Photograph by Frans Lanting

FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC:

While on assignment in Namibia for National Geographic magazine, Frans Lanting captured this surreal landscape image in a location called Dead Vlei.   Read more…

South African Airways “Fall in Love with Africa” sale is on until the end of the month!  Fares from $1200 roundtrip*!  Offer valid for new bookings until the end of the month for departures through December 9, 2011.

*Visit flysaa.com today and check out the terms and conditions.

Stay 3, Pay for 2 nights in Kenya!  Last minute deals with Great Plains Conservation’s properties in Kenya… at both Ol Donyo Lodge and Mara Plains Camp.  Applies to any new bookings for travel between Nov 1 – Dec 19, 2011.

TO JOHANESSBURG OR CAPE TOWN (from NY or Washington DC)

TO DURBAN (from NY or Washington DC)

SAA’s Terms and Conditions: *TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Fares include fuel surcharges and are valid on SAA operated flights from New York (JFK) or Washington Dulles (IAD). Offer valid on the purchase of round-trip, economy class tickets only. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights. Departure taxes and Sept. 11th security fees of approximately $130-140 (depending on itinerary) per passenger are additional and payable at time of ticketing. Passengers must travel together to qualify for this offer. Tickets must be paid for and issued at time of reservation. Fare is non-refundable and change fees of $250 apply. Re-routing is not permitted. Offer valid for reservations ticketed June 28, 2011-July 15, 2011. Valid for departures from theUSA between September 13 and December 10, 2011. Maximum stay one month. All travel must be completed by December 10, 2011. Price is for new bookings only, is subject to availability, may change without notice and is not retroactive.

 

Here is an update from one of our Egyptian operators….

“As you know we had several groups in Cairo at the time the revolution began and while the uncertainty of the situation made their tours slightly stressful it certainly didn’t affect what they were able to see and do. I’m also certain if you asked the tour members they would say that the absence of almost any other tourists made for a great experience.

EXPLORE is located in the beautiful ski town of Steamboat Springs CO and as much as we love our great mountain everyone can use a change from time to time.  But who would ever think you could make Africa your next stop to hit the slopes?!  And the time of year to visit works perfectly with anyone trying to get in year-round skiing as our summer is their winter.  The best months to go are June through the first week of September.

The top African ski experience is located in the gorgeous kingdom of Lesotho surrounded by South Africa at Afri Ski offering a quiet and scenic environment.  This ski resort offers everything:  equipment rentals, ski school and private ski lessons, kids club, 1/2 day to 7-day passes, world-class snow making system and daily grooming, special events and festivals, and a variety of accommodations.  Afri Ski is only a 4.5 hour drive from Johannesburg (it is a 1.5 hour drive once through the border post and into Lesotho on a spectacular journey going through several mountain passes (the road is newly tarred but still beware of the occasional pothole!).  tip:  they highly recommend filling up with gas in Fouriesburg or Butha-Buthe on the drive and get cash at the ATM before heading to the resort.

While staying at Kwando’s Nxai Pan camp, Stuart Arnold, a Botswana-based professional photographer was amazed to spot an unusual elephant drinking at the waterhole at the front of the camp.  Upon closer inspection it was discovered that the elephant carried an amazing 3 tusks!!

The tusks of an African Elephant grow continuously throughout their life –  a bull elephant’s tusks can grow up to 18 cm in a year. Tusks are an elephant’s tool and they are used for a variety of tasks including digging for water and roots or to strip bark from trees.

All elephant’s, like humans are either right- or left-handed, favoring a right or left tusk. The most often used tusk, is generally shorter due to wear and tear.  While the majority of elephants have two tusks, occasionally individual elephants exhibit abnormal growth which can include additional tusks.  Such examples are extremely rare.  As one can see from the images, the elephant is a mature bull and therefore has managed to live a long life despite his unusual third tusk.

Go Bafana Bafana!  South Africa, hosts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, score first in the opening match against Mexico.  Despite their low international ranking and low expectations from the experts, South Africa came alive in the second half and very close to pulling off the win…

Breaking News article from 24News in Johannesburg:

THRILLER ENDS IN A DRAW

Johannesburg – A thrilling opening encounter between hosts South Africa and opponents Mexico has ended in a draw, with each side scoring single goals in the second half.

South Africa’s Siphiwe Tshabalala scored for the hosts in the 55th minute to open the tally, after a good passing move in midfield by South Africa led to Tshabalala breaking free down the left wing and he blazed forward and was left one-on-one with the Mexico goalkeeper. The stadium erupted into cheers when his high shot landed in the net.

Mexico’s Rafael Marquez responded to score in the 79th minute to level the goal tallies at one apiece.

Katlego Mphela had the best chance to put the hosts in the lead again in the 90th minute, as a surging run ended in a shot deflecting off the left hand post.

Both teams gain a point from the encounter, with the hosts taking the most positives from the game.

SARDINE RUN / SOUTH AFRICA

If the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain doesn’t sound like a good time to you, how about the annual running of the sardines?  This mass migration occurs from the beginning of May through the end of July.

Each year millions of sardines travel north from the cold southern oceans off South Africa’s Cape Point hugging the shore as they make their way up along the coastlines to the province of KwaZulu-Natal.  The shoals of fish can reach up to 9.5 miles in length, two miles wide and nearly 130 feet deep!

As this migration occurs, predators, including birds, dolphins, sharks and whales come in droves to gorge themselves on this moving buffet.  On occasion millions of these small fish are beached by the incoming tides and “sardine fever” grips the local fisherman and visitors alike as they scramble to catch a bucketful, providing an unexpected harvest of food for the local communities, or bait for the hook with a bigger catch in mind.

Witness the marine activity from shore, boat or for those more adventurous, dive right in the water and scuba with the fish.

After witnessing this fantastic event continue exploring beautiful South Africa.  Explore Cape Town and its nearby wine-country, get up-close and personal with game in the national parks and reserves, learn first-hand about the country’s apartheid past or simply bask in the sands along the coast.

Most people are currently only visiting Victoria Falls, one of the world’s greatest attractions, but our hope is to expand their knowledge of the vast array of parks and private game reserves available.

Explore is currently developing a new and exciting guided group trip to Zimbabwe spotlighting the beauty and wonder of this country. Check back with us for updates as we continue to develop this new itinerary!