The Elephant Express
Game Viewing and Transfers By Rail Car For Bomani and Camelthorn Guests

Zimbabwe – Hwange National Park

For nearly 20 years a rail transfer option for safari guests to the south east of Hwange National Park has been dreamt of, but in 2014 the Imvelo Safari Lodges team turned that vision into reality and re-invented their  safari transfers into a unique activity, using the railway line that runs in an almost completely straight line along Hwange’s northern boundary . During 2014 and early 2015 it has been thoroughly tested and systems have been fine tuned. The ‘Elephant Express’ rail car is now operational and geared to ensure a fabulous experience for our guests visiting our lodges in southern Hwange.

8 km from Hwange Main Camp, at Impofu Siding, set in the shade of ancient Zambezi teak trees, our guests either boarding or alighting the Elephant Express will feel they have been transported back in time to an era when safari by rail was part of the adventure. At this exclusive siding in the forest, our guests can sip cold drinks and enjoy snacks following or prior to their 70 km, two hour trip into or out of Bomani or Camelthorn Lodges near Ngamo Siding.

The Elephant Express seats 22 passengers and the finishes are comfortable and elegant. They include individual coach seating, a chemical toilet, teak tables, plenty of space for luggage and a large aisle that allows guests to walk around comfortably and provide unrestricted game viewing.

Our railcar has every safety feature too. The Elephant Express has been deliberately designed to travel either forwards or backwards, with an independent engine and gearbox at either end of the vehicle. There are also sidings every 10 km on the straight route to allow traffic to pass, and our drivers are experienced railways’ engineers each with over 30 years experience on this line. They are in constant communication with other trains and traffic control and have 25 km of visibility in both directions. Imvelo guides are also on board at all times to ensure guest comfort and help them enjoy the wildlife, scenery and vegetation en route.

The Elephant Express also provides shorter game viewing trips across the Ngamo Plains to Ingwe Siding or can even be used as an all day activity for guests who want to make the trip to and from Impofu for fun – what a magnificent start or end to a safari in Hwange National Park, gently rattling along in style with a cool drink and enjoying the wildlife and vast wilderness around you.

The rail car transfer option will be free of charge between Impofu and Ngamo Sidings for 2015. Drop off and collection from Impofu will be either by transfer buses or game viewing vehicles depending on guests’ next or previous stop. At Ngamo Siding game viewing vehicles will drive guests for the 10 to 15 minute hop to either Bomani or Camelthorn Lodge.

The Elephant Express will make daily return trips as necessary between Ngamo and Impofu. To Impofu in the morning and back to Ngamo in the afternoon. Please note that the Elephant Express runs according to daily scheduling specified by the National Railways of Zimbabwe and as such may be subject to delays and cancellations, which are beyond our control. Times are set daily and communicated to the incoming and outgoing road transfers.  We need to exercise great caution when using the Elephant Express to link with regional and international air travel and these guests must arrive or depart by road transfers. However, we will endeavor to ensure that all our guests have the option to experience the Elephant Express during their stay through either the transfer activity, a day trip or a short game viewing activity. This of course cannot be guaranteed for guests on short stays.

We are proud and excited to have started this unique experience for our guests to enjoy when visiting our lodges in the south eastern corner of Hwange.

For more information, contact Africa Discovery at:
1 800 886-7321, (415) 444-5100
or Email us

Chobe Angels

Chobe Game Lodge has the only all-female guiding team in Africa. Fourteen professional guides from Botswana will share with you their intimate knowledge of the wildlife and flora of Chobe National Park. Not only are they qualified and enthusiastic nature guides but our team of lady guides will also share with you their passion for Botswana and their culture, ensuring that each guest leaves with a more rounded knowledge of this wonderful nation.

LADIES ARE BREATHING FRESH LIFE INTO GUIDED SAFARIS

Africa Geographic Magazine
by: Fransje van Riel    date: 13 February 2015

Click HERE to read full article

Chobe Game Lodge

For more information, contact Africa Discovery at:
1 800 886-7321, (415) 444-5100
or Email us

Now is the perfect time to visit South Africa! Here’s why…

Cape Town was, voted #1 destination to visit in 2014 by New York Times.

Due to the recent devaluation of the South African Rand against the US Dollar, South Africa represents outstanding value for your money and now is the time to go! With its five star restaurants and some of the oldest grand vineyards, Cape Town, at the tip of the African continent in South Africa, is a food connoisseur’s dream location at any time but especially now with the strong US dollar.

A favorite hangout of Africa Discovery………….

For more information, contact Africa Discovery at:
1 800 886-7321, (415) 444-5100
or Email us

We are very proud to announce we won the “Best New Safari Property in Botswana” for 2014 Safari Awards and in December won the Global Award for “Best Luxury Eco Safari Lodge” at the World Luxury Hotel Awards.

This year our focus as a conservation group is to continue offering incredible safari experiences to our guests through dedicated guiding, wildlife interpretation and giving our guests an appreciation of nature in its wildest truest form. Not forgetting our commitment to communities neighbouring these wild areas and of course our struggle to protect the Rhino.

Machaba Camp:
http://www.africa-discovery.com/botswana_safaris/khwai/machaba_camp.shtml

We look forward to meeting new guests and old friends who travel to our wild corner of the earth this year and hope you all get some time to visit those special places you have been dreaming about.

For more information, contact Africa Discovery at:
1 800 886-7321, (415) 444-5100
or Email us

Zimbabwe: NY Times Top Travel Destination 2015

Holding Statement 
Ebola Outbreak in West Africa – Update 
By Wilderness Safaris:

1 October 2014 – Wilderness Safaris has noted the concerns expressed by a number of our travel partners and guests over the current outbreak of Ebola in the following West African countries – Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. We are also aware that there has been a minor outbreak in a very remote area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (not the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) where Odzala is situated). This is not related to the West African outbreak and the DRC authorities have dealt with it quickly and effectively, due to their experience in handling any outbreaks in the past.

As a precautionary measure, the respective Ministries of Health of Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa and Zambia have issued travel entry restrictions on anyone who has recently spent time in one of the countries affected by the outbreak – whether visitors or returning residents. Entry and exit medical screening is in place in a number of countries, and travellers should allow for additional time accordingly. Zimbabwe has not introduced any travel restrictions, however, they are monitoring all travellers from the affected countries. Visitors to South Africa are required to complete a Traveller Health Questionnaire for the Department of Health on arrival.

Wilderness Safaris wishes to reassure all our travel partners and guests that during the current outbreaks there have been no cases of Ebola in any of the African countries in which we operate, namely Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Of these countries, Republic of Congo is the only one where Ebola has ever been recorded and the last such case was nine years ago in 2005. Since then, health authorities in the Republic of Congo have had ongoing early detection programmes in place in northern Congo.

The current outbreaks are still a long way from any of the countries in which we operate, for example Sierra Leone is 5 241 km (3 257 miles) away from Botswana (the distance between New York and Seattle is 2 852 miles). The very minor outbreak in DRC is in a remote area from which it is extremely unlikely that Ebola would spread to neighbouring countries. While it is possible that occasional cases may occur in other areas, quarantine and containment plans are in place at all major airports to combat this immediately.

Ebola can only be contracted through extremely close contact with the body fluids of an infected person or animal so it is very difficult to foresee any circumstances in which our guests would be at any risk. Please note that at present we do not consider there to be any risk to Wilderness Safaris guests and staff, due to the distances involved, the security measures in place and the means by which Ebola is spread. We will continue to operate as normal whilst monitoring the situation very closely as the health and safety of all our guests and staff members remains our utmost priority.

For more information, contact Africa Discovery at:
1 800 886-7321, (415) 444-5100
or Email us