Wildlife Safaris
Get up close & personal. The Chobe River cruise can be done in conjunction with a safari in South Africa, Kenya or Tanzania in East Africa.
photo courtesy of AmaWaterways

Roughing It
The staterooms on the Zambezi Queen are as elegant & comfortable as are the safari camps & lodges used on the land segments
photo of Kampana Lodge courtesy of AmaWaterways

Urban Jungle
Both Cape Town & Johannesburg in neighboring South Africa can be added to the Chobe River cruise in Botswana as extensions.
photo of Cape Town courtesy of AmaWaterways

Hear the Roar
Not the sound of wildlife but the constant rush of water.
Can you name these world-famous falls in southern Africa?
If you are traveling all this way, this side trip is well worth it!
photo courtesy of AmaWaterways

Answer: Victoria Falls, one of the seven wonders of the world, considered to be the largest waterfall in the world, between Zimbabwe & Zambia in southern Africa.

Exotic Escape: Africa
A Trip of a Lifetime!
Do you have a sense of adventure? a love of nature & wildlife? an appreciation for upscale travel? Many avid world travelers consider an African Safari to be the ultimate travel experience.
Did you know it can be combined with other land segments & a river cruise?

The Zambezi Queen
An even smaller, more luxurious river cruise vessel sailing the Chobe River in Botswana. Would you like to experience Southern Africa this way with only 28 travelers? Sounds good to me!
photo courtesy of AmaWaterways

Al Fresco
The open air lounge area on the Zambezi Queen offers great views
photo courtesy of AmaWaterways

Contact: Jacintha Perera, MCC
Master Cruise Counsellor
travel expert & escape artist
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
(916) 897-9597

Exotic Escape: Egypt
Did you know you can cruise the Nile River?
BTW, Uniworld is a boutique river cruise line

Contact: Jacintha Perera, MCC
Master Cruise Counsellor
travel expert & escape artist
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
(916) 897-9597

FAQ: Are there river cruises in other parts of the world?
Yes! On the Nile River in Egypt & the Chobe River in Botswana, Africa. The Amazon River in Brazil, South America. The Yangzte River in China & Mekong River in Southeast Asia.
Are YOU intrigued by any of these exotic choices?

Contact: Jacintha Perera, MCC
Master Cruise Counsellor
travel expert & escape artist
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
(916) 897-9597

APTA 2009 National Forum

Some of you are aware that I am a member of  APTA, the Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa. The Sacramanto Chapter of APTA is sponsoring this year’s annual National Forum in our city this June 10-12.

Do the Soccer-ena! Our sports version of the macarena was locally choregraphed by  fellow member Chelsea Nilsen. Check out YOURS TRULY (long hair flying) in the front row left  in the winning APTA  chapter Diski Dance video to promote the 2010 World Cup Soccer Tournment in South Africa.

As the winners of the contest, the Sacramento APTA chapter will receive a cash award donation from the South African Tourist Board and the National APTA chapter to benefit many in Africa through Kiva projects.

This an excerpt from the Kenya Virtual Tour.
See Archives November 2009 for the entire tour.

Day 23: Journey’s End

On my last day in Kenya, I spent several hours sitting in the shade of coconut palms fringing the coastal beach south of Mombasa observing a constant stream of human and animal activity: fisherman, hawkers, acrobats and jugglers, camel drivers, and the curious local monkeys.

Three men dressed in the traditional crimson garb of the central Maasai Mara plains walking down the beach caught my attention since they were obviously far from home and quite out of place. They paused long enough for me to capture their ethereal image in the shimmering noonday light. We were literally at land’s end. I was at my journey’s end and I wondered if they were too.

It was time to go home.

I had scaled high hurdles just to get to Kenya.

Was it worth it? Heck yeah! Would I do it again? Well, . . . let me check my Wish List.  The Spice Islands of Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Mauritus and Reunion – all islands off the east coast of Africa. And I know there are even more extraordinary experiences awaiting in Botswana.

Every serious traveler has a Travel Wish List. What’s on yours for 2010?

For more information, go to:
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com

This an excerpt from the Kenya Virtual Tour.
See Archives November 2009 for the entire tour.

Day 20: Mass Exodus

As the thundering herd  crosses the Mara river, there are other dangers: hippos lying on the river bank or submerged in the water. And then there are the 18-20 foot long crocodiles seen here doing a little lazy sunbathing. Our guide made sure we were at a safe distance – on the opposite bank.

For more information, go to:
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com

This an excerpt from the Kenya Virtual Tour.
See Archives November 2009 for the entire tour.

Day 2: Long Haul Expedition

I have become accustomed to taking a single overnight flight from Los Angeles to just about anywhere in the South Pacific – Tahiti, Fiji, the Cooks, Auckland or Sydney – with an airline ticket, a valid passport and a single suitcase.  Aside from a couple of credit cards, an ATM card and a small amount of cash money – that’s all.

Of course, I had done some general research for Kenya but it soon became apparent that traveling there was going to be more complicated. As the advance scout on these inspection trips, I discover all the potential pitfalls firsthand.

First, I would need a visa which involved sending my passport, application, photos and fees to the nearest Kenyan Embassy. Upon arrival, I discovered that it is also possible to have it issued at the airport – strictly with cash in hand, no checks, no credit cards. Not the time and place to come up short.

Then I had to have the appropriate and current travel immunizations for the region. This entailed shots in both arms and a prescription for anti-malaria pills. I left the travel clinic with my new bright yellow International Certificate of Vaccination signed and stamped accordingly.

Next, I had to purchase the proper clothing and fit it all into one small tote bag. This is due to the extreme weight limitation for domestic flights on small bush planes. Do yourself a favor, don’t even think about dragging along a full size, hard shell Samsonite, just because you can on the international flights.

Finally, I learned that two overnight international flights would be required from Los Angeles – one to London in Europe and one on to Nairobi in Africa. Yes, this involves travel through 3 continents. Remember, it is the other side of the world.

All of this just to get there. I really have become spoiled.
It felt like I was preparing for a major expedition.

I had to remind myself of the reasons for going and the experiences waiting for me.
I was still determined to go. That’s when the true challenges emerged.

For more information, go to:
www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com

On my last day in Kenya, I spent several hours sitting in the shade of coconut palms fringing the coastal beach south of Mombasa observing a constant stream of human and animal activity: fisherman, hawkers, acrobats and jugglers, camel drivers, and the curious local monkeys.

Three men dressed in the traditional crimson garb of the central Maasai Mara plains walking down the beach caught my attention since they were obviously far from home and quite out of place. They paused long enough for me to capture their ethereal image in the shimmering noonday light. We were literally at land’s end. I was at my journey’s end and I wondered if they were too.

It was time to go home.

I had scaled high hurdles just to get to Kenya.

Was it worth it? Heck yeah! Would I do it again? Well, . . . let me check my Wish List.  The Spice Islands of Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Mauritus and Reunion – all islands off the east coast of Africa. And I know there are even more extraordinary experiences awaiting in Botswana.

Every serious traveler has a Travel Wish List. What’s on yours for 2010?

If you’d like to be added to my private invitation list for future getaways, e-mail me:
Jacintha@IslandGetawaysTravel.com

Turn around 180 degrees for an expansive view of a beach that seems as wide as it is long. Diani Beach stretches out to waves coming in from the Indian Ocean beckoning you into the warm water. The sand is firm and perfect for jogging but there’s little activity at this time of day. That will soon change.

The beach bar is just opening for business. A vendor is setting up racks of sarongs. A man strolls by with hand-woven hats. Another with bags for sale.

A hotel attendant walked by. Could he get me anything?, he inquired. Some of the resorts in the South Pacific offer fresh coconuts. I asked if they had any, not realizing that a staff member would be dispatched to climb a palm tree and fetch me a fresh green drinking nut. It was quickly sliced open and handed to me with a straw inserted. A perfectly refreshing coconut mocktail.

And then I met the resident colobus monkeys – inquisitive, mischievious and completely fearless. They alone provided hours of free entertainment. They would walk right up, look over you and your belongings and perhaps abscond with a small item left unattended.

My only regret is that I have only 1 day and 1 night here. Barely 24 hours, enough time to look around but not really do much.

I had brought a stck of small bills, 5s, 10’s, some 1’s, for tips. Both camps had staff gratuity boxes and driver/guides were given tips directly. Some companies offer ultra all-inclusive trips. Gratuities were not expected in that case.

I had a little money left. I was leaving the next day and I knew I would have some time at the airport. I wandered into the duty free store to grab some gifts and souvenirs. At the check-out counter, the cashier informed me that credit cards were NOT accepted, only cash. On the way back to the gate, I finally noticed the ATM machine with a very, very long line. How had I not seen that before? Now it made sense to me. Strcitly cash and carry.

I would arrive home with less than $10 U.S.