Families worldwide magazine spring 2014 by Chameleon Worldwide Travel

FAMILIES

get set NEWSLETTER 2014

TO EXPERIENCE YOUR WORLD TOGETHER

SNAP HAPPY DIP INTO DALMATIA ACTIVE ADVENTURES PACK IT IN! BIG CAT ENCOUNTERS IT’S A WILD WORLD

Let’s

go! Welcome to the first issue of Get Set, our new magazine showcasing the world’s finest family adventure holidays. We start with some of our most popular activity trips in Europe and worldwide including paddling Croatia’s Dalmatian coast – a personal favourite of mine – and a horseriding escapade in the rainforests of Costa Rica. If wildlife-watching is your passion, we’ve a wealth of ideas for you, too – try Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia or a gaggle of other great destinations. You’ll also find packing tips written by teenagers for teenagers and a fabulous photo competition opposite. Enjoy!

12 3

Snap happy he very best of your family travel T photos

4 Kayak Croatia

Mark Wright Travel-mad dad (and Managing Director)

iscover the joys of paddling the D Dalmatian coast

Ride Costa Rica

xplore the Central American E rainforest on horseback

Pack it in!

ive essential packing tips for F travelling teens – plus the best trips for over-12s

10 Wildlife & waves

Sun, sand and safari – track lions at the edge of the Indian Ocean

11 Top safari destinations

reate your perfect African C adventure in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia or Botswana

12 Cheetah encounter 6

Great adventures

A dozen of our favourite European

Meet the fastest cat in Namibia – and climb one of the world’s tallest dunes

and worldwide activity trips

call our family holiday specialists: 01962 737 560 2

FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E experience your world together

13 Elephant island

iscover why Asia’s mighty D pachyderms are icons of Sri Lanka

14 It’s a wild world

I ndian tigers, orang-utans in Borneo, jaguars in Brazil – nine electrifying animal encounters

Best

family

snap happy Family adventure holidays provide ample opportunity to amaze and excite children and big kids alike! It’s often those occasions that generate lasting memories and great stories too.

WIN Best selfie

A Morocco holiday! We’re sure you’ve got lots of terrific photos from your family adventures. Share your special moments with us in our new competition. The top prize will be awarded to the picture judged Best Overall Memory, but the Best Family Moment and Best Selfie photos will also win a Family Adventure Pack worth over £100.

WHAT YOU SAID! RAINFORESTS AND ISLANDS, THAILAND “This was an action packed, well planned holiday. Everything ran so smoothly. Our Guide, Pui, went that extra mile to make sure that we all had an amazing experience. Our children (7 & 11) really enjoyed the elephant trekking, swimming in the lake in the pouring rain (warm) and snorkeling” The Calvert family

Send your photo along with a caption of no more than 100 words bringing the moment to life to photos@familiesworldwide.co.uk. All photos will be uploaded to our Facebook page, where you can vote for your favourites. Happy snapping – and good luck! Deadline for entries is 1 September 2014. Visit: familiesworldwide.co.uk/photo

Best

memory

ACTIVE DALMATIA “This was one of the great moments on our kayak adventure around Croatia’s fantastic islands” Hannah Wright ATLAS MULE TRAIN, MOROCCO “For me, the mountains were the most special but with Momo we enjoyed the best of Marrakech and the streets and surfing of Essaouira. He even carried our boards to the beach.“ The Dunford family Could these be our competition winners? Email photos@familiesworldwide.co.uk with your own special memories for a chance to win.

discover more online: familiesworldwide.co.uk

experience your world together FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E 3

CROATIA

Dip into

Dalmatia A kayaking holiday around islands off the Croatian coast made a big splash with Nicola Green – and proved a surprise hit for her kids.

hildren – and I can imagine most parents nodding sagely in agreement – rarely know what’s best for them.

It was a thought that I admit, left me feeling just a little bit smug. The sun was nestling into the western horizon, setting sparkles dancing on the waves of the Adriatic and painting the faces of my two teenagers with a golden glow. Or maybe the glow was coming from within: I’ve rarely seen them looking as fulfilled and healthy as they did that last evening, dipping their paddles to power their kayaks through the azure sea as we headed back to our island guest house. See? I murmured inwardly. You’re loving every moment. When I’d first mooted the idea of a multiactivity holiday in Croatia, the response wasn’t overwhelming. It’s not that my offspring aren’t adventurous – far from it – just that the thought of spending a week kayaking around a small island in the Adriatic didn’t really, well, float their boat. But I’d long hankered after a visit to Dubrovnik, that lauded ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, with its terracotta-tiled rooftops and baroque beauty. And I was sure that the kids would benefit from a week of sun, fresh air and exercise. And so it was that on a warm August afternoon we were decanted from our flight into a speedboat that whisked us, James Bond style, to the small island of Lopud, one of three in the Elafiti archipelago. As we walked up to our guesthouse from the harbour, I realised that the retreating throb of the boat was the last engine we’d hear for a while – there are no cars on the island. That evening, as we got to know the other four families in our group over a feast of freshly grilled seafood (and, yes, a glass or two of crisp white), any shyness quickly evaporated. By the time we’d finished breakfast next morning, all ten youngsters in the party were itching to get cracking with the kayaks. PADDLES UP! On that first day we quickly mastered the basics and, younger children buddying up with a parent in a double canoe, paddled out of the

cove towards Sipan, the largest of the three islands. There we picked up mountain bikes to explore, pedalling past vineyards and fragrant olive groves, pausing to stroll the charming settlement of Sipanska Luka and nose into the remains of churches and grand houses of Dubrovnik’s renaissance-era bigwigs. We quickly settled into a rhythm. Rise, breakfast, paddle to a new playground – for a spot of snorkelling, perhaps, a dolphinwatching boat tour or an amble to the taverna at Sunj beach on the other side of Lopud. That spot became a firm favourite, a place to relax and graze on Croatian cuisine – an Italo-Balkan fusion, rich in pasta, rice and flapping-fresh fish – as the party’s junior contingent frolicked in the turquoise waves. MAKING THE LEAP An excursion to Dubrovnik ticked my box; in the early morning, before cruise ships disgorge their masses, a stroll around its mighty walls and down the marble Stradun (main street) is fascinating. But I was more struck by a visit to Mostar, the Bosnian town famed for its Stari Most – the ancient bridge, destroyed during the Balkan conflict but rebuilt a decade ago. Sipping a coffee, I watched daredevil youths diving 20m into the river from the top of the arch, as they have for decades. Mostly, though, I drank in the sight of my children making the most of the fresh air. It’s an incredibly healthy holiday – not in a joyless sense, but inadvertently. My youngsters were doing exactly what I’d hoped: packing the days with exercise, fresh food and fun. But my kids weren’t alone in having their expectations challenged. Like them, I felt healthier and more relaxed than I had in months. I’d made new friends, discovered activities I’d be certain to try again, and unearthed local gems that outshone that ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. Perhaps, I mused as the bow of my kayak swooshed onto the sand, when we try new activities as a family, we all gain something very special. Nicola Green, Families Worldwide

call our family holiday specialists: 01962 737 560 4

FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E experience your world together

Split

Bosnia

Croatia

Mostar

Korcula Ad ria tic Sea

Mljet

Sipan Lopud Dubrovnik

Let’s go! Itching to pick up a paddle? Visit familiesworldwide.co.uk for active trips to Croatia including: ACTIVE DALMATIA 8 DAYS FROM £629 ADULT, £599 CHILD Explore Croatia’s Elafiti Islands by sea kayak, and enjoy snorkelling, walking and cycling. CROATIA RIVER ADVENTURE 8 DAYS FROM £619 ADULT, £589 CHILD Make a splash in 93 beautiful waterfalls while kayaking, cycling and walking along the Mreznica River.

CROATIA

TOP: The terracotta-tiled rooftops and baroque beauty of Dubrovnik LEFT: Inland is just as spectacular. Cycle and kayak along the Mreznica River MAIN PIC: Stunningly turquoise waters make the perfect setting

discover more online: familiesworldwide.co.uk

experience your world together FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E 5

A WORLD OF ADVENTURE

1 Turkey

KAYAK THE TURQUOISE COAST ACTIVE TURKEY, 8 DAYS FROM £679 Grab your paddles to explore the bays around Adrasan, explore the sunken city of Kekova, head inland to leap and scramble down canyons, and toast marshmallows over the flaming rocks of Chimera.

One playground

2 Slovakia

MUSH A HUSKY TEAM WINTER SLOVAKIA, 8 DAYS FROM £829 When the snow falls, the adrenalin rises in the High Tatra Mountains. Strap on snow-shoes, snowboard or cross-country skis to explore the wintry wilderness, and learn to mush your own team of huskies.

12 great adventures All the world’s an adventure playground – discover the best of the great outdoors with our pick of 12 top holidays packed with activities to keep the whole family happy and healthy.

3 Catalonia

GO WITH THE FLOW ACTIVE CATALONIA, 8 DAYS FROM £999 Scramble, leap and slide down the turquoise cascades of a rocky valley on a river-trekking adventure, pick up a paddle to sea-kayak the coast, learn to shoot an arrow and zip-wire through the woods.

call our family holiday specialists: 01962 737 560 6

FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E experience your world together

Scan for more information

A WORLD OF ADVENTURE

4 Jordan

7 Nepal

10 Malta, Gozo

5 Morocco

8 Costa Rica

11 Spanish Pyrenees

6 French Pyrenees

9 Oman

12 Vietnam

BOARD THE SHIP OF THE DESERT CRUSADERS AND CAMELS, 8 DAYS FROM £749 Ride a camel across the otherworldly landscape of Wadi Rum, float in the Dead Sea, explore Crusader castles, make like Indiana Jones in the rock-hewn city of Petra and snorkel the Red Sea’s reefs.

TREK THE HIGH ATLAS HIGH ATLAS ADVENTURE, 8 DAYS FROM £379 Lace up those hiking boots to discover traditional Berber culture along the trails of the Atlas Mountains, and experience the music and mayhem of the Djemaa el-Fna square amid the magical medina of Marrakech.

GET WET AND WILD ACTIVE PYRENEES, 8 DAYS FROM £999 Raft foaming rapids cascading through the canyons of the Pyrenees, then try alternative descents – by mountain bike, on an abseil rope or on foot, trekking among kaleidoscopic butterflies and birds.

RAFT WHITEWATER RAPIDS HIMALAYAN ADVENTURE, 13 DAYS FROM £1099 There’s adventure aplenty among the soaring peaks of the Himalaya. Hike peaceful mountain trails, explore the ancient temples and palaces of Kathmandu, raft the wild waters of the Trisuli and watch rhinos from elephant-back.

BIKE BY A VOLCANO ACTIVE COSTA RICA, 10 DAYS FROM £1199 Think of an activity that doesn’t involve snow – chances are you can try it here. Traverse the rainforest by horse, raft, night walk or zip-wire, canoe the Caribbean coast and mountain bike alongside rumbling Arenal volcano.

SANDBOARD THE DUNES DOLPHINS & DUNES, 9 DAYS FROM £1399 Get a taste of Arabian Nights – and days – among the dunes of Oman. Ride a board down sandy slopes, sail a traditional dhow, watch leaping dolphins and sleep under the desert stars at a Bedouin camp.

ABSEIL THE CLIFFS OF GOZO ACTIVE GOZO, 8 DAYS FROM £899 Rope up and bounce down – with abundant rocky crags, Gozo’s the place to try climbing and abseiling. Explore the island by bike and sea kayak, and discover world-class diving and snorkelling.

TAKE TO THE TREETOPS HEART OF THE PYRENEES, 8 DAYS FROM £859 Test your head for heights on the ropes and zip-wires of a tree-top assault course. Kayak mountain lakes and explore the valleys and villages of this beautiful region by bike, horse or raft.

CYCLE AMONG RICE PADDIES HANOI TO SAIGON, 12 DAYS FROM £899 Taste Vietnam from top to toe, sailing a junk around Halong Bay, biking to traditional villages, exploring the Mekong Delta and Hue’s ancient imperial city, and learning to catch river fish and paddle a coracle.

discover more online: www.familiesworldwide.co.uk/activity_holidays

experience your world together FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E 7

COSTA RICA

Did you

Life in the

know?

reaches d sloth e o t e e r eed of The th ound sp r g m u im a max minute res per two met ly t entire re almos a om the r s f h t d o n l S esce d d n a l arborea t stop r a toile o f s e e r t e a week just onc

saddle

Take the reins in the Costa Rican rainforest to play John Wayne and meet the languid locals.

never imagined that something so very slow could be so incredibly fascinating. Yet watching a sloth – famously one of the world’s most sluggish creatures – clamber ponderously along a branch was nothing less than hypnotic. Perhaps it’s because we rarely see things that languid in our hectic, tech-trammelled lives, but this shaggy animal with the squashed face and green-tinged fur boasted an amazing, if comical, gracefulness. That wasn’t the only surprise I encountered during my two-hour rainforest trot with my children at Sarapiqui, in northern Costa Rica.

The first was that, well, I loved it. I never thought I’d take to horse-riding, but saddling up western-style was a buzz in itself, scratching that boyhood John Wayne itch. And I quickly discovered that by mounting a horse I stopped being human – at least as far as the creatures around us were concerned. To them, my steed and I became just another wild animal, allowed to approach that much closer. As well as the stop-motion sloth hanging right above the path, my kids and I were dazzled by the flash of toucans’ beaks and serenaded by the songs of howler monkeys.

call our family holiday specialists: 01962 737 560 8

FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E experience your world together

The chance to try a host of new activities is a major attraction of this compact Central American country. What makes it perfect for a family holiday is that you can push yourself out of your comfort zone – without actually sacrificing the comfort. With its lush rainforest, palm-fringed beaches and wealth of wildlife, Costa Rica feels truly exotic, yet the infrastructure is comprehensively set up for adventure holidays. Children adore the adrenalin-stoked activities on offer: whitewater rafting, mountain biking, surfing and – most kids’ favourite – zip-wires through the forest canopy. Reassuringly, safety levels are high, and accommodation and transport are top notch. We tried the lot: we kayaked, we rafted, we biked, we hiked. But thinking back to that sloth encounter, and recalling my children giggling and gawping, rapt, alongside me, I know which moment will linger longest in my memory. Dan Painter, Families Worldwide

Pack it in!

ESSENTIALS FOR THE ADVENTUROUS TEENAGER

Scan for more information

When packing for a holiday (or even just to go to the park), most teenagers reach for their gadgets. But we asked our teens, with years of travel on adventure holidays between them, what five essential items they’d pack first – here’s their collected wisdom.

Torch

An absolute must for nipping to the loo at night when camping, or just scouring your bag in the dark. A head-torch is best – hands-free lighting!

Playa Panama Beach/Snorkel

Costa Rica

Monteverde Zip-wires

Tamarindo Surfing

Tortuguero National Park Wildlife Sarapiqui Rafting

n ea bb Cari

Arenal Volcano Biking

San Jose

Cahuita National Park Caribbean beach

Manuel Antonio National Park ic

Corcovado National Park Whale watching

Let’s go! Keen to fly on a zip-wire and ride into the rainforest with your own family? Visit familiesworldwide.co.uk for active trips to Costa Rica including: ACTIVE COSTA RICA 10 DAYS FROM £1199 ADULT, £1179 CHILD Get the adrenaline pumping in this Central American gem – try zip-wiring, mountainbiking and white-water rafting.

Power monkey

Portable power for when my iPod or mobile runs low on juice – great for when I don’t have access to electricity. It come with a bunch of adaptors to recharge most gadgets.

Oce an

Camera Memories are great, but I wouldn’t be without my camera. How else do you show off the pictures of your amazing holidays to your friends?!

Hand sanitiser

Squeezy instant handwash for when washing with soap and clean water before eating isn’t possible. Handy (!) for helping steer clear of bugs in wild places.

Headphones

Mostly you’ll want to listen to what’s going on around you. But sometimes, on really looong road or train journeys, listening to my music while enjoying the views can be a lifesaver.

Let’s go! Try these four awesome trips for adventurous teens. For these, and our exclusive teenage departures, visit www.familiesworldwide.co.uk/teens LEARN THE LINGO 8 DAYS FROM £799 Language-learning’s a blast on this multi-active holiday in Catalonia, with fun lessons aimed at helping hit GCSE or A-level targets interspersed with activities and exploration. ACTIVE CATALONIA 8 DAYS FROM £999 Test yourself against the obstacles of Catalonia’s rugged coastline on a multi-activity week including canyoning, high-rope walking, abseiling, kayaking and river-trekking. BOTSWANA CAMPING ADVENTURE 12 DAYS FROM £1129 Learn game-tracking and survival skills, and experience wild camping as you journey through Botswana’s wilderness – topped off with a visit to the mighty Victoria Falls. JOURNEY TO COLOMBIA 12 DAYS FROM £2049 Discover this exhilarating South American country in the company of Families Worldwide MD Mark Wright on this exciting one-off reccy trip. Fish with the locals, float on bamboo rafts, explore jungle-lined Caribbean beaches and go whale watching on the wild Pacific coast.

RAINFORESTS & VOLCANOES 13 DAYS FROM £1299 ADULT, £1269 CHILD Explore rainforests and visit an active volcano as you discover Costa Rica’s varied flora and fauna up close.

visit: www.familiesworldwide.co.uk/teens

experience your world together FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E 9

TANZANIA

TOP MIDDLE: Stunning Tanzanian coastline TOP RIGHT: The train to Selous RIGHT: Lodge at Saadani National Park BOTTOM RIGHT: On safari at Selous Game Reserve

Kenya

Saadani National Park Dar es Salaam

Kerege Children’s home Selous Game Reserve Sable Mountain

Wildlife & waves A unique combination of wildlife and idyllic Indian Ocean beaches makes a safari in Tanzania’s Saadani and Selous national parks the ultimate family holiday.

here comes a time – you might want to sit down – when your offspring no longer want to join you on holiday. Perhaps they’re fifteen, sixteen; their friends are heading to Mallorca, or a Greek island, and the appeal of a summer break with mum and dad starts to pall. If that sounds familiar, consider a last splash: for one truly unforgettable final holiday together as a family (but which secretly isn’t the final holiday at all), we’ve tracked down a three-centre adventure in Tanzania that wins on every front. First up is Saadani National Park, unique for its location kissing the Indian Ocean. It’s an ideal introduction to safaris: guided walks traverse grasslands where giraffes and zebra roam and end on the beach, while a visit to an elephantcollaring study project introduces youngsters to the fascinating world of conservation research.

The pinnacle of perfection is a night in the Roof of Saadani, an extraordinary 20m-high hide-hotel with exclusive bar-restaurant. Next up is a classic African railway journey trundling through the Tanzanian countryside to reach Selous Game Reserve – at 45,000 km2, Africa’s largest protected area. This is classic safari territory, a vast, rolling terrain punctuated with rivers and lakes where game drives, walks and boat trips introduce Africa’s top stars: lions, elephants, even wild dogs. Finally, take a short hop to Zanzibar, the fabled spice island, where beach sports including windsurfing and snorkelling keep the most active teens happy – and parents relaxed. But be warned: after this holiday, your youngsters might be tempted to stick around for future adventures after all!

call our family holiday specialists: 01962 737 560 1 0 FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E experience your world together

n Ocea

ZANZIBAR Stone Town

Ind ian

Tanzania

Let’s go! Planning your ultimate family hurrah? Visit www.familiesworldwide. co.uk/safari for a choice of small group trips including: SWAHILI COAST AND SAFARI 10 DAYS FROM £1699 ADULT, £1399 CHILD Combine wildlife and waves on a terrific multi-centre trip to Tanzania, exploring ocean-lapped Saadani National Park, the vast wilderness of Selous Game Reserve and the beaches of Zanzibar, the spice island. Why not include Saadani National Park within a tailor-made safari. Your whole family will love being able to walk straight out from your thatched banda (your private canvas apartment) onto a white-sand beach with the turquoise Indian Ocean lapping just a few feet away; walk in the other direction and you’re into the African bush. A fantastic way to de-stress and start your family safari.

TAILOR MADE HOLIDAYS

On safari Our top 5 destinations You know your family’s interests and needs – so why not create a bespoke safari to ensure that every second of your holiday is perfect for you? Families Worldwide Africa expert Sally Jefferis reveals how.

ome families like luxury. Others prefer rustic camping. Some need comfort and convenience – a pool, perhaps – while for many, particularly those with small children, long journeys are a no-no. Fortunately, with a tailor-made Families Worldwide safari you can create a holiday that takes these factors into account. We offer exclusive and moderaterange lodges, wild camping and luxury fixed tents to cater to most budgets. In fact, the toughest decision is picking where to head – so I’ve chosen five of my favourite destinations, all offering wonderful accommodation, to help you create your perfect safari.

1 Botswana

OKAVANGO DELTA Each year, this oasis in the heart of the Kalahari floods to create an expansive tapestry of crystal-clear channels, papyrus swamps and small islands hosting myriad birds and large animals. Big cats abound. Children can paddle along the waterways in a mokoro (dugout canoe) to spot elephants, hippos, crocodiles and antelopes. Your family will be camping in true wilderness. A thrilling experience for any child.

3 Zambia

SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK Children love tracking animals in this birthplace of the walking safari: South Luangwa. It’s Zambia’s premier wildlife destination with 9,050 km2 of riverine woodland, rolling savannah, ox-bow lagoons and hills. Expect to encounter elephants, buffalo and dozens of chuckling hippos. Leopards are regularly spotted, particularly on night drives. Birdwatching is spectacular, too.

4 Botswana

CHOBE NATIONAL PARK The area bordering the Upper Zambezi River is a mosaic of bush, floodplains and woodland offering exceptional game viewing: Chobe is home to the largest concentration of elephant in Africa, as well as huge herds of buffalo. You might also spot lions, wild dogs and countless hippos, plus diverse antelope species including red lechwe, sable and roan.

5 Namibia 2 Kenya

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE Possibly Africa’s most famous game destination, this vast reserve is best known for the great migration of countless wildebeest that traverses the plains between July and October – just in time for the school holidays. Watch prides of lions lazing in the sunshine, cheetahs streaking across the savannah and meet the local Masai Mara tribes - a favoutite for many children.

ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK Etosha is famous for its vast, dazzling salt pan and permanent waterholes attracting really big game – lions, rhinos and large herds of elephants. The kids can sit and relax by the waterhole in safety. The neighbouring Ongava Private Game Reserve offers the opportunity to track rhino on foot – an electrifying experience. Scan for more information

discover more online: www.familiesworldwide.co.uk/safari

experience your world together FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E 1 1

NAMIBIA

llowing a big cat – a fearsome predator, the world’s swiftest land mammal – to hypnotise your child isn’t, you might argue, the mark of a responsible parent. But then again, all of the adults on our visit were just as mesmerised as the kids by the cheetah sitting just steps away at the Cheetah Conservation Fund’s headquarters. I watched with rapt fascination as a male approached at feeding time, his bouncing gait showcasing those lean limbs and spine that curved and stretched like a slinky spring. In this almost cosy scenario, the sleek, honeyand-black feline, so lethal on the hunt, seemed unthreatening. Perhaps it was those soft brown eyes with twin black mascara lines trailing from them – although the bloody stains surrounding his muzzle from a meaty lunch set my heart pulsing faster than…well, a sprinting cheetah.

Big encounter cat

Was it the kids’ favourite experience in this varied country? It’s a toss-up. Their delighted screams and whoops as they tumbled down a vast red dune in the Namib-Naukluft Desert told me we’d another hit on our hands. This area of enormous sand mountains is jaw-dropping – the most spectacular, Dune 45, soars to over 170m high, comprising 5-million-year-old grains – and we were all captivated by the epic scenery. But if pushed, I’d have to say that the cheetah won – by a whisker. Claire Gribben, Travel Consultant

Let’s go! Be captivated by a cheetah. Visit familiesworldwide.co.uk for a choice of trips including: CHEETAHS AND DUNES NOW £200 LOWER IN PRICE 12 DAYS FROM £1399 ADULT, £929 CHILD Climb Africa’s highest sand dunes in the vast Namib Desert, meet dolphins and seals at Cape Cross and spot elephants, rhinos and lions on safari in Etosha National Park. Favourable exchange rates make this trip better value than ever.

call our family holiday specialists: 01962 737 560 1 2 FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E experience your world together

Coming face-to-face with the world’s fastest cat sets children’s hearts racing in Namibia.

SRI LANKA

Elephant island Asia’s mightiest mammals are true icons of Sri Lanka – and that’s the perfect place to discover how different the world looks from the back of a 3m-high pachyderm

know?

Polonnaruwa

Sri Lanka

, trunk grows s t e n a h p e ains mor An el nd cont a g n o l m to 1.5 scles ,000 mu than 100 ungry ant is h h p e l e n about Being a lt eats u d a h c work; ea aily plants d f o g k 0 15

ve di Lacca

Did you

Colombo

Kandy Nuwara Eliya

Uda Walawe Galle

Let’s go! Want to watch baby eles at bath time, spot herds in the park and take an elephant-back safari? Visit familiesworldwide.co.uk for a choice of trips including: CEYLON DISCOVERY 15 DAYS FROM £1099 ADULT, £1049 CHILD Roam from cool highlands to steaming jungle and tropical beaches on this journey of discovery, exploring ancient cities, temples and fortresses, riding elephants and enjoying a local cooking lesson.

lephant Rock, Elephant Gate, Elephant Mountain. Temple elephants, king-toting elephants, huge herds of elephants, elephants in forests and elephants at lakes: eles are big in Sri Lanka – in every sense. You can see these hefty beasts in spots all over the island on a Families Worldwide holiday. But what makes them so special here? Quirks of biology play a part. Asian elephants are quite different from their African cousins: for starters, they’re smaller – up to about 5 tonnes – though still as heavy as three cars. Their ears aren’t as big, and they have more prominent shoulders. Only males have tusks (females bear virtually invisible ‘tushes’), and in Sri Lanka those are rare, and so venerated – often they’re housed at temples and involved in religious festivals.

Visit Kandy in August and you might be lucky enough to see big tuskers, decked in glitzy costumes and blinking with fairy lights, parading down the streets during the Esala Perahera – the ‘Festival of the Tooth’, a high-volume carnival with beating drums and honking horns, when the sacred Buddha’s tooth is honoured. They’ve played a big role in the island’s culture – in past eras they’ve carried kings and been trained to fight one another. But most of the 3,000 elephants that live on the island today roam national parks such as Uda Walawe. In the dry season, big herds group together and head to lakes or tanks (reservoirs). The most famous of these spots is at Minneriya, where hundreds of eles buddy up in a spectacle known as The Gathering – watch out for them when you and your kids bike through the park.

Sadly, elephants are endangered all over the world. In Sri Lanka, where few sport big tusks, habitat loss and human-animal conflict are the biggest problems. So orphanages have been set up to look after babies that have been lost or injured – a magical place to visit for children and parents alike. For the most memorable encounter, time your arrival for feeding time and stick around to watch the eles splash about in the river with their mahouts as they take their twice-daily baths. But for kids, there’s one really BIG adventure to be experienced: an elephant-back safari, providing an ele’s-eye view of the world from the shoulders of one of these huge creatures – in every sense, a highpoint of a holiday in Sri Lanka and a life-changing experience for every child.

discover more online: familiesworldwide.co.uk

experience your world together FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E 1 3

A WORLD OF WILDLIFE

It’s a

wild world!

Sure, Africa’s an amazing place for encountering wildlife – from lions stalking the savannah, giraffes stretching to munch treetops and hippos chuckling in the shallows. But there’s so much more to see all over the world, with thrilling animal encounters on every continent – you and your children could spot rhinos in Nepal, see slooooow sloths in Costa Rica and watch leaping dolphins in Bali.

Let’s go! Go online and search for your favourite at: www.familiesworldwide. co.uk/wildlife Scan for more information

India

TRACK A TIGER RANTHAMBHORE The biggest of big cats slinks through the forests of Ranthambhore National Park. This is Jungle Book writ large: track tigers among ruined forts and temples, spotting trilling birds, deer and langur monkeys.

Ecuador

GRIN AT A GIANT TORTOISE GALAPAGOS Which creature is quirkiest? The blue-footed booby, with its weird little dance? Sunburn-pink marine iguanas snorting salt from their noses? We think it’s the giant tortoise, living for over 100 years – meet one high on Santa Cruz.

Thailand

SNORKEL WITH NEMO KOH TAO Did you know that the sand between your toes could be parrotfish poo? These colourful fish munch coral, which comes out as grains of sand. Spot parrotfish while snorkelling over the reefs of Koh Tao off the exotic coast of Southern Thailand.

call our family holiday specialists: 01962 737 560 1 4 FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E experience your world together

A WORLD OF WILDLIFE

Nepal

Indonesia

Malaysia

Brazil

RUMBLE A RHINO CHITWAN The best vantage point from which to watch a huge, horned, grumpy, armour-plated animal is from atop an even bigger one. Board an elephant-back safari for close encounters with one-horned rhinos – in safety.

SWING WITH ORANG-UTANS BORNEO The orang-utan is one of our closest relatives – and that’s movingly clear when you gaze into the eyes of the ‘man of the forest’ at Sabah’s Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary. Your children will definitely want to hug one!

WATCH DOLPHINS AT DAWN BALI Start the day aboard an outrigger boat sailing alongside playful dolphins as they surf the waves – the most exhilarating wake-up call on the planet, and the perfect appetiser before breakfast. Bali is a great summer option.

SPOT A JAGUAR PANTANAL The Americas’ biggest cat is also among its most elusive. But you’ve a good chance of seeing a jaguar on a boat trip along the waterways of the Pantanal – along with capybara, caiman and even anaconda.

Costa Rica

HANG OUT WITH HOWLERS SARAPIQUI If you’re on an animal, the other creatures see you as part of the habitat – so horseriding through the rainforest reveals so much more than walking: expect to spot toucans, butterflies and howler monkeys from the saddle. Even dad will love riding western-style. SPY ON A SLOTH TORTUGUERO What’s the world’s snooziest creature? Could be the slowth – sorry, sloth! – so sluggish that algae grow on its fur. Gaze up into the rainforest of Costa Rica’s Tortuguero National Park to see one clinging to a branch.

discover more online: www.familiesworldwide.co.uk/wildlife

experience your world together FAMILIES W O R L D W I D E 1 5

FAMILIES

get excited The very best adventure holidays worldwide, created by families for all the family to enjoy. Choose from multi-activity trips, cultural journeys and wildlife encounters. Travel with a group or let us tailor-make your perfect itinerary.

ed uc at

ex pe rie io n by

Talk to our specialist

nc e

consultants

: 01962 737 560

FAMILIES

WALKS

consultants:

the

WORLDWIDE specialists trekking & walking

Calls charged 737 565 +44 (0)1962 Overseas tel: orldwide.com Email: sales@walksw rldwide.com Web: www.walkswo 6984 Fax: 0845 130 Manor Farm, Barn South, SuttonOAA, UK Address: Long Alresford, SO24 9am to 1pm Bishop’s Sutton, to 6pm and Saturday to Friday 9am Open Monday

inspiring some of the most A collection of by a team world, planned holidays in the with over 25 years’ of travel professionals activity, cultural experience. Adventure, discovery, rafting, journeys, cycling, more. wilderness and winter activities,

We adapt to your

– The ultimate

interests,

tailor-made specialist.

wildlife safaris, Cultural experiences, activity deserts and wilderness, to luxury Mid-range and adventure. for you. All tailor-made accommodation.

or let group of families Travel with a for your a special trip us tailor-make Middle Europe, Asia, family. Africa, itinerary Americas. Each East and the to include planned by specialists activity, nature... discovery, learning, Worldwide Call Families 737560 4567 or 01962 on 0845 051 dwide.co.uk www.familiesworl

Chameleon Worldwide

We adapt to your

expe rien ce your RLDWIDE wor ld together

tailor-made specialist.

tastes and choices...

Schools Worldwide

Walks Worldwide A mouth-watering selection of classic walks and treks around the world, any active person for of any age. Guided group departures, Self-Guided, Private Guided or Tailor-made. The ultimate choice of walking adventures.

Call Schools Worldwide on 01962 737648 or 0845 634 4670 www.schoolswor ldwide.co.uk

Call Walks Worldwide on 01962 737565 or 0845 301 4737 www.walksworld wide.com

of overseas Offering a range to activity breaks adventures. From for schools, substantial expeditions Life youth groups. colleges and young experiences for changing travel people. Worldwide Call Schools 737648 4670 or 01962 on 0845 634 ldwide.co.uk www.schoolswor

– The ultimate

interests, budget,

Cultural experiences, wildlife safaris, deserts and wilderness, activity and adventure. Mid-range to luxury accommodation. All tailor-made for you. Call Chameleon on 01962 737647Worldwide or 0845 304 8670 www.chameleon worldwide.co.uk

Offering a range of overseas adventures. From activity substantial expeditions breaks to for schools, colleges and youth groups. Life changing travel experiences for young people.

Worldwide Call Chameleon or 01962 737647 8670 on 0845 304 orldwide.co.uk www.chameleonw

Schools Worldwide Families Worldwide

IDE

ialist s walk ing spec the trekk ing &

A collection of some of the most inspiring holidays in the world, of travel professionals planned by a team experience. Adventure,with over 25 years’ activity, cultural journeys, cycling, discovery, rafting, winter activities, wilderness and more. Call Adventure Worldwide on 01962 737630 or 0845 304 8679 www.adventurew orldwide.co.uk

and choices... Chameleon Worldwide budget, tastes

Worldwide Call Adventure 737630 8679 or 01962 on 0845 304 orldwide.co.uk www.adventurew

WORLDW

yo u r wo r l d to g et h e r

to 1pm

See our other great brochu res! Adventure Worldwide

res! great brochu See our other Adventure Worldwide

ex p e r i e n ce

WORLDW

2013 / 2014

4737 0845at 301 local rate

WALKS WORLDWIDE

Talk to our specialist

Families Worldwide 2014/2015

WALKS FAMILIES

0845 051 4567

Overseas tel: +44 (0)1962 737 560 Email: sales@familie Web: www.familiesw sworldwide.co.uk orldwide.co.u Fax: 0845 130 k 6984 Address: Long Barn South, Sutton Bishop’s Sutton, Alresford, SO24 Manor Farm, OAA, UK Open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am

wide

WORLDWIDE TRAVEL LTD No portion of 2014/15 this brochure may be reproduced the prior written without consent of Chameleon Worldwide With thanks to our clients, staff and tourist offices

Photographs:

2013/14 TRAVEL LTD WORLDWIDE without © CHAMELEON may be reproduced Worldwide this brochure No portion of consent of Chameleon the prior written and tourist offices our clients, staff With thanks to Photographs:

family adventures 100%

Financial Protection

| small groups or build

your own trip

Request a brochure online and view our great range of holidays

visit our website www.familiesworldwide.co.uk

or speak to a specialist call: 01962 737 560 Or 0845 304 8670 charged at local rate Overseas call: +44 (0) 1962 737 560 Email: info@chameleonworldwide.co.uk Address: Sutton Manor Farm, Bishop’s Sutton, Alresford, SO24 OAA, UK Open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE