But this year tour operators in-the-know, such as Denver based Africa Adventure Consultants, have exciting new safari options to share in the country of Zambia. Long passed over for the luxurious safari lodges of South Africa and the wide-open plains of Eastern Africa, Zambia is now coming into its own as a truly wild African safari destination. The country is home to the famous Victoria Falls, the rugged South Lungua National Park and up-and-coming Kafue National Park, the largest protected park in Zambia, and is predicted to be Africa’s hot new destination in 2009.

“Zambia is one of Africa’s best kept secrets,” says African expert Kent Redding, President of Africa Adventure Consultants, “it is less-charted territory that is still really wild. In the past few years we’ve seen a significant amount of investment in the safari lodges there, so the overall experience is quite comfortable and more importantly, free of the crowds that plague certain parts of Africa. I am confident that my clients are going to be choosing this destination for 2009!”

Leading a collection of new safari programs to Zambia for 2009, is Africa Adventure Consultants’ Animals in Action Safari.

 This adventure brings travelers face-to-face with Africa’s largest hippo concentration. Aside from some of Africa’s best wildlife viewing, travelers spend their days alongside true experts in safari guiding, conservation and African wildlife including Lex Hes: wildlife photographer and author of Leopards of Londolozi and many others, Michael Lorentz: naturalist and elephant conservationist, Phil Berry: former park warden and giraffe expert, Derek Solomon: seasoned safari guide and author, Manda Chisanga: knowledgeable guide and expert on traditional medicinal plants. This unique, one-time-only safari takes place in November 2009.

After returning from a recent assessment of Zambia, Africa Adventure Consultants’ Kent Redding has decided to add Lower Zambezi National Park to several existing itineraries for 2009.

This remote region is not only a great place for game drives but travelers can also take part in fascinating walking and most appealing canoeing, boating and fishing safaris. “With an expert guide and a cooler full of cold drinks, you can float down the Zambezi fishing for tiger fish, which can reach up to 15 pounds or more and are really great fighters. Otherwise, try for the smaller bream,” adds Kent Redding. “The Lower Zambezi is truly an inimitable experience.” Africa Adventure Consultants also plans to launch additional exciting Zambia-based itineraries in early 2009.

 Denver-based African safari expert Africa Adventure Consultants organizes safari adventures throughout East and Southern Africa, with destinations including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Victoria Falls and Ethiopia.

The company sells destinations they know personally and offer guests assurance of strong on-the-ground partnerships with only the best local companies. Africa Adventure Consultants supports a variety of African conservation organizations, community-based tourism programs and humanitarian causes. And now, the company runs a completely carbon neutral office in Denver and is further committed to carbon neutral safaris by automatically offsetting 50% of each African trip they sell as well as offering clients the opportunity to offset the remaining 50%. With an eye on personal service, the principals create carbon neutral safaris and customized trips for individuals and small groups.

To learn more, please call 1.866.778.1089.

The company has the largest online database of specialty tour operators and is the new “go to” resource for vacationers who don’t want to do online research for hours on end to find the right adventure tour operator for their needs. VoyageTrek does all the work and provides qualified recommendations or “vacation match results” based on their research, word-of-mouth investigation, on-site visits, and tour operator interviews. Trips to Alaska, select fly fishing lodges, and dude ranches throughout the western United States are some of the top vacation match-making requests.

 Recent expansions include African safaris, Galapagos Islands cruises, trips to Peru’s Machu Picchu or Ecuador, and tours throughout South America, starting with Argentina.

Log on to learn more at www.voyagetrek.com

Additions to the brochures include 25 new Worldwide and 13 new Family Adventures, a new style of trip – the Hands On Adventures - and new destinations including Sweden, Australia, Rwanda, Greenland, Iceland, Benin, Togo and Ghana. The Adventure Company now covers all seven continents with a variety of trips.

Highlights of each brochure are outlined below.

Worldwide Adventures:

• Discover Rwanda’s incredible wildlife, including mountain gorillas and chimps, on new trip Rwandan Encounters

• New hiking trips including The Best of Mont Blanc in France and Trekking in Turkey

• Igloo building and other winter activities in Sweden in Active Arctic and The Ice Hotel

• West Africa Voodoo Explorer – a new trip to Ghana, Togo and Benin

• Two new trips to Australia – City to Reef and Aussie Interior

• An expanded collection of multi-country trips, such as Thai Indochina Odyssey (Thailand, Laos and Cambodia) and South East Africa Explorer (Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa)

 • A new expedition cruise, Arctic Explorer (Norway, Greenland and Iceland), plus a route change to Northwest Passage, which now begins in Russia and crosses the Bering Strait to Alaska

Family Adventures:

• Five new Teen Adventures - Argentine Ranch Adventure, Canopy Climbing in Borneo, Active Cappadocia (Turkey), Active in Sinai (Egypt) and Active in Morocco – bringing the total number of specialised Teen Adventures to 13

• Lapland Snow & Ice Adventure – a new five-day winter activity trip to Sweden for February half-term or the Christmas holidays

• Four Infant Adventures (minimum age: 2) including a new trip Coastal Croatia

• Visit Malaysia’s only elephant sanctuary on new trip Flavour of Malaysia

• New family trips to India (Essence of India) and Japan (Essence of the Orient)

Hands On Adventures
The company’s new Hands On Adventures will enable travellers – including families to spend two or three days of their holiday directly helping community-based or conservation projects around the globe.

Nicola McFarlane, product director at The Adventure Company explains

“ The Adventure Company has for many years promotes community-based tourism activities and donated money to responsible tourism projects, but feedback from our customers suggests they are keen to be more proactively involved. The key to our Hands On Adventures is two – three days of the holiday is dedicated to practical assistance in community work and conservation projects, giving greater fulfilment to the traveller and tangible contributions to the chosen projects.”

There are 13 new adventures, examples of the trips include

Turtles, Island & Mountains – This family trip allows travellers to get close to the leatherback and green turtles that inhabit the coastline of Costa Rica. Travellers will take part in turtle patrols – protecting their nests, hiding them from poachers and helping to measure and tag the turtles. Families will also spend time on the palm-fringed island archipelago of Bocas del Toro as well as exploring the Panamanian Highlands of Boquete.
Minimum age: 5 years.

Andaman Adventure – Make a positive contribution to rural village communities teaching English, helping in the community garden, taking part in beach clean ups or going to market to help buy provisions. The rest of the trip includes jungle trekking, river tubing, an elephant ride and time to relax on the beaches of Koh Phangnan.

The Hands On Adventure activities will be incorporated into the travel itineraries, so while on holiday travellers can provide practical help or support and enjoying exploring the highlights if the destination.

 Early booking discounts

The Adventure Company is offering a discount of £50 per person on selected trips if booked before 20th December 2008. For a list of qualifying adventures, click on the ‘special offers’ button on www.adventurecompany.co.uk  or follow this link: www.adventurecompany.co.uk/special-offers.aspx

New look brochures
The two brochures have each adopted a new, simpler layout and all trips ate now graded 1-5 across four areas: activity, cultural discovery, nature and wildlife and responsible tourism. These help the customer choose the right adventure for them.

The Adventure Company is offering a total of 80 trips in the Family Adventures brochure and 140 trips in the Worldwide Adventures brochure, including Hands on Adventures, specialist teenage departures, walking and trekking holidays, cultural journeys, wildlife encounters and expedition cruises.

The Adventure Company’s average group size of 14 people allows travellers to make the most of their trip and also meet like-minded people. Trips are led by local guides who share their passion and intimate knowledge of destinations, giving travellers an authentic and memorable experience.

To request copies of the 2009/10 Adventure Company’s brochures, visit www.adventurecompany.co.uk  or call 0845 608 7752.

The brochures are also available to view online at www.adventurecompany.co.uk .

The website also offers detailed trip notes of each itinerary, up-to-date pricing information, details on availability, image galleries, plus feedback on each trip from past customers

Zambia is definitely the rising star of the African travel industry, Redding said. With new properties, remote game reserves and specialist safari guides, in-the-know safari operators like Africa Adventure Consultants can now offer a true wild Africa experience. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe may be coming back on the radar when it comes to African safaris, following word of the power-sharing agreement among the politicians there. Soon the country may be in a position to rebuild and flourish and the entire African travel industry anxiously awaits its rebirth. And as domestic airfare prices soar in 2009, air travel to Africa is still affordable. With new flight routes to Africa being added all the time, prices should remain affordable well into 2009. As the American economy faces some of its greatest challenges since the Great Depression, even luxury travelers are branching out and demanding more value for their travel dollars. Many travelers are seeking out destination specialists, such as Africa Adventure Consultants, who can help them plan an itinerary that is an outstanding travel experience but at less overall cost.

Denver-based African safari expert Africa Adventure Consultants organizes safari adventures throughout East and Southern Africa, with destinations including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Victoria Falls and most recently, Ethiopia.

The company sells destinations they know personally and offer guests assurance of strong on-the-ground partnerships with only the best local companies. Africa Adventure Consultants supports a variety of African conservation organizations, community-based tourism programs and humanitarian causes.

The company runs a completely carbon neutral office in Denver and is further committed to carbon neutral safaris by automatically offsetting 50 percent of each African trip they sell as well as offering clients the opportunity to offset the remaining 50 percent.

With an eye on personal service, the principals create carbon neutral safaris and customized trips for individuals and small groups.

For information, call 866-778-1089 or visit www.adventuresinafrica.com

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.

• 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).