New Rwanda lodge, SA child immigration and glamping in Baja!‏

Wild dog near Camelthorn Lodge in Hwange National Park. Photo: Imvelo Safari Lodges

Classic Africa Safaris: A Rwanda update from Classic Africa Safaris: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel opens in August with rack rates from $150pp. Located just 10 minutes from the Park HQ, the lodge offers 13 rooms, a family cottage, pool, and sauna/spa/massage, making it a good choice for families or small groups. Gorilla permits are sold out for August and nearly sold out in September, and accommodations availability is already tight for top trekking lodges during high season 2017, so don’t delay in booking. In other notable news, Rwanda has recently reduced speed limits, increasing drive time from KGL to Kinigi to 3hrs. Heli-transfers are a time-saving option. Contact Hilda for rates.

Dining under the stars at Imvelo’s award-winning Zambezi Sands camp

Imvelo Safari Lodges: Imvelo Safari Lodges has kindly pulled together a list of key selling points for their six fantastic Zimbabwean properties. If you haven’t yet visited or need a refresher, this handy document will help turn your lead into a sale. From the camp’s unique locations, like Little Gorges’ lofty perch on the edge of the Bakota Gorge, to one-of-a-kind activities like joining a full day safari ‘Pump Run‘ from Bomani or Camelthorn in Hwange, Imvelo’s lodges will exceed the expectations of your travelers. Note the available specials, too!

New Frontiers: Do you have guests planning to travel with children to South Africa? New Frontiers shares an important reminder that the immigration rules for minors are still in effect in South Africa. Although changes have been proposed, these have not yet been gazetted. As such, the original requirements for Unabridged Birth Certificates (UBC’s) are very much still in place. Please note: A UBC is not required for transit pax if bags have been checked through to final destination. For the official list of requirements visit our blog.

Riding through the stately trees at Hacienda La Danesa

Tropic Ecuador: Tropic Ecuador has found the perfect family or couples retreat. A private hacienda in a rural area about 90 minutes from Guyaquil, La Danesa is lush with rich soil and tropical fruits. Organic, farm-to-table chef-crafted meals will fill guests’ bellies after active days of horseback riding, cycling, tubing, chocolate making, or learning about farm operations (including milking the cows!). Each of the two en-suite rooms have private entrances. It’s a great prelude to the Andes (the perfect compliment to a stay at Hacienda Zuleta), or an active combo with Galapagos.

One of the beautifully appointed tents at Camp Cecil

Todos Santos Eco Adventures: It’s impossible to say no to Todos Santos Eco Adventures’ new glamping experience – it’s wild natural beauty in wildly comfortable surroundings. Camp Cecil features beautifully decorated walk-in safari-style tents and the on-site chef makes creative meals for guests daily – plus there’s a daily happy hour, of course. Activities include kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, swimming with sea lions and whale sharks, stand up paddle boarding, bird watching and more. This is an adventure that couples, friends, and multi-generational families will say YES to!

Ultimate Safaris: Have you signed up for our Ultimate Safaris webinar? On Thursday July 28th at 10am PT/Noon CT/1pm ET, Ultimate will share their top tips for planning the perfect safari in one of Africa’s most unique and spectacular destinations. We’ll also explore Ultimate’s new Journeys Under Canvas mobile camping, review updates to our Ultimate Namibia Safari for 2017 and dive into special conservation travel itineraries that partner with AfriCat, Save the Rhino Trust and the Desert Lion Project. Register now!