Every single animal out here in the Timbavati is unique and interesting in its own way. In fact, once we get started on one we find it hard to stop. So, this week we decided to rather share a “fruit salad”, so to say, of fun facts about some of the incredible mammals we see regularly on safari at Tanda Tula.
An elephant’s trunk has over 50 000 muscles in it – bear in mind a human only has 600 muscles in their whole body! An elephant can tell the size, temperature, and shape of an object just by inspecting it with their trunk.
The entire anatomy of a cheetah is geared towards speed, it is the fastest land animal after all, this has led to the cheetah being one of the most specialized predators on the planet. With a rudder like tail for assistance in turning sharply at full speed and a deep-set chest to allow space for the massive lungs and heart are just two of these adaptations.
Warthogs have an eating stance, whereby they get right down on their haunches by folding in their front feet, this has literally come about to get them closer to their food in a more comfortable manner. They do look particularly cute when moving around in this position.
Impalas are synchronized breeders. At the beginning of the wet season, around November, the females will all start to give birth usually within a few days of each other. This gives the impala calves the best chance at survival, not only because there is plenty of food and water around, but also the sheer safety in numbers.
Of all the big cats’ leopards have the widest diversity in habitat and can learn to adapt to any given environment. Their habitats including rainforests, deserts, woodlands, grassland savannah and forests.
The giraffe’s scientific name, Giraffa camelopardalis, comes from the ancient Greeks who believed that these animals looked like camels wearing a leopard’s coat. No two giraffes are the same, their unique coats are exactly like human fingerprints.
Younger baboons learn from their parents what is good and safe to eat. It is usually the inquisitive younger baboons who discover new food sources, and this knowledge is then quickly passed through the troop.
Rates are quoted in South African Rand (ZAR) and include VAT. Rates are reviewed quarterly and are subject to change.
PROVISIONAL:
Bookings can be held as provisional for up to 14 days, after which the booking is required to release or confirm. A 20% refundable deposit is required to confirm the booking.
CONFIRMED:
Once confirmed with a 20% deposit, the booking is held on a status of ‘confirmed with refundable deposit’ until any of the following becomes true:
Final payment is due 60 days prior to arrival. Any outstanding balance on the total reservation value shall be required to be settled at 60 days prior to arrival.
All refundable deposits, commitment fees and full payments are held in a separate call account and do not become part of the operational cash flow until the guest has stayed.
The amount stated on the invoice is what must be received by Tanda Tula nett of bank charges.
CANCELLED
Cancellations must be received and acknowledged by Tanda Tula in writing.
‘Confirmed with refundable deposit’: bookings carry no cancellation fees up to 61 days prior to arrival.
‘Confirmed with commitment’ or ‘Confirmed with full-payment’: in the event of any reservation being cancelled after Tanda Tula has issued a confirmation, for any reason other than a WHO-recognised pandemic that impacts the booking, the following cancellation fees will apply:
All cancelled bookings that qualify for a refund, will be refunded less a handling fee valued at 5% of the refund amount.
PANDEMIC DISCLAIMER
Tanda Tula will allow postponement of a booking for up to 12 months, if travel is cancelled with a commitment fee or 60 days or less prior to arrival due to a WHO-recognised pandemic directly impacting the guests’ ability to travel (e.g. lockdown, no flights, guest not allowed to board a flight, guest falls ill due to a pandemic and unable to travel).
In the event of a WHO-recognised pandemic directly impacting the ability of Tanda Tula to meet its obligations with respect to the booking, all monies received, including the commitment fee, will be fully refunded (e.g. lockdown in RSA, government restrictions on trade).
Any refund is given at the discretion of Tanda Tula management and will be charge a handling fee valued at 5% of the refund amount.
All travellers are advised to take out fully comprehensive travel insurance with ‘cancellation for no reason’. This insurance must be able to fully cover cancellation of travel fewer than 60 days prior to arrival.
The Terms and Conditions are subject to change without notice.
