This morning Kendrick Imports had this e mail from Busi Thobile.  We sponsored Busi during her time at University in South Africa and Busi has just finished an extra year at University for which she won a scholarship.

Busi has now completed her final Honours Year

Good day Carol

Its been a while since i last contacted You. I hope you are all okay. I dont know exactly what to say or do to express my gratitude for all that you have done for me.
Words cannot express how grateful i am but i do pray that God will keep blessing you.
Im finishing up my honours and will hopefully be starting to work early next year.
Please send my regards to Peter, Lucy and Emmah. Love you all!

Busi

Busi is an extremely hard working and determined lady and we wish her lots of luck in finding a job in Travel and Tourism. Lets hope that 2010 is a great year for Busi and that she is able to quickly find work in the travel industry.

To see the other projects that Kendrick Imports are involved in check out our other blogs.

Kendrick Imports and football are already closely linked through the Hazyview Young Stars Football team!  Kendrick Imports have already sponsored the great team in South Africa near the Kruger Park with kit, balls, cones, pumps, bibs and water bottles.  There is no doubt that the team are looking forward to South Africa 2010 World Cup football!!

Looking forward to 2010 World Cup football

If you are lucky enough to be visiting in 2010 and are busy planning, there are a few items you should consider taking that are available from www.kendrickimports.com.  By buying these items from us you can ensure that the ethical work we do in Hazyview can continue, and the football team there can be supported even more.

The items you should consider to pack for your trip to South Africa (which hopefully for you will include a few days in the Kruger Park on Safari) include a hat to keep the sun off of your neck and out of your eyes.  The two most popular hats are the Rogue Packaway hat and the Rogue Canvas hat and will be perfect for the job!

Packs into a neat calico bag for travelling

Available in sand or olive colours

A pair of Rogue Desert Boots would also be a good buy – you can wear them to matches and then on safari.  They are strong enough to walk in – yet smart enough to wear to dinner!

The perfect boot for matches and Safari!

To keep the insects and mosquitoes at bay whilst in South Africa you will need a tried and trusted repellent.  Bug Geroff is made in South Africa and used by locals – the travel pack has all you need for a two week trip and the neat wrist strap is a real hit!This stuff is all natural – no nasty DEET so it is safe to use on babies and children.

Natural ingredients - no DEET

If you want to look the part on Safari – consider buying neutral coloured shorts, trousers and shirts or blouses such as the Of African Origin range. This gear is also made in South Africa and worn by the rangers that work in the private game reserves – authentic safari gear!!

Of African Origin Safari Shirt

If you want to discuss any of the products or what you might need to pack please don’t hesitate to give one of us a call at Kendrick Imports on 0845 475 1281 ……… happy planning!

New from the Bug Geroff range of insect repellents, candles and soap….

BUG GEROFF SWINE ‘FLU

Kills 99% of germs

This new antibacterial waterless hand wash will clean and disinfect your hands anywhere, anytime.

It kills 99% of germs and will sanitise your hands and help reduce the risk of infection and exposure to illness.

To use this new Bug Geroff product simply squeeze a liberal amount on to the hands and rub until dry.

The 70ml tube can be carried anywhere and is available from Kendrick Imports at £2.99 including P&P

Yesterday Kendrick Imports spent an afternoon in the Kruger Park. A few hours in the Kruger Park in South Africa is always a treat with the expectation of what may be seen a few metres further along the road. Yesterday did not disappoint us with great sightings of a Rogue elephant, a pride of lion, giraffe, zebra, warthog, buffalo, rhino, a troupe of baboons and a beautiful petite Pearl Spotted Owl all at close range.

Male Elephant in dry Riverbed

Equipped in our Of African Origin Safari Gear of shirts, shorts, skirt and sun top along with Rogue hats (the Packaway to be precise) to shield the sun from our eyes, we arrived at Phabeni gate (just 5 minutes drive from Hazyview) about 2.30pm. With the gates closing at 6pm we knew we had three and a half hours to be enthralled and surprised! The Kruger Park is a wonderful place to visit, especially if you have the time to spend a couple of days exploring the area and to stay in the Camps that are dotted about the Park. It is perfectly safe to drive yourself around the Park even if you are an overseas tourist. The park is well sign posted and the maps very simple to follow!

Giraffe 4m from road

At Skukuza Camp – the nerve centre of the Park, is the largest camp shop. Rogue have a complete wall to display all of their wonderful products. The usual Rogue canvas hats, original Rogue leather hats and range of Rogue Breezy hats (with mesh sides to cool the head) are all available alongside Rogue bags and Rogue boots. The shop also stocks the Rogue belts, wallets and other accessories.Skukuza  shop also houses the new range from Rogue called “The Rogue Big 5 Range”. This range has the usual hats, belts and boots but hand-made in the more rare and unusual hides such as hippo, warthog, gemsbok, wildebeast and even elephant. As the range is far more expensive and varied we are not stocking the items in the UK through Kendrick Imports, but will happily import any item in to order. If you would like to see the Rogue “Big 5” range check it out at www.rogue.co.za if you see something you would like to order simply e mail us at infor@kendrickimports.com and we will quote you a price and delivery time.

Hippo grazing and sunning themselves out of the wter

If you are planning to visit South Africa and would like some advice on what sort of itinerary you should be planning, or need advice on where to stay – especially the Kruger Park area, please don’t hesitate to email us or call us on 0845 475 1281 and we will be more than happy to share our local knowledge with you FREE!!!

A family unit!

The photos in this blog are sights we saw yesterday in just 3 hours!!!

This elephant was digging a hole in sand for water!

A short hop from Hazyview in South Africa, the home of the Rogue brand of hats, boots and bags, is Maputo the vibrant capital city of Mozambique.  Kendrick Imports took a brief visit there last week to sample seafood and the local brew Laurentina!!!

On the beach - superb food!

We stayed at the iconic Costa do Sol – a popular beach front restaurant with a few basic rooms upstairs!  Costa do Sol has the look of a ship from the outside, with decks for viewing the panoramic sea views. The sound of the sea and smell of salt in the air makes it the perfect place to sample all the fare of the sea……and it did not disappoint!

Today's Specials

We took a swift visit to the local market situated in down-town Maputo where we were surrounded by vibrant colours and cheerful people. We weaved our way down through many rows of stalls, so close that you could only just squeeze through, at every  stall the owners stopped us to buy their goods.  We could buy anything from hair extensions to fresh prawns.  One part of the market was fish produce.  There was still plenty of fish to buy at 3pm, obviously that days catch, but no ice to be seen, just rows and rows of fish, prawns and mussels!
After an hour or so negotiating prices for cashew nuts and “Prada” sunglasses we drove the short drive back to Costa do Sol. We meandered in to the restaurant at 7.30pm and were shown to a table inside as it was too windy to sit outside, at least there were no mosquitos and no need to wear Bug Geroff insect repellent! It was seafood platters all round, with local beer and wine to compliment. The prawns were pristine, the mussels mouth-watering, the calamari comestible and the lobster was luxurious.   The whole evening’s food and drink came to an astonishing £20 per head!

This volunteer programme is  unique in that it offers volunteers the opportunity to work on community based and wildlife projects. The project www.elephantwhispers.co.za is based in Hazyview in South Africa on the edge of the Kruger Park.

Volunteers  on this project are able to tailor their experience according to their strengths and to meet the aims they have set out for themselves.  All volunteers get the opportunity to work with tamed and trained elephants, horses, wildlife as well as working within the local communities on a 2000 hectare wildlife conservancy.

I met Liam from Surrey in England this week, he will be based at Elephant Whispers for two weeks and within his first two days as a volunteer had ridden horses for the first time, ridden an elephant, learnt how to weld and was about to free range with elephants.  In store later this week Liam will assist with a local community project – probably the school who need help with their library, visit the local snake park and find out about the snakes he might encounter whilst out in the bush and a visit to the Kruger Park with the possibility of an overnight stay in a hide there!

This programme gives volunteers a unique blend of animals and people and is actively looking for people who can “give” to the scheme.  The following is a list of activities a volunteer can become involved in.  It is not exhaustive and not all activities are available all of the time.
Educational programmes whereby our volunteers visit local community schools and assist teachers in making education more enjoyable for the school children. The volunteers will help children learn English, Math’s etc, as well as assisting the teachers to enhance their educational presentation by making and providing educational tools such as posters etc.
Fund raising events to help programmes within the community.
Helping the community develop and run craft projects such as, elephant dung paper making, vermiculture and compost, paintings, basket weaving and curios etc. This will include marketing the products.
Helping the women in the community by developing a “Women’s Club’. This club will cover aspects such as AIDS, Family Planning, Family Budgeting, Hygiene and Nutrition.
School sports lessons i.e. football, rugby, volleyball and cricket
Anti poaching patrols — looking for snares and poacher presence.
Census of animals, insects, birds, trees, grasses etc
Clearing of waterways and road maintenance
Electric fence maintenance
Fire control — creating fire breaks.
Invasive species plant control and eradication
Wildlife management
Work with researchers on conservation projects
Educating the community about sustainable conservation
practices.

Each student will get ample opportunity to interact with our elephant by accompanying our trained and certified elephant handlers with the elephant whilst they conduct their daily activities such as free-range feeding, interactions and rides.
Assisting with the elephant project by cleaning out stables, cutting bana grass and invasive plants for the elephant to feed on during the night whilst they are intheir stables and assist in the day to day running of the elephant.

Learn to ride / ride horses — fence patrols and anti-poaching will be conducted on horseback.

Work with students from Onderstepoort Veterinary University in Pretoria on research concerning elephant and wildlife on the conservancy if a project is running.

Working in an Inguni Cattle Breeding Project in conjunction with the Sandford Community.

Other opportunities available to volunteers are:
Learn how to handle a 4×4
Poitjie pot and braai cooking
Game Capture Experience (subject to availability)
Work with wildlife veterinarians (subject to availability)

Included in the Volunteer Scheme are:
Trip to go the Kruger National Park (a bush sleep out may be available)
A visit to Moholoholo a wildlife rehab centre
A trip to the Cheetah breeding project
A view of the Panorama route
A visit to the local snake park with a demonstration of the snakes you may encounter in the area.

As well as the included activities, volunteers will have time to take part in other local activities at their own expense.  These include white river rafting, quad biking, hot air ballooning and miro lighting.

Comfortable rooms "more like a hotel"

The accommodation at Elephant Whispers is not your run-of-the-mill volunteer scheme standard.  The rooms are twin beds (with the opportunity of a double room upon request), and are more like hotel rooms than a type of hostel!!  They all have en-suite rooms with fantastic grounds, a swimming pool, volley ballarea, communal bar area and spacious dining room.

between 2 and 4 people per room

The scheme will have up to 17 people at any one time and volunteers can sign up from 14 to 56 days.

Sean Hensman who facilitates the programme

The scheme is facilitated by Sean Hensma who has many years of experience in the bush. He is a qualified FGASA Guide and has worked with a variety of animals. He has a passion for animals and conservation, and is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise about the African Bush ”Veld” its inhabitants, and how it all fits into a changing world.  Volunteers will be working side by side with full time personnel at Elephant Whispers when assisting with feeding and animal care of the various animals.

Volunteers will need a suitable range of clothing for their time at Elephant Whispers, which is detailed on the Elephant Whispers web site.  The clothing required will include sturdy boots such as Rogue boots, thick cotton shirts such as the Of African Origin range of Safari clothing, a wide brimmed Rogue hat or cap, and a tried and trusted insect repellent such as Bug Geroff.

For more information about the scheme contact Sean Hensman direct at sean@elephantwhispers.co.za

To book through a UK agent contact Adrian Faulkner who will give you all the help you may need.  He can be contacted at www.afrecotours.com or on e mail Adrian@afrecotours.com

Pig Transport

This was a sight we saw in Swaziland earlier this week…

Seen in Swaziland earlier this week!

A pig being transported along a fast dual carriageway in Swaziland, it looked very relaxed and happy and was looking out of the side window. A  few minutes later the pig pulled in it’s head, turned round and popped it’s head out of the other window!!

Unreal and absolutely nothing to do with Rogue Boots, Rogue hats, monkey apples, Bug Geroff insect repellent or indeed Kendrick Imports but worth sharing!

Pete Carol Lucy & Emma from Kendrick Imports, spent 3 days at Mkhaya Game reserve in Swaziland.  Our ranger fro the 3 days was Thulani and we have photographic evidence that real Game Rangers wear Rogue hats!  http://www.kendrickimports.com/rogue.htmlThulani proudly wore his 306L Rogue canvas hat whilst tracking down rhino, elephant and other large game!

Rogue hats worn by Game Rangers

Mkhaya Game reserve is in South Eastern Swaziland.  It is a refuge for endangered species and gives visitors the chance to get great close-up sightings of large game.  It specialises in breeding endangered species and is famous for it’s breeding programmes of black and white rhino, tessebe and nyala.

The rooms at Mkhaya are semi-open strutures created from low chunky rock walls and pillars, with no windows and a high thatched roof.  Each room has an en-suite bathroom.  There is no electricity in the camp so at night paraffin lamps light pathways and the rooms!

Rooms at Mkhaya

The accommodation sounds a bit rustic but in reality is luxurious, warm and inviting.  August is winter-time in Swaziland with cool nights, but the rooms were not cold at all.  Lots of cosy duvets and blankets and a hot water bottle ensured a good night’s sleep! A mosquito net is provided for summer-time when mosquitoes are about and an insect repellent such as Bug Geroff would be a necessity.

During the evening and night the bush was alive with the sounds of hyena whooping, bushbabies crying and nyala and guinea-fowl rustling around the camp.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner were social affairs all eaten with the other guests in the boma area under a majestic sausage tree.  A fire was lit in the centre of the boma in the evenings to warm the air and give the African smell of wood-smoke!  The food was plentiful and tasty, with the evening meals having an option of trying out wildebeast, impala and kudu during our stay.

Perhaps the most amazing experience a visitor can get at Mkhaya is the chance to get up close to rhinos when on game walks.  We walked for 2 hours in our Rogue Boots and saw 9 white rhino.  At one point we approached 2 rhinos slowly and silently making sure we were down-wind of them.  They have poor eyesight partly because of the huge horns thay must contend with between their eyes!  We crouched down next to a path and the two rhino passed beside us only 2 metres from where we crouched.  Every wrinkle and scar on their skin was visible, we could smell them and hear their breathing……absolutely awesome and unforgettable.

Close up!

If you would like to find out more about Mkhaya check out their website at www.mkhaya.org. To book you need to e mail reservations@biggameparks.org

Mkhaya was a great experience for us and if you get the chance to add it to your itinerary it will not disappoint!

Now available from Kendrick Imports www.kendrickimports.com
Rogue have developed a brand new Travel Wallet in a great soft Tan leather.

This travel wallet has all of the credentials you would expect from a Rogue product:
Hand –made
Top Quality leather
A great Finish
A useful product
Designed to give years of service!

The Rogue Travel Wallet has the Rogue  logo stitched on the front and closes with a secure flap complete with magnetic catch.

Rogue Travel Wallet in Tan

Inside the Travel wallet has compartments for travel documents, tickets, passports as well as sections to keep business cards in.

Inside of Rogue Travel Wallet

A great piece of travel kit from Rogue and great value at £25
Available from Kendrick Imports at http://www.kendrickimports.com/rogue/accessories/miscellaneous/rogue-travel-wallet.html
Or call 0845 475 1281 to order yours!

Whether it is your first “Safari” to Africa, or you are a returning visitor, this list of what to pack may be of help.  The time of year that you are visiting Africa, and the specific country you are visiting will make some difference to the number of warm items of clothing you need to pack, but this guide is a good rule of thumb.

Firstly your clothes must be up to the job!!  Of African Origin safari clothing are authentic safari wear.  The clothes are made in Africa and worn by the guides working at the lodges.  The styles and fabrics are all tried and tested and have come through with flying colours!!

Clothes should all be neutral colours so that you blend in with the environment.  Cotton fabrics are the best as they help you stay cool and comfortable.
•    Short & Long Sleeve Shirts / blouses – Long ( or ¾) sleeves are great for warmth in the evenings and early mornings, protection from the sun and insects. 100% cotton is the preferred fabric worn by the guides and people you will meet working at the lodges.

100% cotton blouses Of AFrican Origin

•    Shorts/Skirts & Trousers – Long cotton trousers can protect from the sun & insects in the evenings. However you will find that your guides and most guests will be in shorts or skirts during game drives and walks.
•    Safari Hat – Wide brimmed hats work best. Rogue in South Africa make a “breezy hat” which has mesh sides and is excellent for keeping the head cool but sun off your head and neck.  Packaway hats are also great for travelling as they fold flat in to a calico bag and are therefore very easy to pack and do not take up valuable space!

Rogue 301K Breezy Hat - great in the heat!!

•    Safari Jacket or Fleece – you may go out for a game drive before sunrise when it could be chilly.  Make sure you have at least one warm jacket or fleece as being cold is no fun!
•    Footwear – High heels will not be needed in the bush…EVER! Shoes that will not “slip off” are ideal when on the game drives.  You will need some type of hiking or safari boot if you plan on any walking safaris. The Rogue Desert Boot is a great option as it is smart but strong and looks great with shorts or trousers.

Rogue Desert Boot - great for bushwalking or dinner!

•    Sun tops that can be worn under a blouse for the girls is a great idea so that when the temperature goes up you have an extra layer to peel off and can get some sun on your shoulders!!
•    Binoculars, in general a compact pair with no zoom are easiest to use.
•    Camera.
•    Sunglasses.
•    Sun Screen.  At least factor 25.
•    Insect repellent.  It’s up to you whether you choose a DEET product or a non-DEET product.  Bug Geroff is a natural non-DEET insect repellent that was developed in South Africa and has been widely tested in malarial areas.  The trick is to reapply often and use the full range of products. The Bug Geroff Travel Pack is perfect for your Safari holiday.

Non Deet insect repellent

•    Malaria prophylaxis: please consult your GP/travel nurse. These are essential if you are travelling to a malaria area and will need to be organised well before you leave.
•    A Rogue sling bag to pack your binoculars, camera, insect repellent and sunscreen in.

Sling bag for every day use.

•    Adaptor plugs are useful to recharge phones, cameras etc.

It is best if you pack your clothes in to a soft canvas or leather bag.  Suitcases are awkward for the small planes and transfer vehicles. Rogue make a range of bags exactly for this purpose!

available in olive or sand canvas

Authentic safari wear and accessories such as hats, boots, bags, clothes and insect repellent are available in the UK from www.kendrickimports.com
All products you will find on the Kendrick Imports website are made in Africa and are available for immediate delivery.