The term safari, in Swahili, means a journey which is filled with adventure and discovery of wildlife in their natural habitat. The safari lovers world wide consider an African safari tour to be the most exciting and remarkable safari experience.
You can explore an African safari destination either by driving throughout the African wild lands or through fly-in safaris in a hot air balloon.
Africa offers four basic types of African safari options which are permanent tented safaris, mobile safaris, lodge safaris and theme-based safaris which include canoeing, elephant-back safaris, horseback safaris or honeymoon safaris.
If you are planning to go on an African safari trip through Southern and Eastern Africa, you should have a minimum of ten to twenty days time in your hand.
You need to take care of certain things to ensure that your African safari holiday is both exciting and safe. While booking an African safari package with a tour operator, make sure you are accompanied by a well-trained and experienced safari guide. Also make sure that the essential things like meals, accommodations, transportation, driver services etc are all included in the package you are booking.
Okavango Delta, Cape Town and Winelands, Kruger Park and Sabi-Sands, Chobe Park, Namib Desert, Victoria Falls, Etosha Park, Mount Kenya, Bazaruto Archipelago, Ngorongoro Crate, Forest Gorilla Treks and Kilimanjaro Mountains are some of the most popular African safari destinations which the safari lovers love to visit a multiple number of times.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Explore the National Parks of South Africa
People usually used to plan to go to a hill station or a beach to spend their holidays. But time has changed and so has the choice of the people.
Adventure lovers have now started to go on African safari tours to spend their holidays. The experience that you will gather during an African safari holiday is something that you will treasure life long. The experience of watching wild animals in huge herds in their natural habitat is simply mind blowing.
South Africa’s national parks are the best African safari destinations. The national parks of South Africa are the home to a large number of wild species of animals like elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, buffaloes, antelopes and many others. Not only animals but it is also a home to a number of rare species of birds.
You can best enjoy your African safari trip if you take care of the following things:
• Plan your African safari as per your field of interest and choose the right national park for your visit.
• Check out the right time and season to visit the African safari destination of your choice.
• Make a check list and carefully pack your bags for going on the African safari.
• Get yourself vaccinated before leaving for the African safari vacation.
• Make sure you are accompanied by an experienced guide on your African safari tour so that you can make the most out of your African safari.
Adventure lovers have now started to go on African safari tours to spend their holidays. The experience that you will gather during an African safari holiday is something that you will treasure life long. The experience of watching wild animals in huge herds in their natural habitat is simply mind blowing.
South Africa’s national parks are the best African safari destinations. The national parks of South Africa are the home to a large number of wild species of animals like elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, buffaloes, antelopes and many others. Not only animals but it is also a home to a number of rare species of birds.
You can best enjoy your African safari trip if you take care of the following things:
• Plan your African safari as per your field of interest and choose the right national park for your visit.
• Check out the right time and season to visit the African safari destination of your choice.
• Make a check list and carefully pack your bags for going on the African safari.
• Get yourself vaccinated before leaving for the African safari vacation.
• Make sure you are accompanied by an experienced guide on your African safari tour so that you can make the most out of your African safari.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
An African safari tour to the Etosha National Park
If you are planning to go on a luxury African safari to Namibia, then you shouldn’t just miss visiting the Etosha National Park.
The Etosha National Park is one of the major highlights of the African safari tour to Namibia. This park was declared as a game reserve long back in 1907 by the German colonial administration.
This African safari destination covers a total area of more than 22000 square kilometers and has mixed vegetation. The centre of the park has a vast saltpan which is surrounded by grass and thorn savannah. To the west there is bush land and to the north-east there is a dry forest area.
During your African safari trip to The Etosha National Park you will find that, this is one of those national parks of Africa, which have a good infrastructure with well-maintained roads connected to the waterholes, where you can have the best African safari game viewing experience.
During your luxury adventure African safari to this park you will have close encounters with different animals like the elephant, giraffe, zebra and even the predators like lion, to name a very few. In this park you will get to see almost every African animal species in their natural habitat.
According to an estimation there are over 250 lions, 300 rhinos, 2 500 giraffes, 6 000 zebras and more than 2 000 elephants in the park. The dainty springbok are also abundantly present. These are many other animal species that you will see in the national park during your African safari holiday.
You will treasure the memories of your African safari tour to the Etosha National Park of Namibia life long.
The Etosha National Park is one of the major highlights of the African safari tour to Namibia. This park was declared as a game reserve long back in 1907 by the German colonial administration.
This African safari destination covers a total area of more than 22000 square kilometers and has mixed vegetation. The centre of the park has a vast saltpan which is surrounded by grass and thorn savannah. To the west there is bush land and to the north-east there is a dry forest area.
During your African safari trip to The Etosha National Park you will find that, this is one of those national parks of Africa, which have a good infrastructure with well-maintained roads connected to the waterholes, where you can have the best African safari game viewing experience.
During your luxury adventure African safari to this park you will have close encounters with different animals like the elephant, giraffe, zebra and even the predators like lion, to name a very few. In this park you will get to see almost every African animal species in their natural habitat.
According to an estimation there are over 250 lions, 300 rhinos, 2 500 giraffes, 6 000 zebras and more than 2 000 elephants in the park. The dainty springbok are also abundantly present. These are many other animal species that you will see in the national park during your African safari holiday.
You will treasure the memories of your African safari tour to the Etosha National Park of Namibia life long.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Best time to plan your African safari
Different people have different ideas regarding the best time to go on an African safari trip to the different game parks in Africa.
People go on African safari tours round the year. However, each season has its own advantages like the dry weather offers good road conditions, the winter months offer milder daytime temperatures. Therefore, you should plan your holiday as per your area of interest and the season most suitable to fulfill your interests.
While planning your African safari holiday it is very important for you to understand the seasonal trends and how they can affect your trip. For game viewing the drier seasons are generally considered to be preferable. Being the best season for game viewing, the parks are generally crowded during the dry season, so if you plan to visit the parks during the peak season, make sure you book your accommodations quite in advance. It is a must especially if you are traveling between the months of June to October.
In the Eastern and central parts of Africa the rainy seasons are between April and early June, and short rains occur between the months of late November to December. The expense of a safari during the rainy seasons is also comparatively cheaper. July and August are the months when the parks are most crowded in East Africa. Due to the comfortable weather and chances of seeing more wildlife, this time is considered to be the best time for going on a safari to the parks in this part of Africa. December is the time when the local tourism is at its peak, so there are holiday surcharges and limited availability.
The Masai Mara and Serengeti are specially crowded during this season because at this time the migration of the wild beasts takes place in large numbers, attracting more and more number of tourists.
People go on African safari tours round the year. However, each season has its own advantages like the dry weather offers good road conditions, the winter months offer milder daytime temperatures. Therefore, you should plan your holiday as per your area of interest and the season most suitable to fulfill your interests.
While planning your African safari holiday it is very important for you to understand the seasonal trends and how they can affect your trip. For game viewing the drier seasons are generally considered to be preferable. Being the best season for game viewing, the parks are generally crowded during the dry season, so if you plan to visit the parks during the peak season, make sure you book your accommodations quite in advance. It is a must especially if you are traveling between the months of June to October.
In the Eastern and central parts of Africa the rainy seasons are between April and early June, and short rains occur between the months of late November to December. The expense of a safari during the rainy seasons is also comparatively cheaper. July and August are the months when the parks are most crowded in East Africa. Due to the comfortable weather and chances of seeing more wildlife, this time is considered to be the best time for going on a safari to the parks in this part of Africa. December is the time when the local tourism is at its peak, so there are holiday surcharges and limited availability.
The Masai Mara and Serengeti are specially crowded during this season because at this time the migration of the wild beasts takes place in large numbers, attracting more and more number of tourists.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
An African safari tour to the national parks of East Africa
East Africa is that part of Africa which is the best option for those who are planning to go on an African safari trip for the very first time. It is so because it has to offer to the safari lovers a bit of everything that makes a safari interesting.
Which ever park you visit in East Africa during your African safari tour, you are most likely to see a wide range of different species of animals in large number, which you can’t see anywhere else. In the parks located in Kenya and Tanzania, migration of many wild beasts, in large numbers, take place almost throughout the year.
The migration is seen in Kenya’s Masai Mara during the months of late July through September and then in the Serengeti plains of Tanzania during the months of January and February.
Not only are the parks rich with wildlife, but also, has beautiful, diverse landscapes. Here you can see the magnificent snow-capped mountains of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, the incredible Ngorongoro Crater and also the savannah plains of the Masai Mara and Serengeti National parks. This is a place where you can witness and get lost in the pristine beauty of Mother Nature. Therefore this is that part of Africa where you can best enjoy your first time African safari vacation.
Most of East Africa's National Parks are well connected both by road and air. Therefore it is easily accessible. However, the roads of this region are a little rough, so it is advisable for travelers with back problems to fly.
Which ever park you visit in East Africa during your African safari tour, you are most likely to see a wide range of different species of animals in large number, which you can’t see anywhere else. In the parks located in Kenya and Tanzania, migration of many wild beasts, in large numbers, take place almost throughout the year.
The migration is seen in Kenya’s Masai Mara during the months of late July through September and then in the Serengeti plains of Tanzania during the months of January and February.
Not only are the parks rich with wildlife, but also, has beautiful, diverse landscapes. Here you can see the magnificent snow-capped mountains of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, the incredible Ngorongoro Crater and also the savannah plains of the Masai Mara and Serengeti National parks. This is a place where you can witness and get lost in the pristine beauty of Mother Nature. Therefore this is that part of Africa where you can best enjoy your first time African safari vacation.
Most of East Africa's National Parks are well connected both by road and air. Therefore it is easily accessible. However, the roads of this region are a little rough, so it is advisable for travelers with back problems to fly.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The South Luangwa National Park
African safari lovers rate South Luangwa National Park as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The concentration of animals near the Luangwa River along with its ox bow lagoons is one of the most concentrated areas in Africa. The Luangwa River is one of the major river systems in Africa and supports the park’s wildlife spread over 9050 square kilometers.
During your African safari tour to this park you will find that, the Park is a mixture of a large variety of wildlife, birds and vegetation. The ‘walking safari’ was originated in this park and continues to be one of the best ways to experience the pristine beauty of Mother Nature during a luxury African safari.
The park has a thick concentration of hippos, crowned cranes, grazing antelope, scurrying baboons, large elephant herds and buffaloes which are spread all over the valley. You can also spot zebras running from one place to another in small herds. Thorneycroft’s Giraffe, which are unique to Luangwa Valley, are also spotted easily. Besides these animals the park is also a home to many species of antelopes and many other animals like kudu, reedbuck, roan, sable, hartebeest, grysbok, klipspringer, oribi, hyenas, leopards, lions and many more. Therefore you will thoroughly enjoy an African safari trip to this national park.
Bird watching is another great thing to do in this park during your African safari vacation. Here you can see a vast variety of birds like the red faced yellow billed storks, the pelicans, the saddle bill stork, the marabou stork, great white egrets, black headed herons, open billed storks, the stately goliath heron, the elegant crowned cranes, the red chest cuckoo, white storks, European swallows, Swifts, hobbies and bee-eaters, the Steppe eagles and Steppe buzzards, carmine bee-eaters, the ground hornbill, the Heuglin’s robin, the doves and larks and many many more.
If you want to see the concentration of wildlife in its peak, then plan your African safari holiday to this park during the summers and if you want to see the migratory birds, you need to visit this park during the rainy season which lasts till the end of March.
Accommodation is not a problem at this park. You can book an accommodation for yourself in any of the lodges present in the park and collect lifetime African safari memories and experiences.
During your African safari tour to this park you will find that, the Park is a mixture of a large variety of wildlife, birds and vegetation. The ‘walking safari’ was originated in this park and continues to be one of the best ways to experience the pristine beauty of Mother Nature during a luxury African safari.
The park has a thick concentration of hippos, crowned cranes, grazing antelope, scurrying baboons, large elephant herds and buffaloes which are spread all over the valley. You can also spot zebras running from one place to another in small herds. Thorneycroft’s Giraffe, which are unique to Luangwa Valley, are also spotted easily. Besides these animals the park is also a home to many species of antelopes and many other animals like kudu, reedbuck, roan, sable, hartebeest, grysbok, klipspringer, oribi, hyenas, leopards, lions and many more. Therefore you will thoroughly enjoy an African safari trip to this national park.
Bird watching is another great thing to do in this park during your African safari vacation. Here you can see a vast variety of birds like the red faced yellow billed storks, the pelicans, the saddle bill stork, the marabou stork, great white egrets, black headed herons, open billed storks, the stately goliath heron, the elegant crowned cranes, the red chest cuckoo, white storks, European swallows, Swifts, hobbies and bee-eaters, the Steppe eagles and Steppe buzzards, carmine bee-eaters, the ground hornbill, the Heuglin’s robin, the doves and larks and many many more.
If you want to see the concentration of wildlife in its peak, then plan your African safari holiday to this park during the summers and if you want to see the migratory birds, you need to visit this park during the rainy season which lasts till the end of March.
Accommodation is not a problem at this park. You can book an accommodation for yourself in any of the lodges present in the park and collect lifetime African safari memories and experiences.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Southern Africa – a land of diverse game viewing options
South Africa is the land of diversity where you will find the wildest and most remote safari regions to visit during an African safari trip as well as the cosmopolitan culture and beauty of Africa. Southern Africa is a place which offers astonishing hospitality and diversity, where you can enjoy your African safari vacation.
In Southern Africa you can experience an outstanding and rewarding African safari holiday. The safaris in this part of Africa are conducted in open 4x4 safari vehicles, which allow the safari lovers to have a unique experience and better view of the wild beasts in their natural habitats. Also, the professional African safari guides in southern Africa are the one’s who are the most highly-trained and respected professionals in their field of work. They have the complete knowledge about the area in which they are working, for which, the safaris to this part of Africa becomes an educational experience for those visiting these areas on their luxury African safari.
Southern Africa offers various creative ways of experiencing a African safari tour to its visitors. Besides the normal game drives, many camps offering night game drives as well as wilderness walks are organized. Wildlife can also be viewed by canoe and mokoro and on mountain bikes. You can also enjoy horseback safaris and elephant back safaris in the game parks of South Africa. Other attractions include micro lighting, whitewater rafting and bungee -jumping etc.
In Southern Africa you can experience an outstanding and rewarding African safari holiday. The safaris in this part of Africa are conducted in open 4x4 safari vehicles, which allow the safari lovers to have a unique experience and better view of the wild beasts in their natural habitats. Also, the professional African safari guides in southern Africa are the one’s who are the most highly-trained and respected professionals in their field of work. They have the complete knowledge about the area in which they are working, for which, the safaris to this part of Africa becomes an educational experience for those visiting these areas on their luxury African safari.
Southern Africa offers various creative ways of experiencing a African safari tour to its visitors. Besides the normal game drives, many camps offering night game drives as well as wilderness walks are organized. Wildlife can also be viewed by canoe and mokoro and on mountain bikes. You can also enjoy horseback safaris and elephant back safaris in the game parks of South Africa. Other attractions include micro lighting, whitewater rafting and bungee -jumping etc.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Loango National Park
Loango National Park is a true jewel in the crown of Africa's western coast. It is located between the Nkomi and Ndogo Lagoons. It is a perfect African Safari destination.
The Loango Natural Park is called by the name 'Land of surfing hippos'. The park has a 1,550 km of savannah, pristine beach, forest and mangroves which are a must-see. This Park presents magnificent landscapes with the unique opportunity to watch the animals like elephants, buffalos, hippos, gorillas and leopards in the white sand beaches, making it a place where all African safari lovers want to be.
The Loango coast is the home of the largest numbers and varieties of whales and dolphins, after South Africa. You can easily spot the killer whales here in the area spread over 100 kilometers of unoccupied coastline. Therefore while on an African safari tour to this park, you will have a unique safari experience of spotting both land and water animals.
This place is the most stunning spot present on Africa's western coast. Loango is well known all over the world as a site for tarpon of record size and also large saltwater fishes.
Loango National Park is put under the category of ‘faunal reserve and protected area for conservation’ by The World Conservation Union, an international organization aiming at natural resource conservation.
An African safari holiday to the Loango National Park is something not to be missed by the natural beauty and wildlife lovers.
The Loango Natural Park is called by the name 'Land of surfing hippos'. The park has a 1,550 km of savannah, pristine beach, forest and mangroves which are a must-see. This Park presents magnificent landscapes with the unique opportunity to watch the animals like elephants, buffalos, hippos, gorillas and leopards in the white sand beaches, making it a place where all African safari lovers want to be.
The Loango coast is the home of the largest numbers and varieties of whales and dolphins, after South Africa. You can easily spot the killer whales here in the area spread over 100 kilometers of unoccupied coastline. Therefore while on an African safari tour to this park, you will have a unique safari experience of spotting both land and water animals.
This place is the most stunning spot present on Africa's western coast. Loango is well known all over the world as a site for tarpon of record size and also large saltwater fishes.
Loango National Park is put under the category of ‘faunal reserve and protected area for conservation’ by The World Conservation Union, an international organization aiming at natural resource conservation.
An African safari holiday to the Loango National Park is something not to be missed by the natural beauty and wildlife lovers.
Tips for African safari wildlife spotting
You can measure the success of your African safari by the number of animals you are able to spot along the way.
Spotting animals does not mean spotting antelopes and other small animals, but spotting Africa’s big five - the Leopard, Lion, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhinoceros. The memories and experiences of spotting these animals in their natural habitat will last you for a lifetime. But to gain this experience and to make your wildlife spotting successful, you need to follow certain tips:
• Choose the right season. The dry season is the most favorable season to see animals. In East Africa the dry seasons are from January to March and July to October. In Southern Africa the dry season starts from May to October.
• Choose the right time of day. Dawn and dusk are the most favorable time of the day to spot the wild beasts.
• Go with a guide. It is always better to be accompanied by a guide as they know where and how to spot the different animals in the thick woods
• Be alert. Be alert and look around your surroundings. You may spot a leopard up in the tree near you or huge crocodiles in the nearby rivers. Steaming dung heaps are a good indication about how close you are to an elephant. A wildlife distribution map can be of great help to you.
• Carry binoculars. Binoculars prove to be of great help in spotting animals at a distance during your African safari trip.
Spotting animals does not mean spotting antelopes and other small animals, but spotting Africa’s big five - the Leopard, Lion, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhinoceros. The memories and experiences of spotting these animals in their natural habitat will last you for a lifetime. But to gain this experience and to make your wildlife spotting successful, you need to follow certain tips:
• Choose the right season. The dry season is the most favorable season to see animals. In East Africa the dry seasons are from January to March and July to October. In Southern Africa the dry season starts from May to October.
• Choose the right time of day. Dawn and dusk are the most favorable time of the day to spot the wild beasts.
• Go with a guide. It is always better to be accompanied by a guide as they know where and how to spot the different animals in the thick woods
• Be alert. Be alert and look around your surroundings. You may spot a leopard up in the tree near you or huge crocodiles in the nearby rivers. Steaming dung heaps are a good indication about how close you are to an elephant. A wildlife distribution map can be of great help to you.
• Carry binoculars. Binoculars prove to be of great help in spotting animals at a distance during your African safari trip.
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