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Wild moment giraffe snatches toddler from car

A father has recalled the heart-stopping moment his toddler was snatched by a giraffe at a safari park in Texas. Jason Toten, 24, his fiancé Sierra Robert, 23, and their daughter Paisley were at Fossil Rim Wildlife Centre in Glen Rose where visitors can drive-through the park and get close to wild animals. "We were having a little family day, just getting out of the house," Jason told a local news outlet. While the family were admiring the view, one giraffe slowly approached them and the pair encouraged their daughter to offer it some food, but within an instant, the two-year-old girl was lifted into the air. "I looked out the back window and I saw the giraffe … and then up she went," Jason recalled. The giraffe, who was only trying to grab the bag of food from Paisley, accidentally hoisted the toddler up by her shirt, with other park visitors behind them capturing the wild moment. Sierra reacted immediately and clung to her child, as she was pulled into the air, and all it took for the giraffe to let go was a stern "hey". The giraffe then dropped the tot back into the car uninjured, and throughout the entire ordeal Paisley was the bravest of them all. "I guess it startled the giraffe. She wasn't even scared," Jason recalled. "As soon as her mom caught her, she went 'oh.'" "It scared me but after it was all over, we realised everyone was safe and unharmed, and we laughed about it," Jason added. After the incident, the family took Paisley to the gift shop and "all she wanted was a giraffe toy and a giraffe T-shirt." "We ended up getting her both, we figured she deserved it." Images: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Safari Style: See all of Duchess Meghan’s outfits from royal tour with Prince Harry and baby Archie

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s royal tour in South Africa has already reached well past its halfway mark and it is clear she didn’t leave her beloved style game back at Frogmore cottage. This trip is the first one the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have taken with their four-month-old son, Archie. However, seeing the adorable bub isn’t the only thing that has made headlines all across the world. For her first solo outing of her and Prince Harry’s tour, the royal opted for a plain black jumpsuit which she had previously worn while filming the Forces for Change video published to the @Sussexroyal Instagram account. To glam up the look, she added gold statement earrings and black Manolo Blahnik pumps. One of the most memorable outfits from the Duchess has got to be the daring blue printed frock she wore while toting around her gorgeous son Archie in front of the cameras, for the first time ever. While meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter at their legacy foundation in Cape Town, the royal looked fresh and at ease in an ultra-chic blue-printed Club Monaco silk dress with a dainty tie waist and navy blue pumps. Another look sported by the 37-year-old mother was one many Aussies and Kiwi’s might remember, as she first showed it off while travelling through the South Pacific for a royal tour. It was a favourite among many - a striped maxi dress by Martin Grant, accessorised with black porcelain earrings, which were designed and created by local South African jeweller Nina Bosch. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have just one more day left, where they will visit a township near Johannesburg and meet young people and entrepreneurs who are working to tackle the rising unemployment challenge in South Africa. The couple will also take the opportunity to meet with Mrs Graça Machel, widow of the late former President Nelson Mandela. Scroll through the gallery above to see all of Duchess Meghan’s gorgeous looks while on tour in South Africa.

International Travel

Royal safari: A look back at royals on their visit to South Africa

Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan and baby Archie are getting ready for their first African tour as a family, which will commence on September 23 in Cape Town, South Africa. And they aren’t the first members of the family to visit the southernmost African country, as before the Sussexes, many royals have had the opportunity to tour the prolific location, dating all the way back to the 1940s. With then-Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret taking a trip in 1947 to Prince Charles visiting Zulu village in 1997, Harry is just one of the many royal members to visit South Africa. Scroll through the gallery above to see members of the royal family in South Africa.

Beauty & Style

Terrifying moment angry elephant charges at Aussie tourists during South African safari

A jeep full of tourists got more than they bargained for as they’ve filmed the moment an adult elephant charged towards their car. The footage posted to YouTube shows the vehicle reversing at high speed to escape the irritated animal that’s chasing the vehicle. <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ksMwL-w45cw"></iframe></div> The elephant appears to ram the front of the vehicle in the video and makes trumpeting noises while flapping its ears while chasing the vehicle. Some of the passengers used their phones to film the ordeal, while the driver desperately tried to lose the elephant. The driver is seen reversing at high speeds to outpace the elephant, who isn’t happy at all with the intruders. People were quick to comment on the nerve-wracking encounter. “Not even a full grown male. Wouldn’t have ended well with that happening,” someone said. Others were quick to point out the car full of people filming the event. “Getting attacked by an elephant? Get the Snapchat ready,” one person wrote. “Quick the elephant trying to kill us, grab [your] phone,” another added. The average African elephant will grow between 2.5 to 4 metres from shoulder to toe and weigh between 2268kgs to 6350kgs, according to the <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/a/african-elephant/">National Geographic</a>. They are known as the largest animals on Earth and are also known to defend their territory with the same gusto seen in the video.

Travel Trouble

The beauty of going on safari in Zambia

In Africa the lion may sleep tonight, but on Zambia’s Nanzhila Plains he rises early. Every sense stood to attention as the male lion gave his family a predawn roar-up along our camp perimeter. Thinking ahead to our morning game drive, I took comfort knowing I’d be layered up against the morning cold and hopefully harder to unwrap. But, for now, I revelled in the sanctuary of my cosy bed as I listened for a response from his pride. There was none. Leo was alone in the wilderness, and I knew the feeling. However, while he was trying to rustle up company, I was mighty glad not to have much of it. Nanzhila Plains Safari Camp in Kafue National Park is part of Zambia’s best and longest kept secret, and I wanted it to stay that way. It may not for long, as increasing numbers of safari lovers discover what has been right under their noses. Until now, Zambia visitors were more likely to head for the tourist hotspots of Livingstone, Victoria Falls and Luangwa National Park, or Botswana’s busy Chobe National Park. However, with the market ever seeking fresh frontiers, eyes have suddenly opened to Kafue’s rich resource. Proclaimed in the 1950s but with vast tracts still unexplored, Kafue is Zambia’s oldest and largest national park at roughly the size of Wales. With Nanzhila Plains Safari Camp being the closest true safari experience to Livingstone, and southern Kafue’s only accommodation option, the rumble of safari trucks may not be far away. A new road between Livingstone and the park’s southern Dundumwezi gate will hasten that. Due for completion by the 2019 tourist season, it will cut a three hour drive to the gate almost in half. Once there, the Camp is another hour into the park through pretty miombo woodland, although only in the dry and high season of April to October. Travel in the wetter months along the longer, higher access can add another two hours to the journey. Flying in is another possibility, although it costs. Airstrips service each of Kafue’s distinct regions -southern plains, central lakes and northern rivers - which can also be reached along Kafue’s spinal main road, making self driving an option. Each sector of the park has its unique character and wildlife, so they are worth a look if you have the time. We had just four days, so elected to spend them all at Nanzhila Plains Safari Camp. Its proximity to Livingstone, affordable rates, range of accommodation options and activities, easy booking and transfer arrangements attracted us, as did its diversity of wildlife. This included Leo and his buddies. While the big cats become more prolific the further north in the park you go, the south’s burgeoning antelope numbers now draw all the large predators, including hyena and wild dogs. As I lay in bed listening to Leo’s frustrated rant, I chuckled over our wild leopard chase of the previous day. Many times we drove the same few kilometres of track looking for the maker of leopard prints in the dirt, only to discover the elusive feline had walked over our previous tyre marks in our short absence and vanished once more. In the end we left him to his game playing and returned to camp, to have our host hear him rasping later that night, as if teasing us again. While it may not have the animal numbers of other parks, Kafue hosts greater diversity of wildlife than almost any other African nature preserve. Nearly 500 bird species call it home, some found nowhere else in southern Africa. The rare sable and roan feature among its 21 antelope species, and it boasts all the major predators, buffalo and large populations of elephant. Yet, in 2017 it attracted just over 11,000 visitors, compared with similar sized parks like South Africa’s Kruger, which got almost a million. Tucked up in bed anticipating a morning’s wildlife viewing, I considered that a good thing. There is no jostling for view here, and the few safari trucks have little impact. The animals haven’t retreated from frenzied human activity and are easily visible, particularly in the drier months when they congregate near waterholes like the reedy oasis directly in front of Nanzhila Plains Safari Camp. They dictated our daily schedule. When the wildlife was active early morning or late afternoon, we got active, and when it rested in the midday heat, we retired to our comfortable chalet or the open-walled communal lounge to chat with other guests. Come evening we would be back on the safari truck searching for animals and a scenic spot to enjoy a sundowner and the glorious sunset. Only as the dense African night descended would we turn the truck for camp, eagerly anticipating an haute-cuisine dinner and lively discussion around the open fire. Here the topic would often turn to poaching. Hosts, Steve and Cindy, and their local villager staff know the park, its animals and threats well, and seemed positive about their recovery from decades of plunder by poachers. For Leo’s sake, I hope they are right. Early indications are promising. An October 2017 Wilderness Safari survey reported Kafue’s antelope numbers increased exponentially from 2007, populations of red lechwe up by an astounding 487%. This is no doubt due to the colossal and combined anti-poaching efforts of the Zambian Wildlife Authority, local operators like Steve and Cindy, villagers, Game Rangers International and other conservation NGOs. The time had come to see some of these recovering populations for myself; leave my luxurious bed and roar up my own buddies and breakfast. Leo had gone quiet, although he wasn’t fooling me, and I would still be layering up, at least from the cold. Kafue mornings are so unadulterated you want to pull them over the rest of the day to seal in the purity and promise. I stepped into this one not knowing what was ahead of me or around the corner, except that it wouldn’t be many other humans. I liked that. I liked that I was in a fresh safari frontier where people now help animals to thrive but don’t yet overwhelm them with their presence. I could see wildlife as nature intended it to be, which is what a true safari experience – for both animals and humans – is all about.

International Travel

How to venture into the African wilds safely

If your dream of an African safari retired when you did, don’t ditch the zip-off pants just yet. A real silver safari is not only doable, but also readily available and won’t break your body or the bank. By real, I mean hearing lions outside your camp at night, walking the veld with African guides, canoeing past grazing elephants, and scaling vast sand dunes. I’m 60, he’s 70-plus, and we’re still dusting ourselves off from a three-week Sunway Southern Circle safari of Namibia and Botswana featuring all of these. It was a wild ride in every sense, yet we emerged safe, sound and totally satisfied. Silver adventurers generally have the dream, the time, funds and health to travel. Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) statistics for 2018 state 41% of adventure tourism clients are now in the 50 to 70 age group, increasing numbers of them solo women. ATTA also reports southern African countries trending as a silver destination, and group safaris their most popular way to explore them. Tour companies are rushing to accommodate this growth market, which doesn’t mean the risks inherent in Africa travel have disappeared. By its very nature, this can be a place unforgiving of mistakes, so I have a few tips to ensure your venture into the African wilds is a ‘safe’-ari of the silver kind. Flights Firstly, fly safe. We learned the hard way on a previous Africa trip that flights are often delayed or cancelled, every zip on your in-hold luggage must be locked, and that connecting flights into and throughout Africa are best taken with the same airline. With its dependability and comfort, we were mighty pleased South African Airways (SAA) was the only airline flying both Africa legs of our journey – Perth to Johannesburg then Jo’burg to Livingstone where our Namibia and Botswana safari started and finished. By using SAA’s Alliance partner, Air New Zealand, for the Auckland/Perth section, we could also check our luggage through from the first airport to the last, be confident of receiving it, and have helpdesk support should problems arise. Choosing your tour How to travel Botswana and Namibia once we got there involved greater research. Eventually we figured a group tour was easier, cheaper and safer than going it alone. We opted for Sunway Safaris as an experienced operator with a local agent – again, in case of problems. Its 12-person max Southern Circle safari tour met our list of must-sees, was English-speaking and seemed a comfortable size. A well established safari company can keep costs down; our 21-day, accommodated safari with most meals provided coming in at a very affordable price. The company had forged strong relationships with communities along the route, which was also important to us, and contributed to them by employing locals as guides and tour support staff. A small group maximises personal assistance from the tour guide. When two tour companions arrived at Livingstone airport nearly two weeks before their luggage (did I mention using the same airline?), our guide’s superior tracking skills and persistence eventually helped reunite them, catalysing a memorable ‘suitcase party’ in the Namib Desert beneath a full moon. That was two weeks into the tour by which time we knew our fellow passengers well. Having shared many hours in a safari truck, convivial meals and intense wildlife experiences, we looked out for each other, which brings a security money can’t buy. Being safe in the wild Two thirds of us fell into the silver traveller category, and at no point did age compromise our experience. We coped well with the safari walks, climbing into safari vehicles or mokoro (canoes) and scaling gigantic sand dunes, none of which were compulsory, anyway. At the Okavango Delta camp we embraced the challenges of a chemical toilet ensuite and open air shower, both proving the most welcome of the trip. However, the lions, hyena and elephants visiting camp at night did stretch some comfort zones, despite our African guides’ assurances we were safe inside our tents. Turns out we were, and we came to trust the local guides implicitly. They knew the places and animals, so when they told us not to move as elephants approached, we didn’t, or to walk in single file at a steady pace when lions were about, we did. One handy tip I learned for myself was to stay between more courageous souls in these situations, which definitely felt safer although not as exciting. Eating and sleeping Exciting did describe some of our accommodation. At my age, the quality of nightly rest is a major factor in tour choice, so my favourite surprised me. Overlooking Namibia’s Okavango River and consisting of roll-up bamboo walls and an outdoor bathroom, I eventually managed to settle to sleep here while a hundred-plus elephants socialised on the opposite river bank. Our accommodation exceeded expectations, as did the food. As on many African safaris, our driver and guide cooked most meals, which were healthy and hearty. However, we did assist with the washing up and sanitising of plates and cutlery, one of the hygiene measures I credit with the absence of Africa tummy throughout our tour. Packing Many dinners were held around the safari truck at night, and I was glad of the head torch included in the comprehensive packing list offered by the tour company. As usual, I put in more clothes than suggested, which ended up donated to our tour mates with lost suitcases. I didn’t miss them. I also brought plentiful medical supplies, but learned the hard way to consult a travel doctor about pills, vaccinations and the medical certificate sometimes required for over-70s, at least two months before departing. We left jewellery at home to deter thieves, and took only the necessary camera and communication equipment, keeping it hidden from view when not in use. These are sensible precautions that gave us the security to have fun and be brave, a safari attitude for which there is no age limit. So, dig out those zip-offs and check they still fit the wanna-be silver adventurer you. You may have given up the day job, but there’s no need to give up that safari day dream just yet. Scroll through the gallery above to see what an African safari is like.

International Travel

8 helpful Safari browsing tips for iPad users

Getting your head around the many shortcuts and features of a mobile web browser can sometimes feel like you’re trekking through a jungle without a compass. We’ve put together a handy guide to using Safari on your iPad or iPhone, so you can spend more time surfing the web and less time wondering why 18 windows suddenly popped up on your screen all at once. 1. Safari Reader It can difficult to concentrate on what you’re reading online, particularly on mobile platforms. Safari for your iPad has a Reader Modes to simplify the way text and images appear on screen. With a tap of the small icon directly to the left of Safari’s search bar (it looks like four horizontal lines) the Reader Mode pares the page back to its bare bones, showing only the article text and images. 2. Find in Page Somewhat hidden to the naked eye, Safari has incorporated a simple Find in Page option to help you track down specific words. Simply type the word or phrase you’re after into the search bar and tap the “Find” option that should appear at the bottom of your list to search the current page. It may be obscured by the onscreen keyboard, and in that case all you have to do is scroll down further. 3. Changing Font Size Safari’s Reader Mode has also made it easy to increase and decrease font size, to help you focus on particularly dense paragraphs. Changing this font setting is easy. Simply go to Settings, tap the button that says General then tap Text size and adjust the slider to whatever best suits you. 4. Managing your favourites To add a website to your list of favourites simply tap the Share button, then tap Bookmark and add it to your Favourites Folder. When you open a new tab you will notice that Safari gives you one-tap access to websites you’ve favourited and Safari makes it easy to put favourites in separate folders. 5. Offline Reading Safari’s Reader List option allows you to save specific pages to read later, even if you are offline. Just like adding a Favourite, simply tap the Share button to get started. Then tap Add to Reading List and voila! Safari will also save a copy for you to view offline if you’re between hotspots or low on data. 6. Swipe Through Pages Navigate through webpages with the convenience of modern dating. Safari enables iPad users to swipe backwards and forwards to access previously visited websites. For example, to go backwards simply swipe your finger right across the screen from the left hand side and vice versa. 7. Working with tabs Open a multiple tabs at the one time and cycle between them with Safari’s innovative tab manager. Simply tap the Tab button at the bottom right hand corner of your app and you can easily navigate through all the tabs you have open. Press the X button or swipe your tab to the left to close it. 8. Change settings and clear private data Accessing these applications is relatively straightforward. To access Safari’s settings you will need to go back to your home screen and click the Settings icon, then select the Safari icon. From here it is easy to change individual settings and get rid of any private data you may want cleared. So there you have it, eight simple steps to help you get the most out of Safari. Hopefully this will have you out of the jungle of confusion and onto the open plain of fruitful web browsing. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/09/how-to-stop-telemarketer-calls/">How to stop telemarketer calls</a> <a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/08/internet-terms-to-know/">The internet terms you should know</a> <a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/08/tips-for-pinterest/">5 useful tips every Pinterest user should know</a>

Technology

Why Singapore’s night safari is a must-visit

Justine Tyerman has a thrilling, action-packed evening at Night Safari in Singapore as part of a Singapore Airlines stopover package en route to Laos. The animals at Singapore’s Night Safari were so obliging, at first I was convinced they were life-like moving models. As we drove around in the cool of the evening, every animal appeared right on cue, just a few metres away from our safari wagon tram. Within 40 minutes, we were taken around the world to six geographical regions – the Himalayas, India, Africa, Asia, Nepal and Burma – and met over 1000 animals from 120 different species. Lions, tigers, leopards, rhinos, hippos, elephants, hyenas, deer, water buffalo, sloth bears, Asiatic black bears, otters and countless other creatures were roaming freely or enjoying their night time feed in wide open spaces that closely replicate their natural habitat. Many are endangered with few left in the wild. <img width="500" height="479" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/43079/the-leopard-viewing-gallery-at-night-safari_500x479.jpg" alt="The Leopard Viewing Gallery At Night Safari."/> Leopards at a viewing gallery on one of the walking trails at Night Safari. Himalayan Foothills We began our journey in the rocky, arid, steep terrain of the Himalayan foothills where sure-footed tahr were silhouetted high on rocky outcrops. Bharal, or blue sheep, and mouflon, ancestors of the domestic sheep, were grazing, along with the world’s largest wild goat, the markhor, with its long corkscrew horns. India Travelling through India, we met barasingha deer whose spectacular antlers have as many as 12 spikes, and striped hyena foraging for food. We explored the dense Gir Forest where a pride of lions were munching on their meaty dinner. Smaller than their African cousins, there are only around 300 surviving in the wild today. <img width="499" height="290" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/43078/2_499x290.jpg" alt="2 (18)"/> Asian lions stalking their dinner. India is also home to the sloth bear whose loud sucking noises we could hear as they extracted tasty morsels from insect mounds. Equatorial Africa On the plains of Equatorial Africa, we encountered a graceful Cape giraffe, scimitar-horned oryx and noisy ‘laughing hyena’. Africa’s biggest antelope, the bongo, were an impressive sight with their spiralling horns, white stripes and chestnut red coat. My favourite here was the Nile hippopotamus, a grass-eating heavyweight whose quizzical looks belie his dangerous nature. The commentary in tram told us hippos kill more humans in Africa than any other animals. <img width="498" height="265" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/43077/1_498x265.jpg" alt="1 (20)"/> One of the stars of the Creatures of the Night Show, a spotted hyena. Rainforests of Southeast Asia In the rainforests of Southeast Asia, we were surrounded by bearded pigs, the highly social red dholes and free-roaming Malayan tapirs foraging for shoots and leaves in the undergrowth right beside the tram. We came face-to-tusk, at a safe distance, with the enormous bull elephant Chawang, the icon of Night Safari, and a herd of female Asian elephants looking after a little calf. Such an awesome sight in the moonlight! Nepal The marshlands of the Nepalese River valley are the natural habitat of the rhinoceros. He looks like a tank with his layers of grey armour. Tragically, his trademark horn makes him a target for poaching and there are fewer than 2000 greater Asian rhinoceros left in the wild today. We also spotted sambar, the largest of Asia’s deer, and the free-ranging spotted axis deer. <img width="499" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/43076/the-indian-rhino-is-an-endangered-species-hunted-for-his-horn_499x333.jpg" alt="The Indian Rhino Is An Endangered Species Hunted For His Horn."/> The Indian rhino is an endangered species hunted for his horn. Burma An Indian wolf was howling to the moon as we left the valley and moved on to a hillside in Burma, home to the world’s largest wild cattle, the gaur. Weighing as much as a tonne, the humpback males can clear a six-foot fence from a standing jump. At the other end of the cattle scale are the petite banteng. The bulls have horns that look like a Viking headdress. Another highlight of Night Safari is the Malayan tiger, a magnificent creature that can be spotted prowling or lounging around his spacious home. I was horrified to hear they are also critically-endangered with only about 240-350 are left in the wild today. So too the Asiatic black bear. The existence in the wild of these omnivores, also known as moon bears due to the sickle-shaped patch of white fur on their chest, is precarious. Their habitat is being destroyed due to deforestation and in some parts of the world, they are farmed in cages for the bile from their gall bladders, a substance used in traditional medicine. It’s heart-breaking to imagine these beautiful animals shut up in cages all their lives. If you have time, you can also follow four interlinked walking trails that take you even closer to Sri Lankan leopards, wallabies, fishing cats, otters and the critically-endangered Sunda pangolin. <img width="500" height="308" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/43075/a-fishing-cat-at-night-safari_500x308.jpg" alt="A Fishing Cat At Night Safari."/> A fishing cat at Night Safari. Creatures of the Night Show After the safari, make sure you catch the Creatures of the Night Show, a highly-entertaining, fun, informative 20-minute animal extravaganza starring an otter that knows how to recycle rubbish, the African serval or wild cat that leaps staggeringly-high in the air to catch its prey and… I had a feeling it was coming… Maggie, the very, very long reticulated python. Being a snake-phobic Kiwi, my heart started pounding at the mere sight of the massive creature. Needless to say I was not one of the many who volunteered to hold, pat and get to know Maggie. Thumbuakar Warriors If that’s not sufficient excitement for one evening, watch the adrenalin-pumping Thumbuakar tribal pyro warriors’ fire-eating, flame-throwing and fire sticks performance. The pair spewed flames high in the air at the death-defying climax of the show. <img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/43074/the-thrilling-finale-of-the-thumbuakar-fire-show_500x333.jpg" alt="The Thrilling Finale Of The Thumbuakar Fire Show. (1)"/> The spectacular Thumbuakar Fire Show at Night Safari. I got such a fright, I leapt backwards and landed on a young Aussie who kindly stood me back up on my own feet. Night Safari is just one of four world-class wildlife reserves in the city, the others being Singapore Zoo, the world’s best rainforest zoo; River Safari, Asia’s only river-themed wildlife park; and Jurong Bird Park, Asia’s largest bird aviary. Night Safari, River Safari and Singapore Zoo are located in Mandai, north Singapore within walking distance of each other, while Jurong Bird Park is west of Singapore. To do these world-class, award-winning attractions justice, allocate at least half a day to each – or a day if you are a wildlife lover like me. And there’s much more to come. Within the next four or five years, the Mandai precinct on which Night Safari stands, will see the addition of a new Bird Park, Rainforest Park, a nature-themed indoor attraction and eco-accommodation linked by walking trails and boardwalks. Development will be completed in phases, with the Bird Park and Rainforest Park scheduled to open by 2020 and 2021. Image credits: Night Safari * Justine Tyerman travelled with <a href="http://www.innovativetravel.co.nz/" target="_blank">Innovative Travel</a>, a Christchurch-based boutique tour operator. Innovative Travel has a <a href="http://www.innovativetravel.co.nz/travel_companions.club" target="_blank">Travel Companions’ Club</a>, ideal for solo travellers. * <a href="http://www.singaporeair.com/" target="_blank">Singapore Airlines</a> flies from Auckland to Singapore daily, from Wellington four times weekly, and from Christchurch daily. Singapore Airlines and its regional wing <a href="http://www.silkair.com/">SilkAir</a>operate 139 weekly flights from eight Australian cities to Singapore. *Among many top tourist attractions included free in the Singapore Airlines stopover package are Night Safari, Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Cable Car to Sentosa Island, Singapore Flyer, and the SIA Hop-On Bus. Republished with the permission of <a href="https://travelmemo.com/asia/singapore/night-safari-singapore" target="_blank">Travelmemo.com.</a>

International Travel

An outback safari in Broken Hill

Over60 travel writer Lucy Jones heads to Outback NSWon a three-day trip with Tri State Safaris visiting Broken Hill, Menindee and White Cliffs. In 1928 a newly married Catherine Alice Simpson arrived in Menindee, a tiny outpost in the far west of New South Wales on the banks of the Darling River. She was 21 years old, barely five foot tall and was to move into a small house behind the post office along with her husband, the postmaster. It didn’t rain once for the next three years. Almost 90 years later, I find myself standing in front of the very same post office. Catherine was my great grandmother. Her memories of Menindee seemed to consist mostly of sweeping – endless sweeping – in an attempt to keep the all-pervasive red desert dust out of the house. Towards the end of the drought, the dust was piled so high around town that it was possible to walk right over the paddock fences. I’m here with Tri State Safaris on a three-day Outback Exposure tour. Guide Geoff Spangler is at the wheel of our comfortable safari vehicle and proves to be an endless font of local knowledge and amusing anecdotes. I also suspect he has some sort of bionic vision. It was not uncommon for him to spot a perfectly camouflaged lizard no bigger than your hand while flying along at 100 kilometres an hour. We tend to think of the ‘outback’ as covering only central Australia and it’s easy to forget that it actually stretches across six states. This corner of NSW, close to the border of South Australia, is something of a forgotten gem. In the mid-1800s towns like Menindee and nearby Wilcannia were effectively the edge of the known universe for European settlers in eastern Australia. They were thriving outposts for travellers and settlers, and are still dotted with grand sandstone public buildings, though most now stand empty. The region is most famous as the jumping off point for ill-fated explorers Burke and Wills. Burke, the leader of the expedition, was a military man and police officer. Wills was a scientist and surveyor. Neither had the kind of experience that would seem necessary for a 3,250-kilometre trek across the continent, through some of the most inhospitable territory on the planet. But it was the great Victorian age of exploration and they set off with an admirable, if foolhardy, confidence. The group left Menindee in 1860 and was never seen again. For all its dust and ferocious heat, the desert here is remarkably beautiful. A prolonged drought had been broken some months before and everything is (relatively) lush and green. Thousands of delicate paper daisies line the road. Emus and kangaroos are plentiful, prompted to breed in greater numbers by the plentiful water. The Menindee Lakes are filling rapidly and water is pouring down the Darling River. We board the small River Lady boat for a cruise on Lake Wetherell, where the contrast is staggering. In March 2016 the lake was completely dry, but now it’s over capacity and we are winding between the ghostly trunks of trees reaching from metres of water. After spending the night on the banks of the Darling, we head north for the opal mining town of White Cliffs. You know a place is hot when residents choose to burrow their homes into the hillside to escape the scorching sun. The town is consistently one of the hottest places in the country and during summer daytime temperatures rarely dip below the high 30s. In January 1973 the mercury hit a record 48.6 degrees, which is enough to make anyone want to live underground. Thankfully, the pool at the White Cliffs Underground Motel is always refreshingly cool. The hotel itself is a winding labyrinth of narrow corridors that open out into high-ceilinged rooms carved right out of the rock. Temperatures inside stay at a comfortable 22 to 23 degrees all year round, but don’t expect any phone reception of Wi-Fi inside. White Cliffs is a town built, quite literally on opal. It was first discovered in 1884 by a pair of stockhands out kangaroo shooting and soon more than 2,000 miners were digging into the white sandstone in search of the glittering stones. In 1902, 140,000 pounds of opals were mined and sold. But its heyday was short lived. The First World War called the miners away and brought an end to trade with Germany, then one of the world’s largest opal markets, and the town never really recovered. A few hardy prospectors remain and one, Graeme, takes us down his mine. He spends as much time as possible below ground, carving out the rock by hand with the passionate fervour of a gambler on the cusp of his next big win. Which, I guess, he essentially is. On the way back to Broken Hill the next day, there’s one more stop. The ancient Mutawintji National Park is of special significance to the local indigenous people and rock art here dates back some 8,000 years. Indigenous guide Mark takes us into the restricted Historic Site, home to one of the state’s best collections of Aboriginal art. It’s humbling to think of how little time we have inhabited this continent and how much has come before us. *The three-day Outback Exposure tour with Tri State Safaris departs from Broken Hill and is priced from $1,380 per person twin share. Find more at, tristate.com.au. Have you ever been to this beautiful part of Australia? Image credit: Lucy Jones

International Travel

The best intergenerational holidays to keep young and old happy

For some people, the idea of travelling with three (or more) generations of the family is a nightmare, but intergenerational holidays are becoming hugely popular. Choose the right kind of holiday and it will be a trip you’ll never forget – for all the right reasons. Cruise Pick the right ship and there really is something for everyone on a cruise. Large resort style ships have fantastic kids clubs segregated by age, so toddlers can be playing games while teens are making new friends in the lounge – and all under adult supervision. The new generation of ships has fun facilities like waterslides, skydiving simulators, ice rinks, dodgem cars and flying trapeze to keep everyone entertained. For the grown ups there’s a daily schedule of trivia, bingo, karaoke, classes and lectures, as well as a spa and plenty of deckchairs for lounging. And all this is before you even start exploring the ports. Families can spend as much or as little time together as they like while always knowing that everyone is safe and happy. Private Villa When you need to accommodate at least three generations, you’re going to need a lot of rooms. Villas are by far the most economical and practical option for large family groups. You’ll find them everywhere from Bali to Tuscany and ranging from the fairly basic to the ultra luxe. Families will get multiple bedrooms, a full kitchen, living areas and outdoor space, often with a pool. Families can choose to do their own shopping and cooking to save money, though many villas across Asia come with a full staff for a very reasonable price. Camping Grab the tents, throw the kids in the station wagon and head bush. Camping is great for large groups and allows families to spend quality time together in a laid back, relaxed environment. A lot of campsites have great facilities, like swimming pools and playgrounds, to keep the kids happy as well as decent bathrooms and even outdoor kitchens. Spend your time fishing, hiking, reading or just telling stories around a campfire – no iPads or phones necessary. It’s an Australian classic holiday that will be a hit with the whole family – plus it’s hard to beat for value. Safari This is one for the bucket list. Safaris are well suited for people of all ages and there are plenty of options to customise your experience. When out scouting for animals, some of the group can head off to explore on horseback or bicycles while others watch from the comfort of the truck. Many safari lodges run programs specifically for children where they can learn about conservation or animal behaviours with one of the staff while the adults are enjoying a sundowner. Safaris certainly aren’t a cheap option, but with a large group you can easily organise your own private tour that will allow you to see exactly what you want for a price you can afford.

International Travel

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The best intergenerational holidays to keep young and old happy