Latest News - January 2021
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Best wishes for 2021, from all of us at Close Encounters. Make sure that every single day of this new year counts for something. We hope that all of your days ahead are full of fun, adventure, and all of the other things that make life worth living!
As always at this time of the year, most of us take the time to reflect on the previous twelve months and, at the same time, mentally reset and recharge ourselves for the year ahead. 2020 cannot be viewed as anything other than a disaster for so many people, and our prayers, condolences and best wishes go out to all of you that have been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and in particular to those of you that have lost a loved one. May you find peace, strength and the courage to move on as we head into this new year. |
One of the most difficult things about 2020 was the inability to do any sort of forward planning. Governments around the world did the best they could under a flood of sometimes contradicting and misleading information, but the constantly changing lockdown and restriction regulations had a devastating impact on many business sectors, none more so than on the travel industry. Many countries rely heavily on the income derived from international tourism, and South Africa is no exception.
On a personal note, Close Encounters was forced to go into a holding pattern, and to cancel or postpone all of the tours that had been scheduled for 2020. But mainly due to the cooperation of our partner companies and vendors, most of these tours could be moved to 2021 with very little fuss and with no increase in costs, so we can once again look forward to the trips which are scheduled to start in a couple of months’ time. We cannot wait to welcome you back to Africa, and to show off the splendours of this mysterious and magnificent continent!
As it is likely that the coronavirus is still going to be with us for some time to come, we are currently in the process of slightly modifying some of our tour itineraries and activities, in order to offer the maximum protection for our guests. This primarily involves the avoidance of very crowded tourist hotspots, and the implementation of certain safety protocols. Fortunately, most of our tours are scheduled outside of periods of high tourist demand, and are anyway designed to shelter our guests within a protective bubble; for example, almost all of the accommodation establishments used on our tours are taken up exclusively by our groups. The envisaged changes will have a minimal impact on our trips, and will be communicated to you via our newsletters, website and social media outlets.
So let us all look forward to this new year, with the hope and belief that things can and will get better. Although there might still be some dark days ahead, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and we will get through it together. Hang in there and stay safe until we talk to you again at the beginning of February.
Mike Leicester
Editor
On a personal note, Close Encounters was forced to go into a holding pattern, and to cancel or postpone all of the tours that had been scheduled for 2020. But mainly due to the cooperation of our partner companies and vendors, most of these tours could be moved to 2021 with very little fuss and with no increase in costs, so we can once again look forward to the trips which are scheduled to start in a couple of months’ time. We cannot wait to welcome you back to Africa, and to show off the splendours of this mysterious and magnificent continent!
As it is likely that the coronavirus is still going to be with us for some time to come, we are currently in the process of slightly modifying some of our tour itineraries and activities, in order to offer the maximum protection for our guests. This primarily involves the avoidance of very crowded tourist hotspots, and the implementation of certain safety protocols. Fortunately, most of our tours are scheduled outside of periods of high tourist demand, and are anyway designed to shelter our guests within a protective bubble; for example, almost all of the accommodation establishments used on our tours are taken up exclusively by our groups. The envisaged changes will have a minimal impact on our trips, and will be communicated to you via our newsletters, website and social media outlets.
So let us all look forward to this new year, with the hope and belief that things can and will get better. Although there might still be some dark days ahead, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and we will get through it together. Hang in there and stay safe until we talk to you again at the beginning of February.
Mike Leicester
Editor
Upcoming tours
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South African Spirit
September 24 - October 8 2021 (14 nights) Only 6 spots open! The trip starts off with a tour to Soweto, then moves on to the incredible Walkers River Camp in the Timbavati, where the group will spend 5 nights at this game viewing paradise. This is followed by 3 days of fun and adventure on the Panorama Route, and then 4 more days in the magnificent city of Cape Town. Grab this opportunity to get one of the spots before they are all taken. You will not be disappointed! Click here to see the detailed itinerary. |
Focus on conservation
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Pandemic’s impact on African wildlife
This time last year, tourists from around the world flooded African ecolodges to explore the continent’s famed landscapes and iconic wildlife. Today, those lodges are virtually empty — and many communities that have built their livelihoods around tourism have been forced to turn to poaching as an alternative source of food and income, one leading conservationist warns. On a recent episode of the BBC podcast “The Food Chain,” Michael O’Brien-Onyeka, who heads Conservation International’s work in Africa, explained why this is happening — and what it could mean for the future of African rangelands. |
“There is no insurance policy, there is no social safety set; tourism has always been their only avenue to make money,” O’Brien-Onyeka said in the podcast. “What that means is that organized criminal gangs that lead poaching have become the only employers in the area. People are raiding nature to survive out of desperation.”
Recent reports from Conservation International field offices have signaled a steep rise in bushmeat and ivory poaching throughout Kenya.
What this means, O’Brien-Onyeka says, is that African countries should extend pandemic relief not just to companies, but to people.
“The realization within the corridors of power in many African countries is that they need to put in place some shock absorbent mechanisms for the citizens. I think in the context of stimulus packages, most of discourse is always around how to support the airlines and businesses. I would love to see the government include communities and reinforcing their resilience as a top priority.”
Recent reports from Conservation International field offices have signaled a steep rise in bushmeat and ivory poaching throughout Kenya.
What this means, O’Brien-Onyeka says, is that African countries should extend pandemic relief not just to companies, but to people.
“The realization within the corridors of power in many African countries is that they need to put in place some shock absorbent mechanisms for the citizens. I think in the context of stimulus packages, most of discourse is always around how to support the airlines and businesses. I would love to see the government include communities and reinforcing their resilience as a top priority.”
Significant historical events
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The Battle of Blood River
The 1830s saw successive waves of pioneers, known as Voortrekkers, leaving the British-dominated Cape Colony and searching for fresh lands in the interior of South Africa (an event referred to as the Great Trek). As they moved northwards, they came into contact and conflict with the indigenous peoples who, until then, had been unaffected by the colonization that had occurred along the coast. One of these was the Zulu nation. The tribal warriors, armed with stabbing spears and large shields, had become a formidable fighting force, and had been led on many successful campaigns of conquest by King Shaka in the 1820s. Shaka’s half-brother, Dingane (who had succeeded Shaka after assassinating him) welcomed the pioneers at first, mainly because he coveted their livestock. But early in 1838, he massacred some 600 of the Trekkers and took their cattle. |
Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius then led a punitive expedition against Dingane. Arriving on the banks of the Ncome River in December 1838, he sensed that a Zulu attack was imminent and had his followers form up their wagons into a D-shaped laager (defensive encampment), in a spot that was already partly shielded by a bend in the river.
On the morning of December 16, 1838, more than 20,000 warriors launched an attack. The Voortrekkers totaled just 471 persons, including women and children. Despite their huge numerical advantage, the Zulus suffered a massive defeat. The Afrikaners’ two cannons tore holes in the Zulu ranks, and they maintained an incessant hail of musket fire as the women reloaded for the men. An estimated 3,000 Zulu warriors were killed, turning the Ncome River red with blood, but the Trekkers remained virtually untouched; only three of them were lightly wounded, including Andries Pretorius himself, who was stabbed in the hand with a spear.
Before the battle, the Voortrekkers had taken a holy vow that, if they succeeded in defeating the Zulus, they would build a church and observe the day as a religious holiday. For more than 150 years, the date of the battle was commemorated annually as the Day of the Covenant. It is still celebrated as a public holiday in modern times, although since 1995 the name has been changed to the Day of Reconciliation.
On the morning of December 16, 1838, more than 20,000 warriors launched an attack. The Voortrekkers totaled just 471 persons, including women and children. Despite their huge numerical advantage, the Zulus suffered a massive defeat. The Afrikaners’ two cannons tore holes in the Zulu ranks, and they maintained an incessant hail of musket fire as the women reloaded for the men. An estimated 3,000 Zulu warriors were killed, turning the Ncome River red with blood, but the Trekkers remained virtually untouched; only three of them were lightly wounded, including Andries Pretorius himself, who was stabbed in the hand with a spear.
Before the battle, the Voortrekkers had taken a holy vow that, if they succeeded in defeating the Zulus, they would build a church and observe the day as a religious holiday. For more than 150 years, the date of the battle was commemorated annually as the Day of the Covenant. It is still celebrated as a public holiday in modern times, although since 1995 the name has been changed to the Day of Reconciliation.
Folklore & legends
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How the cheetah got its tear marks
A long time ago, a wicked hunter stole three young cubs from a mother cheetah, so that he could force them to hunt for him as he was a lazy man. When the mother cheetah found out that her babies were gone, she was broken-hearted, and cried for a day and a night until her cheeks were stained with her tears. An old man of the tribe heard the mother cheetah's cries and, as he was both wise and had a great respect for the animals, he soon found out what had happened. The wise old man was infuriated, as the hunter had broken the traditions of the tribe, not only by becoming a thief, but by not using his own skill and strength to hunt. The old man banished the lazy hunter and returned the mother cheetah's cubs back to her, but the marks of her tears remained forever. So to this day, the cheetah wears the tear marks on her face as a reminder to all hunters that it is not honorable to hunt in any way which is not traditional. This African folklore tale was submitted by Clinton Van Niekerk. |
Creature corner
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This medium-sized wild cat is called a Serval. It looks a little like a cheetah at first glance, but is much smaller. It is active during the day as well as at night, and is a fairly common sighting along the eastern coast of South Africa and the adjacent interior.
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Feather feature
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Common Name: Malachite Kingfisher
Binomial Name: Corythornis cristatus Status: Common resident Red List Status: Least Concern The Malachite Kingfisher is a common resident across much of sub-Saharan Africa, and can be seen almost anywhere in South Africa along most of the permanent waterways. One of the smaller kingfishers (it is about 5 inches long), it has a very rapid flight, its short, rounded wings whirring until they appear as a mere blur. It usually flies very low over water. |
Did you know?
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Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader and philanthropist, served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. He was a controversial figure for much of his life - although critics on the right denounced him as a communist terrorist and those on the far left deemed him too eager to negotiate and reconcile with apartheid's supporters, he gained international acclaim for his activism. Widely regarded as an icon of democracy and social justice, he received more than 250 honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize. He is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often referred to by his Thembu clan name, Madiba, and described as the "Father of the Nation". He died at his home in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013.
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Words of wisdom
"You cannot leave Africa," Africa said. "It is always with you. There inside your head. Our rivers run in currents in the swirl of your thumbprints; our drumbeats counting out your pulse; our coastline the silhouette of your soul."
Bridget Dore
Bridget Dore