Gane and Marshall clients Tom and Sharon Jamieson have been kind enough to share with us the video highlights of their recent cruise to the Antarctic:
Continue reading Tom and Sharon’s Antarctic Cruise Highlights
Madagascar Wildlife Tour
Are you dreaming of a Madagascar Wildlife Tour?
Madagascar is a relatively undiscovered jewel, situated just off the coast of south east Africa and renowned for its unique wildlife. Although there are a number of excellent reasons to travel to Madagascar, most visitors consider observing unusual wildlife as their primary incentive. Continue reading Madagascar Wildlife Tour
Botswana – Africa’s most exclusive safari destination
Throughout May we will be publishing a series of blogs on Botswana, one of Africa’s greatest yet least visited safari destinations. In this introductory blog we provide an overview of Botswana and its safari parks, focusing on what makes the country unique among African safari destinations: it’s low-volume, low-impact approach to tourism and, by extension, its exclusivity.
Botswana has a well-earned reputation as Africa’s most exclusive safari destination. This small, sparsely-populated southern African country entertains far fewer tourists each year than the much more famous and iconic safari lands of East Africa, but for those few who do visit, it offers the most intimate of game-viewing experiences. Indeed, for those who want to experience Africa as it was in the days of the early explorers—wild, untamed, and untrammelled—Botswana is the safari destination of choice. Continue reading Botswana – Africa’s most exclusive safari destination
Ethiopia Diary days 9-11: Bahir Dar, Lake Tana, return to Addis Ababa | by Rosie Sells
In the final entry to her Ethiopian diary, Rosie Sells explores Bahir Dar, Lake Tana, and the Blue Nile Gorge.
26th April, Friday: Gondar to Bahir Dar, Lake Tana
As if responding to our complaints the previous morning, the mid-night chorus of voices struck up again, but this time quite literally at midnight. Apparently the Easter week celebrations are stretched out to also include a repeat of Good Friday a week later. We found out later that in recent years the Orthodox Christian chanting has increased enormously in competition with the Muslims, especially in Gondar. Continue reading Ethiopia Diary days 9-11: Bahir Dar, Lake Tana, return to Addis Ababa | by Rosie Sells
Ethiopia Diary Days 7 and 8: Gondar and the Simien Mountains | By Rosie Sells
In the latest entry to her Ethiopian diary, Rosie Sells visits Gondar, the historic capital of Ethiopia, and the Simien Mountains, one of Africa’s most beautiful (and endangered) wilderness parks. To read Rosie’s earlier diary entries, click here.
24th April, Wednesday: Lalibela to Gondar
As a city, Gondar came as quite a change from the ancient towns of Axum and Lalibela. It was founded in 1635 by Emperor Fasilidas and served as the imperial capital for 250 years in a strategic hilltop position in the southern foothills of the Simien mountains. It now functions largely as a university city and there are remnants of Italy’s military occupation.
Continue reading Ethiopia Diary Days 7 and 8: Gondar and the Simien Mountains | By Rosie Sells
Ethiopia Diary Days 5 and 6: Axum to Lalibela | By Rosie Sells
Rosie Sells’ Ethiopia diary continues with her visit to Lalibela. To read Rosie’s earlier diary entries, click here.
22nd April, Tuesday: Fly Axum to Lalibela
According to legend, when King Lalibela was just a boy he was attacked by a swarm of bees but miraculously escaped without a single sting. Thus, he earned the name Lalibela which translates as ‘honey eater’. King Lalibela reigned in the 11th century, and it was under his rule that the 11 unique monolithic churches were constructed. Hewn directly out of the rock in the ground, these perplexing creations are believed to have been the result of a dream. Lalibela dreamt that he must create a symbolic Jerusalem for pilgrims to visit and worship, beneath the ground. Everything in the area is symbolic, including a small stream representing the river Jordan, and collectively it has been nominated the unofficial eighth wonder of the world.
Continue reading Ethiopia Diary Days 5 and 6: Axum to Lalibela | By Rosie Sells
Tigray Churches – Ethiopia Historic Route
While exploring the rock church of Abuna Yemata in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, I wondered at the remarkable way in which Ethiopia has preserved its cultural heritage over the years.
Tigray Churches on the Ethiopia Historic Route
Ethiopia Diary Days 3-4: Easter in Axum | by Rosie Sells
Days 3 and 4 in Rosie Sells’ wonderful Ethiopian Diary, detailing Easter Sunday in Gheralta and Axum. For days 1 and 2, click here.
20th April, Easter Sunday: Easter service and drive to Axum
On Easter Sunday we woke up to the breathtaking surroundings of Gheralta Lodge, where we had stayed that night. Individual circular lodges, camouflaged in their setting, were positioned facing out towards a stunning landscape. It was in this setting that we held our Easter Sunday service having climbed to a high and isolated position. As we took communion the vast plains which had been particularly effected by famine in earlier years stretched out before us. The significance of the moment was not lost. Continue reading Ethiopia Diary Days 3-4: Easter in Axum | by Rosie Sells
Ethiopia Diary Days 1-2: Addis Ababa to Tigrai | by Rosie Sells
Rosie Sells is currently in northern Ethiopia on a G&M-organised tour of the region’s magnificent Christian sites, including Axum, Lalibela, Bahir Dar, and Tigrai. She has been kind enough to keep a diary for us, the first entries of which are published below. Look out for further entries in the coming days. Continue reading Ethiopia Diary Days 1-2: Addis Ababa to Tigrai | by Rosie Sells
April Travel Offers – Great deals on African safaris and Arctic Cruises
Take advantage of today’s great exchange rates when booking your next holiday
The Pound is currently enjoying a very strong exchange rate against the US Dollar, Euro and Rand, reducing the cost of holidays to Africa, Asia, and the Polar regions. Coupled with regular offers from hotels and airlines, there has never been a better excuse to travel!
Below are some of our favourite travel offers, but if you have a particular destination or property in mind, please do contact us as there are more offers than we have space for. Please do also take a look at the special offers page of our website, which we update regularly with new travel offers.
Continue reading April Travel Offers – Great deals on African safaris and Arctic Cruises