Jetsettersblog

Malawi shone brightly at the recent World Responsible Tourism Day at World Travel Market (WTM), London. Robin Pope Safaris (based in Malawi) was awarded joint Overall Winner of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards plus winner in the Poverty Reduction category as well. Over 1000 nominees competed for these accolades and RPS scooped two proving just how deserving their Malawian efforts are.

Robin Pope Safaris operate lodges such as Mkulumadzi within rare ecosystems and alongside local indigenous communities with which comes a great amount of responsibility. Using their own Responsible Tourism Policy, RPS have successfully balanced the delivery of high quality safari and beach holiday experiences, whilst ensuring they leave a positive footprint on the land and communities within which they operate. As well as pioneering sustainable and responsible tourism, RPS’s Pumulani resort also won ‘Malawi’s Leading Hotel’ at the World Travel Awards 2011- impressive, to say the least.

Quoting the judges on the award, ’20 years of commitment to grass roots sustainable community development have distinguished Robin Pope Safaris as a pioneer in responsible tourism. Their contribution to local livelihoods in South Luangwa through education and business development has established an inspiring model that even now is being rolled out to Malawi, with the promise of similar laudable effect.’

Majete Wildlife Reserve, situated in Malawi’s lower Shire valley is well on its way to becoming a Big Five park, having undertaken a bold and inspiring wildlife reintroduction programme to restore the park to its former glory before human intervention.

The 70,000 hectare reserve has been a conservation success story since African Parks assumed management in 2003, with over 2 550 head of wildlife, including elephant, buffalo, sable and black rhino, introduced to the park over eight years costing over $2.4 million.

The plan to gradually introduce predators back into the park started in October 2011 with the introduction of 8 leopards re-located from the Kruger National Park in South Africa. The introduction of leopard is the penultimate step in the Majete restocking programme, which will culminate in the reintroduction of lion in 2012.

Until the launch of this project only one viable population of leopard existed in Malawi within the Nyika National Park. These leopards are the first to be introduced to Malawi across international borders, and the first leopards to make their home in Majete for nearly two decades.

Dorian Tilbury, Field Operations Manager, African Parks Majete commented:

“Our mission is to restore, restock and rehabilitate Majete to the condition it was in before human impact. A vital component of the natural system, leopards have been the first predator to be introduced because they have less of an impact on prey species than lion which is the other indigenous predator at Majete.

To ensure all species flourish we had to get the timing right, leopards and lions often conflict with each other and if lions were brought in first it would have been more difficult for the leopards to establish themselves. Lions also eat more and it was necessary to allow the prey species numbers build up a little more before we introduced lions to ensure their survival”

Kelly White, Managing Director of the Malawi Travel Marketing Consortium commented:

“The work African Parks is doing at Majete is set to have a phenomenal impact on tourism in Malawi, particularly for the safari industry. While Africa as a whole continues to open up other special interest areas for wildlife enthusiasts, the Big Five understandably remains the single biggest draw, so being able to provide a top-notch game experience will broaden the appeal and open up new markets for Malawi.”

Known as the “warm heart of Africa”, Malawi is a gem of a country in the heart of central southern Africa that offers a true African experience. Sculpted by Africa’s Great Rift Valley, this is a country of towering mountains, lush fertile valley floors and crystal clear lakes – a diverse ecology just waiting to be explored. Read on for a destination update on the latest Malawi news from Wilderness Safaris…

Camp News

Shire Star-Beds for Mvuu Wilderness Lodge

As of this month, guests are now able to sleep out under the stars in a spectacular location on the Shire River floodplain. This is ideal for a night in conjunction with a stay at Mvuu Lodge in Liwonde National Park. Located 4km north of the Lodge, the comfortable platform sleeps up to four and blends discreetly into the surrounding bush with panoramic views – perfectly placed to take in the afternoon river sunsets and early dawn light over the floodplain. Amenities include a bucket shower and ‘eco loo’. Guests arrive at the platform before sunset, enjoy a private dinner and the stars, finally departing soon after dawn by either driving, boating or walking back to Mvuu Lodge. Throughout the dry season (May to October) the floodplain has a permanent population of waterbuck and impala, frequent buffalo and elephant sightings and at night many hippo graze in this area.

Reed bungalows replace canvas tents on Mumbo Island

A new building technique using reeds densely packed into a wooden framework (making for robust wind- and waterproof walls) has been tried out on Tent 4 at Mumbo to great success. The style is environmentally friendly and is a cash resource for locals. It is also in keeping with the ethos that everything constructed on Mumbo Island can be removed easily. In addition to these positives, the new reed buildings blend beautifully with the environment, and are cool, more spacious and comfortable inside. The interiors will be furnished tastefully with beds and bedside tables enclosed by a full-size mosquito net. All the current canvas tents on Mumbo Island will be replaced with reed bungalows in time.

Major Refurbishment of Chintheche Inn

Chintheche Inn is currently undergoing an exciting rebuild with a new roof made of cool terra cotta tiles, and sliding doors for each room that open out on to the beach. The room interiors will be more spacious due to raised roof height, and all soft furnishings will also be replaced. The camp has also just taken delivery of a new semi-rigid speedboat for water sports and four brand-new child-size mountain bikes. The range of activities at Chintheche is unmatched on the lakeshore with great mountain biking, birding, horse-riding, hiking, cultural and historical trips, diving, snorkelling, water-skiing, tubing, and kayaking.

Liwonde News (Mvuu Wilderness Lodge, Mvuu Camp)

Lion in Liwonde

Big news for Liwonde National Park is that the lion are back in the area! During a special stargazing night drive, camp guide Macloud and his guests heard lion roaring in the south of the park. Later the team found evidence of the lion in several different areas including tracks very close to Mvuu Lodge. There are believed to be three males. Lion in the park are usually nomadic males that have come in from the north and the east.

Two boats handed over by Wilderness Safaris to Mvera Community, Bimbi Village

Two boats have been handed over to the community around the Mvera area, at the junction of Lake Malobe and the Shire River. This is a traditional ferry crossing point that has been there from pre-David Livingstone days. The boats will become ferries for the communities on either side of the river. In return the village chief and headmen have both agreed to assist the Department of National Parks on its anti-poaching drive and in keeping the area around the ferry free from litter.

H.E.L.P. Malawi and Wilderness – a successful partnership continues

H.E.L.P. Malawi and Wilderness Safaris have been working together for five years now, creating a unique model of sustainable rural education and healthcare on the western boundary of Liwonde National Park. WIlderness works alongside local communities to design and implement programmes at Nanthomba, Kafulafula, Mlambe, and Kavunguti primary schools, Nandumbo Health Centre, and Chifundo Orphan Care Centre. This year, they are concentrating on the implementation of more sustainable aspects of Nanthomba Primary School – for example they are currently growing oyster mushrooms at the school and selling them to Mvuu Camp and Lodge. In September 2010, Nandumbo Health Centre opened, and since then, approximately 200 patients have visited the health centre each day. The most common illnesses are malaria, cholera, dysentery, and upper respiratory infections. The health centre serves a catchment area of nearly 20 000 people, and prior to its opening, families would have to travel by foot or bicycle over 16km to reach to the nearest health facility.

The construction of Nanthomba’s library is nearing completion. The library will be open to the local community and will contain school academic books as well as information about HIV/AIDS, science and technology, farming and geography.

Lake Malawi News (Chintheche Inn, Mumbo Island Camp)

Recycled Glasses as Original Souvenirs

Mumbo staff have been making unique drinking glasses from old wine bottles, keeping the Mumbo gift shop permanently supplied with a range of beer glasses and tumblers. A recent guest had her dinner wine bottle fashioned into a beer and wine glass to take home as a most original souvenir of her stay on Mumbo – and she was able to watch them being made!

Home-made Pasta and New Home Industry

Home-made fresh pasta is now also made right in the island kitchen thanks to two pasta machines procured. Carbonara, primavera, arrabiata – enjoy Italian flavour in Africa! In the chefs’ week off, they make, dry and pack pasta to sell to local lodges and holiday makers. This brings them and their families extra income.

Décor

The décor on Mumbo has been refreshed by re-covering all the cushions on the island with locally sourced ‘chitenje’ fabric. Billy Bwanali, the local tailor, did all the upholstery on his treadle sewing machine. He is now busy sewing all the faded, but still lovely, discarded fabric from the old cushions into clothes for disadvantaged local children.

Local School Visits

Trade partner Kayak Africa has begun hosting school visits by local school children to both Mumbo and Domwe Islands. This is a new initiative between National Parks and Kayak Africa, with the intention of demonstrating to every child in Chembe Village the importance of conservation in the Lake Malawi National Park and how this can benefit them directly. These visits happen when no paying guests are in camp. On the first visit, 24 students and six teachers from Cape Maclear Secondary School made it across to the island. They were given various talks on environmental issues and ecotourism in the area.

Chintheche Inn Reforestation Project

Chintheche Inn has started a nursery project to grow seedlings and rehabilitate areas that have been depleted of trees in the central lakeshore area. These seedlings have also been provided free of charge to environmental clubs identified or set up in the area. An experienced nursery manager and assistant have been employed to run the project. By the end of 2010 15 new environmental clubs had been set up and 10 567 seedlings distributed! Each club is expected to clearly mark the land it is providing, prepare the soil for planting and provide labour to do the work. The nursery manager supervises the process and makes sure everything is ready for planting. After the seedlings are planted, each club is monitored closely to make sure the seedlings are well looked after. Wilderness also provide ongoing education in the communities to teach people how to use the trees in the most effective and sustainable way. 2011 will see the doubling of the nursery size and the further identification of larger areas that have been degraded of hardwoods.

Nyika News (Chelinda Lodge, Chelinda Camp)

Wildlife Sightings and Other News

Leopard sightings are still frequent on the Nyika Plateau. A large male leopard in particular is regularly seen around Chelinda and an inquisitive female was spotted close to the airstrip, with another female and her two cubs seen further afield on game drives. Plateau grassland drives continue to thrill and enthral visitors – particularly on the Chosi View Loop. There is generally good game everywhere: big herds of roan, eland, zebra, reedbuck, the odd bushpig and lots of common duiker.

Nyika National Park offers some of the finest hiking opportunities in Africa and Wilderness are delighted to announce the reinstatement of a number of overnight walking trails on the Nyika Plateau in the dry season. These vary in length from 1-5 days and are in the more inaccessible areas of the Park. All hikes are fully serviced with tents, meals and most include vehicle support. An experienced guide and porters accompany all these walks. An example of such a trail is the popular Livingstonia Trail over 2 nights/3 days: The route begins at Chelinda and heads for the historic Livingstonia Mission on the Khondowe Plateau overlooking Lake Malawi. After a walk over the grassland the trail descends the eastern edge of the plateau, crosses the Rukuru River with a final ascent to Livingstonia and accommodation either at the Stone House (built in 1903 by Robert Laws, the founder of the mission) or at Lukwe Camp overlooking the Manchewe Falls – the highest in Malawi. The Full Plateau Traverse is for the serious hiker: This 7-day trek goes all around the Park, visiting the most scenic spots. Shorter half- or full-day walks in the immediate area around Chelinda Lodge also still remain on offer.

Chelinda Special Offer: Stay for 4 nights but only pay for 3. Experience the spectacular Afro-montane landscape and wildlife of Nyika National Park with a 25% saving on accommodation. Valid until 31 December 2011. Package prices available on request.

www.wilderness-safaris.com

African safari specialist Extraordinary Journeys (EJ Africa) is marking Earth Day and the launch of two new films shot in Kenya (Disney’s “African Cats” and IMAX’s “Born to Be Wild”) with the offer to experience the story behind the story.

Pricing for the eight-day, all-inclusive “Great Cats and Magnificent Elephants” safari starts at $4,400 per person double.

For each trip booked, EJ Africa will adopt an elephant on the clients’ behalf. For more information, visit www.extraordinaryjourneys.net/english/safari-itinerary/elephants-and-lions.htm

Highlights include a members-only visit to the Daphne Sheldrick elephant orphanage in Nairobi, as well as time spent in Amboseli, which is noted for its abundant and well-protected elephant population sheltered by Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The safari ends in the Mara Triangle, which is where the filming took place for Disney’s “African Cats.”

The price per person starts at $4,400 per person ($500 per person high season supplement for June 16-Sept. 31 and late December).

Prices include commission and all hotels, lodges, park and entrance fees, transfers and sight-seeing, game drives, most meals and all flights within Kenya. For elephant adoption, visit www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp.

Run by a mother-daughter team, EJ Africa organizes trips for honeymooners, families and individual travelers to Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Mixing and matching safaris, camps, lodges, and villas, with travel by private planes, 4x4s, hot air balloons, elephant, camel and even horse, EJ Africa has planned more than 300 trips to Africa and no two have been the same.

For more information, visit www.ejafrica.com

Rainforest Festival in Borneo, Baia das Gatas Festival in Cape Verde and many more..

Songlines Music Travel is delighted to announce 14 exclusive trips this year with new trips to Malaysia for the Rainforest Festival in Borneo; Cape Verde for the Baia das Gatas Festival; India for the Jodhpur RIFF Festival and Malawi for the Lake of Stars Festival.

Each trip has been developed by the experts behind the leading world music magazine, Songlines, and the Tailor-Made Groups Company and will be led by a Songlines Travel Leader – creating the ultimate way to soak up the musical vibes of the country. The tours, for groups of 10 to 20 people, go beneath the surface to offer intimate and memorable musical experiences – be it private concerts, jam sessions or meetings with musicians and instrument-makers. Of course, our trips aren’t exclusively about the music and there are also historic, cultural and culinary highlights along the way. But nothing beats experiencing music where it belongs – with the food, the ambience and the local audience.

Borneo Rainforest Festival
July 4-11 2011
Tour price per person is £649
Flights per person from £500

In July, Kuching plays host to the annual Rainforest World Music Festival, the best in the region. It’s a great place to hear local artists as well as big international names. It takes place in the Sarawak Cultural Village, a living museum featuring traditional longhouses and dwellings of the various ethnic groups. Listen to the gorgeous sound of the plucked sapé, the most beautiful of the indigenous instruments.

In addition to the Rainforest Festival, our eight-day tour offers the chance to get a taste of the interior with an overnight trip to Bako National Park. However, for those who really want to experience the rainforest, our 13-day trip provides another five nights in Sarawak, offering time to take a couple of trips into the interior. Options include trekking in Mulu National Park, a river cruise, a caving trip or an overnight stay in a longhouse, a very warm and sociable experience.

Cape Verde
Baia das Gatas Festival
August 9-16 2011
Tour price per person is £995
Flights per person from £625

Home to the world famous ‘barefoot diva’ Cesaria Evora, this festival takes place on one of West Africa’s little-known island nations. On this eight day trip we visit two islands: – Sal (named for its salt flats), where we enjoy magnificent sandy beaches and São Vicente, where the capital Mindelo is Cape Verde’s liveliest town. The Baia das Gatas is a short journey away with a long beach, a lagoon and a handful of Portuguese restaurants, and is usually a quiet spot. All that changes however in August when the festival starts. We’ll spend the evenings at the beach where it becomes an open-air concert with music not just from Cape Verde but also from Brazil, the Caribbean, Africa and America.

India The Jodhpur RIFF and Rajasthan
October 7-18, 2011
Tour price per person is £1,095
Flights per person from £560

This 12 day trip departs on 7th October to Rajasthan, India’s most colourful and spectacular destination. This trip enables you to experience spectacular sights and, through the music, get a deep insight into the heart and culture of this larger-than-life destination. There will be hands-on opportunities to try out musical instruments for those that wish to, although you can also enjoy being a spectator. The trip takes in two of Rajasthan’s most important cities – the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur and the dramatic ‘blue city’ of Jodhpur, with its rocky fortress. After time learning about the music of Rajasthan in Jaipur , as well as meeting the hereditary Manganiyar musicians, we will move on to Jodhpur for five days to experience the Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival). This is one of the great music festivals in India with international names rubbing shoulders with outstanding local folk musicians in the unbeatable setting of the Mehrangarh Fort. The price of the tour includes tickets to all music events at the Jodhpur RIFF.

Serbia Gucaa Brass Band Festival
August 11-16 2011
Tour price per person is £495
Flights per person from £275

Balkan madness and brass bands as you’ve never known them. Each year 300,000 people descend on the village of Guca, home to just 3,000 inhabitants for the Golden Trumpet competition. It’s one of the wildest festivals in Europe. Songlines’ six day trip includes three evenings at the festival with accommodation arranged in the heart of the village. There’s also a chance to get a taste of Belgrade nightlife. It’s an unrivalled opportunity to experience the biggest, brassiest and Balkanist festival in Europe.

Cuba The Musical Island
May 8-May 22 2011
Sept 18-Oct 2 2011
Tour price per person is £1,439
Flights per person from £575

Led by Phil Sweeney, author of the Rough Guide to Cuban Music, this 8 or 15 day trip starts in Baracoa in the east of Cuba, where son and the Cuban revolution began in the mountains of the Sierra Maestra. Driving first to Guantánamo Bay and then onto Santiago de Cuba, our first major stop, where we’ll visit the Casa de la Trova in the evening, one of the best venues in Cuba. Then on to Trinidad for two days where we’ve arranged a walking tour of the old town and we’ll also take in plenty of music in the evenings. Continuing west, the trip ends with two full days in Havana, with a city tour and time to delve into the music of the capital where the popular sound of mambo emerged and where reggaeton holds sway today.

Other trips for 2011 include:

Marrakech and the Desert The Pulse of Morocco
September 22-30, 2011
Relish real Gnawa music as we head south into the Sahara. Meet musicians at a desert camp and learn more than you could ever imagine about this fascinating music scene, where traditional and popular styles collide.
Tour price per person is £939
Flights per person from £230

Morocco Gnawa Music Festival, Essaouira and Marrakech
June 23-27 2011
Tour price per person is £395
Flights per person from £135

Each June the Moroccan Atlantic coastal town of Essaouira hosts the extraordinary Gnawa and World Music Festival. Our tour offers a long weekend trip with two full days to enjoy the full range of the music and the opportunity to explore the narrow lanes of the old walled medina and the wonderful long beaches beyond.

Portugal
Lisbon – the Home of Fado
June 2-5 2011
Sept 1-4 2011
Tour price per person is £439
Flights per person from £140

For fans of Mariza and all things fado, see where Portugal’s most distinctive music was born less than 200 years ago and sample lively Brazilian and Cape Verdean scenes.

Mali – the Beating Heart of the Mande Empire
October 15-24, 2011
Tour price per person is £1,299
Flights per person from £690

This trip explores the music scene of Bamako, one of the liveliest in Africa, as well as visiting the Sikasso region and spending time in Ségou. A genuine insight into local culture and traditions.

Malawi Lake of Stars festival
Oct 2011 (Festival dates TBC)
Tour price per person is £1,039
Flights per person from £645

Enjoy beats on the beach at this award-winning festival on the shores of Lake Malawi.

Senegal
Never Mind the Mbalax
Nov 25-Dec 4 2011
Tour price per person is £1,065
Flights per person from £570

Senegal’s capital, Dakar, is renowned for its mbalax and hip-hop. We also visit the historically important Gorée island and
St Louis, West Africa’s first French settlement.

Cuba National Day and the Music of Cuba
Dec 29 2011-Jan 12 2012
For a New Year with a difference, celebrating in Havana before heading east.
Tour price per person is £1,649
Flights per person from £615

And looking into 2012 we have trips to Mali for the Festival on the Niger, Zanzibar for The Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) Festival, Brazil for the Salvador & Sao Paulo carnivals and Spain for the Jerez Flamenco Festival:

Simon Broughton, Songlines’ editor-in-chief, says “Music is a great way into other cultures and an ideal way of meeting people, which is why we have created these trips”. He continues, “There is so much fantastic music out there, but the problem is it’s not always so easy to find. Who would guess that some of the best djembés in West Africa are made on a patch of wasteland beside a roundabout in Bamako? The key to these trips is our knowledge at Songlines, which is the basis of all the itineraries.”

For information and reservations, call Songlines Music Travel on 020 8505 2582 or visit www.songlinesmusictravel.com

Safari and beach holidays are becoming increasingly popular but the logistics of getting from remote game reserves to pristine beaches can be tiring. Why not enjoy a refreshing alternative – the new 13 night ‘Zambalawi’ itinerary from Kamili (www.kamili.co.uk  ), pairing Zambia’s best game viewing and secluded safari spots with the warm hospitality, pristine wilderness and tropical lake waters of neighbouring Malawi.

The new ‘Zambalawi’ package provides a simple solution for the best of Southern Africa. Get your game fix at Zambia’s top wildlife viewing spots then discover Malawi’s unspoilt wilderness and beautiful ‘calendar lake’. The trip includes a visit to Malawi’s hottest new luxury eco venture, Tongole Wilderness Lodge, set to open its doors on 1 April. With just four chalets overlooking the Bua River, Tongole offers a luxury lodge experience in the heart of the unexplored and scenically diverse Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.

The package costs from US$5795 (approx £3620) per person and includes:
• Three nights at Kafunta Lodge – eight private chalets set on the banks of the Luangwa River in the game rich South Luangwa National park. Get your safari fix with day and night game drives as well as walking safaris.
• Two nights at Island Bush Camp – a small, personalised camp constructed afresh each year, located in a remote area in the very South of the National Park ideal for exploring the unspoilt wilderness on foot.
• Two nights at Luangwa Wilderness Lodge – the only property in Luambe National Park, offering an unrivalled private wilderness experience. Accommodation is provided in five safari style tents built on wooden platforms.
• Three nights at Tongole Wilderness Lodge – Malawi’s newest luxury lodge, set in Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. Accommodation will consist of four luxurious, thatched riverside suites, each with large sunken baths and spectacular raised wooden decks overlooking the Bua River. Activities will include guided walks, day and night game drives, fly camping, canoeing and fly fishing.
• Three nights at Ngala Beach Lodge – situated on the Northern Lakeshore of Lake Malawi, one of the few places on the lake that offers a view of both sunrise and sunset over the water. Guests can swim in the lake or the new infinity pool, go snorkelling, sailing or indulge in a sunset ‘swimdowner’ cruise.

Arrangements include full board accommodation and road transfers throughout, starting from Mfuwe in Zambia and ending in Lilongwe in Malawi. For details on booking this with a tour operator visit www.kamili.co.uk

Extraordinary Journeys (EJ Africa) launched a wedding registry for couples spending their honeymoon on a safari in Africa.

The gift registry breaks down a safari honeymoon into components that may be given as gifts.

The registry will appear on EJ Honeymoons’ site (www.ejHoneymoons.com ) and clients can purchase the components as gifts for the couple online.

Each EJ Africa safari honeymoon is customized to fit the needs and desires of the couple. For the newlyweds who wish for that “Out of Africa” experience, EJ Africa is suggesting a night at the classic Cottar’s Camp in the Maasai Mara.

For those who prefer adventure and excitement, there’s the option to bungee jump the bridge at Victoria Falls or go mountain biking in Malawi.

Couples can experience a candle-lit dinner in the middle of the Serengeti, a balloon safari, or sleeping under the stars.

Run by a mother-daughter team with offices in New Yorkand Paris, EJ Africa organizes trips for honeymooners, families and individual travelers to Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Mixing and matching safaris, camps, lodges, and villas, with travel by private planes, 4x4s, hot air balloons, elephant, camel and horse, EJ Africa has planned more than 300 trips to Africa and no two have been the same.

For information on the wedding registry, visit www.ejHoneymoons.com

For more information on Extraordinary Journeys, visit www.ejafrica.com

Born Free Safaris
CONTACT: Ehron Asher
TEL: 1.800.4SAFARI or 1.800.472.3274
EMAIL: ehron@bfsafaris.com
WEB: www.bornfreesafaris.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

Africa Travel Association (ATA) and the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) renewed their partnership agreement in an effort to promote both organizations’ endeavors in the religious travel trade. Religious travel and hospitality is present throughout the continent and is defined in four ways by WRTA: visiting a religious destination, attending a religious gathering, traveling for missionary or humanitarian purposes, or leisure traveling with fellowship intent.

“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

Tea Time, Malawi Style

SPECIALIST SAFARI OPERATOR AFRICAN & INDIAN EXPLORATIONS OFFER
THE SATEMWA TEA ESTATE, MALAWI
OPENING 1ST JULY 2009

From £172 Per person per night on a full board basis

Located on a working tea estate, the newly renovated Satemwa Ulendo Lodges are due to open on July 1st 2009 and will offer 5 luxurious Planters Suites (with a further 4 rooms in the Chawani Bungalows opening in September 2009 and perfect for families, budget conscious travellers and self catering guests).

Activities being introduced to the estate include hiking trails, mountain biking, horseback tours, Quad/ATV motorcycle treks, cultural and community tours and guided excursions.

Clay Pigeon shooting, a quiet game of croquette or boules will also be available while Thyolo Mountain’s unique rainforest, being home to several endangered bird species like the alethe cholensis, white winged apalis and the green headed oriole will satisfy the most avid ornithologist.

Being located on a working tea estate – tours of the factory and tea tasting will continue to feature as a major attraction for visitors

For Bookings and Information Contact African & Indian Explorations 01993 822 443
or visit www.africanexplorations.com