We’re a lucky and very privileged bunch with most of the team doing at least one new exploration every year.  Some of us work “out of office” quite a few times through the season and with all that playtime there’s also lots of work. 

So given the chance to kick back properly we go back to old stamping grounds or places that simply deserve more time than we’ve been able to give in the past. 

Places like...  

The Skeleton Coast, Namibia  

• for remote and stunning wilderness habitats;
• harsh desert scenes with roaring dunes;
• ship wrecks on desolate beaches;
• home to desert elephants;
• sand rivers and parched mountain ranges;
• practically no inhabitants bar isolated Himba tribal settlements; 
• activities from dawn to dusk (sand-boarding, fishing, dune riding);
• photographic opportunities are unsurpassed!

East Africa’s best beach breaks

• Lamu, Kizingo, Kiwayu
• for a taste of Swahili culture
• the best rock oysters and limes on the planet
• a small castaway beach camp on Lamu
• another even remoter beach camp at Kiwayu
• some fly-camping towards Somalia
• no crowds just lots of things to do or the option to do nothing! 

Gabon  – for some pretty expeditionary type trekking; this is wild and untamed equatorial Africa; good for gorillas and chimps if you’re lucky; whales and turtles in season; truly special birds even if you’re unlucky.  [Last call for a privately guided trip with Chris Worden in April...contact him now]

…and this is how we do some of these safaris…

We explore the remoter and wildest spots in the South and North Luangwa (no roads on Chikoko trail and no permanent buildings in the North) – practically zero chance of running into any crowds!  

These are small owner run camps – Tafika, Chikoko, Kutandala or Mwaleshi  

The focus is on walking with top guides and hosts (Bryan Jackson, Rod & Guz Tether, John & Carol Coppinger with their respective teams)

To complete the destination, spend a few nights in the South with Robin Pope or our old friends at Kapamba, Bilimungwe, Chindeni or Kuyenda  

Two seriously remote and very wild spots with small camps at Chada Katavi and Greystoke Mahale

Katavi has arguably the best “resident game” anywhere in Africa; impressive big game especially elephants and buffalo; excellent predators; crocodiles in caves; an end of season hippo population that’s denser than you’ll see anywhere in the Zambezi or Luangwa valleys

Mahale, Lake Tanganyika – white beaches, crystal clear waters, dense forests and access to the largest wild population of chimpanzees
 
The combination of Katavi with Mahale offers stark contrasts, diverse habitats and some wildlife experiences that you'll simply find hard to match anywhere.  

Close to home for us, Zimbabwe is due for elections at the end of March 2008.

Suddenly the media has perked up with fresh reports of renewal and looks forward to selling stories.  In the news this week British politicians are reported to be “determined to take a tough stance against Robert Mugabe”, they’re considering banning all Zimbabwean sportsmen and women from competing in the UK. (Well the horse bolted nearly 10 years ago and our political leaders are still to find creative and constructive means for dealing with Mugabe.)

Now if there really is a big change in Zimbabwe then there’ll be lots of news to be told and sold.  But just in case there’s not and just in case the politicians and media in your part of the world are making you feel anti-social we have a suggestion – visit Zimbabwe! 

This isn’t a crazy idea…Mana Pools is one place where you’re not going to run into crowds.  Well suited to active souls, we’re canoeing the Zambezi and walking with some of southern Africa’s most experienced guides. The wildlife is outstanding, the habitats diverse. 

Speak to us about Chitake, the Mana shoreline and Camp Zambezi before things do change!

Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan recently left Kenya after brokering a power-sharing deal between the two main political rivals.  Perhaps a positive milestone and if the politicians can put Kenyans first then there’s hope.

The general media were quick to give us graphic images of machete-wielding youths in January and whilst travel warnings have eased the good news is slow in getting out. 

So until it does we’re encouraging friends of Kenya to visit!

We’re reminded that Kenya’s safari industry has been active for over a century.  So the long rains will run their course from April to May and the new safari season will start afresh in June.  Old bookings are still in place and we have some outstanding trips that are going to happen. 

Get a Kenyan update  now and if you have spare time later this year then consider Kenya’s “Great Escape” or sample some safaris in Kenya …  

The early part of the year is always very busy for us.  We’ve just completed two travel shows in the UK including our 8th Destinations Show in London…we were inundated this year…invitations to Destinations 2009 available now.

Following John’s recent trip to taste the short rains in Tanzania, Sam is back into the Serengeti and Selous. 

Liz and Char are keeping us up to date from Zimbabwe, Delene has stayed drier in the Zambian rains than she did during the Luangwa floods of February 2007. 

Trish is preparing for another Kenyan foray next week and then Chris is off to Gabon again at the end of the month. 

The Ermington office dogs keep soaking up the sun…they have the best jobs of all!

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