Travel Bulletin Southern & East Africa Supplement 2015

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February 2015

Your one-stop guide to all the latest news and developments in Southern & East Africa

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All About

SOUTHERN & EAST

AFRICA CONTENTS

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t’s no wonder Africa is one of the world’s top holiday destinations. As this year’s colourful supplement demonstrates, Africa is brimming with iconic sights to see.

Home of the big-five, the rare mountain gorilla, Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta and the Garden Route to name just a few, the list of Africa’s attractions can hold its own against even the stiffest of competition. And I haven’t even mentioned the hundreds of miles of idyllic Indian Ocean beaches that fringe the continent’s east coast.

You can sell Africa with confidence as not only are the lodges and hotels of a high standard, the quality of the guiding in the wildlife reserves is superb. The classic safari destinations of Botswana, South Africa and Tanzania continue to attract travellers, with Kenya’s Masai Mara and its many diverse game reserves still in the frame, despite the country’s current challenges. New lodges in Tanzania and the growing recognition of the game-rich Selous, with its easy access to Zanzibar, partly account for significant growth in interest here.

Demand is growing for walking and canoe safaris in Zambia, selfdrive trips through the vast deserts of Namibia and South Africa’s scenic KwaZulu Natal, as well as cultural experiences such as Ethiopia’s Timket festival and Swaziland’s annual Reed Dance.

Madagascar with its adorable lemurs often appeals to customers looking for an adventurous second or third trip to Africa.

The huge choice of destinations and accommodation in Africa means there is something for everyone. There is nothing quite as romantic as a safari honeymoon followed by a secluded beach escape, but at the same time, family-friendly hotels and the array of outdoor activities mean customers with teenagers are also spoilt for choice. Golf, wildflower and cultural tours are top quality and wheelchair accessible safaris have opened up more customer opportunities in both Southern and East Africa.

The advantageous sterling to rand exchange rate continues to encourage travel to both South Africa and Namibia, and there has been a increase in two and three-centre holidays. A safari and beach combination has long been an Africa staple, and now visitors are adding the Victoria Falls to a South Africa and Mauritius holiday, or visiting Zanzibar’s lesser-known Pemba and Mafia islands after an East Africa safari. Popular with honeymooners, the beaches of Mozambique and the Seychelles are also back on customers’ radar.

There has never been a better time to encourage your customers to visit this sunny continent as this supplement shows.

Claire Farley, founder, 2by2 Holidays

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What’s new - 4

Hotel hotline - 8

Safari - 10

Weddings and honeymoons - 14

Rwanda - 17

Culture - 19

Best of the rest - 21

Holidays for less than - 22

Published by

Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX Tel: 020-7834 6661 Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe Written and researched by: Angela Cronin Email: angelacronin2003@yahoo.co.uk Design/Layout: Thomas Davies, Lee Telot Printed by: Buxton Press - Cover Picture: shutterstock - ISSN: 0956-2419

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whats new

The right rate of success Southern and East Africa is gearing up for a busy 2015 as favourable exchange rates look set to make some of the destinations great value for money this year

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OUNTRIES IN Southern and East Africa have had their fair share of ups and downs over the last year or so.

“Ebola has been the biggest negative news, of course,“ says 2by2 Holidays founder Claire Farley, “even though London is closer to Sierra Leone than either Kenya or South Africa.“ However, while the outbreak of the ebola virus has dominated the news headlines in the UK, Farley says there is a lot to be positive about.

“The weakness of the rand has made both South Africa and Namibia incredibly good-value-for-money destinations at present, especially as both these countries are ideal for self-driving,“ she adds.

Cox and Kings has also seen strong demand for South Africa and Namibia, which its spokesperson Katie Cosstick puts down to the favourable exchange rate, and a 100% growth in private travel to Botswana last year.

People are exploring further afield too, says Farley. “Places such as Madagascar are increasingly popular, and twinning a beach holiday with something more unusual such as a few days of an activity

Cox and Kings has added a new Safari, Ocean and Cape tour which features a stay in Cape Town

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holiday in Reunion with a relaxing break in Mauritius afterwards is in demand.

“Overland tours are also growing in popularity, particularly with middle-aged people,” adds Farley.

“The tours involve driving in rugged 4x4 adventure trucks by day and sleeping in rest camps or dome tents in the evening. This is a very affordable way of doing gorilla tracking, for example, which is usually very expensive.”

So, here is a round-up of some of the biggest news coming out of the region for 2015.

New opportunities for Victoria Falls A new international airport is poised to open at Victoria Falls in April that will have the capacity to welcome the Airbus A380.

The new airport and runway will mean that there is scope for the number of domestic and international visitors to the attraction triple to 500,000 and 1.2 million respectively.

Tourism officials are hopeful that the new airport will mean that Victoria Falls will no longer be just a one-stop tourist destination but a start-off point for travel

to the region.

Cox and Kings spokeswoman Katie Cosstick welcomes the new opening, saying: “This new airport will really help tourism to Zimbabwe and comes on the back of the introduction of the combined Zimbabwe/Zambia visa which was introduced in November.”

The new univisa, also known as the Kaza visa means, visitors can purchase just one visa which will allow them multiple entry into both Zimbabwe and Zambia for a period of 30 days. It also covers day trips to Botswana at a cost of $50.

Robin Pope Safaris has welcomed the new visa as “it will save time and money”. The specialist has the 10-room Stanley Safari Lodge in Zambia, just two miles from Victoria Falls. The lodge which borders the Mosi-ao-Tunya National Park costs from just £252 per person per night and includes full board, airport transfers, a guided tour of the Victoria Falls and a village and museum tour. robinpopesafaris.net On the up Cox and Kings has introduced a range of

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whats new Wildlife Worldwide’s 10-day Marsh Lions Revisited tour heads back to the Masai Mara to visit the pride of Lions that inspired the March Lions book more than 30 years ago

new tour options to South Africa on the back of year-on-year increases in passenger numbers to South Africa.

The escorted tours specialist has added a number of new self-drive options including itineraries that depart from Johannesburg, a selection of small-group itineraries and suggestions for exploring lesser-visited parts of the country.

Pearls of the Limpopo is a new 11day/eight-night, self-drive itinerary to the northeastern part of South Africa, home to the mountainous Highveld and wildlife-rich Lowveld in the northern reaches of the Kruger National Park.

Prices start at £1,965 per person The new 13-day/10-night Safari, Ocean and Cape escorted tour takes in the highlights of the country including a safari in the Eastern Cape, the Garden Route along the coast to the Winelands and finishes with a three-night stay in Cape Town. This experience is priced at £3,495 per person Cox and Kings has also developed a collection of luxury-in-style suggestions to showcase the very best of each country featuring the most luxurious accommodation.

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These include the 11-day/eight-night Namibia in Style itinerary priced from £6,675 per person, the 13-day/10-night South Africa in Style itinerary from £7,995 per person and Kenya in Style from £4,975 per person for a 13-day/11night itinerary.

Botswana in Style is a 10-day/sevennight itinerary priced from £4,395 per person, incluging overnight stays in Belmond camps throughout. coxandkings.co.uk Walk on the wild side 2by2 Holidays has a tour for 2015 that is guaranteed to appeal to all of those amateur botanists in the UK. The 13-night Wildflowers and Gardens: Namaqualand and Cape Town journeys through the wildflowers of the Cape and Namaqualand in South Africa, which bloom once a year in August and September.

The tour will be guided by the horticulturalist and TV personality Keith Kirsten and will visit Kirstenbosch and other private gardens including Ida Raymondo and Harold Porter Botanical Gardens.

Visits to vineyards for wine tasting also feature along with the chance to go whale watching at Hermanus.

Prices lead in at £2,195 per person excluding flights, and the tour departs on 12 August 2015.

Also, another one-off tour for 2016 is the 12-night South Africa Golf Tour to Cape Town and the Garden Route.

Keen golfers will get the chance to play at some of South Africa’s finest championship courses in Cape Town, Stellenbosch and the Garden Route with sightseeing and wine-tasting included.

The maximum handicap for men is 30 and for women 36, with a full schedule of activities available for non-golfing partners.

Prices start at £1,995 per person excluding international flights and the departure date is 8 January 2016.

2by2holidays.co.uk It’s a Dream for Kenya Airways The national airline has introduced the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to its Heathrow to Nairobi service.

The aircraft, which replaces the B777200 on the route, has a capacity of 234 5

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whats new custom-made seats – 30 fully flat in Premier World and 204 in Economy – and it will fly into Kenya Airways’ new terminal at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.

The inaugural flight last month transported two rescued circus lionesses, sisters Maggie and Sonja, to begin their new life at the Born Free Big Cat rescue and Education Centre at Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa.

The lionesses were given a big send-off by singer, TV star and Born Free patron Peter Andre. kenya-airways.com In the picture A game reserve in the Northern Tuli region of Botswana has introduced a new custom-built C4 photo vehicle.

Mashatu Game Reserve is now offering its guests the chance to unleash their inner photographer in this vehicle which was built by the same wildlife photographers who carved out the worldfamous underground photo hides at

Mashatu. The vehicle is equipped with sliding gimble heads allowing for quick and well-supported photography in a 270 degree radius for each photographer.

There are waterproof bag storage compartments and two rows of seats in the back of the vehicle, one row for each photographer. The vehicle comes with a specialised photographic guide and a Mashatu field ranger. mashatu.com The learning curve Serena Hotels has introduced a number of new activities for guests staying in their lodges in Tanzania and Kenya.

These new activities include:

bicycle riding. Guests can also learn basket weaving and bead making from the Kibwezi Women group. ●

Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp in Kenya has introduced horse riding, bush barbecue lunches and dinner, sundowners and romantic lake-side breakfasts, while guests at Amboseli Serena Safari lodge is offering its guests the chance to learn more about Serena’s environment conservation lectures and plant a tree at Amboseli Serena Safari lodge. There's also the option to go on birding safaris, or ride camels with Mount Kilimanjaro as the back drop.

Other new activities include hyena talks at Mara Serena Safari lodge, wildlife movies at Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge or nature walks and Moorland hikes at Serena Mountain Lodge. serenahotels.com ●

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lessons from resident chefs on how to cook Tanzanian or Maasai dishes; lessons in how to speak Swahili; and lectures about Maasai culture, dances and bead making.

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Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge in Tsavo, Kenya has expanded its activities with new photography lessons, aerobics and

The big Blue Train The luxury train experience between Cape Town and Pretoria is offering agents the

exciting & exclusive adventures...

combine safari experiences with luxurious accommodation for the trip of a lifetime.

Botswana Tourism, 6 Stratford Place London, W1C 1AY +44 (0)207 647 1018 dwilson@botswanatourism.org.uk botswanatourism.org.uk

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whats new fame in BBC TV’s Big Cat Diary series.

The 10-day Marsh Lions Revisited trip will offer 16 guests the chance to observe big cats up close, as well as a variety of other animals.

The tour features four nights at Governors’ Private Camp, where Jackman and Scott will regale guests with their personal experiences and insights. There will be opportunities to enjoy the birdlife, improve photography skills under Scott’s guidance, and visit a traditional Masai manyatta (settlement).

The group will then transfer to Elephant Pepper Camp in the adjoining Mara North Conservancy for three nights to explore Leopard Gorge and the surrounding area.

Prices for the 10-day experience start at £6,495 per person based on two sharing, including seven nights’ full board in tented camp accommodation, return international flights, domestic flights, transfers, game drives, scheduled activities and guiding. The tour departs on 24 September this year. wildlifeworldwide.com TV star and Born Free patron Peter Andre attended the launch of Kenya Airways’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner service from Heathrow to Nairobi.Two rescued circus lionesses, sisters Maggie and Sonja, travelled on the new service to begin their new life at the Born Free Big Cat rescue and Education Centre at Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa

chance to earn shopping vouchers on bookings they make before 31 March.

Agents who book their clients in a suite on the iconic Blue Train can win £30 worth of shopping vouchers.

One voucher can be claimed per suite and any bookings made before the end of March must be forwarded on to Ethos Marketing by emailing the details to info@ethosmarketing.co.uk or calling 01403 243 619.

The luxury train operator has also put together a special offer for guests booking and travelling on the Blue Train before 31 March, which includes the choice of one free night on safari at Camp Jabulani, nestled within the Big Five Kapama Game Reserve in Limpopo or two free nights at the Blue Train’s partner hotels in Pretoria or Cape Town.

Should they opt for the safari, the free night includes a game drive and meals but excludes drinks and elephant-back safaris. If they choose instead to use the free nights in Cape Town and/or Pretoria they can opt to stay two consecutive nights at one property (excluding the Taj) or split them with one free night in each

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city before and after the journey.

Partner hotels include the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel and Castello Di Monte in Pretoria and The Westin and Taj in Cape Town and guests will be booked by The Blue Train as its special guests. bluetrain.co.za Pride in the name of love Wildlife Worldwide is offering wildlife enthusiasts the opportunity to take part in a one-off safari this September to Kenya’s Masai Mara led by wildlife author and journalist Brian Jackman, and Big Cat Diary presenter and photographer Jonathan Scott.

The journey will return to the location where the Marsh Lions were born. The pride became the subject of a bestselling book of the same name, written in 1982 by Jackman and Scott, who followed the lives of the Musiara lions for five years.

The lions they knew 33 years ago, which lived on an expanse of reed swamp, are long since gone. However the pride is still there, along with some of the leopards and cheetahs that achieved

Jump on the safari treadmill The safari lodge located in Kenya’s Lewa Wildlife Conservancy has jumped on the growing trend towards health and fitness holidays with the addition of a gym.

The new fitness suite consists of two spinning bikes, one treadmill, one rowing machine, one cross-trainer, one weight bench and weights ranging from 2lbs to 20lbs. The gym floor has mats, gym balls, and enough space to practise yoga or do a daily workout routine while overlooking Lewa valley. Guests can also enjoy running or walking with a Masaai guide among the wildlife. lewawilderness.com Find a sanctuary A brand new Sanctuary Signature Spa has opened at the five-star Queen Victoria Hotel, managed by Newmark Hotels, Reserves and Lodges, at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

The treatments for men and women offer a combination of ancient and modern techniques. The spa also offers personal training, gym facilities and a pool area.

The Sanctuary Signature Spa is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm. newmarkhotels.com 7

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hotel hotline

The new hangouts From tented suites that hang high above the Mara Triangle to the first-ever camp in the Hoanib River Valley, Southern and East Africa has a lot to shout about this year.

Safari specialist &Beyond’s property on Benguerra Island in Mozambique will reopen in April after undergoing a complete redesign.

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HEN IT comes to innovative, new accommodation, southern and east Africa is an exciting region to visit in 2015.

While there are a number of new safari lodges opening that will be focusing on ensuring their guests leave their digital lives behind when they check in – no wifi and no mobile signal – one new hotel will be pioneering the Indian Ocean approach to accommodation – the overwater villa.

The Chobe Water Villas will be opening this summer on the Namibian side of the Chobe River, which is a first for this destination.

While this lodge is likely to be the headline grabber this year, there are a number of new lodges that will form part of the 2015 story, so make sure you browse through our Hotel Hotline to find out all the latest.

South Africa The first private lodge in South Africa’s Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in northern KwaZulu Natal has opened.

Rhino River Safari Lodge has two family cottages, four double en-suite luxury tents and the homestead that can accommodate up to four guests.

One of the largest wildlife parks in South Africa, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park covers 96,000 hectares and was instrumental in pioneering the conservation of white rhinos in the 1950s and '60s and is widely credited with saving them from extinction.

The private game reserve is in a low-risk malaria area and its location makes it a perfect twin or triple-centre break with the 8

beach city of Durban and the Zululand battlefields.

How much? Prices start at £92 per person per night sharing.

To book: rhinoriverlodge.co.za

How much? Prices from £286 per person per night.

To book: kariega.co.za

Marataba Walking Trails A new lodge has opened in the malaria-free Marakele National Park, home to the big five, which aims to offer its guests a complete escape from modern-day life as it doesn’t have wifi or a reception for mobiles.

The Marataba Walking Trails Lodge values privacy and intimacy so only eight guests are allowed at the lodge a time.

The variety of terrain and vegetation provides four walking trails, varying in levels of difficulty but all offering great wildlife encounters.

How much? Prices start at £270 per person per night.

To book: marataba.co.za

Namibia A new luxury, boutique development consisting of 16 overwater villas, inspired by the high-end resorts in the Indian Ocean, is due to open on the banks of the Namibian side of the Chobe river in July.

With unobstructed views of Sedudu island, which is renowned for its high density of wildlife, the Chobe Water Villas will only be accessible by boat.

The region is famed for its wildlifeviewing opportunities, and the 16 overwater villas will be nestled under acacia trees and have a private terrace with a daybed for 180-degree views of the river and bush.

How much? Prices start at £278 for a double/twin water villa per person per night.

To book: chobewatervillas.com

Settlers Drift If you have clients who prioritise peace, quiet and exclusivity from their safari experience, then suggest they check into Settlers Drift Ninety minutes by road from Port Elizabeth, Settlers Drift opened in December in a remote section of the Kariega Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape.

The camp has just nine tented suites, each with their own private deck boasting views over Bushman’s River, and the chance to spot the big five in the grassy plains and the African bushveld from the comfort of your own suite.

Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp Wilderness seekers will be thrilled to hear about the new Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, the only camp in the Hoanib River Valley in northern Damaraland.

Located in a private concession area that straddles the Palmwag area and Skeleton Coast National Park, the camp maintains a highly exclusive and luxury feel as it is only accessible by light aircraft.

This classic camp consists of only seven twin-bedded tents and one family unit, each comprising en-suite bedrooms with shaded outdoors decks. Activities on the camp's agenda include forays into All About Southern & East Africa

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hotel hotline the Hoanib floodplains for water wildlife spotting or tracking desert-adapted elephant as well as spotting lions, giraffes and Hartmann’s mountain zebras.

How much? Expert Africa offers a 14-night self-drive trip exploring Namibia's key highlights with three nights at Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp costs from £2,240 per person on a mixed board basis but with all meals and activities and domestic flights included at Hoanib. International flights are extra.

To book: expertafrica.com; tel: 020 8232 9777 Botswana The Sandibe Safari Lodge has reopened amid towering palms on a private concession in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.

The lodge has been completely remodelled to feature a new modern design with sustainability firmly at the heart of the camp's ethos.

The lodge has 12 new suites elevated on wooden platforms, each with private plunge pools, overlooking the Santantadibe river, lagoons and floodplains.

How much? Expert Africa features the nine-day Kudu Safari, with three nights at Nxabega Safari Camp and three nights at Sandibe, from £3,681 per person including overnight flights from Heathrow, transfers, full board, most drinks and all safari activities.

To book: expertafrica.com; tel: 020 8232 9777 Zimbabwe A new safari camp is opening in a gamerich private concession in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park in May. Wilderness Linkwasha Camp will be

laying claim to being the most luxurious accommodation on offer in the area.

How much? Aardvark Safaris is offering four nights at Wilderness Linkwasha Camp from £1,465 per person, including meals, house drinks, safari activities and laundry.

To book: aardvarksafaris.co.uk; tel: 01980 849160 Kenya A new lodge created by a couple who spent 15 years at the helm of safari lodge specialist &Beyond is to open high above the Mara Triangle.

Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald will be launching the Angama Mara, a new property resting on the rim of the Oloololo Escarpment with breathtaking views expanding over the Maasai Mara’s acclaimed Mara Triangle Game Reserve, will open its doors in June.

The inspiration behind the property is the classic safari era and it will be formed of two completely separate camps, each with just 15 tented guest suites, floating 300 metres above the Mara. The camps have been designed by the architects behind the private island sancutary of North Island in Seychelles.

Each tented suite hangs on to the edge of the escarpment offering 180degree views from the 11-metre glass-fronted floor-to-ceiling windows.

Facilities in the camp include a fitness room, swimming pool and private massages.

Guests can also enjoy private game drives, animal trails led by Maasai guides, hot air balloon rides and manyatta visits in the surrounding areas.

How much? The launch rate starts at £499 per guest per night from 1-30

June. There is also an introductory offer of stay four nights, pay for three or stay seven nights, pay for five.

To book: angama.com Mozambique Safari specialist &Beyond’s property on Benguerra Island in Mozambique is reopening in April after undergoing a complete redesign.

With interiors that aim to reflect the natural beauty of the landscape through light island colours and traditional Mozambique style, the new look has done away with the Swahili Arabic style in favour of brighter and cleaner decor that aims to offer visitors warm, intimate and a distinctly African style.

How much? Expert Africa offers an eightday trip, with six nights at Benguerra Island Lodge, from £2,900 per person including overnight flights from London, all meals, most drinks, some activities, and all transfers.

To book: expertafrica.com; tel: 020 8232 9777 Uganda A new safari lodge has opened in Kibale in an ideal location for chimpanzee trekking, which Kibale is renowned for.

Situated on the banks of the Nyinabulitwa Crater Lake and a few minutes away from Kibale Forest National Park, Crater Safari Lodge has been described as one of the most environmentally sensitive lodges in Uganda.

Crater Safari Lodge comprises nine luxury, individually designed cottages that aim to make the most of the beautiful scenery around the Nyinabulitwa Crater Lake.

To book: naturallyafricacollection.co.uk

The Angama Mara property will have 15 tented guest suites that will "float" 300 metres above the Mara at this site

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safari

Multiple choice From classic safaris to Land Rover adventures, there’s more than one way to watch wildlife these days

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HERE IS no doubt that the outbreak of the deadly ebola virus in west Africa has had an impact on people’s perceptions of travel to the continent.

Abercrombie and Kent product manager Kay Durden said initially the outbreak did put people off from booking safari holidays: “Despite the fact that London is closer to the affected areas in west Africa than east Africa, some clients last year said that ‘Africa could wait’ until the ebola situation improves.

“However, this year we have seen that clients are gaining more confidence in again travelling to Africa, with southern Africa proving particularly popular.

Those that deferred their plans from last year are now returning to us to book,” she adds.

The weak rand is also helping to encourage bookings, says Durden.

“South Africa remains a popular destination, not just because it offers such diversity, but also excellent value when you get there. As the Namibian

dollar is common rated with the South African rand, we have seen an increase in business to Namibia, particularly for clients who have travelled to Africa before.”

So, there’s no time like the present to ensure you know has much as you can about the wide variety of safaris that are on offer during 2015.

Road trip Severin Travel Africa has a three-day safari package that takes guests on a road trip through Tsavo West National Park with the operator’s small private luxury Severin Safari Camp as the base for the three days.

With Mount Kilimanjaro as its backdrop, the small, intimate camp is located in the centre of the Kitani wildlife area, which is close to the Tsavo River.

All of its octagon tents are equipped with running hot and cold water, shower, separate toilet with bidet, comfortable beds with mosquito nets and a private terrace.

The four stonewalled junior suites have a separate lounge, a sun deck with sun beds and a private courtyard with outdoor shower. The look-out decks of the Kibo and Mawenzi Suites offer breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the expanse of the savannah.

And if that doesn’t feel like luxury, then the little added extra comes in the shape of your very own butler to bring dinner to you in your suite.

The itinerary on the first day includes lunch at the camp’s Out of Africa restaurant followed by an afternoon excursion to Mzima Springs to spot hippos, crocodiles and some rather exotic fish. An oasis of palm trees and acacias that is the main source of water to the town of Mombasa.

As the sun sets, its time for sundowners, dinner at the camp’s restaurant and some wildlife watching as you sit around the campfire.

Day two kicks off with an earlymorning game drive along the springs of the Tsavo River – the lifeline for hippos and crocodiles followed by breakfast and

Life’s greatest adventures for all A SAFARI is one of life’s greatest adventures and something that tops many people’s holiday wish list. Despite the logistical challenges, disability need not be an insurmountable obstacle when it comes to a thrilling holiday experience. Detailed local knowledge, meticulous planning and a great team on the ground with accessible vehicles, are the essential ingredients to ensuring a truly outstanding trip.

Over the years, 2by2 Holidays has enabled many customers who are wheelchair users, have limited mobility or another disability to enjoy some of the

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more adventurous destinations in Africa. We know which hotels and lodges have accessible facilities and which attractions can be explored with minimal stress. We take away the pressure from you and allow your customers to relax and have a superb time.

Every traveller has different requirements and our tailor-made approach to each enquiry means we can create a truly unforgettable experience for all your customers.

Call us on 01582 766122 for our new brochure and a quotation www.2by2holidays.co.uk

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safari some chill-out time at the camp’s luxurious spa. After lunch, it’s time to head out to the Poacher’s Lookout to watch the sun set while you sip a glass or two of wine.

The return journey back to the camp gives guests the chance to experience the African savannah at night.

On the final day, after breakfast, camp guides take guests on a game drive up to Tsavo River Gate to take in the landscapes and dramatic animal kingdom of Tsavo National Park before heading back to Mombasa.

How much? Prices lead in at £295 per person sharing a double tent and include full-board accommodation, activities, sundowner at Poacher’s Lookout and the use of a safari vehicle with a trained driver.

2by2 Holidays has a nine-night Kenya safari and beach package that includes three nights at Severin Safari Camp before heading off to the Kenya coast for a stay at Turtle Bay in Malindi. Prices lead in at £2,330 per person sharing, including flights, transfers and all meals.

To book: severin-hotels.com; 2by2holidays.co.uk Walk the walk This year marks the 25th anniversary of Robin Pope Safaris’ first mobile walking trips in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. The specialist led its first mobile walking safari in 1990 and is marking the occasion with a special extended itinerary, which will be a seven-night expedition rather than the usual five. The adventure will delve into the epic expanse of the Luangwa Valley and will include a night spent sleeping under the stars.

The selling points of a walking mobile safari is that, without the sound of the vehicle to separate you from the wilderness, every sight, sound and smell is powerfully intensified. All walks are led by an experienced naturalist and accompanied by an armed game scout.

The mobile camps are already set up for when the walkers arrive. The shower is under a tree, and the toilet is a long drop with a wooden throne – very back to nature.

While the days are spent walking, the evenings are focused on stories – and a drink or two – around the campfire, which is a great way to get to know the other people on your expedition.

How much? Prices lead in at £4,279 per person and include the seven-nights mobile walking safari, topped and tailed by one night at Nkwali Camp and two nights at Nsefu/Tena Tena Camp, safari activities with expert guides, all meals and transfers. The tour departs on 28 August. Flights are not included.

To book: robinpopesafaris.net

fantastic children’s programme where they can learn about their surroundings including plants, insects and animal tracks.

“The kids are also given the chance to interact with the ranger and receive a junior ranger certificate in return for passing a fun test.’

How much? Prices lead in at £1,249 per person for a six-day twin-centre break to South Africa that includes two nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Beach Hotel in Port Elizabeth followed by three nights’ full board at the four-star Kariega Main Lodge in Kariega Game Reserve, Eastern Cape.

The price also includes six days’ car hire based on travel between1 May and 30 June.

To book: travel2.com Starry eyes Travel 2’s Michael Creighton says the operator has seen a new trend for luxury under the stars emerge in southern Africa.

“This concept involves a private area of a game reserve for two guests with a fully serviced open sleeping area that has the same facilities that guests would expect of a five-star lodge. The perfect example of this new trend are the Treehouses at Lion Sands Game Reserve in Southern Africa.

The Chalkey Treehouse is a lavish platform constructed in a centuries-old Leadwood tree, guests are taken there at sunset

The family factor Michael Creighton, product manager, Africa (East and Southern), Mauritius, Seychelles and Jordan, Travel 2 suggests agents who have clients looking to take their family on safari consider the new, five-star Settlers Drift in the Kariega Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape Region of South Africa.

“This is a luxury tented lodge located in a remote untouched part of the Kariega wilderness that overlooks the Bushmans River,” says Creighton.Kariega, “which has a All About Southern & East Africa

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safari to have drinks and dinner under the stars.”

How much? Travel 2 features three nights’ full board at the five-star Lion Sands River Lodge, in Kruger National Park and three nights’ self-catering at the five-star Waterfront Village in Cape Town for £2,339 per person. The price includes game drives, transfers.

To book: travel2.com

Mobile safari specialist Robin Pope is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an extended walking expedition in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Parkac

The all-in-one experience For clients who want to see all the main attractions in South Africa in one holiday, suggest they consider Riviera Travel’s 16day South Africa Tour.

The itinerary takes in all the must-see top sites including Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kruger National Park and the Zulu Battlefields.

When the tour arrives at Hippo Hollow just outside Kruger National Park on day five, guests can opt to spend a night out in a tented camp bush with rangers to take them on game drives and a chef on hand to knock up a sumptuous meal Riviera Travel’s Tom Morgan says what makes their tours

such a success is their guides. “Dalton who is the guide for the Zulu battlefields, his great grandfather was a Zulu chief who led warriors against the British.”

How much? Prices for the 16-day tour start at £1,899 per person and includes return flights, accommodation, many guided excursions and an experienced tour manager.

Mobile friendly Hayes and Jarvis destination manager Nick Wilson recommends the Serengeti Explorer Camp in Tanzania, which has been completely rebuilt for 2015.

“The innovative luxury campsite changes location three times during the year to track the wildebeest movement across the Serengeti National Park to track the animals’ cycle and ensure guests will always have a view, no matter when they visit.”

This exclusive camp is home to eight eco-friendly deluxe tents and two family tents, complete with verandas and personal tent valets.

And while the camp moves three times a year to track the wildebeest migration, guests also get the chance to experience living among the elephants and buffalo.

New additions include a lounge tent, private dining, and laundry service.

The campsite prides itself on its green credentials so all LED lighting is solar powered, the showers are gravity fed, and the toilets are eco-friendly flushing toilets in an attempt to ensure that the animals and their surroundings are not disturbed.

The price is right Cox and Kings says it has seen a 100% increase in private travel to Botswana last year.

Spokeswoman Katie Cosstick says that Botswana is perceived to be at the upper end of most price ranges as it has some of the most remote and pristine wilderness in Africa,

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safari which can only be accessed by light aircraft.

However, the escorted tours specialist has introduced a new twincentre trip that allows the guests to discover two of the country’s main highlights – Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park – at an affordable price.

The tour starts in Zambia with a twonight stay at Waterbury Lodge to explore the legendary Victoria Falls and its surrounding area.

On day four, the tour crosses the border by boat and road into Botswana for a flight to the Savute Safari Lodge at the Selinda reserve in the southern sector of the Chobe National Park.

For two days, guests will be treated to morning and afternoon game drives and safari activities before taking a light aircraft flight to Sango Camp in the Okavango Delta for two days exploring

the area on safari drives, bush walks, trips on the delta on mokoros and motorboats.

How much? Prices for the nine-day Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park itinerary lead in at £2,395 per person and includes accommodation game drives, evening sunset cruise on the Zambezi river, transfers and international and internal flights.

To book: coxandkings.co.uk The Rover returns Okay, so this option is on the pricey side, but it’s an adventure that the Top Gear trio would love to get their team into.

Abercrombie and Kent have introduced a new concept called Land Rover Adventure Travel, which is effectively paying homage to the operator’s humble beginnings. Geoffrey Kent and his parents founded the business in Africa and started safaris back in the 1960s using a Land Rover.

Fast forward nearly 50 years, and the operator has reintroduced the iconic allterrain vehicle into its programme, basing

Coming Soon New SA Specialist online training Watch this space for opportunities to become an SA Specialist and have a chance to win a place on a South Africa FAM trip.

www.southafrica.net T: 0208 971 9350

an entire section of its programme on travel via a Land Rover.

And where better to put the Land Rover Defender through its paces then on the myriad of terrains in Namibia.

This 11-day epic adventure gives your clients the chance to get behind the wheel of a Land Rover and negotiate the varied landscapes of Namibia.

The journey takes in the sand dunes of Sossusvlei, the challenging terrain of northern Damaraland and the Etosha National Park and the Ongava Reserve.

Along the way, enjoy a hot-air ballon flight over the Sossusvlei, track endangered black and white rhino through Damaraland, head off-piste for a game drive in the restricted west side of Etosha National Park to catch sight of some big cats, zebras and a variety of antelope and go whale-watching at Walvis Bay. How much? Prices start at £8,495 per person, including accommodation and flights To book: abercrombiekent.co.uk

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weddings & honeymoons

Balancing act From traditional honeymoon safaris to honeyteers, here is a range of honeymoon ideas that won’t test your bank balance – all you need is love

A romantic dinner for two out in the bush is just one of the many little extras safari lodges offer honeymooners

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CCORDING TO Brides magazine, the average cost of a wedding in the UK is around £24,000, and that’s before you add on the cost of the honeymoon.

With favourable exchange rates making destinations in Southern and East Africa great value for money at the moment, and operators adding on extras and upgrading rooms, we thought we would pull together some honeymoon ideas – and a wedding package or two.

Spice it up For honeymooners who fancy adding some extra spice to their romantic escape, Hayes and Jarvis recommends they head over to the spice island of Zanzibar.

Referred to as the spice island due to its main industry being the production of spices, Zanzibar is popular with honeymooners looking for something different. While it has the prerequisite 14

stunning, white, sandy beaches that most honeymooners expect, the island is also packed to the rafters with culture, history and activities such as diving, snorkelling and swimming with dolphins - of course.

Hayes and Jarvis recommend that honeymooners check into the Baraza Resort and Spa on the southwest coast of the island.

The retreat boasts villas with their own private plunge pools and outdoor terraces with elegant interiors. The Frangipani Spa has outdoor relaxation rooms, a lap pool with underwater music and a yoga centre.

How much? Hayes and Jarvis offers seven nights’ all-inclusive stay at the Baraza Resort and Spa from £1,995 per person, including one bonus night and return international flights from Heathrow with Oman Air. This price is based on 3 June departures.

To book: hayesandjarvis.com

The Xtra factor Premier Safaris has a six-day honeymoon offer for Kenya that is packed full of extras that are guaranteed to make the honeymoon couple feel extra special.

On arrival in Nairobi, the newly-weds are whisked off to the mountainous central region highlands of Kenya to check into the Aberdare Country Club for a two-night stay where they will be upgraded to a deluxe room. They will also be treated to guided bush walks within the wildlife sanctuary.

After two nights, it’s night to head off to Lake Nakuru Lodge in the Lake Nakuru National Park via the Great Rift Valley for dinner and an overnight stay.

The following day, the honeymooners will be taken to the Mara Leisure camp in the Masai Mara National Park for more game drives, and another room upgrade but this time to the private honeymoon tent, with its own views over the Talek river.

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weddings & honeymoons The tour includes night game drives of Moremi Wildlife Reserve and guided safari walks with the opportunity to view Africa’s predators

Hands Up Holidays has a range of packages for honeyteers, newly-weds who want to do some volunteer work in local community projects during their honeymoon

Other extras include complimentary sundowners within the Masai Mara reserve and the chance to spend some time at a local Masai village.

How much? Prices start at £1,317 per person and include airport transfers, fullboard accommodation, game drives, park entrance fees and the services of an English-speaking guide. International flights are excluded.

To book: premiersafaris.com Traditional rules For honeymooners keen to stick to tradition, 2by2 Holidays recommends a classic safari in South Africa’s Kruger National Park with some well-deserved R&R on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.

The 12-night break starts with four days at the Garonga Safari Camp in the west of Kruger where honeymooners can enjoy game drives and bush walks at their leisure before opting for a romantic tree-house picnic or a bush bath for two under the stars. Honeymoon packages include bride and groom’s 45-minute massage each, a complimentary bottle of champagne on arrival plus complimentary return transfers to either Hoedspruit or Phalaborwa Airport for the flights on to Mauritius.

On arrival at the Indian Ocean island, loved-up couples will be whisked off to the boutique, beachfront hotel of 20 Degress Sud where they can choose to do

All About Southern & East Africa

as much or as little as they like. There are plenty of activities to get involved in, from sailing to playing a round of golf.

How much? Prices start at £2,685 per person including flights and accommodation on a mixed-board basis.

To book: 2by2holidays.co.uk Doing it for the kids Have you heard of the term “honeyteers?”

It’s a phrase used by Christopher Hill, the founder of Hands Up Holidays, to describe honeymooners with a heart who want to “make a difference” and volunteer to help in community projects that are taking place in the destinations they are going to honeymoon in.

For honeyteers who are not restricted to a budget as such, Hill recommends they consider Hands Up Holidays’ Kenyan Encounter In Style package which combines work on a volunteers project with some time-out at a barefoot luxury hideaway.

During this 15-day break, loved-up couples can join in a project to help build a classroom for the Masai community as well as enjoying game drives in the Masai Mara, Samburu and Amboseli National Parks.

When to honeymoon in southern and east Africa Southern and East Africa specialist 2by2 Holidays has pulled together some suggestions on where to honeymoon and when throughout the year.

AP RI L- M AY South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal has a warm and pleasant climate this time of year so is a great place for selfdrive honeymoon, while Namibia is dry but the temperatures aren’t as high as they are in the summer months, and the tourist regions are not as busy as they are in the peak periods.

Now is a great time to visit the islands in the Indian Ocean, while Botswana and Zambia are coming to the end of their green season so game is easier to spot.

JU NE - OC TO BE R Unquestionably the best time to go to Southern and East Africa and the Indian Ocean, while it’s peak season in Uganda and Rwanda for gorilla trekking and Madagascar is beautiful this time of year.

NO VE M BE R - M AR CH Ethiopia is warm this time of year, while Botswana and Zambia are cheaper as it’s the start of the green season where the game regions start to flood.

Cape Town and the Garden Route are beautiful this time of year.

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weddings & honeymoons a candlelit dinner for two on a deserted island on the Zambezi, or relax in Zambia’s and only bush spa.

How much? Prices from £331 per person per night fully inclusive.

To book: royalzambezilodge.com

Couples can enjoy a bath under the stars at the Garonga Safari Camp

After they have finished rolling up their sleeves to help out the community, they can head off to Funzi Keys luxury lodge on Funzi Island, just off the southern Kenya coast to enjoy some quality couples time in the retreat’s Swahili-style lodges.

How much? Prices start at £8,800 per person for the 15-day honeymoon. Flights are not included. All trips are 100% tailormade, and Hands Up Holidays pay between 11% and 15%.

To book: handsupholidays.com Luxury with a capital L Belmond knows a thing or two about luxury, so if you have clients who really want to push the honeymoon boat out, then Hayes and Jarvis recommends its six-night Botswana in Style tour that features the Belmond Fly-In safari.

The experience offers honeymooners a variety of game-viewing activities both over land and on water, while staying in some of the country’s most stylish and opulent lodges.

A visit to Chobe National Park also features to observe the park’s high concentration of elephants and ancient rock paintings, while honeymooners will also have the chance to sail down the Okavango Delta via traditional mokoro canoes.

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How much? Hayes & Jarvis features its Botswana in Style six-night tour from £4,899 per person, which includes some meals and return international flights from Heathrow with South African Airways. The price is based on 7 November departures.

To book: hayesandjarvis.com Up stream For clients looking for something a little different, why don’t you suggest they check into the Royal Zambezi Lodge in Zambia that is located on the banks of the Zambezi River.

The hotel’s deluxe, standalone suites are perfect for romance, with outdoor baths and showers, private plunge pools and shaded verandas with great views overlooking the river. There are wide timber decks in the communal area that are suitable for fine dining under clear African skies, while the Sausage Tree Bar is THE place to sit and sip an aperitif or two while the sun sets.

Game drives, night drives and walking safaris will reveal huge herds of elephant and buffalo, plus regular lion and leopard sightings, while a cruise down the Zambezi in a canoe is guaranteed to involve some animal and bird life spotting.

Alternatively, get away from it all with

The One There’s a plethora of locations in Cape Town to tie the knot, but if you want an events’ expert to hold your hand, then look up the Celebration Consultants at the One&Only Cape Town.

The Celebration Consultants are on hand to ensure that no stone is unturned when it comes to ensuring the memories of that special day last forever. They coordinate everything from ensuring the necessary legal requirements and documentation for marrying in Cape Town are completed, to arranging table settings, place cards, event timelines, music, photographers, flowers, menus and more, logistics are attended to with expert skill.

The hotel has a number of rooms to host weddings, no matter what size. The ballroom can accommodate 120 for a sitdown meal, while the Isola Restaurant seats 60 and the Marina Room can cater for 40 guests. When it comes to the honeymoon afterwards, the One&Only Cape Town has two separate, exclusive islands that have 40 suites, a private infinity pool and a spa. capetown.oneandonlyresorts.com

Wedding packages If you have clients looking to say “I do“ with the wide African plains and bushveld as the backdrop, Serena Hotels has a dedicated wedding package for its Serena Mivumo River Lodge in Tanzania.

How much?

The wedding package costs $3,000.

What’s included? Special marriage licence fee and certificate, registrar and commissioner of oath fee, wedding cake, champagne, bouquet and button-hole/flower, ceremony and lunch/dinner or sundowner for bridal party.

For more information: serenahotels.com

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RWANDA

The ultimate destination As Rwanda is home to the ultimate wildlife experience, it’s small wonder that it has been able to shake off its sad past, to become one of Africa’s most desirable tourist destinations, writes Tim Henshall

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UE THE David Attenborough voiceover as we mention how a close encounter with a mountain gorilla is number one on so many people’s wildlife bucket list. Rwanda is where US zoologist, primatologist, and anthropologist Dian Fossey first studied these amazing primates.

The Hollywood film Gorillas in the Mist was based on Dian’s book of the same name, which tells the story of her work and research into the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. Today, the opportunity to trek into the Volcanoes National Park to see these creatures draws tourists from across the globe.

Visitors can get up close to the mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park

But there’s much more to Rwanda than just gorillas – and with a burgeoning tourism industry, the potential to turn this country into a viable stand-alone

‘One of the most incredible places I have visited’ Becca Spurgeon from the Visions Holiday Group has just returned from Rwanda. Here she talks about the impression the country has made on her.

“I was blown away by Rwanda, it is one of the most incredible places I have visited. From the minute we landed and were met by our representatives we were impressed, the country felt very clean and friendly. It has to be the cleanest African country I have visited.

The once-a-month national clean updays really show. The scenery is spectacular from the rice fields, tea plantations, Lake Kivu to the Volcanoes National Park, it certainly lives up to its name of ‘a country of a thousand hills’.

“The highlight was the gorilla trekking. I was not really sure what to expect, but I had a tear in my eye from the first moment I spotted a gorilla family – an experience I will never forget. There is a

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lot more to offer than just the gorillas though, chimpanzee trekking, game viewing, relaxing on the shores of the lake and visiting the national museums.

I would not hesitate to send my clients to Rwanda.“ Becca Spurgeon

destination is certainly growing.

With concerted efforts from government and private sector alike, three major new locations have emerged – Nyungwe, Kivu and Akagera – to add to the Volcanoes National Park and Kigali.

KIGALI Rwanda’s unique capital that’s remarkably clean, well organised and efficient with a vibrant nightlife. Also home to the must-see Genocide Museum, which is a memorial to the one million Tutsis and Hutus who were killed over a 100-day period in 1994.

The museum offers a surprisingly uplifting experience and is a must-see attraction for any visitor to the capital.

NYUNGWE This pre-ice age rainforest is the biggest and oldest in East Africa, and provides visitors with the chance to get up close to chimpanzees, huge troops of black and white Colobus monkeys and amazing birdlife, all of which are visible from the rainforest’s 75-metre high canopy walkway

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rwanda KIVU Easily mistaken for Italy or Switzerland, Lake Kivu is a scenic paradise with more than 600 islands dotted along its 56-mile length. Walking and cycling trails abound, but it’s often used simply as a chill-out zone. In the north, regional capital Gisenyi offers fascinating views of thousands of Congolese traders crossing back and forth over the border with colourful produce and foodstuffs.

AKAGERA Emerging from decades of neglect, we confidently predict this park will become a must-visit park within a few years. Astounding conservation success will culminate with the park being restocked with both lions and rhinos this year, making its cheeky “mini-Okavango” and “mini-Serengeti” nicknames for its north and southern sections even more fitting.

VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK Home to the iconic mountain gorilla, but there’s also the opportunity to see golden monkeys, tea plantations, caves and the hugely entertaining Iby’iwacu cultural village.

Golden monkeys can be spotted in the Volcanoes National Park

REMARKABLE ACTIVITIES ● Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park ● Superb birding across the country ● Primates – including chimps, colobus and golden monkeys ● History – Palaces and great museums ● Peace and reconcilliation (post-genocide) ● Dance, music and crafts For general information, see www.rwandatourism.com For trade-only info see www.rwandaresources.com Contact Rwanda’s UK office on 01664 823750 or email uk@rwandatourism.org

Operators offering Rwanda include: Cox and Kings Africa Collection Distinctive Africa African Pride Africa and Beyond Visions of Africa

LIFE CHANGING Your first encounter with a Mountain Gorilla can be a pretty life-changing experience. Our peaceful primate deep p eaceful p rimate rrelatives elatives ttouch ouch d eep iinto nto the the making worth every ssoul, oul, m aking tthe he ttrek rek w or th e very llast ast sstep. tep." " Rwanda is remarka able not just because of its wildlife, e, but also due to the e amazing birds, breathtaking and d varied i d scenery, plu lus its it unique i culture lt and d ffascinating i ti history. Rwanda also provides an uplifting view of Africa’s potential future. f " " Plan your clients’ remarkable r journey full of lifechanging experiences nces via the numerous UK tour operators that offer e Rwanda. If yours doesn’t, contact us for assistance. Email E u k@rwandatourism.org or " uk@rwandatourism.org call 01664 823750."

RWAN NDARESOURCES.C COM

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cultural archaeological

The culture of travel From learning how to survive in the bush to exploring the cradle of mankind, Southern and East Africa knows how to satisfy visitors’ thirst for knowledge Adventurous times Always on a quest to offer its client base the next undiscovered or off-the-beaten track destination, escorted tours specialist Kuoni has put together a nine-night Highlights of Northern Ethiopia tour that promises to delve into the history, culture and natural beauty of the region.

The expedition starts off in the capital Addis Ababa for a sightseeing tour of the city, which begins at the Holy Trinity Cathedral and continues to the Ethnographical Museum for an insight into Ethiopia’s rich ethnic diversity.

The final stop is at the National Museum, which houses many artefacts that reflect the country’s status as the ‘cradle of mankind’, including ‘Lucy’; a three-million-year-old skeleton discovered in the Great Rift Valley in 1974.

On day two, the tour takes flight to the large town of Bahir Dar on the southern shore of Lake Tana for a visit to the Blue Nile Falls gateway. After an overnight stay in the lakeside town, it’s off to the historical city of Gondar, founded around 1635 and renowned for its medieval castles, intricate churches and views over farmland back to Lake Tana.

Lalibela is next on the itinerary, which is a World Heritage Site due to its 11 rock-hewn churches, that are carved below ground level. Each church has its own priest and the constructions can be accessed via a maze of passages and stairways.

The tour, on day five, heads out of Lalibela to the mountain-top church of

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Kuoni's Northern Ethiopia Highlights tour visits Lalibela, home to 11 rock-hewn underground churches

Asheton Maryam for views of the surrounding area.

The last few days of the tour include stays at the lakeside resort of Llangano and Bale Mountains National Park, home to more than half of the world’s Ethiopian wolf population, as well as the endemic Mountain Nyala, Menelik’s bushbuck and various birds.

How much? Prices start at £2,478 per person based on a 5 October departure.

The price includes nine nights’ accommodation and an inclusive meal plan, international flights and group transfers.

To book: kuoni.co.uk

“An eye for eye… …only ends up making the whole world blind,” is one of the most famous sayings

by Mahatma Gandhi, the legendary Indian pacifist and independence leader.

Gandhi spent the formative years of his life in South Africa, from 1893 to 1914.

He arrived in South Africa, aged 24, as a newly-qualified lawyer, and was intending to only stay for a short while, but in fact, spent 21 years there, interspersed with spells in India and England.

During his time in South Africa, Gandhi developed his famous passive resistance movement known as satyagraha (loosely 19

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cultural archaeological

Satyagraha House in Johannesburg where Mahatma Gandhi lived in his early years in South Africa. The house features in South African Tourism's Gandhi Trail

translated as ‘insistence on truth’), that would help bring an end to the British colonial system in India in 1947.

Gandhi’s strategy was to become one of the great political tools of the 20th century, going on to influence the civil rights movement in the US and the African National Congress in its early years of struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

South African Tourism has launched a new dedicated website, listing a series of tourist attractions across the country that tell the life story of Gandhi.

The sites include: Pietermaritzburg Station, which has a plaque that commemorates the incident when Gandhi was thrown off a train for sitting in a first-class carriage, despite having a valid ticket; the Old Court House Museum, Durban, which was often visited

by Gandhi when he was practising as a lawyer - it is where he was asked to remove his turban; Satyagraha House in Johannesburg, which is a house Gandhi shared with his friend, the famous architect Hermann Kallenbach, during his early years in South Africa; and Old Fort, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg where Gandhi was imprisoned in 1906. Other famous inmates included Nelson Mandela and Joe Slovo.

Premier Holidays offers a Gandhi20

inspired trip to South Africa, which includes: three nights’ bed and breakfast in Johannesburg and a half-day Soweto tour; and three nights in Durban with breakfast and a full-day Gandhi heritage tour. The package includes return transfers in each city to and from the airport (flights not included) and costs from £495 per person based on two people travelling together. Flights are not included, however flights from Heathrow to Johannesburg with South African Airways with connections to Durban start at £926 per person return.

To book: gandhi.southafrica.net; premierholidays.co.uk Out in the bush There’s one thing being led through a bush by an experienced guide, but what would you do if you came face to face with a human predator, or you found yourself having to catch and cook a fish without the help of the chef from your luxury safari lodge?

Abercrombie and Kent has put together a four-day Bush Skills Adventure in Botswana package that aims to teach keen adventurers some bush skills while based at the Sanctuary Baines’ Camp on the Boro river in the Okavango Delta.

Under the watchful eye of highly trained and knowledgeable guides,

guests will be taught how to pole a mokoro, a dug-out canoe commonly used in the Delta. To pole means to stand in the stern and push the mokoro through the water with a pole.

Next skill to learn is how to make a traditional spear for fishing and how to catch fish in the delta using a rod, followed by discovering the methods used to track an animal on foot. The guides will teach guests all about the intricacies of tracking game and how to identify different animal tracks, find edible plants, make rope out of natural materials and how to find water in the bush.

On day three, there are some lessons on making and placing traps to catch wildlife, build a shelter, use the sun and the stars to navigate a passage and weave a basket.

Once you have completed all of these skills, you will receive a certificate.

How much? Prices range from £1,595 to £2,909 per person based on four people travelling together. The price includes accommodation, three meals daily, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers, transfers, two daily scheduled shared safari activities with guides and shared scheduled flight from Maun to Baines Airstrip return.

To book: abercrombiekent.co.uk All About Southern & East Africa

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best of the rest

Best of the rest From Africa’s longest zip-line to new-look websites from Somak, here is a round-up of other news from the movers and shakers in the region

Cosmos has introduced a 13 day Extraordinary Namibia that takes in the country's spectacular sand dunes

The Wonder years The South African city of Durban in KwaZulu Natal has been named as one of the official New Seven Wonder Cities of the World.

Durban joins Beirut, Doha, Havana, Kuala Lumpur, La Paz and Vigan in the list of the new Seven Wonder Cities of the World.

Tourism trade show Indaba will also be taking place in Durban at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre from 9-11 May. Meanwhile, access to the Battlefields of KwaZulu Natal has been considerably improved following the launch of Federal Air’s Johannesburg to Ulundi scheduled air service.

Visitors travelling to the KwaZuluNatal Battlefields via Johannesburg now have a more convenient option to access Isandlwana Lodge and the Battlefields in the area via the one-and-a-half hour scheduled air service between Johannesburg and Ulundi flies, which operates five days a week.

Zip it The longest double zip-line experience in Africa has opened in Sundays River Valley, just outside Addo in the Eastern Cape, an hour’s drive away from Nelson Mandela Bay. Adrenaline Addo is 500 metres long and adrenaline junkies can reach speeds All About Southern & East Africa

of up to 40 miles an hour on the zip-line.

The zipline runs over the Sundays River, which is reputedly South Africa’s fastest-flowing river when in flood.

Additions for 2015 Cosmos Tours and Cruises has introduced a new 13 day Extraordinary Namibia tour that incorporates the wide variety of experiences that the country has to offer.

The tour visits the sand dunes in the Namib desert, heads to Etosha National Park for game drives and takes in a number of activities in Swakopmund including quad-biking, sand-boarding and a scenic flight over Skeleton Coast.

Prices start at £2,795 per person, including flights, accommodation, guided sightseeing and airport transfers. cosmostoursandcruises.co.uk All change Safari specialist Somak has launched a new website that is designed to be easier to navigate, more informative and inspirational for agents.

The operator has added a simpler, yet image-rich design, blogs that aim to inspire agents to help them with their sales and a new search facility that allows users to discover properties by holiday.

TripAdvisor reviews have been added on all property pages.

Somak is also hiking up its trade

activities with agent training and promotion support, agents’ concession and educational opportunities and invitations to hospitality events.

The specialist is also making agency branded pop-up banners available. The South Africa banner is free, but there is a £50 fee for the East Africa banner which can be claimed back on the next booking.

New booking incentives are going to be launched in March as a change from the Love2Shop vouchers.

Meanwhile, Somak has launched a 16page mini South Africa brochure, which includes details on free nights and complimentary upgrades at hotels and lodges as well as free excursions and discounted meal options.

The mobile generation Bushtops Camps in the Serengeti, Tanzania are introducing Roving Bishops, a ‘wild luxury’ mobile safari.

The ultra-luxe camp will consist of five tents, each featuring wooden decks, flush toilets with running water, shower, 24hour power with all the required charging points, as well as its own private butler, ranger, field guide and spotter. All beverages, including cellar wines and luxury spirits are included.

Roving Bushtops will offer personalised game drive experience and guests will be also able to plan their own itinerary with the help of the ranger.

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Safaris to suit all budgets From self-drive experiences through the sand dunes of Namibia, trekking through the national parks of Uganda to river safaris in Zambia, here is a round-up of African experiences to suit all different budgets

£2,000 Robin Pope Safaris has a seven-night safari river journey in Zambia during the Emerald Season’s peak flood time which runs until the end of March. The Luangwa River overflows during this period, filling lagoons and covering land, and this means that the river experience involves boating in the South Luangwa National Park in areas where visitors would normally walk in the dry season.

Visitors get to see hippos in the water, spot lions on the river banks and see bird life at its most brilliant, and can explore higher ground on game drives and on foot.

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How much? The Zambia River Journeys costs from £1,700 per person based on two sharing and includes seven nights’ accommodation, full board, activities and airport transfers. Flights are not included.

To book: robinpopesafaris.net. £5,000 Turquoise Holidays has an 11-night Tanzanian Safari Beach escape that involves four nights at Azura Selous and 11 nights at the Fundu Lagoon, both on all-inclusive basis How much? Prices lead in at £3,146 per person and include transfers and international flights with Qatar Airways.

To book: turquoiseholidays.co.uk 2by2 Holidays has a 12-night Southern Tanzania and Zanzibar package that features a bush safari in the Selous Game Reserve in Southern Tanzania with the opportunity to see a wide range of game, including lion, buffalo and leopard. Then it’s off to Zanzibar for two nights in the island’s historic Stone Town and an allinclusive beach break on Zanzibar’s superb white sand coastline.

How much? Prices start at £2,595 per person sharing including flights, accommodation and some meals.

Accommodation is at Selous Serena All About Southern & East Africa

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holidays for less game drives, Olive Grove and Namutoni Camp in Etosha National Park.

To book: realafrica.co.uk Cosmos Tours and Cruises has introduced a new nine-day Cape Town and Winelands Culinary Delights small group, twin-centre tour that incorporates sightseeing in Cape Town with authentic experiences of Djembe drumming session, 14-course tasting safari from Cape Malay to African cuisine, plus a hands-on Malay cooking experience before spending two nights in the wine growing area of Franschoek to enjoy a range of wine tasting.

How much? Prices start at £2,075 per person and include return flights, accommodation, guided sightseeing and airport transfers.

To book: cosmostoursandcruises.co.uk

Cosmos’ new nine-day Cape Town and Winelands Culinary Delights small group, twin-centre tour visits the winelands of Franschoek

Camp, Zanzibar Serena Hotel in Stone Town and Blue Bay Beach Resort and Spa. To book: 2by2holidays.co.uk Real Africa has a 15-night Namibia Highlights self-drive which the operator says is one of the best ways to explore the country’s sweeping desert landscapes as the road infrastructure is so good and very safe.

How much? Prices lead in at £2,495 per person based on two people sharing and includes flights, car hire four-star accommodation, breakfasts and some other meals. Accommodation includes stays at the Okonjima Game Reserve with All About Southern & East Africa

Kuoni has a eight-night tour called the Kenya Explorer that travels to the Shaba National Reserve, which is a first for Kuoni. The itinerary includes one night in Nairobi, one night in Amboseli National Park, one night Aberdare National Park, two nights in Shaba, one night at Lake Naivasha and two nights in the Maasai Mara.

Highlights of the safari include seeing the huge elephants at Amboseli, a night at the unique lodge, The Ark, the lakes of Nakuru and Naivasha, multiple game drives in the Maasai Mara and an optional balloon flight over the Maasai Mara.

How much? Prices start at £2,306 per person, based on two sharing and include four-star accommodation, Englishspeaking driver/guide, minibus safari vehicle exclusively for Kuoni customers, with a minimum of six passengers, all guaranteed a window seat and standing space through the roof hatch when game viewing, welcome dinner, game drives and sightseeing, park fees and transfers, bottle of water each day on safari, meals on mainly full board basis and international flights.

To book: kuoni.co.uk £10,000 Real Africa has a nine-day Ultimate Botswana Holiday which includes two nights at the Linyanti Reserve, two nights at the Tubu Tree camp in the

Okavango Delta and two nights at the Chitabe camps in the Moremi Game Reserve.

How much? Prices lead in at £5,485 per person and include international and domestic flights, all accommodation on a full-board basis at all 3 camps, all guiding, game-viewing and park fees.

To book realafrica.co.uk Escorted tours specialist Tauck has a 13-day Kenya and Tanzania: A Classic Safari that includes two-night stays in the legendary Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara game reserve, plus two nights in Amboseli National Park, with daily game drives. The experience also includes: a hot-air balloon ride at dawn over the Masai Mara game reserve, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush; a visit to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary and the William Holden Animal Orphanage; an overnight in a lodge built into the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, which boasts great views of the wildlife-rich wilderness and one of the oldest sites of habitation; and a special barbecue dinner accompanied

by Maasai dancing at the lodge in the Serengeti.

Other highlights include: a private lecture by an elephant researcher in Amboseli National Park; a village weaving demonstration in Nanyuki, Kenya; and a three-night stay at the Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club within view of Mount Kenya.

How much? Prices lead in at £6,160 and include air transfers upon arrival and departure, 36 meals, gratuities to local guides, service charges, admissions fees, taxes and porterage. International flights are not included.

To book: tauck.co.uk Abercrombie and Kent has a 10-night Classic Uganda experience that includes: trekking with habituated chimpanzees in Kibale National Park; exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park with more than 600 recorded bird species; close encounters with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest; and the chance to see Lake Kyaninga and the stunning Mountains of the Moon.

How much? Prices start at £5,375 per person and include international flights.

To book: abercrombiekent.co.uk 23

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