Top Ten places in #Africa

ACACIA Africa has updated its top ten list of the most popular #destinations to visit in Southern and East #Africa (20 January 2019), the results compiled from expert sources and Instagram hashtags. In the 12 months since the original data was made available there have been some significant changes - Uganda taking the top slot from South Africa and Mozambique moving from tenth to third place.

The cost of trekking the endangered mountain gorilla in Uganda is half that of neighbouring Rwanda, and while the price differential might well have drawn more people to visit the country over 2018, Acacia claim our growing concern with over-tourism and eagerness to see places which are less well visited or where tourist numbers are more strictly monitored to protect the environment, in this case the gorillas habitat, is the reason behind Uganda’s rise to fame.

1.   Uganda
2.   Tanzania
3.   Mozambique
4.   Kenya
5.   Namibia
6.   Zimbabwe
7.   Botswana
8.   Zambia
9.   South Africa
10. Malawi

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Fun in the Mud

BALI Zoo does it again with another first in elephant experiences. The new Elephant Mud Fun half-day package allows you to get down and dirty with their friendly Sumatran elephants while also discovering all about their behavior and lifestyle from experienced mahout handlers. 

You’ll learn interesting facts such as, it is very common to find elephants basking in mud during the summer months because their high body temperature generates a great deal of metabolic heat, and with no sweat glands to relieve their internal thermometers they rely on mud to stay cool and protect themselves from the heat of the sun because even though their hide looks tough, elephants can actually get sunburned.

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Lucky Thirteen

THIRTEEN giraffes have been released in the Majete Wildlife Reserve in #Malawi, African Parks and Giraffe Conservation Foundation announced on Monday, 19 November. Nine are from South Africa and have traveled 2,500 km by road in one of the longest such transfers. These giraffes and four others already living in Malawi represent a new population for Majete and Malawi . The introduction boosts biodiversity on the reserve while helping tourism to strengthen the already emerging conservation-minded economy and support community development.

Although southern Africa has a strong giraffe population, there is little in Malawi; this transfer brings the number of national giraffes to just over 30. Overall, giraffe populations have fallen in recent decades, with habitat loss, civil unrest and illegal hunting reducing the animal population of the country. Africa with less than 100,000 animals. This introduction comes at a crucial time: November 14, the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced that several subspecies of giraffes are severely threatened. The transfer of the giraffe from South Africa to Majete aims to establish a viable population that will support giraffe conservation in the region.

It's also a new chapter in Majete's story. Since 2003, African Parks has been managing Majete in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife of Malawi (DNPW), whose collaborative efforts are a national achievement.


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Tantalising Tanzania

ARGUABLY northern Tanzania’s most interesting park, yet one of its least visited, Tarangire National Park is renowned for its diverse habitat and vast herds of elephant and zebra. 

And for the savvy traveller it’s the perfect destination to enjoy an authentic safari experience located in a remote and secluded corner of Tarangire National Park in the heart of Masai country. Boutique luxury safari operator’s recently refurbished Sanctuary Swala Camp offers just that. Sanctuary Swala has been voted by Tripadvisor guests as the number one camp in the park for several years running.

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Telling a story at SeaWorld

INFINITY Falls is the first attraction at SeaWorld to tell a story beyond the ocean and share a message of water conservation through the adventure of a white-water river expedition, bringing to life the company's Park to Planet mission to help guests understand some of the challenges facing the planet and inspiring them to help.

Set against a rainforest backdrop, the new attraction is the centerpiece of a newly themed area designed to resemble the base camp of explorers and scientists. After riding Infinity Falls, the entire family can explore the base camp and take part in interactive experiences that combine fun with education to learn about the importance of freshwater ecosystems and efforts being taken to make an impact in the real world.

Infinity Falls brings the thrill of white-water rafting into a new experience the family can enjoy together. Aboard 8-passenger circular rafts, riders embark on an adventure through a lush rainforest environment inspired by some of the world's most incredible freshwater ecosystems. The new attraction features dynamic drops and turns, interactive water elements, and allow guests to experience the feel of exhilarating rapids. The ride also features an innovative elevator lift designed to transport the rafts to the top of the ride's 40-foot drop.



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Picture Credit: By Adog104 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72960564

Time off with your furry friend

IT comes as no surprise that the "workaholic" mindset of many Americans can affect people's willingness to take vacation days for traveling. However, work isn't the only culprit hindering American's travel. A study by Project: Time Off found the three top reasons why people don't use their vacation days to travel are cost, children and pets.

Despite citing pets as a barrier to travel, 60 percent of pet owners surveyed said they would like to break the working routine and explore. Pets can enhance the lives of their owners and this should apply to travel as well, so Mars Petcare is providing a host of resources to help cities become more pet-friendly. For example, the Better Cities For Pets program aims to make it easier to explore new places with your pet in tow.

"Traveling can be stressful for people and pets," said Jessa Paschke, behavior and training specialist at Mars Petcare. "Following simple and proactive travel tips can do wonders for your dog's behavior, happiness and health."

Consider these four tips to make traveling with your pet easier and learn more about how to join the movement to make cities more pet-friendly at bettercitiesforpets.com.

1. Plan your pet into the itinerary – Planning before a trip is key to keeping yourself and all travel companions (including furry ones) organized and ready. Prepare for an upcoming trip with a detailed packing list and map out dog-friendly locations on your itinerary to help keep your pup's needs top of mind.

2. Consider a road trip – Airports and airlines are two of the top challenges that pet-owners cite when it comes to traveling with pets, so, if possible, think about driving to your destination. Taking stops along the way to see the sights and give your pal a break to stretch his or her legs can go a long way toward health and happiness.

3. Seek out pet-friendly accommodations – Research pet-friendly hotels so your furry friend can stay with you. Certain pet-friendly locations will likely already have dog or cat amenities, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared and bring along items from home to help your pet cozy up. Bringing along his or her bed or a blanket is one way to make every place feel like home.

4. Don't forget treats – Packing your pet's favorite things on a trip can help keep him or her calm and comfortable. Besides a favorite toy, bringing along dog treats.

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A shining star

THE unveiling of a ‘star’ on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Steve Irwin is set to continue the strong profile of his Sunshine Coast home in the North American market. Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin, were in Hollywood at the unveiling along with some of their closest friends and family from around the world. The newest star is fittingly located directly outside the ‘Iguana Vintage Store’. 

Terri Irwin said Steve would have been chuffed at the award: “Steve always said that he hoped his message of conservation would live on forever. It means the world to us that Steve’s memory will live on in so many ways, including now on the internationally recognised Hollywood Walk of Fame. “We’re thrilled that so many people have joined us today in khaki to celebrate. It’s wonderful that there are lots of people back home on the Sunshine Coast celebrating too,” said Terri. 

Visit Sunshine Coast has worked closely with the Irwin family to gain the Hollywood recognition for Steve, who played a key role in elevating Sunshine Coast tourism through the establishment of Australia Zoo.

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Party for the Planet

DISNEY'S Animal Kingdom will mark its 20th anniversary on Earth Day, April 22, with more wild adventures than ever before.  Commemorating the milestone year, the 500-acre adventure park will offer animal encounters, family-friendly activities, specialty desserts and more during an expanded Party for the Planet celebration April 22-May 5.

Over the two-week “Party for the Planet” celebration, guests can attend conservation talks by animal-care experts and participate in enhanced interactions with some of the more than 2,000 animals that make their home at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited park.

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New travel opportunities for pet owners and animal lovers

EASYJET, Europe’s leading airline has teamed up with international house and pet sitting business, TrustedHousesitters, to form a partnership that will make it easier for pet owners and animal lovers to travel - and to explore Europe in a different way.

easyJet customers will be able to choose a free house sitter for their pet or find free accommodation as a house and pet sitter when booking flights on easyJet.com. The service is due to launch early in 2018.

The move follows a survey of easyJet customers that revealed how the majority of pet owners would travel more if they had better access to pet care.

Of the customers surveyed, 58%** said they would travel more often if they had more satisfactory pet care solutions. Among those who found that owning pets made travelling more difficult, 62%** said that either the cost of pet care or concern for pet welfare prevented them from going away more often.

easyJet will enable pet owners to match with verified members of the TrustedHousesitters online community to look after their homes, while animal lovers will be able to explore Europe, looking after pets in unique accommodation, when booking on www.easyJet.com.

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Journey to the Blue Planet

WITH the release of the highly anticipated Blue Planet II on BBC One narrated by #DavidAttenborough, Netflights.com has shared a round-up of destinations around the world where you can discover the incredible creatures filmed in the series. From the leaping Mobula Manta Rays in Mexico to following the path from Alaska to Hawaii in search of Humpback whales, take a journey to explore the depths of the waters and uncover some extraordinary marine life.

Swim with dolphins in New Zealand: The first episode of the series, ‘One Ocean’, takes viewers on a journey from the heart of the tropics to the frozen poles exploring sea life.

Discover the marine life of the Great Barrier Reef: As the world’s largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland is a fantastic place to observe a diversity of marine life. Avid diving fans can visit the subtropical waters to find this clever fish along with plenty more wonderful creatures including the Oceanic Whitetip Shark, Grouper Fish and Octopus which are all seen throughout the series. 

Watch the amazing flying Mantas in Mexico: The Sea of Cortez separates the peninsula from mainland Mexico and every year, hundreds of Mobula Manta Rays congregate here to put on one of the most spectacular wildlife performances on earth and captured during the series.

Spot one of the largest Wrasse species in Japan: Asian Sheepshead Wrasse are one of the largest of the Wrasse family and are native to the western Pacific Ocean, inhabiting the rocky reef areas. Amongst many scientific discoveries in this series, the crew films a female Asian Sheepshead Wrasse switching gender.

Mauritius, a birder’s paradise: Twitchers can visit the south west coast of Mauritius to spot local species including the Sotty Tern and Common Noddy. These seabirds are incredibly valuable in maintaining healthy ecosystems, especially on islands as they help to improve soil quality and also indicate fish availability.

See Humpbacks during Whale season in Hawaii: Mating season for Humpback Whales last for up to five months where the creatures swim down from Alaska to the warmer climes of Hawaii. The waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands are a favourite for the Humpack and can be spotted across all of the Hawaiian Islands with the best viewing spots in the world between Maui, Lanai and Molokai.

Spot the mighty giant Trevally in the Seychelles: Found swimming in the waters of the Indian Ocean, the film crew venture out to the Seychelles to spot the Giant Trevally, a 40kg bulldog-like fish, jumping out of the ocean to catch sea birds mid-air, a sight that had never been recorded until now. 

Netflights.com


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Picture Credit: WanderingtheWorld (www.ChrisFord.com) 'I Found Nemo', Australia, Cairns, The Great Barrier Reef via photopin

Macaw Magic in Singapore

AT THE end of November, local and international visitors will be able to get a glimpse of two of the world’s rarest macaws—the Spix’s macaw and the Lear’s macaw—in Jurong Bird Park, #Singapore Asia’s largest bird paradise. With the addition of these two species to the Hyacinth macaws that already reside in the park, Jurong Bird Park will be the only public zoological institution in the world where guests can view the complete blue macaw family. The Glaucous macaw—the last member of the blue macaw family—has not been sighted since the 1960s and is believed to be extinct.

Opened in 1971, Jurong Bird Park is Asia’s largest bird park, offering a 20.2-hectare hillside haven for close to 5,000 birds across 400 species, of which 15% are threatened. The bird park is famed for its large and immersive walk-in aviaries such as Lory Loft, Jungle Jewels and the recently revamped Waterfall Aviary. Other unique exhibits include Penguin Coast and Pelican Cove. Jurong Bird Park sees approximately 800,000 visitors annually.

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Picture Credit: By Rüdiger Stehn from Kiel, Deutschland - 71 Spix-Ara commons.wikimedia

Garden Route National Park score increase in visitors

THE Garden Route National Park (GRNP), #SouthAfrica has doubled figures of visitors to the National Park during the SA National Parks Week campaign. The week long campaign started on the 16th – 23rd September 2017 attracted a total of 7, 449 visitors to the Park. Most visitors were recorded in the Tsitsikamma section of the Park (3,714), Knysna (1,734) and Wilderness (1,506). 

The Park had prepared activities to showcase the diverse nature-experiences in the GRNP. Park Manager Paddy Gordon says ‘#Knysna has South Africa’s single largest complex of indigenous forests, fynbos areas. We also manage seascapes and estuaries. SANParks invests millions annually to protect and maintain the area for conservation to the benefit of current and future generations.’

The Garden Route remains exciting for both local and international visitors for its diverse ways of venturing into nature- hiking, cycling, ziplining, segways, scootours, water activities (snorkelling, diving, boat cruises, canoeing) and others.


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Ultimate Africa tour from Latitude 33

AFTER overwhelming success of its inaugural Ultimate #Africa tour in 2016 and a record-sell out of its 2017 tour – Australia’s newest elite travel company, Latitude 33, has released a land-only luxurious African #safari tour for 2018.

Departing Australia on April 7, 2018, this 13-night African adventure includes staying at some of the most elite hotels- including the only six star hotel in Africa, the One&Only Cape Town, an exclusive stay at the contemporary Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, the historic landmark Victoria Falls Hotel and a number of privately chartered jet flights within Africa which eliminates the hassle of commercial airports giving guests the ultimate travel experience. 

This limited numbered tour is also packed with more inclusions like airfares from Australia with Qantas Airways, fully escorted land touring in Africa, two-nights accommodation at Four Seasons in Johannesburg, a helicopter tour over Victoria Falls, an all-inclusive five-night exclusive stay at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge with all meals, beverages, mini-bar, laundry service, double-daily guided safaris and emergency evacuation insurance, transfers and port charges and government taxes. 

www.latitude33.travel

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Picture Credit: Dev WR 154076139@N08/35649402742 Patterns in nature.via photopin

The Big Blue

A series of unique natural habitat guest experiences that blend the spirit of sustainability with a stylish stay has been announced by Cantaloupe Hotels Group at each of its two boutique hotels in Galle, on Sri Lanka’s stunning south coast. 

Cantaloupe Aqua, which opened in Talpe in 2013, features 15 contemporary rooms overlooking the beach, while Cantaloupe Levels, opened shortly afterwards, faces Galle Bay in Rumassala, looking out over the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort with short-walk access to Jungle Beach near the iconic Peace Pagoda.

The two hip hideaways have combined to offer ‘Big Blue’ experiences, taking guests out into the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and to the heart of one of the most ideal breeding grounds for marine animals in the world. With nothing but an expanse of ocean separating #SriLanka from Antarctica, the waters off the island’s south coast are home to a breath-taking array of marine mammals, including dolphins, sperm whales, pilot whales and blue whales. And with the breeding ground for a 200-strong pod of blue whales lying just six miles offshore, there are few better places to see the largest animal ever to inhabit the Earth in its natural environment.

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Picture Credit: By "Mike" Michael L. Baird, CC BY 2.0, commons.wikimedia.

Star attraction at Berlin Zoo

BERLIN keeps on growing, with the latest couple moving into the Zoo in July this year, Pandas Meng Meng and Jiao Qing were welcomed into their new 5,000 m² Panda Garden. Both Pandas also celebrated their birthdays . . . in the same week!

With more than three million visitors per year, the Berlin Zoo and its Aquarium is one of the most popular attractions in the German capital. About 63 per cent of its visitors come from abroad, while German visitors from outside #Berlin make up another 11 per cent.

www.zoo-berlin.de

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Picture Credit: about.visitberlin.de, "Meng Meng" 

Top Ten Zoos in the U.S.

THE Living Desert Zoo and Gardens was recently named to Conde Nast Traveler website’s list of 10 Best Zoos in the U.S. 

The cntraveler.com website has this to say about The Living Desert, “Because land is fairly plentiful in the middle of the California desert, seeing the animals here feels a little like stepping onto the set of The Lion King. The desert animals roam free with little inhibition, while visitors can roam the 50 gardens of 1,400 different plant and animal species in what’s undoubtedly the best desert-themed zoo in America.” 

The Living Desert joins the list along with San Diego Zoo; Indianapolis Zoo; Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington; St. Louis Zoo; Bronx Zoo; Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; Alaska Zoo; Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska; and Brookfield Zoo.

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Multi-Generation Safari

FOR families, there’s no topping the adventure of an African wildlife safari—and in #Africa, it’s tough to top #Botswana.

Natural Habitat Adventures is rolling out exciting changes in 2018 to its Family Botswana Safari, offering an even more diverse set of destinations, wildlife habitats and activities in a comprehensive yet compact 10-day safari. Big game and predators are abundant here, at the secluded tented camps, deep in the bush on private reserves and far from tourist crowds.

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SeaWorld Adds New Killer Whale Up-close Tour

THE Killer Whale Up-Close Tour gives guests the opportunity to meet the park’s killer whales in ways never before offered at the park. The 45-minute tour includes learning from the park’s killer whale trainers, meeting the whales and understanding their unique personalities and even taking part in an interaction with one off the whales.

During the tour, which takes place daily, SeaWorld’s trainers share stories and information about the killer whales, demonstrate how the whales take part in voluntary husbandry sessions and discuss their healthcare, feeding habits and more. The engaging and interactive tour also gives participants the chance to try their hand at a session with the whales alongside a trainer. Throughout the entire experience, guests can take photos to help forever preserve the memory of the one-of-a-kind experience.

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Kruger National Park all day visits need to be pre-booked

DURING the school holidays, from July 1-23, access for visitors to the Kruger National Park will adhere to daily quotas, to manage the park’s carrying capacity.

SANParks reminds day visitors to the park that daily quotas will once again apply at all entrance gates. Visitors are urged to book for their visit prior to their arrival.

Pre-booking for day visits applies to the general public and tour operators, with tariffs charged per person, however when using an open vehicle, one must apply for permit direct from KNP.

The day visitor quota is a management tool to maintain the carrying capacity of the park, and is permanently in place throughout the year, although emphasised during long weekends and holidays due to the volume of visitors during these times.

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African Adventure

NATURAL Selection’s new Sable Alley Camp opened in May in the Khwai Private Reserve. Located in a wildlife biomass hotspot right where the dry Chobe country meets the wetlands of the Okavango Delta at Sable Alley the wildlife literally comes to us. The lagoon in front of camp is home to a pod of over 30 hippo and plains game, elephant and buffalo are often seen coming to drink close to camp.

Sable Alley offers a full range of activities; game drives; night drives; walks; mekoros, boats, sundowner cruises, hides - all in the privacy of the wildlife rich Khwai Private Reserve.

Sable Alley comprises 12 tents, two of which are interconnected family tents. The 63sqm tents are raised on decks and have mesh windows. The bathrooms have flush toilets, double vanities and the choice of an indoor or outdoor shower. The interiors were deisgned by Tracy Kelly who is based at Nom de Plume studio in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Everything used in the camp was sourced in Africa and features wildlife images by some of the continent’s finest wildlife photographers.

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