Andbeyond Bateleur Magazine AUG 2015

BATELEUR
HEADING
Magazine
An &Beyond Publication
Issue 22
&BEYONDS BIG
ANNOUNCEMENT
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AN &BEYOND PUBLICATION
BATELEUR
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

across the Mara River and the
next, our teams are celebrating the
kaleidoscopic festival of colours in
India. No two days are ever the same
and to me, thats beautiful.
firsts. On the next page is a Top 10

list of some of my most favourite
moments at &Beyond. It has been an
adventure, to say the very least, and
I can only imagine what the next ten
years have in store.
Claire Trickett
This issue is filled with exciting news,

from adding a third continent to our
portfolio and successfully reversing
a 15-year local extinction of lions in
Rwanda, to providing a safe haven
for what is now the largest pack
of endangered African wild dogs
in South Africa. There is so much
happening at &Beyond and I feel so
proud to be part of an organisation
that makes a difference.
What I love about the BATELEUR

magazine is that there is never a
shortage of content. On any given
day, the most incredible, aweinspiring stories and photographs
cross my desk. One day, thousands
of wildebeest are thundering
As &Beyond breaks new ground in

South America and celebrates nearly
25 years of conservation, it has lead
me to reflect on my own ten years
with this company. All I can say is
that it has truly been a decade of
bucket list moments and lifetime
^ ON THE COVER
^ TOUGHEST RANGER OF THE MONTH
The rumours are true &Beyond

made a BIG announcement last
month. Read all about it on page 6.
Ranger by day, Romeo by night. &Beyond Exeter River Lodge ranger

Blaine Moolman has been known to serenade the crowd at night with
his acoustic talent and undeniable charm. Of course this begs the
question is Khaki Fever a real thing?!
To all of our readers, thank you for

supporting this publication and for
allowing us to take you on a journey
with each and every issue.
@clairetrickett
Id love to hear from you
Image courtesy of &Beyond guest Mikelle Furman.
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BATELEUR
If you would like to make a nomination, please send it to

claire.trickett@andBeyond.com.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

TOP 10 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS WITH &BEYOND
As I celebrate ten years with
&Beyond, I look back on so many
extraordinary moments that have
changed my life. &Beyond is an
incredible company to work for and
this Top 10 is merely a taste of the
countless unbelievable experiences
that we offer. It all starts with a
dream - let us do the planning!
4.

Touching a gentle giant as

part of &Beyond Phindas
elephant conservation
programme (this is NOT a
hunting photo, the animal was
sedated for research purposes)
5.

Hand-feeding a shy suni

antelope in the quiet, shaded
forest of &Beyond Mnemba
Island
6.

Witnessing the mighty herds of

the Great Migration as they
traverse the immense Serengeti
plains
1.

Sleeping out under the stars in

&Beyond Phindas Big Five
wilderness fluffy duvets,
infinite stars, twinkling lights,
fireside chats and no fences
2.

Watching our incredible

conservation team successfully
translocate not one, but two,
batches of endangered rhino
from South Africa to Botswana
7.

Meeting the President of

Botswana, Ian Khama, as
&Beyond officially donated six
rhino to his country
3.

Learning to stand-up
paddleboard and enjoying a
private sushi lesson on
&Beyond Mnemba Island
8.

Helping the &Beyond Mnemba

family relocate 125 green turtle
eggs that were in danger of
being washed away
9.

Getting to spoon sleeping

lion and cheetah as part
of &Beyond Phindas ongoing
conservation initiatives
10. Observing the most heavily

pregnant African wild dog
I have ever seen at &Beyond
Ngala, and returning a few
weeks later to see her
17 insanely cute puppies
So whats next? Well, theres still
that ever-elusive pangolin, cheeky
honey badger and of course, my
dream of producing an &Beyond
ranger calendar. To all khaki fever
sufferers around the world, watch
this space and, youre welcome.
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FIND US ONLINE
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BATELEUR
CONTENTS
FEATURE
&Beyond South America
regulars
Guest Delight

Kitchen Safari

Faces & Places

WILDchild

Leave a Legacy

Leaders in Conservation
Africa Foundation
Living the Brand

Fun Side

20
21
Jonestha Moths
6
8
19
22
41
44
52
56
25
Guest Irene Kelly
Scott Yammin
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BATELEUR

BREAKING NEW GROUND
You might have heard the rumours

and theyre all true. &Beyond has in
fact added a third, exciting continent
to our portfolio with the official
launch of &Beyond South America. As
the renowned operator of 33 luxury
safari camps and lodges on two
different continents, &Beyond also
designs personalised luxury safaris
in 15 African countries, 4 South
Asian countries, and now, 2 South
American countries.
our goal is to make a significant and

meaningful difference to the land,
wildlife and people of South America
as well.
By extending our core ethos of Care

of the Land, Care of the Wildlife
and Care of the People beyond the
borders of Africa and South Asia,
Our &Beyond Santiago office opened

its doors last month, with &Beyond
Managing Director Pedro Barraza
at the helm, and our travel experts
A remarkable continent that is

world-renowned for its magnificent
landscapes, fascinating culture and
exceptional wildlife areas, South
America is a perfect fit for &Beyond
and a veritable bucket list destination
for our guests.
are now passionately creating

truly authentic and unforgettable
experiences in both Chile and
Argentina, which are in line with
&Beyonds trademark hospitality and
exceptional guiding.
By mid-2016, &Beyond South
America will further expand to
include luxury travel services in Peru
and Ecuador, where guests will have
the opportunity explore the wonders
of Machu Picchu, the Amazon
rainforest, the Galpagos Islands and
the floating islands of Lake Titicaca,
to name just a few.
NEARLY 5 DECADES OF EXPERTISE

Pedro Barraza has 25 years of
experience in the travel industry
and 14 years of experience in
top management roles in South
America specifically. He works
alongside Mark Wheeler, &Beyond
Regional Managing Director for
East Africa, South Asia and South
America, who brings over 20 years
experience leading world-class DMC
(destination management company)
operations across 12 countries on
three continents. Together, Pedro,
Mark and &Beyond CEO Joss Kent
bring nearly 50 years worth of
experience operating in South
America.
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BATELEUR

EXPLORING CHILE &
ARGENTINA
&Beyond South Americas tailormade
luxury itineraries showcase the
continents most iconic destinations,
from the mighty Iguazu Falls,
intriguing Easter Island, fertile wine
regions, arid Atacama Desert (one of
the worlds driest deserts), bustling
Buenos Aires (the Paris of South
America), and of course Patagonia,
which is the gateway to Antarctica.
A land of breathtaking extremes,
Chiles landscapes are diverse, from
icy glaciers, arid deserts and tranquil
lakes, to rugged mountains, dense
rainforests and emerald fjords. The
country is surprisingly long and
narrow, covering a vast stretch along
South Americas western shoreline.
World-famous for its tango,
steak and football, Argentina is
the eighth largest country in the
world and its contrasting vistas will
take your breath away. From the
cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires
with its fine eateries, exceptional
shopping and vibrant nightlife, to the
countrys lush wetlands, flourishing
rainforests, cascading waterfalls and
snow-capped mountains, there is
something for everyone.
The options to explore are endless.
Land on an enormous turquoise
glacier following a scenic helicopter
flip and toast the sun as it sets
over the icy horizon. Tuck into
a delicious home cooked meal
at a local residence in Santiago.
Spend an evening stargazing with
a professional astronomer. Float
silently over wine vineyards in a hot
air balloon. Witness the fascinating
archaeological sites and photograph
the mysterious monolithic stone
statues on remote Easter Island.
We couldnt be more excited to start
revealing the wonders of these two
exhilarating and intriguingly beautiful
countries to our guests. Click here to
discover the charm of Chile and the
adventure that abounds in Argentina.
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BATELEUR
GUEST DELIGHT
SIXTEEN CANDLES ON THE CRATER
At &Beyond, we love nothing more
than to create lifelong memories
for our guests and well take any
good reason to throw a party. Be it
a milestone birthday or momentous
anniversary, to the smaller, but no
less significant, things that are so
often overlooked in everyday life,
such as a magnificent blazing sunset
or a sky bursting with twinkling stars.
We are in the business of creating
magic; of thrilling our guests by day
and spoiling them by night. Its what
we do best.
screen. Emotional and entertaining,

the family watched amidst laughter
and a few watery eyes, surrounded
by pink balloons and rows upon rows
of wine bottles.
The Krishna family recently travelled

all the way from Dubai to &Beyond
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and when
the lodge team discovered it was
Tanvis 16th birthday, they set out to
throw her the best sweet sixteen
party imaginable. The lodges brand
new wine store was the perfect,
intimate setting where the Krishnas
could flop on the couch and watch
Tanvis life story unfold on the big
The Krishnas posted a beautiful

description of their experience at
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
on TripAdvisor:
The lodges incredibly talented

Washawasha choir took the
celebration up a notch with their
traditional African singing and
dancing, and of course, no birthday
is complete without a decadent
chocolate cake and French
champagne.
Set in the clouds, this place is

magical. Located on the rim of the
Ngorongoro Crater, they have taken
hospitality to levels of the sublime.
We celebrated our daughters
16th birthday here and the team
did an outstanding job in making

our evening special. The attentive
service was consistently exceptional.
Every meal setting was poetic in its
expression. A meal at the tree lounge
is a must. Three days well spent at
this magnificent property was way
too short. We will come back for
sure for more. This is amongst the
best hospitality experiences in the
world. Not to be missed! I have
not added any pictures since this
is amongst the few places in the
world where the best of cameras feel
inadequate. The beauty of this place
is just unbelievable.
~ The Krishna Family
Happy birthday Tanvi, we hope it was
a birthday to remember and we look
forward to welcoming you all back
soon.
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BATELEUR
GUEST DELIGHT
3 CONTINENTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Now in its 22nd issue, the BATELEUR

magazine has grown from an
abbreviated in-house newsletter
aimed at motivating and inspiring
our staff, to a fully-fledged, external
digital publication that is available not
only as a PDF download, but also as
a free app for tablets on iTunes and
Google Play.
Are you reading this magazine on
your tablet? If not, click on the links
below for an even more interactive
and visually engaging journey
through the heart-warming stories of
each bi-monthly issue.
&beyond bateleur magazine
And the news keeps getting better!

We have now officially launched
&Beyonds inaugural iBrochure,
enabling guests and armchair
travellers to download their own
fully-interactive version of our
compelling guest brochure and
dream of their next unforgettable
&Beyond adventure. Showcasing
even more breathtaking images than
our print brochure, it is a feast for
the eyes, allowing you to browse all
of our properties and iconic touring
destinations.
The decision to place these two

&Beyond publications in the digital
sphere is in accordance with our
core company ethos of Care of the
Land, Care of the Wildlife and Care
of the People not to mention that
guests will now have extra space in
their luggage to pack that additional
safari shirt or souvenir.
To download on your iPad or tablet,
simply visit the app store and search
for andBeyond or click on one of
the links below. We hope you will be
captivated by this fully-interactive
reading experience.
&beyond ibrochure
PDF
DOWNLOAD
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BATELEUR
GUEST DELIGHT
DESERT SAND, SKY & STARS
We absolutely love hearing from our

guests, so when Lvia and Jrg shared
their breathtaking Namib Desert
photos, I couldnt resist including
them in this issue. Earlier this year,
the couple travelled from Switzerland
all the way to the delightfully remote
&Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge for
a three-day escape from reality.
And what an escape it was. From
traffic, deadlines and the dreaded
daily grind, to a vast, wide open
desertscape, natural luxury and a
silence so blissful it simply cannot
be put into words. It is a place where
time stands still, where people can
truly reconnect with the earth and
with each other.
A visit to &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert
Lodge is the perfect dichotomy
between adventure and relaxation.
Lvia and Jrg teetered on the edge
of mighty ochre sand dunes, with
views stretching out as far as the eye
could see. They cast playful shadows
in the afternoon light and raced

down the sides of the dunes without
a care in the world.
Back at the lodge, Lvia and Jrg
were ensconced in quiet elegance
and romance. The resident
astronomer revealed an impossibly
starry sky to them from the lodges
world-class observatory, they were
treated to al fresco, candlelit dinners
and most importantly, they were
given endless space and time to
relax, unwind and truly absorb the
tranquillity of the desert. What bliss.
Their tailormade &Beyond journey
then took them further north to
Etosha National Park, where the
wildlife sightings were a welcome
surprise in such a remote, seemingly
desolate part of the world. From
frisky foxes, duelling warthogs,
dust-covered zebras and journeys
of giraffe, to an elusive leopard, lazy
lioness and prowling cheetah, they
really did see it all.
Upon their return to Switzerlands

winter, this is what the couple had to
say about their life-changing desert
adventure:
Our stay at &Beyond Sossusvlei
Desert Lodge was more romantic
than any surprise one could ever plan
for: we enjoyed the most incredible
stargazing (even from our own bed!),
a picnic on the dunes, dinner under
the stars, stunning nature, beautiful
suites and very friendly staff. When
we left, we felt like we were saying
goodbye to old friends.
~ Lvia and Jrg
Lvia and Jrg, thank you for
choosing to escape to &Beyond
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. We hope it
enriched your souls and left you with
hearts full of memories.
Images courtesy of Jrg Kgi.
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BATELEUR
GUEST DELIGHT
SHOPPING THAT REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE
&Beyond has always adhered to the
simple concept of giving more and
taking less in order to really make
a difference to our planets land,
wildlife and people. Just by travelling
or staying with us, our guests directly
contribute to the conservation of the
9 million acres of pristine wildlife land
we are the lucky custodians of, as
well as the vital development of the
surrounding communities.
A profitable business model enables
&Beyond to keep doing what is
most important to us to make an
ongoing, meaningful and lasting
difference to our world. This notion
applies to our Safari Shops too. Not
only do we source local products
wherever possible and empower

artisans from the communities
surrounding our reserves, but the
proceeds are channelled back into
various projects that care for the
earth and its inhabitants.
From jewellery, ceramics and safari
gear that support rhino conservation
in South Africa, to childrens toys that
pay it forward to dugong protection
in Mozambique, each product is
carefully selected with our 3 Cs in
mind: Care of the Land, Care of the
Wildlife, Care of the People.
Brand new to &Beyond Safari Shops
are our Care journals: black for land;
navy for wildlife; and crimson red for
people. These stylish, faux leather

books contain 80 pages of thick,
lined paper and come in a classic
white gift box.
By purchasing these elegant journals,
our guests are contributing to
the ongoing work of &Beyonds
conservation and sustainability
teams, as well as our social
development partner, Africa
Foundation. Now thats something to
feel good about.
To indulge in some do-good retail
therapy, please contact us on
guestshopping@andBeyond.com
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BATELEUR
GUEST DELIGHT
BORN TO SHOP
Guests visiting &Beyond Kirkmans
Kamp all seem to agree that the
lodges Safari Shop is the perfect
place to stock up on exclusive safari
souvenirs. Situated in the historic
homestead next to the large, shady
mahogany tree, the always enticing
shop is lovingly managed by Candice
Streak.
A qualified beauty therapist
with a certificate in professional
photography, Candice clearly has
an eye for elegant style and design.
She meticulously arranges the
merchandise, ensuring the shop
always has a calm and orderly zenlike feel. Jokingly admitting that
she has a slight case of obsessive

compulsive disorder, Candice
completely rearranges the shop every
two weeks to keep it interesting,
enticing and beautifully laid out.
Candice consistently gives our buyers
feedback on what does and doesnt
work in the shop and she is forever
asking questions about each product
so that she can fully comprehend its
unique value and communicate it to
shoppers. She welcomes every guest
back from game drive and genuinely
enjoys chatting to guests one on
one, to learn more about them and
their families.
When shes not working in her

Safari Shop, Candice loves running
on the reserve, designing gift cards
and spending quality time with her
husband (&Beyond Kirkmans and
Exeter General Manager Brendan
Streak) and their two beautiful
children, Bella and Luke.
So next time youre at &Beyond
Kirkmans Kamp, pop into the Safari
Shop and say hi to Candice. Shell
send you home with the most perfect
memento to remind you of your time
in sunny South Africa.
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BATELEUR
GUEST DELIGHT
#travelandbeyond
YOU ASKED, AND WE LISTENED!
Our year-long #travelandBeyond
Instagram photo competition has
been running for six months now,
and much to our disappointment,
certain participants were purchasing
likes in a surreptitious manner in
order to boost their entry. We issued
a statement that any participant
suspected of purchasing likes would
be disqualified.
Unfortunately this amendment did
not have the desired effect, and
much to the frustration of bona fide
participants, others continued to
break the rules. If we did not take

decisive action, it would mean that
&Beyond condones a conduct that
violates our very ethos and company
values.
As a result, we have now
removed the number of likes
as the determining factor in our
competition. Going forward, the
winning photos/videos each month,
as well as the three annual winners
and the overall grand prize winner,
will now all be determined by a panel
of judges and will not be based on
likes. In order not to prejudice

any bona fide participants who are
participating in the competition, all
previous winners from February to
July will be honoured and they are all
still eligible to win the final prize.
Those who have entered photos in
previous months and didnt win are
welcome to resubmit those images.
The same competition rules of entry
apply click here to refresh your
memory.
Good luck!
#travelandbeyond
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BATELEUR
GUEST DELIGHT
June
July
2015
WINNERS
2015
WINNERS
#travelandbeyond
#travelandbeyond
Care of the Land
Care of the Land
Silvia Ribeiro
David Bernstein
Care of the Wildlife
Care of the Wildlife
David Bernstein
Brendon Kahn
Care of the People
Care of the People
Silvia Ribeiro
David Bernstein
THE PRIZE
There are Three Prize Categories
One of three monthly prizes of two
nights at any of &Beyonds Africa
properties.
Three overall category winners
declared at the end of the
competition period will receive an
additional two free nights at any
of &Beyonds camps and lodges in
Africa.
The three overall category winners
will be eligible to win the grand prize
of a private 8-night all-expensespaid luxury photographic safari
in Tanzania for two people. Also
includes a Canon camera package
and Swarovski binoculars.
How to enter
Follow us on Instagram @andbeyondsafari and @andbeyondrangers
Upload your best photo or video from any of your travels with &Beyond,
choosing one (or more) of the following categories that reflects one of
&Beyonds core ethos:
Care of the Land | Care of the Wildlife | Care of the People
Dont forget to use #travelandbeyond and mention @andbeyondsafari,

@andbeyondrangers and the location where your photo or video
was taken.
Tag both @andbeyondsafari and @andbeyondrangers.
For more information and terms and

conditions visit
www.travel-andbeyond.com
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BATELEUR
GUEST DELIGHT
BEST FROM THE GUEST
Our goal with each and every guest, quite simply, is to welcome them as friends, spoil them with unexpected
surprises, create lifelong memories and ensure that they leave feeling like one of the family.
Our guests really do say it best and we absolutely love hearing from them about their &Beyond experience. If you
would like to share your own &Beyond story, please send your comments to claire.trickett@andBeyond.com.
Living in Australia, my husband
and I are entirely reliant on the
professional service and expert
advice based on first-hand
knowledge provided by our senior
travel consultant in Cape Town.
She has planned four visits to Africa
for us over a two-year timeframe.
&Beyond camps and lodges have
featured prominently in our last two
itineraries. &Beyond Phinda Rock
Lodge, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge
and &Beyond Xaranna Okavango
Delta Camp were highlights of our
trip in 2014.
Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp and

each delivered an experience that
already has confirmed for us that we
are called to make another journey
in 2016 to the country that has
captured our hearts.
Justifiably, &Beyond deserves its

place at the top of the ladder as a
company delivering superb African
safari experiences, taking into
consideration all the elements that
are integral to ensuring the provision
of an unforgettable safari adventure.
In June/July of this year, three vastly

different, but equally magnificent
&Beyond destinations in Tanzania
were an integral part of our itinerary.
&Beyond Kleins Camp, &Beyond
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BATELEUR
GUEST DELIGHT
&BEYOND KLEINS CAMP
From the moment we were greeted at Lobo airstrip, we sensed that our upcoming experience was going to be
positive. Accommodation, food and wine are all wonderful; however, some things stood out as exceptional at this
destination.
Staff can be placed at the top of the list. It can truly be said that from the many camps we have experienced over
our four visits to Africa, the hospitality and personalised service at Kleins surpasses most others. Manager Tawanda
and Assistant Managers Richard and Gabriella showed a personal interest at all times during conversations and
other interactions. Diminutive Elli, as our butler, brought us so much joy. Nothing was too much trouble and her
effervescent personality and cheerfulness were ever present. I believe we will become life-long friends and that
journey has already begun.
Our fantastic guide, Seleu, competently assisted by Lebo as tracker, ensured our game drives were informative and
rewarding. The sight of incredibly large herds of zebra, interspersed with a variety of other animals grazing on the
plains was awesome. Sitting on directors chairs on the plains, while a bush breakfast was cooked for us by Seleu and
Lebo, made us feel like movie stars.
The location of &Beyond Kleins Camp has to be experienced to be believed. Sitting nestled into the hills, the expansive
views below provided many opportunities to just soak in the landscape from many vantage points: our suite, the
dining room and of course the bar/lounge area with its huge panoramic window just perfect!
Upon discussion with Seleu, we chose the option of visiting the closer, very traditional Maasai village. What a
privileged and humbling experience that proved to be. To have their traditional way of life explained and displayed
to us; to sit inside a tiny, dark hut while a woman kindled a fire in readiness for end of day and attended to feeding a
very young infant, and to interact with the young children who followed us around has made an indelible mark in our
hearts and memories. A chance to buy some beaded jewellery and artefacts at the conclusion of our visit enabled us
to offer a few dollars to support these women in their endeavours.
The final event that stood out as exceptional for us played out on our last night at Kleins. Nearing the end of our
game drive, Seleu asked if we had ever seen a traditional Maasai wedding. Of course, the response was no. He
indicated that we were about to have that experience. We expressed our concerns that it might be intrusive, but he
allayed our fears, saying we would only stop by for a very short time at a spot in the distance where we could see a
fire burning.
What an unbelievable surprise awaited us! Not a Maasai wedding, but sundowners, all laid out with chairs and couch
bedecked in traditional Maasai cloths, fire burning and a fine array of drinks and nibbles. The pice de rsistance
occurred when Elli popped out from under the table (up until then she was hidden by the tablecloth), then Richard
and Gabriella slowly traversed the plain from a distance where they had been discreetly parked in a vehicle. The most
creative and amazing sundowner story unfolded right there on the Serengeti plains!
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BATELEUR
GUEST DELIGHT
&BEYOND GRUMETI SERENGETI TENTED CAMP
Serengeti Balloon Safaris

This camp provided a different experience, being a tented facility. It ticked all of the boxes for us. Our
accommodation was right on the river, so our relaxation time was punctuated with the sounds of the many hippo
playing or defending their territory. Definitely a value-added feature of our four-night stay.
The food was delicious and staff were very hospitable. Our butler, Arron, was outstanding in his endeavours to
respond to our needs, including one day when I was unwell.
Three highlights should be acknowledged. During the boma dinner one evening, we observed a gentleman seated
alone and asked staff if they would invite him to join us. That person was Dr Crispo Ndembeka, Assistant Programme
Officer for Africa Foundation overseeing East Africa, Kenya and Tanzania. During conversation, we learnt so much
about the valuable work of the Foundation. When we became aware that Crispo was in the camp the following
evening too, we again had the pleasure of his company and conversation during dinner time.
A surprise bush dinner for guests was another highlight. Who cannot be excited when towards the conclusion of
the game drive, our guide enquired if we had ever before seen those giant African fireflies? Having experienced the
delight of unexpected bush dinners from previous safaris, it was not difficult to interpret the intended meaning of that
question.
A hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti was also an unforgettable highlight. At an additional cost, it was well worth
the expenditure. To observe the magnificence of the plains from above, and experience the beauty and tranquillity
of the sunrise after the excitement of watching all the preparations prior to the balloons ascent made this whole
experience well worthwhile.
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BATELEUR
GUEST DELIGHT
&BEYOND NGORONGORO CRATER LODGE
After spending only two nights here, we departed wishing that we could have had more time to enjoy this magical
destination. Located on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, the lodge and environs are often bathed in swirling cloud,
which can make the drive to and from the crater a little challenging. But in the capable hands of Salimu, our guide, we
felt 100% safe.
On our first entry to the crater, we enjoyed our initial encounters with the amazing variety of wildlife that inhabits
this environment. Our next day unfolded with another visit to the crater floor, a few hours of soaking up the scenery
and the abundance of lion, wildebeest, zebra, rhino, other animals and the thousands of pink flamingos. A wonder
to behold! Our afternoon was completed with a visit to Olduvai Gorge. Then we travelled on to the Shifting Sands to
witness the work of nature in action, physically relocating the dune several kilometres over the last five years.
Accommodation at this lodge exceeds anything we have experienced in the many camps we have visited. The
dcor in our suite and throughout the dining and lounge areas has to be seen to be believed. Food and wine choice
was superb, with silver service dining. Fresh roses adorned all areas and the rose petal baths prepared were truly
appreciated.
Upon arrival, there was sparkling wine, roses and a warm welcoming letter awaiting us. Our butler, Safari, and Camp
Manager, David, along with all staff were outstanding in their personal efforts to ensure all our needs were met.
Hospitality was truly exceptional!!!
One other thing will remain forever etched in our memory. The night before we left, my husband and I were escorted
to the wine cellar. There, dinner was served for just the two of us, made even more special by a visit and song and
dance performance just for the two us by the local WashaWasha Choir a truly emotional experience. I now have
their DVD and my very own WashaWasha choir t-shirt as a tangible reminder of a night my husband and I will never
forget.
We departed after a whirlwind visit made so special by the wonderful staff, combined with the beauty of the location
and accommodation. Seeing is believing!
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BATELEUR
KITCHEN SAFARI
MAGIC INGREDIENT
WINTER WARMERS, SOUTH AFRICAN STYLE
In South Africa, the familiar phrase
local is lekker pays homage to the
belief that things close to home
are often the best. To celebrate this
philosophy, the team at &Beyond
Kirkmans Kamp often delights guests
with a proudly South African local is
lekker themed sundowner stop.
The setting couldnt be more
memorable, under the ancient and
most-photographed sycamore fig
tree in the Sabi Sands. As the sun
dips below the horizon, a trail of
blazing lanterns leads hungry guests
to a warm and welcome feast of
traditional South African bunny
chow, biltong, bubbly and boks
(springbok drinks, of course).
Throw in some biltong (dried, cured

meat that has become a South
African obsession), bubbly and a
springbok drink (a patriotic blend
of Amarula and peppermint liqueur
made to resemble the green and
gold colours of the national rugby
uniform) and you have a proudly
South African celebration deep in the
heart of the bush.
If youd like to emulate our local
is lekker party, heres our bunny
chow recipe, sent from the &Beyond
Kirkmans Kamp kitchen with love.
Enjoy!
Guest Warren Bolttler
The much-loved bunny chow is a

traditional South African dish that
originated in the Durban Indian
community, and simply put, it is a
hollowed-out loaf of fresh bread
filled with a mouth-watering curry.
This is comfort food at its best and
the &Beyond Kirkmans chefs make
the most irresistible bite-sized bunny
chows that are perfect for those brisk
winter evenings.
KIRKMANS KAMP BUNNY CHOW - Serves 10

Let us emphasise that no bunnies are harmed in the making of this dish its just a name!
Ingredients
250 g cooked lamb finely shredded
2 Tbsp oil
1 medium onion
1 carrot, diced
1 clove garlic
1 fresh ginger, grated
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 green chilli, chopped & de-seeded

1 tsp turmeric
tsp coriander seeds
tsp cumin seeds
1 bay leaf
1 cardamom pod
1 freshly chopped tomato

cup coconut milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh coriander for garnish
10 mini bread rolls
Optional: 1 tin baked beans
Directions
Place the onion, oil, carrots, garlic, ginger and all spices (except curry powder and turmeric) in a saucepan on low
heat. Saut the vegetables until the onions are glossy and then add meat, curry powder and turmeric.
Add the tomato, chili and coconut milk.
Bring to a boil and then turn the heat down to the lowest setting and leave to cook for 1 hour.
Stir occasionally.
Cut the tops off the bread rolls and remove the inside of each roll, replacing it with a generous scoop of curry.
Bon apptit!
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BATELEUR
KITCHEN SAFARI
TRUE CONFECTIONS
When faced with an irresistible
selection of decadent desserts, a
guest visiting &Beyond Ngorongoro
Crater Lodge was recently overheard
saying, I feel like a queen in an old
English castle! And thats exactly
how we want our guests at the
Crater to feel like royalty.
At &Beyond, each and every one of
our 33 safari camps and lodges has
its own unique food identity that has
been carefully devised according
to that particular lodges ambience,
traditions and local delicacies. At
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge,
where the opulence of Versailles
meets the charm of the Maasai,
the food is nostalgic, decadent and
served in generous abundance.
A brilliant new creation that guests
are raving about is the lodges tam
tam trolley. Tamu is the Swahili
word for sweet, so its the perfect
name for this impossible-to-
resist dessert trolley that is literally

overflowing with sinful confections.
Were talking dark chocolate truffles,
Amarula white chocolate truffles,
chocolate brownie rum and sultana
balls, homemade vanilla bean
marshmallows, rose water Turkish
Delights, apple pastilles lightly coated
with hibiscus flowers, and the lodges
signature espresso shortbread, made
with crushed coffee beans.
Of course the traditional dessert

of the day is also on offer, just to
make the dessert decision that much
more difficult: Eton Mess with fresh
berry coulis, rose cream and mini
vanilla meringues; dark chocolate
dlice topped with a thin crispy tuile
biscuit and fresh, plump berries;
or Kilimanjaro coffee panna cotta
served with dark chocolate shavings
and a fudge sauce.
For the non-sweet tooth, the trolley

also has a vintage bowl filled with a
different fruity dessert each evening:
spiced red wine poached pears
served with crme anglaise and
whipped cream; fresh Moroccan
orange salad topped with cinnamon,
mint and almonds and served with
a rich fudge sauce and homemade
Greek yoghurt; or a fresh berrywatermelon salad served with
thick cream and a miniature jug of
passionfruit coulis.
Down at Tree Camp, where the

setting is too small and intimate for
a trolley, guests are being spoiled
with a hand-carved tam tam
wooden box filled with a tempting
selection of these mouth-watering
delights. There really is something
for everyone and we guarantee that
even the most disciplined of guests
wont be able to resist tucking in
like its the Last Supper (or dessert,
should we say).
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BATELEUR
KITCHEN SAFARI
LIQUID ASSETS
MASTERS OF CEREMONY
Lets face it. You can serve the
finest, most expensive champagnes
anywhere, expertly poured by a
world-renowned sommelier, but
that doesnt guarantee a bona fide
celebration. At &Beyond, our staff are
trained to understand and apply the
simple underlying adage its not
the what, its the how to their
daily jobs. This golden thread applies
to everything we do, each and every
day, to ensure that our guests have
a truly memorable and extraordinary
experience while travelling with us.
Its the small things that make a
difference. We combine storytelling,
theatre and beautiful settings with
the all-important element of FUN.
After all, if its not fun, will it be
remembered?
The ancient art of sabrage sums it up
perfectly. Sabrage is the not-so-easy,
but always impressive, technique
of ceremoniously beheading a
champagne bottle using a saber.
All of our rangers learn to master
this often entertaining performance
using a panga or machete (it can
even be done with a butter knife or
spatula, but thats not very rugged
or ranger-like!), adding a sense
of fun and adventure to a simple
champagne breakfast or sundowner
in the bush.
So what would you prefer a
charming sabrage performance and
glasses of bubbly poured by a khakiclad ranger overlooking the most
dramatic natural vista or a stiff
glass of Dom Perignon served with
white gloves among chandeliers and
linen tablecloths? To us, its a nobrainer.
My only regret is that I have not
drunk more champagne in my life.
~ John Maynard Keynes
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BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES

AWARDING GREATNESS
The longstanding &Beyond Bateleur
Awards are an annual celebration
of staff within our company that go
above and beyond the regular call of
duty and who regularly and selflessly
make a meaningful contribution
to our core ethos of caring for the
land, wildlife and people. These
&Beyonders are recognised by their
peers as being true custodians
of the &Beyond culture and their
attitudes, behaviours and work ethic
consistently reflect our brand and
values.
The Bateleur Awards are the highest

form of peer and management
recognition that an &Beyonder can
aspire to. Each quarter, regional
winners are selected by their peers
and at the end of the year one overall
winner is selected for each of the
regions in which we operate. These
regional winners then compete for
the grand title.
JENNI CHIN
Field Guide
JIMSON MTHETHWA
Habitat Nduna
KATHY PRETORIUS
Lodge Procurement Manager
Ngala Safari Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Bateleur House
LEBEUS SHIIKOYA
Senior Chef
UNAMI BHUKA
Lodge Administrator
WILSON LEDIO NAKERI

Food & Beverage: Cleaner
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Expeditions & Under Canvas
Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
&Beyond Bateleur Awards ceremony.

Heartfelt speeches were given for
each of the seven incredibly talented,
selfless, hard-working and well
deserving regional winners from
South Africa all the way to Kenya.
As guardians of the &Beyond culture,
these seven finalists embody exactly
what it is to be an &Beyonder and
they all truly deserve the recognition.
&Beyonders recently gathered at

Bateleur House in Johannesburg for
the highly anticipated 2014/2015
YONA YOHANA DANFORD

Pastry Chef
Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp

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FACES & PLACES
AND THE WINNER IS
With such fierce competition from

each region, &Beyond CEO Joss Kent,
our Leadership team and shareholder
Adi Enthoven had the extremely
difficult task of selecting our overall
winner for the year. After careful
deliberation, Adi bestowed the title
on &Beyond Ngala Private Game
Reserve ranger, Jenni Chin.
A female born in Indonesia and

raised in Australia, the odds were
already stacked against Jenni
when she joined &Beyonds Inkwazi
Ranger Training School in 2013. She
persevered with sheer determination
and clearly impressed the trainers
with her knowledge, passion,
dedication and strength of character.
she has inspired her fellow rangers

to volunteer their time together to
help those in need. From painting
playground equipment and building
a greenhouse, to planting seedlings
and vegetable gardens, Jenni and
the Ngala rangers continue to get
involved, create awareness and raise
much-needed funds.
Jenni went on to become a ranger at

&Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve
where she has been guiding for two
years. She greets each day and each
guest with a contagious enthusiasm
and not only ensures that every guest
is well looked after, but also reveals
the intrigue and mystery of the
natural world to them.
Congratulations to each and every

one of our regional winners; you
are inspiring the next generation of
&Beyonders and we thank you for
everything that you selflessly do, day
in and day out, to care not only for
our guests, but also for our planets
land, wildlife and people. And to our
overall winner Jenni, we couldnt
be more proud of your remarkable
achievements and look forward to
seeing you succeed and continue to
motivate others around you to also
make a meaningful difference.
Jenni soon realised her desire

to help make a difference in the
communities surrounding Ngala
and in her own quiet, engaging way,
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FACES & PLACES

EYE ON THE WILD
CHARLESTON: THE NEXT GENERATION
Guests visiting our lodges during
the winter months have been
spoiled with the first official, oncein-a-lifetime sightings of &Beyonds
newest additions (of the four-legged
kind).
Back in mid-April at &Beyond
Kirkmans Kamp, the Charleston
female lioness (the last adult female

in the pride) and the two Charleston
males (her nephews) were seen
defending her den site from the
Hildas Rock pride. In late April, the
two tiny cubs were finally observed
for the first time; however due to
increased pressure from not one, but
two invading prides, the Charleston
Brett Devitt
female was forced to move her

young to a new den site across the
Sand River in early May. She returned
to the &Beyond Kirkmans Kamp
property a month later with her two
healthy and strong little cubs, giving
guests the most heart-warming
sightings.
Sean Messham
Jarryd Du Preez
Daniel Williams
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BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES

BLUE-EYED BABE
Guests visiting &Beyond Exeter River
Lodge on Fathers Day were also in
for an unexpected and unforgettable
treat. That week, lion sightings
had been scarce, with most of the
areas prides moving to the eastern
boundary. When lions were heard
vocalising in the night, everyone
set off on the morning game drive
with an air of excitement. As they
drove onto the dry riverbed, there
in the morning sun were two male
lions, three lionesses and three fivemonth-old cubs, all interacting and
playing together.
After weeks upon weeks of
anticipation, the Xikavi female
leopard finally granted rangers and
guests the first official sighting of her
two exquisite eight-week-old cubs.

The mother was observed calmly
ambling down the road, later settling
down on a rocky outcrop right on
the edge of a drainage line. When a
tiny little pair of ears and the bluest of
blue eyes emerged from behind the
rock, everyones hearts melted.
Ranger Warrick Davey, who wrote
about the experience, said After I
took this photo of the more curious
cub, I sat for a few minutes, not
saying a word, mesmerised by those
big blue eyes of the most beautiful
creature I have ever seen.
Warrick Davey
ITS A DOGS LIFE

At &Beyond Ngala Private Game
Reserve, guests were recently able
to enjoy perhaps one of Mother
Natures most rare and privileged
sightings: a pack of 14 highly
endangered African wild dogs
(7 adults and 7 one-year-old
juveniles from their previous littler)
chose to den exclusively on Ngalas
property. The large pack, along with
an unbelievably heavily pregnant
alpha female that could barely
keep up when the pack was on the
move, was seen sniffing around for a
potential den site back in May. When
four lions were seen crossing over
the boundary into Ngala, the wild
dogs unfortunately moved off and
no one was sure if theyd be back.
Much to the Ngala rangers delight,
the dogs returned to Ngala just
days later and it was ranger Roan du
Plessis that first spotted their official
den site. A camera trap was set up
and no vehicles went near the den
for a few weeks, giving the animals
their much-needed privacy and
security. The camera trap produced
some interesting commentary, with
a lioness seen lurking around the
den entrance and chasing the dogs
around.
Scott Yammin
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BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES
The pack was successful and an

astounding 17 (!) puppies eventually
emerged from the den, allowing
guests the most incredible sightings
of all 31 dogs interacting, feeding,
playing, vocalising and regurgitating
meat. Predator presence and/or
parasite build-up will often cause
wild dogs to move their den site
and the pack did relocate their den
on Ngala land once before moving
off the reserve entirely. They are
now denning in the neighbouring
Timbavati Game Reserve and,
miraculously, all 17 puppies are still
alive and well.
Affectionately referred to as the
Ngala pack, it is currently the largest
pack of endangered African wild
dogs in South Africa. The largest
recorded litter in South Africa is 21,
so this is a fantastic conservation
victory on many different levels.
What a tremendous honour it was
to be able to play a key role in the
successful breeding of these highly
endangered animals.
Mike Anderson
MINI MOHAWKS
&Beyond Phinda Private Game
Reserve is world-renowned not
only for being home to the famous
Big Five, but also for its thriving
population of cheetah. The worlds
fastest land mammal, these spotted
cats delight guests at &Beyond
Phinda regularly with their hunting
prowess, their sleek build and their
signature pose atop termite mounds
or small hills as they look out over
the reserves vast, open grasslands.
Last month, a female cheetah finally
graced everyone with the presence
of her five darling cubs. With their
captivating amber eyes and hilarious
little mohawk hairdos, the cubs have
been observed playing, feeding and
learning much-needed skills from
their matriarch. Female cheetah will
typically produce a litter of three, so
this mother clearly has her hands full
as she keeps her energetic quintet
out of harms way.
Ben Ackerman
Mark Lautenbach
Matt Murray
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BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES

FILM & PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERTS RELY ON &BEYOND SOUTH ASIA
As a leading luxury experiential travel

company that now proudly spans
three different continents, &Beyond
is able to offer an incredible range of
life-changing, bucket list adventures
to suit any travellers wishlist. We are
a guide-led business and whether
guests are seeking a wildlife, cultural,
culinary, family or photographic
journey you name it we are
renowned for having highly skilled
specialist guides and naturalists that
deliver authentic, personal, insightful
and memorable local experiences.
Theyre a million times better than
any guidebook and by the end of the
journey, they really do feel like family.
This sought-after knowledge and onthe-ground expertise even extends
to the world of filmmaking and
documentaries. Our &Beyond South
Asia team has quickly become the
#1 go-to travel expert of choice for
several top documentaries filmed in
India and Sri Lanka.
The most recent being a National
Geographic magazine feature, In
The Footsteps of Gandhi, for which
the &Beyond team planned and
executed an exciting itinerary that
criss-crossed India, documenting
the historic travels of Mahatma
Gandhi during his struggle for Indian
independence. Our team even went
as far as to recreate the route of
the famous Dandi Salt March, when
Gandhi walked from Ahmedabad to
Dandi to collect salt in defiance of a

colonial tax.
This was not &Beyond South Asias
only cooperation with National
Geographic; our team has also
worked with the prestigious
publication on a number of stories,
including the snow leopard, tiger
and Kaziranga National Park. They
recently wrapped up a two-month
photoshoot with Nat Geo and
renowned photographer Steve
Winter in Sri Lanka, documenting the
elusive leopard.
&Beyond South Asia Managing
Directors Suhail Gupta and Toby
Sinclair have
handled numerous
film projects as
well. These include
major series such
as Land of the Tiger
(BBC/PBS) and
sequences for Life
of Mammals (BBC)
and Planet Earth
(BBC/Discovery), as
well as numerous
films on iconic
species such as
the tiger, leopard,
elephant, Indian
wolf and Indian
wild dog.
It is not always South Asias wildlife

that is in focus and other recent
projects include films on the
life of the Buddha and Buddhist
archaeology for PBS, National
Geographic and the BBC. The team
also worked on a three-part series
on the Ganges River for the BBC
and Discovery, as well as the Indian
sequences on BBCs History of the
World, among others.
The &Beyond South Asia team also
assisted with the Wonders of the
Monsoon, a BBC documentary series
that examines the effects of the
monsoon rains on the wildlife and
cultures of South Asia. This project
27
BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES

made good use of &Beyonds reach
throughout the region, calling for the
coordination of itineraries in both
India and Sri Lanka.
&Beyonds extensive knowledge of
Sri Lanka was also requested for the
filming of two other documentaries
on the island. Considering its size, Sri
Lanka is one of the most biologically
diverse places on the earth, a fact
that was highlighted in the three-part
National Geographic series Wild Sri
Lanka. The series, which the &Beyond
team worked on for over two years,
tracks the islands wildlife.
More recently, &Beyond was also
responsible for travel arrangements
and extensive logistical support
during the three-year filming of the
popular Disney feature film Monkey
Kingdom, which follows a family of
macaque monkeys living within the
ancient ruined city of Polonnaruwa.
The expert handling of such highly
specialised itineraries is testament to
the local knowledge, infrastructure
and proven track record of our
&Beyond team in South Asia. With
fully-staffed regional offices in India,
Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal, we
offer a full range of travel services,
combined with personalised handson assistance on the ground.
Although few travellers are likely to
have requirements as complicated
as a documentary film or
professional photography crew, all
of our &Beyond South Asia tours are
carefully personalised and include
authentic experiences, from a starlit
dinner on the ramparts of an ancient
fort in Jodhpur and an after-hours
tour of a museum accompanied
by the curator, to a meeting with a
member of Bhutans royal family or
an evening with a wildlife expert in
Sri Lanka.
Click here to get a taste of the
incredible range of adventures we
offer in South Asia.
National Geographic Photographer Steve Winter
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FACES & PLACES

GET A GNU LEASE ON LIFE
The bucket list. Now a household
name, its the list of experiences
or achievements youd like to
accomplish before you kick
the bucket. Its an opportunity
to contemplate what is really
important to you; a chance to
realise your wildest dreams. As a
luxury experiential travel company
designing unforgettable journeys
on three different continents, we
are experts at making these lifelong
aspirations come true. Each and
every day, we are most fortunate to
be able to witness the magic and
emotion of peoples dreams coming
true. Arent we lucky?!
Setting foot on African soil is high
on many peoples bucket lists and
witnessing East Africas incredible
Great Migration is perhaps one of the
most popular requests. Undeniably
one of Africas most sought-after
adventures, the annual wildebeest
migration is truly a once-in-alifetime experience that should be on
every wildlife enthusiasts bucket list.
The constant movement of grunting
gnus and other herbivores across the
vast Serengeti/Mara plains consists
of more than 1.5 million wildebeest,
500 000 zebra, 18 000 eland and
200 000 Thompsons gazelle, all

in relentless pursuit of lush new
vegetation to graze. Of course the
enormous herds of thundering
hooves are forever being stalked
by predators lurking nearby, giving
onlookers the most jaw-dropping,
action-packed wildlife sightings.
The Great Migration is determined
by Mother Nature. The movement
of the nomadic herds is guided
entirely by weather patterns, rainfall
and vegetation growth, so no two
years are ever the same in terms
of the path the animals take. Hard
to imagine that theres wifi in the
middle of the limitless Serengeti/
Mara plains, but our guides in the
field are equipped with the cameras
and the technology to send regular
updates on exactly where the herds
are throughout the year.
The migration is now in high season,
meaning that the enormous megaherd is currently stationed in the
northern reaches of the Serengeti
and slowly making its way across
the border into Kenyas Masai Mara.
This year, there was an unanticipated
splitting of the herds, with massive
splinter herds making their way
northwest to the Western Corridor,
while the mega-herd itself continued

to move further north.
This was fantastic news for our
guests, as they were able to view
the natural spectacle from five of
our &Beyond properties in Kenya
and Tanzania. Not only that, but it
meant that the animals were braving
the nail-biting, arduous trek over
both the Grumeti and Mara Rivers!
To witness swarms of wildebeest in
the hundreds of thousands literally
plunging themselves into crocodileinfested waters and cheering them
on as they make the desperate,
panic-stricken dash to the other side
is the ultimate adventure.
Why not start your own bucket
list? The beauty is that it can be
continuously altered and updated
with new dreams and goals as you
start checking things off. The time is
now. Lets go on an adventure!
Click here to read the regular
migration updates from our &Beyond
rangers in East Africa and to start
dreaming of your own bucket list
journey to see the Great Migration in
person, click here.
&Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas, our semi-permanent luxury tented camp in Tanzania, has officially been
named one of The 5 Best Luxury Camps for Witnessing the Wildebeest Migration by The Gentlemans
Journal.
Grant Telfer
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FACES & PLACES

THE ULTIMATE WILD CAMPING ADVENTURE
Our ever-popular &Beyond

Expeditions are re-launching on
01 February 2016 and we are
excited to unveil the six incredible
new camping safaris that explore
the rustic, untamed wilderness of
Botswanas most iconic destinations.
The quintessential African safari
experience, these six glamping
expeditions seamlessly combine
comfortable mobile camping
accommodation with exclusive
game viewing led throughout by an
experienced senior &Beyond guide.
Imagine driving through a lush
mopane forest at first light, the suns
early rays gently filtering through the
leafy boughs. The guide switches
off the vehicle for a moment so
you can all absorb the tranquillity as
he regales you with stories of wild
cucumber and devils claw. If youre
lucky, youll hear the distant melodic

call of the endemic Arnots chat.
Picture bountiful picnic lunches
served on the rivers edge. Feast on
warm bread, fresh salads and chilled
wine, while listening to birdsong
and watching herds of elephant and
buffalo in the distance slowly making
their way down to the water.
No evening is without a well-earned
sundowner celebration, each one in
an even more magical setting. Sip on
a refreshing gin and tonic amidst a
mysterious, towering cluster of grand
baobab trees that have managed
to thrive atop volcanic rock; or
toast the sunset with sparkling wine
overlooking a hippo pool, as more
than a hundred loudly grunting hippo
jostle and splash about in the water.
Back at the campsite, stories and

laughter are shared around a blazing
fire as the chef effortlessly whips
up an abundant feast on the open
fire. Later, indulge in a hot al fresco
shower under a vast, starry sky.
Theres nothing more invigorating.
Each of our six exciting, actionpacked &Beyond Expeditions is
tailored to suit different needs; some
include a mix of camping and luxury
&Beyond lodge accommodation,
whereas others are geared entirely
towards camping enthusiasts.
They range from six to eight nights
and explore the exquisite beauty
of Botswana, from the game-rich
Chobe National Park and remote
Savute, to the meandering channels
of the Okavango Delta and the
dramatic Nxai Pans.
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FACES & PLACES

CLASSIC EXPLORER SAFARI
8 nights
Chobe National Park, Savute and
Okavango Delta
All mobile camping
Click here
SUPERIOR EXPLORER SAFARI

8 nights
Okavango Delta
Combination of mobile camping and
luxury &Beyond lodge
Click here
MINI EXPLORER SAFARI

6 nights
Okavango Delta
All mobile camping
Click here
BOTSWANA HIGHLIGHTS SAFARI

8 nights
Chobe National Park, Savute,
Okavango Delta and Nxai Pan
National Park
All mobile camping and only in the
green season
Click here
SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS SAFARI

6 nights
Okavango Delta and Nxai Pan
National Park
Shortened mobile camping safari
that operates in the green season
Click here
SUPERIOR DELTA SAFARI

6 nights
Okavango Delta
Combination of mobile camping and
luxury lodges
Click here
&Beyond Expeditions are perfect
for small groups, rustic adventure
seekers, photographic and wildlife
enthusiasts, as well as individual
travellers.
Click here to learn more about
these unforgettable mobile camping
adventures.
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THEY DONT CALL IT A LEAP OF LEOPARDS FOR NOTHING
At &Beyond Ngala Private Game
Reserve, leopards fall out of the trees.
Literally. When ranger Jenni Chin
and lodge manager Stephen Smith
were recently driving through the
reserve, they had no idea what was
in store for them. They observed a
young female leopard gazing intently
at the upper reaches of a mopane
tree. Certainly not a tree a leopard
would typically climb, Jenni and
Stephen were amazed to then see
the predator scale the tree, looking
visibly awkward and uncomfortable
in the mopane branches.
A small object fell from the upper
boughs, with the leopard leaping
off the tree in hot pursuit. Was it a
suicide bird? Was it a snake? When
Jenni and Stephen heard squirrels
frantically alarm-calling in the
distance, they realised the cat was
after a quick squirrely snack. They
watched in disbelief as the leopard

pursued the squirrel on the ground
for a bit and then returned to the
same tree. Would she climb the
flimsy tree for a second time?
will stay in the minds of Jenni and

Stephen for a long time.
Click here to watch the video
courtesy of &Beyond Ngala ranger
Jenni Chin.
Sure enough, after milling around the

base of the tree, up she went again
and the duo repeated their acrobatic
act a second time. The squirrel found
temporary refuge in a hollowed
log that soon became a holding
cell rather than safe harbour. In a
moment of panic, it suddenly made
a fatal dash right into the deadly
jaws of the predator. As the leopard
proudly sauntered back to the road,
she glanced back at the vehicle
almost as if to boast and show off
her prize before moving off into the
thicket.
All that effort for a mere appetiser,
but a once in a lifetime sighting that
Jenni Chin
THE UNDISPUTED SAFARI GUIDE OF THE YEAR

In the last issue, we revealed that
Reserve ranger Ian Lombard had
been named one of the six finalists
for the Safari Guide of the Year
2015. Ian since went on to take part
in a demanding five-day practical
assessment where he gave it his all,
showcasing his wide range of expert
guiding skills to the discerning panel
of experienced judges.
We couldnt be more proud to
announce that Ian won the challenge
and has been bestowed the
prestigious and well-deserved title of
Safari Guide of the Year.
This industry-leading award

was created by Africa Direct, in
partnership with the Field Guides
Association of Southern Africa
(FGASA), to reward, recognise and
celebrate guides across Southern
Africa.
Not only did Ian bring home the
title, but he also won the game
drive, storytelling and photographic
categories of the competition and
came a close second in the birding
category. This is testament to
Ians avid passion for the land and
its wildlife and his natural gift for
guiding.
Well done Ian, for all the effort you

put into this achievement. We are
so proud of your accomplishments
and we look forward to watching
your guiding career continue to
grow and develop. Thank you for
always ensuring that our guests
not only discover and learn about
the environment, but also have
fun and return home with a new
appreciation for the natural world.
Congratulations, it is an honour to
have you guiding for &Beyond.
Images courtesy of Naomi Estment
of Outdoor Video & Photographic
(www.ovpimaging.com).
32
BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES

NO NEED FOR A RAIN CHECK
Every year from June through to

September, the heavens open and
India experiences its monsoon
season. The rains come like
clockwork, many of the national
parks close and there is a common
misconception that travel to India
during these months is discouraged.
We couldnt disagree more
travelling in low season has its perks,
from fewer crowds and a more
relaxed pace, to discounted rates and
increased availability. And with the
right kind of planning, you can visit
India during the monsoon season
and steer clear of the rain.
The monsoon typically travels in a
predictable pattern, with the southern
state of Kerala being the first region
to be affected by rains in early June.
The weather system travels north
along the coastline, reaching Mumbai
and Delhi towards the end of June.
The precipitation slowly turns inland,
reaching the interior by mid-July.
By simply planning ahead and
selecting your regions carefully, it
is possible to avoid the worst of the
monsoon and appreciate the best of
India during its glorious quiet season.
With the arid, yet strikingly beautiful

Thar Desert at its heart, the state
of Rajasthan experiences very little
rainfall, even during the monsoon.
Once ruled by the mighty Rajput
warriors, Rajasthans grand forts and
palaces are a wonderful reminder of
its regal past. Exquisite temples and
intricate shrines add to the many
architectural marvels of the region,
all set amidst landscaped gardens
and tranquil lakes.
In addition to ancient, imposing
architecture, Rajasthan provides
an authentic shopping experience
second to none. The regions vibrant
culture is embodied in its remarkable
range of craftwork, from soft leathers
and colourful textiles to shimmering
gemstones and lifelike paintings.
Skills such as gem-cutting, jewellery
design, spinning, weaving and
embroidery have been passed down
from generation to generation and
the regions handicrafts really are fit
for a maharaja.
of rain, the northern reaches of

these mountains, around Ladakh,
remain relatively untouched by the
monsoon. A remote, yet intriguing
and dramatic landscape, the exkingdom of Ladakh boasts serene
Buddhist monasteries, cultural
festivals, scenic treks, river rafting and
more.
Once the main monsoon rains have
passed, the southern states such as
Kerala and Goa also become fantastic
destinations, as they are particularly
lush and beautiful after receiving the
seasonal rainfall.
So dont let the rain dampen your
plans. Let our Indian travel experts
craft the perfect itinerary that steers
clear of the monsoon and takes
full advantage of the blissful quiet
season.
Incredible India awaits click here to
start exploring.
Moving further north to the

mountainous state of Jammu and
Kashmir while parts of the eastern
Himalayas do receive a great deal
33
BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES

WRITTEN IN THE STARS
When the noise, stress and constant
demands of city life get too much,
one of the simplest ways to relax
and find inner peace is to gaze up
at the infinite stretch of twinkling
stars. Yet the ever increasing light
pollution caused by these cities that
never sleep makes the stars more
and more difficult to see. And so,
escaping the city lights and truly
getting back to nature, switching
off (both literally and figuratively)
and absorbing and appreciating the
natural world remains one of the
most effective stress relievers.
&Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
in Namibia is one such destination,
where time stands still and not only
does the untouched desert vista beg
to be explored, so too does the inky
black night sky permeated with its
infinite glittering stars.
Officially named Africas first
International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR)
in 2013, the NamibRand Nature
Reserve also became the worlds first
IDSR to be awarded Gold Tier status,
declaring it an environment with
exceptionally little to no impact from
artificial light. With the nearest town
situated 90 miles away, the reserve
is not only free of light pollution, but
boasts one of the darkest skies ever
measured.
Situated within this IDSR, &Beyond
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge boasts
a high-tech observatory that is
equipped with a Meade LX200R 12inch telescope (one of the largest
in the southern hemisphere) using
Autostar II technology. Under the
guidance of a resident astronomer,
guests can get a closer look at the
planets and constellations of the
Namibian sky.
Jerry Armstrong, one of our resident
astronomers that was based at the
lodge earlier this year, is passionate
about photographing the mysterious
and magnificent night sky. From the
luminous full moon and the spiralling
rings of Saturn, to the exquisitely
beautiful planetary nebulae, Jerrys
images bring the dark sky to life.
PLANETARY NEBULAE: these are shells of gas expelled from a dying star. The
gas expands away from the star, which itself is a very hot white dwarf, more
than 20 times hotter than the sun. The intense radiation causes the gaseous
shell to glow in a variety of different colours (red is hydrogen, blue is oxygen,
green is nitrogen and yellow is sulphur).
NGC 6520: this is a cluster of stars

found in a dense region of the
Milky Way within the constellation
Sagittarius. A dark, cold molecular
cloud of dust and gas, known as
Barnard 86, sits several light years
across from it, blocking the light
from the more distant stars. It was
once thought to be a hole in the
Milky Way.
NGC 4755: this is a famous cluster

of stars more commonly known as
the Jewel Box, which lies within the
Southern Cross.
34
BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES
NGC 5139: also known as Omega

Centauri, this cluster is composed
of millions of stars that lie in the
constellation Centaurus. Almost
impossible to comprehend,
Centaurus is approximately 16 000
light years away, meaning that this
image displays the stars as they were
16 000 years ago.
ETA CARINA NEBULA: located in the

Carina constellation and only visible
from the southern hemisphere, this
is the brightest emission nebula and
it can be seen easily with the naked
eye. The bright orange star near
the centre, which is dying, is Eta
Carina itself. This star will eventually
become a supernova and will
become as bright as the full moon.
MESSIER 20: this is a cloud of

gas and dust situated within the
Sagittarius constellation. The
reddish-coloured gas is hydrogen
and the bluish cloud is mainly dust
and ice. The dark lines are cold
molecular dust clouds that have
no neighbouring stars to illuminate
them.
Consistently celebrated as one of the best places in the world for stargazing, &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge reveals
the captivating mystery of the night sky and is an enchanting escape for celestial enthusiasts and dreamers alike.
All images courtesy of &Beyond resident astronomer Jerry Armstrong.
Click here to read more about the lodge.
35
BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES

PRIVATE ISLAND BEACH LIVING
Over time, the ever shifting tides
of the Indian Ocean have caused
&Beyond Mnemba Islands rustic
beach bandas to recede further
into the forest. Understanding that
guests want to be on the beach
during the day, while still enjoying
forested seclusion in the evenings,
every banda now boasts its very own
relaxed living area on the beach.
This private beach sala is a

comfortable space right on the
beach where guests can lounge
during the day, complete with baraza
seat and large comfy cushions, table,
two daybeds, personal bar, outdoor
shower, ceiling fan, plug points and
wifi connectivity.
The bandas themselves remain

tucked into the forest for privacy
when guests retreat for relaxing and
sleeping. It really is the best of both
worlds, allowing guests to fully relax
and savour their own piece of private
island paradise.
ADDED COMFORT IN THE

MASAI MARA
Five brand new customised fourseater safari vehicles have been
added to the fleet at &Beyond
Bateleur Camp. They each feature a
canvas roof, sleek wooden interior
finish, fridge, reclining seats (with the
option to adjust for leg room), handy
camera mounts, useful charging
points and detachable sides that can
be rolled up or down depending on
the weather.
Designed entirely with comfort
and convenience in mind, these
bespoke vehicles also enhance the
photographic safari experience.
36
BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES

NGALA SET TO RECEIVE GRAND MAKEOVER
We are excited to reveal that our
much-loved &Beyond Ngala Safari
Lodge will soon undergo a USD
2 million rebuild. The lodge will close
on 15 January 2016 and will relaunch
with a brand new look five months
later.
The guest suites and bathrooms will
be extended to offer a more spacious
room layout, whilst new floor-toceiling glass windows will provide
more natural light and accentuate
the space. The private verandas
will also be extended, allowing
for intimate private dinners, and

the pathway to each suite will be
reconfigured for added privacy.
The lodges pool area will be further
enhanced with a new swimming
pool, as well as the installation of a
tranquil spa and fitness sala, ensuring
guests truly unwind on their African
safari.
As the construction work will be
contained to very specific areas, the
Ngala Family Suite will remain open
during this time and will be offered to
guests at a reduced rate. The family

suite is situated separately from
the rest of the lodge with its own
private view and enclosed swimming
pool, meaning the renovations will
have minimal impact. The suite also
comes complete with a private chef,
personal butler, ranger and the soleuse of a 4x4 safari vehicle.
Watch this space for more updates as
&Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge begins
its exciting transformation.
37
BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES

SEEN & PHOTOGRAPHED AT &BEYOND
These remarkable photographs were all taken at &Beyond lodges, either by our guests or our staff. If you love
photography and would like to keep tabs on the incredible wildlife sightings seen and photographed by our expert
rangers, then please follow our &Beyond Rangers account on Instagram: @andbeyondrangers
&Beyond Guest
Andy Biggs
&Beyond Guest
Mark Brodkin
Photographed at &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge
Photographed at &Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve
&Beyond Private Guide

Daryl Dell
&Beyond Ranger
James Massek
Photographed at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve
Photographed at &Beyond Kichwa Tembo
38
BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES
&Beyond Ranger
Matt Murray
&Beyond Trainee Ranger

Nic Andrew
Photographed at &Beyond Phinda Private

Game Reserve
&Beyond Lodge Manager

Paolo Slaviero
&Beyond Guest
Dr Peter Allinson
Photographed at &Beyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp
Photographed at &Beyond Mnemba Island
39
BATELEUR
FACES & PLACES
&Beyond Specialist Guide

Riaz Cader
&Beyond Trainee Ranger

Sarah Eichstadt
Photographed in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
&Beyond Ranger
Steve Walker
&Beyond Guest
Tom Sullam
Photographed at &Beyond Kleins Camp
40
BATELEUR
WILDCHILD
SEEING THE WORLD THROUGH YOUR CHILDRENS EYES
With multi-generational travel
consistently on the rise, families
across the globe are looking to
reconnect in meaningful ways. They
want to explore new destinations,
have authentic experiences, learn
about local cultures, witness unique
wildlife and have the opportunity to
give back, not only to our planet, but
also to its people. The growing need
to disconnect oneself from reality
and bond as a family is becoming
more and more important to todays
traveller.
&Beyond understands the importance
of family travel and we have been
designing fun-filled, educational and
inspirational family adventures for
as long as we can remember. From

island escapes and intimate villa
safaris in Africa, to jungle adventures
and cultural festivals in South Asia, all
the way to bicycle tours, horseback
riding and culinary excursions in
South America, we help families
explore, learn and, most importantly,
reconnect with each other in
the most magnificent, enviable
destinations.
As a family travel specialist, we are
proud to be featured as one of the
Top 20 Ultimate Kids Experiences in
Five Star Kids Magazine. The article
says, &Beyond operates 33 private
game lodges in five African countries
including 12 renowned for their
childrens programs. While parents

enjoy the morning and evening
game drives, kids are sent on their
own special safari where they learn
why a giraffe has a long neck, how
to make elephant dung cookies, bug
collecting and tracking for beginners.
Parents are also spoiled with surprise
picnic breakfasts in the middle
of nowhere, sunset drinks, bush
banquets and candlelit baths drawn
and waiting for guests returning from
safari.
Looking to plan your next family
holiday? Let your dreaming start
here.
41
BATELEUR
WILDCHILD
The trip of a lifetime sums it up! We all agree what
a wonderful vacation we had. Thank you for all of
your expertise and good advice. Now back to the
real world, but with terrific memories. This trip had
all of the elements that I knew are important to our
family it was educational, exciting, interactive, had
delicious food, and down time was incorporated into
the day so the kids could sleep, exercise or just relax
(following the monkeys). We were all so impressed with
how genuinely nice and helpful all of the people were.
Someone asked, Did you take any pictures? I said, Just
a few thousand. The kids couldnt stop clicking away.
Sending gratitude across the oceans.
~ &Beyond Guest Book
We cried when leaving Africa, we had such a
wonderful family experience. The whole thing was
magic.
~ &Beyond Guest Book
FAMILY COURT
If you have ever met &Beyond
Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp
Lodge Manager, Patrick Durkin,
youll know hes all about fun. A
mischievous grin forever on his face
and never without an entertaining
story to keep guests on the edge of
their seats, Patrick and his incredible
team really do ensure that everyone
at &Beyond Nxabega enjoys their
safari to the fullest.
The camp was recently host to
several different families from around
the world, so Patrick set out to
organise something energetic and
out of the ordinary to keep everyone
entertained. What better way to
bring all of the families together than

through sport, so the Nxabega team
orchestrated their first (and evidently
not their last) volleyball tournament
on the soft Delta sand.
Dubbed the Okavango Delta World
Championship, the teams were a mix
of staff and children, who sweated
it out on the sandy court, while the
parents all sat courtside, sipping on
chilled wine and enjoying snacks
prepared by the chefs.
It was an afternoon full of laughter
as new friendships were formed
and memories were made. The
families all enjoyed the impromptu
tournament, so much so, that it was

mentioned as a memorable moment
on every single guest feedback form
upon their departure.
The Okavango Delta World
Championships are now a regular
occurrence at &Beyond Nxabega,
giving parents a much-needed timeout and children a chance to blow
off some steam. Everybody wins!
Click here to read more about
&Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented
Camp.
42
BATELEUR
WILDCHILD
A FAMILY TOAST TO ADVENTURE
Guests visiting &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas recently congregated for a surprise family sundowner stop in the
midst of the seemingly endless northern Serengeti plains. Like a scene straight out of a movie, everyone gathered atop
the kopje (a small rocky hill in an otherwise flat area) and quietly appreciated the most spectacular view of yet another
dramatic African sunset.
Delicious hot snacks were served and the distinct sound of the champagne cork popping marked the celebration of a
truly memorable day shared together in nature.
Images courtesy of Grant Telfer, &Beyond Regional Ranger Trainer for Tanzania.
43
BATELEUR
LEAVE A LEGACY
LEADERS IN CONSERVATION
THE PREDATORS ARE BACK, WERE NOT LION!
A brilliantly captioned billboard in
Rwanda for Turbo King beer sums it
up perfectly a bug-eyed cartoon
zebra looks startled, as the caption
above boldly states, The lions are
back! Sorry zebras, but its true, and
we couldnt be more proud to have
been involved in this groundbreaking
conservation project.
Last month, &Beyond donated
five lionesses from Phinda Private
Game Reserve to the country of
Rwanda as part of an African Parks
project aimed at reversing the
local extinction of the species in
Akagera National Park. Lions became
extinct in Akagera 15 years ago, as
Rwanda experienced a period of
intense upheaval following the 1994
genocide, resulting in the lack of
management of its national parks
and the subsequent poisoning of
lions by cattle herders.
Peter Hinze
&Beyond Phinda has a long history

of successful lion conservation. It
was one of the first private game
reserves in South Africa and the first
in the province of KwaZulu-Natal to
introduce lions, thereby extending
the species historical range. Since
the first 13 lions were introduced
in 1992 and 1993, an impressive
62 litters of 204 lion cubs have
been born on the reserve. &Beyond
Phinda has also helped establish
other lion populations in private
game reserves in the Eastern Cape,
Zululand, Mpumalanga, North West
and the Limpopo Province, as well as
neighbouring Mozambique.
&Beyond Phinda has also helped
establish other lion populations in
private game reserves in the Eastern
Cape, Zululand, Mpumalanga, North
West and the Limpopo Province, as
well as neighbouring Mozambique.
&Beyond Phinda is also proud to
have been home to one of the
oldest lions known outside of a zoo,
a female that was introduced as an
18-month-old in May 1992 and died
of fight-related injuries at the age of
almost 20 in September 2009.
African Parks
44
BATELEUR
LEAVE A LEGACY
Drew Bantlin
Matt Poole
The five lionesses that &Beyond
donated were carefully selected
based on the fact that they are all
disease-free, genetically diverse and
habituated to vehicles. Together
with two males that were donated
by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, they will
form a suitable founder population
for Akagera National Park. Studies
have shown that Phindas lions are
the second most genetically diverse
population in South Africa.
The lionesses were tranquilised,
placed into individual transport
crates, carefully loaded onto trucks
and driven to Johannesburg where
they were immediately loaded
onto a charter flight and flown
directly to Kigali. There, they were
transported by road to their new
home at Akagera, accompanied
and monitored throughout by an
experienced veterinary team.
Upon arrival in Akagera, the lions

were placed in a quarantine boma,
where they could be closely
monitored before their eventual and
highly-anticipated release back into
the wild. The predators settled nicely
into this temporary home and were
all observed feeding and interacting,
as hoped.
park officials and onlookers had left.

Now, 15 years later, guests visiting
Akagera National Park can witness
the lion once again roaming free in
the wild. All seven lions have been
fitted with satellite collars, which will
allow their movements to be tracked
and their behaviour monitored postrelease.
At the end of July, a waterbuck

carcass was strategically placed just
outside the boma gates to entice
the newly formed pride. Within
minutes, the first female ventured out
to investigate and she was closely
followed by another two curious
females. Once they determined it
was safe, the trio began to feast on
the meat. The youngest of the five
lionesses was the last female to leave
the boma and she warily kept her
distance in some nearby bushes. The
two males were far more cautious,
only exiting the boma after all of the
We are so proud to have been

part of this historic translocation,
which involved the private sector,
a non-governmental organisation
and the government of Rwanda all
working together for the good of
conservation.
45
BATELEUR
LEAVE A LEGACY
UNCHARTED WATERS
&Beyond would be including a third
continent in our portfolio with the
official launch of &Beyond South
America. The exciting news was met
with applause and champagne.
What followed was a motivational
speech originally aimed at inspiring
all staff to make a difference, but it
certainly took on new meaning as we
discovered we were about to venture
forth into uncharted waters, so to
speak.
In the Faces & Places chapter of
this issue is a story about &Beyonds
annual Bateleur Awards ceremony,
which was recently held in
Johannesburg. It is a poignant day
that all &Beyonders look forward to.
Not only is it a celebration of those
staff that have made a meaningful
difference, but it is also a chance
for &Beyonders from our different
regions to meet and reconnect.
A day already charged with so much
pride and emotion, our CEO Joss
Kent couldnt have chosen a better
time to make the grand, totally
unexpected, announcement that
Committed marine conservationist,

record-breaking cold water swimmer
and one of the worlds leading
inspirational speakers, Lewis Pugh,
graciously attended our ceremony
and his speech had everyone
spellbound. As part of our ongoing
commitment to marine conservation,
&Beyond was an official sponsor of
Lewis Great Antarctic Challenge,
whereby he successfully broke the
world record and completed the
worlds most southerly swim.
supported his groundbreaking

achievement, but also to give an
inspiring talk about perseverance,
determination and making a
difference to the world. With our
South America announcement so
fresh in everyones minds, Lewis
went on to speak about having the
courage and willpower to boldly
plunge into the unknown, to forge
new ground and to leave your own
mark, which &Beyond is set to do in
South America.
As Lewis showed us this captivating
video of an equally frigid swim
he completed in the North Pole,
the correlations to all &Beyonders
were evident and inspiring, as we
too venture into new and exciting
territory.
Thank you Lewis for being such an
inspiration to us all; your passion,
commitment and positive energy
continue to drive us forward to make
a difference in the world.
Lewis was invited to the ceremony,

not only to personally meet the
&Beyond family that proudly
46
BATELEUR
LEAVE A LEGACY
LET US SAVE THE RHINO
As the world despairs at the
exponential increase in illegal
rhino poaching, individuals and
organisations around the globe are
looking for ways to unite the fight
and help save the rhino from the
brink of extinction. With one rhino
brutally killed for its horn every seven
hours in South Africa, the time to act
is now.
So when AIR-TEC Global, an
aviation company headquartered
in Mauritius, was planning their
manager development weekend,
they chose &Beyond Ngala Private
Game Reserve, not only for its
beautiful setting and luxurious
accommodation, but also for
the ongoing role it plays in rhino
conservation.
The AIR-TEC Global team bonded on
game drives with their rangers Dan
Fenton and Roan du Plessis, attended
outdoor brainstorming sessions at
nearby waterholes, discussed better
ways of communicating and set
new strategic objectives for their
business. But it was the top secret
adventure that was planned for their
third day that would unanimously
become the defining moment of
their weekend away together.
Dan and Roan managed to keep the
mornings activities well under wraps,
pretending that they were all going
on a normal morning game drive.
As they pulled onto the airstrip and
everyone noticed a helicopter and
group of people milling around, no
one could anticipate what was about
to happen.
There was a definite air of
excitement as the secret was finally
revealed and the AIR-TEC Global
group learned that they were about
to participate in a rhino notching
that had been generously sponsored
by their company. Not only were
they going to witness the darting of
a rhino, but they were also going to
assist the veterinary team in notching
the sedated rhinos ear for research
and security monitoring, before
safely releasing it back into the wild.
47
BATELEUR
LEAVE A LEGACY
Names were drawn from a hat to
determine who would accompany
the veterinarian in the helicopter and
who would be fortunate to assist
with various tasks in the conservation
effort, from giving the sleeping
rhino oxygen, applying the blindfold
and taking a notch from its ear, to
collecting a DNA sample, placing a
microchip in its horn and recording
useful data for research purposes.
them connected to the project and

to remind them of the meaningful
difference they have made to rhino
conservation.
To the entire AIR-TEC Global team,
who felt more like family by the
time they left Ngala, thank you from

the bottom of our hearts for the
significant contribution you made
and for the evident passion you all
have in wanting to get involved in the
fight against poaching. Together, we
can save the rhino.
This would be the first rhino

notching undertaken at &Beyond
Ngala Private Game Reserve in
partnership with the Southern African
Wildlife College. After a full briefing
from the team, everyone piled into
the safari vehicles as the helicopter
took off in search of the six-year-old
rhino bull.
The rhino was located and darted
in no time, and the notching was
completed with expert precision.
The AIR-TEC Global team became
noticeably quiet, clearly appreciating
the rare and wonderful opportunity
to touch one of these gentle
giants, but also comprehending the
magnitude of the poaching crisis and
the unnecessary devastation caused
to this beautiful species now in rapid
decline. Many of the onlookers took
a moment to themselves, tears in
their eyes, as they observed and
simply took it all in.
By sponsoring this particular
notching, the AIR-TEC Global team
not only got to play a hands-on,
once in a lifetime role in a rhino
notching, but the remainder of the
funds not allocated to the notching
itself will go directly towards the
ongoing monitoring and surveillance
initiatives aimed at protecting the
areas critically endangered rhino.
The team affectionately named the
rhino Let, after their aircraft type
the Let 410, and once everyone was
safely back in the vehicles, the vet
administered an antidote and Let
gave Roans vehicle a good knock of
defiance before darting back into the
bush.
The rhino monitors will send the
AIR-TEC Global team photos of
Let every now and then to keep
48
BATELEUR
LEAVE A LEGACY
TURTLE WHISPERERS
Consider for just a moment that the
vast oceans cover 70% of the Earths
surface; that 94% of life on Earth is
aquatic; and that between 70 and
80% of the worlds oxygen is created
by marine plants. These facts alone
highlight the dire importance of
marine conservation and the shared
responsibility we all have to protect
our oceans and its inhabitants.
&Beyonds company ethos is Care of
the Land, Care of the Wildlife, and
Care of the People. Equally important
to our core operations, and perhaps
our fourth C, is Care of the Water.
With two island properties now in
our portfolio, &Beyond remains fully
committed to marine conservation.
Located off the warm, tropical shores
of Zanzibar, &Beyond Mnemba Island
is a private barefoot beach paradise
boasting just ten luxury beach
bandas. A secluded oasis, it is one of
only two protected nesting sites in
Zanzibar for the endangered green
sea turtle.
The &Beyond Mnemba team has

been recording data since 1998 and
in those 17 years, an estimated
60 000 green turtles have been born
on Mnemba Island. Each year, an
average of 38 nests are laid on the
island, with more than 100 hatchlings
born per nest.
Last month, a female turtle laid her
eggs below the high-tide mark,
meaning that her entire nest would
be at risk of getting completely
washed away once the tides roll in.
When this happens, our Mnemba
marine rangers have to intervene and
delicately relocate the nest to higher
ground.
forward to seeing how this new

clutch of baby green turtles fares,
as they brave the long and arduous
journey from their nest all the way to
sea.
Click here to watch a video produced
by National Geographic about
&Beyond Mnemba Island and its
conservation initiatives.
A similar story was featured in Issue

19, whereby an impressive nest of
125 eggs had to be moved to safety.
That particular nest, at the time,
was the biggest laying that Mnemba
divemaster Uledi Jaku had ever seen.
Well, last months repositioned nest
claims that title by a landslide with
an impressive 149 eggs. We look
CARE OF THE LAND

As part of &Beyonds ongoing
commitment to caring for the
land, our field teams across the
globe are always on the lookout
for different ways to help preserve
and protect our environment.
&Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
is the only permanent luxury lodge
situated within Tanzanias pristine
Lake Manyara National Park. With
this wonderful privilege, of course,
comes a shared responsibility for
keeping the park clean, leaving as
light a footprint as possible, and
continually showcasing the parks
natural beauty to our international
guests.
With several local communities
adjoining Lake Manyara, it is
inevitable that debris is swept across
the lake and into the National Park.
So, when &Beyond Regional Ranger
Trainer for Tanzania, Grant Telfer,
recently visited the lodge to give
some refresher training courses to
the rangers, they set out to make a
difference.
Grant and rangers Titus Massay,

Daniel Emme and Steven Mayani,
accompanied by Isaya Mohe (butler)
and Simon Said (chef), all ventured
out to the long stretch of lakeshore
and ensured the area was rubbishfree. It was also a great opportunity
to do some birding, test their
knowledge of indigenous trees and
follow up on some leopard tracks.
The team also enjoyed a brisk hike
all the way up the steep escarpment
to a beautiful, cascading waterfall
that sits just above the famous maji
moto (Swahili for hot springs). This
was the first ascent that both the
&Beyond and Park rangers knew of
and the rewarding view from the top
motivated everyone for the start of
a fantastic season at &Beyond Lake
Manyara Tree Lodge.
Images courtesy of Grant Telfer.
49
BATELEUR
LEAVE A LEGACY
AFRICA FOUNDATION: EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES, ENABLING CONSERVATION
&Beyonds social development partner, Africa Foundation, actively consults, empowers and works together with the
communities that border our reserves. This chapter is dedicated to the Foundations ongoing successes.
For more information about Africa Foundation and how to support its ongoing community empowerment projects,
please visit www.africafoundation.org.
CLOSE FRIENDS OF AFRICA FOUNDATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE

American actor Eric Close and his
wife Keri are long-time friends of
&Beyond and Africa Foundation. Eric
is best known for his recurring roles
on the television series Without a
Trace and Nashville and is also
renowned for being passionate
about conservation and community
empowerment.
Back in 2009, Eric and his family
visited &Beyond Ngala Private Game
Reserve to learn more about how
they could get involved with the
work Africa Foundation is doing
in the local communities. Having
visited several projects, the Close
family identified the Nhlalala Crche
as the project they would like to
support in collaboration with Africa
Foundation (USA).
In January 2014, Keri returned
to South Africa, this time visiting
Reserve to look for a second project
for her family to sponsor. This time
she identified the Hambanathi
Orphaned and Vulnerable Children
(OVC) Centre, which at the time
was actually being operated by
volunteers out of the Tribal Authority
offices. They were in desperate need
of a safe, comfortable place where
they could offer support services to
children and elderly residents.
Fast forward to now, a year and a

half later, with Eric and Keri, together
with their daughters and Erics
parents, recently visiting &Beyond
Ngala and Phinda to witness firsthand exactly how their generous
funds had been used to benefit the
two projects.
In between game drives with ranger
Lee-Anne Davis at &Beyond Ngala
Tented Camp, Eric and his family
also spent considerable time in
the surrounding Welverdiend and
Hlabekisa communities with Africa
Foundation Regional Programme
Officer Lotus Khoza. They were able
to see exactly where their funding
had been put to good use at the
Nhlalala Crche and they all spent
quality time interacting with the
children. They were so impressed
with the progress made at this
particular crche (which included
the construction of two classrooms,
six EnviroLoos and a kitchen, as well
as the installation of playground
equipment) that they are now
considering raising much-needed
funds for the Mayelana Crche.
The Close family then flew to
&Beyond Phinda for an official
handover ceremony of the
newly constructed and furnished
Hambanathi OVC Centre and its
three environmentally-friendly
EnviroLoos, all funded by the Closes

in partnership with Africa Foundation
(USA). After a heartfelt ceremony, the
community expressed their gratitude
through traditional song and dance.
Since this visit, the Close family
has already generously donated
additional funds to support floor
tiling and perimeter fencing for the
centre.
Keri, whose designer
handmade jewellery company
Prscreativejewelry also channels all
of its net profits to Africa Foundation
(USA), spoke on behalf of her family,
saying:
We are having the most AMAZING
time! Thank you! Yesterdays
handover was so special. An
unforgettable day for our family.
We have had the most amazing
experience in South Africa and feel
so blessed to be able to work with
Africa Foundation. I think we may be
interested in the Mayelana Crche
for our next project. All the best, Keri
Close.
To Eric, Keri and their daughters and
parents, we are most grateful for
your ongoing support and cannot
thank you enough for what you are
doing to ensure these children have
brighter futures.
50
BATELEUR
LEAVE A LEGACY
IT ALL STARTS WITH THE COMMUNITIES
One of the cornerstones of
successful conservation is the
ongoing engagement of rural
communities in meaningful and
dignified partnerships so that the
people who actually call these wild
spaces home can also share in the
vision and victories of conservation.
Quite simply, by empowering local
communities, we are enabling
conservation.
&Beyonds philosophy of doing well
by doing good doesnt just mean
that we are committed to employing
people from the communities and
sourcing products locally wherever
possible. It goes much deeper than
that. Through Africa Foundation,
we personally engage with the
communities and work together
to jointly identify and address
community priorities, such as
building classrooms, providing health
clinics, developing local enterprises
and creating ownership opportunities

for communities.
Africa Foundation forges long-term,
mutually-beneficial relationships
with all of the communities that
border our wildlife areas and these
communities form part of &Beyonds
extended family. With conservation
and community development
inextricably linked, our lodge teams
work closely with Africa Foundation
to educate the students in local
schools about the importance
of conserving our ecosystem. By
informing the youth and inspiring
commitment from them, we create
hope for future generations.
The team at &Beyond Ngorongoro
Crater Lodge recently visited nearby
Mokilal Primary School to give an
important Conservation Lesson.
They emphasised the plight of the
endangered rhino and explained its
significance, not only for tourism, but

for our continents natural heritage.
The students learned all about the
threatened species and the important
work that &Beyond, Great Plains
Conservation and Africa Foundation
are doing in order to move 100 rhino
to safety.
The young learners were left with
some homework to understand
and explain the importance of
protecting the wildlife that is
endemic to their own Ngorongoro
Conservation Area. They will present
their findings to a panel of teachers
and &Beyond/Africa Foundation staff
and the 12 winning students will be
awarded an &Beyond Conservation
Lesson in the magnificent
Ngorongoro Crater itself.
It all starts with the youth, the
guardians of our future.
51
BATELEUR
LIVING THE BRAND

&BEYOND IN THE NEWS
Here are some of &Beyonds most recent and noteworthy awards, accolades and press coverage. We couldnt do it
without our guests, media and travel partners, so a big thank you for your continued support.
&BEYOND WINS 4 CATEGORIES AT THE 2015 WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

We are thrilled to have been honoured in no less than four categories at
the 2015 World Travel Awards, including being named Africas Leading
Game Reserve Brand for the fourth year in a row. Voted for by travel
and tourism professionals worldwide, these prestigious awards also
recognised three of our safari camps and lodges for their ongoing
commitment to creating exceptional guest experiences.
&Beyond Leadwood Lodge was honoured as South Africas Leading Safari
Lodge for the third year in a row, taking over the title from &Beyond
Ngala Safari Lodge in 2013. &Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp
was named Botswanas Leading Tented Safari Camp for the second year
in a row and &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge was voted Tanzanias
Leading Safari Lodge for the second time.
Our sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone that voted for us. We
couldnt be more proud.
ONE OF THE WORLDS BEST SAFARI OUTFITTERS

We are thrilled to announce that the Travel + Leisure 2015 Worlds Best Awards have listed &Beyond as one of the
Worlds Best Safari Outfitters for the second year running. &Beyond was also named one of the Worlds Top Safari
Outfitters in 2012 and one of the Worlds Top Tour Operators in 2011.
As a leading luxury experiential travel company in Africa, South Asia and now, South America too, we are truly
honoured to be recognised by Travel + Leisure, its esteemed readers and our loyal guests.
Click here for the full listing.
52
BATELEUR
LIVING THE BRAND

RESPONSIBLE BEACH TOURISM
&Beyond Mnemba Island has been selected as a finalist in the 2015 World Responsible Tourism Awards in the Best
for Beach Tourism category, which is awarded to a tourism organisation that provides or contributes to responsible
holidays in beach settings.
Now in their 12th year, the World Responsible Tourism Awards were founded by Responsible Travel to celebrate the
most inspiring stories in responsible tourism. The final winners will be announced on World Responsible Tourism Day
in November.
PHOTOGRAPHIC EXCELLENCE
&Beyond Specialist Guide Andrew Schoeman was recently honoured at the 2015 Natures Best Photography Africa
Awards. Running in exhibition partnership with the Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History in the US, this
competition aims to celebrate the beauty and diversity of nature through the art of photography and uses the vivid
medium to encourage greater public interest in conservation and outdoor enjoyment.
The inaugural African extension of these prestigious awards, which runs in association with the Iziko South African
Museum, draws particular attention to the spectacular diversity of Africas flora and fauna.
Andrews photograph, taken at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, was selected as a Highly Honoured image in
the Wild Cats of Africa category. Congratulations Andrew!
53
BATELEUR
LIVING THE BRAND

MAKING HEADLINES
The July/August issue of Elle Decoration

France boasts a beautiful ten-page
Press Coverage: andBeyond
feature on the natural inspiration and unique architectural design and dcor
Publication: The Mayfair Magazine
Publication: ES Magazine
Publication: Kensington & Chelsea Magazine
&Beyond
Sandibe Okavango Safari Date:
Lodge
Date: of
August
2015
3 July 2015
Date: July 2015
Circulation: 52,000
AVE (): 3,995
&Beyond Benguerra
Island is
Page 1
celebrated as the perfect desert
island retreat you may never want to
never leave in the August issue of
The Mayfair Magazine (UK)
Circulation: 352,218
AVE (): 117,000
Journalist Hannah
Nathanson
Page 1
eloquently describes &Beyond
Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp as
by far the most luxurious canvas
[shes] ever slept under in
ES Magazine (UK)
Circulation: 52,000
AVE (): 5,995
The July issue of Kensington &

Page 1
Chelsea magazine (UK) includes a
full-page feature on the exciting
launch of &Beyond Benguerra Island
54
BATELEUR
LIVING THE BRAND
Publication: Orxy
Date: June 2015
Circulation: 1,200,000
AVE (): 1,730
Roughing It
Sometimes you just want to go
where the wild things are, and we
dont mean Hakkasan on a Friday
night. Enter experiential travel
company &Beyond to fulfill your
lust to wander, offering six guided
expeditions in Botswana. Theres
no bottle service here; heck, there
isnt even electricity in the camps.
But what youll get is the best
glamping experience this side of
the savanna, with spacious dome
tents, ensuite bathrooms and hot
bucket showers. And fear not,
digital natives: You can charge
your cellphone and electronic
devices on the safari vehicle,
so you can tweet about that
lions roar you just heard.
Just dont get too close.
andBeyond.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BOTSWANA
EXPLORER EXPEDITIONS
VRATED.COM
23

and &Beyond Mnemba Island are
featured in the Tantalising
Tanzania
Page 1
article in the June issue of Qatar
Airways in-flight magazine, Oryx
&Beyond Benguerra Island is

recommended as an island getaway
to slave off post-wedding blues in
the travel section of C Weddings
magazine (US)
Vegas Rated magazine (US) includes

a full-page feature about our six new
&Beyond Expeditions in Botswana,
calling them the best glamping
experience this side of the savanna
&Beyond Phinda Homestead and

are listed among The 20 Best Safari
Camps in the Travel section of The
Times newspaper (UK)
&Beyond Benguerra Island is hailed

one of Mozambiques premier luxury
lodges in Vacations and Travel
magazine
The newly rebuilt &Beyond Sandibe

Okavango Safari Lodge is included in
AD Architectural Digest magazines
Top 10 Safaris
Our new &Beyond Expeditions are

featured in Australias Latte Luxury
Travel News
The official launch of &Beyond

South America is announced on
TravelPulse.com
55
BATELEUR
FUN SIDE
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
To celebrate the often amusing antics of the animal kingdom, this regular feature showcases entertaining wildlife
photos from our rangers and guests.
Do you have a funny photo of an animal caught in the act while on an &Beyond safari? If you would like it featured in
this column, please send it to claire.trickett@andBeyond.com.
Talk to the hand
Finders keepers
&Beyond Ranger, James Souchon
&Beyond Ranger, Jason Glanville
Photographed at &Beyond Kirkmans Kamp
Therapeutic, totally organic mud spa
Totally busted
&Beyond Ranger, Karipoi Ngaiseri
&Beyond Ranger, Matt Poole
Photographed at &Beyond Kleins Camp
56
BATELEUR
FUN SIDE
Boldly stand for what you believe in
Its hard to be down when youre looking up
&Beyond Ranger, Dan Williams
&Beyond Ranger, Jason Glanville
Lions dont lose sleep over the opinion of sheep
Africas version of Grumpy Cat
&Beyond Ranger, Roan du Plessis
&Beyond Ranger, Warrick Davey
Photographed at &Beyond Exeter River Lodge
57
BATELEUR
FUN SIDE
LANDROVER RECOVERY
Did someone call a tow truck?

Guests visiting &Beyond Kirkmans
Kamp were enjoying a fantastic
sighting of one of the famously
magnificent Charleston male
lions. Renowned for their strikingly
handsome good looks, the two
brothers have developed quite a
reputation and guests love spending
time observing and photographing
them.
Content with their time spent
alongside the regal pair, everyone
eventually agreed it was time to
move on in search of the perfect
spot for an afternoon drink. As they

drove away from the sighting, lo
and behold, the vehicles wheels got
stuck in the soft sands of the dry
riverbed. Their refreshments would
have to wait.
but was clearly intrigued by the

tow rope. Like a curious kitten, he
played and tugged at the rope for
45 minutes until he eventually grew
bored of his new discovery and
ambled back to his brother.
At a safe distance from the sighting

and completely out of the lions view,
ranger Ally Bauer quickly attached
a tow rope behind her vehicle and
radioed in for backup. As they all
waited for the recovery vehicle, you
can imagine everyones surprise
when one of the lions casually
sauntered around the corner. He
gave no notice to the vehicle itself,
Of course the guests were only too

happy to spend more quality time
among the relaxed royal majesty
and what an unforgettable and
unexpected sighting it turned out to
be.
Image courtesy of &Beyond guest
Glee Walker.
58
BATELEUR
FINE PRINT
PROUDLY &Beyond
Our company employs 2,000 proud &Beyonders from many different tribes and cultures. From rangers, trackers,
butlers and housekeepers, to gardeners, lodge managers, sales executives, bookkeepers and so much more.
When there is a job opening, we are always on the lookout for fantastic people to fill the role. Be sure to check the
Careers section of our website and follow our LinkedIn profile.
For more information, please email us on recruitment@andBeyond.com.

www.andBeyond.com/about-us/careers www.linkedin.com/company/andBeyond
Copyright Policy
GENERAL
The &Beyond Group of Companies embraces a culture of respect for copyright owned by third parties and, equally, is committed to
enforcing copyright that it owns globally. To that end, the following policy is adopted.
REGARDING WORKS OF COPYRIGHT THAT ARE OWNED BY THE &BEYOND GROUP OF COMPANIES
All literary works, artistic works, published editions and all other works of copyright that are displayed in this magazine are protected by
copyright. Apart from any fair dealing purpose, that is: research or private study by, or personal or private use, or for the purposes of
criticism or review (as contemplated under the Copyright Act) no part of any work of copyright may be adapted, copied or used in any
way without the prior, written approval of the copyright owner. In any event, should a fair dealing provision be relied upon, it is insisted
upon that due acknowledgement to the copyright holder must be indicated prominently and clearly.
REGARDING WORKS OF COPYRIGHT THAT ARE OWNED BY THIRD PARTIES

While every reasonable effort has been made to identify and provide accreditation to all works of copyright displayed here, neither the
accuracy nor the completeness of this information can be guaranteed. Accordingly, the &Beyond Group of Companies can accept
no responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be contained in this publication, nor any damage that is suffered as a result of
any reliance that is placed upon this. The &Beyond Group of Companies invites any third party that suspects that any of its work of
copyright have been infringed to bring this to our attention, and undertakes to give due consideration to every complaint received.
ALL ENQUIRIES
All copyright-related enquiries are to be directed, in writing, to legal@andBeyond.com.
59
BATELEUR

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BATELEUR

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

firsts. On the next page is a Top 10

This issue is filled with exciting news,

What I love about the BATELEUR

As &Beyond breaks new ground in

^ TOUGHEST RANGER OF THE MONTH

The rumours are true &Beyond

Ranger by day, Romeo by night. &Beyond Exeter River Lodge ranger

To all of our readers, thank you for

Image courtesy of &Beyond guest Mikelle Furman.

If you would like to make a nomination, please send it to

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Touching a gentle giant as

Hand-feeding a shy suni

Witnessing the mighty herds of

Sleeping out under the stars in

Watching our incredible

Meeting the President of

Helping the &Beyond Mnemba

Getting to spoon sleeping

10. Observing the most heavily

Guest Irene Kelly

&Beyond South America

You might have heard the rumours

our goal is to make a significant and

By extending our core ethos of Care

Our &Beyond Santiago office opened

A remarkable continent that is

are now passionately creating

NEARLY 5 DECADES OF EXPERTISE

&Beyond South America

screen. Emotional and entertaining,

The Krishna family recently travelled

The Krishnas posted a beautiful

The lodges incredibly talented

Set in the clouds, this place is

did an outstanding job in making

Now in its 22nd issue, the BATELEUR

&beyond bateleur magazine

And the news keeps getting better!

The decision to place these two

We absolutely love hearing from our

in the afternoon light and raced

Upon their return to Switzerlands

wherever possible and empower

people. These stylish, faux leather

she has a slight case of obsessive

When shes not working in her

break the rules. If we did not take

likes. In order not to prejudice

Care of the Land

Care of the Land

Care of the Wildlife

Care of the Wildlife

Care of the People

Care of the People

Dont forget to use #travelandbeyond and mention @andbeyondsafari,

For more information and terms and

Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp and

Justifiably, &Beyond deserves its

In June/July of this year, three vastly

Serengeti Balloon Safaris