STEPPES TRAVEL NEW TOUR OF EARTH’S WILDEST FRONTIER: PAPUA NEW GUINEA

NEW YORK, NY (12/2013) Steppes Travel, the bespoke tour operator known for its pioneering adventures, is one of the first companies to offer a new, 11-day journey to Papua New Guinea (PNG), exploring with an expert the extraordinary history, exotic wildlife and unique culture of the “Land of the Unexpected.” Tours are limited and there are two departure dates for 2014 -- May 30^th and June 13^th. Rates for the 11-day trip start at US$9752 per person and US$1432 for a single supplement, excluding flights.

Alternatively, Steppes offers a tailor-made PNG adventure which will be handcrafted by the Steppes team.

Occupying the eastern half of New Guinea (the western half belongs to Indonesia) on the remote periphery of both Asia and Australia, PNG lies on a vast tropical island of torturous topography, tree-dwelling kangaroos, 850 separate languages, 1000 different cultures and people addicted to the art of adornment. 

The tour takes in some of the wildest frontiers on Earth -- the coastal fjords of Tufi, the rugged Western Highlands, and New Britain, the main island of the Bismarck Archipelago. It is designed to give a few adventurous travelers access to pristine rainforest, roaring rivers, coral reefs, beaches and crystalline waters teeming with marine life, all making up what is deemed the most culturally diverse country on earth.

·   The very charismatic and knowledgeable Aussie, Ray Andrews, will lead the tour.  A native of tropical North Queensland, Andrews has a vast amount of experience, including roles as Resident Naturalist at a number of bush camps, working with indigenous Australians to create businesses and planting some 100,000 trees in regeneration of the Wet Tropics.  He has also appeared on television with Jeff Corwin and the late crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin.  He has deep knowledge of PNG, having guided extensively throughout the island.  Above all, he is hugely passionate about the natural world.

ADVENTURE: 

• ·   Dive or snorkel the pristine waters of the Coral Triangle and dozens of ocean dive sites in the blue waters of the Solomon Sea, the calm waters of the tropical fjords, and explore wreck and muck dives. 
• ·   Paddle traditional outrigger canoes up tropical fjords
• ·   Climb an active volcano. There is no more dramatic place to do this -- PNG is home to one of the most active volcanic regions on the planet.

WILDLIFE: 

• ·   Go in search of the spectacular Birds of Paradise. Of the 43 known species on earth, 38 are found here, including the Superb, the Twelve-wired, and the Ribbon-tailed Astrapia. The island is also inhabited by the beautiful rainbow bee-eater, the striking palm cockatoo and the prehistoric cassowary. 
• ·   See bizarre Tree Kangaroos, a myriad of other wildlife, and the highly-valued Megapode eggs, incubated by the large chicken-like birds who lay them in the volcano’s heated soils.

CULTURE: 

• ·   The Indigenous people and unique fauna and flora of PNG are found nowhere else on earth.
• ·   See the colorful body adornment of the Huli wigmen, the ceremonial and decorative carvings of the Sepik, meet the Mudmen of New Guinea and the Baining Firedancers.
• ·   Learn about the significance of sorcery and the part it has played – and continues to play – in the original animist religions, and discover ancient rituals, bush medicines, fire-making, mat-making and traditional tattooing.
• ·   Discover modern day PNG and politics Melanesian-style with a visit to Parliament House, one of the most distinctive government buildings anywhere in the world.   

For more information and details please visit www.steppestravel.com

A CRASH, A TOWER AND A DAZZLE: SAFARI EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA – Most people know that a group of lions is called a PRIDE, a bunch of birds together a FLOCK and a large number of ants a COLONY. But what about collections of zebras, hippos, rhinos or the myriad of other creatures that inhabit South Africa’s Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve…

A CRASH of heavy rhino looks in your general direction, ready to charge should you come any closer. A TOWER of regal giraffe poses almost purposefully as your game vehicle comes to a stop. And a DAZZLE of zebra flashes in front of you, galloping in a mass of black and white as the sun sets.

Bush Lodge Barman, Simon Matsane, keeps guests engrossed not only with tales of the bushveld he loves so much, but also with unusual collective nouns and the Shangaan names of various animals and birds. Simon, who is studying to become a ranger, will gladly share his exceptional knowledge of the bush.

While unusual, many of the collective nouns make perfect sense: a CACKLE of hyena vividly describes a spotted hyena’s high pitched and laughter-like call. A BASK of crocodiles is a logical link given that most of their days are spent soaking in the warm African sun. And, a BLOAT of hippos is exactly what you may think of while looking at their enormous girth.

Louise Barlow, area marketing manager, says, “No matter what their odd collective names, the ‘abundance’, ‘assortment’, ‘enthrallment’ of wildlife at Sabi Sabi continues to captivate visitors to this untamed paradise on the African continent.”

Rates for Sabi Sabi start at $583* per person sharing, depending on the season, and include game drives, environmental awareness walking safaris, all meals, a house selection of beverages and transfers to the Sabi Sabi airstrip. For reservations, contact res@sabisabi.com, email warren@warrengreenandassociates.com, or call (804) 767-8770. For more information, visit www.sabisabi.com.

*Based on the exchange rate between USD and South African Rand on 05/13/13.

A Safari List:

Bask – a group of crocodiles

Bloat – a group of hippos

Brace –a group of ducks*

Crash – a group of rhinos

Cluster – a group of spiders

Coalition – a group of cheetahs

Colony – a group of ants

Corps – a group of giraffes*

Cackle – a group of hyenas

Colony – a group of frogs*
Dazzle – a group of zebras
Flush – a group of ducks*
Gang – a group of buffalo*
Herd – a group of buffalo*
Journey – a group of giraffes*
Knot – a group of frogs*
Leap – a group of leopards
Mischief – a group of mice

Murder – a group of crows
Obstinacy – a group of buffalo*
Paddling – a group of ducks*

Parliament – a group of owls

Prickle – a group of porcupines

Pride – a group of lions
Tower – a group of giraffes*
Venue – a group of vultures

*These animals have multiple collective nouns

KENYA’S THE ARK KICKS OFF WEBCAM: TWO BY TWO OR FIVE BY FIVE, CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL ARE STREAMED LIVE

For lovers of all creatures great and small, Kenya’s The Ark, set in the game-rich Aberdare National Park, has launched a webcam that streams live video 24/7 of wild animals coming to its floodlit watering hole and salt lick.  Guest wannabes, Ark-o-philes or the just plain curious can virtually observe elephants, buffalo, impala and other game quench their thirsts, soak up nutrients, vie for position or try to get “teen-agers” to obey. Simply double click http: http://www.thearkkenya.com/live-webcam-feed.

 Of course, nothing beats the real thing.  Visitors to the quirky venue, modeled after Noah’s Ark, have the advantage of not only watching the phenomenon first-hand from one of the boat-shaped lodge’s four “decks” -- they can take unforgettable photographs and videos.

Those who want to stay at The Ark will not have to suffer 40 days and 40 nights of rain – instead they will be treated to a cool climate and gorgeous scenery including nearby Mt. Kenya, highest mountain in this East African nation and a World Heritage Site.  The Ark is an historic and “must-see” Kenyan property whose uniqueness comes from a reversal of the game drive – animals come to the people instead of the other way around. Die-hards can make use at night of a buzzer system that alerts guests to sightings at the watering hole: one buzz for elephant, two for rhino, three for leopard, and four for something even more dramatic (use your imagination).

Come to The Ark two by two:  Rates start at: US$255 for a double room, and include full board, taxes and service charge. Rates for a single start at US$150 with same inclusions.

For more information, contact:  www.marasa.net; www.premiersafaris.com

GORILLAS UP; PRICES DOWN: TIME TO GO TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST/UGANDA

According to the just-released 2011 Census by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the critically-endangered mountain gorilla population in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is confirmed at 400. The prior census in 2006 put the number at 302.  Part of the increase is due to improved census methods and conservation through daily ranger monitoring, but it is also due to actual population growth.  Aiding in the rising numbers is veterinary care provided by Gorilla Doctors. Their Uganda field team, led by Dr. Fred Nizeyimana, regularly monitors all of the habituated gorillas in the Park for health problems and performs medical interventions when it is determined that an individual has a life-threatening disease or illness.

Those travelers who have placed on their bucket list seeing the mountain gorillas should plan a trip to Uganda now.  The Uganda Wildlife Authority, in celebration of the country’s 50^th anniversary of independence next year, is cutting gorilla fees in April and May 2013 by $150, thus putting gorilla fees in Uganda during those two months at $350.  Beyond that, Ugandan gorilla fees, usually $500, are substantially below those of Rwanda and the Republic of the Congo – now at $750.

There are other reasons to go, too.  Marasa Africa, one of the largest diversified private-sector investors in Uganda, is offering a special fly-in three-day package to track the gorillas in the Park at $2,156 per person sharing.  The rain-forest is spectacular with a heavily vegetated and dense landscape and spending time with the shy and peaceful gorillas is an unforgettable experience.

Marasa’s fly-in four-day package at $2,693 per person sharing includes everything on the three-day package and an additional day on an escorted trek with the Batwa, the pygmies who live just outside the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.  The Batwa guides will discuss how they hunt and the medicinal plants they use.  They will also share a traditional meal and relate ancient legends and traditional songs.   It is a cultural experience like no other.

Accommodations for both packages are in the recently purchased and refurbished Silverback Lodge, part of the Marasa portfolio of quality tourism products in East Africa.  Silverback is situated in the Buhoma section of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO site home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population.  In Bwindi that includes 36 family groups and 16 lone males. Ten family groups totaling 168 gorillas are habituated to human presence for tourism. The 124-square-mile Bwindi is also inhabited by non-habituated chimpanzees, more than 100 other species of mammals, 346 species of birds, and 163 species of trees.

The rates includes accommodation with meals while on safari, domestic scheduled flights and ground transfers in custom built safari vehicles with English speaking guides, gorilla permits, all park fees, and government taxes.

There are many other reasons to go to Uganda, including a safari on the Nile River.  More internal flights are being offered there than ever before.  Premier Safaris is ready to assist.  Please contact:  operations@premiersafaris.com for itinerary suggestions and quote.