers a variety of compelling and enchanting attractions for visitors of all ages and tastes. Here’s a look at some of the many reasons why you should consider spending time in Namibia during your next trip to Africa.

Successful Conservation

Namibia gained independence as a country after breaking free from South Africa in 1990, and was among the first countries in the world to include plans for conservation in its constitution. Today, more than 40 percent of Namibia’s land area is considered “protected,” which is no small feat for a country twice the size of California.

Namibia’s conservation efforts involve a system of local conservancies, and have yielded stunning results. Namibian animals once considered endangered (including the black rhino) have seen population surges since the nation’s conservation efforts began. In light of such success, other countries have started using Namibia’s conservation policies as a model for their own.

Something for Everyone

Elton John’s “Circle of Life” comes to mind when describing the sights and activities visitors to Namibia can experience: the country truly offers “more to see than can ever be seen, more to do than can ever be done.”

With ocean, deserts, saltpans, mountains, grassy plains, and rivers in addition to its cities and villages, Namibia boasts a variety of super-scenic destinations no matter what your taste in sightseeing.

Along the country’s Skeleton Coast, which borders more than 1,000 miles of desert on the country’s western edge, eerie shipwrecks and skeletons can be viewed from where the inhospitable desert climate vanquished accidental visitors hundreds of years ago.

The town Kolmanskop, once a hub of diamond mining, has been deserted for nearly 50 years and now presents a thrilling twist on the traditional “ghost town:” thanks to the ceaseless desert winds, sand has already started to bury this once-thriving town.

Those who prefer more active adventures on their vacations can enjoy boat fishing, bird and dolphin watching trips, balloon flights to view sand dunes, desert golf, canyon hiking, four-wheeling, kite surfing, sand boarding, and surf skiing. And the Namib Desert’s sand dunes make it one of the only places in the world where sand skiing is possible (and popular).

Fascinating Wildlife

Even if you’re not interested in a typical safari vacation the wildlife in Namibia will hold you transfixed. In Namib Desert (the world’s oldest), plants and animals have evolved to get their water from the mist that rolls in from the ocean—the only source of moisture available to life in the desert!

Travel in Style…or Not

During your trip to Namibia, you can plan to stay in rugged, camp-style accommodations, a much more luxurious setting, or something in between. As a bonus, in most cities and tour areas, English is a commonly spoken language.

Learn more about planning your trip to Namibia or tell us about the adventures you had on your last visit there!

Ever wonder what summer camp is like for African children? In many nations of southern Africa (including Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia), an organization called Children in the Wilderness provides camp experiences for African children that teach them the value of conserving their natural resources.

Through programs that focus on environmental protection and life skills, Children in the Wilderness educates African children about the important role that conservation plays in preserving the wild spaces in their countries. The goal of this organization is to develop future leaders who will promote the best interests of the land and wildlife around them.

Here’s a closer look at the Children in the Wilderness programs, each of which focuses on the environmental issues and challenges unique to its region.

Botswana

The first country to establish a Children in the Wilderness program, Botswana has hosted about 96 children each year since 2001, in camps located along the Okavango Delta. In addition to a six-day Environmental Stewardship Program that students attend in the wilderness, they can participate in Environmental Clubs at their schools, funded and organized by Children in the Wilderness.

Malawi

The 50 to 96 children who visit Malawi’s Myuu Camp each year stay on Lake Malawi. Because of their proximity to this water body, their lessons focus on water conservation efforts and methods for using the lake sustainably. Children here also learn to swim and get the opportunity to interview every staff member of the Malawi chapter of Children in the Wilderness. Graduates of Malawi’s program have established a tree nursery and fence protection and maintenance program nearby.

Namibia

Since is start in 2002, roughly 90 children have attended Namibia’s Children in the Wilderness programs each year. Many of the program’s graduates are now permanently employed with Wilderness Safaris, a guide group that offers Namibia safari tours.

South Africa

South African children can visit one of two wilderness camp locations, Pafuri Camp and Rocktail Beach Camp. With a total of 69 attendees each year, the South African chapter of Children in the Wilderness has expanded its reach with the Environmental Clubs it established in the Makuleke Community.

Zambia

Because poaching is a major concern in Kafue National Park and South Luangwa National Park, where Zambia’s wilderness programs are hosted, the curriculum here focuses on how to prevent that crime. In addition to the 90 children per year who get to visit the actual camp, Zambia’s chapter offers follow-up programs in the schools.

Zimbabwe

The 130 children who attend the program at Linkwasha Camp in Hwange National Park each year hail from villages around the park and from an AIDS orphanage located in the town of Dete. Instead of follow-up programs run in the schools, Zimbabwe’s programs run nutrition, literacy, and school facility upgrade programs, which leaders decided the Zimbabwean population needed more immediately than environmental follow-up.

Donate to Africa’s Conservation Efforts!

If you’d like to learn more about the work that Children in the Wilderness does for African children, or if you’d like to sponsor a child or make a donation, you can do so on the Children in the Wilderness website.

What conservation lessons do you think we need to start teaching?

While much of the artwork produced in Africa today can be purchased and taken home as a commemoration of your travel, some of Africa’s art is much more fixed in its location. One prominent example is the rock art created by the San people, members of a tribe that lived in present-day South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola.

In the Drakensberg region of South Africa, visitors can visit these fascinating rock paintings, some of which date back thousands of years.

The Spiritual Importance of San Rock Art

Because members of the San tribe created some of these paintings as recently as 200 years ago, anthropologists have a unique understanding of what the images signified for the San people—and how they connect to other cave paintings around the world.

San rock art often depicts beings that are half-human and half-animal. According to anthropologists, these pictures represent the spiritual journeys undertaken by the medicine men of San tribes. Similar to shamans in Native American cultures, these medicine men would plunge themselves into trances in order to commune with the spirit world on behalf of their tribes.

The depicted transformation into a partially animal state is thought to represent the intense psychic struggle these medicine men underwent on behalf of their tribes as they attempted to affect rains, animal migration patterns, and other important natural forces.

History Captured on Rocks

Another fascinating element of this South African rock art is its ability to capture the changes the San people experienced as white settlers first came to their homeland. While older depictions contain a single color and show large predatory animals in “enemy” roles, newer art includes multiple hues and, eventually, guns in place of big predators.

Image above taken from PBS.org.

Scholars believe these changes reflect the increasing complexity the San people faced when their culture encountered those of Europeans for the first time.

If you’re interested in the history of art, be sure to schedule time to visit some San rock art during your next trip to Africa!

In the third installment of our Unique and Bizarre Accommodations on the African continent, we’ll take a look at two venues that have storied histories—literally. The first, Hatari Lodge, is the renovated home of a German actor who starred in the 1960 movie Hatari!, a film that was shot near the present-day resort.

The second, Shu’mata Camp, is inspired by and designed based on Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Snows of Kilimanjaro.

Hatari Lodge: Hollywood aficionados will appreciate this resort’s legendary history. Located on the outskirts of Arusha National Park and in the home of a star from Hollywood’s Golden Age, this is the place to be for travelers looking for a taste of old Hollywood romance on a traditional African safari.

When you step out onto the property, you’ll feel immediately transformed by the awe-inspiring views of Tanzania that have the ambience of an epic Hollywood setting.

Image above taken from hatarilodge.com

Shu’mata Camp: If you wish you could have gone on an African safari in the 1920s while still enjoying the comforts of modern plumbing and electricity, Shu’mata Camp is the answer to your prayers. It’s no wonder, then, that its name is the Masai word meaning “Heaven,” or “Above the Clouds.”

Perched at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, Shu’mata Camp consists of a line of private tent rooms designed in the classic Hemingway style. Each tent includes a dressing table, panoramic gauze windows, a Hemingway-style hanging cupboard, and an en-suite bathroom, and can sleep between one and three travelers. Surrounding the sleeping areas are sweeping views of Masai land, where various wildlife can be seen and heard, depending on the season.

Image above taken from shumatacamp.com

The dining tent of Shu’mata Camp, too, celebrates safari life in the early 20^th Century. Each of its three rooms is devoted to a different historical phase of the African safari: Vintage, Safari Baroque, and Arabian Nights.

Travel Your Dreams

If you could visit one African story or one period in African history, what would it be?

We recently conducted a poll of our social media followers to discover their favorite movies about Africa. We were delighted with the results—and even added a few titles to our own must-watch list! Here are a few to consider when you’re ready to get in the mood for your next trip to Africa.

The Lion King

A retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this animated Disney film won rave reviews after its 1994 release. With a sing-along score and a number of big-name actors (Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane, and others), this movie really does have something for the whole family. If you’ve already seen the movie more times than you can count, try catching the Broadway version, which has appeared in cities around the world.

Out of Africa

A story as much about the differences between Europe and Africa as those between men and women, Out of Africa offers striking scenery (both landscapes and actors) alongside a sweeping tale of love and loss. Starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, this movie won the Best Picture Academy Award in 1985.

Ghost and the Darkness

This 1996 movie (set in 1898) recounts a dramatized version of lion attacks that occurred during the construction of the African Uganda-Mombasa Railway. The attacks are considered unusual because a pair of lions (dubbed the titular Ghost and the Darkness) attack together, rather than individually. Drama ensues when men’s lives, reputations, and livelihoods are at stake.

Nowhere in Africa

A German film made in 2001, Nowhere in Africa depicts the story of a German Jewish family that flees Europe for Kenya in 1938 to escape encroaching Nazi forces. While the family avoids the immediate danger, more trouble awaits, including difficulty adjusting to life in Africa, the challenges of working a farm, and marital discord for the main characers. A deeply emotional and beautifully wrought story, Nowhere in Africa won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2001.

Catch a Fire

Shot in South Africa, Mozambique, and Swaziland, Catch a Fire captures the political strife of the Apartheid regime by following one man wrongly accused of a political crime. After the man and his family are tortured under false charges, he vows revenge and joins forces with guerilla anti-Apartheid fighters. Chilling and emotionally charged, this movie displays the ultimately redemptive power of forgiveness.

The Gods Must be Crazy

This 1980 comedy makes light of the clashes between African tribal culture and Western culture, which often exist side by side without encountering each other. Three overlapping plots make for zany antics that nevertheless highlight some sobering realities about the African continent.

I Dreamed of Africa

Based on an autobiographical novel of the same name, I Dreamed of Africa tells the tale of an upper-class Italian woman named Kuki, played by Kim Basinger. After divorcing and remarrying, Kuki moves to Kenya with her new husband, but finds herself unprepared for the challenges her new home presents.

Shooting Dogs (Beyond the Gates in the U.S.)

Shot in Rwanda, with many Rwandan crewmembers and actors, this movie follows two Europeans (a Catholic priest and a journalist) living in Rwanda at the time of the Rwandan Genocide. This story is harrowing and based on true events.

Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments section!

Most people associate Africa with safari vacations—not ones that involve hitting the waves. But South Africa’s coastal geography makes it nearly ideal for water sports, and the country has a rich history of surfing. Here’s a look at South Africa’s surfing legacy and where to catch a wave if you’re traveling there today.

Early African Surfers

According to the website Surfing Heritage South Africa, which documents the nation’s history in waves, the first documented surf expedition in South Africa occurred in 1919, when a Capetown woman met two U.S. Marines in the town of Muizenberg.

Headed home from fighting in WWI, legend has it that the marines taught the Capetown woman how to surf standing up on their Hawaiian-style boards, which was unusual for the time, when most surfers still rode waves stomach-down on boards.

Adapting & Evolving

Throughout the 1920s, South Africans interested in surfing experimented with building boards that mimicked the ones they knew surfers in other parts of the world were using. But because South African surfers lacked access to the lightweight wood that Hawaiian boards were made with, they had to improvise, building surfboards with wooden frames and water-tight canvas centers.

Eventually, swimmers and surfers in South Africa formed life-saving groups and began to tailor their designs to help lifesavers get to struggling swimmers. The various design adaptations, though, eventually led to more advanced surfboards, many similar to those in use today.

Where to Surf in Africa Today

Naturally, South Africa remains a hot international destination for surfers—and other African destinations have gotten surfer shout outs as well. Try visiting one of these on your next trip to Africa:

• South Africa: This country’s extensive coastline includes a number of surfing spots, including Eland’s Bay, Long Beach, Muizenberg (a popular site for swimmers as well), Victoria Bay (good for surfers at all levels), and Jeffrey’s Bay (recommended for experienced surfers). While South Africa isn’t the only surfing hotspot in Africa, its beaches are often the most easily accessible by motor vehicle.
• Angola: Cabo Ledo, a town on the coast of this south-western African nation, boasts surfing and accommodations (though they tend to be expensive). While surfing here may be picturesque, traveling can be hard on vehicles.
• Cameroon: With black sand beaches and spectacular volcano views, the surfing at Limbe, Cameroon, can be breathtaking. But it can also get pretty rainy, so plan accordingly.
• Seychelles Islands: Off Africa’s east coast, this archipelago in the Indian Ocean offers surfing far away from crowds. While surfers can find waves year-round, the prime seasons are between monsoon seasons (March through May and September through November).

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