Tintswalo Safari Lodge has launched free virtual safaris that are available on its social media channels to all its followers. Says Lisa Goosen, CEO of Tintswalo: ‘The national lock-down in South Africa has been very challenging for humans, but in the bush, nature continues undisturbed as it has since the beginning of time. The conservation of our nature reserves and protection of our precious wildlife remain a priority for the Tintswalo family. Within the greater Kruger region, the Tintswalo wildlife management team in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve is ‘on the beat’ in the bush throughout lockdown and continues to monitor and safeguard our vulnerable fauna and flora.’

 Tintswalo’s conservation patrols have presented the unique opportunity to bring virtual safaris to viewers at home. ‘We invite you to enjoy the freedom to escape for a while, focus on positivity and take delight in the wonders of the African bush as inspiration for planning your next Tintswalo safari’, says Lisa Goosen.

 The game rich Manyeleti Game Reserve is known world-wide for its Big 5 sightings, but also for its birdlife and many smaller species and other interesting creatures.

 Tintswalo’s ‘On the Beat’ virtual safaris include video footage of actual sightings, as well as some of the exhilarating encounters experienced by its game rangers on patrol. Videos are uploaded daily on all Tintswalo’s social media channels.

In response to the international Corona Covid-19 travel restrictions, Tintswalo Lodges has introduced reduced-rate 2-night Staycation offers at each of its properties to present locals with as much as 50% discount for self-drive travel until 31 July 2020.

Each of Tintswalo’s small and exclusive luxury lodges are located in idyllic, remote locations close to nature where there are no crowds. Here the clean, fresh air affords guests the opportunity to escape, connect with nature and relax in a stress-free natural environment.

All Tintswalo lodges have child-friendly accommodation options too, making them ideal destinations for families to spend quality time together during the newly introduced extended school breaks.

Tintswalo properties offer sanctuary to humans and wildlife alike. The portfolio includes Tintswalo Atlantic in Cape Town, as well as safari destinations in the malaria-free Waterberg, Tintswalo Lapalala and the new Tintswalo Family Camp at Welgevonden, and Tintswalo Safari Lodge in the greater Kruger region.

Lisa Goosen, CEO of Tintswalo says that the South African tourism industry has been hard hit by enforced cancellations from international tourists due to the ban on air travel and the global trend to delay overseas travel plans. ‘Many South Africans too are forced to cancel their international travel plans for the year. This has created the opportunity to offer Staycation deals to locals wanting to escape some of the frenzy experienced in cities and populated areas, to enjoy a restful break with loved ones at some of South Africa’s top bucket-list destinations.’

She continued to say all Tintswalo staff have been briefed and trained and lodges have prevention action plans in place to minimise the risk of Covid-19 contamination.  As a further precautionary measure, guest rooms and all communal areas and kitchens are disinfected on a regular basis and sanitation products are at the disposal of guests.

Tintswalo’s Staycation deals start from a 2-night stay for two at Tintswalo Atlantic at R10 850 – inclusive of breakfast and afternoon snacks.

Safari deals start at R26 000 and include all meals and daily game drives for a 2-night stay for a family of four (including 2 children under the age of 16) at Tintswalo Lapalala in the Waterberg, or a 2-night safari for two adults at Tintswalo Safari Lodge. In the same Manyeleti Reserve the Tintswalo Manor House is available at a special Staycation rate of R63 000 per 2-night stay for a group of 10 people, including all meals and safari activities, or at R65 000 per 2-night stay for the take-over of the Tintswalo Family Camp at Welgevonden Game Reserve, for 10 people.

In the wake of the current COVID-19 crisis which has resulted in international air travel coming to a halt, some excellent opportunities have opened-up for South African residents to make use of unprecedented discounts offered at luxury safari lodges.

Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa, the award-winning 5-star safari lodge in Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterberg (Limpopo province) has announced 40% discount offers that are valid with immediate effect for new, direct bookings for stays up to 31 May 2020. Discounted rates include all meals, house drinks and twice daily safari activities, and start from R3250 per person sharing per night.

The 35 000-hectare, malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve is known for frequent ‘Big 5’ sightings and offers wide-open spaces and low-density tourist numbers to present excellent opportunities for isolation, rest and relaxation. The wildlife experience is complemented by Mhondoro’s luxurious accommodation, indulgent spa treatments, fine cuisine and passionate service. Fast speed wifi is available in all suites allowing connectivity for those wanting to work remotely. All sanitation procedures and precautions have been implemented to minimize contamination and staff are trained accordingly. Public areas and guest rooms, as well as the kitchen and spa are disinfected on a regular basis and sanitation products are available to all guests and staff.

The family-friendly lodge is an easy 2h45-hour drive from Johannesburg and welcomes children of all ages. Special children’s activities are on offer along with babysitting services and short game drives may be booked for families with young children. Little travellers can run free in the dedicated open-air play area, which is protected by an elephant fence and a playroom is stocked with games.

At the main lodge two dedicated family suites with private lounges each accommodate two adults and two children. Within the same concession, Mhondoro Villa provides a luxurious yet comfortable home-away-from-home for bigger families. The Villa comes with its own heated pool and small gym and sleeps six people, but can accommodate up to 10 when the rest of the party book the adjacent 2-bedroom Family suite.

 Tintswalo has extended its portfolio of family-owned luxury lodges and boutique hotels with the opening of the Tintswalo Family Camp in the Welgevonden Game Reserve in Limpopo (South Africa). The third safari location in the Tintswalo stable and its’ second in the malaria-free Waterberg, the new Family Camp is booked on an exclusive-use basis only. The camp accommodates one group of between 10 and 16 guests travelling together and welcomes children of all ages. (Rate R47 670 for up to 10 guests, including accommodation, all meals and soft drinks, twice daily safari activities and wifi in the main lodge. Six additional guests may be added at R3500 per person per night)

Tintswalo Family Camp is an ideal destination for corporates breakaways and executive retreats.  Comfortably furnished, the main communal lounge area provides a warm and welcoming ambience with large fireplaces. An expansive deck overlooks the valley below and features a swimming pool with poolside loungers. The viewing deck inside the camp overlooks the waterhole and the spacious entertainment room may be converted into a conference room. There is a small gift shop and the camp is protected by electric fencing against predators and dangerous game to allow children the freedom to enjoy the outside areas.

Tintswalo Family camp is ideal for a group of 10 but can accommodate a group of up to 16 with en-suite bathrooms, and up to 20 guests when the group includes younger children sharing a bathroom. Five spacious freestanding luxury units are positioned on either side of the main lodge, comprising of two 3-bedroom units, each with 2 bathrooms and a veranda overlooking the wilderness; two 1-bedroom units with an en-suite bathroom and adjoining private lounge; and one 2-bedroom unit with en-suite bathrooms.

The Welgevonden Game Reserve comprises of 40,000 hectares of pristine bushveld and ranks amongst South Africa’s largest private game reserves, forming part of the only savanna biosphere reserve in the world, proclaimed by UNESCO in March 2001. It boasts a great variety of game and is home to South Africa’s Big Five. The Welgevonden Game Reserve is a pioneer in conservation initiatives; this ethos forming an integral part of the rich, multi-generational family experience on offer at Tintswalo’s Family Camp.

Says Tintswalo CEO Lisa Goosen: ‘Tintswalo Family Camp is strategically positioned to offer an exclusive and unique, private safari experience for a family group or friends travelling together. We are excited to bring to the market this new relaxed, family product, which offers full exclusivity for a group to spend quality time together to make the safari experience memorable and personal. The need to disconnect from everyday life and immerse oneself into nature is becoming increasingly sought after, with more and more people opting for experiences like these, that are good for the soul.’

Jock Safari Lodge has formed an official long term partnership with the Wilderness Foundation Africa (WFA) to further conservation education and youth development within the broader community of the Kruger National Park.

Jock Safari Lodge was the first private concession granted within the Kruger National Park. It has a long-standing commitment to both sustainable and community development and has for many years worked to upskill and uplift individuals to greater heights. The collaboration with the WFA is however positioned to take community empowerment and development to another level.

Says Louis Strauss, the General Manager & Director of Jock Safari Lodge: ‘We are extremely honoured and excited about the new prospects and possibilities that this partnership brings, which will enable us to have a greater impact in engaging with, and including those that can work alongside us to preserve this rich landscape that we are so passionate about.’

With a 48-year track record, the Wilderness Foundation Africa sets out to protect and sustain wildlife and wilderness through integrated conservation and education programmes. These range from anti-poaching and large landscape wilderness management, to developing young leaders from disadvantaged communities for a career in conservation, to interlink and close the circle between the cornerstones of the WFA, namely species, spaces and people.

The non-profit CALEO Foundation, which owns Jock Safari Lodge, has as its objective to make a legacy investment to help protect, restore and sustain threatened ecosystems, wildlife and flora resources and their habitats, as well as surrounding communities. Strauss continued: ‘As the CALEO Foundation so rightly says, small steps can make a difference, and we are eager to see the positive effects that this partnership will have on those around us, and for the Kruger region overall.’

Jock Safari Lodge has made a life-long commitment to continuous investment in the WFA projects, that will this year, be launched with a R400 000 injection in two key intervention programmes to be rolled out as part of the Jock/WFA partnership.

The Siyazenzela leadership and employability skills training programme is aimed at previously disadvantaged youth (between the ages of 18 and 26).  Siyazenzela (meaning ‘We are doing it for ourselves’) training courses are run as a four-week short term project with facilitation in focus areas such as Emotional & Social Wellness; Occupational & Financial Wellness; and Physical & Environmental Wellness. Participants gain job preparedness skills and are provided with job shadowing opportunities. Upon graduation they are enrolled into a resilience support programme that ensures that they stay connected to the programme for peer mentoring purposes, monitoring and psycho-social support.

The second programme, known as the Imbewu Wilderness Trails, aims to connect youth to their cultural-environmental heritage. The trails draw attention to the resilient and healing power of nature for personal and social transformation. This often leads students to make life changing choices and lifestyle changes that equip vulnerable youth to be economically active and environmentally responsible citizens.

Dr Andrew Muir, CEO of Wilderness Foundation Africa says: ‘We are excited to be partnering with Jock Safari Lodge, with their impeccable commitment to sustainable development and leaders in nature-based tourism.  There is much to learn from each other in the common cause of ensuring that our natural heritage is preserved and enjoyed by all citizens of our country.’