LUX September 2017

LUX - September 2017 19 RainbowTours Goes Worldwide, Launching WildlifeHolidays to India, Borneo, Sri Lanka andCanada Contents include: • A guide to the wildlife and landscapes visitors can expect in different African countries, along with the different types of safari available (hot air balloon, walking, horseback etc.) • A safari calendar outlining where to travel when and why • Information on finding Africa’s big five; experiencing the Great Migration; and Africa’s top five alternative wildlife encounters - lemurs, Abyssinian wolves, gorillas, chimpanzees and humpback whales • A guide to India’s ‘big five’ and Borneo’s orang-utan hotpots • Information on wildlife in the Americas such as the jaguar, the tapir, the resplendent quetzal, the blue-footed booby, sea turtles, penguins, killer whales, spirit bears and grizzly bears amongst other species • Editorial features by travel writer Ben Lerwill on Sri Lanka, Wanderlust editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes on the Galapagos and an extract about Kenya from Big Cat Man Jonathan Scott’s book Sacred Nature • Inspiration for twin-centre trips, celebrations and family holidays • As a pioneer in responsible tourism, the guide also looks at projects Rainbow Tours supports in various countries and lists its top five trips where travellers can see responsible tourism in action The Safari and Wildlife guide is available to view in digital format on the Rainbow Tours website here. Travellers, media and travel agents can also have printed copies at www.rainbowtours.co.uk/brochure. Tailor-made tour operator Rainbow Tours (www.rainbowtours.co.uk) has expanded operations beyond its core destinations of Africa and Latin America for the first time, introducing itineraries in four new countries - India, Borneo, Sri Lanka and Canada. New countries Aside from a few group tours in selected destinations, trips offered by Rainbow Tours are tailor-made to the requirements of the individual traveller. The following is a selection of suggested itineraries in the new countries now available to book through the tour operator. India Wildlife lovers may be lured to India in the hope of spotting tigers, but rhino, elephant swamp deer, leopards, sloth bears and wild buffalo are just some of the other species they might also encounter. Amongst the suggested itineraries in India are India Wildlife Experience: Pench & Satpura, a 12-day trip costing from £3,295 per person which explores Pench - the original inspiration for The Jungle Book – and Satpura National Park, one of India’s lesser known reserves. India River Cruise is a 12-day trip costing from £2,995 per person, meandering down the Brahmaputra River, stopping at some of Assam’s best wildlife reserves and parks. For the full range of India trips, see www.rainbowtours.co.uk/country/india-holidays Borneo Borneo is incredibly rich in biodiversity. The island is estimated to be home to over 200 species of mammal, over 400 types of bird, 100 varieties of amphibians and almost 400 types of fish, many endemic to Borneo. Borneo’s famous Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre is likely to be a stop for most visitors, who can learn about the work being done to rehabilitate orphaned and injured orang-utans before returning them to the wild. The Really Wild Tour Sakau and Danum Valley begins with a visit to Sepilok, before moving on to the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary; the Danum Valley where visitors will take a night drive in search of nocturnal species; and Tabin Wildlife Reserve, which offers the chance to learn about the traditional uses of jungle herbs and take an early morning bird walk. This eight-day trip costs from £2,895 per person. For more suggested Borneo itineraries, see www.rainbowtours.co.uk/country/borneo-holidays/ Sri Lanka Wildlife holidays to Sri Lanka are richly rewarding – this tear-drop shaped island is home to animals including whales, crocodiles, leopards, monkeys, bears, elephants and a huge variety of birdlife. Off the Beaten Track Sri Lanka: Wildlife and Beach Tour is an 11-day trip taking in Gal Oya National Park, Yala National Park and the beautiful beaches of Tangalle. As well as enjoying the resident wildlife, this tour includes the chance to learn about the culture of the indigenous Vedda people on a discovery walk with their chief. This trip starts from £4,199 per person. For more on Sri Lanka, see www.rainbowtours.co.uk/country/sri-lanka-holidays/ Canada Canada’s most popular wildlife experiences include subarctic adventures to see polar bears, arctic hares and foxes in their natural habitat; encounters with elk, wolves and bears in the Canadian Rockies; and enjoying marine life such as Orca and Grey whales. Rainbow Tours’ options in Canada include Spirit Bears of British Columbia, going in search of the world’s only white-coloured back bears in the Great Bear Rainforest (from £2,959 per person); and Polar Bears of Manitoba, which visits Churchill, one of the few places inhabited by humans where polar bears can be observed in the wild (from £4,999 per person). For further information on Canada, see www.rainbowtours.co.uk/country/canada-holidays To book any of the trips listed here, contact Rainbow Tours on 020 7666 1266 or see www.rainbowtours.co.uk for more information.