Oil exploitation in the Ecuadorian Amazon is consuming more and more of the pristine rain forest and encroaching on the land of the Huaorani people, threatening their lifestyle and culture. Watch this gripping video from Tropic Journeys on the Nat Geo World Legacy Award-winning Huaorani Ecolodge and how ecotourism is the last chance to preserve this unique forest culture in one of the world’s most priceless ecosystems. The Huaorani invite you to help make sustainability more profitable than exploitation. Click to learn more and download Tropic’s Amazon Explorers guide here.
Imvelo Safari Lodges has released their 2017 rates, happily keeping increases to an absolute minimum. For 2017, their popular Stay 3/Pay 2 specials at Camelthorn, Nehimba and Zambezi Sands will run in the green season (Jan – April/Nov & Dec) unless booked and paid in full in 2016. Their Stay 6/Pay 4 and Stay 9/Pay 6 specials are valid for all of 2017! Download the 2017 rates and specials here. Contact us with questions or clarifications.
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| St. Helena was visited by both Napoleon and Darwin – only one voluntarily! |
New Frontiers is offering two small group departures to the remote tropical island of St. Helena in November 2016 and March 2016. Featured in the NY Times 52 Places to Go in 2016, this 47 sq mile volcanic spec is 1,500 miles from Cape Town and fascinating both historically (Napoleon spent his final years on the island in exile) and and ecologically (it boasts 400 endemic bird and plant species). Previously accessible only by mailship from Cape Town, the first flights are expected from JNB in May. Learn more on the Agent Zone and download the itineraries here.
Fly-in safaris to Uganda just got a whole lot easier! Classic Africa Safaris reports that there are now three companies offering daily seat rate flights to Uganda’s National Parks, meaning more rate competition and flexibility when designing an itinerary. Add to this the direct FastJet flights between Kilimanjaro Intl (Arusha, TZ) and Entebbe, UG 3x per week (Tue, Thur, Sat) and you can now more easily add a Uganda primate extension to a northern Tanzania safari circuit!
In other African aviation news – Qatar Airlines is starting direct Doha – Windhoek flights 4x weekly in September, making Ultimate Safaris and Oneworld/AA mileage hounds very happy! Elsewhere in Southern Africa, FastJet begins 2x weekly (Fri/Sun) Jo’burg – Vic Falls flights on March 25 with fares from $130 each way. Rumors abound of one of the Middle Eastern airlines starting direct long-haul flights into VFA but nothing confirmed as yet.
Congratulations to Ultimate Safaris and Imvelo Safari Lodges, both shortlisted in the We Are Africa Innovation Awards in the Conserve Africa category! This is the third year as finalists for each company – fingers crossed this is the year for one of them to win! Imvelo was nominated for the conservation story of Jozibanini Camp in Hwange and Ultimate for their highly-regarded conservation-themed safaris. For those who are attending WAA, you can vote here for the Innovation Awards.
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