Guest post: Okavango Delta Dreams…

By Michelle Lewis, Acacia Africa

The Okavango Delta is a breathtakingly beautiful wilderness where the safari never stops. Africa’s last remaining wetland, the ebb and flow of the seasons causes it to vary dramatically in size, the fan shaped delta ranging from 15,000 to around 22,000-sq/km on an annual basis. The labyrinth of lagoons expands as the yearly floods surge downwards from the Angola highlands, quenching the delta’s thirst for survival.
An oasis in what is a very arid country it’s almost paradoxical to find that this is the world’s largest inland delta, but it’s not the only reason to add this awe inspiring location to your list of "must sees" in Africa.

© Stephanie Millar

Elephant, buffalo, rhino, zebra, warthog, baboon, lechwe, and even the endangered wild dog reside here, but for the majority of the region’s estimated 200,000 large mammals this is not their year round hang out. They depart with the summer rains (November to March) in search of land to graze upon, and revisit the region as winter approaches once more. However, for birders the summer is undoubtedly one of the best times to visit, the numerous migrants filling the skies with a mass of colour.
For those who have opted for an overland itinerary, this is a great location in which to forgo the truck for a while and head into the real wilds of Africa, as travelling to any bush camp will be strictly native. Hop in a mokoro (a traditional dug out canoe) and you can traverse the reed filled haven with your own poler and guide, a two to three hour ride taking you into the heart of the delta itself.
A truly laid back way to safari, you may be lucky enough to spot the wildlife over the tall grasses, the elephant, and often the graceful zebra, a national representative of the Jewel of Africa coming into view.
Bush camping is primitive so it’s best to be prepared for long drop toilets, the absence of shower facilities and a couple of days of die hard endurance - but what you don’t have in creature comforts the surroundings and wildlife make up for in abundance.
You’ll normally start your safari in the early hours, your wake up call the piercing trill of the kettle over the campfire as the dawn light slowly breaking through the tall island palms. Chilly in the mornings you should pack a fleece to keep you warm, but come midday and the temperatures can soar in the high 40’s – all the more reason to get up an’ at ‘em first thing when it comes to viewing the delta’s wildlife. You’ll also need boots made for bush walking (a comfortable worn in pair is a necessity), and while there are no guarantees when it comes to the natural wonders of Africa, the absence of the usual 4X4 only adds to the excitement.

© Stephanie Millar

While it’s said to visible from space, you’ll also get a great birds eye view of the delta on a short plane ride. At this point movie making technology comes into its own, the wildlife spied from up above. And for this activity it’s wise to club together as greater numbers of people will lessen the cost per person. Either way, think carefully, as this is without a doubt a once in a lifetime experience that shouldn’t be missed.
You can also swim safely in the delta at various points, your adrenaline surged laps (these waters also shared by Botswana’s wildlife) followed by a late afternoon safari.  Sunsets over the delta are particularly impressive if only for the lack of light pollution, the sky above the mosaic of watery filled channels slowing turning from amber to darker shades of red. Done and dusted for the day, the cacophony of sounds once the campfire goes out is food for the soul, a whole orchestra of frogs serenading you across the floodwaters and lulling you into a peaceful slumber.

The Okavango Delta features in Acacia Africa’s 18th birthday "Free Seat" giveaway. For more information visit http://bit.ly/UcLhit

Trendsetting Travel: 2012 Hot Spots From Acacia Africa

Budget holidays will be an attractive proposition for travellers in the current economic climate, and with 2012 looming, adventure specialist Acacia Africa has pinpointed some of the trendsetting hotspots coming up on the continent.

(c) Rae Kokes

There’s still an ongoing debate when it comes to Zimbabwe, but over the last year, the country has had plenty of hardened adventurers beating down its less well-travelled paths. These intrepid travellers have put the country back on the mainstream map and with a wealth of volunteer projects on offer, Zimbabwe will continue to appeal to the growing number of ethical tourists.
7-day Rediscover Zimbabwe small group safari £445pp + local payment from £218pp.

South Africa, was recently ranked as the sixth most cost-effective long-haul option for British travellers, prices falling 27% since the previous year. With adventurers looking to travel further and wider for less, KwaZulu-Natal, one of the Rainbow Nation's up and coming provinces is tipped to be a 2012 hotspot. A stronghold of the Zulu tribe, the region is also home to South Africa’s oldest Big Five game reserve, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi – famed for its white rhino conservation efforts.
13-day Trek South Africa small group safari £875pp + local payment from £458pp.

Leanne Haigh, Project Development Manager at Acacia Africa, comments, "South Africa’s price driven popularity will also open up the landlocked kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland, these lesser known enclaves benefiting from a ready influx of responsible adventurers in search of unspoilt Africa."
Kenya and Tanzania have enduring crowd appeal when it comes to the annual migration, the wildlife spectacle drawing hordes of tourists to East Africa. However, 2012 could be the year for Malawi, the poorest nation in Sub-Saharan Africa now being viewed as one to watch on the continent. The country has invested heavily in eco-tourism over the years, the yearly "Lake Of Stars" festival bringing the warm heart of Africa out of relative obscurity to centre stage.
22-day Zanzibar, Victoria Falls & Kruger overland expedition £945pp + local payment from £384pp.

According to Acacia Africa, the search for exotic climes on the continent shows no sign of waning, 17% of the Y Generation having already visited the northern region by 16 years.
Leanne Haigh, comments, "Africa is certainly gaining in popularity, and the traditional gap year in Asia is being replaced by a much more eclectic travel map.  In fact, we’re seeing this across the board, couples, 30+ solo travellers and more senior adventurers choosing to quench their thirst for adventure, culture, and adrenaline on the continent."

All prices are no single supplement and include camping accommodation, transport, most meals and services of a tour leader/guide. Excludes return flight. For more information, visit acacia-africa.com.

"Show Us Your Africa!" Acacia Africa Offers Front Cover Brochure Slot To One Lucky Adventurer

Africa is a photographer’s paradise, and now you can put your camera skills to good use, as Acacia Africa is offering one lucky snap happy adventurer the chance to feature their ultimate shot on the front cover of the forthcoming 2012/13 brochure.
The tour operator always goes to great lengths when it comes to be choosing the most eye-catching image, and this year will be no different, the short listed pictures working their way around the London and Cape Town offices before the final vote is cast.
A highly prized opportunity, the winner will have their photo printed on over 100,000 copies, Acacia Africa’s brochure appearing in 20 countries, worldwide.  Aside from the obvious bragging rights, there’s an even bigger incentive to enter, as the star photographer will also take away a free 6-day African Insight overland expedition worth £315pp (excluding local payment and return flight) courtesy of the tour operator.
Heath Ashcroft, Marketing Director of Acacia Africa, comments, “Africa tends to attract a genuinely adventurous bunch of travellers, so we’re expecting some pretty wild entries. And with numerous adrenaline fueled locations on offer, we’re not ruling out more extreme photography!”
Entrants will need to submit a high-resolution (minimum 300 DPI) portrait photograph that captures the essence of Africa, and at the same time attracts people to pick up the brochure. Images should be sent to competition@acacia-africa.com.

Victoria Falls: Livingstone Island back open for visits!

Now that it is low water season, the famous Livingstone Island on the Zambian side of the Zambezi river is back open for visits. Livingstone Island is set on the very precipice of the Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River races past cascading 103m into the gorge below, setting the scene for probably the most exhilarating spot you'll ever enjoy a picnic!
The more adventurous kind of travellers might even take an exhilarating wade to the co-called "devils pool" right on the edge of the Victoria Falls...

Livingstone Island Morning Breezer online booking >>

accommodation in Livingstone >>

S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant 2011 - Franschhoek’s Le Quartier Francais named the Best in Africa

Organised by Restaurant magazine, the S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants list is an annual snapshot of the opinions and experiences of over 800 international restaurant industry experts.
Danish restaurant Noma is named as the S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant 2011 in the annual list of the S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants . For the second consecutive year Rene Redzepi’s restaurant topped the voting in the annual awards – widely considered to be the ‘Oscars’ of the restaurant world - reflecting the continued excitement around its unique treatment of local and regional ingredients.
For the second time, the Best Restaurant in Africa is named as Franschhoek’s Le Quartier Francais and is at number 36 on this year’s list. A regular name on the list for many years now, its head chef, Dutchwoman Margot Janse is well known for her use of local ingredients such as Wildebeest, Franschhoek Trout or Ganzvlei Vastrap Cheddar.
Rust en Vrede in Stellenbosch became 61th in the 2011 world wide ranking, while South Africa's third Top100 restaurant La Colombe in Cape Town became 82th.

Kenya: The Sailing Doctors of the Lamu archipelago (video)

The archipelago of Lamu, Kenya is made up of a series of remote island communities. A great number of whom have little or no access to medical care and have to travel for days over land and sea in order to reach their nearest dispensary. In many cases, there is no choice other than to stay at home and die.



In this short film a team from Butterfly Films follows the Anne Spoerry Sailing Doctors team as they brave the challenging journey to these remote islanders, bringing them not only the medical care that they so desperately need, but also, and perhaps more importantly, a sense that they have not been forgotten by all. Kudos!

The Anne Spoerry Sailing Doctors is a Community Based Organization in Lamu, Kenya. It was founded in July 2009 for the purpose of providing regular basic health services to the remote areas of the Lamu District. The Sailing Doctors project was founded by Bernard Spoerry, Daniela Blattler, Nikolai Barnwell, Ali Gabow and Chloe Spoerry. Its mission was greatly inspired by the work of the late Dr Anne Spoerry who worked with AMREF’s Flying Doctors services since 1964.

volunteer projects in Southern & Eastern Africa >>

Kumuka Worldwide: Top 5 tours in Africa

Established since 1983, Kumuka Worldwide, whose name originates from Africa, and translates in to "the start of a journey", has taken travellers to many parts of the globe, offering an extraordinary range of trips.
Beginning with one expedition vehicle and a Trans Africa tour, they have steadily extended and broadened our operations, which now include tours to Africa, Asia, Australasia & The Pacific Islands, Antarctica, Central America, South America, North America, Europe and The Middle East.

Kumuka's Top 5 tours in Africa are:

1. Serengeti, Crater and Zanzibar
   14 Day overland tour to Kenya and Tanzania
   start/finish: Nairobi
2. Africa in Focus
   29 Day overland tour of East and Southern Africa including South Africa, Botswana & Malawi
   start: Johannesburg finish: Nairobi
3. Gorilla Express
   4 Day overland tour to Kenya & Uganda featuring a trek to the Mountain Gorillas
   start/finish: Nairobi
4. Southern Highlights
   21 Day overland tour of East and Southern Africa including Botswana and Mozambique
   start/finish: Johannesburg
5. Kilimanjaro Climb
   day trek via the Marangu route to the highest point in Africa
   start/finish: Nairobi 

This way to a complete list of African tours >>

Zim$ notes are becoming "economic souvenirs"...

Once in a while you got travel news topics that pop up in almost every newspaper, online mag etc. Such a headline was (and still is) that the one hundred trillion Zimbabwe dollar bill (a 100 followed by 12 zeros!!!) became a so-called "economic souvenir" among tourists in Zimbabwe.

Do you remember the old 10 Zim$ note? ;-)

It is already about two years ago that the US-American dollar became legal tender in Zimbabwe in the hopes of killing off the record inflation that caused all those zeros and so the one hundred trillion Zimbabwe dollar bill got abandoned and therefore invalid. But now, some time later, clever street vendors are finally making money out of the invalid bills. Tourists are paying around US$5 for one note, depending on the on its condition. Fair enough, isn't it? ;-)

Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls International Airport regarded as "unsafe" by MPs

NewZimbabwe.com, the online edition of The New Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe’s weekly tabloid newspaper published in the United Kindom, is quoting members of the Zimbabwean Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport (06 Jan 2011) saying "that it is unsafe to land planes at the Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) because of an antiquated instrument landing system."
So if you are planning to fly up to Victoria Falls rather fly into Livingstone (LIV) in Zambia than into VicFalls. It might be safer... and cheaper!

online flight booking on TravelComments.com >>

weekly price comparison - one way flights in Southern Africa >>

Lonely Planet: Namibia one of the Top 10 best-value destinations for 2011

The southern African coutnry of Namibia is ranked 5th best best-value destination in 2011 by Lonely Planet's yearly "Best in Travel" (Lonely Plant: Best in Travel 2011 amazon.com | amazon.co.uk | amazon.de)  publication.



Congratulation Namibia - a good and well-deserved boost for the independent/backpacker travel industry in the country. Lonely Planet writes:

Botswana wants big spenders only and South Africa’s not the deal it once was, so southern Africa bargain hunters should head for Namibia. Well set-up for backpackers, this is still a territory of US$50 or less a day if you’re careful, with an excellent network of local minibuses and tours aimed at budget travellers to go to places public transport won’t. And if you go up a price bracket you’ll eat and sleep well in excellent-value midrange options that bring South Africans flocking over the border year after year.

Beside all the "best-value" reasons for Namibia, the country is simply stunning and is offering the traveller everything from hiking, surfing, gameviewing to urban life (ok, pretty much in Windhoek only), rural and cultural life and some of the finest landscapes you have ever seen!

The Top 10 best-value destinations for 2011 are:

1. Bangladesh
2. Nicaragua
3. Washington, DC, USA
4. Paris, France
5. Namibia
6. Philippines
7. Argentina
8. Naples, Italy
9. Ukraine
10. Syria

Today is World Toilet Day (19 Nov 2010)

World Toilet Day is a global day to raise awareness of the global sanitation crisis. 4,000 children die every day from diarrhoea caused by dirty water and poor sanitation. About 2.6 billion people worldwide are without access to proper sanitation, which risks their health, strips their dignity, and kills 1.8 million people, mostly children, a year.



World Toilet Day has been created by the WTO (World Toilet Organisation) as an annual celebration of toilets and sanitation and their vital contribution to public health, personal dignity and environmental sustainability.

Did you know that Mount Kilimanjaro has three peaks?

Mount Kilimanjaro, actually a stratovolcano, is composed of three distinct volcanic cones - Kibo 5,895m, Mawenzi 5,149m and Shira 3,962 m. Uhuru Peak on Kibo's crater rim is the mountain's highest summit. Mawenzi and Shiba are already extinct while Kibo is still dormant and could erupt again. Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and fourth highest of the Seven Summits. It is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, as well as the 4th most prominent mountain in the world.


Kilimanjaro Timelapse from Adolfo on Vimeo.
The name Kilimanjaro has no certain origin, but one of the most popular theory is that it comes from the words Kilima (swahili, meaning "mountain") and Njaro (kichagga, loosely translated as "whiteness"). Kilima Njaro could be translated as White Mountain which might be refferring to the shiny snow on the peak of the mountain.

Kilimanjaro tours with GAP Adventures >>

Kilimanjaro tours with responsibletravel.com >>

GAP Adventure: Adventure Sale - 20-25% off all small group tours

GAP Adventures is offering a great special - you can get 20-25% off all small group tours worldwide. You only need to book by 31 July 2010 to get the 20% discount. 25% off applies to selected last-minute offer tours only.
The offer is valid for new tour bookings only, is not applicable to independent tours, Discovery Adventures, ACV or Expedition tours, my own room, airfare, hotel bookings or other in-country services. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.
Use Promo Code: adventureseason

GAP Adventures' Adventure Sale >>

Overland tours in Southern & Eastern Africa >>

online flight booking >>

book accommodation with Hostelbookers >>

Have you ever seen someone playing a guitar like this?

Ronnie seems to be a street musician from Botswana (the 5.00 written on the guitar might at least indicate it). His guitar technique is by far the most unconvential I have seen since I saw Hannes Coetzee playing the Teaspoon Slide Guitar the first time! Stunning!

Zanzibar: all Tuesday flights between March and April 2010 have been cancelled.

Zanzibar's international Kisauni Airport (ZNZ) is undergoing some maintainance work and therefore the airport's runway will be closed every Tuesday between March and April 2010.


View Larger Map

Zanzibar Airport will be closed from 07h00 to 19h00 on these days.
The airport is currently served from all major East African airports (such as Kilimanjaro Airport, Nairobi Airport, Arusha Airport, Mombasa airport and Dar es Salaam Airport), from South Africa's OR Tambo International Airport and from some European airports.

Overland Tours in East Africa >>
online flight booking >>
accommodation in Tanzania >>

Game Drive For Free With Acacia Africa & Win A 6-day African Insight Overland Safari

The early bird catches the worm or more specifically the Big 5 when you’re on safari, and we game viewers were somewhat bleary eyed but nonetheless filled with a growing sense of anticipation as we got ready to go wild in the Kruger. We watched the sunrise and sipped coffee, our group completely captivated by the sounds of the African bush and what was to come. After heading off into Big 5 territory our jeep closed in on a solitary leopard dragging her prey towards a nearby kopjie (small hilltop). Her sleek fur glistened in the light, and her bright eyes were fixated on the surroundings as she surveyed the wilderness for incoming predators.
Awesome experience?!!! Not many parks or reserves can beat the Kruger when it comes to wildlife, and it’s still a major highlight for anyone looking to catch the big cats. One lucky adventurer will now be able to game drive in the national park for FREE, as Acacia Africa a leading adventure travel company, is giving away a 6-day African Insight overland safari as part of its “Go Wild Online” campaign.
From now until the 12th of February, the tour operator will be going in search of the "Acacia Wild Tweep", the competition targeted at fans of South Africa. Anyone who has been to the Rainbow Nation can enter, and applicants don’t need to have travelled on an Acacia tour. The winning safari enthusiast will be judged by some of the best expert Africa bloggers on the net including, AfricaFreak, PlanYourSafari and of course Travelcomments.com.
Before whisking adventurers away to the continent, Acacia will be asking the winning "Wild Tweep" to share their love of South Africa in a 20-minute virtual tweet up on the Africa specialist’s Twitter page. Scheduled to take place on Friday 26 February from 13:00-13:20 (GMT), the winning "Wild Tweep’s" mission will be to answer questions on the Rainbow Nation put forward by the tour operator’s tweeps.
The complete FREE 6-day overland trip includes river cruising on the Chobe River, optional adrenaline activities at the Victoria Falls and of course, Big Five game drives in the Kruger National Park.
So what are you waiting for? Simply fill in a Q&A and email your entry to gowildonline@acacia-africa.com. Closing date for entries 12 Feb 2010. See Terms & conditions

Join the South Africa Tweet Up!

Safari Tips 101 - Malaria Advice: Travel Precautions to Take!

1. First of all you should check if the area you are going to visit is actual malaria infested. Remember – there are large parts of Africa which are malaria free!
2. If you are going to visit a malaria infested area consult a doctor or a travel clinic. They will provide you with all kinds of info about the medication to take.
3. Listen properly to what the doc is telling you and follow this. Stick to the schedule without forgetting to take your pill(s).
4. Get yourself a mosquito net. They are not uber expensive and usually very light.
5. Get yourself a mosquito repellent once you are there. Ask at a local pharmacy for their best selling one and you'll get a good one.
6. Mosquito coils are usually doing a good job. They are burning for up to eight hrs. and Mosquito hate them. OK, some people don't like the smell of it, but you should give it a try!
7. Never forget that mosquitos are attracted to light. Switch off the light when going to bed and keep reading in bed to a minimum as the light of your torch will also attracted those nasty little creatures.
8. Clothing – shorts and shirts are no problem at all during the day, but during dusk and dawn you should wear long trouser and a jumper/long sleeve. Mosquitos are most active during dusk and dawn.
9. You are on safari and not on a big night out, so don't use too much perfume / after shave. Mosquitoes are more attracted to it than anyone else around you.
10. Stick to the rules, don't forget to take your medication and don't think that you will not get Malaria just because you just read this list!

Malaria is really nothing to joke around with. It is one of the major killing diseases in Africa – around 350–500 million cases of malaria occur worldwide each year, and over one million people die of it. As a visitor to malaria infested regions you are at risk of getting the disease. The right precautions will minimize the risk, but it will not give you 100% protection.

Typical symptoms of malaria are:

• fever
• chills
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting

If you have such symptoms and you are in a malaria are or you have been to one recently it is very important to see a doctor and to get tested. Malaria needs to get treated as early as possible to prevent something worse from happening.

Get Your FREE Safari Tips 101 Ebook NOW! >>
tours & activities in Southern Africa >>
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According to Acacia Africa Soft Voluntourism Is Winning Out With Today's Adventurers - Launch Of New "9-day Cheetah & Kruger Combination Voluntour"

Voluntourism is still one of the major buzzwords when it comes to holidays, but according to Acacia Africa, a softer version where charitable pursuits are juxtaposed with adventure is winning out with today’s travellers. The tour operator’s new 9-day Cheetah & Kruger Combination Voluntour, which will be featured in the forthcoming brochure, is the perfect example.
Heath Ashcroft, Marketing Director of Acacia Africa, comments: “A growing number of travellers are looking to give something back to the host country they are visiting, hence our decision to launch a dedicated voluntour section late last year. However, adventurers still want to experience the destination as a whole, whether that’s enjoying the traditional African safari, participating in village visits or travelling off the beaten track on a overland journey.
A “hands on” experience, Acacia Africa’s new itinerary includes opportunities to be directly involved in the care and rehabilitation of animals at the “Race Against Extinction Project; volunteers working in close proximity with the brown hyena, suni antelope, wild dog, cheetah, and a wide variety of vulture species. Adventurers can also enjoy Big Five safaris in the Kruger National Park, two days of game viewing completing the tour.
An established venture, the project, which is set in the foothills of the beautiful Magaliesberg Mountains, is one of the oldest conservation volunteer schemes for the African cheetah and has been in operation for 37 years.
£1,085pp (based on two sharing) + local payment from £94pp. The price includes all tour highlights, transport, accommodation, park fees, sleeping mat, road tolls and taxes, meals as indicated, camping and cooking equipment and services of driver and tour leader. Excludes, visas, travel insurance, flights, departure taxes, airport transfers, tips, sleeping bag and items of a personal nature. Accommodation is based in single, twin, triple and quad rooms with shared bathroom facilities (5-nights), twin share rondavels at a private lodge (one-night) and pre-erected two person dome tents (two-nights).
Departures Monday, Wednesday & Saturday year round.

Contact Acacia Africa on 020 7706 4700, email info@acacia-africa.com or visit www.acacia-africa.com for further information. ATOL No. 6499 and ABTA No. W4093 PROTECTED.

volunteering projects in Southern & Eastner Africa >>
Kruger Park area accommodation >>
Kruger National Park info guide >>
safaris in the Kruger National Park >>

Get Your Head Around The Lost Continent With Acacia Adventure Holidays

Tweet Up Q&As Now Available Online
Forums and blogs are the usual online avenues adventurers tend to follow when they are researching destinations, but Twitter brings a whole new interactive element into play.
Acacia Adventure Holidays Tweet up on the lost continent, held on Friday 21 August, certainly brought some interesting questions to the fore including; when is the best time to spot Lemurs, how are tourists contributing to eco-tourism, and why travel with a tour operator as opposed to travelling independently?

Madagascar has recently hit the headlines with the visa waiver (available to tourists staying under 30 days and travelling up to 31 December), while the current power sharing agreement has also brought political stability to the fourth largest island nation.
Anyone who missed the Tweet Up can now visit the tour operators blog (“Acacia Africa: stuck on you”) to find out more about the lost continent as the full list of Q&As are available at: http://bit.ly/2IW8Q
Acacia Adventure Holidays' tours to Madagascar start from £630pp with departures every Saturday (April – December). The 8-day Madagascar Dhow Sailing adventure begins at Hellville Port, the itinerary taking travellers around the Nosy Be archipelago. When not camping on secluded islands adventurers can opt for forest walks, swimming and diving. Highlights include Nosy Tanikely, a marine reserve which is perfect for snorkeling; Nosy Komba, noted for its friendly Lemurs; and Mahalina – with opportunities to explore the mangroves by kayak.
The price includes all highlights, transport, camping equipment, sleeping mat, airport transfers, some meals, and services of skipper, chef, and three crew. Excludes visas, travel insurance, flights, departure taxes, sleeping sheet, snorkel, kayaks and fishing line hire, tips, soft drinks, optional activities and items of a personal nature. Group size (maximum ten). Accommodation: guest house (1-night), camping two person dome tents (6-nights).

Contact Acacia Adventure Holidays on 020 7706 4700, email info@acacia-africa.com or visit www.acacia-africa.com for further information. ATOL No. 6499 and ABTA No. W4093 PROTECTED.

online flight booking >>
budget accommodation on Madagascar >>
overland tours all over the African continent >>

Acacia Adventure Holidays’ Big Five Flash Sale & Overland Twitter Tour

Acacia Adventure Holidays will be running a Big Five Flash Sale on Friday 14 August, lasting for exactly five hours. Featuring discounts of up to 55%, this is the ideal time to book an overland tour.

The term “Big Five,” was coined by the big game hunters themselves – these "now you see 'em, now you don't," predators being the hardest to hunt on foot. According to the tour operator, the Big Five are not a guarantee for safari goers either, but they continue to be the main exotic draw for adventurers in Africa.
The Big Five Flash Sale, which will run from 12pm to 5pm, will incorporate all of the tour operator’s overland tours at a 25% discount – with a whopping 55% saving on the six-day African Insight. Featuring game viewing and night drives in the Kruger, river cruising in the Chobe National Park and an adrenaline fuelled day at the Victoria Falls, the bite size itinerary is perfect for adventurers who are looking to get a taster of the overland experience.
“Andy, the great outdoorsman from the Veldt,” a larger than life character appearing on the tour operators blog (africastuckonyou.blogspot.com), will also providing live commentary from outside the Acacia office and engaging with Acacia Adventure Holidays’ “tweeps” (or twitter fans) on the day of the Big Five Flash Sale. In addition, there will be ongoing updates on the best place to catch up with these predators on the tour operator’s Twitter page before the sale begins (twitter.com/AcaciaAfrica). Adventurers are being advised to get in quick as discounts will be treated on a first past the post basis and Acacia is asking its customers to email info@acacia-africa.com, due to the huge influx of calls it is expecting to receive over the course of the five hour flash sale.
Heath Ashcroft, Marketing Director at Acacia Adventure Holidays, comments: “On my last trip we were treated to the sight of one of the more elusive Big Five, the leopard. As the September rains fell in the Serengeti, we watched the leopard bounding away to the safety of a nearby kopjie, dragging its prey behind it. While nothing is guaranteed on any African safari, we’re hoping that the same sense of excitement which hits game viewers when they catch sight of these amazing predators, will be captured in a our Big Five Flash Sale – a heavy online presence driving the buzz.”
The 43-day Kenya to Cape Town “overland Twitter tour,” will also be coming live and direct from Dan, “Acacia’s Man In Africa” (twitter.com/AcaciaAfrica) in August. A real traveller, Dan’s blog and his Acacia itinerary (beginning on 09 August) are available to view on his, “around the world travel blog”: www.dansadventure.co.uk.

Terms and conditions: Big Five Flash Sale: Friday 14 August. Discounts available: 12-5pm (BST). 55% discount on the 6-day African Insight and 25% discount available on all other overland tours. Scheduled departures up to 31 December 2009. All prices subject to availability. Discount cannot be combined with any other promotion currently being offered by Acacia Adventure Holidays. Normal local payment(s) apply, subject to normal booking conditions. Promotional Code Big5@25_Aug09

Contact Acacia Adventure Holidays on 020 7706 4700, email info@acacia-africa.com or visit www.acacia-africa.com for further information. ATOL No. 6499 and ABTA No. W4093 PROTECTED.

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