Safari Newsletter Dated February 11, 2019
Dear Vacations To Go Customer,
In this newsletter, I'll tell you about five of the best destinations
for an African safari. Click the links below to see itineraries,
with departure dates and rates.
1) Tanzania
The 5,700-square-mile
Serengeti National Park
in this east African country is perhaps the world's most famous game
reserve. It's one of the best places on the continent to view prides of
lions. Southeast of the Serengeti,
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
-- also called "Africa's Garden of Eden" -- is home to a dense
population of animals, including zebras, wildebeests, gazelles and their
predators. It features a caldera formed by the collapse of an ancient
volcano, and safari participants descend nearly 2,000 feet into the
crater to see the wildlife.
Tanzania safaris are available year-round, but many safari-goers like to
time their visit during the
Great Migration,
the annual movement of nearly 2 million animals, primarily wildebeest
and zebras, between the plains of Tanzania's Serengeti and the Masai
Mara National Reserve in Kenya. While the exact timing of this movement
can't be precisely predicted, there is a general pattern (the link above
will lead you to a description of their path).
Click here
to see all safaris that visit Tanzania.
2) Botswana
This southern African nation is nearly the size of Texas but has only
2.2 million residents. Its wildlife reserves in the Okavango Delta and
Kalahari Desert are vast and remote, and one must travel in bush planes
to visit them.
Chobe National Park
protects an enormous elephant herd, while
Moremi Game Reserve
has an incredible predator population of lions, hyenas, leopards,
cheetahs and wild dogs.
The
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
is the second-largest reserve in the world and was originally set aside
in 1961 for the San people, or Bushmen, as a place where they could
continue their traditional methods of hunting and gathering. Most of the
San have moved on, and now it's a prime spot for viewing elands,
giraffes and ostriches.
Botswana safaris are available all year, but you'll find that the best
game-viewing periods are during the winter dry season of May through
August and the spring months of September and October.
Click here
to see all safaris that visit Botswana.
3) South Africa
The wildlife in South Africa ranges from waddling penguins to the "Big
Five" -- lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants and rhinos. It's home to
one of the world's first conservation areas,
Kruger National Park,
which was established in 1898 and is South Africa's largest reserve.
Kruger boasts a rich abundance of animals, including about 150 mammal
species and more than 500 bird species. Smaller preserves surround
Kruger, including
Sabi Sabi,
also host to the Big Five and many smaller animals such as hyenas,
jackals and cheetahs.
In the bustling city of
Cape Town,
two oceans meet at Cape Point Peninsula, and the mingling warm and cool
waters support a diverse cast of marine life. Many South Africa
itineraries include a stop at Boulders Beach, where the aforementioned
penguins dwell.
South Africa safaris are offered throughout the year. Game-viewing in
northern preserves is best during the winter season of May through
August, when temperatures are mild and animals gather at water sources.
Peak travel in the southern regions takes place during the summer months
of October to March.
Click here
to see all safaris that visit South Africa.
4) Kenya
The
Masai Mara National Reserve
is a top destination in Kenya. It's on the route of the Great Migration;
the animals make their way to this preserve typically in August or
September. You'll find the Big Five here, along with hippos, crocodiles,
impalas, hyenas and cheetahs.
Amboseli National Park
is the place to seek big game like elephants, lions and cheetahs, while
Samburu National Reserve
on the Uaso Nyiro River boasts rare species like the Grevy's zebra,
beisa oryx and reticulated giraffe. More than 450 bird species have been
identified at Samburu, too.
Thousands of flamingos flock to the alkaline waters of
Lake Nakuru National Park.
Cormorants, pelicans and hornbills also can be viewed at the lake, along
with black and white rhinos.
Kenya safaris are available year-round. The prime game-viewing periods
are during the dry winter months of May through August and the warmer
spring months of September and October.
Click here
to see all safaris that visit Kenya.
5) Namibia
In southwestern Africa, Namibia is known for its surreal yet beautiful
landscapes. The red sand dunes at
Sossusvlei
are the tallest in the world, their lines and shadows shifting against
the blue skies.
Fish River Canyon
is bested in size only by the Grand Canyon; hot springs on the canyon's
floor form pools of water that attract waterbirds like Egyptian geese
and black storks. The Skeleton Coast is eerily sparse -- foggy and
littered with shipwrecks and giant whale bones.
Etosha National Park
is home to endangered black rhinos, and it's also a popular destination
for nighttime wildlife viewing. The preserve contains a shallow,
75-mile-long salt pan known as the Etosha Pan. Though dry for most of
the year, the pan collects water after heavy rains and attracts a
variety of game, including elephants, lions and antelope.
Our Namibia safaris are offered throughout the year. May through
September (winter) is best for game-viewing. Winter temperatures can dip
below freezing at night, though, and spring or fall months (October or
April) are the mildest.
Click here
to see all safaris that visit Namibia.
Top 10 Africa vacations
1)
The Plains of Africa Kenya Wildlife Safari (Explorations),
14 days with Collette. Begins and ends in
Nairobi. Save $200 to $1,000 per couple. Starting at
$5,221. Departures from June 20, 2019 through April 23, 2020.
2)
Tanzania & Zanzibar Adventure,
9 days with G Adventures. Begins in Arusha and
ends in Zanzibar. Save up to 20%. Starting at $1,469. Departures
from March 9 through June 1, 2019.
3)
South Africa from the Cape to Kruger,
14 days with Cosmos. Begins in Cape Town and
ends in Johannesburg. Starting at $3,119. Departures from March 17
through December 1, 2019.
4)
East Africa Highlights,
10 days with Intrepid Travel. Begins in
Nairobi and ends in Arusha. Starting at $3,395. Departures from May 17,
2019 through December 18, 2020.
5)
Botswana Delta Experience,
5 days with Trafalgar. Begins and ends in
Maun. Save 5%. Starting at $3,460. Departures from April 23
through December 31, 2019.
6)
Highlights of Namibia,
13 days with SITA Tours. Begins and
ends in Windhoek. Starting at $3,825. Departures from March 9 through
October 26, 2019.
7)
Wilds of Botswana & Victoria Falls,
10 days with Monograms. Begins and ends in
Johannesburg. Starting at $4,579. Daily departures from April 8 through
December 30, 2019.
8)
Uganda Wildlife Safari,
8 days with SITA Tours. Begins and ends in
Entebbe. Starting at $4,900. Departures from March 15 through December
20, 2019.
9)
Tanzania: A Grand Family Safari (BBC Earth Journey),
10 days with Tauck. Begins and ends in
Arusha. Young travelers receive $500 per
person off family departures. Starting at $7,530. Departures from
June 16 through December 18, 2019.
10)
Spectacular South Africa,
9 days with Luxury Gold by Insight. Begins in
Cape Town and ends in Kruger National Park. Save $600 per couple.
Starting at $9,012. Departures from May 16 through November 29, 2019.
Customers in the US and Canada can call us toll-free at 800-291-3346.
For a list of our other toll-free numbers worldwide, click
here.
For the world's best selection of deeply discounted cruises, click
here.
For river cruises along famed waterways, click
here.
For escorted tours to destinations worldwide, click
here.
For hotels and resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Bermuda, the
Bahamas and Europe, click
here.
Please e-mail me your comments, suggestions and questions at
alanfox@africasafari.com and
I will respond the same day.
If you enjoy our newsletter, please forward this email to family and
friends.
Sincerely,
Alan Fox
Executive Chairman
Vacations To Go
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