Tuesday, July 1, 2014

TORTILIS ENTERS THE SOLAR SYSTEM: KENYA CAMP IS GOING FULL ON SOLAR POWER

Cheli & Peacock is proud to announce as of June 1, 2014, Tortilis Camp operates on 100% solar power 24 hours a day. The Kenya luxury camp joins other Cheli & Peacock properties, Kitich Camp and Elephant Pepper Camp, as fully powered by solar energy. The C&P Portfolio’s seven high end camps are ecologically and sustainability-minded, partially or fully powered by solar panels. The long-term goal is for all to join the exclusive 100% club.

Until now, the luxury camp generated its own power with a diesel generator, which ran for eight hours. The switch to solar power will help the camp save up to 7,400 gallons of diesel a year, dropping a sizeable amount of CO2 emissions per year. A total of 190 solar panels are installed, enough to power 48 batteries for night usage. The unobtrusive panels are only visible from the air so guests may enjoy silent, green energy.

Tortilis Camp was one of the first “eco-lodges” of its kind in East Africa, and is currently certified with a prestigious Silver Eco-rating. The camp has an exemplary sustainable tourism policy, which includes leasing and managing the 30,000 acre private Kitirua Conservancy, with the local community benefiting directly from tourism, and preserving the Amboseli eco-system.

Tortilis Camp, situated in Amboseli National Park, has 16 standard tents, a family tent and a private house, all with breathtaking views of snow-capped Mt. Kilimanjaro and numerous elephant families that populate the area.

Rates start at $490 per person sharing per night and include all meals, Kitirua Conservation fees, guided bush walks, bush breakfasts and sundowners, local airstrip transfers and limited laundry. For more information, visit www.tortilis.com or email info@chelipeacock.co.ke.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

FRIEND OR FOE: GUESTS PARTICIPATE IN ANTI-POACHING

Meet a rhino’s best friends: the tracker dogs of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kenya. Guests of Lewa Safari Camp have a rare safari option of working with an elite and highly trained force: the anti-poaching unit. Welcome to tracker dog training.

Travelers of all ages may work with the conservancy’s tracker dogs and rangers. Guests receive a briefing and choose someone to play the “bad guy.” A young bloodhound rises to the challenge, taking in the scent of your footprint. Head off with a ranger to a spot you deem sufficient, maybe far and near a group of impala. It won’t be long before the dog leads the others to your exact location.
Tracker dogs don’t need much to follow a scent – whether it rains or a print is six months old. They have been used successfully on several anti-poaching operations. It isn’t a surprise that they’re treated like royalty within the conservancy.

Other safari options for guests include visits to the conservancy’s headquarters – a great follow-up to tracker dog training. See what headquarters do for security, operations, education and healthcare (visits free of charge). Time this visit with Lewa Safari Camp’s two slots a week to visit three orphaned baby black rhinos ($15 per person), who are being hand raised by the conservancy’s rangers. There are strict guidelines concerning this interaction.

Tracker dog training is $10 per person and free for children under 14. Lewa Safari Camp rates start at $380 per person sharing per night and include accommodation, game drives and other safari activities, airstrip transfers and limited laundry. For more information, visit www.lewasafaricamp.com or email info@chelipeacock.co.ke.


Note : Lewa Wildlife Conservancy was created to protect and conserve Black and White Rhinos as well as other rare and endangered species, including the Grevy’s Zebra. It’s one of the most successful examples of sustainable tourism in the world. Lewa Safari Camp is the only camp owned by the conservancy with its profits re-invested into the conservancy’s crucial conservation and community work.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

AFRICAN ANIMAL YEARBOOK

The African Animal Year Book was just published and there was much snorting and stomping, ripping and roaring to see who won what. Here’s a sneak peak:

1.      LEAST VAIN
Warthog
The French have a word for it – jolie-laide – someone who’s ugly in a way that makes them attractive.  So, too the warthog. On the downside, his head is huge and his butt is bitty, so he looks off-kilter, like his head is about to land in mud.  But, hey, he comes from the pig family.  And those four big warts on his head?  They’re a defensive measure – fat reserves in a fight.  Sure, he’s got an uncombed black mane half-way down his back, razor sharp twin tusks and body-hair like a bad five o’clock shadow.  But we love him, warts and all, because he’s just not that into himself. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARREN SWIM

2.      MOST STYLISH
 The Zebra
Zebras must read Vogue. One of the fashion magazine’s editors used to say, “All you need in your wardrobe is black, white and red.” (Two out of three isn’t bad.) Zebras may look like they’re serving time – but prison garb drew inspiration from them, not the other way around. Another vice-versa: Is the kinetic zebra white with black stripes or black with white stripes? If you guessed white because of their ivory underbellies, you’d be wrong. Zebras are socialized creatures living in herds and harems, loving Facebook and Twitter. When danger threatens, they close ranks, causing predators to suffer motion dazzle from the pin-wheeling stripes. We just find them dazzling.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BURRARD LUCAS FOR NORMAN CARR SAFARIS
3.       CLASS CLOWN
The Shoebill
Ornithologists rank the Shoebill one of the five most desirable birds in Africa, but its classmates rank it as the funniest, and a bit rank at that, living as it does in swampy areas. Five feet tall, with a bill as big as a boot, its wingspan can reach eight feet.  This blue-gray “statue-like” bird resembles a creature from Alice or Wonderland, or possibly The Black Lagoon. It’s not just their alien looks, it’s their voices, too, that keep playmates chuckling.  They moo like a cow, whine like a kid in a candy store, and clatter their bills during nesting season.  How can we thank you for a million laughs?

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN POPE SAFARIS
4.       CLASS JOCK
The Crocodile
Crocodiles are among the best predators and they don’t even have to train hard to get to that level! They are born fit, with great physical characteristics that allow them to be quick inside and outside the water. Their scales, called ‘scutes’, unattached to bone, are the reason why crocs are fast and flexible. That enviable greenish-brown skin color acts as camouflage while swimming and while tanning along the river banks. Prey basically jump into that toothy smile, and, thanks to their great night vision, they can indulge in late night cravings. They live the sweet life of predators with all the perks. Long story short: They are flexy and sexy and they know it.
  
CROCODILE IN ZAMBIA: PHOTO COURTESY OF HANS HILLEWAERT
5.       MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED
The Gerenuk
“Mr. Smarty Pants” 101: how to survive in the wild. He may not be the biggest or the fastest, but the top of the class is the gerenuk, known for a huge instinctual intelligence found in his surprisingly tiny head. Don’t let his size fool you. The gerenuk performs a feat few four-legged wild mammals can: He balances on two legs with a human-like stance, stretches his “giraffe neck” and reaches for the stars… er… green plants he needs to survive. Though gerenuks aren’t omniscient, add in panoramic vision, attuned ears and clever tactics for evading predators, and he comes pretty close. “All for one and one for all,” is his motto. His entire species help one another persevere. All gerenuks receive a graduation cap.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOY’S CAMP
6.       MOST LIKELY TO END UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS
The Wild Dog
Don’t let the two-toned African wild or painted dog’s friendly looks deceive you. Yes, he’s family-centered. Yes, he likes to play. But, maybe too much? His idea of play is hunting for the fun of it, and passing on his hunting skills to his pups. His player attitude may help him to maintain his reputation of being the best hunter in the savannah, but it isn’t helping him maintain the species: he’s highly endangered. If his numbers are dwindling from top dog jealousy, his enemies should remember the saying, “Don’t hate the player, hate the game”

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHIAWA CAMP
7.       SEXIEST
The Leopard
Its couture fur, marked with rosettes, makes this animal the sexiest of the class. Smart is sexy and leopards just have that knowing spark that makes them successful in the wild. They have an opportunistic hunting behavior and a great ability to run at high speeds and climb trees; they rule the bush like a runway, with style and confidence. Leopards are elusive animals, and we all know that there’s nothing sexier than playing hard to get.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SABI SABI
8.       CUTEST COUPLE
The Elephants
To show affection, the largest living terrestrial creatures lock trunks -- no mean feat since their snouts can weigh up to 400 pounds. Everything about them is large, making it tough to conceal PDA’s or just being in the room. Elephant brains are larger than any other land animal, too, so they never forget anything, especially Valentine’s Day. Their huge ears in the shape of Africa serve to cool them down (in steamy weather and otherwise).  Big ears.  Big minds. Big hearts. Big love!

PHOTO COURTESY OF PIETER RAS, LEWA SAFARI CAMP

Monday, May 12, 2014

PAINTBRUSH IN THE BUSH: KENYA’S ART SAFARI

The colors, vistas and landscape of Kenya’s Samburu region bring you to a standstill. Sometimes a camera just can’t capture what the eyes see. Joy’s Camp Art Safari is a chance to create an image that conveys a single moment. A whisper through swaying grass, a reflection in rippling water and sunlight dusting smooth volcanic rock.

A local artist accompanies you during a walking or driving safari to sketch on location. Feet on the ground, you’re in the middle of the African bush – a 360 degree view of untouched land in the Northern Frontier. Choose watercolors or charcoal pencils, grab an easel and let your hand glide over paper. The artist is there for instruction and advice. Popular spots include the winding Ewaso Nyiro, a river lined with Fever Trees and sand, creating an oasis of green; and the top of Penny’s rock for views of an expansive arid landscape – looming mountains on the horizon. Itineraries are flexible in the bush, so choose a departure from early morning to sundown; choose the position of the sun for the light contrasts you desire most.

Joy’s Camp Art Safari is inspired by the site’s previous artist, Joy Adamson. Joy was a part of history when she helped reintroduce a domestic lion, Elsa, to the wild for the first time. It became a best-selling book, Born Free. When she moved on to the area where Joy’s Camp stands today, Joy documented the plants and people of Kenya through her drawings.

There are 10 chic canvas bedrooms at Joy’s Camp overlooking a natural spring. Each tent is uniquely decorated with handmade glass and vibrant fabrics of the local nomadic tribes, and has a private veranda, ideal for game viewing. Joy’s Camp is one of ten properties in Kenya with a Gold eco-rating, the highest level of environmental responsibility.


Book the art safari in advance. Rates start at $350 per person sharing per night, and include meals, game drives, bush walks, bush breakfasts, sundowners, local airstrip transfers and limited laundry. For more information, visit joyscamp.com or email info@chelipeacock.co.ke.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

FROM BOOK TO MOVIE TO FOUNDATION: BORN FREE CELEBRATES 30th ANNIVERSARY WITH “BORN FREE SAFARI”


KENYA (04/2014) Cheli & Peacock’s nine-day “Born Free Safari” in rugged Kenya has the honor of partnering with celebrity turned conservationist, Virginia McKenna, who after starring in the film Born Free, founded the Born Free Foundation. The nonprofit organization sponsors projects to save, rescue and protect wildlife around the world. To celebrate its 30th Anniversary, all bookings for this safari result in donations towards the foundation and its mission to help wildlife everywhere. The October 22 – 31, 2014 journey is $6,345 per person sharing, excluding international flights.

From best-selling book to Academy Award-winning movie, Born Free has captured the hearts of many. It is the story of Joy and George Adamson who reintroduced a captive animal to its Kenyan home, a relationship forged between lioness and man and the first success story in history documented for the world to remember.

Elsa’s Kopje – the location where Elsa the lioness was reintroduced to the wild and one of the areas where Born Free was filmed. Dine and partake in talks with Virginia McKenna on her experience working with lions and Elsa’s owners on set. There’s a moment she knew Elsa had changed her life forever.

A bush breakfast takes place by Elsa’s grave within Meru National park during one of many spectacular safaris. Elsa was accepted into the wild, her legacy continuing through her cubs and seen in her DNA documented in lions, today.

Joy’s Camp – Elsa’s Kopje’s sister camp. The “Milestone Safari” continues to the place where Joy Adamson relocated and reintroduced another cat, Penny the leopard. Guest speakers will give talks and show films on the history of Joy’s Camp and the surrounding area. They enhance your view of the owner’s life, the continued reintroduction of other animals and the surrounding Samburu region.

Tortilis Camp – a luxury lodge witness to Born Free Foundation projects within the dusty plains of Amboseli. The region is known for its elephant population consisting of large groups of families – this includes a world famous group with two Born Free adopted elephants. Visit elephant expert Cynthia Moss’ research center where Cynthia’s vital work has been funded by Born Free for 22 years. A visit to Born Free’s Lion-proof bomas project is included – a project initiated in 2010 to combat conflict between local pastoralists and lions with the use of bomas (night enclosures).

The final day in Kenya is commemorated with a farewell lunch with the Born Free Kenya team in a country where one historic event sparked conservation missions around the world.

Born Free Foundation continues the vision the Adamsons had with Elsa the lioness, and the vision McKenna has today: a lifetime commitment to wildlife.

The “Born Safari” includes accommodation at Elsa’s Kopje, Joy’s Camp and Tortilis Camp; and all internal flights, conservation/ park fees, game drives, bush walks, bush meals, sundowners, membership to Flying Doctors Society, laundry and airstrip transfers. For more information, visit www.chelipeacock.com or email info@chelipeacock.co.ke.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

SECRETS OF A SKY ISLAND: MATHEWS FOREST FLOURISHES AS PROTECTED ECOSYSTEM

SAMBURU, Kenya (04/2014) Mathews Forest is more pristine than ever, marking its 50th year as a Kenyan Forest Reserve. What’s remarkable is this isolated ecosystem, a tropical mountain forest, in the Northern Frontier District, is accessible as a travel getaway – and it’s malaria-free. Those who seek off-the beaten path destinations direct themselves to Kitich Camp, the only property within the sky island. This is a place where secrets are still being unraveled by scientists, new species discovered. This is a place where cars are left behind. And, this is a place where your guides are the Samburu and Ndorobo people, who grew up by the dense forest and granite outcrops.

To hear that there are no roads is unheard of. Fortunately, this makes for the best kind of safari: guided forest walks through unmarked terrain.  You’ll be one of maximum 12 guests in the surrounding area, hoping to glimpse one of the endemic species.

Mathews Range is one of the very few areas where you can see the rare De Brazza Monkey outside of the Rwenzori Mountains. The biological island is also home to melanistic leopards (black panthers), forest elephants, more than 150 species of butterflies, uncounted species of wild orchids and endemic giant cycads whose origins reach back 280 million years.

Locals do not live within the forest, as it is respected by elders as a valuable resource that helps sustain life in the dry savanna below. They are more than happy to share their culture and treasured ecosystem – both things Kitich Camp and Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy aim to preserve. As a key tourism partner of Namunyak, Kitich Camp pays conservancy fees directly to the community, working with them on a grassroots level.

On the upper slopes of the Mathews Mountain Range, Kitich Camp features six traditional en-suite safari tents, all with exceptional views of the lush Ngeng River, and a main lounge that overlooks the floodlit river glade where animal sightings are frequent as dusk approaches. An intimate size creates an intimate experience.  

Rates start at $450 per person sharing per night and include all meals, drinks, guided forest walks, river swimming and dips in natural rock pools, bird watching, bush picnics, local airstrip transfers and limited laundry. For more information, visit http://kitichcamp.com/ or email info@chelipeacock.co.ke.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

VILLAGES UNTOUCHED BY TIME IN NORTHERN PORTUGAL

New York, NY (04/14) Go back in time with “Walking the wild hill country”. On Foot Holiday’s self-guided eight-day hike through the hills of Northern Portugal will take you to the most rural villages where you will experience Portugal’s traditional country life. Hike through the charming little hamlets of Soajo, Lindoso, Brufe, Camp Geres and the Roman Road to Emaus, until reaching Pousada Santa Maria do Bouro, a monastery that was converted into a top hotel.

On this tour you will visit Portugal’s national park, Peneda-Gerês, a splendid landscape characterized by lush green valleys and granite hills. Hidden in the park you will find delightful villages where rural communities continue a lifestyle that is centuries old. These small towns are the epitome of remoteness. See typical Portuguese granaries, espigueiros, where farmers keep their maize, to feed to their long-horned cattle; and walk on ancient paved footpaths and along the Via Romana high above the valley.

Every On Foot itinerary puts a strong emphasis on culture and local hospitality.  Throughout your journey, the choice of accommodation will vary, ranging from friendly pensions and traditional Portuguese houses to a luxurious hotel. You will also have the opportunity (for an extra charge) to taste typical dishes at Brufe’s remarkable restaurant, Restaurant Abocanhado, recognized worldwide for its delicious bacalhau, and can have a memorable evening at Emaus, tasting Paulo’s menu tradicional, accompanied by his excellent range of local wines.   

This tour is available from April to October. Rates for eight nights per person sharing are from $984 and include accommodation, breakfast daily, one evening meal, six picnics, detailed itinerary and supporting material, and luggage transfers between hotels.

For more information contact On Foot Holidays at (011)44 1722 322 652 or visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk
****

Note to editors: On Foot Holidays features predominantly linear, self-guided walking holidays in France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Germany, Slovenia and the UK’s south-west. Each walk has been designed by a ‘Route Adviser’ – a person who lives locally and has painstakingly developed an itinerary through varied countryside, packing in as much culture as possible en route and seeking out the most welcoming small hotels, farmhouses and village rooms. The emphasis is very much on good food and wine after a day’s walking. On Foot Holidays is a member of AITO (the Association of Independent Tour Operators).

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

PAINTBRUSH IN THE BUSH: KENYA’S ART SAFARI

SAMBURU, Kenya (04/2014) The colors, vistas and landscape of Kenya’s Samburu region bring you to a standstill. Sometimes a camera just can’t capture what the eyes see. Joy’s Camp Art Safari is a chance to create an image that conveys a single moment. A whisper through swaying grass, a reflection in rippling water and sunlight dusting smooth volcanic rock.

A local artist accompanies you during a walking or driving safari to sketch on location. Feet on the ground, you’re in the middle of the African bush – a 360 degree view of untouched land in the Northern Frontier. Choose watercolors or charcoal pencils, grab an easel and let your hand glide over paper. The artist is there for instruction and advice. Popular spots include the winding Ewaso Nyiro, a river lined with Fever Trees and sand, creating an oasis of green; and the top of Penny’s rock for views of an expansive arid landscape – looming mountains on the horizon. Itineraries are flexible in the bush, so choose a departure from early morning to sundown; choose the position of the sun for the light contrasts you desire most.

Joy’s Camp Art Safari is inspired by the site’s previous artist, Joy Adamson. Joy was a part of history when she helped reintroduce a domestic lion, Elsa, to the wild for the first time. It became a best-selling book, Born Free. When she moved on to the area where Joy’s Camp stands today, Joy documented the plants and people of Kenya through her drawings.

There are 10 chic canvas bedrooms at Joy’s Camp overlooking a natural spring. Each tent is uniquely decorated with handmade glass and vibrant fabrics of the local nomadic tribes, and has a private veranda, ideal for game viewing. Joy’s Camp is one of ten properties in Kenya with a Gold eco-rating, the highest level of environmental responsibility.

Book the art safari in advance. Rates start at $350 per person sharing per night, and include meals, game drives, bush walks, bush breakfasts, sundowners, local airstrip transfers and limited laundry. For more information, visit joyscamp.com or email info@chelipeacock.co.ke.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

LE TORRI DI BAGNARA, LUXURY CASTLES COLLECTION: “LA DOLCE VILLA” & PALATIAL EVENTS VENUE UNDER THE UMBRIAN SUN

ASSISI, Italy (03/2014) Le Torri di Bagnara (LTDB) is a world-class collection of exquisitely restored medieval castles set within the “Tenuta di Bagnara,” a superb, 1500-acre historic estate and nature reserve in Umbria, offering one of its five castles as a luxury villa and another as an exclusive venue for weddings and special events. The seven-bedroomed Pieve SAN QUIRICO Castle Villa (PCV), is available on a weekly basis to private groups, multi-generational families, groups of friends and those seeking privacy. Il Castello di Bagnara (CDB), the private residence of the Counts Giunta Tremi, is available as a palatial events space, offered without accommodations.

The Pieve Castle Villa (11TH century historic residence), designed as a luxurious private home, but with the services of a hotel, comprises seven bedrooms (15 beds); nine bathrooms, a professional kitchen, a Renaissance-styled courtyard, and a saltwater pool. On the grounds is a large, 18th century consecrated church. PCV is available from April through October and over the Christmas-New Year’s holiday – December 20 to January 10. Rates for the Pieve Villa start at Euro 7350 per week and include a maid, breakfast service, full gardening and pool cleaning services (Sunday excluded), with other services obtainable on an ad hoc basis. Groups needing additional accommodations can make use of the Bagnara Tower (11th century historic residence)-- four apartments sleeping a total of 15.

The Castello di Bagnara (11th- 15th century historic residence) is an exquisite venue for weddings and special occasions. The fanciful castle is a complex of buildings: a dwelling space; a crenelated tower adjoined by a small, three-story palazzo with vaulted ceilings between ground and first floors; a stone mill containing an antiques-filled dining room and living room; a small, 17th century consecrated chapel and an Orangery. The Castello features an immense park with an Italianate garden, a pool, covered dining veranda and an outdoor fireplace.

Since 1901, this exceptional estate, located near Assisi, has been owned by the Counts Giunta Tremi, a noble family descended from Napoleon Bonaparte via his oldest brother, Joseph (King of Naples, Spain and the Indies), and through a younger brother, Lucien (Prince of Canino and Musignano). Today, beautiful Zenaide Giunta, named for her great-great grandmother, owns and operates LTDB.  Commenting on the Pieve Castle Villa, she said, “This is not a simple house rental, but a life experience that speaks to all the senses and that guests take away with them.” She added, “We are pleased to extend our hospitality to those wishing to immerse themselves in the “Tenuta’s” enriching lifestyle – the beauty of this pastoral setting, the pleasures of our food and wine, the privacy of a heritage estate and the age-old culture of Umbria.”

The estate’s working livestock farm breeds hare, roe-deer and white Chianina beef cattle, and cultivates honey, herbs and vegetables, tasty provisions for the table. Among the structures on the estate are several to-be-restored medieval castles, including Castello di Pegliola, once the site of a casino or private club frequented by aristocrats. The scenery is a painter’s or a poet’s dream, a serene countryside of hills, plains, sylvan forests, flower-embroidered meadows, formal gardens and green pastures, all interlaced with small lakes, water features and crenelated castles.

A plethora of services and activities is available: in-house cooking (professional Chef); cooking lessons; massage; Wi-Fi; biking; hiking; golf (an 18-hole, Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed course is 10 minutes away); yoga, picnics; truffle hunts; wine tours; seasonal festivals (Spoleto in June; Umbria Jazz in July; Euro-chocolate in October) and visits to Assisi, Perugia and Todi or over the border to Tuscany or even to Rome.

For more information or bookings: info@letorridibagnara.it

Monday, March 31, 2014

PRIORAT: PRESTIGIOUS WINES AND RICH HISTORY WITH ON FOOT HOLIDAYS

NEW YORK, NY (03/14) As Christianity spread across Europe, so did monasteries, and with them came vineyards. On Foot Holidays, specialist in self-guided walking and hiking tours in seldom seen areas of Europe, offers a tour through hills and XII century monasteries in the region that is home to Spain’s most elite wines.

Priorat, Spain (Along monastery trails to the holy mountain) – With four and a half to six hours of walking per day, this route is considered of medium-hard difficulty. Through mountains and valleys from the historic center of Montblanc to the heart of Priorat, you will visit two important, beautifully-sited monasteries:  Poblet (a Cistercian monastery founded in 1151) and Escaladei, a Carthusian monastery, where for seven centuries the monks cultivated vineyards. Nights will be spent in charming, sleepy towns and villages at typical inns and houses, where you will get closer to the Catalan culture.

You will arrive at Poblet via the medieval town of Prades, and later climb Monsant– the “Holy Mountain” – from which you will descend to Escaladei. With remote bathing pools and Neolithic rock art along the route, this tour is rich in natural water features and ancient symbols. Wine lovers will be delighted, when reaching the final destination, to stroll through the major vineyards of Priorat.  Recognized among sommeliers, this hidden wine gem is the land of a perfect 100 wine score as rated by Robert Parker, renowned American wine critic. Priorat is also one of the only two regions in Spain to qualify as DOCa, which is the highest qualification level for a wine region.

Rates for seven nights per person sharing are from $1,120 and include accommodation, breakfast daily, five evening meals, two lunches, detailed itinerary and supporting material, and luggage transfers between hotels.

For more information and questions on dates available contact On Foot Holidays at (011)44 1722 322 652 or visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk

ON FOOT’S WALKING TOUR OF GERMANY’S BEGUILING RHINE GORGE: THE RIVER, THE ROMANCE, THE RIESLING

NEW YORK, NY (03/2014) Things are out; experiences are in, and there’s no better way to absorb a place than by hoofing it. On Foot Holidays, specialist in self-guided, designed walking and hiking tours through the hidden scenic byways of Europe, announces a walking tour of Germany’s Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The journey from Bingen to Koblenz takes in the legendary Lorelei rock, famed for mythic maidens luring ships to their peril; 20 fanciful castles (some visit-able), as well as peregrinations through quaint, old German villages – Bacharach for its beauty; St. Goar to explore medieval Rheinfels Castle, Boppard, one-time Roman way-station, known for “4-Seen-Blick,” a vista where the Rhine appears to break into a quartet of lakes.
This is a spirited route, too, where each village boasts its own Riesling, and beer is always on tap.

Rates for On Foot Holidays’ Rhine Gorge tour start at US$900 and include eight bed and breakfasts, one evening meal, three picnics, and luggage transfers between hotels. Level: medium with three and a half to six hours of walking per day.

Magical castles! Historic towns! Terraced vineyards! The Rhine Gorge, that 40-mile-stretch of the Middle Rhine Valley, is so ridiculously romantic and picturesque, it has long bestirred painters, writers, and composers. UNESCO cited it as “an outstanding organic cultural landscape….that has remained largely untouched. As a result, many of the features and elements that lend the area its authenticity have been preserved.”

Foodies will find tasty fare in pubs, inns, cafes, beer gardens and weinstubes along the way: the famous Weinberg Schlösschen in Oberheimbach, the Hotel Deutsches Haus in Kaub or, if the Braubach option is taken, the fine old coaching inn of Zum Weissen Schwanen. The area boasts amazing vintages, too, especially those of Rüdesheim.
In describing its Rhine ramble,  On Foot Holiday’s Director Simon Scutt says, “It’s busy and exciting, too – the barges negotiating sharp bends and the toy trains (for that’s how they look from the footpaths high above), and the river towns and villages…make a pleasant variation from the rural walking.”
On Foot Holiday’s Rhine Gorge tour was designed by architect Peter Münch and local Beatrix Greiff. This trip can be extended to take advantage of all Koblenz has to offer – museums, castles (Fortress Ehrenbreitstein is now accessible by cable car across the Rhine) gardens and restaurants.

Contact: On Foot Holidays at (011)44 722 322 652 or visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk

Sunday, March 30, 2014

KENYA’S NEWEST CONSERVANCY

MAASAI MARA (03/2014) – Kenya Gold Guide Calvin Cottar and his wife Louise Cottar, owners of Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp, have worked for 10 years to establish Kenya’s newest conservancy: Olderikesi Wildlife Conservancy. They have met with the local Maasai and government to create a model which may be replicated across the country, aiming to unify the Maasai instead of segmenting the land. Their passion for Kenya, its tribes and the country’s living history is reflected in their efforts.

The Olderikesi Wildlife Conservancy is 6,000 acres on the border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the Serengeti National Park. “We feel that if visitors want to help wildlife survive in Africa today, they should stay in conservancies on the peripheries of parks and reserves. It’s a far more responsible choice as it helps finance the expansion of the ecosystem versus protecting wildlife within set borders,” says Calvin, explaining how easily this new conservancy model can be adopted. Kenya is changing, with some hoping to help direct that change in a positive way.

Power to the People:
The situation is ongoing local human-wildlife conflict and destruction of environment by domestic livestock. The conservancy’s solution is to lease the land from the Maasai with areas designated for wildlife only, and areas where domestic stock may be taken to graze. Instead of division by fences, there is division by shares within a community trust – and an added clause that the shares can never be sold to outsiders. Maasai land stays truly Maasai.

Calvin and Louise recognize that their property is built on Maasai land, and pay annual fees to the Maasai. Their recently opened Private House is their commitment to the Maasai that they are there to stay, to help them and the land. The Cottar’s are part of a five-generation family business, reminiscent of the colonial era when Charles Cottar moved from Iowa to Kenya with his family (seen in the white canvas tents with family antiques from the 1920s). There are ten en suite tents and a private house, which can accommodate up to 10 guests in five large en suite bedrooms.

For more information, visit www.cottars.com or email info@cottarsafaris.com.


Thursday, March 27, 2014

WALK YOUR WAY TO HEALTH WITH ON FOOT HOLIDAYS

New York, NY (03/14) - We have good news about the bad news! The bad news is that obesity is expected to overtake tobacco as the leading preventable cause of death in America, where one third of the adults are considered obese. The good news is that one of the best ways to get your heart pumping and body toned is walking.

Self-guided walking tours specialist, On Foot Holidays, offers over 20 different tours that unveil little-known and charming areas of Europe. With routes ranging from easy to hard, it is now possible to get fit while on vacation without having to miss out on any of the culinary specialties of each village.
Each tour is created by a ‘route designer’, a local of the area with a strong interest in its landscape and culture. It usually takes a lot of time to get a handle on a place and get to know its hidden gems; this is why On Foot Holidays arranges your stay in small inns, farms or pensions, which allows you to get closer to the hospitality and the traditions of each region.

Sample Walks:
Slovenia (The Karst- culture and landscape)-  Ideal for the casual walker, this eight-night tour explores the Slovenian Karst, one of Europe’s most diverse landscapes that ranges from sharp edges of limestone caves surrounded by the greenest pine trees to disappearing lakes and rivers. Explore the woodlands and meadows from Ljubljana to Trieste, and indulge in the villages’ wild beauty and culture. After all the walking you will be rewarded; staying at local farmhouses that produce their own wine, hams and honey, makes this tour a great fit for foodies. You will have the opportunity to taste the unique and local Teran wine, famous for its rich and robust character, that pairs perfectly with the local prosciutto (Prsut). Rates per person sharing start at $1,160 and include accommodation, breakfast daily, five evening meals, six picnics, luggage transfers between hotels and detailed “walkers’ pack”. Level: Easy (three to five hours of walking per day).

Sabine Hills (Italy) – This seven-night self-guided walk through  old woods, paths and tracks in the Sabine Hills is more challenging, but you will have lifts available to get over the steep sections. Starting in the historic medieval village of Contigliano, the route will pass through several delightful Italian villages where cuisine will be exceptional, and with all that walking you will not feel guilty about having a taste of everything. In Casperia you will even have the chance to sign up for cooking lessons and learn how to make fresh pasta from scratch. Accommodation is among the highlights of this route– from charming B&Bs and a small palace, to the house of a local artist and an organic working farm, you will experience Sabina at its fullest. The tour ends in the Eternal City, Rome, where you will stay at a wonderful B&B with an excellent location, close to Campo di Fiori and Vatican City. Rates per person sharing start at $1,136 and include accommodation, breakfast daily, four evening meals, two picnics, luggage transfers between hotels and detailed itinerary and supporting material for walkers to follow the routes. Level: Medium (three and a half to six hours of walking per day).

For more information contact On Foot Holidays at (011)44 1722 322 652 or visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk



Monday, March 10, 2014

STEPPES ANNOUNCES ONE-TIME-ONLY TOUR WITH HILARY BRADT TO PERU’S PRE-INCA RUINS AND THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN

NEW YORK, NY (03/14) Steppes Travel, the bespoke tour operator known for its pioneering adventures, has linked with Hilary Bradt, the travel authority (with her husband) behind the renowned Bradt Travel Guides, for a one-time-only tour entitled Peru Revisited, Bradt’s final return to the country she fell in love with 45 years ago, and which, she declares, changed her life. 
Steppes’ Peru Revisited tour encompasses the republic’s premier archaeological sites and the spectacular Cordillera Blanca mountain range. Not only is Peru’s highest mountain, Huáscarán (22,204 feet), located in this range, but so is Alpamayo (19,511 feet), proclaimed the "World's Most Beautiful Mountain" by an international survey led by the late, award-winning climber Toni Hiebeler.
The 14-day Peru Revisited tour, personally guided by Hilary Bradt, takes place July 8 to 21, 2014.  Rates start at US$4195 per person sharing (excluding international airfare) and include interior flights, accommodations, daily guided excursions and most meals.
Hilary Bradt was so smitten by Peru when she first visited South America in 1969, that she found the experience transformative. On the next trip, after walking the full length of the Inca Trail, Hilary and her husband wrote their first guide book. Hilary says, “Eight editions of that book followed, fuelled by my annual trips to South America as a trekking and tour leader.  I want to return one last time.  Not to Cusco and Machu Picchu, but to my favorite mountain range, the Cordillera Blanca, and to make my first visit to the ‘Machu Picchu of the north’ – Kuelap in the Chachapoyas region.”
Travelers will have the benefit of Steppes’ seamless travel arrangements as well as Hilary Bradt’s superlative insider knowledge of the fascinating culture of ancient Pre-Inca and Inca-dominated Peru. They will explore the Pre-Inca ruins around Chiclayo in Northern Peru; wander through the largest ancient stone structure in South America; take a lodge-based trek in the Cordillera Blanca and Negra mountains in Central Peru; and listen to Hilary Bradt’s anecdotes of her many explorations through territory that once was home to the Norte Chico civilization, one of the world’s oldest. Along the way, there will be visits to many historical and religious sites, the Royal Tombs Museum to see Moche artefacts, as well as the ruins of Tucume, the pre-Hispanic city of adobe pyramids.


For detailed itinerary and more information: Email enquiry@steppestravel.com or call Toll-free: 1-855-352-7606

Monday, March 3, 2014

THE ECHO OF CANYONS AND THE LAPPING OF WAVES: STEPPES TRAVEL GROUP DOES COPPER CANYON & BAJA CALIFORNIA

NEW YORK, NY (03/14) Steppes Travel Group, the bespoke tour operator known for its innovative itineraries, goes beyond the ordinary with an 11-day visit to Mexico’s travel treasures: Copper Canyon and Baja California. On a trip both rugged and refined, take this opportunity to explore one of the deepest and largest networks of canyons in the world, and enjoy the stark contrast of an off-the-radar beach hot spot.

Start off with a bang on board the Chihuahua al Pacifico, one of the most scenic railway journeys in the world: observe the sun-drenched shores of the Pacific coast turn into a mountainous and arid interior.

Ride the rail to treasure number one: the series of more than twenty spectacular canyons that is jaw-dropping Copper Canyon. Picture a region the size of Switzerland and four times the size of the Grand Canyon. Hidden within the canyon network are indigenous Tarahumara caves, the natural shelters of the country’s second largest native Indian group. A visit here gives insight to a culture largely uninterrupted by modern technologies.

Steppes Travel Group’s own managing director took on Copper Canyon’s best adrenaline rush: a mile long zip line. Justin Wateridge reflects, “Standing up to the first zip-line platform, hands sweaty and [body] constrained by a harness, I asked myself why I was doing this. Seconds later I was whizzing out over some of the most spectacular scenery in the world at seventy kilometers per hour.”

The opposite of a rugged interior is treasure number two: Baja California’s luxurious beaches, laidback towns and boutique hotels filled with local art. Your highlight is an excursion to the island of Espiritu Santo. The boat anchors near a Sea Lion colony and offers an awe-inspiring option to snorkel with these underwater acrobats. Perhaps extend your trip to an overnight cruise in the whale-rich Sea of Cortez, a UNESCO World Heritage wonder. 

Frequently looking for the unusual, Steppes Travel Group’s regional specialists piece together cultural and historical landmarks – which extends right down to the accommodation. Spend two nights at colonial mansion Posada del Hidalgo, which is believed to be the original home of “El Zorro,” the very Don Diego de la Vega. 

The rate starts at $2,918.40* per person, depending on pre- and post- extensions of an area you’ll find most compelling. This includes internal flights, accommodations, select meals and transfers. For more information, call toll free 1-855-252-7606 or visit www.steppestravel.com. Email is enquiry@steppestravel.com.
* Based on the exchange rate between USD and British Pound Sterling on 10/23/13

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

ROBIN POPE SAFARIS UNVEILS DETAILS OF NEW CAMP IN MALAWI

LILONGWE, Malawi (02/2014) Robin Pope Safaris (RPS), known as one of the finest safari operators in both Zambia and Malawi, announces MIYALA CAMP, a new safari camp opening in Liwonde National Park, Malawi in July, 2014.  The camp is being designed by acclaimed architect Neil Rocher, whose work, including Robin Pope Safaris’ Luangwa Safari House, has been featured in Architectural Digest.  Rates start at $385 per person per night from July – October 2014 and $355 per person per night for November and December 2014.

Miyala Camp will comprise four guest tents (including one family tent) with a maximum occupancy of 10. Each safari tent is designed in modern, open-plan style – with bedroom, lounge, and bathroom a seamless flow. Miyala means “rocks/stones” in the local Chichewa language, and the crisp, gray interiors echo the huge rocks outside the tent walls. Each tent has its own private viewing deck and boasts Evening Breeze air conditioning (a state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly air cooling system.)

In announcing the new camp, managing director Ton de Rooy said, “Our aim was to have Miyala Camp blend into the beautiful landscape surrounding it. To that end, each tent features natural gray and blue hues, wooden floors and decks, and simplistic canvas roofs that seem to float in space and time. One is swept away on a true African Safari while enjoying overtones of luxury.”

Miyala Camp is located within Malawi’s beautiful Liwonde National Park, which lies 71 miles from the city of Blantyre in southeastern Malawi. Miyala is at the southern end of Liwonde National Park overlooking the Chikalogwe Plain of the Shire River at the base of Chiunguni Hill. Despite Liwonde’s relatively small size at 212 square miles, it is one of Malawi’s most famous parks for its abundance of wildlife, birds and varied landscapes.

Liwonde boasts excellent game including the largest numbers of elephant in the country and more than 2000 hippos. The rhino sanctuary set up in 1992 has successfully reintroduced black rhino to the park. Liwonde is also home to buffalo, sable, impala, waterbuck, bushbuck, nyala, kudu, warthog, yellow baboon, vervet monkey, and leopard, with the occasional lion crossing over from Mozambique. It’s a favorite, too, of twitchers, both for its high volume of birds and variety of species such as the rare Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Pel’s Fishing-Owl, Lillian’s Lovebird and many more.


For more information contact info@robinpopesafaris.net or visit: www.robinpopesafaris.net

Monday, February 24, 2014

ROBIN POPE SAFARIS SALUTES MALAWI’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH GOLDEN SAFARI PACKAGE

LILONGWE, Malawi (02/2014) Robin Pope Safaris, the preeminent safari operator known for its innovative safaris, announces a celebratory Golden Safari Package to honor this year’s 50th anniversary of Malawi’s independence. The Southern African country is known as “the warm heart of Africa” for the friendliness of its people.

Rates for the 11-night package with stays at Mkulumadzi, Huntingdon House, Miyala Camp (alternatively Mvuu Lodge for travel before July 2014) and Pumulani start at US3772 per person sharing and are valid beginning April 2014 through January 2015, and include such highlights as:

Majete Wildlife Reserve, one of Malawi’s largest protected areas covering more than 173,000 acres and the only Big 5 reserve in the country. It is located within the Miombo woodland eco region.

Satemwa Tea Estate is among Malawi’s most respected and established tea and coffee producers, managed and operated by third generation members of the Cathcart Kay family.  Colonial-style Huntingdon House, the heart of the estate, is surrounded by rolling manicured gardens with secret patios and terraces, and evokes the colorful history of Malawi’s spectacular Shire Highlands.

Liwonde National Park, considered to be one of the top birding locations in Southern Africa, offers fine game viewing, beautiful riverine surroundings and excellent bird watching. Much of the terrain is Shire River floodplains, much loved by the healthy population of elephants in the park.

Nankumba Peninsula Explorer David Livingstone dubbed Lake Malawi the “lake of stars,” because of its shimmering waters. It contains more variety of fish than any fresh water body in the world. Nankumba is one of the lake’s most beautiful shores and borders Lake Malawi National Park, established to protect the cichlid fish, endemic to the lake. 

For detailed itinerary or more information, contact info@robinpopesafaris.net or visit: www.robinpopesafaris.net


IN SEARCH OF THE KING COBRA STEPPES DISCOVERY TAKES YOU TO A HOTSPOT OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

NEW YORK, NY (02/14)Ever looking beyond the ordinary, Steppes Discovery, part of the Steppes Travel Group, hosts a tour to track India’s most revered snake, the King Cobra.  This 10-day unconventional journey takes place in a hotspot of biological diversity, the Western Ghats, the 1,600 km long mountain range along the western side of India.  You will be in the company of cobra-whisperer Gowri Shankar on a tour led by Sanjay Thakur, an expert herpetologist.

In the world of snakes, lizards, crocs and frogs, the King Cobra is culturally significant with many superstitions around it.  Indians believe the King Cobra possesses exceptional memory.  It is larger than other cobras and prefers a diet of snakes, finding rattlesnakes particularly tasty.  The King Cobra rarely attacks humans but keep in mind that one bite has enough venom in it to bring down an elephant.  It is the world’s longest venomous snake.  They are difficult to discover because they are very shy.

You will trek with Irula tribesmen as they demonstrate age-old skills to track cobras, rat-snakes and vipers.  This is a small Indian tribe who, in addition to traditional skills, hold a knowledge of indigenous wildlife, valuable resources for naturalists.   Amphibians are very sensitive to environmental change and are often the first to indicate an ecological issue.  And some venoms and toxins of snakes are very useful in human medicine.      

You will go in search of King Cobras but also learn about vipers, Wolf Snakes and India’s other intriguing reptiles such as Caecilians, crocodiles, caimans, turtles, Monitor Lizards, and Flying Lizards, and amphibians such as tree frogs, burrowing frogs and gliding frogs.  You’ll have the opportunity to gain insight into how local people in rural India live side by side with their often vilified neighbors.

The group tour is from June 14 to 24, 2014 for a maximum of 10 people and a minimum of eight.  By joining this tour, you can be assured you will be traveling sustainably and responsibly.  If these dates don’t work for you, Steppes will customize the tour on other dates.  The rate is $3,511 per person, double occupancy.  For more information, visit www.steppesdiscovery.com or call 1-855-352-7606.