Explore Gorongosa is so lucky to have Ian Michler, renowned specialist guide and photojournalist to lead a 7 night trip with them in October this year! Ian is going to be exploring Gorongosa National Park (from the Explore Gorongosa base) for the first time. He is so excited.

There are still some places available on the trip – Anyone keen?
Email info@exploregorongosa.com for more information.

See more here!

Tuesday, July 6 Update: Zanzibar’s Baraza Update, Fall fam opportunities and more!

Monday Update July 12th: Botswana’s Chobe National Park, Walking Safaris in Northern Kenya.

Footsteps in Africa is delighted to inform the trade that we have just obtained a new camp for which we will perform sales, marketing and reservations. This is the first in a series of new camps and lodges that will be joining the circuit in the course of the next two years. The expansion is part of our long term goal to be the largest circuit of value for money Camps and Lodge in Botswana. The very first of these new camps and lodges is Kalahari Desert Camp.

Bordering Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), on 15,000 hectares of private concession and serviced by a private airstrip, is Kalahari Desert Camp, Kalahari Desert Camp is a small, intimate camp catering for just 12 guests, offering privacy and an exclusive experience of this wonderful landscape. A well-appointed dining area, lounge, swimming pool and viewing deck overlook a productive water-hole. Accommodation is in 6 large Meru Tents, elevated on platforms. Each tent is tastefully furnished with either twin or double bed configurations, en-suite bathrooms; al freso showers, and relaxation areas.

At Kalahari Desert Camp we are able to offer a full spectrum of activities – day drives, night drives and bush walks with guide and tracker. Due to the proximity to the entrance gate of the CKGR we are also able to offer both full day trips into the CKGR as well as overnight camping trips too, literally the best of both worlds – an exclusive reserve combined with the magic of the CKGR.

No Bushman activities will be on offer as we believe we would not be able to do justice to their culture when compared to Grasslands Bushman Lodge, which offers without a doubt offer the most authentic and comprehensive Bushman experience we know of. Combining these properties is quite possible, and recommended to anyone looking for an in-depth experience of the fascinating world of the Kalahari.

Breaking news! Conservancy Safaris is offering a few lucky guests a chance to be part of conservation history. On Saturday, July 17th about 15 black Rhino will be released in Puros and Orupembe conservancies in NW Namibia.
Contact Us or Conservancy Safaris ASAP at http://www.kcs-namibia.com.na/ for more
information.

Charges for U.S. passports will increase on July 13!

The cost of a new passport for an adult will jump from $100 to $135. Those under 16 will pay $105, up from $85.

Renewing a passport will cost $110, up from $75. Travelers will pay a new charge of $82 to add more pages to an existing passport if less than four pages remain blank. Formerly, this was a free service.

Passport cards, which can be used by Americans traveling by land or sea on trips to the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico, will cost $55 for adults, up from $45. For minors, passport cards will be $40, up from $35.

All costs include a $25 execution fee.

For more information visit the US Department of State Travel web site.

The 2011 Rates Manuals are now available to be downloaded from the Mozambique Voyages web site – www.mozambiquevoyages.com. Please log in on the Agents Page and download your Nett Rates Manual, valid from the 01st of November till the end of December 2011.

Don’t have an agent Log in? Contact Mozambique Voyages
for a User Name and Password.

Travel agents and tour operators, sign up for our popular Monday Update newsletters here.

This is one of the best ways to keep in touch with all the latest news from Africa and our partners on the ground.

Happy reading!

Air Botswana is pleased to announce additional flights on the Johannesburg – Maun route schedule effective 01 August through 28 November 2010. These additions will compliment the existing schedule and will allow more convenient connections to Maun. Late morning flights to Maun will be offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with returning flights in the mid-afternoon on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. These services have been loaded into the CRS and are available for sale. For more information, please visit www.airbotswana.co.bw.

Introducting Tanzania’s Manyara Ranch Conservancy and South Africa’s International Travel and Tours, and more…
Read Monday Update here.

Fall Webinar Schedule, New Kenya/Tanzania options and more!
Read full update here.