My first visit to Island Safari Lodge was way back in 1986. Pat Penstone who just sold three Landini tractors to me, convinced me that Island Safari Lodge was for sale and an excellent investment. It was not a matter of investment for me. It was just another opportunity to visit the Okavango Delta with whom I fall in love the previous year, when I first visited it. Perhaps the 1.3 Mil BWP was a real bargain. Whatever the price was, was irrelevant I simply did not have the money to buy it.
However it did not prevent me from falling in love with the place. During the 1990’s the water of the Thmalakane River dried up completely. The lodge was dependent on borehole water. The Island Safari Lodge deteriorated due to stunk of the water. For me the love affair who started during my first visit continues. I visited the lodge at least once a year during the nineties. The views form Island Safari lodge was never anything less than spectacular. Even during those dry years.
Since 2008 the area was blessed with unusually high rainfall. The Okavango Delta was filled with water. Today there are 800 m of waters in front of the lodge. Island Safari Lodge is once again a lodge on an island in the Okavango Delta. Without doubt my favourite near Maun and the gateway to the Okavango Delta.
Chobe Game Reserve in the north of Botswana is world renown for its excellent game viewing and accommodation, such as Chobe Safari Lodge, Mowana Safari Lodge and the more affordable Toro Lodge and Senyati Safari Camp.
Lawdons Lodge is the most luxurious along the western panhandle of the Okavango Delta. Lawdons Lodge is a sister lodge of the famous Drotsky's Cabins.
The Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana are the world's largest salt pans. A star safari on the pans promises to be a highlight for any person with a sense of romance. Lodges such as Jack's Camp, Planet Boabab and Gweta Lodge provide excellent accommodation.
The Central Kalahari region of Botswana is home to the largest Game Reserve in Africa namely the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
Hakusembe Lodge just west of Rundu in the far north of Namibia is a very romantic destination on the banks of the Kavango River.
Halali Rest Camp is the central rest camp in Etosha National Park in Namibia and famous for its waterhole.
Damaraland and Kaokoland is in the north-east of Namibia. Famous lodges in this area include Palmwag where you can see the desert elephants, Twyfelfontein Country Lodge which is famous for its rock paintings, Khorixas Rest Camp and the Vingerklip at Ugab Terrace Lodge, as well as the Vingerklip Lodge.
Khorixas Rest Camp near Khorixas in Damaraland or Kaokoland in the north-west of Namibia offers affordable accommodation near the Petrified Forest and the Vingerklip Rock.
Swakopmund in Namibia with its German colonial atmosphere is by far the most popular coastal resort of Namibia. Here you can choose between the extreme luxury of the Swakopmund Hotel and Casino, and hotels such as Hotel Pension Rapmund and self-catering accommodation such as Alte Brücke and Swakopmund Restcamp.
The Swakopmund Rest Camp in Swakopmund in Namibia offers affordable self-catering accommodation in this famous coastal resort.
Arebbusch Travel Lodge in Windhoek offers self-catering accommodation in a variety of chalets. The restaurant serves excellent meals for those who prefer to be spoilt.
Helmeringhausen Hotel is in a small town with the same name south of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert. This is a farming community influenced by the German colonial era.
Gobabis is on the eastern side of Namibia. Here, Temba market lodges such as Goba Lodge, Zelda Guest House and East End overnight stop.
Hardapdam is Namibia's largest dam. This recreational area is just north of Mariental in the south of Namibia. Self-catering accommodation and meals are available.
The Fish River Lodge is the only lodge on the western rim of the Fish River Canyon. This is a luxury lodge with spectacular views over the Fish River Canyon of Namibia.
Motopo Hills also known as Matobo Hills is the National Park near Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. Beautiful rock formations create a spectacular sight. Temba Lodges offers accommodation such as Matopo Hills Lodge, Granite Ridge and Maleme Rest Camp in this beautiful park.
Elephant Hills Hotel and Casino is built on a hill surrounded by a magnificent golf course. This luxury hotel at Victoria Falls overlooks the Zambezi River.
If you can't beat them, join them. On a Lion Walk Safari you will be accompanied by lions on a walking safari in big game territory. Fair enough, you might not see too many antelope, but you will be very well protected against anything that might want to attack you.
Tamarind Lodges in Kariba offers affordable self-catering accommodation in very clean, basic but fully equiped chalets less than a kilometre from the lake shore and 3 km from the dam.
The Grand Zimbabwe tour is an example of a tour which includes all the highlights Zimbabwe has to offer. You can do this tour as a guided package or as a self-drive tour. The itinerary is flexible and so is your choice of accommodation. The tour departs from Johannesburg and includes visits to the Great Zimbabwe Monument, the eastern highlands and continues then via Kariba to Victoria Falls. From Victoria Falls, Hwange Safari Lodge is your next destination before you continue to Bulawayo and Motopo Hills. From here you will return to South Africa either via Beitbridge or Francistown in Botswana.
The Northern Cape and Namaqualand is also known as South Africa's flower province. This is the largest province and best known for its diamonds, the Kalahari and Namaqualand's flowers. Temba Travel offers a wide selection of hotels and lodges in this province.
Merino Inn Hotel's E block is recently renovated and offers rooms of a very high standard in Colesberg onroute between Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Grootkolk near Unions End in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is this park's famous wilderness camp. Large prides of lions are to be found in this part of the Kalahari.
Skilpad Nature Reserve in the larger Namaqualand National Park becomes a kaleidoscope of colour every year during the annual Namaqualand flower season.
Van Zijl Guesthouse in the Namaqualand town of Nieuwoudtville is an excellent destination from where you can explore Namaqualand during the flower season.
Graskop is on the escarpment in Mpumalanga. From Graskop you can visit all the nearby attractions such as Pilgrims Rest. Blyde River Canyon and Mac Mac Waterfalls.
Shakaland is a traditional Zulu cultural village near Eshowe in KZN. Shakaland was originally built as a film set for the movie Shaka Zulu. It is built in the same place where Shaka, the greatest African king, was born.
The Wildcoast is perhaps South Africa's most beautiful coast and Temba Lodges offer many hotels and lodges along this beautiful coast.
Ocean View Hotel in Coffee Bay is on a beautiful setting with excellent views over Coffee Bay. The meals at Ocean View Hotel are very good and the service as good as you would expect.
Complete Botswana family holiday for people without a 4x4. It includes all the highlights of Botswana such as Maun, Drotsky Cabins and Namibian highlights such as Caprivi before returning to Botswana and Chobe Game Reserve.
