IWIF Newsletter Archives ? November 26, 2023 Hey Traveller, ?Welcome to the last Sunday in December! Unbelievable – does it seem to you that every year goes faster than the one before? Anyway, if you’re already thinking about next December’s...
IWIF Newsletter Archives
? November 26, 2023
Hey Traveller,
?Welcome to the last Sunday in December! Unbelievable – does it seem to you that every year goes faster than the one before?
Anyway, if you’re already thinking about next December’s trip to Africa, consider heading to South Africa. Now’s a good time to start making plans.
South Africa’s weather in December is pretty good. Summer falls at this time of year, and it’s all sunshine and blue skies over the famous Garden Route.
The Garden Route is one of the most popular road trips in South Africa, for the scenery, the beaches, and the adventure.
While it is the middle of summer here, which translates to the rainy season in the eastern parts of the country. But Kruger National Park is still another great place to visit in December.
?Dry season tends to be the best time to spot wildlife in Africa’s parks. But the rainy season is is when the most you’re most likely to see newborn animals. A lot of them.
You’ll never forget the first time you see the wee babies with their mums. This is also prime birding season in the area, and the rain storms that come most evenings are fairly magical.
Summer in Cape Town is dry – it means the beach, and there are some fantastic ones to choose from. Plus, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens host summer concerts, and V&A Waterfront, Kirstenbosch, and the Cape Winelands often have open air movies.
Keep in mind though, that December is the holiday season. The kids are on summer break, and everything from accommodation and flights to restaurants and beaches are busy.
This makes now a good time to start making those arrangements now if you’re thinking of making the trip!
Here are a couple of articles to help with your plans:
And a couple of web stories from IWIF:
PLUS a travel tip for you:
? If you hate dealing with jet lag when you travel, download the app Timeshifter. It will help you prepare for the change in time zone before you arrive, both by adjusting your sleep patterns and by giving advice on what time to start avoiding caffeine, etc.
ps. This works great for shift workers, as well.
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?Be sure to hit reply to this or any email if you have questions, comments, or want to share your adventures. I’d love to hear from you!
?Happy travels!
Deb
? November 12, 2023
Hi Traveller,
?I hope you had a great weekend!
I’m jumping right in with a couple of pictures from November in the Serengeti:
I loved watching this herd of elephants walking through the savannah into the sun. Actually, elephants are one of my favourite animals, and I love watching them do just about anything. Or nothing.
I loved watching this herd of elephants walking through the savannah into the sun. Actually, elephants are one of my favourite animals, and I love watching them do just about anything. Or nothing.
The second photo is a spotted hyena having a spa treatment. November in Tanzania, where the Serengeti is located, is the start of the short rains, and temps can average around 26°C/79°F during the day.
There’s nothing like a mud bath to stay cool and keep the bugs off.
It’s impossible to pick favourite photos, because there are so many great wildlife sightings, beautiful scenic experiences, and amazing everything to take pictures of in Africa.
?I had actually gone to Tanzania with the goal of getting to know the people and the place, instead of focusing on the wildlife as I usually did. But I couldn’t resist spending a bit of time with the animals, and it was amazing as always.
Below is a photo of the neighbourhood pub, around the corner from my Airbnb (yup even in Africa) in Mwanza, Tanzania.I spent a month here, getting to know the people and the place. And I loved it.
Wherever you go, things like Airbnb and VRBO are great ways to find places to stay in residential areas of your destination.
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I always try to live as much like a local as I can when I travel, and living where they do can go a long way in helping with that.
Find out a little more about this amazing country in East Africa in this article about why you need to visit Tanzania.
Here are a couple new Explore Africa articles:
A trip to Africa is a milestone for many travellers. If you can’t decide where to start, this might help! Read article | A premier booking site for African rail travel has added 15 new luxury itineraries – find out more here! Read article? |
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? And a travel event to look forward to:
In case you’re not aware, November 28 is what’s been dubbed the Black Friday of travel – Travel Deal Tuesday. Save any bookings you’re thinking of making until then.
Booking sites like Booking(dot)com, Expedia, and Viator, as well as direct sites for airlines like Delta and American Airlines offer discounts, often deep discounts, on all aspects of travel ?
?I hope you have a great week, and happy travelling!
?And as always, if you have questions to ask or stories to tell, just hit reply to this email. I’d love to hear from you!
Happy Travels!
Deb
?October 15, 2023
Hey Traveller,
I’m just stopping in your inbox quickly this week. I wanted to let you know about a really great subscription I found that notifies me of deals on airfares – some of them really amazing deals.
For example, last week I received an email about a flight to St. Lucia, in the Caribbean, that was 70% off. There was also a half-price fare to New Zealand.
These deals come from FareDrop. A full-year international subscription costs US$99, and I think it’s worth every penny. There is also a free domestic subscription.
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I also want to let you know about the newest post about spending Christmas in Africa (sorry of you’re not ready to think about that time of year yet!):
| Learn more about Christmas in Africa |
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Here are a couple of other articles on IWIF you shouldn’t miss:
Magaliesburg is a small, quiet town below the Witwatersrand Mountains. If you’re travelling through South Africa, Magaliesburg is a spot I’d definitely recommend stopping in.Take advantage of the slower pace, the natural surroundings, and the great selection of activities.? Read Article |
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PLUS a couple travel tips:
? Checkout Dragon Pass – lets you access 100s of airport lounges all over the world. Sign up with an account through My Regis to get access for free.
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? If you book through Airbnb, VRBO when you travel, do a search of the images (right-click on the image) on the Airbnb or VRBO, etc website to find the direct booking site. Enter the same booking info here. This can often save you a lot of money. Note: this works best with Chrome instead of Safari.
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? If you’d love to fly with your dogs, have a look at K9 Jets to book per seat flights for you and your dogs.
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?Be sure to reply to this email if you have questions, comments, or want to share your adventures. I’d love to hear from you!
?Happy travels!
Deb
? October 1, 2023
Hey Traveller,
Just a quick email, that I hope is catching you in the middle of planning an amazing African adventure!
?If you’re not planning, but you’d like to be, I’d love to remind you that this is a great time to catch the Great Migration.
October and November are when the wildebeest – as well as the other antelope, zebras and their predator entourage – are thinking of heading south from the Maasai Mara in Kenya.
?Depending on the rains, it’s around this time that they’ll start a mass movement back to Tanzania’s Serengeti. It’s an extraordinary sight – and sound – that you can’t really even imagine until you experience it in person.
?You can learn more by visiting Moyer Memoirs and reading an article that I wrote for them about the Great Migration. It will give you a much better idea of what to expect.
Here are a couple articles about what else you can see in Tanzania:
There are so many spectacular things to see and do in Tanzania. If you’d like to find a few things that are away from the crowds, here you go.? Read Article | Didn’t know that Tanzania was the home of some insanely beautiful beaches? Once you read this, you’ll already have some favourites!? Read article |
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?PLUS a few travel tips:
? If you’re in the US and you’d like to sign up for TSA Pre-check, the easiest way is to log into the Staples website. It saves you from having to go to an airport. Just follow this link.
? If you need to make an international flight, Thanksgiving week is the best time to do it. Domestic flights will be busy, but internationally, you’re likely to save some money.
? Another way to save on flights is to fly during the first 2 weeks on June, and the last 2 weeks of August. Try it!
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?Remember, if you have questions, comments, or want to share your adventures, I’d love to hear from you! Just reply to this email.
Happy travels!
Deb
? September 17, 2023
Hey Traveller,
We’re just standing down here after waiting for Hurricane Lee this weekend. It turned out to be a non-event where I’m at, but not everyone was so lucky. I hope you weren’t in its path!
It’s funny that my dog is afraid of strong wind, but the hurricanes and tropical storms that have blown through don’t seem to bother him. It’s a huge relief, but I’d love to know what goes on in his head 
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A of my recent article in the website is about safaris in Botswana, one of my favourite place in Africa to see the wildlife. There’s such a variety of landscapes, from the Okavango Delta to the Kalahari Desert to the Makgadikgadi Pans.
Whether you want to see elephants, African wild dogs (one of my favourite animals), or meerkats, they’re all roaming Botswana.
On my last trip to Africa, I was supposed to spend 6 months getting to know the cities, towns, and people. I’d always focused mainly on wildlife in southern Africa, and as I intend to live in South Africa in the near future. I thought I should experience more than the bush.
And I did pretty well in Tanzania. I spend about 6 weeks in towns like Mwanza, a smaller version of Dar es Salaam. The people were distant but kind and friendly.
I did spend 4 days camping in the Serengeti, but everyone needs a holiday, right? I mean besides my 2 weeks of beach time in Zanzibar.
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And when I got to Botswana, I did okay for a while. I explored Gaborone and the surrounding area, and got a real feel for it, I think.
But it was like sitting next to a box of doughnuts and trying not to eat them. I ended up booking a 17 day camping safari, and then there was no turning back.
The rest of my trip was focused on the wildlife. But I have to say, none it quite lived up to that time in Botswana.
The beauty of the landscapes, the number and variety of animals, the mokoro rides and bush walks… all of it was just amazing.
Keep in mind, this was around December, which isn’t known to be the best time for spotting wildlife. It was still incredible, and without other land cruisers around to get in our way.
I ended up back in Botswana towards the end of my trip, based in Maun and exploring everything there is to see. I’d highly recommend it! *But please, if you rent a car, get the tire insurance!
Below is a recent article about wildlife safaris in Botswana. If you’re thinking of taking a trip, Botswana is a place I highly recommend.
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Click to read more about Safaris in Botswana:
Here are a couple of related articles on IWIF:
Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta. It’s the perfect home base for exploring the area. There’s even a lot to do right in town. ?Read Article | The Kalahari is as spectacular as it is unique, and a great place to get to know a different side of Botswana. It’s a wildlife wonderland.? Read article |
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PLUS airport apps you need:
? Lounge Buddy
? TripIt
? Starbucks (place a mobile order!)
? Flighty
? The app for the airline you’re flying
They’re worth looking into!
Be sure to reply to this email if you have questions, comments, or want to share your adventures. I’d love to hear from you!
?Happy travels!
Deb
You might also like:
? What to Pack for Travel to Africa: Epic Guide
? The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Shoes for Safari
? 9 Types of Safaris in Africa
? Why You Have to Go Camping in Africa – All the Facts for 2023
<p>The post IWIF Newsletter Archives first appeared on Introvert with Itchy Feet.</p>