MY HUSBAND AND I ARE LOOKING TO SPEND ABOUT TWO WEEKS IN AFRICA AND UNDERTAKE A SAFARI. WE'RE NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN SOUTH AFRICA OR VICTORIA FALLS, MORE IN THE ANIMALS AND THE COUNTRY. ANY ADVICE ON WHERE TO GO AND WHO TO CONTACT?
M. BAKER, LENNOX HEAD
My favourite part of southern Africa for wildlife is the Okavango Delta, one of Africa's wildlife treasures, a vast freshwater wetland that covers most of northern Botswana. Every year the delta swells to a giant wetland as waters rage down from the Angolan highlands, the pulse that sustains a complete ecosystem. Elephant, crocodile and hippo are common, and impala, wildebeest, zebra and giraffe can often be seen without even leaving your camp. There are other African game parks, such as Tanzania's Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, that offer more lion, leopard and cheetah and bigger herds of antelope. However, they also offer greater concentrations of game watchers. When you find your lion in the Okavango Delta, yours will probably be the only vehicle on the scene.
Most of the accommodation in the delta consists of tented safari camps with crisp linen on the bed, a daily laundry service, an en-suite bathroom with hot water, fine food and a well-stocked bar. Some camps feature swimming pools. Most accommodate only a limited number of guests, which maintains a low ratio of visitors to wildlife, and a low impact on the environment.
These camps do not come cheap but the experience is five star. Sydney-based Classic Safari Company classicsafaricompany.com.au and Bench International benchinternational.com.au are two operators with a range of experiences in Botswana, and the rest of Africa.
MY WIFE AND I ARE PLANNING A CRUISE FROM VENICE IN OCTOBER. FLYING INTO MILAN AND SPENDING A FEW DAYS EXPLORING THE ITALIAN LAKES. WE'RE INTERESTED IN THE COMBINED RAIL/FERRY DAY TOUR ON THE MAGGIORE EXPRESS AS WELL AS THE BERNINA EXPRESS DAY TOUR FROM MILAN TO ST MORITZ VIA LAKE COMO. OUR MAIN INTERESTS ARE LAKE AND MOUNTAIN SCENERY RATHER THAN WALKING. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND ONE OVER THE OTHER, PARTICULARLY AS THE BERNINA EXPRESS SEEMS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EXPENSIVE?
A. DE KLERK, THORNLEIGH
I'd be taking the Lake Maggiore Express, and not just because it's cheaper. First reason, if you want to see the Italian Lakes then the cruise on Lake Maggiore will have your camera trigger finger working overtime. Second, it's a loop trip. If you take the Bernina Express in the direction you propose you would need to get back to Italy from Chur or St Moritz and that means most probably taking the same Bernina Express back the way you came. Reason three, the southern leg of the Bernina Express is a bus trip from Tirano to Lugano. This is a three-hour journey, some of it along the northern shoreline of Lake Como, and it's not possible to get from Lugano to Chur/St Moritz and back in a single day. Getting there from Milan is longer still. Another reason, you can hop off the Lake Maggiore ferry and poke around in the Borromean Islands, and Isola Bella in particular is worth a lingering look.
Rather than the one-day trip on the Lake Maggiore Express I'd be taking the two-day option at just a slightly higher price, with an overnight stop in Locarno or better yet, gorgeous little Ascona, both in Switzerland at the northern end of the lake. Next morning, board the narrow gauge rail at Locarno for the spectacular journey through the mountains to Domodossola.
The Bernina Express is a truly wondrous rail trip, unrivalled in Switzerland with the possible exception of the Glacier Express, but the Lake Maggiore Express is a better fit for your plans.
MY WIFE AND I WILL BE IN MONTREAL FOR CHRISTMAS AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND ACTIVITIES BESIDES SHOPPING. WE'RE THINKING OF CATCHING TRAINS TO OTTAWA AND QUEBEC FOR A FEW DAYS EACH. ANY ADVICE APPRECIATED, BUT WE DON'T SKI.
G. WRIGHT, FAIRLIGHT
You can virtually guarantee a white Christmas, and there is much else to like about Montreal in December. It's about as close as you'll come to a European Christmas on the left side of the Atlantic and there's plenty happening in the lead up to Christmas, from the festival of lights in the Downtown area to the free concerts in the Museum of Fine Art to the Parc des Compagnons' Christmas in the Park festival to ice skating in the Old Port's Bonsecours Basin and the Olympic Stadium.
Quebec City is a must, this is the jewel in the crown of French Canada with a gorgeous Old Town at its heart, virtually an open air museum of 17th and 18th century architecture.
As the country's capital, Ottawa is a repository for culture and the arts, with the Museum of Civilization and the Museum of Nature as just two of the standouts and you can't miss the Parliament buildings, like something out of a gothic fairytale. If you've mastered the tricky art of ice skating, the frozen Rideau Canal is the largest skating rink in the world, used by many to commute to work or school.
With three weeks in hand you could easily include a few days in New York City. Post Christmas would be my choice, in time for the sales.
CONVERSATION OVER TO YOU …
The question was "Animals in the wild give us some of our greatest travel memories. Got one to share?"
From I. Gillespie, "On a small vessel cruising the Galapagos Islands we visited Bartolome Island and I snorkelled around Pinnacle Rock. Underneath me, so close I could have touched it with my outstretched hand, swam a giant manta ray. Friends who saw told me that they only hoped I would not freak out. I would have, if I'd seen the shark that followed the ray."
From P. Thomas, "We toured Yellowstone National Park in winter a few years ago on snowmobiles with bison trudging through heavy snow within metres of us, moose, eagles, otters, swans and cygnets, ermines, foxes, all against a backdrop of silver trees, obsidian cliffs and steaming geysers. Awesome."
E. Slap writes "I just came back from India and Sri Lanka and my fondest memory is the elephant orphanage. At bath time they leave the orphanage, cross the road and walk along a street full of shops and pedestrians. I walked down to the river and one of the handlers called me to come and pat the elephants and it was the most incredible experience to touch them and look them in the eyes."
From L. Williams, "My friend Margaret and I were heading to breakfast at Canada's Fairmont Whistler when a fellow traveller said she had seen a bear outside. We went looking for a while with no luck but when we walked back up near the chairlift and found ourselves walking alongside a black bear about two metres away. The other lady and I slowly backed away but Margaret stayed to get a photo. The chairlift lady and I were both yelling to Margaret to back away. She got her photo – a bit blurry."
Next question: Bali has finally extended visa-free entry to Australian passport holders. Does this make it more likely you'll visit the Island of the Gods?
Send response to tripologist@fairfaxmedia.com.au. The best response will win a Lonely Planet guidebook.
SEND US YOUR TRAVEL QUESTIONS
Include your name and your suburb or town and send it to tripologist@fairfaxmedia.com.au All published questions will win a Lonely Planet guidebook.
