Mysteries of Ethiopia
Ethiopia holds a culturally unique place between Africa the Middle East. Discover it for yourself over 13 days experiencing the country’s diverse offerings. Trek into the unforgettably stunning Simien Mountains, get up close to the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, and introduce yourself to the residents of the innovative village of Awra Amba. Grab yourself an adventure you’ll be talking about for years to come.
Kenya Under Canvas Safari
Day 1: Nairobi-Samburu
On arrival your driver/guide will give a brief on your safari. Later proceed to Samburu Game Reserve. The Samburu Game Reserve is popularly known as “Born Free Country”, made famous by the world-renowned conservationist and artist, the Late Joy Adamson and her lioness, Elsa. The area is inhabited predominantly by the Samburu people, a proud and fierce warrior tribe from the Maa speaking people, the most famous of whom are the Maasai. The Reserve, and particularly the oasis like areas on the banks of the river, is home to a wide variety of bird life. Dinner & overnight at Samburu Intrepid
Day 2: Samburu
Embark on an early morning game drive. Animals that abound in the park include the lion, elephant, giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, crocodile, cheetah, buffalo and rhino among other species. Later return for breakfast and relaxation. At 1600hrs embark on an afternoon game drive.
Dinner & overnight at Samburu Intrepid
Optional activities:
Visit a cultural Samburu Village
Day 3: Samburu-Nakuru
After an early breakfast, check out of the lodge your next destination is the Lake Nakuru National Park, a true ornithological paradise with hundreds of bird species on record, the most famous being the long legged pink flamingo. The park is a sanctuary for the endangered white and black rhino and other species of big game are also to be found in abundance. These include the lion, leopard, giraffe, zebra, Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelles, warthog, etc Arrive in time for lunch; after a short rest embark on an afternoon game drive around the lake. Later return to the lodge. Dinner & overnight stay at Flamingo Hill Tented Camp
Day 4: Nakuru-Masai Mara
Check out of the lodge and proceed on to the world renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve. A visit to this magnificent Safari Country would be incomplete without taking a safari to what is often described as the big game reserve on the continent. Masai Mara abounds with big game that can be sighted everywhere on the golden savannah plains. The Mara also enjoys a proliferation of birdlife with over 400 species on record, and is a photographers and naturalist’s paradise. The famous ‘Big Five’ i.e. lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino are found in abundance. Other species include hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, elands, and cheetahs, various species of gazelles, wildebeests, kongonis, and topis among many others.
On arrival at the Mara, check in at the camp in time for lunch.
At 1600 hrs embark on an afternoon game drive. Later return to the camp. Dinner & overnight stay at Sekenani Camp
Day 5: Masai Mara
Full day spent in the Mara with morning and afternoon game drives.
Other optional activities include:
Balloon safari
Cultural visit to a Masai Village
Nature walk
Dinner & overnight stay at Sekenani Camp
Day 6: Masai Mara-Nairobi
Check out of the camp after breakfast. Start your journey to Nairobi this is a six hours drive. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure with last minute shopping. In the evening transfer to the airport for your home bound flight.
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Kenya Bush to Beach Safari
Day 1: 0700 hrs Depart for the world renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve. En-route, stopover at the Viewpoint to enjoy sweeping views of the Great Rift Valley and Mt. Longonot, an extinct volcano with a yawning crater that can be seen clearly from this vantage point. As you proceed down the escarpment with its breathtaking hairpin bends, you will do a brief stopover at the miniature Italian Church built by Italian prisoners of war after the 2nd World War to see the classical frescoes therein.
Arrive at Mara Simba Lodge in time for lunch and relaxation.
At 1600hrs embark on a game drive within the expansive Masai Mara Game Reserve to track down the ‘Big Five” i.e. the lion, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, rhino among dozens of other species.
If taking your safari between late July and October, you will be lucky to catch the action of the ‘Great Migration’ when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra, antelopes, buffalos are caught up in a life or death struggle to cross the Mara river from Northern Serengeti in search for greener pastures. Return to the lodge for dinner. Overnight stay at Mara Simba Lodge
Day 2: Arise at the crack of dawn for an early morning game drive. A highly recommended option is to take a balloon safari. There is nothing more awe inspiring then to rise up silently into African skies and float gently over the Mara while watching the golden red sun rise over the horizon and dusk turn to dawn. As the plains turn to life, you will see below thousands of animals come out in search of food. After the balloon safari, you will be treated to a sumptuous champagne breakfast out in the wilds. A game drive will be taken after breakfast.
Lunch will be taken at the lodge. After relaxation, embark on a late afternoon game drive in the Reserve and back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day3: Check out of the lodge after breakfast and head to Lake Nakuru National Park. The park takes its name after its most fascinating feature, Lake Nakuru. This is one of the most important habitats in the region, and an ornithologist’s paradise with over 450 species of bird life on record, the most famous of which is the pink flamingo. The park also boasts abundant wildlife and is a Sanctuary for the endangered white and black rhinos. This is also an important habitat for primates. You will arrive in time for lunch and check in at Flamingo Hill Tented Camp. Embark on a late afternoon game drive in search for the lion, cheetah, leopard, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelle, and view the myriad of bird life especially along the waterfront. Dinner and overnight stay at Flamingo Hill Tented Camp
Day 4: After breakfast check out from the lodge and proceed to Olpejeta Sanctuary. You will arrive in time for lunch and check in at a luxurious tented camp laid on a 24,000-acre game reserve. Relaxation and evening game drive. Dinner and overnight stay at Sweetwater’s Tented Camp
Day 5: Thereafter proceed to Aberdare National Park for the unique experience of all night and unlimited game viewing. Lunch, dinner and overnight will be at a tree lodge surrounded by forest and overlooking an illuminated waterhole and salt lick. Dinner and overnight stay at Treetops Hotel
Day 6: Check out of the hotel after breakfast. Start your journey to Amboseli with lunch in Nairobi. Arrive in the late afternoon with a game drive en-route, Amboseli is famous for its large herds of elephants. other animals likely to be seen are lions, cheetahs, bufallos ,giraffes etc. Later check in at Ol Tukai Lodge. The lodge is nestled on the foothills of Africa’s highest mountain Mt Kilimanjaro. Dinner and overnight at Ol Tukai Lodge
Day 7: Whole day in Amboseli with morning and afternoon game drives. Animals likely to be spotted include the Masai giraffe, elephant, buffalo, bushels zebra, etc.
Optional activities include: –
Sundowners on observation hills.
visits to the traditional manyattas of the Masai.
Dinner and overnight at Ol Tukai Lodge
Day 8: Check out of the lodge after breakfast. Embark on a game-drive en-route to the Tsavo National Park where you are expected to arrive in time for lunch at the Kilaguni Serena lodge. Kilaguni was the first safari lodge ever to be built in a national park and has long been a favorite of international tourist. Embark on an afternoon game-drive after lunch. Return to the lodge. Dinner and overnight at Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge.
Day 9: Whole day in Tsavo. Optional activities include morning and afternoon game-drives, excursions to Mzima Springs, with its crystal clear water welling up from volcanic rocks and its hippos and crocodiles. Dinner and overnight at Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge.
Day 10: After breakfast check out of the lodge and embark on a game drive en-route. Drive further south to the coastal town of Mombasa. Severin Sea Lodge on the northern coast of Mombasa. Dinner and overnight at Severin Sea Lodge
Day 11: Whole day at the coastal town with visits to Fort Jesus Museum, Haller Park, and Mombasa old town. Dinner and overnight at Severin Sea Lodge
Day 12: Whole day spent at your own leisure.
Dinner and overnight at Severin Sea Lodge
Day 13: Check out of the hotel after breakfast. Start your journey to Nairobi at 9:30 am. This is a six hours drive with an optional lunch en-route. You are expected in Nairobi in the late afternoon.
You have an option of taking dinner at the Carnivore restaurant where you can enjoy sizzling game meat. Later transfer to Jomo Kenyatta to catch your home-bound flight.
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Le Méridien Piccadilly is a luxury 5-star hotel in London, England recognised as the landmark hotel in Piccadilly Circus situated between Piccadilly and Regent Street.
Location
The hotel is set 1 minute away from London’s most vibrant area. Turn left or right, and you are surrounded by many of the city’s favoured restaurants, bars, art galleries, museums, theatres and other cultural icons.
The shops of Regent Street, Bond Street, Soho are all within 1 mile from the hotel and are yours to discover. Oxford Street is also a short journey away from Piccadilly Circus station.
The Tate Modern gallery with its expositions is 15 minutes away by tube or by the Tate Boat service. For the business guest, Le Méridien Piccadilly Hotel in Piccadilly Circus is within easy reach of the city’s financial centre and the main corporate offices.
As soon as your enter the hotel, the focus on art and elegant design is evident.
The Art and Chess-inspired afternoon tea is inspired by the current exhibition “Chess Potraits” by Francesco Ridolfi, curated for Le Meridien Piccadilly By Doinel Gallery #Terraceart which will be on display at Terrace Grill & Bar until 1st of April 2015. Francesco Ridolfi is a self-taught portrait photographer who has worked in the fields of both commercial and fine art photography. His series ‘Chess Portraits’ is a collection of 12 images representing the six characters from each side of the chessboard; Queen, King, Rook, Bishop, Knight and Pawn. Ridolfi photographed the same models in contrasting black and white outfits to create a ‘set of archetypes that convey different aspects of human nature’. Ridolfi’s meticulous attention to detail is evident throughout the series, from the elaborate, custom-made costumes to the impeccably-cast characters – the end result is a striking and contemplative observation on dualism in human nature.
The Chess Portraits Photo Exhibit
The Art & Chess-inspired Afternoon Tea is taken at the Terrace Grill & Bar which is extremely elegant. Michael Dutnall, Chef de Cuisine at Terrace Grill & Bar, and the team specially created a Chess Afternoon Tea to be enjoyed with the stunning photography as a backdrop.
So to start, I and my guest decided to try something different and opted for the Gin & Tonic Afternoon Tea which is a choice of herbal or fruit infused gin accompanied with tonic syrup. The Gin infusion has 6 options. I opted for the Vanilla and Chili infused Langley’s No.8 while my guest opted for the Bulldog gin with French Lychee Fruit. The Chili warms your throat after. It was very nice. Not too strong, just perfect.
Gin & Tonic Afternoon Tea
The sandwiches served on the day were Scottish smoked salmon with dill and citrus Creme fraiche on whole meal, roast beef & crotchet with horseradish on caraway seeded bread. The bread was fresh and lovely. The homemade scones was fluffy and warm, and accompanied with strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream.
The pastries were done with a twist! Inspired by the six characters from each side of the chessboard. They were chequered bitter chocolate tart, pawn’s coconut & pistachio frangipani, queen’s sable biscuit. It was Light, fresh and yummy.
Pastries
I had a lovely time! Everything was delicious and well presented, but the gin and tonic twist on the classic afternoon tea at Le Méridien Piccadilly’s Terrace Grill and Bar was most welcome. Overall I thought the service was pretty good. Great food, great views and great company.
Le Meridien Piccadilly. 21 Piccadilly · London, England, W1J 0BH · United Kingdom. Website: www.lemeridienpiccadilly.co.uk
The Adventure Travel Show – Uncover Your Journey of a Lifetime. 17-18 January 2015, Olympia, London
The Adventure Travel Show is a world of extraordinary discoveries, all under one roof. It is the UK’s foremost event for people who like to travel outside the mainstream – whether it be on small-group adventures, exclusive expeditions or epic journeys.
The Adventure Travel Show is packed with inspirational travel advice, travel photography, writing, travel writing, blogging and filming seminars, and over 100 talks from experts, explorers and tour leaders who will help you uncover your perfect adventure. Plus, the biggest collection of specialist travel operators will be on hand to offer guidance on everything from walking and trekking to exploratory journeys, safaris, overland trips, life-changing volunteering projects and much, much more
The Adventure Travel Show – it’s where your adventure begins! www.adventureshow.com
Ticket Offer: Safari on the Blog readers can get reduced price tickets to The Adventure Travel Show for only £6 (saving £4 off the door price)! Just quote ‘SAFARI’ when booking tickets online at www.adventureshow.com or when calling 0871 230 7159. (Calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Tickets must be booked in advance by 1pm Friday 16th January 2015 to take advantage of the offer)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. Typically carried out by a traditional circumciser with a blade or razor, with or without anaesthesia, FGM is concentrated in 27 countries in Africa, as well as in Yemen and Iraqi Kurdistan, and practised to a lesser extent elsewhere in Asia and among diaspora communities around the world. The age at which it is conducted varies from days after birth to puberty; in half the countries for which national figures are available, most girls are cut before the age of five.
The procedures differ according to the ethnic group. They include removal of the clitoral hood and clitoris, and in the most severe form (known as infubulation) removal of the inner and outer labia and closure of the vulva; in this last procedure, a small hole is left for the passage of urine and menstrual blood, and the vagina is opened for intercourse and childbirth. Health effects depend on the procedure, but can include recurrent infections, chronic pain, cysts, an inability to get pregnant, complications during childbirth and fatal bleeding. There are no known health benefits. The practice is rooted in gender inequality, attempts to control women’s sexuality, and ideas about purity, modesty and aesthetics. It is initiated and usually carried out by women, who see it as a source of honour, and who fear that failing to have their daughters and granddaughters cut will expose the girls to social exclusion. Over 125 million women and girls have experienced FGM in the 29 countries in which it is concentrated. Over eight million have been infibulated, a practice found largely in Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan.
FGM has been outlawed or restricted in most of the countries in which it occurs, but the laws are poorly enforced. There have been international efforts since the 1970s to persuade practitioners to abandon it, and in 2012 the United Nations General Assembly, recognizing FGM as a human-rights violation, voted unanimously to intensify those efforts. The opposition is not without its critics, particularly among anthropologists.
Reuters photographer Siegfried Modola captured this ceremony in rural Kenya for four teenage girls of the Pokot tribe, in Baringo County. The pictures show frightened girls lined up before villagers in Kenya to be circumcised – even though the brutal practice is now illegal in the country.
Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Malawi is over 118,000 km2 (45,560 sq mi) with an estimated population of 16,777,547 (July 2013 est.). Its capital is Lilongwe, which is also Malawi’s largest city; the second largest is Blantyre and the third is Mzuzu. The name Malawi comes from the Maravi, an old name of the Nyanja people that inhabit the area. The country is also nicknamed “The Warm Heart of Africa“.
Soni Methu of CNN’s Inside Africa explores the beautiful country, Malawi. A country known for its friendly people.
Check it out the best safari experiences that you can enjoy while on safari in Africa.
Saving money on travel can be difficult. You can find cheap prices during the off-season, but you may be visiting your destination when the weather is less than ideal. Some attractions might even be closed for the winter. Luckily, there are other money-saving travel strategies. These include waiting for promotional prices from airlines and resorts, using rewards points from a credit card or frequent flier program, and purchasing package tours or group tours that are cheaper, overall, compared to getting separate air tickets and hotel rooms.
It is possible to find sites on the internet where you can search for the best price on airfares and hotels. However, applying a few additional strategies can make it possible to assure yourself that you are getting a good deal every time that you make a travel-related purchase. Here are some ideals for saving money on your next trip:
Use rewards points from your credit card in addition to frequent flier miles
If you are a frequent traveller, the best money-saving strategy can be to collect rewards points from a travel credit card such as the American Express Gold Card or a credit card that is associated with a specific airline. You can then use whatever rewards that you earn to supplement the frequent flier miles you are awarded from flying. Save enough and you can enjoy a free flight or free upgrade a couple of times per year. Even if you are not a frequent flier, you can still use a travel rewards credit card to save money while flying. If you have a good credit history, you can apply for a card that has an introductory bonus offer. With such an offer, if you pass a certain spending threshold in the first two or three months of card ownership, you can get a block of bonus points that can be used to get a free flight or free upgrade.
Find a good package vacation
Finding a great deal on a package vacation is arguably the easiest way to save when traveling. Packages include airfare and hotel (and occasionally car rental as well). The advantage of vacation packages is that they come with deeply discounted hotel rooms. Many airfare plus hotel packages have prices that are not much more than the cost of a standard airplane ticket. The disadvantage of packages is that you can’t travel around a country or region on them because you are tied to a single hotel in one location.
‘Round the world airfares
These unique airfare deals are offered by some air ticket consolidators and also by airline alliances such as Oneworld, Star Alliance, and Sky Team. For not much more than the cost of a trans-ocean flight, you can travel around the globe, stopping in four or five or more cities along the way.“Circle fares” are a related type of airfare package that offer several flights to connected destinations within a specific region (such as East Asia, Europe, or South America). These fares are ideal for people who want to tour a region without being tied to one destination.
Discount sites or regional specialty sites
Discounts ticket brokers can occasionally have good deals. However, it might actually be better to find a site that specializes in a specific region. Such sites are generally able to offer the best deals to travelers because they have lower fees and charge a lower commission to the hotels and airlines that list with them. A prime example of this type of site is Agoda, a hotel booking portal for hotels in East and Southeast Asia. On Agoda, quoted prices are a few percentage points cheaper than on major booking sites, and Agoda’s low commission also attracts a number of budget-priced hotels, so budget travellers can easily book a room at a smaller guesthouse or hostel.
Use social media to find the latest promotions
Many airlines and hotels offer promotional prices, but it can be difficult to keep up with the latest offers. Some specially priced fares or hotel rooms are sold out even before you hear about the sale. The best way to keep up with flight deals is to follow your favorite airlines on Twitter. Some airlines even have special accounts where they only tweet about deals (@JetBlueCheeps, from American low-cost-carrier JetBlue, is probably the best known of these deal-specific Twitter accounts). Some airlines even have Twitter-only sales, so it can really pay to keep up with what these airlines are tweeting, even if you have to sift through non-deal-related tweets from time to time.
Josh Lew has travelled widely in Asia and the Americas. He has contributed to popular travel sites like Gadling and Brave New Traveler and currently writes a weekly travel column for MNN. His work has also appeared on the websites of CNN and Forbes Magazine.
Do you have any insights about finding cheap prices on airfares and hotel rooms? Please Share your knowledge in the comments section below.
“Traveling can teach you more in a year than most people will learn in a lifetime”
As far as I can remember, I’ve always thought of India as a colorful country with a rich culture, women with long hair wearing sarees, beautiful temples & delicious food… oh and the amazing dance moves. Thanks to Bollywood movies. The problem with movies is that they often perpetuate clichés, which rarely reflect the whole truth. Bangalore was all of it, but not only. There was darkness too. Poverty, injustice, discrimination and inequalities are a reality there. Kindness, generosity and economic growth are real too. Two sides of the same story reflecting the complexity of the Indian society, that I was lucky enough to experience from a balanced perspective, with a loving heart and an open mind.
My trip to India was one of the most transformative experience I’ve had this year. On a personal level, I’ve learned so much about myself, I’ve discovered fears I had no idea existed before, and found out where my real strengths lie. I’ve also learned from the people around me and realized how similar human beings are, regardless of the country, culture or religion we belong to. Our essence is the same. And if we spent more time seeking that essence instead of being focus on our differences, the world would be a better place. India is one of those countries I’ve always been fascinated with. I was excited and anxious at the same time to make this trip on my own. But somehow, I had this feeling of belonging, of knowingness. As if part of me knew exactly where she was going. Immersing myself into a new culture and embracing this environment made me feel whole in a way I can hardly explain. I was able to connect with this environment effortlessly, and knew my way intuitively. By the end of this journey, when I returned to England with a joyful heart and wonderful memories, I was certain of one thing: borders only exist in the mind.
“Traveling to an unknown place by yourself without knowing a single soul there can be scary for some people. But it’s actually the most educative & growing experience one can have. It’s stepping out of your comfort zone, literally, embracing the unknown and realizing that the world is much bigger and diverse than you thought.”
Bangalore is India’s third largest city and is known as the “Silicon Valley of India” for its leading tech industry. It’s also called the “City of Gardens” for its beautiful parks and gardens. What I first noticed is how multi-religious the city is. I’ve never seen so many temples, mosques and churches in the same place. I was also impressed by the fact that, though very developed, this part of India remains very traditional compared to cosmopolitan cities like Mumbai.
The weather was very dry and hot and the traffic was crazy! Especially in the afternoon, you can easily stay stuck for two hours between cars, bicycles, scooters, autos… and well, cows. I stayed in a hotel at Bannerghatta road, where the staff was very helpful and welcoming. In the morning, I would have the typical Indian breakfast with Masala chai, my newest addiction. Then I would watch TV with the boy who was cleaning my room each day. He didn’t go to school and didn’t speak a word of english. Yet he was the most polite and respectful being I met there. Despite his circumstances, he was always smiling and greeted me with a “Namaste Madam” every morning. It made me think of my own country, Cameroon, where a big part of the population don’t have access to basic needs like water, electricity, healthcare and education, and try to survive on a daily basis. It was a humbling experience. A reminder to be thankful for everything life has blessed me with, and enjoy the simple things.
Bangalore is a beautiful city with a wide range of activities. I enjoyed visiting temples and other religious sites, going to the shopping malls and trying out local food. I was hysterical when I found out there was a vegetarian KFC in town! I wish I could bring it back with me in England…
Some of my favorite activities included wandering in Russel market, one of the best market in town, where you can find almost everything at a bargain price ; spending peaceful afternoons at Lalbagh botanical garden, my favorite garden; and hanging out at Mahamat Ganghi Road (mostly known as MG road), the most popular and touristic avenue, where all the cool restaurants, shops, clubs and bars are located.
Fabric hunting was by far my favorite activity. I spent an insane amount of time (and money) in fabrics factories across the city. Did I mention that I was obsessed with Indian women’s sense of style? Most women in Bangalore wear sarees and traditional dresses. It’s refreshing to see a more authentic and less westernized fashion, especially when it looks so stylish! I noticed that Indian fabrics are quite similar to African fabrics. It’s all about prints and vibrant colors…
These adorable ladies taught me how to tie a saree
What I loved the most about my solo adventures was the human experience. From the women in the markets who told me all kinds of funny stories, to the elders I met in the temples who shared their wisdom with me, and the auto drivers who happened to be the best tourist guides. Every people I met had something to teach me. They were all naturally curious and kind, and approached me sometimes in the most bizarre ways.
This trip made me realize that the most important value to have wherever you travel to is compassion. Especially if you go in a country where the culture is completely different than yours. When you’re a tourist, people will try to get money from you on a daily basis, and sell you overpriced items and services. It’s pretty common. Not to mention those starring at you and sometimes taking photos of you because you look “different”. That is common too. I remember feeling very frustrated at the beginning because I didn’t know how to feel nor to react when people asked me for photos (some of them handed me their babies to take a photo with them), others even asked to touch my hair. At some point, I felt attacked and violated. But when I changed my mindset, the way I experienced things also changed. Instead of feeling frustrated, angry or scared, I approached everyone with love, understanding & compassion. I realized that most of them were simply curious and intrigued by me, and that I shouldn’t take it personally. Trust me, it took me a while to get there. I went through different stages of frustration and confusion that I will elaborate later in a post. Looking back on this journey, I can only smile and be thankful for the process…
Love &Light,
A
