Selfdrive4x4forum.com

Dear Tourism Partner

You might or might not be aware of the power outage currently being experienced over large areas of Botswana. There was serious damage to some equipment in Francistown which has led to a complete power failure of certain areas. Authorities are predicting 4 days to effect repairs. Then to add to Botswana’s current woe’s the strikes in South Africa are leading to fuel and gas shortages in the country.

Below is an update on conditions at the properties in our portfolio:

Thamalakane River Lodge:

Maun has no power and there is no gas to be found. Lanterns are being used for lighting. Management are in the process of sourcing portable showers for guests and will be heating water with wood fires. They are very low on gas, they are searching further afield for supplies, if they don’t have any luck then meals will be prepared in their pizza oven and on open fires. Thank goodness the pizza’s are exceptional at Thamalakane! Staff at Thamalakane are very experienced and are confident that they will be able to keep guests happy.

Reservations are handled by our offices in Cape Town so communication is all running smoothly as usual in that department.

Dinaka Safari Lodge:

Dinaka is solar powered so it is business as usual at the camp. Reservations are being handled by our offices in Cape Town so communication is all going according to plan.

Nxamaseri Island Lodge:

The power outage is not affecting Nxamaseri. Reservations is running on a battery, so all is well there. Fuel and gas has not affected them yet, they have quite good reserves so all should be good.

Mapula Lodge:

Mapula reservations in Maun is affected, we (Smart Strategies) are able to assist with any booking enquiry as we have access to their systems and we are picking up their reservation emails until the power gets sorted out in Maun. Telephone lines are down and one entire cell network as well. If you need to phone please contact us on the following numbers +27 21 782 0763 or +27 21 782 5337 and mobile number +27 82 442 0843

Business as usual at the camp all is running smoothly.

Camp Dizhana:

The camp does not rely on the national power grid, so everything is running as usual. Reservations is run from South Africa so all is fine on that front as well.

Tuli Safari Lodge:

The power outages have not affected them and they are fine with stocks of fuel and gas.

We thank you for your understanding and look forward to your continued support going forward.

Kind regards

Garry

We have just returned from a trip to Botswana and there is an outbreak of foot and mouth. As a result you are not able to take any meat in.
We were travelling up to Chobe and thought that we could purchase meat from a contact near Francistown but he advised that we would be stopped on our way up to Kasane and boy was he right. From Nata to Kasane there are two vet fences where you need to get your shoes and your cars dipped.
The EU had cancelled import of beef so all export quality meat that was meant for the EU was sent to the Spar at Kasane - apprantly 200 tons of it. And yes, when we got there we were able to purchase fantastic quality meat.
Best bet is to purchase meat at your destination if possible. Otherwise check the maps carefully for vet fences and purchase meat in the area of your destination.

I am planning to safari next year for the first time in my whole life and astonished to hear that such problems are there. So I think its a cumbersome visit