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# The African and Oriental Travel Company

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Pages
- [Home](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/): Custom luxury African safari tours and truly tailor-made Africa travel experiences with Africa's leading luxury travel specialists. Our 25 year African love affair matches us with discerning travelers seeking authentic once in a lifetime luxury Africa safaris. Experience some of the seven wonders of the world, showcasing magnificent wildlife safari adventures you never knew existed, even in your wildest dreams!
- [Contact Us](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/contact-us/): We’re a UK-based purveyor of luxury safaris and dive tours capturing the world’s most unusual and alluring natural landscapes. We cater for customers worldwide, and look forward to planning your next trip of a lifetime.
- [Responsible Tourism](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/responsible-tourism/): Travelling for pleasure is a privilege. But we have seen what a massive difference travel can make to people who have nothing. Travel should be sensitive, and any transformation must be for the better.
- [Packing List For African Safaris](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/packing-list-for-african-safaris/): A safari is a journey – and on a journey, the glamour is in the experience – not in the way we dress or what we take along! There are of course some standard items you definitely need and which you can find below. There are also some little-known items that will greatly enhance your time. Yet there is hardly any specialised clothing required for a safari itself – and moreover, it really does not need to cost as much as your safari itself again! Over the years we have found that the below is just fine for a week away – if diving, then of course you will need to add that packing list to the below.
- [Female Travellers](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/female-travellers/): Based on years of travelling as a female alone; Francisca has some ideas of how to travel if you are a solo female traveller. All of us at African Oriental firmly believe that YOU should be able to see the world as a lady, without fear or interference. But while we strongly believe that everyone has the right to travel and move freely, safely, and to whatever location you would like to go – we know that your safety is part of your enjoyment and that has to be the most important factor.
- [Expeditions And Adventure](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/expeditions-and-adventure/): With crystal clear water, wrecks, coral reefs, manta rays and sharks, Micronesia hasaIn addition to our dive and safari tours, we offer a limited selection of expeditions and adventures. These include Antarctica Dive trips, Trekking to the Everest Base Camp, Trekking in the Nepal Himalayas and Silk Road Discovery tours. People sometimes ask why we offer such an eclectic mixture of tours, and the answer is quite simple. These are adventure tours that we have been asked to run by existing clients. Having been on the Silk Road holiday or on the Antarctic Tour, different members of our team have fallen in love with each of these adventure tours. to be the best place in the world to dive. The only question is where to dive in Micronesia, as there are so many choices.
- [Scuba Diving Tours](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/): We have had a fascination with Scuba Diving since our childhoods. This fascination led Raf Jah to learn to dive at 21, become a dive instructor at 23 and start his own recreational dive centre at 25. He was the pioneer of diving in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India, finding new dive sites every day. At the age of 28, he moved his dive centre “lock stock and barrel” to Pemba Island in Tanzania. Here he opened Swahili Divers on Pemba Island and The Old Mission Lodge Dive Hotel in Chake Chake.
- [African Wildlife Safaris](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/): Whether you're a seasoned explorer or a first-time adventurer, our destinations are selected to ensure an unforgettable experience tailored to your interests. Get ready to witness the magic of the wild up close and create memories that will last a lifetime.
- [About Us](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/about-us/): There really is no better combination of education, training, and experience on this magical continent than Farhat and Francisca. Read more about their story below.

## African Wildlife Safaris
- [Uganda](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/uganda-gorilla-trekking/): Uganda Gorilla Trekking permits cost, at the time of writing, $850 per person for standard permit. This gives you a tracker and his escorting ranger, their knowledge of the forest and tracks, the support of the actual tracking team once close to the gorilla family, and your time with the Gorillas. Note that a standard permit gives you 1hour with the gorillas once you are at their site; no longer. A special 'habituation' trekking permit cost, at the time of writing, $1250 per person.
- [Zimbabwe](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/zimbabwe/): Incredible Natural Beauty
- [Victoria Falls](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/zambia/victoria-falls/): David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, is the first recorded explorer to have viewed the falls on 16 November 1855. Livingstone named his sighting in honour of Queen Victoria, but the Sotho language name, Mosi-oa-Tunya—"The Smoke That Thunders"— continues today.
- [South Luangwa National Park](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/zambia/south-luangwa-national-park/): South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, is the southernmost of three national parks in the valley of the Luangwa River and is a world-renowned wildlife haven. South Luangwa National Park is a true wildlife sanctuary and the perfect choice for your Zambia Safari Tour. South Luangwa National Park offers the visitor an inspiring encounter with Southern Africa’s most dense animal population. With its 9.000 plus square kilometres, South Luangwa National Park is located in the low scrubland of eastern Zambia and the borders between the park and the natural ecosystem are blurred. It is a fantastic place to really get into the spirit of Africa.
- [Zambia Safaris](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/zambia/): The warm heart of Africa.
- [Serengeti National Park Safaris](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/tanzania/the-serengeti-national-park/): The Serengeti migration safari is one of the most breath taking wildlife experiences. Each year, over 1.5 million wildebeest, alongside hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, embark on a vast circular journey from the Maasai Mara in Kenya south to the Serengeti. After giving birth, the wildebeest swing north through the western corridor of the Serengeti National Park and back into the Maasai Mara. This epic migration is driven by the search for fresh grazing and water. The animals are effectively following the seasonal rains.
- [Selous Game Reserve Safaris](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/tanzania/the-selous-game-reserve/): The Selous Game Reserve is Africa’s largest protected wildlife sanctuary and the world’s largest protected wet wilderness area. Those two facts alone make the Selous Game Reserve an absolute “must-see” on any Tanzanian Safari holiday. The Selous Game Reserve covers 54,000 square miles, about 6% of Tanzania’s land territory. That means that your safari will be in an area equivalent to the size of Switzerland.
- [Ruaha National Park Safaris](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/tanzania/the-ruaha-national-park/): The Ruaha National Park is the largest National Park in East Africa, let alone Tanzania and is partly why we consider it Tanzania’s best safari. It is made up of hills, the great Ruaha River, and the Usangu wetlands. With very few camps in the park, complete privacy is almost guaranteed. Ruaha’s true beauty is its rolling hills which give stunning views of the surrounding plains and the river.
- [Tarangire National Park](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/tanzania/tarangire-national-park/): Tarangire is a small national park, sometimes overlooked, or rushed through by people on their way to the Serengeti, but this reputation is undeserved. Tarangire is an all-weather park, which has amazing wildlife in both the dry and wet seasons. However, the true golden months of Tarangire National Park are September into October. At the end of the dry season, Tarangire is packed full of animals, seeking the small water that Tarangire holds.
- [Mikumi National Park Safaris](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/tanzania/mikumi-national-park/): Mikumi National Park covers an area of 3,230 square kilometres and is well known for its populations of elephants, giraffes, zebras, elands, kudu, wildebeest, and antelope. A number of huge interconnected water pools have resident families of hippos living in them. We always recommend taking time to sit and watch these amazing creatures frolic and fight, swim, huddle and muddle along with each other all day long. Every now and then a silent crocodile glides into the middle of the hippos to sun itself on the banks.
- [Lake Manyara Safari Safaris](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/tanzania/lake-manyara-national-park/): Lake Manyara National Park is a birders’ paradise with more than 380 species of birds. The park is especially famous for waterfowl and migratory birds. Ornithologists will fall in love with Lake Manyara.
- [Tanzania Safaris](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/tanzania/): Tanzania is home to the Serengeti National Park, the Ruaha National Park and the Selous Game reserve. These are three of the greatest game parks on earth. This means that no matter what time of year you wish to travel, there is somewhere to go in Tanzania. The best Safari Tours in Tanzania are the ones specifically designed for the right park in the right season and according to your wishes.
- [Namibia Safaris](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/namibia/): We suggest the best Namibia safari is a minimum 10 day tour. The highlights on our 10 day tailor made Namibia safari are game drives in Etosha National Park, a tour through the Skeleton Coast National Park to see the shipwrecks and ending at the quaint fishing town of Swakopmund, followed by The Namib-Naukluft National Park while driving down to Sossusvlei. At Sossusvlei you would see the actual Namib Desert itself. The Namib Desert is the oldest desert in the world famous for its’ petrified trees and steep desert dunes. You then return to Windhoek Airport and would be flying out.
- [Botswana](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/african-wildlife-safaris/botswana/): Many luxury Botswana tours end in Chobe National Park. This is so close to Zimbabwe, that adding a luxury Victoria Falls tour is a welcome compliment to your Botswana Luxury Safari. Victoria Falls are the largest waterfall in the world, with an average of 550 cubic metres of water flowing over the edge before dropping 150 metres into the Zambezi River. The Victoria Falls Hotel is one of many premium properties to stay and explore these falls. A three-night Victoria Falls luxury extension gives a historic angle to your luxury African safari adventure.

## Diving Tours
- [Mexico Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/mexico/): The Caribbean has long been famous for its diving, in and around the former British Islands, and Honduras. One of the most overlooked areas of the Caribbean is the Mesoamerican Barrier reef. This stretches from the north of the Yucatan Peninsula, past the island of Cozumel and down to the Honduran Islands.
- [Liveaboard Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/maldives/liveaboard/): The MV Blue Force One is a premium liveaboard dive boat. It takes the Maldives resort concept and transports it around the islands and Atolls. It has a spacious upstairs bar, a large outdoor restaurant and an enormous air-conditioned lounge with comfortable sofas. There are two jacuzzi pools and an enormous “chill out” area. In addition to this, the top sundeck is massive. All of her cabins are large and more reminiscent of hotel rooms with excellent bathrooms than a ship’s cabin.
- [Addu Atoll Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/maldives/addu-atoll/): Addu Atoll is famous for its sharks that inhabit its passages and its manta cleaning station, where Manta Rays come by and peer at divers in 30m visibility. But Addu should be dived for so much more than the sharks and Manta Rays.
- [Egypt Red Sea Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/egypt-red-sea/): In 1990, National Geographic magazine published an article on the Red Sea. Written and photographed by David Doubilet, he had to compress a journey of 1,400 miles into a few pages. When I first read it, I was mesmerised and dreamed of being able to dive the entire Red Sea – a dream that I’ve since been able to realise.
- [Zanzibar Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/tanzania/zanzibar/): The paradise island of Zanzibar is known for spices, long white beaches, historic architecture and cool evening hangouts. With scores of hotels offering every level of comfort, Zanzibar tours are world-famous. What is less well-known is that scuba diving in Zanzibar is excellent. Zanzibar has many shallow and easily accessible and quite frankly stunning coral reefs. Beyond the islands of Tumbatu are the deeper dives off Mnemba Atol which offer awesome visibility and marine life. Scuba diving tours in Zanzibar are truly world-class. But as everyone knows, you need to go with a professional dive centre.
- [Pemba Island Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/tanzania/pemba-island/): Diving in Pemba Island is really quite something. It has the most spectacularly healthy reefs in Africa. Pemba Island is a stand alone, world class dive destination. As Gavin Goodhart, Director of Ambrosia Television (UK) said: “I would say that Misali Island and the north of Pemba are easily one of the healthiest 30 reefs in the world.”
- [A Scientists View Of Pemba](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/tanzania/a-scientists-view-of-pemba/): FJ: Dr Erwald, please tell our friends in the diving community: how did you start your career?
- [Tanzania Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/tanzania/): Tanzania is without a doubt a global dive destination. It has an Indian Ocean coastline that is literally packed with fish, and bordered by a fringing reef. Where there are Islands such as Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba, the marine life becomes even more prolific, and the reefs and deep walls are even more adventurous.
- [St Helena Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/st-helena/): There are no two ways about it, St Helena is incredible and so are our St Helena scuba diving tours. For many years St Helena Island was an inaccessible rock in the South Atlantic Ocean. It was so hard to get to, that it was chosen as Napoleon’s prison island. The British kept quite a few people on the island including Boer Prisoners of war. But this remoteness ended when Spider Hill Aerodrome opened the island to the world. The world has to come through Johannesburg, but once a week a jet aircraft lands at St Helena.
- [Walindi Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/new-guinea/walindi/): There is little doubt that the scuba diving in Kimbe Bay is some of the best tropical diving on earth. We will go out on a limb here and say that diving in the Witu Islands, the Fathers Reefs and Kimbe Bay are probably the best tropical dives in the World. New Guinea (PNG) is a must visit dive destination for every certified diver. Diving tours in New Guinea (PNG) are surprisingly good value.
- [Tufi Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/new-guinea/tufi/): Stunning, untouched, full of life, full of surprises and clearly very rarely visited – that best sums up the diving off Tufi. Reefs rise up from hundreds of metres of depth and some break the surface. There are always sharks and always pelagics.  Some of these outer reefs have strong currents. The dive boat is covered and offers comfortable rides to and from these sites, and some are up to 45 minutes away. The crew of the Tufi Resort knows them well. Besides the obvious known reefs there are so many sites to explore under the guidance of the professional Tufi Dive Team, that you simply cannot go wrong. Diving in Tufi is an essential addition to a PNG dive holiday.
- [Mv Febrina Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/new-guinea/mv-febrina/): MV FeBrina is on the only live aboard in Papua New Guinea. Under the command of Alan Raabe the owner/skipper, the vessel plies the waters from Walindi Resort in Kimbe Bay to the Witus and other locations. She is one of the most famous dive vessels in PNG. The quality of diving experienced on the MV FeBrina is shown by the high number of bookings and the sheer number of repeat customers.
- [Lissenung Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/new-guinea/lissenung/): Lissenung Island Resort is unique, it is one of the northern most dive locations in Papua New Guinea, and firmly under the Imperial Japanese Navy WW2 air supply route. Everything had to go from Rabaul to Kavieng, the aircraft was refuelled and then made the perilous hop 500nm north to the base of Truck Lagoon. Towards the end of the war, the US Airforce and US Navy harrassed the Japanese, shooting down many aircraft, sinking destroyers and bombing Kavieng Airbase numerous times.
- [New Guinea Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/new-guinea/): New Guinea is home to the world’s fourth largest surface area of coral reef ecosystem (40,000 km2 of reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves in 250,000 km2 of seas). The underwater diversity is quite something. and It has 2500 species of fish, corals, and molluscs. There are so many dive sites that we don’t know about. Only recently our former divemaster, Rebbecca Mayoll found a Mitsubishi Zero in 18metres of water. Yes she really found a WW2 aircraft by herself. The best aspect of Papua New Guinea Dive holidays is the simple fact that the dive centres are so far apart. This means that while your dive PNG there is only ever one boat at any dive site.
- [Yap Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/micronesia/yap/): Think Sharks and Giant Manta Rays swirling around you. Imagine steep walls and caves where you are at 30 metres (100ft) and you can go down to 60m (200ft) and along the wall for 50 metres (160ft). Imagine tiny creatures and vibrant reefs full of fish, and all of this on a tiny island with a great hotel, friendly people and an international airport. This is the world of Yap.
- [Yap Tales Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/micronesia/yap-tales/): “I remember that there was a plane here” says Colin “A zero”
- [Truuk Lagoon Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/micronesia/truk-lagoon-diving/): Truk Lagoon is one of the most significant wreck diving destinations in the world, shaped by its wartime history. The wrecks were created during Operation Hailstone, a major World War II attack by the United States Navy on 17–18 February 1944. Truk Lagoon was the main base for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Pacific, serving as a key logistics and operations hub. It housed a large fleet of warships, merchant vessels, submarines, and support ships, along with a well-defended airfield and shore-based facilities. The Japanese fleet stationed there included cruisers, destroyers, aircraft carriers, and cargo ships loaded with military supplies.
- [Palau Scuba Diving](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/diving-tours/micronesia/palau/): The Republic of Palau is one of the most impressive dive destinations on earth. Palau Island scuba diving holidays provide a combination of world class reefs, mind blowing marine life and 30 discovered diveable wrecks from the last world war. If you have not been to Palau and you dive, you need to plan your visit now, Palau scuba packages has some of the finest dive sites on earth.

## Expeditions And Adventure
- [South India Tours](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/expeditions-and-adventure/india/south-india/): Charminar (Hyderabad) One of the most iconic landmarks in Hyderabad, Charminar, built in 1591, is a grand monument and mosque. Its four arches support towering minarets, and it stands as a symbol of the city's history and cultural heritage.
- [North India Tours](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/expeditions-and-adventure/india/north-india/): Embarking on a cultural tour of North India offers an intriguing expedition into the region's abundant heritage, history, and diverse cultural tapestry. The historical narrative of North India unfolds from ancient times, showcasing early civilizations along the Indus Valley. Significant kingdoms and empires, including the Maurya and Gupta Empires, have left an indelible mark on the region's history.
- [India Safaris](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/expeditions-and-adventure/india/): India stands as a global beacon for its extraordinary biodiversity, showcasing a mosaic of ecosystems that provide a nurturing environment for an extensive array of wildlife. The country's diverse topography, spanning from the towering peaks of the Himalayas to expansive coastal regions and lush forests, forms a rich tapestry of habitats supporting a diverse range of flora and fauna. This natural abundance has led to the creation of numerous wildlife destinations across the nation.
- [Trek Himalayas](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/expeditions-and-adventure/trek-himalayas/): We offer The Everest Base Camp trek as being one of the most popular. However, our favourite is the Gokyo Rii Trek which goes over the Renjo La, into the Thame valley. There are three valleys in the Solo Khumbu Region. The Thame Valley, the Gokyo Valley and the Everest Valley. The most exciting trek is the three-passes trek. This starts in Lukla and goes up the Everest valley. It then crosses over the Kongma La the Cho La and the Renjo La. You then descend down the Thame valley.
- [Falkland Islands Cruise Tours](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/expeditions-and-adventure/south-georgia-falklands/): South Georgia is a unique island in the South Atlantic Ocean. South Georgia is host to wildlife scenes that are only seen on BBC wildlife programmes, yet there is so much more to this unique set of islands. The only way to explore South Georgia is on a dedicated cruise vessel. Our South Georgia island cruise tours give you two options. Most South Georgia cruises allow you 4 days of landings. But once a year, Oceanwide Expeditions offers a Falkland Islands & South Georgia cruise, which gives you 10 days of landings at various locations around South Georgia. Daily activities include easy hikes, visits to cultural or historic sites, kayaking or scuba diving. The standard South Georgia adventure cruise gives you ample time to experience the magnificent and pristine scenery and then continue on to Antarctica. But if wildlife is your thing, then the longer annual South Georgia cruise tour is a must. When it comes to wildlife, you will simply be blown away by the wildlife encounters that take place on a remote beach in South Georgia. The highly professional on-board expedition team take great care in planning every landing. Each one could be a standalone South Georgia Island Tour experience. And if you fancy stretching your legs, you can go on walking tours with the team when the weather allows.
- [Sepik River Tours](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/expeditions-and-adventure/sepik-river/): The sepik river is one of the world’s greatest rivers. At 1200 KM long, it is of similar size as the Amazon and the Nile – making it one of the largest rivers on this earth. It can be expected that a water system like this has so many secrets and stories to tell. It is visited by very few people every year and can only truly be discovered by travelling on a boat – a small dug out canoe, with a outboard engine attached!
- [Central Asia Tours](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/expeditions-and-adventure/central-asia/): There is nothing quite an Antarctica Cruise. We won’t beat about the bush, an Antarctica adventure is on the bucket list of every traveller. Tours to Antarctica take in soStarting in Western China and ending in the central Anatolian plateau, Central Asia is a place of snow-capped mountains, endless rolling steppe, and vestiges of a nomadic Islamic culture that is steeped in history. Once fought over during the great game, the large powers still vie for influence in this oil and heritage-rich region.
- [Luxury Antarctica Cruises](https://www.orientafricatravel.com/expeditions-and-adventure/antarctica/): There is nothing quite an Antarctica Cruise. We won’t beat about the bush, an Antarctica adventure is on the bucket list of every traveller. Tours to Antarctica take in some of the most dramatic scenery, wildlife and adventure. Whether it be an Antarctica expedition cruise or a premium luxury Antarctica cruise, there is no better way to see the 7th continent than from a dedicated ice-strengthened but supremely comfortable polar expedition vessel. You may ask, “what can I expect on my Antarctica tour?”