Africa Travel Newsletter - January 2007

We wish all our Subscribers, our partners in travel and our friends in Africa and around the world
a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful 2007.
 

TRAVEL CENTRE

With the festive season behind us - many of you will now be planning your annual holidays. With this in mind we have decided to dedicate this month's Newsletter to our Travel Center.

If you are considering visiting Africa during July/August September of 2007 then we recommend that you book early, as safari lodges get booked up early in the year during this peak season, particularly in East Africa.

If Africa is your chosen destination for this year's 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 600 individual itineraries - from budget to sheer luxury, offered by many different tour operators throughout the African continent. Click to view the whole selection.

Here are some ideas to tempt you...

Newly added itineraries We have had many new itineraries for 2007 added to our Travel Center recently, some of them of detailed below:
		Cape Town and Kruger National Park - South Africa 10 Days: South Africa’s 2 biggest attractions are Kruger Park and Cape Town, so why not experience both in one personally tailored tour - just you and your travel companions.
		Special Exploratory Tour to Botswana and Namibia 13 Days: This is an “experimental” tour which we are offering at a very reduced rate . The tour will begin in Johannesburg and head north into Botswana, visiting the Great Pans and Chobe before heading further on to Namibia exploring the wildlife, scenery & culture, ending in Windhoek
		Short Stay Botswana Safaris Summer Specials - Botswana 5 Days: Not got a 4x4! No problem! Fully guided private mobile safaris, in our bush vehicles to central Botswana. Short stay summer specials for southern African residents. Option of camping or lodges
		Chimps & the Big Four - Uganda 6 Days: Anxious to meet our close relatives in a dense tropical forest? Come and enjoy the cool heights of Fort Portal, then descend to the enchantment of Queen Elizabeth NP and look out for the Big Four! This safari takes you to the most beautiful national parks in Uganda. A pleasant combination of the dense forest of Kibale National Park, the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the clear lakes in Lake Mburo National Park.
		Luxury Gorilla Safari - Uganda 10 Days: An unforgettable meeting with the mountain gorillas in Africa. Start your safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park and go in search of the tree climbing lions. Then prepare for a challenging gorilla trekking in Bwindi and enjoy another trekking for the neighbours in Rwanda. The safari ends in the vibrant capital city of Rwanda.
		Cultural Tour Uganda - Uganda 11 Days: This cultural tour gives you the chance to explore the real Africa and learn about the fascinating culture of the tribes in Uganda. Besides an introduction with the capital you will visit the Source of the Nile and the fabled Mountains of the Moon. The highlight of your tour will be found at Nshenyi Village, a true immersion in the Ugandan culture!
		Primate Safari Uganda - Uganda 12 Days: This safari takes you to the homes of the primates in Uganda. From a chimp sanctuary you will go straight to a meeting with the mountain gorillas followed by some relaxing on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi. Spend a full day in Queen Elizabeth National Park for excellent game viewing and trek the chimpanzees in their natural habitat in Kibale Forest.
		Overland from Namibia to Kenya 40 Days: Great small group overland tour combining all the best features of overlanding without the large groups. Highlights include: Fish River Canyon, Sesriem Canyon and Dunes at Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Cheetah Farm, Game Drives in Etosha National Park, Windhoek, San Village cultural tour in Ghanzi, Okavango Delta & Mokoro Trip, Chobe, Victoria Falls, Zambezi Sunset Cruise, South Luangwa or Kariba, Lake Malawi, Kande Beach, Dar es Salaam, Ferry, Zanzibar, Arusha, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, Nairobi
		Victoria Falls - Zambia to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 11 Days: nice short small-group overland tour up the East Coast of Africa. Included highlights - Victoria Falls, South Luangwa Nat. Park or Kariba, Lake Malawi, Kande Beach, Dar es Salaam. This tour can be done in reverse
		Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to Nairobi, Kenya 11 Days: Nice small, group overland tour for people short on time but wanting to combine a safari with beach and relaxation activities. Included highlights - Dar es Salaam, Ferry, Zanzibar Island, Masai museum and Snake park, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, Nairobi . This trip runs in reverse as well
		Overland Kruger National Park to Nairobi 28 Days: A perfect mid-length overland tour but designed for small groups encompassing all the best Africa has to offer - from game parks, to adventure activities, to lazing in sun on Zanzibar Island. Included highlights - Drakensberg Escarpment, Shangaan Culture Village, Kruger Park Entry Fees, Kruger Park Game Drives, Makgadikgadi Pans, Chobe, Victoria Falls, Zambezi Sunset Cruise, South Luangwa or Kariba, Lake Malawi, Kande Beach, Dar es Salaam, Ferry, Zanzibar, Arusha, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, Nairobi
		Budget Safari Trail & Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe 10 Days: Zimbabwe is unique amongst Southern African countries in allowing walking safaris, guided by highly skilled guides. The excitement of big game combined with the magnificent Victoria Falls.
		Camping Safari & Victoria Falls - Semi Luxury - Zimbabwe 10 Days: A great mobile tented safari exploring the remote areas of Hwange National Park by vehicle and foot. Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species recorded. The safari is followed by an exciting duration in Victoria Falls where you can participate in a wide range of activities.
		Best of East Africa - Kenya/Tanzania 10 days: Camping Safaris - East African wildlife spectacular peppered with culture and breath taking scenery. Highlights include: Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater . Starts and ends in Nairobi
Most popular destinations for 2006 Below were the top African destinations for 2006. We expect that 2007 is going to be even more popular, so start planning now....   South Africa Safaris Such diversity... experience the landscapes, lifestyles, cultures, wildlife and adventure of South Africa. Climb Table Mountain and admire the views of Cape Town, visit world reknown Kruger National Park, Scuba Dive at South Africa's best dive sites. All options available: luxury, lodges, private, budget, participation camping, hotels.   Kenya Safaris Famous for its birdlife in the lakes in the Rift Valley, it's wildlife viewing opportunities, and as a beach destination, Kenya is a top choice for a combination safari and beach holiday. We have a full selection of itineraries including budget camping safaris, luxury lodge safari, fly in safaris and for the more active Climbing Mt Kenya.   Tanzania Safaris Explore the Serengeti & Ngorongoro and Southern Tanzanian game parks. Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, fitness and physical levels vary from an easy trek to hanging off a cliff face by your fingertips, yikes!!. and then relax on the tropical beaches of Zanzibar Browse through Zanzibar Beach Holidays Spice tours, Historical Stone Town tour, Prison Island tour and leisure time on the white sandy beaches.   Egypt Tours Enjoy the historical sights of Cairo, Luxor and Aswan; Pyramids, Sphinx, Karnak, Luxor temples, Valley of Kings & Queens, experience a Nile Cruise. Scuba Dive, snorkel and end your holiday relaxing by the Red Sea. Many Egypt tours available specifically for wheelchair users.   Madagascar Holidays Discover the beautiful exotic Island Madagascar with its unique nature and culture. A full range of itineraries that include seeing the Lemurs (the only place in the whole to see them in the wild), canoe down the rivers, hike through the rain forest and relax on the beaches     Morocco Tours Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of the Imperial Cities. Discover the abundant imprints left by ancient civilizations. Discover the old mystical Berber villages and loose yourself in fascination with each Kasbah. Mountain bike though the Atlas Mountains or join in on one of the annual festivals     Overland Participation Camping Safaris Overland trips are aimed at the adventure traveller and they were popular last year. Africa is a huge continent and so diverse in its scenery, culture, history, climate, wildlife - an overland trip is an affordable way to travel through the different countries, experiencing the highlights a country or region has to offer. They are ideal for GAP year students and those on a tight budget with plenty of time.   Family Safaris for School Holidays  Family Safaris Child friendly family safaris - specifically designed with flexibility and activities to keep younger family members interested and happy. Introduce your family to a real safari adventure with people that know what a family needs on holiday, no stress, no fuss. These itineraries are perfect for school holidays - but do get booked up early, so start making enquiries now!! Special Offers / Late Deals 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

TRAVELLING AFRICA INDEPENDENTLY

Although this Newsletter is mainly dedicated to what's in our travel center - the Africa Guide has so much useful information for travellers who wish to see Africa independently. Before embarking on a trip to Africa, research is key to getting the most out of your experience, there are very few websites that cover the whole of Africa with up-to-date, useful and comprehensive information. For those of you who wish to travel independently, The Africa Guide website has the following sections that will prove to be invaluable for making your plans.

Country Information
Extensive travellers information about each country in Africa - including, climate, money and visas plus information about regions, towns and game parks, photographs and more...

Hotels & Accommodation
In association with an established hotel reservation companies we bring you an on-line booking service for hotels and accommodation throughout Africa. We now have over 500 hotels that you can book on-line - you can find more information about the hotel, as well as check availability and make an on-line reservation via their secure server.

Car Hire
Have the freedom of getting around without having to rely on local transport - rent a vehicle for your holiday. A selection of vehicles for hire/rental including Saloons, 4WD and Mini Buses at very competitive prices throughout the African continent.

Visas & Embassies
We have provided details of the various African Tourist Offices and/or embassies located around the world. These offices will be able to provide you with further tourist information as well as help and advise on applying for visas.

Travel Insurance
Travelling to Africa ? don't go without it! We have a selected several companies offering comprehensive cover at very competitive pricing, catering for travellers from USA, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand

Travelogues
Travelogues are the diaries of people travelling in a variety of different ways in or through various countries. If you are considering travelling in Africa this will be a great place to find out how other people do it and their experiences along the way.

Maps & Atlases
A full range of Road Maps, General Maps, Individual Country Maps, Specialist Maps and Wall Maps, extremely useful and not easy to find in high street shops.

Travel Books
It's always useful to have a travel guide to help show you the way.... we have carefully selected relevant books for each country in Africa. These can be found in each individual country section and our main book shop.

Forum Boards
Have a question but can't find the answer?
Want to provide feedback for other visitors about your recent trip?
Feel free to post a message on our forum boards (no advertising please)

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 for 2007

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