Dear Friends,

In this month's newsletter, we travel from Sossusvlei to the Skeleton Coast in our newest Namibia trip inspiration and head to Vietnam for a family adventure built for every age. We also hear from Consultant Jenny Mikkelson and Travel Producer Lauren Odens about a safari they took together, a first for one of them and a homecoming for the other, and Travel Associate Elle Kyllo shares her guide to shopping in Cape Town.

Craig Beal

Owner/Operator

Namibia is a study in diversity: vast red dunes, wide-open deserts and a wild, rugged coastline. It’s one of Africa’s most striking landscapes, and one of its least crowded. Our newest trip inspiration, Desert and Coast in Namibia, offers a glimpse into what a trip to Namibia could look like for you.

Spend fifteen days traveling through Namibia, beginning at Sossusvlei, where you will see the Sossusvlei and Deadvlei pans at sunrise and explore by quad bike. From there, fly along the Atlantic coastline to Damaraland for three nights of safari activities and a visit to the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein. Continue to the Hoanib River, then on to the Skeleton Coast for dune boarding and coastal exploring. Conclude with three nights in the Ongava Private Game Reserve, where safari activities and time in the photographic hide round out the trip.

Africa doesn’t play favorites between the first trip and the thirtieth. It gives first-timers a rush of experiences they’ll spend years trying to describe, and it gives returning travelers something else: the gift of knowing a place well and the joy of sharing it with others.

On our blog, Consultant Jenny Mikkelson and Travel Producer Lauren Odens describe their safari together through Southern Africa. One of them was seeing Africa for the first time while the other had been returning for thirty years.

Welcome back to another edition of What in the World!

Where does the name Namibia come from?

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The range of landscapes and activities in Vietnam makes it a natural fit for families. Ride through Hanoi in a vintage jeep, hike in Vietnam's oldest national park, sail Ha Long Bay by private junk boat, and complete a scavenger hunt through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City before finishing on a Phu Quoc beach. Vietnam Family Adventure has something for every age!

“Vietnam is one of my favorite recommendations for families, and it works especially well over the holiday season. It’s someplace I can send a whole family (teenagers included) and know everyone will be happy. If you haven’t made your holiday plans yet, don't worry; there’s still time to put something together!” - Dianna Upton, Product Manager, Southeast Asia

Cape Town shopping is the kind where you come away with something meaningful: a print from a local artist, a jar of fynbos honey, or a piece of wire art that becomes the first thing people ask about when they visit. Travel Associate Elle Kyllo's latest blog covers everything you need to know about shopping in Cape Town, including where to go and whether you'll need cash on hand.

Photo Credits:

• Header photo: Little Kulala
• Namibia Trip Inspiration photo: Little Kulala

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