Phinda Private Game Reserve chefs have lots of tempting treats on offer, and this one is perfect for autumn! This is their version of pumpkin soup, a very common recipe in Southern Africa.
Pumpkin Soup Every Which Way
Start with pumpkin, peeled and cubed, then simmered until soft in a good chicken stock with leeks and a couple of potatoes. Puree when all vegetables are cooked through, then serve hot or cold, depending on the season. For fun and variety, you can add any or a combination of the following:
apples, pears, orange zest and juice, ground cinnamon,
ground cumin, ground coriander, a touch of chilli, fresh
ginger or a splash of basalmic vinegar
If you would like to visit Phinda, we are currently offering a fantastic special where you can stay 4 nights at Phinda or seven other tremendous South African safari lodges located in the some of the country’s premier game reserves, and indulge in the scenic beauty of Cape Town with 3 nights at The Taj Cape Town, and get one night free at each.
With this terrific special, you can indulge in ...
Thrilling twice-daily game drives that delve into the African bush in search of the Big Five and other exciting wildlife encounters
Spectacular views of the infamous Table Mountain with a guaranteed mountain facing room at The Taj Cape Town
An indulgent, complementary 45-minute Indian head or foot massage at The Taj Cape Town's Jiva Grand Spa
Complimentary transport to the bustling V&A Waterfront, with its wide selection of attractions, during your stay in Cape Town.
This exceptional offer is valid for travel from 15 October 2010 to 30 September 2011, but hurry as space is limited! Call us now to check availability, learn more about the lodges and to help plan your South African adventure!
We've come across some great deals in the last few days - some really unique offerings at excellent prices. Read on...
If you are looking for a private, luxury adventure safari for just two people, we've got the trip for you! Private mobile camping in Botswana's Moremi Reserve, Okavango Delta, Tsodilo Hills and more. Experience the Kalahari San culture and visit the rock art of Tsodilo Hills. Safaris can be customized, a minimum stay of 5 nights is required. Prices start at $1530 per person, per night based on 5 nights.
Book 2 nights at Porini Rhino Camp or Porini Mara Camp in Kenya and get the 3rd night free (conservancy fees apply). Book now for travel between September 15- December 15, 2010. Porini Camps offer great value and varied activities in private concessions. See our Kenya Value Safari for more details.
Stay 4 nights at any combination of Elephant Pepper Camp, Ol Pejeta, Sabuk, Joy's Camp (pictured above, right) or Saruni Camp in Kenya and pay for 3 nights! Book now for travel through December 19, 2010. Combine these camps for an unforgettable luxury safari in Kenya.
Stay 4 nights at Mateya Safari Lodge in South Africa's Madikwe Reserve and pay for 3 nights. Book now for travel from October 1 - December 15, 2010. The reserve is one of South Africa's largest and is known for it's population of wild dog.
Contact us for more details on any of these specials, how to book or how to plan your custom 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.
Are you thinking of visting Africa for your honeymoon or with your family this summer? Now is the time to start planning! We are seeing a major increase in bookings during the summer months, especially in Kenya and Tanzania. Availability is going quickly! For the widest array of lodging choices, contact us now to help plan your safari.
A few specials on offer include a free flight from Wilson Airport when you stay four nights at Kichwa Tembo or three nights at Bateleur Camp. Both are located in the Masai Mara. These camps are typically at their finest in the late summer and early fall, when the Great Migration is typically expected to cross into Kenya.
We also have a special offer of 10% off senior and disabled travel on a set departure trip in August that visits the gorgeous Okavango Delta in Botswana, or a September departure to the remote dunes and parks of mysterious Namibia.
Call us so we can customize a trip for you and make your safari dreams come true!
We still have space on our Zambia with the Experts Safari, a fantastic opportunity to explore Zambia's top parks with two of the best wildlife photographers in the business: Jonathan Scott, presenter of the award-winning BBC show Big Cat Live, and legendary Zambian naturalist and BBC guide Phil Berry. This once-in-a-lifetime trip takes a very small group of photographers and safari-goers into the wilds of the South Luangwa National Park for some of the best game viewing in Southern Africa.
Throughout the safari accommodations are quite luxurious - including the (recently refurbished as of May 2010) Mfuwe Lodge, home to the famous annual elephant "lobby" migration, the private and intimate Chongwe River House and the classic African estate of Shiwa N’gandu . The group will spend mornings and evenings on game drives - taking advantage of the best lighting conditions and most active wildlife. Afternoons are at leisure with time for a siesta, catching up in your travel journal or even enjoying a spa treatment in the Bush Spa. Each day Jonathan and Phil (and other local experts) will provide insight into photography and wildlife issues in the South Luangwa, as well as one-on-one time with guests who desire additional photographic instruction.
There are also two great optional extensions: you can take a pre-trip extension to explore the Lower Zambezi with Jonathan, and/or take a post-trip journey to Kasanka with Phil to see the fruit bat migration. Check out the video below for a glimpse into this amazing annual event:
For complete details on the daily itinerary and extensions and more information on Jonathan and Phil click here. Or contact us at 1-866-778-1089 to confirm your spot on this trip. There are only two spaces left (and possibly two additional spaces dependent on confirmations), so act now to reserve your spot! The pre and post trips both have four remaining spaces.
Exclusive Offer for Africa Adventure Travelers to Kenya!
We're pleased to announce an exclusive offer from Great Plains Conservation that is available to Africa Adventure Consultants' travelers - Stay 6 nights and pay for 5 at Ol Donyo Wuas and Mara Plains Camp in Kenya. This offer is valid for travel in 2010 - confirm by March 31, 2010 to qualify, not valid Dec. 13 - Jan 3. Call us at 1-866-778-1089 or email for details and availability.
Ol Donyo Wuas - Chyulu Hills Ol Donyo Wuas, totally remodeled in July 2008, is a standout in the Kenya safari circuit. No other camps boast the sheer diversity of activities - horseback riding, mountain biking, game tracking, walks, star beds, woodpile/waterhole hide, spa, traditional game drive & night drive, authentic village and school visits - all in the setting of the magnificent Chyulu Hills and the shadow of Kilimanjaro. A site of National Geographic's launch of its 'Big Cat Ol Initiative', conservation is a top priority as well, and guests are privy to much of the field work. Designed to accommodate multi-generation families, couples and individuals, no two suites or villas are the same. Days here are full, and topped off with fine cuisine and wines.
Not only are the "Big Five" found here, but also cheetah, oryx, gerenuk, and giraffe among many others. The real exclusivity of Ol Donyo Wuas is apparent when out exploring the land. The entire area is reserved exclusively for Ol Donyo Wuas guests - no other tourists, no fleets of mini-buses - it's private, pure and wild.
"Ol Donyo Wuas was easily our favorite lodge. The property is stunningly beautiful - brand new construction. One of our real highlights [was seeing] three cheetah at close distance while we were on horseback. With easy access to Amboseli NP for day trips, do not miss Ol Donyo Wuas during your visit to southern Kenya."
- The Joanie & Ben Bentzin FamilyAfrica Adventure Consultants' Travelers, July 2009
Mara Plains Camp - Masai Mara Area
Mara Plains Camp is located a mere 2 km from the Masai Mara Game Reserve border in a private conservancy with access to the Masai Mara, in addition to the Olare Orok and Mara North Conservancies. Guests are able to partake in night game drives, walks and traditional game drives. The specially designed vehicles have tiered bucket seats and are totally open - an exclusive offering by Mara Plains. The intimate camp caters to only 12 guests in six uniquely designed octagonal en suite canvas rooms. Each is raised on decks, and is open-air on three sides with floor to ceiling net walls and marquis ceiling. The rooms have a dressing area and a private verandah with exquisite views.
Great Plains Conservation
Great Plains Conservation is a group initiative to develop conservation-based tourism with the mission to find the right formula between conservation, communities and commerce. Great Plains Conservation's model takes stressed and threatened environments, surrounds them with compassionate protection and intelligent management.
The projects are funded by blend of sensitive, low volume, low impact tourism, frequently coupled with the sale of carbon credits and in some cases with the sale of a small number of villas or bush-homes for tourism. Together, these private sector initiatives create the capital needed to help fund the overall conservation initiatives.
The Maasailand Preservation Trust - supported by the tourism efforts of Ol Donyo Wuas - recognizes that for the Maasai residents of Mbirikani Group Ranch and the Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem as a whole, the cost of living with wildlife exceeds the benefits. MPT therefore seeks to better balance the economics of everyday life for the local community and resolve human-wildlife conflict whenever possible. By contributing to the success of the Maasai people and their pastoral way of life - through economics, education, and ecology - the Trust, working in close collaboration with local stakeholders, seeks to stabilize and sustain the Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem and its irreplaceable biodiversity. Photos by Dana Allen.
We've come across some great deals in the last few days - some really unique offerings at excellent prices. Read on...
