Archive for April, 2012

The Best African Safaris

Monday, April 30th, 2012

The best African safaris include all the elements that make Africa so great… so appealing. Wildlife! What would an African safari trip be without wildlife? Culture! Africa is well known for its rich and diverse cultural heritage, it would have to offer a glimpse into culture of past or present. Adventure! On a continent with such diverse landscapes, there are thousands of opportunities to discover Africa – in both relaxed or adrenaline coaxing ways. Which ever way you want it, the best African safaris have wildlife, culture and adventure. Bam.

Wildlife on a safari trip

It’s not one of the top African safaris if it doesn’t showcase wildlife

An African safari trip needs its fair share of wildlife. Viewing a host of unusual looking animals that trundle, crouch, roar and stalk is an African safari at its best. Ever heard of Africa’s big five? The lion, the leopard, the buffalo, the elephant and the rhino; all wildlife highly sought after and absolutely golden when wishing to go on an ultimate African safari.

Culture on an African trip

A glimpse of a past culture shows signs of a great African safari

Museums are great for offering a glimpse into the lives of those who lived in a culture foreign to our own. Original artifacts, replicas, tours and insight can be enjoyed when stepping into a museum offering knowledge about those who lived, worked and loved the area you’re exploring. Some of the best safaris not only include a trip to a museum where the past can be re-lived through relics, but rather experienced first hand through physically visiting a tribe and cultural group who still practice the beliefs and rituals of their ancestors.

Adventure on top Africa safaris

The best African safaris are an adventure

From the way you get around, to the things you get a chance to see and do, top Africa safaris trip will offer you a variety of ways to experience a certain area. Our biased mode of transport is of course, overland truck. Seeing the passing vistas through the enormous windows of the custom truck, packed with your newly appointed nomadic holiday family from all over the world. Hopping off together, hiking, skydiving, exploring an ancient island on a moped. Laughing around the campfire, making the campfire. Experiencing new things with a bunch of people as awesome as you are.

So what are the best African safari trips? The top safari trips aren’t picked by us, they’re picked by you! The amount of bookings received for these trips rank them as the best. Why? Because they bring opportunity for travellers to explore Africa’s wildlife, culture and adventure. Check out which three African safaris are ranked best:

Top 3 Best African Safaris

1. Cape Town to Victoria Falls

This trip takes one on a safari adventure where an exploration of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe sees cross-cultural interaction and wildlife interaction on an epic adventure one is not likely to forget.

Cape to Vic: One of the best African safaris

2. Okavango Delta to Johannesburg

This overland safari is a short trip taking travellers through the highlights of the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. The journey takes you on a cultural discovery of South Africa’s apartheid history, their struggle and success fighting for freedom. Ride an elephant in Victoria Falls, walk with lions or go white water rafting. Culture, wildlife, adventure!

Okavango Delta to JHB is one of the best African safaris around

3. Nairobi to Dar Es Salaam

This 10 day adventure takes you on a journey through Tanzania, exploring the country’s intriguing culture and diverse wildlife. Ride a camel, snorkel, take a tour of Prison Island. The route leads you through a world of rich discoveries in Eastern Africa, bringing you to the tropical and historical haven of Zanzibar, before the trip glides to an end.

Nairobi to Dar es Salaam is one of the best African safaris you can experience

Ready to book your seat on one of the best African safaris around? Grab your sense of adventure, will for cultural discovery and interest in wildlife and spoil yourself to one of the top African safaris around!

Tags: Adventure travel, best african safari, best safaris, culture, wildlife
Posted in Adventure, Africa, safari | 7 Comments »

10 reasons to safari in Kruger National Park

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

A safari in Kruger National Park is all about the wildlife, cultural, African safari experience that has been on everyone’s lips for the past few decades. Why? Read these 10 reasons to safari in Kruger National Park and get on the same page as everyone else as to why you should tour Kruger.

Kruger_National_Park_Safari_Wildlife

Photo from Ken Easton Gallery

1. Wildlife

This world famous national park is well known for its great wildlife viewing opportunities. A safari in Kruger not only gives opportunity to scope out the sought after African Big 5: lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant, but also the endangered species of the black and white rhino and wild. Giraffe, hippo and zebra can also be seen meandering the park, making for a great sight and photographic gems while on a Kruger safari.

2. Birdlife

You’re familiar with Kruger National Park’s Big 5. Now meet its Big 6! Birding in Kruger Park is great, and thanks to the area’s eco-system, an array of brilliant birds make for great bird spotting along the way. The 6 most desired birds that visitors hope to see while on a Kruger safari are:

The Big 6 birds are:

Kori Bustard
Martial Eagle
Lappetfaced Vulture
Pel’s Fishing Owl
Saddle-billed Stork
Southern Ground Hornbill

3. Well managed

The national park is governed with South African National Parks, and the organisation manages the park by a strict set of rules to ensure that all guest get an enjoyable experience out of their visit, while a happy family of wildlife, bird life and vegetation are left behind. Here are the Kruger Park rules:

* Visitors are to stay in their vehicles unless in designated areas.

* Vehicle doors are to be closed at all times.

* No part of a person’s body may protrude from a vehicle.

* The speed limit is to be adhered to. General rules of the road apply within the park. The speed limit is
50 km/h on tar roads and 40 km/h on gravel roads.

* Gate times stated in your green gate permit are to be considered. Visitors must be inside the camp or
out of the gate before these times. Gate times are extremely important and late comers may be fined.

* There is no tolerance for “off-road” driving or on roads with a “no entry” sign.

* Feeding or disturbing animals is a serious offense.

* Overnight visitors are only allowed to stay at a booked and recognised overnight facility and have
to report to reception before occupying accommodation or camping.

* All accommodation and camping sites may be occupied from 14:00 on the day of arrival and must
be vacated by 10:00 on the day of departure.

* Vehicles of a carrying capacity exceeding 4 000 kg, buses or any vehicles with more than
25 seats, may only drive on tarred roads.

* A strict noise restriction is enforced between 21:30 and 06:00. The use of cell phones is
permitted only at rest camps, at gates and in cases of emergency.

* No alcohol in public areas of the park is tolerated.

* Roller skates, skateboards, bicycles and motorbikes are prohibited.

* The Kruger National Park is a malaria zone – we advise that all visitors adhere to their
doctor’s instructions.

* Rules and regulations are enforced under the National Environmental Management:
Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act no. 57 of 2003) and transgression can result in a fine.

4. Well-maintained roads

Hand in hand with having a great governing body, the park has a superb network of well-maintained roads compared to other safari destination roads in Africa. The park’s 12 main rest camps are well connected, as well as the smaller camps found in the park. Main routes are tarred and stand in excellent condition, which means even 2-wheel drive vehicles can happily make it through the park. The park’s dirt roads are easily navigated and along the way, the facilities and amenities that weave throughout Kruger are said to be world-class, with most camps also having a petrol station, basic shop and restaurant, as well as laundry facilities, public telephones and clean tap water. Brilliant.

5. Cheap safaris in Kruger National Park

Most of us don’t have a bucket of money we can leisurely throw at treating ourselves to Kruger National Park luxury. For that reason, the park has offers a bunch of different types of accommodation. Each rest camp comes with accommodation options that range from bungalows and camping facilities to air-conditioned safari tents and luxury lodges. Thankfully this means that safaris in Kruger National Park can be enjoyed on a budget safari experience!

6. Animal interaction activities

An elephant back safari in Kruger is a great animal interaction activities to experience when touring Kruger Park. What a truly unique way to soak up the beauty of the area; as one with an elephant, one with his pace, one with surrounding nature. Without a doubt, one of the best things to do on a safari in Kruger.

A controversial topic indeed: Elephant back safaris. “Cruelty! Cruelty”, they cry. Not cruelty. As an overland guru previously explained to me, you do not randomly pick any old elephant out in the wild, shoot it with a tranquiliser dart, hop on its back and wait for it to wake up. No sir! The elephants used on this amazing adventure through Kruger are usually orphaned when their mothers or herd are poached by bad men with guns. A baby elephant cannot join any herd, it has to be its own. For that reason, if these animals were not lovingly hand-reared by humans, they would be left in the wild to die. Not cool.

7. Cultural heritage

Kruger is greatly proud of its conservation of historical sites. Within the park’s unfenced boundaries lies the Iron Age site of Thulamela. The area still has traces of trade, farming and graves from an age that saw the movement of Great Zimbabwe abandoned over 500 years ago, and its groups moving down to Northern Kruger to start smaller chiefdoms.

This culturally historic site ensures one’s tour of Kruger National Park is a well rounded one, offering a generous portion of historic appeal to this wildlife rich area.

8. Wilderness trails

Sure, you can explore the park in a vehicle, from the back of an elephant, or even from the a hot air balloon’s bird’s eye view. Another way to get even closer to nature is to experience the walking wilderness trail tours Kruger National Park has on offer.

Kruger has ensured that it offers 7 well looked after wilderness trails for those who wish to experience the park on foot. Here is a run down of the 7 different wilderness walking safari routes:

safari_in_kruger_national_park

9. Easily accessible

Kruger receives yet another pat on the back for making themselves easily accessible from various points. Below is a list of the park’s 9 entry gates, the road they are on and from which town you can access the road from, as well as coordinates of each gate. Now there is no excuse not tour Kruger!

roads_for_safari_in_kruger_national_park

10. Self-drive safari in Kruger

Kruger National Park’s roads are extremely well built and maintained (as we now know), and for that reason, the park is ideal for a self-drive safari. You don’t need a guide, or to travel with a group of people (even though it is the most fun way to travel), you can enjoy the experience at your own pace. By driving yourself you can enjoy the freedom and flexibility a self-dive safari promises. All you have to do is pick up your Kruger Mpumalanga airport car rental and venture into the national park. Self-drive tours in Kruger National Park makes for an easy, value for money getaway. With many petrol stations along the way and easy-to-follow maps to help you navigate your route, even beginner 4×4 drivers and families should feel comfortable tackling a tour in Kruger.

A safari in Kruger National Park promises a well rounded safari adventure. The wildlife, the culture and exceptional management of the park allows travellers an opportunity to have a blast when they tour Kruger.

Tags: kruger safari, kruger safari budget, safari in kruger national park
Posted in safari | 1 Comment »

How to pack food for a camping safari

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

When considering how to pack your food for a camping safari, you spent a lot of time planning your menu, and grocery shopping, so it deserves to be packed with a dash of simplistic greatness. You probably got very excited, went a little wild and came back with a mountain of products. When you’re travelling between destinations you’ll want to make food and snacks easily accessible. All you really need to do is get organised.

Get the gist of this article in a flash by watching this short YouTube video:

Tupperware

The best way to organise for your African safari trip is to use plastic storage boxes or tupperware. Tupperware is a really simply way to store food that is easily accessible and hassle-free when travelling on the road. Perfect for a snack time nibble between destinations.

Ziploc and label

A great way to organise the main meals you’ll be devouring on Africa safari tours is to place the ingredients in small ziploc bags and then group them together in one large ziploc bag, and pop that ziploc bag into one large tupperware. So you’ll take all the food that you’re going to prepare for meal number 1, put it in a large bag and label it, then pop it in the tupperware. Then when your lion sized hunger comes knocking (as it does on an adventurous African safari trip), all you have to do is go to your large tupperware storage and take out bag number 1 and inside is everything that you’ll need to easily prepare the meal.

Food for a camping safari

Photo by Michaela Kobyakov

Reduce packaging

If you’re on a camping safari, you’re going to have to carry your food. For this reason you’ll want to get rid of some of the bulky, unnecessary packaging placed around food products. Packaging takes up so much space and you don’t want to be lugging double your load. Also, it’s a great way to reduce trash when camping. Solution? Remove the packaging, take what you need, stick it in a ziploc bag, and Hey Presto, problem solved.

Ziploc bags are great for organisation, they’re waterproof and great for storage.

If you’re keen to take something like macaroni and cheese out of its box, remember to rip the instructions off the packaging and place it in the ziploc bag with the ingredients. Macaroni and cheese can easily become macaroni and glue if you’re not following specific box directions.

Everything is now neatly packed, labelled and ready for your camping adventure.

Campfire cooking

Simple, pre-packaged meals are a great idea and simple to cook. For example, a pre-packaged Indian meal would just need you to cook up some minute rice, drop the pre-packed meal into boiling water to heat it up, and in about three minutes you have yourself a delicious meal over the fire. When neighbouring campers see you eating that meal, they’ll think you spent hours slaving over hot coals to prepare such a fragrant dish. All part of clever camping practices. Although, nothing beats a delicious potjie made from scratch.

Spend some time doing your research and shopping. You know what you like to eat, but remember that cooking over a stove and cooking over a campfire is very different. Go for simple camping meals with easy camping recipes and no doubt, your culinary campfire experience in the bush will be a lot more enjoyable and a lot less hassle. Trust me.

Food preparation

Now that you’ve organised and labelled the dung out of your food stores, you’ll need to pack the right pots and utensils for campfire cooking. Very important! If you’re going to go the whole hog and make a potjie from scratch, then you’re going to need to remember to pack a good quality potjie pot. Whereas for simple camping fire cooking you’ll simply need a few good pots to boil water, reheat food or mix up the ingredients of your mac and cheese. Utensils, utensils, utensils. That fork isn’t going to get you very far with that delicious tin of soup you’ve got camping in your tupperware. You best pack a can opener too. Half the work is knowing what to pack when camping.

Washing up

The next step is washing up. Make sure you have soap and a bucket if there isn’t a wash up sink available at the spot you’re going to be camping at.

Now you’re all set to pack food for an organised trip, now that you’ve learned how to pack food for a camping safari. All you have to do is pick your camping safari in Africa.

Tags: camping safari, how to pack, What To Pack
Posted in Food, how to | 1 Comment »

Camping safaris with children: A guide for family holidays in Africa

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

A lot of people think that when they have children, backpacking and camping safaris are over. Absolutely not true. Camping safaris with children are great! You just have to do it a lot differently now that you’re going on family holidays in Africa.

family_holiday_in_africa_with_the_kids

Photo by Hector Landaeta

1. Adjust Goals of backpacking adventures

The first thing you need to consider is to adjust your goals, because obviously if you have little people with you you’re going to be going a lot slower, you’re not going to be able to go on such intensive terrain and you’re not going to be able to get as far. Evaluate where you want to go and set your family up for success by not planning such a huge trip. Realise that if you are going on a nature walk, you may only hike about half a mile in about an hour or so. It might take you that long to get there since you have kids that you may end up carrying, or they may just be walking very slowly. Also, when you’re not hiking you may need to pack one extra small backpack for each child to help curb travelling bordem between destinations.

2. Gear

The amount of gear you pack for camping safaris with children is also a huge factor to be considered. Even on a hike, you’ll have to take a lot more stuff with you. You may end up carrying all the gear on your back… and your child too.

To fit in everything you’ll need for the hike, you’ll need to pull out that backpack you can fit a kitchen sink into. Fun.

3. Elements on a Camping Safari in Africa

Camping safaris in Africa mean elements varying from extremely hot to very cold. Your children are so important to you and for that reason you’ll want to protect them against the elements that cause sunburn and hypothermia. Make sure your backpack is packed with all the things you’ll need to prevent this from happening.

4. A Child’s Perspective

When you’re on a backpacking adventure with with children, remember that children are a lot closer to the ground. To see the world from a child’s perspective, get down on your haunches or knees and have a look around at what kids experience. From this level it is so much easier to spot the little things, like pretty flowers and interesting mounts of earth. Bringing oneself to a child’s level really is a great way for parents to understand their children more, and understanding all the distractions they are may face along the way. Family holidays in Africa are a great time for important bonding.

5. Camping Safari Fun

Kids love to have fun and nature provides such a playground for things to see and learn about. While on your camping safari, take some time to do fun things as a family that will keep the little ones entertained. Try skipping stones, swimming, chatting around a campfire and roasting marshmallows on the fire everyone helped gather wood for. Check out these great tips for travelling with kids that’ll keep your kids entertain just about anywhere.

Your days of camping safaris are not over! They’re now camping safaris with children. Nobody does family holidays in Africa better than you and your loved ones. Grab your kids, gear and energy and embark on a camping safari you’d still love to experience and share with your family.

family_safari

Photo from Laura Souyoultzis Gallery

Top 3 Family Holidays in Africa:

1. Victoria Falls to Johannesburg Family Tour

2. Johannesburg to Vic Falls Family Tour

3. Central Africa Family Loop

Tags: africa family safari, camping safaris, camping with children, family holidays, family tours
Posted in Adventure, how to | 2 Comments »

Safari in Uganda: Best Places to Visit

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

Uganda, popularly referred to as the Pearl of Africa, is Africa’s most beautiful and diverse nation. With a range of unique attractions, a stable political atmosphere and a rapidly developing infrastructure, the country is fast becoming a favorite destination for many travelers, so much that Lonely Planet ranked Uganda the best travel destination for the year 2012. Thanks to Uganda budget safaris, a safari in Uganda, to this amazing country is possible for everyone.

Uganda offers a range of opportunities to different types of travellers; from those that seek to explore untamed African wildlife offered by the Uganda safaris, to those that seek to experience nature set in tranquility and serenity. Below are the best places that will give you a satisfactory safari in Uganda experience, no matter what level of adventure you seek.

Ngamba Island

This 100 acres island is located in Lake Victoria, 23 kilometers from the landing site in Entebbe. Ngamba Island is largely covered by a rainforest and endowed with a rich diversity of wildlife that includes over 120 bird species, crocodiles, hippos, monitor lizards, and butterflies. The island has over 40 chimpanzees, protected by a wired fence. These are orphaned chimpanzees that were rescued and brought to the Island to provide for their safety.

Chimanzees feeding in the Ngamba Island

Above: Chimpanzees Feeding in Ngamba Island

The Island was opened up to adventure travellers enjoying wildlife safaris in Uganda especially for the thrilling chimpanzee experience. The Island has since become a must visit for first time travelers to Uganda. It is a great alternative to the strenuous chimpanzee treks in the rather large game parks of Kibale National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is also a great place for family and relaxation tours. Accommodation on Uganda budget safaris can be enjoyed in tents overlooking the vast waters of Lake Victoria.

Lake Bunyonyi

Located in southwestern Uganda, Lake Bunyonyi is believed to be Africa’s second deepest lake rumored to be between 44m and 900m deep, 25km long and 7km wide. Lake Bunyonyi – “Place of many little birds” – is set amidst highly terraced rolling hills with breathtaking green scenery. The lake is dotted with 29 islands that are covered in lush green, the temperatures are cool and the atmosphere is usually misty. It is no wonder Lonely Planet compares its scenery to one of the scenes in the movie “Lord of the Rings”. The lake is totally bilharzia free and safe from dangerous water creatures like crocodiles and hippos making it a perfect spot for swimming.

the Mystic Lake Bunyonyi

Above: The mystical Lake Bunyonyi on a safari in Uganda

Lake Bunyonyi is a favorite destination for adventure travelers on camping safaris and many have compared its experience to that of Switzerland. It is great for relaxation tours especially after the strenuous gorilla trekking expedition in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. One can also do canoeing and sport fishing.

A range of beautiful lodges have been set up overlooking the Lake including Lake Bunyonyi Safari Resort, Bunyonyi Overland Resort, Arcadia Cottages, and Bushara Island Camp among others. If you’re looking for that Uganda budget safari option, there is always a camp site near by.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest game park covering 3,940 square kilometers. It is popular for the breathtaking Murchison Falls, where the longest river in the world, the Nile, in a massive explosion of force squeezes through a teeny chasm, causing a violent tempest, 43 meters below. It is the best choice for game drives as it is well endowed with a variety of game including giraffes, lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, warthogs, hyenas, Uganda kobs, oribis, Jackson’s hartebeest, waterbucks, bushbucks and spectacular savanna landscape, making for an epic safari in Uganda.

wildlife_in_Murchison_Falls_National_Park

Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park

The highlight of a Murchison Falls tour is the thrilling 4 hour boat cruise on the Nile where you see the densest hippo population on the African continent, lots of Nile crocodiles, buffalos, lots of birds and an array of wildlife immersed in a splendid savanna landscape.

South of the park is Rabongo forest home to the chimpanzees, several bird species and lots of other rainforest creatures. It is a great alternative to the traditional game drive and boat cruise where one can do chimpanzee tracking, birding, and nature walks, making for a camping safari in Africa with a difference.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park has of one of the highest biodiversity in the world ranging from open savanna to rainforest, dense papyrus and brooding crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward.

The park is a home to more than 100 mammal species and over 600 bird species. Elephants, hippos, giant forest hogs, the Uganda kob are popular in the Mweya Peninsula.

Tree_climbing_lioness

Above: Tree Climbing Lioness on a Uganda budget safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The remote section of Ishasha is popular for the special tree-climbing lions. Other animals include buffalos, leopards, waterbucks and hyenas. All these animals and more can be seen during a game drive on most Uganda budget safari routes.

The lush Kyambura Gorge is famous for the habituated chimpanzees and chimpanzee tracking. Other primates in the gorge include Columbus monkeys, red-tail monkeys and olive baboons. Forest birds such as Hornbills, Kingfisher and Sunbirds can all be found in the gorge.

More forest monkeys and a range of birds are found in the Maramagambo Forest. Flocks of flamingos are found on the crater lakes more so Lake Manyanyange. Located in southwestern Uganda, the park is a 7 hours drive from Kampala and is easily accessible compared to Murchison Falls National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable is home to about 340 Mountain Gorillas. 10 gorilla families have been habituated to allow for a one hour interaction with these shy giants. Located in southwestern Uganda, the park has become a common destination for many safari seekers from around the world for the thrilling gorilla tracking expedition. The gorilla experience is one of the most emotional wildlife experiences Africa has got to offer. A gorilla tracking permit is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and each costs USD 500. A group of not more eight people can track a particular gorilla family per day.

Gorilla_family_in_Bwindi

Above: Gorilla Family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also a rich ecosystem with an immense diversity of species, including 120 species of mammals including 7 diurnal primates, and about 30 forest elephants, about 360 bird species plus more than 200 butterfly species. In addition to the thrilling gorilla experience, the park gives you a true jungle safari in Africa experience.

The park can be reached from Queen Elizabeth National Park in the north (2-3 hours), from Kabale to the south (1-2 hours), or from Kampala via Mbarara (6-8 hours). All roads meet at Butogota, 17 km from the Buhoma entrance gate.

Rwenzori Mountains

The Rwenzori Mountains are the longest mountain ranges in Africa and comprise of extremely steep and rugged ranges and. The Mountain possess such fascinating beauty comprising of a combination of spectacular snow-capped peaks, glaciers, V-shapped valleys cut by a multitude of fast flowing rivers with magnificent waterfalls, clear blue skies and a unique stratified vegetation.

The mountains are a world heritage site and UNESCO has ranked them among the most interesting and challenging mountains for hiking and mountaineering. There is a well established circuit that can accommodate first time hikers. Camping safari facilities are available along the hiking trail.

The mountain slopes are rich in a diversity of wildlife including 89 bird species, 4 species of diurnal primates and 15 butterfly species. This will give you a unique hiking experience mixed with wildlife.

Check out this great photo gallery for a visual tour of Uganda and its awesome surrounds.

If you’re planning to venture off on a Uganda budget safari, be sure to pick a route that gets you to all your favourite places.

Tags: camping, uganda, uganda budget safaris
Posted in East Africa, safari | 2 Comments »

Top 10 Adorable Wildlife Photos

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

We’ve got that mushy stuff that makes you go “Awww!” With these top 10 adorable wildlife photos, you can’t help but get that warm fuzzy feeling in your tummy. You almost want to just reach out and pet them… until you remember that they’re WILD, and you’re probably going to lose a limb in the process. If you’re lucky.

Check out the sweetness you can experience on a safari in Africa if you’re in the right place at the right time.