NEW Nomad blogs

Read all the news from the bush via Nomad's new blogs:

Chada Katavi

Greystoke Mahale

Kiba Point

Serengeti Migration Update

The migration is scattered, many herds still seen around Moru, but many on their way down to Ndutu, in the Naabi Hill and some have gone across to the Gol Kopjes.

Rains in Ndutu and surrounds have meant lots of green grass and good grazing.

Cats are everywhere: Chediel and his clients saw a spectacular cheetah kill, mother feeding her cubs. Sylvanus watched a leopard and older cubs take down a young zebra. Everyone is in the Christmas holiday spirit and enjoying their safari – Happy Christmas to all from Nomad Tanzania

Nomad Tanzania - policy on travel disruption caused by weather problems in Europe (December 2010)

All of us at Nomad are looking on with great concern at the difficulties some of your clients are currently experiencing with their travel from or through Europe. 

We place great importance on the quality & reliability of our ground handling service and we are doing all we can to assist at the Tanzania end by maintaining maximum flexibility over what is already a very busy period.

By way of broad guidance and notwithstanding the comprehensive assistance we automatically provide in response to more minor delays & travel complications, please consider our stance on the below scenarios.

If your clients flight to Tanzania is cancelled or delayed by more than 2 days:

      A.     Nomad will help to reschedule your clients existing travel plans within Tanzania as satisfactorily as possible within current availability. If additional costs are incurred, Nomad will pass these on at its lowest wholesale rate.

B.     Alternatively your clients can postpone their entire trip and reschedule for travel any time before 30 June 2011, subject to availability. Nomad will make all arrangements, charging ONLY unrecoverable Government fees and/or 3^rd party cancellation costs. 

If your clients return home from Tanzania is delayed:

      A.     Nomad will make any arrangements necessary for your clients EITHER to stay close by the airport in the best available accommodation of their choice OR (subject to availability) to continue ‘on holiday’ until the first available flight home - passing on Nomads lowest wholesale rates on any arrangements made on your behalf, with no handling charge

.

We regret that once travel plans have been booked & confirmed within our normal terms & conditions, we cannot postpone or refund any element of the cost until or unless your actual plans are disrupted as above.

Please contact your sales consultant for any clarification or Lizzie Farren Titley on lizzie@nomad.co.tz

We much look forward to welcoming your clients to Tanzania, where the only snow they’ll see is on the summit of Kilimanjaro - well out of trouble for most people!

All of us at Nomad Tanzania - December 2010

Seacliff's new Zanzibar resort

The Seacliff Hotel has just opened it's new Seacliff Resort and Spa on Zanzibar.

Located on the west coast of the island in Mangwapani, the resort has 120 rooms, with 96 rooms offering panoramic ocean views and private balconies. They also have a fully equipped gym, tennis courts, volleyball courts, squash courts, and bicycles as well as Spa facility offering a selection of treatments.

More information at www.seacliffzanzibar.com or via reservations@seacliffzanzibar.com

Precision Air suspends flights to Arusha Airport

Suspension of Operations to Arusha Airport

Precision Air has suspended operations to and from Arusha Airport due to the shortening of the available runway to 1200 meters.

This follows a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) ref B0112/10 dated issued 8th December 2010 by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) and received by us 11th December 2010.

The NOTAM takes effect from 15th December 2010 and remains until further advised by TCAA.
In the meantime all our airport operations have shifted to Kilimanjaro International Airport until further notice.

Nomad Trust Update

MORE NEWS...Nigel Palmer has managed to get a 5th laptop for the Trust - well done and thank you so much!!!!!!

Nomad Trust News: Guest Nigel Palmer is donating 4 laptop computers to the Nomad Trust, for use in our Loliondo schools project. Ian Parsons, a Nomad guests who stayed at Mahale, visited Katumbi school during his visit. He wants to sponsor a teacher there, two secondary students and assist one of the pupils through university. We thank these two generous chaps very very much for their support!!!

Christmas / New Year space in Nomad camps

We have the following space in our Nomad camps - please contact your sales rep, or info@nomad.co.tz for more information.

Serengeti Safari Camp - 24 & 25 Dec (1 tent)

Nduara Loliondo - 30 Dec to 1 Jan (2 tents)

Sand Rivers Selous - 23 -29 Dec (1 tent)

Chada Katavi - 30 Dec onwards

Green Katavi - by Philip Pendaeli, Guide - Chada Katavi

Visit our guide blogs - Chada Katavi and Greystoke Mahale 
Weekly updates from Matt Rogan, our camp manager at Kiba Point 

Katavi National Park has been getting drier and drier, just what we wanted to make sure the action in the shrinking hippo pools was good.  This lack of water was causing serious fighting between big male hippos, sometimes resulting in fights to the death.  This is not easy for some people to see, but it is life and death in the bush and it is happening even if people don’t want to watch it. 

Many of our game drives and walks led us to the pools of mud, where even the crocodiles were all forced to move into caves because the hippos were taking all the space.  Then when we were all starting to feel bad for the animals because they were really struggling from lack of clean water, the rains came.

Elephants were trumpeting just from being happy, at least according to some of our guests, and I was tempted to believe them.  They didn’t have to dig with their forefeet and tusks any more to find clean water in the riverbanks.

Hippos and crocodiles returned to the river that is starting to fill with water and will be flowing again soon.  Even some species of terrapins (like turtles) appeared like magic from where they were cased in dried mud for almost six months.  Now we see them walking on the tracks and we try very hard not to drive over them.

Even though dry season is our most popular and busy time at Chada Katavi, somehow I think it is a blessing to look at how green and beautiful the park has become.  And not many people complain about a cloud covering up the hot sun in Katavi occasionally.

Migration Update

Nomad guides are reporting seeing the migration stretched between Naabi, Moru and down to Ndutu. There has been some rain so the whole area has greened up nicely, especially around Ndutu where there has been quite a bit of rain.  Lions are definitely on the viewing menu, as well as elephants and some great bird sightings.

Kwihala Camp - special offer

Kwihala Tented Camp in Ruaha, has a special introductory low season offer of 4 nights for the price of 3.

Offer valid between the following dates:

1st November - 20th December 2010 inclusive
16th February - 24th March 2011 inclusive

Please contact info@adventurecampstz.com for more details on the offer.

Fundu Lagoon - New Offers

New offers from Fundu Lagoon:

From 15th June 2010 to 14th April 2011

- all Standard Hillside room bookings of 5 nights or more - stay 7 nights, pay for 5, certain dates not applicable.

From 15th June 2011 to 14th April 2012

- All bookings of 6 nights or more (in all room types) only pay for 5 nights, certain dates not applicable.

From 15th June 2011 to 14th April 2012

- Special Honeymoon Package - 20% discount for the bride, private beach dinner, his and hers massage, bottle of champagnoise in the room on arrival


Please contact reservations@fundulagoon.com for more info on the specifics of the offers. 

Asilia - Rekero Camp

Asilia have some new offers for Kenya and Tanzania to mark the start of their management of sales and marketing of Rekero Camp. They are launching their new product, as well as Naboisho Camp, with some great 'Early Bird' offers. Please contact gordie@asiliaafrica.com for more info.

Airstrip closures

Kleins airstrip in northern Loliondo remains closed for the foreseeable future. Ikuu airstrip, the airstrip nearest to Chada Katavi, also remains closed and we are using the Sitalike airstrip until further notice.

Nomad Trust - "Safari Kids" trip to Ololosokwan

Nomad Trust Update: this weekend Nomad guides Chediel and Paul led a “Safari Kids” trip to Ololosokwan with 20 kids and two teachers. Chediel said it was great to see the kids enjoying and learning so much! Download the latest Nomad Trust newsletter here.

Serengeti Migration Update

The wildebeest herds are scattered in rather fragmented herds between Lobo and Seronera; this isn’t unusual for this time of year, and the lack of heavy rains has meant they are more spread out and in smaller groups. Nomad guides have still had good cat sightings over the last week from our Serengeti Safari Camp in the central Serengeti

Serengeti Highway - UNESCO warning

NAIROBI - UNESCO on Monday urged Tanzania not to put development, notably a controversial highway planned to cut through the iconic Serengeti National Park, before the safeguarding of its cultural heritage. 

Conservations say it will have a devastating effect on the local  ecology, in particular wildlife migration patterns. "Modern economy should not by any means be at the expense of nature, or at the expense of culture", UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova told journalists.

AFP - News November 15th

Nomad Tanzania - latest discounts

Our latest discounts on bookings made before 31 January 2011 – 15% on Sand Rivers & Kiba Point; 10% on all other Nomad camps; an EXTRA 5% on 8nts and more across any Nomad camp; discounted flights to western Tanzania.

Download our updated discount summary here 

Tanzanian Election - Results

Tanzania's incumbent President Jakaya Kikwete has been returned to office following last weekend's elections, officials say.

The  election commission said Mr Kikwete won just over 61% of the votes, beating candidates from opposition parties.

Mr Kikwete will serve a second and final term

Zanzibar Collection Resorts - spa notification

We wish to inform you that during the period 15^th November to 12^th December 2010 inclusive, we will unfortunately not be offering any yoga classes at our resorts.

Please duly inform your valued customers that this service will not available during these dates.  This is only applicable for the above mentioned time period and as of 13^th December all yoga facilities will be offered as usual.  Please also note that all other spa treatments and services at our Frangipani Spa remain unchanged. 

Kind regards, The Zanzibar Collection

Kwihala Tented Camp - new offers

Kwihala Tented Camp in Ruaha National Park, the newest addition to the Adventure Camps portfolio, is making a very Special Introductory Low Season Offer of four nights for the price of three:

The offer is valid between the following dates:

1st Nov - 20th Dec 2010 inclusive

16th Feb - 24th March 2011 inclusive

Contact info@adventurecampstz.com  for more information

Fiona Bickmore joins Nomads London office

We are delighted to welcome Fiona Bickmore to the team at Nomad Tanzania. Fi joins us from Scott Dunn and will further strengthen our London based trade sales team.

She’s currently on a 3 week educational around Tanzania and will start in earnest, alongside Vix Davies & Jill Bradley from mid November. We couldn't hope for a better team.

Big welcome to Fi - we all look forward to working with you.

The Nomad Trust

The Nomad Trust October Newsletter – download the PDF here for news and updates on the community and conservation projects that Nomad Tanzania supports.

Serengeti Migration Update

There are big herds around Bologonja, gradually heading south towards Lobo. There has been plenty of rain in the last couple weeks, so still lots of good grazing across much of the northern area.

Nomad guides at Serengeti Safari Camp continue to see impressive river crossings, with Chediel recently witnessing a large group of elephant crossing alongside thousands of wildebeest and zebra!

As always the cats are plentiful with lion everywhere and some spectacular cheetah sightings.

Concession fee change at Nduara Loliondo

Hard to believe that we've been hit twice in consecutive weeks with late Park/Concession fee revisions. No doubt a sign of the times.

As of 20 October 2010 we are now faced with a Govmt night driving fee of $20per person for guests staying at Nduara. We have resolved to absorb this for all existing bookings BUT have no other alternative than to pass this charge on for new enquiries.

Nightdrives are hugely popular at Nduara and integral to the experience there. To ensure we can continue operating them despite this new fee, we think the fairest approach is to simply add into our quotes a default $20 per person per stay.

Rates clarification - single travellers in SSC & Nduara

We've been asked to clarify the situation over a single traveller visiting Serengeti Safari Camp and/or Nduara Loliondo where private cars & guides are guaranteed in both camps.

Our rates in these camps are specifically based on minimum of 2 pax travelling together, with a single supplement applied to anyone wanting sole occupancy of a tent. On those few occasions when a single person is travelling alone and therefore requiring sole use of car & guide as well as sole occupancy of a tent, we would charge one full adult sharing rate plus 75% of a second full adult sharing but NO single supplement. 

This enables us to cover the cost of a private car & guide alongside accomodation, whilst discounting for savings on food & drink etc. We hope that approach sounds simple, fair & logical?

Changes to our invoicing procedures

As part of ongoing improvements in Nomads sales & marketing, we will be streamlining our invoicing procedures as of 01 Nov 2010. Further details will accompany all new invoices as of that date.

We fully expect this to simplify administration on all sides and ask that you bear with us during any transition phase.

And Beyond - new Red Hot Deals

And Beyond have just announced their Red Hot Deals - for their Under Canvas camps, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge and Kleins Camp. See their website for more details.

New regulation re fishing at Mahale

Tanzania National Parks have decided to implement a $50 fishing fee in Mahale, forthwith. Annoying for everyone - except possibly the fish. Sadly we are forced to pass on this fee to any guests who opt for a fishing trip during their stay. The managers will explain the situation fully to current guests, which should mitigate any misunderstandings over the next few months. 

On all future bookings we reckon the simplest approach is for us to add a single fishing fee per person on every Mahale stay, leaving you free to remove it if you think your clients would prefer to opt out. We of course continue to lay on boat, crew, fishing kit & coolbox of drinks as a part of any Mahale stay and we hope that fishing will remain a popular option for guests.

Zanzibar Palace Hotel - online availability and new spa

Zanzibar Palace have introduced real-time availability online at their website – http://www.zanzibarpalacehotel.com/. See the ‘Availability’ option.

They have also just opened their new Luxury Spa, adjacent to the hotel.

Singita Grumeti - temporary 2011 closure

The Singita Grumeti properties - Sasakwa, Sabora Plains and Faru Faru - will be closed from 21 June to 19 July 2011. 

Breezes Beach Club and Spa - closure

Following their ongoing commitment to improving and upgrading of  services at Breezes, they will close for approximately three and ½ weeks from May 3 to May 29 2011 inclusive.

For more details - contracts@breezes-zanzibar.com

Serengeti Balloons are flying again

There's been some confusion over whether Serengeti ballooning is or is not back on. We're happy to confirm that ballooning in the Serengeti IS once again underway.

Twiga Lodge - 'bush home' next to Arusha National Park

Small and friendly new ‘homestay’ lodge just outside of Arusha – Twiga Lodge – right on the boundry of Arusha National Park, and only 4 rooms. For more details www.shawsafaris.com

Fundu Lagoon - honeymoon offer

From 15th June 2011 until 14th April 2012 Fundu Lagoon are pleased to offer the following special honeymoon package

20% discount for the bride:

Bottle of champagnoise in room on arrival

His and hers massage

This is in addition to all the included activities and extras offered at the resort.

There is a minimum 5 night stay which applies to a Hillside or Beachfront Standard Room

For more details and their terms & conditions, please contact your Nomad sales rep or Fundu Lagoon on reservations@fundulagoon.com

New in Zanzibar - The Seyyida

Lizzie, our Sales Manager, recently checked out The Seyyida Hotel in Zanzibar, and she gives it the thumbs up. Described as an elegant 17-room boutique hotel located in the heart of the World Heritage Site of Stonetown, you can find more info at www.theseyyida-zanzibar.com

Katavi on National Geographic

Hope some of you managed to see the fantastic Katavi documentary on National Geographic recently. This is very much home turf for all of us at Chada Katavi, with Nomad founder Roland Purcell being for many years the pioneer of safaris in Katavi. This film is excellent in the way it gives a real taste of how magical Katavi is in the sometimes overlooked green season.

It'll certainly be reshown in the near future but in the meantime, you can see a preview video here.

http://natgeotv.com/uk/croc-caves-of-africa/videos/cave-dwellers

Zanzibar Kempinski - health retreat

Zamani Zanzibar Kempinski becomes a holistic health retreat early Jan 2011 – for more details visit www.kempinski.com

Katavi and nearest airstrip

Strange as it may seem, work at Ikuu airstrip is still ongoing. We'll be continuing to use Sitalike airstrip until further notice. The bad news is that this is approx two hours drive from Chada Katavi - the good news that it gets us into some areas of the park that we wouldn't ordinarily visit. We're continuing to push Tanapa for speedy completion of Ikuu but in the meantime please bear with us and warn your clients accordingly. Thank you.

Lake Duluti Lodge, Arusha - just opened

New lodge 10kms outside of Arusha; just opened with 18 en-suite chalets set near the shores of the lake. 

For more details: http://www.lakeduluti.com/

Serengeti Balloon accident - ATTAK news

Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) has indefinitely banned hot air balloon operations in the Serengeti National Park in the aftermath of last week's accident.

A privately-owned hot air balloon with 10 tourists on board crashed on Wednesday in the Serengeti National park, killing two, from USA and Denmark leaving eight others seriously injured.

"We have suspended the hot air balloons in [the] Serengeti National Park until further notice, pending for mishap investigation, which is underway,"
TANAPA spokesperson, Mr. Pascal Shelutete said in Arusha.

"Investigators drawn from [the] Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, TANAPA, and Serengeti Balloon Safaris are currently analyzing the circumstances of the hot air balloon crash to establish the exact cause".


The African Travel & Tourism Association ATTAK Newsletter - http://www.atta.travel

Serengeti Migration Update

The wildebeest are stretched along the Mara River in large numbers with crossings happening most days during this last week. We followed one herd, on the opposite bank, that expanded in numbers until it was about 5000 strong. They headed east passing several possible crossings en route. It was like watching a tornado build up and build up, but one that you’re never sure where it’s going to actually touch down. They passed crossing points that were easy, shallow entries with fewer rocks but they kept going; the wind seemed to make them jumpy and restless and the slightest thing would set them off again. Nomad guide Emmanuel kept us on the trail of them all day…watching them from the opposite bank. 

We’d headed back to Serengeti Safari Camp at the end of the day so left them there in their numbers. The following morning they still hadn’t crossed over, but were now scattered in every direction. Rains in the north have kept a lot of the herds on the TZ side with good numbers crossing but then crossing back over again. We also saw lots of elephants, the resident cheetah brothers hunting (right alongside our car) and heard plenty of lion calling at night. 

Nomad Trust - October 2010 Newsletter

Read the latest Nomad Trust newsletter here - updates on our key projects including the Ololosokwan, Loliondo, school project, wild dog awareness, and a focus on what's happening in Katavi National Park.

Serengeti Balloon accident

Serengeti Balloon accident. Sad to report an accident today involving one of the Serengeti balloons. We understand that two passengers were killed and several injured. We'll bring you further news as we hear it.

Chumbe Island award

Chumbe Island Coral Park is a Finalist in the 2010 BBC World Challenge, competing against 11 other small businesses/projects in the world that support innovation at a grass-roots level. 

Northern Serengeti game news

Still some rain in the Kogatende area and Mara river crossings still going on but seem to be lessening as main herds start moving south. Still great game viewing throughout northern Serengeti & Loliondo. 

Just over the past week, one group of guests with Sylvanus saw 3 black rhinos, lion with cubs and 3 leopard. Sylvanus also saw a lioness killing a baby zebra while Halifa saw Hyena chase down & half eat a wildbeest calf, while it was still alive. Its gruesome out there!

Chada Katavi

Chada Katavi is closing 22Nov to 8 Dec for some minor upgrades, including new platforms for some of the tents. We hope also to be fitting the new eco-flush loos at this time but will confirm that shortly when we know for sure that they've been safely delivered!

Sanctuary Tanzania

Kusini's newly upgraded guest tents will be available from Dec 2010.
Stay 4 pay 3 at Swala and Kusini (valid 6 Jan to 31 March 11)

Swala is now offering walks, night drives and balloon safaris.

Game sightings - northern Serengeti

Our Nomad private guides are still seeing big herds of wildebeest between Wogakuria and Kogatende in the northern Serengeti. Kennedy reports “wonderful game with lots of cats in Bologonja and Rhino sightings close to Kogatende”. Chediel has been watching “awesome crossings” at the Mara River with his guests; long lines of wildebeest that seem to go on for ever, all chancing their luck crossing the croc-infested river. Emmanuel watched a pride of lion work so cleverly to take down a stray wildebeest with military precision. They're all reporting rain - heavy at times - but say it's cooling things down during the heat of the day.

Lamai Serengeti

Lamai Serengeti, Nomad's new permanent tented camp, will open 27 June 2011. Rates and itineraries will be available shortly - for more info

SSC - Eco flush loos

NEW at Serengeti Safari Camp are low-water usage eco-flush toilets. The very same will go into Chada Katavi in November this year.

Nomad will be at WTM and we'd love to see you.  To make an appointment, please email eliza@nomad.co.tz.

Kleins airstrip remains closed until further notice. Clients staying in Nduara Loliondo are using Lobo for the time being and we continue to rearrange their plans as necessary. We'll keep you informed as we hear more on this.

There is still some Christmas space in our camps, but its going fast so don't delay to make a booking - and take advantage of our current discounts for all safaris booked by 31 October 2010.

We've been having good rains in the northern Serengeti and previously burned areas are now lush green pastures. The migration sightings, and crossings of the Mara River, are excellent at the moment. Check our migration updates

Kiba Point has had a fabulous few months, with Matt Rogan as our new manager/host. He's really settled in - check out his new blog. There is still some Christmas space at Kiba Point but it will go soon and New Year is already full.

New Tarangire Camp - Leopard Rock

Simply Canvas' new camp in Tarangire (Leopard Rock) is getting rave reviews. Based just outside of the park (in Paul Oliver's original camp site), guests can explore Tarangire itself, whilst having the benefit of walks, night drives and hides. www.simply-canvas.com

Manyara Ranch - main lodge

Manyara Ranch's main lodge will be opening in 2011 but in the meantime their tented camp is already operating. They are also offering a private camp site. www.manyararanch.com

Kwihala in Ruaha National Park has joined Adventure Camps. www.kwihala.com

Rain in the northern Serengeti has seen the previously burned areas greening up nicely. Nomad guides are reporting that there are still huge herds on the Tanzania side of the Mara River – between Kogatende and Bologonja. Emmanuel said they’d been seeing lots and lots of cats; leopards hunting, leopards mating, cheetah and babies hunting, and Sylvanus and his guests were lucky enough to have a great rhino sighting. All the guides say the area is particularly beautiful at the moment, due to the green shoots everywhere, and the views are spectacular. Read more about our fabulous Nomad private guides here.

Large numbers over wildebeests have crossed over the border but there are still mega herds milling around the Daraja Mbili area of the Lamai Wedge (northern Serengeti). Spectacular river crossings have been seen all last week, with herds going north and south and plenty of smaller herds still south of the Mara river. The weather has been hot during the day with some rain, nights are cool and windy. Guests staying at our Serengeti Safari Camp have been seeing dramatic river crossings with many crocodiles pursuing the herds through the water; also lots of leopard sightings around camp, as well as black rhino.

Nomad guides are seeing large herds of wildebeest in the Wogakuria area, and around the Mara River. Guests staying in Serengeti Safari Camp are in the perfect place for some exciting river crossings; our guide, Godwin, sat and watched as crocodiles attacked one long line of wildebeest desperately trying to cross. The guests with him were stunned by the drama and savagery of the experience.

This last week they've also seen a Rhino with her young calf chasing off a puff adder; a side striped jackal, lots of cats following the migration and plenty of elephants. It's cold at night and warm clothes are definitely needed for those early morning game drives, but the days are still warm and sunny.

The bulk of the migration is now in the northern Serengeti - between Wogakuria and Bologonja - with just some stragglers left coming up from the Grumeti area. Our Serengeti Safari Camp is perfectly placed right in the middle of all the action; guests out with our Nomad guides last week saw fantastic wildebeest crossings at the Mara River - also plenty of cats: lionesses taking down a wildebeest at Woga, a family of cheetah sitting surveying a long line of wildebeests, from their high vantage point atop a termite mound, and a leopard killing a young gazelle right in front of the car. They also saw a rhinoceros and a youngster near Nyamalumbwa, Bologonja.

As per the last posting, the migratory herds are still split with one lot still in the Western Corridor/Grumeti area (mostly north of the river) and the other now in Bologonja in the northern Serengeti. We will be shortly moving up to Bologonja as the herds start to head north (we're anticipating towards the end of the month). In the meantime, Nomad guests continue to enjoy the sightings from our camp in Simiti. The rains have ceased, and the nights are getting cooler as we head into winter. Lion and cheetah have been seen by most guests this last week too.

The migratory herds have separated into two distinct groups - one in the Western Corridor/Grumeti area and one in north-east Serengeti and northern Loliondo area. We are expecting the western herd to to start moving north to the Mara River area towards the end of July. In the meantime guests in both Serengeti Safari Camp and Nduara Loliondo are enjoying good migration sightings. Guests in Serengeti Safari Camp also saw a python kill and adult zebra at Grumeti, although it was unable to swallow it whole.