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Archive for October, 2010

A Guided Bush Walk In Africa

The chill of the early morning air on your arms and legs is invigorating and too soon will they be heated by the sun as it bakes the bush. An early morning walk before the heat of the day sets in is a glorious adventure into territory not often tread by man and exceptionally well known by its inhabitants. Man is certainly at a disadvantage and this thought keeps the nerves singing the muscles in your body ready for fight or flight and provides a heady mixture of exhilaration and adrenaline.

It is essential to have a guide when walking in Big Five territory or even in any territory that has dangerous animals. The Big Five comprises of the king of the veld being the lion the tremendous bulk of the elephant the mysterious leopard the temperamental black rhino and the herds of buffalo or even the lone dagga boy a solitary mudspattered buffalo bull. These animals were considered the most dangerous African animals to pursue by the early hunters and thus were named The Big Five. Today the majority of visitors to South Africa are more interested in sharing their time with these animals and enjoying the wonder of their existence. Hunting is still available however visitors would need to locate specific farms where hunting is allowed.

A guided bush walk brings you right into the arms of Mother Nature the scent of the sand as it heats the crunch of leaves and twigs under your boot your eyes scanning the bush for movement. A bush walk also affords the visitor the opportunity of getting to know the finer aspects of the bush. It is during walks like these that trees can be identified and their medicinal properties explained there is time to inspect the ground for spoor and allow the story of a scuffle to be dramatised white rhino and black rhino middens can be differentiated between and many stories can be shared about adventures past.

You can step out of the big city of Cape Town a short way out of Camps Bay and take a drive of one to two hours where you will find game farms in the African bush some even boasting The Big Five. It may be a good idea to spend a night or two in a luxury tent or beautifully thatched lodge to really experience what the bush offers you before taking a scenic drive back to the gorgeous beaches of Camps Bay and the sizzle of our Mother City Cape Town.

Or if you are looking for a great day’s outing from your base a game farm or game reserve is a super way to spend the day out on the wild side!

Lekker Local Tips:
* Tick bites can be irritatingly itchy and in some cases ticks may carry tick bite fever an easily treated but rather uncomfortable illness. Prevention is certainly better than cure and a good tick repellent can stave off the itches when rubbed onto exposed parts of your body and sprayed onto your clothing.
* Avoid wearing bright coloured clothing in the bus rather opt for neutral or earthy tones. If you don’t stick out like a sore thumb in the bush you are likely to get closer to the animals!
* A great suggestion is to keep a pair of binoculars and your camera close at hand at all times. Closer inspection of animals and birds helps to correctly identify them and taking that exceptional photo is a great way to make a memory when a super photographic opportunity presents itself.

About the writer:  For a home base from which to mount any guided bushwalks in Cape Town go to Cape Town Guest House

Using Your Atm Card In A Foreign Country

ATM/Cash Withdrawals

Cash withdrawals from an ATM machine are the easiest quickest and cheapest way to obtain the locale currency of a country.

Before Going Abroad:

1. Double Check Your Password:

The majority of ATM machines around the world only accept 4 digit passwords if your password is longer than 4 digits make sure you contact your bank before you depart and create a shorter password. Also be aware that the majority of password key pads around the world only list numbers if your password contains letters make sure you know the number equivalent.

2. Notify Your Bank Account/Credit Card Company:

Sudden activity in a foreign country might send up red flag warnings to your bank or credit card company causing them to put a hold on your debit or credit card. Avoid this by contacting them and letting them know that you will be traveling abroad.

3. Obtain Emergency Contact Numbers:

In the event that your debit or credit card is stolen while you are abroad you want to make sure you no what to do. Contact your bank and/or credit card company and ask them for the procedures you should take in the event that it happens. Ask them for the international access number to their company from the country in which you will be.

4. Locate ATMs Abroad:

Look on the backside of your Debit/ATM/Credit card if there is a Circus sign associate with MasterCard or a Plus sign associated with Visa then your ATM card is compatible with all ATMs that accept that sign around the world.

To locate Circus ATMs around the world visit: www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/cardholderservices/atmlocations/index.html

To locate Plus ATMs around the world visit: www.visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp

Using Your ATM Card Abroad:

TIPS:

Upon arriving in a country be sure to make your first withdrawal at the airport where there is always an ATM on site.

When withdrawing money abroad at an ATM machine not associate with your bank you will be assessed fees just as you would if you were using it domestically at an ATM machine not associated with your bank. You will probably be charged 14 per withdrawal depending on your bank check with your bank for exact fees. Since withdraw fees can quickly add up minimize your withdraws by limiting your visits to ATM to once per day and withdrawing higher amounts.

Many ATM machines have a cap on how much money you can withdrawal per day usually 300500.

Many banks have a cap on how much money you can withdrawal per day usually 500700.

In order to avoid being given large bills when withdrawing request an add amount 50 70 90 etc.

If you bank is member of the Global ATM Alliance Bank of America Barclays etc. you can withdrawal cash from any of the other banks in this alliance for no additional fee. For further information visit their website: www.scotiabank.com/cda/content/01608CID8040_LIDen00.html

For further information about using your ATM card and other travel tips visit Glamour Getaways at http://www.glamourgetaways.com

Joanna Lehmann
Glamour Getaways LLC
http://www.glamourgetaways.com

About the writer:  Founder of Glamour Getaways a tour operator with a “glamour” theme. www.glamourgetaways.com

The Excitement Of River Cruises

Most of the time when people are contemplating taking a cruise vacation they think about the huge liners that carry people from one exotic port to the next or that traverse the oceans of the world. But in the last decade or so river cruises have become more popular and are competing more and more for the attention of travelers. While there was a time when a river cruise was considered a specialty these days choosing this type of excursion is a more mainstream option.

European river excursions are the most popular and were also the pioneers in providing interesting “off the beaten path” types of cruise vacations. There are many spectacular rivers that meander through different countries in Europe which allows people to explore many scenic and historic areas not accessible by the large holiday ships.

These days there are river cruises in many other parts of the world from which to choose. As the river cruise ship lines discovered the increasing interest that people had in cruising on the waterways of Europe they made efforts to expand their services into many other countries as well. This means that you now have the choice of cruising the rivers of Africa South America and North America as well as parts of Asia.

One of the advantages of a cruise on a river is that the ships are much smaller and therefore offer a more intimate and personal experience. Most of the cruise lines that sail the watercourses of the world take particular pride in offering their passengers excellent service often with a ratio of one staff member to every three passengers or even less. This ensures that each and every person along for the ride has their needs promptly addressed are well attended to and even pampered on their voyage.

Even though the overall size of the ship that will carry you on the river outing is smaller in many cases the cabins are somewhat larger than what you would find on the giant ships. In addition they are often outfitted with fine appointments which are meant to cater to American tastes and demands. Some of the newer ships have full WiFi internet access and recent renovations on older ships have resulted in cabins with flat screen televisions MP3 sound systems fine highcount linens cashmere throws plush bathrobes and European touches in decor and furnishings.

Adding to the luxurious surroundings of your cabin you will also be gently gliding by gorgeous French chateaus imposing German castles brilliant tulip fields and many more stunning sites throughout the interior regions. And when you are not enjoying the sights rolling by from your comfortable chair on the sun deck you will have opportunities to leave the ship and savor the ambiance of the towns and villages along the river and rub shoulders with the locals.

Many people say that river cruises are simply the best way to be introduced to the best of Europe because you can escape the common tourist traps. Cruising European rivers is a relaxing enjoyable stressfree and comfortable way to gain new insights into the history and culture of the countries the cities and the people.

About the writer:  Mike Selvon portal offers free articles on cruise excursions. Find out more about the river cruises and leave a comment at the discount cruises blog.