Big Cat Hotspot - Walking Safaris - New East Africa Accommodated Overland Collection - Photo Safari

Acacia Africa's 2015 brochure includes three new Small Group tours. Charting a path across South Africa's remote Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces, the itineraries incorporate opportunities to get active on walking safaris and game drive in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park - a big cat haven. Kenya and Tanzania feature in the tour operator's new East Africa accommodated overland collection, the expeditions ranging from five to 11 days. In addition, Getting Stamped will be joining the 18-day Mountain Gorillas To The Mara 02 May departure, the travel bloggers sharing their expertise behind the lens on the camping overland safari.

Discover South Africa's wilder side: The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa's isolated Northern Cape province is far from mainstream and safaris here are usually enjoyed minus the crowds. With rainfall averaging around 200mm per year the scant vegetation won't spoil your view whatever time of year you travel and there is always plenty of predator action. The desert backdrop rivals the better known Kruger National Park for its big cat numbers and amongst other rare species it's home to the black maned Kalahari lion. Leopard sightings in the park are said to be “the stuff of legend” and herds of blue wildebeest and other antelope migrate to the life giving waterholes in wet season - the striking black and white masked gemsbok often encountered en masse. Meeting Africa's meerkats, watching raptors soar across the skies and giraffes in the wild make for a real “away from it all” safari experience. Five day Transfrontier Kgalagadi Accommodated Safari £695pp (two sharing) + local payment from £95pp. Starts Upington - ends Upington. Year round departures.

http://www.acacia-africa.com/acacia_small_groups/transfrontier_kgalagadi_accommodated_safari.php 

Get active in South Africa: The 14-day Cape to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park accommodated Small Group tour includes nature walks in the Namaqua National Park, the Augrabies Falls National Park and the Richtersveld Reserve. A coastal walking safari is also available at Lambert's Bay - Bird Island, one of only six worldwide breeding sites for the Cape Gannets. £1,535pp (two sharing) + local payment from £217pp. Arno Delport Sales & Marketing Manager at Acacia Africa, comments “While not Big Five territory, this is a great opportunity to see undiscovered South Africa and as one of very few operators currently covering this route my advice is to go now before the secret gets out.” Year round departures. Starts Cape Town - ends Upington.

http://www.acacia-africa.com/acacia_small_groups/cape_to_kgalagadi_transfrontier_park_.php 

Celebrate in East Africa: The new East Africa Accommodated Overland collection affords travellers more comfort. The six day Tanzanian Game Parks expedition boasts some spectacular bucket list activities - an optional balloon flight over the Serengeti an unforgettable way to discover the “Land of Endless Plains.” Said to be the birthplace of man, the Olduvai Gorge is another optional highlight listed on the itinerary, the archeological site linked to the Lion King. "The Circle of Life couldn't be a better theme for those of us hoping to mark milestone birthdays and events," says Delport, “but this is also the ideal style of travel for adventurers who want to visit traditional overland destinations and don't want to rough it and families hoping to see more of East Africa." Game drives in the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti are included on the trip. £1,795pp (two sharing) + local payment from USD £265pp. Year round departures from 12 June. Starts Nairobi - ends Nairobi. (8-years +)

The five day Kenya Lakes & Mara expedition and 11-day Best Of East Africa complete the new East Africa accommodated overland collection.

http://www.acacia-africa.com/accommodated_overland/ 

Getting Stamped blog editors Adam and Hannah Lucaszewicz have teamed up with Acacia Africa to share their passion behind the lens. Mirroring the relaxed nature of overland travel there will be informal daily photography lessons, and adventurers booking on the 18-day Mountain Gorillas To The Mara 02 May departure will have the opportunity to quiz the bloggers while on safari. A one hour audience with the gorillas, a visit to the Lake Nakuru National Park and game drives in the Masai Mara are major highlights on the camping overland expedition. £1,095pp (no single supplement) + local payment from £595pp + gorilla & chimp permit £430pp. Starts Nairobi - ends Nairobi. Alternatively, amateur photographers will be able to join Getting Stamped by booking on the following camping overland tours, the six day Troop To The Gorillas, 14-day Gorilla Encounter, 28-day Gorillas & Game Parks and 58-day Ultimate African Overlander also departing on 02 May.

http://www.acacia-africa.com/acacia_overland/mountain_gorillas_to_the_mara_.php 

http://www.gettingstamped.com/2015/01/05/east-african-photo-safari-2015/ 

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All prices include transport, accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver and exclude return flight. Acacia Africa: 020 7706 4700; info@acacia-africa.com; www.acacia-africa.com. ATOL No. 6499 and ABTA No. W4093 PROTECTED. SATSA membership No. 1931 and members of AITO.

Editors' Notes
Acacia Africa's East Africa Accommodated Overland collection includes stays at lodges, tented camps and hotels. While these expeditions and many of the Africa specialist's small group safaris are family friendly and open to safari goers from eight years, they are not family tours - couples, singles and friends of all ages also choosing to travel on these itineraries. Accommodation on the tour operator's new South Africa small group safaris is based in twin share chalets, lodges and tented camps with shared facilities (8 years +). The tour operator's camping overland itineraries are targeted at those aged 18-39 years.