Member News

	Elsa's Kopje Meru National Park, Kenya Meru's game viewing continues to impress Elsa's guests. Elsa's Kopje now has two of Kenya's largest male cheetahs living just below the lodge and also frequently seen are members of the "Elsa's Pride" - currently numbering 60 lions. Despite the low numbers of Grevvy's Zebra these have also been seen regularly, and Meru's 44km2 rhino sanctuary continues to be a model of modern Kenyan conservation efforts - with two new offspring recently born (one of each species - black and white).
	Jaci's Safari Lodge Madikwe, South Africa At the moment we've got two packs of wild dogs. Last time they were around Tshwene North, Pipeline and Tabotie Road areas. A pack of 12 plus 6 puppies which are hanging around Tskudu Dam area and up at the mountain close by where it is much safer than on the ground, because they still need to raise those puppies for sometime. It looks like they are hunting at night because of the full moon. This pack left the Den side close to the Northern Fence line about three weeks ago.
	Sindabezi Island Victoria Falls, Zambia How time flies - the new Sindabezi Island is already 2 months old - and it is going down as a treat. Many of our guests booked into Sindabezi are refusing to leave! - extending their stay longer instead of moving onto Tongabezi! The solar hot water is a real success, guests loving their outdoor baths (in 2 of the cottages). Don't forget - Sindabezi offers great rates for small private parties. The perfect private hideaway for visiting the Falls.
	Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge Virunga Mountains, Rwanda Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge's property extends over 7 hectares (around 17 acres). We are still in the process of landscaping the gardens, so as to give a true "forest feeling" by planting more native tree, shrub and plant species. In one corner of the property, away from the lodge we have created our own vegetable and flower garden, whose produce appears almost daily on our tables. Our flower garden attracts numerous birds, insects and butterflies. We have also allowed the local community to hang their bee hives along the edges of the garden and we look forward to the first crop of Sabyinyo Honey.
	Wolwedans Namibrand Nature Reserve, Namibia Wolwedans chefs are now thrilled to offer organic salad greens, vegetables and herbs, to guests. Cultivated in our new greenhouses that are operated with drip irrigation. This initiative not only helps us to improve freshness and quality, but also reduces our carbon footprint. Five varieties of lettuce, a selection of herbs and spinach are harvested every morning for our kitchens. These organic vegetables are so popular and delicious that plans are underway to increase our planting to include a wider offering in the near future.

How's That! Chongwe River Camp Lower Zambezi - Zambia

Earlier this season, our resident leopard - Genghis - killed an impala just behind Camp and stashed his meal in a wild fig tree along our service road. The following night, our guests were all anticipating his return to feed when we were treated to our local pride of lions (3 males and 4 females) which had smelt the kill and were congregated around the bottom of the tree. No doubt, enticed by the thought of an easy snack, 3 of the females proceeded to climb into the tree to try and reach the carcass - first time we had seen tree climbing lions in the Lower Zambezi! Luck was not on their side and it was stashed too high for them to reach - but a wonderful sight for guests and staff anyway. Genghis was finally seen that night but keeping well away from the lions.

Classic Recipe Plantain Coconut Curry and Leeks Greystoke Mahale (Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania)
Plantain are available in most supermarkets. They are large green bananas. Be careful when peeling them as they can make your hands black! Either peel them under running water or rub your hands with oil but be careful you don't slip with the knife!
Ingredients: 4 to 6 plantain depending on size, peeled and cut into 1" pieces 1 tbsp. Oil 2 Onions, chopped 3 Cloves of garlic, chopped 3 tbsp. Curry powder 400g Tomatoes 1 heaped tbsp. peanut butter 1 Green pepper, diced 2" Piece of ginger, grated 1 Chilli, chopped Salt and pepper to taste Freshly chopped coriander
Method: Heat the oil and fry the onion and garlic, add the rest of the ingredients except the plantain and bring to the boil. Add the peeled, chopped plantain and simmer for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh chopped coriander. As an alternative, you can omit the peanut butter and use only 100g tomato and add a tin of coconut milk. Both these recipes are great for fish - prepare in the same way by cutting fish fillets into chunks and adding to the sauce, simmer until fish is cooked through. Or fry whole fish fillets and pour the sauce over. In Tanzania it is served with rice and coconut beans. Coconut beans: In Europe we tend to soak beans and lentils overnight in cold water and then cook them. Here in East Africa, they use the red beans and cook them on a long slow heat without soaking first. They then fry onion, garlic and ginger, add the beans with some of the cooking liquid, salt and either freshly grated coconut, desiccated coconut or coconut milk. They are delicious and very popular with guests.

  

Contact Us

Pauline Hawthorn Classics Executive Office P O Box 486 Edgemead Cape Town 7407	Tel/Fax: +27 21 558 0440 Mobile: +27 83 708 1759 www.classicsafaricamps.com pauline@classicsafaricamps.com
Represented in USA by John Moody  johnafrica@mac.com

Members

Kenya Cheli & Peacock: - Cottars 1920s Campp - Elsa's Kopje - Joy's Camp - Loisaba Wilderness - Tortilis Camp Governors' Camps: - Governors' Camp - Governors' II Moran Camp - Governors' Private Camp - Little Governors' Camp - Loldia House - Mfangano Island Camp Malawi Pumulani Mozambique Benguerra Lodge Namibia Mowani Mountain Camp Okahirongo Elephant Lodge Onguma Safari Camps Wolwedans

Rwanda Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge South Africa Ant's Hill Garonga Safari Camp Jaci's Safari Lodge Motswari Private Game Reserve Tanzaniaa Nomad Tanzania: - Greystoke Mahale - Sand Rivers Selous Uganda Uganda Safari Co: - Semliki Safari Lodge - Apoka Safari Lodge Zambia Chongwe River Camp Robin Pope Safaris: - Tena Tena Tongabezi Sindabezi Island Zimbabwe Musango Safari Camp The Hide

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