Jetsettersblog

An investment consortium from Hong Kong and China has now unveiled plans for their new 5star hotel in Kigali, on the site of the former Jali Club.  Rwanda is in a new phase of activities. Construction of the new hotel is due to start early in 2009 and is expected to take two years towards completion of the project. The 200 room and suite hotel will also feature a major conference facility, building yet more capacity for Rwanda in the tourism industry. The initial investment is said to be worth about 40 million US Dollars.

Other new projects in the hospitality sector are underway by Dubai World with a US Dollars 250 million investment package for a luxury hotel cum golf course, two new safari lodges and the refurbishment of the main lodge in the Akagera National Park, and a multi million dollar rehabilitation of the Hotel Mille Collines.

There’s some fabulous last minute offers to be had for anyone seeking some out of the ordinary African adventures…from traversing the west coast of Madagascar on quad bike to mobile camping your way around Northern Botswana.

• Quad Bike Adventure on Madagascar – Take advantage of our introductory offer if you travel before the end of November. A new 9 night itinerary, this quad adventure takes you along the west coast between Morondava and Tulear. Highlights en route include bivouacking on the Magoky River, crossing the dunes and exploring the coral reef at Ifaty. Prices from £1,950.00 per person (valid until 30 November 08, excluding international flights).

• Kenya Migration & More – Travel in October and get two free nights. The 9 night itinerary includes 3 in the Masai Mara, 3 in Meru National Park and 3 in Laikipia.

This trip combines migration hunting in the Masai Mara, escaping the crowds in Meru - the least visited of Kenya’s national parks and reserves, and home of Elsa the lioness in the film, Born Free - with untamed adventure amongst the 24,000 acres of wild bush that is the vast Laikipia plateau. Priced from £2,330.00 per person (excluding international flights, valid for travel in October 08 only).

• Wild West Tanzania – Enjoy one of the wildest and most remote safari experiences in the world combined with some of the best primate viewing in East Africa. Travel to Chada Katavi Camp in Katavi National Park and Greystoke Mahale Camp in Mahale National Park before 20 December 08 and receive a discount on accommodation plus money off flights between Arusha and Katavi / Mahale. Prices from £2,995.00 per person for 8 nights (excluding international flights, price valid 1 November to 20 December 08).

• Botswana Mobile Camping Safari – Join this schedule departure for a substantial last minute saving. Our 10 day / 9 night safari starts from Maun on 31st October, taking in the Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta and Savuti National Park. Camping in private campsites you will be escorted by a guide and camp crew for a truly authentic tented safari, sleeping under the African stars. The price for this trip is £1,695.00 per person (valid for 31st October departure only, excluding international flights. Arrangements starting in Maun and ending in Kasane).

Why go now?

• Madagascar: For some sunshine! Madagascar enjoys year round sunshine, with the west coast at its driest May to December. Go west to enjoy turquoise lagoons, white sandy beaches, luxuriant flora and amazing fauna.

• Kenya: Kenya has been one of Africa’s most popular destinations for both first timers and experienced safari goers alike. Despite a dent in the tourism industry in the aftermath of the 2007 elections Kenya is once again very much a top safari spot. The Migration is still in the Masai Mara and October is a beautiful, warm month across the whole country.

• Western Tanzania: Highlights include heavily concentrated game in September as the water dries up, a great month for watching lions hunt. October is hot and dry, look out for the amazing sight of crocs and hippos piled up around the waterholes.

November is going into the ‘short rains’ but the dusty haze of the drier months is replaced by clear skies, excellent for photography. In December you can enjoy hot, sunny days with the rivers flowing once more and game collecting along the banks.

• Botswana: Despite November being the start of the southern Africa wet or ‘green’ season, the rains don’t begin in earnest in northern Botswana until late December. Expect a few short, sharp showers but enjoy warm weather, blue skies and fantastic game viewing with far fewer people. This is also an excellent time for birding.

For further information visit www.zambezi.co.uk

Cox & Kings Launches New 2009 Africa Brochure Including New Tailor-Made Safari Options Throughout The Continent.

The world’s longest established travel company, Cox & Kings, has launched its new Africa brochure for 2009, featuring escorted group tours, private journeys and tailor-made itineraries throughout Africa.

Cox & Kings has reported a dramatic increase in tailor-made travel to Africa in the last year, with 41% more passengers travelling on independent, bespoke itineraries in 2008 than in 2007. Africa Product Manager, Louise Stanion, explains: “People are feeling a lot more confident about devising their own itineraries in Africa with input from our experts, and tend to have a greater knowledge of the destinations they want to visit. Clients are increasingly venturing away from the traditional tourist trails to see lesser-known sights and with our flexible and comprehensive tailor-made programme there is very little that travellers cannot do or see.”

In response to the recent growth in tailor-made travel, Cox & Kings has greatly expanded its coverage of the bespoke opportunities within its Africa brochure. “While we could not begin to demonstrate all of the options available, the new tailor-made sections in the brochure serve as a taster of what is available in each region.”

The fastest growing group tour of the year has been Mali: The Road to Timbuktu, with 80% more passengers travelling than in 2007. Stanion says “We are very excited to see some lesser-known countries at the top of the growth charts for Africa, and particularly Mali, which has, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating cultures in all of Africa. The standard of facilities and service throughout the country is still very basic but, while standards of accommodation and service are gradually being raised, this is not the reason that people visit.” The tour, which takes in the key sites of this little-known country, including Bamako, Timbuktu, the mud mosques and markets of Djenné and the villages of the spectacular Dogon Escarpment, costs from £2,295 per person.

In January 2009, Cox & Kings is offering a special departure of its Mali: The Road to Timbuktu group tour to coincide with the Festival on the Niger. Departing 27th January, this unique departure includes two extra days in Segou and entrance to the colourful event, which features traditional and contemporary Malian music, dance and river races. The tour costs from £2,895 per person.

Asked her predictions for travel trends in 2009, Stanion forecasts further growth in the tailor-made sector, and requests for more unusual destinations and experiences. “On a tailor-made holiday in Africa, visitors can have some truly unique and memorable once-in-a-lifetime experiences, from elephant-backed safaris and photography tours in Zambia, to cooking demonstrations in South Africa and sleeping al fresco on moveable beds in Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau. With greater exposure in the brochure of what is on offer, I think we will see a increased demand for these exclusive encounters.”

NEW: South Africa: Wildlife & Wine (Page 19): Ideal for second-time visitors to South Africa and those looking to get away from the beaten path, this self-drive private journey offers a chance to learn about the wildlife, wine and rock art of this spectacular country, as well as meeting the local South African people. The 10-night tour features hand-picked, luxury accommodation and costs from £2,895 per person.

NEW: Boutique South Africa (Page 21): This nine-night self-drive private journey combines two outstanding game reserves with the Garden Route and Cape Town, and includes small luxurious boutique hotels and wildlife camps that have been hand-picked for their unique features and highly personalised service. Travel during the low season between May and September to benefit from greatly reduced rates. Prices from £2,495 per person.

NEW: Namibia in Style (Page 32): Travel in style on this fly safari over the remote deserts and rugged landscapes that make Namibia one of the world’s most spectacular wilderness destinations. Visit the dunes of Sossusvlei, search for the desert elephant in Damaraland, and experience the wildlife of Etosha National Park. The nine-night private journey costs from £4,395 per person.

NEW: Botswana Explorer (Page 37): This new nine-night camping safari travels through some of Africa’s greatest wildlife viewing areas: the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park. Staying in luxurious tented camps, groups are restricted to a maximum of six guests and are accompanied by an expert CC Africa safari guide throughout. Prices from £3,495 per person.

NEW: Madagascar Tailor-Made: Madagascar Classic Camping (Page 48): New for 2009 is a luxurious camping experience at Mandrare River Camp, set in the grounds of a colonial plantation house on the banks of the Mandrare River. Wildlife is abundant in this area, including four species of lemur and at least 25 resident bird species. Three-night packages from £1,095 per person.

NEW: Zambia Tailor-Made: Lower Zambezi National Park (page 43): On the banks of the Zambezi, opposite Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, the Lower Zambezi National Park has 120kms of river frontage and features numerous islands, lagoons and floodplains, which attract most of the area’s wildlife. Chiawa Camp accommodates just 16 guests in eight spacious and luxurious tents. Safari activities include morning and evening game drives, guided bush walks, canoeing and aqua safaris aboard comfortable pontoon boats. Prices from £340 per person per night, all inclusive.

NEW: Rwanda Tailor-Made: Gorilla Tracking (Page 54): Gorilla tracking in Rwanda makes an ideal extension to a Kenyan safari or can be combined with other activities in this small and fascinating country. Visit Volcanoes National Park and stay at Gorilla Mountain View Lodge for gorilla tracking activities and visits to the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo. A three night stay costs from £1,075 per person, inclusive of meals and activities.

NEW: Kenya Tailor-Made: Shaba National Reserve (Page 54): Shaba National Reserve was made famous for its association with well-known conservationists Joy and George Adamson, and the film Born Free. Cox & Kings is able to organise stays at Joy’s Camp, built on the site of Joy Adamson’s tented home. Resident wildlife includes elephant, lion, buffalo, oryx, reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra. The camp is ideal for discerning guests looking for an authentic wildlife experience. Prices from £220 per person per night, all inclusive.

NEW: Tanzania Tailor-Made: Serengeti Under Canvas (Page 60): Cox & Kings offers stays at CC Africa’s luxurious ‘roaming camps’ in the Serengeti. The location of the four camps has been carefully plotted to coincide with the great annual wildebeest migration. Prices from £325 per person per night, all inclusive.

A Camping Safari in Tanzania is the quintessential African Safari experience. Gone are the days when camping meant tucking into a sleeping bag under the stars. Nowadays, camping in the African bush can include luxuries like four poster beds, hot showers and 5 course dinners prepared by top chefs!

Camping in the bush of Tanzania is the quintessential African Safari experience. To sleep under canvas in the depths of the African wilderness in a self-sufficient campsite, is something that can be enjoyed by all.

Aim 4 Africa http://www.aim4africa.com offer camping safaris for all; young and old. To enjoy the spirit of real Africa it helps if you are searching for a true adventure and love the idea of being challenged in this unpredictable wilderness. It also definitely helps things along if you have a great sense of humour with a willingness to participate and get a little dirty at times!

Camping safaris are designed to get you truly close to nature. Often there is just a piece of cloth between you and the African night. You will be enthralled by chorus of nocturnal birds, insects and a pride of roaring lions in the distance, which will inevitably sound you off to sleep.

Aim 4 Africa offers a range of camping options that makes ’sleeping under the stars’ easy. The view is that camping does not have to mean ‘roughing it’; it is more a case of accessing wilderness areas and getting as close to nature as is possible.

None of the campsites within the Ngorongoro and Serengeti national parks are fenced which means that animals are free to roam wherever they choose, and often do, coming very close to the tent including lions, giraffes and buffalo!

Aim 4 Africa offers 3 types of camping options, starting with basic. Basic campsites are usually public campsites, shared with other groups and most include shared bathroom and toilet facilities.

Semi-Luxury camping means bigger and more spacious tents with shower and toilet tents plus a wider range, of mostly 3 course meals. Most camps are private and for the exclusive use of the group and more often than not, they are in the heart of the wilderness.

Luxury camping is exactly that, permanent or luxury mobile tented camps, complete with comfortable luxury beds, ensuite shower rooms and chemical toilets. 3 or 5 course meals prepared by the most discerning camp chefs and presented by handsome waiters in the warm comfort of a dining tent, followed by liquers by a campfire as you listen to the sounds of hyenas, lions and crickets all arond you are an experience out of this world!

Mobile Camping is particularly ideal for witnessing the Great Migration as the camp moves to where the herds are situated at a particular time of year. Most have the added luxury of campfires with after-dinner drinks and a nightcap served with full service from chefs, waiters and camp attendants.

One thing for sure is that camping in this magical location in East Africa is a truly memorable experience. So if you want to experience real Africa, with the thrill of sitting around an open camp fire with the southern skies bright overhead, listening to the evening song of millions of animals then aim for Tanzania and Aim 4 Africa.

Prices for 2-3 people for basic camping starts at 1,075, semi-luxury camping at 1,370 and luxury camping at 2,100. (prices based on 2008 rates, subject to change) The price is based on a private safari in a 4-wheel drive vehicle with professional English-speaking driver/guide, camp chef, 3 meals a day, camp and park fees, crater fee, visit to Olduvai Gorge and trek with a Maasai Warrior in the Ngorongoro Highlands.

To find out more call 0845 408 4541 or visit http://www.aim4africa.com

About Aim 4 Africa Ltd

Aim 4 Africa Ltd is a specialist tour operator organizing bespoke holidays to East Africa - Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Malawi. All programs are designed with the unique, first hand experience of the founders all of whom are East African. The company’s main ethos is responsible travel, ensuring that local communities benefit from tourism and that nature and wildlife conservation perseveres for the benefit of future generations.

For further information contact us at enquiries@aim4africa.com

Get to meet the locals with Gecko’s Adventures

African overland trips were pioneered by ‘entrepreneurs’ who threw 20 or 30 backpackers in the back of a Bedford truck and battled bad roads and border police for the length of the continent.

The ‘punters’ naturally did the provisioning, the washing up and all the other camp chores. Gecko’s has up-dated the overland epic, catering to the more discerning tastes of a new generation – while retaining the grass roots, budget-minded appeal of the old days.

The Gecko’s style of overland – showcased in the new 2008-2010 brochure – features custom-built vehicles taking a maximum of 24 passengers; a professional driver and cook plus a local leader who provides an insider’s insight into the journey. Better yet, the passengers don’t have to suffer cleaning or cooking duties.

Best of all, Gecko’s goes to many of the key game parks – such as Ngorongoro, the Serengeti, South Luangwa and the Okavango Delta - that other operators miss or charge extra for. Rather than having passengers carrying large amounts of cash to cover game park costs, the company includes these entry fees in the tour cost – yet their tour costs remain some of the sharpest in the market.

Geckos is the only overland company to purchase a complement of gorilla permits – which are limited in number - at the beginning of each season, giving travellers the best chance of seeing the mountain gorillas of Rwanda and Uganda.

The new Gecko’s African overland safaris start with the 25-day African Wanderer which travels between Livingstone (Victoria Falls) in Zambia and Nairobi, Kenya, via the lake and mountains of Malawi; and takes in the laid-back lifestyle of Zanzibar and some of the best game parks in Africa: South Luangwa, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.

This trip runs in both north and southbound directions.

The African Wanderer has departures year-round and costs $2695 plus a local payment of US$700, including transport (a combination of custom-built safari vehicle, ferry and 4×4 Land Cruisers); park entry fees, guides and most meals on safari.

At the top end is the epic 60-day Africa Encompassed, which begins in Cape Town and travels north-west through South Africa to the deserts and canyons of Namibia, to the salt pans and Okavango Delta of Botswana. From Livingstone (on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls), the trip continues through Zambia to Malawi and on to Tanzania and Kenya, taking in some of Africa’s best wildlife experiences along the way. The climax of the trip is the gorilla trek, where travellers have the opportunity of spending an hour with our closest relatives in the mountain forests of Rwanda.

The Africa Encompassed safari departs roughly monthly, year-round and costs $5585 including gorilla trekking permit, plus a local payment of US$1750, payable on arrival. This includes transport, park entry fees, specialist wildlife guides in addition to the cook, driver and local leader, camping equipment and mokoros (canoes) in Okavango.

The Gecko’s Africa range also includes overland trips and shorter safaris that can be linked together, as well as time out in Zanzibar and a Mt Kilimanjaro trek. For further information contact Gecko’s Adventures on 1300 854 500 or visit www.geckosadventures.com to download a pdf file of the new brochure.

Explore Egypt with a tourist guide

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Purpose of OurExplorer:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Full-on adventure begins here… Search for the Big Five in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, get hands-on community involvement at Jinja, meet Chimpanzees on Lake Victoria’s Ngamba Island then head off to Dian Fossey’s mist in Rwanda’s Volcanoes NP searching out Mountain Gorilla and Golden Monkey. Dragoman Overland’s 15-night Great Apes & Gameparks expedition departs Nairobi 13th October 08. (SKN208).

Starting in cosmopolitan Nairobi, drop in at Langatta Giraffe Sanctuary before heading off to the Maasai Mara in search of big game. On to Jinja, where in line with Dragoman’s ethos of responsible tourism, travellers spend time helping maintain a school at their flagship community project. Here, camp high above Bujagali Falls with magnificent views of the Nile River - adrenaline junkies will have a chance to challenge some of the world’s most exciting white-water rafting.

Next, a boat trip to Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria to visit a Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Later, Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, offers Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo, Lion (four of the big five) and stunning bird-life. Here, wild camping surrounded by Hippo, Elephant and Lion is the ultimate safari experience. Travellers stay at Lake Bunyonyi and take dugout canoes (pirogues) across the serene waters to visit Muko Forest and local lakeside communities. For many the journey’s high point is Mountain Gorilla trekking in the stunning highlands of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

The area currently has four habituated groups, the largest being the Susa Group originally studied by Dian Fossey, comprising 35 members including 3 silverbacks and inhabiting Karasimbo Volcano.

The Trebize, Sabinyo and Amahoro are smaller, with 13 members in each group, each involving varying levels of trekking. Also endemic to the same bamboo habitat as the gorillas is Africa’s rarest primate, the Golden Monkey, and treks can be organised to view the park’s two habituated troupes. Return through high banana plantations, forests and beautiful rural hillsides to the bright lights of Kampala and conclusion of the journey.

The tour costs £540 p/p plus kitty US$380 (~£190) including transport aboard Dragoman Overland’s rugged but comfortable customised Mercedes Benz truck, camping and hotel accommodation (90%/10%) all camp meals, the expertise of Dragoman Overland’s two person crew and accompanying African camp master. Gorilla Permits cost £295 p/p and need to be purchased at time of booking trip. Flights are not included but are available through Dragoman Overland.

Dragoman Overland
01728 861 133
info@dragoman.co.uk
www.dragoman.com

Rwanda builds more rooms

When the Rwandan national airline, Rwandair, returned its ACMI-leased B737-500 to Air Malawi a few months ago, its regular flights between Kigali and Johannesburg had to be suspended due to lack of suitable aircraft. Last week, however, the airline concluded a fresh lease arrangement for a B737-300, which once commencing operations, will allow the resumption of the South Africa flights.

To cover the gap that the returned B737 left in the fleet, Rwandair then leased a CRJ100ER from Kenyan airline Jetlink and another Bombardier Dash 8 to maintain at least their regional schedule. The newly-leased B737-300 is due in mid to late September according to sources. Other contacts within the airline also confirmed that they were planning to acquire additional aircraft in coming years to widen their network.

After years of serving the Rwanda – Uganda route once a day in the evening with a 30-seater turboprop Dash 8 aircraft, the airline has just announced the introduction of a second daily flight. The new connection will operate every morning, making one-day trips between the two capital cities now a reality. The tourism and business associations in both countries have welcomed the extra flight and was “long overdue” to quote one leading Rwandese businessman with extensive business interests in both countries.

VoyageTrek Travel
Cliff Hawk
(206) 695-2915
cliffh@voyagetrek.com
www.voyagetrek.com

SEATTLE—VoyageTrek Travel, the free online travel directory that provides destination match-making services for travelers, announced that it is expanding its program to African safaris and Galapagos Islands adventure cruising. This unique company premiered the AdventureMatch matching service in March 2008. The program has been enthusiastically received by the travel industry.

Current match-making categories include tours to Alaska, select fly fishing lodges, and dude ranches throughout the Western United States. VoyageTrek Founder Cliff Hawk says tour operators are responding well to the new program and the company has had an easy time recruiting top new tour operators. Answering to its initial success and ongoing demand, VoyageTrek continues to expand its travel segments and commitment to helping people find their ideal vacation.

“By adding Africa and Ecuador as travel segments, we provide exceptional value to travelers interested in these areas,” says Hawk. “No one wants to pick the wrong tour operator, and on the other end, the tour operators who are providing the best tours in the business often don’t have a marketing budget or are only known by word-of-mouth so they need an easier way to find leisure travel customers suited to their services.”

As the leading customer referral and match-making program in the adventure tourism industry, VoyageTrek provides multi-category, customized match-making between high-end travelers and suppliers. For adventurers wanting to find their ideal Alaska tour, fly fishing, or rafting destination, as well as a dude ranch, safari or Galapagos cruise, they can do a search at www.voyagetrek.com and click on the “Get Matched Now!” button and program link.

For tour operators interested in the adventure match program, log on to www.voyagetrek.com/operator  or call Hawk at (206) 695-2915.