Since Jacquie Burnside joined Intrepid as a group leader many moons ago, she’s seen the company grow to be one of the world’s most respected adventure travel operators. You can pack of whole lot of amazing real life experiences into twenty years, and as Jac has just discovered on her latest adventure, it’s amazing how much fun you can cram into 26 days in Ghana and Mali…
“In 1988 on my very first big trip overseas, I took a five month overland safari from Egypt to Tanzania and then up through Central Africa and across the Sahara to Europe! This was at about the same time that Darrell and Manch were travelling with friends on the southbound route from London to Nairobi, when they conceived the business idea that was to become Intrepid Travel. I joined this fledgling company some 5 years later.
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World Cup Fever is sweeping Ghana this week! Ghana has become the first African country to qualify for the 2010 Football World Cup, joining England and Australia in qualification.
Ghanaian Captain Michael Essien summed up the country’s passion for the beautiful game, “The people of Ghana wanted us to win and we did not let them down. What a fantastic feeling to be the first African country to qualify for the first World Cup to be staged in Africa.”
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When surrounded by impressive ruins of bygone eras, you can’t help but wonder who has stood there before you. Remarkable cities that have been reduced to remnants of the past still tell a memorable tale, as Intrepid traveller Cameron Rose discovered on his Istanbul to Tehran adventure…
“Our journey through Anatolia in Turkey was filled with many highlights. It felt so good to see places that are barely touched by tourism and western exposure. Inspiring landscapes, ancient buildings and ruins, pure Turkish hospitality and an abundance of Turkish tea drunk are the predominant images and thoughts that come to mind. But what made a special impression on me was the visit to Ani from Kars. For others Ishak Pasha’s Palace outside Dogubayazit was more imposing, but there I still had the overwhelming memory of Ani, with its beautiful buildings in a majestic setting close to the Armenian border.
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Vietnamese New Year, or Tet, is a bright display of blossoms, fruit offerings and red envelopes carrying lucky money. As the chant of “Chuc mung nam moi” rings out around Vietnam this week, wishing friends and family happy New Year, we join Intrepid’s Sarah Moore on her recent Reunification Express adventure…
“Last night I met the eleven travellers I would spend the next 14 days with. A mixture of Kiwis, Aussies and Brits, we are (amongst other professions) a doctor, hairdresser, lawyer, two school teachers, a semi-retired courier driver and a diesel mechanic, ranging in age from eighteen to fifty-six years.
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In the northwest of China you will find a wild part of the world surrounded by Tibet, Qinghai and Gansu provinces and no less than eight bordering countries - Russia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, India and Mongolia. Intrepid’s Tina Gerets loves her Silk Road adventures through this extraordinary region…
“When I think about ‘wild frontiers’ the first place that comes to mind is the barren landscape of China’s remote Xinjiang province. The name literally means ‘new frontier’. Home to one sixth of China’s total landmass and a third of the country’s natural resources, Xinjiang is like nothing you expect China to be.
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If you get your kicks from road trips, then Route 66 has to be the granddaddy of highway adventures! Intrepid’s Greg Mazzola is based in our Boulder office and there’s nothing he loves more than trippin’ across the country and enjoying a real-life taste of America…
“Cruising the historic Route 66 into Seligman, a small town on the north high plateau of Arizona, a classic American drive-in restaurant comes into view. Decorated with ice cream cones a meter tall, a sign that promises, “Dead Chicken,” and a 1936 Chevy convertible parked in front decked out with flags, rainbow pinwheels and a Christmas tree - it’s no mirage, this is for real.
Welcome to The Snow Cap, where you can get your fill of classic Americana served with a generous helping of Delgadillo humour.
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Do you think you could throw spears and dance like a true Masai warrior? Meeting the proud Masai people and appreciating their traditional village life in Kenya was all part of the amazing Africa experience for Intrepid’s Dyan Mckie…
“I can understand why most travellers are inspired to visit Africa to see the unbelievable animals. I too was extremely excited to see white and black rhinos, giraffe running across the road in front of our truck and the Masai Mara lion who decided to check us out from only two feet away. Plus I will never forget the cheetah who stalked a gazelle, but made a last-minute decision to leave it alone only yards from our 4WD! The animals are why people go to Africa, but with some surprise my Africa was more about the people.
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Impressions of Africa, that vast amazing continent and some holiday incidents, by Cheryall McCullough…
Amazing - The wildebeest migration into the Serengeti national park; we were extremely lucky and privileged to witness the start of it. Some two million animals move into the lush grazing over a couple of weeks. Here and there the long line five or six abreast with the largest bulls on the outside, is broken as a lion makes a run for dinner. In no time, the lines reform.
Anachronism? - An enduring sight to bring home, was being on the first of four camels led by a long-legged Masai warrior-tribesman, garbed in traditional, colourful woollen robes (it’s winter), complete with spear - while he chatted on his cell phone! We have yet to see a mud brick/thatched house with a satellite dish, but it could happen.
Brilliant - African sunsets across the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers. A large orange sun sinks over the horizon into a purple, fading to aqua sky.
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For most people choosing to travel to Africa means carefully planning the adventure of a lifetime. For lucky Express reader Barbara Reid that wasn’t quite how her Kenya safari came about, but she enjoyed it so much that it’s almost as if Africa chose her…
“To quote Little Miss Sunshine - “I won, I won, I won!” I received an email informing me I’d won a Kenya Wildlife Safari. After entering competitions for a very long time - it was my turn!
With just under a month I managed to organise airfares, immunisations, visa and myself. I added two extra days in Nairobi before and after the safari. The first two days were filled with visits to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, the Giraffe Centre and the Nairobi National Park. All excellent places to visit. I am now the sponsor of a beautiful baby elephant for a year - a good way to spend tourist dollars.
Our group met in the evening for a briefing and the following morning we were greeted by our leader, Victor, in the truck we were to travel in for the next week. We met our driver - David, and cook - Joshua. Our group numbered twelve, which gave us room to spread out. Five from the UK, one from Denmark, four from Germany and two from Australia - a good mix.
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