Adventure Travelers Society

27/08/2021

Hello Travelers! Navigating the Covid regulations for each destination is almost a full-time job. Here's the latest for UGANDA:

Please take note of the below-updated entry requirements for Uganda, with effect 3rd September 2021.

1. All travellers (including children) irrespective of vaccination status or country of origin, are required to arrive with a negative PCR test done 72 hours prior to travel.

2. All travellers are required to submit the Test and Fly document prior to departure for Uganda.

3. On arrival, all travellers are required to undergo another PCR Test, at their own cost. Test results take up to 4 hours and travellers are advised to either wait at the testing centre or at a designated hotel.

4. Travellers who test negative are free to continue with their itinerary.

5. Travellers aged 18 years or older who test positive will be transported by the Ministry of Health to a designated isolation facility. Travellers under the age of 18, who test positive, will be allowed to isolate in a location of their choice with their parent or guardian.

28/05/2021

Anyone else getting ready to travel? Where to? When?

Lots of clients planning on heading to Africa starting this fall -- yea!

13/08/2020

cool! This one is for all our Patagonia hikers: https://twitter.com/universal_sci/status/1293104879846686720/photo/1

“Viedma Glacier, Argentina The icefields of Patagonia, located at the southern end of South America, are the largest masses of ice in the temperate Southern Hemisphere (about 55,000 square kilometers). (Credit: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center)”

29/07/2020

Remember to engage creatively when you can't engage in person!

10/07/2020

Did you hear park passes in some African countries are coming down in price? Stay tuned... Covid will pass and one day (hopefully soon!) we'll all be back exploring this amazing earth of ours.

06/03/2020

Hey followers, have you heard this?... https://apta.biz/2020/03/04/africa-has-almost-no-coronavirus-cases-health-experts-puzzled/?ct=t(APTA_Dispatches_20153_19_2015)

To date, only three cases of infection have been officially recorded in Africa, one in Egypt, one in Algeria and one in Nigeria, with no deaths. This is a remarkably small number for a continent with nearly 1.3 billion inhabitants, and barely a drop in the ocean of more than 86,000 cases and nearly....

19/11/2019

Our friends at Raining Rose just shared these fun Thanksgiving Day facts, and we thought we'd pass them along to you. Enjoy!.........
* * The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 with 400 employees marching from Convent Ave to 145th street in New York City. No large balloons were at this parade, as it featured only live animals from Central Park Zoo.
* * Wild turkeys can run 20 miles per hour when they are scared, but domesticated turkeys that are bred are heavier and can't run quite that fast.
* * The heaviest turkey on record, according to the Guinness Book of Records, weighs 86 pounds.
* * Americans eat 46 million turkeys each Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is the reason for TV dinners! In 1953, Swanson had so much extra turkey (260 tons) that a salesman told them they should package it onto aluminum trays with other sides like sweet potatoes — and the first TV dinner was born!
* * Presidential pardon of a turkey: Each year, the president of the U.S pardons a turkey and spares it from being eaten for Thanksgiving dinner. The first turkey pardon ceremony started with President Truman in 1947. President Obama pardoned a 45-pound turkey named Courage, who has (been) flown to Disneyland and served as Grand Marshal of the park's Thanksgiving Day parade!
* * Campbell's soup created green bean casserole for an annual cookbook 50 years ago. It now sells $20 million worth of cream of mushroom soup.

17/10/2019

contact me if you want more info! This culinary trip to Cuba sounds absolutely DELISH!............

Havana, Cuba, is hosting a 2nd Culinary Workshop: “CUBA SABE” from 9 – 11 January 2020. This will be a fascinating and delicious exploration of regional Cuban cooking and how the fine arts can be applied to enhance the gastronomic presentation and experience. Conference organizers include the National Cultural Heritage Council and the Culinary Federation of Cuba.

Package pricing includes: registration for 3 days of conference programs, classes and workshops, 3 lunches, 3 tasting workshops, 3 concerts of Cuban music, and 3 nights lodging with daily breakfasts in a variety of Iberostar hotel options as well as private homes (starting at $500 per person double occupancy).

Post conference tours include a Cuban Kitchen Tour and Cooking Workshop; a Chocolate and Cuban Coffee tour, and a Farm and producer tour featuring Creole cheeses and tapas.

The conference audience will primarily be professional chefs, sommeliers, and persons interested in Cuban cooking practices and traditions. This Gastronomic/Cultural Workshop will feature the flavors of Cuba and answer the question: "What does Cuba taste like?".

The Committee on Illinois (www.CubaTours4U.com) is organizing a licensed travel group in conjunction with the Paradiso cultural tourism agency in Cuba. PM me for more info and to get your booking started! What a wonderful way to start the new year!

15/08/2019

And now for some more news from the African continent...
Malawi’s High Court has reinstated a ban on plastic bags. Here's the details: https://apta.biz/2019/08/05/malawi-reintroduces-ban-on-plastic-bags/?ct=t(APTA_Dispatches_20153_19_2015)

15/08/2019

Heads Up, Travelers!...
Uganda Wildlife Authority have revised their tariff to introduce new products, new rates for some products, new fines as well as clarification on some UWA products and services.

From 1st July 2020:

Gorilla Permit fee will be $600 for Foreign Residents (FR) and $700 Foreign Non-Residents (FNR) — this is an increase of $100
Gorilla habituation permit will be $1500 (remains the same) both Foreign Residents (FR) and Foreign Non-Residents (FNR)
Chimpanzee tracking permit will be $150 for Foreign Residents (FR) and $200 for Foreign Non-Residents (FNR) — this is an increase of $50
Chimpanzee habituation permit will be $250 both Foreign Residents (FR) and Foreign Non-Residents (FNR) — this is an increase of $50

What does this mean?

For all Gorilla and Chimpanzee tracking and habituation permits between today and 30th June 2020, guests will continue to pay $600, $150 and $200 respectively and the new increased rates will only be effective for all bookings starting 1st July 2020 on wards- even where a deposit has already been made.

07/05/2019

Travelers to South Africa, please note:
ROBBEN ISLAND PRICE INCREASE

As of Saturday, 01 June 2019 Robben Island Museum (RIM) will implement two-tier pricing resulting in an unexpected price increase of over 50% for international visitors.

The current standard rate is R 360 and is increasing to R 550 for non-South African adults, effective 01 June 2019.

Based on annual financial analysis and consultation with its relevant stakeholders, RIM management has taken the decision to introduce a different tier of tour prices for local and international visitors. This new pricing structure will provide additional revenue for the rise in conservation needs on the island.

Robben Island’s tour comprises a ferry return trip, transport on the Island, a guided Island tour and a guided prison tour, often led by ex-political prisoners.

28/02/2019

Sierra Leone and Her Excellency Fatima Bio welcomes and Honors Jane Goodall; Sets Stage for Tourism Debut http://tinyurl.com/y4oycodj

14/02/2019

Black leopard photographed in Kenya! https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/02/13/africa/kenya-rare-black-leopard-black-panther/index.html

The elusive African black leopard is alive and well and living in Kenya -- and there are new pictures to prove it.

07/01/2019

For those looking to visit Machu Picchu, you'll want to know about the entry regulation what went into effect 01/01/19:
New Regulation on entrance tickets to Machu Picchu - Cusco - Peru

Since January 1st, 2019, the amendments to the Sustainable Use and Tourist Visit Regulations for the Conservation of Machu Picchu, the Inca city, have come into force. This new regulation, regulates the entrance times to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

From the indicated date on your entrance ticket(s) to Machu Picchu you'll find printed in the upper left corner the schedule in which visitors and travelers are allowed to enter to the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu. NOTE!... entry will not be allowed at different times to those indicated by the Entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu. Please plan your time accordingly!

Entry times for Machu Picchu can be foundon the new tickets in the upper left part, and the hours are: 06: 00hrs, 07: 00hrs, 08: 00hrs, 09: 00hrs, 10: 00hrs, 11: 00hrs, 12: 00hrs, 13: 00hrs, 14: 00hrs.

06/12/2018

A very cool project... Thanks for playing a part in this charity's efforts: https://apta.biz/2018/11/30/south-african-airways-partners-with-the-love-quilt-project-to-benefit-children-during-the-festive-season/?ct=t(APTA_Dispatches_20153_19_2015)

South African Airways’ (SAA) air freight division, SAA Cargo, is the proud partner of The Love Quilt Project (LQP), the U.S.-based non-profit organization that helps under-privileged children in South Africa and the U.S. As part of South African Airways’ corporate social responsibility programs,...

06/12/2018

update on shared visa in southern Africa: https://apta.biz/2018/12/04/zimbabwe-and-zambia-to-expand-kaza-visa-regime-to-neighboring-countries/?ct=t(APTA_Dispatches_20153_19_2015)

Zimbabwe and Zambia are engaging regional counterparts Botswana, Angola and Namibia over the possibility of adopting the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Uni-Visa to expedite the movement of tourists. The KAZA Uni-Visa was introduced as a pilot project between Zambia and Zimbabwe during the United Nations Wor...

22/04/2018

Hiking in a country gives one a completely different perspective than the usual group travel through cities. Path of the Gods is there for people of all ages to enjoy. Fantastic!!

22/04/2018

Did you know we also hike the Amalfi coast?

22/04/2018

People ask: do you do hiking trips in Europe, or only "exotic" locations? .... We say: Any place to stretch our legs, meet new people, and see cool sights is a great place to hike! Would you ever know this is southern Italy?...

21/11/2017

Big news coming out of Zimbabwe today! Our thoughts are with all the awesome friends we've made in Zim... may your transition to a new president be without incident.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42071488

The end of Robert Mugabe's 37-year rule sparks wild celebrations in the streets.

16/11/2017

Have you heard the news?...
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/360614-trump-to-allow-imports-of-african-elephant-trophies?amp

The Trump administration is reversing an Obama administration ban on bringing to the United States the heads of elephants killed in two African countries.

16/11/2017

FYI, folks:
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/360614-trump-to-allow-imports-of-african-elephant-trophies?amp

The Trump administration is reversing an Obama administration ban on bringing to the United States the heads of elephants killed in two African countries.

10/11/2016

It this time of turmoil and change, maybe a breather is in order... Like a visit to a distant place you've been dreaming of........ Africa, perhaps? Maybe southeast Asia?? Let's talk!

06/10/2016

oooooh, I so miss safari in Africa! Anyone want to join me on a return visit? :)

25/03/2016

So many changes going on in Cuba. Please note that you STILL must adhere to OFAC rules, though they are loosening up. Contact me if you want details.

11/10/2015

Having a great time in Vietnam! Just escaped the market with most of my money still in my wallet :)

26/08/2015

HEY TRAVELERS TO KENYA! IMPORTANT INFO ON GETTING VISAS...
NAIROBI, Kenya - Some important changes to the visa application process to Kenya will go in effect affect on September 1, 2015.

The visitors traveling to Kenya, who were previously eligible to purchase a visa on arrival, will now be required to purchase a visa online in advance of travel. The passengers will be asked to produce a printed copy of the E-Visa upon check-in.

If they do not have the required visa, they will not be permitted to travel.

Travelers can apply for their E-Visa via www.evisa.go.ke [1]. The website is mobile phone-enabled which means the visitors can complete the application from an internet-enabled mobile phone. The system also accepts photos taken and uploaded from a mobile phone.

Please note, the website is currently only offered in English although other language versions are being planned.

Alternatively, travelers can also contact nearest Kenyan Embassy / High Commission/Consulate.

Travel agents or tour operators will be able to register and make visa applications on their clients' behalf.

Applications are currently being approved within 24 hrs. However, efforts are being made to cater for “last-minute”travelers to allow an instant “real time” approval process. E-Visa will be valid for 90 days from the date of approval and not from the date of arrival in Kenya.

Visitors should therefore ensure the visa will still be valid at the time of travel.

Official Digital payments platform that enables Kenyan citizens , residents and visitors access and pay for government services online.

30/07/2015

Just got news of a fare sale to KENYA from CHICAGO! Contact me if a safari is in your future!! :)

11/02/2015

drunken gorillas?! What's next??? :)
http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/nature/post/photographer-punched-drunk-gorilla/

Christophe Courteau's scary encounter occurs in a Rwanda forest, where mountain gorillas often get drunk on fermented bamboo. "Like being hit by a train."

23/01/2015

Hello Clients! How many can you check off the list?
http://www.foodplanet.tv/blog/25-amazing-restaurants-world/

There is an old cliché in real-estate saying “Location, location, location”. This usually refers to the value of property, but when it comes to opening a restaurant, the choosing of a perfect location can make a big difference between having a good dinner to having a spectacular, breath taking, and…