AFRICAMADAGASCAR 196 " I absolutely loved the variety. It was an amazing tour, covering many locations - it was so much fun. I would definitely recommend it!" Tania McNally africa Imaginative Facts Tour code: KTMM • Activities: Extensive walking in National Parks, optional snorkelling at Ifaty • Accommodation: 12 nights in tourist class hotels or guesthouses, 2 nights camping or dormitory accommodation at Andringitra • Transport: Private bus, plane • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader or local leader, services of local guides in National Parks DAY 1: ANTANANARIVO- Arrival day. DAY 2: ANTANANARIVO - ANDASIBE-Morning tour of Antananarivo. Later we drive through spectacular scenery to the Pyreras Reserve, known for its reptiles, especially chameleons. After visiting the reserve we continue to Andasibe, where we enjoy a night safari to look for nocturnal wildlife. ( B) DAY 3: ANDASIBE- This morning we visit the Andasibe Reserve to see the Indri, a rare type of lemur, as well as the other creatures that live here. In the afternoon we visit a Betsimisiraka village to gain an insight into the local culture and customs. ( B) DAY 4: ANTSIRABE- Today's journey takes us to the elegant city of Antsirabe where we spend the night. En route we stop at tombs belonging to the Merina people, who practise ancestor worship. ( B) DAY 5: AMBOSITRA- Morning visit to a sacred lake and the small town of Betafo, known for its stone monuments commemorating ancient warriors. We then travel to Ambositra, the centre of Madagascar's woodcarving industry and home to the Zafimaniry people. ( B) DAYS 6 & 7: RANOMAFANA NATIONAL PARK- Driving through rice fields, forests and mountains we head to Ranomafana National Park, home to much of Madagascar's unique and fascinating wildlife. Enjoy a guided walk through the forest in the hope of seeing some of the many species of lemurs that Madagascar is so famous for. The forest here is made up of ancient moss-covered trees, powerful waterfalls and dramatic mountains. ( B) DAYS 8 & 9: ANDRINGITRA NATIONAL PARK- Travel to Ambalavao, once a centre of Arabian civilisation, before heading to Andringitra N. P. Cut off from mainland Africa millions of years ago, the island developed a unique and fascinating character, flora and fauna and nowhere is this more obvious than at Andringitra. Enjoy a full day hiking through the magnificent mountain scenery, stopping along the way to admire the views and wildlife. We spend two nights camping or in dormitory accommodation in the park. ( Day 8 - BD, Day 9 - BLD) DAYS 10 & 11: ISALO NATIONAL PARK-We head south, crossing from the lushness of the highlands into the more arid south, passing sacred mountains and interesting villages, until we end up at Isalo N. P. The next day we explore the park walking through sandstone hills and unique geological formations until we reach an area of rivers and pools where we have the opportunity to cool off. ( B) DAY 12: IFATY- We head south again, through the ' spiny desert', stopping en route to look at the unusual Mahafaly tombs. Once we get to the coast we pass fishing villages and watch fishermen heading out into the sea on their pirogues, before we arrive at Ifaty, situated on the beach. ( B) DAY 13: IFATY- Free day at Ifaty to relax, snorkel or dive. There are also many excursions that can be made from here, including a visit to the Reserve Domergue, which is home to many unusual reptiles. ( B) DAY 14: ANTANANARIVO- Fly back to Antananarivo where we spend the night. ( B) DAY 15: ANTANANARIVO- Tour ends. ( B) This extraordinary island is like nowhere else on earth • Explore the unique flora and fauna of Andringitra and Ranomafana Parks • Enjoy the contrast of the lush rainforestsof the highlands and the arid south • See the rare Indri lemur at Andasibeand cool off in the pools at Isalo • Stop in picturesque villagesand learn about the intriguing Malagasy culture • Relaxin the azure watersof the inviting Indian Oceanat Ifaty Mysterious Madagascar Mysterious Madagascar Antananarivo Andasibe Antsirabe Ambositra Ranomafana N. P. Andringitra N. P. Isalo N. P. Ifaty Madagascar Angola Namibia Windhoek Ondangwa Foz do Cunene Flamingo Camp Lubango Ruacana Otchinjau Expedition to Angola Iona National Park • Seasonal Supplement £ 35 Single Supplement £ 395 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 21.63 * Price includes tour price of £ 1040and local payment of € 330All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1295pp Land Only * traveller Tour duration 15 days © Imaginative Traveller © Imaginative Traveller Starts SatEnds Sat AntananarivoAntananarivo 2009 04- Apr- 0918- Apr- 09 • 16- May- 0930- May- 09 27- Jun- 0911- Jul- 09 08- Aug- 0922- Aug- 09 19- Sep- 0903- Oct- 09 Starts SatEnds Sat AntananarivoAntananarivo 2010 03- Apr- 1017- Apr- 10 • 15- May- 1029- May- 10 26- Jun- 1010- Jul- 10 07- Aug- 1021- Aug- 10 18- Sep- 1002- Oct- 10 • Seasonal supplement applies We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

ANGOLA 197 AFRICA Imaginative Facts Tour code: KPEA • Activities: Optional fishing and snorkelling • Accommodation: 11 nights basic bush camps ( often with no facilities), 2 nights simple hotel • Transport: 4WD vehicles, plane • Flights: Windhoek to Ondangwa return • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller leader or local tour leader DAY 1: WINDHOEK- Arrival day. DAY 2: ONDANGWA - RUACANA- Fly to Ondangwa and continue to Ruacana in the far north of Namibia. ( BD) DAY 3: ANGOLAN BORDER- Visit the impressive Ruacana Falls before crossing into Angola and travelling to our remote bush camp. ( BLD) DAY 4: HIMBA PEOPLE AND BAOBAB FOREST- Meet and interact with the semi-nomadic Himba people. Many of them still adhere to traditional customs and dress. Our drive also passes through an enormous stand of Baobab trees. ( BLD) DAY 5: IONA NATIONAL PARK- This is the country's largest national park, contiguous with Namibia's famous Skeleton Coast. It contains varied and exciting scenery, from Mopane forest to vast open plains and mobile dunes. On our long drive we meet more Himba people and explore the unusual rock formations. ( BLD) DAY 6: FOZ DO CUNENE- Travel towards the coast across a spectacular desert landscape that few tourists have travelled through before. ( BLD) DAY 7: BEACH DRIVE- One of the highlights of the trip! A 230km drive up the coast passing high sand dunes and shipwrecks, made all the more special as the route can only be undertaken at certain times of the year due to the tide. We stop at Lake Argo, a hidden treasure located within a canyon before ending up at Flamingo Camp, dramatically situated in the middle of uninhabited coastline. ( BLD) DAY 8: FLAMINGO CAMP- The region surrounding our camp contains fascinating diverse desert landscapes. We spend today exploring these areas of unique beauty and hiking in a nearby canyon. ( BLD) DAY 9: LUBANGO- Out of the desert! Drive across the forested mountains and over the Leba Pass ( where the road descends over 1000m via a series of stomach- churning switchbacks) to the city of Lubango, set in a lush tropical valley guarded by a statue of Christ built high on the overhanging cliffs. Lubango is rich in colonial architecture, a remnant of the days when Angola was a Portuguese colony and we have time to visit bars and restaurants rich with Portuguese heritage. ( BLD) DAY 10: TUNDA VALA- Our camp near Lubango on the volcanic Tunda Vala escarpment gives us the opportunity to hike amidst the beautiful natural surroundings and unusual rock formations. The views from the top of the escarpment, high above the clouds, are simply breathtaking. ( BLD) DAY 11: CAHAMA - OTCHINJAU- We drive to Cahama to see the tanks and military vehicles left abandoned after the war, before continuing to our campsite near Otchinjau. ( BLD) DAY 12: ONDANGWA- Cross the border into Namibia and head back to Ondangwa. ( BLD) DAY 13: WINDHOEK- Fly to Windhoek where the rest of the day is free to explore. ( B) DAY 14: WINDHOEK - Tour ends. ( B) An eye- opening exploration of one of Africa's most intriguing nations • Enjoy dramatic, varied landscapes from pristine coastline to vast desert • Hike amongst volcanic scenery, wild canyons and even above the clouds! • Camp in remote locationswith views of rugged escarpments and dunes • Spend time with the indigenous Himba tribesand visit colonial Lubango • Off limits for so long, now back on the map - but go soon! Expedition to Angola Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 19.74 * Price includes tour price of £ 2149and local payment of US$ 500All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 2410pp Land Only * pioneer Tour duration 14 days Starts ThuEnds Wed WindhoekWindhoek 2009 10- Sep- 0923- Sep- 09 Starts TueEnds Mon WindhoekWindhoek 2010 31- Aug- 1013- Sep- 10 new tour for 2009 Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243