Jetsettersblog

This last minute trip offer presents the perfect opportunity to escape the British Winter and experience Namibia in comfort and style with the benefit of a highly experienced private guide taking in marine life, Namib desert dunes, safari in Etosha National Park and the big cats of AfriCat and Okonjima.

Arriving in Windhoek – Namibia’s capital by way of Johannesburg; You will experience this highly unique city of modern and colonial architecture with its obvious throwback reminders to its German colonial roots, before travelling through the scenic Khomas Hochland game and cattlefarm conservancy to the beachtown of Swakopmund, where optional quad biking through the dunes is also available.

Taking the catamaran to Walvis Bay Lagoon – you will cruise from the lighthouse alongside oyster platforms to the ever-growing Pelican Point where the local seal colony reside, you will be able to see three different types of dolphins, including; Benguela Dolphins, Dusky and Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, pelicans, flamingos and possible sightings of Mola Mola (Sunfish) and Leatherback Turtles.

In the afternoon you can choose to drive back on the inland side of the coastal dunes to enjoy the desert scenery or out into the gravel plains of the Namib, the moonscape and Welwitschia mirabilis. The moonscape itself offers some stunning views of the rugged hills that lie beyond the gravel plains of the Namib.

Next stop Damaraland – with its huge, untamed and ruggedly beautiful landscape that leads to Etosha National Park. The park is made up of grassland, woodland and savannah, although its name translates as ‘Place of Mirages’ due to the many saline depressions ‘or pans’ that cover over a quarter of the area.

The largest – Etosha Pan is classified as a saline desert in its own right which only fills with water when sufficient rain falls to the north in Angola. Boasting some 114 mammal and 340 bird species, you can expect to see an abundance of wildlife including; elephant, lion, giraffe, blue wildebeest, eland, kudu, gemsbok (oryx), zebra, rhino, cheetah, leopard, hyena, honey badger and warthog, as well as the endemic black faced impala. That afternoon you will return to Okaukeujo, with time for a game drive or to relax and soak up the late afternoon Namibian sun – while watching wildlife come and go at the camp’s floodlit waterhole.

You will stay at the luxury tree tents of Mushara Bush Camp, enjoying spectacular game viewing.

Nearing the end of the trip you will make your way to Okonjima located at the base of the Omboroko mountains, with an option to visit Otjikoto Lake – which hosts a rare, mouth-breeding species of fish, endemic to the lake.

Okonjima is also the home to the Africat Foundation, a wildlife sanctuary that is dedicated to creating conservation awareness, preserving habitat with their main focus on Africa’s big cats, with the largest cheetah and leopard rescue and release programme in the world. Activities may include leopard tracking by vehicle, visiting the cheetah welfare project and the night hide where nocturnal animals such as porcupine, caracal, honey badger and even leopard may be seen.

Dates: January – March 2012
WINTER SPECIAL RATES:
- From £3475 per person based on 2 people travelling together (Winter tour saving – £1140 per couple)
- From £2995 per adult and £2685 per child based on 2 adults and 2 children under 12yrs travelling together. (Winter tour saving – £1600 per family)

Marlice van Vuuren, one of Namibia’s most well-known conservationists, and her husband Dr. Rudie van Vuuren started N/a’an ku sê Foundation in 2006 with two aims – 1) to protect and conserve Namibia’s vulnerable wildlife and 2) to improve the lives of the marginalised San Bushman community.

They now run several projects including:

1. Namibia’s only charity lodge
2. A Wildlife Sanctuary for orphaned and injured animals
3. Carnivore Conservation Research Project to protect and
conserve wild cheetah, leopard and brown hyena in Namibia.
4. Clever Cubs School and free education for San children
5. Lifeline Clinic and medical outreach for the San community

Through each of their projects, N/a’an ku sê provides an important source of employment and accommodation to several Bushman families. The San are considered to be the oldest culture in the world and are traditionally hunter gatherers. They have been forced from their original lands, which are increasingly being used for grazing cattle, leaving the San unable to survive in their traditional lifestyle. N/a’an ku sê is committed to improving the lives of the San community and giving the next generation a brighter future through education, healthcare and better living conditions.

N/a’an ku sê Foundation has built up trust, respect and a credible reputation amongst the Namibian San community, local farmers, worldwide conservationists, government officials as well as the general public in Namibia and have recently received the support of the Jolie-Pitt Foundation. They have also received international recognition for the work they are doing from global companies, award bodies and celebrities.

They do not receive any government funding and are solely reliant on generous donations and the time of volunteers to continue their vital work to help the people and animals of Namibia.

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.

Expert Africa is offering a Kalahari Safari of Silence that provides the opportunity to escape the noise of everyday life. “Botswana’s Kalahari is a vast and often silent wilderness. We believe that it’s an ideal place for those seeking solitude,” said Expert Africa’s Managing Director Chris McIntyre. The thirst for silence is evident in the rise of travelers looking for “retreats,” places free of TV, Internet, computers, cell phones and other electronic devices, where luxury is the location. Some of these are “reading retreats,” others are spiritual, and others are trips into the wilderness.

A recent column in the New York Times lamented the absence of silence in our lives, saying, “There will be fewer and fewer of what Virginia Woolf called ‘moments of being,’ intense sensations that stand apart from the ‘cottonwool of daily life.’”

One place to experience “moments of being” is in the middle of the northern Kalahari, an area of huge, flat saltpans. The Makgadikgadi and Nxai pans were at the center of a great lake that dried up thousands of years ago, leaving behind some of the largest saltpans in the world. It’s a harsh, sparse landscape, but it offers isolation as complete as anywhere in Southern Africa, and a wealth of hidden treasures. The pans play a vital role in the area’s ecosystems; their geology is unique, their history is fascinating, and they’re incredibly photogenic.

There’s a saying that the silence is so complete in the vast, silvery-white Makgadikgadi Pans that you can hear your own blood flowing. Occasionally, the pans host fleeting herds of Kalahari game, but essentially it’s a wilderness. For most of the year, these great pans cover some 3,900 square miles of the Kalahari in a thin crust of salt. It’s an eerie, other-worldly environment.

“Around January to March, if the rains have been good, the pans flood,” said McIntyre. “Then grasses spring to life, and often flamingos arrive, together with a huge migration of zebra and wildebeest. Although unpredictable, this is one of Africa’s great wildlife spectacles.”

Another spectacle is the millions of stars that can be seen through the pollution-free environment. McIntyre’s expertise is based on years of travel and research within Southern Africa. He is the author of more than a dozen guidebooks to Southern Africa, from the first English-language guide to Namibia and Botswana, first published more than 20 years ago, to all three editions of the Botswana guidebook published by Bradt Travel Guides. Rates for the 10-night safari that includes Botswana’s Nxai and Makgadikgadi pans, as well as the Okavango Delta, start at $5,183 per person, double occupancy.

With African Travel, Inc.

Have you been looking for the ideal way to get the most out of your trip to Southern Africa? Are you short on time but want to see everything? African Travel, Inc. has the answer for you– Wild Kingdoms of Southern Africa ! This Southern Africa wildlife odyssey covers South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, and it has a little bit of everything. This awe-inspiring journey will take you through some of the best safari destinations in Africa where you’ll discover the heartbeat of Africa through its scenic landscapes, incredible wildlife and wonderful people.

According to Jim Holden, president of African Travel, “For a safari enthusiast, this is the best southern Africa has to offer. And this year has proven to be an especially good one for game viewing! In Zimbabwe, most of the major game are seen on a daily basis.

I would like to point out that Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and if you’re going to see a waterfall take time to see this one!

When you choose African Travel, you benefit from our 35 years of experience in taking you to the right places for the best game viewing experience. Not every part of Africa is necessarily good for game viewing, so you want to trust an experienced operator with the right connections to optimize your vacation and see the best of African wildlife.”

African Travel works hard to be sure its guests only stay in the best locations. Somalisa Camp in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, offers truly spectacular game viewing. Near Somalisa is Ngweshla Pan, and this is a major attraction for large herds of elephant and buffalo.

All around the pan is grassland where zebra, kudu, impala, ostrich, and wildebeest graze happily with a watchful eye open for predators. Prides of lion relax under the shade of trees and even leopards can be seen coming to feed in the area.

The opportunities for wildlife viewing are far beyond your wildest expectations and you will never forget this once in a lifetime experience.

Muchenje Safari Lodge provides some of Botswana’s finest safari accommodation.

Its unparalleled safari experiences are ideal for both discerning patrons and newcomers to the bush alike. Situated on the western edge of Chobe National park, Muchenje is the only accommodation in this area, offering unique, prolific game experiences.

Chobe is famous for its large herds of elephant and buffalo, along with numerous predators, including lions, leopards and wild dogs.

There is a great diversity of plains game and an astonishing array of bird species. This is one of the best wildlife viewing areas in the whole of Botswana, if not all of Africa!

Southern Africa Wildlife Tour – Wild Kingdoms Of Southern Africa

10 Days from $4,595 per person, land only; includes South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana

MARVEL at of the most stunning waterfalls in the world, Victoria Falls, “the Smoke that Thunders ”

DISCOVER wildlife galore on early morning walking safaris as the sun rises over the bush, night game drives with a spotlight in search of the nocturnal species, and the unique perspective from the back of an elephant. The opportunities and activities are endless

EXPERIENCE the friendly culture of Botswana village life when you visit the local community and school

ENJOY authentic bush camps which blend African charm and elegance together with an excellent game viewing experience for the perfect safari recipe

Accommodations

1 Night Johannesburg

2 Nights Ilala Hotel, Victoria Falls

3 Nights Somalisa Camp, Hwange National Park

3 Nights Muchenje Lodge, Chobe National Park

For more information and reservations visit www.africantravelinc.com  or call (800) 421-8907. Read Jetsetters Magazineadventure feature stories about South Africa with African Travel Inc.

EXPERT AFRICA, one of Southern Africa’s leading designers and operators of personalized tours, is offering a Kalahari Safari of Silence in response to a trend to escape the noise of everyday life. “Botswana’s Kalahari is a vast and often silent wilderness. We believe that it’s an ideal place for those seeking solitude,” says EXPERT AFRICA’S Managing Director, Chris McIntyre.

The thirst for silence is evident in the rise of travelers looking for “retreats,” places free of TV, Internet, computers, cell phones and other electronic devices, where luxury is the location. Some of these are “reading retreats,” others are spiritual; still others are trips into the wilderness, such as EXPERT AFRICA’S Kalahari Safari of Silence (see rates and details below). A recent column in t
LONDON, England (12/2011
he New York Times lamented the absence of silence in our lives, saying, “There will be fewer and fewer of what Virginia Woolf called ‘moments of being,’ intense sensations that stand apart from the ‘cottonwool of daily life.’”

One place to experience “moments of being” is in the middle of the northern Kalahari, an area of huge, flat saltpans. The Makgadikgadi and Nxai pans were at the center of a great lake that dried up thousands of years ago, leaving behind some of the largest saltpans in the world. It’s a harsh, sparse landscape, but it offers isolation as complete as anywhere in Southern Africa, and a wealth of hidden treasures. The pans play a vital role in the area’s ecosystems; their geology is unique, their history is fascinating, and they’re incredibly photogenic.

There’s a saying that the silence is so complete in the vast, silvery-white Makgadikgadi Pans that you can hear your own blood flowing. Occasionally, the pans host fleeting herds of Kalahari game, but essentially this is a wilderness. For most of the year, these great pans cover some 3900 square miles of the Kalahari in a thin crust of salt. It’s an eerie, other-worldly environment. “Around January to March, if the rains have been good, the pans flood,” says McIntyre. “Then grasses spring to life, and often flamingos arrive, together with a huge migration of zebra and wildebeest. Although unpredictable, this is one of Africa’s great wildlife spectacles.” Another spectacle is the millions of stars that can be seen through the pollution-free environment.

McIntyre’s expertise is based on years of travel and research within Southern Africa. He is the author of more than a dozen guidebooks to Southern Africa, from the first English-language guide to Namibia and Botswana,first published more than 20 years ago, to all three editions of the Botswana guidebook published by Bradt Travel Guides.

KALAHARI SAFARI OF SILENCE

Rates for the 10-night safari that includes Botswana’s Nxai and Makgadikgadi pans as well as the Okavango Delta start at US$5,183 per person sharing.

Flights ex-Maun, Botswana
4 nights Nxai Pan Camp, Nxai Pan
3 nights Kwara Camp, Okavango Delta
3 nights Camp Kalahari, Makgadikgadi Pans

Costs from US$5,183 per person sharing.

Includes:
All flights and transfers, starting in Maun and ending in Maun.
All meals, non-premium drinks (including South African wine, beers and local spirits) and activities.
All park fees.

Excludes:
Flights to and from Maun, Botswana
Any fine wines, champagnes and premium spirits

For more information, visit: www.expertafrica.com  or + 44 20 8232 9777

Want to escape the winter blues but seeking a sunshine holiday with a difference?

A trip to Africa could be just the ticket for a wildlife-packed winter warmer. The following seasonal specials from The Zambezi Safari and Travel Company (www.zambezi.com  01548 830059) should be top of Santa’s list.

Botswana horse riding safari, 3 nights from £1,865 – David and Robyn Foot are revered across Africa for their horse riding safaris, now guests can join them in Botswana at Thamalakane River Ride.

Their base is Royal Tree Lodge, a small intimate camp with luxurious tented accommodation nestled in 400 acres of riverine trees and acacia woodland on the edge of the Thamalakane River, a short drive from Maun.

Mornings and afternoons are spent riding within the environs of the reserve where the resident wildlife have become relaxed with the horses presence allowing for close encounters and great photographic opportunities.

Suitable for riders of all abilities, the trip makes for the perfect family safari adventure.

The three night safari costs from £1,865 per person including:

Return flights from London Heathrow to Johannesburg and on to Maun

Airport transfers

All meals and drinks (excluding premium)

Additional nights on safari in the Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert can be arranged on request.

Tanzania migration safari and beach, 8 nights from £3,750 – Catch the Great Migration without the crowds on this privately guided safari. By flying between semi-permanent and seasonal camps safari-enthusiasts can enjoy the best year round advantage of the region’s wildlife, shadowing the migration – which between January and April can be found in the southern Serengeti.

Finish off with three nights at an idyllic beach getaway located on the tranquil Indian Ocean. With long stretches of pristine beach and warm blue seas, this romantic hide-away is the perfect tonic to the winter blues.

The package costs from £3,750 per person including:
Full board accommodation – 5 nights on safari, 3 at the beach

Park and concession fees and camping fees

All drinks (except champagne) on safari

Laundry

Transfers

All safari activities with private guide and exclusive vehicle

Scheduled flights and Flying Doctor medical cover

Flights from London to Kilimanjaro with Kenya Airways

Affordable Island Hopping in Mauritius, 12 nights from £2,095 -

This 12-night tailor made trip includes three nights on Mauritius, three nights on little-known Rodrigues Island as well as four nights back on Mauritius.

And with holiday highlights including swimming with dolphins and walking with lions, this is no run of the mill fly-and-flop winter sun break.

The package costs from £2,095 per person including:

3 nights at Andrea Lodge, Mauritius, in a Premium Room on a half board basis

Swimming with dolphins and walking with lions experience

3 nights at Domaine Decide, Rodrigues, in an Auberge Suite on a bed and breakfast basis

Full day excursion around the small islands, lunch included

4 nights at Veranda Grand Baie Hotel, Mauritius, in a Superior Room on a half board basis, water sport and indoor games

Full Day catamaran cruise to the North Islands, lunch included

Flights from London Private transfers

Meet and Greet at the airports (Mauritius & Rodrigues)
All Taxes

Dragoman, one of the world’s most respected and reputable adventure travel operators, is launching 30 new trips in its 2012 brochure, out at the end of November.

The company, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year (2011), is now the only major UK operator to offer overland trips to Georgia, Malaysia (and Singapore), Mongolia and Morocco, and several more countries in West Africa including Angola, The Congo, DRC and Gabon – destinations new to the company for 2012.

As a result of adding these new West Africa destinations to complement Dragoman’s existing comprehensive South, East and North Africa portfolio, travellers will now be able to overland around almost the entire African continent, from Casablanca to Cape Town, Cape Town to Cairo.

Dragoman is also launching a new range of ‘in-depth’ Africa overland adventures in response to customer feedback. “Customers have told us they want the option of experiencing overlanding ‘like it used to be’, says Charlie Hopkinson, Dragoman’s Managing Director. “You could say that we’re going back to our roots,” he adds. Customers can now choose from classic ‘standard’ overland routes, many of which were pioneered by Dragoman, and more immersive adventures (with additional inclusions) operated at a more considered, relaxed pace.

The soaring popularity of Nile adventures, Central Asia and China trips has led the company to significantly increase its departures there.

The 2012 brochure is also previewing trips to be launched in 2013, including a truly epic overland journey of almost 10,000 miles from Anchorage to Ushuaia. It’s anticipated that the North America section will see overlanders’ swap the usual purpose-built Mercedes Benz 4WD trucks for a specially adapted iconic American school bus. As well as journeying through North America, Canada and Mexico, the company will be launching new trips through Central America, from Mexico City to Antigua, Antigua to Panama City from where travellers will join trips already operated by the company, overlanding down the entire South American continent to Ushuaia at its southern-most tip.

As well as showcasing 30 new trips in its 2012 brochure, Dragoman, a company which has always been committed to offering responsible, sustainable and culturally immersive ‘grass-roots’ adventure, has increased the number of homestays it uses (everything from gers, yurts and traditional local homes) by over 50%, in Asia, Africa and South America.

The company has also invested significantly into building new trucks and refurbishing others in its 24 strong fleet for the start of 2012, with plans for further improvements during the year, to optimise customer comfort and safety.

All trips that Dragoman offers are carbon offset.
For the full range of new trips, click on http://www.dragoman.com/about-us/news/497-new-for-2012-be-the-first-to-check-out-our-new-trips-

1. WHERE: VIETNAM
HOW LONG: 7 days
Set in the cool mountains of Vietnam’s northwest, Sapa became a favourite amongst the French colonialists seeking to escape the heat. Enjoy true rural hospitality, follow secluded trails, experience an overnight train journey and explore the busy Old Quarter of Hanoi.
BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ 7-day Sapa Trek departs daily year round, from £650 per person.

2. WHERE: TANZANIA
HOW LONG: 8 days
An up, close and personal African safari trip that presents countless captivating moments to savour. Explore the renowned parks of Tanzania with numerous game drives and visit incredible sites such as the world famous Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.
BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ 8-day Northern Tanzania Circuit departs on 22 December 2011, with further departures scheduled in 2012, from £1,690 per person.

3. WHERE: BHUTAN
HOW LONG: 8 days
A comprehensive journey through the remote and culturally rich kingdom Bhutan, taking in the iconic Taktsang Monastery, the sights and sounds of capital Thimphu and a drive across the Dochu La Pass to explore the isolated yet beautiful Gangtey Valley.
BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ 8-day Essence of Bhutan departs daily from September to May, from £1,250 per person.

4. WHERE: JAPAN
HOW LONG: 8 days
Stunning coastlines, rolling mountain scenery, World Heritage National Parks and a rich cultural heritage: team this with an exquisite cuisine and hot springs to soak in after a stunning day’s ride and you see why Hokkaido is one of Japan’s most idyllic destinations.
BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ 8-day Secrets of Hokkaido by bike has five departures from June-September 2012, from £1,990 per person.

5. WHERE: NAMIBIA
HOW LONG: 10 days
Game viewing in Etosha National Park, cultural interaction with a Himba tribe, rock art at Twyfelfontien and visits to the Skeleton Coast and the Namib Desert: just some of the highlights of this encompassing itinerary in stunning Namibia!
BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ Namibian Explorer departs every Tuesday until March 2012 (every Friday from April 2012), from £990 per person.

6. WHERE: FROM EGYPT TO JORDAN
HOW LONG: 8 days
Step into the rich historical legacy of Pharaonic Egypt’s pyramids before journeying into the Sinai and the land of the Bedouins. In Jordan, tour the dramatic Wadi Rum by jeep, explore the iconic monuments of Petra and have a swim in the world famous Dead Sea!
BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ 8-day Pyramids to Petra departs on 4 December 2011, with further departures scheduled in 2012, from £990 per person.

7. WHERE: ANTARCTICA
HOW LONG: 10 days
Follow in the footsteps of the great heroes of the Antarctic history as you set sail from the tip of South America, accompanied by expert naturalists. With the most dramatic scenery and biggest variety of wildlife, Antarctica is all about discovery and exploration.
BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ 10-day Discover Antarctica departs on 1 January and 20 March 2012, from $5,290 (£3,299) per person.

8. WHERE: CHINA
HOW LONG: 10 days
Trek along a remote section of the Great Wall, one of the greatest wonders of the world, away from the crowds. Take in the vast and diverse scenery, savour true rural Chinese hospitality and complete the experience in Beijing visiting the historic Forbidden City.
BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ 10-day Great Wall Trek has six departures from May-October 2012, from £1,150 per person.

9. WHERE: ECUADOR
HOW LONG: 7 days
This jam-packed trip is an ideal introduction to Ecuador. In addition to the bustling capital of Quito and the colourful Indian markets of Otavalo, it incorporates the volcanic spine of Ecuador, the sensational Cotopaxi National Park and the famous Devil’s Nose Train.
BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ 7-day Ecuador Experience departs every day except Thursday year round, from £1,050 per person.

10. WHERE: NEPAL
HOW LONG: 8 days
From the vibrant capital of Kathmandu and the stunning sunset and sunrise in Dhulikhel to Pokhara, the gateway to the Annapurna region, and the wildlife safari at Chitwan National Park, this trip is a balanced mix of relaxation and marvellous mountain views.
BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ 9-day Nepal Discovery departs on 16 December 2011, with further departures scheduled in 2012, from £890 per person.

For more information and bookings please visit www.worldexpeditions.co.uk  or call 0800 0744 135. World Expeditions’ all-inclusive policy ensures there are no local payments. Prices do not include international flights, however these can be arranged on request.

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