Recommend March 2013 - (Page 15)

⏟ “Victoria Falls is not only an icon of Africa travel, but a perfect departure point for combining a safari and touring in Zimbabwe with wildlife attractions in neighboring Botswana and Zambia.” Bill Fleming, Managing Partner, Zambezi Safari & Travel Company species of birds. The largest is Kapani Lodge, where elephants wander about and 18 guests are accommodated in eight luxury suites, each with its own lounge and en-suite bathroom. According to Carr, the elegant lagoon house is ideal for families, who along with other guests, thrill to game watching and join in Normal Carr Safaris’ local community and conservation projects. More remote, and connected by walking safari itineraries, are two luxury bush safari camps, Luwi and Nsolo bordering the Luwe River with four spacious chalets, and two tented camps, Kukuli and the more deluxe Mchenja. Booking the Classic Luangwa Safari, you can link ﬁve different camps; distances between each camp can be covered in three to ﬁve hours, depending on the wildlife along the way, and, of course, walking can alternate with game driving. Either way, the luggage is in the room on arrival at each camp. This 10-night package operates May 15 to Nov. 7; the all-inclusive cost starts at $4,500 pp sharing. Opening in June, Norman Carr Safaris’ sixth camp is going to be something completely new for Luangwa Valley: Chinzombo Camp, a creation of architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, whose signature eco-design style is elegant, subtle and lowimpact (among their other projects are the North Island Resort in the Seychelles and Vumbura Plains Camp in Botswana). Chinzombo will have six villas, one conﬁgured for families or a group of friends; all will have private plunge pools on shady decks overlooking the river, cooled sleeping areas, Internet connection, and grand bathrooms with spa amenities. Villas connect by pathways to a lounge/dining area, as well as facilities for spa, yoga and excercise. The camp is set on 60 acres of private land, with Luangwa River frontage, and guests have private access by boat into the South Luangwa National Park. Villas per night are $575 to $875, all-inclusive and depending on the season. zimbabwe Certainly Victoria Falls is on everyone’s bucket list of places to see in Africa, for indeed what the local folk call Mosi-os-Tunya or “the smoke that thunders” is one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders. In addition to gaping at the falls (or taking a ﬂightseeing ride above), visitors enjoy white-water rafting, canoeing, kayaking or bungee jumping. “Victoria Falls is not only an icon of Africa travel,” says Bill Fleming, managing partner of Zambezi Safari & Travel Company, “but a perfect departure point for combining a safari and touring in Zimbabwe with wildlife attractions in neighboring Botswana and Zambia.” But right in Zimbabwe, “not only are the price points more approachable than in Botswana,” he says, “but the wildlife is abundant. You’ll see all the big game species you’d expect to ﬁnd on a high-quality safari, including wild dog, elephant, lion, leopard, black rhino, buffalo and giraffe.” Zambezi Safari’s 11-night Discover the Spirit of Zimbabwe embraces three of the country’s prime game viewing areas in the northern sector of the country plus two World Heritage sites. The safari includes visiting Victoria Falls, with luxury accommodations at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, bordering the Zambezi National Park and enjoying uninterrupted sunset views and year-round game at its onsite waterhole. The journey continues to Hwange National Park, one of the largest parks (roughly the size of Belgium) in Southern Africa and a world-class safari area. Home-base here for walking safaris and game drives is Davidson’s Camp, sporting nine en-suite tents with perfect game-spotting verandahs. Fly on to Lake Kariba and stay in Musango, a unique safari camp on its very own private island, just off the shoreline of Matusadona National Park—here’s the place to track black rhino. The safari’s last few nights are spent in Mana Pools National Park on the lower Zambezi River, where game viewing by canoe is a popular adventure. Also riverside is Ruckomachi Camp, accommodating guests in 10 spacious tented units (one a honeymoon suite) with indoor/ outdoor showers; follow connecting walkways to a separate deck with inﬁnity pool and a cushion-strewn, stargazing deck. During the prime game viewing season, June to mid-November, Discover the Spirit of Zimbabwe is all-inclusively priced at $6,561.45 pp sharing. safari + cultural highs SITA World Tours (sitatours.com) presents Zimbabwe on an escorted tour basis, with twice-monthly departures of its 10-night Great Zimbabwe. Included are visits to two cultural UNESCO World Heritage sites: the 13th century ruined city of Great Zimbabwe, the most signiﬁcant ancient monument south of the Sahara, and the fabulous rock landscapes of the Matobo Hills, with a visit to Cecil Rhodes grave, a cave painting tour and glimpses of black rhino. Three nights at Victoria Falls and game drives day and night in Hwange National Park are other tour features. The all-inclusive cost is $5,125 pp dbl. march 2013 15 14-19 AF SouthernAfrica.indd 15 2/20/13 2:46 PM http://www.sitatours.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend March 2013

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Travel Indochina
Safaris in Southern Africa
Un-Cruise Adventures in Alaska
Alaska is Celebrating in 2013
"Hard Rock" Chicago-Style: Rock out in the Windy City
Mexico Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Planner
Girldfriends' Getaway at Eden Roc, Miami Beach
Kyushu: The Rising Sun of Japanese Destinations
The New All-Inclusives in Jamaica Claim Their Turf
RIU Punta Cana
Costa Rica: A Trio of Detours
Touring Central & Eastern Europe

Recommend March 2013