African Safari Personalized Itineraries: The Only Way to Travel

Planning a trip to Africa can be difficult, but with Hills of Africa Travel, it couldn’t be simpler. With so many places, activities, and accommodations to choose from, it’s extremely important to find the ones you’re most interested in. Hills of Africa Travel is dedicated to planning the perfect African safari trip, catered to each individual preference. We make the planning process for our clients fun, easy, and delightful to be a part of.

Hills of Africa Travel doesn’t believe in providing clients with generic, prepackaged trip itineraries. We want our clients to experience all of the amazing aspects of Africa they would find interesting. A luxurious African safari vacation is a trip of a lifetime, and is unlike any other. We strive to provide clients with a detailed itinerary filled only with activities they want to do, and places they want to stay. We believe in tailoring personal itineraries around every preference.

In order to ensure that the perfectly crafted itinerary is made, we send a detailed questionnaire to all our clients. No detail goes unnoticed, and everything is taken into account. A trip this luxurious, stunning, and adventurous is well-worth our time finding you exactly what you want. Nothing pleases us more than making our clients happy.

One of our expert Hills of Africa travel agents will create an original itinerary molded around your personality and preferences. We carefully combine authentic safaris, personalized services, activities of your choosing, and accommodations of your choosing, to create a life-alerting vacation, filled with spectacular memories.

Our questionnaire includes questions that are unique and carefully designed to ensure we plan the perfect trip for you. Some sample questions are:

• Have you traveled to Africa before?
• What are your hobbies, interests, passions?
  
• What is your favorite flower?
• Do you like champagne or wine?
• Do you prefer red or white wine?
• What car do you drive?
• For a last minute getaway, where would you choose?
  

Once you’ve answered the questionnaire, we set up a phone call with you to discuss what you’re specifically looking for on your African safari vacation. Your answers to these detailed questions allow us to craft from scratch, the activities that fit your preferences. For example, if you’re a wine connoisseur, and not just any wine connoisseur, a red wine connoisseur, we would suggest an itinerary which includes Cape Winelands in it. Not just anywhere in Cape Winelands, but a plantation famous for its bold, red wines.

For a couple interested in a honeymoon safari, they’re most likely looking for a romantic getaway, filled with memories sure to last a lifetime. On honeymoon itineraries we add detailed activities, including private dinners in the bush, rose petals leading from the game-drive vehicle to a warm bath accompanied by a bottle of champagne, a couple’s massage, a picnic dinner on Table Mountain, private dinner on the patio, and so much more. Hills of Africa Travel believes in first-class service. This means, no group tours (unless it’s the group you’re vacationing with), only privately guided tours with the best experts in the area.

We want to make your dreams come true. Contact us today at (877) 845-4802 to begin planning your trip of a lifetime. Africa awaits you . . .

How to Prepare to Go Up In The Air - Nourishing Self Care for Flyers

The following article was kindly written for Hills of Africa Travel by our friend Vicki Heise, Founder of Live Your Healthy Life. Vicki is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor and will help you discover the lifestyle choices that work best for you in making gradual, lifelong changes for your healthy life. To contact Vicki please see "Live Your Healthy Life" or call her on 614 735-3375. Thank you Vicki, for helping our clients and all travelers to Prepare for Going Up In The Air.

Congratulations! You’re getting ready to fly away on the trip of your dreams!

As you start planning and making a list of what to take with you, don’t forget to plan for that long plane ride. It can make your flight more enjoyable and make a difference in how you feel after you land.

Common complaints from travelers include swollen ankles, upset stomachs and stiffness. So what can you do to help minimize or eliminate these side effects?

What You Drink Really Does Matter
Air inside planes is extremely dry. A few days before your flight start drinking water to replace alcohol, coffee, tea and soda. These drinks can dry your insides out. Tell the flight attendant “no thank you” to these during the flight - keep drinking water to stay hydrated. Enjoy that cocktail or coffee after you’ve landed. If you have any concerns about the safety of the water on board, buy bottled water after going through the security checkpoint.

Eat Light to Enjoy The Flight
Traveling and not being on your regular schedule can be stressful. So eat light during the flight. Bring easy to pack, nutritious foods with you. Pick your favorites, like unsalted nuts, dried/fresh fruit, cut up veggies, cheese, whole grain crackers/snack bars and dark chocolate. Mix together nuts, dried fruit and dark chocolate chips for a treat! If your stomach starts to growl, dream about the wonderful meals you will be enjoying at your destination.

Tip for Your Tummy
For upset stomachs and to alleviate motion sickness symptoms, consider packing some dried pieces of ginger. You can now find bags of individually wrapped pieces at health food stores and many grocery stores.

Wiggle in Your Seat - Dance in the Aisle
Seriously! Sitting for long periods causes blood to not circulate as well as it should. To avoid the complications this can cause, move. Tighten your back end muscles and release, stretch your legs under the seat and flex your feet, bend your knees and raise your feet up and down off the floor, do anything that you can think of to not stay in the same position. Stand up, walk up and down the aisle, hop, dance, do anything that gets your blood circulating. Do this often, especially on a long flight.

Then sit back and enjoy your flight!

Disclaimer: Be sure to check with your physician before your trip if you have any health issues or concerns. These tips do not replace advise from your health care providers. The content and information contained in this article are for educational purposes only, and is not intended to be used to diagnose or prescribe forms of treatment.

Let Hills of Africa Travel create for you, a spectacular safari itinerary. Experience the perfect African family safari, or honeymoon safari in the diverse lands of Africa. To learn more about these amazing safari opportunities, contact us today at (877) 845-4802.

Walking Safari: Top Ten Tips for Walkers

To enjoy an African walking safari, you do not have to have the endurance levels to climb Mt Kilimanjaro.

An African Safari is not just about seeing the Big Five, it's about the small stuff. You get to distinguish between the different foot prints, you get to check out flowers, trees, plants, you get to see the insects, you even get to inspect dung!

Here are few tips to help make your walk a trip of a lifetime:

1. Wear neutral colors (greens and browns); avoid white, bright or very pale colors.
   
   
2. Lightweight long pants are better than shorts, they help protect you against ticks and thorns.
   
   
3. Make sure you wear a hat to protect you from the sun (neutral color).
   
   
4. Go without deodorant (animals sniff out artificial scents).
   
   
5. Make sure to use sun protection, even when it is cloudy and overcast.
   
   
6. Take a small backpack with you containing a bottle of water, your camera and a Field Guide.
   
   
7. Make sure to listen to your guide and do EXACTLY AS HE SAYS.
   
   
8. Keep binoculars handy, preferably on a strap around your neck, they will come in very handy.
   
   
9. Bring a lens in your backpack that can take close-up pictures, also a long distance lens to capture the animals in the distance.
   
   
10. Whatever you want to do (go for a bathroom break, tie your laces) make sure to tell your guide.

Learn how Hills of Africa Travel can help you experience a Zambia honeymoon safari or Zambia family safari of a lifetime by calling us today at (877) 845-4802.

Amazing Botswana: Free Flights!

Hills of Africa Travel is pleased to offer a great 7-night package to Botswana that will simply add to the incredible value of getting international airfare free.

If you book 6 nights or more on an African Bush Camps mobile tented safari, your charter flights are free!!! Botswana is one of the best safari destinations in the world. It offers incredible wildlife, stunning scenery, an exclusiveness found in few other places, and an enormous variety in game viewing. The cost of flying from camp to camp makes it price prohibitive for many, many travelers. Thanks to this deal, it is affordable for lots more people. But you must book by February 28 to take advantage of this deal.

We have put together a lovely itinerary that consists of 7 nights at 3 camps in Botswana, for travel February through end of May. The total package price is $4,550 per person and includes:

• 7 nights accommodation at 3 different camps throughout Botswana;
• All meals and drinks;
• All game-viewing activities;
• All charter flights for transportation between camps;
• Round-trip airfare from Johannesburg to Maun

The only additional cost is international airfare. If you put this together with the South African Airways special, you will be making out like bandits!!!

Talk about a great Valentine's Day gift!!!!

Call (704) 296-2644 or e-mail sandy@hillsofafrica.com to book!

Hills of Africa Travel specializes in customized and personalized African Safari Vacations.

A Special Valentines Present - FREE Airfare to Southern Africa

WOW! We have just learned about an amazing deal with South African Airways. Imagine giving your loved one an African Safari Vacation of a lifetime.

South African Airways is offering FREE airfare for travel between January 23rd - March 31st, or October 31st to November 30th 2009.

All you need to do is purchase ONE economy class ticket from New York or Washington to Johannesburg at $1399 (taxes and fees of approximately $375 are additional) and you get ONE FREE ticket so you can take a friend, loved one or companion.

But you must book soon - you must purchase by February 16th to qualify.

For more information call Hills of Africa Travel or visit www.flysaaspecials.com

Find out how you can experience the magic of Africa with Hills of Africa Travel. Contact us today at (877) 845-4802 to learn more about our family safari and honeymoon safari itineraries.

10 Reasons why Tswalu, Kalahari is a Must-See

Enjoy personalized services and luxurious accommodations at Tswalu in Kalahari, the largest private game reserve in South Africa, situated in the Northern Cape Province. This once in a lifetime trip combines luxury, adventure, and tranquility for all who visit. It’s not just a vacation—it’s a life altering experience…

1. The Kalahari offers some of the most stunning game viewing in Africa. Take an exhilarating safari through this captivating reserve and observe endangered species, leopard, lion, wildebeest, rhino, zebra, python, and so much more.

2. Use your photography skills to create a photo layout comparable to ones seen in National Geographic Magazine.

3. After your morning safari, relax in Tswalu’s tranquil pool—frozen drink in hand, or take a trip to the nearby prehistoric beaches.

4. For a new spin on the traditional vehicle safari, take a ride on horseback along Kalahari’s many trails and observe the region’s game, wildlife nests, and stunning scenery.

5. Taking a break from all the adventures Kalahari has to offer is simple at Tswalu’s Sanctuary Spa. Among their many spa treatments, you can treat yourself to a revitalizing massage in the privacy of your own suite. You’ll awake the next morning refreshed and prepared to take on your next adventure.

6. Tswalu’s dune dinning is a magnificent way to enjoy delicious cuisine under the sparkling stars and among the beauty of nature. Sharing a bottle of wine and exciting stories from the day is a great way to unwind before retreating back to your suite for a wonderful night’s sleep.

7. Tswalu cleverly combines luxurious accommodations with Kalahari culture and materials. Enjoy a shower inside your suite or outside when the day is beginning to cool. Internet and satellite TV are easily accessible for when you want to get back in touch with friends and family at home. The combination of high-end accommodations and cultural surroundings is sure to create a magical experience for the entire family.

8. The prestigious Tswalu, Kalahari was awarded National Geographic Adventure Magazine’s Top 50 Eco-Lodges 2009 and US Conde’ Nast Traveler 2007 World Savers Award, among many other awards. It must be worth experiencing!

9. For golf lovers, Sishen Golf Course winds through a Camelthorn forest, offering a truly unique experience for players. This legendary 18-hole golf course is one of the best in Africa.

10. Each season in the Kalahari boasts different climates which attract various spectrum of game, categorizing Kalahari as a year-round destination. During the rainy season, Zebra and Wildebeest migrate to the grassy areas where water has rejuvenated vegetation while the salt pans of the region fill with water, providing an excellent haven for flamingo to breed.

Find out how you can experience the delightful wonders of Kalahari on an African safari vacation with Hills of Africa Travel. Call us today at (877) 845-4802 and let us create for you a tailored itinerary around your every personal preference.

South African Airways announces new nonstop service from New York/JFK to South Africa

Hills of Africa Travel is so excited that South African Airways has a new Daytime Flight beginning May 1st 2009.

South African Airways has announced that they are offering a new daily non-stop service from New York-JFK Airport to Johannesburg, South Africa starting May 1, 2009. By adjusting their flight schedule, the new daytime departure from New York-JFK will arrive in Johannesburg the next morning and provide convenient same-day online connections for you to begin your South Africa family safaris, or take an Africa family safari to Botswana. You can even begin your African safari honeymoon in Mozambique by taking this non-stop day flight.

Here are the daily SAA flight schedules from New York JFK to South Africa, Johannesburg and on the return from Johannesburg to New York JFK:

SA #204
Depart JFK: 11.35am
Arrive JNB: 8.45am the following day
Non-stop

SA #203
Depart JNB: 7.05pm
Arrive JFK: 7.40am the following day
brief 1 hour stop in Dakar

Here are the flight schedules from Washington Dulles to Johannesburg and returning from Johannesburg to Washington Dulles:

SA #208
Depart IAD: 5.40pm
Arrive DKR: 5.55am the following day
Leave DKR: 6.55am
Arrive JNB: 5.20pm

SA #207
Depart JNB: 5.25pm
Arrive DKR: 12.o5am the following day
Leave DKR: 1.05am
Arrive IAD: 6.00am

Let Hills of Africa Travel plan your dream safari. Contact us today, and utilize our detailed destination planning services and expert advice to send you on a life-altering experience like no other.