I had the pleasure of chatting to Andre Holland, who ventured on a 15-day Malawi safari in March 2015, coming to grips with the local culture, spending time on it's remote neighboring islands and exploring its wildlife-rich game reserves.
Andre put together this awesome video of his exploits in the landlocked Southeastern African country, bordered by Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique.
Yes, this was my first trip to Malawi, but I’ll definitely go back! This wasn’t my first visit to an African country though, I’ve been to Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Madagascar before.
Who did you travel with?
For the first couple of days it was just myself and my girlfriend, Taryn. It was her 30th birthday, which we got to enjoy on Mumbo Island with not another soul on the island! Pretty cool having a deserted island for a 30th birthday!
We later met up with another couple, Jacqui and Richard, on the mainland at Cape Maclear. Clearly it was far too romantic a trip – Rich dropped his knee soon after their return to South Africa and they are now engaged.
“Pretty cool having a deserted island for a 30th birthday!”
Why Malawi? What inspired you to visit this African country?
My girlfriend, Taryn, works as an Economic Development Consultant and has been living in Blantyre, Malawi, for a couple of months prior to our trip. She planned the Malawi safari and so the trip was all about going to visit her and being there for the big 3-0.
Which African countries would you like to visit next?
I’m keen to explore West Africa a bit more. I’d also like to visit Gabon and the island jewels of Sao Tome and Principe.
Andre’s Malawi safari route map
Andre’s Malawi safari notes
Andre's Malawi safari started on 3 March 2015 and ended on 18 March 2015.
After arriving in Blantyre, Andre headed to Cape Maclear via public transport – bus, minibus and road transfers.
From Cape Maclear, Andre and Taryn kayaked out to Mumbo Island (a 10km paddle) for three days.
Andre and Taryn headed back to Cape Maclear for a night, meeting Jacqui and Richard before kayaking out to Dombwe Island (about 5km).
The group headed back to Cape Maclear, where they hired a rental car, a Toyota RAV4, for the rest of the trip.
They then travelled to the Hippo View Lodge near Liwonde, where they left the car and took a one hour boat transfer north on the Shire River to the Mvuu Camp in Liwonde National Park for two nights.
The group took a boat transfer back to the Hippo View Lodge, collected their vehicle, travelled through Zomba and overnighted back in Blantyre.
Andre and co headed back to Blantyre and enjoyed their last day trip down to Majete Wildlife Reserve, south-west of Blantyre.
Getting to Blantyre
According to Skyscanner, South African Airways, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines are the most common airlines that fly to Blantyre's Chileka International Airport.
South Africa offers eight flights per week to Blantyre every week from O.R. Tambo International Airport, which lasts for two and a half hours, while flights from Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last four hours each, including one stop at Malawi's capital city, Lilongwe.
A flight from Ethiopia's Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to the Chileka International Airport will likely last for five hours.
The Great Wildebeest Migration is undoubtedly one of nature’s most spectacular events encompassing the trials and tribulations of millions of wildebeest and other migratory animals on their quest for lush, green grass and fresh water. It’s the ultimate journey of life and death – so why would you want to miss it?
Going on a migration safari can be costly, and naturally, you want to make sure that you get full value for your money – and that’s where HerdTracker comes in.
HerdTracker is a Google map giving you accurate, weekly updates of where the wildebeest herds are at this present time. We receive our updates from pilots who fly over the Serengeti and Masai Mara, safari guides, Tanzania National Parks Authority rangers and lodges.
The HerdTracker map giving you the precise location of the wildebeest herds.
Created by Discover Africa, HerdTracker is the ultimate prediction tool to help you see the wildebeest herds live.
It hasn’t taken long for HerdTracker to be noticed. British news organisations such as The Daily Mail and The Telegraph have both featured HerdTracker in their online publications.
You can also follow HerdTracker on Twitter – spearheaded by Conrad, world’s first tweeting wildebeest. Conrad will give you weekly updates of where you can find him and the wildebeest herds as he shares life experiences during the great wildebeest migration
Follow Conrad the tweeting wildebeest daily by using the Twitter handle @HerdTracker
You can also find a migration map with monthly predictions by our East Africa expert Carel Verhoef – who used previous years’ migratory patterns and real-time updates received from pilots, rangers and safari guides in the Serengeti to estimate where the wildebeest herds will be in future.
The Migration Map with monthly predictions courtesy of our East Africa expert Carel Verhoef
If you’re interested in seeing the wildebeest herds during the great migration, then HerdTracker is the perfect tool for you. There’s no reason why you should miss it!
Have a look at our featured interview with celebrated nature and wildlife photographer Shem Compion. He tells us about his passion for wildlife photography, where he draws his inspiration from and some of the challenges he’s faced as a professional nature and wildlife photographer.
Above: A hornet flies past two very mesmerised meerkats in the Kalahari.
1. How did you get into photography?
I have always had a love for nature. I even studied it at the university. When I picked up my camera it was inevitable that I would combine the two, which is exactly what happened.
Above: A mother hyena carries her young while the older pup struggles to keep up.
2. What kind of photography are you most passionate about?
Nature and wildlife are truly the two aspects I feel most passionate about. When I’m placed in an environment where these two elements are present I can really feel my photographic/creative side emerging.
Above: A young lion cub greets its mother in a show of affection that imprints a special bond between the two.
3. What do you draw your inspiration from?
I draw inspiration from being surrounded by nature. The calmness and the vastness of the true wilderness makes me want to capture them to the best of my ability. Observing the work of the photographers I grew up admiring also inspires me. Seeing what those photographers did with hardly any equipment makes me realise how hard I still have to work. This is quite a driving force for me.
Above: Flamingoes fly over the shores of Lake Nakuru; covering the sky in a wash of beautiful pink.
4. How would you describe your photographic style?
I don’t consider myself as having any kind of specific photographic style; instead, I try to concentrate on taking the best photograph each and every time. It seems to be working as I’ve received numerous awards in a number of nature and wildlife categories.
Above: A tiny, but beautiful weevil clings to a flower bud at the start of summer.
5. Are you a traditionalist who occasionally uses film or have you gone completely digital?
For work, I use digital cameras. When I play around with old cameras I use film.
Above: A young cheetah cub investigates its surrounds as an act of learning.
6. What advice do you have for aspiring photographers?
Get out there and enjoy the medium for all it can offer. Don’t worry too much about equipment; rather focus on the results that you are getting. Always try to improve on your photography by coming up with new and creative ideas.
Above: A light outlines the profile of a lioness in the evening, alert and just about to head off to hunt.
7. What are some of the greatest challenges you’ve had to face as a photographer?
My greatest challenge up to this point has to be the photo market crashing. Stock images went from $500 an image to $5 an image. This affected practically all photographers and everyone had to find some way to reinvent themselves. I personally went the route of photo workshops and tours, which is great because I interact well with people and I love to travel.
Above: In South Luangwa, a leopard stalks from the shadows across a dry riverbed late in the afternoon.
8. Have you ever fallen short of taking the perfect shot?
All the time; I’ve come to question what exactly a ‘perfect shot’ is. Even when I look at my best images, I can find flaws in them. That’s one of the joys of being a photographer; we are always searching for an image that’s just a little better than the previous one.
Above: A wildebeest running in the rain.
9. Where is your favourite place to take photographs of wildlife?
Probably dry, arid areas, these environments require you to focus on the little you have around you, thus presenting a greater challenge. Also, when change happens, it happens fast, which is very appealing to me.
Above: Wildebeest gather in a stampede of dust just before crossing the Mara river.
10. What is your greatest achievement as a photographer thus far?
I’d have to say being able to support myself as a wildlife photographer in a very small market. The international awards are great and they increase exposure to one’s work, but being able to do what I love while being able to live comfortably is an achievement in itself for me.
If you enjoyed Shem’s photographs as much as we did and would like to see some more of his work, take a look at his website.
Africa is the second most populated continent but its air traffic only accounts for 3% of the global total. That doesn’t mean the Dark Continent is lacking its share of weird and wonderful airliners. In this post, guest contributor, Russell Jarvis breaks down a few of the African airline invalids as well as the movers and shakers.
Afriqiyah Airways
It’s onwards and upwards for the national carrier of Libya which used to have 9.9.99 arranged in a square formation as its logo. The numbers stood for the date the African Union was founded, but since Gaddafi’s fall, it’s thankfully rebranded. The name “Afriqiyah” comes from the Arabic word for African.
Air Austral
Reunion’s flag carrier doesn’t even fly to Australia… or Austria for that matter. Air Austral takes its name from the French/Latin word for “Southern”. Why you ask? Well Reunion is in the Southern Hemisphere and it’s an “overseas department” of Northern Hemisphere located France.
Air Bourbon
Founded in Reunion in 2002 and ceased operations in 2004, Air Bourbon’s existence was short lived but that’s not to say the pilots were too busy sipping on the fine whiskey that bears the same name as their airline. Financial problems forced Air Bourbon to liquidate and their sole aircraft (an A340-200) was re-commissioned to fly under a new name – Air Comores International. Sadly, this venture never came to fruition.
Bellview Airlines
Sounds more like a dodgy neighbourhood than a credible carrier but Bellview Airlines was the name of a Nigeria based carrier that started as a Lagos travel agency in 1992. It had a pretty good run even flying to London and Johannesburg but it’s since gone bust (1999).
Benin Golf Air
The now defunct Benin Golf Air never did transport avid golfers to dream courses around the globe. Rather it took its name from the Gulf of Guinea – the region in which it operates in West Africa (“Golfe” is French for gulf). Even when it was operational it was on the blacklist of carriers banned from operating in EU airspace.
fastjet
It might be unknown to you for now but that’s about to change as fastjet (yes it’s with a small ‘f’) is set to launch in South Africa in the very near future with nonstop flights between Johannesburg and its base; Dar es Salaam.
Fly540
Taking its name from the low-priced Sh5, 540 flight deals it launched with, Nairobi based Fly540 boasts a current fleet size of 16 aircraft. The airline was sold in 2012 to form the basis of the new Pan-African airline fastjet, and its services are expected to be migrated to fastjet.
Gambia Bird
Oddly enough, Gambia Bird is a German owned carrier functioning from its hub at Banjul International Airport in Kanifing, The Gambia since 2012. Their fleet of two aircraft is leased from FlyNext and they operate scheduled flights in West Africa as well as flights to London and Barcelona.
Jubba Airways
I won’t blame you if by now you’re thinking “Huh?!?” but I can promise you the curiously named Jubba Airways is real. It was founded in 1998 by Canadian based Somali entrepreneurs and it’s still going strong with its fleet of four aircraft and ten destinations.
Marsland Aviation
The Sudanese carrier with the celestial sounding name doesn’t offer intergalactic flights like Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin. Their fleet of four planes offer scheduled flights in Sudan as well as East Africa (Nairobi).
Starbow Airlines
If you were thinking they also sell cider, flour or pilchards you’d be wrong. But don’t be down on yourself; after all, their name does seem fitting of some random consumable. Starbow is a Ghanaian airline flying from their hub in Accra to domestic destinations in Ghana. They won’t be launching in South Africa anytime soon but they are looking at branching out to more destinations in West Africa.
TAAG Angola Airlines
Portuguese carriers are no stranger to shortening their long names to more functional acronyms and TAAG Angola (commonly referred to as “TAG”) is no different to the likes of TAP Portugal and LAM Mozambique. Based in Luanda, the airline operates domestic services within Angola, as well as medium-haul services in Africa and long-haul services to Brazil, Cuba, China and Portugal.
Some of these airlines cease to exist which is why they are African airlines that you’ve probably never heard of. Fortunately a handful of them have gone on to succeed and take on new heights, so consider them the next time you plan a trip into Africa.
About the author: Russell has lived all across South Africa, but chose the Mother City as his home. He is passionate about Cape Town and enjoys sharing all that the captivating city has to offer. Russell also enjoys writing which is why deciding to work at Travelstart as a content strategist was the perfect match.
Jon-Erik Munro is a South African photographer living in Cape Town. With a keen interest in photography for as far back as he can remember, Jon-Erik's passion was sparked by his grandfather who was a keen photographer and artist. After finishing matric he went on to study photography at City Varsity.
Now, years later, having worked for well-known lodge photographer David Rogers, he has gained invaluable experience in the realm of managing image libraries, colour correcting images, and of course, taking brilliant photographs. Jon-Erik has also worked on numerous design projects for various well known organisation. Cape Point, Two Oceans Aquarium, and most recently the Waterfront Boat Company are to name but a few.
Meet Jon-Erik Munro in the interview below
1. What sparked your interest in photography?
I think it was my grandfather. I remember when I was much younger watching him work with his slides. He used to paint a lot and would go out and shoot off a roll of film so that he would have a reference for his paintings. I remember his study was always full of albums of prints, and other photographic equipment. Once he heard that I was studying photography he would send me all his old equipment for me to use. I still use most of it.
2. What kind of photography are you most passionate about?
I thoroughly enjoy landscape photography; I also enjoy interior photography. One of favorite spots to practice my landscape photography would be up in the Karoo. Our family has a house on Touwsberg Private Game and Nature Reserve and it’s a great place to work on some landscape. You get fantastic sunsets there and paired with those iconic windmills is a recipe for some stunning images.
I always carry my camera around with me. You just never know when a great photo opportunity will present itself, and you can walk away with a brilliant shot. I have taken some great landscape images just simply walking around Kalk Bay harbour in the evenings.
3. What is the simplest thing that has ever inspired you?
Sometimes something as simple as good light can be the perfect bit of inspiration for a great photo, and gets the creative juices flowing. One thing leads to the next and before you know it you have a great image or even a great series.
4. If there was one African destination you could photograph, what would it be?
It probably will sound a bit cliché to most, but I would love to take a trip to Kenya and take some time to photograph the migration and the Masai. From what I’ve seen it looks like the migration is an amazing event and there are plenty of photographic opportunities no matter where you look.
5. What’s the dumbest question anyone has ever asked you about photography?
I always get asked how many megapixels my camera has and then when I give them an answer they seem amazed and tell me it must take some amazing photos! Then you have to go into a brief explanation telling them it’s not really the megapixels that make a great photo!
6. What is the most unusual thing you’ve taken a photograph of?
I think one of the more unusual and interesting things I have had to photograph is an oilrig being towed out of Cape Town harbour, up to the Congo. It was one of those last minute jobs, where the client calls, permits are organised and you have to be there within the hour.
Earlier last year I was also asked to photograph spare parts that this engineering firm creates for generators and air compressors!
I don’t think any job could be classified as boring, but definitely unusual.
7. Why do photographers need Photoshop?
I would say many photographers over the last few years have moved over to Lightroom. Lightroom is a powerful archiving tool, and it also lets you do all sorts of adjustments to your images. Over the years Lightroom has become more and more powerful. The latest version of Lightroom has a book-making module where you can create a coffee table book and upload your book straight to Blurb.com.
I do think though that photographers can’t use Lightroom alone, and using Photoshop to make your final adjustments to an image is a good idea. Some of the features in Photoshop are a bit more sophisticated than Lightroom, which gives you a bit more control. So I think photographers can use Lightroom and Photoshop together to create some fantastic images.
8. Complete this sentence: Because of photography…
Photographers have been able to bring certain subjects to others who might not necessarily be able to see them otherwise.
I would also say because of digital photography, being able to take a photo has become more accessible for people who might not have had access to resources like a film lab in the days prior to digital photography.
9. Are there any websites or online communities you upload your photos to?
I upload quite often to 500px, an online community that is relatively new. There are some amazing photos on the site. I also upload to my Facebook page, Jon-Erik Munro Photography, as often as I can.
10. Any tips for taking a good photo on a safari with an average camera?
Yes! Get to know your camera back to front and inside out. No matter what kind of camera you have, whether it is an advanced SLR or a simple point and shoot, learn the settings and familiarise yourself with how to access them. There is nothing worse than missing that once in a life time shot because you don’t know how to set up your camera correctly.
One suggestion that was given to me was to put your camera in a black bag and practice setting the ISO, the aperture etc. without looking. Also, carry your instruction manual in your camera bag. You never know when you might need to look something up.
Specialising in landscape photography, Juan Wernecke is an extremely talented photographer living in South Africa. His passion for photography feeds his ability to share a visual representation of the way he sees the world. Striving to skillfully capture every inspiring scene and moment thereby expressing himself through his work, Juan aims to celebrate photography, one shutter blink at a time. In this interview with landscape photographer Juan Wernecke, meet the man behind the lens.
Meet Juan Wernecke in the interview below
1. When did you first pick up a camera?
The most significant time was when I went to Bali & Singapore in July 2009. Singapore is very well known for its electronics and being a gadget person, I walked into an electronics store in Orchard Street.
Next thing, I found myself in the camera section, holding a DSLR, convinced I needed one. The idea was striking, and seeing as I had always done art and enjoyed capturing memories, the camera had to be mine. Afterall, I was in a foreign country and wanted to capture high resolution images.
2. What kind of photography do you most enjoy?
I have to say that I enjoy capturing scenic and nature images the most. I love being in nature – it makes me happy to be alive. I enjoy each location, capturing the way I see things and creating a unique, exquisite memory and experience. I like to hear the crickets, the peace and quiet, to hear the roaring waves break against the rocks, to hear the birds tweet and to watch and appreciate the view that I am capturing. I have a great passion for scenic photographs.
3. What is the simplest thing that has ever inspired you?
I would say the natural beauty of South Africa. I have travelled internationally quite a bit and I can honestly say from experience that South Africa is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I have a weakness when it gets to nature and scenic locations. I tend to stop and admire the view more than the average person does. It makes me respect the environment more.
Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa – photographer Juan Wernecke
4. What is the most important thing you’ve learned through photography?
One of the main things that I learned was that in photography, you never stop learning. A few years back, I thought that I knew everything when I started to do HDR images. One guy approached me and suggested I look at Tony Kuyper’s site, that it would improve my work. I took this as a insult back then. I thought that I never needed any help and that my work most certainly does not need any improvement. I carried on with my images.
Two years later. I was inspired by an international photographer. I asked him what his secrets were and he referred me back to the same Tony Kuyper I’d been referred to several years ago. That’s when I bought Tony Kuyper’s books and started learning a whole new division of photography. It opened my eyes to how little I actually knew at this stage.
5. What is your biggest pet-peeve as a photographer?
There are many new photographers who own a DSLR and simply call themselves professional photographers. I believe status comes with experience, not with the equipment that a person owns.
Most of these new photographers host workshops or cheap shoots; thereby stealing business from other photographers.
I don’t do any wedding or portrait images, but I have heard that new photographers charge R500 for 50 images. The professional photographer would ask anything from R1,300 – R3,000 for one shoot. This might sound expensive, but a professional photographer still has to process and print each image which can take up to a week. Does R500 for a week’s work sound good?
They do themselves in, and they steal other photographers’ bread and butter. There is no such thing as a cheap shoot. Do you want quality images or average photographs?
6. What’s the dumbest question anyone has ever asked you about photography or your work?
I think it has to be:
Does your camera make you a better photographer?
Can you teach me how to take photos for free?
Can I get a discount?
7. If there was one location in Africa you could go to take photographs, where would it be?
There are so many places! I think my first choice of location would be Namibia’s Namib Naukluft, Sossusvlei. Next on the list would be Augrabies Falls, Seychelles, Kubu Island, Magoebaskloof, Blyde river canyon, Drakensberg, Dwesa Nature Reserve, Whole in the Wall, Tsitsikamma National Park, Kogelbaai, the Karoo (for the lightning storms) and the Cederberg.
8. What is the most unusual thing you have seen through your lens?
I haven’t seen many unusual things before, I think the strangest thing I have seen was a shipwreck on Clifton beach earlier this year. Many photographers gathered together to capture this scene while the police tried to get us off the beach as soon as possible.
We were prohibited from taking photos of the ship at all times, day and night. The police threatened to take away our equipment if we continued to shoot. It was probably one of the most horrific, yet beautiful and usual things that I have ever seen before.
I got my shot in though. The Japanese fishing trawler washed up with all its men onboard for several days and these men did not leave their ship for nearly 3 days. The sun had just set with all the moody, dramatic clouds in the background, and I saw the boats’ reflections on the water, the fierce waves crashing against the trawler. The whole scene was something new to my eyes; it was so tragic, yet so beautiful seeing such a large boat on such a small beach under moonlight.
Clifton shipwreck, Cape Town, South Africa – photographer Juan Wernecke
9. Have you ever been in an unsafe place or situation to shoot a brilliant photo?
All the time! I stand on unstable structures, slippery rocks and on the edge of cliffs to get winner images.
I did a cover shoot for a magazine a few months back in Kleinmond. On our way there, we pulled over in Kogelbaai to admire the view. One moment I was taking a few scenic shots and the next I was hiking down the mountain to get a better shot. I stood on a ledge over a 100 m drop onto sharp rocks and rough seas to capture one of my best images yet. It was quite an adrenaline rush, the winds were super strong on this winter’s morning. If I had fallen…
The waves gave off a scary roar, unlike any roar I have ever heard before. I don’t think I have experienced waves of that size before. Just the sound of the roar intimidated me as it was. I couldn’t wait to get to safety but I couldn’t leave the scene either, I was so excited with the results but fearing for my life at the same time.
10. Are you actively involved in any photography communities online?
I decided to create a group on Facebook called South African Photographers; a group with nearly 400 members across South Africa. In this group, I teach individuals what I know. It’s my way to contribute to the community. I am always open to learn as well as teach others. Shortly after I opened my group, I was contacted by Danie Bester; the owner of Digital Photo Critic as well as Louise Donald from PiX magazine. I was asked to be website administrator on both those sites. It’s on those sites that I give critiques on images, give each photographer constructive advice and write tutorials for these sites in order to improve photography in South Africa. I also feature the best images on these websites. PiX magazine has nearly 7000 members throughout South Africa and Photocritic, 2000 members. I think the main lesson I would like to share is that those with a passion for photography should always aim to learn new things. Information is free and everyone has the ability to become a phenomenal photographer, whether you would like to do it full time or just as a hobby.
11. Complete this sentence: Because of photography…
Because of photography, I look at the world with different eyes, I appreciate life more than ever and I have grown a soft spot for nature and scenic places. I have learned to enjoy life and make every second count; live life like it’s your last day and appreciate everything around you. It’s opened my eyes on so many levels imaginable.
12. Where do you find are good places for aspiring and pro-photographers to place their work online?
This is a tricky question. I have my work posted on several websites such as Istockphoto, Getty Images, DevianArt, Flickr, Myshutterspace, outdoorphoto, PiX magazine, 365 project, Pixoto, Digital Photo Critique, 1X, Fotoskool, South African Photographers, as well as many Facebook photographic groups. I actually created a group on Facebook called South African Photographers with nearly 400 members in it. With all these websites, users (or should I say photographers) upload images, people give constructive feedback and tips so the user can improve their work.
I am always keen to learn, and share the knowledge I’ve acquired.
Relais & Châteaux’ annual meeting was held in Turin from 4 to 6 November. It brought together more than 500 Owners, Maîtres de Maison, and Grand Chefs, from almost 60 countries, to discuss the important issue of ‘Shared Emotions’.
Above: Relais & Chateaux New Members. Photo by Daniele Ratti
After Lisbon in Portugal in 2011, Jaume Tàpies, Chairman of the Board of Relais & Châteaux, invited the men and women who are the ‘backbone’ of the Association to Turin, from 4 to 6 November.
This reunion provided the opportunity to take stock of what has been a particularly busy year: the entry into the Guide of 36 properties, 12 new Grands Chefs and 5 new destinations with the creation of new Routes to Bonheur, gastronomy that is celebrated more than ever before (Dîner des Grand Chefs au Gotham Hall à New York, Lunch on the Lawn, pop-up restaurant at the 26th Biennale des Antiquaires), a new-look guide which brings the paper and online versions closer together, the creation of new Lys offers. What unites all this is a desire to share excellence and emotions. And that is what happened at this 38th congress.
All the ingredients were there to ensure that the theme, ‘Shared Emotions’, elicited heart-felt and in-depth discussions and the sharing of experiences: a plunge into the heart of the culture and gastronomy of Italy with, as its culmination, a gala dinner given at the Venaria Reale with 15 Italian chefs, Fine Dining by Relais & Châteaux with contributions by Grands Chefs Thomas Keller (New York City), Andrew Fairlie (Scotland) and Jacques Chibois (Grasse), a meeting with Salvatore Ferragamo, Owner of Il Borro and 2013 Ambassador, the experience of a company director of what is a jewel in France’s luxury crown in the person of Yves Carcelle, CEO of Louis Vuitton, the passionate enthusiasm of Angelo Gaja, one of Tuscany’s most famous winegrowers, the vision of the world’s top economic authority, Christine Lagarde, former French Economy Minister and now Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.
This wealth of experience, these discussions and these moments of exchange gave food for thought and inspiration to the 500 members of Relais & Châteaux who had come from all around the world. And the promise that our guests will share with us, in 2013, original and intense new experiences.
In a time when travellers are paying higher ticket costs and baggage fees, adding travel insurance onto the cost of a trip can seem like just another expense. The truth is that travel insurance is very inexpensive for the protection and assistance you get with it.
Benefits of obtaining travel insurance
#1 You won’t lose your trip investment
No traveller can predict exactly what will happen between now and when they return home. If someone gets sick, a parent dies, a traffic accident happens, or any of a number of things occur, you could have to cough up loads of money. With the right travel insurance plan, you’ll be reimbursed for your pre-paid non-refundable trip costs if you have to cancel your trip before leaving or abandon your trip and return home.
The following are just a few reasons travellers have to cancel or interrupt their trips:
Injury or illness of you, a travelling partner or a family member.
Bad weather or natural disasters that destroy your destination accommodation or your house back home.
Traffic accidents that occur en route to your scheduled departure.
Work or schedule conflicts including work transfers, court summons, terminations, or work schedule changes.
Labour strikes and financial default that disrupt flights and leave travellers stranded.
Terrorist attacks and mandatory evacuations. With adequate travel insurance, if you experience a situation that requires you to cancel your trip prior to departure or abandon your trip and return home post-departure, you’ll be reimbursed for all of the unused trip expenses you insured.
#2 You won’t have to pay for unexpected medical care
We’ve all read stories of travellers who were injured or got sick while travelling. When a traveller is in a foreign country, their health insurance from back home doesn’t usually extend to paying foreign hospitals and doctors.
If you, or someone travelling with you, gets sick or injured and needs medical care while you’re travelling, your travel insurance provider will help you find emergency transportation and local medical care. In most cases, they can arrange for payment to be made directly to the medical providers too. They also have experts on hand who can provide translation services if you are unfamiliar with the local language.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, your travel insurance assistance service team can work with your doctors back home and help coordinate your care. In addition, they’ll inform your family and business associates of your condition while keeping track of your progress.
#3 You can be evacuated out of danger
There are many reasons that travellers have to be evacuated: to escape terrorist attacks, impending hurricanes, or when they are so badly injured that local medical care can’t provide adequate treatment.
A travel insurance plan with medical evacuation coverage helps a traveller by arranging and paying for safe transportation to a medical facility that can treat their condition. In addition, this coverage typically pays to bring a family member or friend to the traveller’s bedside as well as transporting you back home when your recovery is stabilised.
If the worst should happen and you die on your trip, this coverage also provides money and co-ordination for repatriation – that is, the proper return of your body to your home. In some cases, repatriation can take tens of thousands of dollars and leave family members struggling to negotiate complicated transportation regulations through their grief. An adequate travel insurance plan can save your family from all that.
#4 You can buy travel insurance for special circumstances
Travellers with special circumstances often think they can’t get travel insurance, but it’s not true. Travellers can get coverage for all kinds of special situations and activities, including:
Coverage for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions.
Coverage for travellers who like to go rock climbing, diving, hang-gliding, white-water rafting etc.
Coverage for travellers with young children (even grandchildren)
Coverage for travellers headed to unsafe areas of the world. For just a little extra money, travellers with different needs can get adequate travel insurance.
#5 Other benefits of travel insurance
Many travel insurance plans include additional benefits that include:
Assistance recovering from lost or stolen passports and identity theft.
Help with missed connections and travel delays.
Coverage for car rentals and roadside assistance.
Assistance when your baggage is lost, stolen or delayed.
Accidental death and dismemberment and flight accident benefits.
Concierge and business assistance services. Not every plan includes all of these and every plan will have different levels of coverage and limits.
Now that you realise how important and simply travel insurance is, you can now visit the best places in Africa without a care in the world.
Chumming for shark for commercial shark cage diving is a highly controversial subject, with shark attack victims on the rise. The media is flooded with negative connotations associated with chumming for shark, so Dalene Ingham-Brown interviewed Rob Lawrence, owner of Cape Town based African Shark Eco-Charters, to gain insight into a pro-chumming mindset.
Pro-chumming for shark interview with Rob Lawrence:
Dalene: Why do you think people are against chumming?
Rob: People don’t know what goes on, on a shark cage diving trip where chumming for shark is involved. The media is swamped with negative opinion towards the subject. There is a great misconception about chumming. People seem to think that we put pigs blood and mammal blood in the water to attract sharks; that isn’t the case. We use snoek, skip jack and whatever other fish bait is available at the time. I’ve found that most people against chumming, haven’t even been on a shark cage diving trip before. Those who haven’t been on a trip with us before don’t know exactly what happens, how much we use, and what we use; of course they will be against chumming.
Dalene: Do you think putting up shark nets to prevent shark attacks on humans is a good idea?
Rob: I understand that the exclusion nets to be put up in False Bay will be an experimental project, however if it is run properly It could be beneficial for both sharks and humans. It is working well in KwaZulu Natal, hopefully it will work for us too.
Dalene: Does chumming for shark have an effect on shark attacks on humans?
Rob: No.
Dalene: Do you think the daily restriction of 25 kg of bait per day is reasonable for shark chumming?
Rob: Yes, it is a reasonable amount. Often I don’t even use that much when I go out for the day. It’s not like we go out with 25 kg of bait and come back with empty buckets.
Dalene: Do you think the mass chumming for Ocearch’s film-making in False Bay had an effect on the Kogel Bay shark attack?
Rob: No I don’t. If I’m not mistaken, the attack happened 3 days after the chumming for shark took place. I’m not involved in the Ocearch project so I cannot give information on the exact particulars of the project.
Dalene: Do you think that shark cage diving chumming leads to sharks associating food with humans?
Rob: You can’t condition sharks to think like that. If it were that easy to condition sharks, I wouldn’t have to close my business for a good few months of the year. Sharks have cycles, they are either there or they aren’t. They may associate boats with food, but to say that sharks associate humans with food is quite a far stretch of the imagination.
Dalene: Do you have any suggestions for preventing shark attacks in False Bay?
Rob: Well, I think the Shark Spotters have been great in reporting on shark movement. Swimmers and locals should follow the Shark Spotter program, take advice from local law enforcement officers when warned about shark activity, and they should just use their common sense.
Dalene: Why would you say shark attacks in False Bay are on the increase?
Rob: It seems to be a global trend and not just happening in False Bay. Whether it is because of environmental issues, or whether it is just because there are more people in the water, we can’t be sure.
Comment below: What is your opinion on chumming for shark and shark attacks on humans?
Chumming for shark with Rob Lawrence:
About Rob Lawrence:
Rob Lawrence is the founder of African Shark Eco-Charters. Working in the industry since 1992, Rob has acquired great experience and knowledge surrounding the behaviour of the great white shark. His passion for these misunderstood animals is what drives him, dedicated to informing, educating, and empowering individuals by sharing his knowledge.
Creating worldwide awareness from Cape Town, over the years, Rob has worked closely with film production companies like Animal Planet, BBC Wildlife, National Geographic and Discovery Channel.
POST UPDATE: 15 MAY 2012
Below, Zapiro (one of South Africa’s most popular and leading cartoonists), creates a sketch focusing on the controversial issue of chumming for shark for the pleasure of commercial tourism.
Cartoon description and background:
With the raging debate about Shark chumming on radio and social networks and the recent death of a well-known body surfer in False Bay (Cape Town), Zapio’s cartoon equates the logic of shark chumming to the Kruger Park.
Sports injuries are fairly common. With a football to the face, boot to the crotch and face planting into a balance beam, you thought you'd seen it all, until now… Mountain biker, Evan van der Spuy of Team Jeep South Africa, was trampled by a galloping red hartebees while participating in a mountain bike race in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal.
A 17-year-old's “collision” with the hartebees became one of the most searched topics on the internet. More than 5 million people have searched this collision. Evan said he is still overwhelmed by the attention he is suddenly getting. He attended a mountain bike race at Albert Falls Dam when the buck went for him. “Its taking time to sink in and I'm trying to process it. Our phones are ringing non-stop for interviews” he told Die Burger.
The young mountain biker said he is still suffering from a stiff neck. “It hasn't put me off whatsoever.” Both Evan and the buck have escaped unhurt.
Meanwhile, Trish Wilson, who also attended the race at Albert Falls Dam, complained about the representation of a “defenceless animal”, Die Burger reports. She said it looked like the animals were alarmed because “the park were full of people”.
The organiser of the race, Max Cluer, referred to the incident as a freak accident and unique of its kind. It was a question of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. “It was against nature in nature.” Cluer said 99,9% of the reaction on YouTube is positive.
The TV channel National Geographic is also interested in the video for Caught in the act, a new TV series which focuses on the bizarre footage of the wild.
“They are speechless and say they have never seen something like this before. They also want to use it for research,” Cluer said.
Email us 
