Reef and Rainforest Tours, the long haul operator specialising in upmarket, natural history holidays, has added three new exciting and exotic destinations into its customised touring brochure for 2004: India, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. These destinations bring the total portfolio to fifteen, the others being Belize, Costa Rica, Madagascar, Borneo, Ecuador Galapagos, Brazil, Venezuela, Rwanda, Peru, Seychelles, Honduras, and Papua New Guinea.

Additionally, the new Reef and Rainforest Tours� brochure now lists prices inclusive of international flights so as to assist travellers in selecting the most appropriate itinerary. All the company�s suggested itineraries, as featured in the brochure, can also be tailored further to meet individual needs.

TANZANIA To debut Tanzania, Reef and Rainforest Tours has chosen to avoid the country�s popular �Northern Circuit�, focusing instead on the two best game reserves in the less-visited south, which represent some of the last remaining areas of true virgin bush land in Africa.

The tour combines walking and boating safaris and game drives in Selous, the largest game reserve in the whole of Africa, with excursions throughout Ruaha National Park where wildlife from both east and southern Africa converge, creating a high diversity of animals from elephant and buffalo to roan and sable antelope, plus Lichtenstein�s hartebeest and lesser kudu. 2/. Also featured in the new itinerary is the exotic Spice Island of Zanzibar. A twin-centre stay of six nights allows the exploration of historic Stone Town, an expedition into the Josani Forest in search of the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, relaxation on beautiful white sand beaches, and the chance to dive or snorkel in the Indian Ocean.

Prices start from �2,770 per adult, based on two travelling and include return flights with British Airways, a 14-day itinerary, accommodation, transfers, domestic flights in Africa, specified activities and tours, some meals and guide services.

INDIA The two sample itineraries featured in the 2004 brochure are both based in the north of India, mainly in Rajasthan, and each combines game drives to view the country�s wildlife with excursions to a selection of its splendid ancient monuments.

�The Birds and Big Cats of Northern India� tour takes in the Keoladeo Wetlands, home to more than 400 bird species, and the forests of Bandhavgarh, known for prolific sightings of the magnificent Bengal tiger. Participants may also be fortunate enough to see chital, wild elephant, jungle cat, leopard, langur, rhesus macaque, sloth bear, jackal, wolf and wild dog.

Other stops featured on the tour include the majestic Mughal monuments of Fatehpur Sikri, the Amber Fort at Jaipur and, of course, the incomparable Taj Mahal.

INDIA TOUR HIGHLIGHT However, perhaps the highlight of the trip is the opportunity of following in the footsteps of Sir David Attenborough and the BBC �Life of Mammals� series into the region around Siana, south of Jodhpur. Seldom visited by tourists, the area offers perhaps the best chance of spotting the elusive leopard in the whole of India. Accommodation, exclusive to Reef and Rainforest Tours, is with Pradeep Singh, a local squire who was also host to Sir David, and whose family lives a traditional way of life on their farm in the Rajasthani region.

Prices start from �2,620 per person, based on two travelling, and include return flights with British Airways between Heathrow and Delhi, a 16-day itinerary, transfers, accommodation in a range of hotels, lodges and train sleeper cars, most meals and excursions, internal travel by rail and air, and the services of trained guides. 2/.

SRI LANKA Focusing on Sri Lanka�s most impressive World Heritage sites, together with a startling variety of wildlife, Reef and Rainforest Tours� 21-day itinerary travels around the popular southern and western regions of the Indian Ocean island.

Four UNESCO World Heritage Sites are included on the tour: the Sigiriya Rock Fortess dating back to the fifth century and dubbed the eighth wonder of the world, Dambulla Cave Temple, the ancient capital of Polonnaruwa, the Temple of the Tooth Relic at Kandy, and Sinharaja, the last remaining viable tract of primeval rainforest surviving in Sri Lanka.

Other highlights include visits to the well-known Pinnawela elephant orphanage and the Tangalle Turtle Hatchery, together with an African-style game drive in Yala (Ruhana) National Park where, as well as elephants, buffalo, boar, monkeys and deer, visitors often have excellent sightings of leopard.

Accommodation on the Sri Lanka tour combines safari lodges, colonial-style luxury and five-star hotels. Prices start from �1,970, based on two people travelling, and include return flights from the UK to Colombo with Sri Lankan Airlines, bed and breakfast accommodation, transfers, activities and tours, and the services throughout of a personal fully trained guide with vehicle.

SCUBA DIVING The new brochure also highlights Reef and Rainforest Tours� ability to organise customised scuba diving itineraries considering that most of their featured destinations lend themselves readily to this activity. Divers can choose from Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Galapagos Islands, Seychelles, Borneo, India, Madagascar or Tanzania.

SUPPORTING THE SHARK TRUST Reef and Rainforest Tours is passionate about wildlife conservation, and as such the company has chosen to support the worthy but little known Shark Trust. Two full colour pages outline the vital ecological role played by sharks, the important work carried out by the Shark Trust, and the tour operator�s pledge to make a donation to the organisation for every client who books a holiday which features an element of diving. 4/.

Additionally, Reef and Rainforest Tours continues it long standing support of both the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Belize Audubon Society.

This 2004 brochure continues to reflect the Reef and Rainforest Tours philosophy that both the visitor and the destination gain from small-scale natural history-oriented tourism, the latter by being given a long-term incentive to conserve its precious resources.

IN CONCLUSION The new 2004 brochure, Reef and Rainforest Tours� largest and most ambitious to date, has been created for ease of use and has been divided into colour coded regions: Indian Ocean and Africa (red), Central America (dark green), South America (blue), Indian subcontinent (light green) and Sout East Asia (orange).

This new brochure featuring selected customised itineraries completes Reef and Rainforest Tours� portfolio of three brochures. The other two focus on �Family Adventures� and �Escorted Group Departures�.

For further information about any of Reef and Rainforest�s tours, tel: 01803 866965 or visit: www.reefandrainforest.co.uk.

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If you would like further press information on the new brochure, or would like to discuss a feature commission or fact box input, please, contact Jovanka Ristich, Independent Public Relations, tel 01628 623003 or email ristichj@aol.com