Paul’s road into travel writing follows the usual convoluted path. By training, he’s a molecular biologist, but a backpacking trip between jobs and an unexpected encounter in an Iranian teahouse led to him being diverted into the travel industry. He’s worked as a tour guide for adventure travel companies in Morocco, Turkey and Pakistan, and has been writing travel guides full-time since 2003.

In 2001 Paul travelled around Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and ended up having dinner with two Taliban ministers a fortnight before the 9/11 attacks. The following year he wrote the Afghanistan travel website Kabul Caravan, which led to him being approached by Lonely Planet, who asked him to write about the country for them – the first time they’d had an author research there since 1978. That work eventually evolved into their ground-breaking stand-alone guidebook Afghanistan, published in 2007.

Paul has contributed to over two dozen guidebooks for Lonely Planet, including acting as the head author on their Morocco and Dominican Republic & Haiti guidebooks, as well as covering tougher destinations such as Pakistan, Nigeria and Mauritania for them.

AND THE WINNER IS…

We’d like to thank everyone that entered the competition – we received so many amazing photos from all around The World, from Botswana to Burma! Keep an eye out for another World Odyssey photography competition coming up later this year.

You can follow us on Twitter @world_odyssey or ‘like’ us on Facebook to keep up-to-date with all of our competitions and latest promotions.

Although the tourism industry has not boomed yet in Madagascar, the country is known to be offering comfortable but fairly basic, no-thrills accommodation with the exception of a few beach hotels/lodges and those in search of a luxurious experience might have stirred away from it for this reason.

However since 2007 and the inception of Edd Tucker-Brown’s luxurious MadaClassic camps, Mandare River Camp and Manafiafy Beach & Rainforest Lodge, it is now time to go and experience this rich country in style!

After having worked in East Africa, Edd decided to take the concept of the East-African luxury Tented Camp to Madagascar and Mandrare River Camp was born.

Our ‘Madagascar In Style’ 14 day Itinerary starts from £3,600 per person – visit our contact page for more details or call us on 01905 731 373.

A day at Mandrare River Camp

I arrived early morning at Antananarivo airport (aka Tana) and after a few hours of sleep I was back at the airport for my Air Madagascar domestic flight to Fort Dauphin in the South East corner of the island – one of the most remote and untouched parts of the island.

I was met at the airport by my private MadaClassic driver and guide and we left the laid back and trendy Fort Dauphin for Mandrare River Camp.

The road transfer to the camp takes about 3 hours 30 minutes. The road is bumpy however this is a fantastic drive giving my guide a great chance to introduce the country. We leave the lush coast, drive through the transition forest and finally arrive in the dry and arid area of Ifotaka.

Arriving at Mandrare River Camp felt like arriving at a friends’ house…Edd, the owner who is very often at the camp, is a very likeable character who quickly makes you feel at ease and after a quick visit to my tent I am whisked away on a trip to the baobab field with the promise of a thirst- quenching sundowner!

The camp is located in a stunning location on the bank of the Mandrare river  and  the six tents are located along the shady river bank, with stunning views across the tranquil water of the river and the mountains beyond.

Our ‘Madagascar In Style’ 14 day Itinerary starts from £3,600 per person – visit our contact page for more details or call us on 01905 731 373.

The next day, accompanied by my MadaClassic guide and a few other guests we are taken to the famous Spiny Forest in search of lemurs and wildlife. The landcruiser drops us off by the river bank and we then wade through the river to get to the forest on the other side of the river. What an adventure! The Spiny forest is sacred to the Antandroy, the local tribe and as we walk through the forest we come across tombs of the tribe’s ancesters and find the famous ring-tailed lemurs. It is fantastic to see them in the wild and unhabituated to humans unlike so many places where you can see them in Madagascar.

Back for lunch at the camp, we are treated to a scrumptious homecooked style 3 course lunch in the mess tent. Meals at Mandrare are a real pleasure and the chefs prepare simple but tasty dishes inspired by French cuisine with a Malagasy twist – Freshly baked breads & viennoiseries, fresh fruit juices, homemade preserves for breakfast etc…

Late afternoon we head out to another private scared forest, the Gallery forest, which this time is a canopy forest in search of noctural lemurs.

By the time we get back to the camp it is dark and we are welcomed back with a surprise performance from the Antandroy around the camp fire. The Antandroy tribe (people of the spines) is believed to be one of the fiercest tribes in Madagascar and their enchanting and playful singing and dancing depict some of their ancestral stories. Very entertaining! A dozen children from the local villages come and sit on the side of the camp fire, quietly excited by the forthcoming performance.

Click on this link to listen to an audio clip Mandrare – Antandroy singing

The focus of the activities at Mandrare is not only on the wildlife but also on the Antandroy tribe and its intriguing culture. And joined by your guide and through visits of the vibrant markets and villages you will discover the bizarre and fascinating traditions of Madagascar’s most interesting tribe! On our way back to the camp after an activity, we drove passed a young man with a comb entangled in his hair. Our guide explained that men use this as a sign that they are single and looking for a companion…

The next morning I am gently woken by ladies chanting whilst they are collecting water at the river. This is so atmopsheric and a relaxing way to start the day!

Sadly, It is now time to go and I am driven back to Fort Dauphin where we have lunch at a local restaurant and we then continue to Sainte-Luce and Mandrare’s sister property, Manafiafy Rainforest & Beach Lodge.

Our ‘Madagascar In Style’ 14 day Itinerary starts from £3,600 per person – visit our contact page for more details or call us on 01905 731 373.

“Ok.” I said. “Let’s go”.

Three weeks later, we landed in Lima. And we set off on a 4 week adventure that did, indeed, change my life. For three weeks, we travelled from Lima to the stunning city of Arequipa; we witnessed Condors soar above the depths of The Colca Canyon, and swam in the sapphire waters of Lake Titicaca. We climbed the Andes Mountains to 15,000 feet, and for four days, followed an Incan trail which descended down to the depths of the Amazonian Rainforest. I still remember every taste, scent, touch.

Travel. That’s what it does- it stays with you. It changes you.

Week four, Machu Picchu was the final stop on our journey, and here began my life’s next chapter. We all have that one moment in our lives which we can point to as “the one”. That split second when it all becomes clear, and we see ourselves. We finally get it. I had my moment there- overlooking Machu Picchu.

Coming full circle all these years later, my mother company, World Odyssey has designed an incredible journey through Peru this May 12-23rd, to be led by the world-renowned Shaman, Jon Rasmussen. Here is the chance to experience the majesty of Peru, guided by an extraordinary spiritual healer and leader. And this time it’s luxury, hand held at every turn, whilst diving deep into this mystical culture.

I’m ready to “get it” again. I’m going back. And I’m bringing some of my best girlfriends with me.

Want to come?

Limited to 16 people, travel must be booked by April 12, 2013. Travel dates: May 12-23, 2013.

For information on this incredible trip to Peru with Jon, click here: http://blackbooktravel.com/Experiences/peru/

And for further information on Jon Rasmussen and his Shamanic healing, have a look at his website: www.dreamingintobeing.com

You can follow Elizabeth’s blog at http://worldodysseyusa.wordpress.com

The Galapagos Islands are situated in the Pacific Ocean, some 1000 km from the South American continent.

They have been called a ‘living museum and showcase of evolution’ and are famous for their ‘unusual animals’ such as the giant tortoise, the blue-footed booby, the waved albatross, the land and the marine iguanas, the frigate bird and Darwin’s finches to name but a few.

The best way to visit the Galapagos is by boat and one can do a 3, 4 or 7 nights’ cruise, on board a yacht or a bigger vessel, accommodating anything from just 12 to around 90 passengers.

Groups allowed onto each island are limited to 16 people.  You stop off at the various islands (the route depends on the length of your trip and the type of boat you’re on), varying between dry and wet landings (ie you can get straight to the island with dry feet or you have to walk a bit through the water onto the beach), and each one is special in terms of the amazing landscapes and the astonishing animals.

 You really can swim with sea lions, float next to a penguin, watch the clownish behaviour of the blue-footed booby when courting, watch the male frigatebird inflate the red skin hanging under its neck into a football sized balloon to attract females and feel like you’ve stepped back in time when surrounded by marine iguanas that look like little dragons with their spiny backs and scaly skin.

>> Call us on 01905 731373 or enquire online to find more about our Galapagos Island itineraries, tailor made for you…

  The most extraordinary thing is that these animals don’t seem to mind you wandering right amongst them, so getting up close is easy!

David Attenborough described the Galapagos as ‘the most astonishing place on earth’, surely this endorsement is enough to make anyone want to go!

If you want an ‘out of this world experience’, look at visiting the Galapagos sooner rather than later, to ensure that it is as magical as when David Attenborough and myself experienced it!

Discover the glorious World of the Galapagos Islands with World Odyssey – call us on 01905 731373 or email info@world-odyssey.com

In August 2012 the five Florys set off on a family safari to East Africa.

Our two week adventure was very well documented by Susanna who is becoming quite a talented photographer & created some wonderful images by which we can all enjoy wonderful, priceless memories of a lifetime – to follow are just some of them …

Our Itinerary in detail

Ours was a non-stop itinerary starting at Kilimanjaro.  We spent the first night in Arusha staying at a coffee plantation.  We then continued to Tarangire National Park and spent two nights staying at a delightful little mobile camp just outside the park.  The camp was simple but comfortable and the food was excellent.  The children were delighted by a surprise visit during the night by a curious group of buffalo which caused great excitement!

Above: Mummy & Baby in the Tarangire National Park – famous for its wonderful elephant population

Below: We had enjoyed a thrilling morning journeying across the Serengeti with some incredible wildlife to spot en route, and arrived at a Masai village to soak up some of the fascinating culture – we enjoyed a wonderful moment of unity when James joined the menfolk of the village in a celebratory dance!

Below: We enjoyed a wonderful morning in a local village where the Masai launched into a soulful traditional welcome dance and our menfolk joined in.

Below: In the same village we were accompanied on a tour of the village and met some beautiful people and were welcomed into their homes – the most exquisite and immaculate thatched huts.

Below:  Ones instincts were alive with fear and the desire to move far away from this lioness but our guides led us closer until we were approximately 20 meters from her! Another amazing experience for us all ….

>> Call us on 01905 731373 or enquire online to find out more about our Tanzania holiday itineraries, tailor made for you…

Above: Zebra in the Ngorongoro Crater – one of the largest calderas in the world which has evolved over thousands of years into one of the most famous and exciting game viewing areas in Africa.

The excitement of the buffalo visit was followed by a wonderful journey to Lake Manyara – particularly known for its elephant population – and we were not disappointed.     The highlight here being the experience of watching two bull elephants feeding from Acacia pods. The inferior male shaking the tree in order that his superior could eat the scattered pods from the ground.

>> Take a look at our huge range of safari holidays, from 4×4 safaris to horseback and balloon safaris.

Below: Back to Primary School for Susanna and James – who took part in the mornings English lesson which included reciting their ‘A,B,C’s’

Below: Elephant bathing in Lake Manyara.  This was a spectacular end of the day experience.  The whole herd were enjoying a playful evening bathtime as we watched with delight!

Below: Giraffe at Tarangrie National Park.  Tarangiere is the only other park in northern Tanzania to witness a migration of animal herds to rival that of the Serengeti.  In the dry summer months, the Tarangiere River is the only source of water in the area and large numbers of elephant, zebra, wildebeest and other plains game migrate from the Simanjiro Plains and head into the acacia woodlands and swamps of the park to join the herds of resident antelope and gazelle.

 Above: Giraffe at Tarangrie National Park

Continuing north – we headed into the mist to the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater.   It was our day in this extraordinary natural caldera that gave us our first sight of some rhino.

Finally, we headed into the Serengeti for some very chilly nights but beautiful days.   The highlight here was the close up encounter with a leopard as she ambled across a large rock.    When her two babies came to join her – they were scolded and promptly sent home – out of sight of the prowling hyena.

The holiday was rounded off with a visit to Zanzibar where we mixed culture with watersports – entertainment for everyone!

The dry seasons from June to October and December to March are generally considered to be the best times to Visit Tanzania and Zanzibar. As well as the activities mentioned above some other highlights include tracking chimpanzees in the Mahale mountains, immersing yourself in the wildebeest migration, trekking to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro and fishing for giant perch in Lake Victoria.

For additional itinerary and activity ideas please visit world-odyssey.com/tanzania-holidays

World Odyssey are giving away £100 in travel vouchers, after every 100 likes of www.facebook.com/worldodysseyluxury…

Every time we pass the 100 mark (100, 200, 300 etc.) of likes on our Facebook Page, we will have a prize draw – where one lucky ‘liker’ will win £100 in travel vouchers!

For your chance to win – visit www.facebook.com/worldodysseyluxury

World Odyssey Travel Vouchers are perfect for gifts and wedding presents – read more about them here.

Terms and conditions
The World Odyssey travel vouchers are redeemable at the time of booking against any holiday operated by World Odyssey. The vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash. The vouchers only apply to destinations detailed in our brochures and on the World Odyssey website. The offer is subject to the Terms and Conditions detailed on the reverse of the voucher.

I visited Oman not quite sure what to expect and found that there is so much more to this country which makes it a fantastic destination, offering the sunshine as well as culture, exhilarating landscapes and some amazing people. The small Sultanate of Oman, unlike its neighbours Dubai and Abu Dhabi, still feels infused with the spirit of old Arabia.

Muscat is an amazing city, combining the old with the ultra modern, offering some stunning 5 and 6 star beach resorts such as the Al Bustan Palace, the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and The Chedi, to name but a few. The city stretches from Seeb, the area near the airport to Muscat Old Town, some 35 km away, and southwards to Quriyat, with a motorway threading through, flanked palm trees and manicured grass areas. With the mountains to one side and the blue ocean on the other, Muscat enjoys a stunning location with a lot to offer.

After a few days in Muscat I ventured inland, through the amazing scenery of the Jebel Akhdar, a mountain range whose highest peak is Jebel Shams (mountain of the sun) at 3,049 metres. We took a ‘road’ from Nakhal to Al Hamra, that shook every bone in my body, a true off- road experience which just shows what 4×4 are really made for. Not an experience enjoyed by everyone, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed whilst being rewarded with some stunning mountain scenery.

We then headed towards the ancient city of Nizwa, commanding a landscape with wonderful fortresses such as Bahla, Jabrin, Nakhl and Nizwa. Each of these forts has been restored and thus makes it easy to imagine what they were once like.

Next a visit to Nizwa souk to stock up with those wonderful spices and herbs and marvel at the local pottery and silver jewellery.

Read more about our luxury getaways to Oman

From here we continued to the Wahiba Sands, everyone’s idea of the perfect desert landscape, with spectacular dunes up to 150 metre high, glowing red in the evening sun. After endless photos and some ‘dune bashing’ I spent the night under millions of stars at the luxurious Desert Nights Camp.

And finally I returned to Muscat, via some turtle watching at Ras al Jinz and more stunning scenery and some ‘wadi bashing’ – wadis are dry river beds which can be explored in a 4×4 vehicle, thus taking you to some wonderful mountain scenery with opportunities for lovely walks and dips in remaining water pools.

Throughout I met some wonderfully friendly people, proud, traditional and modern, keen to help me to get to know Oman.

In my opinion it is a place worth visiting NOW, not in 3 or 4 or 5 years’ time when it’s lost its spirit and charm and has turned into another Dubai.

Take a look at our luxury itineraries for Oman or get in touch with one of our travel specialists.

How It Works

World Odyssey have launched a travel photography competition – no matter if you’re an amateur or professional, you can enter your photographs for a chance to win £500 worth of World Odyssey travel vouchers.

Whether you have artistic safari landscapes or fun family photos – we want to see them!

How to Enter

There are various ways to enter the competition:

1. Email your photo to info@world-odyssey.com with your name and a short description of your photo
2. Tweet @world_odyssey with your photo and a short description
3. Post your photo on our Facebook timeline with a short description

We will be showcasing our favourites each month.

Competition closes on 30th April 2013. We will pick our favourite, who will win £500 worth of World Odyssey travel vouchers.

For keen photographers, why not take a look at our Photographic Safari Group Tour for October 2013 – lead by Bill Allen, former Editor-in-chief of the National Geographic Magazine.

Submit Your Photo

At last the trackers locate them and we hurry down to the boat, accompanied by our TANAPA guide and Lazaro. The boat will take us to the spot closest to the chimps to cut the walking time…this is what we are facing…

There are a couple of rules for chimp trekking –

::  Most importantly – no trekking if you are feeling ill, have a cold or flu….this is more for the chimps safety than your own

:: Long trousers, long sleeved shirts & comfortable walking shoes recommended

:: Do not wear any sunscreen, insect repellent or perfume

:: Keep drinking water

:: When near the chimps don a surgical mask to prevent the spread of diseases

:: No eating or drinking in the vicinity of the chimps

:: No flash photography

:: Fitness training advised as this is no walk in the park – take another look at those hills!!

As soon as you get into the forest the humidity level rachets up several notches – not to unbearable levels but you do start glowing as the pace is quite fast. The chimps move quickly in their search for food so we need to find them as soon as possible before they start their day. 

At the start of the trek the trails are well defined but the higher we go the narrower these become until the guides are hacking paths through virgin bush which makes the going very slippery….we’re quite high up now & you can see how thick the bush is..

We’ve been told to avoid the buffalo bean at all costs….apparently it is the African equivalent of poison ivy and you don’t want to go there…

Suddenly the atmosphere changes and we can hear the trackers communicating by simulating chimp calls and there, just when you think you can’t go any further, there they are…..we have two chimps….a 46 year old female who has adopted an orphaned baby chimp called Puffy…it is very difficult to see them or get a clear picture as the vegetation is so thick….a dark shape lying on the ground..

An arm grasping a branch…. 

And finally we are rewarded with a face……how wonderful….

You’re only allowed one hour with the chimps before it’s time to move on & let Puffy & her adoptive mother go about their day….We’re back in camp in time for a late lunch but I’m headed straight for the shower & a snoozelet to recharge my batteries….it was seriously tough going…

We are back on the dhow this afternoon….some swimming is on the cards….nothing too strenuous after our exertions this morning…

When we return to the bay my banda has been turned down for the evening…..

When we land back at camp we hear that a beach barbeque is planned for tonight’s meal…FABULOUS….a quick freshen up although the dress code here is quite casual so no need for frocks & high heels…& then back down to the bar on the point for sundowners…….all is calm & quiet….

 All in all – a perfect ending to a perfect trip….

The flying time to Lake Tanganyika is only 45 minutes so a short hop today. The pilot (one of the few lady pilots I have come across in my many travels) has carefully seated us in the plane so that the weight distribution is correct as I believe the Mahale airstrip is infamous amongst pilots in Tanzania….you’ll see why in a minute…I’ve got a seat in the first row which gives me an excellent view of the proceedings…Our first view of Lake Tanganyika…

Can anybody spot the airstrip yet? Yes, that’s it….in the top left hand corner of the photo – between a rock & a wet place….Now you can see why the airstrip has such a fearsome reputation! Fortunately I’ve never been a nervous flier!! If I had to choose a pilot in a tricky situation I would always choose one with experience of bush airstrips – these guys (& gals) really know how to fly…I’m told the trick is to come in really steeply so that you don’t run out of runway at the end…

And touchdown – well done Liz!! Our next mode of transport is waiting for us at the end of the runway….a dhow…we LOVE dhows…

A quick stop for the necessary formalities to sign into Mahale National Park…

And then we’re off…Lazaro has all the luggage safely stowed….did you think I was joking about the dhow?

Ice cold drinks from the cooler box and an absolutely delicious lunch – didn’t get my act together on the photography front until dessert so you’ll just have to take my word for it….skewers of grilled beef as well as vegetable skewers and homemade chips / crisps (depending which country you live in) with a guacamole dip – yum, yum. Such a good idea to have everything on skewers on a boat – makes things far more manageable…

For dessert…..fruit skewers…juicy watermelon. fresh pineapple & the best mango I’ve ever tasted…

The water is a lovely shade of turquoise, warm as bath water and so clear that you can see all the way to the bottom..

And then the first glimpse of our home for the next two nights – Greystoke Mahale - & I think we’re going to like it…

Greystoke Mahale has just 6 wood and thatch bandas hidden in the edge of the forest just a few feet away from a pristine white sandy beach. This is my banda..with a great view of the beach…the bowl of water at the entrance so you can wash the sand off your feet is a nice touch..and an incense stick & yoga mat should you wish to practise your asanas…another place I could live quite happily…

Each banda has an en-suite bathroom – accessible by a short boardwalk – with hot and cold running water, strong showers and flush toilets, eco-friendly amenities & luxurious fluffy white towels. You are also spoilt with a dressing room and upstairs chill-out deck….in short everything one would need for a happy life on the lakeshore!!

Nothing too strenuous is planned for the afternoon – we decide the only thing we feel like doing is a dhow cruise….maybe some fishing with simple little hand reels….the yellow belly were biting and we got a good haul of about six decent size fish…

 A quick feshen up before heading off to the bar at the point where we discover the chef has prepared sashimi from one of the fish we caught & served it with soy sauce, sesame seeds and a little pistachio green wasabi….absolutely delicious and you can’t get fish any fresher than that…