Saruni Samburu

You can view original post here: http://frankparadigm.blogspot.com/2013/04/saruni-samburu.html

We headed to the dry north of Kenya into Samburuland from Nairobi. We passed panoramic views of Mt Kenya in Nanyuki and Timau. Villages of Turkana en route and then into the heart of Samburu. We were invited to visit Saruni Samburu: http://www.sarunisamburu.com/ located in the Kalama Conservancy just 7km from the northern border of Samburu National Reserve.

Kalama lies in an area of 95,000 hectares of Girgir Group Ranch in Samburu land, west of Archer's Post. With a population of only 2,000, the main livelihood in the area is livestock, mostly camels and goats. Centered around a core conservation area of 3,150 hectares, Kalama represents a crucial migratory corridor between northern and southern conservation areas of this spectacular region of Kenya. Large herds of elephants cross Kalama in their migratory routes between the different conservancies. Kalama members have coexisted with the Samburu National Reserve for over 40 years, sharing revenues and wildlife.

Northern Kenya is one of Africa's last true wilderness areas. The absence of fences makes it one of the few places left that allows for the free movement of wildlife across a vast area. A red landscape dominated by acacia-grassland mosaic, with dramatic dry upland/montane forests rising from its plains, it is home to a wide diversity of species. Inhabited by pastoral tribes with rich traditional histories that are collectively striving both to protect its ecological integrity and their own livelihoods there is no better way for visitors to experience the real Africa.

Perched on the top of the Kalama Mountains with an all-round view of Northen Kenya all the way to snow-covered Mount Kenya, Saruni Samburu is a design lodge that is introducing a fresh concept to a well-known safari destination. The lodge offers first-class safari experience in a totally un-spoilt environment, far from the beaten tracks but very close to the wildlife. There are four houses with spectacular bathrooms, a large swimming pool with dramatic view over Samburuland, a waterhole that attracts elephant, reticulated giraffe, zebra, oryx and all the species that make Kalama so special. Activities include night and morning game drives in Kalama Conservancy, visits to the caves where in the past the Samburu have painted and carved rock art during meat-eating feasts, professionally-led game walks, bush dinners and star gazing. The traditions and semi-nomadic heritage of the local Samburu people are an important part of the experience. Led by professional Samburu guides, guests enjoy the feeling of exclusivity, of having an incredibly large area totally to their own, and a high level of comfort and tailor-made service.

A great safari extension after climbing Mount Kenya!

We have a slideshow and also a short teaser video from our few days below ::

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Rekero & Naboisho

You can view original post here: http://frankparadigm.blogspot.com/2012/11/rekero-naboisho.html

The folks from Asilia: http://www.asiliaafrica.com/ expanded their portfolio into Kenya. We were invited to see their new properties, one of which, has actually been around for quite some time. Rekero Camp: http://www.asiliaafrica.com/rekero/ is actually the brainchild of Gerard Beaton & Jackson Ole Looseiya, who started the camp more than 10 years ago. The camp enjoys an extremely privileged location with a river bank out front that during the migration, will get frequent visits by herds of wildebeest and zebra. The reputation of the camp has been its guiding, professional Maasai guides that have worked together for many years. Combined with under canvas, excellent food, and friendly guides -- Rekero provides a truly authentic Masai Mara experience.

From Rekero, we headed to Nabiosho Camp: http://www.asiliaafrica.com/Naboisho/ situated in the Naboisho Conservancy (a 50,000 acre area) that lies to the far east of the Mara/Serengeti Eco system. This new exclusive eight tented camp in the unrivalled wilderness hosts a huge variety of wildlife - cats, elephants, giraffes, plains games including the rare sighted wild dogs. Naboisho Camp offers a wide range of activities, such as: Game Drives, Walking Safaris, Night Drives, Off-Roading, Cultural Tourism and Fly Camping. The game viewing was quite impressive in Naboisho, during our stay six cheetahs hunting together and pride of lions on the hunt. Now that the conservancy is more established, the game viewing must have gotten tremendously better, and from sources, we hear good sightings of wild dogs! The Mara Naboisho Conservancy is in the greater Mara region bordering the National Reserve. The conservancy provides the opportunity to conserve land (that was severely strained from herding and tourism activities), wildlife, and nature; whilst simultaneously creating wealth for local Maasai landowners. Wildlife is protected and landowners benefit financially, setting a good example for tourism and community in partnership.

These camps are a good way to combine a complete Masai Mara experience!


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Nepal - Annapurnas & Khumbu

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We are extremely happy to have started our own operations in the Himalayas this year! Our mission is to own or have significant shareholding in the ground operations of our featured destinations, so we can confidently and consistently guarantee great value on amazing trips. This also ensures we have our fingers on the pulse of local communities, and we can be a catalyst for positive change through training programs and other needs-based programs, as we have done in East Africa and now in the Himalayas. We spent over a month doing a few reconnaissance trips of the two main trekking regions of the Annapurnas and the Khumbu. This year we will return to Kathmandu and look forward to a busier season with our Nepalese business partners and support teams. What is the difference between us and other trekking companies;

• Higher client to guide ratio
• Guides & staff have over a decade experience
• Delicious food on trek, with refresher courses every season to update menus
• Portable toilets & showers on treks
• Mountain Hardware guest tents, thermarest mattress, thermal liners, pillows, -30f sleeping bags, mess tent, table & chairs
• Highest paid staff in the industry with health insurance that trickles to their families
• 24 hour response team in Kathmandu in case of emergency
• Supplemental oxygen & pulse oximeters

NEPAL DESTINATION OVERVIEW:

Come to the true home of alpine trekking in the spectacular mountain kingdom of Nepal. Slip back in time to a place with no roads and join the locals as they hike from one perched village to another, where the only traffic jams come from yak convoys on suspended bridges. Sip yak butter tea as you gaze at a Buddhist gompa and experience the legendary hospitality of the Sherpas, or revel in the colorful chaos of Hindu shrines along the Annapurna circuit, a section of the Himalayas. Watch the sun rise over the highest mountains on earth steeped in mountaineering lore and prayer flags. Whether you are in a blossoming rhododendron forest or stone-walled village, in Nepal you are blessed with a penthouse view on the roof of the world. Nepal boasts endless trekking experiences, including the unspoiled Kingdom of Mustang, the Annapurna Panorama, Langtang National Park, ancient pilgrims trails, and the famous Khumbu region where the tallest point on the planet lies, Mt Everest (27,940 ft). At the beginning and end of every trek, enjoy Kathmandu and explore Nepal’s deep ancient traditions by visiting Hindu and Buddhist shrines and temples. For those who seek even more opportunities for adventure, head to Chitwan National Park and see tigers while riding on elephants. This park bordering India is a hidden gem to see tigers and a perfect extension to any trek. A truly rich Himalayan country, people, and experience!

Our top picks for Kathmandu accommodation pre & post treks for our various specifications include;

Dwarika's Hotel: http://dwarikas.com/ | Hyatt Regency Kathmandu: http://kathmandu.regency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels-kathmandu-regency/index.jsp?null | Hotel Tibet International: http://www.hoteltibetintl.com.np/ | Radission Hotel Kathmandu: http://www.radisson.com/kathmandu-hotel-np/nepkathm | Tibet Guest House: http://www.tibetguesthouse.com/

Our top picks for Pokhara accommodation pre & post treks for our various specifications include;

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: http://www.tigermountainpokhara.com/ | Temple Tree Resort & Spa: http://www.templetreenepal.com/ | Fishtail Lodge: http://www.fishtail-lodge.com/ | Hotel Meera: http://www.hotelmeerapokhara.com/

Our top picks for Lukla accommodation pre & post treks for our various specifications include (please note there are a lot of places to stay in Khumbu, these are just a few);

Everest Summit Lodge Lukla: http://www.nepalluxurytreks.com/esl.php#2 | Yeti Mountain Home Lodge Lukla: http://www.yetimountainhome.com/ymh-lodges/ymh-lukla.html | La Villa Sherpani: http://lavillasherpani.com/ | Paradise Lodge

We had some amazing treks in Nepal, an absolutely amazing place, we are beyond excited to be able to continue to visit the Himalayas, which of course includes destinations such as Tibet, Bhutan, and the Ladakh region of India. Here are a few recommended trips http://www.adventure-international.com/trips/trekking/83/nepal-trekking/ of course each tailored to suit individual needs. We are focusing on off-the-beaten track treks using our private camps to get into areas less traveled, as most companies rely on local lodges for accommodation and hence, need to stay on the main trails.

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Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Bhutan - Paro, Punakha & Thimphu

You can view original post here: http://frankparadigm.blogspot.com/2012/11/bhutan-paro-punakha-thimphu.html

Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon, is full of culture. A mystical place, lost in time, firmly holding onto ancient customs. However, it has changed over the years, with more development and the country slowly opening its doors to more tourism. It has not turned into mass tourism, as the country requires a minimum expenditure per person. By default, there is not much backpacker tourism and some of the most luxurious lodges have set up circuits to see the country in style. We landed in Paro and headed to Uma Paro: http://www.comohotels.com/umaparo A wonderful hotel in Paro with a full spa and great cuisine. Much of the produce comes from their own organic kitchen garden and there is a partnership with local farmers from the Paro Valley. Our next day was a hike to The Tiger's Nest (normally itineraries are turned around from what we did!). This day was a steep hike to the famous Taktsang Monastery, what has today become a cultural icon for Bhutan. The temple is built on a cliff face 900 ft above the Paro Valley. A stunning and sacred temple, well worth the hike!

We were then off to Punakha via Duchu La Pass (10,334 ft). We were quite lucky in getting to see a festival and we got to meet the King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck! Very nice guy and really revered by the country. The festival was colorful, full of masks, dancing, and instruments such as the long trumpet also seen in Tibet. From the Duchu La Pass we did an insane and long downhill on bikes! It was a really fun way to get some exercise. We rode into a stunning view as the sun was going down of Punakha Dzong. The following day we went to visit Punakha Dzong, one of the larger monasteries, very impressive. We had a wonderful stay for a few nights at Amankora Punakha: http://www.amanresorts.com/amankora/home.aspx A truly spectacular hotel with spa and well-appointed suites. The food and staff were fabulous in the Aman Resorts style. (Amankora has created a series of lodges, all creatively unique and sympathetically balanced to their environment, in order to discover and comprehend the extraordinary wonders above and beneath this treasured land. The lodges are created to provide a circular pilgrimage in Bhutan’s breathtakingly spectacular central and western valleys. Most journeys start at Amankora Paro or Amankora Thimphu. The lodge in Paro is nestled among glistening conifers in a 24-suite pine forest retreat. Amankora Thimphu, raised up in a blue-pine forest of the Motithang area, sits close to the capital’s intriguing sights and traditional shops. Amankora Punakha is set in sparkling verdancy east of the Dochu La Pass and just north of the resplendent Punakha Dzong. Amankora Gangtey, set in the remote wilderness of the Phobjikha valley, offers magical views across the bird-strewn gorge and to the empowering Gangtey Goemba, a 16th century monastery. Amankora Bumthang rests adjacent to First and Second King’s palace, Wangdichholing, within the town of Jakar in the Choekhor valley, a valley sprinkled with an exotic mix of sloping pine forests, apple orchards, and restful fields of farm produce.)

Our last stop was the capital of Thimphu, the epicenter of all of Bhutan. Here, we did some last minute shopping, got to see artisans, and discovered the world of herbs and their medicinal value. Herbal medicine is a long-lasting tradition and is highly valued over Western medicine. We had a nice stay at Taj Tashi: http://www.tajhotels.com/Leisure/Taj%20Tashi,THIMPHU/default.htm A well-appointed hotel in the city with a variety of food choices, and apparently the choice of the King of Tanga as we met him in the lobby! Bhutan is an extraordinary place, still young in its adventure travel offerings. We have traversed the country and are creating some exciting trekking itineraries. One on offer now which also incorporates all the sightseeing highlights is the Haa Valley Trek: http://www.adventure-international.com/trips/trekking/81/haa-valley-trek/ For more adventurous folks we are working on offering the Snowman Trek, known to be one of the toughest treks in the Himalayas. As standard, our services are bit more beefed up and we incorporate portable toilets and other items which most basic trekking operations just don't use.

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India - Tiger Safari & Taj Mahal

You can view original post here: http://frankparadigm.blogspot.com/2012/11/india-tiger-safari-taj-mahal.html

Ultimate India Safari: http://www.adventure-international.com/trips/safaris/93/ultimate-india-safari/

INDIA PROMO:

India is a wild place to say the least. Delhi can be overwhelming and beautiful at the same time. We enjoyed our stay at The Leela Palace New Delhi: http://www.theleela.com/locations/new-delhi A very well-appointed hotel in the city, nice rooms, and of course excellent food. India certainly knows hospitality and that can be felt all over the country. We were on a trip to explore a few luxury jungle lodges in the area of Madhya Pradesh with the obvious goal of spotting tigers. Our first stop was Bandhavgarh National Park, which was a flight to Jabalpur and then a road transfer of 4 hours. Mahua Kothi Jungle Lodge: http://www.andbeyondindia.com/luxury_india/india/bandhavgarh_national_park/and_beyond_mahua_kothi_bandhavgarh_jungle_lodge/accommodation/mahua_kothi_jungle_lodge is just 10 minutes away from the entrance into Bandhavgarh. 12 jungle suites or kutiyas give a sense of privacy and seclusion. Simple sophistication, with earthy tones, wooden shutters, handmade pottery roof tiles and open rafters with rough hewn beams, envelopes you in a sense of rustic luxury. Hand woven textiles, cool stone and antique brass add sensual textures. Each kutiya is accessed through a private courtyard, where scented incense and fragrant beverages create an olfactory feast every morning. Large windows open up onto rolling lawns and brilliant bougainvilla. Mahua Kothi was a perfect homebase from which to explore Bandahvgarh. Game drives are very similar to Africa, morning & evening game drives with lunch and a siesta during the day. We were extremely lucky to see a tigress and her two cubs. Coming from an Africa background of seeing big game almost every game drive, it was important to go to India in order to manage future guests' expectations of how often people see a tiger. My calculations were roughly once in every four game drives. Therefore, as a suggestion for tiger safaris, you need at least a week to get good sightings.

From here it was off to Kanha National Park, a 6 hour road transfer from Bandhavgarh. (soon there will be a schedule charter circuit, as for now, private planes are a bit expensive). Banjaar Tola Tented Camp: http://www.andbeyondindia.com/luxury_india/india/kanha_national_park/and_beyond_banjaar_tola_kanha_tented_camp is a great contrast, as the tented camp sits overlooking the Banjaar River in Kanha. Just 18 lightweight tented suites are spread out along the riverbank and into the sal forest. Contemporary, flowing shapes, canvas walls and roofs, and immense glass doors that let in the Indian sky create an atmosphere that is light and ethereal. In the silence of the night, listen to the jungle sounds floating across the river from the comfort of your tented suite. Admire stunning river views from the privacy of your own veranda or share the experiences of the day on dramatic decks facing the Banjaar River. Banjaar Tola was another great homebase from which to explore Kanha, a game park from which Disney's jungle book was inspired from. Again, we were very lucky to get a long sighting of a tigress. Additionally, we were able to see a leopard, it was too fast to get a photo, but we definitely saw a good spotting, the leopard looked at us and walked away. The fur seemed much thicker and richer colors than its African counterpart. Another great sighting was the swamp deer, only endemic to Kanha. Here, we also got to see a tiger on elephant back. We enjoyed cooking classes from the chef, but unfortunately, my chicken tikka masala is still not that good!

Our last quick stop was heading to Agra to see the Taj Mahal (highly recommended). We flew back to Delhi and straight away drove 4 hours to Agra. We had a great stay at The Oberoi Amarvillas: http://www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_amarvilas/index.asp Probably the most strategically placed hotel in the area. In the morning, we were quickly taken to the entrance of the Taj Mahal by golf cart and we were in the first 20 people in line to get in. The Taj Mahal is beautiful, one can easily take hundreds of photographs of this masterpiece (image set below). We drove back to Delhi and we were on our way to Bhutan!

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Singita Pamushana Lodge

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One of Africa’s best-kept secrets, Singita Pamushana Lodge is found within the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in south-eastern Zimbabwe. Nestling beneath the trees, the lodge incorporates the natural environment and the forest-like architecture enhances views of the pool, the lush gardens and the lake below. Pamushana Lodge comprises six luxury suites and one villa, each offering incredible views of the Malilangwe dam.

Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve is teeming with birds and wildlife, including rare and endangered species – such as the Roan and sable antelope, and the black rhino. Famous for its cathedral Mopane forests and majestic ‘upside-down’ Baobab trees, Malilangwe is an area where you will also find over 100 rock sites that date back more than 2,000 years.

I had the pleasure of visiting Zimbabwe for the first time, and heading to Malilangwe Game Reserve, where Singita has built a stunning lodge. This place is stand-alone an ultimate safari experience or a perfect way to end a safari in Zimbabwe combining other attractions such as Mana Pools, etc  There is also a direct connection to a nearby airstrip from Johannesburg for those that want to connect that way. The game viewing experiences were phenomenal, the wine cellar incredible, the service top-notch, and overall, a wonderful place, very off the beaten track. Essentially, a game reserve all your to yourself with the Big Five animals! Activities on offer are walks, traditional game drives, and biking -- other options include yoga, massage, tennis, and golf.

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Venezuela - Angel Falls & Roraima

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DESTINATION SUMMARY:

Welcome to Venezuela, home of dramatic mesas, enormous waterfalls, tropical beaches, and controversial political leaders. The striking country has Caribbean islands, tropical beaches and Amazonian jungle within its borders. Here you will enjoy a high biodiversity index, the world’s longest waterfall, and a lost world of carnivorous plants and unique animals only found atop gigantic, geological tabletop formations called tepuis.

The tepuis of the Canaima National Park are considered some of the oldest geological formations on Earth, dating back two billion years ago and worthy of investigation. Local indigenous legend states that Roraima, the tallest of these mysterious formations, represents the stump of a felled tree that was once a source of fruit and vegetables to the world. The journey up Roraima, the tallest of these mysterious tepuis bordering Guyana and Brazil, gives testament to the grandiose nature of these bizarre but remarkable formations. Continue your adventure by charter plane and dug out canoe into lush Canaima National Park; this stunning backdrop is the ideal point to launch into the deep jungles by boat to explore and visit the world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls, where you will marvel at the sight of water coming out of a tepuis that plunges 2,600 ft. This really is a true adventure seekers journey of a lifetime.

Roraima Trek & Angel Falls: http://www.adventure-international.com/trips/trekking/85/roraima-and-angel-falls/

Our trip to Venezuela was incredible. Starting off in the city of Caracas, we ventured out to local nightclubs and restaurants. Lots of salsa dancing and cuba libres (rum & coke). The city is alive but you really need to know where you are going and be with a good chaperone, because as you have heard, Caracas can be dangerous i.e. kidnappings if not careful. Our accommodation was the Intercontinental Tamanco Caracas: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/caracas a well-appointed hotel in the city. On this particular trip, we flew to Los Roques Archipelago National Park. The park consists of 350 islands, located 80km north of La Guaira, and has an area of 221,120 hectares making it the largest marine park in the Caribbean sea. Being an almost untouched reef, lots of visitors come to anchor their yachts in the shallow waters. The park also protects one of the highest quality coral reefs with respect to species biodiversity. Using one of the local posadas in town, we spent a few days on a private catamaran exploring the islands.

Our next stop was a flight to Canaima National Park, the gateway to Angel Falls. The backdrop was stunning with massive waterfalls and tepuis  (massive geological formations similar to tabletops). We had the opportunity to walk behind Sapo Falls and feel the energy of the rushing curtain of water. Our lodge was a more simpler place, but I would recommend Waku Lodge: http://www.wakulodge.com/index.asp?lang=eng All of the places are along the river with great views and are the launch point towards Angel Falls. The trip to Angel Falls can be a day excursion with an early morning wake up call or you can depart a bit later and actually stay the night by the falls in a rustic covered camp with hammocks. On this trip we opted to stay out by the falls. The boat ride to Angel Falls takes a few hours and the landscape is incredible, really seems like a land before time. Eventually you see the profile of a massive waterfall spilling out of a tepui and there you have it --- Angel Falls, the longest waterfall in the world. Its recommended to hike to the Laime viewpoint about 2 hours of easy jungle hiking. The Laime viewpoint has amazing views of the falls from below and has some pools to swim in created by the falls themselves, before they spill into the river further on down below. However you do it, getting to and seeing Angel Falls is a true adventure!

When the rest of our group left, we decided to continue on and trek Roraima, the largest tepui in the world, known as 'The Lost World'. A term I really couldn't relate with until I discovered for myself what this place was. We decided to take an overnight bus to Santa Elena, it was our only choice at the time given to our timeframe. We were woken up several times along the way by the military and inspected. I do not recommend taking the bus, its long and unnecessary as there are flights that connect from Caracas or other areas. Upon arrival we were met by our guide and transferred by vehicle to the starting point. The porters and all of us geared up and we were off to the first camp. What is so unique to this trek is the ability to have a natural shower at each place. We took a dip in the river and bathed with biodegradable soap. Sleeping is in tents and for our treks we provide portable toilet as well. Normally, the following day would be hiking to Roraima base camp, but since we were on a time crunch, we ate lunch at base camp, and then went for the summit - it was a long day but doable. Hiking along the tepui wall (440 m) tall cliff was beautiful, filling up our water bottles from the water that falls from the cliff. This must be the cleanest water on earth, being filtered by the mountain itself. What came to be at the top was fascinating, with black lichen algae rocks that looked like a world of volcanic formations. The species of plants and animals are endemic to the tepui including carnivorous plants and toads. Our next day was a full day of exploring the massive tepui that shares borders with Guyana and Brazil. The caves with waterfalls had translucent colors and this place seemed like a wonderland. The tepui was like a hallucinogenic dream, something out of this world. We hiked to the tallest point, Maverick Rock at 9,219 ft and ended the day in pools with crystals and took a nice bath. We of course had to head down, but not without one last mountain cappuccino as we called them (basically frothing powdered milk with hot water and a whisk) - genius. Eventually, we got back down near first camp with stunning panoramic views of Roraima to reflect on the trek. This was easily one of the most interesting treks we had been on, a top favorite! Venezuela is a dynamic place, and we didn't even get to see the Andes and do some real mountain climbing.

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Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.