Jetsettersblog

PlanetWildlife.com, a leading provider of diverse wildlife travel and tours around the world, presents Wildlife’s Hot Spots for 2012 – a month-by-month directory of what’s happening and when – and itinerary suggestions to inspire nature lovers to experience some of the seminal seasonal events of the natural world. To explore all the ideas and options available, visit PlanetWildlife’s Calendar presented on the website under ‘Travel’…..itineraries are all-inclusive from point of departure but do not include international flights.

January – India
January is the breeding season for the green sea turtles around the Galapagos Islands – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/galapagos-island-hopping-tour – is a five-day itinerary priced at £1,661/US$2,594 per person (pp)
This is also an excellent time of year to go tiger spotting in India when the clement weather facilitates close study of these rare and endangered big cats – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/classic-explorer-kanha-and-bandhavagarh – a six day safari itinerary including elephant rides in Central India priced at £756/US$1,180pp

February – Nepal
February is a good time to go trekking in Nepal with better than usual odds of spotting the famed Bengal Tiger – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/chitwan-explorer  is a nine-day itinerary in Chitwan National Park priced at £1,465/US$2,287pp. This is also an ideal month for tracking the rare and beautiful snow
leopard in nearby Ladakh, India – visit www.planetwildlife.in/travel/itineraries/snow-leopard-experience  for a 13-day trekking adventure priced at £2,163/US$3,377pp.

February also sees the gathering of hundreds of thousands of spectacular pink flamingos on Lake Nakuru in Kenya, Africa – www.planetwildlife.in/travel/itineraries/simba-safari  is a seven-day safari priced at £2,027/US$3,164pp.

March – the Arctic
When the days start to lengthen and become milder in the Arctic region, this is an ideal time to spot Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights – and a cruise is one of the most enjoyable ways to experience this natural wonder – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/lofoten-aurora-borealis through Norway is an eight-day journey on the schooner ‘Noorderlicht’ priced at £1,979/US$3,090pp.

April – Galapagos
April presents another excellent opportunity to go bird-watching in Galapagos where enthusiasts can spot blue-footed boobies, swallow tailed gullies, frigate birds and red-billed tropic birds amongst others. www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/galapagos-island-hopping-tour is a five-day itinerary priced at £1,661/US$2,594pp).

May – India – Ladhak and Karnataka
In India, the weather is perfect for an extensive trek around Ladhak in the Himalayas – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/amazing-leh-community-service-trek – presents an unusual 13-day itinerary and the opportunity to become involved in local community service in the villages of Spango Valley while learning about and tracking the elusive snow leopard – priced at just £569/US$888pp.

This is also an opportune month to visit Karnataka in India and the Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve, the natural habitat of Bengal tigers, leopards, elephants and hyenas – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/classic-explorer-karnataka  is a five-day itinerary including the fascinating cities of Bangalore and Mysore and priced at £1,330/US$2,076pp.

June – Rwanda
Head to Rwanda this month to witness a unique baby gorilla naming ceremony, “KwitaIzina” – an annual ceremony attended by hundreds of local villagers but international visitors are also welcome – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/gorillas-wildlife-and-chimpanzees is a comprehensive seven-day adventure through some of Uganda’s best national parks of Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi and is priced at £4,457/US$6,958pp.

July – Costa Rica and Brazil
Latin America is the destination to head for this month to spot the endangered green and hawksbill turtles nest on the beautiful Caribbean beaches of Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. The park is also home to manatees, crocodiles, tropical gar, jaguars, sloths and basilisks, amongst other exotic wildlife – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/forests-and-volcanoes-costa-rica  is a 15-day excursion round Costa Rica and the Caribbean priced at £3,662/US$5,717pp.

Alternatively, in Brazil’s Pantanal area this is the best time of year for jaguar sightings and for close study of many other endangered species including the hyacinth macaw and the maned wolf – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/voyage-heart-amazon  is an eight-day voyage to the heart of the Amazon and is priced at £2,940/US$4,590pp

August – Kenya
Head to Kenya this month to be amongst the first to witness one of nature’s greatest shows – the annual Great Migration sees thousands of wildebeest, gazelles and zebras make a dash across the Mara River risking death from predators such as the crocodile – www.planetwildlife.in/travel/itineraries/simba-safari  is a seven-day safari priced at £2,027/US$3,164pp

September – Botswana
This is an ideal time to ravel to Botswana and explore the wilderness of Chobe National Park and the Okavango delta and take in the full majesty of the famed Victoria Falls – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/best-botswana-chobe-and-okavango  is an eight-day itinerary commencing in Maun and finishing at the Victoria Falls prices at £2,664/US$4,159pp

October – Madagascar
During this dry month off the coast of Africa, lemurs are particularly active and playful on the island of Madagascar – www.planetwildlife.in/travel/itineraries/magical-madagascar  is an exciting eight-day adventure combining lemurs and bird-watching as well as interaction with tribal villagers and is priced at £1,713/US$2,674pp.

November – the Falkland Islands

Head to the bottom of the world to the Falkland Islands (classified under the Antarctic zone) to watch five different species of penguins breed at this special time: the King, Rockhopper, Gentoo, Magallanic and Macaroni penguins – the islands also present a chance to spot the rare black-browed albatross – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/antarctic-peninsula-weddell-see-falkland-islands  is a 14-day cruise from Ushuaia in Argentina to the Falklands priced at £8,995/US$14,041pp

December – Sri Lanka
In southern Sri Lanka, this is the best time of year to spot one of the natural wonders of the world – the Blue Whale….nowhere else do they come as close to the land as they do near the coast of Sri Lanka. The www.planetwildlife.com/trave/itineraries/blue-whale-and-leopard-experience  is a nine-day itinerary commencing in Colombo which combines blue whale and dolphin spotting with safaris in Yala, home to elephants and leopards – priced at £2,520/US$3,934pp.

For further information, please visit www.planetwildlife.com  or contact a PlanetWildlife office (listed on the website). PlanetWildlife is as a leading international provider of diverse wildlife and safari tours with over 300 creative itineraries in 26 countries around the world catering to a wide range of interests and budgets.

About PlanetWildlife:

PlanetWildlife is an international travel company based in India with sales offices in UK, India, Australia, Hong Kong and Sweden. It is backed by highly successful entrepreneurs and managed by a professional team who are passionate about wildlife and have been involved in a variety of nature conservation activities over the years. The www.PlanetWildlife.com website features over 300 itineraries to Africa, India, and South America comprising a diverse range of photography safaris, hiking expeditions and bird-watching adventures, including ocean cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica.

Most tours offer daily departure dates and each is well-organised, competitively priced, environmentally responsible and tailored to suit the requirements of group or individual travellers. In all instances they are led by highly qualified and experienced leaders. Respected travel industry professionals and wildlife experts work in consultation with PlanetWildlife and are instrumental in designing each themed itinerary Via the website, a comprehensive and continuously expanding reference library on species and destinations is readily accessible and is regularly updated to ensure its usefulness to travellers, students, wildlife enthusiasts and bloggers.

PlanetWildlife is committed to responsible tourism, and in particular: minimising negative environmental impact; contributing to the conservation of natural and cultural heritages and embracing diversity; providing rewarding experiences for visitors through meaningful interaction with local communities to the economic benefit of those communities; and promoting a greater understanding and respect for local cultural, social and environmental issues. It is part of PlanetWildlife’s corporate policy to fund selected awareness drives and wildlife conservation programmes and welcomes suggestions from the public in this regard.

Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Limited Edition plans to open a 15-tent luxury camp next to Kenya’s Maasai Mara game park within the next six months. The camp will be positioned for watching the great wildebeest migration from Tanzania’s Seregeneti National Park north into Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Branson has referred to the migration as one of the top “wonders” of the world.

The camp will also serve to protect the migration routes. Branson has more than 20 years experience running a game reserve in South Africa and assists in funding the aid group Free Children, which works in the Maasai Mara region. The new camp will be the latest property to be part of Virgin Limited Edition, the luxury division of Virgin Hotels Group Limited.

Get out of the Jeep and Discover a Whole Different Africa! ~

A vacation to Africa has so much more to offer than just a jeep safari! With African Travel, Inc. , your trip to Africa can include unique and varied experiences you may have never even thought of! Different and wonderful experiences abound, and African Travel can add one or all of these unique adventures to your African Travel vacation plans for a trip that will create memories to last a lifetime! Here are the top 10 Unique Travel Experiences chosen by African Travel’s expert Safari Consultants:

Top 10 Unique Travel Experiences

Get Up Close and Personal with Great White Sharks
Explore the Terrain on Elephant Back
Ride the Dunes on a Quad Bike
Sail in a Dhow in Mozambique
Try a Camel Back Riding Safari
See the Terrain on Horseback
Enjoy a Balloon Ride
Take a Bicycle Safari
Go On a Walking Safari
Voluntourism: Give the Gift of Your Time

1. Get Up Close and Personal with Great White Sharks. Think of Africa and lions and elephants instantly leap to mind. But South Africa is also undoubtedly one of the top shark dive regions in the world! Great white shark diving at Gansbaai and Cape Town is possibly the greatest thrill you will ever experience. From both the boat deck and submerged in the safety of the specially designed cage, you will certainly get the view you are looking for of these magnificent and feared creatures. A full day tour can easily be added to any of our Popular Journeys that include a stop in Cape Town.

2. Explore the Terrain on Elephant Back.Share in the ultimate African experience. View tree tops, birds’ nests, and giraffes almost face to face. Sail high above the bushveld and feel part of the environment, instead of being just a passive observer. On elephant back, you are truly an integral part of the experience. Half day elephant safaris are easily added to any stay in the Victoria Falls area and are an included highlight to our Wild Kingdoms of Southern Africa Popular Journey safari. For the ultimate elephant experience, consider another Popular Journey, South Africa’s Finest, which includes a two-night stay at Camp Jabulani. This property takes luxury to its highest level while also devoting attention to the care and well-being of orphaned elephants. Imagine an evening elephant-back safari followed by a romantic setting of a lantern lit bush dinner -a white linen table adorned with a selection of beverages, crystal glasses, fresh flowers and delectable canapés specially prepared by the chef. It is not hard to feel that “Life is good” as you unwind at the end of another day at Camp Jabulani.

3. Ride the Dunes on a Quad Bike. Namibia is bordered on two sides by deserts, the Kalahari and Namib, which have the largest sand dunes anywhere. By far the most exciting thing on four wheels, Quad Biking on the sand dunes is a rush like no other. Whether you’re speeding through the fast stretches or navigating the technical sections, Quadding will knock your socks off! All bikes are fully automatic. Quad Biking on the sand dunes is truly an amazing and unique experience. Quad Biking is offered as a safari activity on the Roaring Dunes and Soaring Skies of Namibia and the Footprints of the Bushmen in Botswana, to name just a few.

For more information and reservations contact African Travel at (800) 421-8907 or visit www.africantravelinc.com . CST 2071444-20

Coming Soon! Look for the new African Travel, Inc. Journal Page. Get travel tips, travel photos and testimonials, stories from the bush, and you can subscribe to the RSS feed to get all of these things in one place!

About African Travel, Inc.

African Travel crafts personalized African safaris and adventures for today’s travelers who crave an experience of a lifetime. With over 35 years providing authentic African experiences, African Travel knows all the options to ensure a wonderful custom wildlife adventure to South Africa , Botswana, Namibia, Zambia including Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Kenya , Tanzania including Zanzibar, Rwanda and Uganda including gorilla trekking, Mozambique, Seychelles, Mauritius, Egypt and Dubai .

African Travel, Inc. was nominated by Travel Weekly in their 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards as a Top Tour Operator and Safari Outfitter in Travel +Leisure’s World’s Best Awards.

African Travel, Inc. is part of The Travel Corporation, which also includes Trafalgar, Contiki, Brendan Vacations, Insight Vacations, Red Carnation Hotel Collection, and Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection.

Dubai, UAE – - Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, will soon offer customers a quicker and more convenient link to Uganda, with the introduction of a direct service.

“As demand for our Entebbe service continues to grow, customers can now enjoy the convenience of a non-stop air link with Dubai. Our new direct service will offer seamless connections to key destinations in the Middle East, Indian Sub-continent, Asia and the Far East, together with the award-winning in-flight service for which Emirates is renowned,” said Jean Luc Grillet, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for Africa.

Starting 25th March, EK 729 will depart Dubai at 0825hrs each day, arriving in Entebbe at 12:35hrs. The return leg, EK 730, will leave the Ugandan city at 1540hrs and get into Dubai at 2155hrs.

“At Emirates, we continually look for new ways to improve the service we provide to our customers. Entebbe is an important market for Emirates in the East African region and we are dedicated to ensuring our customers have access to the highest service standards both in the air and on the ground,” added Jean Luc.

Emirates will operate an Airbus A330-200 on its Entebbe routes in a three-class configuration, featuring 12 luxurious First Class seats, 42 seats in Business Class and generous space for 183 passengers in Economy Class.

Onboard, passengers can enjoy delicacies from an exclusive menu served to them by Emirates’ cabin crew representing over 120 nations. With a fleet of 168 aircraft and the largest A380 and Boeing 777 operator in the world, Emirates currently serves 20 destinations in the African continent, with new services to Zambia and Zimbabwe starting from February 2012.

Passengers on all Emirates’ flights also have the added bonus of extra baggage allowance with 30 kilogrammes permitted for those travelling in Economy Class, 40 kilogrammes for Business Class and 50 kilogrammes for First Class passengers. To date, Emirates’ Entebbe route has been operated as a linked service with Addis Adaba.

For more information or to book, visit www.emirates.com or call your local Emirates reservations office.

With Airfare! Starting From USD $2,499*

Lion World Tours is offering a special package to Kenya from just USD $2,499* per person including international airfare, taxes and fuel surcharges!

This USD $2,499 “Kenya On Sale” package is valid for March 29th and March 31st departures, and USD $2,699 for all other departures in March, April and May 1-14, 2012. Fly from New York (JFK) or Washington, Dulles Airport to Nairobi, Kenya aboard the award winning Ethiopian Airlines. Ethiopian Airlines was the winner of the 2009 “Airline of the Year” award from the African Airlines Association (AFRAA).

This package also includes six nights in deluxe accommodations in Kenya, game viewing, guides, meals, transfers and more.

The single supplement fee for passengers traveling alone is only USD $250.

At Serena Mountain Lodge guests can awake to the trumpeting of elephant, fall asleep to the symphony of the African night or sit in stillness and observe the fascinating interplay of the animals as they arrive to drink, bathe, spar and forage around the water hole.

Sarova Shaba Lodge is built around natural springs and offers an oasis of green in the midst of this beautiful but harshly arid landscape.

Sarova Shaba Lodge is located high above the Shaba Game Reserve, and it cleverly incorporates the beautiful natural springs as one of its special features.

Lion Hill Lodge impresses every guest with its panoramic view of the pink shoreline created by millions of flamingos on Lake Nakuru. The Lodge is situated within the Lake Nakuru National Park Rift Valley Province and is surrounded by natural flora and fauna in its beautiful grounds.

Sarova Mara Game Camp is set in the African bush but the luxurious tents all have permanent roofs, zip-up fronts, and electricity and en-suite facilities. Relaxing outside your own tent listening to the symphony of rasping Cicadas, croaking Tree Frogs and the intermittent call of birds and monkeys is a memorable experience.

“Kenya On Sale”, starting at just USD $2,499 * per person is a nine-day trip which includes:

Round trip international Economy Class airfare from New York (JFK) or Washington, DC (Dulles) to Nairobi, Kenya, aboard Ethiopian Airlines
All Fuel Surcharges and Taxes
One night at Serena Mountain Lodge
Two nights at Sarova Shaba Lodge
One night at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
Two nights at Sarova Mara Game Camp
Game drives as specified in the itinerary
Six Breakfasts / Six Lunches / Six Dinners
Lion World Tours representative Meet and Greet upon arrival
Transfers

This package at the price of just USD $2,499* per person is valid for March 29 th and March 31st departures and is USD $2,699 for all other departures in March, April and May 1-14, 2012.

Round-trip add-ons from US cities are available. Please check with a Lion World Tours consultant for add-on fares or on our website www.lionworldours.com

To book your trip, call Lion World Tours at 1-800-387-2706 from the USA or 1-800-668-9968 from Canada, or visit http://lionworldtours.com/tours/Kenya-On-Sale-Special/Specials  to view the full itinerary.

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Ever since we started this adventure nearly 26 years ago, we have sought out ways to both support eco-systems and to ensure we ourselves make minimal environmental impact. We started our safari company because we loved the wilderness, and we enjoyed sharing it with others – so what could we do to preserve it and make sure our tourism enterprises partnered with conservation in a sustainable way?

It was clear, that with 70% of Kenya’s wildlife outside National Parks – this was where we could make a difference. Community land surrounding parks and reserves is the major part of the eco-systems. In Kenya our parks and reserves do not have fences, the animals are oblivious of the boundaries, and they are free to roam and migrate within vast ecosystems that incorporate mostly private land. The landowners receive no income from the wildlife, and bear the brunt of lion raids on livestock and injury from rogue buffalo.

In the late 1980s we were one of the founding partners in Campfire Conservation Ltd. A small group of like-minded operators that paid rent and viewing fees for mobile camps, and created employment for the community bordering the Masai Mara Reserve to the north, where Elephant Pepper Camp is situated (the same site we have used since those days). This is probably one of the most important and vital ecosystems in Kenya, always used for gamedrives, but with none of the revenue reaching the community. The land was community land, and Campfire was the first organization to give the Mara community, directly to the families on the ground in cash, any tourism revenue.

In 1992 we partnered with the community outside West Gate of Samburu National Reserve. We put our Samburu camp there, and the community received rent, viewing fees, employment etc. The first time this community had received sustainable tourism revenue.

In 1993 we took over a site belonging to a private landlord in Amboseli, bordering Amboseli National Park, and built Tortilis Camp. The site had been promised to a developer with plans for a 200 bed hotel – thank goodness we managed to take it over! Being one of the first “eco-lodges” of its kind in East Africa, Tortilis soon gained recognition and was awarded the UK “Tourism for Tomorrow” award in 1996. We are still the only lodge in Amboseli that trains and employs from the local community.

In 1999 we built Elsa’s Kopje in Meru National Park. Previously, Meru’s only lodge government owned, had closed some time before and the park was suffering with little or no income or visitors. There was talk in government of de-gazetting the park, and turning the fertile well watered land into rice plantations. Old hands in the industry told us we were mad, but Elsa’s Kopje has proved the sceptics wrong, has a worldwide reputation as one of the best lodges on the safari circuit, and its existence ensures that Meru National Park is a viable conservation area, with plentiful wildlife including 80 rhino.

By 2005 Campfire lost its effectiveness when the community lands surrounding the Masai Mara were divided up into individual parcels with title deeds. In response, we formed the Mara North Conservancy, and brought in all the stakeholders in the area. In recent years the area had earned in park fees in excess of US$1.2m per year, with the individual landowners seeing very little of it. MNC faced a politically difficult task, but vital for the sustainability of the Serengeti / Masai Mara eco-system. What could be more important?
As we write, we have jointly leased 900 parcels, 85% of the land, ie 77,000 acres with a mandate to give each individual landowner a guaranteed income from tourism for his land, together with conservation management and transparent accountability.

In 2006 we built Joy’s Camp in Shaba National Reserve, part of the Samburu eco-system, another conservation backwater that received little income and with a sceptical community around it. Joy’s Camp has opened up the eastern end of the reserve, and has good community relations, providing training and employment; and once again, we are working towards putting a vital and very beautiful area on the map to ensure its sustained existence. Now in 2011, we are very excited to announce that we are once again partnering with Ian Craig and his Northern Rangelands Trust, who have started the Nakupurat-Gotu Wildlife Trust which encompasses Shaba National Reserve!, extending the protected eco-system and working with a community that needs support. We are raising US$ 30,000 to rehabilitate the Chaffa gate with facilities that both the Reserve and Conservancy rangers can use.

In 2009 we bought Kitich Camp, in the Mathews Mountain Range forest. An idyllic hideaway in primeval forest. Giulio Bertolli had already ensured that the community benefit directly from the lodge with bednight fees and employment, and we have brought Kitich Camp into the Namunyak Conservancy, partnering with Ian Craig and his excellent work with the Northern Rangelands Trust. Namunyak Conservancy is supported by The Tusk Trust, and Kitich Camp pays the highest bednight fee to the conservancy. Bednights are slowly increasing as clients discover this little forest hideaway, and our conservancy payments to the Conservancy are starting to look more respectable.

From July 2009 we have taken over the management of Lewa Safari Camp on Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. LWC is a story of success in wildlife conservation, rhino breeding, community education and outreach. With our experience in building eco-lodges, we aim to ensure that Lewa Safari Camp is itself ecologically fit to represent one of the most successful conservation stories in Africa, as well as offer outstanding food, great guiding, and the opportunity for guests to participate in Lewa’s good work.

Working on the ground, we realized that we needed to participate on a national level to battle uncontrolled and often outright harmful development in fragile areas. To this end, Stefano has participated on the Kenya Association of Tour Operators board for over 15 years. He lobbied the tourism community to put in place a moratorium on development in the Mara with a KATO EGM in Oct 1998, and worked on the founding of the Kenya Tourism Board in 1997, and Kenya Tourism Federation in 1998.

“Small things” – In March 2011, we decided to formalize our fundraising and have registered the “Cheli & Peacock Community Trust”, also employing a fulltime manager to help our lodge managers source school books, desks, etc etc! This increased capacity has meant we have been able to increase our focus on the “small things” that help communities – Elsa’s Kopje has, as we write, provided the Ura Gate Primary School with all the teachers text books it needed, and we are working towards providing children’s text books to all 7 classes (year groups) taught there. Joy’s Camp is in the middle of supplying blackboards, and desks to the Daaba Primary School. Tortilis Camp is maintaining the elephant exclosure that has rehabilitated the Olengaiya Spring; and Kitich Camp helped the Ngalai School choir take a bus to their choral competition! More details on these and other “small things” can be found on the chelipeacock.com website.

Hand in hand with our work directly with communities, we have always developed our safari camps to be the most ecologically sound, and all have Ecotourism Society ‘Silver” eco-rating, and Elephant Pepper Camp now has a ‘Gold’ eco-rating, one of only three camps in Kenya! We started with mobile camps, and our motto was “take only pictures, leave only footprints”, and it was true. In the Mara, our Elephant Pepper Camp remains very low key and completely removable. When we built our lodges, we kept them small, trained our guides well, gave the local community training and employment, support for schools, and right from the beginning worked out rubbish recycling / removal systems, solar and efficient energy, etc. By the time we built Joy’s Camp we put in state of the art led and solar technology and run the generator very little, three years later we have been able to put into Elephant Pepper Camp & Kitich Camp almost space-age led and solar technology, we do not have to run the generator at all! All expensive equipment, but as the L’Oreal ads say, “because it’s worth it”!

We have discovered over the years that our clients feel the same way as us. They too fall in love with the untouched wilderness, and appreciate the fact that their presence has helped preserve what they experience.

Having Started in 1985 as a small mobile safari company, Cheli & Peacock has grown and expanded over the years to become Kenya’s leading Destination Management Company. www.chelipeacock.com

As well as this, it manages the marketing & reservations for a collection of Kenya’s most renowned and elegant safari camps and lodges – The C&P Portfolio. www.thecpportfolio.com

Cheli & Peacock have partnered with Asia to Africa Safaris in Asia since 2006. Please direct all your enquiries to enquiry@atoasafaris.com  Website: www.atoasafaris.com

Peregrine has introduced two new, epic overland adventures in its 2012-13 Africa program: a 33-day trip that combines the best of East and Southern Africa, and a 42-day tour from Cairo to Cape Town, aptly named the Grand Africa Tour.

“We know that for many of our clients, Africa is a once-in-a-lifetime trip,” explained Jane Reed, Peregrine Marketing Manager. “They tend to stay longer than in other destinations, and want to cover more territory. These new trips are designed to be the once-in-a-lifetime answer.”

The new 33-day Classic Africa overland trip is expected to be particularly popular. It starts in Nairobi, Kenya and includes watching the vast flocks of flamingos at Lake Nakuru and game drives on the broad savannah of the Masai Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Mid trip, there’s a few days relaxation on the sandy beaches of Zanzibar.

From Tanzania, the group flies south to Victoria Falls for the second stage of the journey. There are more wildlife encounters against a backdrop of contrasting terrain, from the pristine Okavango wetlands to the stark desert and dunes of Sossusvlei and the life-giving waterholes of one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife reserves: Etosha, in the remote north of Namibia. The trip travels south via the Fish River Canyon – the world’s second-largest – to end in Cape Town.

Along the way, transport ranges from purpose-built safari vehicles to dugout canoes and accommodation ranges from a houseboat to luxury tented camps. Offering considerably more comfort and inclusions than the ‘traditional’ overland Africa safari, groups are limited to a maximum of 12 passengers; all accommodation, entry fees and excursions are included, as well as flights between Zanzibar and Victoria Falls, most meals, a Peregrine local leader and specialist local guides.

The Classic Africa safari costs $13 445 per person, twin share and has departures from Nairobi in July, August and September, 2012; January and March 2013.

Another new trip for 2012 is the Best of Botswana – which caters for travellers who like their African adventure underpinned by comfort. The trip travels between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls in a small (12-passenger), private, purpose-built Peregrine vehicle, staying at the very comfortable lodges that make up the Under One Botswana Sky portfolio of properties, including a scenic flight in the Okavango Delta and two nights in a permanent tented safari camp.

The trip visits some of Botswana’s most famous highlights, including Chobe National Park, renowned for its huge elephant populations; the blinding white salt pans of Makgadikgadi; the Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls. But it also visits the Cape Vulture colony (the world’s largest, with 800 breeding pairs) in Marakele National Park and the Khama Rhino Sanctuary – a community-based project that is a vital link in Botswana’s efforts to conserve these endangered animals.

The 12-day Best of Botswana tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Victoria Falls, and also runs in reverse. There are monthly departures, year-round. The trip costs $4635 per person, twin share, including all transport, accommodation, entry fees, Peregrine local leader and specialist guides, and most meals.

For more information contact your travel agent or Peregrine Adventures on 1300 854 500 or to download a copy of the new Peregrine Africa 2012-13 brochure, visit www.peregrineadventures.com

Imagine floating silently and unobserved above the African bush catching an intimate look at the wildlife, soaking up breathtaking views and all as you’re soaring through the sky. An extraordinary way to view the vast beauty of Africa, a balloon flight offers holidaymakers a unique perspective of the continent and is the perfect way to enhance a safari. Mahlatini, the luxury travel experts who specialise in African travel offer amazing balloon safaris in a variety of locations.

The Belfast based travel operator has carefully selected a range of safari destinations with conditions that are ideal for balloon trips. The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Kafue in Zambia have all been chosen due to the geography of the areas. All have large expanses of plain which make viewing conditions perfect for holidaymakers – so they can see swathes of wildebeest charging across the bush, roaming herds of elephants and prides of lions basking in the sun.

For those looking for a different kind of aerial experience, Mahlatini have also identified two stunning South African locations with spectacular landscape panoramas, guaranteed to wow. The magnificent and breathtaking Blyde River Canyon with its lush subtropical foliage and deep precipitous cliffs and the Western Cape Wine lands with staggering and extraordinary views above the lush vineyards against the dramatic backdrop of the mountains.

Balloon safaris usually start early in the morning so that holidaymakers can watch the sun come up. After an hour or so floating across the countryside the trip culminates back on the ground with a bush breakfast. Most safaris can accommodate up to 16 people so large groups can travel together. However, more private and romantic trips can also be arranged especially for honeymooners.

Greg Fox of Mahlatini said “A balloon experience enhances any safari, demonstrating the sheer scale and beauty of the African bush and it’s wildlife from a completely different perspective.”

A typical balloon safari including bush breakfast will cost £340 per person at the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya and £270 at Kafue, Zambia. The South African balloon safaris over Blyde River Canyon and the Western Cape Winelands cost £280 per person.

Further information can be found on the Mahlatini website http://www.mahlatini.com/balloon-safaris

Balloon Safaris
Balloon experiences are offered at the following safari destinations:

• The Serengeti National Park, Tanzania £340 per person
• Masai Mara, Kenya £340 per person
• Kafue, Zambia £270 per person
• Blyde River Canyon £280 per person
• Western Cape Winelands £280 per person

The trip cost includes:
• 1 hour balloon safari
• Bush breakfast

For further information and a detailed suggested itinerary please visit:
http://www.mahlatini.com/balloon-safaris

Mahlatini

Mahlatini is a luxury travel operator specialising in trips to Africa. Named after the Zulu word meaning ‘lover of the African bush’ the company operates holidays to 13 African countries including Botswana, South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius.
The company, which is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland has been operating for over 9 years and is a division of Luxury Travel Ltd. Mahlatini is a member of the Travel Trust Association, ATOL and Advancing Tourism to Africa (ATTA).

For further information about Mahlatini, visit www.mahlatini.com

https://www.aro.ie/aroreservebookings/sites/thekclub/?wsid=167211388&spso=15180#Offers

With lions, tigers, and other big cats diminishing in population, African Travel reports more travelers than ever calling to find out about how to see the big cats while they can. According to a report in USA Today, “The populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs and especially tigers have been decimated in the past half-century.” The safari consultants at African Travel will suggest the top areas for clients to go in Africa to see the lions, leopards and cheetahs.

“Big cat sightings are a sure bet in Zambia,” said Jim Holden, president of African Travel. “The interior parks in Zambia such as Kafue are often referred to as the ‘gems of Africa’ and are teeming with wildlife, especially big cats.” Other recommended places for big cat seekers are Cape Town’s Cheetah Outreach (cheetahs); Kafue National Park in the Busanga Plains, Zambia (lions); Londolozi, South Africa (leopards); Linyanti, Botswana (lions); Luangwa, Zambia (leopards); Manyara, Tanzania (tree-climbing lions); Manyara, Tanzania (leopards); Masai Mara, Kenya (cheetahs); Masai Mara, Kenya (lions); and Namibia (cheetahs).

Also recommended are Southern Explorer, including 10 days in South Africa and Zimbabwe, priced from $4,895 per person double occupancy land only; the eight-day Kenyan Horizons, priced from $4,295 per person land only, based on double occupancy; and The Last Refuge, with nine days in Botswana and Zambia, priced from $6,795 per person land only, based on double occupancy.

African Travel has 35 years experiences offering custom wildlife adventures to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia including Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania including Zanzibar, Rwanda and Uganda including gorilla trekking, Mozambique, Seychelles, Mauritius, Egypt and Dubai. African Travel is part of The Travel Corporation, which also includes Trafalgar, Contiki, Brendan Vacations, Insight Vacations, Red Carnation Hotel Collection and Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection. For more information, visit www.africantravelinc.com

Goway’s AfricaExperts is offering its 14-day East Africa Safari at savings of up to $600 on select departures. The program is a combination of Kenya and Tanzania which attempts to cover the must-see highlights. A maximum of six passengers ride in the 4×4 vehicles so each of them gets a window seat.

Kenya is home to Mount Kenya, Lake Victoria, the largest of Africa’s lakes and the legendary source of the Nile, the famous Masai Mara Reserve and Crossing into Tanzania, visitors are exposed to the Serengeti’s boundless plains, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. The energetic can consider extending to climb Mount Kilimanjaro while those just wanting to relax can look at the beautiful beach destination of Zanzibar. AfricaExperts’ East Africa safari is priced from $4,517 land only and includes accommodation in superior lodges and camps, most meals, all transport and game drives, transfers, guided walks, and the services of a professional driver/guide throughout. For more information, all 800-245 0920 or visit www.AfricaExperts.com