The airline will introduce twice-weekly service to Abidjan on Aug. 17.

The flights will be added as an extension to SAA’s Accra, Ghana, flights on Tuesdays and Fridays. SAA secured traffic rights between Accra and Abidjan, allowing it to fly between the cities in either direction.

SAA will begin twice-weekly service to Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, on Sept. 13. The Brazzaville route will use an Airbus A319-200 aircraft, while the Abidjan service will be operated on the same Airbus A330-200 widebody aircraft that serves Accra. Both markets are scheduled to fit optimally with the arrival and departure of SAA’s international flights at OR Tambo International Airport, offering passengers connections through Johannesburg. The additions are part of the airline’s African growth strategy, through which it is expanding its presence on the continent and establishing connections with previously difficult-to-reach destinations.

The new routes are the sixth and seventh introduced since October 2011. Cotonou, Benin, and Pointe Noire, Congo, were also recently added.

Abidjan is the economic capital of the Ivory Coast. It is also the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris and Kinshasa. Brazzaville is the financial and administrative capital of the Republic of Congo.

The city is located on the Congo River, and as of the 2001 census, it has a population of 1,018,541 in the city proper, and about 1.5 million in total when including the suburbs located in the Pool Region. Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with more than 10 million inhabitants, is directly across the Congo River from Brazzaville.

Together with Kinshasa, the combined metropolitan area of Kinshasa-Brazzaville has nearly 12 million inhabitants.

South African Airways is the leading carrier in Africa, serving 26 destinations across the continent, as well as major destinations within South Africa and internationally from its Johannesburg hub.

It is a member of the largest international airline network, Star Alliance.

Emirates will operate daily to Abidjan via Accra, Ghana. Flights to Abidjan will be served by an Airbus A340-300 aircraft which offers 12 First, 42 Business and 213 Economy Class seats.

EK 787 will depart Dubai at 0730hrs, arriving Abidjan at 1400hrs. EK788 departs Abidjan at 1520hrs, arriving Dubai at 0550hrs the following day. Emirates currently serves 19 passenger and cargo destinations across the African continent.

This unique cruise combines African coastal cruising along the coast of Senegal and Gambia, with exploration of the Saloun Delta and the Gambia River.

The very reasonably priced optional excursion programme gives passengers the opportunity to discover the diverse flora and fauna of this wonderful area as well as the fascinating culture and history of the local inhabitants.

Seafarer Managing Director, Chris Lorenzo said “This superb and quite unique cruise is a repeat of the very successful cruise series operated here last winter, whilst the 23 cabin mega yacht Pegasus, is the only European owned and crewed cruises vessel operating in this area”.

Facilities on board the Pegasus include ample sun decks, a spacious and comfortable lounge and bar, a restaurant and well appointed outside cabins with air conditioning and en suite facilities. Pegasus is fully SOLAS compliant, and cruises the Mediterranean and Black Sea during the summer months.

Early booking prices for a 7 night cruise from Senegal start at £1225pp cruise only, or from £1,888 with flights and transfers. A 2 night extension in Dakar, Senegal with excursions costs £395

For More info Contact Chris Lorenzo at
Seafarer Cruising & Sailing Holidays
On 0208 324 3117 or email on info@seafarercruises.com

Outdoor Research Bug Bucket Hat Khaki, L – With no-see-um netting to hold off the bugs, the Outdoor Research Bug Bucket Hat is an ideal choice for mosquito protection when you’re camping in buggy environments. The netting on the Bug Bucket Hat seals around your neck with a drawcord and stuffs into the crown when not in use. Made with UPF 30+ SolarSheild fabric, this Outdoor Research hat also keeps the sun from burning your head and neck. The Bug Bucket hat stuffs into a hidden pocket, allowing it to stow easily when not in use.

In Vietnam and Cambodia, Lindblad is offering a cruise along the Mekong River, including Angkor and Saigon, aboard the new, 48-passenger Jahan.

The 14-day itinerary takes in the temples of Angkor; the floating villages, markets and small communities along the Mekong; and the cities of Phnom Penh and Saigon.

Rates start at $7,980 per person, double.

In Turkey and Greece, Lindblad is offering a new itinerary and a new expedition environment aboard the 58-passenger, four-masted Sea Cloud. “Exploring Turkey & Greece: A Sailing Odyssey” is a journey to the home of Western civilization along the Turkish coast and the Greek isles.

The 10-day itinerary includes visits to Istanbul, a bridge between East and West; Ephesus, one of the great centers of the Greek world; Didyma, home to one of Apollo’s oracles; and Greece’s Cycladic islands of Santorini, Folégandros and sacred Delos, home to some of the greatest works created by the ancients. Rates start at $7,990 per person, double.

The “West African Odyssey: Exploring from South Africa to Morocco” cruise spans 16 countries.

The 37-day itinerary explores the entire west coast of Africa from Cape Town, South Africa, to Morocco, offering an array of cultures, scenery and wildlife. Guests will experience daily life in Africa through its markets and music and encounter a great sweep of geography, including the maritime climate of South Africa, the deserts of Namibia, the tropics and savannas of the coast, the desert of the Western Sahara and the city of Marrakech.

The adventure takes place aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer with rates from $28,480 per person, double.

“Exploring the Cultures and Wildlife of Papua New Guinea” is a 16-day itinerary that explores the country’s natural splendor and cultures aboard the 68-guest Oceanic Discoverer.

Guests will observe the active volcano Tavurvur; visit the villagers’ traditional homes and yam huts in the Trobriands, whose cultures were famously studied by anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski; and view art along the Sepik River and the remains of a ship stored in a cave by the Japanese during World War II at Rabaul.

Throughout the voyage, guests can beach comb, swim and snorkel on some of the finest coral reefs in the world. Rates start at $14,790 per person, double.

For more information, call 800-397-3348 or visit www.expeditions.com

Key ports of call include Banjul, Gambia; Walvis Bay, Namibia; Cape Town, South Africa, for two nights; Port Louis, Mauritius; Dubai for an overnight; Abu Dhabi; Muscat, Oman; Alexandria, Egypt; Piraeus, for Athens, Greece; and Valletta, Malta.

“On the itinerary planning front, cruises featuring ports of call across North Africa and the Middle East have come under scrutiny,” said Nigel Lingard, Fred Olsen’s marketing director. “Despite these constraints, we continue to expand our horizons, offering new destinations wherever possible.”

Prices start at $12,043 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin-bed cabin. Up to $600 onboard spending per person is available, depending on cabin grade. Those who book before May 31 receive early booking savings. For more information, call 800-843-0602, email info@bortonoverseas.com  or visit www.bortonoverseas.com

Nothing gets the adrenaline pumping like the anticipation of the unknown and the thrillof the wild; until excitement turns to anxiety, when the idea of taking on nature in its rawest form on an African Safari conjures up thoughts of facing dangerous animals, braving mosquitoes, and forgoing the basic comforts of home.

Many would-be adventurers settle for a day trip to the zoo and a traditional vacation to a resort. But an African safari doesn’t have to mean sacrifice.

Born Free Safaris & Tours has transformed the meaning of an African safari, offering fabulous accommodations, great food, friendly people, safety, and personalized attention from professionals with over 34 years of experience in Africa.

Born Free Safaris & Tours is not simply a booking agent, but rather a hands-on tour operator that takes the fear out of journeying through Africa.

Tour guides are members of the Association of Professional Safari Guides and are trained in first aid, vehicle maintenance, culture, wildlife, foreign languages and conservation, just to name a few.

Guides are carefully matched with tours based on special interests, areas of specific knowledge, and personality and function as game trackers, problem solvers and personal drivers. Born Free Safaris & Tours has been named a top African tour company by the world’s most prestigious travel publications.

Whether it’s a traditional African style safari, or a high comfort soft adventure, Born Free Safaris & Tours has a program to fit every taste and budget with a range of themes unmatched by any other African tour operator including: tours in over 30 African countries; budget trips or luxurious excursions; wildlife, walking, and air safaris; cultural, historic, and religious tours; diverse accommodations such as such as campsites, lodges, bed and breakfasts, private homes, and ranches; and activities from hot air ballooning, whitewater rafting, canoeing, golfing, hiking, horse-camel-elephant safaris, weddings, honeymoons, and more.

Born Free Safaris and Tours service the young and old, able-bodied and disabled, the wild and the tame by working together to create the ultimate African safari experience.

Born Free Safaris & Tours are pleased to accommodate travelers of all ages and abilities, is an eco-friendly company, and are committed to conservation.

For more information about rates and trip options, contact Born Free Safari’s & Tours at (800) 4-SAFARI, or visit www.bornfreesafaris.com

“Faith-based tourism attracts 300 million travelers worldwide, who spend $18 billion annually,” said WRTA President Kevin Wright.

“We look forward to once again working with ATA, especially as Africa has long served as a top destination for people of faith.” Under the new partnership agreement, ATA and its members will participate in the WRTA World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference 2009 to be held Nov. 14 to 16, 2009, in Reno, Nev., and WRTA will participate in ATA’s upcoming events in the United States and across Africa, most notably the 35th Annual Congress in The Gambia in May 2010.

The Africa Travel Association (ATA) was established as an international travel industry trade association in 1975. ATA’s mission is to promote travel, tourism and transport to and within Africa, and to strengthen intra-Africa partnerships.

For more information, visit ATA online at www.africatravelassociaton.org  or call 212-447-1357. WRTA is the leading global network for the $18 billion faith tourism industry.

For more information, call 859-219-3529 or visit www.WRTAreligioustravel.com  or www.WRTAexpo.com

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has launched a brand new service, Personal Hotelier, across the Crowne Plaza estate throughout Middle East and Africa. Guests staying in Club rooms or on the Crowne Club floor can now enjoy the undivided attention of a hotelier dedicated to catering to their every need.

Crowne Plaza Personal Hotelier is an initiative that provides guests one point of contact, one face, one name and one telephone number to call prior to and during their stay at the hotel. This exclusive service is designed to alleviate the stress of corporate travel, allowing the guest more time and space to think, resulting in making their business trips more efficient and effective.

Commenting on the launch, Haitham Mattar, Director of Marketing Middle East and Africa, said, “Most of our guests are frequent business travellers. While they tend to enjoy travel, it can be exhausting and hectic so we decided to introduce a service to help them get the most of their time with us. “

From the moment a booking for a Club room is made, a member of the Personal Hotelier team will be assigned to the guest, contact them to introduce themselves and then offer them any assistance if required.

A personal hotelier can help guests with everything for business needs, such as updating a presentation, printing documents, making reservations at a restaurant or spa and even personal shopping.

The pilot program, conducted at Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City, received an overwhelmingly good response.

Results from a survey* conducted amongst guests who participated in the program demonstrated that 95 per cent rated the service excellent with regards to its efficiency and usefulness.

The Personal Hotelier service is available to guest who book Club rooms or on the Crowne Club Floor at all Crowne Plaza properties across Middle East and Africa.

Explore Egypt with a tourist guide

Hailed as “the travel service innovation of 2008″ by the Irish Times

OurExplorer facilitates with ease the on-line booking of professional tourist guides from all over the world. Save time and money while you explore your next destination with the wisdom and guidance of a local.

Have you ever thought whilst visiting a new destination, “I wonder where the locals eat, drink, fish, ski, shop or party?” OurExplorer suggests its time for us all to stop simply sight-seeing but rather start exploring with the local wisdom and knowledge of a professional tourist guide.

OurExplorer has launched a new travel concept in BETA, a user-rated tourist guide booking tool created exclusively for your personal travel needs.

As the global financial crisis still looms, OurExplorer can save travellers hassle and money by getting the maximum out of their overseas adventure with a private tourist guide.

Enjoy the insight of the best shopping and value for money dining experiences in a city, directly from a native. Some tourist guides are currently offering special discounted rates and free tour hours on OurExplorer.

OurExplorer promote professional tourist guides only. Pre booking, the traveller can view their experience, license, past client testimonials or even chat with the tourist guide.

OurExplorer launched in July 2008 with now over 400 private tourist guides covering more than 80 countries worldwide — making it the biggest professional tourist guide directory in the world and growing all the time!

Make your trip overseas unique and full of adventure.
You book your flight and accommodation on-line, why not your tourist guide?
Get a tourist guide for land (city guide, mountain guide) or sea (diving guide).

Purpose of OurExplorer:

1. To help tourist guides increase their income thereby benefiting the local community – especially those in poor countries e.g. Kenya, Mexico and Cambodia.

2. Increase cross cultural awareness and acceptance via direct connection with locals e.g. people in USA get the chance to understand those in Pakistan and Israel

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry but it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends,” said Mahatma Gandhi.

“Less than 9.7% of overseas travelers interact in meaningful discussion with a local,” according to the Tourism 2020 Vision reported by WTO.

The IMF concluded in March 2007 that “direct support of independent local businesses when you travel has the most positive results on local economy”.

“Rather than just donating money, OurExplorer is a sustainable long term solution to help low income families globally,” said David Cunningham (Chief Exploring Officer).