Travelshoppe Blog

Simple tips to help you choose a travel company

admin — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:36:31 +0000

Let’s face it, people will always be people. While some are good, others are not. As such, there will always be someone out to get you, your business, your money; your happiness…the list goes on and on. In business as in life, people do not really change.

And in the travel business that we are in, the same rules apply. However, being human only means you only want the best treatment; it’s the hospitality industry for God sake. Here are some tips you should apply to ensure that the travel company you choose to travel is the best.

The history of the company

The history of the company you choose to travel with matters. It’s the values the travel agent you choose to book your holiday with that matters. When you choose to book a holiday with a company whose primary care is your satisfaction, then you have succeeded.

Customer testimonials

Testimonials need to make a gauging parameter for the right travel agent. Whereas some companies are in the business of manufacturing reviews, there are authentic reviews customers leave. Sift through as many testimonials you can find on the company. They should be natural.

If they are doctored, it’s easy to find that out. A hospital person who no one seconds is a scam. Look out for this.

Professionalism

Professionalism is preached the world over. In travel, it’s essential because you are buying a service. From when you search and visit the website of the company you want to book with, what impression do you have? How is their website designed? What is the feel? Do they have a physical office? How do they respond when you inquire?

These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself before hitting the contact us page. Trust your gut; you will never be that wrong.

Overall, when you want to book a safari in Kenya or a holiday to any place in the world, trust your instinct at all times. In fact, this should have made the above list but in essence, it doesn’t. It’s a necessity every human being must have and treasure.

By diligently following through with the above, you can rest assured that the travel company you choose will work perfect. See what some of our clients say.

Surprising truths about kenya

admin — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 07:31:26 +0000

Kenya is one of the most peaceful countries in Africa. Since its independence in 1963, Kenya has enjoyed relative peace, stability and economic prosperity than most countries in Africa. There is even a view that sees Kenya as a star country when it comes to technology, education and advancement and the analogy isn’t wrong as you will discover. Despite all these, there are a few angles of Kenya you might never understand. This article focuses on the interesting facts of Kenya, especially those you probably never knew.
The second most active Twitter community in AFRICA
Whether you believe it or not, the tech sphere in Kenya has grown in leaps and bounds in recent years. Seemingly, Kenyans have embraced social media so actively that in 2011, Kenyans tweeted the second highest in Africa, just after South Africa. Considering Kenya is relatively smaller, has fewer people than countries previously considered African power houses like Egypt, Nigeria and many more, it was an amazing leap and a stamp on its amazing growth.
Second Home of the wildebeest migration
You probably know about this, but if you have no idea-now you know. Kenya is the second home/host of the wildebeest migration. This intense, prolific and highly acclaimed wildlife phenomenon is considered a world wonder. The first time it was recognized as such was by the panel set by the USA Today that acknowledged one fact-the wildebeest migration is indeed a wondrous wildlife event that deserved the world wonder status. As such, annually, more than 1.8 million animals-largely wildebeests, zebras and gazelles in their hundred s of thousands, cross into the Kenyan Masai Mara, yearly from the Serengeti range in Tanzania. What’s even more surprising about this phenomenon is the survival force these animals exhibit, consistently and yearly. Over 250,000 of them die on the way and they still come back. Indeed dyeing they do, but they still come back, yearly around August! Still surprised why it’s a world wonder?
Kenya produces some of the world’s finest athletes
Since time immemorial, Kenya has often been seen as the most popular country as far as long distance track competitions are concerned. You just can’t compete with Kenyans in the long haul. The country has produced the most world long-distance track record breakers, holders and contenders for years and this is not about to stop. There are even views in certain circles, that Kenyans have a unique gene for running, but this is a question of fact-we have no proof yet or still haven’t laid a finger on it yet. But, this possibility cannot be rule out. In the meantime, all you can do is sit back, relax and watch Kenyans do their thing on track.
Kenya is the home of safari travel
Although the word safari is largely borrowed from the Swahili world safari-for journey, Kenya is the de facto home of the safaris, wildlife travel, camping travel and tours and so much more. It also goes without saying that it’s the home of the first, African American president-Barack Obama. There is just so much history about Kenya that it beats purpose to dispute and undeniable fact. Safaris in Kenya are considered spectacular and adventurous and it’s no wonder, they move so fast.
All in all, what you heard about Kenya could be true. Some couldn’t be true. However, it remains as one of the best places to holiday at any time of the year.

Two spectacularly events in the history of Kenya in August 2012

admin — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:04:16 +0000

Kenya is often seen as the father and mother of the safari. At least that’s what it’s known for as far as tourist attractions, holiday destinations, happy people and so forth are concerned. And because we are in the month of August, Kenyans often look at this month with bated breaths. It’s a memorable month, sometimes, in the worst case scenarios of terrorist elements and political deaths-for bad and scary reasons. August 2012 is however promising a different angle to the whole past status quo. This article will focus on the two primary historic events for Kenya that we should instead of worrying, focus on.

First, the wildebeest migration everyone has been talking about is coming up. In fact, it’s on as we speak. The over two million wildebeests, gazelles and zebras from the Serengeti in Tanzania are currently crossing into Kenya. Therefore, this is the most opportune time for travellers worldwide, to be here on safari to enjoy this global spectacle. This annual phenomenon, recently commissioned as one of the top seven new wonders of the world, is happening right here, right now. Traveling to the Mara to witness this wonderful spectacle isn’t such a bad idea for a change in 2012.

The second reason that’s taking Kenyans and all friends of Kenya on the edge is the 2012 London Olympics. The Kenyan team or Team Kenya as most people fondly call it will be running for Gold in the 2012 London Olympics. Anyone worth their salt will definitely agree that Kenya is not in the games to compete. That Team Kenya is in the Olympics as a favored contender for ALL long and middle races is not an understatement.

Team Kenya stands a great chance of bringing medals back home, because of the rich pool of athletes in the team, according to analysts. The superstars most people will be gunning for include Pamela Jelimo, David Rudisha, Janeth Jepkosgei, Vivian Cheruyot and the Dubford brothers, to name but, a few. There is also a possibility of having a run-off between David Rudisha and Usain Bolt of Jamaica. If the possibility materializes, for most people, this will be a clash of the titans-champions-one super athlete going low from 800m to 400m and the other rising from 200m to 400m. We can afford to cross our fingers. Meanwhile, if you are visiting, we have great adventure safari offers lined up and the party continues.

And, for the merry makers out there, August 2012 is promising to be a great month. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Five reasons on why you should do a Kenya safari in 2012

admin — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 06:50:45 +0000

2012, for some reason has been a year of mixed fortunes for all of us. There are those who’ve been waxing lyrical about the hardships of life, stress, slowing growth, diseases, political turmoils, rising costs of living, a slowing European economy and many more. And as they say, the list goes on. However, amidst this turmoil, its not enough reason to despair because as they say, after dark always comes light; or something close to that. What about plan a safari to your dream destination like Kenya to rejuvenate?
Kenya for one is considered as one of the best safari destinations in Africa, according to a recent study by the Global Travel Publishers. In this study, Kenya was compared to numerous African countries and surprisingly, emerged top with countries like Tanzania, Rwanda, Botswana, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, the republic of South Africa, etc. And this is for good reason as you will conclude at the end of this article. The purpose of this article is to reaffirm the Global Travel Publishers survey, albeit with four reasons as to why Kenya is still the best safari destination in Africa even as 2012 gets older.

Kenya enjoys relative internal peace compared to many African countries. Since independence, Kenya has hardly had any political instability since independence from the British in the 60’s. This relatively peaceful country is definitely something you would count on when you are going on safaris because there is nothing that’s worse like going to the bush where it’s not animals you see but rebels out to get you.
Kenya is a vibrant economy and unlike most African countries, has one of the highest literacy levels. Contrary to what many people believe, Kenyans are a hospitable lot; always willing to help. And they definitely help with soul. You can catch up with them on safari on the latest fashion trends, travel, entertainment, trend together on twitter, or Facebook; the same way and vigorously, as you would with folks back home. Besides, Kenyans speak many languages; language barrier, should therefore, not be a problem.
The other advantage Kenya offers to its visitors is the diversity of their safari or tourist attractions. Tourism has in recent years, come of age in Kenya and so have the supporting amenities. There are all types of luxury resorts, five star hotels, amazing transport systems whether its talking roads, water or air. You just name it and you’ll have it. Whatever you tastes are, Kenya has anything a first world country has, plus the amazing wildlife you can’t find elsewhere.
Lastly, Kenya is one of the few African countries that have deep and rich history. For one, it’s the home country of the US first African American president Barack Obama, has Africa’s second largest Mountain-Mt. Kenya, is the source of the river Nile, second home of the wildebeests (worlds 7th wonder), the big five wild animals, and lots more.

There is absolutely no telling what wonders and thrills you might come across when you do a safari to Kenya. It’s a mixed place of fortunes and that’s why it’s been chosen, time and again as the place to be on safari in Africa. And for this, we offer a wide range of holiday solutions for you which you can check out through our home page. Alternatively, you can have a better read on all our offers and may be, just may be, make a date with the bush wildlife on safari to Kenya this year.

Mountain gorilla caught in a poachers’ snare

admin — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:27:15 +0000

A team of park rangers conducting an anti-poaching patrol in Africa’s Virunga Massif found the dead body of a critically-endangered mountain gorilla caught in a poachers’ snare. Veterinarians from the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) performed a post mortem exam on the infant gorilla’s body and found it had an empty stomach and was severely dehydrated, signs suggesting the gorilla may have suffered in the snare for days before dying. Local poachers set snares illegally in the national parks to catch antelope and other forest wildlife for food, but unsuspecting gorillas, especially infants and juveniles, are sometimes caught.

Approximately 480 mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Massif, a transboundary wilderness area encompassing Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. A second, smaller mountain gorilla population lives in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

“The tragic death of this mountain gorilla at the hands of humans is a blow to all of us who work to protect this critically endangered species,” says Dr. Mike Cranfield, executive director of MGVP. “With such a small population, the life of every individual counts.”

“We will look at how to address the specific case related to this mountain gorilla and the poachers that are still at large, and also plan how we will collectively address the general issue of there being too many snares in this area shared between the two parks for far too long,” stated Teddy Musabe, Deputy Secretary in charge of policy and planning with the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC). The GVTC is a formal coordination mechanism among the three countries of DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda that works to find solutions to trans-boundary issues like poaching.

More to London than the 2012 Olympic Games

admin — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 08:09:42 +0000

It’s been more than 2,500 years since the first recorded Olympics in 776 BC. Since then London has hosted the games twice, in 1908 and 1948 and for the third time London will be hosting the Summer Olympics between 27 July 2012 and 12 August 2012.
With 205 nations expected to take part in the game’s most of tourists will definitely be in London for the Olympics but anyone else not interested can make the most of the rest of the city. There are film and food festivals, picnic parks and beer gardens to check out.
Beers gardens
Summer in London means beer gardens. There are lots of good beer gardens in London, one of the best ones being the gypsy moth. Having a seating for 200 hungry and thirsty guests, “patio” hardly seems grand enough a term for the pub’s patio. But, whether it’s a patio or not The Gipsy Moth’s garden is highly rated. From its perfectly mixed Hendricks gin and tonic to its ice cold pints The Gypsy Moth surely doesn’t disappoint. It also has a large retractable cover to keep the weather at bay – handy when enjoying lunch or dinner in the open air. And in the summer they fire up the BBQ for an unbeatable al fresco feast.
Film festivals
Some of the film festivals scheduled to take place in July and August are the Portobello Film Festival, Film4 Summer Screen and the Fright Fest Film Festival. Expect dress-ups, premieres, previews, signings and surprises!
Food festivals
From the big cheese festival to the big onion festival expect lots of food and drinks of course, but also cookery classes, demonstrations and live bands and activities to keep you entertained throughout.
Picnic Parks
The sun shining over London is enough of an excuse to picnic in Hyde Park or Victoria Park, on Primrose Hill or Hampstead Heath, or in any of the other tens of big green spaces in the city. Take a Frisbee, a dog or just a few crisps and dip, and trust me, you can entertain yourself for hours.

Why it pays to book holidays on time

admin — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 09:18:29 +0000

Holidays have become a lifeline for many of us. They represent an easy way to unwind and have fun. For many people, holidaying is an event to be looked forward to. For holidays in Africa, booking is one of the most essential aspects you need to consider for the best experience. This article takes you through three benefits for booking African holidays early.
Booking holidays early saves costs
When you book a holiday on time or before the main season starts, you save a lot of money you’d otherwise pay when the rush begins. Naturally, many people love to buy at the last minute and in many cases, this is often marred by higher prices.
Early booking gets you a better holiday deal
Naturally, when you book a holiday when nobody else is booking, you have the variety card to play with. Since Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia and South Africa tend to be the most in demand holiday destinations in Africa, a slight delay in choosing a perfect destination will result in you’re missing out on the best travel destinations. Therefore, you would rather book holiday early to get a safari holiday you desire.
Allows you enough time to prepare for the holiday
Like all other things in life, planning is one of the most important aspects of a holiday. You need as much time as you can to plan your holiday. The benefit planning has on the whole holiday sphere is so that you are not gushing right, left and center when the holiday season starts. Moreover, with a prior plan, you will be able to plan your activities around the holiday destination of your choosing. This is advised on the premise that, you will have enough time to research the ins and outs of your destination, which is a very important aspect of holidaying. Naturally, how effective would is it travelling where you have no real base? It doesn’t. This can only work if you plan your holiday in advance.
Here, we advise all our clients to book their safaris and holidays on time so that they have the best experiences wherever they are holidaying.

Easy ways to deal with airport delays

admin — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:35:02 +0000

Every other day, there is a story in the news about some storm or the other, or a threat of some kind at the airport, or in the worst case scenarios, an accident at takeoff or landing. Other times, the airport workers decide to go on strike on the day/week you are supposed to be flying. All these unfortunate happenings always result in the one thing everyone hates: Airport Delays! While stranded at the airport because of unpredictable (or sometimes predictable) occasions it is easy to get angry at the world or the weather gods or any airline employee around you.It is also very easy to get super bored! So, we thought it would be a great idea to give you tips on what to do if you ever find yourself in a situation where you are stranded.

The first thing you can do is share. Talk about it, it always helps. Call home if you can, and if you can’t, you can always use social media. Use Facebook & Twitter to talk to your friends about your situation and just catch up with them. Time flies when you are spending it with good company, even virtually! You could also use the free time to contact those people who you promised to call, but just never got around to it, thanks to the lack of time. Airports nowadays are mini-cities. This is not a good thing when you are busy running late, trying to catch your flight. But when your flight has been delayed for the next twenty-four hours, you can use this time to explore. Walk around and discover as many nooks and crannies as you can. Visit the duty free; eat at those over-expensive airport restaurants and even go and count the number of bathrooms the airport has!

If you want to spend the time doing something more productive, you could Head over to an airline counter and make new travel plans. There are usually good deals on discount tickets at the airport. The next thing you could do is strike up a conversation with the random stranger sitting next to you. You never know – you might make a long life friend. Worst case scenario, you have good company for the next few hours, (even if you never meet again).Head over to an airline counter and make new travel plans. There are usually good deals on discount tickets at the airport. And finally, if you are l exhausted from all the above, but you are still waiting: Go and buy yourself a giant Chocolate. After all, chocolate makes the world a better place!

This is a guest post from Peter Miles of leaseseo, the web writers for http://2healthinsurance.net/, a site that is dedicated to health insurance and travel insurance.

East Africa: Travel interests, holiday destinations and popular adventure attractions.

admin — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:03:41 +0000

There is a common misconception that once you have been to one African region; you have practically been to all the rest. After all, Africa is Africa. Therefore if you’ve been to West Africa, no point going north, or if you’ve traveled to the south, no need to check out the on goings in East Africa, right? Wrong. Africa is one of the most diverse continents in the world, and each region has something unique and interesting to offer. This time we will be covering compare travel and adventure destinations in Eastern Africa.
The countries in Eastern Africa are Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Somalia. When visiting the East, there are certain must do’s. Going on Safari is definitely one of them. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have several national parks to choose from, filled with all sorts of wild animals and the prospect of wonderful game drives. The other trip you must make is one to Tanzania, Zanzibar to be exact. Zanzibar has its share of history, mix of cultures and sparkling waters. The Persians were the first foreigners to settle on the island, followed by the Portuguese and finally the Sultan of Oman. Today the history is evident, the beaches are pristine, and the people are still warm and hospitable.
For the Adrenalin Junkies, climbing a mountain would be a wonderful idea. The East African string of mountains, formed from the Great Rift Valley, boast the highest peaks in Africa. Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya, Mt. Meru, Mt. Elgon, and a few other monster mountains offer adventurous climbing opportunities as well as gorgeous beauty from the ground. For the experienced travellers, Mt. Kilimanjaro,the highest mountain in Africa, would make for an unforgettable climbing experience. But before one undertakes such an adventure, it is important to ensure that you are physically fit.
Each East African city has their own variation of public bus transportation, but Nairobi’s matatu minivans offer an edge on entertainment. Load into a one of these matatus on the streets of Nairobi to experience body thumping base, scratchy music videos, and the latest in hip hop and reggae. Matatu’s own the road and drivers have created a culture of their own. East Africa has some of Ethiopia’s finest cuisine outside of Ethiopia, of course. Nairobi especially is stalked with an array of heavenly restaurants serving rich Ethiopian specialties, run mostly by the entrepreneurial Ethiopians who have made Kenya their second home.
And finally, one has to visit the largest lake in Africa, sometimes referred to as the heart of Africa, is bordered by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. The lake supports an abounding ecosystem of wildlife and offers extremely scenic views. Not too many tourists make their way to Lake Victoria, keeping it a quiet haven in East Africa.

Kenya Wildebeest Migration

admin — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:07:27 +0000

Wildebeest-migration

The wildebeest migration is just one of those things that are wondrous beyond belief in this world. In the ancient world, it was things like the pyramids of Egypt and the hanging gardens of Babylon. In today’s world, we have the gigantic Jesus statue in Brazil and the great Taj mahal in India. The only difference is that today, this wonders like the wildebeest migrations in Kenya are not limited to buildings and man-made structures; nature is also included as well. The world has gone green, and so have its wonders.

Each year around 1.5 million wildebeest and 300,000 zebra and various species of antelope gather up their young and start their long trek from Tanzania’s Serengeti plains to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. The wildebeest migration was named the 7th greatest wonder in the world. The wildebeests go in search of food and water. It’s a tough journey, and every year an estimated 250,000 wildebeest don’t make it. But still every year, the cycle is repeated, with the animals following their strong migratory instinct and attempting to defy crocodile-infested rivers, wild currents, and flocks of predators lying in wait.
The great wildebeest migration began in the 1960s. A rinderpest epidemic eliminated over 90% of the wildebeest and cattle in the Serengeti region in Tanzania. To prevent a further spreading of the disease, wide spread inoculation was carried out by veterinarians and the disease soon disappeared from the area. This led to a boom in the wildebeest population in the 60´s and 70´s, from 260,000 to the 1.4 million individuals that currently inhabit the Serengeti ecosystem. As a result of this population boom, there was not enough food and water in the area for the growing herds. They were forced to migrate in their search for water and grazing grassland, starting the circular migratory route.
The timing of the wildebeest migration Migration depends on the rain, however, the best time to see the migration is generally between June and August when the wildebeests Kenya congregate and prepare to cross the famous Grumeti River. If you are in the Masai Mara, in Kenya, you can expect the wildebeest to make their arrival as early as July, but they generally arrive between August & September and remain in the Masai Mara between October & November. This gives you enough time to witness this magical phenomenon.
Between the end of November and January the wildebeest gradually begin their migration from the Masai Mara back towards the Serengeti, and wait until the next year to do it all over again. The next time you can, be sure to check out “The seventh greatest wonder in the world”: The wildebeest migration.

(Book a safari to witness the wildebeest migration in Kenya today)