jun 06 mon arrive ntananarivo m

©African Travel Inc. - www.africantravelinc.com

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ACCENT ON TRAVEL

MAGICAL MADAGASCAR JUNE 06 – 15, 2022

JUN 06 MON ARRIVE ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR Tonga Soa! Upon arrival at Madagascar’s, Antananarivo Ivato Airport, clear immigration and customs, then exit into the arrivals hall. You will be met by an African Travel Inc. representative, holding a sign with your name on it and transferred into the city to your hotel for an overnight. Antananarivo often affectionately referred to in short as “Tana,” is the capital of Madagascar. Its name means "City of a Thousand Warriors". Located in the hilly central highlands, this charming city features palaces of the former king and queen, a zoo and botanical gardens, Lake Anosy, and the huge, permanent "Zoma" market, where one can find almost anything.

ACCOMMODATIONS: PALISSANDRE HOTEL & SPA - Standard room The Palissandre Hotel & Spa is a small hotel situated on a hill in the heart of Antananarivo, the bustling capital of Madagascar. The views over the capital are spectacular, particularly at sunset, when the evening rays light up all the different-colored houses. With its exotic yet elegant rosewood interior, the Palissandre Hotel offers you true Malagasy hospitality in a warm and elegant atmosphere. The comfortable guestrooms are air-conditioned and include satellite TV, en suite bathroom and a small terrace. The restaurant serves local specialties alongside an à la carte menu. The Palissandre Spa features a large choice of beauty treatments such as massages, manicure/pedicure and facials. There is also a gym, and swimming pool (D)

JUN 07 TUE ANTANANARIVO / ANDASIBE After breakfast, meet your guide and driver and begin the journey east, to Andasibe, approximately a four hour drive from Tana. Andasibe is a biodiversity hotspot on the eastern Madagascar rainforest corridor. The drive offers first time visitors a gentle introduction to Malagasy rural life, pass rice fields, red brick houses and roadside stalls selling the freshest seasonal fruits. Arrive at Mantadia in time for lunch and an afternoon at leisure.

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ACCOMMODATIONS: MANTADIA LODGE - Standard room Mantadia Lodge is located up on a hill, allowing panoramic views of the forest of Andasibe National Park. All en suite rooms have Wi-Fi, cable TV, private terrace with panoramic views, shower with panoramic views, indoor lounge and a wood stove for the cool season and safe. The restaurant, with large windows has been designed for exceptional views. The terrace is the perfect spot to soak up the sun and enjoy a cocktail. The lodge has a bar and lounge with a reading area, an infinity pool, two massage parlors and a curio shop with products and souvenirs made by local artisans such as jewelry, decorative objects, honey and wild pepper. (BLD)

JUN 08 WED ANDASIBE – PERINET RESERVE The park consists of two protected areas, the Perinet Special Reserve and Mantadia National Park. Your destination this morning is the Perinet Reserve. Meet your local guide, and go in search of Madagascar’s signature lemurs.

Your guide will share his expertise on the many unusual inhabitants of the montane rainforest, including the largest of all lemurs, the Indri. With a barely visible tail, black-and-white markings and a surprised teddy bear-like face, the Indri is considered one of the most attractive lemurs. Its distinctive call is loud and eerily haunting. There are another 11 species of lemur to spot as you walk through the rainforest. You may find a troop of grey bamboo lemurs, common brown lemur, diademed sifaka and the black and white ruffed lemur.



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Birdwatchers should look out for the velvet asity, the Blue coua and the Nuthatch vanga and many more endemic species. The park is also home to many reptiles, invertebrates, and colorful orchids. Return to the hotel for lunch. Later this evening, return to the reserve for a night walk and witness the antics of the nocturnal lemurs, like the mouse lemurs, white footed sportive lemur, fat-tailed dwarf lemur, as well as the woolly lemur. ACCOMMODATIONS: MANTADIA LODGE (BLD)

JUN 09 THU ANDASIBE – MANTADIA NATIONAL PARK After breakfast depart to Mantadia National Park with a picnic lunch, approximately 1 ½ hours’ drive. This national park varies more in altitude (between 2600 feet and over 4000 feet) than the Perinet Special Reserve. Mantadia is known for its scenic beauty, with gorgeous views across the forest. While the trails are slightly more difficult, the rewards are great as the forest is taller, wilder and less crowded than Perinet.

Grab your binoculars for the most rewarding bird watching; perhaps you’ll spot a scaly ground roller or a red breasted coua. You will also need to look carefully for the well-camouflaged chameleons walking on a branch. To do justice to Mantadia you will spend a full day in the park. This is a naturalist’s goldmine with many seldom seen species of mammals, reptiles and birds. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park, at the Rianasoa Waterfall, before returning to the lodge in the afternoon. The evening is at leisure, or you may choose to go on another night walk with your local guide. ACCOMMODATIONS: MANTADIA LODGE (BLD)

JUN 10 FRI ANDASIBE / ANTANANARIVO This morning visit the Amphibian Survival Assurance Center of Andasibe. The island of Madagascar is home to nearly 300 described species of frogs, almost all of which are found nowhere else. With an additional 200+ candidate frog species recently identified; this means the country supports more than 7% of the world’s frog species. At the Center, you will see several critically endangered species such as the Golden Mantella (Mantella aurantiaca), Yellow Mantella (Mantella crocea) and Marbled Rain Frog (Scaphiophryne marmorata). Drive back to Antananarivo in the afternoon. ACCOMMODATIONS: PALISSANDRE HOTEL & SPA (BLD)



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JUN 11 SAT ANTANANARIVO / FORT DAUPHIN / MANDRARE RIVER CAMP After breakfast, transfer to Antananarivo Ivato Airport, in time for the morning scheduled flight to Fort Dauphin with Tsaradia, approximately 4 hours. Charter flight options are available. Upon arrival in Fort Dauphin, you will be met by a Mandrare River Camp guide and driver, and transferred to a local restaurant for an early lunch. Afterwards, continue by road to the remote and wild Mandrare River Camp (approximately 4 hours).

Settle into your tent and enjoy the majestic views over the river. In the late afternoon (around 5pm), leave for a night walk in the Forest of Zenavo. This is a fantastic way to see diurnal lemurs bedding down, and the nocturnal lemurs begin to wake in the eerie and prehistoric Spiny Forest. Your walk begins before sunset and continues into the night, first spotting sifakas and sleeping white-footed sportive lemurs. Then once the sun has set, search for the mouse lemur species, sleeping birds, chameleons and owls. Return to camp for dinner.

ACCOMMODATIONS: MANDRARE RIVER CAMP –Tent Mandrare River Camp is nestled under the shade of tamarind trees on the banks of the Mandrare River. The tents are spread out along the river bank with breathtaking views across the tranquil water, which is the lifeblood of the region. Each tent has a private terrace with hand carved wooden furniture, king size bed with mosquito netting, safari wardrobe, dressing table, baggage trunk, and bedside lights. A fully plumbed en-suite stone built bathroom, with shower and toilet, extends to the rear of the tent. Solar panels provide hot water and 24 hour lighting. Meals are served on the large terrace which extends to the water’s edge. The camp is incredibly peaceful. Each day is greeted with the singing of children by the river, accompanied by the calls of birds and other forest



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animals. Spend your time on day and night guided walks with experienced guides in the Sacred Gallery and Spiny Forest, to see the sifaka and ring tailed lemurs. Visit the colorful markets and local villages to learn about the local Antandroy tribe. Enjoy sundowners in the Baobab Forest and then return to camp for dinner, served in the warm glow of hurricane lamps. All meals, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and shared camp activities are included. (BLD)

JUN 12 SUN MANDRARE RIVER CAMP After breakfast, set out for the sacred gallery forests. Depending on the river depth, you will walk or take a boat across the Mandrare River to reach this largely deciduous forest. Inquisitive groups of ring tailed lemurs and the always entertaining Verreaux sifaka are the highlight of this excursion.

Return to camp for lunch and a relaxed afternoon by the pool. Late in the afternoon, leave for a walk through the sacred spiny forest. The forests are filled with the ancestral tombs of the local Antandroy Tribe, as well as a bewildering array of flora and fauna, unique to the spiny forest. Your guide will introduce you to the Antandroy culture and customs. Their name means “people of the thorns” in reference to the spiny thickets that characterize the region. Learn about their unique traditions, language and culture through song and music. End the day with sundowners on the Mandrare River bank. ACCOMMODATIONS: MANDRARE RIVER CAMP (BLD)

JUN 13 MON MANDRARE RIVER CAMP After a morning cup of tea or coffee, head to the spiny forest for an early morning walk. Return for breakfast and then visit the local village or the local market to meet the fascinating Antandroy tribe. Lunch will be served



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at the camp followed by a relaxed afternoon watching life along the river from your tent terrace.

In the late afternoon head to the Baobab Forest for sundowners. Enjoy a magical evening, as you watch the sun set and the moon rise with a view across the baobabs to the mountains beyond. In the evening the local village may come to perform beautiful traditional dances, accompanied by singing and music. Song and dance is at the heart of Antandroy culture and is used to accompany the major rituals and events of everyday life. ACCOMMODATIONS: MANDRARE RIVER CAMP (BLD)

JUN 14 TUE MANDRARE RIVER CAMP / FORT DAUPHIN / ANTANANARIVO After breakfast, you will be transferred to Fort Dauphin Airport (approximately 4 hours) for your domestic Tsaradia, flight back to Antananarivo. Charter flight options are available. You will be met upon arrival, and transferred to your hotel. Depending on the time of your arrival, there may be an opportunity to do a guided city tour. ACCOMMODATIONS: PALISSANDRE HOTEL & SPA (BLD) JUN 15 WED ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR / DEPART Your day is at leisure until time to meet your private guide who will transfer you to the airport for your scheduled international flight, booked separately.

END OF AFRICAN TRAVEL SERVICES



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RWANDA IN THE MIST

JUNE 16 – 20, 2022

JUN 16 THU ARRIVE KIGALI, RWANDA Upon arrival in Kigali, you are welcomed by a special assist meet and greet representative holding a sign with your name on it, and escorted to the VIP lounge, while your immigration and luggage is processed. Afterwards you will be handed over to your guide for transfer to your hotel. Enjoy dinner and an evening at leisure. Rwanda is a flourishing country of fertile and lush mountainous terrain. It is home to the ‘Virungas’ – great old volcanoes that tower up to almost 15,000 feet. Known as the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’, it is one of the great wildlife adventures on the planet. Rwanda will enchant you with its welcoming people, rich rainforests, alive with colorful birds, chattering golden monkeys and its most important residents, the endangered mountain gorilla. An encounter with a silverback gorilla and his family is one you will likely never forget!

ACCOMMODATIONS: KIGALI SERENA HOTEL – Superior Room Kigali Serena Hotel is ideally located on one of Kigali's most charming boulevards. It is built around a polished granite atrium, showcasing the very best of Rwandese cultural art. The en-suite hotel rooms are decorated in pan-African style, features. Amenities include hairdryer, mini-bar, safe, tea and coffee-making facilities, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, direct dial phone, and satellite TV. The lounge and bar open onto a wide sundeck overlooking the swimming pool. The popular Milima Restaurant offers a wide range of all-day buffet choices, while the relaxed Sokoni Café offers inside and outside poolside seating. The hotel also features The Maisha Health Club, a business center, and a gift shop. (D)



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JUN 17 FRI KIGALI / VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK After breakfast this morning, you will be taken on a tour of the city. Visit the old quarter of Kigali, the Kimironko market and the Genocide Memorial, a moving testimony to this country’s past, courageously overcome. A stop is made for lunch before your three hour journey north to Volcanoes National Park. Travel through the beautiful terraced hillsides that characterize much of Rwanda’s landscape, gradually ascending into the Virunga Mountains.

ACCOMMODATIONS: VIRUNGA LODGE – Stone banda Described as having ‘the best view in the world’, Virunga Lodge is perched high on a ridge with magnificent views of the Virunga Volcanoes and the twin lakes, Bulera and Ruhonda. The natural yet ‘bush-chic’ design reflects the building style of the area and offers eco-luxury comfort. Each “banda” (cottage) has its own stone fireplace, open living room and private terrace with breathtaking views of the Virunga volcanoes or twin lakes. The bedrooms are large, with either king-size or twin beds draped in mosquito netting. Built to environmentally friendly standards, the en-suite bathrooms are bright and sunny with solar powered hot water and low-flush toilets. The main lodge has a wide wrap-around veranda with exceptional views across the lakes. In the evenings, relax in the cozy lounge around a log fire and share stories about the day's adventures. The dining room features one large table where all guests dine together. A relaxing massage is particularly welcome after a day tracking the gorillas. Wi-Fi is available in the main lodge building. All meals, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages (except for premium brands), laundry and one complimentary massage is included. (BLD)

JUN 18 SAT VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK Depart your lodge this morning for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Tracking the gorillas through the forest requires patience and stamina, sometimes walking for a few hours. If you are lucky you can get to the gorillas, spend an hour with them, and return to the base in time for a late lunch! Some gorilla families, however, are more elusive and trekking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy.



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You must be physically fit, although no special mountaineering equipment or skills are required. Gorilla trekking takes place on trails that can be steep, muddy, and covered with thick vegetation. Stinging nettles and biting safari ants can be nuisances. Bring rain gear, wear long pants and gaiters. Layers of clothes will allow you to adjust to varying conditions. Wear muted colors—bright or white clothing should not be worn. Be sure to take a pair of light gloves to protect your hands from prickly plants and shrubs. ACCOMMODATIONS: VIRUNGA LODGE (BLD)

JUN 19 SUN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK / KIGALI / DEPART Trek to see the endemic golden monkey this morning. After lunch, bid farewell to the forest and return to Kigali this afternoon. ACCOMMODATIONS: KIGALI SERENA HOTEL (BLD)

JUN 20 MON KIGALI / DEPART Transfer to the airport, where you will be met by a special assist meet and greet representative and assisted with check in for your onward departure flight. (B)



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TREASURES OF TANZANIA

JUNE 20 – 28, 2022

JUN 20 MON ARRIVE ARUSHA, TANZANIA Jambo na Karibu! Hello and welcome to Tanzania. On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, clear Tanzania immigration formalities, and exit into the arrivals hall. You will be met by an African Travel Inc. representative holding a sign with your name on it, and transferred to your hotel. You have the rest of the day at leisure.

ACCOMMODATIONS: ELEWANA ARUSHA COFFEE LODGE Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge is hidden among one of Tanzania’s largest coffee plantations and beautifully positioned below the rugged peak of Mount Meru. The theme of coffee is never far away at Arusha Coffee Lodge as evidenced by the beautifully designed plantation suites and rooms, all adorned with comfortable furnishings. Each room features an en-suite bathroom including a triple-headed shower, bathrobes and slippers, hairdryer, electronic safe, mini-bar, telephone, tea and coffee making facilities. The homey feel of the lodge is by no means accidental as the origins of the homestead continue to emit glimpses of times-gone-by. The main Plantation House is home to an à la carte restaurant, an intimate bar and a cozy lounge, all of which have inviting open log fires. There are two boutiques, an enclosed swimming pool and a popular garden terrace. The common areas also offer complimentary Wi-Fi. (D)

JUN 21 TUE ARUSHA / TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK After breakfast this morning, depart with picnic lunches, and travel overland to Tarangire National Park for a game drive ending with a sundowner. Continue to the lodge for check-in. Tarangire National Park is best known for its large elephant population and the majestic baobab trees that dwarf the animals that feed beneath them. The park is dissected by the Tarangire River which provides the only permanent water supply in the area. During the dry season, animals migrate to Tarangire from Manyara National Park giving it the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem. Other wildlife of interest includes the stately fringe-eared oryx and the long-necked gerenuk.



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ACCOMMODATIONS: ELEWANA TARANGIRE TREETOPS Tarangire Treetops is set in a private game reserve bordering Tarangire National Park. The luxury elevated suites are perched on platforms in the branches of age old Baobab and Marula trees. Each suite has a large bedroom with exotic double shower en-suite bathroom. The ‘up-in-the-air’ experience is completed by the open-fronted room design affording views across the Tarangire plains from an expansive but private balcony. The main lodge is centered around a thousand year Baobab tree and encompasses the reception, dining room, and lounge overlooking the swimming pool and waterhole that sees a constant flow of wild animal visitors. Meals at Treetops are a memorable experience, whether dining poolside by candlelight or in the lantern-lit Boma echoing to the sounds of Maasai chants. All meals, local alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with meals and limited laundry are included. Cellar wines, champagne and premium brand alcohol are at an additional cost. (BLD)

JUN 22 WED TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK After breakfast, enjoy a full day of activities, morning and afternoon safari drives through the Tarangire National Park and a night game drive. Lunch and dinner will be served at the lodge. The rugged landscape of Tarangire offers a unique safari backdrop that transforms from rolling grasslands and vibrant swamps to forests of enigmatic baobab trees, which according to legend, were planted ‘upside down’ for growing too tall and proud. ACCOMMODATIONS: ELEWANA TARANGIRE TREETOPS (BLD)



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JUN 23 THU TARANGIRE / LAKE MANYARA / NGORONGORO HIGHLANDS After breakfast, depart with a picnic lunch to the beautiful Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive. This small but uniquely diverse national park is a wonderful introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife and is also home to the world famous, but rarely seen, tree climbing lions. Continue your journey to the Ngorongoro Highlands.

ACCOMMODATIONS: ELEWANA THE MANOR AT NGORONGORO The Manor at Ngorongoro is located within a 1500-acre coffee estate, surrounded by flowering gardens and age-old trees. Reminiscent of an elegant up-country Cape Dutch estate, the luxurious cottages are positioned to ensure that every guest experiences the natural beauty of the landscape, as well as the privacy and intimacy characteristic of an old world manor home. Each cottage has its own private entrance and adjoining sun terrace. A double open-fronted log-burning fireplace divides the room's interior. The en-suite bathroom has a Victorian-style bath, as well as twin vanity basins and a large rainfall shower. Cottage amenities include a hairdryer, tea and coffee making facilities, in-room electronic safe, universal power adapters and charging points. The main Manor House features fireplace lounges, a formal dining room, dining conservatory, bar, private wine cellar, library with Internet, home theatre, snooker room, a massage room, swimming pool, and horse stables. Wi-Fi is available at the main Manor House. All meals, local drinks with meals and limited laundry are included. Cellar wines and premium brand alcohol are at an additional cost. (BLD)

JUN 24 FRI NGORONGORO CRATER After an early breakfast, we’ll depart to the Ngorongoro Crater with a picnic lunch. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the stunning landscape of Ngorongoro Crater combined with its spectacular wildlife is one of the greatest natural wonders of the planet. Enclosed within its towering walls are grasslands, swamps, forests, saltpans, a fresh water lake and a glorious variety of birdlife. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor before heading back up to the lodge for an afternoon at leisure. ACCOMMODATIONS: ELEWANA THE MANOR NGORONGORO (BLD)



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JUN 25 SAT NGORONGORO HIGHLANDS/ MANYARA / SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK After breakfast you are driven to the Manyara airstrip, for your light aircraft flight bound for the Serengeti National Park. You will be met by a camp ranger and transferred to your camp for the next three nights. Serengeti - the very name fires the imagination and is derived from the Maasai language meaning "endless plains". The Serengeti offers the greatest concentration of plains animals in Africa. More than two million wildebeest, half a million Thompson's gazelles and a quarter million zebra gather for annual migrations, attracting a great deal of predator attention from lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. Your days are filled with shared game viewing activities, morning and afternoon, when the animals are most active.

ACCOMMODATIONS: SERENGETI MIGRATION CAMP The Serengeti Migration Camp is in the Northern Corridor of the park, on the main wildebeest migration route between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. The camp has become synonymous with low-impact, high- action game viewing in a landscape that is untouched since the dawn of time. Spacious elevated tents blend seamlessly into the environment. The tents have a wooden floor and are richly furnished with a writing desk, stationery set and standing fan. The en-suite bathroom has a solar generated hot shower, twin vanity basin and flushing toilet. Room amenities include bathrobes, slippers, in room electronic safe and internal telephone system. The main 'tent' has a split-level lounge, a swimming pool, restaurant and viewing platforms that offer views across the river and the rugged landscape beyond. But it is the drama and proximity of the wild, which takes the experience of this camp to an altogether higher level. All meals, local drinks, limited laundry and shared game viewing activities are included. Cellar wines and premium brand alcohol are at an additional cost. (BLD)



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JUN 26 SUN AND JUN 27 MON SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in the spectacular Serengeti. Negotiating roads and tracks, your guide slowly transports you to a world of unrivaled scenic splendor, revealing sights and sounds of astonishing realism. A lion relaxing temporarily satiated after its morning hunt, contented elephant carefully guarding their young as they traverse the bush, a startled warthog running with tail erect, the ungainly and seemingly endless herds of wildebeest quietly munching grass in company with the zebra - these are some the images you will collect and preserve.

Return to the camp for breakfast and some time to rest before the afternoon game drive, which ends just before dusk. At the end of the day return to the familiar surroundings of the camp, pleasantly tired but brimming with enthusiasm about your experiences during the day, indulge in the luxury of a hot shower before dinner. Relax with after-dinner drinks while the night and its inhabitants settle around you and you ponder the power and the wonder that is Africa. ACCOMMODATIONS: SERENGETI MIGRATION CAMP (BLD)

JUN 28 TUE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK / DEPART Celebrate the glorious sunrise and the sounds of the bush awakening as you savor your last morning in Tanzania. After breakfast, you are transferred to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Arusha. You will enjoy lunch and a place to relax at a day room reserved for your use. Later this evening, you are transferred to Kilimanjaro airport, where you are met and assisted with your international departure flight. (BL)

END OF AFRICAN TRAVEL SERVICES


jun 06 mon arrive ntananarivo m

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