Wonderful Kenya

It's early morning in the Chyulu Hills, where Campi Ya Kanzi is located between Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks. The full moon is still high in the sky, Kilimanjaro is already crystal clear in the far distance and who would stand there posing in front, but this lovely giraffe! What a picture perfect morning.

I've just returned from a conference in Kenya that included visiting 3 camps: Campi Ya Kanzi, SaSaab, north of Samburu National Park and Bateleur Camp in the Masai Mara, next to Kichwa Tembo, both operated by andBeyond.

This trip was an "eco-friendly" safari, learning more about sustainable tourism and philanthropy. Safari operators and individual camps are getting the message and learning from the pro who have always believed in this concept.

I was very impressed by what is being done to minimize the tourists footprints on the local environment and how the local people are involved with tourism to preserve their wildlife and cultures. It's a fine dance that involves everything and everyone. I can go on and on.

The time to go on safari is now. Tourism is way down and the local people depend on us to help them preserve their wildlife for our viewing pleasure. The deals are out there. I can make your dream trip come true, creating long lasting memories for you.

On the Road again

I'm sorry about not blogging more often. Time seems to just fly.
It's time for another conference in Kenya. I will return on June 17.

28 new stamps in my passport

Imagine getting 28 new stamps and visas in your passport in just one trip!!! Here’s how to do it.

First off, get on a plane bound for South Africa. When you arrive at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, you will stay overnight here.

The South African immigration officer will paste a visa into your passport (1) and then stamp it (2) for accuracy.

Spend the night at an airport hotel.

The next day you depart South Africa and they stamp your passport out (3).
Next, you fly to Botswana and when you enter, you will get another stamp (4).

After a week or so here, when you depart Botswana they will stamp you out (5).

Then enter Namibia. You will get another stamp in (6).
Spend 3 days at Susuwe Island Lodge and then 3 days at the Ntwala Island Lodge in the Caprivi Strip.
When you transfer from Susuwe to Ntwala, although still in the Caprivi this is when it gets really interesting. If you can’t afford to charter a plane to fly the short distance across, you must do a road and boat transfer.

You depart Namibia at the Ngoma border and you get a stamp out (7). Cross the Ngoma Bridge across the Chobe River and enter Botswana on the other side; here you get a stamp in (8). From here, you drive to Kasane, about 45 minutes, where you stamp out of Botswana (9). This where you board a small boat to Ntwala Island Lodge, but on the way you must stop at immigration and stamp back into Namibia at Impalila Island (10).

Spend 3 days at Ntwala Island Lodge.

To get to Zambia from here is really easy and takes only about 1-2 hours. You depart Namibia at Impalila Island and stamp out (11); you enter Botswana at Kasane and stamp in (12); you drive to Kazungula, 20 minutes, and stamp out of Botswana (13) again. Here you take a small boat across the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers where 4 countries meet: Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

On the other side, when you enter Zambia, you must purchase a visa, which gets pasted into your passport (14); then it must get stamped (15) to be valid.

Spend a week or more in Zambia, including a few days at Victoria Falls, the adventure capital of Africa.

If you want to see Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwe side while in Zambia, and I highly do recommend that you do this, then you’ll have to purchase a visa to enter Zim. (16). You will stamp out of Zam. (17), stamp into Zim. (18), see the Falls; then return to Zam. If you didn’t get a multi-visa when you entered Zam., you have to purchase another visa (19), which will get stamped to make it official (20).

At the airport when you depart from Livingston, you will get a stamp out (21) of Zambia. If you’re flying out of Vic. Falls airport in Zimbabwe, you will get another stamp into Zim. (22) at the bridge and out again at the airport (23). Hopefully you purchased the multi entry visa when you visited the falls!! If not, you have to get another visa (24).

You then fly back to Jo-burg and you may get another visa (25) for S. Africa, another stamp in (26), spend the night at a hotel, a stamp out the next day (27); when you arrive back in the US, the immigration officer will stamp you in (28) and you’re home again.

What a trip!!!!

My advice is this: Get the extra pages right off the bat when you apply for a passport if you intend to travel to Africa!!!

Kristina is on safari again

I will be on safari in Botswana, Namibia and Zambia for a month from March 13-April 13, 2009. This is an independent study tour and I'm taking Tom with me. I have studied the camps we're visiting by taking a specialist course and need to see them in order to choose the "right" camp for you when you can go on safari.

We will visit:
Deception Valley Lodge in the Central Kalahari Desert, Botswana
Xakanaxa Camp in the Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Kwando Kwara Camp in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Kwando Lebala and Lagoon camps in the Linyanti Wetlands, Botswana
Susuwe and Ntwala Island Lodges in the Caprivi Strip, Namibia
Norman Carr’s Kapani & Kakuli camps in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Sausage Tree camp in the Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia
Tongabezi Lodge at Victoria Falls in Zambia; Here we hope to see the Lunar Rainbow appear over the falls after dark on our last night in Africa.

In my absence, Bob Kerr at Travel House will look after you. If need anything while I'm gone, please call him at 206-248-0900 or 800-809-0154 his email is bob at travelhouse.com.

Sadly, SAS is leaving Seattle for the last time on July 31, 2009. There have been many changes to the schedule lately. Bob will contact you if there are any changes to your schedule while I'm gone.

If I have a chance I will publish updates while on safari.

Fly free between camps in Zambia

Here's a really good deal!

Fly free between camps in Zambia
A collections of the top camps in Zambia’s premier destinations, the South Luangwa, Livingston and the Lower Zambezi have joined together to offer an unbeatable safari deal:

Stay a minimum of 10 days at any of their camps and fly free between them.
10-13 nights: fly free between any 2 destinations
14 plus nights: fly free between any 3 destinations
Choose from six company’s lodges and camps:

1. The Bushcamp Company
2. Chiawa Camp
3. Chongwe River Camp
4. Robin Pope Safaris
5. Norman Carr Safaris
6. Sausage Tree Camp

Applies to 2 people and 10 nights minimum
Does not apply for July, August & September
Book before March 31 2009
New bookings only

Call to book at 206-297-7179 or 877-297-7179
email me at Kristina.Trowbridge at gmail.com

Deals, Deals, Deals

So Many Deals!
If you're not travelling now; you are missing out on all the deals. Everyday I get bombarded with deals to sell to you; I'm sure you get a lot of these deals yourself. I can sort it out for you, but I'm not going to spray you with it. You must contact me with a somewhat specific request and I will find a deal that is just right for you. I deal is not a deal, if it doesn't suit your needs and desires.

That being said, I have to pass this along: Hot off the press from Kenya.

A KENYA SPECIAL SAFARI
A 6 nights / 7 days high quality road safari visiting Selenkay Conservancy, Amboseli, Lake Elementeita, Lake Nakuru, Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Masai Mara.

*Departs every SUNDAY - Minimum 2 people*

This seven day safari combines 2 nights Selenkay/Amboseli Porini Camp Clik Here - for camp details, with walks and night game drive, game drive in Amboseli for viewing elephants close up, 2 nights at Sunbird Lodge Click Here - for details with walks along Lake Elementaita and a full day in Nakuru to see the flamingos which is also an excellent chance of seeing rhino and leopard. This is followed by 2 nights at Mara Porini Camp Click Here - for camp details, with walks plus night drive and game drive in the Maasai Mara, famous for lions, cheetahs and leopards.

Highlights:
Stay in the exclusive Porini Safari Camps in Selenkay and Ol Kinyei and the intimate Sunbird Lodge at Lake Elementaita
All game drives in 4x4 safari vehicles (not vans), with experienced driver-guides
Selenkay: walk with Maasai warriors to visit an authentic village, night game drive, exclusive wilderness area with no other tourist vehicles
Amboseli: views of Kilimanjaro, best place for viewing elephants at close range
Lake Nakuru: spectacular scenery, excellent for rhino and leopard, huge concentration of flamingo
Ol Kinyei Conservancy: one of the most scenic parts of the Mara eco-system with resident big cats
Masai Mara: the most famous wildlife reserve in Kenya, excellent for lion and cheetah
At Porini Camps all meals and drinks included as well as sundowners, night game drives and escorted walks

PRICE IS $2,195.00 per person

* SPECIAL OFFER PRICE MUST BE CONFIRMED BY FEBRUARY 28TH 2009*

PRICES include minivan road transfer to Selenkay Porini, Amboseli park fees and conservancy fees, Drive to Nairobi for lunch at Village Market, 4x4 road transfer for 2 nights at Sunbird Lodge, Lake Nakuru National Park in 4x4, conservancy and park fees included. 4x4 road transfer to Mara Porini camp arriving for lunch. 2 nights Mara Porini Camp, park fees and conservancy fees included. All game drives in 4x4 vehicles, full board and free mineral water, house wines, beer and soft drinks (Porini only). Flight Mara to Wilson.

International airfare is not included, travel insurance is extra, gratuities are at your discretion.

A long day at EWR

I needed to be reminded by what the balloon Victory captain in the Masai Mara said when we had to abort the take-off: “It’s better to be on ground wishing you were up there, than to be up there wishing you were on the ground”.

Airports are no fun these days! I’m sitting at EWR, lovely Newark Liberty Airport waiting for the next flight from Seattle to arrive, so I can fly home. It’s a lovely Saturday morning in New York, cold and sunny. I’ve been here since 5:45 in the morning and now it’s still only 2pm. My morning flight was cancelled due to mechanical problems. The next available flight is at 6:15 pm, assuming it arrives on-time. So, I’m spending this lovely Saturday held captive in tiny Terminal A at EWR for over 12 hours. Not Fun!!!

I flew to New York to attend two Africa events in conjunction with the New York Times Travel Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. Both these events were outstanding and well worth coming to New York for. Both events were sponsored by APTA (www.apta.biz), the Association for Promotion of Tourism to Africa. There were many great speakers and discussion panels. I made some new connections and reconnected with some old friends. I stayed at Hotel Chandler, a cute little boutique hotel just 2 blocks from the Empire State Building. The beds are heavenly albeit the rooms are small and the bathrooms are tiny. This is New York, not Africa where a standard tent is larger!!!

However, flying has become an ordeal. Security is tight. I cannot recommend it J, but of course we have no choice but to fly. Security is tight. There are no amenities. People carry on huge bags and the overhead bins fill quickly. I just wish the terminals would be more comfortable and some sleeping areas were available. 12 hours is a long time when waiting. SeaTac Airport has been much improved, but Liberty is old and uncomfortable. There’s nothing to do, no internet café, no interesting shops and there are no good places to eat.

I’m happy to be safe and waiting 12 hours beats landing in the Hudson River.