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Deluxe Accommodations: Stay 5-7 nights at any combination of the following camps and receive 5% off, stay 8 or more nights and receive 10% off: Oliver's Camp, Sayari Camp, Olakira Camp or Matemwe Bungalows in Tanzania. Offer valid until December 31, 2009.*
Track Mountain Gorillas: Pay for 2 nights at the Gorilla Forest Camp in Buhoma and stay for 3! Offer is valid through December 31, 2009.*
Luxury in the Wild:
Bbook 2 nights at Chobe Chilwero in Botswana and 2 nights at Sussi and Chuma near Victoria Falls in Zambia and receive a free flight! A savings of over $300 per person; valid for travel from May 1 -December 31, 2009.*
Deals in the Wilderness: Book any Wilderness Safari lodges or camps for travel in 2010 and we will honor the 2009 rates. Or, book 6 nights and receive the 7th free. Valid for travel now to June 30, 2009 and November 1, 2009- May 31, 2010.*
*All offers must be booked by May 31, 2009 to qualify for discounts.
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Ted and Theresa Wrublesky recently enjoyed a safari in Kenya--Elsa's Kopje was their favorite spot--and gorilla tracking in Rwanda. Ted and Theresa pictured above at Cottar's 1920s Camp.
Julie Hale captured this incredible photo of a lounging leopard on her safari with Bryan Dehan in Southern Africa.
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NEWS: 'The Land of a Thousand Hills'
The Gorilla Nest Lodge near Volcanoes National Park is now closed for renovations, and the new Gorilla Mountain View Lodge is now open.
The Novotel Umubano in Kigali has changed ownership and is now called the Laico Umubano Hotel.
In other news in Rwanda, all travelers who want to pay in US dollars or exchange money, must carry bills dated 2004 or newer. Old bills will not be accepted for payment or exchange.
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| Sefofane Flights in Zambia |
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The Sefofane flight schedule in Zambia has been redesigned to offer more affordable flights on a set weekly schedule. Most of the aircraft fleet is comprised of air-conditioned Cessna Caravans C208. The new schedule and comfortable planes make travel within your safari easier than ever before. For more information on Safaris in Zambia click here.
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TRAVEL INSURANCE: Protect Your Trip |
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Protect your African safari, or any trip, like you would other valuable investments. Travel insurance can ensure that you will be reimbursed for trip delays, cancellations, lost luggage, medical evacuation and more. For complete information please visit Access America. Please reference our account number F034594.
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April 2009
Greetings!
Recently, I had the great pleasure of meeting Jane Goodall when she spoke in Denver. After spending most of her adult life observing wild chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park, she now spends a reported 300+ days a year traveling the world to spread her message of peace, conservation and preservation. What struck me most was her focus on encouraging young people to become active in their communities--whether it's caring for animals, picking up trash or anything else. To learn more about her programs and to wish Jane a Happy 75th Birthday on April 3rd, please visit www.janegoodall.org.
 Jane's speech reminded me how, during these challenging economic times, it's more important than ever to contribute wherever you can. To that end, we will be adding two new non-profits to our stable of charities that we support, and I will be visiting our nursery school in Tanzania to see what further work can be done there. To learn more about how AAC contributes, visit our website or click here.
Finally, thanks to everyone in Denver who joined us for a very successful "Beer & Safari" event last month. It looked like everyone had a great time and we hope to have similar events in other cities later this year.
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 Uganda: Mountain Gorilla Update!
There are more than 700 mountain gorillas (gorilla gorilla beringeri) left in the world today and about 340 of them reside in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda.
Currently there are 5 gorilla families in Bwindi that are habituated and open to tracking by tourists. Four of these - "Mubare", "Habinyanja", "Rushegura" and "Bitukula" are on the Buhoma side of Bwindi. One family, "Nkuringo", is on the southern side of the park near Nkuringo.
There are 8 permits available daily per gorilla family for tourists to enjoy the challening treks and view the gorillas. As of April/May 2009, a new family will be added to the habituated group--"Nsingo"--on the Nkuringo side. As well as offering a new viewing experience with this recently habituated family, an additional 8 permits daily will be available to tourists.
Nkuringo is located about 25 miles up a winding mountain road north of Kisoro. The new gorilla family is comprised of 20 apes, including 2 silverbacks, adult male and females, juveniles and six babies under three years old. The permit process for Nkuringo is different from the Buhoma side of the park. Permits in Nkuringo must be paid in full six months prior to the trekking date. In Buhoma permits must be paid in full three months prior to the trekking date. We offer the following safaris and gorilla tracking options in Uganda: Uganda Gorilla Trek
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Pink Elephant in Botswana
A pink baby elephant was spotted recently in Botswana's Okavango Delta among a herd of about 80 other elephants. The baby is believed to be an albino elephant, a phenomena that occurs very rarely in elephant. A BBC wildlife cameraman captured the baby elephant on film. To see pictures and watch the video, click here.
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Kalahari Plains Camp: A new way to enjoy the unique Kalahari Desert...
 The new Kalahari Plains Camp is set on a dune crest just a few miles from Deception
Valley. The camp is shaded by purple pod terminalia
trees and elevated slightly to take advantage of the cooling breeze. Camp staff include local San Bushmen, who add further insight into this unique area. What makes Kalahari Plains Camp special is its proximity to the famous game-rich Deception Valley of Central Kalahari Game Reserve, offering easy access for the morning and evening wildlife activity peaks.
Sightings to date have included lion, cheetah, leopard in camp, suricates(meerkats), hundreds of gemsbok (oryx) and springbok, wildebeest, red hartebeest, jackal with pups, Cape fox with pups, honey badger and 125 bird species. Apart from this, the scenery of this ancient river valley is simply spectacular. The Kalahari region is the ideal complement to camps in the Okavango Delta and Linyanti. Book now to qualify for special discounts--call us for more details. Click here for more info on safaris in Botswana. Photos by Clive Dreyer.
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Kenya: Reduced Visa Fees and Great Specials
The Kenya Tourist Board announced that Kenyan immigration officials will reduce the cost of tourist visas by half beginning April 1, 2009, and continuing through 2010. A single-entry adult visa at the discounted rate is now only $25. Additionally, in recognition of the family travel segment, Kenya will waive visa fees completely for children under 16 years of age during this same time period.
The luxurious Joy's Camp in the remote Shaba Reserve
Along with discounted visa fees, there are some excellent specials currently being offered in Kenya. One of our favorite new safaris at a great 15% off is our Unforgettable Kenya Safari, which features Joy's Camp in the remote Shaba Reserve, Tortilis Camp in Amboseli and Saruni Mara Camp in a private game reserve adjacent to the Masai Mara.
Photo courtesy Cheli & Peacock.
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We plan AND outfit your safari!
At Africa Adventure Consultants, we not only help organize your safari, we also can help outfit your trip. In our new Safari Shop, you'll find some of our favorite and most recommended gear for your trip to Africa. From  comfortable safari shirts and convertible pants, to durable luggage and handy plug adaptors, our Safari Shop has everything you need to be prepared for your next adventure. Feel free to ask us for additional recommendations! To visit our Safari Shop and outfit your trip to Africa, click here.
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On site in Africa: Pictures from the bush
Bryan Dehan captured this impressive shot of a lion cub while on safari with Julie Hale in Southern Africa.
The African lion (Panthera leo) is the only cat that lives in a group--called a pride. Male lions patrol a huge territory, normally up to 100 square miles. All of a pride's lionesses are related and the young female cubs stay with their pride throughout their life; young male lions eventually leave and establish their own pride.
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