Dhani Tackles Senegal

There is a great new show on the Travel Channel called Dhani Tackles the Globe.

The premise is that charismatic NFL linebacker Dhani Jones travels the world in search of unusual sports, and immerses himself in the local culture as he learns and competes in that sport.

In the current episode Dhani goes to Senegal where he learns about lutte, an ancient form of wrestling that is steeped in history. For episode clips, click here: Dhani Tackles Senegal. Or check out Dhani's Travel Guide to Senegal.

5 things you probably didn't know about Ethiopia:

1. Ethiopia is green. The central part of the country sits on a high plateau with rich farmlands and stunning mountain vistas. The national grain is the highly-nutritious teff, the main ingredient in injera, a flat, spongy, pancake-like bread that serves as both plate and utensil in Ethiopian cuisine.

2. You are seven years younger in Ethiopia! While most of the world uses the Gregorian calendar, which dates from the 16th century, Ethiopia stuck with its traditional calendar, which has 13 months and New Years day in September. Until September 11th, it is 2002 in Ethiopia.

3. Ethiopia is the Cradle of Mankind. Many people are familiar with Lucy, the early hominid skeleton found in Ethiopia’s Afar region in 1974. Since then there have been even earlier hominid discoveries. In 2009 Ethiopia reclaimed the title when details were published about Ardi, a female skeleton dating back some 4.4 million years.

4. Ethiopia is diverse. There are more than eighty different ethnic groups in Ethiopia, some with fewer than 10,000 members. The national language is Amharic, which is the native language of the Amhara people. The Oromo people make up the largest ethnic group, and the Tigrinya people in the north are also influential.

5. Ethiopia has castles. The town of Gondar is the famed site of the Fasil Ghebbi, a royal enclosure of castles dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. During this period each successive ruler built his own castle next to that of his predecessor. The castle designs reflect Hindu and Arab influences, as well as Baroque elements brought to Gondar by Jesuit missionaries.

Our Historial Ethiopian Tour is just one of many itineraries we offer. For more information give us a call at 866-778-1089.

Great Deal on our Wildest Tanzania Safari!

Right now we have a special offer on our 8-day Wildest Tanzania Safari; book by May 31, 2010, and you can save up to $1350 per person. This fantastic trip takes you to off-the-beaten-path gems like Katavi National Park. Though it is the third largest park in Tanzania, remote Katavi sees fewer visitors in a year than the Northern Circuit Parks see in a day! You also visit Mahale Mountains National Park, perhaps the best place in the world to trek chimpanzees. Here the guides know the chimps by name, providing for an unparalleled experience. On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Greystoke Camp has one of the most amazing settings imaginable, and just six banda-style huts that blend perfectly into the environment.

For more details, please give us a call at 866-778-1089.

FAQs About Travel Insurance and the Iceland Volcano from Travel Guard, one of our Preferred Providers

Frequently Asked Questions The below questions and answers apply to policies purchased through Travel Guard Group, Inc. USA (Travel Guard), one of AAC's preferred travel insurance providers.

Question One: "I am scheduled for future travel and purchased my insurance policy prior to this volcanic event. If this volcano subsides and then erupts again, causing my future travel plans to be disrupted, will this be considered unforeseen and could coverage apply?"

Answer: Under most of our US products, you would be covered based on your purchase date being prior to April 14, 2010, subject to policy terms and conditions. We encourage you to contact our 24/7 Service Center or your Travel Guard sales representatives with additional questions as coverage and benefits vary by product.

Question Two: "I am scheduled to travel this summer and have not yet purchased a policy. If I purchase a policy today and a future eruption of the Iceland volcano occurs would I be covered?"

Answer: If the current Iceland Volcano situation subsides and commercial airlines resume normal schedules prior to your trip, any new eruption would be considered a new event under our US policies. Coverage would be administered according to the product purchased (based on limits and exclusions). We encourage you to contact our 24/7 Service Center or your Travel Guard sales representatives with additional questions as coverage and benefits vary by product.

Question Three: "I have insurance and am scheduled to fly out later this week. What should I do if my flight is cancelled?"

Answer: The first call you should make is to your air carrier as all airlines have made rebooking passengers impacted by this event a priority. That said, please contact Travel Guard for additional assistance, both for flight rebooking and to initiate a claim if applicable.

Question Four: "What is the coverage cut-off date for the current Iceland volcano event?"

Answer: Eligible US plans would need to have been purchased before April 14, 2010.

Question Five: "My customers are stranded away from home. What can you do to help them?"

Answer: Our 24/7 assistance centers stand ready to help you and your customers. Our services include flight rebooking, hotel rebooking, cash wire transfers, translation services, message relay and more. Our worldwide reach has also helped our insureds avoid spending nights in airports, as we have helped get them accommodated in hotels during their delays.

To purchase Travel Guard Insurance, go to this link: Travel Guard, or give us a call at 866-778-1089.

AAC Ethiopian Epic Trip Selected as one of National Geographic's 50 Tours of a Lifetime

Bet Giyorgis, one of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela


Africa Adventure Consultants Ethiopian Epic Trip has been chosen as one of National Geographic Traveler Magazine's 2010 Tours of a Lifetime. The article will be published in the May/June 2010 edition of Traveler. According to the National Geographic website:

"We’re traveling again. Tour operators are reporting big spikes in inquiries and bookings. But an uncertain economy, ongoing wars, and the fragile health of the planet have, perhaps permanently, reordered priorities. Travelers now seek more perspective, meaning, and challenge. They want to see the unvarnished reality of a place, not just the fantasy. Outfitters have responded by dialing down the luxury and refocusing on core offerings. Their itineraries are more innovative and experiential—aimed at developing lasting connections between people. Here are 50 of the world's best guided tours for 2010, as chosen by the editors of National Geographic Traveler magazine."

The Ethiopian Epic gets top billing in the Africa category. This trip takes you to the highlights of the north, including island monasteries on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, medieval castles in Gondar, and the fabulous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. In the south guests interact with indigenous tribes with visits to Dorze, Hamer, Dassanech, and Karo villages, amongst others. The trip is the perfect combination of history and cultures that are unique to this up and coming destination. For more information give us a call at 866-778-1089.

Time to braai!

Everyone knows that South Africans love to barbecue - or 'braai' in Afrikaans. While they are heading into autumn, we are steadily creeping towards braai season here in the states.

Meat is a big favorite to braai amongst the South Africans. For the weekend, we thought we'd share a good braai recipe for you to get your chef's hat on and fire up the 'Weber'!

Garlic T-Bone

by Lannice Snyman - from 'Braai In Style - The Complete South African Outdoor Cookbook'

Just the thing for lovers of the pungent clove.

4-T-bone steaks

1 large clove garlic, peeled and halvced

Salt and pepper to taste

Garlic Butter

125 g soft butter

3-4 cloves garlic, crushed

Good squeeze of lemon juice

Milled black pepper

Mix ingredients together for garlic butter, form into a roll and wrap in waxed paper. Refrigerate and chill until hard.

Rub surfaces of the steaks with the cut clove of garlic and season with plenty of pepper. Braai over medium-hot coals until done, seasoning with salt after the meat is browned.

Top each steak with a pat of garlic butter before serving.

Serves 4 - Bon appetit!

Judith Weiss Shares Photos From Ethiopia

AAC client Judith Weiss recently returned from Ethiopia and was kind enough to share some photos with us. For more information about Ethiopia adventures please contact us at 866-778-1089. Or check out some of our Ethiopia itineraries, including our 8-day Historical Ethiopia Tour which explores the historic cities of the north, our 13-day Trekking Ethiopia which visits the Simien Mountains, Gondar, and Lalibela, or The Ethiopian Epic, a 12-day trip which combines the highlights of the north with a trip to the Omo Valley.




Lake Tana Mural



Gondar Overview



Lalibela Priest



Lalibela Cattle Market



Painted Karo Boys

National Geographic Gorongosa Premier Tonight!

On April 12 the National Geographic special "Africa's Lost Eden" will have its television premier at 10:00 pm on the National Geographic Wild channel. According to National Geographic Wild:

"It was said to be 'the place where Noah left his Ark.' Lush floodplains in central Mozambique packed with wild animals and more than 500 species of birds. But in 1977, civil war engulfed the area, and close to one million people lost their lives. Many thousands of buffalo, zebra and hippos were slaughtered for meat, and elephants for ivory. Of the 14,000 buffalo that roamed the savannah before the war, fewer than 15 remained; of the 3,000 zebra, just five. The legendary Gorongosa Wildlife Park had become an empty Eden with a broken ecosystem. Africa's Lost Eden documents the extraordinary efforts of conservationists fighting to restore the park and replenish the animal populations. Travel to South Africa, where an unprecedented effort is under way to relocate elephants and hippos to Gorongosa, even as the wounded landscape is vulnerable to drought and fire. For a war-wounded country desperately seeking a symbol of hope, the stakes couldn't be higher."

In fact, Gorongosa is a true conservation success story. Through the concerted efforts of American philanthropist Greg Carr, herds of buffalo, wildebeest, and other large mammals have been reintroduced to the park, which is steadily being restored to its former glory. This unique destination is included in our 15-day Adventurer's Mozambique Safari which also takes you to Lake Niassa (Lake Malawi) and some of Mozambique's pristine beaches. Or you might want to consider our new Mozambique Eco-Adventure, an 11-day trip which uses only the most environmentally sustainable properties including Guludo Beach Lodge, located on one of the top-rated "deserted beaches" on Earth.

Just back from Tanzania

Mike and Susan Jaynes just returned from a fantastic adventure in Tanzania and shared some of their wonderful photos with us. You can visit some of the same areas or lodges that they did on our Romantic Tanzania Safari or our Tanzania Deluxe Tented Safari. Here are just a few of our favorite shots from their trip. Thanks for sharing, Mike & Susan!

Keep an eye out for more of their photos in an upcoming newsletter!

Kent is off to Vic Falls and Botswana!

Duma Tau Camp

Tomorrow Kent is headed back to Africa to visit some of our most exciting properties. After flying into Johannesburg Kent is off to Victoria Falls and the beautiful Toka Leya Camp. Toka Leya consists of 12 spacious luxury tents which overlook the mighty Zambezi River some 12 km above the Falls. In addition to Falls tours and adrenaline sports such as white water rafting, you can also do game drives and river cruises. This property is included in our Botswana Great Wilderness Journey or is a great option for any Victoria Falls trip.

From there Kent heads to two great camps in Botswana, Duma Tau Camp in the Linyanti Private Reserve (adjacent to Chobe National Park), and Xigera Camp (pronouced Keejera), a luxury tented camp in the Moremi Game Reserve in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Both of these properties feature 10 luxury tents and offer spectacular game viewing opportunities. Duma Tau is featured in our Botswana Deluxe Safari, and Xigera Camp is also an option.

Next on the itinerary is Kalahari Plains Camp set in a remote part of the diverse and productive Central Kalahari Game Reserve. This camp is beautifully situated on an immense pan and has 10 en suite canvas tents with a sleep-out above each one from which to enjoy the night stars. The game viewing here is excellent, and you can also do a "Bushman Walk" where guests gain life-changing insights into the unique culture of this fascinating people. This property is featured on our Botswana Wild Kalahari trip, and is easily combined with trips to the Okavango Delta and other game viewing areas.

Look for a full trip report a few weeks after his return so that you can hear about the camps, the animals and all that Africa had to offer on this visit!