Yampu Tours emphatically says “YES”! We understand that travelers have become increasingly curious, active and engaged with the world around them. You want authentic and unique experiences, and what better continent to offer this than Africa? We know you’re smarter than the average bear, so here’s a quick geography lesson which should eliminate any fear of staying out of Africa. South Africa is 3,000 miles from Sierra Leon. While the Ebola epidemic is contained to West Africa, fear has created a great opportunity to take advantage of safari deals in completely different regions of this continent.

As of today, in South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania, the health risk situation is as it was before Ebola surfaced with perhaps the added benefit that we and the medical community are all sharper for it. All our staff and partners are 100% comfortable that the virus, as it stands, is no reason not to visit east and southern Africa and that if you do you will be assured of an even warmer African greeting, if that is even possible.

Enjoy the opportunity to really experience Africa and feel a full cultural immersion. Choose to partake in conservation efforts by visiting an animal sanctuary or participating in animal monitoring programs. Learn about the people in the areas you visit by visiting the homes or villages of drivers or guides, find small interesting shops or visit schools [or] clinics supported by the camps/lodges.

Let Yampu guide you through the vineyards and Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa, across the flat plains of the Serengeti and over the intimidating Kilimanjaro, to the majestic Victoria Falls in Zambia and the crystal clear waters of Lake Malawi. Choose to visit the sand dunes of the Skeleton Coast in Namibia, or relax on a lush tropical beach in Zanzibar. Whatever your interest, Yampu will design an African trip of a lifetime. Check out these offers for stays during the early part of the year. The start of 2015 offers exceptionally beautiful wildlife viewing as there are often baby animals to be found and the scenery is lush and blooming compared to the hot and arid months. Keep in mind that low season time in the desert does NOT mean a low season experience.

Here you can experience walking safaris, elephant interaction, night and day game drives in open-sided 4 x 4 vehicles, mokoro safaris, sundowner cruises and community visits.

TO VISIT “THE ROMANTIC” BOTSWANA

• Home to the Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world
• Chobe National Park is home to the largest concentration of elephants in Africa
• A diversity of landscapes, from savannah and desert, to salt pan, wetland and flood plain
• Mokoro excursions, a unique adventure trip along the waterways of the Okavango Delta

Walk with Elephants

Always dreamed of getting up close to these gentle giants? Now you can with a unique elephant interaction in partnership with the Living with Elephants Foundation in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Learn more and ask for our “Elephant Activity Fact Sheet”.

Modern luxury is being in truly pristine wilderness, no phones, no television, no emails, a million acres and ten million stars – you are visiting Africa as it was tens of thousands of years ago. Experience this with Kwando Safaris and Yampu.

Yampu Safari with Kwando Camps offers special rates for “The 5 Rivers Safari” which runs from 15th November to 31st of March, a period known as the ‘green’ season. Although this is traditionally seen as the ‘low’ season, it is a very special time of the year to visit southern Africa.

The summer rains are a time of plenty in Africa; mammals are fat and healthy and for many species, it is a time to bring their young into the world. The bush is an emerald green, dotted with an abundance of flowers and migrant bird species arrive in their thousands. For the experienced African traveller and specialist photographer, this is the time to visit southern Africa.

REASONS TO GO ON A ZAMBIA SAFARI

• The rising star of the safari circuit offering excellent value for money
• Off the beaten path safari experiences such as walking safaris, canoeing, tiger fishing and night drives
• The game rich South Luangwa National Park is consistently named as one of the top five places in Africa to see leopards
• 30% of the country is dedicated to wildlife conservation areas and boasts 19 national parks
• Livingstone, access town to the Victoria Falls, is the adventure capital of Africa

Aside from its variety of game, such as lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and a number of exciting endemic species, Zambia is noted for its rich birdlife and exotic fish. It’s something of a pilgrimage for fishermen, and for birders, they can’t help but be drawn by the marvelous diversity of bird species. Zambia is the perfect African destination to have an authentic safari experience. Let Yampu design a walking safari to walk from camp to camp!

Savings of up to 30% at Sanctuary Retreats’ renownedCHICHELE PRESIDENTIAL LODGE

This former bush retreat of the first Zambian president features a proud, arched entrance, a huge colonial-style lounge, and its wow-factor hilltop position and panoramic terrace provide breath-taking views across the game-filled valleys of the South Luangwa National Park.

The open rolling grasslands of the world renowned Masai Mara National Reserve encompasses 1510 square kilometers of classic African wildlife habitat. As the northern extension of the famous Serengeti plains, this adjacent land witnesses the annual wildebeest migration, where literally millions of these animals move en mass to feed upon the lusher grasses of the Mara. Breathtaking at anytime of the year, the scenery, wildlife drives and nature walks won’t disappoint.

Karen Blixen Camp, legendary for its migration safaris and abundance of its resident big cats made famous through the BBC Big Cat Diaries, is offering an exciting 3 night package of an unforgettable safari in the Masai Mara. An authentic ‘yesteryear’ luxury tented-camp set in the wildlife-rich private Mara North Conservancy in the Masai Mara. Activities are off-road game drives for superb close-up photography, night drives, walks and romantic bush meals.

The scenery from a hot air balloon is a breath-taking safari experience. The balloon travels over the diverse habitats of the Masai Mara Reserve, the great Mara River, swamps, forests, wildlife and the African Savannah. The diversity of the flight trail enables passengers to experience a unique opportunity to be a part of the Masai Mara from the air. The gentle and silent nature of the balloon flight allows the passengers to view the wildlife from a comfortable distance. The Big Five – the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo – can be seen frequently along with other animals such as hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, birds and many more. After an hour of fascinating slow balloon cruising, guests land and a lavish champagne breakfast set amidst the bush awaits.

Following migration patterns to plan your trip:

While migration varies in the different parts of Africa, one of the most popular, and most visited times, is the river crossing season, which is generally from July to Sep/Oct in the Northern Serengeti and Masai Mara, although this past year it was all the way into November.

From January to March it is normally down in the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and this is when they give birth, so a completely different experience. Yampu Tours will customize your safari depending on the time of year to put you in the right areas.

One, Two, FREE: Asilia’s 10th Birthday Special: Receive a “3rd night free” when booking by 31 January 2015. Stay in any Asilia Camp or Lodge before 30 June 2015, and every 3rd Asilia night is on us for bookings made before 31 January 2015.Experience extraordinary Family Safaris and dive into the LOCAL CULTURE.

Did you know that, aside from cattle, the Maasai people value children as extremely important and they are considered to be a blessing on the tribe? Choose to visit a nearby village and learn about their culture and customs,make pen pals and buy traditional handcrafts.

Come for a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with the elusive endangered mountain gorilla in this luxuriant and intriguing country. Save on a gorilla trekking permit with Yampu Sanctuary Retreats safaris:

The Best of Uganda: Stay a minimum of 3 nights at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp starting from $273 per person, per night, and only pay $350 for your gorilla trekking permit (usually $600). Valid in April, May and November 2015.

Gorilla Discovery: Save $150 on your gorilla trekking permit (usually $600) when you stay a minimum of 3 nights at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp. Valid 1 January to 15 June, and 1 October to 20 December 2015.

The Big 5 PLUS Penguins and Whales!.

South Africa is a unique country that allows you to see and experience a variety of wildlife over almost half a million square miles of the southernmost tip of the African continent. Ranging from desert country in the north, to the towering Drakensberg Mountains in the east and the verdant wine country in the south, South Africa’s landscape offers visitors a variety of activities. South Africa is culturally rich, to say the least, with many indigenous tribes (there are 11 official languages) and a heavy European influence stemming from the longtime settlement of the Dutch East India Company in the 1600s and colonization by the British in the 1800s. You can explore the seaside city of Cape Town surrounding the iconic Table Mountain, take in the stunning vistas of vineyards and Cape Dutch architecture, get up close and personal with penguins and whales, or go on a safari and search out the Big Five animals (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinoceros).

Would you like to learn more? Sign up for the following webinars for African trips:

• Planning Your Trip to Africa
• South Africa and Botswana
• Kenya
• Africa For Your Next Family Vacation

We invite you to let Yampu customize your African trip of a lifetime!

Co-founders Monica and Jose Irauzqui