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Safari Newsletter Dated August 23, 2010
Dear Reader,
Today's newsletter is filled with tips for anyone gearing up for a
safari in Africa for the first time, and a good reminder for those
considering a return trip. The first step in planning an African safari
is to decide which part of the continent is most appealing.
There are organized safaris in eight African countries and three
distinct regions, and each offers a different experience. Some safaris
concentrate on a single country while others combine two, three or more
countries into a single trip. Here's a look at the three regions, and
the countries that are in them.
East Africa
(
Tanzania,
Kenya,
Uganda
and
Rwanda)
has the largest concentrations of animals, world-famous Serengeti
National Park and Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain. In Tanzania's
Olduvai Gorge, Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey discovered 2-million-year-old
bones and tools from what some believe were the earliest humans. My
family's first safari was in Tanzania, during the
Great Migration,
and I doubt any experience will ever surpass it.
The world's entire population of mountain gorillas (about 700) live in a
mountainous region split by Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Earlier this year,
we were able to observe these magnificent animals up close in the
Rwandan side of the Virunga Conservation Area.
Southern Africa
(
Botswana,
Namibia
and
Zambia)
offers game viewing on foot and in boats (in addition to open-air
vehicles), unique species of birds and amazing Victoria Falls. My family
and I visited Zambia and Botswana on safari a few summers ago, and we
were thrilled with the game viewing from dugout canoes in the Okavango
Delta and from the backs of lumbering elephants along the Zambezi
River.
South Africa (the country) is unique in that safaris are
frequently combined with a cosmopolitan segment to form a very diverse
vacation. Game reserves feature the continent's most deluxe safari
lodges, and it's easy to add time in the beautiful city of Cape Town
and/or the scenic Garden Route stretch of the southern coast. Click
here
for a complete list of possibilities.
Once you've chosen your destination, it's time to consider safari
operators, which can be roughly classified as budget, first class,
deluxe or luxury -- in ascending order of cost and quality. Factors in
classifying a safari include quality and location of accommodations,
quality and number of included activities, size of group and the level
of personalized service.
Budget safaris offer price-conscious travelers a way to explore
the African continent without breaking the bank. Budget safaris may
feature pitch-your-own-tent camping and other modest accommodations, may
entail travel with larger groups, and are offered by
Gap Adventures
and
Intrepid Travel.
First Class safaris stay at more comfortable, full-service hotels
and lodges and have more inclusions than budget trips. They are operated
by
Gate 1
and
General Tours.
Deluxe and
Luxury safaris are even more upscale and
inclusive, and groups are smaller. You'll stay in the finest
accommodations and enjoy gourmet dining and personal attention
throughout. Deluxe safaris are offered by
Adventures by Disney,
African Travel
(the company I chose for my Southern Africa trip),
Collette,
Tauck
(the company I chose for my Tanzania trip) and
SITA
(the company I chose for my Uganda and Rwanda trip). Luxury safaris are
offered by
African Travel
(some itineraries) and
Abercrombie & Kent.
Once you've decided on your destination and safari operator, you must
determine what documentation is required for each of the countries
you'll be visiting. Passports valid for at least six months beyond the
end of your trip are required for all safari destinations. Namibia and
South Africa require that travelers have at least two blank, unstamped
pages in their passports. Visas are required for U.S. citizens for
travel to Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Next, it's essential to visit a doctor that specializes in travel
medicine or the travel medicine department of a local hospital to learn
about health issues in your destination. Certain immunizations are
required, and others are highly recommended. It's best to make this
visit well in advance of your trip, as some health threats require a
series of inoculations over time, all prior to travel.
Now it's time to shop for safari essentials. Some items to consider are
the right camera and lens for wildlife photography, binoculars and
clothing suitable for safaris. Blue and black clothing attracts insects;
earth colors of tan, green and brown are preferable. Clothing coated
with Permethrin will discourage most flying and crawling insects,
including malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Outdoors outfitters such as REI
usually carry shirts and pants that are pre-treated; some are sold under
the Buzz-Off brand. You can also find Permethrin at these types of
stores to coat the rest of the clothes you plan to take.
For our gorilla trek in the mountains of Rwanda, we tested our hiking
boots to make sure we could wear them blister-free for long hours. We
also treated the boots with extra water repellent. A small daypack is
good for carrying camera equipment and water.
Finally, many African safaris involve one or more flights on small prop
planes with strict luggage weight restrictions. I've been known to pack
for a big trip in 15 minutes, but the fear of having to leave some of my
freshly poisoned safari clothes beside a dirt runway somewhere caused me
to do the unthinkable before my first safari -- "practice"
packing. Something to consider as you make your final preparations for
what is sure to be an unforgettable adventure.
This week, I've created a Top 10 list of terrific Africa trips from the
world's best operators. All prices are per person, based on double
occupancy, and subject to availability.
Top 10 Africa Vacations
1)
Delta and Falls Discoverer
(Livingstone to Windhoek), 9 days with
GAP Adventures. Begins
in Livingstone and ends in Windhoek with visits to Gweta, the Okavango
Delta and Maun. Land-only starting from $1,399.
Departures from
September 12, 2010 through January 7, 2013.
2)
Kenya Adventure,
8 days with
Intrepid Travel. Begins and ends in Nairobi with
visits to Samburu National Reserve, Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha.
Land-only starting from $1,775.
Departures from October 8, 2010
through June 10, 2011.
3)
In Search of the Big 5,
10 days with
GAP Adventures. Begins in Nairobi and ends in Arusha
with visits to Masai Mara, Lake Victoria and Olduvai Gorge. Land-only
starting from $2,599.
Departures from September 25, 2010 through
December 17, 2011.
4)
Ultimate East Africa
(Nairobi to Zanzibar), 24 days with
GAP Adventures. Begins in
Nairobi and ends in Zanzibar with visits to Queen Elizabeth National
Park, Serengeti National Park and Dar Es Salaam. Land-only starting from
$3,199.
Departures from December 10, 2010 through March 14, 2011.
5)
South Africa,
Mozambique & Swaziland Explorer 2010, 11 days with
SITA.
Begins in Cape Town and ends in Johannesburg with visits to Kruger
National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and Malolotja Mountain Reserve.
Land-only starting from $2,945.
Departures from September 16, 2010
through November 25, 2010.
6)
Primates and People,
8 days with
SITA. Begins in Kigali and ends in Entebbe with
visits to Fort Portal, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo.
Land-only starting from $5,720.
Daily departures from September 10,
2010 through December 14, 2010.
7)
Tanzania:
A Grand Family Safari 2011, 11 days with
Tauck. Begins and
ends in Arusha with visits to Lake Manyara National Park, the Great Rift
Valley and Serengeti National Park.
Receive one free pre- or
post-night. Land-only starting from $5,990.
Departures from June
12, 2011 through December 20, 2011.
Book now!
8)
Culturious:
South Africa & Namibia 2011, 12 days with
Tauck. Begins
in Cape Town and ends in Windhoek with visits to Bushmans Kloof
Wilderness Reserve, Stellenbosch and Sossusvlei.
Receive one free
pre- or post-safari hotel night. Land-only starting from $6,990.
Departures from January 10, 2011 through December 5, 2011.
Book now!
9)
African Sensations,
14 days with
African Travel. Begins in Cape Town and ends in
Nairobi with visits to Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park and
Johannesburg. Land-only starting from $7,045.
Daily departures from
September 10, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
10)
The Great Migration
(Zebra Level), 13 days with
African Travel. Begins and ends
in Arusha with visits to Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater.
Land-only starting from $8,145.
Daily departures from September 10,
2010 through December 31, 2010.
Once you've found a safari that interests you, call us toll free at
800-291-3346 (US and Canada) and a safari specialist will attend to your
needs. Customers from the UK, please call toll free 0800 279 8084.
All other international customers, please e-mail or call us at
+1-713-974-2121.
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Please e-mail me your comments, suggestions and questions at
alanfox@africasafari.com
and I will respond the same day.
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here.
Sincerely,
Alan Fox
Chairman & CEO
Vacations To Go