D-GOMM

Einladung zum Earthrounder Treffen in Kapstadt, Südafrika - 4. bis 8. März 2008.

We would like to invite you warmly to the next Earthrounders Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.

Frank was very, very proud of being entrusted with organising this meeting – and in his last months talked and thought about it pretty much on a daily basis. That we would take on the planning of the meeting following his death in February this year was clear to all of us very early on. He would have expected nothing else!

Meeting all of you in March 2008 will be special – many of you have shown wonderful friendship to us in the past months in particular - and we look forward very much to seeing you.

The programme below features some of the most wonderful things the Western Cape has to offer – we have had years of exploring the region and are happy to share this beautiful part of the world with you. We have many friends at Frank’s favourite Flying Club (Stellenbosch) who are looking forward to exchanging aviation adventure stories with you and who will gladly give advice to those of you who wish to fly in Southern Africa.

Southern Africa is a magnificent place and deserves to be explored thoroughly. If you are interested in experiencing its natural beauty and wildlife in a very special setting, we would recommend the Phinda Game Reserve. We have negotiated a very good deal – although this is dependent on numbers (see attached information).

If you arrive earlier or wish to stay on and visit other areas, please do not hesitate to contact Leony (details on registration form), who can offer plenty of information and a wealth of experience in South African individual travel arrangements.

Tuesday 4^th March

All day: Registration in the Erinvale Estate Hotel From
18:00 Welcome Cocktail – Sundowner if you are early enough – followed by dinner at the Erinvale Estate Clubhouse (walking distance from hotel) With stunning views of the bay and on days with good visibility to Cape Town this is a perfect place for meeting new Earthrounders and reminiscing with old friends. Please bring images of past reunions, old and new stories – anything you wish to share is welcome. We will give you an introduction to the Western Cape and its special beauty.

Wednesday 5^th March
08:30 – 09:45   Earthrounder Roundtable (Theme TBA) at the Clubhouse
09:45 – 10:00   Break
10:00 - 11:30   Earthrounder Roundtable (Theme TBA)
12:00 – 16:00   Lunch and Wine Tasting at the renowned Vergelegen Vineyard (walking distance) after
16:00       Rest and relaxation. Evening:          Dinner at venue of own choice (we are happy to make delicious suggestions…)

Thursday 6^th March
09:00               Depart hotel for a day tour around the Cape Peninsula. This tour will take you via some special stops to the Cape of Good Hope.                          Lunch (venue TBA)
Approx 18:00   Arrive back at hotel.
19:00               Dinner at a nearby vineyard with excellent catering

Friday 7^th March
09:00               Depart hotel for Cape Town. You will be taken to the famous Waterfront, a colourful place with plenty of opportunity for picking up local arts and crafts and other lovely things. From there you can decide if you wish to go up Table Mountain (weather permitting) or if other options are more inviting to you. We will supply you with suggestions of sights to see.*** if you wish to visit Robben Island (Nelson Mandela was imprisoned here) you will need to let Leony know as this needs to be booked separately and well in advance.
Lunch              Venue of own choice (plenty of choice to be had!)
15:00               First return transport to the hotel for afternoon Earthrounder Roundtable
16:00 - 17:30   Earthrounder Roundtable (Theme TBA) at the Clubhouse
17:30 – 17:45   Break
17:45 – 19:00   Earthrounder Roundtable (Theme TBA)
18:00               Second return transport to the hotel to spend the evening around Erinvale. ***If you would like to have dinner in Cape Town, please let us know, we can assist you in arranging transport or you can take a taxi.
Evening:          Dinner at venue of own choice (we are happy to make more delicious suggestions…)

Saturday 8^th March (the order of this day may change)
Morning:          This is a weather dependent option – Stellenbosch Flying Club (http://www.stelfly.co.za).If Frank was still here, he would have been able to treat you to his favourite flight around the Cape Peninsula. This is a spectacularly beautiful stretch of the African Coast and well worth it. If you are keen to go flying (and are without your own aircraft), please let us know in advance (by e-mailing Dorise and/or Claudia – as early as possible please). We will then endeavour to find some magnificent men/women and their flying machines to take you on this trip (at as little cost as possible).
Lunch:             Refreshments and drinks at the Flying Club – mingling with fellow pilots.
16:00-18:00     Earthrounder Roundtable (Theme TBA) at the Clubhouse
19:00               Depart hotel to venue for Farewell Dinner (smart, but no black tie necessary…)Live music and some African spirit. Presentation of attendance certificates and passing of the Earthrounders flag to the organiser of the next meeting.

Sunday 9^th of March
If enough Earthrounders are interested in travelling to Phinda, we will organise the transfers for flights etc. Please refer to the “Phinda” document for information on bookings etc.

When you book with Leony, the registration fee of 300 Euros will be due; the remainder of the balance will be due approximately two months prior to arrival. Leony’s company does not have credit card facilities at present, therefore the money will need to be transferred by bank transfer to the following account AFTER Leony has issued a booking reference number, which will have to be quoted:

March please let Leony know when you submit your registration and she will make arrangements for you (additional costs: ~200 ZAR [~21 Euros]).

Complete the registration form and send it either via e-mail or fax to Leony Hoogland (AfrikaOnline): Diese E-Mail Adresse ist gegen Spam Bots geschützt, Sie müssen Javascript aktivieren, damit Sie es sehen können ; Fax: 0027 21 85 55 691.
Leony will confirm your hotel booking and provide you with your registration confirmation. She is also very happy to arrange any other African Adventures you wish to undertake. If you are interested in staying at the Phinda Game Lodge, please tick the box below. Please find below the registration form – fill it in as soon as possible to ensure a successful event in terms of transport, tours, guides, restaurant and hotel reservations etc. To help with the overall organisation of the meeting, it would be useful for us to know numbers as soon as possible. The registration cost is € 300.00 (three hundred Euros) and includes:
local transport on 5th-8th March, Welcome cocktail, Wine tasting and lung, day-tour around the Cape Peninsula including lunch, transport to and from Capetown on 7th March, use of facilities for round table meetings, and dinner on 4th, 6th and 8th March.

4. I am interested in staying at Phinda Game Reserve* for 7 nights □
3 nights □ (* see information under heading “Phinda”)

Signed:_____________________________________________Date_____________________________

Earthrounders - Special Offer for Phindo Private Game Reserve

Dear Fellow Earthrounder,
We visited a number of game reserves and lodges during the preparation for this meeting. Initially we thought about holding the meeting at the Phinda Game Reserve, however, Cape Town was a very attractive first option and “won” in the final round…. Some of you, however, may still wish to experience the natural beauty and wildlife of Southern Africa in a special setting. Phinda is on of the “Top Lodges” in South Africa and would provide a special (and luxurious) experience . This is the deal:
·        Their normal high season price is: 4470 ZAR pp/night (approx 467 Euros pp/night at today’s exchange rate)
·        If we get enough bookings to fill 30 rooms for seven nights (i.e. we’d have both Lodges), we would be able to get a very good deal indeed with 1725 Euros/7 nights (per person sharing; i.e. 247 Euros pp/night)*** a provisional booking form for this is enclosed below.**** we only get this rate if we get enough bookings (there is interest from other people/friends, we could e.g. have one lodge for Earthrounders only and try and fill the other one with other nice people…)
·        If we get enough bookings to fill 16 rooms for three nights (i.e. Forest Lodge only) we would be able to get the following deal:3470 ZAR pp/night (approx 363 Euros pp/night)**** again, we only get this rate if we get enough bookings Have a look, and explore their website too. Please indicate on the main registration form if you are interested in travelling to Phinda (it does involve a flight to the other side of South Africa, but there are very reasonable flight prices if booked early). We need to have this information by the end of July at the latest and should be able to let you know shortly afterward whether this will work out. Let’s see how it goes!
Dorise, Claudia and Robin, Bianca and Malaika

Please also see Phinda's official website for more information and photographs: http://www.phinda.com/

If you are interested in further information about Phinda or would like to obtain reservation documents, please contact Leony by email at Diese E-Mail Adresse ist gegen Spam Bots geschützt, Sie müssen Javascript aktivieren, damit Sie es sehen können or fax ++27 (0)21 8555691 (South Africa).

Phinda Private Game Reserve Africa’s Phinda Private Game Reserve is situated in the lush Maputaland region in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Bordering the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park – a World Heritage Site – Phinda comprises 22 000 hectares (54 500 acres) of prime conservation land. Seven distinct habitats shelter an abundance of wildlife including Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo) and over 380 bird species, while the marine diversity off the nearby coast of Sodwana is said to rival the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Guests can look forward to exciting game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles led by experienced rangers and Zulu trackers, as well as thrilling optional activities on the water, in the air and on the beach. Safari activities at Phinda are plentiful. Enjoy game-drives, interpretive bush walks, canoeing on the Mzinene River, White Rhino tracking, or watch the sunrise or sunset whilst enjoying a Mzinene Riverboat Cruise - all at no extra cost. Kwa Zulu Natal, one of the nine provinces of South Africa, KwaZulu Natal offers an eclectic mix of cultures, natural and unspoilt scenery, pristine beaches, the splendid Indian Ocean - with its abundant sea-life - as well as good infrastructure and modern cities juxtaposed against rural settlements. KZN (as abbreviated by the locals) is also home to the culturally-rich and facinating history of the Zulu Nation, evident in the many battlefields and historical establishments dotted around this colourful province. WHY CHOOSE PHINDA FOR YOUR SAFARI? Seven diverse habitats Seven intimate safari lodges Exhilarating Walking Safaris Exceptional African Big Five game viewing Game-drives in open 4x4 vehicles Excellent Birdwatching and Leopard Research Safaris Thrilling beach and bush adventures Winner of prestigious ecotourism awards

Phinda Mountain Lodge Mountain Lodge has 20 air-conditioned chalets with private decks and en suite bathrooms with bath and shower. Paved pathways lead down the mountainside from the main lodge to the chalets. A subtly executed blend of avant-garde and ethnic décor captures the alluring bushveld spirit in each room. The bar, shaded terrace and main lounge open onto cool veranda’s with serene views of the Lebombo Mountains. You will be treated to authentic African hospitality at the reception area and curio shop. Or you may choose to take a refreshing dip in the shaded swimmingPool or you can linger on the lookout deck, built for relaxation, bird and game watching. Lunch is served on the shaded terrace, patio or dining room. Dinners in the dramatic open-air boma (enclosed reeded area) can be relished under starlit African skies.

Phinda Forest LodgeForest Lodge's 16 raised glass-encased chalets have a bedroom, lounge and spacious en suite bathroom with a bath and separate shower. Outside, wooden decks have been erected around the growing trees. Although surrounded on three sides by glass, the fertile forest floor and towering torchwood trees ensure privacy in each of the chalets. Constructed to minimise impact on the unique Sand Forest, the air-conditioned rooms are raised off the ground to allow smaller animals complete freedom of movement along the forest floor below. At Forest Lodge, the glass walls display the sea-green canopy with wide-screen effect. A few short paces outside, birds and animals such as the tiny red duiker, suni antelope and rare red squirrel move quietly through the forest. The chalets evoke the luxurious minimalism of classic Japanese architecture. This is offset by the verdant forest scene beyond the glass walls, creating a sensuous African delight. The chalets have polished beech wood and slate floors. The central dining area, lounge and shaded swimming pool of this secluded camp overlook a tranquil open grassy vlei (wetland pan). The elevated lookout deck is a prime bird-watching spot for the approximately 400 species at Phinda. Our range of souvenirs in the curio shop at main reception area is worth exploring. We invite you to savour flamboyant cuisine infused with Pan-African flair. You may dine on the deck viewing the grassy plains. Or indulge in the romance of al fresco dining beneath a starlit sky around the forest boma (enclosed reeded area). Large tables for eight glow in the light of the central boma fire.