The term “safari,” which comes from the Swahili for “journey,” is now used to describe ecotourism experiences beyond those in Africa. When English speakers adopted the term, it originally referred to bush hunting trips; as those waned in popularity over the 20th century, “safari” became less associated with hunting, and more associated with what professionals today refer to as photographic safaris. We now see the term “safari” apply to ecotourism experiences like tiger safari in the jungles of Ranthambore, India; puma safari in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park; polar bear safari in sub-arctic Canada. And while I haven’t yet heard any Massachusetts locals explicitly use the term yet, I would like to proclaim here and now: a shark safari in the waters off Cape Cod—which is estimated to have the highest density of white sharks in the world—should now be counted on that list.
Great journeys – as chosen by you
21.07.2023 - 08:13 / roughguides.com
Whether you love travelling by planes, trains or automobiles, we all have fond memories of at least one particular journey from our travels. We asked you to tell us the best journeys you’ve ever completed, so here are a few of your rather impressive adventures. Intrepid traveller @ukirsariabroad took an overnight bus from Manali to Leh in India, a beautiful mountainous journey through the stunning Ladakh Range.
Lamayuru monastery in Ladakh, India © Checco2/Shutterstock
An incredible continent no matter how you travel, South America is as diverse as it gets. Lucky Lynne Roberts (@oops_herewego on Twitter) cycled across the continent, as well as Central America and southeast Asia, for two years with her husband.
© aaabbbccc/Shutterstock
There may be no better way to experience the Amazon than by floating down its waters, surrounded by mysterious jungles on each side. Our Twitter follower @nphorton spent four days on an Amazon riverboat, «sleeping in hammocks and watching storms».
Travelling by boat into depth Amazon jungle © Foto593/Shutterstock
Certainly not the fastest way to traverse the Gobi Desert, but probably one of the bravest. We’re rather impressed by Twitter follower @FarazShibli’s 1600km trek across this vast Mongolian landscape.
Gobi desert snow winter Mongolia © RethaAretha/Shutterstock
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Sitting 80km off the Nicaraguan coast, it’s a long, three-day sail across the Caribbean Sea to the idyllic Corn Islands. Rough Guides reader Bee Barker shared her sea-faring journey with a boat full of pigs – most likely made worth it by the sight of bright, white sand beaches upon approaching the islands.
Beautiful caribbean Corn island in Nicaragua © Travel With Passion/Shutterstock
It takes a certain level of fearlessness (or perhaps it’s stupidity) to brave the Vietnamese roads on a moped: around 14,000 die each year as a result of traffic collisions. However, a few of our followers have taken to the tarmac on two wheels for the most exhilarating journey of their lives – and lived to tell the tale.
© Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock
There are so many routes you can choose to travel from Vegas to the Big Apple, taking in Monument Valley in Arizona, the snow-topped mountains of Utah, or the urban jungle of Chicago. Rough Guides reader Josephine Turner said it was one of the best journeys she’s ever taken, and gave this advice: «Lesson learned: if stopped by police don't get out of car!» It sounds like there’s a story to tell there…
Las Vegas evening © Shutterstock
As @allyrambles said on Twitter: «Eight hours on a train trundling up into Sri Lanka’s tea plantations is pretty special!» There is no better way to escape the humid city of Colombo than taking this train up to Kandy or Nuwara Eliya in Sri
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Just Closed This Scenic Road Due to Bear Activity — What to Know
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has closed a park road due to bear activity during a time when the animals are foraging for food.
Simple pleasures: great getaways on the Isle of Wight
If picturesque cycling, coastal walks and simple seaside pleasures float your boat, make the Isle of Wight your first port of call. Home to Queen Victoria’s summer retreat, Osborne House, the island has 20 beaches and a series of unspoilt coves. A network of cycle and walking trails covers 17 miles of coastline and countryside. Famous for the Cowes sailing regatta in July and August, the 147-square-mile island also offers every water sport going, from kayak surfing and windsurfing to paddle-boarding and parasailing.
8 incredible train journeys in South India
Riding the rails is one of the greatest joys of any India adventure, whether you’re trundling high up into the hills aboard a Unesco-listed miniature train or clattering along the sun-drenched, coast-hugging Konkan Railway.
Where To Get Great Pizza In Tokyo
When you think of a culinary-fuelled trip in Tokyo, what comes to mind? Sushi from Masuda? Ramen from Fu-unji? Maybe. And while we don’t recommend skipping the classics, it’s your moral imperative to make some space for a new wave of Japanese fare: Neapolitan-style pizza.
Problem or Solution: Which Kind of Driver Are You?
Planning a road trip this summer? For the sake of safety and peace of mind, your own and others’, add this to the pre-departure to-do list: a review of your driving habits. After all, while there’s nothing you can do to change other drivers’ bad habits, you are at least in control of your own.
JetBlue Sees Europe ‘as a Great Opportunity’
JetBlue today announced an amendment to its existing purchase agreement with Airbus to increase the number of Mint-configured A321s, and add the option to acquire A321LRs (“LR” for long range) beginning in 2019.
Win a 6-Day ‘Downton Abbey’ Tour for 2 to Great Britain
Enter the WGBH “Downton Abbey” sweepstakes by March 15, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a six-day trip for two to Great Britain, including air, hotel, some meals, rail passes, and tours of Downton Abbey filming sites.
5 Great Trips for Solo Travelers
The travel industry obviously doesn’t like true solo travelers much: Almost all tours and cruises are priced on a “per person, double occupancy” basis, and most hotels charge the same rate for either one or two people. If, as a singles traveler, you just want to avoid a stiff single supplement, the industry often promises to find someone to share with you so you can, in effect, travel at the couples price. But if you really want to travel solo, your options are limited.
G Adventures Launches New National Geographic Family Journeys Trips
Looking for the ultimate family-bonding trip? Check out G Adventures’ brand new Family Journeys, designed for multi-generational travelers.
Summer camp is touted as the great all-American childhood experience. I hated every minute of it.
Before I went to sleepaway camp, my dad said my life was about to change forever. The oldest of five boys, summer camp temporarily granted him only child status and freed him of his bad reputation at Catholic school.
The Great American West and coronavirus: a conversation with Kim Paulson
The Great American West is as great as its name implies. The region – covering North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho – is big-sky country, characterized by epic landscapes from the towering Rocky Mountains to the tumbleweed Great Plains. You’ll find fifteen national parks and monuments here, ripe for exploring. But how has the area experienced coronavirus, and how is it opening up? We chatted with The Great American West PR and Communications Manager Kim Paulson to learn more.