Matlabas EcoTours

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Matlabas EcoTours

Anyone, young and old, with an interest in nature, conservation and wildlife can join Matlabas EcoTours for tours in South Africa.

14/09/2024

WAYS AND WONDERS OF SA TREES
The book is now available from all good bookshops, or online from Struiknature or other online shops such as Take-a-lot

07/01/2022

A safe reopening of US international borders is a critical step to drive a full economic recovery, which is why the US Travel Association – a national, non-profit organisation representing all

10/02/2021

DENDROLOGICAL SAFARI
Wishing to escape the winter cold of the northern hemisphere?
Join us for a customised, private, small group dendrological safari of your own in Limpopo province, South Africa during our green season – October 2021 to May 2022.
Visit our website www.matlabasecotours.co.za and contact us on [email protected] for more details.

26/04/2020

The last Mhorr gazelle which lived in Bouhedma national park (located between the governorates of Sidi Bouzid and Gafsa) in Tunisia died some time ago, the Tunisia wildlife Conservation Society said without giving an exact date.

12/10/2019

SOME BIG TREES SEEN ON SAFARI

Address

Matlabas Game Lodge
Lephalale
0555

Telephone

0878080861

Website

http://www.matlabasecotours.com/

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IS IT SAFE TO VISIT SOUTH AFRICA?

We have noticed that there are many people in the first world who regard any country in Africa (including South Africa) as simply too risky to visit as a result of the most awful diseases, wild and dangerous animals running free everywhere, criminals waiting to pounce on innocent tourists, and heaven knows what else. We have also noticed that a few embassies recently issued travel warnings about South Africa. Also, international media coverage focuses exclusively on the bad and negative as this is what is regarded as newsworthy. It is thus understandable that some potential visitors may feel nervous about visiting the country. Here is our take on South Africa as a vacation or hunting destination.

· Yes, there is crime in the country, but name me a country without crime. Western Europe and North America is certainly not without its crime problems too. Where ever one travels internationally, there are always areas and places that are best given a miss. South Africa is no different.

· We have not seen the terrorist attacks that have plagued Europe in recent years, nor the shootings in the USA that made the news headlines. However, there is a lot of petty crime in South Africa and visitors should not leave valuables such as cell phones or cameras unattended in public areas. Hunting concessions are however as safe as anywhere else on earth.

· Most of the crime in South Africa that is reported in the media is related to violent protests in the black townships about the poor service delivery by the government. These protests often erupt in arson (burning down schools or shopping malls), looting and stone throwing. There is however no reason at all for any foreign visitor to visit any of these areas.

· Foreign visitors, including hunters, are met by their outfitter (or his representative) at the airport and are driven to their destination in the African bush. They are never exposed to the ‘trouble areas’ and will not be aware of any unrest in a township or elsewhere. In all the years we have never met a foreign visitor who felt unsafe in the country.

· Remember that it is humans who are responsible for crime, not wildlife. So, when visiting a hunting concession you will see lots of wildlife, but very few people. This makes the hunting lodges a safe destination.

· There are also relative few health risks in visiting South Africa. We have noticed that when prospective guests visit their house doctor before the trip, the good doctor is usually overly cautious and gives the poor traveller a lot of unnecessary shots. You don’t need shots for e.g. hepatitis, cholera, meningitis, typhoid or yellow fever. Some of the eastern parts of the country have malaria and visitors to those parts will be well advised to take precautions. We are fortunately well outside of the malaria zone.

· Nor has there been any ebola outbreak, or reported cases, in or near South Africa. There were more cases of ebola reported in the USA and Western Europe than in South Africa.

· Hurricanes, tornados, earth quakes, snow storms, tsunamis, etc. are extremely rare in South Africa and hardly ever occur. So, it is a safe country to visit as far as natural disasters are concerned.

· South Africa is a very popular international tourist destination and the country is visited by thousands and thousands of tourists each year. The most popular destinations are the game parks (especially Kruger National Park), the game ranches (where the hunting takes place), the beaches, the Cape wine lands and the Cape Town Waterfront.

· We have been living here for generations and this remains our preferred domicilium. The country certainly has its problems, but there is nowhere else that we would rather live. We are also very comfortable inviting tourists and hunters from the first world to come and experience the magic of Africa with us.