Baja family adventures, Delta water levels and cocktails in the Andes

Find the latest info for your travelers on Southern African water levels on the New Frontiers Agent Zone – learn more in the story below

 

Todos Santos Eco Adventures: How much fun can you have in six days in Baja California Sur? Sonya enthusiastically answers that question in her trip report from her recent visit with Todos Santos Eco Adventures. She and her family squeezed out every drop of adventure during their stay. They enjoyed swimming, horseback riding, surf lessons, releasing baby turtles into the wild, noshing on local cuisine, stand up paddleboarding…the list goes on! Learn why Baja is the perfect destination for families, couples and solo travelers in this blog post!

Travelers can spend up to four hours with endangered mountain gorillas

Classic Africa Safaris: Clashes were reported between Uganda government security forces and royal guards associated with the local Kasese kingdom. Classic Africa Safaris is in contact with authorities and monitoring the situation. The official statement from Tourism Uganda can be found here.

Still wondering what the new gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi might be like for your clients? Financial Times reporter David Pilling spent the day with the Bikingi gorilla family and describes his experience in this article. Most travelers that trek endangered mountain gorillas as part of an East African safari rate it as one of the most memorable experiences of a lifetime. The habituation experience with Classic Africa Safaris takes it up a notch, allowing guests four hours with the semi-habituated gorilla family. Ask Phil for permit availability.

Maya Trails: ‘Chicken buses’ are one of the more iconic sights seen by travelers throughout Guatemala. Now visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look at chicken bus production on Maya Trails’ new Ciudad Vieja Tour while helping local youth at the same time! Guests will visit a chicken bus refurbishing shop where old US school buses are transformed into colorful Guatemalan transport. The tour also visits a local family carpentry workshop and school, where travelers will learn how Maya Trails NGO partner Ninos de Guatemala is breaking the cycle of poverty with educational programs.

Cozy Chilcabamba Lodge welcomes tired adventurers to relax in the evenings. Photo: Paul Bertner

Tropic Ecuador: Ecuador’s Cotopaxi National Park is the perfect spot for Andes Mountains adventures! Travelers can opt for Tropic Ecuador’s fantastic lodge-to-lodge trek, where they will hike through (and summit!) some of the Andes most spectacular peaks. Guests can also opt for a longer stay at Tropic’s charming Chilcabamba Mountain Lodge, where activities range from hiking and horseback riding to learning about (and harvesting!) local flora. Every visitor can curl up in the cozy lodge with a warm, spiced cinnamon cocktail (aka a “canelazo’) and a hearty, delicious meal after their day’s adventures!

Travel Ethiopia: State Department guidelines for Ethiopia travel have seen recent hiccups, but attraction to the country never fades. This New York Times piece highlights the rarely visited Afar region. With one of the most surreal landscapes on earth, it is also one of the most inhospitable. It sits 125m below sea level and is incredibly hot, thus can only be visited a few months of the year. It is a dream for photographers and adventurers alike. Concerned about safety? Contact Travel Ethiopia with questions, or ask Gretchen about her recent dinner with a Swiss diplomat living in Addis.

Clients will enjoy extra comfort and style in Ultimate’s Enriched Transfer vehicles

Ultimate Safaris: Your VIP travelers now have a new option for transfers from Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek. Ultimate Safaris is pleased to introduce their new Enriched Transfer service. You can arrange for your clients to be picked up in an Audi Q5 for their transfer to Windhoek, as well as when going on selected transfers to and from Okonjima, Naankuse and Gocheganas. The new service is perfect for luxury clients, and must be booked in advance to ensure availability.

Albatros Travel: Whether your travelers are looking for the most luxurious safari in East Africa or one that’s value driven, Albatros East Africa can accommodate them. They have released their 2017 set departures, which visit some of the world’s most renowned wildlife viewing areas and will depart with a minimum of only 2 passengers! Your clients can visit Kenya, Tanzania or both, and with Albatros’ excellent guides, expert local knowledge and comfortable, well-equipped vehicles, you have all of the ingredients to make their trip a rousing success.

VIDEO: Click here to watch Imvelo’s latest Nehimba footage!

Imvelo Safari Lodges: Agents on Imvelo Safari Lodges’ last FAM can confirm – Nehimba is an epic location for close encounters with hundreds of elephants during the dry season! From July – November, at both the Lodge and the Nehimba Seeps, guests can witness the spectacle. Imvelo’s stay 3/pay 2 special at Nehimba is available in peak season when combined with Camelthorn or Zambezi Sands. And believe us, you’ll want to stay three nights with these kind of elephant encounters! Come spring it may be even easier to get to Zim as rumor has it Ethiopian Airlines is planning to commence direct service to Victoria Falls.

New Frontiers: Seasonal variations in water levels throughout Southern Africa makes for different experiences for travelers, and New Frontiers keeps agents and operators up to date through periodic reports on their Agent Zone. Currently, the annual flood cycle in the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls is at its lowest, with water at a mere trickle over the Zambian side of the falls. The same is true for the water in the Okavango Delta. Visit the Agent Zone for full details on water levels, camp activities and more information on seasonal norms.