Al Jazeera documentary "The Last Rhino" (47 min)

In the well compiled documentary "The Last Rhino" Al Jazeera's correspondent Jonah Hull investigates how South Africa became the epicentre of rhino poaching in the world. He travels around South Africa, Mozambique and Vietnam and interviews conservationists such as Dr Joseph Okori (WWF, African Rhino Manager), Tom Milliken (Traffic, Director East, Southern Africa) and Dr Ian Player (Founder of The Wilderness Foundation), as well as Major Jack Greeff of the Anti Poaching Intelligence Group Southern Africa and Kobus de Velt, a manager of a CIS unit in the Kruger National Park. While in Mozambique, Hull speaks to members of a familiy of a killed poacher, to an "influential business man" and to an alleged poacher. Towards the end of the documentary Hull visits the game farm of South Africa's largest private rhino breeder, John Hume, and interviews him about his motives. All in all a very interesting, but shocking documentary. Kudos at Jonah Hull, Clifford Bestall and Al Jazeera.

Third annual World Rhino Day (22 September 2012)

World Rhino Day from Anthony Roberts on Vimeo.

More information about the third annual World Rhino Day >>

South Africa: 381 384 rhinos killed by poachers so far in 2012 (13 Sept 2012) >>

CITES has released a new short version of "Rhinos under Thread" (16min)

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has released a new and shorter version of short version (16 minutes) of the film "Rhinos under Threat" that was first screened during the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20) on 18 June 2012. The full version (28 minutes) of the film is available here.

Please spread the word about the film, share it via facebook, pinterest and email, RT it and g+ it - the useless killings of rhinos has to stop!

Video: "Rhinos under threat" (29min)

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), in collaboration with UNTV, produced the movie below titled "Rhino under Threat," which aims to raise public awareness of the current crisis faced by rhinoceros due to illegal killing and the international trade in rhino horn. The movie was first viewed on 18 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20).

Please spread the word about the film, share it via facebook, pinterest and email, RT it and g+ it - the useless killings of rhinos has to stop!

I am Intrepid: Get 15% off your next tour & get the chance to win a trip for 4 to anywhere in the world

Adventure travel company Intrepid Travel is running another great competition that not only gets you 15% off your next tour, but also the chance to win a trip for 4 to anywhere in the world…

Here's how it works. Upload a story, photo, blog post, painting, video or song and show the world what you think being Intrepid is all about. If your entry gets enough votes, Intrepid put it to their panel of ultimate Intrepid judges, who will decide which entry is the most Intrepid of them all. Still waiting for that ultimate Intrepid moment? That’s OK, whether you vote or share we'll give you 15% OFF your next adventure just for being part of the 'I am Intrepid' community.

click here to join 'I am Intrepid' >>

Kumuka's Valentine's Day offer: Book one tour & your partner will get 50% OFF

Here is a travel deal from Kumuka that you'll fall in love with. 

update - OFFER EXTENDED - NOW ENDS 17 FEB 2012

Book one (!) Kumuka tour and your partner will get 50% OFF! That's 50% OFF for your partner on tours to Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America & The Middle East. Click here to check out and book Kumuka's tours worldwide!

Offer ends: 15 February 2012
Travel dates: Valid for travel between 14 Feb 2012 and 31 Dec 2014

Terms and conditions apply
1. To receive this offer full payment must be made at the time of booking. 2. Offer can be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of Kumuka Worldwide. Book now to avoid disappointment. 3. Some tours are excluded from offer, see: www.kumuka.com/offers for full details. 4. Offer applies to new bookings only. 5. Offer excludes tours booked using Kumuka Payment Plan. 6. Offer cannot be combined with any other offers. 7. Valid for travel between 14 Feb 2012 and 31 December 2014. 8. This discount (Book 1 and your partner gets 50% off) does not apply in the following markets: Australia and New Zealand.

Today is World AIDS Day - "Getting to Zero"

World AIDS Day, observed 01 December each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Every World Aids Day has a certain theme - this year's one is about "Getting to Zero". Backed by the United Nations, the "Getting to Zero" campaign will run until 2015.



The idea of the World Aids Day was conceived in August 1987 by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, who were both working as information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Bunn and Netter took their idea to the Director of the Global Programme on AIDS (now known as UNAIDS) Dr. Jonathan Mann. He liked the concept, approved it, and agreed with the recommendation that the first observance of World AIDS Day should be 01 Dec 1988.

South African Airways to introduce direct services to Beijing (China)

update (28 Dec 2011): SSouth African Airways has revised its planned operational schedule for the new Johannesburg <> Beijing route, due to start from 31 Jan 2012.
The new schedule results in operational day changes out of Beijing, which currently remains subject to Government Approval. Plan for 3 weekly Airbus A340-600 operation remains unchanged.

South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways, will launch a direct service between Johannesburg and Beijing in China. The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart on Tuesday 31 January 2012  from Johannesburg to arrive in Beijing, China,on Wednesday 01 February 2012.
Introducing direct flights to Beijing is in line with SAA’s strategy to expand its network to Asia, the fastest growing market in the world. South African Airways will operate the route three times a week. The route will be served by the Airbus A340-600 aircraft, which have the capacity to operate the route directly all year round with no passenger payload restrictions. Flying time between Johannesburg and Beijing takes on average 15 hours.

online flight booking on TravelComments.com >>

Save the Rhino - what Anthony Bourdain suggests Paul McCartney should do about it!

I am currently reading Anthony Bourdain's book "Medium Raw" - a great book and a "bloody valentine to the world of food and the people who cook". Anyway, on page 260 (US version) Bourdain writes about his visit to one of what was said to be New York's premier fine-dining vegan restaurants, which, he was assured, is one of Paul McCartney's favorite ones in New York.
Bourdain went there with "a boyfriend of a producer" who was actually trying to bring him "over to the other [vegan] side". Over "some organic wine and much convival conversation" Bourdain passed on the following suggestion to "Sir Paul":

pls click on the pic to enlarge

Quite a good idea, isn't it? ^^

Kumuka's 72 hour sale - get up to 30% off tours (ends 11 Sept 2011)

Kumuka is running another great campaign to safe some bucks on your next tour with them. Book your tour with Kumuka within the next 72 hours (sale ends 11 Sept 2011) and get the chance to safe:

• 30% OFF Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America & The Middle East tours
• 5% OFF Lodge Based Safaris & Family Adventures

How to claim your discount

• Go to Kumuka.com and browse through their tours
• Use the promotion code BIGSAVE11 when booking
• Book on or before Sunday 11th September 2011

Terms and conditions apply
1. The following regions and products are excluded from the sale North America and Specialist tours. 2. The sale ends 11th September 2011 3. The sale applies for tours departing from 01 November 2011 to December 2012. 4. To qualify for a Discount full payment must be made at the time of booking. 5. Offers apply to New Bookings only. 6. All bookings must be made at www.kumuka.com 7. Offers apply to bookings made in GBP, USD and EURO only. 8. Offer apply to prices displayed on the Kumuka website. 9. Some tours are excluded. Check the individual tour page on www.kumuka.com.

Ethiopian Airlines signs code share agreement with Asiana Airlines

Ethiopia's flag carrier Ethiopian Airlines, one of Africa's fastest growing airlines, has signed a code share agreement with the award winning South Korean airline Asiana Airlines. The new partnership between the two Star Alliance members will provide passengers with more flight options and better connections between both Africa and Asia. The airlines will cooperate on code share flights between Seoul, Hong Kong and Addis Ababa. The four weekly code share flights have already commenced as of 29 August 2011.
Asiana Airlines is one of South Korea's two major airlines, along with Korean Air. Asiana  has its domestic hub at Gimpo International Airport and its international hub at Incheon International Airport in Seoul. Asiana is a member of the Star Alliance and currently operates 14 domestic and 85 international passenger routes.

Kumuka's Tri Nations Sale: save up to 30% (ends 28 Aug 11)

Whilst the Kiwi's may be regular winners, it's been quite a while since Australia have had the chance of winning the Tri Nations trophy.
To celebrate this long awaited showdown between the top 2 teams in the world, Kumuka are offering all Aussies and Kiwis up to 30% OFF Kumuka tours - so in the end we all win!!
That's 30% OFF for this weekend only and may the best team win!!

How to claim your Tri Nations discount:

• Use the promotional code BIGSAVE11 when booking
• Book on or before 28st August 2011
• Take advantage of the strong Aussie and Kiwi dollars and when you select your currency - pay for your tour in $USD, £GBP or €Euro and SAVE!

Terms and conditions apply
1. The following regions and products are excluded from the sale North America and Specialist tours. 2. The sale ends 28th Aug 2011 3. The sale applies for tours departing from 01 November 2011 to December 2012. 4. To qualify for a Discount full payment must be made at the time of booking. 5. Offers apply to New Bookings only. 6. All bookings must be made online using Kumuka Agent interface. 7. Offers apply to bookings made in GBP, USD and EURO only. 8. Offer apply to prices displayed on the Kumuka website or in 2011-2012 brochure only. 9. Some tours are excluded. Check the individual tour page on www.kumuka.com or contact Kumuka for further details.

Overland Tours in Eastern & Southern Africa  >>

Kumuka: 30% off Sale - ends 21 Aug 2011

This is your chance to make huge savings on your next tour with Kumuka Worldwide. Simply book and pay for your tour in US Dollars, Euro or Pounds before Sunday 21st August 2011 and you will SAVE up to 30%* on a huge range of Kumuka Tours.
How to claim your discount:

• Use the promotional code BIGSAVE11 when booking
• Book on or before 21st August 2011
• Select your currency - Pay for your tour in $ USD, £ GBP or € Euro and SAVE!

*Terms and conditions apply
• The following regions and products are excluded from the sale. Family Tours, Africa lodge Based tours, North America and Specialist tours.
• The sale ends 21st Aug 2011
• The sale applies for tours departing from 01 November 2011 to December 2012.
• To qualify for a Discount full payment must be made at the time of booking.
• Offers apply to New Bookings only.
• All bookings must be made online using Kumuka Agent interface.
• Offers apply to bookings made in GBP, USD and EURO only.
• Offer apply to prices displayed on the Kumuka website or in 2011-2012 brochure only.
• Some tours are excluded. Check the individual tour page on www.kumuka.com.

Video: Viper strike in slow motion

Vipers are among the most dangerous snakes in the world and can be located on all continents except Antarctica and Australia.The snake in the video is a Russell's Viper, one of the most dangerous snakes in Asia. It is one of the snake species responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths in the world. Once bitten, people experience a wide variety of symptoms including pain, swelling, vomiting, dizziness, blood incoagubility and kidney failure.



Using slow-motion photography snake expert Romulus Whitaker shows in the video what happens if someone accidentically steps on a Russell's Viper.

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.

sciencedaily.com: Why the leopard got its spots

Why do leopards have rosette shaped markings but tigers have stripes? Rudyard Kipling suggested that it was because the leopard moved to an environment "full of trees and bushes and stripy, speckly, patchy-blatchy shadows" but is there any truth in this just-so story?

Researchers at the University of Bristol investigated the flank markings of 35 species of wild cats to understand what drives the evolution of such beautiful and intriguing variation.  
More on Why the leopard got its spots!

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 >>

Travel with Kumuka & Grab a FREE iPad

Kumuka Worldwide is extending it's popular iPad offer - book a tour with Kumuka in 2010  and pocket an Apple iPad!

How to book?
Simply enter the promotional code IPADEU2 when booking any of the tours listed here!

Kumuka iPad Offer is only available for UK residents i.e. customers currently living in the United Kingdom only.

overland tours in Africa >>

GAP Adventures - 10% off on voluntours in April 2010

GAP Adventures' voluntour adventures have been designed to give back to the communities and regions they visit. The tours offer travellers the chance to complement their dream adventures with volunteer opportunities. During the month of April 2010 GAP Adventures is celebrating "Earth Month" and is therefore giving a 10% discount on all their voluntour adventures around the world.

• Project Kenya and Safari - 15 days
  Start/Finish: ex Nairobi
  Countries Visited: Kenya
• Project South Africa & Overland Adventure - 28 days
  Start/Finish: Cape Town to Livingstone
  Countries Visited: Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia
• Project Tanzania and Safari - 13 days
  Start/Finish: Zanzibar to Arusha
  Countries Visited: Tanzania
• Project Zambia & Safari - 15 days
  Start/Finish: Livingstone to Johannesburg
  Countries Visited: Botswana, South Africa, Zambia
• more voluntour adventures in Asia & Central America

more volunteer projects in Africa >>

online flight booking >>

GAP Adventures: Last Minute Departures

Good things come to those who wait! And up to 25% off is a very good thing!
Are you travelling in the next 2 months and haven't yet booked?
G.A.P Adventures - The Great Adventure People have a selection of trips currently offered at up to 25%. Please note these trips can change day to day without notice, so don't delay!

Africa - flights to Africa >>

Ethiopia Discovery
11 Days departure(s) on 25 July, 2009 - 25% off

Asia- flights to Asia >>

Hanoi to Hong Kong
15 Days departure(s) on 26 July, 2009 - 20% off

Central America - flights to Central America >>

Guatemala Encompassed
16 Days departure(s) on 17 July, 2009 - 25% off

The Wilds of Costa Rica and Panama
14 Days departure(s) on 19 July, 2009 - 20% off

Volcano Trail
17 Days departure(s) on 16 August, 2009 - 15% off

Europe - flights to Europe >>

The Best of Tuscany
10 Days departure(s) on 11 July, 2009 - 20% 0ff

Greek Islands Sailing Adventure (Santorini to Mykonos)
8 Days departure(s) on 02 August, 2009 - 15% off

Central Russia Explorer
14 Days departure(s) on 02 August, 2009 - 25% off

Turkey Family Adventure
8 Days departure(s) on 09 August, 2009 - 20% off

North Africa/Middle East - flights to North Africa/Middle East>>

Egypt & Jordan Adventure
17 Days departure(s) on 23 July, 2009 - 20% off

Egypt Family Adventure
13 Days departure(s) on 17 August, 2009 - 15% off

South America- flights to South America>>

Andean Discovery
21 Days departure(s) on 18 July, 2009 - 15% off

North Argentina Highlights
15 Days departure(s) on 18 July, 2009 - 20% off

Peru Explorer
10 Days departure(s) on 18 July, 2009 - 20% off

Inca Heartland & Amazon
21 Days departure(s) on 31 July, 2009 - 20% off

The Inca Trail
7 Days departure(s) on 30 July, 2009 - 20% 0ff

Amazon Explorer
10 Days departure(s) on 07 August, 2009 - 20% off

Quest Of The Gods
14 Days departure(s) on 31 July, 2009 - 25% off

Inca Discovery - Lares
8 Days departure(s) on 31 July, 2009 - 15% off

Land Galapagos - Multi-Activities
10 Days departure(s) on 08 August, 2009 - 20% off

Absolute Peru
21 Days departure(s) on 19 August, 2009 - 20% off

Inca Empire
15 Days departure(s) on 22 August, 2009 - 20% off

Peru Hike, Bike & Raft
16 Days departure(s) on 22 August, 2009 - 20% off

Project Machu Picchu
13 Days departure(s) on 16 August, 2009 - 15% off