The Wanderers Stories

Season’s Greetings from The Wanderers!

Happy New Year!

We take this opportunity to thank each of you for making 2014 a great year for The Wanderers. And we wish you and your loved ones a fantastic 2015! May it be bigger, better and happier for everyone, wherever you are. To add to your happiness quotient, we promise to bring you awesome travel experiences from around the world throughout 2015 As a trailer, here’s a glimpse of what we would like to begin with! A winter trip to Canada, a wild trip to Botswana, a boat trip down the Mekong, a journey to Colombia or a road trip to North East India. We have all this and more for you in 2015. It’s after all the year of the wanderer.

Don’t believe otherwise..

Botswana

Explore the wonders of Botswana in the wilderness hotspots of this diverse country with this luxury camping expedition. You spend your days in the Okavango Delta and take game drives in Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park before finishing the trip with the sight of the cloud of spray from the mighty Victoria Falls. Its a one of a kind trip- exclusive & wild! Check out our latest package on Namibia

Lake Louise and Banff National Park

Enjoy a unique range of recreational activities from world-class ski options, to Dogsled mushing, snowshoe tours, skating along ice-trails and much more. This trip is dedicated to highlight the winter wonderland – Canada, where you get to experience dog sledges, some winter wildlife, visit Lake Louise and Banff National Park and explore Vancouver city.

Colombia

Colombia, located in the southwest of South America, is a tropical country of incredible diversity and charm. It is known to fascinate the world with its ever-changing geography, a history loaded with mystery & adventure and the warmth of its people and rich centuries-old culture. Discover this completely new world. Check out our latest package on Colombia

River Mekong in Laos

Take a trip down the River Mekong in Laos and its world renowned islands. Start the cruise at Pakse, situated at the confluence of Xe Don and Mekong Rivers, before continuing your cruise to Wat Phou – a UNESCO World Heritage site and the remote 4000 Islands!

Discover the beauty of the Sultanate of Oman with this seven days journey. Start your travel in the capital city of Muscat, a vibrant city that has successfully balanced the modern with its traditional culture. Here you will be introduced to Oman’s history, culture and development. Make your way along various tourist hot spots of Oman like Nizwa, Bahia Fort, Wadi Nakher, Jebel Shams and Wahiba Sands before returning to Muscat, where you end your trip. This trip gives a fascinating insight into a destination so close to India. Check out our package for Vietnam

South Africa

Pamper yourself and your loved one while discovering this beautiful country together. This 11 day tour takes you on a magical journey in Rainbow Nation. With the ease of self drive for most part of the journey, you can take your time reaching your destinations. Stop at little-known places. Discover those hidden nooks. Go on game drives. Do activities together. Get awed by the sights and the scenery along the way. Live in luxurious lodges and hotels throughout which have been handpicked specifically for this luxury offbeat tour.

Tanzania

See the best that Tanzania has to offer in luxury. Stay at some of the most luxurious tented accommodations and camps while you go on Safaris and game drives. Start your trip at Ngorongoro, famous for its Crater where humans and wild beasts coexist peacefully. Move on to Serengeti National Park, unequalled for its natural beauty and the greatest concentration of plains game anywhere. Drive down to Lake Manyara National Park, extolled by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”. From here you can either return back home or extend your trip and take in the beaches at Zanzibar while staying in the lap of luxury some 45 km away from Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar. Check out our latest package on Tanzania.

Mongolia

Discover Mongolia starting with a 2 day visit to the smaller brother of Baikal, Lake Khuvsgul, the deepest lake in Central Asia. In Ulaanbaatar, you will experience a blend of tradition and modernity in the rapidly developing city. Head east to Maikhan Tolgoi, followed by a trip to Gobi desert and then a walk through the ice gorge at Yolyn,Am,Mongolia’s largest sand dunes.Finally, experience Naadam festival which is the most colourful festival of the Mongols. Check out our latest package to Mongolia.

Kailash Manasarovar

Our Kailash Manasarovar Expedition to Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, which lies in the Southwestern part of Tibet, is an incredible experience. It is an epic pilgrimage to the heavenly abode of Lord Shiva, that is considered the most sacred and revered pilgrimage for Hindus, Jain’s and Buddhists alike. It is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding spiritual journeys known to man. Apart from this group tour, we have other journeys to Mt Kailash including a trip via Lhasa, another one which is an arduous trek, the inner parikrama, the chopper tour, the private journey and more. Do contact us for details, Check out our latest Kailash package

North East India

The North Eastern region of India is one of the least explored regions of India. With its abundant natural wealth, wildlife sanctuaries, high mountains, tribal culture, tea gardens, waterfalls, famous temples, the majestic Brahmaputra valley, angling opportunities, fast flowing rivers, quaint markets and a flourishing textile trade, it’s a wonder that these sister states have been able to keep themselves under wraps for so long! This unveils all of the above during its sojourn through Assam, Meghalaya and the Himalayan region of Arunachal Pradesh.

Meetings – Incentives – Conferences – Events

Does the reward of a trip to London and Paris or to Australia and Thailand galvanise the sales force into action? We are sure it does if the booming numbers of incentive travelers to places far and wide is any indication. But how about taking this a notch higher and announcing a trip of a lifetime that is truly worth coveting? A voyage to the Antarctic for the top performers! Or a trip to the Arctic Circle or the North Pole or a Trans Siberian Rail journey for the deserving few… Is it time to turn incentives on its head and move away from mundane trips to the truly extraordinary experiences of life? So, next time you are planning a trip for your delegates, do you want to go on planning the ordinary or would you like to give it a Wanderers touch? For more info, please click on the link.

Return as a Wanderer..

Thanks for all your arrangements. The trip was absolutely fantastic and very well organized. Thank you for making this trip happen in a short period of time. I know it was challenging indeed, given the time constraints.It will certainly remain a Dream Trip etched in our minds. I do look forward to organizing a trip too next year with Wanderers ..and hopefully many more trips thereafter. It was really a pleasure working with you!

Cheers,

Om Hemrajani, after his recent trip to Switzerland, Austria and Prague

Israel – Shalom!

Abhik Dutta, The Wanderers

Abhik Dutta traveled to Israel for a recce trip and this is what he had to say about this beautiful country.

“I had always wanted to visit Israel having grown up reading books about the country and its people, how the state was formed, about kibbutz life, their culture of innovation, the politics and religion of the region, the holocaust etc. So, when I got the invite from the Israel Ministry of Tourism to visit the country, I already had one leg in the El-Al flight! Tel-Aviv, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea is a city on steroids! An active city, where people are forever on the go. Cycling, running, skating, sailing, segwaying, dancing. Always moving. No wonder its called the Non-Stop City. Jaffa, is the exact opposite. Quiet, reflective, artsy, historical. To escape the noise.

For more offbeat trips and unique experiences around the world, please visit our website.

We would also like to hear from you! If you have any ideas or requirements to help customize personalized tours, do write to us at askus@thewanderers.co.in or contact us at any of our offices.

Q’s	Botswana	Namibia
I) One little known fact/trivia that everyone should know about when travelling to Namibia/Botswana.	The Okavango ‘Delta’ is in fact an ‘Alluvial Fan’ as it does not flow out into an ocean	Namibia has the highest concentration of Cheetah (2000-3000) in the World, as well as the highest sand dune (980ft)
ii) What is a must buy when in Namibia/Botswana?	Grass woven basket or ostrich-egg jewelry	Wood-carvings, diamonds and semi-precious stones (leather shoes are also a great find)
iii)One take-away after a visit to Namibia/Botswana?	The diversity in landscape, wildlife and culture makes for a great travel circuit	The variety in topography that makes up Namibia’s landscape is breathtaking to say the least!
iv) What is your advice to first time travellers?	Do not try to squeeze as many places/destinations in a short space of time, rather enjoy a few places for longer (i.e. do not stay shorter than 3 nights at any destination)
v) One thing to definitely pack when travelling to Namibia/Botswana.	Walking shoes & binoculars	Sun cream, hat and scorpion-viewer torch
vi) One activity anyone travelling to Namibia/Botswana should not miss..	Walking, motor boat and mokoro (in the Delta)	Dune climbing, hot air ballooning & quad biking through the dunes. Also the scenic flights that fly over the Skeleton Coast is a must!
vii) Where should anyone, travelling to Namibia/Botswana, definitely get their picture taken.	In the Okavango Delta, overlooking the crystal clear channels	Sossusvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park
viii) Which is the best place to get a panoramic photo?	Makgadigadi Pans	Fish River Canyon and the Namib Desert Dunes
ix) Best place to enjoy sunset/sunrise?	Sunrise overlooking a savanna or floodplain with a hot chocolate and amarula in hand. Sunset without a doubt is best enjoyed either on a boat in the Okavango Delta/Chobe River, or on one of the many islands in the Okavango Delta.	Sunrise from the top of a dune, and Sunset sitting on the beach as the sun sets over the Atlantic ocean (with a gin & tonic in hand)
x) Most romantic place to take a special someone to.	Private bush dinner in the Okavango Delta!	Request a private dinner when staying in Sossusvlei, either on a dune or in a fairy circle surrounded by lanterns
xi) Best place to have local food?	Choice Restaurant in Maun is best for local cuisine. If you want to eat a lovely lunch, try Hilary’s Coffee Shop and for dinner we recommend Sports Bar or Thamalakani River Lodge	The Tug Restaurant on the beach in Swakopmund has amazing food and is very popular amongst the locals! We also highly recommend Joe’s Beerhouse in Windhoek.
xii)Your favourite local dish and drink that you would recommend.	If you can get your hands on Marula Beer made by the locals, this is amazing! Make sure you do not leave Botswana without trying Seswaa (ground goat or beef), Mopani Worms and Leboa (large fleshy mushrooms that grow on termite mounds during the rains)	Namibia is well known for its locally brewed beers. On the food front, we recommend trying the German dishes, potjie-kos (stew made in cast-iron pot) as well as locally grown Calamata Olives and Oysters!
xiii) One place only the locals would know.	If you boat from Maun into the Okavango Delta, there is amazing swimming and picnic spots along the Boro River	Gaia is a natural spring in Damaraland. Nearby there is also a petrified forest to be seen. Very view guides know about these natural occurrences…
xiv)The best pub and best place to catch up for a drink..	River Lodge and Sports Bar in Maun	Tiger Reef Beach Bar in Swakopmund
xv) A local festival you feel more travellers should come and see	Rock Festival in December held in Maun	Octoberfest (Beer fest) and WIKA (Windhoek Carnival) both held in Windhoek
xvi)The things guide books will not tell anyone about Namibia/Botswana?	Botswana hosts the 2nd largest Zebra Migration starting in Northern parts of Botswana (Linyanti/Chobe) through to Savute Marsh/Mababe Depression at the start/before of the rainy season. They then move onto the Makgadikgadi Pans, and after the rains they head back North.	Lions, Brown Hyena and Jackal can sometimes be seen strolling along the beaches of Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. If you are up for a challenge, go in search of the desert-dwelling Elephants in the North-West of Namibia!
xvii) Is there any particular month you would not recommend travel to Namibia/Botswana and what would that reason be?	October is not a good month to travel to Botswana, it is incredibly hot! Very little vegetation protecting you from the harsh sun.	November – February is very hot in Namibia. These months also receive rain which means wildlife in areas such as Etosha scatter
xix) In one sentence, Namibia/Botswana is.	Botswana is a serious adventure, the landscape goes from dry pans to floodplains, all hosting magnificent people to meet wildlife to see!	Namibia will not fail to impress with its magical desert landscape paired with great culture

Meet Grant Oliver & Dimari Oliver:

Grant Oliver: Grant Oliver is the Botswana Expeditions and Under Canvas General Manager with &Beyond. In the past, Grant has played provincial Rugby in South Africa and Italy and is well known for his adventurous nature.

Dimari Oliver: Dimari Oliver is Botswana Expedition and Under Canvas Operations Manager with &Beyond. She is married to Grant with two little ones and is well known for executing all of Grant’s plans…

Tag: Namibia

”Insiders view on Botswana & Namibia”