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We’re in the mood for the Big Five this week as AfricaFreak has just released a FREE Safari 101 Tips E-Book! Your guide to the ULTIMATE safari experience...
Of course, now you can get a copy of our 2010 brochure online, so click on over to our website and get your eyes round our new small group safaris featuring, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa. Looking to voluntour? Then why not mix it up in Africa and combine the Kruger with some cheetah love:)
And we’re off...our “#Go Wild Online” campaign is up and running & you can win a FREE 6-day African Insight overland Safari!
Anyone who is completely crazy about the Rainbow Nation might want to apply to be our #AcaciaWildTweep. We’ll be asking you to join a 20-minute live tweet up and then whisking you off to the Kruger and Chobe National Parks and the MUST SEE Victoria Falls.
Safari encounters with the Big Five PRICELESS – and yes the trip really is FREE!!!
You can also meet our #AcaciaWildTweep judges, some of the best Africa bloggers on the net including, AfricaFreak, Travelcomments.com and PlanYourSafari and find out what they’ll be looking for from the winning tweep!
As for those Xmas discounts, why wait for the Big FC when you can bag a great deal with us, from now up to 31 December!
Save 50% off the tour price on selected small group safaris when you purchase any Acacia Africa overland safari of three weeks or more:
* 4-day Kruger Encounter only £232 (SAVE £233pp).
* 7-day Okavango Wilderness Trail only £232 + LP (SAVE £233pp).
* NEW 6-day Lesotho, Battlefields and Zululand only £195pp + LP (SAVE £195pp).
Terms and conditions: All bookings to be made before 31 December. For travel before 01 July 2010. Discount only available on selected small group safaris. Subject to availability and Acacia Africa booking terms and conditions. Discount cannot be taken in conjuntion with another Acacia discount. Promo code: 50%SG1209.
An insightful bunch of wanderers including career gappers, over 50s adventurers and bright young things with a passion for Africa will be joining us for the ride online. We’ll keep you posted! If you're just crazy about the continent and want to share your travel tips with our fans then email us at info@acacia-africa.com and put those travel writing skills to the test!
Finally, for those of you who want to spend more of your time on the continent, have those adventure CV’s at the ready, as we’re on the look out for new recruits in our Cape Town office. Share our passion? Contact us...
“Just Go…”
The Acacia Africa team
Listen up wannabe “#AcaciaWildTweeps” as we’ve got yet another amazing blogger judging our competition. Next up is Seb Hermanns, Editor of Travelcomments.com, a BIG fan of the Kruger, and a man who will never fail to amaze you when it comes to handy travelling hints in Southern Africa.
So Seb – tell us a bit about yourself…
I landed on the continent for the first time in 98’ and got involved in some voluntouring in Zanzibar and Zimbabwe. I think the Africa travel bug just creeps up on you and every year you’ll find me heading back to Southern Africa. As for Travelcomments.com, well I guess I’m a blogger with a passion for the region, and South Africa’s up at the top of the list!
And what’s happening on Travelcomments.com?
All kinds of news & info about travelling in Southern Africa. The topics range from tour offers and travel related news to music downloads, recipes, backpacker news, interviews, videos, podcasts – you name it!. Put it like this – the umhambi blog is the voice of TravelComments.com...
What will you be looking for from adventurers when you come to judge the "#AcaciaWild Tweep” entries?
A good mix of enthusiasm, passion and wanderlust...
Your favourite spot in South Africa and why?
The Wild Coast /former Transkei. Why? Amazing landscape, the rocky coastline, never ending beaches, space to relax and to think about yourself, the world and everything else! Pure chillaxation!
Any humourous anecdotes to share with us Seb?...
Well, it happens everyday – asking for directions in the streets (“not too far” or “just down the road”) and learning to handle “now”, “just now” and “now now” … ;-)
And what about your MOST memorable safari in South Africa?
Well, there are many, but the one I will always remember is when I saw wild dogs in Kruger for the very first time. It was before sunset and literally 500m after we passed the gate we saw a pack of wild dogs resting on the road … we followed them at least for 20min as they moved on. Great experience!
Any advice for adventurers in South Africa?
Let me answer this with a quote from St. Augustine “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” Be sure that your “book” is getting bigger and bigger with every day you are travelling. Not every page will be full of mind-blowing tours & activities, but you'll never forget those truly personal experiences!
We know this will be a difficult question! But can you give us the low down on the best game viewing location in South Africa?
Kruger, Kruger & Kruger. And Hluhluwe, of course! If you are into Ellies don't miss out Addo!
And those top three MUST SEE destinations on your next South Africa jaunt?
Cape Town – Augrabies NP – and of course, without a doubt, the Kruger NP!
Keep in touch with the latest news on Southern Africa at Travelcomments.com
Want to win A Free 6-day African Insight overland tour! Check out the #AcaciaWildTweep competition details
You've gotta' be "in it to win it" so fill out our #AcaciaWildTweep Q&A
Wild Tweep competition terms and conditions: Entrants for the “Wild Tweep” competition must have visited South Africa, although not necessarily on an Acacia Africa tour. 1 X African Insight (Tour code: NAI6 or SAI6). For travel before 01 January 2011. Non-exchangeable or transferable. Subject to the Acacia Africa booking terms and conditions as laid out in the 2010/2011 brochure and availability. Excludes flights/ visas, insurance, spending money, optional activities and any other items not listed as ‘included’ in the Acacia brochure under the African Insight heading. All entries should be emailed to gowildonline@acacia-africa.com.
Listen up potential “#AcaciaWildTweeps” as we’ve got some interesting bloggers judging our competition. First up is Michaël Theys, Editor of AfricaFreak, and perhaps one of the greatest enthusiasts on the World Wide Web when it comes to understanding the ultimate safari experience. You might also want to check out AfricaFreak’s “FREE Safari Tips 101 Ebook” now available on the blog!
So Michaël – tell us a bit about yourself…
I have an unrivalled passion for Africa, having spent almost 24 years living on the continent. From my early childhood in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi...to Kenya and Tanzania, Zambia, and finally South Africa; I have experienced some truly life changing experiences. Editing the AfricaFreak is a chance to share my knowledge with adventurers across the globe and revisit some of my past highlights. Ultimately, I’m hoping that the blog will become the number one reference tool in the domains of African safaris, wildlife and conservation – and maybe even, a kind of National Geographic for Africa! J
And what’s hapenning on AfricaFreak?
Africa Freak is the ultimate African safari experience revealed to you in a few simple clicks. Featuring insider tips, you can discover everything you ever needed to know about wildlife viewing in Eastern and Southern Africa. Full of guidelines and general information on safari destinations and African wildlife...virtual Africa is literally at your fingertips.
What will you be looking for from adventurers when you come to judge the “#AcaciaWildTweep” entries ?
3 words could define what I’m looking for: originality (& creativity), sincerity (& fun, humoristic…) and knowledge (work put in, effort)!
Your favourite spot in South Africa and why?
Difficult to pick one particular spot as there is so much to do in the country. For wildlife nonetheless, I’d have to stick with Kruger National Park. I know it’s probably not a very original answer, but the Kruger is by far the richest and most diverse ecosystem you can possibly dream of!
Otherwise, I’m a big fan of the Western Cape, Cape Town in particular! Stunning beaches, great food and wine, and a unique landscape with its typical Cape fynbos vegetation!
Any humourous anecdotes to share with us Michaël?...
Funny, hmmm…great question! J
I was on an Archaeology fieldtrip in the Highveld (not too far from Johannesburg) to search for some rock art paintings. It was nighttime and we were all asleep (well, “almost” all of us were asleep…). What you need to know here is that we were staying in a “kind of” bungalow (very basic) with no windows, in the middle of the bush. In other words, there were wild animals running around…
All of a sudden, I hear these funny grunts coming from outside. Still half asleep, I wake up and grab my torch by the side of my bed. Of course, at that time people were going nuts already (especially the girls lol…they were terrifiedJ). I switch on the torch towards where the noise was coming from, and I see this HUGE WILDEBEEST HEAD staring at me! Everybody started screaming all at once…
Very frightening on the moment I must admit, but we then realised it was Justin (one of our teammates) joking around with a “stuffed wildebeest” head! J I would’ve punched him if I could!
And what about your MOST memorable safari in South Africa?
Kruger once again. This one time (while on a self-drive safari), we saw both lions, elephants, rhinos, 3 cheetahs and a herd of buffalo (comprising of almost 1000 individuals) in just one day.
I have often experienced magical moments on a safari, but I must admit this was extra special!
Any advice for adventurers in South Africa?
South Africa is a huge country with so much to visit and discover. Take your time! I recommend at least 3 weeks if you REALLY want to enjoy and benefit from what the country has to offer!
Try to combine safaris with the beach, and perhaps a bit of shopping time in Johannesburg (Sandton City’s a shopper’s paradise) or Cape Town.
We know this will be a difficult question! But can you give us the low down on the best game viewing location in South Africa?
Most definitely the Kruger, and some of the private concessions like Sabi Sabi, Londolozi or Madikwe Game Reserves.
And those top three MUST SEE destinations on your next South Africa jaunt?
1. Kruger
2. Cape Town
3. Gauteng
Get sorted with your safari & click on over to AfricaFreak
Want to win a Free 6-day Acacia African Insight overland tour! Check out the #AcaciaWildTweep comp details
You've gotta' be in it to win it so fill out our #AcaciaWildTweep Q&A
#AcaciaWildTweep competition terms and conditions: Entrants for the “Wild Tweep” competition must have visited South Africa, although not necessarily on an Acacia Africa tour. 1 X African Insight (Tour code: NAI6 or SAI6). For travel before 01 January 2011. Non-exchangeable or transferable. Subject to the Acacia Africa booking terms and conditions as laid out in the 2010/2011 brochure and availability. Excludes flights/ visas, insurance, spending money, optional activities and any other items not listed as ‘included’ in the Acacia brochure under the African Insight heading.
