Botswana Tourism Consumer Enewsletter http://www.botswanatourism.us 1-888-675-7660 Those vacation days may be running low with the last days of summer on the verge so why not save them for the fall where Botswana is the place to be. With animal activity at a high and prices at a low, there is no better time to travel. Botswana operators are gearing up for fall and offering a variety of budget-friendly travel packages to lure you to visit this breathtaking country. Read on to learn more about the latest travel offers and happenings. You’ll soon be planning your next adventure in Botswana. In this Issue: Latest Travel Offers New Adventures in Botswana Latest Wildlife Sightings Breaking News Latest Travel Offers Visit Botswana for less in 2011. Check out these new travel offers below, and then contact your favorite travel advisor to book a 2011 vacation: Children Stay Free at Orient-Express in Botswana Orient-Express invites families to get away to Botswana. Receive a complimentary second tent for up to two children ages 8- to 17-years-old when booking a safari. Offer valid until 31 October 2011, subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other package, promotion or special offer. Give your family the gift of discovery and share memories that will last a lifetime with Orient-Express. For more information, please visit www.orient-express.com or email safaris@orient-express.com. Summer Special with Wilderness Safaris and Sanctuary Retreats Summer in Botswana is the time when there is a kaleidoscope of color with rich landscapes, an explosion of new life with many species giving birth to their young, and a myriad bird species to be seen. Wilderness Safaris and Sanctuary Retreats have teamed up to create a truly exciting summer special at exceptionally competitive prices through the traditionally quieter period of November to April. From mokoro excursions down the waterways of the Delta to seeing herds of elephant in the Linyanti, you will have an unforgettable experience. Come discover the best of Africa with this summer special from Wilderness Safaris and Sanctuary Retreats. For more information, please visit www.wilderness-safaris.com or www.sanctuaryretreats.com. Footsteps in Africa Launches Kalahari Summer Promotion Footsteps in Africa is making Botswana easy and affordable during the Kalahari Summer. From the 1 December 2011 to 31 March 2012, 14 separate camps and lodges throughout seven diverse regions of Botswana will be available at exceptional rates. Terms include a minimum of three nights at any one camp/lodge or minimum of four nights at two or more different camps/lodges. Footsteps in Africa wants to invite you to experience the spontaneous celebration of nature that is summer in Botswana at an incredible value. For more information, please visit www.footsteps-in-africa.com or email anthony@footsteps-in-africa.com.  Green Season with Liquid Giraffe Liquid Giraffe has launched a “Green Season” special safari – the Okavango Trail – for 2011/2012 to celebrate Botswana’s summer season. The Okavango Trail combines the varied land-and-water-activity program of Kwara Camp in the Central Okavango Delta with a new camp, Motswiri, in the Selinda Reserve. Motswiri Camp specializes in horse riding and guided walking safaris. Take advantage of the green season in Botswana with the Okavango Trail! For more information, please visit www.liquidgiraffe.com or email info@liquidgiraffe.com.  A Boating Adventure with Roger Dugmore Safaris...October 2-7, 2011 Roger Dugmore Safaris wants you to experience a boating safari like no other in the Okavango Delta. This 5-night safari from October 2-7, 2011 explores the vastness of the Okavango River, dominated by floating galaxies of water lilies, dense spans of submerged plants in translucent lagoons, evergreen woodlands, fringes and islands. Spend your days leisurely drifting downstream while game-and-bird watching, or just relaxing onboard taking in the magnificent views – whatever tickles your fancy. For more information, please visit www.ecoafricabotswana.com or email rdsafaris@ngami.net.   Latest Wildlife Sightings You won’t need binoculars to see the latest wildlife sightings sent to us from our camps. Kwando Safaris has Puppies! Kwando Safaris is proud to announce that puppies have been spotted at Lagoon Camp at the wild dogs’ den. Reliable as ever, for the 8th year running, the Alpha female has denned near Lagoon Camp and produced nine gorgeous puppies. The puppies were first spotted nosing out of the den in late July, and have grown a little more adventurous every day. They will gradually learn more and more about their environment, and in a few months, will start following the rest of the pack throughout the Kwando concession. At some point, they will no doubt find their way into our camp. Lagoon Camp is lucky enough to have regular sightings of wild dogs throughout the year, but the chance to see the puppies making their first forays into the world is a major draw card for our guests. For the Kwando Team, it’s a sigh of relief – another litter from this successful alpha female, and another chance of a good future for the highly endangered wild dog. There is nothing like a family of puppies to put a smile on your face! For more Kwando Safari sightings, please visit their July Sightings Report here. New Adventures in Botswana What will Botswana travel partners come up with next? Find out... A Refreshed Xigera Camp Wilderness Safaris welcomes back a refreshed Xigera Camp! A number of positive changes have been made to the camp during its recent refurbishment. The rooms have received significant attention including re-canvassed sides with new windows/blinds, sliding doors to the outside shower, and privacy doors for both the shower and toilet. The main area has also undergone a redesign with updates to the bar and buffet and the addition of a small, cozy library area. A new foot-bridge has been built to avoid disturbing the view from camp, and the novel and popular sand-pit where animals tantalizingly leave their tracks has been retained. A new “star deck” has also been built for dinners and star gazing. Come experience these improvements at Xigera on your next Botswana safari. For more information, please visit www.wilderness-safaris.com. New Tour Products at Bush Ways Safaris It looks like 2012 is going to be an innovative and exciting year for Bush Ways Safaris, as the company will be introducing two new products. Of course the semi-participation mobile camping style that Bush Ways has become renowned for will remain, but in addition they will be offering a luxurious fully serviced safari, as well as a flexible accommodated safari option. The fully serviced 7-day safaris will include accommodations in spacious dome tents with en-suite bathrooms, comfortable stretchers and soft bedding, and will be limited to a maximum number of eight guests. The accommodated safaris include traveling from lodge to lodge with you choosing from a variety of safari activities. These 11-day safaris highlight the best that Botswana has to offer and leisurely circumnavigates the Okavango Delta, allowing you to take in the splendor of the various landscapes along the way. Loyal to their customers, Bush Ways will continue to offer tailor-made safaris which are client-focused specialized offerings, depending on the specific requirements of prospective clientele. For more information, please visit www.bushways.com or email reservations@bushways.com  New Aircraft, New Routes, New Horizons with Air Botswana Significant developments are taking place at Air Botswana including introducing new routes and looking into acquiring jet aircraft to operate new regional services. In the short term, Air Botswana has introduced direct flights between Gaborone and Nairobi, between Gaborone and Dar es Salaam via Harare, and between Maun and Victoria Falls.  However, please note, that as of 3 August 2011, Air Botswana will no longer operate its twice-weekly service between Kasane and Lusaka. They will continue to operate direct service between Gaborone and Lusaka on Fridays and Sundays. Route network expansion will continue, taking in more domestic and regional destinations. Air Botswana has also begun assessing different types of jet aircraft for its particular needs, for regional route development and, in the longer term, with an eye to the possible introduction of long-haul service. For more information, please visit www.airbotswana.co.bw.  Breaking News And the Emmy goes to...? Botswana Filmmakers Earn Emmy Nomination Well we’re not sure who will win this, but we know who get’s our vote! Congratulations to  Dereck and Beverly Joubert, Botswana filmmakers, on their Emmy nomination for their work on the National Geographic television series called Great Migrations. Dereck’s cinematography received a nomination for a major segment highlighting the largely unknown zebra migration from the Okavango Delta into the Mkgadikgadi Pans. The story shows a different face of Botswana, and highlights the huge unspoiled wilderness in Botswana still ready to be explored by travelers. “I hope that this film will reveal the interior, the Pans and desert that are some of the most beautiful and unsung spots in the country,” says Dereck. This Emmy nomination is their 10th for films shot entirely in Botswana and comes on the heels of their acclaimed feature The Last Lions. To check out Great Migrations, click here and don’t forget to tune into the Emmy Awards this September!     Tsamaya Sentle ("go well" in Setswana), Botswana Tourism - USA office Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter You are receiving this newsletter because you have either signed up for the Botswana Tourism - enewsletter or you have requested information on international destination news. Website - Contact Us - Travel Offers - Previous Newsletter Issues 127 Lubrano Drive - Suite 203 - Annapolis, MD 21401