According to UNESCO, the site “constitutes a spectacular example of a living cultural tradition stretching back 21 generations (more than 400 years) adapted to its dry hostile environment. The landscape demonstrates the shared values, social cohesion and engineering knowledge of its communities.”

In addition to showcasing the Konso people’s traditional lifestyle, the Cultural Landscape also contains funeral monuments called wagas. These wooden statues are carved in the likeness of the deceased as well as his family and the person or animal he died fighting. UNESCO says that this funeral tradition is “on the verge of disappearing,” so see them while you can.

To visit Ethiopia, you will need a visa. US citizens flying in to Bole International Airport may apply for an Ethiopian visa on arrival, but be aware that this may complicate your entry into the country. In fact, the Department of State says that tourists arriving without visas may be “significantly delayed.”

If the prospect of being “significantly delayed” in a foreign country after a long flight makes you want to tear your hair out, stop and take a breath. There is another way: you can apply for your Ethiopian visa in advance before you leave the country.

Also, please note that if you’re entering Ethiopia by land, you have to apply for a visa ahead of time.

To get an Ethiopian visa, you need the following documents:

• 1 completed Ethiopian visa application form
• 1 passport-sized photo of yourself
• A copy of your round-trip itinerary
• Your US passport

RushMyTravelVisa makes getting an Ethiopian visa before your trip easy and quick. We know you have more important things to do, like packing, so we walk you through the application process to reduce the chance of errors. Then, we deliver your paperwork to the appropriate Ethiopian Embassy or Consulate for the fastest possible service.

Apply for your Ethiopian visa today!

“I’ve known some travelers to be put off by the haze of diesel fumes on Ring Road, or by the lack of sidewalks and the prevalence of open sewers. But don’t make your judgment in a day, or even a couple. Take your time, watch your step, and don’t be shy.”

Explore the city with an open mind, and you’ll find excellent food, music, shopping, and arts galore. Read the Matador post for some great recommendations.

Planning your Trip

American citizens need a visa to enter Ghana. Apply for your Ghana visa in advance, allowing enough time for it to arrive before your planned departure. You must include the following documents when you submit the application:

• 4 copies of the Ghana visa application form. To avoid getting writer’s cramp, you can photocopy the application, BUT each form must have your original signature on it. Be sure to sign each copy individually.

• A copy of your international yellow fever vaccine certificate. Keep the original-you will need to carry it with you to enter Ghana.

• A copy of your round-trip plane tickets or your travel itinerary.

• Your US passport, which must be valid for at least 6 more months and have a blank page in the back where the visa can be attached.

Single-Entry visas cost $50 and are valid for 3 months from the date they are issued, while multiple-entry visas cost $80.00. If you require expedited service, the Ghana Embassy charges an additional fee of $30.00.

Using RushMyTravelVisa greatly simplifies the process of getting a Ghana visa. We walk you step-by-step through the paperwork and expedite your visa with the Ghana embassy for the quickest processing available.

Apply for your Ghana visa today!

The camp’s location also gives you front-row seats to the Great Migration- specifically, that “Trials of Life” moment when the wildebeest cross the river.

The camp is subdivided into two smaller camps, each with its own facilities, including a bar, a swimming hole, a dining hall and a library. The tents have indoor plumbing and flushable toilets.

Plus, if the camp’s blog is to be believed, the camp itself is beautiful. The tents, built on wooden platforms, are light and airy. The bathrooms are huge. And the whole camp, when viewed from a distance, seems to disappear into the surrounding landscape.

Of course, all this luxury comes at a price: $4,200 per week or more, to be exact. That includes drinks, food, laundry and activities, but of course it doesn’t include getting there. You’re on your own for that.

One additional item you’ll need to procure is a Tanzanian visa. US citizens can apply for one for upon arrival at the airport. However, if you get yours before you leave the US you’ll be able to leave the airport much more quickly. Whatever you decide, you’ll need the following documents to apply for the visa:

• 1 Tanzanian visa application form
• 2 recent passport photos
• A copy of a recent bank statement
• An international certificate of vaccination for yellow fever
• A travel itinerary. If you’re making it up as you go along, you can instead provide a bank statement showing a minimum balance of $2,000.
• If you’re going on an organized tour, you will need a letter from the tour operator showing you are paid in full.
• Your passport. Check the expiration date, as it must be more than 6 months in the future. If it expires before then, no visa for you!

RushMyTravelVisa makes negotiating the Tanzanian visa application process easy and quick. We assist you with the paperwork to help you avoid common errors that could delay your application. Then, we expedite your application for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Tanzanian visa today!

]]> http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2011/07/get-a-tanzanian-visa-to-watch-wildlife-in-luxury/feed/ 0 http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2011/06/laos-visa-requirements-to-visit-kong-lo-cave/ http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2011/06/laos-visa-requirements-to-visit-kong-lo-cave/#comments Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:31:21 +0000 admin http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/?p=1356 f you’re looking to get off the beaten path in Laos, Matador Travel has an excellent recommendation: a visit to Kong Lo Cave in Phu Hin Bun National Park.

About 7 hours away from Vientiane if you’re lucky, Kong Lo Cave was carved from the surrounding rock by an underground river. For a fee, you can tour the cave by boat, descending into the bowels of the earth and coming out the other side about 7 kilometers later. This video shows the end of one such boat ride.

Matador describes the ride into the cave as “like entering a mouth — stalactites like teeth, and the feeling that you’re going inside, riding inside, the body of the earth, organs frozen rock-hard. My torch casts a feeble glow into the black; mist rises from the water like ghosts.”

On the other side, if you’re so inclined, you can get off the boat and stay in the remote village of Ban Natane. There are no hotels or guesthouses here- instead, you’ll stay with local families in their homes. It’s a great way to experience traditional Lao culture.

Before you get to the cave, though, you’ll have to get into Laos. That means getting a Laos visa. If you plan to stay in the country for less than 30 days, you can get a visa on arrival at certain airports and land crossings. If you’ll be entering the country by plane, it’s best to check ahead of time with your airline to see if you can get a visa when you land. You can also apply before you leave the US.

Here’s what you need to get a Laos visa if you’re visiting as a tourist:

• 2 application forms for a Laos tourist visa
• 3 passport-sized photos
• A copy of your itinerary

RushMyTravelVisa makes it easy to apply for a visa to Laos and to any other countries on your itinerary. We’ll research your travel plans, tell you exactly what you need, and help you with the required paperwork. Then, we’ll deliver your Laos visa application to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Laos visa today!

UNESCO calls it “a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design which simply and graphically illustrates a cosmogony of great importance for the evolution of one of the world’s great civilizations.”

The Temple of Heaven stopped being used as such in 1911, when the ceremonies were forbidden by the Republic of China. However, the impressive altars and temples remained, surviving even after the complex was occupied by the Japanese in World War II. Now, it is a public park, and a popular place for Beijing residents to get some fresh air and exercise.

To visit the Temple of Heaven, you’ll need a Chinese visa for tourists, also known as an “L” visa. Here’s what you’ll need to get one:

• A Chinese visa application

• Your US passport, which must be valid for at least 6 more months. You’ll also need at least one blank page in the back.

• A copy of your passport’s information page (the page with your name, date of birth, etc on it).

• One passport photo glued or stapled to the application.

• If you are leaving within the next 7 days, include a copy of your travel itinerary so that your Chinese visa can be expedited.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you get your Chinese visa quickly and easily. We’ll walk you through the paperwork, step-by-step, then deliver your visa application to the Chinese Embassy for the fastest possible processing.

China visa requirements can be confusing, but don’t let that stop you. Apply for your Chinese visa with us today!

For centuries, the Cossacks formed a military society and organized themselves into nations called “Hosts.” Raiders and pirates, their pursuit of plunder either caused or contributed to several military conflicts between Poland, Russia and the Ottoman Empire. Yet, their independence and adherence to the “Cossack traditions” (kind of like the Pirates’ Code for Cossacks) has made them the stuff of legend.

Get a Russian visa, and you can tour part of the historic homeland of the Black Sea Cossack Host in South Russia. There are two main sites to explore: Taman and surrounding areas, and Krasnodar. Bootsnall notes that the latter is an especially good place to get a feel for Cossack history:

“The current government aims to resurrect the Cossack traditions and thus Cossack monuments, memorabilia and customs are in abundance. In fact, most of the monuments in the city are dedicated either to Catherine the Great or the Cossacks. Do pay a visit to the State Archeological Museum to see the exhibition on the Cossack way of living and see some of their relics. Every Sunday at noon there is a fascinating change of guard in the center of the city.”

To get there, you’ll need to get a Russian visa first. Unfortunately, Russia’s complex visa system means that you might need the fortitude of a Cossack to do so. Here’s a brief rundown of what you’ll need:

• Your passport.
• A completed Russian visa application form
• 1 passport photo
• A copy of your airline tickets or a copy of your itinerary showing your flight number and the dates that you’ll be in Russia.
• A tourist invitation from a Russian travel agency or hotel that can serve as your visa sponsor. The hotel or travel agency must be registered with the Russian government.
• A hotel voucher from your hotel.

RushMyTravelVisa can greatly simplify the process of getting a Russian visa. We’ll research your itinerary, help you complete the paperwork and gather the required documents, then submit them to the Russian Embassy for the fastest possible processing.

Let us help you get a Russian visa today!

]]> http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2011/05/get-a-russian-visa-to-explore-the-land-of-the-cossacks/feed/ 0 http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2011/04/places-to-go-with-your-tanzanian-visa-tarangire-national-park/ http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2011/04/places-to-go-with-your-tanzanian-visa-tarangire-national-park/#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 02:04:52 +0000 admin http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/?p=1345 The Serengeti gets all the glory, but if you’re visiting Tanzania, make sure you carve some time out for Tarangire National Park as well. Frommer’s, who recently named Tarangire one of the best parks in Tanzania, says that “While the focus for most travelers to Tanzania is nearby Serengeti, many come away claiming lesser-known Tarangire as the real highlight of their trip.”

What makes Tarangire so special? At only 2,850 square kilometers, it may not be the largest park in Africa, but it has one of the densest wildlife populations – proof that sometimes good things do come in small packages. Here, you’ll see elephants, zebra, wildebeest and scores of antelope, including the fabled oryx, often thought to have inspired the legend of the unicorn.

Look up in the ancient baobab trees, and you might be surprised to see climbing pythons or even regal lions draping themselves across the branches. The Tarangire River, which runs through the park, is one of the regions most important and reliable sources of water during the dry season, so there’s little chance that you’ll leave disappointed.

To see Tarangire National Park, you’ll need a Tanzanian visa. US citizens are eligible to apply for their visas when they arrive at the airport, but if you apply in advance you’ll be able to escape from the airport much more quickly. Whatever you decide, you’ll need the following documents to apply for the visa:

• 1 Tanzanian visa application form
• 2 recent passport photos
• A copy of a recent bank statement
• An international certificate of vaccination for yellow fever
• A travel itinerary. If you’re making it up as you go along, you can instead provide a bank statement showing a minimum balance of $2,000.
• If you’re going on an organized tour, you will need a letter from the tour operator showing you are paid in full.
• Your US passport, which must be valid for at least 6 more months after you plan to travel.

RushMyTravelVisa makes negotiating the Tanzanian visa application process easy and quick. We assist you with the paperwork to help you avoid common errors that could delay your application. Then, we expedite your application for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Tanzanian visa today!

Gadling spoke with several tour operators in the region and came away with the impression that yes, Egypt is now safe for tourists again. For example, Abercrombie and Kent told them that “the situation has improved dramatically in recent weeks. The U.S. State Department has softened its Travel Warning and both the French and the British have updated their cautions. Airports and financial institutions are functioning normally and popular tourist sites are open – and remarkably free of visitors. Beyond that, Egyptians are relishing their new-found freedom and a sense of optimism is palpable wherever you go…With a stable political situation, crowd-free sites and a newly energized people, this is the moment to experience Egypt.”

However, the US State Department does still have a travel warning out for Egypt. While they aren’t advising US citizens to halt travel to the country altogether, they do advise being cautious and alert:

“Elements of the Egyptian government responsible for ensuring security and public safety are not fully reconstituted and are still in the process of being reorganized. Until the redeployment of Egyptian civilian police is fully restored, police response to emergency requests for assistance or reports of crime may be delayed…The security situation in Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea Resorts, including Sharm el Sheikh, is calm; however, the situation across Egypt remains unpredictable and subject to change. Travelers should remain in contact with their tour operators.”

Is it safe to visit Egypt? The ultimate answer to that question depends on your personal tolerance for risk, but you can minimize your personal risk by planning ahead, using a reputable tour operator and registering with the Department of State via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

If you decide to go, you’ll need an Egyptian visa. If you are entering by land, you should apply for your visa in advance and have it before you leave the US. If you’re flying in, you can apply on arrival. However, you also have the option of applying in advance, and if you do, you’ll be able to leave the airport faster.

To apply for an Egyptian visa, the following documents are required:

• A valid US passport.
• A passport photo.
• Plane tickets or a copy of your itinerary
• A completed Egyptian visa application.

RushMyTravelVisa can help speed up the Egyptian visa application process and make it simpler for you. We’ll walk you through the paperwork and expedite it with the Egyptian Embassy for the fastest possible processing.

Need help getting an Egyptian visa? Contact us today!

The “Big Five “– lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos and elephants — get top billing, but you can also see a staggering number of smaller but equally interesting creatures, including wildebeest, baboons, giraffe, zebra, hyena and many different types of antelopes.  Plus, there are multitudes of birds including ostriches, cranes and hornbills.

The park is well-developed for tourism, with options ranging from lodges to tent camping. Camping, naturally, is the most economical way to go. Another way to cut costs is to avoid the park during the Great Migration, which happens from July to September. You’ll still see plenty of wildlife, though the chances of rain are higher in the off-season.

To get to Masai Mara National Park, you will need a Kenyan visa. You can get a visa at the airport, but expect delays if you do. You’ll get through immigration more quickly if you get a visa in advance, before you leave the US. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 Kenyan visa application form

• 1 passport photo

• A copy of your travel itinerary

When you apply in advance for a Kenyan visa, the information on the form is required to be typed. You’ll need to go to Kenyan Embassy’s website online, fill out the form, then print it.

RushMyTravelVisa makes it easy to get the visas you need for your trip. We’ll go over your itinerary and research it, making sure you have all the documents you need before you leave. Then, we’ll walk you through the application process and expedite your paperwork to get it processed as quickly as possible.

Ready to go on safari? Apply for your Kenyan visa today!

]]> http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2011/04/get-a-kenyan-visa-for-a-safari-in-masai-mara/feed/ 0 http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2011/04/a-chinese-visa-your-key-to-enter-the-forbidden-city/ http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/2011/04/a-chinese-visa-your-key-to-enter-the-forbidden-city/#comments Mon, 18 Apr 2011 02:34:21 +0000 admin http://www.rushmytravelvisa.com/blog/?p=1332 This week’s featured UNESCO World Heritage Site was the home of the last two great Chinese dynasties: the Ming and the Qing. Once, the Forbidden City was the center of the Chinese empire. Nobody could enter or leave without the permission of the emperor, hence the name.

The last emperor of China was kicked out of the palace in 1924, and the Forbidden City is now the Palace Museum, open to anyone who can pay the fees. Still, it continues to impress and delight visitors.

Part of the Forbidden City’s grandeur comes simply from its scale. It is the largest palace complex in the world, and took 15 years to build. When the trees were cut down for the main hall, records indicate that the massive trunks were too big for workers to move.  Instead, they had to wait for floods to wash them into the river, then guide them to the city using boats.

But it’s not just the enormity of the Forbidden City that’s impressive. The entire complex is painstakingly designed and flawlessly executed. UNESCO says that “The buildings of the Forbidden City fully embody the artistic features and style of ancient Chinese palace architecture, and can be called a masterpiece in Chinese, even world, architectural history.”

To see the Forbidden City, you’ll need a passport and a Chinese visa, naturally. To familiarize yourself with the Chinese visa process, see Chinese Visa Requirements for Tourists.

RushMyTravelVisa makes getting your visa easy and quick. We’ll take a look at your itinerary and research it to make sure you know what paperwork will be required for each step of your journey. Then, we’ll walk you through the application process with easy-to-follow instructions and helpful checklists, and expedite your visa with the Chinese Embassy for the fastest processing possible.

Apply for your Chinese visa today!