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In December, the current president of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, formally rejected a power-sharing deal, issued a decree firing the Prime Minister and declared a planned upcoming meeting of parliament illegal.
Rajoelina has announced plans to hold a parliamentary election on March 20, 2010. Travelers are advised to avoid any public demonstrations.
The US Embassy in Kenya issued a warning about boda bodas (motorcycles for hire) because of frequent serious accidents caused by badly maintained vehicles and unsafe driving habits on poor roads. Also, in November there were at least two serious late-night attacks on American citizens by boda boda operators.
The US Department of State urges extreme caution when traveling to Mauritania due to increased activities by the terrorist group Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which continues to demonstrate its intent and ability to conduct attacks against foreign nationals.
In a presumed terrorist action, three Spanish NGO workers were kidnapped from their vehicle while driving from Nouadhibou to Nouakchott on Nov. 29.
After an individual unsuccessfully attempted to set off an explosive device on Northwest Airlines’ flight No. 253 en route from Amsterdam to Detroit on Dec. 25, airport and airline security measures were tightened dramatically.
10-day/nine-night culinary tour with “Eat Smart Guide” author Joan Peterson, Sept. 14-23, 2010. Highlights: ceramics, textiles, gold, erotica in Larco Herrera Museum, Lima/pisco tasting in Ica/boat tour to Ballestas Islands, where sea lions, penguins and flamingos live/Vistadome train to Machu Picchu. Land only, $2,969. Single supp., $525.
Joan Peterson (Madison, WI; 608/233-5488).
Seven days/six nights. Highlights: from Banff, Alberta, travel to Bobbie Burns Lodge/helicopters transport you to remote parts of the Bobbie Burns and Bugaboo ranges of the Columbia Mountains. Hike at your own pace. Land/helicopter price, $4,853. Single supp., $539
Eldertreks (Toronto, Ont., Canada; 800/741-7956).
13 days/11 nights. Highlights: in Arusha National Park, colobus monkeys, 575 bird species/mangrove swamps in Tarangire National Park/meet schoolchildren/Ngorongoro Crater/leopards, lions, cheetahs, migrating wildebeest in Serengeti National Park. Land only, from $4,990 adult or $4,390 child under 12. Single supp., from $590.
Thomson Family Adventures (Watertown, MA; 800/262-6255).
Nine-day/seven-night family-focused tour of EGYPT. Highlights: Egyptian Museum in Cairo/Giza pyramids/Nile cruise to Temple of Philae, Kom Ombo, Luxor’s Valley of the Kings/12th-century Citadel of Salah el-Din. Land/cruise, from $4,530 adult or $3,790 child under 12. Internal air, from $630.
Abercrombie & Kent (Downers Grove, IL; 800/652-7963).
12 days/11 nights, April 26-May 7 and Nov. 8-19, 2010. Note: participants should be able to walk five miles per day. Highlights: Xi’an Terra Cotta Warriors/in Foping Nature Reserve, track wild pandas/Beijing and Great Wall. Land only, $5,999. Single supp., $1,000.
Terra Incognita Ecotours (Tampa, FL; 866/463-9756).
19-day/18-night tour of RUSSIA and the BALTICS. Departs May 10 and Sept. 6, 2010. Highlights: in Kiev, UKRAINE, Chernobyl Museum/Kremlin diamonds, Fabergé eggs in Moscow, RUSSIA/Amber Room in St. Petersburg/in Vilnius, LITHUANIA, former KGB HQ/Riga, LATVIA’s, Opera House/torchlight monastery tour in Tallinn, ESTONIA. Land only, from $11,925. Single supp., $3,800.
Exeter International (Tampa, FL; 800/633-1008).