Newsletter - September 2005

TRAVEL CENTRE

Newly added itineraries
Below are the new itineraries added to our Travel Center in the past month :-

		Tanzania Luxury Camps Christmas Special Safari - Tanzania 10 days: A special luxury and mobile camps special for Christmas safari in Tanzania. Starting on 19th December - private safari for 2 or more persons. Visiting Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park.
		8 day Tanzania Christmas Special Lodge Safari - Tanzania Departing on 22nd December this special fly-in safari visit Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area - staying in Serena Lodges. Places are very limited so book early to avoid disappointment. This is a private safari departing with a minimum of 2 persons
		Accessible 4 day Garden Route Tour - South Africa Tour along the beautiful and very scenic east coast of South Africa with stops in Port Elisabeth, Tsitsikamma Forest, Knysna, George, Oudtshoorn & Ostrich Farm, Mossel Bay, Hermanus and Cape Town. Everybody is welcome on our tours; individuals, friends, families, groups and clubs – disabled or not. All the accommodation used is wheelchair accessible. This "enables" the “Disabled traveller" to enjoy an “expedition of a lifetime”
Click to view all itineraries specifically designed to be wheelchair accessible
		Great White Shark Experience - South Africa 5 days: Experience the ultimate adrenaline rush - time with the king of the sea, the Great White Shark. Enjoy this marine safari which will bring you, up-close, to these apex predators in Cape waters. Both non-divers and divers are able to appreciate these majestic creatures, as boat based viewing is very popular; in fact most people admire these apex predators from the comfort of the boat. For those adventurous people who want to get into the cage and come face to face with a Great White, all dive gear/equipment is provided.
		Masai Mara Wildlife Camping Safari - Kenya 3 days: This is a semi luxury camping safari to Masai Mara that departs daily (with min. of 2 persons) from Nairobi, driving through the beautiful landscape of the Kikuyu farmlands before descending to the escarpment of the Kenya's Great Rift Valley past the extinct volcanoes of Longonot and Suswa, to Narok for picnic lunch. After lunch continue across the Loita Plains pasts occupied and abandoned manyattas [the nomadic Masai villages] plastered with cow dung.
		Amboseli Camping Kenya Safari - Kenya 3 days - camping safari, departing daily (with min of 2 persons) from Nairobi, travelling to Amboseli game reserve via Namanga on the Tanzania border. Amboseli is famed for its abundance of elephants. Optional visit the Masai Villages, to learn about the Masai Culture.
		Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara Camping Safari - Kenya 4 days - Kenya Camping Safari to Lake Nakuru, described as the world’s birds spectacle. You will see thousands of the pink flamingos and many other types of birds. Waterbuck, buffalos, lions & the rhinos are commonly seen here. A full days is spend exploring the vast plains of the Masai Mara, where you have the chance to see the BIG 5 with picnic lunch by the hippo pool Guaranteed daily departure from Nairobi with a minimum of 2 people
		The Ultimate Luxury South African Tour and Safari - South Africa 14 days - starting in Johannesburg. Enjoy South Africa in style and luxury. Start off by transfer in private plane to Ulusaba Reserve, which is Sir Richard Branson’s Private Game Reserve. Then spend 3 days at Sun City, the most luxurious resort in Africa, containing casinos, cinemas, restaurants, world class golf courses, and the Lost City Complex, surrounded by 25 hectares of tropical jungle. Followed by a Rail Trip on Rovos Rail from Pretoria to Cape Town in the Royal Suite and finish off with 3 days in Cape Town staying the Cape Grace Hotel, voted by Conde Naste as Africa’s best Hotel
		Self Drive Tour of South Africa - South Africa 20 days - The best of South Africa tour. See the Big 7 award winning Shamwari Game Reserve, the Garden Route, spending three nights at Stanley Island, South Africa’s only privately owned island which is near to Plettenberg Bay and visiting other highlights along the Garden Route and finishing in Cape Town on this wonderful self drive tour.
		Aberdares Walking Safari - Kenya 4 days - This is a simple adventure walking safari through the Wildlife and Cultural sites in Kenya. Guaranteed daily departure from Nairobi with a minimum of 2 people
		Amboseli and Tsavo Nat Park - Camping Safari - Kenya 5 days camping safari visiting Amboseli and Tsavo West National Parks - Guaranteed daily departures out of Nairobi based on a minimum of 2 people
		Amboseli, Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara Camping tour - Kenya 6 day camping safari visiting Amboseli, famous for it's large elephant population, Lake Naivasha, where you can take a boat ride to view & study different bird life and onto the Masai Mara in search for black manned lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, rhino and other plain game. Guaranteed departure from Nairobi with a minimum of 2 persons.
		Kenya Rift Valley Lakes and Masai Mara Safari - Kenya 6 day camping safari visiting the Rift Valley Lakes of Baringo and Nakuru - the bird watching centres of Kenya and including Masai Mara National Park. Daily departures from Nairobi with a minimum of 2 people.
		Omo Valley Adventure Tour - The Tribal Cultures - Ethiopia 12 days: It's difficult to generalize about such a complex ethnic mix of people. Seeing is Believing! This tour allows you to learn more about the unique tribal cultures of Ethiopia as well as enjoy the spectacular nature sights along the way.

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Specials / Late Deal If you're looking for a last minute break - here are a couple of Late Deals to tempt you:
	13 Day Cape Town, Garden Route, Kruger Park - South Africa - 10% Discount on 19 September 05 departure 13 days@ Escorted small group tour - ALL the highlights from Cape Town, Garden Route, Sani Pass (Lesotho), Durban, Zululand, Kruger Park, Panorama Route. Includes: activities, breakfast, dinner, local flights.
	Northern Nomad 15% off the last 2 seats on the 25 September 05 tour 27 days overland from Nairobi to Victoria Falls in comfort! Famous Game Parks, idyllic Zanzibar & Lake Malawi, and the best of Zambia. Digital Camera download facility available while on tour .
	Special offer. Safari 5 Star Shamwari Game Reserve - over 18% Discount : valid until 30th September 2005. 6 days: See the Big 5 including 5 Star Shamwari Game Reserve. Understand why it is "Africa's leading Safari" "The World's Leading Safari and Game Reserve". The World's Leading Conservation Company"

If you are looking for a specific safari, I am sure you will find exactly what you're looking for if you have a browse through our Africa Travel Center. There are over 500 tours, safaris, adventure activities, overland trips, resort holidays, itineraries ranking from budget to sheer luxury. Click to view the whole selection.

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Newly released African Music

	Introducing Daby Balde - by Daby Balde (Artist) Daby Balde is one of Senegal’s best-kept musical secrets, long celebrated at home and now exploding on to the international scene. With strikingly rich and beautiful melodies, captivating vocals and a repertoire that ranges from euphoric to melancholic, Daby Balde is a West African star on the rise. Buy From (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - Europe
	Rough Guide to the Music of Madagascar - Various Artists features music across the broad Malagasy spectrum – from the island’s spicy dance music to the purest music from the highlands. Featuring the valiha (a tubular bamboo zither) and lokanga (three-stringed fiddle), among other instruments specific to the island, this album explores the diverse Malagasy culture that has been influenced by Arab, Persian, Chinese, Indian and European societies over the years. Buy From (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - Europe
	Rough Guide to African Music for Children - Various Artists features some of the best-known artists from across the continent, with tracks chosen by children, for children. World Music Network, with the help of the music charity Music For Change, spoke to more than a thousand children, who selected their favourite African music tracks. this album showcases some of the best foot-stomping and hair-raising African music around. Buy From (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - Europe
	Dimanche a Bamako - Amadou & Mariam Highlights include the impossibly catchy "Senegal Fast Food" and the percolating "Coulibaly," while the couple's political bent comes out on "Politic Amagni." Truly an album with a global perspective, there is something for everyone here, and rather than diluting the stew, it makes it all the more tasty Buy From (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - Europe
	Little Patience - Majek Fashek Majek truly sings from the soul about the political and social struggles he has faced in his travels from Nigeria to the USA. It is a remarkable collection that incorporates the influences of Bob Marley, Fela and Jimi Hendrix as Majek seamlessly meshes roots, rock, reggae and Afrobeat into a unique signature sound he calls Kpangolo. Buy From (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - Europe
	Dreams of Marrakesh - Kargo If you want dream and relax, but also like Arabic tunes, this is the album for you. You can practice your belly dancing skills or just relax with a nice glass of wine in front of a log fire or enjoy a mild Summer evening in your garden or on your balcony. ( A listener from UK ) Buy From (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - Europe

Travel Tips....

This month's travel tips:

Africans do like to please...and in some countries it is considered more impolite to say "I don't know" than it is to give a wrong answer.

When asking directions to somewhere, ask several people, and keep asking as you go.

Be careful how you phrase your questions: "Is this the way to...." to which some will reply with "yes" even if they don't know, because that is what they think you want to hear.

.... it is best to say "Can you tell me the way to...." or "Do you know the way to" .

If you ask how far it is/how long it will take to walk and the answer is not long/not far it means anything - don't be mistaken it could take a long time!

Click for more Travel Tips

Let you family, friends and colleagues who are thinking of visiting Africa know about The Africa Guide. They have access to all the information they need to plan their travels.

Happy Travels !!!

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