Comments for Travel Beyond Blog

Comment on The Ultimate Safari – A Namibia and Botswana trip report by Bob Fuehrer by Craig Beal

Craig Beal — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:24:55 +0000

A luxury safari in Botswana is always the way to go. This report just goes to show that a green season Linyanti safari is not all that bad either! Many people pooh-pooh the experience offerd in the Linyanti in Dec-Mar when the massive herds of elephants are inland grazing in the Chobe National Park. Seeing one hundred elephants is just fine by me…

I cannot imagine a better experience than what is described here.

Craig Beal – owner – Travel Beyond

Comment on The Ultimate Safari – A Namibia and Botswana trip report by Bob Fuehrer by Lori Goodsell

Lori Goodsell — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:19:56 +0000

What a great article! Fantastic pics-especially the last one. Love it.

Comment on Linyanti Wildlife Reserve & Savuti Channel: Botswana Safari Part III by Safarikim

Safarikim — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:27:02 +0000

Interesting Blog and fabulous to read all the comments! The beauty of private concessions (such as the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve operated by Wilderness Safaris) compared to public National Parks (such as the Chobe National Park) is that the concessions offer restricted access to few travellers, whereas National parks are open to everyone, which can result in crowding at sightings. In addition, this concession offers nature walks, night drives and off road access to prime sightings when required. With many miles of Linyanti riverfront and access to the now flowing Savuti Channel, any Botswana luxury safari should include a visit to this magnificent region.

Comment on Okavango Delta: Botswana Safari Part I by Kim

Kim — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:12:12 +0000

The Okavango is truly one of the most well conserved wildlife refuges in southern Africa. A Botswana safari typically includes a stay in one or preferably 2 camps in the Okavango and is integral to the unique experience of this inland delta. Due to the diversity of activities and habitat types within the Okavango, a Botswana luxury safari combining 2 camps should feature one focussed on the land experiences (through game drives by day/ night and walking) and another on the water based experiences (mokoro, motor boat and walking activities). Wilderness Safaris operate a range of camps within both the aforementioned regions and on different luxury standards, suiting most budgets.

Comment on The Sundowner by Seth Thomas Pietras by matt bracken

matt bracken — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:29:47 +0000

Seth,
I just returned from experiencing 19 afternoon game drives, hence, 19 sundowners. Everyday I thought about your comment above, “This decision is important because your fate is at stake—your happiness several hours from when you place a bet on your first cocktail of the evening.”

There were hot nights, cold nights, sunsets divine and sunsets unseen, rainy nights light nights dark nights and forgotten nights, short nights long nights, loud nights quiet nights, shall I have started with every night, all proceeded by time’s gift of reality of a choice I made at 3:30pm after a serious hectic schedule.

I started the trip with G&T’s, it was hot and sunny and sunset was sunburn, shorts and flipflop time; usually a double and clouds in the distance but far and tomorrow sunny and hot again.

Then switched to red wine when the rains hit and clouds were low and unmoving and rain poured and sprinkled constant and the predators thrived and blankets were on chairs at dinner.

And in 3 days the African bush was green like emerald and I switched yet again on that first sunny warm sunset next to the Sand River in full flow with my favorite bird the Woodland Kingfisher in the trees, to Jack Daniels, double on the rocks with water on top for hydration. And it is there that I toasted Seth Pietras.

Comment on Linyanti Wildlife Reserve & Savuti Channel: Botswana Safari Part III by Pam

Pam — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:27:49 +0000

I just got back last week from a little Linyanti Safari time and had to say that it was fabulous (despite the fact that it is green season) and thought I’d share a few comments.

My favourite camp was Savuti (Wilderness Safaris property). I found it to be incredibly special given that the Savuti Channel has now begun to flow. The camp is ideally located right on the Channel and have beautiful views to the water. Hippos, elephants and red lechwe were always on display, in the water, during my few days there.

On game drives, I experienced some wonderful elephant interactions, managed to see plenty of lions, cheetah were spotted on the game drive the day I arranged to sleep in (go figure), red lechwe, hippos, multitude of birds (most notably a beautiful flock of carmine bee eaters) and more.

I would be re-miss if I didn’t mention the staff at Savuti … Simply put – they were devine.

I would highly recommend a Linyanti Safari / Savuti Safari be added to your ‘bucket list’!!

Comment on Gorilla Trek: Rwanda by Matt Bracken

Matt Bracken — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:45:12 +0000

Hi Ken,
In Uganda you can see the gorillas at Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Tour companies will only get you permits if you use that company for something else as well (transportation to and from the park, hotel bookings, sightseeing, etc.; they do not mark-up the cost of the permits so they make their money on other services provided for you). If you want to book your own permits there are a couple options.

Here is the website for the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) based in Kampala http://www.uwa.or.ug/gorilla.html#3 you can go directly to the office and purchase permits.

Here is an informative website with phone number and email for booking permits. Often they are slow to respond on the email but give it a try.
http://www.traveluganda.co.ug/gorillapermits.asp

Option 1:
Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kampala. The UWA offices are located next to the Buganda Museum at Plot 7 Kira Road, Kamwokya. Telephone direct on 0414 346287/8 to check on permit availability in both Bwindi and Mgahinga. UWA reservations officers can be e-mailed on uwa@uwa.or.ug

Option 2:
Mgahinga Gorilla NP has an office in Kisoro 14 km from the park. You can contact the office direct on 0486 430098 or mobile 0772 383030.

Option 3:
Tracking in Rwanda. In Rwanda there are 7 groups currently being commercially tracked and 56 permits per day available. This does make getting a permit slightly easier. Contact Orptn (Rwanda National Parks) in Kigali on Tel. +250 76514/Fax: +250 76512 to check on permit availability and to make bookings direct, email: ortpn@rwanda1.com If you obtain your permit from the Ortpn office in Kigali and are traveling by public transport to Ruhengeri the 90 minute ride with the Okapi Cars minibus taxi costs 900 Rwandan francs, about US$2-.

Comment on Gorilla Trek: Rwanda by ken

ken — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:10:37 +0000

We run an NGO based in Bujagali Falls Uganda. I’m going there in mid January and have never gone on the Gorilla trek. Do you need to hire a tour or can you book on your own with the park guides. I know that there is a limited number of people that can visit each day. My time is somewhat limited so i couldn’t afford to waste too much time. Do you have any recommendations
I appreciate your help.
thanks
Ken

Comment on Lindblad Expeditions – Galapagos Cruise by Craig Beal

Craig Beal — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:48:10 +0000

I have been working with a client this week that wanted a Galapagos Island cruise for spring break. They were planning to take a Lindblad Expedition trip on the Endeavor. I was actually shocked to find out that the MV Endeavor and the MV Islander were sold out for the March 26 and March 27, 2010 (respectively) departures. My how things have changed in the Galapagos cruise business from earlier this year! I did find out that all categories three and five cabins can accommodate triples on the Endeavor. This is the newest adventure ship in the industry.

Comment on Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu & Peru, a trip report from Bob Schminkey by Craig Beal

Craig Beal — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:10:11 +0000

Hi Bob,

I never sent you a note reagrding this report so I appologize! This is a great write-up. Sue told me you went on a Galapagos Cruise with Lindblad Expeditions. I did this same trip in 2006 with my oldest daughter. I took my youngest daughter on a trip to Peru last year. My trip to Peru was supposed to be a luxury tour with a different operator, but it turned out the Linbdlad Expedition tour was always in the same places we were. The exception was Ceba Tops (in the Amazon) which I really enjoyed.

I broke-up my Galapagos Island and Peru tour into two seperate trips. We actually recommend that our clients wanting to visit the Galapagos Islands and Peru combine these destination into one tour. They make a perfect combination and it saves so much money and time not to fly twice to South America.

We look forward to helping you plan your next safari to South Africa or, hopefully, someday a Botswana safari! Go well and see you in MD some day!

Craig Beal