Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the Falaza Game Park e-Newsletter

While watching Sky News the other day a Sports reporter was doing a piece on how the training facilities in Rustenburg for the English soccer team are not quite ready yet, however he reported, they have been assured that the facilities will be ready in time for the world cup according to FIFA. While he was saying this, the female news reader sitting next to him was pulling a face and mouthing silently at the camera “No they won’t”.

It is this kind of attitude towards South Africa and Africa at large that still pervades and creates the negative attitude we sometimes have to deal with.

Here are some facts to counter that attitude:

• 20, 000 British Lions supporters were here for the rugby tour last year and had a fantastic time.
• We are the rugby world champions twice over.
• Our cricket team is ranked number two in the world at present behind India.
• Many British athletes spend their off seasons here training, because of the altitude and because of the FACILITIES.
• We have hosted highly successful cricket and rugby world cup tournaments.
• Our infrastructure is fine and anything that was below par is being brought up to scratch. Just like any other country or city that hosts the world cup or the Olympics there is always stuff to be done.

So the message should be at least let us host the thing before criticising us.

Rain Report

The Hluhluwe Game Reserve had some great rain the other night, just in the nick of time as it was boiling hot and most of the pans were bone dry with just a trickle of water in the rivers. It is always amazing how just one good rain can change things in Africa. The rivers are flowing and the pans are full of water in the reserve. We probably need a lot more but the danger has been averted for now.

As reported before the other areas around Hluhluwe have been receiving rain and Falaza has had its fair share, we could always do with more and it still has not been a normal rainy season, but it is far better than the previous couple of years.

The Elephant Story

This is the kind of thing that happens in small African towns. A couple of years ago the town of Hluhluwe went into full alert mode when it was reported that three elephants were wandering through the town and on the loose. It was thought that they may have broken through the fence from a private game reserve which has three elephants.

Luckily just before an expensive air search was launched, someone pointed out that Brian’s Circus was in town.

It turned out that the three African Elephants that belonged to the circus were just being taken for a walk to stretch their legs on the town’s airfield with their handlers.

The moral of the Story: None really, except that if you live in small town in Africa that maybe the extent of the excitement quota for the year.

Peace and Quite

For those South Africans who will be looking for a place to hide away from the madness of the world cup, why not come and spend time here in Hluhluwe?

Until the next time, take care.
The Falaza Team

For bookings or details on specials please contact Ann, our GM, or Bongani our reservations manager.