Low Fare Africa

Karell Air reminds you that there are still great roundtrip fares from the US to South Africa available for both high and low season!

Availability is limited, so please contact your Karell Air Agent today at 800 327 0373

Or visit www.karellair.com to search and book your flights via our convenient booking engine.

*Subject to availability, terms and conditions apply. Taxes subject to change at airlines’ discretion.

Looking  for a quick getaway? Karell’s African Dream Vacations has teamed up with Wilderness Safaris to offer these remarkable luxury packages at unprecedented low prices.  These last minute deals represent over 50% off the normal selling price so don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to experience a top tier safari at a great price.

Botswana – The Okavango & Linyanti

• 9 nights accommodation at 3 of Botswana’s most exclusive camps
• Explore the wildlife of the Okavango Delta, one of the richest game viewing areas in all of Africa
• Includes light aircraft transfer from Maun as well as all intercamp flights
• Includes all meals and game activities while on Safari

Namibia – Sossusvlei, Damaraland, & Etosha

• 9 nights accommodation in 3 of Namibia’s unique wildlife and desert areas
• Explore the magnificent dunes of Sossuvlei, the remote deserts of Damaraland, and the rich wildlife of the Etosha Pan.
• Includes light aircraft transfer from Windhoek as well as intercamp flights.
• Includes all meals and game activities while on Safari

$3771.00 p/p

All travel must be completed by the end of June 2009

Email info@karell.com or call 1 800 327 0373 for more details

SabiSabi Private Game Reserve has just been named the 7th best hotel in the world by Travel + Leisure Magazine. Check out their official press release:

Travel + Leisure Magazine has just completed its 2009 Worlds Best Service Awards, asking its readers to nominate destinations around the globe that “really deliver”. The results were published in the magazine’s June edition, and Sabi Sabi is honoured to have been voted as 7th best hotel overall in the world, the only South African establishment in the World’s Top Ten category. In the regional category Sabi Sabi was voted 2nd best on the African continent.

A measure of any hotel’s success is the number of repeat visitors that come through its doors. Ask Sabi Sabi’s returning guests why they come back again and again, and the answer will be, “for the unforgettable experience made all the more memorable by the warmth and hospitality of the staff.”
In its 30 years of existence, Sabi Sabi has become renowned for succesfully balancing luxury and world class safaris, with genuine African warmth and hospitality - inviting guests to enjoy a personalised home in the bush experience. The caring management and staff play an integral part in the overall Sabi Sabi experience, offering superb service that complements the 5-Star accommodation, exciting Big 5 open Land Rover safaris and superb cuisine.

Marketing director, Jacques Smit attributes this international recognition to several factors: “People form the heart of our business. The majority of our team hail from nearby villages and they have an inherent connection with the reserve. They bring a special brand of African hospitality to our lodges that makes guests feel instantly at home.

We have also made significant investments in recent years to ensure that our lodges are on a par with the best in the world. We are especially proud that this accolade is being awarded on our 30th anniversary and thank the readers of Travel + Leisure for their stamp of approval.”

Congratulations to SabiSabi on this momentous achievement.

ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines Inc., the world’s largest airline operator, said Wednesday it is significantly scaling back its plans for a $50 fee for a second checked bag on international flights, as some major competitors so far have refused to match it.

The Atlanta-based airline said the fee will only apply to travel between the U.S. and Europe. When Delta made the initial announcement April 21, the fee was to apply to all international travel.

“We constantly monitor the industry landscape to ensure our fares and fees are competitive,” spokeswoman Betsy Talton said in an e-mail.

Delta has said previously the new fee was expected to generate more than $100 million annually for the airline. It did not provide a new figure Wednesday.

The fee is effective for travel beginning July 1. The first checked bag on all Delta international flights remains free.

- Seattle Times

Another Unusual Sighting comes to us via Thuto Moutloatse of Wilderness Safaris / Safari & Adventure Co. Here is Thuto’s firsthand account of his recent experience at Kalahari Plains Camp:

Kalahari Plains Camp, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana
May 15, 2009
Photos courtesy of Thuto Moutloatse

I have just spent the last week in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and had some wonderful wildlife sightings. We had a small thundershower earlier on in the month and in consequence the Kalahari seemed to burst into life. We had good sightings of honey badger, black-backed jackal, groups of bat-eared fox, meerkat (suricates), lion and numerous general game species like gemsbok and springbok.

The highlight of our recent visit had to be that of the cheetah sightings in Deception Valley. There are about three different female cheetah that have cubs of different ages at the moment and we were lucky enough to see them on several occasions.

One afternoon just after the rain had stopped and the sun started coming out from behind the clouds, we set out for an afternoon game drive. There were big herds of springbok and gemsbok in the Valley which made for great landscape photography. Read the rest of this entry »

Cape Town’s beautiful Twelve Apostles has announced a series of refurbishments aimed at enhancing the facilities and aesthetics of the property as well as the overall guest experience.

Rooms

A number of rooms of the hotel will undergo soft decor refurbishments, offering guests even more comfort and luxury. All rooms will be completed per floor or block, thus ensuring guests are allocated accommodations well away from the work in progress. In addition, all guest bathrooms will also be upgraded complimenting the newly refurbished rooms.

The Cafe

The Cafe will be undergoing extensive refurbishments in June and July. As a result of this work the Cafe will be closed for the months of June and July. Guests will be accommodated for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the fine-dining Azure Restaurant, which boasts panoramic Atlantic views, faultless service and elegant style. Alternatively, guests can unwind at the stunningly refurbished Leopard Room Bar and Lounge and enjoy light snacks, salads and sandwiches.

Sanctuary Spa Refurbishment and Closure

The award winning Sanctuary Spa will be closed for a week from the 29th of June 2009 to the 5th of July 2009 inclusive for a soft refurbishment and annual maintenance. Hotel guests can still have treatments in their room and in the outdoor gazebos during the scheduled closure and the list of treatments is available on request. We apologise for the inconvenience however the closure is required to maintain the pristine condition and service standards for which the Sanctuary Spa is known.

Every now and again we’ll be sharing some of the more special moments recently captured in Africa. Today’s installment comes courtesy of our friends at Wilderness Safaris and Mombo Camp:

Legedema’s Cubs Come of Age
Mombo Camp, Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
May 4, 2009
Photos courtesy of Peter Myburg

Pula and Maru are the 18-month-old cubs of the famous Legadema, female leopard star of the multi-award winning National Geographic documentary ‘Eye of the Leopard’.

As they reach their age of independence and are spending less and less time with their mother, all three leopards have of late been very difficult to find. This all changed towards the end of April when Legadema decided to bring both cubs into camp where they spent about three days. Pula, went so far during this time as to climb onto the main lodge deck while we were seated by the camp fire. Following a short, sniffing investigation, Pula turned back and walked down the walkway to the vehicle turning circle in front of camp.

The next day, Maru (the sister) and Legadema left but Pula stayed within the vicinity and was then followed to Limpy’s Island. She was found on a sub-adult impala carcass. Our initial thoughts were that Legadema must have made the kill but try as we might we could not locate either Legadema or Maru. It was then that we began to suspect that Pula had upgraded from squirrel kills to impala kills.

Read the rest of this entry »

We’re excited to share with you this breathtaking new property situated in Hout Bay, a mere 30 minutes outside of Cape Town, South Africa. Norman Pieters, chairman of Karell Travel says:

I’m excited about this lodge as it speaks to so many needs that a certain type of traveler has.  We get so many requests from guests who do not want a large hotel or even a city hotel. On the other hand they don’t want a B&B.  They would like to be outside the city but do not wish to have a car and driver, nor do they wish to self drive. I believe this lodge caters to these guests.

Tintswalo also operates Safari lodges and this caters so well to guests who have just traveled on safari or who may be heading out on safari and don’t want the whole “city”  experience.

10 Reasons We Love Tintswalo Atlantic:

• 10 ocean front rooms. 1 two bedroom Presidential Suite
• Complimentary round trip transfers to and from airport.
• Includes all house drinks
• Full Breakfast & high tea included.
• Restaurant serves 3 meals a day. The executive chef will tailor your meals to your requirements.
• The lodge is situated in the Table Mountain National Park and boasts full time naturalist guide on staff.
• Wireless Internet Access
• Complimentary transfers to and from restaurants as well as the Waterfront in Cape Town.
• During the whale season ( Jun - Sep) guests just might see the whales from their balcony.
• Unparalleled ocean views throughout the property

For more information contact Karell’s African Dream Vacations at 1 800 327 0373 or email info@karell.com

Karell Holidays is pleased to announce that its package “South African Surprise” has been chosen as a “Real Deal” in the May 2009 issue of Frommer’s Budget Travel Magazine.

With a diverse array of cultures, attractions, and activities, South Africa lives up to its reputation as the Rainbow Nation. This 15 day itinerary covers the best the country has to offer including visits to Cape Town, game drives in the Kruger National Park, the magnificent scenario of the Garden Route, and more.

A full itinerary can be viewed at karellholidays.com

To find out more contact a Karell specialist today by calling 800 327 0373 or alternatively email  at info@karellholidays.com

Airlines continue to adapt to a precarious economy in which travelers simply cannot afford to pay premium prices for airfares. The result has been a slew of unprecedented high season sales and offerings on a variety of airlines. Take for example these great offerings for both the summer high season as well as the December holidays. Just a year ago you may have paid well over $2,000 for one of these flights!

Availability is limited, so please contact your Karell Air Agent today at 800 327 0373

Or visit www.karellair.com to search and book your flights via our convenient booking engine.

*Subject to availability, terms and conditions apply. Taxes subject to change at airlines’ discretion.