Zimanga 2018 Safari information and Guidelines

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Zimanga 2018 Safari information and Guidelines
Zimanga 2018
                                        Safari information and Guidelines
                                                          General Info

                                                                                       Situated in Northern Natal, Zimanga is the
                                                                                       first reserve in Africa to be designed
                                                                                       specifically to satisfy the needs of today’s
                                                                                       wildlife photography enthusiasts as well
                                                                                       as safari clients who have a deeper
                                                                                       appreciation for the bush, both of whom
                                                                                       crave an unhurried and exclusive
                                                                                       experience.
                                                                                       Spread over 7000 hectares of pristine
                                                                                       bushveld, fever tree forests and rolling
                                                                                       hills, Zimanga is bisected by the Mkuze
                                                                                       River and home to a huge variety of
                                                                                       animals and birds. From leopards to wild
                                                                                       dogs and elephants to cheetah, nearly
                                                                                       every sought-after sighting is accounted
                                                                                       for. There are over 400 bird species
                                                                                       recorded at the reserve.
                                                                                        Zimanga has various luxury hides that
                                                                                        each has their own target species. From
rarely seen tiny Twinspots to the biggest Eagles and Herons in the lagoon hide, there is something for every photographer. The
professionally built hides have every conceivable luxury a hide can have such as aircon, carpeted walls and more.
Zimanga Main Lodge is brand new having opened in April 2018. The lodge offers stunning accommodations right in the middle of
the reserve itself. The floor plan includes spacious lounge areas inside the main building, on the decks as well as an elevated
view of the Mkhombe valley from the roof lounge. Other facilities include a boardroom, library and quiet lounge attached to the
south-eastern wing for those seeking to escape the crowd. The term crowd is loosely used here as the lodge will only sleep a
maximum of 14 guests, hosted in six free standing two-bedded units with two additional single rooms, offering privacy within a
splendid KwaZulu Natal lowveld
setting.

In terms of game drives and
wildlife, Zimanga is well known
for its resident pack of Wilddogs
as well as regular sightings of
Lion, Rhino, Buffalo, Elephant
and more – All accessible from
dedicated open game drive
vehicles.

We have the option on this safari
to choose between Hide sessions
as well as vehicle-based
activities. As we have exclusive
use of the entire Game Reserve.
Zimanga 2018 Safari information and Guidelines
Safari Dates & Pricing

                      Safari #                         Dates                           Cost                   Pax               Nights
                                                                                                           12 + 2 Non
                      Safari 01                1 – 5 November 2018                ZAR 24500 pps                                    4
                                                                                                         Photographers
                                                                                                           12 + 2 Non
                      Safari 02                5 – 9 November 2018                ZAR 24500 pps                                    4
                                                                                                         Photographers
                                     Non Photographer rate ZAR 16200 pps (only 2 spots available)
                              Zimanga has Limited single supplement with no extra charge so please enquire

                                                                 Costs and Payments

Cost
Prices are ZAR 24500 per person sharing & ZAR 16200 per person sharing for non photographer
Please note that Tusk Photo will not be able to cover any bank charges and we require the amount indicated on the invoice to enter our bank
account, this includes any fees imposed by Paypal should you choose to use this method of payment.

Deposit
A deposit of 50% of the full price is required within 14 days of making your booking. If we fail to receive your deposit within this time, your
provisional reservation will lapse. A booking can only be confirmed once we have received the deposit.

Balance
The balance is payable at least 9 weeks prior to the safari. If you are booking within 9 weeks of the safari, the full price will be payable at the time of
making your booking.

Cancellation
Should you need to cancel your booking for any reason; the following cancellation fees will apply, regardless of the reason for cancellation unless
Tusk Photo can fill your Safari space. If we can fill your space NO cancellation fees will be levied.
     •    Cancellation more than 120 days prior to departure - 10% of the full price
     •    Cancellation 90 - 119 days prior to departure - 40% of the full price
     •    Cancellation 60 - 89 days prior to departure - 70% of the full price
     •    Cancellation less than 60 days prior to departure - 100% of the full price
Please note: Your travel plans are made entirely at your own risk and Tusk Photo will not accept responsibility for any flight cancellations,
disruptions or delays.

                                                                        Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive and check in at Zimanga Main Lodge at around 12:30pm where we stay for the next 4 nights. After settling in we set off on our first
our first afternoon of photography sessions.

Day 2 – 4 Twice daily game drives or hide sessions. During the down time at the lodge your photographic hosts Brendon Cremer & Wim van den
Heever will be running a flash for wildlife workshop, they will also be available to answer any photographic questions you many have. In the
afternoon we will once again depart on a game drive and hide session activity. (2 over night hide session per 4 night stay per photographer)

Day 5 - After our early morning game drive and hide sessions we will return back to the lodge for a Brunch and then bid our farewells as we depart
on our journey home.
Zimanga 2018 Safari information and Guidelines
Safari Services

Included:
    •       4 nights at Zimanga Main Lodge
    •       All Meals
    •       2 overnight sessions per 4 night stay
    •       Refreshments during activities
    •       Services of a Tusk pro photographers and Zimanga Guides
    •       Exclusive use of the Zimanga Private Game Reserve

Not included:
     •   Visas to visit South Africa.
     •   Travel costs to Zimanga either driving or flying.
     •   Drinks from the Bar alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
     •   Laundry
     •   Telephone calls.
     •   Gratuities & purchases of a personal nature.

                                                          How to get to Zimanga by road:

From PTA or JHB.
     • Take the N17 highway through Springs then Bethal and on to Ermelo.
     • From Ermelo take the N2 highway to Piet Retief then Pongola and onto Zimanga which is on the right just before Mkuze
     • http://bit.ly/Zimanga_Location

From Durban
     • Take the N2 highway north towards Pongola.
     • The N2 drives through Mkuze town, Just after Mkuze keep looking left for the Zimanga Main Gate
     • http://bit.ly/Zimanga_Location

                                               Flying and transfers to Zimanga from Johannesburg

            •   King Shaka International Airport, just North of Durban is an easy 3.5 hour drive from the Zimanga gate along one road, (the N2
                national highway). Slightly closer is Richards’s Bay airport at less than 2 hours away.
            •   Small groups with time constraints may like the option of flying directly into Mkuze airstrip (1 km from Ghost Mountain Inn) from
                several Johannesburg airports on a private charter basis. Please let us know if you would like Tusk Photo to arrange chartered flights.
            •   There are car hire and transfer options available from either Durban or Richard’s Bay. Transfers cost around R2500 one way for a
                vehicle that can take 3 people. Please let Tusk Photo know if we should arrange a transfer.
            •   NB: Should you want Tusk Photo to arrange your flights & transfers, please do equire with your booking.

                                                  The Tusk Photo Safari and general information

    •       Recommended arrival time at Zimanga on the day the safari commences is 12:30pm.
    •       Travellers travelling by vehicle will have secure parking at Zimanga Main Lodge.
    •       All rooms are air conditioned with 220v available 24h for charging etc.
    •       All costs incurred traveling to the lodge are excluded in the price. This includes all road and air travel expenses including transfers etc.
    •       Please note that all drinks except tea and coffee are NOT included in the safari pricing. Please make sure you are familiar with the pricing
            of all beverages.
    •       A laundry service is available at Zimanga.
    •       Credit card payments can be processed at Zimanga.
    •       Most dietary requirements can be catered for. Please advise us of any specific dietary requirements in your booking form.

                                                                        Clothing

As a general guide, comfortable, casual wash and wear clothes are recommended. Please note that muted colours are recommended for game
viewing. Game-drives are conducted in the early morning and late afternoon.
            The most practical items to pack for safari are:
    •       Khaki, green, beige and neutral colours are recommended.
    •       Shirts with long sleeves (even in summer, as protection from the sun and mosquitoes)
    •       T shirts
    •       Shorts or a light skirt, Jeans or safari trousers for evenings and cooler days
    •       A jacket, fleece or sweater is recommended for early morning and evening game drives
    •       Comfortable walking shoes and/or sandals
    •       Sun block, sunglasses, hat, insect repellent, moisturizer and lip-salve are all essentials
    •       During winter months bring a good thermal windbreaker jacket, gloves, beanies and scarfs. Early morning drives can be very cold with
            temperatures around 5C. Day temperatures in winter should heat up nicely to around 15C - 25C summer up to 35C.
    •       Note - All hides are air conditioned.
                                                                Health Requirements
Zimanga 2018 Safari information and Guidelines
No compulsory vaccinations are required but please note that Zimanga is a Malaria area.
Please consult your physician before you travel for advice on precautions against malaria.
If you suffer from any medical conditions that may affect you or your participation on this safari, please inform us about this on your booking form.
You are responsible for bringing any prescription medication you may need. We accept no responsibility for any medical conditions, illnesses or
related incidents that may occur during your safari, even if we have been fully informed about your condition.
Should you require additional advice, we suggest you contact your local travel clinic in South Africa for consultations regarding Malaria and the
Immunizations required for travel to the Northern Natal region. A complete list of Netcare Travel Clinics is available on www.travelclinic.co.za

Netcare Travel Clinic Jakaranda                                            Netcare Travel Clinic Rivonia                   Netcare Travel Clinic Cape Town
Netcare Jakaranda Hospital                                                 Morningside Close Office Park, Unit B           Picbel Arcade, 11th Floor, Room 1107
213 Middelberg Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria                                1 Michelle Road, Morningside                    58 Strand Street, Cape Town
Tel: +27 12 421 6805                                                       Tel: +27 11 802 0059                            Tel: +27 21 419 3172

                                                                           Photography
It is advisable to bring the following camera equipment:
                 •    2x Camera bodies (a backup will mean peace of mind)
                 •    Spare memory cards and batteries
                 •    Long telephoto lens 300/400/500 or 200-400F4
                 •    Medium telephoto lens 70-200 or equivalent
                 •    Wide angle lens(es) for hides, we recommend a min of 14-24 or 16-35 and 24-70 with and minimum aperture of f2.8
                 •    Each hide does have a tripod and gimbal head for each photographer but if you want to do some more landscape work please
                      bring your tripod and head.
                 •    Flash & Flash Battery pack (Although the battery pack is not essential it will cycle the flash a lot quicker)
                 •    A flash bracket such as the Wimberley F1 flash bracket (Optional but recommended) and flash off-shoe cord (Necessary) to
                      eliminate ‘green-eye’ when photographing animals.
                 •    Notebook or additional storage devise
ODP rental service can assist you with any rental equipment should you have any shortcomings and/or additional requirements. Please book well in
advance should you like to make use of this service.

                                                                            Indemnity
Tusk Photo and its staff accept no liability or responsibility for any damage, injury or loss of any kind whatsoever, including but not limited to death, disability,
property theft or damage, cancellation of your safari or any other such incident as may arise on your safari. By completing the Safari Booking form you agree that you
are aware of the inherent risks associated with travel and you further agree to indemnify Tusk Photo from any claim or liability which may result from any kind of loss
or accident which may occur during or after or as a result of your safari. You are participating on this safari entirely at your own risk.

                                                             Contact details and Mobile Phones
                                                                            Note: There is Vodacom, MTN and Cell-C connectivity at Zimanga and Mkuze
                                                                                                             area.
                      Emergency Numbers
                                                                                                           Tusk Photo PTA Office
                                                                                                            Tel: +27 12 761 3737
This document is thorough, although it is not exhaustive. The information that it includes is given in good faith and we have tried to cover all
possible queries that may arise before the tour starts and what to expect while travelling. If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to
contact the Tusk Photo office.
TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS CORRECT AT TIME IT WAS COMPILED.
Zimanga 2018 Safari information and Guidelines
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