Jetsettersblog

Serena Hotels joined Africa Travel Association, the industry trade association promoting tourism to Africa. Serena joined as a corporate member. The hotel operates properties in Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Zanzibar/Tanzania and Uganda.

Serena is looking at Africa as a growing market, with a continually growing demand for more accommodation. The Serena Group includes 32 safari lodges, camps, hotels and resorts in East Africa and Southern Asia, with properties in Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Rwanda, Uganda and Mozambique.

The Africa Travel Association (ATA) was established in 1975 to encourage travel to Africa and to strengthen partnerships within Africa. It works with both the public and private sectors of the international travel and tourism industry. ATA membership includes African governments and tourism ministers, tourism bureaus and boards, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, front-line travel sellers and providers, tour operators and travel agents, and affiliate industries.

Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, the second-largest park in Africa, was featured as one of the Best Winter Trips for 2013 by National Geographic. Ruaha National Park is larger than Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. It is one of the country’s 15 national parks and is known for its rugged and untouched terrain, a high concentration of elephants and more than 571 species of birds. The park’s Great Ruaha River is 300 miles long, and is the habitat of 38 species of fish and the lifeline of many large mammals in the region.

“This demonstrates that Tanzania is increasingly being recognized for its expanding safari product in the Southern and Western region,” said Dr. Aloyce Nzuki, managing director of the Tanzania Tourist Board. “Ruaha National Park has become increasingly popular with American tourists who are looking for an off-the-beaten-track experience.”

February 18 to March 1

Fund-raising Trek Up Mount Kilimanjaro Includes Gourmet Feast Prepared by Chef Pierre Thiam at World’s Highest Pop-up Restaurant

African safari and tour provider ET African Journeys has partnered with Mama Hope, a non-profit organization that invests in projects that bring food, security, clean water, education and health care to African communities in need, to offer the Mama Hope Kilimanjaro Expedition, a hike to benefit Moshi, Tanzania’s St. Timothy’s School.

Departing on Monday, February 18, 2013, this one-of-a-kind trek up Africa’s highest mountain boasts an amenity that no other tour provider offers: a gourmet feast prepared by world-renowned African Chef Pierre Thiam at the world’s highest-altitude pop-up restaurant. Chef Thiam will open the temporary restaurant at a base camp at 12,500 feet above sea level exclusively to celebrate the fund-raising climb.

After summiting Mount Kilimanjaro via the scenic Machame route, climbers will descend to the base camp restaurant to dine on Chef Thiam’s specially-prepared African regional cuisine, while enjoying views of the surrounding forests and grasslands.

Following the hike, travelers will spend two days volunteering at St. Timothy’s School, a school and children’s home built by Mama Hope and partnering organization, The Tanzania Children Concern, to educate Tanzanian orphans. Mama Hope’s community-centered development approach enabled St. Timothy’s to employ over 600 workers from the local community in the construction of the school.

“We are now focused on funding the construction of a boarding house on the St. Timothy’s compound, which will give the region’s orphans a home as well as an education,” said Mama Hope founder Nyla Rodgers. “This trip is a wonderful way to get Americans to come to Africa and get involved with a very worthy cause.”

“Adventurers who want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro don’t typically need much enticing, but this trip offers so much more than the satisfaction of the climb,” added ET African Journeys Vice President of Business Development Gilad Goren, who conceived of the trip concept with Rodgers. “It’s a chance to raise funds for a great cause, volunteer at a school and meet the children they are helping and, as an added perk, enjoy possibly the most unique dining experience of their lives, forgoing trail mix for a gourmet meal prepared by Chef Thiam.”

The Mama Hope Kilimanjaro Expedition departs from Washington DC on Monday, February 18, 2013 and is available for $5,400, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting St. Timothy’s School. Price includes airfare, lodging, Kilimanjaro climb and gourmet meal.

For more information, please call 800-662-5406 or visit http://www.etafricanjourneys.com/mamahope.

About Mama Hope

Mama Hope works in close partnership with local African organizations to connect them with the resources required to transform their own communities. The organization’s projects are managed for and by partner communities themselves to ensure sustainability. With a mission to fund the completion of schools, health clinics, children’s centers, clean water systems and food security projects.

About ET African Journeys
ET African Journeys is a joint venture by Ethiopian Airlines and Group IST to create exciting, original, thematic, educational and cultural travel programs to Ethiopia and beyond. Working with the most experienced providers in the region, ET African Journeys is able to offer a diverse range of quality tour products at competitive prices to both the individual traveler and the group organizer. Ethiopian Airlines is the only non-stop service between the East Coast of the United States and the East Coast of Africa and is one of the largest and most modern air carriers on the African continent.

Extraordinary Journeys Africa is partnering with Asilia Africa to offer a series of yoga retreats at Sayari Camp in the northern Serengeti in Tanzania. The centerpiece of the package is a five-night stay at the luxurious and eco-conscious Sayari Camp, with game drives through the Serengeti National Park and twice-daily yoga sessions led by instructor Shannon Paige. The trips are offered in March, June and December. The price starts at $3,900 per person, double, including five nights at the Sayari Camp, one night at Onsea House in Arusha, domestic travel within Tanzania, and all meals, drinks and activities including yoga sessions and game park entrance fees.

According to Paige, the savannah of the Serengeti is an ideal environment for yoga practices. Paige emphasizes deep spaces of calm and connection with the land through her own brand of Anjali Restorative Yoga, in which meditation and synchronized breathing exercises are guided by the rich imagery of the natural wilderness. Mornings begin with a sunrise game drive across the Serengeti plains.

The Sayari Camp, near the Mara River, was designed to blend in with the savannah. It was recognized by the 2012 World Travel Awards as the best tented camp in Tanzania. It has 15 tents with king-sized beds, private verandas and luxurious amenities, including a fireplace, library, bar and lounge.

With Africa’s rhino population facing the worst poaching crisis in decades – the most serious upsurges in South Africa (588 reported cases this year), Kenya and Zimbabwe – this offering from The Phinda Reserve in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal is particularly timely. Renowned for its work in the conservation of habitats and species Phinda is currently offering guests a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with rhino while assisting with the conservation of this endangered species.

This adventure allows guests to witness the capture and darting of a rhino and assist the veterinary team in notching the sleeping animal’s ear for research and monitoring. Ear notches, as well as microchips placed in the horn, enable researches to correctly identify different rhino on the reserve.

Groups of up to eight guests can participate in the entire process, from locating and darting the rhino by helicopter, to the unique opportunity to approach the anaesthetised giant during the notching procedure.

Guests will need to spend a minimum of three nights at any of the Phinda lodges in the Phinda Private Game Reserve to participate in this one day activity which includes

- Game drives and habitat orientation
- Rhino tracking
- Practical roles alongside the guides and vets; such as measuring the heart rate, during darting

The darting programmes take place throughout the year and are subject to the availability of the vets and helicopter pilot. No prior experience is required and the trip is open to responsible children over the age of 12 as well as adults.

The rhino notching safari is available through Aardvark Safaris and cost for the three night trip is from £3,610 per person to participate in black rhino notching and from £3,145 per person for the white rhino activities. Price includes full board accommodation and all safari activities. No single supplement.

Editors’ note – As a specialist African tour operator, Aardvark Safaris can arrange rhino tracking safaris in a number of countries including Namibia, Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania.

This six night safari includes game drives through the Serengeti National Park, exclusive sessions with renowned yoga instructor Shannon Paige and luxurious tent lodgings at Asilia’s eco-conscious Sayari Camp.

New York, NY, January 3, 2013 – With its commitment to providing unique and “extraordinary” safari experiences,

Extraordinary Journeys Africa is joining with Asilia Africa to offer a series of three limited-time yoga retreats* at the award-wining Sayari Camp in the northern Serengeti.

Travelers will enjoy a five-night stay in this jewel of Tanzania’s protected area, enjoying scenic game drives through the Serengeti National Park, luxurious amenities at Asilia’s award-winning, eco-conscious Sayari Camp and daily yoga sessions, led by renowned instructor Shannon Paige.

These three exclusive yoga safaris are offered in March, June and December, 2013.** Pricing begins at $3,900 per person, double, and includes five nights accommodation at the Sayari Camp, one night at Onsea House (Arusha), domestic travel within Tanzania, all meals, drinks and activities including yoga sessions and game park entrance fees.***

Highlights Include:

Enjoy two calming yoga sessions per day, led by renowned instructor Shannon Paige;
Immerse yourself in the comforts of an infinity pool, private veranda, warm fireplace and peaceful lounge at the luxurious Sayari Camp.
The breathtaking savannah of the Serengeti, known to the Maasai people as “the land that stretches on forever,” offers the ideal environment for the inspirational Shannon Paige’s yoga practices.

Paige emphasizes deep spaces of calm and connection with the land through her own brand of Anjali Restorative Yoga, in which meditation and synchronized breathing exercises are guided by the rich imagery of the natural wilderness.

To that end, students will wake each morning to a restorative sunrise game drive across the Serengeti plains and take advantage of guided afternoon drives or bush walks in between daily yoga sessions.

Designed to blend unnoticed into the savannah, the Sayari Camp, located close to the majestic Mara River, is a welcome oasis to return to at the end of each day.

Recognized by the 2012 World Travel Awards as the best tented camp in Tanzania, Sayari Camp’s fifteen tent complex is complete with king sized beds, private verandas, and luxurious amenities of a fireplace, library, bar and lounge for guests to relax in.

For a detailed itinerary: http://www.extraordinaryjourneys.net/blog/yoga-safari-in-tanzania/

* Sessions can be tailored to any level of practitioner.

** Book by January 31st for spring safari extending from March 2nd – 8th, 2013, March 31st for summer safari extending June 10th – 16th, 2013 and September 20th for winter safari extending December 10th – 16th, 2013.

*** Pricing does not include international flights to Tanzania.

About Extraordinary Journeys

Run by an extraordinary mother-daughter team with over 40 years of combined safari knowledge, Extraordinary Journeys provides innovative and fun bespoke safaris for honeymooners, families and individual travelers to Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Congo. Mixing and matching safaris, camps, lodges, and villas, with travel by private planes, 4x4s, hot air balloons, elephant, camel and even horse, Extraordinary Journeys has planned over 1,000 trips to Africa and not one has been the same. They place their focus on knowledge, quality-personalized service and social responsibility.

For more information, contact Extraordinary Journeys; (800) 403-6012; (917) 325-3342 or visit www.ejafrica.com

ET African Journeys partnered with Mama Hope, a non-profit organization that provides food, education and health care to African communities, to offer the Mama Hope Kilimanjaro Expedition, a hike to benefit Moshi, Tanzania’s St. Timothy’s School.

The expedition will hike up Mount Kilimanjaro on Feb. 18.

The program will include a gourmet feast prepared by African Chef Pierre Thiam at a base camp at 12,500 feet above sea level to celebrate the fundraising climb.

After reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro along the Machame route, the group will descend to the base camp restaurant to dine on Thiam’s specially prepared African cuisine.

After the hike, participants will volunteer for two days at St. Timothy’s School, a school and children’s home built by Mama Hope and The Tanzania Children Concern, to educate Tanzanian orphans. Mama Hope’s community-centered development approach enabled St. Timothy’s to employ over 600 workers from the local community in the construction of the school.

“Adventurers who want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro don’t typically need much enticing, but this trip offers so much more than the satisfaction of the climb,” said ET African Journeys Vice President of Business Development Gilad Goren.

“It’s a chance to raise funds for a great cause, volunteer at a school and meet the children they are helping and, as an added perk, enjoy possibly the most unique dining experience of their lives, forgoing trail mix for a gourmet meal prepared by Chef Thiam.”

The program is available for $5,400, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting St. Timothy’s School. The price includes airfare, accommodations, Kilimanjaro climb and gourmet meal.

Wilderness Ventures

JACKSON, Wyo. – Wilderness Ventures, the oldest and most experienced adventure travel program offering teen summer camps, has added 22 new trips to their catalogue for 2013.

For the last four decades, Wilderness Ventures has provided young travelers life-altering experiences in some of the world’s most magnificent outdoor settings. Their trip categories range from Introductory Adventures for Wilderness Ventures youngest students to adventures that focus on teen leadership, community service, international cultural immersion, foreign language and cycling adventures.

In 2013, Wilderness Ventures has added a few trips with unique features. Young women can enjoy new all-girls teen adventure camps in California, Puget Sound and Jackson Hole. Wilderness Ventures has also added several bicycling tours where students can explore the back roads of some of the most spectacular regions in the United States and abroad.

The new Coast to Coast bicycling adventure will also be offered with a ride-for-charity option in 2013. Wilderness Ventures is also expanding their territory by offering service trips in Thailand, Tanzania and the Dominican Republic. To top off the new offerings, there will be language school trips for students between 7th and 12th grade interested in mastering their Spanish or French skills.

A complete list of Wilderness Ventures new 2013 offerings:

· California Explorer – All Girls Trip Introductory Adventure

· Puget Sound – All Girls Trip

· Jackson Hole – All Girls Trip

· Yellowstone Teton Horsepack Leadership Adventure

· Montana Fly Fishing Leadership Adventure

· Montana Wyoming Leadership Adventure

· Rocky Mountain Leadership Adventure

· Hawaiian Islands Leadership Adventure

· New England Leadership Adventure

· Pittsburgh to DC Biking Adventure

· Vermont Biking Adventure

· Great Divide Mountain Biking Adventure

· Montana Biking Adventure

· Nova Scotia Acadia Biking Adventure

· Coast to Coast Biking Adventure

· Kilimanjaro

· Thailand Service Adventure

· Tanzania Service Adventure

· Dominican Republic Service Adventure

· Amsterdam to Paris Biking Adventure

· Paris to Rome Biking Adventure

· Spain Language Beginner

· Spain Language Advanced

· French Language Beginner

· French Language Beginner

Visit Wilderness Ventures  for a complete fact sheet and online videos, as well as up to date story ideas and press trip opportunities. For more information on Wilderness Ventures, please contact Hailey McDonald at hailey@adventuremedianews.com or visit www.wildernessventures.com

About Wilderness Adventures:

With more than 21,000 student alumni, Wilderness Ventures has pioneered outdoor adventures for young adults and has paved the way for youth travel around the world. Their 40 years of experience, unwavering values of community, inter-personal growth, wholesome environments, safety, wilderness education, discovery, conservation, and exploration have led to their unmatched and trusted reputation. Wilderness Ventures currently holds special permits to operate their teen adventure camps in 20 National Parks and 17 designated wilderness areas with special permits.

Opening on December 15th 2012, Rubondo Island Camp will be the only camp on Rubondo Island in Lake Victoria, Tanzania. With an area of 456 km2 it is the largest Island National Park in Africa and has laid unexplored for decades.

With forest eco-systems increasingly scarce in equatorial Africa and across the world, Asilia is very proud to be able to work with Tanzania National Parks and other partners to develop Rubondo Island into a thriving and lasting conservation area – protecting wildlife and habitat, and contributing to the economic development of the region.

A short flight from the Serengeti National Park, the island is the epitome of peace and tranquility. The island has no human inhabitants and 80% is covered with a pristine sub-tropical forest. Elephant and giraffe are dwarfed by ancient trees, and wild chimpanzees inhabit the untouched forests. In the shadow lurk bushbuck and genet, and the elusive sitatunga hides in the papyrus swamps. Crocodile lie in wait along the shores and hippo crash through the shallows.

Nile Perch in excess of 100 kilograms call these waters home, and over 200 bird species thrive in this rich natural habitat. This is virgin paradise, uninhabited for decades.

This is where the wild things are, and we are the only guests here.

A unique forest and lake experience of walking, boating, game drives, trekking through wild chimpanzee territory, gaining insight from the chimpanzee researchers, catch and release fishing, swimming, and simply relaxing awaits the discerning adventure traveller. The small and exclusive camp is being constructed using local materials to blend in with the island’s natural vegetation. The 8 luxury cottages will sit in the shade of the forest canopy just 60 metres from the lake shore. 3 spacious cottages will be ready for our ‘soft opening’ in December 2012 to stand alongside the 5 luxury tents under thatch. During the camp closure in April/May the tents will be replaced by larger cottages and the camp will be completely ready by June 2013.

Visit our blog www.rubondoislandcampproject.com for regular updates and photographs of the new camp.

Expert Africa are offering 3 nights at Rubondo Island Camp and 3 nights at Asilia’s sister property, Dunia Camp in the Serengeti, from £3,991 per person sharing.

Includes: international flights with Kenya Airways, all internal flights and transfers, most activities and drinks.

www.expertafrica.com  / 020 8232 9777

ABOUT ASILIA
Founded in 2004, Asilia has a strong presence in the main safari destinations in Tanzania and Kenya and aspires to grow its footprint and its positive impact and to be a leader in improving and expanding natural habitats. Currently, Asilia’s portfolio of camps includes: In Tanzania: Sayari Camp, Dunia Camp, Olakira Camp, Oliver’s Camp and Ubuntu Camp. On Zanzibar: Matemwe Lodge, Matemwe Retreat and Matemwe Beach House.
In Kenya: Rekero Camp and Naboisho Camp.

Bicycle safaris allow travelers to experience Africa’s vast grasslands, deserts, and wild game reserves from a unique perspective: the bike saddle.

BikeToursDirect now offers travelers bike safari options with multiple itineraries in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Namibia.

African safaris are increasingly moving from four wheels to two as bicycle safari tours grow in popularity.

Travelers can now experience the rich history, culture, and ecology of the continent alongside its natural wonders with BikeToursDirect’s expanded selection of guided bike safari itineraries in Namibia, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.

Stepping out from behind the barriers of traditional vehicle-based safaris gives travelers the opportunity to go beyond merely observing the wildlife and landscapes from a distance.

Cyclists travel inside the awe-inspiring scenery, enjoying a more sensory experience where the sights, smells, and sounds of the grasslands and wildlife are not inhibited by the boundaries of a jeep.

Namibian Desert Bike Safari

BikeToursDirect’s 15-day Namibia cycle safari is a unique way to experience both the world’s oldest desert and Africa’s famous big game animals.

Cyclists explore the spectacular dunes of Sossusvlei and the geological history revealed in Sesriem Canyon before visiting the Atlantic beach town of Swakopmund.
Guests observe big game like elephants, black rhinoceroses, zebra and big cats from the bike saddle and from the front door of the lodge in Namib Naukluft Park, the largest game reserve in Africa.

Cyclists also will view wildlife in several national parks and the Cheetah Conservation Fund, where farmers work together to maintain the largest cheetah population in Africa. Full details:

http://biketoursdirect.com/Namibia/namibian-desert-15-days.

Mountain Bike Safari through Kenya and Tanzania

This 16-day biking and camping journey through Kenya and Tanzania from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam varies from the chaos of African cities to the sudden sparseness of open savannah with wildlife grazing the plains.

Taking on once-in-a-lifetime mountain biking routes far from the traditional tourist scene, guests will experience Africa at eye level, viewing wildlife from the bike saddle, meeting Maasai tribesmen and camping in the wilderness.

Cyclists pass imposing Mt. Kilimanjaro, visit Amboseli National Park in Kenya and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.

The rain forests of the Usambara Mountains offer unforgettable mountain biking before ending at the tropical Indian Ocean coast.

Full details:

http://biketoursdirect.com/Kenya/mountain-biking-tour-kenya-tanzania

South African Bike Safari

This 11-day South African bike safari tour explores the sites, sounds, and tastes of the Cape peninsula.

Adventure activities include observing the “big five” in game preserves, tracking rhino on a guided hike, viewing ancient Bushman cave paintings, and kayaking the pristine Touws River.

More relaxing pursuits include beach time and whale spotting.

This deluxe cycle safari features five-star accommodations, gourmet food, vineyard visits and wine tastings.

Full details: http://biketoursdirect.com/South%20Africa/south-african-cycle-safari

About BikeToursDirect

BikeToursDirect serves as a central resource for bicycle tours around the world, representing 75 tour companies that offer more than 385 tours in more than 70 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas.

BikeToursDirect offers a variety of resources to help travelers search for and choose tours and handles the entire booking and payment process.

Learn more at www.biketoursdirect.com.