42 Travel WWW.PGCITIZEN.CA | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011 Dramatic African skies provide ideal photo ops Max HARROLD Postmedia News African safaris Tour operator Boundless Journeys has single-and multi-country African safari options with travel dates from Nov. 1 through April 15 (excluding holiday periods) starting at a reasonably priced $310 US per night (based on double occupancy). The company offers an array of wilderness safaris and sanctuary retreat camps across six African countries with a wide range of available safari experiences. For example, the Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls 10-day/nine-night trip costs $4,295 US per person. It starts in Maun, Botswana, and ends in Livingstone, Zambia. You get to explore a combination of islands, waterways and lagoons, go on game drives and nature walks. An eight-day/seven-night version of the trip (costing $3,895 US per person) is deemed especially family-friendly, and takes you to a secluded location in Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, overlooking the mighty Zambezi River and close to Victoria Falls. As the tour company puts it, “The southern hemisphere summer. is a time of kaleidoscopic colour, rich landscapes, an explosion of new life (many species giving birth to their young at this time) with a myriad of bird species to be seen. These remote and uncrowded safari areas offer frequent predator sightings as they take advantage of the glut of inexperienced, younger prey. Dramatic summer skies with imposing cumulonimbus clouds and a tapestry of green exploding with seasonal abundance provide ideal photographic opportunities.” The nightly rate covers all accommodations, most meals, twice-daily lodge activities at all camps, services of the lodge guides and staff, park fees where applicable, local drinks, laundry, accommodation taxes and most other government taxes and fees. International airfare is not included. For more details, call 1-800-941-8010 or visitboundlessjourneys.com/ specials/africa-summer-special. FULLY ESCORTED Leisurely Paced Tours CALIFORNIA SNOWBIRD HOLIDAY Feb 17 & Mar 9 Including spectacular Oregon & California Coast Visiting Jackpot • Grand Canyon • London Bridge • Las Vegas & Lauglilin - 2 nts • 14 nts stay in Studio accomodation with lull kitchen in Mission Valley, San Diego * Daily outing to all major attractions within 150 miles of San Diego or board our luxury coach. City tour of San Diego and Los Angeles, San Diego Harbor Cruise, Sea World, Old Town, Balboa Park, Wild Animal Park, Seaport Village, La Jolla • Palm Springs • Tijuana, Mexico * Escondido • Solvang • San Francisco ■ Eugene • and much more pp 27 Escorted days from Prince George.... fr $3475 obi ARIZONA SNOWBIRD HOLIDAY Feb 17 & Mar 9 Including spectacular Oregon & California Coast Visiting Jackpot • Grand Canyon • London Bridge • Las Vegas • Laugblin • 2 nts * 13 nts spacioas 1 bedroom condominium accomodation in Mesa. Daily hot breakfast. Daily outing to major attractions within 15D miles of Mesa on board our luxury coach. Museums, flea markets, dog races, shopping, old gold mines ■ Sedona, Tucson • Scottsdale • Phoenix • San Diego • Solvang ■ San Francisco • Eugene • and much more 27 Escorted days from Prince George.................fr $3375^1 k Pacific Gold Tours £ Treasured holidays since 1977 w 1-800-667-88122 www.pacificgoldtours.com B.C.REG.#2594-4 POSTMEDIA PHOTO The view in Sanctuary Olonana, a small luxury camp with 14 spacious tents in Kenya's Masai Mara. Boundless Journeys takes visitors to Sanctuary Olonana, in Kenya's Masai Mara, as well as to a wide range of other african wilderness destinations offering a chance to view abundant wildlife and gorgeous scenery. Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif. There is a lot to do in September, October and November in quirky Carmel-by-the-Sea, in California’s Monterey Peninsula, about 200 km south of San Francisco. The fall winds are still warm and the ocean views spectacular - almost as spectacular as the lodging specials. You and a companion could stay at the 38-room Hofsas House Hotel for $129 US per night, per room. Or you could book the Romantic Getaway Package at the Wayside Inn for $229 per night, per room. It includes champagne and truffles upon arrival and dinner for two at a participating restaurant (a $75 US value). There are shows (including Howie Mandel, Oct. 20; David Se-daris, Nov. 15), the Taste of Carmel event on Oct. 6 with three dozen local restaurants and 20 wineries and the Carmel Art and Film Festival (Oct. 12 to 16). Carmel-by-the-Sea is a walkable village packed with art galleries, spas and boutiques. Guests should note some of the quirky laws in effect: prohibited are neon signs, billboards and hotdog stands; there are no street lights or parking meters. For a full listing of events, and other lodging options visit www.carmelcalifornia.com. Hawaii hotel deals Aston Hotels and Resorts is having a fall sale on some of its Hawaii resorts for stays now through Dec. 21. You can stay on the island of Oahu at the Aston at the Waikiki Banyan, located just a block from Waikiki Beach and near Kapiolani Park, the Waikiki Aquarium and the Honolulu Zoo, for $149 US per night, per room. Each suite at the resort has a separate bedroom, a fully equipped kitchen and a large private lanai where you can look out over the ocean, the lush green mountains or the Honolulu cityscape. Or you could stay at the Aston Poipu Kai, a 28-hectare beachfront condominium resort on the island of Kauai for $145 per night, per room. The condominium resort features beautiful tropical gardens, a wide variety of accommodations and a prime location on Kauai’s sunny south shore. Or, you could stay at the Aston at Papakea Resort on Maui’s Kaanapali Coast for $139 per room, per night. The resort sits on five hectares of expansive lawns and lush gardens, and features two swimming pools, spas, lighted tennis courts, two 12-hole putting greens and free fitness classes. Visit astonhotels.com/specials-andpackages/ fantastic-fall-savings. B.C. winery tours British Columbia Tourism’s websit, hel-lobc. com/en-CA/Special Offers/British-Co- lumbia.htm, lists trip ideas for touring B.C. wineries this fall. Wineries in many regions of the province host drop-in tasting events, and this website helps you find nearby lodging options. For example, if you want to visit wineries in the Okanagan Valley, you and a companion could stay at the Bighorn Ridge Guest House in Okanagan Falls for $175 per room, per night or, once low season starts on Oct. 16, for $150 per night, per room. The Guest House boasts rustic elegance set in the heart of B.C. wine country. The adobe-style guest house sits on four hectares, and the suites have private entrances, patios, barbecues and a common kitchen. Dozens of wineries are located in the region. More at bighornridge. com/index.htm. For a package of lodging and winery tours, check out MJO Tours. They offer a package for $275 per person including two nights at the lakeside O’Keefes Landing Bed and Breakfast in Vernon, two breakfasts, a five-hour wine tour for two people and lunch for two at the Gray Monk Winery next to Okanagan Lake. For more details, visit the company’s website at mjotours.com/tours/showtour.php? For as little as... Rick CROPP and Barbara BRAiDWOO For Postmedia News FREE ...receive a round trip rail ticket to Paris on the high speed Lyria (good for use through Dec. 10) when you purchase any Swiss Pass by Oct. 12 with the Explore Switzerland and Paris is on Us offer from Rail Europe (1-800361-7245, raileurope.ca). Restrictions apply. FREE ...enter Holland America Line’s sweepstakes by Nov. 30 on Facebook (facebook. com/HAL-Cruises) for a chance to win a 7-day Alaska cruise for four including two veranda staterooms. FREE ...earn a stay at Whistler’s 77 suite Nita Lake Lodge (1-888-755-6482, nitalakelodge. com) with the Stay for Free promotion. When you stay between Oct. 10 and Dec. 15 you’ll receive the amount you paid for your room to use on a mid-week getaway between Jan. 8 and Apr. 15. $16 US ...mid-week, visit the Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From Sidewalk to Catwalk exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art (dallasmuseumofart.org) between Nov. 13 and Feb. 12. It will showcase approximately 140 haute couture dresses. FREE ...receive a round of golf when you book a minimum three-night stay at Sandals Grande Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas (sandals. com/golf/golfbahamas. cjm) by Jan. 31 for travel through Dec. 31, 2012.