AUGUST SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2023 ~ Dive & Africa Discovery Travel
24 August 2023
I hope Summer has been great and you have had some wonderful family and friends time together! I just returned from an extraordinary trip to Kenya & Tanzania with a group of 7.
I have to say, it was one of the very best wildlife experiences I have had!
It has been a long time since I was in Kenya and it was truly remarkable.
Tanzania was equally beautiful in Tarangire National Park as well as Central Serengeti with all the big cats. Trip report coming soon; I have not even started to look at images
off my dslr camera yet and what I posted on Instagram and Facebook were all from my i-phone!!!
We have some ideas and inspiration for diving and Africa!
We have some tasty temptations for you with Scuba Diving Adventures and Africa Safaris! Get OUT of the incessant rain out west and freezing cold and snow everywhere else!
We have space in the top Whale Season dates from End of January through beginning of April! Check with me asap this is a fantastic trip to snorkel face to face with these gentle beautiful giants! Listen to the singing males entice the females with love songs!
You have not lived until you have these gorgeous loving whales blow into your face!! Giggling madly as they turn and look at you!! You can touch their Baleen also! They love it! Mama’s bring the babies to the boats for love!!!
Space in camps from end of January to early April!
Ojo de Liebre Camping ~ Fly in gray whale trips beginning in San Diego to Laguna Ojo de Liebre
Once again offering 4, 5, 6 & 8 day gray whale trips, flying to Guerrero Negro.
Flight time is only a couple hours. So smooth!
Departures & end dates can be arranged any Monday, Wednesday or Friday. *some space is still remaining if you are ready to go!!!
Cindi has space in Master cabin 6 or a lovely twin share, double cabin!
Join me on this trip.
Look at this beautiful boat!
RED SEA ~ New Red Sea Aggressor IV
3 great itineraries! Starting March 4 through April 29 2023 don’t miss this wonderful special starting at 899.00 per person!
We also offer fantastic land tours in Egypt; Cairo and Nile Cruise,
marvel at the antiquities from long ago!
It is TIME to go!!!
Something very different, Columbia- diving the wild waters of Malpelo on the Ferox! Not for the feint of heart! Thousands of hammerheads, silkie sharks and more!
Winter/Spring: The Giant Great White females come to the Neptune Islands
(which for us in the Northern Hemisphere is June thru November).
Summer/Autumn: The days are warm and long, the male Great Whites are circling
fur seals and sea lions! (December thru May).
We can combine a super fun Great white shark trip on the liveaboard which are from
3 to 5nts long as well as; 9 dive days on location with a variety of dive sites
showcasing the underwater wonders of South Australia, including Hopkins Islands,
for the playful Australian sea lions. Kangaroo Island, for weedy sea dragons and stunning reef, often with dolphins, and local jetty dives to observe the rare and beautifully ornate leafy sea dragon.
INDONESIA ~ Kalimaya! A new dive resort on the edges of Komodo National park, on the island of Sumbawa. This is a gem, I love this area for diving!!
It’s a 5 star PADI resort, owned and operated by professional divers!
No other resorts in this area, super remote and the best of the best in this area!
Many of us have dived Komodo many times. You will recognize these amazing sights: Sangean Volcano, black sand and bubbles. Gili Banta, high voltage and mantas!
West Komodo, current and pelagics! Something for everyone here!
Baja Mexico! The best of:
Snorkel: with sharks, orcas, whales, whalesharks, humpback whales, mobulas you name it. The seasons tell the story, something different comes in with each passing month!
Dive:Cabo Pulmo with Bull sharks, and thousands of fish! Lapaz with whalesharks, mobulas and more! The Sea of Cortez remains The Aquarium of the World, words from Jacques Cousteau! It’s a water paradise!
We can arrange liveaboard diving, snorkel trips with the top operators in the area, and scuba dive land based in Cabo Marine Park and Cabo Pulmo!
Also Day trips all over for sea kayaking in sea of Cortez, swim with sea lions, hike in the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve! The Reserve is home to an incredible diversity of plant and animal life and up to 30% of species are endemic. Stay in Todos Santos with our partner and enjoy all these wonderful day trips and more!!
Papua New Guinea ~ Raw adventure in the highlands with a rare look into festival & Ceremony called Bingla Ingu!
Not seen since 1979, not the commercial festivals that have been well marketed such as in Garoka, Mt Hagen, Rabaul Mask festival etc.
This is new, brought back to life from my partner in the highlands of PNG from her people, her language her tribe.
July & September of 2024.
It will combine well with the other festivals for extended cultural visits.
The festival is funded by European Union – SPC Cultural Grants.
The Festival will include the Bigla Ingu Festival ( Pig Killing & Food Ceremonial Exchanges in the Simbu province), Tumbuna Pasin Show, Kids Traditional Festival and Bilums and Bilas Festivals and you will see the main arena Singsing and Dance.
For those of you who love PNG ‘ The land of the Unexpected’ with its magnificent diving and outstanding culture, you will want to know more about this.
Its Real and Raw.
Some images from last month’s festival! I have videos and load of images just sent to me! Let me know, it’s pretty spectacular! I will have this up on our website soon.
AFRICA IS CALLING!!!!
Africa has so much to offer. For those who have been to Tanzania and Kenya;
now maybe time to venture southward to South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe & Namibia! Each of these countries have so much to offer, all unique and different!
Budgets for all.
Have you ever locked eyes with a gorilla? There are not only mountain gorillas, but lowland gorillas! Did you know that? The main difference between lowland and mountain gorillas is the lowland gorillas have lighter and shorter hair whereas Mountain gorillas are darkly colored with much thicker longer fur.
We offer lowland gorilla trips in Gabon & Congo.
Uganda and Rwanda have the mountain gorillas.
Which is which?
For those of you who have been all over Africa;
something very unique is waiting for you if you can go this March!
Angola is a large, developing country that borders Zambia, Namibia,
the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Congo.
Largely closed off for the last few years, it’s an almost mythical destination and
one of the continent’s most diverse.
The landscapes range from beautiful beaches on the coast and pristine tracts of miombo woodland and open floodplains in the southeast, to highland plateaus, jungles and vast lakes and rivers.
2020 will see the launch of our new flying safaris to Angola.
The first trips of their kind, each will be tailor-made to suit all interests but most will follow the paths of the rivers that feed the Okavango and Kwando river systems from their sources in the Angolan Highlands to the Okavango Delta in Botswana and finally,
to the sands of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.
The Source to the Sands is a 12-night itinerary and the ultimate Angolan expedition.
It begins with three nights in a simple mobile camp in the source lakes regions of the Angolan Highlands, in the company of National Geographic explorers and scientists,
followed by two nights in the Cubango Reserve, which straddles both the Cuatir and Cubango rivers, and a day trip to the Cuito Cuanavale battlefields.
From there, it’s into Namibia to spend two nights on Nkasa Island in Nkasa Rupara National Park, then across the border into the Okavango Delta for three nights.
This epic journey ends in the Makgadikgadi where the waters dissipate into the sands at Meno a Kwena camp on the fringes of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.
A safari to Angola is not about seeing the Big Five.
It’s a conservation journey through raw Africa where nothing is premeditated or orchestrated. The country is one of Africa’s most remote and little-known wilderness areas and the future of some of the most iconic wildlife areas, the Okavango Delta and the Lower Zambezi in particular, depends on the Angolan Highlands and what is done to protect them as the country rapidly industrializes, post-civil war.
COST: from $20,500 per person on sharing basis
This itinerary is fully customizable based on the number of people and travel dates.
To be a part of this adventure expedition or to get more details,
click the email us button below
or click the link above.
3 nights at Machaba Camp – Luxury Tent
Machaba, in the game rich Khwai area of the eastern Okavango Delta, overlooks the Moremi Game Reserve.
Nestled within the riverine vegetation along the Khwai River,
the camp boasts on-going game sightings due to its prime setting.
Meandering forest pathways link to the open-plan, tented main camp ideal for socializing or dining while absorbing the picturesque scenery. A pool, set to one side of the camp, affords welcome relief during warm days.
Activities include morning and afternoon game drives (off roading and night drives permitted), visits to the local community and short mokoro excursions. Guided walks are subject to the availability of a qualified walking guide.
3 nights at Gomoti Plains Camp – Luxury Tent
This extraordinarily beautiful area is home to large herds of buffalo, a healthy lion population and the largest population of giraffe in Botswana.
Offering both land and water activities, guests may enjoy game drives, walking (guide dependent), birding, boat and mokoro excursions (water – levels dependent). Due to its position on a game path, there is the added excitement of animals wandering through the camp. Perhaps cool off in the camp pool, when not on game experiences.
3 nights at Ngoma Safari Lodge – Suite
Located within the Chobe Forest Reserve, bordering the Chobe National Park,
Ngoma Safari Lodge commands panoramic views over the Chobe River and Caprivi floodplain.
Between exciting game drives through Chobe, night drives in the Forest Reserve concession, and cultural interactions, unwind on sundecks or viewing decks, keeping an eye out for the large herds of elephant and buffalo for which Chobe is world-renowned.
The lodge was developed together with the community and has a direct and positive impact on this community.
2020 pricing: USD $4875.00 per person sharing
No single supplement
Valid Jan 11 – Mar 31, 2020
Click the email us button below to get more information or to book this beautiful Green Season Special.
Namibia Green Season Why to travel during Green Season?!
1. Winter Sun. Escape the damp and dismal northern hemisphere winters, and enjoy warm sunny summer days with average min/max temperatures of 17/29 ºC.
2. Avoid the crowds (a relative term in Namibia) of the high season and ensure you can stay at the venues proposed with the true feeling of Namibian peace and solitude.
3. When and if it rains, enjoy short spectacular afternoon thundershowers which only last an hour or so. This is great to watch and rarely causes any great inconvenience.
4. It is the best time from a weather perspective to explore Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.
5. Experience the ‘season of bounty’, with a green and flowering desert when all forms of life look strong and healthy.
6. Observe the calving season for most antelope species and the resulting heightened activity among predators.
7. Look out for spectacular birding opportunities with many migratory species flocking in to enjoy this time of warmth and abundance.
8. Look out for antelope species which also tend to congregate in larger herds at this time of the year, allowing for great wildlife photography.
9. Breathe the air which is crisp and clean as the rain has generally cleared the dust in the air, allowing for great landscape photography.
10. Enjoy the cloud cover which diffuses the otherwise harsh light conditions and makes the country look truly benevolent, especially when there is also some grass after the early rains.
11. Share the excitement and enjoyment of the Namibian people when they welcome the rains that ensure future good grazing as well as plentiful wild fruit and other natural treasures.
“Green Season” is between mid-January to the end of March 2020.
Because this is considered the “rainy season” and off season, crowds are less and prices are reduced to up to 40%.
Here are some select destinations that are especially exciting
to visit during the Green Season!
NAMIBIA SELF-DRIVE
2 nights Desert Hills Lodge
2 nights Strand Hotel
3 nights Camp Kipwe
1 night Okaukuejo Resort
3 nights Mushara Lodge
2 nights Okonjima Bush Camp
Green season cost: $3464.00 per person twin share
(High season cost is $4914.00)
BEST OF SKELETON COAST- 5 star (OVERLAND GUIDED & FLY-IN COMBO)
1 night Strand Hotel
3 nights Shipwreck Lodge
3 nights Hoanib Valley Camp
Green season cost: $7105.00 per person twin share
(High season cost is $11,064.00)
12 nights
A rich and diverse melting pot of cultures, peoples, and landscapes.
See below for more details.
Highlights of Morocco itinerary
Morocco is a vibrant and modern country, yet retaining its mystery and exoticism;
a country with cities with a unique atmosphere of their own, but also a country where the rural world has changed very little in centuries;
a rich and diverse melting pot of cultures, peoples, and landscapes.
This country has a strong sense of culture and ancient history.
With a mix of diverse, captivating panoramas, and a rich mixture of culture,
Morocco is a supreme destination to travel to.
Day 1-2 CASABLANCA
Day 2-4 CHEFCHOUEN
Day 4-6 FES
Day 6-8 MERZOUGA
Day 8-9 SKOURA
Day 9-12 MARRAKECH
Day 12-13 CASABLANCA
USD Price per person in double room: $5095.00 per person
at today’s exchange rate.
Includes taxes.
Click the link to see a detailed day to day itinerary.
Click the email us button below to book this outstanding trip.
