Don't leave home for Madagascar without Sara LeHoullier - a "must have" Travel Companion for the backpack!

If Madagascar is the next destination on your "must go" adventure list, you can always hop on a dhow and sail around the relatively undiscovered eighth continent with us - but here's a tip...  leave room in the backpack for Sara LeHoullier.  Well not literally, as we're referring to her recently released Madagascar (Travel Companion). Published by Other Places Publishing, this is an uncut guide that goes way further than the more usual and endless lists of hotels and attractions, and this is one writer who is simply mad about Madagascar!

Since 2005, Sara, a North Carolina native has been exploring the country from top to bottom as a volunteer, a researcher, and an intrepid explorer. As any true traveller will admit, she enjoys cramming into rickety bush taxis, dining on unfamiliar animal parts, and trekking through untouched rainforests bursting with biodiversity. 

One for the adventurous, her guide is proving to be a perfect tagalong for travellers who appreciate the local side of travel - Sara's first-hand experiences and personal recommendations allowing Madagascar fans to get under the skin of Lemur central. Full of practical, useful information, authentic cross-cultural experiences and meaningful, responsible travel - it offers eye-opening travelbites that will leave you wanting to know more, and let's face it - we never (want to!) stop travelling...

Of course, while most of us are constantly juggling the 9-5 rat race with our insatiable passion for adventure and can't claim to be guide book writers just yet, there is undoubtedly a travel blogger in every nomad.  So, why not follow in Shane Donovan’s fingertips, share the explorer in you, enthuse a bunch of like-minded followers and track down a guest post slot on the net.  True to his word Shane has just been featured on gobackbacking.com where he dishes out his top twelve tips on showcasing your experiences and getting the travel bug out there, online...

Still undecided on Africa - look out for our new brochure -coming soon!

Andy the great outdoorsman from the Veldt, goes trekking in the Andisabe Reserve in Madagascar

Wotcha Africa addicts – this week I’m out trekking with some more seasoned safari goers who’ve decided to opt for our 11-day Madagascar Revealed adventure.

We’re up and at ‘em in the early hours as we’re going to be going off in search of the Indri Indri – Madagascar’s largest Lemur. It’s high tourist season in July and August, but certainly not overcrowded, as people tend to opt for Madagascar year-round. Wait up – well it sounds like a whale, but I do believe that’s one of the Indri Indri calling us. The excitement is on tap here as we’re also expecting to check in with some colourful chameleons, tenrecs and a host of birdlife while we’re out on the trail in this beautiful forested reserve.

Top tip: get yourself ready for a fairly long trek of around three hours or more and take plenty of water. Don’t forget, mosey on over to Twitter this Friday 10am to midday (BST) and ask away! – as you’ll be able to tweet us about the wonders of Madagascar – pre the “tweet up” if you have any burning questions on this amazing African country please send them to bespoke@tionlondon.co.uk

This week’s patter comes live and direct from the Benguerra Islands, Mozambique…

After all that trekking I thought it was time to take it easy for a while, so I’ve joined up with the guys, on the “21-day Surf, Safari and Malawi” adventure. The Benguerra Islands are the Caribbean of Africa – more white sands and sun than you can shake a stick at. Anyhow, today we’ll be travelling round the islands in a dhow, sampling a few more of the wonderful beaches and plenty of fresh seafood. Can’t wait!

There’s a lot of talk about mermaids in these parts, but my top tip this week is to catch up with the dolphins and flamingos and then chill on deck as the sun sets over the ocean. Bliss!...