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“It’s been too long, I know. I haven’t disappeared
to Manage the Russian Woman’s Football team
(unfortunately). It’s just that things have been
happening, and it has been quite complicated, but
you will hear of it all over this and the next
newsletter. Now those scoundrels in Westminster
ripping us all off, making pathetic excuses, trying
to persuade us they are really decent people after
all. Politicians are at the bottom of the heap, and
deserve to be trodden on ……..hard! US Elections;
actually getting a bit sick of it all, and there’s
still 9 months to go. Forward John McCain!! Tell it
as it is. Somehow if BO got in, I think Tehran will
be flying its flag in Washington before you know it.
Anyway we can’t have two GB’s running around for too
long. |
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Sarkozy has tied the knot so that they could sleep in
the same room at Buckingham Palace – well done Maam
for adding your bit of pressure. Feel sorry for the
Guy (not for too long mind you), as the press there
tell him to stop bringing his private life into the
limelight all the time, and concentrate on running a
Country (which got beat yesterday in Rugby – HA!).
Well the only people who put him in the limelight
are the very same people who tell him to stop it. A
bit odd or maybe just French, I don’t know!
Now how can a Judge in UK give a terrorist 4 years
in Jail for attempting to go to Afghanistan and Kill
British troops. Did he forget the “0” on the end or
what! Then there’s that mad Archbishop in UK who
suggests that Sharia Law would be good in England.
Actually he has a great idea as I’m sure chopping
off hands and feet would be an excellent way of
stopping the surge of crime in UK. Well done Bish!
But go and hang yourself anyway on Tower Bridge, and
try and remember this is England.
As for that mad Arab who runs that Corner Shop in
Knightsbridge; now just imagine you insulting the
head of State in Egypt; remember the film about a
Druggie being caught in Turkey and ending up in
Jail; well that’s what would happen. Now in England
he’s allowed to get away with it. Typical abuse of a
system that lets him live here, and yet he insults
the hand that feeds him! Nationalize his shop and
give it to someone who deserves to live here!
Sport; Rugby 6 Nations. Now why do they torture us
all with their dismal performances and then pull one
out of the hat! Something must be going wrong if the
Welshies are right up there! Cricket! Less said.
Soccer – great stuff; now we have a somebody who can
actually tell the Players what to do, and stop
prancing around and actually earn the money they are
being paid. That would physically be impossible I
know.
I think you get the gist – been offline far too
long!
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The
last 3 months to be honest have been disappointing
with 34%, 17%, and 24% now for February. Without our
most loyal supporters, I think I would have taken up
that new job in Russia! In December however it was
great to see back the New Frontiers Team from Natal.
Thanks so much to you all for all your continued
support!! Then also a visit from Imagine Africa in
UK, who also give us such great support. Thanks Ben,
Ali, Jono, and the Team in London! I know Xmas was
some time ago now, but we had the traditional Xmas
Dinner on the 25th with all the trimmings. Thank-you
to the Milner Family for keeping us all entertained;
we hope to see you back soon. Many Congratulations
to Jonathan and Jane for tying the knot at Garonga.
I think it was on the 31st; |
my grey
cells going! But all went well, and wish you a
brilliant future together. New Years Eve I set up
and for first time in 10 years decided the “Girls”
could do it as there were enough around. I had the
best for a long time: cold beers by the Pool,
chicken Curry and watched “24 Hours”. Truly awesome!
Actually all the Guests had gone by Midnight anyway.
IN January we were “busy” for the first week or so,
and then from the middle of the month empty.
February was pretty much empty for the first 2
weeks, but is slowly picking up. We do have a
fashion Model Shoot in for the last week of
February, and so unfortunately I do have to give my
Utmost attention to detail for this!! Uhhhmmm! A
good tester of the Heart; no need for a medical.
Thanks to Sandy from Uncharted Outposts in the USA
for organizing and thinking of us here, and Hamptons
Magazine for doing this. Must do this more often I
keep telling myself.
We have also just had Helany from the Tourism
Grading Board come and do our Annual grading. Thanks
Helany for keeping us up there with our 4 Star
Grading.
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| Now
for Little Garonga – it is open, and we have had 2
groups over Xmas and New Year take out the Camp
itself. Thank-you to the Radcliffe Family and also
the Weise Family for trying it out. It was a great
success. It looks stunning and has a really great
feel to it. CJ’s Brother, Percy, who some of you may
remember from here before, came to help CJ out as
Tracker. On one of the days, Percy was asked to give
a talk on “Things” (The Political Situation). And
so, as I knew he would , he gave a great
presentation for 90 Minutes. Those of you who know
him, will know this is right up his street. And so I
did ask him initially how long he was thinking of,
to which he replied, “3 Hours”! This of course had
to be reduced. Looking him straight in the eye, I
had to tell him, 90 Minutes absolute Tops. |
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A very
familiar smile came back agreeing that 3 hours would
be a little too much. He has not changed!! We just
need to fill Little Garonga now, as there is a lot
of availability and very few bookings at present.
One of the reasons for also holding back was to wait
for Dave Rogers to send the Images which he only
took of the Camp in late January; we now have them
and am proud to attach them with this newsletter.
Thanks Dave – some splendid images indeed. Lisa is
the Camp Host with CJ as Guide. The pick of the
Garonga Staff are also up there, with Margaret as
Chef, Margaret (another one) as Housekeeper,
Christine as Laundry, Sylvia as Scullery, Hafric as
Waiter, and two new staff for day and Night time
Security. A great team, and also Lisa doubles up as
a Therapist, which was the purpose of taking her on.
They have all performed greatly. Some Dinners were
also shared with Safari Camp like in the Boma, and
so this is also offered just in case Guests get
lonely up there. It’s their choice and we can be so
flexible. Please do contact us here at the Camp if
you need any info or try our Reps in UK, Germany and
S.Africa.
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We
are also going to be revamping/tweeking our website,
now that we have
images for Little Garonga.
Reservations for both Camps will also be changing
and coming home to Garonga in April, with Vanessa
running it. Vanessa, who many of you may know who
have stayed here, was doing a superb job of managing
the Main Camp but has been doing it now for nearly 3
years. The new position will be great for Garonga,
and also give me a chance to really get out there as
there is so much potential when you have it in-house.Contact
details and so on will be forwarded and put on the
site once we have firm telephone and Fax Numbers.
Our E mail for reservations will remain the same. So
carry on as normal, or drop me a line at the Camp if
you have any queries. You shouldn’t have any |
problems
during the period of change as E mail is the same.
So, as I said, a lot has been going on, and it all
takes time to find people to fill positions etc.
The Bush is looking really DRY! No rains now for
over 6 weeks. It looked so promising at the
beginning of the season. Still there is still time
to go. This has not stopped the Safari Gang from
some great game viewing. As I write this letter, the
3 male Lions are sitting under the shady Picnic Tree
waiting for the Guests from Room 6, Rand and Susan,
to have their picnic. It is their first time on
Safari, coming from the USA, and so things could
turn interesting. Whose Picnic? Another Elephant
Calf has been born within the last few weeks. Also
the Lions and Cheetah have also been spotted with
Cubs, and so it is all happening. Fantastic Game
Viewing.
On the Food side of things, a number of Guests are
trying out all the “health” Options we have now. It
must be that “After Xmas” thing. If you are coming
give it a try as a snack or something, and then dive
into the Full Truckers Breakfast! Koren has got the
Girls working on new Recipes and Menus, although I
do draw a line with having Chocolate sauce with a
meat Course; sorry, but this just does not sound
right! Picnics and sleep outs are still going
strong, and a delicious meal produced for both. As
normal a delicious recipe will accompany this
letter/Book!
Are you all still there?!!!!! Here I am rambling
on, and you’ve probably fallen asleep already!
On my side I did take some leave and returned to UK.
Great as ever to catch up with old Chums at a
reunion; this time in Milton Keynes! I’ve never seen
so many roundabouts, and glass buildings! No
concrete cows; have they been removed? Anyway a
great reunion talking old rubbish! Great fun. Now
its back to the grindstone, and plenty to be getting
on with.
Safari Camp also has plenty of availabiltity over the next few months.Our Wedding Package is also on our Site at present
as are the Little Garonga rates.
The new site should be up and running within the
next couple of weeks or so. In the meantime keep
using the current one. I would just Like to Thank
“Lynn” for your very kind comments on “Trip
Advisor”. Apparently this site is invaluable to some
people when they book, and so any assistance like
this is extremely appreciated. Way ahead Garonga
will be taking a stand at the CLA Game Fair in UK
(Blenheim Palace this year) in July. It will be
great if any Guests who are going would like to pop
in and have a cold beer or something.
Right, Easter round the corner. Will return to the
normal schedule of Newsletters now, to prevent you
nodding off! Take care and all the very best!
Bernie” |
To see our new pictures for Little Garonga click here
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TSA Marketing - P. O. Box 2058, Parklands,
2121. Johannesburg South Africa
Tel:
+27
11
447 0533 / Fax:
+27
11
447 6593 /
reservations@garonga.com
Copyright © Garonga Safari Camp, 2004
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