Backroads Africa

17/05/2024

For all the devastating losses the African Wilderness endures, there are always a few glimmers of hope as well.

Thank you African Parks, for stepping up!

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26/03/2024

Hai Ingrid,

Na de winetram in Franschhoek via de penguïns naar Kaap de Goede Hoop. Kaapstad ontdekt vanaf de Tafelberg en de zonsondergang gespot vanaf Signal Hill. De week afgesloten met een surfles en een bezoek aan verschillende gezellige marktjes. Met als toetje een internationale rugby wedstrijd in het DHL stadion. We zijn weer thuis en dat wordt even wennen 😅

Wat hebben we genoten van onze vakantie en wat hebben we veel meegemaakt! Enorm bedankt voor de goede organisatie. Alles klopte, alles was goed, top geregeld 👍🏻👍🏻 Heel fijn dat je ons zo’n leuke reis hebt bezorgd 🙏.

We zullen je zeker van harte aanbevelen. En wie weet… gaan we zelf ook nog een keer terug 🤩

Inge, Hans en Mara

15/03/2024

SCAM ALERT at OR Tambo:

Two clients were recently scammed at OR Tambo when they tried to find their way to BLUU to drop off their rental car. A man in uniform flagged them and told them to drive into the building, where they had to use their creditcard to open the boom gate. They had a feeling they were being scammed but they went along with it anyway, feeling a bit flustered and overwhelmed. The scammers had stuck a fake keypad onto the normal one and they were told to enter their PIN code to pay and get in. As they got in the scammer directed them in the direction of the car rental offices, but the scammer then got into his car and left. My client walked to the BLUU office where they immediately confirmed they had been scammed and they cancelled their card, but EUR800 had already been taken off (daily limit) and they had also done several payments. My clients felt really silly, but I believe this could happen to anyone. It is extremely brazen for someone to try this at OR Tambo and security is keeping an eye on the unmanned boom gates, but I am still sharing this so that you are aware. You should NEVER have to use your creditcard to get through any boomgate (you pay at a pay-station when you are ready to leave), so don't fall for these schemes.

11/03/2024

https://fb.watch/qKvp_RYmL4/

29/09/2023

Bedankt Ingrid. We hebben een prachtige veelzijdige reis beleefd. Enorm genoten. Alles gezien wat we wilden zien en alles gedaan wat we konden doen. Nogmaals enorm bedankt voor het regelen van de reis en het contact tijdens de reis. Super!🤗

Gerton & Amanda

15/09/2023

🦁❤️ World’s ‘loneliest lion’ liberated from zoo
(extract from Earthling Ed Newsletter)

"For the past six years, 15 year old lion Reuben lived alone in a concrete cell in an abandoned zoo in Armenia. Due to a lifetime of confinement and poor nutrition, he developed an inflammatory disease called spondylitis which causes bones to fuse together, leaving his legs weak and causing walking difficulties.

However, Animal Defenders International, a charity which campaigns to end animal suffering, conducted an extraordinary rescue mission to return Reuben back to his ancestral homelands in South Africa, where he will be rehabilitated at their sanctuary.

ADI wildlife sanctuary said Reuben has neurological and physical issues which will require a lifetime of specialist care, but that they are committed to providing this and are hopeful about Reuben’s future."

We wondered what Ruben would do as he took his first steps on African soil. It turned out he just wanted to play, and play, and play.

14/09/2023

"De Freitas said South Africa’s top wellness offerings included natural wonders and retreats; indigenous healing traditions; yoga and meditation; combining safari and wellness; spa and wellness resorts; wellness-focused cuisine; mindful adventure activities; and sustainable and responsible tourism."

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns have had a significant impact on travellers’ mental health, which has led to an increased demand for valuable wellness tourism experiences. “In the

06/09/2023

“African Parks had no intention of being the owner of a captive rhino breeding operation with 2,000 rhino. However, we fully recognise the moral imperative of finding a solution for these animals so that they can once again play their integral role in fully functioning ecosystems,” said Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks. “The scale of this undertaking is simply enormous, and therefore daunting. However, it is equally one of the most exciting and globally strategic conservation opportunities. We will be working with multiple governments, funding partners and conservation organisations, who are committed to making this rewilding vision a reality.”

Simply awesome 💚

African Parks has purchased the world’s largest captive rhino breeding operation in a bid to rescue and rewild the rhino to safe and well-managed protected areas across Africa.

21/03/2023

🌍 I recently had the pleasure of being on the World Vegan Travel podcast and talked about my incredible journey in the travel industry. From exploring Europe to settling down in South Africa. As a certified Vegan Travel Specialist, I help vegans with itineraries that include ethical and adventurous options. I talked about everything from the Big Five to traveling as a vegan in South Africa. Check out the episode! 🐘 🦁 🦏 🐆 🐃 💚

World Vegan Travel

We’ll be talking to Ingrid Geertsema and she will tell us the Five Best places to visit in South Africa, in order to see the Big Five.

13/02/2023

I have trodden the African soil for almost 23 years now, and I have yet to meet two people more legendary than Bruce and Judy Meeser. I owe them my life in SA, and I love them so dearly. 🥰

Returning to South Africa always brings a sense of nostalgia and mixed emotions. It was my home for multiple years and it provided so many unforgettable memories that leaving always brings a pang o…

08/11/2022

I know peak season around the Migration in Kenya/Tanzania can be bad, but this is really the worst I have seen.

How can anyone support this?

01/09/2022

"Hoi Ingrid! Wij zijn terug in het fijne Nederland. We hebben echt een heerlijke vakantie gehad en alles was echt heel goed geregeld. Dankjewel voor alles Ingrid, je hebt er voor gezorgd dat we een hele fijne en mooie eerste ervaring hadden met Afrika! Lief ook dat je ons op de hoogte stelde van de demonstratie en de goede routebeschrijvingen! 🤗"

27/07/2022

Horrible and tragic. A man who would not be corrupted, shot dead in his own home, in cold blood. His poor family. It's in these kinds of situations, dealing with criminals with no conscience, only driven by power and greed, that I wished for an undercover unit quietly picking off these rotten apples one by one, never to be heard of again. I truly do not believe our current justice systems are even a deterrent anymore.

I am so sorry Anton, my heart goes out to your wife and kids. Thank you for your passion and dedication. I hope your killers will suffer for what they have done.

DEVASTATING NEWS
Our thoughts are with Timbavati today following the tragic news that their Head of Ranger Services, Anton Mzimba, was shot and killed outside of his home last night. This follows recent death threats.
Anton was an incredibly passionate conservationist, who worked tirelessly to protect the wildlife under his care.
This terrible incident is a horrific reminder that our Rangers, who devote their lives to protecting our wildlife risk their lives every day.
Rangers like Anton know the risks they face, but that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable that they live their entire lives knowing they could also be targeted by the criminal gangs responsible for the killing of the animals they work to protect.

Our deepest condolences to Anton’s loved ones and co-workers.

04/06/2022

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐆𝐎 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

GVI Limpopo

https://www.gviafrica.co.za/location/limpopo/

GVI Limpopo is based on the Karongwe Private Game Reserve, an 8000 hectare “Big 5” game reserve in the Limpopo region of South Africa. Volunteers on the wildlife research expedition track and collect data on the large carnivores and mega-herbivores of the reserve daily, monitoring spatial utilisation, feeding ecology and inter-specific interactions. The information gathered is vital for assisting in reserve management decisions and data is also shared with various conservation research projects including those run by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and a number of Universities worldwide. Volunteers at Karongwe will also have the chance to work in the community providing support in schools with environmental education and take part in other biodiversity studies on the reserve. The project aims to promote and assist with responsible and sustainable conservation of the local ecosystem.

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Mundulea House, Karongwe Private Game Reserve
𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: A day in the life of a GVI Volunteer for two people. Also includes 2x game drives, tracking our focus animals using telemetry equipment. Midday Activities, Continental breakfast, prepared lunch and dinner, tea/coffee/hot chocolate/phuza beverage. Involved in GVI participant experiences (like data entry) and Overnight accommodation if required (subject to availability of beds).
𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Transport to and from Spectra Gate – Karongwe Private Game Reserve, alcohol and additional soft drinks, any items of a personal nature.
𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐲: Valid until 6th December 2022; Subject to Availability
𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞: R6 000.00

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐝!

𝐀𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 @ 𝟖𝐩𝐦

Please be aware that this auction lot is subject to a reserve and if the reserve is not reached, the lot will not be sold.

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!