A wild time
They may not be able to offer killer whales, but the new brochure from Hoseasons (01502 500500) highlights plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities within easy reach of its UK lodges and parks. Try the Quay West Holiday Park in Cardigan Bay for a chance to see bottle-nosed dolphins and the Kippford Holiday Park in Dumfries and Galloway to inspect an indigenous red squirrel population. A week at the Martin Mere Holiday Village in Lancashire, set in its own nature reserve, costs from £219 for a caravan sleeping up to four people.
Cowboy Christmas
Sleighbells and snowballs may not be the first things to spring to mind when you think of an American ranch holiday - but that could be about to change. From now until Easter, Black Mountain Ranch in Colorado and Triple Creek Ranch in Montana are offering 'winter adventure' packages which give guests the chance to combine sleigh rides, snowmobiling, ice fishing and cross country skiing with traditional ranch activities such as horseriding and feeding the cattle. A week at the Triple Creek costs from £1,975 per person including air fares, all meals, activities and accommodation in your own log cabin, complete with fireplace. For details see Ranch America's new brochure (01923 671831).
Manet's worth
Though Manet's paintings were not always appreciated in his lifetime, the artist's works, such as The Fifer and The Absinthe Drinker , now receive the acclaim they deserve. Catch the Musée D'Orsay's exhibition of 70 still life paintings, drawings and watercolours before 7 January when it moves to the States. VFB Holidays (01242 240 310) is offering a two-night break to Paris with accommodation, midweek travel on Eurostar, entrance ticket to the exhibition and insurance from £152 per person.
Cruise control
The Chilean fjords, China's Yangtse River and the Great Barrier Reef all feature in the expanded long-haul line-up from river and coastal cruise specialist Travel Renaissance. A 21-day itinerary from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso in Chile explores the glaciers, lakes and waterfalls of the fjords on board the coastal vessel MS Switzerland. Prices start at £2,595, including BA flights, and 17 nights' full-board accommodation on the ship. For a copy of the brochure, which also includes an expanded range of European cruising options, call 01372 742033.
Health check
An American and a British traveller who had both stayed in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania have been diagnosed with African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). The tsetse fly, which transmits the disease, is attracted to large moving objects, certain scents and dark blue. Tsetse flies follow vehicles in infested areas so travellers on safari should keep vehicle windows closed. Insect repellents are of some use, but are not always effective against tsetse flies. The first sign of infection usually occurs after three days with the appearance of a sore at the bite site. Fever, headache and insomnia may follow, with central nervous system involvement if untreated. There is no vaccine, but there are effective treatments available.
To obtain a health brief tailored to your journey call the MASTA Travellers Health Line on 0906 8 224 100 (calls charged at 60p/min). For general travel health advice visit the website at www.masta.org.
