Kenya

Safari is Swahili for "journey" and it is in Kenya where safaris began. Magnificent national parks and reserves brim with wildlife. Lush forests and breathtaking mountains provide awe inspiring photographic opportunities. Fascinating tribal cultures abound and the amazing variety and quantity of bird life are an ornithologist's paradise. The massive Great Rift Valley is no more impressive than in Kenya. The 310 miles of golden beaches of the Kenyan Coast invite the visitor to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. The small islands off the coast beckon.

But it is perhaps the wildlife more than anything that draws visitors to Kenya. The annual migration from the Serengeti in the south into the Masai Mara sees more than one million wildebeest, along with a host of other plains game, assemble in giant herds. Kenya boasts some of the finest reserves in Africa - and visitors will be thrilled at the sight of lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, gazelle, buffalo, hippo, rhino - and hundreds more.

Kenya's history pre-dates the stone and iron ages. Archaeological evidence has been unearthed to suggest that some two million years ago, ancestors of the genus Homo Habilis and Homo Erectus roamed an area in the very north of Kenya, around Lake Turkana. Hominid fossil finds dating back two million years have earned Kenya the title of "The Cradle of Mankind".

Today's Kenyan population is almost all immigrants whose ancestors arrived in Kenya less than 10 thousand years ago. The Cushites from the North arrived first, followed by the Nilotes who entered Kenya from the west of Lake Turkana, and finally the Bantu, who arrived from the south and west around 1000 A.D.

Arabs arrived on the Kenyan coast during the third and fourth century, and encountered strong resistance from the local inhabitants. Lamu was the center of the first Arab settlement, which then spread south. The European settlement was led by the Portuguese. In 1895, Kenya was declared a British Protecorate and remained as such until 1920 when it became a colony of the British Empire.

Today, Kenya is an independent Republic within the Commonwealth having gained independence from Britain in 1963. There are 45 main ethnic groups of people in Kenya and over 140 sub groups.

Highlights of Kenya 9 Days with confirmed air from $2695*
Nairobi ~ Aberdares ~ Lake Nakuru ~ Masai Mara

Best of Kenya 10 Days with confirmed air from $4195*


In the Shade of Kilmanjaro with confirmed air from 9 Days from $2895*

US Passport holders are required to obtain a visa to enter Kenya. These are available upon arrival in Kenya. There is a $50 charge for this visa and it is payable only in cash when purchased on arrival.

Tanzania

Kenya's neighbour to the south, Tanzania is perhaps most famous for the vast Serengeti National Park, stretching out over almost 5100 square miles. But there is so much more to this most fascinating country.

Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage Site, is home to a whole host of wildlife, which make the crater floor their natural home. The Lake Manyara region is best known for the tree-climbing lion. Ruaha and the Selous in the southern part of Tanzania are less known, but spectacular in their own right, for abundant game.

To the coast, the spice island of Zanzibar is a jewel worth a visit. Possibly the most well known sight of all, is the snow-capped tip of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

According to some anthropologists, evidence shows that Tanzania may very well be where the species Homo Sapiens originated. Fossils have been found dating back one million years. History shows that later inhabitants were Maasai warriors, who claimed what is now known as northern Tanzania.

After Omani slave traders left in the 18th century, the area was colonized by Germany, and known as Tanganyika. During World War I, control was taken over by the British, as a "protectorate". Tanganyika (the mainland) was granted independence in 1961, followed by the island nation of Zanzibar in 1963. In 1964, the two countries merged as the United Republic of Tanzania.

Because the majority of Tanzania is protected as national park land, the country may well provide some of the best game viewing in East Africa. Across the wide expanse of open plains, you will be amazed at the large herds of wildebeest, zebra and elephant. The big cats are here as well, and you will almost certainly see them.

Plains of Tanzania 9 days with confirmed air from $2995*

Best of Tanzania -9 days with confirmed air from $3095*
Nairobi ~ Lake Manyara ~ Serengeti ~ Ngorongoro ~ Tarangire

US Passport holders are required to obtain a visa to enter Tanzania.

South Africa
South Africa, known as the "Rainbow Nation" has 9 defined cultural groups including The Nguni People (which is comprised of the Zulu, Xhosa and Swazi). This group alone accounts for two thirds of the country's more than 44 million people. There are 11 official languages in South Africa - among them Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, and isiZulu. With this rich group of culture found in one nation, along with its scenic beauty and cosmopolitan cities, it is no wonder that South Africa is also called "a world in one country".

It is a country of superlatives. South Africa is more than 474,000 square miles (five times the size of the UK), its coastline is more than 1800 miles long and its most famous national park - Kruger National Park - is the size of Israel. With more than 24,000 species, South Africa may have the richest variety of flora in the world. Bird and animal life is superb. More than 900 species of birds and 160 mammal species have been recorded, in addition to 2000 species of fish!

Of all of the struggles of South Africa throughout the centuries, the struggle against apartheid was perhaps the most visible to the rest of the world. Apartheid began in 1948 when the Afrikaner National Party won the national elections and a flood of new laws were put into place. Some were petty and some were devastating. Black South Africans were forced to carry a pass at all times, and separate communities were established for Whites, Blacks, Indians, and Coloured (mixed races). By the 1960's, unrest against apartheid became more violent and people began to burn their passes. Those deemed to be radical leaders of the revolt were rounded up and imprisoned. In 1962, one of the most famous of these activists was rounded up and Nelson Mandela began his more than 27-year incarceration. In a most astounding turn around, then President DeKlerk? renounced apartheid and began repealing many of the laws. In an historic moment, Nelson Mandela walked out of the prison on Robben Island a free man and just four years later became South Africa's President. Today, South Africa's multi-cultural citizens make up this wonderful "rainbow nation" of which they are very proud.

South Africa offers the visitor much. Food is a delightful mix of Cape Dutch, French Huguenot, German, Portuguese, British and African. Whether dining on roasted meat or seafood, you will find a wonderful choice of wines to accompany your meal. Wine was first produced in 1659 and today South Africa produces more than 500 million bottles of wine a year. Be sure to try Amarula cream, made from the fruit of the wild marula tree and a favorite after dinner liquor.

But it is probably the wildlife that draws visitors again and again. Kruger National Park is one of the largest and oldest parks in Africa. Along its western borders there are a series of private game reserves, each of which is sub-divided into smaller areas that are privately owned. There are no fences between areas, allowing game to roam freely between Kruger National Park and the private reserves. The distinct advantage of staying on a private reserve is the ability to do off-road drives both in daytime and at night.

Whether you visit South Africa alone or combine it with a stay in one of the surrounding countries, South Africa does not disappoint.

Cape Town Breakaway with confirmed air from $1795*
With prices starting at under $2000 per person, including airfare from Chicago, this 5 night package seems almost too good to be true. It includes 5 nights hotel, roundtrip transfers plus airfare. Enough time to explore this great South African city or perfect for building your own tour to other destinations in Africa.

Cape Town's 15 on Orange Getaway 11 days with confirmed air from $2,295
Departing On Select Departure Dates

The Cape & The Bush 11 days with confirmed air from $3,195*

Glimpses of South Africa 11 days with confirmed air from $3,195*

Best of Africa 16 Days with confirmed air from $8495*
Cape Town ~ Victoria Falls ~ Nairobi ~ Masai Mara ~ Serengeti

US Passport holders are not required to obtain a visa to enter South Africa. However, they are required to have 2 blank pages in their passport.

Uganda Zanzibar Botswana Zimbabwe Namibia Mozambique Zambia

A Guide to the finest reserves in Africa
Masai Mara National Reserve is situated on the border between Kenya and Tanzania and is the northern extension of Tanzania's renowned reserve, the Serengeti. It covers over 590 square miles and is home to all of the big game: elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah and buffalo. You can also see zebra, wildebeest, Thomsons gazelle, eland and Maasai giraffe.

Aberdare National Park is 230 square miles and is home to two of the most famous tree hotels, the Ark and Treetops great for viewing game from the comfort of your lodge. Contrasting the Maasai Mara, the Aberdare is luxuriant forest and home to the Aberdare mountains.

Samburu National Reserve at 40 square miles is one of the smallest parks and probably one of the best parks in northern Kenya. Here, lion and elephant are plentiful, attracted by the Uaso Nyiro River. Leopards are frequently sighted, as are crocodiles, velvet monkeys, cheetah, giraffe and zebra.

Tarangire National Park was established in 1970 and covers over 1000 square miles. Because the Tarangire River runs through the entire park, wildlife gather in large numbers at the river banks. This is one of Tanzania's most beautiful parks and is known for the landscape of distinctive baobab trees, as well as the large number of elephants – possibly more than anywhere else in Tanzania..

Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area is 12 miles wide, and the largest, unflooded caldera in the world. The crater is believed to be young – only dating back 2.5 million years, when a huge eruption occurred. After the flow of lava subsided, the cone collapsed, leaving the caldera. Today, there are an estimated 30,000 animals living in this 100 square mile crater and you are sure to see most of the big game.

Additional nights and land only rates available.