In This Edition:
Filed under Newsletters, Tanzania Safaris & Vacations
In This Edition:
AfricanMecca Newsletter – Spring 2011 – Update from Americas, European and Africa Offices
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Filed under Kenya Safaris & Mombasa Holidays, Newsletters
Seasons Greetings, Merry Christmas & Happy/Prosperous New Year From The AfricanMecca Team!
AfricanMecca Newsletter – Winter 2010 – Update from Americas, European and Africa Offices
In This Edition:
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Africa News Reference 1. Masai warriors graduate (BBC Audio Slideshow) 2. British Royal proposal made in Kenya at remote Rutundu (CNN) |
Country Guide South Africa – History & Culture The earliest representatives of South Africa’s diversity – at least the earliest history can name – were the San and Khoekhoe peoples (otherwise known individually as the Bushmen and Hottentots or Khoikhoi; collectively called the Khoisan). Both were resident in the southern tip of the continent for thousands of years before its written history began with the arrival of European seafarers. And before that, modern human beings had lived here for more than 100 000 years – indeed, the country is an archaeological treasure chest…. Click here for a complete guide to South Africa |
South Africa Travel Guide Top 10 Reason For Visiting South Africa – Reason # 2 As Experienced By AfricanMecca Reason # 2 - Outdoors and Adventure Destination Outdoors Activities and Active Adventure Experience From Shark Cage Diving To Trekking Up Table Mountain or Cycling In The Winelands During Your South Africa Vacations & Holidays Click here to review all Top 10 Reasons For Visiting South Africa |
South Africa Safari Guide The Madikwe Game Reserve, situated against the Botswana border, 90 km north of Zeerust, just 4-5 hours’ drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria, is now one of South Africa’s prime safari destinations. Madikwe is a Big Five game reserve covering some 75,000 hectare. Madikwe is testimony to a truly enlightened conservation plan which has created this exceptional wildlife reservation for the preservation of a unique wilderness area of Kalahari thornveld in one of the more remote regions of South Africa. Madikwe is host to almost every game species including lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. About 250 species of birds have been recorded at Madikwe, which is a transition zone between the Kalahari thornveld and bushveld ecological regions of Southern Africa. Click here for complete guide to Madikwe Game Reserve |
South Africa Safari Accommodation Guide Madikwe Hills In Madikwe Game Reserve Traversing over 75 000 hectares, Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge is situated on a hill, in the heart of the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. Ingeniously set amongst boulders and age-old Tamboti trees, the lodge offers visitors the utmost in luxury and hospitality, where you will find yourself enchanted by a world of intrigue and majestic beauty. Madikwe Hills consists of a Main Lodge with ten suites, and a private camp, Little Madikwe Hills, accommodating twenty-four guests in total. At the Main Lodge, ten ultra-luxurious glass-fronted suites complete with their own deck and private plunge pools offer absolute privacy and majestic views. The unusual, yet subtle “Afrochic” decor integrates natural elements with colours highlighting Africa’s ambience, with each suite boasting soft sofas, voluptuous mosquito netting and cotton picot linen. Click here for complete information on Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge |
Africa Beach & Coastal Guide Cape Town Cape Town attractions have made it a famed destination for many including world travelers, musicians, and artists. Take a trip to on the Cape Winelands and taste South Africa’s homegrown wines; see the world from your vantage point on the top of famed Table Mountain; dine like a king at any of South Africa’s fantastic restaurants and celebrate the great outdoors even during the winter months. For some great retail therapy why not head to the V&A Waterfront. It’s a super spot shopping and eating, and its attractions include the Two Oceans Aquarium, a craft market and an amphitheatre where local artists perform. From here you can take a harbour cruise or strike out for Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent many years in imprisonment. The treacherous Cape Point promontory a witness to many a shipwreck enhances Cape Town’s reputation for dramatic scenery. It’s a trip well worth making, the last part up to a lighthouse completed by funicular. Click here for complete complete guide to Cape Town |
Africa Beach & Coastal Accommodation Guide Tintswalo Atlantic in Cape Town AfricanMecca Tier 1 Experience. Click here for details on Beach & City Hotel Tier Rating Stylish yet understated, Tintswalo Atlantic offers home-away-from-home comforts, discreet service and mouthwatering culinary creations in the most beautiful setting. Nestled unobtrusively between the boulders of the Atlantic Ocean’s water’s edge and the slopes of the Cape Mountain Fynbos Reserve, known worldwide for its extraordinary rich and diverse fauna and flora – no trees were removed and not so much as a branch was cut from the Milkwood trees that grace the shoreline – Tintswalo Atlantic offers absolute seclusion and relaxation, with the ocean literally a stone’s throw away from the pebbled beach! Tintswalo Atlantic is the perfect destination for visitors wanting to relax right beside the ocean – either starting their holiday at the lodge or to recuperate after an exciting few days on safari. Click here for complete details on Tintswalo Atlantic |
South Africa Video Guide 1. South Africa Experiences – It’s Possible (Part 1) – Click Here To Watch Video 2. South Africa Experiences – It’s Possible (Part 2) – Click Here To Watch Video |
| Recommended African Safari Tour Program
Best Of South Africa Safari & Tour – 8 Days AfricanMecca’s Best Of South Africa Safari & Tour selects South Africa’s 3 key destinations – Kruger National Park, Madikwe Game Reserve & Cape Town by superbly delivers the best of the country in one awesome program. AfricanMecca guests visit Kruger National Park for a safari experience where nearly 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life forms fuses with historical and archaeological sights – this is real Africa within South Africa. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Truly the flagship of the South African National Parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man’s interaction with the Lowveld environment over many centuries – from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela – is very evident in the Kruger National Park. Your safari will be experienced in Sabi Sand on the South Western border to Kruger National Park, this immense and diverse tract of land is home to The Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant) and much much more. After your safari in Kruger, you will visit Madikwe Game Reserve which is located against the Botswana border offering its stand at the very threshold of Africa’s wilderness. This is a near-perfect ecological environment where its flora and fauna forms an essential part of an intricate web of survival. Here, life and death are complementary for the continued existence of its natural system where humankind is reminded that its very existence through the ages has been rooted in such an intricate design. Madikwe is a Big Five game reserve covering some 75,000 hectare and a testimony to a truly enlightened conservation plan which has created this exceptional wildlife reservation for the preservation of a unique wilderness area of Kalahari thornveld in one of the more remote regions of South Africa. Madikwe is host to almost every game species including lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. About 250 species of birds have been recorded at Madikwe, which is a transition zone between the Kalahari thornveld and bushveld ecological regions of Southern Africa. Thereafter, your program is combined with a visit to Cape Town which many attractions have made it a famed destination for many Hollywood movies and global travelers alike. Guests can take a trip to the Cape Winelands and taste South Africa’s homegrown wines; see the world from your vantage point on the top of famed Table Mountain; dine like a king at any of South Africa’s fantastic restaurants and celebrate the great outdoors even during the winter months. You can visit the famed V&A Waterfront – a super spot shopping and eating, and its attractions include the Two Oceans Aquarium, a craft market and an amphitheatre where local artists perform. Additionally, AfricanMecca guests can also take a harbor cruise or strike out for Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent many years in imprisonment. The treacherous Cape Point promontory a witness to many a shipwreck enhances Cape Town’s reputation for dramatic scenery. It’s a trip well worth making, the last part up to a lighthouse completed by funicular. Cape Town is an ideal vacation spot for those seeking adventure, relaxation and entertainment. Click here for Best Of South Africa Safari & Tour itinerary Click here to review other Africa & South Africa recommended safari programs. |
Another Perfect AfricanMecca Customer Experience Your attention to detail and excellent recommendations exceeded our expectations. It was a terrific trip one we will always remember. While we anticipated a one time visit to Africa – we are already anticipating doing it all over again…While we anticipated a one time visit to Africa – we are already anticipating doing it all over again… your people on the ground met us and took care of details making this a memorable – worry free vacation. thank you for everything. Bow Bowman |
Filed under Newsletters, South Africa Safaris & Vacations
AfricanMecca Newsletter – Fall/Winter 2010 – Update from Americas, European and Africa Offices
In This Edition:
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| Africa News Reference
1. Incredible Elephant Balance At Lower Zambezi 2. Zambia – the land where wildlife reigns 3. The Tiniest 17ft Convoy Experience In South Africa 4. Conservation Groups in Coastal Kenya Work to Save Endangered Turtles |
| Country Guide
South Africa – Location & Geography Situated at the southern tip of Africa, South Africa has a landmass of 1 233 404 km² edged on 3 sides by a nearly 3000km coastline washed by the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic. It is bordered in the north by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and also wraps itself around two independent countries, the Lesotho and Swaziland. The low-lying coastal zone is narrow for much of that distance, soon giving way to a mountainous escarpment that separates it from the high inland plateau. In some places, notably the province of KwaZulu-Natal in the east, a greater distance separates the coast from the escarpment. South Africa has a total land area of slightly more than 1.2-million square kilometers, making it roughly the same size as Niger, Angola, Mali and Colombia. It is one-eighth the size of the US, twice the size of France and over three times the size of Germany. South Africa measures some 1600km from north to south, and roughly the same from east to west. Click here for a complete guide to South Africa |
| South Africa Travel Guide
Top 10 Reason For Visiting South Africa – Reason # 10 As Experienced By AfricanMecca Reason # 10 - Family Destination South Africa Offers Family Themed Destinations & Attractions In Places Such As Sun City, Cape Town, Durban, Kruger Etc – Perfect To Experience During Your South Africa Vacations & Holidays Click here to review all Top 10 Reasons For Visiting South Africa |
| South Africa Safari Guide
Where nearly 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life forms fuses with historical and archaeological sights this is real Africa. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, Kruger National Park is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies. Truly the flagship of the South African national parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man’s interaction with the Lowveld environment over many centuries – from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela – is very evident in the Kruger National Park. These treasures represent the cultures, persons and events that played a role in the history of the Kruger National Park and are conserved along with the park’s natural assets. Click here for complete guide to Kruger National Park |
| South Africa Safari Guide
Singita Lebombo Lodge in Kruger National Park Like the Lebombo Euphorbia tree after which it was named, the design of Singita Lebombo Lodge is one of a kind. From the sweeping wooden decks, you can watch the theatre that unfolds before you, while the lap pool beckons to enjoy a relaxing afternoon. The fifteen suites feature contemporary finishes with beds dressed with Egyptian cotton and silky-soft throws. Click here for complete information on Singita Lebombo Lodge & complete guide to Kruger National Park |
Indian Ocean Beach & Africa Coastal Guide Knysna If you’re looking for South Africans’ most popular small town, go to the end of the Garden Route in the Western Cape to Knysna the ‘elegant lagoon’. It’s easy to get the ‘Knysna Spirit’ as you drive in on the N2 Highway from Cape Town. The town is well developed these days, but you still feel you’re traveling in woodcutter country. Knysna has, for many, become the pot of gold at the end of the Garden Route. It’s famed attraction is the Eastern and Western Heads, a cavenous expanse where many a ship has met its doom. Today the Featherbed Nature Reserve pays homage to the richness of fauna and flora that Knysna has to offer. The Knysna Elephant Park is where you can interact with and feed the relocated jumbo families. It’s a favorite with the youngsters. If they’re still in the mood for a ‘creature feature’, then whip them down the N2 to Monkeyland for a visitation with some of the loveliest lemurs in southern Africa. But the real wildlife activities in these parts is to go out to sea and find the dolphins and the southern right whales that seasonally visit the shores of the Paradise Coast. To find yourself in the middle of a 4 000-strong pod of common dolphins leaping through the waves is a unique experience you will carry with you for years. Click here for complete complete guide to Knysna |
Indian Ocean Beach & Africa Coastal Guide Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa in Knysna AfricanMecca Tier 1 Experience. Click here for details on AfricanMecca Rating Africa’s first truly luxury resort, located on the Eastern Head of Knysna on the exquisite coastline of the Western Cape, is a sanctuary of privacy and indulgence created to reflect the natural beauty of its surrounds. Set on a stunning 1,000 ha estate, known for its secluded beach, sweeping fynbos landscapes and ancient indigenous forests, the Pezula Resort has breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean, the Knysna Lagoon and the Outeniqua Mountains. Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa is the culmination of the vision of Pezula Group Chairman Keith Stewart whose dream was to create a luxury resort in one of the most exquisite locations in the world. The property is bordered by the rugged cliffs of the Southern Cape coast, the Sinclair Nature Reserve and the Eastern Head of Knysna. It has panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and Knysna Lagoon Click here for complete details on Pezula & complete guide to Knysna |
South Africa Video Guide |
| Recommended African Safari Tour Program
7 Days – Showcasing South Africa Safari & Tour AfricanMecca’s Showcasing South Africa Safari & Tour selects South Africa’s 3 key destinations – Kruger National Park, Cape Town & Franschhoek Winelands by superbly delivering a showcase of the country in one awesome program. AfricanMecca guests visit Kruger National Park for a safari experience where nearly 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life forms fuses with historical and archaeological sights – this is real Africa within South Africa. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Truly the flagship of the South African National Parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man’s interaction with the Lowveld environment over many centuries – from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela – is very evident in the Kruger National Park. Your safari will be experienced in Sabi Sand on the South Western border to Kruger National Park, this immense and diverse tract of land is home to The Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant) and much much more. Thereafter, your program is combined with a visit to Cape Town which many attractions have made it a famed destination for many Hollywood movies and global travelers alike. Guests can take a trip to the Cape Winelands and taste South Africa’s homegrown wines; see the world from your vantage point on the top of famed Table Mountain; dine like a king at any of South Africa’s fantastic restaurants and celebrate the great outdoors even during the winter months. You can visit the famed V&A Waterfront – a super spot shopping and eating, and its attractions include the Two Oceans Aquarium, a craft market and an amphitheatre where local artists perform. Additionally, AfricanMecca guests can also take a harbor cruise or strike out for Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent many years in imprisonment. The treacherous Cape Point promontory a witness to many a shipwreck enhances Cape Town’s reputation for dramatic scenery. It’s a trip well worth making, the last part up to a lighthouse completed by funicular. Cape Town is an ideal vacation spot for those seeking adventure, relaxation and entertainment. After your Cape Town stay, AfricanMecca guests will experience Franschhoek Valley located in the heart of the Cape Winelands which nestles between towering mountains. Franschhoek is the food and wine heartland of the South Africa, where splendid wines are grown and its top chefs create international cuisine. Guests can experience breath-taking scenery, warm hospitality, world class cuisine and the finest wines. Spectacular vineyards cover these mountain slopes settled more than 300 years ago by the Huguenots, who brought with them their age-old French wine and food culture. This is a valley rich in history centered around a picturesque village of friendly, welcoming people. Click here for Showcasing South Africa Safari & Tour itinerary Click here to review other Africa & South Africa recommended safari programs. |
Another Perfect AfricanMecca Customer Experience HI Raza/Altaf and the rest of the AfricanMecca team, We just returned from our trip to Africa. The planning for this trip started over an year ago, however i got in touch with Africanmecca about 6 months prior to my time. From day 1, i’ve received nothing but exceptional service from this group. It was not an easy task, which at first I thought was never going to be planned perfectly. We had a group of 10 people, going to 4 different countries (Livingston, Zambia/ cape town, south Africa/ Zanzibar, Tanzania/ and Masai Mara, Kenya). Our trip to all those countries was to be completed in 2 weeks. The amount of planning and more planning that went into this was unbelievable. However, with the guidance and expertise of Raza not one thing went wrong. I had mentally prepared going into this trip that there would be things going wrong and we would just have to make the best of it. After all, there was 10 individuals, with 20 different pieces of luggage, and 14 different flights we flew on through our journey. This was definitely a very complex trip to plan which required someone who had great knowledge, experience and patience. It was an absolutely perfect trip, not one thing went wrong. Raza had put together the most time efficient trip for us taking into consideration every possible thing someone can. These people know what they are doing! Every single aspect of the planning was perfect. All the transfer agencies were polite, friendly, timely and very helpful. Being thousands of miles away from home in a completely foreign country, we never felt help was that far away. All the transfer companies did an exceptional job of leaving you with more than enough information on anything and everything you need. They were literally a phone call away, anytime of the day. All the flights booked were well spaced with no delays/missed or cancel flights experienced through the whole trip. We had picked our own hotels and had Raza make reservations for us. Everything that was said that was going to happen, happened! The communication was very open and 2 sided from the beginning. Everything was clearly explained and dealt with in a step by step manner. I can go on and on about what an amazing job Raza and his team did to make this trip a trip of a life time for 10 individuals. Thank you very much for all your hard work and amazing planning you had put together for us. I am and will continue to highly recommend your services to anyone looking to travel. Pappu Patel |
Filed under Newsletters, South Africa Safaris & Vacations
In This Edition:
In Tanzania, a land of superb landscapes and spectacular wildlife, another attraction stands equally tall: the people. Tanzania’s people are among the most welcoming and approachable on earth, with a range of fascinating cultures ready to be shared with visitors. From the Chagga of the slopes of Kilimanjaro to the now world-famous Maasai, a cultural excursion or a longer stay among local people is likely to become one of the most rewarding experiences of any holiday in Tanzania. In addition, many local areas run their own cultural programs for visitors, bringing income directly to the community and giving the people the chance to show their lifestyle to the outside world on their own terms. Cultural tourism programs are beneficial to everyone: the visiting guests get a unique and unforgettable experience, the local people generate income and improve their standard of living, and both parties gain a valuable understanding of another culture which will last long after the visitors have returned home.
Click here for a complete guide to Tanzania
Number 5 – Eco-Tourism Experience: More increasingly our guests are asking us for a true genuine African experience vacation. An African experience that is run by indigenous people of Africa in a environment where your stay is at accommodations built by indigenous people of Africa, and where the revenue from your spending actually and directly assists the indigenous population be self sufficient and self reliant. Apart from visiting the Maasai homesteads, take for example the experience at Chumbe Island where the accommodation has been designed in natural material. Food served comes from the freshest produces. While guests staying there have the opportunity to enjoy the offerings such as snorkeling and also learning about the lodge’s effort in preserving and sustaining the islands ecosystem and its inhabitants.
Click here to review all Top 10 Reasons For Visiting Tanzania
Kikoti is a Maa (language of the Maasai) word for “the place where life began”, the name bestowed by the local Maasai upon an ancient pre-Jurassic kopje in the Tarangire ecosystem in recognition of its enduring permanence and dominant status in the surrounding ecosystem. When owners of Kikoti Camp began working with local communities in the Tarangire Conservation Area, it seemed like the perfect name for the safari camp, showing respect for the Maasai community that have roamed the area for generations, and the owners reverence for the game-rich wilderness in which the camp is located.
Click here for complete information on Kikoti Camp & complete guide to Tarangire
Idyllically situated on the sea front of ancient Stone Town, washed by the aquamarine waters of the Zanzibar channel, redolent of the scent of cloves and flanked by an exotic melange of sultan’s palaces, Portuguese forts, ancient dhow harbors, dark slave markets, and bright bazaars, the Zanzibar Serena Inn is a haven of tranquility and opulence amongst the bustle of Zanzibar. Faithfully restored and lavishly embellished with a jackdaw collection of antique clocks, crystal chandeliers, fretwork screens, carved staircases, Persian rugs and brass-studded doors, the interior design concept is a fusion of authenticity and opulence that reflects the very essence of Zanzibar
Click here for complete details on Zanzibar Serena Inn & complete guide to Zanzibar
1. Authentic Maasai Entertainment At Kikoti Camp – Click Here To Watch Video I
2. Authentic Maasai Entertainment At Kikoti Camp – Click Here To Watch Video II
3. Authentic Maasai Entertainment At Kikoti Camp – Click Here To Watch Video III
1. Tarangire National Park Birds – Click Here To Watch Video
2. Tarangire National Park Eagle – Click Here To Watch Video
3. Tarangire National Park Steinbok – Click Here To Watch Video
4. Tarangire National Park Scenic Views – Click Here To Watch Video I
5. Tarangire National Park Scenic Views – Click Here To Watch Video II
6. Tarangire National Park Wildlife – Click Here To Watch Video I
7. Tarangire National Park Wildlife – Click Here To Watch Video II
Click here for a complete video guide to Tanzania
* 6 Days – Classic Tanzania Safari II (Includes Tarangire): From US $2190 or GBP 1623 per person sharing. Programs Inclusions: accommodation, meals, drinks, road and local air transfers, conservancy and park fees, game activities and all taxes. Click here for a complete itinerary. Tailor-make safari is available on request.
Click here to review other Tanzania recommended safari programs.
* 14 nights Bluebay Beach Resort in Zanzibar. £1395 per person including international flights from London Heathrow or tailor-make overnight price from US $90 or GBP 67 per person per night.
* 7 nights Pinewood Village in Mombasa Kenya. £866 per person including international flights from London Heathrow or tailor-make overnight price from US $90 or GBP 67 per person per night. 2009 Mombasa departures available with more specials. Click here
* Highlights Of Pinewood Village Beach & Kilimanjaro Tsavo Safari – 10 Nights Beach & 4 Nights Safari. US $1962 or £1401 per person – excludes international flights.
The above programs can be tailor-made for our guests from North America, UK and other worldwide regions. Click here for prices for Indian Ocean Beach Holidays to Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo etc.
Bush & Beach Safari - Combine with Mombasa Beach Holidays. Click here for prices and safari programs
GREAT NEWS – NEW DISCOUNTS ON SAFARIS FOR 2009 & 2010!
There are several discounts that are available to our clients on some of our safaris. Some as high as 25-50% off the overnight room rates at superb wildlife camps to free local flights between safari parks for select participating safari accommodations. As our rates for 2009 have already been published and distributed to our agents and clients, we would recommend to any client or travel agent to inquiry about on our specific itineraries they like and will reply back with the most updated discount available to us. All discounts are passed on to our client. If you have certain budget constraints, we will be happy to recommend the appropriate itinerary and program for your budget.
Another Perfect AfricanMecca Customer Experience
Hi, I thought I would drop you a quick email to let you know how much Luc & I enjoyed our trip to Tanzania. The Kili trek was awesome & we were supported by a great team of guides & porters. I very much doubt either of us would have made the summit without the help & encouragement of Augustine & William. The safari was amazing too. All 3 lodges were excellent & our guide Babu ensured we enjoyed great game viewing. Thank you for organising the trip for us. Please pass on our thanks to everyone concerned. Luc has already passed your details onto a colleague of his who I understand is also booking a trip. We would be happy to recommend your company to anyone else considering a trip to Africa.
Kind regards
Karen Loughrey
United Kingdom
Click Here To View More AfricanMecca Safari, Tours & Beach Vacation Customer Testimonials
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Filed under Tanzania Safaris & Vacations
AfricanMecca Newsletter – Spring 2010 – Update from Americas, European and Africa Offices
AfricanMecca Newsletter Archive
In This Edition:
Africa News Reference
1. Incredible Birth – First Moments Of Baby Giraffe In The Masai Mara
2. Climbing Kilimanjaro, By A Hair – Experience by Emile Hirsch (Actor & Activist)
3. Tanzania’s New Goodwill Tourism Ambassador In America
4. Fastest Human On Earth Adopts The Fastest Land Animal On Earth
5. Tennis Star In The Heart Of The Akamba Community, Kenya’s Leading Long Distance Traders
Country Guide
Tanzania – Location & Geography
Tanzania covers 937,062 square kilometers making it the largest country in Eastern Africa. Just south of the equator, it borders Kenya and Uganda to the north; the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi in the west; and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique in the south, and is therefore a splendid center from which to explore eastern, central and southern Africa. Through the interior runs the Great Rift Valley, that vast fault-line down the spine of Africa that in Tanzania has created many fascinating topographical features such as the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Tanganyika. The central plateau (1,200 meters above sea level) is a huge expanse of savannah and sparse woodland. To the north, the 5890-meter Mount Kilimanjaro rises making it the highest mountain in Africa. While the interior is largely arid, the 800-kilometer coastline is lush and palm-fringed, as are the Islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia.
Click here for a complete guide to Tanzania
Top 10 Reason For Visiting Tanzania – Reason # 3 As Experienced By AfricanMecca
Reason # 3 – Active Adventure: Climb the “Natural Wonder Of The World”. Mount Kilimanjaro being easily accessible has been the dream of many athletes and adventurers who wish to experience and pride themselves of having been to the roof of Africa. The variety of routes suited for varying lifestyles makes Mount Kilimanjaro a must climb for people who just want to experience nature or view the ecosystems and terrains. For those ready to take up the challenge, opportunities exist to make it all the way to the top with the help of professional and certified guides and porters. If climbing Mount Kilimanjaro isn’t a thrill enough, AfricanMecca guests can trek up Ol Donyo Lengai Mountain of God, which remains an active volcano mountain to date. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life was filmed at Ol Donyo Lengai – Mountain of God.
Experience Authentic Adventure, Filled With Fun Like Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, A Possibility For Most Any Individual.
Click here to review all Top 10 Reasons For Visiting Tanzania
Tanzania Safari Guide
Lake Manyara Tree Lodge In Lake Manyara National Park
AfricanMecca Tier 1 Accommodation. Click here for details on Safari Tier™
Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is the only lodge in the small yet diverse Lake Manyara National Park. The lodge is located in the remote southwestern region of the Lake Manyara, allowing leisurely tracking of the park’s famous tree-climbing lions, and for unimpeded viewing of the flocks of pelicans, flamingoes and buffalo cooling in the soda lake.
Click here for complete information on Lake Manyara Tree Lodge & complete guide to Lake Manyara National Park
Indian Ocean Beach Accommodation Guide
Mnemba Island Lodge Near Zanzibar Island – Private Island Experience
AfricanMecca Tier 1 Experience. Click here for details on AfricanMecca Rating
Mnemba, an untouched atoll off the coast of Zanzibar, is therapy for the spirit. Mnemba, an Arabic word meaning octopus head, lies two kilometers northeast of the island of Zanzibar, a 20-minute cruise in a traditional 16 foot flat-bottomed boat. A pristine swathe of beach defines the island’s one-mile circumference. A protection zone surrounds the island, conserving magnificent coral reefs where giant turtles, Ghost Crabs and spectacular tropical fish drift through the lagoons. Fresh, delicate sea breezes waft through Mnemba Lodge, lending a castaway air to the entire island. Mnemba Island features just ten ensuite banda cottages, bordered on three sides by tropical beach forest and overlooking the beach and coral reef. Each exquisite banda has been hand-woven and thatched from tree branches and traditional Zanzibar palm matting. The materials were chosen to allow the cooling sea breezes to move through the bungalow and assisted by overhead fans, the cottages remain cool all day.
Click here for complete details on Mnemba Island Lodge & complete guide to Zanzibar
Tanzania Video Guide
Biodiversity & Wildlife Experience At Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania
Click here for a complete video guide to Tanzania
Recommended African Safari Program
Click here to review other Africa & Tanzania recommended safari programs.
Recommended Indian Ocean Beach & Cultural Program
Programs Inclusions: Tropical accommodation in hand-woven “banda” cottages, three meals daily, Soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers, tea and coffee, laundry. Watersports included: scuba diving (2 dives per day for guests holding a full PADI certificate only), snorkelling, kayaking, flyfishing, sundowner dhow cruise, and windsurfing
The above beach extensions can be tailor-made for our guests from North America, UK and other worldwide regions. Click here for prices for Indian Ocean Beach Holidays to Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo etc.
Another Perfect AfricanMecca Customer ExperienceKenya & Tanzania Safari Testimonial From Travel Away Agency In Toronto, Canada
Hope you like the above photos. As you know there was five of us on the safari, we all had a great time. Saw the big five. Saw every animal possible. Local guides were great and very helpful and went out of their way to make sure we missed nothing. My dad whom is 75 had a fantastic time and said it was a trip of a life time, as did everyone else. I want to thank you and your company for arranging everything and everything went smoothly as planned.
Thank you again, would recommend your company to anyone.
Noelle Balakrishnan
Travel Away Inc
2550 Matheson Blvd
Unit 125
Mississauga, Ont L4W 4Z1
Canada
PH: 416 626 2929
Fax: 905 361 2683
www.adventuresaway.com
Filed under Newsletters, Tanzania Safaris & Vacations
AfricanMecca Newsletter – Fall/Winter 2009 – Update from Americas, European and Africa Offices
In This Edition:
1. Kenya Orphanage Takes In Elephant Babies (VIDEO LINK) – Experience Daphne Sheldrick Baby Elephant Orphanage by booking the Daphnes Sheldrick Babes AfricanMecca Tour. Complete details
2. The Great Migration (VIDEO LINK) – Experience the Great Wildebeest Migration by booking the Best Of East Africa Safari. Complete details
3. Naomi Campbell In Tanzania For Fashion For Relief Charity
4. Victoria Falls – The Smoke that Thunders (VIDEO LINK). BBC Natural World IPlayer Video is only viewable in the UK.
5. Our 2010 safari, hotel and tour prices are now published and available. Please contact us for your tailor-make tour program or visit our website for recommended tour programs.
Zambia has one of the lowest population to land ratio’s in Africa. Only 10 million people in a country half the size of Europe. The employment opportunities offered in the post independence era in the copper mines and associated industries led to a strong rural-urban migration. The result has been to make Zambia one of the most urbanized countries in Africa. About one fifth of the population lives on the Copperbelt to the north of the capital, but the biggest concentration of people is in Lusaka itself with an estimated population of over 2 million. This has resulted in massive tracts of uninhabited land across the country. With over 70 different tribes in Zambia, there is wide cultural diversity. Interestingly enough, it is one of the few countries in Africa with very little tribal conflict, and the existence of so many tribes has proved less of a political problem than in many other African states. The Main tribes are the Lozi, the Bemba, the Ngoni, the Tonga, the Luvale and the Kaonde
Click here for a complete guide to Zambia
Reason # 2 – Zambia’s Wild & Unspoilt Wilderness Safari Experience: The national parks in Zambia remain off the beaten path, and nature is showcased and at work by the minute and particularly during the night game drives in the parks. The large waterways in Zambia make most of the parks inaccessible from November to March, allowing wildlife, plantlife, birdlife & the whole ecosystem to undergo a complete rejuvenation & rebirth by the time April comes around. The ecology’s unique “my time” is most loved and cherished by nature lovers allowing them to see the complete environment in a natural state after total five month absence. It is no wonder that famous adage about Zambia applies naturally: “Zambia – The Real Africa”.
Click here to review all Top 10 Reasons For Visiting Zambia
Royal Zambezi Lodge in Lower Zambezi National Park
AfricanMecca Tier 1 Accommodation. Click here for details on Safari Tier™
Royal Zambezi Lodge is located on the bank of the Zambezi at one of its broadest points. With 3km of river frontage, Royal Zambezi Lodge borders the Lower Zambezi National Park and sits within a Game Management Area. With lions roaring in the distance and hippos snorting to each other nearby, the luxurious thatched tents, elegant design and gourmet cuisine of Royal Zambezi Lodge provide a perfect base from which to explore this wild and beautiful area.
In the Lower Zambezi Valley, the river follows the trace of an ancient continental rift, between steep-sided mountains. Watered year-round, the vast flat area between the two escarpment ranges forms an area of outstanding natural beauty, with a unique ecosystem. Teeming with fish, the river supports a truly astounding bird population. Reed banks and islands are home to elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, hippo and zebra, amongst countless others.
Click here for complete information on Royal Zambezi Lodge & complete guide to Lower Zambezi National Park
AfricanMecca Tier 1 Experience. Click here for details on AfricanMecca Rating
Matemwe Retreat is located on an amazing stretch of private land, just north of Matemwe’s main lodge and right opposite the Mnemba Atoll. Matemwe Retreat consists of 3 fabulous, separate villas, full of atmosphere, inspiration and personal touches. Each ground floor of each villa (150 m2 including verandahs) features a private cocktail bar, an air-conditioned bedroom, a bathroom with double basins, shower, and large romantic bathtub overlooking the Indian Ocean. The best part of each villa is the plunge pool on the private roof terrace (60 m2), complete with sun and shade decks. And if this is not enough to make you want to stay there right now – each villa has its own small beach right in front of it.
Click here for complete details on Matemwe Retreat & complete guide to Zanzibar
Royal Zambezi Lodge House
Royal Zambezi Lodge Suite Room View – Click Here To Watch
Royal Zambezi Lodge Room View – Click Here To Watch
Royal Zambezi Lodge Spa Room – Click Here To Watch
Royal Zambezi Lodge Elephant Feeding Next To Room – Click Here To Watch
Royal Zambezi Lodge Views – Click Here To Watch
Royal Zambezi Lodge Elephant Walking By To Feed – Click Here To Watch
Click here for a complete video guide to Zambia
7 Days – Glimpses Of Zambia Safari: From US $3395 or GBP 2191 per person sharing. Programs Inclusions: accommodation, meals, drinks, road and local air transfers, conservancy and park fees, game activities and all taxes. Click here for a complete itinerary. Tailor-make safari is available on request.
Click here to review other Africa & Zambia recommended safari programs.
1. SPECIAL OFFER: Matemwe Retreat: US $430 or GBP 278 per person sharing per night plus one free night for every 3 nights booked. Offer valid from December 2009 to March 2010 (if booked before December 31, 2009)
2. Bush & Beach Safari: 7 Nights Showcasing Kenya Safari & 7 Nights Mombasa Beach Holiday: From US $2304 or GBP 1486 per person. Complete details
The above beach extensions can be tailor-made for our guests from North America, UK and other worldwide regions. Click here for prices for Indian Ocean Beach Holidays to Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo etc.
Bush & Beach Safari – Combine with Mombasa Beach Holidays. Click here for prices and safari programs
Jambo Altaf,
I want to let you know that both Dorothy and I found our two week trip to Kenya to be an absolutely wonderful experience. Our booking through AfricanMecca for our trip in August 2009 delivered everything we hoped for and more. We were met on arrival at Mombasa airport for the minibus journey to Leopard Beach Hotel with loads of local information provided by our driver on the way. The hotel was excellent in all respects, from the welcome with chilled towels and drinks to the helpful and cheerful service from every member of staff. Large comfortable air-conditioned rooms overlook the Indian Ocean, as does the main Horizon restaurant where the meals were lacking neither in variety nor quality. We stayed two nights at Leopard Beach initially before going on safari and then a further six nights on our return. Our first safari began by road to Tsavo West, staying one night at Kilaguni Serena Lodge. The restaurant, open to one side overlooking the water hole, provided a wonderful lunch and dinner with tremendous views of elephant, zebra, giraffe and buffalo, to name but a few.
Following an afternoon game drive which included the enchanting Mzima Springs and ended with the first of many fantastic sunsets, we had a comfortable night before an early start next morning. We moved on to Satao Elerai, overlooking Amboseli with Peter, our driver for these three days, pointing out many items of interest along the way. Our room at Elerai was in fact a self-contained cottage and while it was reminiscent of the Flintstones in style, the facilities were far from stone-age. We were lucky enough to witness two young male elephants at the water-hole while we had lunch, before Peter took us down to Amboseli for another fascinating game drive. After an excellent dinner and a nightcap in front of a roaring log fire, we were up next morning for another early start. At seven hours, we found the drive back to Voi Gate into Tsavo East to be rather tiring but we still made it to Satao Camp just in time for lunch outside, under the tree. This and a short siesta set us up for our afternoon game drive which culminated at close quarters with a cheetah. What a beautiful animal!
A busy day and a fine meal sent us to bed where we slept like logs, only to be told next day that we had missed a visit from a couple of lions at four in the morning. Our neighbours in the next tent showed us the paw-prints in the dust outside to prove it! With a good breakfast inside us, we were on our way to Buchuma Gate where sadly, we had to say farewell to Peter, our driver, guide and companion for the last three days. We were tremendously impressed, not only with his detailed knowledge of his country and its flora and fauna but also with his enthusiasm in sharing it all with us. We hope to see him again.
The air-conditioned shuttle bus took us back to the coast then for an overnight stop at Nyali Beach Hotel. It is old colonial in style having been opened in 1949 and while we enjoyed our brief stay and had no complaints at all, on balance we preferred Leopard Beach. After another early breakfast we were collected for the short trip to Mombasa airport for our flight to the Masai Mara and a two night safari. Arrangements for the internal flight on an eighteen seat twin-prop aircraft where rather more relaxed than is international flying these days; quite a refreshing change. The views of Kilimanjaro from 11500 feet were stunning. The landing on an airstrip in the bush was amazingly smooth and we were soon on our way to Karen Blixen Camp for lunch. On the way, Pius, our driver took our open-sided six-passenger safari vehicle off the main route and diverted into a small coppice of bushes. To our delight, we were soon within a few yards of a pride of four or five lionesses, stretched out in the shade. This time we were awake!
Our three days in the Mara were truly magical. The location of Karen Blixen Camp on the eastern bank of the Mara River is absolutely beautiful and we could not fault the accommodation and service although some of the catering would benefit from improvement. While you Mombasa team handled all our other ground arrangements (and more about them later) Karen Blixen Camp arranged everything in the Mara. Their modern Toyota 4WD open vehicles were great for game viewing and their drivers and guides were excellent. We remember particularly, Pius, David, Nixon and especially Peter, our Masai guide. Not only did we value his expertise on our game drives but also one evening he gave a fascinating insight into Masai culture to the assembled company before dinner. On our second day in the Mara, we were given the opportunity to take a full day game drive into the conservancy to the south. As this was the right time of year for the Great Migration, if we were very lucky, we might see ‘the crossing’. We approached the river slowly, passing thousands of wildebeest all heading in the same direction. The leaders stopped some hundred yards short of the river bank as the rest of the herd formed up behind them, some zebra and gazelle mixed in with them. They moved forward some distance then stopped again; and again; and again. Eventually, the decision was made to cross and they galloped en masse for the water, plunging through and up the river bank on the far side. More followed and still more until we were convinced that every wildebeest in Africa was in this herd. The crossing was incessant for over half an hour until finally the last stragglers made their way up the far bank. Our driver, David estimated anything up to 10,000 animals had crossed. We had lost count after about 5,000!
This sight was absolutely magnificent and undoubtedly the highlight of the holiday.
After an early morning game drive on the third day, we had to take our leave and fly back to the coast. We were met at Ukunda airfield for the short drive back to Leopard Beach where we settled in for a more relaxing week. We were amazed at how much we had packed in to such a short time. However, we don’t hang around swimming pools for long so a couple of short trips had to be taken as well. We had a great day snorkelling off Wasini Island with dolphins and a hump-backed whale accompanying us on the way out and a fine late lunch on the way back. Two days later, dinner in Ali Barbour’s (sic) Cave restaurant near Leopard Beach was also most enjoyable. Then on our penultimate evening we saw Mombasa by night. A sunset dhow trip in Tudor Creek and under New Nyali Bridge took us to the old harbour. A short tour of the old town ended at Fort Jesus for a sound and light show followed by a wonderful dinner under the stars.
The ground handling by your Mombasa team was excellent throughout our trip. All their drivers and staff were friendly and helpful and their punctuality was impressive. Harry, their representative at Leopard Beach was tremendous in ensuring that everything ran smoothly. We valued especially his advice regarding all aspects of our visit from safaris to local trips to departure arrangements.
We were extremely sad to leave Kenya, its animals, its vast open spaces, its stunning scenery and especially its charming, polite, happy smiling people.
Asante sana a thousand times!
John Lowry
United Kingdom
Filed under Zambia Safaris & Victoria Falls
http://www.prweb.com/releases/tanzaniasafaris/africasafaristravel/prweb2471904.htm
Tanzania Tourist Board Honors AfricanMecca During 2009 Tanzania Safari Tourism Award Gala At The ATA Congress in Cairo, Egypt
Allentown, PA (PRWEB) May 29, 2009 — AfricanMecca, Africa’s top specialist safari and tour operator celebrated as it received the Tanzania Tourism 2009 Award for the Southern and Western Circuit at the Africa Travel Association (ATA) Congress held in Cairo, Egypt. The Honorable Shamsa S. Mwangunga, Tanzania’s Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, and President of ATA, presented the prestigious award at the special Tanzania Evening Gala Dinner held at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo.
Altaf Visram – Sales and Reservation Director at the family-run African outfitter was delighted that the latest achievement of their North American safari tour operations has been recognized “It is a real honor to be in Egypt, and for AfricanMecca Safaris to have received the Southern and Western Tanzania Safari accolade. We are naturally proud as it hosts Selous, Ruaha, Mikumi, Katavi, Gombe and Mahale National Parks – pristine regions that are all too familiar to us, and are just a hop, skip and jump away from our maternal grandparents homeland in Southern Tanzania”.
More than 300 leading agents, tour operators and hospitality professionals from across the regional and global travel industry attended the Africa Travel Association (ATA) Congress in Cairo last week. The four-day forum addressed a myriad of topics, such as the future of Africa’s tourism industry, tourism growth markets, travel trends, airline access to Africa, investment opportunities in the tourism industry and transportation. In addition, delegates participated in roundtables with tourism ministers, an Africa Bazaar for buyers and sellers, networking events, host country days, multiple gala dinners and pre- and post- country tours.
Americans have the highest tourist arrivals in Tanzania – The Land Of Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and The Serengeti, also the cradle of mankind. AfricanMecca’s number one priority is commitment to its travel agents and customers. Added Visram “All credit to our employees and team offices who provide uncompromising, dedicated and quality driven personalized services. It is with our experience and accurate knowledge of our homeland that we have the ability to understand and create tailor-made tours to unimaginable places a reality, which benefit our clients taking into account various factual operational and feasibility factors unknown to the first time or limited time traveler to Africa.”
AfricanMecca has scooped up a number of important accolades this year. The most recent it topped was the National Geographic Adventure Magazine’s selection of Best Adventure Travel Companies On Earth in 2009 with a superb customer satisfaction rate of 96.67%.
About AfricanMecca
AfricanMecca is a natively owned Africa Destination Management Company with professional tour planning and reservation partner offices in the United States, United Kingdom and ground operations team within Africa serving travel agents and clients throughout the world. AfricanMecca is a TOP Operator Member at American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), one of less than 90 Elite Tour Providers in the World & Africa’s Specialty Tour Operator. More information on Africa safari, vacation tours and holiday destination guide to Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya, Zambia
Media Contact:
AfricanMecca Inc
Sheena Rahim
1-866-527-4281
media@africanmecca.com
http://www.africanmeccasafaris.com
Filed under Tanzania Safaris & Vacations
Dr. Rolf Baldus’ Special Book On The Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania – Wild Heart of Africa
Dr. Baldus discussing with AfricaMecca Safaris: “Our interest in the Selous is non-commercial and all profits from the previous travel guides went actually back to the reserve. My first travel guide on the Selous appeared on the market around 1990. We have produced three more guidebooks since then. Selous book (first ever) which will be on the market in late March. I will send a reference with separate email.”
AfricanMecca Information, Videos and Photos On The Selous Safari Game Reserve.
Rolf’s Email Communication PDF Link:http://www.africanmecca.com/notes/Rolf.pdf
Standard Edition Link:http://www.rowlandward.com/product.aspx?id=642 & Special Edition Link:http://www.rowlandward.com/product.aspx?id=643
AfricanMecca’s recommended Tanzania Safaris or tailor make your own Selous Safaristarting from Zanzibar,Dar es Salaam or Arusha.
The Original Selous Safari Camps Include:
Please contact AfricanMecca Safaris to get in touch with the author.
Filed under Tanzania Safaris & Vacations
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