Stephanie Moreland Writes

Cheetah in Namibia ; Photo courtesy of Biosphere Expeditions

For those that have always wanted to take a volunteer vacation to someplace exotic, this is an exciting opportunity. Biosphere Expeditions, an award-winning volunteer wildlife conservation organization is offering two free spots on their Namibia wildlife conservation project, courtesy of its global partner, Land Rover, to qualified winners of this contest.  Volunteers have the opportunity to travel to Africa to work with endangered African cats such as cheetahs, leopards and caracal.

Volunteers get to spend two weeks in the field, working alongside scientists and also helping local communities in one of the world’s most beautiful and remote places. This offers volunteers a unique opportunity to team up with Land Rover and Biosphere Expeditions for a chance to spend two weeks in Namibia. Contestants have to create a 60 second video showing how they “Go Beyond The Everyday”, meaning things that they do differently or unusual ways that they have gone the extra mile.  The content is totally self-generated, but it should be fun and show a passion for making a difference and being a team player. This is the last chance, as the closing date for entries is September 23rd, 2010. For entry details and how the winners are chosen, find out more here.

Volunteers must be prepared for an expedition and tell Biosphere Expeditions about themselves, why they should be selected for an expedition, and what they think they can contribute to the expedition. There are two options for submitting an application. Either send Biosphere Expeditions an essay (max. 300 words) or a video clip (max. 1 minute). Entry is open to anyone 18 years or over. Deadline for entry is November 1, 2010. For full details, visit www.biosphere-expeditions.org/competition-usa .

Photo courtesy of Arizona River Runners

On the ‘bucket lists’ of many travelers, Grand Canyon whitewater rafting trips are widely regarded as a summer family travel destination. But late summer and early fall rafting trips that run from late August through October have a lot to offer travelers who want to escape the summer crowds and shake off the sweltering heat of summer.

Every year approximately 4 million people make the trip to Northern Arizona to view one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon.  Spanning nearly 280 river miles in length, ranging from 10 to 18 miles wide rim to rim and dropping up to a mile deep in places, this is truly an amazing Canyon to view.  Visitors can hike it, bike along the South Rim, ride a mule to Phantom Ranch or enjoy it’s splendor from a scenic helicopter or airplane flight.  Arizona River Runners is one of the commercial river outfitters that truly let you “experience” the Canyon, from the bottom looking up, on amazing whitewater rafting journeys.

Commercial whitewater river rafting trips are available from April through October each year and travelers can choose from 3-day to 13-day adventures. Temperatures are cooler in April, May and October but the majority of rafters experience the Canyon from June through mid-August. The Summer temperatures are equalized by the cool Colorado River water which averages in the mid-50 degree range all year long.  The refreshing spray of the rapids, the largest whitewater in North America, keep body temperatures controlled and excitement levels high.  Travelers also have time to explore some of the many side canyon streams, waterfalls and hidden swimming holes.

Late August and September tend to be less busy than mid-Summer as most families are heading back to school schedules and activities by then, so the timing makes it a bit easier to find available space on trips.  Also, the cooler temperatures may be a bonus for some travelers. Many visitors come to do the Canyon…most are amazed by what the Canyon does to them.  For more information, visit www.raftarizona.com

This incredible new tour is being offered by Journeys Within, a company that specializes in travel to Southeast Asia. Finally, Laos gets its due with this tour, as it’s a destination that is sometimes overlooked by tourists:

This brand new two-week tour to Laos takes travelers on an unforgettable journey through this fascinating country. Journeys Within, which started in 2003 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, has in recent years expanded its offices to include Vietnam, Myanmar, the United States, and Thailand, and this incredible new itinerary celebrates the two year anniversary of the opening of the Journeys Within offices in Laos.

Laos, a country that is often overlooked by tourists or added as an afterthought to a travel itinerary, is a beautiful and peaceful country that will come alive on this journey. This new two week Discover Laos Tourtakes travelers beyond some of Laos’ main tourist stops to see the hidden highlights of this amazing country that tourists often miss. Highlights of the journey include a kayaking adventure through caves in stunning Vang Vieng, cultural interaction with the people that live and work along the mighty Mekong River, experiencing the night market in Luang Prabang, and seeing the mysterious Plain of Jars.

Other highlights of the journey include visiting the colorful local markets while participating in cultural exchange, being part of a sunrise alms ceremony, bicycling through the Laos countryside, and even trying an Ock Pop Tok Weaving Course, and much more. Accommodation in each city will be uniquely Laos with beautiful décor and impeccable service. Tour Pricing: $2,725 per person double.

This unique new tour also commemorates the two year anniversary of Journeys Within’s nonprofit organization, Journeys Within Our Community (JWOC) and their important work in Laos. JWOC’s most recent work in Laos has implemented the same scholarship training programs that they developed at their sister program in Cambodia, provided two new sets of uniforms and a pair of shoes for each of the students at Phik Noy Primary School for the 2009-2010 school year, the implementation of curriculum and students that have successfully completed a year of school, the creation of new reading and drawing classes that enables students to express themselves artistically, providing new bikes for community children, and much more.

Throughout Southeast Asia, JWOC’s important work has enabled almost 100 scholarship students to attend university in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, built three language schools with over 700 attendees, have put in over 400 clean water wells, and given over 200 microloans, and the projects continue to grow, like the innovative community projects in Laos.

For more information, visit www.journeys-within.com

I represent an organization called Biosphere Expeditions, a non-profit organization that offers volunteer wildlife expeditions in locations around the world. In recent years, “Volunteer Vacations” is a term that has hit the mainstream media, but there are only some organizations that “talk the talk” and “walk the walk”. What I mean is that the volunteer expeditions that Biosphere Expeditions organizes are actually making a significant difference—-their purpose is not solely based on the concept of bringing travelers to a foreign land for cultural exchange and volunteer work (although that is one of “selling points” of taking a trip like this). In many places they have worked to secure protected areas of land inhabited by threatened wildlife, played an active part in saving wildlife, and had an impact on important legislation.

Here is just one example of what Biosphere Expeditions is doing to help save the planet (taken from a recent Biosphere Expeditions newsletter):

Biosphere Expeditions has completed baseline research of the coral reefs off the remote and mountainous Musandam peninsula of Oman. This is the first time this area has been surveyed, bordered as it is by massive developments in the United Arab Emirates. This high level of construction is believed to have had a considerable negative impact on the marine environment of the neighbouring area. But the results of the first survey, which have just been released are encouraging. “We discovered corals here that appear to endure extremely hard conditions, and a higher abundance of snappers than in any other part of the region,” said Kathy Wilden from Biosphere Expeditions. “While this is only the beginning, and we will be returning to the area in October 2010, it is a start to building a case at government level for this to be declared a Marine Protected Area.”

To find out more about Biosphere Expeditions or to plan a volunteer vacation, visit www.biosphere-expeditions.org

Image of the Kampala skyline ; photo by Stephanie Moreland

I’d give anything to have 26 hours in a day instead of 24, but it seems like that’s just not a possibility. So, since there are only 24 hours, and I need to sleep and work for part of that, I struggle to find the time to keep this little website up to date. At any rate, my reflections on my amazing trips take my mind off the rain that continues to pour down outside my window and take me back to Uganda, a country that still has a slice of my heart.

After a one-night stop in Dubai that included a really cool night tour of the city lights at night, we flew on to Entebbe where our Volcanoes Safaris guide, Charles, picked us up. The sun was bright above the green trees in Entebbe, but the cool breeze was a welcome change for me—Texas had already begun to boil in May when I left for my trip. We rolled down the windows and drove with our faces sticking out to take in the sights. We headed straight for Kampala, where Volcanoes Safaris African safaris company was hosting us for a few nights.

We spent the next day checking out the bustling capitol city of Kampala. We visited the Kampala Mosque (National Mosque) which was built in 2006. This beautiful place of worship (also my first visit to any Mosque) was enormous and holds up to 5,000 worshippers. With the high arches inside and the light coming in, it was a sacred place with an outside panoramic view of the Kampala skyline.

Our Kampala tour also included a stop at the Kasubi Tombs, the burial ground for the Kabaka (meaning “kings”) of the Buganda Kingdom. Sadly, this place was nearly burned to the ground in March of 2010, but the hope is that it will be rebuilt to reflect its original state. The difference in the structure did not take away from the tour—we got a good lesson about the lifestyle in cultural of the people of the Bugandan kingdom.

This was just a sneak preview of what Uganda held in store for us on this journey….

The Kampala Mosque; photo by Stephanie Moreland

I just returned from my 25 day journey to Africa. I visited Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, and my head is spinning not only because of the jet lag that hit me upon my return to Houston, but because of everything that I saw, smelled, tasted, and touched while I was there.

Each country was amazingly beautiful in its own way, and I can’t wait to share my experiences. I saw the lush and terraced landscape of Uganda, the rolling green hills of Rwanda, and the vast plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya. Once I’m able to shake off this jet lag and wrap my mind around everything that I experienced, I’ll be back with photos and tales to tell…

Standing on the Equator in Uganda

I love to travel with my fiance—don’t get me wrong about this. But, I’ve taken a girlfriend getaway before with some of my closest pals, and the experience simply can’t be beat for the memories, the laughter, and some serious women-only bonding time.

AdventureWomen, Inc., veterans in women’s-only travel since 1982 is offering a really cool 4th of July ‘Wild West’ vacation for active women over 30. Home to some of the last remaining wild land in the United States, Montana is renowned for its outdoor adventures, and this spectacular setting becomes an outdoor playground for solo women on this special trip. On this journey women can learn to fly fish, take a horseback riding jaunt across Montana fields, enjoy whitewater rafting on the Gallatin River, and celebrate July 4th at a real western rodeo.

Travelers also safari into Yellowstone National Park to see this “big game” and unique ecosystem, relive history as you visit the Missouri River headwaters made famous by Lewis and Clark, take a trip through time to historic gold rush towns of the 19th century, and experience a Western rodeo and fireworks on Independence Day! This trip to a premier Montana “dude ranch” is specially designed so that ladies can try it ALL during a week of ultimate exhilaration, jam-packed full of the adventure activities Montana is famous for, while staying in the comfort of our favorite Montana Guest Ranch. For more information, visit www.adventurewomen.com .

Although it’s easy to find cruises to the world-famous Galapagos islands, land-based Galapagos tours are a bit harder to come by, yet exploring the Galapagos by land offers travelers an amazing perspective and a birds-eye view.

Blue Footed Boobies on the Galapagos Islands; Photo Courtesy of Southern Explorations

Southern Explorations’ multi-sport Galapagos adventure includes daily visits to the central and southern islands with overnights in hotels. Travelers spend 9 days observing the vast array of wildlife up close and personal while kayaking, snorkeling, mountain biking, and trekking. For another land-based option, their 9 day Galapagos hiking adventure explores pristine areas of three southern islands and eight islets usually limited to boat itineraries.

This unique Galapagos trip gives travelers the chance to hike “off the beaten path” along lava trails in search of diverse wildlife, spend time swimming and snorkeling with friendly marine life in untouched bays and coves, and to learn about the local communities. With easy to moderate hikes averaging two to four hours a day, this Galapagos tour is suitable for the whole family and active travelers of all ages. Visit www.southernexplorations.com for more information

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