What is 'Big 5'?

Wildlife guides discuss African wildlife safaris in terms of Big Five.
What animals constitute Big 5?
“Big 5″ refers to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino – five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot.

 

World Cup Travel Packages for YPOs & WPOs

World Cup 2010 Packages for YPO & WPO members.

There are 30 departures to choose from based upon how early or late in the competition you’d like to travel. All packages include the finest Wildlife Safari experiences available in Southern Africa. All our departures are limited to 8 couples or 16 total when bringing along family. Once you purchase the package you are invited to attend 3 guaranteed matches as a special guest of our Foundation partner, Los Angeles Futbol Club Foundation (LAFC) in VIP seating. The packages are structured to allow you to attend additional games and to explore the very best South Africa has to offer through a wide array of specially designed Experiences that run only for the month of the competition.

Want to get more information ?
Full details at World Cup Travel Packages for YPO & WPO

 

Cape Town is beautiful

Things ‘to do’ and ’see’ in Cape Town.

 

fairest-cape-cape-town

The Fairest Cape
Cape Town History, Politics & What’s Next
Robben Island
The World’s Largest Floral Kingdom, Kirstenbosch
Cape Town’s Wine Country
Shark Diving
Heli-Touring – Southern Cape area
Hike Table Mountain
Cape Town Shopping Trip
Life in the Tourships
Cape Town – Home Hospitality
Art in South Africa
Kayak the Cape Coast
Whale Watching
Big Game sports fishing
Simonstown & Seal Island
Horse Riding – Noordhoek Beach
The Southern Tip of Africa
Dogfight in a Fighter Jet

Want to get more information ?
Michael Culhane an expatriate South African from Cape Town who built a number of leading Southern African tourism entities and who is regarded as being one of the foremost experts in travel to the sub-continent out of the USA has put together a list of things ‘to do’ and ’see’ in Cape Town.

Full details at Cape Town Experiences during the World Cup.

 

Will the World Cup boost South Africa tourism?

USA Today: Will the World Cup boost South Africa tourism?
The worst case tourism legacy beyond 2010 would be to see visitors grudgingly pay exorbitant prices for accommodation, only to go home and brand South Africa as a beautiful but prohibitively expensive destination,” says South African consultant Nikolaus Eberl, author of BrandOvation: How Germany won the World Cup of Nation Branding.
[... .] more

South Africa has international grade tourism infrastructure, diverse attractions and a great story of nation building. So it is not surprising that pre-world cup South Africa was already receiving over 10 million international tourists annually and ranks amoung the top 25 world destinations.

In this day and age visitors understand the economics of demand and supply around such singular events and are not likely to brand this amazing destination “prohibitively expensive”.

Airfares starting at $1999*
All inclusive world cup Travel packages (for 2 weeks) at $4999*

You may contact us for more information on World Cup travel packages including low cost arrangements and airfares. Call (626) 213-2214 or email nirmal @ adventurelink.com.

Fly U.S to World Cup from $1999*

match-tickets-accommodation-world-cup-south-africa

Fly U.S. to the World Cup, South Africa from $1999*


Per person, taxes & fuel surcharges included. Restrictions apply. (JFK) LAX add $200.Must be purchased with AdventureLink land tour & use code: World Cup and must be booked and deposited by 2/28/2010.

With purchase of any World Cup Travel Package including the 17 days World Cup Student group departure: June 09 – June 25 ($4,995 pps)

Includes:

- All accommodation on a two person sharing basis as per the itinerary
– VIP Tickets to attend the Opening Ceremonies
– Three night Safari including all air transfers – includes all meals, drinks and laundry.
– Invitations to the matches as indicated on the itinerary in VIP FIFA Business Seats as guests of LAFC
– All transport services and guide services as indicated in the itinerary
– All internal air transportation in South Africa including match day flights where matches are being played in a city other than the one where we have accommodation that day
– All Meals as per the itinerary indicated as B,L,D
– Services of On-Site team in South Africa to handle any requests or issues while in country

* All Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability. International airfare discount prices as shown above include air from gateways noted above. Please call for add-ons from other cities. Must be purchased with World Cup Land Packages.

You may contact us for more information on World Cup airfares, World Cup all-inclusive Student travel package or anything else we can do to make your World Cup South Africa 2010the very best travel experience ever!  Call (626) 213-2214 or email nirmal @ adventurelink.com .

A few spots on the World Cup 2010 South Africa adventure tour are available

A few spots on the World Cup 2010 South Africa adventure tour are available on "first-come, first-served basis". The tour package price of $7000* includes return airfare, match tickets, accommodation, transportation and an extraordinary South Africa adventure experience. This is a Student and recent Grad South Africa trip hosted by Shannon Culhane (USD '11) and Dave Hurt (USD '10).

Highlights:
- Invitation to attend Opening Ceremonies of the World Cup as VIP guests
- Visit the Sterkfontein caves and "Cradle of Humankind" some of the most important sites in the world for anthropology and the origins of man
- Meet and party with students from 2 major South African Universities
- A premier wildlife safari experience in Southern Africa
- Hike and tour in the magnificent Blyde River Canyon area
- Visit Soweto for a unique perspective on South Africa's past and future
- Spend 4 days in the Cape on one of South Africa's best surfing beaches
- Unlimited hiking, swimming, horseback, quadbiking, and other adventure activities
- Invitations to attend 3 guaranteed group matches in the VIP FIFA Business Seat section as a guest of LAFC
- Select from a range of the finest South African touring Experiences on a day-by-day basis before you depart or even while you are in country.
- Dedicated on-site team at your disposal to look after you on an individual basis while in country

*inclusive of airfare from New York. Additional supplement applicable for departure from other North America gateways.
>> more information

To reserve space on the above travel package or anything else we can do to make your World Cup South Africa 2010 the very best travel experience ever! Please contact Nirmal @ adventurelink.com or by phone at (626) 213-2214.

Planning a trip to the World cup in South Africa? Be flexible with your travel dates and $$$ave !

FACTS 1: Best available airfare (from Los Angeles) with departure dates 8th & 11th of June is currently $2300 and with departure dates 7th, 9th & 12 June it is $3300

FACTS 2: Best available airfare (from New York) with departure dates 7th & 8th of June is currently $2100 and with departure dates 9th & 10th of June it is $3800

airfare trends from usa to south africa during the world cup soccer, south africaWhen planning a trip to the World Cup in South Africa (from Los Angeles), you may want to research your departure dates carefully. A one day flexibility could make all the difference! You may be better off flying out on the 8th or 11th of June rather than on the 7th, 9th or the 12th because airfares are $1000 less!

Similarly, if you are planning a trip to World Cup in South Africa from New York, you may be better off flying on the 7th or 8th of June rather than on the 9th or 10th. This decision may save you over $1000!

There are a few spots available on AdventureLink’s World Cup all-inclusive value packages for students and young professionals at $4995 if you are interested.
(Airfare is additional starting at $2100 ex NYC)

*Listed rates as of today.

You may contact us for more information on World Cup airfares, World Cup all-inclusive Student travel package or anything else we can do to make your World Cup South Africa 2010 the very best travel experience ever!  Call (626) 213-2214 or email nirmal @ adventurelink.com .

The ultimate South African wildlife experience…

In addition to guaranteed World Cup match tickets, transportation and flexible touring options, AdventureLink now offers the finest safari accommodation arrangements to accompany your World Cup 2010 experience!  Choose from three of Africa’s top wildlife lodges – Singita and Tintswalo in South Africa or with Wilderness Safaris in Botswana and Zambia.   Each lodge offers a unique safari experience unlike any other.

Tintswalo

tintswalo-safari-lodge-south-africaTintswalo Safari Lodge is located in the Mpumulanga Province of South Africa on the private Manyeleti Reserve concession – a lush, exclusive lodge nestled between the Timbavati Private Reserve to the north, Sabi Sand Reserve to the south, and open to the Greater Kruger National Park on its fenceless eastern boundary. Resting amidst an ancient sycamore tree grove that overlooks a waterhole frequented by large herds of elephant and other big game, Safari Lodge is a pristine wilderness reserve abounding in big game and spectacular bird life.

The reserve is unique for its very low vehicle density, and as a result offers the true exclusive safari experience. Tintswalo Safari lodge is situated along a seasonal river bed among an ancient sycamore tree grove.

Singita

The balance of hospitality, conservation and community is what sets Singita apart, and has been at the core of the Singita experience from the very beginning.

Singita Sabi Sand offers rare solitude and the ultimate in safari luxury on prime game viewing land recognized globally for its diversity and formidable concentration of big game and frequent leopard sightings.

Singita Kruger National Park is situated where two rivers meet, in an exclusive game-rich 33 000 acres concession in the world-renowned Kruger National Park. Boasting the highest concentration of wildlife in the entire park, including the ‘Big 5′, the area is also known for its majestic Mountain Pride of lions and unique Euphorbia trees.

Wilderness Zambia and Wilderness Botswana

 

Duma Tau-Wilderness-Safari-Botswana

 

Wilderness Safaris prides themselves in being first and foremost a conservation organization.  They offer guests private access to 2.8 million hectares (6.5 million acres) of southern Africa’s finest wildlife reserves, while remaining fiercely committed to protecting our planet’s precious natural and cultural resources.

Toka Leya Camp consists of 12 spacious en-suite safari-style tents overlooking the mighty Zambezi River and some of its islands.  Wooden walkways snake between the units and main area, limiting our footprint on this pristine area.

Kalamu Lagoon Camp lies on a beautiful permanent lagoon just off the Luangwa River in the remote Luamfwa area in the southern section of South Luangwa National Park, home to hundreds of red lechwe, ubiquitous puku, stately roan and the diminutive oribi. This wealth of game is a big attraction for predators, including wild dog, cheetah and prides of lion. Kalamu Lagoon Camp comprises eight spacious luxury safari tents with spectacular views of the surrounding woodlands.

Puku Ridge Tented Camp is perched on an escarpment in a remote part of the South Luangwa National Park, near an area filled with floodplains, broad-leaved woodland, lush riverine vegetation and dambos (open grassy clearings). The region is home to 60 mammals – including elephant, lion, wild dog, buffalo, hippo and, of course, antelope – and over 400 bird species. Guests can spend an afternoon relaxing in the camp’s large living area in between thrilling game drives or walking safaris.

Vumbura Plains is a luxury camp situated in a private concession in the extreme north of the Delta. The concession, which is leased from the neighbouring community, includes a wide variety of habitats, diverse wildlife and an enormous traversing area of 60 000 hectares (130 000 acres). The camp comprises two separate seven-roomed satellite camps, each with its own raised dining, lounge and bar area tucked beneath a canopy of cool, shady, indigenous trees and with a magnificent vista across the floodplains.

DumaTau Camp is located in the 125,000 hectare Linyati Wildlife Reserve in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Bordering the western boundary of the Chobe National Park in northern Botswana, DumaTau Camp is positioned near the source of the Savute Channel in the Linyati Swamp System. The area is well known for its game drives along the Savute Channel. DumaTau Camp is a ten-roomed luxury tented camp overlooking one of the many hippo-filled lagoons in the region and shaded by a grove of mangosteen trees.

World Cup Soccer 2010, South Africa is calling, but... Part 2

exit, entry, health requirements for south AfricaMost travelers including US and EU citizens are not required to obtain a health certificate to enter South Africa unless you have visited a yellow fever infected area within the last 6 months. Although yellow fever is not a disease risk in South Africa, travelers arriving from countries where yellow fever is present are required to show proof of yellow fever vaccination. If you will be traveling to one of these countries where yellow fever is present before proceeding to the World Cup, South Africa, this requirement must be taken into consideration.

You may want to exercise special precaution and take steps to prevent infections as indicated below.

Diphtheria – Yes
Hepatitis A – Yes
Malaria – Sometimes *
Rabies – Sometimes
Tetanus – Yes
Typhoid – Sometimes
Yellow Fever – No
Inoculation regulations can change at short notice.
Please seek medical advice in case of doubt.
Where ‘Sometimes’ appears in the table above, precautions may be required, depending on the season and region visited.
*Areas of South Africa with Malaria: Present in the Mpumalanga Province, Limpopo (Northern) Province, and northeastern KwaZulu-Natal as far south as the Tugela River. It is also present in Kruger National Park.
If you will be visiting an area of South Africa with malaria, you will need to discuss with your doctor the best ways for you to avoid malaria infection. More information: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/south-africa.aspx
We’d love to hear from you with questions or to assist with reservations, air arrangements, or anything else we can do to make your World Cup South Africa 2010 the very best travel experience ever! Please contact Nirmal @ adventurelink.com or by phone at (626) 213-2214.

World Cup Soccer 2010 airfares 50% higher

Have you bought your air ticket to South Africa? If you bought your air ticket on the non-stop flight before Dec 4 (the day of the draw) you may have saved anything between $2500 to $1000. And if you bought a business class air ticket, you probably saved yourself anything between $3000 to $5000.

Airfare to South Africa (USA – South Africa – USA) during normal times usually ranges between $1000 to $2500 with February being the least expensive time to travel and November and December, the most expensive.

If you buy your ticket on the non-stop flight today  it may cost you $4000 or more.  But if you are willing to take one or two stopovers enroute to Johannesburg the average economy class return airfare to Johannesburg from Los Angles is around $3000, up 50% from before the draw on Dec 04, 09.  Last week we had a group from St. Louis, MO and they paid $5000 per person for their economy class air tickets. Of course, you will get better fares if you are flexible with your departure and return dates.  If you are planning on a business class ticket, airfare is currently around $10,000, up from around $7000 before Dec 04.

(* Above airfares are estimates and are  inclusive of taxes & fees)

We’d love to hear from you with questions or to assist with reservations, air arrangements, or anything else we can do to make your World Cup South Africa 2010 the very best travel experience ever! Please contact Nirmal @ adventurelink.com or by phone at (626) 213-2214.