Botswana Christmas Special 2019

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The festive season is upon us and Cresta Hotels would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas by offering you an exciting promotion across all our Botswana properties. Simply click on this link to view the promotion  across our hotels. You can proceed to book online at your preferred hotel.

 

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Moremi Game Reserve Photoblog

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Situated in the heart of the Okavango Delta, the Moremi Game Reserve is home to a delightful abundance of wildlife and birdlife, and one of the most diverse ecosystems in Africa. With large numbers of elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe, buffalo and zebra, this gem of a reserve offers some of the continent’s best game viewing. Other predators regularly spotted include leopard, African wild dog, hyena and cheetah. What’s more, with the recent reintroduction of White and Black Rhino into the region, it is now a ‘Big Five’ destination.

The history of the Moremi Game Reserve dates back to 1962 when the BaTawana people of Botswana set aside a third of the Okavango Delta for future protection. It is the only officially protected area of the Okavango Delta, and the first reserve in Africa to be established by local residents.

To fully appreciate the beauty of the Moremi Game Reserve and best illustrate the incredible wildlife sightings, we have put together a handy photo blog.

To book a tour or safari from Cresta Riley’s in Maun to the Moremi Game Reserve, simply get in touch with our reservations team on enquiry@crestahotels.com or +27 11 881 1200.

Flickr Image Credits:
Michael Jansen, tomor meko, Gary Gamso, Gary Gamso, Bobby Bradley, Michael Jansen, Gregory Slobirdr Smith, Michael Levine-Clark, dutchbaby, Michael Jansen, dutchbaby, Michael Jansen

Cresta Maun Celebrates It’s First Anniversary

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The decision to open a new Cresta hotel in Maun last year has delighted a great many people. Tourists, for a start, now have an upmarket transit point on their way in and out of the Okavango Delta, with the hotel just 15 minutes from Maun’s international airport. (more…)

Vic Falls Carnival 2018

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End off the year in style with the 5th edition of the Vic Falls Carnival, taking place from 29 – 31 December 2018. Sponsored by Zambezi Lager this year, the festival attracts holidaymakers from all over the world to experience the very best of Victoria Falls, the adventure capital of Africa. (more…)

Botswana Bucket List

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2019 is just around the corner, and we suggest thinking about your travel resolutions sooner rather than later. For a wide variety of reasons, in 2019 we suggest a trip to Botswana. To simplify your travel plans, we’ve mapped out a Botswana Bucket List 2019; a list of destinations that you ought to check off when travelling to Bots. (more…)

Best Time to Visit the Okavango Delta

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While it is known to be a fantastic year-round Botswana safari destination, figuring out the best time to visit the Okavango Delta can be tricky. The dry season is best for game viewing, the wet season is best for bird watching, and both have their own pros and cons. As such, deciding on when to book your holiday to the delta entirely depends on what kind of experience you’re looking to have. Here we detail all you need to know about the different seasons in the Okavango Delta, and what to expect from each.

April to September | Winter | Dry Season

Like many game reserves and national parks in Southern Africa, winter in the Okavango Delta boasts the opportunity for incredible wildlife sightings. Because it is dry season, many animals migrate to the delta seeking sustenance. June to August is also high water season, and as such is the best time for canoe safaris and mokoro trips. This a fantastic way to experience the region, and often makes for out-of-this-world wildlife encounters.

In terms of the weather, winter days are generally sunny, clear and warm, whilst the temperature drops in the evening. Expect day-time highs of 25C, and night-time lows of 2C, so make sure to pack the relevant clothing.

On the downside, July to October is high season in the Okavango Delta, so the area will be busier and you will likely be charged high season rates. Avoid paying inflated prices by booking your stay at an affordable accommodation option such as Cresta Maun. This stunning property is located at the gateway to the Okavango Delta, and offers guests a choice of 83 rooms and suites, each featuring garden views, air-conditioning and a range of other convenient amenities. Find out more here.

October to March | Summer | Wet Season

Summer in the Okavango Delta gets off to a roaring start, with October being the hottest month of the year. The temperatures build in anticipation of the rains, up to a whopping 40C. However, the sizzling heat is rewarded by some of the year’s most spectacular game viewing. Herds of thirsty animals can be found concentrated along the fringes of the delta, drinking their fill and cooling down.

The rains typically arrive towards the end of the November, dropping the temperature considerably. During the rainy season, which lasts until March, expect sunny and hot days, afternoon thunderstorms, brief late afternoon downpours, and warm to cool evenings. This is also the best time of year of bird watching, as numerous migrant species make their way to the Delta. Fortunately, much of the wildlife remain in the heart of the delta where there is permanent water, so impressive game sightings can still be expected. What’s more, a fair amount of antelope give birth during the Wet Season, attracting predators such as lion, leopard, spotted hyena and African Wild Dog.

To find out more about booking your stay and more about the best time to visit the Okavango Delta, get in touch with the team at Cresta Maun on enquiry@crestahotels.com.

Flickr Image Credits:
Michael Levine-Clark
Michael Levine-Clark
Michael Levine-Clark
Michael Levine-Clark
Linda Alexandersson

Best Golf Courses in Zambia

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Zambia is a golfer’s paradise, with over 20 beautiful courses scattered across the country. With its wide open spaces and pleasurable climate, Zambia is particularly well-suited to the game, welcoming golfing pros and amateurs from across the world. (more…)

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Chobe National Park

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A nature-lover’s paradise, the Chobe National Park boasts one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in Africa, and some of the continent’s most spectacular scenery. Situated in north east Botswana, the Chobe National Park is also home to one of the largest elephant herds in the world.

To provide you with some travel inspiration, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 things you might not know about this incredible region.

1. Established in 1967, Chobe National Park is Botswana’s first national park.

2. Boasting a vast array of wildlife and birdlife, it is also the country’s most biologically diverse.

3. The Chobe National Park covers an area of 11,700 km2.

4. The original inhabitants of what was to become to Chobe Nationla Park were the nomadic San Bushmen, also known as the Basarwa people in Botswana.

5. Chobe National Park boasts an estimated 120,000 elephants, possibly the highest elephant concentration in Africa. As such, the park is fondly known as ‘The Land of The Giants’.

6. The Chobe National Park is also famous for its large concentration of buffalo, impressive prides of lion and the packs of the rare African wild dog.

7. It is a bird lovers’ paradise, the home to over 450 bird species. These include herons, storks, pelicans, bustards, cranes, bee eaters, cormorants, and the iconic African fish eagle. What’s more, many of the bird species are migratory – making December to March the perfect time of the year for bird watching.

8. The Chobe National Park is home to four of the Big Five: elephant, leopard, hippo and lion.

9. The Chobe River is the lifeblood of the park, and forms part of Botswana’s border with Namibia.

10. The spectacular ecosystem of the park consists of four distinct areas: the Serondela area or Chobe riverfront, the Savuti Marsh area, the Linyanti Marsh, and the Nogatsaa area.

To book your stay in at Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa, located on the border of the Chobe National park, or to find out a little more about things to do in the region, simply visit the Cresta Mowana website, email resmowana@cresta.co.bw, or phone +267 625 0300.

Flicker Image Credits:
Wendy
serena_tang
Di
Michael Jansen
Steven dosRemedios
Michael Jansen

Facts about Baobabs

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Some of Mother Nature’s oldest and funniest-looking trees, baobabs grow in low-lying areas in Africa, Australia and Madagascar. Capable of living for thousands of years, these deciduous trees consist of relatively sparse canopies atop ginormous creased trunks. (more…)

Fresh New Feel Begins for Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa

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The design team from Blacksmith Interiors started the physical overhaul at the beginning of May after months of planning and putting everything in place so that the whole project can be completed by the end of the third Quarter with minimal disruption to the hotel’s operations.

“The brief was to freshen the whole property up and make it more in line with today’s design style with a modern safari theme,” says Helen Farish of Blacksmith Interiors. The overall feel will be ‘luxury meets nature,’ for the hotel in Kasane, Botswana, and its legendary baobab tree will still stand in the middle of the property as a focal point and a symbol of its solid history.

The previous rustic reds, oranges and earthy tones that decorated the Mowana had felt more African bush than airy river lodge, says Ms. Farish. “We have taken our inspiration from the river and the surrounding vegetation to freshen up the interiors and make it contemporary but relevant to its riverside location.”

The designers have worked within the existing physical structures, except for the wooden deck which needed to be completely replaced. The tiles in the dining room will also be removed and replaced with a tinted screed flooring. The rest of the changes will be cosmetic rather than structural, but the results will be dramatic.

“We will declutter everything and take out all the unnecessary furnishings and open it up to create a better sense of arrival in the reception areas, so the sense of grandeur from the thatched roof and high ceilings shines through. We will bring in clean, contemporary surfaces with some minimalistic organic elements like chandeliers and some iconic pieces of furniture and wall sculptures,” says Ms. Farish.

“We’re using fresh colours of blues and greens with greys and white to lighten everything up and create a cool, calm, refreshing feel which complements the warmth of the thatch and terracotta flooring.”

Interior and exterior walls will be painted in the new colour themes and the soft furnishings like curtains will be changed to match. Most of the new furnishings will be sourced from South Africa. The main alterations will be in the bars and restaurants, with new counters and furniture that can be moved around to make the space more flexible to better accommodate large groups.

Many more plug points will be added throughout the hotel too, since guests now expect to be able to charge their devices and work anywhere at any time. The conference rooms will also be fitted with state of the art audio-visual equipment.

The bedrooms will be revamped in phases to work around the bookings and keep disruption to a minimum. The bedrooms will blend comfort with convenience, including large screen TVs, hi-speed Wi-Fi, and work stations made of solid wood with slim wrought iron legs to allow lots of leg room. All the rooms have sliding glass doors opening onto a private patio with views of the Chobe River.

“We are adamant that our guests will love the new look Cresta Mowana Safari Resort and Spa,” says Jonathan Cox, the Group Operations Manager for Cresta Hotels. “We embarked on the refurbishment exercise to enhance our beautiful property to improve on the look and feel in all areas including bedrooms, public areas, restaurants and bars. We also want to offer state of the art conference facilities. We will be offering a fresh new look, but still in keeping with a modern African feel. We will also be offering new and fresh menus to go with the new look for both the leisure and conference traveller.

by Lesley Stones

A Tech Overhaul at Mowana

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Behind every successful hotel lies numerous processes to make sure everything functions smoothly, from the booking to the beverage restocking to the bill paying. (more…)

2018 Orange Phikwe National Marathon

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Get your running shoes ready, and your best cheering voice out, it’s time for the 2018 Orange Phikwe National Marathon. Formally known as the Bosele Marathon, this epic race has been gracing Selebi Phikwe and its surrounding area since 1985. This 42.2km race takes place on Saturday 11 August 2-18, and is generously sponsored by Orange. This year promises to be just as fantastic as those past, so if you’re a sports enthusiast, a first time runner, or a veteran, don’t miss out on this pivotal event.

The Route
The International Association of Athletics Federations named the route one of the best in the world, so this is not a race to be missed. It is not only locally well-attended, but a sport tourism attraction for many international sportsmen and women. The race starts and finishes at the Marathon Village at Selebi Phikwe Stadium, and receives ample support from friends, families and locals alike- so there won’t be a shortage of people to cheer you on. Not quite ready to take on a full marathon? Don’t fret- there’s also a 4km fun run, a 10 km race and a 15 km race for eager runners that prefer shorter distances.

Registration
The registration for the Orange Phikwe National Marathon is still open, so if you’ve not yet entered, make sure to do so ASAP! If you’re looking to register manually, you can visit the offices at SPTC Stadium, Selected Orange shops, and the Botswana Athletics Association office at national stadium. You can also register here, or online at www.selebiphikwemarathon.com.

Registration Fee
Registration fees from the main marathon are P250, while the 15km is P200, the 10km is P150 and the 4km fun run is P100. There are also registration packages available, so if you’re entering as a team, then make sure to check out the website for more details.

Race Numbers
Don’t forget to pick up your race numbers at the marathon offices. Bring along your ID, or, if you’re collecting for a friend, a copy of their ID and letter of permission.

For more information about the 2018 Orange Phikwe National Marathon,  email info@selebiphikwemarathon.com, or call +267 73 356 220 / +267 75 755 337.

Still looking for race weekend accommodation? Cresta Bosele is a fine example of comfortable and well-appointed Botswana accommodation, not to mention the fact that it is a three minute drive, and a 10 minute walk from the race start. Cresta Bosele is an obvious choice for your Selebi Phikwe Marathon accommodation. To secure your spot, email enquiry@crestahotels.com, call +27 11 881 1200 or visit the website today.

Image Credit: www.selebiphikwemarathon.com, Orange Phikwe National Marathon Facebook

Harare: Open For Business

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Harare is often described as the city that never sleeps, and there’s a good reason for that. As the capital of Zimbabwe and home to more than two million people, it has a unique buzz and excitement that keeps the city alive and alert 24/7, all year round. (more…)

Safaris in Chobe National Park: Winter vs Summer

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The seasons in Southern Africa fall almost perfectly opposite to those in Europe. Christmas time is sweltering hot and June and July are our coldest months of the year. Although the winter months between May and October are considered the best time of year to travel on a big game safari, there are upsides to travelling in the off season. We’ve outlined the pros and cons of safaris in Chobe in winter vs. summer below. (more…)

Victoria Falls Marathon 2018

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The annual Victoria Falls Marathon 2018 returns for the 13th year in a row to the adrenaline capital of Southern Africa – the mighty Victoria Falls. This year’s event promises an even bigger stage for both local and international runners to compete against the best runners on the continent, in a race set against the backdrop of one of the most spectacular locations in Africa. This year’s prize money for the full marathon is $900 and $500 for the half marathon for both the male and female winner of each category. (more…)

Zambia Language Guide

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Although English is the official language of Zambia, more than 70 local languages and dialects are spoken throughout the country. The languages predominantly spoken are Nyanja, Tonga, Bemba, Luvale, Kaonde and Lozi. Bemba is the most widely spoken language in the capital city, Lusaka and across the region’s Copperbelt. Although it is helpful to speak in a local Zambia language, it is not necessary. Most Zambians speak 4 or 5 languages and English is usually one of them. This list is for those who want to learn a few local words before their trip to Zambia. (more…)

Okavango Weather Guide

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Botswana’s beautiful Okavango Delta region is not only known for its incredible aquatic labyrinth but also a diverse array of wildlife. When planning to visit the area, people often have one main question, what is the best time to go? Well, this largely depends on whether the wet or dry season appeals more as each have their own unique offerings. To assist you in figuring out when to book your next trip, we’ve put together a comprehensive Okavango Delta weather guide. (more…)

Cresta Hotels’ Zimbabwe Conference Guide

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Looking for the perfect venue to hold your business luncheon, executive meeting or large conference in Zimbabwe? Cresta Hotels offers business travellers a selection of modern, fully equipped conferencing facilities across the country. Whether your venue of choice is ideally located in Harare, Victoria Falls or Bulawayo, Cresta Hotels has something for you. Take a look at our range of Zimbabwe conference venues below. (more…)

Cresta Hotels Wildlife Highlights

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Southern Africa is one of the best destinations in the world for a big game safari. It’s temperate climate, spectacular landscapes, abundant game and beautiful hotels provide the perfect recipe for a memorable holiday in the wildernesses of Africa. A few of our most popular hotels are located in and around the finest wildlife reserves on the continent. Have a look at some of the highlights of what there is to look forward to during a stay with Cresta Hotels. (more…)

Family Activities in Chobe National Park

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Travel can be an eye-opening experience for children of all ages and what better way to educate your children about the world than to let them see and experience it first hand? Travel experts have found that the most successful family trips are those where both children and parents are involved in choosing activities! Chobe National Park is well-known for its variety of high and low adrenaline activities, which are fun for the whole family. (more…)