Enjoy giraffes on a Kenya safari
The Kenyan government has decided to retain its visa fees at USD$25.00 in order to encourage travel to Kenya. Furthermore, visas for children under the age of 16 are waived. The changes are effective April 1, 2011 and aim to urge travelers to pick Kenya over its neighboring countries, which boast higher visa fees.
Kenya recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals ever in 2010 with a 15% growth rate over 2009.
This is no ordinary trip!
Mike Marlow, Associate Professor of Science Education at the University of Colorado at Denver, takes a group of science teachers to climb Kilimanjaro and go on safari in Tanzania every year (this is his 5th year!). The group is opening up to “outsiders” for the very first time.
The dates are June 26 – July 11, 2011 and will include a 6-day Rongai trek plus 7-day safari.
If you are a teacher, you can join this amazing expedition and get 3 college credits.
If you a non-teacher, this is a unique opportunity to go to Tanzania with a science expert who knows the geology, volcanology, botany, and biology of this area better than just about anyone else.
This post is by AWR staff member Tilden Daniels. He is currently traveling in Europe and Morocco.
This past weekend I traveled to the area near the Mont Blanc in France and Switzerland. This entire region is known as the “Pays du Mont Blanc” or “Mont Blanc Country.” I was hoping to do two full days of ski touring with a friend but unseasonably warm conditions and low snow pack made it difficult. But sunny 70 degree days aren’t necessarily a bad thing! It forced us to do the kind of things normally reserved for the late spring, summer and fall.
The Mont Blanc seen from Geneva
The Mont Blanc seen from Emosson
For our overnight we stayed in the Swiss town of Trient below the glacier of the same name. For the evening we crossed over the Forclaz pass and drove down to Martigny for dinner. Martigny is a Swiss city in the Rhone valley approximately 20 miles south of lake Geneva. It includes numerous sites of interest: the Giannada Foundation (a great art museum), Roman ruins, a museum dedicated to the St. Bernard (the breed of dogs, not the saint!), and excellent vineyards (head to an area called “Plan Cerisier”). The town has several good restaurants including the hip “La Vache Qui Vole” (The Flying Cow) located on the main square. You can expect good French and Swiss cuisine along with excellent local wines. For local reds try Dole or Gamay and for whites try Johannisberg, Petite Arvine or Fendant.
Trient, along the Tour du Mont Blanc
The author in Barberine after a day of climbing
Despite the lack of good snow this spring I had a great weekend and an early preview of summer activities. Visitors should also consider stopping by the other towns in the valleys between Chamonix and Martigny: Vallorcine in France and Salvan and Les Marecottes in Switzerland. These are all authentic towns with active dairy farms and conveniently located along the Mont Blanc Express railway. Along with Finhaut these are excellent places to spend the night and offer great summer and fall hiking opportunities.
Getting There:
Chamonix can be reached from Geneva in a little over one hour by car or shuttle bus. It can also be reached by train from the Eaux-Vives train station in Geneva, but trains run only every two hours, include one or two changes, and take about 90 minutes.
Martigny can be reached by driving east from Chamonix over the col des Montets and the col de Forclaz, by train on the Mont Blanc Express from Chamonix in about one hour, or from Geneva in about an hour and a half by train and in about an hour and a quarter by car. Visitor traveling between Zermatt and Geneva pass by Martigny.
The Emosson Dam (barrage d’Emosson) can be reached from the town of Finhaut in Switzerland. Finhaut can be reached via Chamonix or via Martigny on the Mont Blanc Express. For access to the lake and dam, visitors without a car should then connect to the dam via the Swiss Postal Bus.
Resources:
More photos:
Rock climbing near Barberine
Ski touring above Emosson in Switzerland
Emosson Dam & Lake
We had a great client question recently about what they should expect to pack on their Aconcagua trek in January, 2012 and more precisely, what they should expect to carry after the mules are done hauling the gear to Aconcagua’s Base Camp.
For the first 3 days of the approach, a small 30-liter pack will do, while a larger pack goes on the mules, all the way to base camp.
For the high altitude sections of the climb, Base Camp – Summit – Base Camp, in your big pack, you’ll carry all your clothes, crampons, ice axe, sleeping bag, mat, water, mug, spoon, and pack lunch or snack, etc. The average weight depends on how light or cutting edge your equipment is. For a typical male, this averages between 12 – 17 kg.
You can hire, at extra cost, a personal porter, who would carry up to a 20 kg load, for all sections of the climb, and the way down as well, except the section Camp 3 – Summit – Camp 3.
On Summit day, you will leave behind at Camp 3 your sleeping bag, mat, and other personal items. You will have on most of your insulation layers on at the beginning; as the day progresses, weather permitting, you will layer off the extra clothes into your almost empty pack. Depending on the conditions, crampons will already be clicked on your feet. You will also want to carry about 1 liter of a hot beverage, like tea.
Tents, pots, stoves, fuel, food, etc., is considered “common expedition gear” and is carried by our porters, as a service included in the expedition price.
For more information about what’s referred to as “the normal route,” the ‘easiest’ trek to the summit. and find more answers in our Aconcagua Packing List.
Cotopaxi summit
Ecuador is increasingly being recognized as a fantastic mountaineering destination, one of the best in the Andes, with arguably the best value. Our mountain trips feature ascents of rugged multiple volcanic peaks up to 20,000 feet.
One frequently asked question about the best times of year to trek in Ecuador. While the Ecuadorian summits can be climbed year round, some months are more favorable than others.
The best period for mountaineering is usually from September to February. We see the best combination of elements at this time to successfully run our Ecuador mountaineering treks.
July and August are not the best months. That’s firmly in the dry season, with a lot of sun, with little or no snow in the mountains, which means a much more technical, arduous, and more risky progression on glacier ice. July and August are also very windy months and it’s common to have winds of 80 to 100 km/h. Winds can be sometimes so strong that they impede the climb.
Also, it’s better to avoid March and April if you can, since these are wetter months with a thicker snow cap on the mountains. Sometimes you can get lucky when the snow is not so deep in March and April – it can be a great time to go if that’s the case. However, you run a definite risk that the snow cap may be too much, making ascents more physical, with higher risks of avalanches.
May and June are transition months: this is the end of the rainy season and beginning of the dry season. If the rainy season follows its normal course, these can be good months for climbing: the snow cap is stabilized, with beautiful sunny days & clear starry nights.
The important thing to remember is that hiking in the high peaks of Ecuador always carries some risk of variable climatic conditions and unpredictable weather changes. Therefore drastic changes can occur at any time and any month of the year. An Ecuadorian saying says that “the four seasons can be met in a single day.” Given the potential hazards and low costs of participating in treks with a certified mountain guide, there’s no reason not to book with a guide service like ours and vastly improve the overall experience.
Our 14-day Ecuadorian mountaineering trip is our most popular, and you can summit the two highest peaks in Ecuador. Our 11-day mountain trek in Ecuador is our next most popular. You can summit Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, but this is not enough time to summit Cayambe.
This blog post is by AWR collaborator Sarah Martens. Sarah and her husband Ted are currently traveling around the world in search of adventure and, along the way, sampling some of AWR’s great trips and looking for new destinations.
My husband and I were quite excited to be going on safari in Tanzania and though we knew big animals help to define the safari experience, we were still curious about what to expect.
Imagine our amazement upon entering Tarangire National Park and realizing that we could see an elephant in every direction we looked; there were dozens of elephants surrounding us. Elephants drinking in the river. Elephants in large groups under a tree. Elephants mud-wallowing to cool off. Momma elephants and their babies. Elephants along the side of the road looking at us looking at them. It was an incredible day filled with dozens of other fun sightings as well from warthogs and giraffe to lions and baboons!
Two days later, after sleeping in a mobile camp on the edge of the Seregeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, our guide got us up early for a morning game drive. Within 20 minutes of setting off from our unfenced camp, we came upon a female lion in the tall grass with three baby cubs. The cubs were hilarious to watch as they wrestled with each other and lovingly pawed at their mother as she cleaned herself up after a kill. They were so much fun to look at that we could barely tear ourselves away. When they were done showing off for our cameras, they effortlessly disappeared back into the grasses from which they came.
On another day in the Serengeti we had the opportunity to eat our lunch while overlooking a herd of thousands of wildebeest and zebras. We were fortunate to be visiting during their migration through the Serengeti and nothing can prepare you for seeing, hearing, smelling and feeling the movement of so many animals in such a small area.
We were continuously blown away by the animal encounters in these parks, not to mention the African landscapes, our well-informed guide and the unique and varied safari lodges where we got spoiled each night. Though we didn’t know what to expect as we set off on safari we quickly learned that the country’s unfenced National Parks and Conservation Areas are packed full of millions of animals who are living relatively undisturbed in the same environments that they have inhabited for thousands of years.
Tanzania has a good thing going. If you want a safari experience that will showcase Africa at its best, this is it.
Banks in Nepal will no longer be accepting Nepalese currency with portraits of Nepalese kings as of March 15, 2011. The new Nepalese currency has a picture of Mt. Everest on it and will be accepted throughout Nepal. Visitors doing a tour in Nepal are advised not to accept any currency with a picture of a king on it.
Exaple of correct Nepal currency
For many people, Tanzania is the first Third World country they have gone to. It is also very different culturally. Here are some things to be aware of, which will make your Kilimanjaro trek and Tanzania safari more enjoyable.
ELECTRICITY
Tanzania is a Third World country and is prone to rolling blackouts. Most hotels have generators, but they may not operate 24 hours a day. Some stores do not have generators, so cold drinks and ice may not be plentiful all the time.
We recommend keeping a headlamp or flashlight near your bed for nighttime bathroom visits. Charge your batteries in the early evening and in the mornings when electricity is more dependable. Bring multiple power converters if you have a lot of batteries to charge.
HOT WATER
If there is no electricity, there is no hot water. All of the safari lodges (no matter how expensive) are susceptible to a lack of hot water. You are in the bush, and all the comforts of home are not necessarily available.
BOTTLED WATER
Always use bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth. Hotels will have bottled water available, but it will be cheaper at a store. You may also want to bring a Steripen or filter if you don?t want to buy bottled water all the time to save money and the environment.
TRAFFIC
Like everywhere in the world, traffic can be a problem in Moshi, Arusha, and at the Kilimanjaro Airport. Getting places takes longer than you think. Patience is appreciated.
AFRICA TIME
Life in Tanzania just moves slower than some Westerners are used to. Be prepared to wait.
ITINERARY
We try to stick with the trip itinerary exactly as stated in your reservation confirmation. However, changes in accommodations or other unforeseen circumstances may require last minute changes to your itinerary. Also, if there is a change you would like to make, your guide may be able to accommodate your request, but not always.
SELLING HASSLES
There are many people in Tanzania trying to make a living and barely scraping by. They may hassle you buy things from them. Be firm and don?t let it upset you. Learning some Swahili can also help.
DOUBLE BEDS
Most mid-range and budget accommodations have twin beds. We can request a double/queen bed, but it doesn?t always happen. Luxury accommodations have more queen/king beds.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Like many places in the world, customer service at hotels, restaurants, and shops vary greatly. Tanzania tends to be slower and less helpful than what some people are used to.
INTERNET
The Internet in Tanzania can be very slow and very expensive. The further away you get from a major town, the slower and more expensive it gets.
HOTEL CHARGES
When you order drinks, food, Internet, laundry, or other services at a hotel, they write the charge down on a slip of paper and put it in the ?box? for your room. They will add these up when you check out. Look carefully at these slips to make sure they are all correct.
ATMS/CREDIT CARDS
ATMs are available in major towns like Moshi and Arusha, but they do not always work. Credit Cards are accepted at larger hotels, stores, and restaurants, but sometimes they are not. How?s that for uncertainty?! Check with the hotel/restaurant ahead of time to budget your cash correctly, and bring more cash than you think you need.
TIPPING
All AWR staff is paid a salary, but tips are greatly appreciated. Hotels have a tip box to cover all staff at the hotel.
SAFETY
If you are in busy areas of town or on safari during the day, you are generally safe, but be careful and smart. It is recommended that you keep your money well hidden, do not bring valuables, and do not go out at night alone.
There may not be seat belts in some of the vehicles in Tanzania….
SLOW FOOD
Restaurants in Moshi and Arusha serve lunch and dinner very slow. It can take up to an hour for food to be served after you order. If you are eating at your hotel, consider ordering ahead of time. If you are in a hurry, find a buffet or go to a coffee shop, which is faster. Or, just be prepared to relax and wait.
COMFORT FOOD
If you have particular favorite foods, you may want to bring them from home as not everything is available in Tanzania. You may also want to stop at a local convenience store on your trip to pick up comfort foods like chocolate to have on hand.
BUGS
Mosquitoes are mainly a problem during the rainy season ? April, May, and November. However, there can be mosquitoes and other bugs all year round. All hotels have mosquito nets over the beds, and tented camps have zippered screen doors and windows. You will still want to bring bug spray and keep it handy particularly in the evenings.
MONKEYS AND BIRDS
On safari, monkeys will find their way into your hotel room through an open door or window to grab any food you might have around. The lunch break areas on safari are also very popular for birds looking for a snack. Do not feed the animals, and watch out!
This blog post is by AWR collaborator Sarah Martens. Sarah and her husband Ted are currently traveling around the world in search of adventure and, along the way, sampling some of AWR’s great trips and looking for new destinations.
Ted & Sarah Martens on the summit
Though common sense and sound advice tells you to prepare yourself as much as possible before a physical undertaking as demanding as climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, my recommendation is that a little ignorance can be a good thing.
Before our climb, my husband reached out to a few friends that had climbed Kili to ask them about the hike and to hear their experiences. He got a few intimidating responses ranging from miserable altitude headaches to incredibly grueling hard work. He (thankfully!) decided that there was no good reason to share this information with me and off we went with me none the wiser.
I’m telling you this story not to discourage you but to remind you that every climber will have their own unique experience so there is no reason to obsess over the good, the bad and the ugly of any climber tales before you.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is a gigantic mountain that deserves a lot of respect but I’m confident we made it to the top not because we were in the best shape of our lives (we weren’t), or because it has been a lifelong dream of ours (it hasn’t) but because we really wanted to get up there and because we never imagined that we wouldn’t do so.
There is a lot of emphasis on summit day and getting to the top (my previous paragraphs included) but the 4 days of hiking leading up to summit day are more-than-incredible in their own right: walking through lush rainforests, seeing silhouette views of nearby Mt. Meru at sunset, camping on cliff edges overlooking spectacular valleys, walking through clouds and catching rewarding glimpses of Kili all along the way. The hiking alone is world class and THEN you get the opportunity to really challenge and reward yourself.
Glaciers near the summit
You may not want to get up at midnight to start your summit attempt – you may get cold, or a little dizzy or even wonder why you paid money to do this – but you just keep walking, putting one foot ahead of the other. And just when you want to turn around or sit down or be done with the whole thing, you can see the top in the early dawn light. The end is in sight. The pink sky is just the encouragement you need to finish what you started and get to the top. When you see the crescent of first sunlight on the horizon from the roof of Africa, everything at that moment gets a whole lot better, and man does it feel good!
A huge thanks to AWR for making this incredible opportunity possible and to our guides and porters for keeping us safe up there!
Patagonia is a vast region with a variety of striking ecosystems from the high Andes to the Atlantic coast. Visitors to this region can enjoy many outdoor activities including trekking, sea kayaking and wildlife viewing in a diverse array of spectacular landscapes.
Patagonia stretches almost 1,000 miles north to south, so visiting this region takes some careful planning. Linking up some of Patagonia’s most popular destinations is best done by air.
Where you chose to visit depends on the landscapes you wish to see and your favorite activities. Here are a few of Argentine Patagonia’s best destinations.
Peninsula Valdés: Marine Wildlife Viewing and Sea Kayaking
Peninsula Valdes Sea Kayaking
The Peninsula Valdés is located in Northern Patagonia and is considered one of the best places to view whales, sea lions and penguins. Best visited between September and April, this area is famous for viewing southern right whales and orcas. Activities around the peninsula include photographing wildlife and sea kayaking.
It is also possible to combine Peninsula Valdés with the high Andes and the Patagonian Steppe on a 15-day kayaking adventure from Bariloche to the Atlantic.
Los Glaciares National Park: Trekking and Glaciers
Los Glaciares National Park
This park and its landscapes correspond to most people’s expectations for a trip to Patagonia; its towering granite spires and glaciers inspired the logo for the well-known brand of clothing.
Visitors to the region usually fly into El Calafate. You can embark on incredible treks to Mount Fitz Roy or Cerro Torre and visit the park’s glaciers that break off into pristine lakes. For even more trekking and unforgettable vistas, trekkers should consider crossing over into Chile to visit the Torres Del Paine National Park.
Crown your Patagonian experience with a stay on an estancia (ranch) where you can explore the countryside and experience authentic local culture. Possible estancia’s include La Ernestina, a sheep ranch located on the remote northern tip of the Peninsula Valdés, and Nibepo Aike, a sheep ranch located on the Lago Argentina in the Los Glaciares National Park.
Contact us for more information about visiting Patagonia!
