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| Book with complete peace of mind ; Africa Odyssey are members of ATOL (5397) Registered office: 1 Swan Mews, London SW6 4QT England © Africa Odyssey 2011. All offers are available at the time of sending this email, but availability can be limited. Prices are subject to change without prior notification. |
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Our big news this month is that after so many years of hard work we have finally ‘soft’-launched our new website www.africaodyssey.com. Our new site unites our specialist interests and knowledge of Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritius and the Seychelles, and we believe it to be the very best of its kind!
As well as a wealth of information about the countries and parks, we have included video, slide-shows, our own frank reviews, paw ratings, prices, and Google maps of just about every top lodge in Africa – over 400 of them. This should provide a comprehensive information resource for anyone planning an African or Indian Ocean adventure.
Wherever possible, we have tried to highlight the best experiences and lodges in each country and area. We have also developed a top toolbar to guide those with specific interests or travel requirements; for example, honeymooners or families, fishing or diving, birdwatchers or those seeking adrenaline-inducing pursuits
The sections for Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are currently not as thorough as the other countries on the site; these are work in progress, and will be completed by the end of the 2011. We also aim to have Uganda and Rwanda covered for the gorilla extensions we often do with Tanzania or Kenya, as well as a section on Cape Town and the Kruger National Park.
There is one final stage we are planning which will take the site to a completely new level. However, we would not like to give ALL of our secrets away in one go (especially since so many of our competitors are signed-up to this newsletter) so stay tuned for the next installment.
We would like to invite you take a look around the site; all constructive criticism is gratefully received! If you are Facebook-minded please do become our fan at Facebook or use the ‘like’ and ‘tweet’ buttons throughout the site to spread the word.
Finally, please don’t forget our sister company – Latin Odyssey who are also developing their website in this new, user-friendly style. If your thoughts are turning to South or Central America, do give them a call.
In the past, our beloved video footage of every lodge and hotel has been described as ‘authentically awful’… So we have upped the ante by investing in HD video camera equipment. Over the course of the next few years we will be re-videoing all the lodges and parks, and this new video format is definitely a step in the right direction! Please see the following taken by Ted in Tanzania’s Mahale.
We believe strongly in supporting owner-run operations as much as possible, mainly because these tend to maintain superior quality and reliability. We would like to take this opportunity to showcase a few of our favourites:
We have had excellent feedback from clients staying in this gloriously unspoilt region of the northern Serengeti. Serian is providing some of the best guiding anywhere, and to further pique your interest, Alex is offering a stay for 4, pay for 3 deal for 2011.
John Coppingers’ Remote Africa in Zambia is probably our favorite owner-run safari company anywhere. Throughout 2011, John and his wife Carol are offering a number of deals on their camps. For those seeking adventurous safari experiences with brilliant guiding in Africa’s wildest parks, Remote Africa will fulfil your wildest dreams. During Julian’s last trip to the North Luangwa, he saw no other people, but did encounter lion and wild dog on foot… exceptional.
Keeping the focus on Zambia, we are delighted to be able to offer a safari to South Luangwa led by the Big Cat Diary’s Jonathan Scott and the Bushcamp Company’s Phil Berry. If this interests you please contact us as soon as possible as the availability for this trip in 2011 is nearly gone!
The Selous Safari Company are offering low season rates for the first rooms booked in their safari camps (except August). As a result, the value to be had at Jongomero and Selous Safari Camp is the best we have seen for the last few years. 2011 is definitely the year to travel to enjoy these superb camps!
Photograph Competition
Ever since we launched our Newsletters last year, we have been inundated with amazing photographs from our client’s trips. So this month we are launching a Tanzania Odyssey photo competition. We will repeat the competition every 3 months, and there is a cash prize of £500 for the winners.
Enter the Tanzania Odyssey Photo Competition
The winners will not be judged by us, but by how many “Facebook Likes” each photo gets. In return we only ask that we can use any photos entered in our new website (see below), and that all entrants and their friends “Like” our Facebook page.
Please click on the logo above to access our Facebook page which will keep you up to date with the winners, news from Africa, new competitions etc…
After many years of having different websites dedicated to the different countries we specialise in, we have finally decided to create one all-singing-all-dancing website; www.africaodyssey.com which will bring together all the knowledge that we have spent the last decade collecting. We are hoping to launch the new site in the New Year.
Just to add to our workload we are also busy researching 3 new countries; Madagascar, Zimbabwe and India, with a view to be able to offer these destinations in the New Year.
We are delighted to announce that our MD Marc Harris has been elevated to the position of a Judge for the Good Safari Guide.
As well as allowing him to promote his favourite lodges it has enabled us to buy bednights at a reduced rate for certain properties (in some cases at a discount of up to 25%). Please do call through if this is something that interests you …
Nomad Tanzania have made the bold move of bringing out reduced rates for travel in 2011.
Every year we are faced with companies that play the waiting game and hold off releasing their rates. Hats off to Nomads for taking the initiative and offering a blanket 15% off all their properties. The offer ends on the 1st November.
This newsletter focuses on 2 of their most famous camps:
Regarded by many as one of the most dramatic camps in Africa, Greystoke Mahale is Nomad Tanzania’s flagship property. Famous for providing some of the worlds best chimp viewing, the actual location of Greystoke is a reason to come in itself.
Nestled on a lakeside beach by deeply forested hills, Greystoke is Tanzania’s most remote property and a must for any serious Africa lover. This is an exceptional lodge.
We are lucky enough to know a number of the BBC’s photographers, and in a recent pub chat, Graham Duane said that he believed Katavi to be one of Africa’s finest safari parks – a view we wholeheartedly agree with.
Nomads run Chada Katavi and for those wanting an authentic and private safari experience, there is nowhere better!
NEWS FROM TANZANIA ODYSSEY
More info at the Destinations site
Otherwise, with the advent of the new year, and an overall drop in rates through most of Africa, we are looking forward to another busy year. There are a number of countries that seem to be emerging from their slumbers and so are worth considering for the more intrepid of you. Notably are Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi…please ask us for more details!
Heavy rains in the southern Serengeti are making the going quite tough, if you’re driving. However, the bulk of the Migration is all around and there are great wildebeest sightings all over Ndutu as well as good herds going through the Gol Mountains area. Ndutu is always a great place to see cats and all the other scavengers that follow the migration.
Find more information about the migration in our blog
Nothing compares to the experience of an African safari. It is an experience that can be truly shared irrespective of age. In recent years opportunities for children have dramatically improved and we are now able to organise guided walks, childcare and family accommodation at a number of our favourite camps and lodges.
For those with young children
we recommend non-malarial areas wherever possible, with some good introductory safari experiences in southern Africa, combined with the fabulous family-friendly accommodation that characterises the islands of Mauritius and the Seychelles.
African Adventures with Older Children
For pre-teens, there are many holiday adventures to remember forever. The Laikipia plateau in Kenya is especially good for this age group, where children enjoy camel riding, nature walks and walking safaris in which they learn how to track Samburu style. South Africa and Botswana are also extremely good for real, active safari adventures for children. We select camps according to their ability with each age group, as this considerably affects the benefits of the trip for all concerned. The best guides will bring the environment alive for everyone, and allow each person to make it their own.
A Last Blast
For teenagers, the bush camps in Zambia have walking safaris, with the combined joys of bush suppers and a fabulous sense of wilderness adventure. These are not recommended for younger children, as the walking can be too strenuous and in many cases younger children are not accommodated. But for parents and children alike we still consider that nothing beats the ease of combining the diverse safari activities in the Selous, Tanzania, with time exploring Zanzibar. There remains a glorious attraction about this combination that works for everyone from 8 years and up.
Asilia Lodges, Tanzania Including all of their lodges in the northern parks of Tanzania, and the fantastic Matemwe Bungalows on Zanzibar, you will receive a 15% discount should you stay for a minimum of 7 nights across any of their camps in 2010!
More details …
Fundu Lagoon, Tanzania This famous East African beach and diving lodge, located on Pemba Island, Tanzania, is now offering drop down prices for their hillside rooms…stay for 7 and get 2 of them for free..
More details…
Remote Africa, Zambia Certainly amongst the best operators in Africa, Remote offers exceptional walking and guiding in the South Luangwa Valley. They are now offering fantastic saving for stays of around a week and have a specialist guide for practically any discipline.
More details…
Kwando Safaris, Botswana With their recent expansion into the pans and the Moremi, Kwando Safaris is currently offering a 6 for 5 deal if you use two of their properties…with lodges all over the north and the some of the best guides in Botswana, this is definitely worth a look.
More details…
A Luxury Travel Blog
