Africa Travel Newsletter - March 2009

CONTENTS: ** New Itineraries ** Festivals and Events in Africa ** Special Offers/Late Deals ** New Photographs ** Independent Travellers

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TRAVEL CENTRE

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 800 individual, varied itineraries - from budget to luxury, offered by many different tour operators throughout the African continent. Click to view the whole selection.

If you are considering visiting Africa during July/August September of 2009 then we recommend that you make a booking early in the year, as safari lodges get booked up early in the year during this peak season.

Here are some ideas to tempt you...

New Itineraries
	Kruger National Park Walking safari - South Africa 4 days: Get amongst the wildlife on this great walking safari in the world-renowned Kruger National Park. See if you can come face-to-face with the "Big 5" - at night, relax in our safari camp.
	Kruger National Park Lodge Safari - South Africa 5 days: Search for the elusive cheetah and leopard whilst and relax in the surroundings of our private lodge within the Greater Kruger National Park. Includes a day travelling through the Drakensberg Escarpment (Panoramic Route)
	The Okavango Delta Circle Camping Safari - Botswana 15 days: This adventure safari forms a circular route around the Okavango Delta. The Elephant Safari offers a great value camping adventure through three countries - Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.
	Botswana Highlights Camping Safari - Adventure 8 days: This adventure safari is perfect for those with limited time still wishing to visit the best wilderness areas in Botswana. We start in Maun and ends Livingstone, Victoria Falls, Zambia , giving you the chance to experience the falls at your leisure
	Cultural Discoveries of Ghana 9 days: This tour takes you on an amazing journey through the history of this wonderful country. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural traditions and daily lives of the many tribal communities
	Cultural Discoveries of the Upper West - Ghana 10 days: Discover natural beauty that is unspoilt on our Upper West tour of Ghana. Enjoy colourful festivals, traditional ceremonies and be embraced by the warmth of your new friends in Ghana.
	Cultural History Trek - Ghana 14 days: Experience Ghana's amazing cultural diversities on our 14 day Tribal Trek tour. Marvel at the acrobatic dancing and music of the Lobis, and enjoy the colourful splendour of festivals in the Ashanti Region
	Presidential Heritage Safari - Kenya 5 days: Enjoy a visit to President Obama heritage home in Kogelo and learn the geography and history of Western Kenya. Lake Victoria, Kisii and Masai Mara combine a joyous trip full of fun and learning.
	Southern Africa Extravaganza 25 days: This safari is limited to 12 people and designed to show you the very best South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe have to offer. Set departure 28 June 2009.
	Scheduled Tour: Southern Namibia 7 days: Experience Dune topography, abundance of game and birdlife, bushmen and nama cultures with a sundowner on Lake Oanab dam.
	Zanzibar - Tumbatu Island 6 days: Holiday in Zanzibar, with sunset cruise in the local sailing dhow, snorkelling/beach picnic/sunset cruise, Prison island visit and Spice tours
	Swahili Blue Nungwi Village North Coast Zanzibar 3 days: Visit the natural sea turtle aquarium to see the community project conserving the endangered turtles. and enjoy a sunset cruise on this short beach holiday
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Festivals and Events in Africa
Africa is the festival continent. Throughout the continent, colourful and vibrant festivals range from musical, religious, cultural and harvest to name just a few. Below are details of tours that include the opportunity for you to join in and experience the celebrations.
			Ethiopia Two major Festivals: Christmas and Timket 19 days: The best time to make a holiday to Ethiopia is on the date of its festivals. Book this special tour to attend the celebration of the two major festivals- Christmas in Lalibela and Timket in Addis Ababa. Trip Dates 1- 19 January 2010
			Historic Route Simien Mountains & Hidar Tsion Festival - Ethiopia 15 days: travel to the major historical and cultural tourist attractions to visit world heritage sites in Gondar, Lalibela, Axum, Harer & Simien Mountains with visit of Hidar Tsion Festival in Axum. Group Departures 23 November - 7 December 2009
			Historic Route Rift Valley Lakes & Meskel Festival - Ethiopia 13 days: explore Monasteries on Lake Tana Castle of Gondar Rock churches in Lalibela Stles of Axum Simien Mountain National Park Harer and attend Meskel Festival celebration in Addis Ababa. Trip Dates: From 14 – 26 September 2009.
			Omo Valley Bahir Dar Gonadr Axum & Christmas - Ethiopia 14 days: Travel to the North Great Historic Route Ethiopia and South Rift/ Omo Valley with a visit of the religious celebration of Ethiopian Christmas in Lalibela. Trip Date: 29 December 2009 - 11 January 2010
			MALI - Festival in the Desert 2010 15 days: Billed as the "most remote music festival in the world" the Festival is a three-day Afro-pop powwow held by the Tuareg, the traditionally nomadic "blue people" of the Sahara. It's a tribe often feared for the banditry of its rebels and respected for the fact that it has never really been conquered, the itinerary also includes more well-known Mali attractions such as Dogon country, Djenne, and Timbuctu.
			Ghana : Cultural History of the Ashantis, Festivals 7 days: Join paramount, divisional and sub chiefs to pay homage to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the powerful Asanteman Kingdom during the colourful spectacular that is the Akwasidee festival. The festival is celebrated every 42 days (every sixth Sunday) and gives us an insight into the rich culture of the Asanteman Kingdom
			Marrakech Popular Art Festival and Tour - Morocco 10 days: July 11-15, 2009. For five days now, the bustling city of Marrakech manages to cram in even more popular sights and sounds than it boasts already during the Marrakech Popular Arts Festival. Customize your trip for 10 days including the number of days that you would like to join the Festival in addition to exploring the rest of Morocco according to your interest
			Essaouira Gnawa Festival & Tour - Morocco 10 days: June 25 - 28, 2009: Gnawa Music Festival is a celebration of the mysterious music of the Gnawas, the product of a mystic tradition with branches as widespread as Haitian voodoo and Brazilian Candomblé. (Private Tour)
			Moroccan Sacred Music Festival & Tour 10 days: May 29 - June 06, 2009: Artists from around the world flock to Morocco's spiritual capital during the annual Fez Sacred Music Festival. The event features performances in a variety of styles, ranging from local Sufi chants to haunting gypsy songs from Spain - a romantic setting for a fine selection of devotional music.
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Special Offers / Late Deals Special Offers are added to the travel center on a regular basis so keep checking for one that appeals to you... Click to browse through all itineraries that are currently on Special Offer
PHOTOGRAPHS OF AFRICA We would like to thank Apollo Abungu,    and Paul Smith who have recently joined up and contributed their stunning photos to the Library. Plus we would like to also thank the photographers who have added more photos to their existing libraries. If you have visited Africa and you have taken photos that you would like to share with other travellers or friends and family, join up for free and create your own African Photo Library. You will be provided with a unique URL for use as a link to all your photos whether they have been selected for general display or not. You can send the link onto your friends and family and they can view your photos. Click to join up Click to browse through and add your own photos to our African Photo Library
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. Please visit our Africa Countries Index and select the country you are interested in .
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    Back up to Newsletter Index