“It has been a long time, I know, and so really need to get all that propaganda off my back!  So the Defense Minister (UK), Des Browne, really cocked it up with the release of the Servicemen from the Iranians, getting them to ply their stories etc. Solution – send him to clean out the toilets in the prison in Equatorial Guinea where UK Citizen, Simon Mann, is being held.  Maybe he can also do some good there!

Cricket – now they are saying Woolmer died of natural causes. Sad state of affairs. The agonizing situation for the parents of young Madelaine.  There are some very weird people out there.

Rugby – England trounced out here in South Africa; after being poisoned before their first match, I think they did pretty well considering.  It was a scratch 3rd team after all. There is time to recover and keep the World Cup.

So King Tony is off on his round the world tour for everyone to thank him for “Saving The Planet”!  6 weeks, and who’s paying!  Anyway well done to Good Old Tony for putting up taxes, reducing pensions, squandering the NHS with heaps of money on administrators, destroying Britain’s identity and sending troops off to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but at the same time not having the guts to take the “Enemy” on within his own Backyard – those Mullahs and their Terrorist Training Camp (Mosques).  Out of touch and out of his mind! Enter GB (at least he has the right initials). France – Sarkozy wins it easily and get that Country actually working again. No nonsense there. Chirac steps down over a couple of days, and in comes the New Guy. Take note King Tony.

             

What has been happening down here in the bush.  Well, we had a good April with a 57% Occupancy, and May wasn’t too bad with a 49% Occupancy.  Honeymooners galore; I don’t think it’s because of our Honeymoon Package though, although it's worth having a look at with your Booking Agent.  Congratulations to all.  Also to Andy and Kate for tying the knot here at Garonga.  I have seen the CD of the wedding and it was very good indeed.

A warm welcome back to Mel from Audley Travel, and also to Tesna from Ethos Marketing (Our reps in the UK).  The sleep out has been well utilized, and even though it is Winter now, it is actually unusually warm up there; so, if you are coming, don’t be put off by the Cold nights in the Camp as it is the draught from the river bed that mainly causes that.  At night it is very warmly, with Coal Braziers scattered around and the huge fireplace in action.

             

On the safari front, the guys have been busy and it is getting harder to find those Ellies as they move south for the Winter.  Sightings have been still pretty good; in the winter time you can have brilliant days of sightings and then a week later all very quiet – pot luck really.  I know you want those stats.  Over 2 months Rhino x 16 Sightings, Lion x 40, Ellies x 17 and Cheetah x 8.  The pride of 9 Lions have been seen many many times together and also the 2 new male lions.  They both seem to be using Garonga at the moment as their home which is great news.  There was a sighting on Big Dam, not far from the Camp of a lion kill on a wildebeest; then the hyenas wanted to join in, and then along came the jackals. The rhinos have also been seen quite a bit in their group of 5.  Another good sighting was a Rock Python swallowing an impala! The leopard seemed to have taken a back row; this is probably due to the lion activity at present.

In July we will also be concentrating on the Skies at Night and have bought a huge telescope with computer. The Cosmic Safari Guys come out in Mid-July to give 3 nights training on its use.  It is enormous and cannot be loaded on to a vehicle.  So I will keep it in my garage, and the Guys can then wheel it out and use it on the Airstrip (30m away).  It also comes with a Laser Torch which is very effective indeed.  Should be fun.  A small little extra has been to give every game drive in the evening hot clear soup, which can be drunk on the drinks stop or if doing stargazing.  The hot toddies will of course continue.

Walks, especially now, are becoming more called for in the mornings.  They are good fun and also when you get back you can then quite rightly dive into a Truckers Breakfast.  Talking about food, the ladies having been producing some incredible cakes for the High Teas now.  As we are into Winter, we don’t offer lunches, as the Breakfast is later and finishes around 11h15 (having returned from Game drive at 10h15).  Then the High Tea is at 15h15.  The Sleep Outs get a delicious casserole dish, or a curry; something thick and warm which always goes down well.  A Bottle or two of red wine, and Bob’s your uncle!  The health menus haven’t really been taken up.  There is a menu in every room for all 2 main meals (3 in Summer).  We will keep it going as it will take time. Recipes to follow.

           

On the bush front, we did get 35mm of rain in April which caused the river to come down in front of the Camp for only the second time this season.  We have had about 75% of our annual average and so not too bad. Plenty of grass still for the animals.  There was however a very cold spell over the country in the middle of May.  It was in for about 5 days and certainly caused some surprise.  Now until November we don’t expect any more rains, and so it of course becomes very dry and dusty.

On my own front it was 2 fairly busy months of exhibiting at 2 trade shows.  One in Dubai.  The S.African Stand did look a bit lost when you had stands that must have cost enough money to almost build a house. Absolutely amazing.  It was not particularly successful, and will not try it again.  Anyway caught up with a couple of friends which ended up with the usual failure of the “Toothbrush Test” the following morning.  Then it was back to S.Africa and down to the Trade Show (Indaba) in Durban.  Always well attended.  You do see a lot of your key supporters and so always good to catch up there.  You really have to wait and see until the following year as to how successful business wise it was.  See the Classics stand and some of the members below -

  

Once Indaba was finished it was back to Johannesburg and then into a Big party which I held to celebrate Garonga’s 10 years of existence and my 21st Birthday………..again!  Friends who had been at Garonga at the beginning, those who helped to set it up, supporters, and staff from the Camp who had been with us since Day 1.  It was fancy dress (Arabic or Kikoi) and most donned the gear.  The music was supplied by Dave who has been DJ at all the Garonga parties at Indaba which we used to have.  The food was delicious; oysters, salmon, curries, carvery roasts – all the old favourites.  Dancing and laughter lasted until 01h00 and then 5 of us carried on until 04h30.  Why!  I don’t know.  But that day lasted for me only 2 hours in which somehow I struggled out of bed for some lunch, and then went straight back to bed waking up the following morning at 09h00.  Something to remember that’s for sure.

Well, that’s about it really – bored you long enough.  We are closed for the month of June until 06 July for our major refurb.  A 6 bed Private Camp will be started to be built in July.  The Hambleden Suite will form part of that and so we have put it out to as many as possible that there will be some building going on behind the Hambleden Suite until about December.  The plan for the Camp is for exclusive use as a family camp or a group taking it over.  However individual use of all 3 Suites can also be done.  Own Guide/Vehicle, chef and small staff to look after the camp.  Those of you concerned about booking the Hambleden Suite during this time please do liaise with our reservations. We have options available.  On the good side, it will be an incredible camp and something we are very much looking forward to.

As we are closed for June, the next newsletter will be a June/July combination.
There is still quite a bit of availability in July and August for those who may be thinking.
Anyway, enjoy the European Summer, and keep well!!

All the very best
Bernie