November 17th, 2009
Special Place: Lesotho
Getting WAY off the beaten path in luxurious style at the Maliba Mountain Lodge
Located in the Tsehlanyane National Park in the mountainous, landlocked country of Lesotho (entirely surrounded by South Africa),you’ll find Maliba Mountain Lodge. This luxury lodge overlooks a pristine sub-alpine wilderness valley, deep in the heart of Lesotho’s impressive mountains.
Why we like it:
- You’re no where near any tourist trodden path
- Views, views, views!
- Ahhh… the luxury and privacy: 6 large comfy chalets each with a fireplace, sunken bath with mountain views, heated floors, bed blankets with unbelievably soft linen and private porches
- Great hiking and horseback riding, right outside your chalet door
- Just one hour from a ski resort!
November 12th, 2009
Mad Dash & Teva Shoes Coupon
THANK GOODNESS FOR “CARRY ON ONLY” AND MY TEVAS
Stepping off my very delayed flight from Quebec City to Montreal, the Air Canada rep said I would miss my connecting flight- the last flight out for the evening. The flight was departing in 20 minutes from another concourse and I was told that it takes a minimum of 35 minutes just to get to that concourse as one has to go through security again and then US Immigration and Customs (I know… its backwards! You go through US Immigration and Customs as you depart Montreal- I swear!). The gate was at least ½ mile and a handful of escalators away and was departing in 20 minutes so they said I should go to the customer service desk and see how they could get me home the next day. The customer service rep looked at the computer, read that I hadn’t checked any bags, saw that there was a slight delay with the flight and said, “run!” and literally typed into the computer: “on her way… running!”
I sprinted off and after lots of panting and miraculously, no lines at security or Customs, I made it ot the gate in 20 minutes and was greeted by the agent who read the computer screen and said, “oh… you’re the one whose been sprinting to get here.”
Thanks to my Teva shoes and Eagle Creek 22” roller bag, I got to sleep in my own bed at home that night!
Right now TEVA.com is offering Global Sojourners an exclusive 15% any shoe purchase off their website! Catch your next flight in comfort…just enter the coupon code: GlobalSojourns at the checkout. Offer good through 12/31/2010.
Photo by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crashingwaves/ / CC BY 2.0
October 23rd, 2009
Packing for Ecuador (& Peru)
Packing for Ecuador can be a little tricky because of the diverse spectrum of environments you will encounter, ranging from high altitudes to dense jungle. Here is my personal packing list for a 12 day trip to help give you an idea of what you will need (everything fit in my Eagle Creek carry-on luggage):
For the Andes and Quito…
- 3 pair long black pants- all active wear and of different
- weight/warmth (for traveling, hiking, the city)
- 1 lightweight fleece sweater that zips up in the front
- 2 long-sleeved basic shirts (1 white, 1 black)- very comfy
(polyester/lycra blend; ContourWear)
- 2 zip-neck t-neck shirts (polyester) that work as a 1st or 2nd layer
and can be worn as a general shirt
- 1 cashmere long-sleeved t-shirt sweater
- 1 short-sleeved t-shirt (Exoffico; cotton/rayon)
- 1 zip-neck t-neck pullover (2nd layer; polyester)
- silk long underwear (pants and top)
- vest (windproof material)
Continue reading…
September 18th, 2009
Burke Family Trip to Namibia
Itinerary
- 1 night- Windhoek, Namibia
- 3 nights- Wolwedans Dune Lodge, Namib Rand Reserve, Namibia
- 3 nights- Kwara Camp- Okavango Delta, Botswana
- 3 nights- Lebala Camp- Linyanti, Botswana
Reflections from Debra Burke:
As a group we were senior parents, not-far-from- mid-life “kids” and their spouses, and an adult grandchild (seven of us in total). We left different corners of the US to fly up to Wolwedans Dunes Camp in the Namib Rand Nature Reserve in Namibia, where we spent three nights; then flew on to two Kwando Safari camps in Botswana (Kwara Camp in the Okavango Delta next to Moremi Game Reserve, and Lebala Camp adjacent to the headwaters of the Linyanti marshes that form the boundary between Botswana and Namibia).We spent three nights in each of the Kwando Safari camps.
September 14th, 2009
Ecuador: Check It Out
Ecuador is a country that we love as a travel destination because of the wide and unique variety of landscapes and experiences, the scenic beauty and the warm, friendly people.
Highlights include: swimming with sharks, sea lions and turtles in the Galapagos, the lush beauty of the Andes, excursions to the Amazon and the splendid hacienda accommodations.
Check out some pictures and what some our sojourners had to say about their recent visit.
September 14th, 2009
Responsible Sojourner: South Africa
After the acclaim of Slumdog Millionaire, interest has been stirred in what is being called “slum tourism.” Touring the poorest areas in cities throughout places like India, Africa and Mexico has raised questions concerning whether or not this kind of tourism is ethical and ways to transform it into a respectful, mutually beneficial and educational endeavor.
For Global Sojourns, we want clients to have a deeper experience with the places they visit and we are very sensitive as to how to responsibly accomplish this. We have recently partnered with Uthando in Cape Town, a non-profit that provides clients with a great overview of the political and social context of the townships and the community organizations within the townships working for change. Part of the tour cost is given back to these community organizations, and tours are run sparingly to avoid disruption.
Learn more about Uthando
Read more: Slumming It: Can Slum Tourism be Done Right?
September 14th, 2009
Listen Up Ladies
Grab your gal pals for the ultimate all women’s safari adventure. Take in the variety of game viewing and accommodations this customized itinerary has to offer– from exploring the Okavango Delta in mokoros, going on night drives in 4×4s to kicking back on the deck of an all-inclusive houseboat. Date set for May 9th-21st, 2010. View itinerary.
September 11th, 2009
Houser’s Excellent Adventure
Family Travel in Southern Africa
Don Houser and his family visited southern Africa in June 2009, taking in the sights of Victoria Falls, the Chobe National Park area, Ichobezi Houseboat, and Johannesburg.
Terri Houser recounts: “…we were headed toward the banks of the Chobe and as we approached in our jeep, so did a herd of elephants. We were driving down the trail when a mother elephant took a stance against our vehicle and wouldn’t let us pass. Our driver remained calm, and began to rev the engine. She still wouldn’t let us pass. This went on for a few minutes, until she finally backed down. Our guide said that he expected her to back down a bit sooner. Phew! We were able to go safely on our way.”
For an overview of Terri’s first experience in Africa with her family, continue reading…
July 16th, 2009
Client Photo Favorite
Don Eidam with a local boy in Tanzania.
Don, his wife Ellie and their three children traveled to northern Tanzania and Zanzibar for 3 weeks in December 2008. During their trip it was amazing how they reached out and connected with the Tanzanian people- playing soccer, exchanging stories, bringing medical supplies, and meeting them with respect and interest. It was an unforgettable trip- for the family and for those they met!
photo source: Madie Eidam
July 16th, 2009
Travel Log: Southern Africa
Aley Hasson travels with the Global Sojourns Giving Circle to Southern Africa for the first time. Read her 2008 travel log below…
The driver had just told us of his recent trip to Malawi to show his wife what real poverty looked like. Looking out the van’s window, during the first moments after arriving in Johannesburg I came across the first of many questions during my time in southern Africa. Right in front of me, the poverty was as clear as day, an arm’s length away as we drove through the city. The surrounding unfamiliarity had suddenly hit me—unsettled, I wanted to know more. It was a proper welcome to Africa.
July 14th, 2009
Theft-Proof Your Camera
Some prefer to ride an old, scuffed up bike or drive a clinker so they don’t ever have to worry about it getting stolen. What about your camera, the same principals should apply, right? Well, if you will be travelling in an area know for high theft, perhaps you should consider ugly-ing up your small digital camera to deter unwanted interest.
How to uglify your camera:
* Cover the shiny surface with artist’s tape or black photo tape, which come off without leaving residue on your camera.
* Color the tape with black and/or brown markers to make it look dirty.
* Use pieces of duct tape to make the camera look barely held together (layer the duct tape over artist’s tape to avoid sticky residue).
Using your ugly camera:
* Don’t carry a nice camera bag. Use a nondescript bag or a diaper bag instead.
* Turn off the LCD screen (or cover it up) and hold the camera to your eye instead. If thieves think you have a film camera, they won’t want it.
tips from photojojo.com, photo source: Connors934 on Flickr
July 10th, 2009
PJ’s Southern Africa Packing List
originally uploaded by Roger Northage.
People often have a lot of questions regarding packing. It can be a challenge, especially when you’ve got weight restrictions and you’re trying to travel light. I’ve got packing lists that I send out but I thought that it might be helpful to share specifically what I pack for safari trip. I think a key to successful packing for safaris is to be like the guides and have a “uniform” that you wear out on the drives and walks.Itineraries to Southern and East Africa often utilize charters which restricts one’s weight limit from anywhere between 12 kg.s (26 lb.s) and 20 kg.s (44 lb.s), requiring efficient packing!Below is a list of what I packed for my recent trip to Africa. The weight restriction was 26 lb.s. All of the items below (including the luggage) came in to just about that amount.
July 9th, 2009
Chicago O’Hare: Off the Beaten Path
I was in Chicago waiting for a connecting flight. The terminal was jammed with travelers, few seats were available and there was a line out the door at the women’s restroom. I scoured the area and found the opening… the hallway leading to gates B19-22. With 30 minutes before boarding, I turned the corner and found peace and quiet, empty seats, large windows with sun streaming in and a nearly empty women’s restroom. All just steps away from the craze!
July 9th, 2009
Antithesis of the GS Travel Experience
July 9th, 2009
Welcome!
Vértigo en la duna., originally uploaded by Pepix2007.
I love that GS has such terrific clients. Besides being interested in the world, down to earth, concerned about traveling responsibly, adventurous and down right fun, interesting, nice people, GS clients tend to be very well traveled. With that in mind, we hope you’ll take an active role in contributing to this blog. As we all search and yearn for those outstanding travel experiences, it’s extremely valuable to hear from others who share a similar approach to and style of travel. On most travel forums, you have no idea who’s on the other end contributing reviews and suggestions.