How to avoid malaria

Posted by Mark / in Africa, Blog, Featured Posts, frontpage, Tavistock Travel Agents, Traveller's Tales /

World Malria Day 25^th April 2017 was a bit of a non-event in the UK probably because malaria isn’t a problem here but it is a serious problem if you live in, or visit,  the warmer parts of the world.

 

Here are 3 statistics that are worthy of note:

 

1. Cases: in 2015 there were 212 millions cases of malaria worldwide.
2. Trend: since 2010 the number of cases has decreased by 21% worldwide
3. Mortality: since 2010 the mortality rate has decreaed by 29% worldwide.

Source: World Health Organisation 

Top tips to avoid infection:

• Avoid being bitten by wearing long sleeves and trousers.
• Be particularly vigilant at peak mosi times (dawn and dusk)
• Use a good repellent that contains DEET.
• Sleep beneath a mosi-net
• Treat mosi-nets with insecticide such as Permethrin
• Use a reliable malaria prophylactic (NOT Larium which has sideeffects)
• And finally … be aware of malaria symptoms and seek medical advice if concerned.

Kilimanjaro: 5 tips for the top

Posted by Mark / in Africa, Blog, Featured Posts, frontpage, Tavistock Travel Agents, Traveller's Tales /

Kilimanjaro: 5 tips for the top

The inspiration to tackle Kilimanjaro is often an impulse followed by a feeling of “Help!! Now what!” With a summit success rate of 98% Venture Co can share a couple of good ideas:-

1. Get fit – Kili is a mountain that needs you to be in shape before you arrive, rather than getting fit as the trek unfolds. The whole experience is so much better if you’re relaxed and at ease from the get-go. 7 or 8 days of walking at altitude requires trekkers to have decent cardiovascular fitness. The better your body is at extracting oxygen from your blood, the better you will fare at altitude. Hitting the gym isn’t as important as power-walking, biking, running, swimming, riding; in fact anything that raises your respiration rate.

      2. Train with your trekking kit –makes sense; but we all know it won’t happen. Try to include some long treks with a heavy backpack (not that you carry a full pack on Kili, but you will be carrying a day-pack, at altitude). Get used to walking with poles, particularly on descents. The rule is to set the pole length so that hands and just lower than elbows. Make friends with your boots – modern boots are nearly there straight off the shelf, but much better to get some miles in before reaching Tanzania. Letting your boots form to the shape of your feet reduces any chance of blisters. The goal is to walk about 80 Km at a 5% gradient. Easy!!

 3. Pole-pole – is Swahili for “Slowly slowly” and refers to walking slowly, and don’t cram an 8 day itinerary into a 6 day slot to save money; and if you can, include a trek up Mount Meru before Kili (3 days extra). If you can tackle Mt Meru first, you’re virtually guaranteed to summit Kili. Besides, the view of Kili from the summit of Meru is astonishing. Don’t rush any aspect of this trek.

 4. Tent craft – home will be under canvas for a week, so get used to being hyper-organised. You need to know where everything is in your bag; and how to change in a confined space. Boots and wet gear in one place and dry gear separate. Can you get into and out of your sleeping bag smoothly? All this is easy in your bedroom, but gets harder as the altitude rises.

5. Work on your mental stamina– you may experience headaches, nausea and fatigue due to altitude. And on summit day you really do need to place mind over matter and battle through: the body will hurt but you have to have the mental strength to keep going. The Mountain Rescue has a phrase “LMF” which stands for “lack of moral fibre” and you don’t want to be in that category!

Climbing Kilimanjaro should be unforgettable; the trek of a lifetime. The feedback we hear most regularly is that the experience was life-enhancing; friendships will be forged; excitement and some discomfort shared, and ultimately the experience of standing on the roof of Africa will be yours.

Zimbabwe returns

Posted by Mark / in Africa, Blog, Featured Posts, frontpage, Tavistock Travel Agents, Traveller's Tales /

Is Zimbabwe back on the traveller’s map?
Back in the day, before UDI, Lancaster House and all the post-independence disasters, Zimbabwe was a fantastic country to visit. Due to the traumatic political unrest over the last few decades Zim has been off the traveller’s radar. But I think all that is gradually changing.

For example, Mana Pools used to be the “must do” of any safari to Zim. The northern boundary of the national park is the River Zambezi, and the ultimate way to explore this area was on a multi-day canoe safari. It’s great to see that the canoe safaris have been re-introduced.

Even more interesting to hear is that the area to the east of the national park (The Sapi Concession) which used to be a hunting reserve: the argument being that revenue raised from hunting fees went to support conservation; controversial stuff. Last month, one of the leading conservation groups from Botswana took over the lease of Sapi which is downstream of Mana Pools. The 118,000 Ha is to be managed exclusively for conservation tourism with a camp set up by the end of 2017, in effect enlarging Mana Pools national park. This is an example of the power of the tourist dollar! Interesting quote from the camp manager, “By the time the camp opens, there should have been about two new cycles of wildlife births that won’t know the scourge of hunting”

Watch this space.

Star Beds

Posted by Mark / in Africa, Blog, Featured Posts, frontpage, Tavistock Travel Agents, Traveller's Tales /

An African safari is a fantastic experience: huge animals roaming free, huge numbers of animals on migration and huge skies overhead. The sounds and scents of the bush are intoxicating and the light possesses a unique quality. Add a good guide and good company and you have the perfect holiday.

But what about the night time?

Lodges and camps in national parks are evocative places, suggestive of a bygone era of white-hunters, game trackers and glorious isolation. But you can go one better and sleep outside, under the African night skies, in your very own ‘star bed’.

A star bed is a proper comfortable bed, with good linen and pillows, draped with a mosquito net (which of course looks romantic) and set in the bush, away from the main lodge or camp. And you’re out there, just you and the stars.

The stars are stunning; the sounds of the bush have to be heard to be believed; and the romance is exquisite.

There are a few places where you can enjoy this wonderful experience, and here are three of my favourites:

Lake of Stars Bed at Nkwichi, Lake Malawi, Mozambique
Surely the best? The sleep-out deck is on a private rock island 10 minutes from the main lodge (by boat). Dinner and sundowners are served privately on the island while sea eagles soar overhead; then the staff retire to the lodge and you have the place to yourself (radio coms provided).

Kaingo Elephant Hide, South Luangwa NP, Zambia
Elephant Hide is a platform nestled between an Ebony tree and a Sausage tree directly above a centuries old elephant highway. If you’re an elephant lover, this is the star bed for you: overlooking the Luangwa River giving a bird’s eye view of the evening and morning and, if the moon is full, you get a private viewing of the night time elephant antics.

Loisaba Star Bed, the Laikipia Plateau, Kenya
In northern Kenya, beyond Mount Kenya, lies a wildlife-rich plateau. Built on a high wooden deck and complete with bathroom and four-poster, is the Loisaba star bed. The actual bed is on wheels and is pushed out each evening when the sky is clear. The view from this high perch is out of this world.

Romance with Style

Posted by Mark / in Africa, Blog, Featured Posts, frontpage, Tavistock Travel Agents, The Book Bus, Traveller's Tales /

An Island at Victoria Falls
Upstream from Victoria Falls are a scattering of islands one of which is called Kandahar. Opening later in 2017 is a stunning new lodge with just 3 exclusive island tree houses. The treehouse suites are made of timber and glass and built among the trees on raised wooden decks giving panoramic river views. Each one has its own private plunge pool and personal butler service and is connected by elevated walkways to the main open-plan lounge and dining areas.

If you’re a fan of star beds and looking for the ultimate romantic get-away, I think you just found it!

Kandahar can be accessed from either the Zambia or Zimbabwe side and the island is about 45 mins from the airport. And how about visiting during a full moon to see the unique Vic Falls Moonbow?

Chichewa Dictionary, Malawi

Posted by Mark / in Africa, Blog, Featured Posts, frontpage, Tavistock Travel Agents, The Book Bus, Traveller's Tales /

It’s a World First!
On 29th September 2016 in Lilongwe the official launch took place of the first Chichewa Dictionary, published by Oxford University Press (OUP). The dictionary is a much needed tool for schools and in trans-cultural situations in Malawi such as The Book Bus. The launch was attended by the former Vice President of the Republic of Malawi the right honourable Dr. Justin Malewezi, who is a well-known advocate of the Chichewa heritage as a language and as a cultural phenomenon that extends beyond the boundaries of Malawi.Chichewa diction

ary

Holiday prices.

Posted by Mark / in Africa, Blog, Featured Posts, frontpage, Horse Riding Holidays, South America, Tavistock Travel Agents, Traveller's Tales /

Holiday prices

Since June last year the GBP exchange rate has taken quite a knock, not because our national economy is failing, but for other reasons less easy to grasp. The result has been a real rise in the prices of holidays, air fares, car hire etc. But there’s hope in all this gloom!!

Argentina has taken the enlightened step to abolish VAT on hotel accommodation. Argentina is now on the same level playing field as other South American countries who exempt VAT for hotel stays for incoming tourism. It applies to all holidays booked after 2^nd Jan 2017 – so now’s the right time to visit Patagonia or ride through the Andes.

There’s a bunch of red tape, such as the hotel has to be correctly registered, but we can assist with all that.

 

Interestingly enough Zambia has done the opposite and now applies VAT to accommodation for tourism. Perhaps the time is right to visit South America?

Ride To The Source of the Nile.

Posted by Mark / in Africa, Blog, Featured Posts, frontpage, Horse Riding Holidays, Tavistock Travel Agents, Traveller's Tales /

The Sourse of the Nile

There are 2 branches of the Nile, the While and the Blue. The White Nile has its source in Uganda and was the subject of much attention amongst the early explorers such as Thompson, Speke and Livingstone. Eventually the source was agreed to be the massive Lake Victoria and Owens Falls on the northern shore near Jinja, where the lake drains into a mighty river, the White Nile.

The Blue Nile rises in Ethiopia and begins life at Lake Tana (after which my dog is named). The confluence is at Khartoum in Sudan. Our 1 week ride takes you right to the source of the Nile on Lake Victoria and later in the week you ride to a sandy cove where you can swim with your horse; a fantastic experience. Uganda is also the home of the mountain gorillas and this is an ideal opportunity to extend your holiday by a few days, travel over to the west of Uganda and visit the Mountain Gorillas. What a fortnight that would be!

Kilimanjaro International gets 35 million Euro for overhaul

Posted by Mark / in Africa, Blog, Featured Posts, frontpage, Tavistock Travel Agents, Traveller's Tales /

Kilimanjaro International Airport is in Arusha, Tanzania. It’s the gateway to some of the best wildlife areas in Africa as well as the fantastic India Ocean coast, including the “hidden gem” that is Mafia Island.

The airport upgrade is just about complete (thank you the Dutch government) and has doubled capacity to 1.2 million passengers a year, which is still a relatively modest number compared to neighbouring Nairobi in Kenya. It’s still easy to find pristine wilderness in Tanzania and experience Africa without the internal combustion engine, such as on the magical Ol Doniyo Lengai walk.

 

Besides, what other airport approach is passed such an impressive mountain? Kilimanjaro is only about 40 Km north of the airport and you get stunning views of it as you approach Tanzania; the perfect way to begin and end your safari.

Travelling solo

Posted by Mark / in Africa, Blog, Featured Posts, frontpage, Tavistock Travel Agents, Traveller's Tales /

Going solo.

Travelling alone can be a slightly daunting prospect, knowing that you’re going all the way to a remote location on your own, with little knowledge of the people or country itself. The first time I went on safari alone my worry was “Who am I going to share those experiences with? Who will I turn and talk to about what fantastic things we just saw?”

 

This is where travelling to Africa and joining a safari is perfect for solo travellers http://www.ventureco-worldwide.com/africa/

 

African lodges focus on high value, low impact tourism and are small (3 to 8 rooms). Meals and afternoon tea are a communal affair, ensuring that you have the chance to interact with other guests and never be left at a table alone. A good guide will be around throughout the day too, not just while out in the bush, and it’s a wonderful experience to get to know the guides on a personal level, sitting around the campfire and talking about their home life and the local village community. Again, this includes you as a single traveller as part of the lodge family, and is particularly so on our Highlights of Uganda mountain gorilla safari.

Many lodges have removed the dreaded single supplement too (though not in peak season). And transfers are on a shared vehicle or seat-in-plane basis which makes the whole thing more fair for single travellers.

 

The great joy at travelling alone in game-rich areas is the fact that the people you meet tend to be nature enthusiasts and share similar interests to you. There’s nothing better than sitting up late into the night with new friends around the campfire, discussing the sights of the day, while home lives are just a distant memory.