Madeira has a complete package and a tourist can enjoy the warm and lively beaches or they can go visiting all the historical sites. Some of the major activities that a tourist can do in Madeira are given bellow:

Scuba diving

The water of Madeira is clear and warm and is ideal for the inhabitation of a wide variety of aquatic species. Dolphins and colouful fishes also are attracted to these waters. This is quite a spectacle and so diving into these waters is an amazing experience. A person can witness all the beauties of the aquatic life and can even capture these moments in an underwater camera. Some of the major diving sites in Madeira are; Funchal, Canico de Baixo. Diving classes are also open in these areas where they provide diving courses for everyone.

Dolphin spotting

Madeira is an island in the mid section of the Atlantic Ocean. This attracts creatures like Dolphins and Whale to stop off at the island. Madeira is surrounded by deep waters and is a hot spot for spotting dolphins and also whales. Boat safari allows you to witness the Dolphins and whales in their natural habitat and helps you to learn more about them.

Balloon trip

The balloon trip gives you a great view of the whole island from above. Areas like Funchal have panoramic balloons that go up to a height of 150 metres and give a view of the whole town. It gives an absolutely magnificent experience and is quite entertaining. The museum located in the base station also has a fascinating history behind it and is good for visiting.

Cable car riding

Cable cars and elevators that offer great scenery are built in Madeira and helps you to access rugged terrains. It offers incredible view of the whole landscape. They offer great rides and also allows you to take great scenic photographs and allows you to explore remote areas.

Galleon Sailing

Sailing excursion allows the visitors to experience the life in ocean. It gives you an experience of the sailors of the 15th century. The whole trip offers magnificent view. The galleon is built in the old fashion style and is a replica of the ship used by Christopher Columbus. The ship sails around the south coast of Madeira.

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If you are interested in a life changing experience you want to consider one of ten African Conservation Experience projects in South Africa and Botswana. Volunteers can visit any project from two to 12 weeks, making them ideal for part of a gap year.

African Conservation Experience was the first UK company to offer this kind of interactive conservation adventure and its expert team consists of highly qualified conservationists, botanists and biologists, setting the company apart from its competition.

Activities on these projects are diverse and exciting. Volunteers find themselves face-to-face with wild buffalo or school children, hand-rearing baby warthogs and lioncubs, identifying dangerous species, learning how to drive a 4×4 or shooting a rifle in the bush, horse-riding by moonlight and sleeping out under the stars to the background noise of lions and hyenas.

Tasha Craft, a volunteer at the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, South Africa, says: “With African Conservation Experience I achieved more than I could dream possible: I raised a baby cheetah called Porsche who slept in my hut at night along with a baby jackal, a warthog, two sun weavers and occasionally a lion cub! Not a day goes by where I don’t apply something I learned about myself and the world around me.”

Two weeks start at £995 pp including accommodation, all meals and all project-related costs. Flight inclusive packages are also available.

For more information call 0870 241 5816 or visit their website at www.conservationafrica.net.

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A year on since Expert Africa, the UK’s leading specialist to southern Africa, started listing Independent Traveller Reviews on its website, it has received several thousand reviews from its travellers after their trips. And, extraordinarily, this feedback is completely uncut – good or bad, in brilliant or broken English, it’s displayed in black and white on www.expertafrica.com.

This feedback is intended to help to provide future travellers with reasonable expectations.

For instance, seasoned explorers of the rare and remote will often love locations where the accommodation is basic at best. Places where infrastructure is embryonic are surrounds to be savoured for some; to others, they’re best circumvented. Expert Africa’s aim is not to persuade or be pushy, but rather to pay attention, and provide potential travellers with the knowledge needed to make their own decisions.

Chris McIntyre, MD of Expert Africa and author of four Bradt Travel Guides (Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zanzibar), comments: “Expert Africa has always listened and learnt from its travellers; now we have an archive of this collective recent experience which prospective clients can access directly. Our brochure and website provide candid descriptions of everywhere we feature, but the client reviews build on this – offering a variety of different points of view about the camps, lodges and hotels from travellers who we have sent to stay there. Simply, our philosophy is the more information we can display, the better.”

Expert Africa prides itself on being straight-forward, hence it has even published a review entitled ‘The Holiday from Hell’. The clients in question had real problems with their trip, but later observed in their comments that “this was the wrong holiday at the wrong time” for them, attributing their dissatisfaction largely to the stress and tiredness they suffered immediately prior to their trip. In a happy turnaround, they are intending to travel with Expert Africa to the Cape this year!

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My Mercedes is Not For Sale, by Jeroen Van Bergeijk is published on 8 August, and Plans2Travel are delighted to say that we have got our hands on a copy to giveaway to one our readers.

Capturing a young journalist’s intrepid endeavour, My Mercedes Is Not for Sale is more than an adventure—it is a rowdy, witty and insightful tale of an innocent abroad, which captures the high-spirited journey of a young journalist and paints a vivid portrait of West Africa through a surprise-filled journey into its thriving car cult.

“Look, there’s my car,” I say, pointing at my Mercedes in the parking lot.
“Where?” a fellow desert traveler asks.
“There, that Mercedes,” I say.
He looks at me, questioning. “You want to drive that through the Sahara?”

It seemed like a great idea to Van Bergeijk to travel and make a quick profit: buy a decrepit car in his native Amsterdam and resell it in the Third World, where a market even for old bangers still thrives. Jeroen’s chariot of choice is a rusted-out 1988 Mercedes 190D with 220,000 kilometres on the clock; his route will take him from Holland through Morocco, across the Sahara, and into some of the least trodden parts of Africa.

Armed with a bar of soap, some duct tape and a pair of women’s tights, he has all the essentials needed to survive thousands of miles from civilization.

My Mercedes Is Not for Sale is a rollicking tale of an innocent abroad. The author finds himself facing a driving challenge akin to the Dakar Rally but encounters obstacles never dreamed of by race-car drivers: active minefields, occasional banditry - mostly by the border guards - and a teenage, chain-smoking desert guide with a fondness for Tupac lyrics. Food and water are scarce, sandstorms are frequent, and then there’s the coup just as he’s so nearly there…

Here is a video trailer to whet your appetite:

You can visit the website of the book at www.mijnmercedes.nl.

To enter the competition all you need is to sign up for our travel newsletter.

If you can’t wait to see if you win, you can purchase the book by clicking on the link below:

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Tanzania is divided into various regions like Northwest Tanzania, Northeast Tanzania, Southeast Tanzania, Central Tanzania, Zanzibar and Southern Islands. Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s capital city and also serves as an important port. Generally, Dar es Salaam forms the starting point for the tourists for all trips and tours of Tanzania. It is in the vicinity of Mount Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and Dodoma and there are ample lovely beaches at a short distance, including the Mbwa Maji, Mjimwena and Kunduchi. The tribal diversity of Tanzania is quite dramatic and prized with nearly 120 tribes residing in the country. Tanzania lays great emphasis on its highly valued multicultural heritage.

Along with wildlife and adventure tourism, Tanzania has become a significant destination for cultural and heritage tourism. The most renowned tribe of Tanzania is the Masaai and it is found in the country’s northern area. The tribal life of the Masaai focuses on the care and protection of cattle herds. The other famous Tanzanian cities include Bagamoyo, Arusha, Moshi, Iringa, Mbeya and Tukuyu.

The tourists can climb Mount Kilimanjaro with the help of guides. The various national parks of Tanzania are Gombe National Park, Arusha National Park, Rubondo National Park, Ruaha National Park, Kilimanjaro National Park, Serengeti National Park, Mikumi National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park and Saadani National Park. Other must sees in Tanzania are Olduvai Gorge and Ngorongoro Crater in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The tourists must also visit the Mount Kyejo, Mount Rungwe, Lake Masoko, Koporogwe Falls, God’s Bridge and Ngzoi Crater Lake while in Tanzania.

Tanzania is a great bonanza for the wildlife enthusiasts as it is home to nearly 35 big mammal species like zebra, wildebeest, lions, buffalo, elephants, hippopotamuses, leopards, cheetahs, gazelles and warthogs etc. You may be lucky to spot a rhino in the Selous Game Reserve. Tanzania is the best destination in the world for wildlife safaris. The birdwatchers are also in for a big treat at Tanzania, as one can get to see extensive birdlife. The tourists can make trips to Msasani, the fishing village to see the 17th century tombs. At Kilwa Kliswani, you will be able to see the ruins of Arab and Portuguese architecture. The tourists can indulge in activities like fishing, snorkeling, shell fishing and diving at Sinda and Mbudya Islands. Zanzibar is famous as the jewel of the Indian Ocean and is an excellent destination in Tanzania and famous for its legacy of slavery and spices.

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Suriname has dense cover of tropical rain forests along with a terrain of rolling hills, swamps and coastal plains. It is also blessed with varied and diverse plant and animal life. This makes it a boon for the nature lovers and naturalists. Suriname has a tropical climate and the highest point is Juliana Top at 1,230 m. The country is sparsely populated along the coastline.

Suriname is the smallest country in the northern region of South America. It was earlier the colony of Dutch Guiana or Netherlands Guiana. Suriname is also the smallest independent nation in the continent of South America. In the northern area, it has a coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean. On the other side it is bordered by French Guiana, Brazil and Guyana. Suriname is divided into ten districts for the purpose of administration. These ten districts include Brokopondo, Coronie, Commewijne, Nickerie, Marowijne, Paramribo, Para, Sipaliwini, Saramacca and Wanica. The main cities of Suriname are Paramribo-the capital city, Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paranam and Wageningen.

Getting In and Around Suriname

The tourist ought to ensure about the visa papers being in proper order. There is a daily flight of KLM Airlines from Amsterdam. Recently, Martinair has started flights to Paramribo twice in a week and this is a cheaper alternative. Suriname has no train services. Suriname is accessible by road from Guyana and the tourists can take mini-buses. There is also a regular ferry service across the river between Suriname and Guyana. Traveling in Suriname is costly as tourism is still in its infancy. The tourism expenses will work out to be much higher than your regular American and European holidays.

Tourists Interests in Suriname

Suriname has plentiful nature reserves and parks like the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, Raleighvallen Nature Reserve, Brownsberg Park and Galibi Nature Reserve. The other tourist attractions are Awarradam, Palumeu, Kasikasima, Bigi Pan or Nickerie, Cola kreek, Carolina Creek, Baboen hol, Blaka Watra, Matapica, Stuwmeer White Beach and Palumeu Republiek.

The Central Suriname Nature Reserve or CSNR is an excellent place that preserves Earth’s most ancient, remote and untouched wilderness. This reserve is a linking corridor for 3 of the most significant protected regions of Central Suriname – Tafelberg Nature Reserve in central area, Eilerts de Hann Gebergte Nature Reserve in the southern area and Raleighvallen Nature Reserve in the northern area. There are many endemic species of plants and animals in this reserve. Suriname is concentrating its efforts on conservation, ecotourism and sustainable development. Unique tourists facilities are being developed on Foengoe Island located within the CSNR complex and this is going to be a premier ecotourism destination in the near future.

Raleighvallen Nature Reserve has achieved international fame for being a monkey and bird paradise. You will get to see nearly more than 400 bird species in addition to parrots, macaws and toucans. The headquarters and tourist lodges of the reserve are situated on Fungo Island. The tourists must visit the interesting Voltzberg Mountain. Galibi Nature Reserve is world renowned for being the nesting site for endangered species of sea turtles. The Brownsberg Park is easily accessible by car. Enjoy the lovely waterfalls, forests, jungle sounds, rains, gushing streams, beaches and islands and please yourself to the hilt in the lap of nature in Suriname.

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Tanzania is divided into various regions like Northwest Tanzania, Northeast Tanzania, Southeast Tanzania, Central Tanzania, Zanzibar and Southern Islands. Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s capital city and also serves as an important port. Generally, Dar es Salaam forms the starting point for the tourists for all trips and tours of Tanzania. It is in the vicinity of Mount Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and Dodoma and there are ample lovely beaches at a short distance, including the Mbwa Maji, Mjimwena and Kunduchi. The tribal diversity of Tanzania is quite dramatic and prized with nearly 120 tribes residing in the country. Tanzania lays great emphasis on its highly valued multicultural heritage.

Along with wildlife and adventure tourism, Tanzania has become a significant destination for cultural and heritage tourism. The most renowned tribe of Tanzania is the Masaai and it is found in the country’s northern area. The tribal life of the Masaai focuses on the care and protection of cattle herds. The other famous Tanzanian cities include Bagamoyo, Arusha, Moshi, Iringa, Mbeya and Tukuyu.

The tourists can climb Mount Kilimanjaro with the help of guides. The various national parks of Tanzania are Gombe National Park, Arusha National Park, Rubondo National Park, Ruaha National Park, Kilimanjaro National Park, Serengeti National Park, Mikumi National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park and Saadani National Park. Other must sees in Tanzania are Olduvai Gorge and Ngorongoro Crater in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The tourists must also visit the Mount Kyejo, Mount Rungwe, Lake Masoko, Koporogwe Falls, God’s Bridge and Ngzoi Crater Lake while in Tanzania.

Tanzania is a great bonanza for the wildlife enthusiasts as it is home to nearly 35 big mammal species like zebra, wildebeest, lions, buffalo, elephants, hippopotamuses, leopards, cheetahs, gazelles and warthogs etc. You may be lucky to spot a rhino in the Selous Game Reserve. Tanzania is the best destination in the world for wildlife safaris. The birdwatchers are also in for a big treat at Tanzania, as one can get to see extensive birdlife. The tourists can make trips to Msasani, the fishing village to see the 17th century tombs. At Kilwa Kliswani, you will be able to see the ruins of Arab and Portuguese architecture. The tourists can indulge in activities like fishing, snorkeling, shell fishing and diving at Sinda and Mbudya Islands. Zanzibar is famous as the jewel of the Indian Ocean and is an excellent destination in Tanzania and famous for its legacy of slavery and spices.

Travel Junkie? Bookmark Or Share!

Suriname has dense cover of tropical rain forests along with a terrain of rolling hills, swamps and coastal plains. It is also blessed with varied and diverse plant and animal life. This makes it a boon for the nature lovers and naturalists. Suriname has a tropical climate and the highest point is Juliana Top at 1,230 m. The country is sparsely populated along the coastline.

Suriname is the smallest country in the northern region of South America. It was earlier the colony of Dutch Guiana or Netherlands Guiana. Suriname is also the smallest independent nation in the continent of South America. In the northern area, it has a coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean. On the other side it is bordered by French Guiana, Brazil and Guyana. Suriname is divided into ten districts for the purpose of administration. These ten districts include Brokopondo, Coronie, Commewijne, Nickerie, Marowijne, Paramribo, Para, Sipaliwini, Saramacca and Wanica. The main cities of Suriname are Paramribo-the capital city, Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paranam and Wageningen.

Getting In and Around Suriname

The tourist ought to ensure about the visa papers being in proper order. There is a daily flight of KLM Airlines from Amsterdam. Recently, Martinair has started flights to Paramribo twice in a week and this is a cheaper alternative. Suriname has no train services. Suriname is accessible by road from Guyana and the tourists can take mini-buses. There is also a regular ferry service across the river between Suriname and Guyana. Traveling in Suriname is costly as tourism is still in its infancy. The tourism expenses will work out to be much higher than your regular American and European holidays.

Tourists Interests in Suriname

Suriname has plentiful nature reserves and parks like the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, Raleighvallen Nature Reserve, Brownsberg Park and Galibi Nature Reserve. The other tourist attractions are Awarradam, Palumeu, Kasikasima, Bigi Pan or Nickerie, Cola kreek, Carolina Creek, Baboen hol, Blaka Watra, Matapica, Stuwmeer White Beach and Palumeu Republiek.

The Central Suriname Nature Reserve or CSNR is an excellent place that preserves Earth’s most ancient, remote and untouched wilderness. This reserve is a linking corridor for 3 of the most significant protected regions of Central Suriname – Tafelberg Nature Reserve in central area, Eilerts de Hann Gebergte Nature Reserve in the southern area and Raleighvallen Nature Reserve in the northern area. There are many endemic species of plants and animals in this reserve. Suriname is concentrating its efforts on conservation, ecotourism and sustainable development. Unique tourists facilities are being developed on Foengoe Island located within the CSNR complex and this is going to be a premier ecotourism destination in the near future.

Raleighvallen Nature Reserve has achieved international fame for being a monkey and bird paradise. You will get to see nearly more than 400 bird species in addition to parrots, macaws and toucans. The headquarters and tourist lodges of the reserve are situated on Fungo Island. The tourists must visit the interesting Voltzberg Mountain. Galibi Nature Reserve is world renowned for being the nesting site for endangered species of sea turtles. The Brownsberg Park is easily accessible by car. Enjoy the lovely waterfalls, forests, jungle sounds, rains, gushing streams, beaches and islands and please yourself to the hilt in the lap of nature in Suriname.

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Uruguay is South America’s next smallest country after Suriname. It has a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean on the southern side. Uruguay is situated like a diamond in an upside down position between Argentina and Brazil. It is also the smallest Spanish-speaking nation of South America. The tourists looking for an extra bit of adventure and off the beaten track destination must surely take a Uruguay vacation. Uruguay comprises of 19 departments. The capital city is Montevideo. The other important cities of Uruguay are Colonia de Sacramento, Chuy, Juan Lacaze, Fray Bentos, Nueva Palmira, La Paloma, Paysandu, Piriapolis, Punta del Este and Salto.

The meaning of Uruguay is a river of colorful birds and it is based on the name of Guyana or Arawak Guyana, the region of many waters. The landscape of Uruguay is mainly a low lying one. The highest point of the country is Cerro Catedral at a height of 514 m. Uruguay enjoys a subtropical climate.

Gaucho Country

As Uruguay mainly comprises of grasslands, it is rightly called the cowboy country or Gaucho Country. The complete prairie terrain is wind blown and an untamed one and the vacationers can join in the ranch activities or just relax on the estancias and ranches to see time pass by. Most of the ranches in Uruguay have opened up ample opportunities for tourism.

Reaching Uruguay and Getting Around

Montevideo has an international airport and there are connecting flights of the Uruguayan airline, Pluna from Madrid and Sao Paulo. American Airlines operates a direct flight from Miami city to Montevideo in the winter season of North America. Montevideo has limited services of commuter trains and the tourist trains do not follow fixed timings. The highways in Uruguay are quite good and car travel is quite comfortable. Convenient bus services are available from different Brazilian cities. Uruguay is easily accessible by ferries from Buenos Aires in Argentina. The tourists can comfortably explore Uruguay by way of buses, taxis and hitch hiking.

Tourist Attractions in Uruguay

The places of tourist interest in Uruguay are aplenty. The capital city of Montevideo is full of colonial plazas, beaches, restaurants, outdoor cafes, casinos and nightclubs. Punta del Este is the southernmost tip of Uruguay in the shape of a finger. It is highly popular among the tourists and overflows in the summer season from December to March.

The adventure lovers can explore the Gaucho Country on horsebacks. You can spend a day or night at the converted ranches and estancias. Rio de la Plata can be reached by taking a ferry ride and you will get to see the oldest church of Uruguay in Colonia del Sacramento. The places worth watching here include the only bull ring of Uruguay, Plaza de Toros, a fortress, historic center and contraband port. This complex is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The tourists must see the beaches on the southern coastline along the Atlantic Ocean like the Cabo Polonio, Fortaleza de Santa Teresa and Punta del Diablo. The birdwatchers are in for a treat at Rocha.

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South Africa has recognized the need for responsible tourism and promoted this concept. A White Paper on “Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa” was published in 1996, followed by the production of national policy Guidelines for Responsible Tourism in 2001-2002. Many tour operators have developed a network with a mission for improving tourism industry’s sustainability. There is an organization called PIRT or Partners in Responsible Tourism, which works for responsible tourism. It is a network of people and tourism company representatives, who share a common interest in and concern for adventure travel, ecotourism, tourism development and effect of tourism on the local cultures, people and environment.

There are many more such organizations like The Responsible Tourism Partnership, United Nations Environment Programme, The Travel Foundation and ResponsibleTravel.com that are contributing efforts for responsible tourism. There are many awards also constituted for people and organizations that are working for the cause of responsible tourism. The Cape Town Declaration in 2002 has been quite instrumental in combining the social, environmental and economic development along with responsible tourism in various destinations.

The tourists also can contribute to this concept of responsible tourism in many ways. They can either undergo a training program for the same purpose or get involved in some way or the other to help the local population. Take cheaper modes of travel and make use of the local companies of South Africa for all tourism purposes. Biodegradable products can be used and also be wise in using the limited resources like fuels, electricity and water. The local habitats and wildlife can be preserved by respecting and following the regulations and rules. Do not buy products that are produced from endangered species. Show and give due respect to the local culture, people and customs and traditions.

One of the ways in which you can involve in responsible tourism is by going on a tour of lion monitoring expedition in South Africa. It includes the aspects of wildlife conservation and volunteering. This is perfectly suitable for tourists that are adventurous and really care for the environment. This is a research programme and it is a unique opportunity to learn and contribute. You will gain knowledge and training from trained professionals and experts. You will do the actual research also. The money that you are paying for this tour goes as funds for the research program. Do take this opportunity of a lifetime.

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