Central America

As I step out of the San Jose airport into the warm, humid air a feeling of peace and relaxation washes over me, much as it does every time I arrive in this tiny country in Central America, except this visit will be different than all of the others. This adventure will take me to the Osa Peninsula, one of the least visited areas in all of Costa Rica. Suddenly I see Carlos through the crowd of Ticos waiting for friends and family. Carlos knows his country well and I'm so grateful he is willing to spend the next few days showing me a part of Costa Rica I haven't had the chance to explore before.

We leave the airport and head south and west into the Talamanca Mountain range toward Cerro de la Muerte, the highest point of the Pan American highway in Central America. We stop briefly at a small typical Costa Rican restaurant to get lunch; beans and rice, homemade tortillas, and fresh fruit before heading up higher into an ecosystem called paramo about 3,300m above sea level (around 10,000 ft), which is only found in Costa Rica and a few areas of Panama. Many endemic species live in this unique habitat. As we get out of our vehicle and start to walk a short distance into the vegetation I'm struck by how much the dwarf shrubs and trees resemble the alpine ecosystems I've studied back home in the Rockies, the Cascades and the Olympics; small, waxy leaves with tiny, white bell shaped flowers. We spend the night in a quaint lodge nestled in a valley near Costa Rica's most recently established National Park, Quetzal National Park.

Savegre Hotel Nature Reserve and Spa

I rise early to try and catch a glimpse of the beautiful Resplendid Quetzal only to be informed by one of the garden keepers that the Queztal has already visited his favorite avocado tree near the small trout pond earlier that morning and moved on to other feeding areas. I hoped this was not a foreshadowing of my luck at spotting wildlife as we headed even further south toward Sierpe on the outskirts of Central America's largest mangrove forest.

In the small town of Sierpe we board a boat and begin our voyage through the mangroves toward the Pacific Ocean and Osa Peninsula’s, Drake Bay. The number of bird and other wildlife sightings increase as we travel down river toward the ocean; frigate birds, raccoons, macaws, and caimans. Soon we can see the open ocean and the waves lapping at the mouth of the Rio Sierpe. Our captain maneuvers easily through the surf and continues on toward the northernmost tip of the Osa Peninsula. As we draw closer to shore I realize there isn't a dock...we're going to get as close to shore as possible and wade the rest of the way. Porters come to carry our luggage ashore while the passengers focus on the beauty surrounding us. I feel like I've just stepped into a scene from Swiss Family Robinson.

Approaching the Osa Peninsula after leaving the mouth of the Sierpe River

Early the next morning Carlos and I start down a small footpath into the jungle. He begins to share with me his knowledge about the plants, birds and animals we see as we walk. We stop to look at some edible fruits that have dropped from the thick rainforest canopy when Carlos notices a small band of howler monkeys watching us from the branches above. A young monkey clings to its mother, and eyes us curiously. We walk a little further and pause to look at a large tree frog clinging to the trunk of a tree when I notice that the ground seems to be moving beneath my feet. I look down and discover the reason for the strange sensation; small crabs almost completely cover the ground where I'm standing. When I move, each crab quickly scuttles away.

Gladiator tree frog (Hypsiboas rosenbergi), trying to blend in to his surroundings

I grew up on the side of a mountain in Eagle River, Alaska, and even though I now live in Montana, one of the least populated states in the contagious U.S., I'm amazed at how wild and secluded the Osa Peninsula feels. It gives me the same sensation I get when hiking and camping in remote locations in Alaska - the environment is still pristine, untouched, untamed. As I look around me, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude that there are still places like the Osa Peninsula on this planet I call home.

A remote beach on the Osa Peninsula at high tide

Austin Lehman Adventures will be offering a trip to Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula this year. We'd love to have you join us on this life-changing adventure! Come experience some of the most beautiful and remote areas in Central America.

 

Looking for the adventure of a lifetime?  Thrills, adventure, thick rich jungles, and the most spectacular views you could ever imagine.  Nicaragua Adventure Travel is one of the newest and incredibly exciting tours Austin-Lehman Adventures will be offering in 2013.  With too many activities to count in this culturally rich country, Austin-Lehman has narrowed down the hot spots to visit including the ancient city of Granada, the Capital Managua, tourist dream location in Leon, and countless volcanoes, and even a beach town visit at San Juan Del Sur.  Nicaragua is sure to become the next “hot” travel destination on the radar and Austin-Lehman Adventures is working to bring it to you first!  Plan your exotic and adventurous tropical dream vacation for the upcoming year with Austin-Lehman Adventures.

The tour starts in the Capital of Nicaragua in the exciting and bustling city of Granada. Granada is the second most populous city in Central America coming in only second to Guatemala City.   Offering a rich culture and history from it’s early discovery and trade economy, to the devastating rise and falls of political powers, to recovery and perseverance of disastrous earthquakes in 1931 and 1972.  With an abundance of fascinating stories and the ability to overcome adversities, Nicaragua offers tons of cultural history and amazing tales of determination.  The city of Leon does not fall short of interesting accounts, ancient ruins of early Spanish colonial cities, or beautiful architecture.   Leon offers an abundance of natural beauty to be explored including eight volcanoes, plus the famous Cerro Negro.

Part of your Nicaragua Adventure Travel with Austin-Lehman Adventures is a visit to Cerro Negro. This young volcano offers spectacular views as well as an interesting black sand slope, perfect for “snowboarding” or “surfing” down the mountain.  This volcano was born in 1850, faming it as the youngest and most active volcano in Nicaragua, having last erupting in 1999.  The tough but feasible climb to the top of the 500-meter peak is worth the effort. Suitable for all ages you start the climb and slowly wrap your way around the volcano.  The climb only takes about an hour and due to the light breeze, the heat is completly barable.  The smoking craters, and delecate smell of sulfer helps remind you of the character that this bubbling beast has to offer.  The amazing 360-degree views, a glimpse into the smoking crater, and the amazing sledding decent down the face is definitely worth the effort! Weather your choose to play it safe and "run" down the face, opt for a sled ride at max speeds, or are looking for the adventure and challange of surfing the shear face of the volcano, all decents are full of thrills and very photoworthy.  

You will also get a chance to see the hundreds of beautiful islets that were created by the Mombacho Volcano.  Kayak through the warm and refreshing waters to see the local houses and beautiful terrain that the islets offer.  Experience the exquisite views of the volcano as you paddle through the lush forest terrain.  Don’t get too comfortable atop the water because all too soon you will again be exploring by foot, and climbing the famous Mombacho Volcano.   Take your adventure to a new limit as you are harnessed and strapped in for a zip-line canopy tour through the Mombacho Nature Reserve with beautiful views and high-speed adventure. 

Balance out your adventure thrills with a bit of rest and relaxation upon the white sand beaches of San Juan Del Sur. Your two-night stay at Morgan’s Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge will immerse you in the tropical rainforests upon the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The plush and stunning accommodations offer a luxurious balance of natural beauty, authentic cultural design, and delicious and local fares.  The beachfront views of your bungalow will remind you just how to relax during your Nicaragua Adventure Travel. Famous town for the consistent surf and layed back attitude, you will love the lifestyle on the beach in Nicaragua. Check out tour dates today with Austin-Lehman Adventure to start planning your adventure of a lifetime to the beautiful country of Nicaragua!

Check out more photos from our Nicaragua Adventure Travel on Pinterest! 

The idea, why…..

The idea of an exchange visit was conceived in a unique open air “board room”, in Namibia’s great Kunene region, Omatendeka conservancy at Otjomumbonde. Otjomumbonde area is the Omatendeka conservancy’s wildlife sanctuary. The area is endowed with much needed natural springs and great vegetation making it well suited for farming; however the conservancy has set it aside for wildlife therefore its attractiveness for tourism development. In this arid area, land use and management plans involve making substantial sacrifices by the communities who are generally described as farmers and not conservationists despite their well-known successes in conservation. These sacrifices are sometimes rewarded with unique tourism developments such as the planned Otjomumbonde lodge. It is a beautiful site in a pristine environment. Serenity combined with sincerity to connect people divided by not only an ocean but also lifestyles and cultures. Despite these divides, their souls connected in a common purpose and similarities in their love, respect and appreciation of nature. More similarities came to the fore, their common fight and plight to conserve and preserve the environment; this is why it was decide to undertake an exchange visit for Namibians to the US for both nations to share in their common journey.
 

The mastermind behind the exchange visit is Dan Austin of Austin-Lehman Adventures; a passionate visionary, an energetic individual who love life and all in it, particularly the stories of people as it relates to their space and history. In Namibia he was inspired by the harmony and balance of people and wildlife and their love for the environment which manifests through their passion for sharing their story and their environment with visitors.

The composition of the invitees covered people from Namibian conservation hotspots and a combination of veteran eco-tourism practitioners both in communal conservancy areas as well as government concession areas. In its entirety the group included representatives of key stakeholders making it appropriately representative of the relationships required and in most cases responsible for the successful implementation of eco-tourism and conservation operations in Namibia.

These relationships are a web network involving the government, conservancies, non-governmental organizations, donor agencies, and private sector tourism investors, to mention but a few. Conservancies’ successes of conservation on their land are very well celebrated in Namibia over the years and continue to be the case. Amongst the selected representatives for the exchange visit is conservancy concessionaires, this is the latest government initiative to further extend natural resources management rights and benefits to conservancies neighboring protected areas. This allocation of concession rights to conservancies has not only increased the conservation foot print of the conservancies but also put at their disposal more resources from which to benefit. Unlike in the past where the concession rights were given to private sector operator, now the private sector operators are contracted only as operators and are only given rights to conduct their operations by entering into an agreement with the conservancies that hold the concession rights.   

The delegation also comprised a fair reflection of the Namibian peoples’ cultural diversity, with representation of people from the far northwest, the central north and far north east as well as people from the central heart land of Namibia giving both a rural and an urban reflection of the issues concerning sustainable utilization of natural resources.

The visit, what we saw…

Zoo Montana visit: A great welcome by the enthusiastic “Zoo Man” who has a voice that cuts through the mumblings of non-attentive visitors in the group, filled with passionate yet educational presentation of information of the various species in the collection of the zoo.

The tour through the zoo began at a well calculated significant stop for foreign visitors to see the Bald Eagle, America’s national bird appropriately welcoming visitors on a tour into the American wildlife kingdom, not only at Zoo Montana but for what was to follow during out tour of many wildlife sightings in the parks. To the delegation, a zoo is a new experience even though in Namibia there are various initiatives that operate with wildlife kept in captivity but in general parallels could be drawn especially regarding how the animals ended up in the zoo as well as their confined future in this captive environment. For majority of the group members, there was a general sense of mixed feelings regarding the freedom of the animals and their adopted constricted behavior. Nonetheless the essence and conclusions drawn are that these animals, despite their sad tales of what happened and what could have ended up in their death, have been offered a second chance at life at the zoo, maybe even a much better chance compared the their wilderness-dwelling families.

 Their new role of Zoo Montana is to serve as ambassadors of their world out there and spread the message of their plight directly to their biggest enemy, the human race. The evening was enjoyed mingling with a high profile team from Billings including the Mayor and several representatives of congress, people entrusted by the masses with championing their prosperity including that of the wildlife and the environment. They are key role players in decisions that should bring justice, equity and a harmonious co-existence of man and beast.

The Crow Tribe dance: To cap the evening, a journey down the historical footsteps of the Crow Nation/Tribe was undertaken. They passionately shared their heritage and history and brought to life their increasingly threatened rituals and infected everyone with rhythm to join in song and dance.  We witnessed how music transcend boundaries of any kind be it tribe, race or nations from far across the oceans. The motion of dance to melody is a universal language and we full well connected and melted into the Crow’s cultural pot for the evening.  

              
Meeting the Crow Tribe/Apsaalooke Nation who have a reservation “conservancy” in the rural areas of Montana State, a state fully branded by their ancestors through their connection to the land, the names of the main natural  features such as rivers and mountains and grass plains bears names with meanings and cultural significance of the Crow nation. This is a story many a people can relate to and people in the delegation can relate fully. The challenges they face are similar to the challenges many Namibians face.

Yellowstone National Park can only be described as a “Must see”, seeing is believing in the truest sense of the statement. It was a visit in History, not only seeing what can arguably be the oldest park in the world but also getting the best chance or the closest chance to hear, feel, see and experience some of the most fascinating goings into grandmother earth’s belly. The park is a geological living museum, a living laboratory for academia that pursues the challenge of getting to understand the workings beneath the earth’s surface. It is a mind-blowing experience for the ordinary and it will not fail to ignite a curios debate in one’s mind about the forces of nature and the spiritual believe of divine powers of some sort. We experienced the soul healing powers of nature, the realization of how small and insignificantly young we are as humans on planet earth and how at times the forces of nature swallows our self-imposed egos over other species and our selfish dominance and exploitation of the resources of the earth all in the interest of the human species, the most destructive and harmful species to the planet.  

It is encouraging to note that this Park was set aside for conservation more than 100 years ago. Several success stories of game reintroduction in this park are visible such as the Bison and the Wolves, what is also visible is the ever unpredictable bio-diversity-balance/imbalance that in most cases is best left to nature.  The successful reintroduction of the wolves in the park seems to trigger some form of discontent with cattle ranchers neighboring the park, it appears that the wolves’ territories are spilling over on ranches and that the ranchers are experiencing losses of cattle and a reducing population of Elk that migrates seasonally from the park onto neighboring ranches. This migrating Elk onto ranches provides for a popular lucrative hunting season that provides a much needed alternative source of income during the winter period. The phenomenons above serve both as a sign of conservation success as well as in this case maybe a reminder of the possible reasons why the wolves were fiercely hunted to depletion in the first place.  At the moment, around the wolves issue in the Yellowstone Park, there is an urgent need for conservationists, government to engage ranchers more pro-actively and holistically if lessons can be drawn from our Cheetah Conservation Fund model on the fate of the cheetahs in Namibia. Meanwhile it appears that two even bigger threats to both the ranchers and the parks management and maybe to an extend to Montana and neighbouring states these are wild fires and as was explained a volcanic eruption. These are larger than life threats and therefore beyond anyone’s comprehension, hence left to grandmother nature to decide if not to divine power.

Rural Montana is “cowboy/girl” (gender equality) country; it is a culture, a heritage and a way of life of a people but more importantly an industry and its players who brave it out to rear cattle and hay fields to add their bit to feeding the nation. They are a people with character, a sense of profound pride and hospitality on their ranches and small towns. They are a community and a family, they all have “cow” blood in their veins. Yeah right they will defend their cows. Conservation in their vocabulary is grass lands management, rotational grazing methods and grass species restoration on their ranges as well as rooting out any threats to the cattle be it deceases or otherwise; that is conservation in their language. These guys represent everything tough and rough, big trucks, tough terrains, hectic chores and manual operations in stark contrast of the urban jungle life in this developed nation. They follow a history of their forbearers and continue to cherish a heritage for future generations to come. We did horse riding at a ranch and got a window into the reasons why they probably choose to remain rural, one trail “highway” single file procession, one traffic rule “follow the leader, stop when he stops”, simple “controls” to operate, speed limit is controlled by the cowboy in front. Now why would you trade this for the hustle and bustle of city life if you can eke out a living  in this serene space. After all city dwellers work very hard to earn a holiday the ranchers call their office and the activities such as horseback riding their daily chores.   

American football match: Dan Austin’s all time love appears to be football, in the short-time we spend together the word football kept popping up in conversations like some out of control pop up on a computer screen.  He sold the game to the Namibians in record time and worked tirelessly to plant enthusiasm in the group as he knew that making this group understand the game will take the same time it took Namibians to achieve conservation success. Nonetheless he put to good use every second at his disposal and within less than 15 minutes had total strangers at least memorize Andy’s number (his son who plays for the Bobcats) and the color of the Bobcats’ outfits which was necessary for the Namibians for their own safety at the stadium. Needless to say, on top of the above the game was lectured to the group in a typical Dan’s-Lewis-and-Clark version time, which simply means a story of any magnitude compressed to one breath. Determined, excited and motivated the group marched on the stadium with turbo-charged confidence to join the Bobcats’ die hard supporters in cheering the team to victory. The two distinct differences were the Made-in-Namibia chanting which was new on the scene as well as the dancing when the group took to the stage when a band played live music before the match, the Namibians’ rhythmic moves made others seem rhythm-handicapped, the Namibians shook the “stage” and attracted much admiration while at the same time doing their magic to ensure a win for the Bobcats.  As they say the rest is history Bobcats emerged victorious. Something that was must to rescue Dan from a deteriorating change in mood. An elevated Dan expressed as sigh of relieve which was echoed by the group in a typical father-to-children rubbing off energy.

TIES summit: Eco-tourism, sustainable tourism, pro-poor tourism, community based tourism are but some of the main themes and phrases coined over the years in an attempt to define an environmental friendly sustainable tourism concept that serve as the reason for yet another TIES gathering in Monterey, California. The group joined other delegations from all over the world and participated in sessions at the same level as their counterparts while in some cases it was obvious that many nations can learn a thing or two from Namibia’s conservation success as well as Namibia’s successful unique joint venture eco-tourism concept. The various presentations made where not strange to the Namibian delegation, especially the case studies that involved rural/communal/parks conservation and rural based tourism ventures. What was also evident is that Namibia has a long way to go in its application of environmental friendly practices in urban areas. Lessons on recycling and carbon emission reduction can be drawn from the developed world and maybe Namibia is best placed to do it right first time to be pro-active in order to avoid detrimental development planning. The lessons learnt by developing countries is that we must guard against developing only to end up redeveloping when it comes to making environmentally-friendly decisions, we are best placed in many ways to do it right the first time around and also to learn from the overwhelming examples and adopt systems and technologies of the developed countries proving to be good examples. Namibia has an advantage of having vast tracts of land available as well as an enabling legislation. The challenge we face is inclusive broad consultation on land use plans and prioritization of key sectors with a view to sustainability. Development of the Eco-tourism sector can lead to significant spin-offs that can stimulate a domino effect that will address socio-economic needs in rural areas where it is needed most. In our approach of development in this sector we should adopt a “Design for positive impact and sustainability approach”

Lessons and Recommendations….
•    In comparison to other countries Namibia has a conservation success story to tell of notable magnitude.
•    The importance of stakeholders’ relationships and the role that each play cannot be overemphasized.
•    It is vital for Namibia to be involved and affiliate at international level in conservation and eco-tourism sector
•    There is a need for more involvement and engagement of private sector in policy formation especially regarding tourism concessions
•    There is a need to actively engage academic institutions for both a refined documentation and thorough scrutiny of the conservation success stories and tourism operations in conservancies.
•    Donor’s continue to play a major role in the promotion and creation of needed synergies between key stakeholders for the benefit of sustainable conservation activities
•    There is a need to establish at ground level international mutually beneficial relationships with communities (conservancies), conservancy associations, local councils and regional government; such as signing twinning agreements at this level. E.g {game guard exchanges, committee exchanges and leadership mentorship etc}
    

  List of Delegates:
Ms Aisha Nakibuule (Acting Director), Namibia Development Trust
Ms Hilda Namwnyo (Manager), Sheya shUushona Conservancy
Ms Selma Nangolo (Grants Manager-Tourism), Millenium Challenge Account-Namibia
Mr Usiel Ndjavera (Tourism Business Advisor), WWF
Ms Martha Mulokoshi (Project Officer), WWF
Mr Dusty Rodgers (Investor-Tourism Ventures)
Ms Fabiola Katamila (Chief Warden, Concession Unit), Ministry of Environment and Tourism
Mr Pepe Giampietro Olivetto (Entrepreneur-Eco Lodges building and investments)    
Mr Gustaph Tjiundukamba (Chairman), Omatendeka Conservancy
Mr Rector Mbeha Kawana (Assistant Director) Namibian Association of Community Based CBNRM Support Organisations
Mr Jermain Ketji (Community Liaison Manager) Wilderness Safaris Namibia
Mr Cebens Munanzi (Manager-Tourism and Conservancy Support) Wuparo Conservancy
Mr Alex Ndango (Chairman) Muduva Nyangana Conservancy
Mr Bennet Kahuure (Manager-Tourism and Conservancy Support) Millennium Challenge Account Namibia

Itinerary
Day 1, Sept 6: Montana, Billings: Visit Montana Zoo
Day 2, Sept 7: Billings: Visit Crow Agency
Day 3, Sept 8: Red Lodge, Cooke City
Day 4, Sept 9: Cooke City, Yellowstone National Park
Day 5, Sept 10: The Tetons/ Jackson Lake
Day 6, Sept 11: Jackson Lake/ Grassy Island
Day 7, Sept 12: Yellowstone/ Upper Geyser Basin
Day 8, Sept 13: Lower Geyser Basin/ West Yellowstone/320 Guests Ranch
Day 9, Sept 14: Gallatin Canyon/ Ouzel Falls /Big Sky
Day 10, Sept 15: Bozeman/ MSU Campus
Day 11-16, Sept 16-20: Monterey, TIES Conference
Day 17-18, Sept 21-23 Traveling Back

Acknowledgements and thank you’s
•    Millennium Challenge Account Namibia
•     WWF Namibia
•    Austin-Lehman Adventures
•    NACSO
Ministry of Environment and Tourism

 

Austin-Lehman Adventures is proud to announce through a strategic acquisition,  Go South Adventures is joining the Austin-Lehman family. Troy Glennon, founder of Go South Adventures will be the new Director of Latin American Sales. For the last decade plus, Troy has traveled extensively throughout Central and South America. His insider knowledge and regional contacts are sure to help increase and expand our presence in Central and South America.

More about Troy and Go South Adventures:
For over 10 years, Troy Glennon has led Go South Adventures in creating “Trip of a Lifetime”, small group adventures to Latin America. Troy has experienced South America from both sides of travel, as a solo adventurer and as a group tour leader in Peru, Bolivia and Chile. He studied in Mexico and has a degree in Spanish Literature and Culture from the University of Washington. He has traveled extensively throughout Central and South America, and returns regularly to update and expand his knowledge of new and classic Latin American destinations. His passion, observations and experiences gained from exploring Latin America are evident in each adventure offered by Go South Adventures. “Joining the team at Austin Lehman Adventures has presented a terrific opportunity to expand new Latin American experiences into Austin Lehman's industry leading catalog of adventure tours.” 

All of us here at Austin-Lehman couldn't be happier about adding Troy and Go South Adventures to our family. 

More to come,

Dan Austin

 

It all started with a casual conversation with my daughter's college roommate at her graduation last May. "Hey, Jacq, you should go to Peru with Kasey and me" . A couple of weeks later our group had grown from two to four, and then to five. A few more weeks down the road and our group is now seven in total, our final number ended up being eight!

I love to travel in South and Central America, and Peru has been on my bucket list of adventures for a very long time. The scenery is fantastic, the food is delicious and the locals are so friendly that I have a hard time leaving them.

   

In order to get ready for this adventure I have been training for the last six months. Four mornings a week I have been going to fit camp at the gym at 5:30 am. Yes, it sounds crazy, but, I have to be able to keep up with the youngsters in the group! I know that day when we climb Huayana Picchu I will thank our fearless fit camp leader Angie for all of those extra lunges. While I cant do much to prepare for the altitude, the rest of me (body & soul) will be strong and ready to trek on down the trail!

I have been so excited about our trip, that even though my suitcase is still on the shelf in the garage I have packed and repacked my bag and my pack in my sleep! Counting the days until our departure and watching weather.com!

Your Travel Wizard,

Carol Austin

There’s nothing like a little one on one time to really put relationships in perspective. That’s why spending your holiday on one of our adventure vacations for couples can really add some spice to your everyday life.

When two people spend their lives together there comes a time in every relationship where taking the other one for granted can often become routine. Sure, the two of you could just try a weekend getaway. But spending a whole week in an exotic or faraway destination can really remove you from your comfort zone. Leaving town and familiar surroundings to participate in our adventure tours will have both of you relaxed and enjoying yourselves so much that you’ll fast find yourself in each other’s arms with a little more fervor than usual.

Austin Lehman travelers have quite the choice of destinations for romantic adventure vacations to locations in North and Central America.

North America
Stay a little close to home by visiting the breathtaking mountain scenery of the Pacific Northwest, adventure to the awe inspiring Rocky Mountains or southwestern desert vistas. Our northern neighbor offers friendly Canadian hospitality and inspirational glaciers, lakes and forests. The remote Alaskan wilderness calls travelers near and far to traverse the national parks and crystal clear waters.

Central America
Just south of the border are the fascinating and often exotic countries known as Central America. From the tropical paradise of Costa Rica to archaeological Mayan findings that educate and inspire in Mexico, couples will find travel in this region of the world breathtaking. Our newest adventure to Cuba opens up a whole new world and culture that few Americans in many decades have been able to enjoy until now. And beautiful Belize boasts acres of beaches and wilderness just waiting to be seen and explored.

Romance, excitement and adventure all combine to make a trip of a lifetime for you and a loved one. Learn more about getting away from it all with one of our vacation packages by visiting us online.
 

Engaged couples often find that one of the most exciting parts of planning a wedding is deciding on the honeymoon. While many grooms want to surprise the bride with the wedding trip destination, brides also want to have a choice in this once in a lifetime trip.

Surely an adventure vacation for couples is just the right type of getaway to inspire tales repeated to children and grandchildren as you grow old and gray together. So at the start of your life together, our adventure tours promise to provide the happy couple with great memories of fun, pampering, dining, biking, hiking, culture and education all wrapped up into one package. We handle every detail including activities, accommodations and dining. The bride and groom just need to be prepared for experiencing everything that their destination of choice has to offer.

Fortunately, there are many journeys to choose from because our travel itineraries include locations in North, Central and South America as well as Europe and Africa. For Mountain adventure getaways with skiing, kayaking and wilderness exploration, couples will find their choice of Canada, Rocky Mountains, Alaska or Grand Canyon vacations.

Those who want to experience foreign cultures and breathtaking scenery will find our European vacations  just right for honeymoon vacations. With trips to France, Spain, Italy and more, honeymooners will enjoy biking, gourmet dining and walking through picturesque villages and wineries.

For an unforgettable honeymoon, join us on one of our journeys as you begin your first days together as a married couple.
 

Adventure vacations to Central America will truly ignite the explorer in you. This land bridge connecting North and South America brings together seven diverse countries that are just ripe for adventure travel.

Our adventure vacation packages journey into the heart of Mexico, Costa Rica and Belize for unforgettable adventures that will fill thrill seekers with the adrenaline rush they need to fully feel alive and ready to take on the day.  

Imagine climbing to volcano tops and looking down on untouched rainforest, ancient ruins and awe inspiring landscapes. Biking through trails where Aztecs and Mayans once explored to reach hidden lagoons filled with cool, refreshing water. Feel the dive and plunge as your raft hits the white water rapids and takes your breath away as your raft sets itself quickly upright upon the fast moving waters.

After the physical exercise of hiking, biking and kayaking, your brain will respond with exercise uniquely its own. Ancient ruins and archaeological finds will teach you about peoples of long ago who left their mark on the land and culture present today. You’ll encounter wildlife species that fill the forests and waters and learn about how their presence keeps the fragile ecosystem alive and well.

Of course, Austin Lehman adventure tours aren’t complete without the finest food and accommodations available to allow our guests to sit back and relax after an exhilarating day of adventure. Give us a call or visit our site online to find about more about our travel itineraries to Mexico, Belize and Costa Rica.
 

Our guides are at the heart of every one of our adventure vacations. Their experience and personalities make our guests feel right at home even when they are miles from home. And every one of them no matter what activity they lead or expertise they share, all enjoy guiding our clients into their great outdoor adventure.

Our goal with every adventure travel itinerary we plan is to make sure that each guest has the experience of a lifetime. With small groups and a 6 to 1 ratio of guides to guests, each one of our adventure tours provides an intimate and personal journey meant to create a special time for everyone participating.

Using guides with so much expertise in the secret, untouched places at each destination means that you will share in an experience far away from the crowds. Treating each guest as a VIP means that we take customer service very seriously. Your vacation adventure guide is part of our family and wants to ensure that you feel like a member as well.

Let Austin-Lehman exceed your expectations on your next vacation with adventure vacation packages to Canada, Central and South America as well as Europe and Africa. Give us a call today or visit our travel site online.
 

Adventure vacations for couples can be fun and fulfilling in Chile and Argentina. There may be other countries in the world that earn accolades for their winemaking, but there is a hidden gem to be discovered in the wineries of Mendoza, Argentina.

This wine region is a favorite destination for tourists and wine connoisseurs.  Usually, many wine regions offer only a wine tasting experience while they keep their techniques a secret. Not so in Mendoza. In fact, they often share their recipes and techniques. Tourists enjoy getting a first-hand experience in winemaking.  After filling up on sumptuous Argentine cuisine and wine, travelers participating in our cycling tours can look forward to enjoying a great view of the Andes making adventure vacations such as this one hard to forget.

Adventure trips to this region of the world are even more breathtaking as you go horseback riding along Colchagua Valley in Chile.  Chile’s wine-tasting experience offers delightful experiences to tantalize the taste buds. Take your time exploring Plaza de Armas in Santiago, Chile and discover why this place was voted #1 on the list of places to go by the New York Times.  Gastronomic adventures begin at the Mercado Central where guests can sample deliciously fresh Chilean fare.  Be enveloped in the dynamic ambiance of a lively market that is housed in a structure with very ornate and pleasing aesthetics.

Book your trip with Austin-Lehman to experience these exciting adventure destinations in South America today.
 

What you need to know not only before you go, but before you even start thinking about going!

To start our journey together I want to share an African proverb:  The people sailing in the same boat share the goal.

When one thinks of Africa, the vision is that of beauty, wilderness, wildlife, exotic peoples, romance and so much more.  Throughout history Africa’s people, its struggles and above all else its overwhelming beauty have created a romantic vision of a spectacular, yet mysterious continent.  Since those first western explorers landed on its shores in the late 1800’s, Americans have been fascinated and drawn with wonder and intrigue to this diverse and complex land.  Even today the stories and pictures that come out of Africa paint a picture of an untouched place where its people live as they have for centuries, a place where the wildlife is abundant and untamed and a place of conflict and opportunity…yet there is so much more than superlatives can describe and a ton of adventure vacation packages to discover when looking into a trip to Africa.

There is a saying in Africa….  It applies to planning your first trip as well:  “How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!” Once you have your mind made up that you will visit this great continent, set aside the time to “study up” and educate yourself on at least the basics.  The following is just an idea and an outline of things you might want to consider and how to get started eating that elephant called Africa.

The Continent and the Five Regions of Africa (This is One Big Continent)

Of our seven continents on the planet Africa ranks number two in size, second only to Asia.  With its 11,677,791 square miles (give or take a few) you can fit all of Europe and South America within its footprint.  In fact you could fit the United States something like five times within its coastlines. That is one large land mass.  As you start thinking about the “where” keep this in mind…Picture talking to a distant relative in Europe and your response when they suggest they want to come visit for two weeks and they would like to see Maine, New York, Florida, Arizona and the California coast. You would quickly let them know that just isn’t possible! Now magnify that times five and well, you get the idea.

Africa and its 58 countries are broken up into five distinct “regions”:

o   North Africa

o   West Africa  

o   East Africa  

o   Central Africa

o   Southern Africa

North Africa is typically considered dry and arid. It is made up of eight countries or territories and not frequently thought of as a “Safari” destination.  Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara make up North Africa. North Africa is separated from the rest of Africa by the Sahara Desert to the South.  These countries create a stronger connection to the seafaring countries of Europe more so than their southern neighbors.

West Africa is bordered on the west and south by the Atlantic, to the north by the Sahara, and to the east (roughly) by Mount Cameroon to Lake Chad.   West Africa makes up roughly one-fifth of Africa and includes Liberia, Senegal, Togo, Niger, Ghana, Guinea and Nigeria, just to name a few of the eighteen countries, commonly considered West Africa.  With the vast majority of its land mass as plains at less than 300 meters above sea level, it is considered “semi-arid”.

***East Africa is where we really start talking “safari country”!  This region consists of nineteen countries and territories most commonly known for Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Mozambique, Madagascar, (although these last two are often referenced as Southern Africa), again just to hit the highlights.  When talking “safari” Eastern Africa typically means Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.  Its stunning and scenic geography, dense vegetation and high peaks (Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya to be a name dropper), as well as Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh water lake in the world should be “must-sees” in anyone’s book.  It should be no surprise why the fabled Big Five (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard) can be found here.

Central Africa (considered by most to be a “Republic”) is considered the “core” of the continent and includes the countries, regions or states of Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda.  This is a land rich in African history as well as minerals.  Despite its significant mineral resources (gold, uranium, diamonds, etc.) the Central African Republic remains one of the poorest countries in the world and among the ten poorest countries in Africa. It should be no surprise that in no small part to the mineral wealth and the geographic “core” location, Central Africa has been a coveted territory by both African and foreign governments for centuries.

***Southern Africa (not to be confused with the country of South Africa).  Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa (a successor country to the Union of South Africa); nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.  In the UN scheme of things, Southern Africa is made up of five countries: South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia (my favorite), Lesotho and Botswana.  When we think or hear Africa, we are often hearing about Southern or even South Africa as it is a region rich with history, development, opportunities and struggles.  South Africa stands out as the dominant economic superpower of the region.  It can also “rival” East Africa with its wildlife opportunities.

(*** Regions commonly associated with safaris!)

Read Part 2: Visiting Africa 101- Part 2

Dan Austin

Don't forget I am always here to help you plan the perfect African Safari

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