
Departure Lounge: Zambia's key to the wild frontier reopens
The reopening of Wilderness Shumba and Busanga Bush Camp, Wilderness's enchanting camps in Zambia's remote Busanga Plains in Kafue National Park, is exciting news for travellers seeking access to one of Africa's last wild frontiers.
From June through to October, guests once again have the chance to explore this 28,000-hectare private wilderness, staying in luxury camps encircled by expansive grasslands that are home to over 55 species of large mammals, including six cat species, and more than 500 bird species.
The 2025 season promises exceptional wildlife viewing, thanks to abundant rainfall earlier in the year transforming the landscape into a lush haven for wildlife.
Sajama National Park is a national park in Bolivia.
Bolivian expedition
Step outside your comfort zone and join a thrilling South American expedition to the High Andes of Bolivia, taking in three 6000m peaks over 20 days.
Led by Simon Yates, the accomplished mountaineer best known for his expedition to the Andes as documented in Touching the Void, the itinerary offers a challenge for intermediate climbers.
Departing July, the trip will see you climb Acotango (6,052m), close to the Chilean border; the perfectly cone-shaped Parinacota (6,330m); and Bolivia's highest peak, the snow-covered Sajama (6,542m), €4,450, flights extra.
Great news for dog, cat, even ferret owners hoping to take their furry friend on holidays. Irish Ferries has just launched new Pet Den lounges.
Pet Den lounges
Great news for dog, cat, even ferret owners hoping to take their furry friend on holidays. Irish Ferries has just launched new Pet Den lounges.
While pets have always been welcome onboard Irish Ferries, they can now travel free of charge in dedicated new lounges alongside their owner.
The only ferry company offering a pet lounge on both Ireland-UK and UK-France crossings, the spaces are bright and airy, with seating and tables equipped with leash hooks, water dispensers, ocean views, and access to outdoor areas with artificial grass and posts.
Owners can enjoy a snack and drinks lounge service but must remain with their pet in the Pet Den and outside walking area at all times.
Sorrento, Italy
Sights of Sorrento
With its colourful villages, sparkling ocean, vertiginous cliffs, sunshine on tap, and glorious food culture, Italy's Amalfi Coast is a thrilling setting to holiday in.
This August, head to the vibrant town of Sorrento for a seven-night stay in a seaview room at the famous Hotel Bristol.
August 17-24 with flights from Dublin, €1,670, with breakfast and dinner included.
Golf at The Heritage, Laois
Deal of the week
If your dad is a golfer, then The Heritage's Stay and Play package could make the perfect gift for Father's Day this year.
Included is an overnight B&B stay with dinner and a round of golf on the 18-hole championship golf course designed by former world number 1 Seve Ballesteros.
The leafy resort, in the pretty Laois village of Killenard, also offers an award-winning spa with thermal suite, salt cave and cabin sauna, ideal for chilling out after a few hours on the course.
Prices from €190 per person.
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RTÉ News
3 days ago
- RTÉ News
Millions return home as Pacific tsunami warnings lifted
Tsunami warnings were lifted across the Pacific rim, allowing millions of temporary evacuees to return home. After one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded rattled Russia's sparsely populated far east, more than a dozen nations - from Japan to the United States to Ecuador - warned citizens to stay away from coastal regions. Storm surges of up to four metres were predicted for some parts of the Pacific, after the 8.8 quake struck off Russia's Kamchatka peninsula. The tsunamis caused widespread disruption. Peru closed 65 of its 121 Pacific ports and authorities on Maui cancelled flights to and from the Hawaiian island. But fears of a catastrophe were not realised, with country after country lifting or downgrading warnings and telling coastal residents they could return. In Japan, almost two million people had been ordered to higher ground, before the warnings were downgraded or rescinded. The Fukushima nuclear plant in northeast Japan - destroyed by a huge quake and tsunami in 2011 - was temporarily evacuated. In Chile, authorities conducted what the Interior Ministry said was "perhaps the most massive evacuation ever carried out in our country" - with 1.4 million people ordered to high ground. Chilean authorities reported no damage or victims and registered waves of just 60cm on the country's north coast. In the Galapagos Islands, where waves of up to three metres were expected, there was relief as the Ecuadoran navy's oceanographic institute said the danger had passed. Locals reported the sea level falling and then rising suddenly, a phenomenon which is commonly seen with the arrival of a tsunami. But only a surge of just over a metre was reported, causing no damage. "Everything is calm, I'm going back to work. The restaurants are reopening and the places tourists visit are also open again," said 38-year-old Santa Cruz resident Isabel Grijalva. Earlier national parks were closed, schools were shuttered, loudspeakers blared warnings and tourists were spirited off sightseeing boats and onto the safety of land. The worst damage was seen in Russia, where a tsunami crashed through the port of Severo-Kurilsk and submerged the local fishing plant, officials said. Russian state television footage showed buildings and debris swept into the sea. The surge of water reached as far as the town's World War II monument about 400 metres from the shoreline, said Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov. The initial quake also caused limited damage and only light injuries, despite being the strongest since 2011, when 15,000 people were killed in Japan. Russian scientists reported that the Klyuchevskoy volcano erupted shortly after the earthquake. "Red-hot lava is observed flowing down the western slope. There is a powerful glow above the volcano and explosions," said Russia's Geophysical Survey. Pacific alerts Yesterday's quake was the strongest in the Kamchatka region since 1952, the regional seismic monitoring service said, warning of aftershocks of up to 7.5 magnitude. The US Geological Survey said the quake was one of the 10 strongest tremors recorded since 1900. It was followed by dozens of aftershocks that further shook the Russian far east, including one of 6.9 magnitude. The USGS said there was a 59% chance of an aftershock of more than 7.0 magnitude in the next week.


RTÉ News
3 days ago
- RTÉ News
Millions return home as Pacific tsunamis warnings lifted
Tsunami warnings were lifted across the Pacific rim, allowing millions of temporary evacuees to return home. After one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded rattled Russia's sparsely populated far east, more than a dozen nations - from Japan to the United States to Ecuador - warned citizens to stay away from coastal regions. Storm surges of up to four metres were predicted for some parts of the Pacific, after the 8.8 quake struck off Russia's Kamchatka peninsula. The tsunamis caused widespread disruption. Peru closed 65 of its 121 Pacific ports and authorities on Maui cancelled flights to and from the Hawaiian island. But fears of a catastrophe were not realised, with country after country lifting or downgrading warnings and telling coastal residents they could return. In Japan, almost two million people had been ordered to higher ground, before the warnings were downgraded or rescinded. The Fukushima nuclear plant in northeast Japan - destroyed by a huge quake and tsunami in 2011 - was temporarily evacuated. In Chile, authorities conducted what the Interior Ministry said was "perhaps the most massive evacuation ever carried out in our country" - with 1.4 million people ordered to high ground. Chilean authorities reported no damage or victims and registered waves of just 60cm on the country's north coast. In the Galapagos Islands, where waves of up to three metres were expected, there was relief as the Ecuadoran navy's oceanographic institute said the danger had passed. Locals reported the sea level falling and then rising suddenly, a phenomenon which is commonly seen with the arrival of a tsunami. But only a surge of just over a metre was reported, causing no damage. "Everything is calm, I'm going back to work. The restaurants are reopening and the places tourists visit are also open again," said 38-year-old Santa Cruz resident Isabel Grijalva. Earlier national parks were closed, schools were shuttered, loudspeakers blared warnings and tourists were spirited off sightseeing boats and onto the safety of land. The worst damage was seen in Russia, where a tsunami crashed through the port of Severo-Kurilsk and submerged the local fishing plant, officials said. Russian state television footage showed buildings and debris swept into the sea. The surge of water reached as far as the town's World War II monument about 400 metres from the shoreline, said Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov. The initial quake also caused limited damage and only light injuries, despite being the strongest since 2011, when 15,000 people were killed in Japan. Russian scientists reported that the Klyuchevskoy volcano erupted shortly after the earthquake. "Red-hot lava is observed flowing down the western slope. There is a powerful glow above the volcano and explosions," said Russia's Geophysical Survey. Pacific alerts Yesterday's quake was the strongest in the Kamchatka region since 1952, the regional seismic monitoring service said, warning of aftershocks of up to 7.5 magnitude. The US Geological Survey said the quake was one of the 10 strongest tremors recorded since 1900. It was followed by dozens of aftershocks that further shook the Russian far east, including one of 6.9 magnitude. The USGS said there was a 59% chance of an aftershock of more than 7.0 magnitude in the next week.

The 42
22-07-2025
- The 42
2031 Ryder Cup confirmed: Spain to host Europe v USA for first time since 1997
THE RYDER CUP will return to Spain in 2031 after the Costa Brava resort of Camiral was confirmed as the host venue. It will be the second time the biennial event has been staged in the country, after Valderrama in 1997. Advertisement The news was announced by the European Tour Group on Tuesday. It will only be the fourth time the tournament will have been played in continental Europe after Paris (2018) and Rome (2023) followed Valderrama as hosts. This year's Ryder Cup takes place at Bethpage Black in New York in September. Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland will be the venue in 2027 and Hazeltine, near Minnesota in 2029. Eleven Spaniards have represented Europe throughout the competition's history and Seve Ballesteros famously captained the team to victory over the United States at Valderrama. Camiral, which is close to Girona and around an hour's travel from Barcelona, has also been confirmed as the host of the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship on the DP World Tour from 2028-30.