Travel Agent - March 17, 2008 - (Page 34)

DeStinationS Nomad Tarangire At 2,600 square kilometers, Tarangire is one of Tanzania’s smaller national parks but loads of elephants, antelope herds and more than 550 bird species call the savanna plains, swamps and river home. nomad tarangire Safari camp (www. nomad-tarangire.com) is in the mid-southern part of the Tarangire National Park and is the place to go for open plains teeming with elephants. This small, eight-bed camp with a Bedouin theme provides a refuge from the searing heat of the day. Spreading canvas and the twinkle of brass lanterns are what to expect here. Kilims and cushions tossed around the mess tent create a Continued from page 33 Zanzibar a confluence of cultures Melds with spicy, salty air to seduce any safari-goer into considering an extension to Zanziber, an 85-kilometer-long island just off the coast of the tanzanian mainland. historically linked with arabia, Zanzibar maintains an exotic feel, especially within the labyrinthine streets of stone town—with its hundreds of exquisitely carved doors and archways that echo its Middle eastern influence. the Zanzibar Serena Inn (www.serenahotels.com) on the edge of town is a good base for touring the city, as well as the nearby clove and coconut plantations to learn about the spice trade route. it’s also worth taking a trip to the jozani forest to see the colobus monkeys. at night, visit the seaside forodhani gardens, which come alive with seafood and local craft vendors. the island’s many beach hotels provide excellent water sports and opportunities for relaxation, but for a robinson crusoe fantasy, book one of the 10 teak and woven-palm-frond bandas, or bungalows, on Mnemba island. this private island in the Mnemba atoll, just off the north east coast of Zanzibar, is surrounded by excellent reefs that offer world-class diving. With never more than twenty guests, Mnemba has managed to create an oasis while reclaiming and protecting an area that was once a wasteland. guests lucky enough to come at the right time may discover sea turtles nesting on the beaches or suni deer in the scrub forest of the island’s interior. Visit www.ccafrica.com for information. and thatched walls provide a backdrop for the modern West African glass-and-beadwork decor that complement the textiles of electric oranges, sunburst yellows and royal purples adorning the furniture. An enormous headboard shaped into a crown will make all guests feel like royalty. Court jesters are always on call at Grumeti River Camp. Just pull up a to a river view lunch table or dip in the pool for a front-row seat and watch the hippos practice their chorus of belches, yawns and grunts while others pop their lily-pad-wearing heads out of the water and practice their hippo ballet. The resident herbivore population ensures that predator viewing is consistent year-round and if you’re lucky, you might even witness a late-night brawl between an elephant and a hippo right outside your tent. Ngorongoro Crater Lodge The Ngorongoro Crater, on the western edge of the Serengeti Plain in Northern Tanzania, was once a molten, spewing behemoth of a volcano larger than its neighbor, Mt. Kilimanjaro. Now, however, the 12-mile-wide, treerimmed sunken cone is the largest unbroken caldera in the world and forms a natural stadium where the largest permanent concentration of African game is on display. It’s no surprise that with such a natural theatrical spectacle there exists a lodge so grand, and the ngorongoro crater Lodge (www.ngorong oro-crater-lodge.com) is this theater’s box seats. Don’t expect propane lamps and green tents— here the theme is unconventional high drama, as if the pages of Swiss Family Robinson, Dangerous Liaisons and Snows of Kilimanjaro were sewn together and brought to life. Each mud-thatch suite is a kaleidoscope of design, where crystal chandeliers hang over baroque bathtubs, chunky carved beds draped in silks look out onto the crater, gilt mirrors are suspended above stone fireplaces that swirl out of the walls while trees shoot up through the floor and burst out banana-leaf roofs. The lodge can organize walks along the crater rim, game drives on the caldera floor, day trips to a local Masai village and excursions to the Olduvai Gorge (the cradle of mankind)…but to experience the world’s best laundry service, be sure to leave your dirty clothes with the butler on your way out. They will be returned to you cleaned, wrapped in silk and tied with roses. You can get further details at www.ccafrica.com. a crown-shaped headboard in a grumeti river camp tent is fit for royalty splendid place to hang out with a cup of chai. The bed tent interiors are particularly innovative: an outer layer of shade cloth and netting, with a further shade net covering the bed, allow guests to be outside and wake with the sunrise slowly creeping up over the grass plain, yet still be protected. To book at all these lodges, contact Sandy Cunningham, safari specialist at Uncharted Outposts, who can provide custom travel for a more intimate experience (www.unchartedoutposts. com, 888-995-0909 or 505-795-7710). n ConneCting You tanzania’s making a big play in the U.S market. For more information on how to sell this destination, visit www.travelagentcentral.com/tanzania 34 | TravelAgent March 17, 2008 http://www.nomad-tarangire.com http://www.nomad-tarangire.com http://www.serenahotels.com http://www.ngorongoro-crater-lodge.com http://www.ngorongoro-crater-lodge.com http://www.unchartedoutposts.com http://www.unchartedoutposts.com http://www.ccafrica.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/tanzania http://www.ccafrica.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - March 17, 2008

Travel Agent - March 17, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor Contributors Africa: Lodges that will Make your African Safari through Tanzania Unforgettable Special Supplement: Honeymoon Specialist Africa News and Briefs Caribbean: The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino is a Perfect Choice for all Types of Clientele Hawaii: The Less-Visited Island of Molokai Provides a taste of Old-Time Hawaii Central and South America: Where to Enjoy the Reefs, Rainforest and Ruins in Belize’s Maya Country Hotels: Properties that Cater to the Growing Trend of “Girlfriend Getaways” Cruises: Increasingly, Cruisers are Choosing Outside Companies for their Off-Ship Excursions Barbados: A Caribbean Travelers' Dream Airline Update: Several European Airlines Offer New Nonstop Service Ski/Snowboard: Three New Hotels Hit the Slopes in Wyoming, Utah and British Columbia Multi-Generational Travel: Cavallo Point: the Lodge at Golden Gate is a New “Green” Hotel Outside of San Francisco Agent Profile: Lynda Turley of Alpine Travel of Saratoga in Saratoga, CA Agency Profile: Largay Travel’s Company Retreat Cover Story: Barbados Technology: Open Travel CRM Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Onsite from Jordan Travel Mart Harrah’s Draws Younger Clients to Atlantic City Cruise News India’s New Hotels and Nonstop Flights Saluting Travel Industry Contributors Report from Travel South In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - March 17, 2008

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