A SUMMARY OF WHAT'S INCLUDED

on the MARCH 2012 Safari   

DELUXE TANZANIA SPLENDOR SAFARI?

Transfers from Airport to first accommodation  

1 night Arusha Coffee Lodge   

Coffee Lodge Website

2 nights Lake Manyara Tree Lodge  

 Tree Lodge Website

2 nights Ngorongoro Crater Lodge  

Crater Lodge Website

Flight to Serengeti

3 nights Serengeti Under Canvas  

Under Canvas

1 night Arusha Coffee Lodge 

Transfers from Camp to Airport  

&Beyond

All meals while on safari are included.  Visit the website and explore the properties and what these properties have to offer.  A detailed itinerary can be sent if you would like.  

This Deluxe Safari is positioned throughout the country in various tented camps and luxury lodges that will offer you maximum safari experiences in the bush.  Most camps are situated in the middle of the bush where you will feel the true ambiance of the bush experience.  The last nights will be spent at a mobile tented camp (though they are stationery and in the same location while you are there), that move to different areas at various times of the year as the migration moves, so they will have prime locations to maximize your sightings.  For the guest, this means that you are as close to the 'migration' and the action as possible!  All have private bathrooms and showers, including the tents.  I will be escorting this group.   If a safari has crossed your mind, if you've ever wondered about what one was like, I will share comments from other guests, in my next newsletter.  There is no getting around that Africa is expensive, but when you consider everything that will be included, and the experience that you will have, it's not something you could ever put a price on.  Whether this would be your first safari , your second safari, or even your last safari, consider this trip to the 'eighth' wonder of the world.  If you've traveled to South Africa, and had your safari experience, think again.  For your next or your last safari, now it's time to think about a different type of safari experience.  See it now! 

OPTIONAL EXTENSION

3 nights Zanzibar

Checking out which property on my upcoming trip 

Transfers to/from airport to property 

International Airfare is NOT included, but I will arrange it once flights are available.  Anticipate airfare to be approximately $1750.00 per person. Should anyone sign up for the Zanzibar option, I will also escort that group as well.   

ANTICIPATED COSTS  

WHAT I NEED FROM YOU! 

Total Costs  Land Only $7400.00*

(Based on double occupancy)  

Single Supplement:  To Be Determined  

INSURANCE IS REQUIRED AND ADDITIONAL 

To escort this group, a minimum of six traveling passengers is required. 

A deposit by check of $2500.00 per person is required by May 1, 2011. Please make checks payable to Destined to Travel. (Due to the significant international CC fees and other costs, credit cards  cannot be accepted for this Africa trip).   

In order to begin planning the details of this trip, June 15 will be the absolute latest deadline to deposit on this trip.  If six passengers have not confirmed with deposits, by this date, you will have the option of canceling with a 100% refund or being booked individually which I will arrange and discuss with you.   

 * 2012 rates have not been finalized  

A Travel VISA is required at an additional cost, now $100.00 per person  

If anyone truly wants to go, but feels that this is beyond their budget, don't just put it out of your mind,  please email me directly.  There are alternatives, albeit different properties, different areas, that can alter the price to fit your budget.   Please don't feel that you can never go because the price is out of reach.  I would love for you to see it, and I can work with you accordingly. 

UPDATE ON EGYPT

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Each subsequent newsletter which I send out will feature one of my photos  and a short brief about the photo.  Photos may have been taken at any destination or at any time. 

by Kay Trotman

On this particular trip, I was on the Zambezi River and we were surrounded by hippos.  FACT:  Zambia has the highest concentration of hippos than any other African country!  I was on a boat and so much was happening on both sides of the boat, that I was running back and forth, trying to get a good  shot of a hippo in the water, as he popped up.   Suddenly, the water started splashing and as quickly as I could ready my camera, both heads shot out of the water and I grabbed a few shots not knowing what I would get.  I didn't particularly aim or focus, I just snapped.  This is what I got.  You don't know how difficult it is to capture two hippos fighting, AND out of the water, until you try to take a photo.  Gee, they are QUICK! They disappeared back under the water and popped up again, still fighting.  That time I was so surprised at the first sighting, I was not expecting another, so I missed that shot.  Just seeing the power of those jaws, those teeth of two hippos actually fighting to kill, all of it over which one is going to dominate the area for the female hippo.  Nature, it's really something.    

EXTRAORDINARY SHOTS FROM

MY TRAVELING GUESTS 

Each subsequent newsletter will feature one of my guest's photos  and a short brief about the photo.  Their photo may have been taken at any destination, at any time, and always as a guest, traveling on one of Destined To Travel's groups.     

Photo reprinted with permission by Wanda Johnson 

Last November 2010, Wanda traveled to South Africa along with eleven others in the group!  It was Wanda's first trip to Africa.  Like most, she had no idea of what she would see while she was there.  You should know that white lions are the rarest of lions.  They are not albinos, it is a recessive gene they carry.  They are extremely rare, not often seen.  In fact, I have been to this region with several other groups on at least five occasions, and have never seen them.  I always ask, but I never have, nor had many of the rangers.  They are said to be found in the Timbavati region of South Africa, which is where we were.  I'd almost given up hope of ever seeing one.  On this particular day, it was our last day, and we were heading out to the airport, as I recall.  The ranger got a call and asked if we wanted to go see the lion that had been spotted.  Of course, as rangers, do , there is always an aire of mystery when they see something special.  But, we didn't care, we just wanted to see it before we left.  It was a long way, and we didn't have much time, but of course we all said yes.   

We were in two vehicles, and the other vehicle, the one Wanda was in got there first, admired the lion, took as many photos as they could in the short time they were there and as they were leaving we, in the other vehicle, were just pulling up.  No one said what they saw, they just gave the thumbs up.  The lion was off the road, so we couldn't see until we positioned ourselves.  I could not believe it.  A lioness, a white lioness just relaxing in the bush, checking out everything.  I reminded my guests how fortunate they were to see that and how many times I had missed it.  They were THRILLED, of course.  I didn't know about this photo until I was home and making a souvenir book for Wanda and her husband 'Punch'.  I asked her to make sure I  had all the images that she wanted to include in the book. She told me about the white lion following the plane and I wasn't sure what she meant until I explored her photos.  I could not believe she got that shot of the white lion peering overhead, not paying one bit of attention to the odd looking animal (our vehicle) peering at it with curiosity, but  instead, directly and intently focused on that plane that was passing over, and she continued to follow it until it was out of view. 

NOW THAT'S A TERRIFIC SHOT!   

Thank you Wanda for sharing!  

Photo reprinted with permission by Rowena Lauayan

Rowena, who has also traveled to Tanzania with me, was also on the South Africa trip and captured this leopard trying to both drink and hide from us.  We had been tracking him, once he was spotted.  We saw this leopard the first day, as our first sighting, as he was disemboweling a pregnant impala as we drove upon him.  We went off and decided to return later after he had filled himself up.  It wasn't until the following day though that we saw the leopard and when he saw us, he promptly ran, far enough to camouflage himself in the bush, which made it difficult to locate him.  You would think with their coloring, they'd be easier to spot, but they aren't.  As we drove around, someone noticed spots through the bush, but he still wasn't that easy to spot between the brush. Rowena, quick as she was and Johnny on the spot, saw something most of the others in the vehicle, including me, did not.  She saw the leopard look up from taking a drink from the ravine he was hiding in and as he did, she took the shot of him looking at us, while we were trying to find him.  Look at those eyes.  As the leopard spotted us, he quickly ran to the end of the ravine, gave a huge roar  and growl, which scared those in the other vehicle.  They had just driven up trying to capture a glimpse of this beautiful creature. Just as  they drove up, the leopard  jumped up right alongside their vehicle, out of harm's way though, yet close enough to hear his growl, as the leopard took off running.  What an unexpected  adrenaline filled moment! 

GREAT SHOT ROWENA!  

Thanks for sharing! 

What would YOUR Photo Look like?  Got a favorite - Send it to me! 

READY! SET! ACTION!

Did you see The Bachelor on Monday evening February 28th.  I don't' usually watch it, but my sister in law called me all excited.....Kay, turn on Channel 7, AFRICA, The Bachelor is in Africa.  I turned it on at the point just in time to see the Tree House.  I knew right away where it was.  It was exactly the property where my next tour  to South Africa will take place.  I'm sure Lion Sands will be pointing this out (in fact, I've already got an email entitled BACHELOR INSPIRED VACATIONS. ....In Episode 9 airing on February 28 the love seekers head to Lion Sands Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sand on the banks of the Sabie River  in Kruger National Park. Bachelor's dates  on this segment  include safari game drives; a romantic encounter at the Chalkley Tree House; relaxing in a secure bush bedroom under the stars; and an interaction at Elephant Whispers. 

They will also take a helicopter tour to the Blyde River Canyon in the Drakensberg Mountains for a delicious picnic lunch. The Rose Ceremony will take place at Lion Sands' Tinga Legends Lodge, a safari lodge built around an enormous Jackalberry tree which is reputed to be over 200 years old.

The helicopter is not an included feature, but I'm sure it could be arranged if that is your desire.  HOPE that you will join me on this fantastic voyage.  Sign up by May 30, 2011.  I promise you that the OPEN tree house that you might have seen is NOT the regular sleeping accommodations.  The trip will not disappoint.

Not necessarily in this order, these are some of the trips which I would like to organize.  If any of them interests you, let me know.  If there are destinations you'd like to consider, also let me know.  Many of these are Collette Vacations tours., so they are not private, but part of larger groups.   Some can be private and custom if I have sufficient travelers. Smithsonian Trips are custom-crafted tours created for adventurous travelers who seek the thrill of discovery and learning, combined with flexibility and great value. As Africa is my specialty, South Africa and other East, and Southern Africa destinations (Botswana, Zambia Namibia) will remain an ongoing destination!  As always, Africa trips are private, custom journeys, usually escorted by me or booked as a private tour with a minimum of two travelers.  As interests are expressed, tours may change or be replaced as necessary!  Let me hear from you and we can work out time frames.  

EUROPE

STILL HOPING FOR ADDITIONAL TRAVELERS FOR SPAIN AND PORTUGAL on 9/22/2011

Mail in your deposit ASAP

This trip may be postponed if not sufficient travelers  

featuring the Dalmatian Coast and Slovenia

Scotland and Ireland

featuring Northern Ireland

Classical Turkey, Smithsonian

Morocco

as the Middle East stabilizes

Galapagos, Smithsonian

India, Smithsonian