Africa Travel Newsletter - June 2006

TRAVEL CENTRE

If Africa is your chosen destination for a holiday our Travel Center is the perfect place for you to have a browse through to get some ideas and make some enquiries. There is the choice of over 500 individual itineraries - from budget to sheer luxury, offered by many different tour operators throughout the African continent. Click to view the whole selection.

Newly added itineraries
		Libya Tour - Cradle of Civilization - Libya 15 days: Cross the Sahara from Ghadames to Ghat, giant dunes of the Ubari Sand Sea and the beautiful Sahara Lakes, Leptis Magna , Sabratha and and the capital Tripoli.
		Tanzania Southern Circuit and Zanzibar - Tanzania 14 days: This camping safari will take you through the southern Circuit of Tanzania, visiting Udzungwa, Ruaha and Mikumi National Parks and Selous Game Reserve, and ending off with relaxation on Zanzibar Island.
		Camping Safari in Selous Game Reserve - Tanzania 4 days:Selous Game Reserve boasts Tanzania's largest population of elephant as well as large numbers of herds of buffalo, hippo, crocodile, wild dog, a variety of 440 species of birds, over 2000 variety of plants, hot volcanic springs, lagoons, the great Rufiji River and the diverse landscape makes Selous Game Reserve a World Heritage site. This safari in Selous Game Reserve which highlights Game drives, walking safari, village visit and River boat safaris.
		Family Safari to Sadaani, Mikumi and Selous Game Reserve - Tanzania 8 days: This is a comfortable family safari that combines cultural, game viewing and active safari to Kisampa Conservation Area (Saadani) & Mikumi Nat. Parks and Selous Game Reserve. Attention is given to providing additional activities that will keep the children entertained whilst on safari
		Ruaha/Mikumi Nat Parks and the Mufindi Highland - Tanzania 7 days: A Lodge safari with a variety of activities in Ruaha, Mikumi and Mufindi Highlands this is a must if you enjoy game drives, horse riding, trout fishing, cultural tours, mountain bikes and visits to tea estates
		Luxury Adventure Mobile Safari - Southern Circuit - Tanzania 13 days: Relive the nostalgia of the epic safaris of a bygone era. This safari assures you total exclusivity, the warmth of African hospitality and adventure in the last true African wilderness. Visiting Selous Game Reserve, Mikumi N.P. and Udzungwa Mountain National Park
		Selous Game Reserve Wildlife Walking Safari - Tanzania 4 days: Selous is the largest game reserve in Africa covering an area the size of Switzerland, Selous is possibly Africa's last great wilderness. Despite its size, however, this UNESCO World Heritage site has only a handful of high-end safari camps, allowing it to maintain a low-impact exclusivity that is granted by few parks elsewhere. Opportunities for foot safaris and game walks and boating explorations along the Rufiji River
		Kruger National Park - Walk on the Wildside Weekend - South Africa 4 days: A Big 5 walking safari - a journey into the heart of enthralling wildlife experiences and adventure delivered by the very best in service standards and interpretation. Three nights, under canvas in a non-fenced tented camp deep in the bush in the Greater Kruger National Park (private game reserve) where you will walk among the Big 5!
		Kenya under Canopy - Kenya 7 days: This itinerary takes you to the Aberdares, Samburu NR, Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru NP. Visit the famous Tree hotels located in Kenya's Aberdares combined with Rift Valley, North and Masai Mara. Game, wildlife, scenery, birds, culture, tribe...amazing experience
		Masai Mara Camping Safari - Kenya 3 days: Kenya's most popular park bordering Serengeti, Tanzania. Enjoy the host of annual wildebeest & zebra migration during July-October. Great concentration of wildlife found here, as well as stunning scenery and chance to see Kenya tribes and their culture
		Amboseli Camping Safari - Kenya 3 days: In Amboseli National Park you can view the snows of Kilimanjaro, it is the most scenic parks in Kenya, boasting of various wildlife species and over 200 species of birds.
		Lodge Safari - Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Lake Manyara - Tanzania 6 days: Best of the northern circuit with great opportunities to view the BIG 5, travel through the ‘endless plains’ of the Serengeti, and see the famous tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara. This safari can start in Nairobi or Arusha.
		Ethiopia; Axum, Lalibela, Gondar, Bahir Dar - Ethiopia 14 days: This is the most popular route for those visiting Ethiopia - the ‘Cradle of Mankind’. See a range of fabulous constructions, such as castles, obelisks & the incredible, rock-hewn churches of Lalibela.
		Discover the Great Rift Valley & Parks of Ethiopia - Ethiopia 10 days: Experience the great rift valley lakes inhabited with abundance of wildlife. In addition, enjoy the rich diversity of nature (endemic flora, fauna, mammals, bird species) in those national parks).
		Ethiopia - the living museum! - Ethiopia 15 days: This itinerary covers the best of Ethiopia: first, you’ll get to grips with the famed ‘historical route’ and the richest cultural heritage south of the Sahara.
Cycling in Africa Cycling can be a very rewarding way of travelling, you get to see and experience the scenery/wildlife/people first hand at your own pace and in Africa you never know what you might come across. Equipment is supplied for you, just bring your sense of adventure.
		Kitulo Mountain: A Mixture of Hiking and Biking - Tanzania 4 days: Known locally as Bustani ya Mungu (God's Garden) and elsewhere as the Serengeti of Flowers, the Kitulo Plateau is unique. Comprising 273 km2 of Afromontane and Afroalpine grassland, the plateau has long been heralded as a botanists' paradise, containing great numbers of endemic flowering plants, including terrestrial orchids. A hikers and Mountain bikers paradise all our activities in this area are eco-friendly.
		Cycle trip round Dar es Salaam - Tanzania 1 day: concentrates on the poorest areas of Dar es Salaam which one will never see on their way around Dar es Salaam through the big busy highways. It is a fairly relaxed cycle through Mwenge, Mwananyamala, Kinondoni, Manzese, Kigogo and finished off with a drink and a taste of local cuisine at Club Afri Centre, a local bar in Ilala. We will organize a traditional dance group from the area on request.
		Ruaha National Park Cultural and Biking Safari - Tanzania 4 days: The Ruaha protects a wide variety of habitats including evergreen forest and swamp and contains the largest elephant population of Tanzania. This itinerary gives you the opportunity to visit FEMA, an organisation of women formed between to town Feheirm in Germany and Matamba Village combined with biking to Ruaha Camp, Game viewing and walking safari.
		Biking in Udzungwa Mountains Forest National Park - Tanzania 3 days: bike through Udzungwa Mountains and cool off in Sanje waterfall. The Udzungwa Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, the arc which begins in Taita Hills in Kenya, and in Tanzania runs through the North and South, the East and West Usambara, and the Nguu, Nguru, Ukaguru, Rubeho and Uluguru mountains and Udzungwa. The Udzungwa mountains are situation between the towns of Morogoro and Iringa.
There are several more options of Cycling trips in Africa - click to view all

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Special Offers / Late Deals Some of the new Special Offers and late deals include:
	Kruger National Park Adventure - Winter Special - South Africa SPECIAL OFFER : Fixed Departure date 21 July to 3 August. - reduced from R22,500 to only R18,000 per person sharing based on 2 persons 14 Day: Spend early mornings tracking wildlife in our open safari game viewing vehicle with perfect photographic opportunities. Then back for a hearty breakfast and a nap before lunch followed by more game viewing in the late afternoon. Watch the sun go down with the obligatory gin and tonic around a roaring bush fire complete with good food and wine courtesy of your own personal chef.
	Kruger safari - South Africa SPECIAL OFFER : Fixed Departure date August 19 - 25th 2006- reduced from R12 250.00 to only R9 500.00 per person sharing 6 Day: This is a fantastic trip -- the accommodation is really luxurious. Your first two nights at Shimuwini Private Bushveld Lodge, where you will stay in an en suite luxury cottage (private). The accommodation is wonderful with ceiling fans under thatch, and on the banks of the Letaba River where plenty of hippos, crocodiles and elephants come down to drink.
	Botswana Mobile Safari - Botswana SPECIAL OFFER : Fixed Departure date starting 18 June to 2 July ending Kasane. This safari is reduced from Euro 1995 to Euro 1610 per person 15 Days: This semi-participation mobile safari takes clients to the best of Botswana's national parks and game reserves, incl Moremi, Chobe and Okavango Delta.
	7-day Kruger Family/Small Group safari - South Africa SPECIAL OFFER : Fixed Departure date 1 to 7 November 2006 : 20% discount 7 Days: A privately guided safari itinerary in the Kruger National Park - complete with 5-star service in nature guiding (ranger) and cooking (chef) in the small private bushveld guest lodges. This is a small group private safari (no more than 8 people) and is ideal for a small group or family.
	Kruger Lodge Safari - South Africa SPECIAL OFFER : Fixed Departure date 18 to 24 November 06: 15% discount 7 Days: This safari is perfect for four couples or a large family of 8. Your guide is one of the most qualified guides in the Kruger, and will provide interpretations and reflections on wildlife behaviour and ecology -- a once-in-a-lifetime experience of African wildlife while on safari in the world-famous Kruger in South Africa. We will host you, cook for you and of course conduct game drives in our own luxury open game-viewing vehicle.
	Mobile Safari, Botswana and Zambia - Botswana/Zambia SPECIAL OFFER : Fixed Departure date 20 July to 5 August 2006. This safari is reduced from Euro 2250 to Euro 2150 per person 15 Days: This semi-participation mobile safari covers some of the best national Parks in Botswana and Zambia incl Moremi, Chobe, Kafue and Victoria Falls.
	Baobabs and National Parks - Madagascar SPECIAL OFFER : Normally 1150 Euros per person - discounted to 650 Euros per persons for scheduled Departure date departing 6th July 2006 18 Days: We go to Perinet to observe the the Indri. We will see more lemurs in Kirindy and in the Isalo Park. And we will not miss the famous Baobab alley. We will have great seafood in Morondava in Ifaty.
	The Culture of the Menabe region - Madagascar SPECIAL OFFER : Normally 2250 (+)Euros per person - discounted to 1800 Euros per persons for scheduled Departure date 25th September 2006 10 Days: We get to know the Tsiribihina River and we visit the Tsingy de Bemaraha. We will look for lemurs in the private Kirindy reserve. We finish at the fabulous Baobab-alley near Morondava.
	Adventure on a forgotten island - Madagascar SPECIAL OFFER : Normally 2950 Euros per person - discounted to 1770 Euros per persons for scheduled departure dates of 11th September 27 days: We go to less common parks and places. We stay more in tent as usual. We take the train to Manakara on the East coast and get to know the West by a pirogue (canoe) tour on the Tsiribihina River.
Click to browse through all itineraries that are currently on Special Offer

We can't add all the itineraries to this Newsletter - if none of the above appeal then I am sure you will find one that suits you in our Africa Travel Center where you can search by country, price, number of days, activities and national parks.

and if you can not find an itinerary that suits your specific requirements and there are 2 or more of you travelling we would be happy to assist you in designing your own itinerary. Please complete our Customised Request Form

For travellers who wish to make their way round Africa independently of tour operators and guides, the Africa Guide has comprehensive Travel information about each Africa country. Please visit our Africa Countries Index and select the country you are interested in

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NEW MUSIC

	Gold and Wax      (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - UK - by Gigi Gold & Wax, Ejigayehu "Gigi" Shibawbaw has again proven her ability to seamlessly work the songs of her Ethiopian ancestry into a contemporary vocal sound befitting the worlds of jazz, electronica and even dub-inspired African rhythms.
	Rogamar      (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - UK - by Cesaria Evora Nice mix of Cape Verdian music, Brazilian carnaval and some French traditional raconteur music.
	Lamp Fall      (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - UK - by Cheikh Lô Lo takes a foundation of Mbalax--an uptempo Senegalese style that mixes pop, African and Caribbean styles together in varying degrees--and adds even more.
	Sigil      (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - UK - by Nuru Kane Kane's sound reflects an age-old connection between various Arabic cultures and those of West Africa, as Islam found its way below the Sahara even as black slaves were being driven North.
	Embalasasa      (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - UK - by Samite interweaves many subjects dear to Samite — native African fables and their morals, musings on the journey of life, of the experience of grief, of childhood, and of nature.
	Take One      (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - UK - by Hallelujah Chicken Run Band Thomas Mapfumo is Zimbabwe’s biggest star,; this compilation presents 18 of the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band’s biggest and most influential hits, recorded from 1974-1979 and all painstakingly remastered.
	African Soul: The Very Best of Manu Dibango      (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - UK - by Manu Dibango This retrospective of the legendary Cameroon saxophonist Manu Dibango includes 10 prime examples of his eclectic style, including his internationally successful hit, "Soul Makossa," the percolating percussion and layered brass of "Africadelic," and the '80s disco of "Sun Explosion."
	Lobi Traoré Group      (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - UK - by Lobi Traoré This retrospective of the lege Guitarist Lobi Traoré plays deep blues from his homeland in Mali, east of that other River of Song -- the Niger.
	South Africa: Soweto Calling      (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - UK - by Various Artists New release - compilation of music from Soweto
	Rai - North African Essentials      (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - UK - by Various Artists A collection of North African vibes from Rachid Taha, Cheb Bilal, Khaled, Souad Massi, Faudel, & more.

We hope you have enjoyed this Newsletter. Please let you family, friends and colleagues who are thinking of visiting Africa know about The Africa Guide where they will be able to find all the information they need to plan their travels.

Happy Travels