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Savings in Africa!
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Sanctuary Olonana in Kenya is offering a family travel special - any child under 16 sharing a tent with parents stays FREE. Must be booked by Feb. 28, for travel through May 31, 2010.
Book any 6 or more night safari in Rwanda and/or Uganda and get your second gorilla permit for free (first permit included, a $500 value!). Book by Mar. 31 for travel in 2010. Our Rwanda & Uganda Gorillas Safari is perfect!
LAST MINUTE SPECIAL! Free flights within in Tanzania when booking between 4 - 9 nights at a combination of Jongomero Camp or Selous Safari Camp and/or Ras Kutani. Book by Mar. 15 for travel through Mar. 31, 2010. Space is limited! This offer applies to our Southern Tanzania Adventure.
Save 25% off the intimate Serengeti Safari Camp and Nduara Loliondo Camp in Tanzania when you book by Mar. 31, 2010. This includes a private vehicle and guide for your group!
Find more safari discounts or contact us for additional information on planning a customized safari that includes one or more of these specials.
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Kathleen Cline and her daughter, Madeline, explored South Africa's Garden Route over the Christmas holiday. Highlights included Cape Town's Table Mountain, the coastal beaches, picturesque country inns, summer wildflowers and Port Elizabeth. Thanks for the photos!
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Africa News and Travel Updates
NEW Global Entry Program:
The US Customs and Border Protection Department recently announced the new Global Entry Program. To qualify, travelers will go through a background check and interview, give fingerprints and a photo, and pay $100 a year. In exchange, they get to use a kiosk to return to the United States instead of having to wait in line to clear customs. Once in customs, qualified travelers will go to the kiosk, swipe their passport and go to baggage. If there are items to declare, travelers are still required to speak with a customs official. There is not a kiosk at every U.S. international arrival airport, but many major airports are offering this program. The complete list can be found here.
Announcing Serengeti Bushtops in Tanzania:
Serengeti Bushtops, a sister property to the luxurious Mara Bushtops will open in June 2010. The camp will be accessible by light aircraft from Arusha flying into the nearby Kogatende airstrip or by road from areas within Northern Tanzania. The 12 spacious tents will feature an open design taking advantage of the incredible views, wooden flooring, en suite bathrooms and a 24-hour butler service.
Sauti za Busara Music Festival in Zanzibar:
Feb. 11-16, 2010. The main stage in Zanzibar's Old Fort showcases live performances with 40 of the finest music groups from Tanzania, East Africa and beyond.
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February 2010
Greetings!
If you are like me, you have yet to plan your family's Spring Break vacation, let alone your big summer getaway. Mexico? The Caribbean? Hawaii? All are great destinations, but for something different why not consider Africa? It's low or shoulder season in most locations and airfare to many destinations is so affordable, it's  almost unbelievable. We have access to special fares to Johannesburg, South Africa starting at $1,200 round-trip in economy class and $5,300 round-trip in business class from US gateway cities. (Call for pricing from your city.) Rest assured, there is still time to take your family on a safari in 2010 and we're here to help. The Haber Family (pictured above near Lake Natron) recently traveled to Tanzania on our Tanzania Adventure Safari with rave reviews! Read some of my suggestions on taking your family to Africa on the Family Travel Network's website. FTN editor Nancy Schretter traveled to Kenya and Tanzania with us and has more great tips for safari-going families.
Of course, family travel is just one of the specialty groups we focus on. Honeymoons, anniversary trips and couples' safaris are one of our biggest markets. We've recently organized fantastic romantic safaris for clients to Botswana's Okavango Delta, Kenya's Masai Mara and exotic Zanzibar and other beach destinations. We have a great special (save up to $800 per person!) to Selous and the beach-front hideaway of Ras Kutani in Tanzania; read more on our Southern Tanzania Adventure. What better way to say I love you than with a trip to Africa. Beats a box of chocolates every time! By the way, Kelly and I honeymooned in Africa, and both Lyndsay and Gretchen each celebrated their respective 5-year anniversaries there...give us a ring to find out more about our insider tips on how to make your honeymoon or anniversary escape unforgettable!
Finally, we will be at the New York Times Travel Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, February 26-28, 2010. We have a limited number of free tickets ($15 value) - contact Susan in our office for more information. We hope to see you there!
Safari Njema,___________________________________
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 Spring Break and Summer Vacation Safari Planning!
Yes! There is still time to plan for a last-minute Spring Break getaway to Africa. Space is still available and we have family-friendly safaris to suit any family's interest. Even better, start planning now for your summer vacation adventure! Wildlife viewing in East and Southern Africa is excellent in June-August.
Kent is not only our resident family safari expert, but he is considered a family safari expert within the travel industry. Read more from a recent Q&A with Kent on the Family Travel Network on how to plan a family-friendly Safari.
Some things to keep in mind as you plan your family safari:
1) Watch the pace! Young kids usually do great on safari, especially if they have time to just be kids - run around, splash in the pool and play with other kids (fellow travelers and local kids alike!). Older kids also want down time  to listen to their iPods by the pool or do some shopping for friends back home. Make time to relax on your trip!
2) Make sure camps and lodges are family-friendly. Does the camp offer a "family tent?" A swimming pool? Some lodges even offer an early "kids dinner" separate from parents offering a more kid-friendly menu and allowing parents to spend some time alone.
3) Communicate with your safari planner and your guide. How do you want your day structured? What do you want to focus on - finding big cats or walking with the Maasai? Be sure the day has something for everyone in your family. Our top family safari recommendations include:Kenya Family Safari: This safari is ideal for families with younger kids and pre-teens. The luxury camps offer family tents and a junior guiding program keeps younger travelers entertained, too!Tanzania Adventure Safari: A great adventure for families with teens who like to get out and explore the world! Visit less-traveled spots in Tanzania and camp in the midst of the Migration in the Serengeti!Wild Zambia and Malawi Safari:The prefect escape for recent high school or college grads and their families! Walk through the wilds of Zambia and relax and snorkel your days away on Lake Malawi!Images courtesy Kent Redding & Family. |
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Honeymoons in Africa - Plan Now for Summer 2010
 Few things compare to a honeymoon in Africa - our past honeymoon travelers attest to that! Some of the best star gazing on earth, romantic candle-lit dinners, sleeping under canvas with all the luxuries of home and excellent, personalized service all make a honeymoon in Africa unforgettable. Now is the time to plan for honeymoon "season" this summer and fall. Our favorite intimate camps and lodges fill fast and planning ahead is crucial. Space is still available at many of top choices in East and Southern Africa for this summer. Contact us for more details.
We're pleased to announce our new Botswana Honeymoon Safari for 2010. This trip combines the best of Botswana's wilderness, luxury camps and the majestic beauty of Victoria Falls. Since this safari is booked upon request, it's easy to plan around your wedding date. Our favorite highlights of this trip include:
- Sunset mokoro ride on the Zambezi River at Siankaba
- Wine tasting and sundowner cruise at Chobe Chilwero
- Game viewing at Chief's Camp in the Moremi Reserve
In addition to this thoughtfully designed Botswana itinerary, we can design a safari specifically for your honeymoon to any destination in Africa - we highly recommend Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, South Africa and the Mozambique beaches for romantic getaways.
Photos courtesy Islands of Siankaba and Lyndsay Harshman.
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Did You Know...Fun Wildlife Facts!
 Did you know that baby hippos are usually born on land or in shallow water, but suckle underwater? They remain with their mothers for up to eight years after birth.
Some of the best places to view hippo - the Hippo pools in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, Kenya's Mara River, Zambia's Zambezi River, Botswana's Chobe River and Uganda's Kasinga Channel (reportedly the largest concentration in Africa with about 30,000 - see them on our Ultimate Uganda Safari!)
Photo Africa Adventure Consultants, fact courtesy Bushcamp Company.
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