Wildlife and Nature Travel: Great offers and new trip reports!

June 21st greeted us as the longest day of the year, and now we are officially halfway through 2010. Although the days will start to grow shorter by a few minutes each day, the year is not over at all and some of the most exciting and unique WANT Expeditions of 2010 are yet to come! In this newsletter, you can read about the smashing success of our most recent classic East Africa photo safari and Uganda Mountain Gorilla extension, led by tour guide Ferenc Kis, as well as how you can save "Big" on our 'Big 5 of India Safari' in October. We'll also fill you in on the exciting cultural experiences awaiting you in Jordan, and why you should make sure you don't miss 'Midway Atoll-The Ultimate Albatross Paradise.' 2010 1. June's East Africa Photo Safari and Uganda Mountain Gorilla Extension - raving reviews 2. Jordan - visit a Bedouin camp, drink sage tea with the locals, and see crusader castles 3. Drop in Euro allows you to save "Big" on our 'Big 5 of India Safari' 4. See a Short-tailed Albatross - one of the world's rarest sea birds, along with major battle sites on Midway 2011 1. Japan Winter Safari - early booking discount 2. Yellowstone NP Winter Safari - only two spaces available 3. Baja California Wildlife Safari - early booking discount extended 4. Harp Seal Pups Expedition - three spaces open 5. Mali and Burkina Faso Expedition - open for booking! 6. Galapagos Islands Yacht Cruise - room for one single lady traveler! 7. Alaska Wildlife Safari - early booking discount 8. Madagascar - early booking discount JUNE'S EAST AFRICA SAFARI; UGANDA MOUNTAIN GORILLAS RECAP & RAVING REVIEWS By Ferenc Kis Guests of the 2010 East Africa Photo Safari and Uganda Mountain Gorilla extension, returned home safe and sound, packed with several once-in-a-lifetime experiences in their hearts, and thousands of images on their hard-drives. Luck was on our side in Bwindi Impenetrable forest, as the gentle giants that appear from the mists were less than a 30 minute hike each day from our starting point, and continued to sit and forage in front of us, as though that had been waiting for us to join them for tea. As one guest stated... "...both Birgit and myself got ‘blessed’ by two Gorillas wanting to be in touch with us ..... what an experience!!!" In East Africa, over 70 bird and 26 mammal species crossed the focal points of our lenses, while 31 lions and 5 cheetahs kept us on our toes during the early morning drives, together with Leopards and other exciting species. Still, the most exciting moment of the safari was our encounter with hundreds of thousands of migrating wildebeest and zebra - before we could even see them, the rumbling of their groaning could be heard traveling across the plains. We could feel the trembling of the ground quaking from their massive movements, and their smells rising up from the earth greeted us as we approached ever closer! Little dots in the distance we first assumed to be bushes soon transformed to be more animals than we could imagine, until finally, even the most avid photographer put his lens cap on, and just sat back to take in this incredible spectacle! Joe B. (Alexandria, United States) - East Africa 2010 "I am writing to convey to you our thanks and appreciation for a wonderful experience on this safari. The group dynamics were great and we all very much enjoyed each others' company. Ferenc was an absolutely terrific tour leader. His warm and jovial personality kept us in good humor throughout the safari. He did a marvelous job in coordinating our schedule and accommodations and making sure all of our needs were satisfied. Truly an outstanding job." OUR 2011 EAST AFRICA SAFARI IS OPEN FOR BOOKING! (Jan 25 - Feb 05) JORDAN - VISIT BEDOUIN CAMPS, DRINK SAGE TEA, TRAVEL BY CAMEL BACK Jordan is a beautiful, welcoming country full of wondrous cultural spectacles and astounding ancient architecture. In late October 2010, we will guide you through this amazing country. Not only will we visit well-known places like Petra and the Dead Sea, but we will also venture out into the desert to spend an unforgettable night with traditional Bedouin peoples who will invite us to gather around their fire and share a glass of "Bedouin Whiskey" - syrupy sweet, hot, sage tea, followed by a traditional dinner. The people of Jordan are some of the most welcoming in the world, and the beautiful sights makes this an unparalleled cultural journey. Click here for more information on this itinerary and to sign up. DROP IN THE EURO ALLOWS  YOU TO SAVE BIG ON SELECT 2010 AND 2011 TRIPS Due to their locale, some of our trip's prices are in Euro, and right now there is  a great opportunity for you to take advantage of serious savings! Pay for your trip to Kamchatcka, Greenland, Madagascar and more in full, and save up to $1000 USD per person. Currency fluctuations have also adjusted the price or our 'Big 5 of Africa' safari. Click here to email us for more details. SEE A SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS ALONG WITH MAJOR BATTLE SITES ON MIDWAY ATOLL Up until the mid 1800's Midway Atoll remained uninhabited, except for an occasional traditional fisherman visiting its rich protected waters. Since that time, untold military battles have been fought on this strategic island, and its rare and endemic wildlife has been subject to untold human impacts. Amazingly, with all of the ecological upheaval, Midway's wildlife persevered, and just over 100 years after its annexation by the U.S. government, Midway Atoll was declared a National Wildlife Refuge. Midway opened up to study/ecotourism for a short six years from 1996-2002, then closed from 2002-2008. Fortunately, for us, this 'Ultimate Albatross Paradise' has reopened, and WANT Expeditions is one of the lucky few who managed to obtain a visitors permit. A trip to this incredible place is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and a serious accomplishment for any person. No one knows how long this protected place will remain open to the public, but one thing is certain, if you are even slightly considering this destination, click here so you don't miss your chance! JAPAN EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNTTime is slipping away, but don't forget, you still have two more weeks to take advantage of our Japan Winter Safari early booking discount. Click here to sign up today! ONLY TWO SPACES FOR YELLOWSTONE As with many of our trips, our Yellowstone NP Winter Safari almost entirely sold out within a few days of its listing. Only two spaces remain, click here to be the first to grab these last two spots. BAJA CALIFORNIA - THE Missing the sea air blowing on your face, and the excitement and anticipation of a majestic whale breaching just meters from your vessel? Click here and don't miss the early booking discount for WANT Expeditions' Baja California Wildlife Safari! BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD FOR WHALE WATCHING! ONLY THREE SPACES LEFT TO SEE HARP SEAL PUPS Nothing will melt your heart like the unbearable cuteness of a Harp Seal pup on sea ice. These adorable, plump little creatures await you in all their fuzzy, furry, fat glory, while their mother's have gone in search of food. We only have three spaces open,click here to sign up. FROM HERE TO TIMBUKTU Ready to venture to ancient forgotten lands? Does the city of Timbuktu rhythmically call to you in your sleep? Then, Wildlife and Nature Travel's Mali and Burkina Faso Expedition is just for you! Now open for booking. Click here for the full itinerary and to sign up. GALAPAGOS - DARWIN'S PARADISE This trip speaks for itself, but if your idea of a good time has something to do with swimming in warm waters with Sea Lions and Penguins, then venturing onto dry lands to observe the world's largest tortoise species, and gorgeous sunsets on a gently rocking vessel, then don't miss Galapagos Islands Yacht Cruise 2011. Are you a single lady traveler? Then click here, we have room for just you! ALASKA BY SEA AND LAND Just like our Yellowstone NP safari, spaces on WANT's Alaska Wildlife Safari are certain not to last, sign up today and receive an early booking discount on this unmissable North American destination! LAND OF THE LEMURS Madagascar - no doubt, one of our favorite destinations! Again, thanks to currency fluctuations, we can offer a 100 Euro early booking discount until July 31st. Click here to sign up for 2011! Looking forward to traveling with you, Akos Hivekovics & Jessica Pociask managing directors WANT Expeditions - Wildlife and Nature Travel Inc. www.wantexpeditions.com