Tag: trip

An Insiders View on Slovenia

Maja 

Slovenia, very green and diverse country between the Mediterranean and the Alps, boasts all the beauties of the Old World. When you want to learn about Europe in one stroke, come to Slovenia. In just 20,273 square kilometers there are wonderful Alps, charming coastline, pristine lakes, breath-taking crystal clear rivers, thermal springs, beautiful valleys, magnificent Karst cave world, antique castles, medieval cities, ancient villages, and countless vineyards with top quality wines. Here in this small and easily covered area one can find 4 geographic regions, 3 climate regions and 3 wine growing regions. This is Slovenia, compact and astonishing, a diversity of Europe in miniature. More diverse experiences await you all year round.

What makes Slovenia an ideal travel destination for all?

Not many countries can offer such a wide variety of amazing possibilities like Slovenia can. It is an ideal travel destination, among the most biologically diverse countries in the world and stunningly beautiful nature, small distances, one of the cleanest countries in Europe, excellent culinary & wine.

Tell us something that every traveller should know when travelling to Slovenia? 

Slovenians are respectful of the rules in public places and appreciate the kindness and good manners from others. Slovenians also recycle and try to keep the country clean. Also very important: tap water is clean and drinkable. Most of Slovenians speak English and are kind to tourists.

Any essentials that one needs to carry when they are travelling?

To bring euros and some sports shoes because there is a lot of places in nature to discover, especially away from the capital.

Which are the most surreal places to visit when in Slovenia?

Vintgar Gorge, Velika Planina, Logarska Dolina, Soca valley, Krizna cave, Postojna Cave, Skocjan Cave, Bled.

Can you tell us a little about the life of the locals?

Locals try to have the best quality of life, working hours are from 8 am until 4 pm or from 9 am to 5 pm which leaves almost all afternoon free for different activities in nature or just to spend quality time with the family and friends. When the weather is nice, locals also like to spend time in the city centre, just having a drink in one of the bars along the Ljubljanica river. During weekends, people like to have a short getaway in one of the different places in Slovenia, because everything is about one hour to two hours away from the capital.

What are the local delicacies/drinks which one must try and where Slovenia?

Local wine in different regions of Slovenia, Kranjska sausage, struklji (composed of dough and various types of filling), Potica (a dessert, rolled dough cake with different fillings, most common is nut filling), Bled cream cake, jota (a stew with sour cabbage and beans).

What are things which one must buy when in Slovenia?

Licitar heart, olive oil from different Slovenian producers, honey from different Slovenian producers, lace from Idrija, salt or chocolate with salt or different products from Piran saltpans, Slovenian schnapps (from blueberry or plum or similar).

Which is the most romantic places to visit in Slovenia?

Bled, Piran.

Which are the local festivals one must come to attend in Slovenia?

There are a lot of culinary events and wine events throughout the year in whole Slovenia. For example, Cherry Festival in Goriska Brda, Fish fest on Slovenian coast, Beer & flower festival in an Eastern part of Slovenia, Ljubljana Festival, Ethnomusic festival in Bled.

The things that guidebooks will not tell anyone about?

Some things should remain unpublished for guests to discover them on their own during their visit.

According to you what is the best thing about Slovenia?

That everything is close, you can go to the mountains and to the coast on the same day. There is a lot of nature which gives you a sense of freedom. Water is clean and drinkable. Slovenia is also very diverse and one can do so many different things, there is something for everyone.

Check out our latest package on Slovenia 

The Guest Who Walks in Zambia

By Srinivas Krishnan

There is an old jungle saying: “The tourist who walks deep into the bush understands the heart of Africa best.”
Apologies to Lee Falk and his famous comic creation, the Phantom, but we guess you understand the sentiment behind that ‘old jungle saying’. Because if you want to absorb the real wild Africa, you have to immerse yourself and be a part of the jungle, like our ancestors did for thousands of years. The only difference is that you can do it in great comfort and safety, with a dash of luxury.

It’s a different experience altogether compared to watching the bush unfold from the back of a vehicle. In a mobile walking safari, you are one with the vast sky, the distant horizons, the teeming wildlife, the lush flora, the untamed waters, the unpolluted air and the breath-taking sunsets. All your five senses are on a refined state of alertness, allowing you to take in the bush in its real state, where even seemingly insignificant sounds, smells and sights get highlighted. The flutter of a bird’s wing, the cry of an animal, the rustle in the grass, the distant sounds of water gushing, the smell of the earth… It’s like being inside a David Attenborough documentary! Sounds like an adventure, right?

The mobile walking safari in the unspoiled South Luangwa National Park in the beautiful, blessed and peaceful country of Zambia is a unique African adventure. The Park is unsullied and offers you Africa in its primal, natural form. The magic is because of the seasonal flooding that, with its ebbs and flows, makes it inaccessible by road. Consequently, there is a terrific concentration of game in this Park and it hosts some of the most varied collections of wildlife on this planet.

Centred in and around the Luangwa River, there are over 400 species of bird, large pods of hippos, as well as lion, leopard, elephant, unique zebra and giraffe species as well as the extremely endangered African wild dog. Now imagine walking through it, accompanied by a campsite that moves along with you. Of course, you will be accompanied by an experienced naturalist who will ensure you know and understand more than what you’d get by watching a documentary on the telly. You will be taught how to spot clues, hone your skills as well as use your senses to the fullest to truly discover the African bush. From tiny ants to humongous elephants, from understanding the intricacies of a bird’s nest to tracking a lion, you will experience the rawness of wild Africa the way it’s meant to be.

You must be thinking that’s fine during the day, but many of these animals are nocturnal. True. Which is why you can go on a drive in a specially customized vehicle which is equipped with a powerful spotlight – so you can witness the mighty cats and other animals in the darkness too.


Starting your trip at the ideally situated Nkwali Camp which has an excellent view of the Luangwa River, you begin your orientation of the African jungle. Your walking experience starts soon after, along the Mupamadzi river (which is a major tributary of the Luangwa), through remote parts of the park. The camps will be set and ready to welcome you from your walks through the bush. They are well-equipped with walk-in tents, with a shower under a tree while the toilet is a wooden throne with a long drop. Camping out in the open in the true African wilderness is an unmissable experience, especially at night with the vast sky and the countless stars to look up to… with the inimitable noises of the jungle providing the scene with a soundtrack!


Will the walks through the bush be strenuous? Well, if you are moderately fit, you should be able to accomplish the adventure with not much effort. Want to test it out rather easily? Try running for about 50 metres; if you can do it, then you are on! The walking safari, on the varied ground, averages about 10 km daily, but you have a staggering four hours to accomplish it. So it’s a decent pace, which allows you more time to observe and watch the real African bush.

But the walking safari is not only about giving your shoes a good work out. You get to relax and rest your weary legs at some very good spots. For instance, the Tena Tena camp, which is located in a remote section of the National Park, sits atop a sweeping bend of the Luangwa River. From the comfort of the camp, you can watch elephants, hippos and antelopes pretend as if you are not there. You will also get to spend some time at the Nsefu game camp, which was the first one to be set up in Zambia way back in the early 1950s. This one overlooks a waterhole, where you can observe game during the day and leopards in the night.


Sounds good? Come with us for the Walking Safari in Zambia – you can be our Guest Who Walks, who makes old jungle sayings come true!

Email: askus@thewanderers.co.in

Check out our package on Zambia : Zambia Package