Okay, British Airways won’t take you to Africa for free, but with a new promotion they’ve announced with partner credit card Chase Visa, they will give you 100,000 bonus miles that can be used to travel to many amazing African  gateways, including:

Egypt (Cairo, Hurghada, and Sharm el Sheikh)
Kenya (Nairobi)
Mauritius
Morocco (Marrakech)
Namibia (Windhoek)
South Africa (Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth)
Tanzania (Dar Es Salaam)
Uganda (Entebbe)
Zambia (Livingstone, Lusaka)
Zimbabwe (Harare)

So how do you get this practically free trip to Africa? By signing up for an unprecedented bonus mile deal: earn 100,000 miles with a new British Airways Visa Signature Card from Chase.

Card Benefits

• receive 50,000 miles after your first purchase
• spend $2,000 within three months of opening your card and receive an additional 50,000 miles
• earn 1.25 miles for each $1 spent
• earn 2.5 miles for money spent on BA purchases
• spend $30,000 in a calendar year and you’ll receive a 2-for-1 companion award certificate
• $50 off a British Airways flight if booked before December 31, 2009 (for travel before the end of 2010)

This promo is especially enticing since British Airways offers what they call “Household Accounts.” This means you can combine miles with anyone living at the same address. That makes managing miles SO much easier! You’ll retain your own Executive Club membership but your mileage balances will be combined.

You may use British Airways miles on any OneWorld airline, including:

American Airlines
Cathay Pacific
Finnair
Iberia
Japan Airlines
LAN
Malev
Quantas
Royal Jordanian

Other British Airways partners also include:

Aer Lingus
Alaskan Airlines
Brussels Airlines
Caribbean Airlines
Mexicana

This British Airways/Chase Visa promo is definitely something to look into, especially if you’ll be traveling to Africa in the coming years. I know that’s how I’ll spend my miles! Apply for the card now.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

“I’ve discovered that for those who try to climb Kili, the mountain is almost always a metaphor. You climb it not just to reach the summit, but to prove something to yourself,” says Richard Wiese, former president of The Explorers Club.  “However, for thoughtful travelers, there is a responsibility to research and choose a company that practices and promotes responsible, sustainable tourism.”

Wiese and Abercrombie & Kent came together to create Mount Kilimanjaro: To the Summit on a Mission. This philanthropic journey gives travelers the chance to explore Tanzania while giving something back as they deliver the third in a series of weather stations to monitor the climate changes affecting Kilimanjaro.

Wiese will point out the changes he has seen on the mountain over the years due to global warming. “People who take a trip like this are looking for more than just adventure and challenge,” adds Wiese. “They want to be involved in a project that is related to understanding how global warming is changing our world. This is important scientific research that is being supported by tourism dollars.”

Abercrombie & Kent was recently recognized as a Partner for Responsible Travel by the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC),  a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote responsible and sustainable connections between travelers and the people of developing mountain regions of the world.

Since much of a climber’s success in summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro depends on the assistance of the porters, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy has pledged ongoing support for IMEC’s Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance Project, which seeks to improve their working conditions by:
• Providing individual porters with warm, high-quality clothing free of charge.
• Offering free English language, first aid, and HIV/AIDS awareness classes.
• Educating guests about acceptable standards of porter treatment.

Mt. Kilimanjaro: To the Summit on a Mission is scheduled for December 27, 2009 through Jan 8, 2010 with Richard Wiese; thirteen days from $7,795, plus $1,200 donation (tax deductible) required.

For more information, visit Abercrombie & Kent or call 1-(800) 554-7094.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Photo courtesy of Abercrombie & Kent