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Tourism Tattler Trade Journal
APRIL 2014
Contents
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Issue 05 (May) 2014 PUBLISHER Tourism Tattler (Pty) Ltd. PO Box 891, Umhlanga Rocks, 4320 KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Company Reg.No.: 2006/015252/07 Website: www.tourismtattler.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Des Langkilde Tel: +27 (0)32 815 0414 Cell: +27 (0)82 374 7260 Fax: +27 (0)86 651 8080 E-mail: editor@tourismtattler.com Skype: tourismtattler
Destination Review: Lamu Archipelago Kenya
MAGAZINE ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bev Langkilde Tel: +27 (0)32 815 0414 / (0)31 813 5326 Fax: +27 (0)86 656 3860 Cell: +27 (0)71 224 9971 E-mail: bev@tourismtattler.com Skype: bevtourismtattler
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Event Review: Carnaval de Victoria 2014 - Seychelles
ONLINE ADVERTISING
BANNER ADS www.tourismtattler.com/advertising_rates MOBILE WEBSITE BUILDER www.tourismtattler.com/mobile-website-builder BUSINESS DIRECTORY LISTINGS www.tourismtattler.com/business-directory
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BACK ISSUES http://issuu.com/search?q=tourism+tattler ▼ Apr 2014
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Niche Tourism: Exploring Space Tourism IN THIS ISSUE
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EDITORIAL Cover Story - Adventure Tourism Article Comments BUSINESS 13 Things entrepreneurs Don't Do SATSA Market Intelligence Report Tourism Business Index Q2 Report COMPETITION Win one of two prizes at Thula Thula CONSERVATION OSCAP Conference for rhino - Update DESTINATIONS RETOSA TFCA - Botswana Kenya's Lamu Island EVENTS Seychelles Carnaval de Victoria 2014
Adv. Louis Nel Andre du Toit Jeannie Burns
HOSPITALITY 26 Property Review: Toad Tree Lodge LEGAL 26 ‘POPI’ Act - SPAM MARKETING 30 Tourism Support Services NICHE TOURISM 32 Space Tourism PHOTOGRAPHY 35 Understanding Depth Of Field RISK 37 Kidnap & Ransom Insurance TRANSPORT 38 New Mercedes-Benz Sprinter TRADE NEWS Visit our website for daily travel news
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Kagiso Mosue Peter Wickham Kwakye Donkor Susan Barrett Martin Jansen van Vuuren Thys Buitendag MAGAZINE SPONSORS
▼ Jul 2013
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02 07 08 08 08 11
SATIB Insurance Brokers Tourism Grading Council of South Africa White Shark Projects Avis NAA-SA British Airways
13 15 21 23 29 40
Sports & Events Tourism Exchange SYNC Accounting & Business Services Kenya Tourism Board Kenya Tourism Board SATIB Insurance Brokers SATIB Insurance Brokers
Disclaimer: The Tourism Tattler is published by Tourism Tattler (Pty) Ltd and is the official trade journal of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA). The Tourism Tattler digital e-zine, is distributed free of charge to bona fide tourism stakeholders. Letters to the Editor are assumed intended for publication in whole or part and may therefore be used for such purpose. The information provided and opinions expressed in this publication are provided in good faith and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Tourism Tattler (Pty) Ltd, SATSA, its staff and its production suppliers. Advice provided herein should not be soley relied upon as each set of circumstances may differ. Professional advice should be sought in each instance. Neither Tourism Tattler (Pty) Ltd, SATSA, its staff and its production suppliers can be held legally liable in any way for damages of any kind whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from any facts or information provided or omitted in these pages or from any statements made or withheld or from supplied photographs or graphic images reproduced by the publication.
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MAY 2014
Tourism Tattler Trade Journal
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Accreditation Official Travel Trade Journal and Media Partner to: The African Travel & Tourism Association (Atta) Tel: +44 20 7937 4408 • Email: info@atta.travel • Website: www.atta.travel Members in 22 African countries and 37 worldwide use Atta to: Network and collaborate with peers in African tourism; Grow their online presence with a branded profile; Ask and answer specialist questions and give advice; and Attend key industry events.
National Accommodation Association of South Africa (NAA-SA) Tel: +2786 186 2272 • Fax: +2786 225 9858 • Website: www.naa-sa.co.za The NAA-SA is a network of mainly smaller accommodation providers around South Africa – from B&Bs in country towns offering comfortable personal service to luxurious boutique city lodges with those extra special touches – you’re sure to find a suitable place, and at the same time feel confident that your stay at an NAA-SA member’s establishment will meet your requirements.
The Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) Tel: +2711 315 2420/1 • Fax: +2711 315 2422 • Website: www.retosa.co.za RETOSA is a Southern African Development Community (SADC) institution responsible for tourism growth and development. RETOSA’s aims are to increase tourist arrivals to the region through sustainable development, improved regional competitiveness, and effective destination marketing. RETOSA Member States are Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) Tel: +2786 127 2872 • Fax: +2711 886 755 • Website: www.satsa.com SATSA is a credibility accreditation body representing the private sector of the inbound tourism industry. SATSA members are Bonded thus providing a financial guarantee against advance deposits held in the event of the involuntary liquidation of a SATSA member. SATSA represents: Transport providers, Tour Operators, Destination Management Companies, Accommodation Suppliers, Tour Brokers, Adventure Tourism Providers, Business Tourism Providers and Allied Tourism Services providers.
Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Association (SHTA) Tel: +248 432 5560 • Fax: +248 422 5718 • Website: www.shta.sc The Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association was created in 2002 when the Seychelles Hotel Association merged with the Seychelles Hotel and Guesthouse Association. SHTA’s primary focus is to unite all Seychelles industry stakeholders under one association in order to be better prepared to defend the interest of the industry and its sustainability as the pillar of the country’s economy.
The Green Expo - Sustain Our Planet. Sandton, Johannesburg - 10 - 12 April 2014 Tel: +27 (0)21 689 3262 • Email: info@thegreenexpo.co.za • Website: www.thegreenexpo.co.za Three City Events, organisers of The Green Expo, have noted the need for a generally accessible exhibition focusing on sustainability issues appealing to the homeowner as well as the business person. It is with this in mind that The first Green Expo was held at the CTICC in November 2011. The success of this expo led to the launch of the Johannesburg Green Expo to be held in September at the Sandton Convention Centre.
International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) Tel: Haleiwa, USA: +1-808-566-9900 • Cape Town, South Africa: (+27)-21-813-5811 • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: +5521 40428205 • Germany: +49 2102 1458477 • London, UK: +44 20 3239 3300 • Australia +61 2-8005 1444 • HongKong, China: +852 8120 9450.
Email: member@tourismpartners.org • Website: www.tourismpartners.org
ICTP is a travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to Quality Services and Green Growth. ICTP advocates for: sustainable aviation growth; streamlined travel; fair taxation and jobs.
The Safari Awards 2014 Tel: +44 (0)1865 989280 • Website: www.safariawards.com With nominations from over a thousand luxury travel professionals, hundreds of readers of Tourism Tattler, Conde Nast Traveller, Brides and Travel Africa Magazine you can rest assured that any safari business nominated for a Safari Award is amongst the best in its genre. Finalists are amongst the top 3% in Africa and the Safari Award Winners are unquestionably the best, their reputation earned through excellence recognised by people who know what they are talking about.
World Travel Market Africa 2014 Tel: +44 (0)20 8910 7897 • Email: polly.magraw@reedexpo.co.uk • Website: www.wtmafrica.com Set to be the leading B2B exhibition for Africa’s leisure travel industry, WTM Africa will bring the world to Africa and promote Africa to the world. With significant global reach and generation of over £1.859 million (GBP) worth of business during its London event, WTM is the world-leader when it comes to travel exhibitions. WTM Africa will utilise all the knowledge, expertise and experience of RTE and WTM to ensure that all those important to the African travel industry are represented at WTM Africa.
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Tourism Tattler Trade Journal
MAY 2014
cover story
• In the case of damage arising from the non-performance or improper performance of services involved in the package, the contract may provide for compensation to be limited in accordance with any international conventions in force governing such services in the place where they are performed or are due to be performed, but: • Without prejudice to liability, which cannot be excluded by any contractual term, and • that the organiser, or the retailer acting on the instructions of the organiser, will give prompt assistance to a consumer in difficulty.
Adventure tourism is a sector of the travel industry that our May edition cover sponsor, SATIB Insurance Brokers have specialised in for many years.
Obtaining tailor-made liability risk transfer cover for adventure operators is no easy task, considering the diversity of potentially hazardous activities that are offered by such operators and undertaken by adrenalin seeking tourists. To compound matters, inbound tourists emanating from European Union countries are protected by the European Community Directive 90/314/EEC on Package Holidays and Travel Trade Act, 1995, which places the onus of liability squarely on the shoulders of the travel organiser who sold the package to the tourist − from the time of departure to return. The Directive includes under section 25 (insurance) that: The package provider's insurance agrees to indemnify consumers (who shall be insured persons under the policy), against: • Loss of all money paid over by them; • The cost of repatriation of consumers. In the event of insolvency, the package provider must ensure that the consumer acquires the benefit of a policy of a kind mentioned above. In this section “appropriate policy” means one which does not contain a condition which provides (in whatever terms) that no liability shall arise under the policy, or that any liability so arising shall cease in the event of: • Some specified thing being done or omitted to be done after the happening of the event giving rise to a claim under the policy; • In the event of the failure of the policy holder to make payments to the insurer in connection with that policy or with other policies, or; • Unless the policy holder keeps specified records or provides the insurer with information therefrom. In terms of the extent and financial limits of liability, the Directive states that: • The organiser will be liable to the consumer for the proper performance of the obligations under the contract, irrespective of whether such obligations are to be performed by the organiser, the retailer, or other suppliers of services but this shall not affect any remedy or right of action which the organiser may have against the retailer or those other suppliers of services.
EDITORIAL
Given the onerous terms of this Directive, it's understandable that buyers insist that their ground handlers in Africa, and specifically their activity service suppliers, such as adventure operators, have appropriate liability insurance cover in place that not only complies with the terms of the Directive but also extends to cover all sub-contractors involved in the performance and delivery of the package holiday. So important is this aspect of liability, that South Africa's Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk has made a call for the sector to put sound regulatory measures relating to safety and operational standards in place, in order to build the credibility and profile of a reliable Adventure Tourism industry in South Africa. The National Department of Tourism (NDT) partnered with the South African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) to organise and host an inaugural workshop on self-regulation for the Adventure Tourism Sector which took place on the 19 March 2014 in Cape Town. The workshop provided a platform for information sharing, exchange of best practices and solicited input pertaining to the implementation of stakeholder consultative sessions to be organised throughout the 2014-2015 financial year. SATIB Insurance Brokers in partnership with the ATTA and Dirty Boots Adventure Guide, will be convening 'AdventureConnect' evening sessions from 5:30 - 7:00 pm at WTM-Africa in the Marimba Restaurant, ICC Cape Town on 02 May and at the Indaba Travel Trade Expo on 10 May at Rivets Bar in the Hilton Durban Hotel. For more on risk related issues, read about Kidnap and Ransom insurance on page 37. In this edition of Tourism Tattler, we also feature Botswana as a RETOSA Transfrontier Conservation Area (pages 16 - 17), Kenya's remote archipelago of Lamu Island, where the local people have a long established tradition of welcoming travellers (pages 18 - 23), and the 2014 Seychelles Carnaval de Victoria event (pages 24 - 25). Our Hospitality Review features Toad Tree Lodge in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (pages 26 - 27), while our Niche Tourism section features the potential of Space Tourism (pages 32 - 33). Our regular features include 'things that mentally strong entrepreneurs don't do' (page 09), the SATSA MIR on the latest inbound travel and hotel occupancy statistics (page 10) and the Tourism Business Index Report for the first quarter of 2014 (page 12). The Photography section covers Depth Of Field (page 35) and the Risk section looks at Kidnap and Ransom insurance. Enjoy your read. Yours in Tourism, Des Langkilde. MAY 2014
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April 2014's comments received on the Tourism Tattler website and Facebook pages. TRADE NEWS Centre For Entrepreneurship Launched
SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe to Ezine
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Submitted on 2014/04/02 at 1:19 pm:
Submitted on 2014/04/28 at 4:05 pm:
Stellenbosch is proud of Anna Kruger, owner of iThemba Curios for her contribution to this Centre. Anna, your product is proudly Stellenbosch and your crafters inspirational. Well done on renting this space from Stellenbosch360 and your huge role in making this such a success story. Marinda Holtzhausen
As we are going into the trade it would be to our advantage to have this book (the Tourism Tattler magazine) for future reference. Thank you. Dianne Van Greunen •
•
CONSERVATION New Frog Species Discovered in South Africa Submitted on Facebook 2014/04/01 at 7:04:
That's not a frog - its an advanced species of strawberry. Peter J W Hayward In case anyone had not noticed, the Icelandic Herpetologist Loof Lipra is a reverse spelling for April Fool! Editor.
Congratulations to Marinda Marinda Holtzhausen's comment has been chosen as the prize winner for April 2014. Marinda's prize of a ‘Restless Enemies’ DVD will be delivered with the compliments of Livingstones Supply Co – Suppliers of the Finest Products to the Hospitality Industry. Editor.
Wi n
www.tourismtattler.com/centre-for-entrepreneurship-launched/
The winning comment posted on the Tattler website during the month of May 2014 will receive a Dietz Monarch D10 Hurricane Lantern with the compliments of Livingstones Supply Co – Suppliers of the Finest Products to the Hospitality Industry. The Dietz Monarch was first introduced in 1900, and has been produced in at least seven distinct variations continuously over the past 108 years. The first and oldest style Monarch had a flat top tank, un-reinforced air tubes, and a 9/16" fuel cap.
For more information visit: www.livingstonessupplyco.co.za
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MAY 2014
MAY 2014
Tourism Tattler Trade Journal
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CLASSIFIEDS
www.naa-sa.co.za
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Reach 30 000+ Travel Trade Readers Monthly • Tel: +27 (0)32 8150 414 / +27 (0)31 8135326 • Cell: +27 (0)71 224 9971 • Email: bev@tourismtattler.com • Skype: bevtourismtattler
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Tourism Tattler Trade Journal
MAY 2014
13 Things that
Mentally Strong Entrepreneurs Don't DO
BUSINESS
5. They Don’t Worry About Pleasing Everyone Mentally strong people don’t need to please everyone all the time. They strive to be kind and fair, but can handle other people being upset if they didn’t make them happy. 6. They Don’t Fear Taking Calculated Risks They don’t take reckless or foolish risks, but don’t mind taking calculated risks. Mentally strong people spend time weighing the risks and benefits before making a big decision. 7. They Don’t Dwell on the Past Mentally strong people don’t waste time dwelling on the past and wishing things could be different. Instead, they live for the present and plan for the future. 8. They Don’t Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over Mentally strong people accept responsibility for their behaviour and learn from their past mistakes. 9. They Don’t Resent Other People’s Success Mentally strong people can appreciate and celebrate other people’s success in life. They don’t grow jealous or feel cheated when others surpass them 10. They Don’t Give Up After the First Failure
Statutory Registrations are a very important part of running a business legally in South Africa and must be adhered to. By Thys Buitendag CA (SA).
Mentally strong people don’t view failure as a reason to give up. Instead, they use failure as an opportunity to grow and improve. 11. They Don’t Fear Alone Time Mentally strong people can tolerate being alone and they don’t fear silence. 12. They Don’t Feel the World Owes Them Anything
I spend many hours of my time reading. Some of it is about real live historical events (I don’t enjoy fiction) but I also read a lot about business and my industry. Not just because I enjoy it but also to be aware of trends so I can position my business correctly to ensure growth and sustainability. The other day I read a very interesting article on “mental strength” and decided that this month I want to divert away from the technical stuff and share these fascinating points with you. It is not an easy ride being your own boss. Entrepreneurs have to face many challenges that test a wide variety of our skill and experience. If I have to highlight two aspects as number one and two on the list of things an entrepreneur must concern himself or herself with it would be your physical health and mental strength. Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker, shared in LifeHack (November 2013), 13 things mentally strong people don’t do. Here is an abbreviated extract: 1. They Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves Mentally strong people don’t sit around feeling sorry about their circumstances; they take responsibility for their role in life and understand that life isn’t always easy or fair. 2. They Don’t Give Away Their Power They don’t allow others to control them, and they don’t give someone else power over them. 3. They Don’t Shy Away from Change Mentally strong people don’t try to avoid change. Instead, they welcome positive change and are willing to be flexible. 4. They Don’t Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control You won’t hear a mentally strong person complaining things they can’t control. They recognize that sometimes, the only thing they can control is their attitude.
Mentally strong people don’t feel entitled to things in life. They weren’t born with a mentality that others would take care of them or that the world must give them something. Instead, they look for opportunities based on their own merits. 13. They Don’t Expect Immediate Results Whether they are working on improving their health or getting a new business off the ground, mentally strong people don’t expect immediate results. Instead, they apply their skills and time to the best of their ability and understand that real change takes time. So there you have it − avoid these 13 pitfalls and you're bound to succeed! About the Author: Thys Buitendag is the principle value contributor at SYNC Accounting & Business Services. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant after studies at the University of the Free State. He has over 25 years of experience ranging from being an auditor for a few years to being part of the senior management of large corporations and operating his own business, mostly in the manufacturing (feed, FMCG, agriculture related) and IT industries, driving efficiencies in production, logistics, treasury, administration, finance and sales. For advice or assistance telephone +27 (0)11 475 8422 or for more information visit: www.synbs.co.za. You can also send an mail to tattler@syncbs.co.za. MAY 2014
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BUSINESS
BUSINESS
Market Intelligence Report The information below was extracted from data available as at 29 April 2014. By Martin Jansen van Vuuren of Grant Thornton.
ARRIVALS The latest available data from Statistics South Africa is for January to December 2013: Current period
Change over same period last year
UK
432 186
-1.3%
Germany
300 531
12.8%
USA
347 030
6.2%
India
111 930
4.8%
China
153 662
16.1%
Overseas Arrivals (excl same day visitors)
2 650 057
3.0%
African Arrivals
6 854 993
5.8%
Total Foreign Arrivals
9 531 426
3.7%
NB: African Arrivals plus Overseas Arrivals do not add up to Total Foreign Arrivals due to the exclusion of unspecified arrivals, which cannot be allocated to either African or Overseas.
HOTEL STATS The latest available data from STR Global is for January to February 2014: Current period
Average Room Occupancy (ARO)
Average Room Rate (ARR)
Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR)
All Hotels in SA
62.6%
R 1 124
R 704
All 5-star hotels in SA
67.5%
R 2 027
R 1 368
All 4-star hotels in SA
62.7%
R 1 076
R 674
All 3-star hotels in SA
62.2%
R 869
R 540
Change over same period last year All Hotels in SA
-0.4%
11.5%
11.0%
All 5-star hotels in SA
1.1%
10.8%
12.0%
All 4-star hotels in SA
-1.5%
12.3%
10.5%
All 3-star hotels in SA
2.2%
14.4%
16.9%
Passengers arriving on Regional Flights
Passengers arriving on Domestic Flights
ACSA DATA
The latest available data from ACSA is for January to February 2014: Change over same period last year Passengers arriving on International Flights OR Tambo International
3.3%
7.0%
0.9%
Cape Town International
5.9%
11.9%
3.3%
King Shaka International
21.8%
N/A
-4.0%
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR MY BUSINESS Data from Stats SA for the full year of 2013 indicates a strong recovery from the German market, while the UK market has declined. This could be attributed to the relevant strength of the economies of these source markets. Hotels continue to improve their average room rate during January to February 2014, but the growth in occupancies has stabilised. RevPAR continues to achieve strong growth due to the improvement in average room rates. Arrivals on international flights (as per the ACSA data) indicates strong interest in Durban (off a lower base) and Cape Town. Arrivals on domestic flights to OR Tambo International and Cape Town International have returned to positive territory, while arrivals on domestic flights to King Shaka International continue to decline. For more information contact Martin at Grant Thornton on +27 (0)21 417 8838 or visit: http://www.gt.co.za
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BUSINESS
Strong Overseas Leisure Demand Lifts SA's Tourism Performance
First quarter results of the TBCSA FNB Tourism Business Index (TBI) point to the weak exchange rate and strong overseas leisure demand playing a significantly positive role in lifting business performance, writes Kagiso Mosue.
The South African travel industry recorded an overall index of 112.4 in this quarter, slightly lower than last quarter’s 114.6, but still above normal trading performance levels. Respondents to the quarterly index, a flagship project of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) compiled by Grant Thornton, also highlighted improved marketing and positive media coverage as contributing factors. TBCSA CEO, Mmatšatši Ramawela welcomed the results, saying that some of the industry’s good performance can be attributed to improved economic conditions in the global environment, as well as current efforts to promote the destination in new source markets. “Over the past two years, we’ve seen constrained overseas leisure demand, particularly from our traditional source markets such as the United Kingdom. We are encouraged to see a rebound in the market but also recognise that there is growing demand for both leisure and business travel in emerging markets within regional Africa and the BRIC countries.” TBI comprises of two sub-indices: accommodation, which caters for the various types of accommodation establishments from guesthouses to hotels, and other tourism businesses which includes the tourism transport sector, travel agents, retail outlets, conference venues, attractions and forex traders. The accommodation sector performed slightly better than expected with an index of 116,1 compared to the forecasted index of 107,3. Notably this is the sector’s second highest recorded performance level achieved since TBI’s inception in 2010. The highest recorded performance level was reached in Q1 2013 when the index peaked at 120.9. Expectations for the second quarter of the year remain close to normal at 103,2 with an anticipated strong positive performance forecast for self-catering & camping, timeshare and hotel establishments. Other tourism businesses, experienced a slightly weaker performance of 109,6 – with travel agents recording a significantly worse than normal performance. However, operators in this sector remain fairly optimistic going into the next quarter. Head of Advisory Services at Grant Thornton, Gillian Saunders adds that in this quarter the index survey included questions on the likely impact of the forthcoming national elections on business. “When taking into account both the accommodation and other tourism businesses, more than half (56,3%) of respondents are of the opinion that the elections will not have an impact on business, with some citing the possibility of an increase in leisure demand as an implication of the voting day being declared a public holiday. 12
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However, with 37% expecting a negative impact from the elections, on balance the industry is -30.1% negative in expecting that the elections will have a negative impact on business performance. The extra mid-week public holiday disrupting business travel and people not travelling in order to be able to vote at their voting stations are cited as impacts.” In closing, Ramawela said the organisation was pleased to see that business performance in the sector remained buoyant and was responding well with the rebound in international travel demand. “Now that the Easter holidays and the election weekend are upon us, we hope to see positive performance from the domestic leisure market in the second quarter”, she said. The report can be downloaded at: www.tourismtattler.com/wp-content/ images/TBI-Report-Q1-2014.pdf
About the Author Kagiso Mosue is the Corporate Communications Manager at the Tourism Business Council of South Africa. About Tourism Business Index (TBI) TBI is an overall indicator of the “health” of businesses trading in the tourism sector. This is a business tool that can assist particularly independent and small businesses to understand their operating environment, while large businesses are able to use the index to interact with their various stakeholders. Visit www.tbcsa.travel to download all index reports. About TBCSA Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) is a memberbased organisation, made up of Tourism Associations as well as leading businesses operating in the Travel and Tourism sector. The Council seeks to ensure that the industry is unified and speaks with one voice when engaging relevant stakeholders on macroeconomic issues affecting the sector. About Grant Thornton South Africa Grant Thornton South Africa is a member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). Grant Thornton South Africa was founded in 1920 (previously Kessel Feinstein). We are leaders in our chosen market, providing assurance, tax and specialist business advice to dynamic organisations – listed companies, large privately held businesses and private equity backed organisations. In addition, public sector professionals from Grant Thornton are dedicated to providing specialised advisory services to government at all levels. Visit www.gt.co.za for more information.
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WIN
C O M P E T I T I O N
1 of 2 Safari Getaways
To enter this competition, simply find the answer to the following question (the answer can be found in the text below) and visit the Tourism Tattler website at: www.tourismtattler.com/competition
“What do the Zulu words Thula Thula mean?” The first TWO correct entries drawn after the closing date of 30 May 2014 will win either the First Prize of 2 nights for two adults and two children sharing a Family Tent at the Luxury Tented Camp or the Second Prize of 2 nights for 2 people sharing a Royale Suite at Elephant Safari Lodge. Both prizes are on a full board basis and include 2 Game Drives and/or Guided Walking Safaris each day. Thula Thula Exclusive Private Game Reserve and Safari Lodge, with its centuries of cultural and wildlife heritage, takes pride in tracing back it's origin to the private hunting grounds of King Shaka, founder of the Zulu Empire. The Zulu words Thula Thula literally mean peace and tranquillity, which can be found in abundance at this 4500 ha private game reserve. The first historic meeting between Shaka and his father (Senzangakhona), which set the stage for the creation of the Zulu Nation, took place at the Nseleni River which flows through the Thula Thula game reserve. Situated near Empangeni, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, Thula Thula is a 45 minute drive from Richards Bay and two hours from King Shaka International Airport. For more information contact +27 (0)82 259 9732 or email thula@netactive.co.za or visit www.thulathula.com
Accommodation. The Elephant Safari Lodge provides an exclusive bush experience in absolute luxury. Here guests can enjoy exotic cocktails at the "Marula Bar" in the main lodge or just relax in the thatched lapa lounge while viewing game at the waterhole. Alternately, guests can view game from their own private verandah in one of eight 8 luxurious air conditioned chalets elegantly decorated in ethnic and colonial style. The Luxury Tented Camp assures exclusivity with 8 luxury tents, all with private viewing decks, mosquito nets, fans and en suite bathroom. Cuisine. The Elephant Safari Lodge is a renown gourmet experience, while the Tented Camp serves buffet lunches and Boma braais or potjie dinners. Conservation. Founded by the late Lawrence Anthony (author of Babylon's Ark, The Elephant Whisperer and The Last Rhinos), his wife Françoise continues his legacy. Note: Read the Terms and Conditions of this competition at: www.tourismtattler.com/ wp-content/images/ThulaThula-Competition-May2014-TermsConditions.pdf
WINNERS OF THE MARKETING TOURISM IN SOUTH AFRICA COMPETITION FROM THE APRIL 2014 EDITION CONGRATULATIONS to the following 10 winners: 1. Nosifiso Ngutyana of Xerox; 2. Mick Clarke of Umkomaas Guest House; 3. Daniela Gallagher of Royal African Discoveries; 4. Alan Saffery of La Galiniere Guest Cottages; 5. Glen Findlay of Go Safari; 6. Claire Kaplan of Thebe Tourism Group; 7. Linda Moffat (Freelance Tourist Guide); 8. Natalie Marais of Unistat; 9. Renate de Villiers of Travelling Mystery Guest; and 10. Pat Lister of The Silverfox. Each winner has received a copy of 'Marketing Tourism in South Africa - 4th Edition, by Richard George', with the compliments of Oxford University Press and the University of Cape Town. www.oup.com
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RHINO
CONSERVATION
OSCAP Conference Update The OSCAP rhino trade conference took place in Johannesburg from 8-9 April and resolved to act against any proposals to legalise the rhino horn trade. By Susan Barrett. Following my article in the April edition of Tourism Tattler, OSCAP has yet to publish their full report. Seperate to the conference, CNBC Africa interviewed Colin Bell, MD of Africa’s Finest and Environmental Economist Michael’t Sas Rolfes to discuss the positives and negatives. To view the video, click on the image (digital edition) or visit: www.cnbcafrica.com/video/?bctid=3477708983001
Rhino Poaching Deaths vs Poacher Arrests - Stats for South Africa by Province Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Deaths vs Arrests Deaths Arrests Deaths Arrests Deaths Arrests Deaths Arrests Deaths Arrests KNP 146 67 252 82 425 73 606 133 166 32 MNP 00 00 06 00 03 00 03 00 00 00 Gauteng 15 10 03 16 01 26 08 10 00 00 Limpopo 52 36 80 34 59 43 114 34 34 00 Mpumalanga 17 16 31 73 28 66 92 00 10 08 North West 57 02 31 21 77 32 87 70 32 02 Eastern Cape 04 07 11 02 07 00 05 26 06 20 Free State 03 00 04 00 00 06 04 07 04 00 KwaZulu-Natal 38 25 34 04 66 20 85 63 24 24 Western Cape 00 02 06 00 02 00 00 00 01 00 Northern Cape 01 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 TOTAL 333 165 448 232 668 267 1004 343 277 86 KNP = Kruger National Park, MNP = Mpumalanga National Park. Statistics released by the DEA as at 09 April 2014. Source: www.wessa.org.za
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DESTINATIONS
RETOSA
Transfrontier Conservation Areas: Sustainable and environmentally-friendly tourist destinations in Southern Africa
International tourism market trends generally reflect a tendency for sustainable and environmentally-friendly destinations. In response to this 21st century trend, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has established one of the most progressive tourism initiatives, themed “Transfrontier Conservation Areas” (TFCAs), writes Kwakye Donkor. A TFCA is an area straddling two or more international borders where natural and cultural resources are collaboratively managed by the governments involved. These are being used to secure the ecosystems and biodiversity that underpin sustainable tourism development in Southern Africa. TFCAs present awesome opportunities for the region to protect and preserve its biodiversity while delivering tourism growth opportunities to local communities. Eighteen TFCAs have so far been established and seven are in operation. The seven are; Ai-Ais Richterveld, Kgalagadi, Greater Mapungubwe, Great Limpopo, Lubombo, Maloti-Drankenberg, and Kavango-Zambezi. These TFCAs span across Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. They can be packaged and marketed by tour operators worldwide to long-haul visitors preferring multidestination, community-based, and environmentally friendly packages. Each TFCA is unique and has an investment development program that aims to unlock the respective investment potential for socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation. TFCAs are home to a set of impressive natural attractions, diverse cultures, and sustainable tourism experiences in Southern Africa such as Victoria Falls, Fish River Canyon, Okavango Delta, and the Maloti-Drakensberg Mountain range. Every tourist will be enchanted, not only by the welcoming people, but also the region’s unmistakable pulse. These give tourists a reason to come and experience Southern Africa, an impressive natural destination where wildlife migrates freely within their home range, and local communities sustain their natural linkages and skills. Botswana For tourists planning a trip to the region, Southern Africa’s multi-country travel tip for the month of May starts from Botswana. Botswana was named the 16
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Image: Mokoro experience in Botswana - www.africaboundadventures.com
winner of the 2014 AFAR Experiential Travel Award for Best Safari Destination. In the Selinda and Linyanti regions of northern Botswana, huge populations of giraffes, elephants, and antelope flock to the water of the Linyanti River and Selinda Spillway. Naturally, lions, hyenas, and other predators follow. The country evokes the thrill and romance of a vintage safari and offers guests the best overall authentic safari experience. The stunning landscapes, pristine wilderness, fantastic game viewing, and birding year round are sure to please the adventuring spirit in travellers. Camps here are modern, and tour operators are committed to sustainable conservation strategies. Botswana’s responsible tourism efforts, wildlife, and cultural heritage, make it a true leader in ecotourism. A whopping 38 percent of the land is protected for wildlife and nature conservation. Botswana government’s conservation and wildlife management policies, along with the Botswana Tourism Organization’s ecotourism strategies, ensure that Botswana’s tourism is sustainable for its inhabitants and future generations of tourists, while contributing meaningfully to the national economy. Places that one would not want to miss while travelling in Botswana include the incomparable Okavango Delta, the world’s largest inland delta known as the “Jewel of the Kalahari.” Gliding in a mokoro through the watery channels, visitors will see a staggering array of wildlife and birds, and experience the beauty and tranquillity of this truly iconic place. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve with its magnificent black-maned lions and seemingly endless savannahs is a blooming desert in the Botswana summer season. And Chobe National Park is home to the largest concentration of elephants in Africa. A sundowner cruise on the Chobe riverfront gives guests an up-close and personal view of elephants at play among hippos, crocs, and beautiful birds. The magnificent sunsets and amazing stargazing of Botswana is a daily ritual that travellers look forward to, and guests may experience the outstanding small and often luxurious camps and lodges. There is never a dull moment on safari, with game drives, guided bush walks, elephant interaction, horseback riding, boating, authentic cultural interaction, and so much more. And the genuinely warm, welcoming, and respectful people of Botswana make visitors feel like treasured family − not tourists. For more information, go to: www.botswanatourism.co.bw
DESTINATIONS
Image: Nelson Mandela capture site in South Africa - www.southafrica.net
From Botswana, one can readily travel to any or all of the neighbouring countries of Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Angola. Beaches are a favourite place to visit with bars all filled at night and local music and dancing providing an animated and exotic atmosphere that mixes well with the mystery of the African nights. The country also offers incredibly beautiful landscapes such as the Serra da Leba Pass, the Tundavala Fissure in Huila province, and the moon-like surface near the city of Luanda. Namibia boasts remarkable natural attractions such as the Namib Desert, the Fish River Canyon Park, Etosha National Park, and the Kalahari Desert. Its people speak 9 different languages, including some of the Khoisan languages which include the “clicks” that present an enigma to most native Englishspeakers. South Africa. Of great popularity these days with the recent passing of South Africa’s great Nelson Mandela are what is known as Madiba tours (Madiba is the fond nickname for Mandela). Tours generally include visits to locations in South Africa where numerous statues have been erected in his honour, and may include among others such places as the Mandela House Museum, Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre, the Mandela Rhodes Building, Nelson Mandela Square, Nelson Mandela capture site, and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Nelson Mandela Bridge, and the Apartheid Museum. Zambia is known as the land of the legendary African walking safari, with Victoria Falls, the wild Zambezi River, abundant wildlife, and raw wilderness, all ready to be experienced in one friendly country. Recognized as one of the safest countries in the world to visit, Zambia's welcoming people live in peace and harmony. And here, travellers will find some of the finest safari experiences on the planet, along with adrenaline-thrills or a leisurely playground in its spectacular waterways.
Getting there Just like the movie, 'Planes, Trains, and Automobiles', one can travel between these countries by these various modes of transportation with border posts at the ready from country to country for car travel. Or one may also decide to sit back, relax, and enjoy allowing someone else to take care of their travel itinerary by booking a tour through a SATSA or Atta member. There is no visa required for US and Canadian citizens to visit Botswana, and English is spoken here. Getting to Botswana is easy with access to daily flights from the USA to Botswana via a Johannesburg connection. The great news is Botswana is a year-round tourism destination - there simply isn’t one “best time” to visit, so making travel plans will fit in with anyone’s schedule. And with a climate that typically feels like summer all year long, Southern Africa is a favourite destination for tourists from Europe, Asia, and Australia. Travelling in Southern Africa is an unforgettable experience. This is a region of extremes, a world in 15 countries, passionately represented and marketed by the Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa (RETOSA). About RETOSA RETOSA is the regional institution responsible for tourism development and growth. The organization aims to increase tourism arrivals to the region through sustainable development initiatives, improved regional competitiveness, and effective destination marketing with strategic partners. For more information about RETOSA, go to www.retosa.co.za About the Author Kwakye Donkor is the Marketing and Communications Director at the Regional Tourism Organisation Of Southern Africa (RETOSA).
Zimbabwe is a land rich in diversity ranging from low-lying semi-desert to lush highlands strewn with forests and lakes. A trip to this magical country should include visiting the Grand Medieval Palace known as Great Zimbabwe, the mythical Kariba and mighty Zambezi bodies of water, and, of course, the majestic Victoria Falls which borders both Zimbabwe and Zambia. MAY 2014
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Destination Review
KENYA
Lamu Island There's a tangible sense of the past, as if time has ceased to exist in Kenya's Lamu Archipelago, that is uniquely memorable and appealing for niche leisure tourism. By Des Langkilde. ▼
The words of author L. P. Hartley*, “The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there” flitted through my mind as our media retinue, hosted by the Kenya Tourism Board, leisurely sailed on board a Dhow ferry that miraculously resisted the incoming tide flowing up the channel that separates Lamu Island from Manda Island in Kenya's Lamu Archipelago, where the Lamu district’s small airport is located. At first glance Lamu Island appears to be an idyllic island of tranquillity but beneath the surface lies a fascinating Smörgåsbord of history, culture, biodiversity and unique Swahili heritage. So beguiling is Lamu that it sparks a creative chord with artists, like Christian Rock artist Michael W. Smith's song of the same name released in 1986 (in his album 'Pursuit of the Dream') in which the opening verse says: "Here we are on a boat out on the sea Off the coast of Africa Heading for peaceful shores With a cast of strangers To an island hideaway. I hear you telling me Of the place we soon will be A rebirth from life's demise Where the world is still - it's ideal Anything you dream is real It's Hotel Paradise And you say it's nice (when you run to)." And the verses on escapism intersperse with the chorus line: "Lamu - far away Leave the pain far behind you Hoping it won't find you. Lamu - far away You say it's there that you can run From the one inside of you." The fabled Lamu Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean close to the border with Somalia, and is a part of Lamu District. The largest of the islands in the archipelago are Pate Island, Manda Island and Lamu Island. Smaller islands include Kiwayu, which lies in the Kiunga Marine National Reserve, and Manda Toto. The largest town in the archipelago is Lamu Town, on Lamu Island. But Lamu Town would be part of day two in our media group's itinerary. For now, we were headed for Peponi Hotel, where we gathered on the hotels balcony for a quick briefing by Andrew, the Peponi Hotel General Manager, while sipping on vodka cocktails made with fresh lime juice. * From his book 'The Go-Between'
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This information map of the Lamu Archipelago is displayed in the Lamu Museum.
Peponi is owned by the Korschen family, who opened the hotel in 1967 and developed the property to its current 29 rooms, which are divided into suites, superior and standard rooms. Andrew jovially brags that Peponi is the only hotel on the island where all rooms have ocean views and are differentiated only by their location, size and private outside area with swing bed. All rooms have overhead fans, mosquito nets, showers (no baths), fresh flowers, and personal safes. Peponi Hotel is ranked third out of eleven hotels on Lumu Island by TripAdvisor, and received its Travellers' Choice Award for 2014 in the Small Hotels category. To get of what Peponi Hotel has to offer, take a look at the video below (click on the image), produced by D. David Morin of Slingshot Productions based in Nairobi, Kenya: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrBFkAUEvKE
PEPONI HOTEL LAMU ISLAND FACT SHEET AT A GLANCE Coordinates: Type: Rooms: Capacity: STO Rates: Room Facilities:
Latitude = 2°17'32.34"S : Longitude = 40°54'51.20"E Boutique Hotel 29 Double beds in all rooms - extra single beds on request. Available on application. Small groups only. Hot water shower, flushing toilet, room safe, Mosquito net, ceiling fan, private balcony / garden. Services: Laundry Service, Library, Gift Shop & Swimming Pool. Activities: Guided Walks, Old Town & Shela Village Tours, Bird Watching, Sunset Dhow Trips, Sailing, Water Skiing, Wind Surfing, Snorkelling, Fishing. Spa: Massages & Yoga available in Shela Village. Gym: No. Parking: Not applicable. WiFi: Yes. Free for guests. Restaurants / Bars: In-house bar, dining room, courtyard & terrace. Conference facilities: No. Notable: Dress code is casual while in the hotel but men entering a restaurant without a shirt & trousers or Kikoy is forbidden as are women exposing too much skin. The hotel is closed from May to June each year.
DESTINATIONS
Andrew is also justifiably proud of the fact that Peponi Hotel started the Lamu Marine Conservation Trust (LAMCOT) in 1992. The project began with the translocation of a turtle nest to the hotel grounds for protection. Since then the project has been growing every year and has been managed by Carol Korschen of Peponi Hotel from the start. I could waffle on the merits of this hotel's cuisine, relaxing atmosphere and friendly hospitality for the rest of this article, but suffice to say that every moment is a memorable experience. Lamu Town Day two of our media retinue's Lamu itinerary saw our group of five sailing up the channel for a visit to Lamu Old Town, accompanied by our hotel guide, Abdul Alim. During the fifteen minute sail by Dhow, Abdul gave us a brief history lesson. "Lamu Town was gazetted as a UNESCO World Heritage Monument in 1983 and is Kenya's oldest continually inhabited town. Unlike other Swahili settlements which have been abandoned along the East African coast, Lamu has continuously been inhabited for over 700 years and is East Africa's oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement, founded in 1370. Lamu Town covers over sixteen hectares and is famous for its narrow streets, magnificent stone
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Peponi Hotel's General Manager, Andrew
An aerial view from Sarilink's approach to the airport on Manda Island. Lumu Old Town is visible across the channel, as is Peponi Hotel and Shela Village towards the sea.
buildings and impressive carved doors, influenced by Swahili, Arabic, Persian, Indian and European building styles," said Abdul. The buildings on the waterfront with their arcades and open verandas certainly provide an 'Old Town' impression when approaching it from the channel. The buildings are internally decorated with painted ceilings, large niches (madaka), small niches (zidaka), and pieces of Chinese porcelain. The buildings are reasonably well preserved and carry a long history that represents the development of Swahili building technology, based on coral, lime and mangrove poles. According to UNESCO, 65% of the buildings are in good condition with 20% being in need of minor refurbishment and the remaining 15% need total restoration. And restoration is indeed taking place as our media group noticed during the tour down narrow allyways. Lamu Fort is visible on approach to the harbour docking quayside, and we were informed that it commenced construction under Fumo Madi ibn Abi Bakr, the Sultan of Pate, and was completed after his death in the early 1820s. What impressed me while ambling past the Donkey Sanctuary and along the narrow street passageways, is that apart from the odd bicycle, there are virtually no vehicles on the islands – people get around on foot, by donkey or arrive in the town by lateen-rigged dhow. Lamu has a sizeable artisan community, including carpenters who are involved in boat building and making ornate doors and furniture. Culturally, Lamu's Arab influences and traditions are audibly apparent by the daily calls to prayer, which still dominates local life. Lamu is home to 23 mosques including the Riyadha Mosque, built in 1900, Abdul tells us.
▼ Peponi Hotel on Lamu Island (the white building on the beach)
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DESTINATIONS
A Dhow sightseeing cruise as it sails past hotels and private residences that line the shore of Manda Island.
â–ź
Abdul continues the enthusiastic history lesson as he guides us along: "The town was first mentioned in writing by Abu-al-Mahasini, an Arab traveller who met a Judge from Lamu while visiting Mecca in 1441. In 1505, the Portuguese invaded Lamu, forcing the King of the town to pay protection money to them." I later learn that the Portuguese invasion was prompted by the nation's successful mission to control trade along the coast of the Indian Ocean. For a considerable time, Portugal had a monopoly on shipping along the East African coast and imposed export taxes on preexisting local channels of commerce. In the 1580s, prompted by Turkish raids, Lamu led a rebellion against the Portuguese. In 1652, Oman assisted Lamu to resist Portuguese control. My research also reveals that Lamu's years as an Omani protectorate during the period from the late 17th century to early 19th century marked the town's Golden Age. Lamu was governed as a republic under a council of elders known as the Yumbe who ruled from a palace in the town (little exists of the palace today other than a ruined plot of land). During this period, Lamu became a centre of poetry, politics, arts and crafts as well as trade. In the middle of the 19th century, Lamu came under the political influence of the Sultan of Zanzibar. The Germans claimed Wituland in June 1885. The Germans considered Lamu to be of strategical importance and an ideal place for a base. From 22 November 1888 to 3 March 1891 there was a German Post Office in Lamu, to facilitate communication within the German Protectorate in the Sultanate. It was the first post office to be established on the East African coast; today there is a museum
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in Lamu dedicated to it, the German Post Office Museum. In 1890, Lamu and Kenya fell under British colonial rule and gained political independence in 1963. Our tour continued along Harambee Avenue, noted for its cuisine, and range of stores including the Halwa shop, which sells sweet treats and miniature mutton kebabs. The town contains a central market (the fresh produce and fish / meat markets are thankfully separated), the Gallery Baraka and Shumi's Designs shop, and the Mwalimu Books store. Hotels The oldest hotel in the town, Petley's Inn, is situated on the waterfront. Other hotels include the American-restored Amu House, the 20-room Bahari Hotel, Doda Villas, the Swedish-owned Jannat House, the 3-storey 23-room Lamu Palace Hotel, Petley's Inn, the 13room Stone House Hotel, which was converted from an 18th-century house, and the 18-room Sunsail Hotel, a former trader's house on the waterfront with high ceilings. Shela village Back at the Peponi Hotel, we have the rest of day at leisure before our itinerary demands a sundowner cruise (media trips can be tough), and after a refreshing shower I took an exploratory walk to Shela village, which is located just behind the hotel, and is oddly empty and quiet in contrast to Lamu Town. "That's because wealthy foreigners, among them Princess Caroline of Monaco and her husband Prince Ernst of Hanover, now own about half of the properties in Shela.
DESTINATIONS
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This German owned private residence is one of two built on the dunes at Shela Beach. Locals are concerned that degradation of the dunes, which serve as a filtration system for rain water, will affect Lamu Islands' 18 million litres of natural subterranean fresh water. The listing of Lamu as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 has put a stop to further degradation.
Villagers who sell their properties earn enough to buy a big house or two in the cities of Mombasa or Malindi, down the Kenyan coast. Locals say that within five years, every house in Shela will be foreign owned" says a report by Erin Conway-Smith, writing for the Global Post in 2011 that I came across while surfing the net back in my room. Her observations, even four years later, are confirmed by Abdul (our media group's guide through Lamu Town), who says that local imams (Islamic leaders) are cautious about the effect of outside influences on local culture but that they praise foreign property owners for helping to preserve the historic Swahili architecture.
Development Abdul further elaborates that locals are cautious of development projects in the Lamu district. This sentiment is borne out by our 'booze-cruise' Dhow skipper, who says that the new harbour development will take away their livelihoods. He does not expand on exactly how this will come about and I decide not to press him, but back in my room I again surf the collective knowledge base of humanity, known as the world wide web and discover that it is the Lamu Deep Water Port Project, which presumably is part of the Kenya Coastal Development Project (KCDP), which has them riled up.
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DESTINATIONS
Snorkelling and scuba diving on Lamu's many pristine reefs is a major attraction.
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The objective of the KCDP initiative is to strengthen conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity and to support climate change mitigation initiatives. The project is being co-financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development at US$41.69 million (spanning eight operational programmes), which began on 26 May 2010 and is due for completion by 30 September 2014 and the World Bank (who are financing US$35 million of the afore mentioned sum), which began on 27 July 2010 and closes on 29 October 2016. ▼ Heading for the airport departure hall on Manda Island is an experience in itself.
The project will promote sustainable management of tourism and fisheries resources in line with the Kenya government’s Vision 2030, which identifies tourism as an engine of growth, job creation, poverty reduction and wealth generation in the Coastal region. It can't be the KCDP that has them riled, so I continue my online research and find that Lamu's economy apparently declined with the emergence of the Port of Mombasa, but thanks to the Lamu Deep Water Port Project, the local economy will purportedly be boosted through the creation of Kenya's second transport corridor, headquartered in Lamu, which this report (click on the video image link below) by Ferdinand Omondi on NTV seems to confirm. Video courtesy of National Television Kenya
Video link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6gIsxUlmuY
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DESTINATIONS
Airport transfers between Manda and Lamu Island's are provided by Dhow operators.
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According to a report in The Star newspaper, the Kenya Ports Authority management have said that construction of the first three berths at the Lamu port will start in June 2014. As I quoted at the start of this article, "The past is a foreign country..." and Lamu locals seem determined to live in it. And so would I, given the chance! Getting There SafariLink departs from Wilson Airport in Nairobi daily at 13h45 and arrives at Lamu at 15h30. Note that the luggage allowance limit is 15kg.
South African Airways (SAA) have introduced wide body aircraft on the Johannesburg – Nairobi route, effectively increasing capacity into Kenya by 582 seats per week. SAA previously operated the Airbus A319 and the Boeing 737800 into Kenya. These aircraft are now replaced by the Airbus A340-200 and the A340-300. The introduction of these wide body aircraft means additional seat capacity on the route, lie-flat seats in Business class, as well as a wider cabin and touch screen in-flight entertainment for both Business and Economy class.
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EVENTS
Seychelles Carnival Celebrates Culture The 2014 edition of the Carnaval International de Victoria has firmly established itself as the Carnival de Carnival on the world's calendar of cultural celebratory events. With 26 international delegations, around 24 Seychelles floats and over 151 members of the international press present it was bigger and better than all previous editions. The images on these pages give an idea of the visual feast but to truly appreciate the celebratory atmosphere, one has to be there to experience the excitement and cultural diversity, writes Des Langkilde.
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EVENTS
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HOSPITALITY
Property Review
© Toad Tree Lodge Image Gallery
Toad Tree Lodge is a wilderness haven, not only for the teeming game and birdlife but also for discerning tourists who want a self-catering South African bush experience within close proximity to KwaZulu-Natal's King Shaka International Airport, writes Tourism Tattler correspondent Jeannie Burns.
There is a security fence along the outer perimeter and a guard on duty at the entrance gate (24 hour attendance).
What makes Toad Tree Lodge special, and the Kuleni Game Park within which it is located special, is the feeling of intimacy, where the serene presence of wildlife and natural quietness of the bush embrace you.
Toad Tree Lodge consists of three free-standing lodges, being Leopard, Wild Dog and Cheetah.
Here you can enjoy solitude in 4-Star self-catering accommodation, which combine to create an ambiance for both relaxation and independence. The province of KwaZulu-Natal has numerous, exciting and varied places of interest to visit, and the Elephant Coast provides all three destination attractions in one area; Berg, Beach and Bush. Stunning beaches, majestic mountains and ever inspiring bushlands. The Hluhluwe and Imfolozi Game Reserves and the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park (a World Heritage site), are within close proximity to Toad Tree Lodge − an easy drive for a day visit. Toad Tree Lodge is located in the Kuleni Game Park, an area of 170 hectares comprising seventeen sites under Sectional Title ownership. Each site is totally private. The lodges built can be used for commercial or residential purposes. There is a maximum bed capacity of eight. The structures have their own individual styles and are constructed with timber and glass. This makes them eco-sensitive, but offers a certain amount of luxury in the bush.
The area was previously a cattle farm, but now the natural vegetation has been allowed to grow back freely and return to its original natural state. This does not happen overnight, but attention and great care was taken to transform it back to a beautiful place where wildlife is preserved. The name 'Kuleni', was taken from the name of a small hill in the area.
Leopard lodge is the largest of the three and has two bedrooms, a main-en-suite with spa bath and a private outside shower. A comfortable living area, satellite TV and a well equipped kitchen. Large glass sliding doors open out onto a raised wooden deck with plunge pool and braai facilities. Wild Dog lodge, has one bedroom and an en-suite bathroom, and a deck with boma / braai. It is situated across the lawn from Leopard Lodge. A natural wooden partition in the garden separates these two lodges from Cheetah Lodge. We stayed in Cheetah Lodge. The lodge is comprised of a bedroom with ample space, cupboards for clothing and a full bathroom with outside shower. The large glass sliding doors offer one the opportunity to lie in bed and observe animals that frequently wander in the lodge surrounds. The open plan living area with comfortable couches, satellite TV and a fully equipped kitchen, also opens out onto a wooden deck with swimming pool, outdoor furniture and boma / braai facility. The raised deck is an ideal place to sit quietly, listen to the twittering of birds and game watch with drink, camera and binoculars in hand. Bottom images © Keith Burns
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HOSPITALITY
The lodge is clean and all equipment is in good condition. It has been well planned, well managed, is wheel-chair friendly and serviced daily. This malaria-free area is ideal for families as there are no dangerous animals. The park retains the peace and tranquillity of the bush, as motorised traversing of the property is prohibited − no noisy game-drive vehicles or quad bikes − pure bliss! Self-guided walking trails have been laid out, which traverse the indigenous bush and have been colour coded. There are starting and finishing points and route markers along all paths. The trails include the Central Park Meander, Owl, Guinea Fowl, Eagle and Heron Trail. These trails can be linked for longer walks. The terrain is fairly flat, which makes walking along them suitable for the young and elderly. Kuleni game park is predominantly coastal sand forest interspersed with grasslands, wetlands and waterholes. There is a wealth of different tree species, some have tags to assist in identifying them. Toad Tree Lodge is named after a species of tree − the Tabernaemontana, or commonly known as the Forest Toad Tree (english) Bospaddaboom (afrikaans) or uKhamamasane (zulu). It is a beautiful evergreen with white sweet smelling flowers and fruit that has a dark green wrinkled skin with light green speckles almost resembling a toad! This is a valuable food source for small animals and birds, and it also attracts insects. Noting the indigenous trees, we also came across bush willow, various species of acacia, fever trees and the African mahogany to name a few, that grow in the forest. There is a fair amount of game in the park, excluding the Big 5. The species include giraffe, wildebeest, warthog, zebra and a variety of antelope . During our walks we saw several nyala, in fact they often grazed in the garden at the lodge. Impala, kudu and red duiker were
also spotted. A family of warthogs paid a visit to Cheetah Lodge, where they enjoyed a Sunday lunch − eating the grass and berries that had fallen to the ground. This is a bird lovers paradise with more than 120 species recorded in the park. We saw robins, brownhooded kingfishers , bulbuls and weavers, but the distinct calls of the African and Emerald cuckoos with their respective “hoop- hoop” and “teeu-tu-tui” make one appreciate the magic of the African bush. Getting there From King Shaka International Airport, take the N2 North freeway on-ramp towards Stanger. After passing through three toll gates where fees can be paid by cash or card (oThongathi - ZAR8.00; Mvoti - ZAR10.00; and Mtunzini - ZAR33.00) take the Hluhluwe off ramp (a distance of approximately 236km or 2h39min). After passing through the town, follow the sign boards to the R22 road towards Sodwana. After the railway crossing, travel for approximately 15kms and turn off at Kuleni Game Park (the gates close at 22h00). For Bookings contact the Lodge Manager, Lizelle Visser on +27 (0)83 290 4559 or the owner, Stuart Mathe-Pike on +27 (0)11 678 0972 or +27 (0)83 601 2233 or visit: www.toadtreelodge.co.za
TOAD TREE LODGE FACT SHEET AT A GLANCE Address:
Kuleni Game Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Coordinates: Type: Rooms: Capacity: STO Rates: Facilities:
Latitude = 27°311"S : Longitude = 21°315"E Lodge (Self Catering) 4 Bedrooms in 3 Lodges 8 beds Available on application Fully equipped kitchen, spa bath, swimming pool, TV and braai facility. Services: Lodge cleaning done daily. Clothes washing and ironing on request. Activities: Self-guided walking safari game trails Spa: No Gym: No Parking: Free parking on site WiFi: No Restaurants / Bars: No Conference facilities: No Notable: As Toad Tree Lodge consist of three self-contained lodges, this is an ideal venue for extended family reunions or corporate team-building get aways. MAY 2014
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LEGAL
The NEW ‘POPI’ aka PROTECTION
OF PERSONAL INFORMATION ACT – PART 12 –
SPAM In this edition we deal with how POPI addresses SPAM (section 69) i.e. approaching a data subject via electronic communication or mail for the purposes of for the purposes of promoting or offering to sell goods or services or to request a donation of any kind. Processing (Bear in mind this includes assimilating, collating, disseminating and storing) of personal information (‘PI’) of Data Subject (‘DS’) for the purposes of Direct Marketing (as defined above – same definition as CPA) (‘DM’) by means of automated calling machines (i.e. no human intervention), fax machines, SMS or e-mail is prohibited unless the DS has consented or is a customer of the responsible person (‘RP’). If it is a customer the following requirements must be met: • The contact details (not defined) of the customer must have been obtained in the process of a sale of products or services: it is suggested you include all telephone numbers (land and mobile) and addresses (postal and physical) and identity number; • The purpose of the DM must be must be the RP’s own similar products or services – it is suggested that the word ‘similar’ may well be narrowly interpreted to avoid abuse so if a sports store sells a customer e.g. soccer boots, unless the consent given is very wide (which is recommended), it cannot send marketing material to the customer about tennis rackets!; • DS must be given a reasonable opportunity to object, ‘free of charge and in a manner free of unnecessary formality’ to use of his/her electronic details (Compare ‘contact details’ above): § at the time the information was collected AND § each DM communication, if such use was not initially refused [opt out]. 28
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Each DM communication must contain the following: • Details sender/party on whose behalf it is sent; • Address for DS send a ‘stop’ request. Directories: • A DS whose PI is contained in any electronic or printed directory must be advised free of charge and before the PI is used; • If the DS does not initially refuse DS must be given reasonable opportunity to object free of charge to use or to request withdrawal of PI; • In the case of fixed line and mobile phone directories produced prior to POPI, DS must be advised as above and may have information withdrawn. Automated decision making: • If a DS’ PI is processed for the purposes providing a ‘profile of aspects of his personality or personal habits’, the DS cannot be held to any decision that has legal consequences flowing from that; • This not applicable if doing so is part of a contract; at the request of the DS and ‘appropriate measures have been taken to protect the DS’ legitimate interests’, including: § DS must have an opportunity to make representations; AND § The RP must provide the DS with ‘sufficient information about the underlying logic’ of the automated processing so that DS can make the aforesaid representations.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide a brief overview of legal matters pertaining to the travel and tourism industry and is not intended as legal advice. © Adv Louis Nel, 'Louis The Lawyer', May 2014.
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BUSINESS
TOURISM SUPPORT SERVICES The business of tourism has become a fiercely competitive global cyber-market. To many, this cyber-market is as confusing to the layman as the terminology or 'Geek-Speak'. To address the needs of the travel trade, Tourism Tattler has launched Tourism Support Services, writes Des Langkilde. Tourism Support Services is our flagship support center, created specifically for the African Tourism and Hospitality industry. This new service provides free online marketing tools and incorporates superior online solutions aimed at assisting African Businesses to compete successfully in global markets. Services include Website Design, Facebook Business Pages, Social Media Marketing, Online Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Business Collaboration. Additional services include a free Travel Trade Directory listing section, Mobile Website Builder application and B2B Advertising channels. HelpDesk Support The Service Center is fully integrated with an online HelpDesk 'Chat' facility, which is located at the bottom left-hand corner of every service center page. Questions that the user may have are answered in 'real-time' by a 'real-person' at the other end of the ServiceCenter. Enquiries can also be submitted through our Support Center Enquiry form. Service Center Commitment Through the service center we look forward to supporting your business, responsibly and confidentially with your goals, aims and expectations in mind. Host & Post! Host and Post is the Support Center’s Website Installation Service. With this website upgrade or new website installation service you get a fully operational WordPress website that is user friendly and fully supports both PC’s and mobile devices. In addition, each website has owner / user admin access, which means that you have total control over your website's page content and can make changes or upload new content and images directly from your laptop, tablet or smartphone at any time, no matter where in the world you happen to be (provided, of course that you have WiFi access). New websites include a choice of .com domain name and web hosting for one whole year. The price per installation or upgrade is competitively priced at just $495 (USD)*. This service is intended for those wishing to start their own website or for those who wish to upgrade their old website to a new design. The service installs all the necessary functions to perform online business remotely. 30
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Each website design is provided complete with your homepage header section pre-filled (your images and text included). Where the homepage includes an image slider, your best images will be shown here. Websites are pre-setup with a Contact Page, including contact form; a Reservations page (for those who take room-bookings); an About Us page and a Blog Page. Website Designs: A wide range of website design templates are available to suit just about any travel and tourism product or service. Scroll through the templates at www.tourismtattler.com/websitewebdesign-installation-hosting. Online Marketing SEO Use the Service Center's search optimisation tools to check your current website's Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) performance and improve your website's ranking. The SEO Tools provide direct help with Backlinks and PageRanks, Keywords and Meta Tags, Compatibility, Source and Reference, DNS and Web, and Lookup. If these words sound 'Geek' to you, click on the links to get an explanation. Give it a try at www.tourismtattler.com/apps/seo. Facebook Business Pages Normally a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate is required to create a Personal Facebook Page online. With Tourism Support Services, this is not required as we provide the certificate on our servers, thus saving you the cost of securing your own SSL certificate, while providing an excellent Facebook Business Page Service. Let the Tourism Support specialists convert your Facebook presence into a potent business tool or opt for the monthly assisted content update service. We’ll be happy to provide you with a personal quote any time. Read More at www.tourismtattler.com/business-facebook-page. Social Media Marketing
BUSINESS
Make use of the Support Center’s Social Search engine. Get help and advice to take full advantage of Facebook and other Social Media Websites. (This is a paid for service but the search engine tool use is free of charge). Read More at www. tourismtattler.com/onlinemarketing. Support Suggestions
Center
Suggestions about Services needed but not listed here can be made through the Support Center Suggestions Form at www.tourismtattler. com/support-center-suggestions. Travel Trade Directory Tourism Tattler has over 33 000 registered subscribers, now imagine if every one of these businesses had a listing in the directory. It would mean that buyers would have a quick reference tool for finding suppliers across the entire continent of Africa. This is the objective of the trade directory feature and we have kept listings free of charge to help you, in helping us, to achieve this objective. Each listing takes less than 15 minutes to create and includes Google Maps with location pins, images, address / contact details and website hyper-links. And best of all; it's free of charge! To list your tourism service go to www.tourismtattler.com/business-directory. Eco Atlas Is your hospitality establishment environmentally friendly? Tell the world by listing your property on our partner's website at a nominal fee of just $6 per month. Mobile Website Builder Travellers are using their mobile phones and tablets to find information on destinations, products, attractions, restaurants and transport services. If your website is not mobile friendly, then this services provides an ideal solution and can be created in under 30 minutes. And the cost? Just $6.95 per month! The application is filled with usable, interactive features, including a mobile simulator (how the user will see your page), Google Maps for quick-find directions, Social Media Buttons and much more. To get started, go to www.tourismtattler.com/mobile-website-builder. B2B Advertising channels.
Advertising is about getting your business and brand recognised for its unique differentiators in products and services. Research shows that people want to interact with brands that they recognise, find commonality with and can create a relationship with, and there is no better way to do so than to advertise on the Tourism Tattler's various channels. Magazine Ads The Tourism Tattler Trade Journal is recognised as the official magazine of Africa's pre-eminent private sector travel trade associations and public sector organisations for its credibility in reporting on matters that affect the travel trade in Africa. The magazine is distributed globally on a monthly basis in both print and digital formats. The digital format enables hyper-linked content for websites, email enquiries and video informational content, directly from the advertisement page. Banner Ads With over 400 000 page views per month, the Tourism Tattler website has become the preferred online portal for news and information on the travel trade in, and to, Africa from both an inbound and outbound perspective. A wide range of banner ad sizes and position options are available at competitive pricing and can be tailer-made to suit your specific objectives and marketing budget. Publia News Publia is an online news facility for trade news and advertorial articles. This service is available in 'self-upload' or 'assisted-upload' options and every article posted onto the Tattler's Publia portal, includes full SEO, RSS and Social Media functionality. To download the Print and Online Rate and Data Cards, go to www. tourismtattler.com/advertising.
* We require all customers to utilise disk space and bandwidth in a manner consistent with the normal operation of a personal or small business website. Please note that companies using more then normal bandwidth or disk space due to excessive use will be advised and moved to a different hosting plan. We reserve the right to determine what constitutes a personal and small business website, as well as normal or excessive use; please ask us if you are not sure. MAY 2014
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NICHE TOURISM
Space Tourism The space industry worldwide is in major transition. The recent retirement of the U.S. Space Shuttle fleet, accelerating international competition, the emerging “New Space” industry with billions of dollars in investments, and the completion of the first decade of the space tourism industry has caused many to ask what is next? Where are the opportunities and jobs? By Des Langkilde.
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo with wings up
According to Wikipedia, Space Tourism is space travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. A number of startup companies have sprung up in recent years, such as Virgin Galactic, hoping to create a space tourism industry. Orbital space tourism opportunities have been limited and expensive, with only the Russian Space Agency having provided opportunities for private space transportation. Today, there are ten billionaires, some of world fame working to build the private space enterprise / tourism industry. Future space hotels are already in design stages − Space Adventures is planning a tourist lunar flyby, while Virgin Galactic and XCOR Aerospace will be flying sub-orbital passenger flights soon, and SpaceX recently went to the International Space Station. According to the Space Tourism Society, Earth-based space themed resorts and attractions already exist or are in development, and claim that over fifteen million people annually visit space attractions, museums and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) visitor centers. The Price of a Spacecraft Seat The price for flights brokered by Space Adventures to the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft is 52 million United States Dollars (USD). The NASA space agency currently pays about 70 million USD per seat to fly American astronauts on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, under its latest deal with Russia's Federal Space Agency.
A private expedition to the Moon. The last humans to walk on the Moon were Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt. They left the Moon’s surface on December 14, 1972 and returned to Earth in the Apollo 11 spacecraft. Since then no human has been closer to the Moon than low Earth Orbit. However, Space Adventures say that they plan to change that. Using flight proven Russian spacecraft, Space Adventures plans to fly two private citizens and one professional cosmonaut on a return trajectory around the far side of the moon by 2017. They will come within 100km of the Moon’s surface and will see the illuminated farside of the Moon, and then witness the amazing sight of the Earth rising above the surface of the Moon. International recording artist, Sarah Brightman will be the company's next orbital spaceflight client and is scheduled to launch in October 2015. Space Adventures also provides a Suborbital Spaceflight Experience. The itinerary reads like any other conventional tour, but with an emphasis on spaceflight. Space Tourism Fantasy
A ZERO-G Experience in a specially modified Boeing 727, starts at 4,950 USD per person, up to 165,000 USD for a private charter (36 people).
Joshua Wheeler, a contributor for BuzzFeed, reports that New Mexico invested nearly a quarter of a billion USD and ten years in creating a hub for Richard Branson’s space tourism company, Virgin Galactic. Some see it as the crown jewel of a new space age while others call it a carnival for the one percent.
Virgin Galactic, by contrast is selling seats to fly to space at 250,000 USD (and deposits are refundable), which includes priority access to a variety of Virgin Galactic events, such as visits to Necker Island, a 74-acre (300,000 m2) island in the British Virgin Islands and
Richard Branson had licensed technology that in 2004 won the 10 million USD Ansari X Prize by taking the first privately built manned ship to an altitude above 62 miles (99.779 km), the internationally recognized boundary of space. Branson was confident that by
▼ Artists impressions: Braus Circle City and Space Hotel room by Dekus
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accompanied by Sir Richard Branson, G-force training sessions and test flights in the Mojave Desert.
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XCOR Aerospace's Winged Space Plane ▼
NICHE TOURISM
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo being released from mothership WhiteKnightTwo
2007 they’d be making that trip on a daily basis. Almost nine years later, more than 700 people have forked over at least 200,000 USD for a ticket on the two-hour flight. This is what they’ve paid for: WhiteKnightTwo, the Galactic mothership, will fly to 50,000 feet with SpaceShipTwo strapped to its underbelly. SpaceshipTwo and the six ticket holders seated inside will then be released from the airplane and rocket at up to 2,500 mph (4023.4 kmph) to sub-orbit some 70 miles high where they will be weightless for a few minutes before gliding back down to Earth and sipping champagne in the Astronaut Lounge and slapping high-fives the way only people who have been to space can slap high-fives. Africa's Space Tourism Dreams A Global Trends Report issued by World Travel Market in association with Euromonitor International, predicts that astronomy and space tourism are gaining momentum in Africa, particularly South Africa, as recent investment paves the way for the continent to position itself as a leader in space science. A number of hotel and other accommodation providers are already capitalising on the opportunity astronomy presents with telescopes in bedrooms and night safaris and tours on offer. On a more sophisticated level, South Africa is gearing up to play a major role in space exploration with the National Space Agency Act (No. 36 of 2008) having paved the way for the establishment of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), which is the South African government agency responsible for the promotion and development of aeronautics and aerospace space research. It fosters cooperation in space-related activities and research in space science, seeks to advance scientific engineering through human capital, as well as the peaceful use of outer space. South Africa is already home to the Southern African Large Telescope while the MeerKAT telescope facility is under construction, paving the way for further space exploration and tourism. A ZERO-G Experience - $4,950 to gulp water balls in zero gravity. ▼
First Africans in Space South African millionaire, Mark Shuttleworth gained worldwide fame on 25 April 2002 as the second self-funded space tourist (Dennis Tito, a USA entrepreneur was the first space tourist in April 2001). Flying through Space Adventures, he launched aboard the Russian Soyuz TM-34 mission as a spaceflight participant, paying approximately 20 million USD for the voyage. In order to participate in the flight, Shuttleworth had to undergo one year of training and preparation, including seven months spent in Star City, Russia. Shuttleworth founded Thawte in 1995, which specialised in digital certificates and Internet security and then sold it to VeriSign in December 1999, earning 3.5 billion ZAR (about 575 million USD at the time). Mandla Maseko, a DJ from Mabopane township near Pretoria, will be the first black African heading into space in 2015. Maseko beat one million other entrants from around the world in the Lynx Apollo Space Academy competition last year and is one of 22 people who won a seat on an hour-long sub-orbital trip planned for 2015. The winning space travellers will launch aboard a suborbital Lynx space plane built by the U.S. company XCOR Aerospace and operated by the tourism firm Space Expedition Curacao. But space tourism has a way to go before it becomes a viable mass market niche tourism sector. Besides the 700 people who paid 200,000 USD for a two-hour flight with Virgin Galactic, by 2009 only seven private citizens have visited the International Space Station (ISS) self-funded. Besides Mark Shuttleworth and Dennis Tito, the other five are Greg Olsen (American, in Oct 2005), Anousheh Ansari (Iranian, in Sep 2006), Charles Simonyi (Hungarian, in Apr 2007 and Mar 2009), Richard Garriott (American, in Oct 2008) and Guy Laliberte (Canadian, in Sep 2009) who each paid between 20 to 30 million USD for the trip.
▼ The first African self-funded space tourist - Mark Shuttleworth. ▼ The first black African space tourist - Mandla Maseko.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Understanding
Depth Of Field
Whilst there are many technical aspects relating to this subject, Depth Of Field (DOF) relates basically to the area in the photograph which will be acceptably sharp. By Peter Wickham. There is an area in front of your point of focus and an area behind the point of focus which is acceptably sharp as it fades to being out of focus. As a general rule of thumb it is accepted that of the total distance in focus, one third of that distance is in front of the focus point and two thirds of that distance is behind the focus point as the ruler image below illustrates.
also has a printable calculator wheel which you could assemble and take into the field. Helpful tips with depth of field. Don't be afraid to experiment. Some cameras are fitted with a preview button where one can see the DOF through the viewfinder. Using DOF creatively.
Focus Point
There are 3 factors that affect DOF: 1. Aperture. The larger the aperture (the 'f' number) the shallower the DOF (remember that the smaller the number the larger the aperture). 2. Distance from subject. The closer the subject, the shallower the DOF. 3. Focal Length of lens. The longer the focal length, the shallower the DOF. These factors affect DOF equally and no single factor is more important than the other. Obviously the converse of what results in a shallow DOF will result in a deeper DOF. Understanding DOF, even at limited levels, will allow you to be creative with its use, and is helpful in substantially altering ugly backgrounds, i.e. in portraiture as well as macro photography. Whilst this can be a useful tool, it can also be an eternal enemy when you do not get enough of the image in focus and therefore experimentation is essential. So how do we know if what we need in focus, will be in focus? Well, if accuracy is needed, there is an online DOF calculator at www.dofmaster.com which is very useful when you have the time and chance to use it. While having a device (like a smartphone or tablet) with which to browse the web is not always practical, experimenting in the comfort of your home is encouraged to get a feel of how your equipment deals with depth of field. The website mentioned above
Consider the background and how you wish to show it in your photograph. When photographing landscapes, one usually wants to show the entire scene in focus and therefore one should become aware of the term Hyperfocal Distance. This is the point at which DOF runs to infinity. The website referred to previously also has Hyperfocal Distance printable downloads, which you can print as cards to take into the field in your camera bag or pocket. When you know the hyperfocal distance you can safely focus that distance from the camera and be confident that the entire scene will be in focus, as your area in focus will be from the hyperfocal distance to infinity. The hyperfocal distance is closer to the camera when the lens length is shorter (wide angle) and the Aperture is small i.e. bigger 'f' number. If you do not have a hyperfocal chart to work from, remember the rule of thumb − one third of the focused area in front of the point of focus will be in focus, as will two thirds behind the point of focus. This is also very helpful to remember when your foreground anchor is closer to the cam than the hyperfocal distance. About the Author Peter Wickham is a professional photographer with over thirty years of experience. When not on assignment for hospitality and travel projects, Peter teaches photography on a one-on-one basis or to small groups. Tel: +27 (0)79 670 7356 Email: info@proimpact.co.za Website: www.proimpact.co.za Facebook: Pro impact productions MAY 2014
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Advertisement sponsored courtesy of Ogilvy & Mather / Tourism Tattler as a service to the travel trade.
Insurance
RISK
Kidnap & Ransom The threat of kidnap and ransom in African countries is on the rise and companies with employees stationed or visiting places including Nigeria, Somalia, Mozambique and Kenya, which have been kidnapping hotspots, are strongly advised to ensure that they are adequately prepared to deal with the possibility that their staff could be kidnapped and a ransom demanded. By Andre du Toit. Currently Africa has 27% of the global kidnapping cases. As political and social situations in Africa are so volatile, at risk areas change all the time and companies operating on the continent should reassess the level of risk faced by employees on a regular basis. Any company or individual whose profile or territorial exposures result in them being at higher risk, should consider Kidnap and Ransom Insurance. Business travellers and foreigners are at risk as kidnapping is motivated by both financial gain and political advantage meaning that even small business could be in jeopardy.
When a kidnapping has occurred, there are many elements to dealing effectively with the situation in order to ensure that the individual is returned safely - and all of these things cost money. Kidnap and Ransom Insurance will cover all of these factors, from engaging the services of crisis responders and specialist negotiators and putting up the ransom to providing support for families and colleagues of the kidnapped person. Once they have been returned, counselling, medical treatment and rehabilitation costs will also be covered. Furthermore, it necessary to consider that business could be interrupted by the absence of a key individual and that civil suits have been launched by kidnapped persons who feel that their organisation did not provide an adequate response. Kidnap and Ransom Insurance will cover all of these possibilities. Kidnap and Ransom Insurance can also include cover for hijack, extortion, detention or a hostage crisis where specialist assistance is required. About the Author. Andre du Toit is the Sales and Marketing Director at SATIB Insurance Brokers, a registered financial services provider with offices through South Africa and in Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. For more information, visit www.satib.com
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TRANSPORT
New Mercedes-Benz Sprinter After over eight million kilometers of test drives, and an investment of €25 million in the German van plants, the first new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter rolled off the assembly line in Düsseldorf during July last year and will be on display at the Mercedes-Benz Indaba stand from 10 to 12 May. By Jerome Raman. Since its launch last year, Mercedes-Benz Vans has writen a new chapter in the Sprinter success story, which has set a new benchmark for the van sector. The new Sprinter features five new safety and assistance systems, including three van premieres. It is the first van to have engines that meet the future Euro VI emissions standard, and its incredible fuel consumption values (as low as 6.3 liters per 100 km) make it by far the best vehicle in its class when it comes to fuel efficiency. In the large vans segment, the Sprinter also impresses with its striking appearance. Nicolette Lambrechts, Managing Director: Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa (MBSA) says: “We are indeed all excited in the Daimler AG network with the production of the Sprinter. There was a lot of hard work and planning globally that has now seen the assembly kickoff.” Lambrechts elaborates that while the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Euro 4 and 5 engines were launched to the South African market at the Johannesburg International Motor Show in October last year, they will also be on view to at the Durban Indaba Travel Trade Expo, which takes place at the ICC from 10 to 12 May 2014. “We are confident that the indomitable Sprinter will continue to cement its market Nicolette Lanbrechts. Managing Director: Mercedes-Benz Vans SA leadership position in the large passenger vans segment. It is a fantastic product that enjoys good support in the market. We are however not immediately able to launch the Euro 6 engine due to inadequate availability of cleaner fuels. ”
with all of you to continue the Sprinter success story.” At the ceremony, Plant Director Martin Kelterer added, “Today is a very special day for our Düsseldorf van plant. We are of course extremely happy about the new Sprinter. All of the employees at the plant worked extremely hard to make this day happen and to prepare themselves for the new production processes. This shows that we have a highly motivated and qualified team whose members are extremely committed to their work. Thank you very much for your dedication. I wish all of us great success with the new Sprinter!” The history of the Sprinter Ever since the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter made its debut in 1995, the van has made a name for itself all over the world. The vehicle has always been a pioneer when it comes to assistance and safety systems. In 1995 Mercedes-Benz became the first brand to install the anti-lock braking system (ABS) into a van by introducing it into the Sprinter. Another van first, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), followed in 2002. Mercedes-Benz Vans achieved another pioneering feat in 2006 when it developed ESP into ADAPTIVE ESP. All of these developments have made the Sprinter a top seller. Over the past 18 years, the vehicle has posted total sales of about 2.5 million units and helped customers perform a wide variety of tasks. The Sprinter is a truly global vehicle and a key pillar of the “Vans goes global” growth strategy of Mercedes-Benz Vans. Today the pioneering van is being sold in thousands of variants in around 130 countries. In South Africa, the Sprinter enjoys a lot of support in the segments it plays in which includes the tourism transport sector.
A festive ceremony was held to mark the launch of series production at the Düsseldorf plant. At the celebration, the first new Sprinter was unveiled to numerous employees by Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans among others. At the start of series production, Volker Mornhinweg said, “The new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has once again enabled us to set the bar higher for the van sector. The new Sprinter’s safety, efficiency, and quality are unmatched by any other van, and the vehicle remains a pioneer in the large van segment. The new Sprinter is the global vehicle in the commercial vehicle sector. The start of series production has really gotten the ball rolling, and I’m delighted to work together 38
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Celebrating the launch of the new Sprinter in Germany are from left to right: Rainer Ruess (Head of Operations - Vans), Dr. Sascha Paasche (Hed of Engineering), Volker Mornhinweg (Head of Vans) and Martin Kelterer (Head of Düseldorf Plant).
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