Loisaba As Weekend Getaway

Loisaba Conservancy is outstandingly beautiful, its abundant wildlife is truly wild and its accommodation is comfortable beyond measure.

Loisaba Star Bed 

Handcrafted four-poster wooden beds sit on raised wooden platforms jutting out from a thatched-roof accommodation and are rolled out each night for guests to enjoy the most memorable sleep under the endless African sky.

A team of traditional Samburu & Laikipia & Maasai warriors welcome and host you with their customary warm African hospitality.

Rising early to watch sunrise from your Star Bed with a comforting hot beverage, the day ahead promises adventure, with a myriad of activities by which to experience Loisaba. A day of fun is rounded off with drinks by the log fire in the Star Beds lounge, sharing tall tales of the African bush, with the tale-telling continuing over a delicious shared dinner.

Loisaba Star Beds is a truly authentic and intimate African experience.

Side view of Loisaba Star bed

LODO SPRINGS

Lodo Springs offers an ultra-private experience with eight individual, spacious tented rooms with impressive views that reach across the magical landscape of northern Kenya stretching out to Mount Kenya.

Loisaba sits on a vital Elephant Corridor connecting the famous Laikipia Plateau and plays a key role in supporting one of Kenya's largest and most stable lion populations. The Conservancy is also home to several critically endangered large mammals, including Grevy’s zebra, wild dog, leopard and cheetah.

Loisaba Tented Camp

Perched on the edge of an escarpment, Loisaba Tented Camp is designed to capitalize on unhindered views across Laikipia's mottled landscape all the way to Mt Kenya. All accommodations and main areas enjoy a breathtaking vantage point over an expansive panorama.

GAME DRIVES

One of the best ways to view the wildlife at Loisaba is on a game drive. Whether you go early in the morning or late afternoon, you own informative guide will take you in an open vehicle across the open plains, through the bush or along the river bank viewing the wide variety of game, birds, plants and trees

CAMEL SAFARIS

The traditional mode of transport in the dry land of Northern Kenya and another great way to experience Loisaba. Short or longer walks can be arranged.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

For some excitement and adrenalin, take a mountain bike and your guide and explore some of the biking trails around Loisaba Conservancy on two wheels.

A LANDLOCKED COUNTRY THAT HAS BOOMING TOURIST ACTIVITIES

THE GOOD FACTS ABOUT  BOTSWANA 

Botswana is one of the world's most exciting travel destinations for exploring wildlife. It is landlocked by South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The natural beauty of Botswana is found in its land formations, its wilderness, wildlife and its cultural diversity. To travel Botswana offers an unique experience in exploring wildlife, birds and game in its natural state. 
Botswana straddles the Tropic of Capricorn in the centre of the Southern African plateau between latitudes 17 and 27 and longitudes 20 and 30 east.  It is bordered by South Africa in the south and southeast, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the northeast, and Namibia in the north and west. The land is flat, with gentle undulations and occasional rocky outcrops. In the northwest, the Okavango River drains inland from  Angola to form the Okavango Delta. The Okavango Delta is one of the largest inland deltas in the world.  It provides sustenance to a rich profusion of wildlife, and it is still in its natural state - unspoilt and unpolluted. It attracts thousands of tourists throughout the year from all over the world. In this Delta, dryland mingles with wetland. 
It has marsh, river, grasslands, riverine forests of palms, islands, flood plains and lagoons. In fact, the Okavango Delta is an Oasis situated within the Kalahari Desert, and is part of the larger geographical network which embraces Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe National Park, Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans and Mababe Depression. 
In addition to this Delta, Botswana offers a number of other exciting areas. In the central north-east is a large area of calcrete plains bordering the Makgadikgadi Pans. In the east, adjacent to the Limpopo drainage system, the land rises above 1.200 metres, and the Limpopo Valley gradually descends from 900 metres in the south to 500 metres at its confluence with the Shashe River.

Climate
Botswana is a very dry, semiarid land. The northern two-thirds of the country lies within the tropics. Daytime temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius may drop to below freezing point occasionally during the night. The rainfall ranges from 600mm in the Northwest to 250mm in the southern part. The rainfall is extremely unpredictable therefore there are frequent droughts.

Summer (September - April)
Frequent rain and thunderstorms; days and nights are very hot, but cooling off after rain spells.
Winter (May - July)
Dry and cold days and nights especially in the early hours of the morning.

Clothing
Generally throughout the year casual comfortable clothes are worn, blouses, shirts, shorts or light skirts are best. Some hotels in Gaborone do not permit jeans although they are useful on safari. Jerseys and jackets are necessary for winter mornings and evenings. Dull colours are more suitable on safari, white is not practical. In winter, warmer clothing is needed and track suits are very useful for sleeping in on safari. Comfortable shoes are essential.

Visa
Visas are required by all nationals of foreign countries excluding the following: All Commonwealth countries, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece., Iceland, Rep. of Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Samoa (Western), San Marino, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and USA. Any visitor wishing to stay more than 90 days will have to apply for prior permission to the Chief Immigration Officer, PO Box 942, Gaborone, Botswana.
The following countries alhough Commonwealth countries do require visas: Ghana, India, Mauritius, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.

Visa application forms are obtained from:
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
P.O. Box 942, Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: +267 3611-300/342
Fax: +267 352-996

Car hire
Cars can be booked from anywhere in the world to be available on arrival at Gahorone airport. Cars, trucks, minibuses and four – wheel drive vehicles are also available, some with professional guides and drivers. 
There are three vehicle – hire companies in Maun. Vehicles from all three companies come with drivers for which there is no additional charge. Prices, which vary, are available on request, but in all cases fuel costs are an extra.

Health
Consult a doctor at least 2 weeks prior to entering Botswana on what precautions should he taken against malaria. There has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of malaria infection amongst visitors and residents of Botswana's malaria endemic areas. As a precaution boil or sterilize drinking water outside of the main towns.
Botswana like other countries has been threatened by the Aids pandemic. However, the government has put in place measures like the National Aids Control Program to help address the many problems that this scourge has created. The general advice given by Worldwide Aids awareness campaigns should be adhered to while in the country.

Currency
The unit of currency is the Pula. Notes are in P5, P10, P50 and P100. Coins (Thebe) are in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, Pl & P2.
The Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Dinners Club are accepted as forms of payment, but only to a limited extent. Most hotels and lodges accept major foreign currencies or traveller's cheques, but the surcharge may be high. It is advisable to change money into local currency.

Commercial Banks
Barclays Bank of Botswana, Standard Chartered Botswana Limited, Stanbic, First National Bank of Botswana, Union Bank of Botswana and Zimbank of Botswana.

Banking Hours:
Monday – Friday: 09h00 – 14h30
Wednesday: 08h00 – 12h00
Saturday: 08h00 – 10h45

Major hotels have foreign currency facilities and most shops, lodges and travel agencies will accept travellers cheques.

Language
English is the official language. Setswana is the local language

Accessoires
Sunblock lotion, sunglasses, hats and insect repellents are essential. Binoculars are an absolute must.

Leopard FACT FILE: Swahili Name: Chui Scientific Name: Panthera pardus Size: About 28 inches at the shoulder Weight: Up to 140 pounds Lifespan: 21 years in captivity Habitat: Bush and riverine forest Diet: Carnivorous Gestation: Approximately 21/2 months Predators: Humans

The most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores, the leopard is also the shrewdest. Pound for pound, it is the strongest climber of the large cats and capable of killing prey larger than itself.

Physical Characteristics

Leopards come in a wide variety of coat colors, from a light buff or tawny in warmer, dryer areas to a dark shade in deep forests. The spots, or rosettes, are circular in East African leopards but square in southern African leopards.

Habitat

Dense bush in rocky surroundings and riverine forest are their favorite habitats, but leopards adapt to many places in both warm and cold climates. Their adaptability, in fact, has helped them survive the loss of habitat to increasing human settlement. Leopards are primarily nocturnal, usually resting during the daytime in trees or thick bush. The spotted coat provides almost perfect camouflage.

Behavior

When a leopard stalks prey, it keeps a low profile and slinks through the grass or bush until it is close enough to launch an attack. When not hunting, it can move through herds of antelopes without unduly disturbing them by flipping its tail over its back to reveal the white underside, a sign that it is not seeking prey.

Leopards are basically solitary and go out of their way to avoid one another. Each animal has a home range that overlaps with its neighbors; the male's range is much larger and generally overlaps with those of several females. A leopard usually does not tolerate intrusion into its own range except to mate. Unexpected encounters between leopards can lead to fights. 

Leopards growl and spit with a screaming roar of fury when angry and they purr when content. They announce their presence to other leopards with a rasping or sawing cough. They have a good sense of smell and mark their ranges with urine; they also leave claw marks on trees to warn other leopards to stay away. 

Leopards continually move about their home ranges, seldom staying in an area for more than two or three days at a time. With marking and calling, they usually know one another's whereabouts. A male will accompany a female in estrus for a week or so before they part and return to solitude.

Diet

As they grow, cubs learn to hunt small animals. The leopard is a cunning, stealthy hunter, and its prey ranges from strong-scented carrion, fish, reptiles and birds to mammals such as rodents, hares, hyraxes, warthogs, antelopes, monkeys and baboons.

Caring for the Young

A litter includes two or three cubs, whose coats appear to be smoky gray as the rosettes are not yet clearly delineated. The female abandons her nomadic wandering until the cubs are large enough to accompany her. She keeps them hidden for about the first 8 weeks, giving them meat when they are 6 or 7 weeks old and suckling them for 3 months or longer.

Predators

Leopards have long been preyed upon by man. Their soft, dense, beautiful fur has been used for ceremonial robes and coats. Different parts of the leopard the tail, claws and whiskers are popular as fetishes. These cats have a reputation as wanton killers, but research does not support the claim. In some areas farmers try to exterminate them, while in others leopards are considered symbols of wisdom. Leopards do well in captivity, and some have lived as long as 21 years.

Did you know?

• The elegant, powerfully built leopard has a long body, relatively short legs and a broad head. Its tawny coat is covered with dark, irregular circles called "rosettes."
• Both lions and hyenas will take away a leopard's kill if they can. To prevent this leopards store their larger kills in trees where they can feed on them in relative safety.

Hyena FACT FILE: Swahili Name: Fisi Scientific Name: Crocuta crocuta (spotted hyena) Size: 28 to 35 inches tall Weight: 90 to 190 pounds Lifespan: 25 years in captivity Habitat: Savannas, grasslands, woodlands, forest edges, subdeserts and mountains to 13,000 feet Diet: Carnivorous Gestation: 90 to 110 days Predators: Humans

Physical Characteristics
Of the three species of hyena in Africa, only the spotted hyena and the shy and much rarer, striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) are found in East Africa. The smaller, and even shyer brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea) occurs only in southern Africa. Different from most other animals, female spotted hyenas are dominant over the males and outweigh them by about 3 pounds.
It is difficult to distinguish male and female hyenas by observation in the field. They are not hermaphrodites (having both male and female sexual organs), nor can they change their sex at will, as many people believe. Although the external female genitalia have a superficial similarity to those of the male, they are nonetheless female organs and only the females bear and nurse young. Why the female hyena developed in this manner is not known, but it may have been necessary for them to appear large and strong to protect their young from males, as hyenas have cannibalistic tendencies.

Habitat

Spotted hyenas are found in grasslands, woodlands, savannas, subdeserts, forest edges and mountains.

Behavior

Spotted hyenas are organized into territorial clans of related individuals that defend their home ranges against intruding clans. The center of clan activity is the den, where the cubs are raised and individuals meet. The den is usually situated on high ground in the central part of the territory. Its above-ground entrances are connected to a series of underground tunnels.
Hyenas mark and patrol their territories by depositing a strong-smelling substance produced by the anal glands on stalks of grass along the boundaries. "Latrines," places where members of a clan deposit their droppings, also mark territories. The high mineral content of the bones hyenas consume make their droppings a highly visible, chalky white. Hyenas are social animals that communicate with one other through specific calls, postures and signals. They quickly make their various intentions known to other members of the clan, or to outsiders. When a hyena's tail is carried straight, for example, it signals attack. When it is held up and forward over the back, the hyena is extremely excited. In contrast, it hangs down when the hyena is standing or walking leisurely. If frightened, the hyena tucks its tail between the legs and flat against the belly and usually skulks away.

Diet

The spotted hyena is a skillful hunter but also a scavenger. Truly an opportunistic feeder, it selects the easiest and most attractive food it may ignore fresh carrion and bones if there is, for example, an abundance of vulnerable wildebeest calves. It consumes animals of various types and sizes (including domestic stock and even other hyenas), carrion, bones, vegetable matter and other animals' droppings. The powerful jaws and digestive tract of the hyena allow it to process and obtain nutrients from skin and bones. The only parts of prey not fully digested are hair, horns and hooves; these are regurgitated in the form of pellets. As hyenas hunt mostly at night and devour all parts, little evidence remains of their actual meals. Although they eat a lot of dry bones, they need little water.

Caring for the Young

Hyenas usually bear litters of two to four cubs, which, unlike the other two species, are born with their eyes open. Cubs begin to eat meat from kills near the den at about 5 months, but they are suckled for as long as 12 to 18 months, an unusually long time for carnivores. This is probably a necessity, as most kills are made far from the den, and hyenas, unlike jackals and hunting dogs, do not bring back food and regurgitate it for their young. At about 1 year, cubs begin to follow their mothers on their hunting and scavenging forays. Until then, they are left behind at the den with a babysitting adult.

Predators

Lions (who will attack them at every opportunity), hunting dogs and strange hyenas are among the species that prey on hyenas.

Did you know?

• Hyenas make a variety of vocalizations, including wailing calls, howling screams and the well-known "laughter" used to alert other clan members up to three miles away of a food source.

• Hyenas eat a great variety of animal products, vegetation and, according to campers, even aluminum pots and pans.

When you think of Africa, you’re probably thinking of Kenya. It’s the lone acacia silhouetted against a horizon stretching into eternity. It’s the snow-capped mountain almost on the equator and within sight of harsh deserts. It’s the lush, palm-fringed coastline of the Indian Ocean, it’s the Great Rift Valley that once threatened to tear the continent asunder, and it’s the dense forests reminiscent of the continent’s heart. In short, Kenya is a country of epic land forms that stir our deepest longings for this very special continent.

Kenya is where my love affair with Africa took hold and promised never to let go. Wildlife (big cats especially) and wilderness rank among the grand passions of my life and it was here that I saw my first lion on the march (in Amboseli), my first cheetah on the hunt (Tsavo East), my first leopard on a kill (Tsavo West) and where I came so close to elephants (Taita Hills) and black rhinos (Lewa) that I could have reached out to touch them. This is the home of Maasai and Samburu friends who give me hope that the old ways can survive.

Abundant Wildlife

This is the land of the Masai Mara, of wildebeest and zebras migrating in their millions with the great predators of Africa following in their wake. But Kenya is also home to the red elephants of Tsavo, to Amboseli elephant families in the shadow of Mt Kilimanjaro and to the massed millions of pink flamingos stepping daintily through lake shallows. Africa is the last great wilderness where these creatures survive. And Kenya is the perfect place to answer Africa’s call of the wild.

Conservation's Home

The survival and abundance of Kenya's wildlife owes everything to one of Africa's most innovative and successful conservation communities. Through some pretty tough love – Kenya pioneered the use of armed rangers to protect rhinos and elephants – Kenya stopped the emptying of its wilderness, bringing its wildlife back from the brink after the poaching holocaust of the 1970s and 1980s. More than that, in places like Laikipia and the Masai Mara, private and community conservancies bring tourism together with community development and wildlife conservation in a near-perfect marriage. In other words, if you want your visit to make a difference, you've come to the right place.

Proud People

Peopling that landscape, adding depth and resonance to Kenya’s age-old story are some of Africa’s best-known peoples. The Maasai, the Samburu, the Turkana, Swahili, the Kikuyu: these are the peoples whose histories and daily struggles tell the story of a country and of a continent – the struggle to maintain traditions as the modern world crowds in, the daily fight for survival in some of the harshest environments on earth, the ancient tension between those who farm and those who roam. Drawing near to these cultures, even coming to understand them a little better through your presence among them, could just be a highlight of your visit.

Domestic Tourism in East Africa
Domestic Tourism is gaining momentum in East Africa. The hotel industry has several packages for residents of Kenya ,Uganda and Tanzania. These packages include the Flight fees, Airport transfers, Hotel accommodations and sometimes All inclusive trip package. These packages are encouraged during Low seasons when hotel occupancies are low.

It is not a wonder to mention that many Kenyans do not Know the availability of tourism destinations in Kenya. This applies to the neighboring countries of Uganda and Tanzania. Take a sample of Ten (10) Kenya executives and ask them who amongst them have been to a game park, you will be surprised to learn that half (50%) of then have never seen an Elephant alive. Most Kenyans assume that the cost of tourism is so high that it is cheaper driving to the Rural homestead than to the coast of Mombasa or the Lodge in Maasai Mara for a weekend retreat, and that it is the white person who should go for a holiday in the various hotels and lodges in the wild and the coast.

We at Rithoworld adventures encourage various Multi-national companies, government departments, parastatals, individuals and NGO’s to finance tours for their executives and family to the game parks and to the coastal hotels and Lodges where we have subsidized contract rates for accommodation and conference facilities. Africans should know Africa better than the white person from outside Africa, the latter being the case presently.

Rithoworld adventures in conjunction with various hotels, lodges and camps is offering incentive Domestic Tour Packages to individuals, Families, corporate, Government and parastatal organizations. when you arrange for a holiday, Whether you are going on a tour either as an individual, family, group of friends or with colleagues at work, you will now affordably spend a holiday anywhere in Kenya or within East Africa community.

It is in Kenya where you can witness safari vehicles en route every day all year round. whatever your heart desires, Kenya has all that a visitor would want to see and do from the beautiful shores of Lake Victoria and its welcoming Luo cultural Community, the big game safaris and now the New 7th wonder of the world - The Maasai Mara with its Annual Migration of the wildebeest, the pristine beaches along the Kenyan coast and the beautiful snow-capped mount Kenya under the equator line, lastly is the cultural and community ecotourism experience. Many residents of Kenya deserve domestic tourism which covers: -

The Kenya wildlife Safari, Kenya scenic safari, Kenya cultural and community safari, Kenya Eco tourism safari, Kenya beach safari, Kenya Adventure safari, Kenya Sports safari, Retreats and incentive Tourism, Kenya Agro tourism safari, Kenya specialized safari and lastly is the Kenya Business safari.

THESE DOMESTIC TOURISM PACKAGES ARE OFFERED TO THE FOLLOWING;

Individual & Group Travel
This group of domestic tourists consists of single (solo) men and women, Married couples and students who would want a retreat far away from their normal living environment. Newly married couples are urged to spend their honeymoon adventure on a domestic tourist holiday site such as the beaches of Lake Victoria, the Mombasa coast and the wildlife game lodges.

Family Domestic Tourism
This targets the family members of Kenya who want to discover Kenya. The rush for rural home holiday travel is slowly ending as many family members are visiting the tourist sites such as the Maasai Mara, the Mombasa beach hotels, the Lake Victoria towns are visited by various non - Luo communities who want to see the Lake Victoria and to have a taste of fishing and boat rides on the lake.

Corporate Domestic and Incentive Tourism
Institutions and corporate bodies in Kenya are encouraging their management teams, senior staff members and employees to join the domestic tourism sector by paying holiday packages for senior staff and their family members, the best performers such as the best salesman of the year and his family, the best employee of the year and family, the best department staff members of the year and their family members. Retreats and Incentive Tourism is the most preferred tours for the corporate sector in that they take their workshops far away in the tourists sites from the normal office environment. This increases the domestic tourism docket. Victoria Safaris participates in the bookings and transport to these venues.

Educational and Study Domestic Tourism
Educational institutions arrange student tours per semester to various tourist sites. These include the Wildlife tours by the wildlife clubs, the agricultural shows, the Scouts and the girl guides clubs, university research students, wildlife and tourism clubs, etc. Victoria Safaris participate in these programmes by transporting the students to various sites.

Special Interests Groups Domestic Tourism
These groups include the disabled, the women, single mothers, women groups, the Ngo staff and their families, the newly married and any other groups with special interests who would save their money for a safari or a tour to the wilderness or lake Victoria region or any of the tourists sites. Coast is famous for most Kenyans while we also have the virgin western Kenya tourist circuit.

Rithoworld Adventures will tailor make your tours and safaris, thus encouraging domestic tourism.

   CULTURAL VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF KENYAN LIFE

The largest of these is the Kikuyu, who come from the central highlands and account for more than 20 per cent of the total population. Other main tribes are the Luo (from close to

Lake Victoria), the Kamba (from Eastern Province), the Kalenjin (pastoralists from the Rift

Valley) and the Luhya (from Western Province).Traditionally, each community has its own

culture and language or dialect but in modern times many of these outward differences have disappeared as more and more people have become urbanized or have migrated to Nairobi or Mombasa.

Nevertheless, each Kenyan – nominally at least – retains a strong affinity with his or her tribe; although this is less apparent among the more sophisticated and well educated.

Some tribes, notably the Maasai and Samburu, have been less willing to become urbanized and to leave their homelands and traditional way of life and have remained pastoralists or

even nomads. Each community has interacted with others through East Africa’s lingua franca, Swahili, and over the past 100 years or so English has also been spoken. Today, it is not uncommon for Kenyans to speak three languages fluently – not only Swahili and English but also their tribal language. Many others can speak a fourth or even fifth local language