“The Spirit of Ubuntu”

The spirit of Ubuntu, is something we’ve been questioning as it relates to everyone in the world right now.

Above is a short video where Reverend Mpho Tutu, episcopal priest and the executive director of the Desmond & Leah Legacy Foundation, explains the concept of “ubuntu”.

Reverend Mpho Tutu, episcopal priest and the executive director of the Desmond & Leah Legacy Foundation, explains the concept of “ubuntu”.

“Implications of the Coronavirus Pandemic to the Concept of Ubuntu in Africa”

Ubuntu is the universal African custom of commitment to family and village. “I am because you are” means we all support each other. At a time like this, with the coronavirus pandemic, everyone throughout the world is falling back on ubuntu, including the United States, which prides itself on self-reliance and every man for himself, the exact opposite of Ubuntu.

Jim Holden enjoying the tented camp in Tanzania

Support of the safari lodges and the devastation caused with some of them having to close due to lack of guests and funding. Located in the remoter areas of Africa, where Africa’s remaining natural wildlife lives, safari lodges provide essential anti-poaching activities, without which Africa’s unique wildlife would be decimated.

Maternity ward in Zimbabwe

In addition schooling, medical services and disease prevention is provided by the safari lodges to the indigenous people in these remote areas. Again, without funding, people are destined to die, not necessarily from coronavirus but from other curable diseases such as malaria and yellow fever.

Our trip to Kenya with “Women travel with a purpose,” visiting a Masai village

Whatever the cause and source of this pandemic, innocent people and animals will suffer the most in Africa. The developed world has had a long stretch of uninterrupted development, the result of which is being felt through this pandemic, with people and wildlife at the margins of society bearing the brunt.

Guests watching wild dogs in Zimbabwe

Nature has a way of bringing us all back to the basics of life. In this case we are all being reminded of the spirit of ubuntu and the need to take care of everyone in society and not just the haves leaving the have-nots behind.

Guests watching elephants interact from jeep in Madikwe, South Africa

I wanted to stress how once again we go back to Africa, the place we all came from, to find our bearings again. Just like when you go on safari, you are forced back into a simpler and more meaningful way of life.

Please take care and we’d love to hear from you. E-mail SoniaM@HoldenSafaris.com with your comments and suggestions for our future Newsletters.

Don’t miss our next Newsletter on April 8th. You’ll get a chance to see selfies from our staff in the U.S. and Africa.

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Jim Holden and Sonia Marsh were on a two-week trip to Madagascar, over the Christmas holidays, checking out the best experiences for our guests. We had no idea how many species of mammals, reptiles and plants are endemic to Madagascar, including 6 of the world’s 9 species of Baobab trees.

Why is Madagascar so different?

It all boils down to the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana. Madagascar separated from the African and Indian land masses approximately 80 to 135 million years ago, allowing plants and animals on the island to evolve in relative isolation.

Gondwanaland

Adansonia grandidieri, sometimes known as Grandidier’s baobab is endemic to Madagascar

The baobab tree also known as the “upside-down” tree, due to its branches looking like roots sticking up in the air, grows only in Africa, Madagascar and Australia.

Adansonia grandidieri, sometimes known as Grandidier’s baobab, is the biggest and most famous of Madagascar‘s six species of baobabs. It can grow to enormous sizes, and may live to be 3,000 years old, although one in South Africa was dated at around 6,000 years old.

During our visit, we had an excellent guide, Theo, who explained how to tell the age of the Baobab trees endemic to Madagascar.

• The size of the baobabs:

They reach 16 to 98 feet in height and have trunk diameters of 23 to 36 feet. The largest circumference on record is 47 metres or 154 feet.

• It is not unusual for old baobabs to become hollow inside with increasing age.

Animals and humans have used the the caves formed inside these huge baobabs as protection, shelter and even housing for thousands of years. The baobabs have also been used as jails, post offices, bush pubs and hiding places.

See the photos below. (Photo credit: Justfunfacts.com Sunland-Baobab.)

Hiding places in the Baobab

• More facts about baobabs

Baobabs are deciduous, and their bat-pollinated flowers bloom at night. When the leaves fall off in the dry season, the tree remains leafless for 9 months. The leaves are an excellent source of protein, minerals and vitamins A and C, and are also used as condiments and medicines. Cream of tartar (a cooking ingredient) was initially produced from the acidic baobab seed pulp The fruit has a velvety shell and is about the size of a coconut, weighing about 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb). It has a somewhat acidic flavour, described as ‘somewhere between a grapefruit, pear and vanilla.

Baobab fruit photo credit: http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-baobab-trees/

Baobab tree flower:http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-baobab-trees/

Elephants like to eat the bark of the baobab during the dry season to obtain moisture from the trunk’s reserves. The Baobab does not suffer from ring barking and can regrow bark if damaged by elephants.

Elephant eating the trunk of a Baobab tree

Finally, the Baobab tree makes for a wonderful backdrop for a Sundowner, that’s the name for a wonderful African tradition of “happy hour” as the sun sets behind the magnificent baobab trees.

Sundowner next to the Baobab tree

Sundowner cocktail hour next to the Baobabs in Mandrare

Interested in Madagascar?

More posts coming on the lemurs, lodges, and chameleons.

Want to visit Madagascar? Please contact Jim Holden at (949) 500-0094 or e-mail JimH@HoldenSafaris.com

Want to join a small group of no more than 10 guests to Madagascar in 2021? Please contact Sonia Marsh at (949) 402-7828 or e-mail SoniaM@HoldenSafaris.com

And don’t forget our small group Safari to Zambia in November 2020. CLICK HERE

We would appreciate you sharing our Safaris with your family and friends. Referrals are the way we grow our business. We appreciate very much any referrals you make on our behalf.

Asante Sana

Jim Holden and Sonia Marsh

Jim Holden and Sonia Marsh pointing at a lemur in Madagascar’s Andasibe rainforest

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If a Safari is on your bucket list, and you see some fantastic deals online, this Newsletter will answer some questions you may be asking yourself such as:

• Why Not Plan My Safari Myself?

  

  Why not Plan my Safari Myself?

• How Can I make sure I’m getting the best price?

We plan your Safari based on your priorities: wildlife, authentic tented camps, lodges with all the amenities, cuisine, cultural interaction, professional guiding, your desired activity level, and we customize it with our expertise. Our partners in Africa keep up-to-date with all the specials offered by the camps and lodges, for example: “stay 3 nights and pay 2, or by combining properties that offer free nights and transfers. These deals change frequently and have specific conditions and exclusions. We keep track of all the best deals and can quickly pull together an itinerary that makes the best use of them. We also know where to see the migration, and which months offer lower prices with great game-viewing. We always make sure your safety is a top priority no matter where you stay.

• What happens if there’s an emergency?

Emirates from LAX to Dubai and major cities in East and Southern Africa

Sometimes flights get canceled, or you may have a more serious emergency. Since we are in the U.S. and our partners are in Africa, there is always someone to help you. All of this means less worry for you.
If you want the cheapest online Safari, and have lots of time to do your research, then you should book your own trip. But if you are unfamiliar with Africa, and want a seamless trip, then call us. All Safaris planned by Holden Safaris include “hand-holding from start to finish because we know you’ll come back changed.

 

For more information on designing your Safari please contact
JimH@HoldenSafaris.com (949) 500-0094

To join one of our small group Safaris with a Purpose, contact SoniaM@HoldenSafaris.com (949) 402-7828

CHECK OUT OUR SAMPLE SAFARIS HERE
CHECK OUT OUR SMALL GROUP SAFARIS 

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One of the women on our 2018 “Women With a Purpose” trip shares an emotional description of the beauty of Kenya and its people. Watch her testimonial.

3 spaces left for “Women Travel with a Purpose” to visit Father Henry and his schools, September 23-30, 2019.

• Meet Father Henry, and the children he has rescued off the streets of Nairobi, Kenya.
• See the Big Five, Africa’s Wildest Wildlife, in its natural setting of the African Savannah.
• Call Sonia on 949 402 7828 or Jim on 949500 0094 to book your place.

Check out the  itinerary here. 

The children love to perform. See their video below.

Here are some photos from last year’s trip.

Join us by contacting Jim Holden: (949) 500-0095, or Sonia Marsh (949) 402-7828.

See you in Kenya!

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Samburu tribe , Kenya Photo credit Tropic Air.

Most folks going to Africa for a safari are mainly thinking about wildlife and Africa’s so called Big Five, Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Cape Buffalo, and Leopard.

But what about the people?

It’s significant that the comment we see most often on our post safari surveys is, “we went to see the wildlife but came home in love with the people!”

So who are the people of Africa?

Well, much like people anywhere, but with striking similarities to the mosaic of people here in the USA.

How come you may ask?

In the USA there are the indigenous people, Native American Indians, divided into many different groups such as Cheyenne, Sioux etc.

Same in Africa, where the indigenous people are comprised of many different tribes; such as the Samburu and Masai in East Africa, and the Zulus in South Africa.

Holden Safaris “Women Travel with a Purpose” group visiting a Masai Village in Kenya, 2018

With reference to google, there are apparently 562 Native American tribes in the USA, with the largest being Navajo, Cherokee and Sioux.

How many native tribes do you think there are in Africa?

You might be surprised, when going onto google again and finding references from Wikipedia to over 2000 tribal groups in Africa!

Zulu tribe dancer, Photo credit Wikipedia

As many as 3,000 different ethnic groups, speaking more than 2,100 different languages!

But then the African continent is about three and half times the size of the USA.

So how many of the 2000 tribes do you think there are in East and Southern Africa, where most safaris take place?

Probably around half. In Zambia alone, where I’m from, there are as many as 72 ethnic groups, all with different dialects.

Fortunately, getting around Zambia, doesn’t require being able to speak all 72 different dialects!

By language, there are nine major groups, the Nyanja-Chewa, Bemba, Tumbuka, Lunda, Luvale, Kaonde, Nkoya, and Lozi.

Thanks to the gold mines in South Africa, a labor intensive industry, a lingua franca was developed at the height of their development, so all these different tribes could understand each other.

Today, with fewer people employed on the gold mines, that lingua franca has died out with lack of use.

It’s still relatively easy to navigate one’s way through East and Southern Africa, with just three native languages, Swahili, Chinyanja and Zulu.

And if that’s too difficult, English will suffice throughout the countries that make up safari Africa.

And that’s because the other ethnic group you’ll find in Safari Africa, will pretty much mirror what there is in the USA. And that is most of the cultures of Europe!

Just as Europeans came to settle in America, so they did to Africa. You’ll find people of Dutch, French, English, German, and Portuguese origin throughout Safari Africa.

And as English has  become the language of America so it has of Safari Africa. Be thankful therefore, that you can talk to all these different language groups in English!

But next time you’re on safari, remember to ask your guide, or wait staff, or room attendant, what tribe they belong to, and what language they speak, other than English.

You’ll be amazed at the differences and realize that the peoples of Africa are even more fascinating than the Big Five!

Jim Holden

Safari Jim (Musings on Africa)

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Have you ever wondered where the phrase, “Big 5” comes from? Most clients will ask, when requesting a safari, “are we going to see the Big 5?”

Big 5

The term is attributed to the hunters of old, who used the term to describe what they determined were the most dangerous animals to hunt in Africa.

They are lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and Cape buffaloes. All formidable foes indeed when being hunted by man.

Fortunately nowadays, most countries in Africa have banned hunting in favor of photographic safaris.

Now what about the giraffe? If dangerous refers to size, the giraffe is the tallest land animal, as the elephant is the biggest land animal.

Giraffes in the Masai Mara, Kenya during our “Women Travel with a Purpose” Safari.

So if the requirement was size, the giraffe would make the cut and we would have the Big 6!

The most dangerous aspect of a giraffe is its kick. Lions, when hunting giraffe, have to keep out of the way of the giraffe’s kick, not to sustain an ugly wound, or even death.

When not being hunted by man or beast, giraffes mind their own business, and add beauty to the landscape with their long necks and eyelashes.

Scientists can’t agree on how many different types of giraffes there are in Africa. Some say only one main species, with four sub species, while others say seven species in total.

Thornicroft giraffe, Zambia

Whatever the number, those of us who grew up in Zambia, claim our very own species of giraffe, the Thornicroft’s giraffe. Take a look at our sample itinerary to Zambia where you are likely to spot the Thornicroft giraffe. It’s found in the Luangwa.

To the uneducated eye, different species of giraffe will all look the same. It’s only their coloring and markings that distinguish them from each other.

And that long neck is actually used as a weapon! Giraffes spar with each other with their necks. Which is quite extraordinary when you realize their necks have the same number of vertebra as us humans, seven!

And if you were a baby giraffe, you would have come into the world with an almighty thump, as giraffes give birth standing up.

And those long legs? Unlike other animals, giraffes move both legs on one side and then both legs on the other side.

While they look ungainly, the giraffe can get up a good head of speed, around 35 mph. As a human, you won’t quite be able to catch up with a giraffe; not even Usain Bolt!

Next time you’re on safari, you might want to add the giraffe to the so called Big 5, if for no other reason than their unique characteristics.

Jim Holden explains what is Safari.

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Jim Holden explains ? “What is a Safari?” What are the different activities you can do while on Safari? Jim Holden explains this in a short video.

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Take a look at Jim Holden’s “Why Use Holden Safaris?” video.

Jim explains why he is Africa in the U.S.

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If you want to have the best African Safari experience, then packing the right clothes and using the appropriate-sized luggage is crucial to your overall experience. In this post, we’ll show you the most important luggage items to take with you, and in next week’s post, we’ll discuss clothing.

Jim Holden, President of Holden Safaris, and I updated our Safari luggage, clothing and accessories last week at Rooten’s luggage store: a specialty luggage and apparel store located in our Newport Beach, California, backyard.  Next week, we’re traveling with all new gear to Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda, and hope that you follow our safari adventures. Take a look at all the items we are packing for our Safari.

Backpacks, duffel bags, packing cubes, hats, inflatable pillow for the plane, folding water bottles, quick drying underwear, compression socks, travel cosmetic bag, pocket cross-body bag.

• Types of luggage recommended on internal flights in Africa

The staff at Rooten’s luggage, were super friendly and knowledgeable. Shere and Mike both recommended the Eagle Creek brand for our backpacks and the load-warrior carry-on. I was worried about my 15.6″ Lenovo laptop not fitting in the backpack, as it looked small, but I was relieved to see how snugly it fit inside the protective case.

I’ve followed Jim Holden’s advice, as well as the luggage experts at Rooten’s luggage store, and this time, I’m traveling with two carry-on size bags: the Eagle Creek Load Warrior Carry-on with wheels, and the Eagle Creek Afar Backpack. Both of them are super light, and although I do not like the idea of having a heavy backpack on my shoulders, I like the fact that I can place the backpack onto the handle of the duffel bag.

Jim Holden with the perfect size “Eagle Creek Load Warrior Carry-on with wheels.”

So Jim Holden reminded me that we are only allowed 15 kg (33lbs) of luggage, (packed in a soft-sided duffel bag) on the small planes flying between various lodges in Africa.

• Accessories to bring with you on Safari

Like most of my female friends, I make the mistake of packing too many clothes, shoes, and bottles of shampoo and lotions. It wasn’t until my last site inspection/safari, trip to Zambia and Zimbabwe, that I realized how few items I actually needed. So this time, I’m going to pack my money, credit cards, passport, camera, insect repellent bracelet and bandana, in my new sand-colored crossbody purse. It’s so lightweight and comfortable and I can use it everywhere; including on our early morning and evening game drives. I also like the fact that all my valuables are with me at all times.

Shere showed me a travel cosmetic bag with see through containers, and a hook on top, so you can unfold all sections and easily find your make-up, lotions and shampoos. It’s light weight and easy to use in combination with the “GoToob” 3 oz travel bottles. Another useful item we discovered at Rooten’s is in the photo on the bottom right. These may look like edible mints, but they turn into small towelettes for wiping your hands and face. All you need is to add a small amount of water, and they expand.

Last but not least, a water bottle that you can refill and clip together when not in use.Ne

Next week, I’ll show you how to pack your clothes in special packing cubes, and how to dress on Safari.

Any questions? Please ask in the comments section below this post.

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Makhosi Ncube-Guide in Zimbabwe

On my recent site inspection trip to Zambia and Zimbabwe with Jim Holden, President of Holden Safaris, I had the pleasure of experiencing, first-hand, how an expert guide, makes all the difference in your safari experience.

Jim Holden and I were on our way to inspect Somalisa Camp, a small luxury camp in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. We flew in from Mana Pools on a nine-passenger, Cessna Caravan, and landed on the hardened-dirt, Manga 3 runway.

A young man dressed in classic safari, stone-colored shirt and shorts, greeted us at the bottom of the small ladder as we exited the plane.

“You must be Jim and Sonia,” he said with his charming smile. “I’m Mak, your guide, from Somalisa Camp.”

Mak hoisted our bags onto his shoulders, and as we reached his jeep, he handed us a much-appreciated, bottle of ice cold water. Leaning over the edge of his vehicle, he asked if he would you like to go straight to Somalisa Camp to rest after our three-hour flight, or if we would prefer to go on an afternoon game drive on our way back to the camp.

“We want to go on a game drive,” Jim said.

I gulped down the water and asked Mak, “What’s that horrible loud noise?”

“It’s the Heartbeat of Hwange” he said.

Sensing my confusion, Mak continued. “We have only one diesel water pump left in the park, and it’s right there.” He pointed towards the waterhole. “All the rest of our 50 boreholes are now solar powered. The elephants are used to the sound of the diesel pump and know that it means water; that’s why they come here in the hundreds, to drink and bathe. Shall we wait to see them?”

“Of course,” Jim said. I worried that we might sit in the jeep for several hours before they appeared, but Mak was right. It only took 5-minutes, and sure enough, hundreds of elephants approached the water-hole for their sundowner.

Elephants drinking in the “noisy” water hole

We watched in awe, as the elephants, and the babies drank, and then strolled over to cover themselves with mud, in the second, nearby waterhole. It was a daily ritual, and Mak explained that we were only 40 kilometers from Botswana, and that the elephants traipse back and forth between Zimbabwe and Botswana, in search of water.

After this unique experience, Mak drove us along the sandy road, and pointed out every bird, even the ones my eyes had a hard time finding. He was interesting, sharp and entertaining, and knew the answers to each and every question Jim and I had.

“What’s that tree?” I asked.

“That’s the lead tree,” Mak said. “It sinks and looks dead. When you burn it, you get a white ash which can be made into a paste to relieve tooth ache. The white ash can also be turned into white paint which the villagers use to paint their houses.

Now I was impressed, and felt a rapport with our guide. He was professional and informative, and I soon realized how special it was to have our own private guide who had gone through the rigorous training required to become an expert on nature and wildlife.  I started quizzing Mak on everything.

“What’s that bird?” I asked.

“It’s the red-crested Korhaan, or the “suicide” bird as it’s commonly called.” Mak proceeds to pull out his book and points to the page with photos of this bird.

Mak told us that during the mating season. the male will fly up high, and at full throttle, dive straight towards the ground in suicide mode. The female picks her potential mate based on how impressive she perceives his close call to death.

Here is an eleven-second video demonstrating a suicide fall.

Equally crazy is the way the red-crested Korhaan dances and clicks during the mating season to catch the interest of a female.

Mak then drove us to Somalisa Camp, where we arrived just in time to see eleven wild-dogs drinking from the waterhole next to the lodge.  It was a long and exciting day, and I looked forward to freshening up before our evening sundowner and dinner.

Wild dogs in front of Somalisa Camp

At the entrance to Somalisa Camp, we were greeted by three super-friendly staff members, including Yvonne, whom I shall never forget. She was a burst of energy and her enthusiasm was contagious.

The staff greeting us at Somalisa Camp in Hwange, Zimbabwe

This was just the start of our safari in Hwange National Park, and having Mak as our guide, exemplified Jim Holden’s definition of the: “luxury of experience.” Most of our travelers at Holden Safaris are looking for the superior safari experience, and one of the key components to an outstanding safari, is a well-qualified, professional guide. I’m so happy I had that experience with Mak. Don’t miss next week’s blog post where I interview Mak about his daily life as a guide.

Next weeks’s blog post: An Interview with Mak. “A Day in the Life of a Safari Guide.”

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