Malawi

This country is located in the central zone of the southern Africa, normally this region is also know as the warm heart of Africa because of the special charm this country has got. In this spot we will enjoy of a tailor made safari, with all the requirements we can expect in such a touristic place, like the most part of the African continent, where we can enjoy all the services available. So, our trip to Malawi will be surely one experience as good as any other well know touristic spot.

By calling a tour agency we will be able to arrange every single detail so that our only worry will be preparing our bag for the adventure. There are many offers for this destination, from the trip suitable for the nature lovers to the one more adequate for those who like adventures.

From Malawi we can visit some other places that are not far like Zambia, where we find the Luangwa North and South National Parks, Tanzania, that shares part of the Lake Malawi and has got plenty of reserves and natural parks and Mozambique, where the Lake Cabora Bassa is located just next to the borderline.

Inside Malawi we have got a wide selection of places to visit like Kasungu National Park, in the Zambian border, located mid-west in the country, or the Vwaza Marsh Natural Reserve, in the same border but located north than the former. Close to this reserve we also find Nacional Nyika Natural Park.

Photo by Aardvark

There are plenty of possibilities for a safari inside this country and to take advantage of this diversity requires a good preparation beforehand to detail our trip properly. We can visit Erindi and Sossusvlei inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park, where photographers will find many landscapes to capture with their cameras.

This is such a popular spot that we will have no problem in finding a group for this expedition, signing up for a safari in group has it advantages, like using exclusive doors in the parks or taking part of night excursions and walks so that we will be able to take unique photos. In addition, Namibia is one of the first countries worldwide that takes care of the environment when building. We have the chance of observing the animals from the buildings designed for this objective without disturbing them.

As part of out photo safari we will see the largest predators in action, like the leopards, as well as the most amazing mammals of all, the elefantes, giraffes, and many endemic bird species. The camping sites from where we will realize observations are meant to maximize the number of sightings during the day and night.

The groups for this safaris are not large, with a maximum of six persons, so that the conditions for photographing are the best. The best months to visit the country are April and May because the recent abundant raining has just stopped by that time and the savannah is covered with green grass and also it happens that the temperature are lowering just before the winter arriving. The large majority of the animal species meet around the water wells where the new-born are victims to the predator.

As a member of a six person group for this safari we have the opportunity of totally enjoying a first person experience for the animal observation and the landscape viewing. This way we can easily elaborate our own photo album of this unforgettable trip.

Photo by goafrica

Karisia

If, like me, you love safari and all things Africa but prefer your experiences in the bush to be filled with authentic encounters through your very own eyes, not an expensive pair of binoculars, a luxury walking safari will be right up your street.

From living in Africa for over 3 years I’ve become a big fan of swapping the noisy jeep for a back to basics approach of strapping on my walking boots and slowing down the pace. Most importantly, you get a better feel and understanding for the incredible environment you’re in. From a few hours meandering through the bush to back-to-back days guided walking with expert trackers there are more than a few ways to experience a walking safari – I’ve experienced most of them, some of my top picks for anyone interested are below:

Karisia – Kenya

A world away from the modern world of glamorous lodges, Karisia is the ultimate place for walking safaris in the Northern wilds of Kenya. Here, days are spent wandering through the bush from camp to camp with local Samburu warriors as your guides in their own land.

Tafika – South Luangwa – Zambia

Sitting along the Luangwa River Tafika is in the heart of Zambia’s prime game viewing area. Definitely one for safari purists, here you can take guided walks to visit local villages as well as hunt out the incredibly vast array of wildlife. Walking safaris are a speciality of the Luangwa Valley and a two or three day walking trail to Tafika’s remote bush camps are highly recommended.

Impala Camp – Selous Game Reserve – Tanzania

With elephants walking through the camp and hippos grunting in the water below, you don’t always have to trek far in this area to experience the wildlife close up. The early morning walking safaris here are well worth the early alarm clock and perfect for catching Tanzanian wildlife at the breaks of dawn.

Alex has over 3 years experience of living across Africa and currently advises people on the best spots to holiday at over at Exsus Luxury Holidays.

We interfere with nature at the same moment that we get in one of these territories and because of that our presence must leave behind the tiniest trace. The parks are meant to conserve the habitat they contain and this we should respect every moment of our visit.

One of the most important norms of all is that we should not disturb the animals under any circumstance. We should avoid making loud noise, to light with flashes or any sudden movements that could scare them away, given that is them who are in their natural habitat and they have got the right of moving freely as well as enjoying their habitat. We can be ignored if we stay inside the car and from there we can take pictures quietly.

Additionally, we should always drive inside the paths prepared for that purpose and nowhere else because the wheels damage the ground. Also, we must drive exclusively inside the allowed zones, there are many reasons for cutting any path. As well as in the zoos, we should not feed the animals, because our food could harmful to them and feeding them can alter their behaviour unexpectedly. We should never forget we are dealing with wild animals.

We should leave no piece of garbage and making fire is not allowed because either way we could damage the local environment. Plus, we have to respect the other visitors, especially if they are observing animals. The maximum speed allowed is 40 km per hour so that we don’t make excessive noise and damage the ground, either. There are places where it is not allowed to get down from the car for safety reasons.

We should take care of the animals because sometimes they can defend themselves from what they understand as an aggression. We should also use only the allowed places for entering and leaving the parks as well as respect the schedule. We should not buy animals products, which are illegal, so that we do not support furtive hunting. We are not allowed to go to the parks with domestic animals to avoid propagating diseases and to prevent from predators. In the marine parks many of the rules are the same than in current parks, we are allowed to fish within certain conditions.

Travelling with kids implies additional issued, in Treetops and The Ark they should be at least seven ages, and in Mount Kenya Safari Club their own dining room and schedule for the meals. Frequently, being with many kids can disturb the other visitors, specially because of the large trips by car. For this reason, there special family safaris we can choose.

Photo by vanessa-amor

Kenya

In Kenya we can spend three fabulous days with the Masaai Mara tribe, one of the most well known in Africa. With them we will learn what the life in the savannah is like and their guides will show us the way to observe the animals from close. For our lodgement we will have a place inside the Masaai Mara Reserve. We will choose between lodges or camping tents. From here we will go out in diverse excursions to observe the game.

This adventure starts in Nairobi City. From here we go to the Rift Valley by car during the morning and from there we go to the Maasai Mara Reserve, arriving for lunch time. During the afternoon we will observe the animals inside the reserve and later we will pass the night at Mara Sopa Lodge or in Sarova Mara Tented Camp, depending on our choice for the accomodation.

The second day we stay all the time inside the Masaai Reserve, one of the most evocative and unique in the African continent, in all senses this is a unique spot to visit. Here we have got a great chance of observing the Big Five mammals from close, namely the lion, the leopard, the buffalo, the rhino and the elephant.

We can choose between eating in a picnic or spending all day doing observations inside the park during the schedule available for these purposes, in the morning and the afternoon. Another possibility is to visit the Masaai village which is quite close from our lodgement.

During the third day we wake up early to do the last observation inside the reserve, we are able to see how animals start their daily routine. This is a different way to see the African savannah, preparing itself for a new day. After breakfast we head back to Nairobi City and from there we go to the airport.

Photo by safariafrica

The following detailed safari is available the month of May 2012 and it takes place in the northern zone of Tanzania. Within this itinerary the most visited touristic places are included, namely Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. The safari starts and ends in the Arusha city, and it is possible to extend the journey for visiting some additional spots like the Zanzibar beaches or the ascending Mt. Kilimanjaro. In the case of doing so we can get some specific information consulting our travel agency regarding this additional spots.

The itinerary

The flight arrives to Kilimanjaro International Airport and from there we head to our lodgement, which is Mountain Village Lodge, in Tengeru, just next to Arusha City. The first day we have a meeting with our guide and the dinner is included. Another airports happen to be useful in order to make this connection, like Dar es Salaam’s and Nairobi’s. We can get to Kilimanjaro by doing some other flight connection.

The second day the excursion starts early, the destination is Lake Manyara National Park. This place is not far from Arusha and we will enjoy of a picnic inside the park, having great views of the surrounding at any moment. This park is well know because of its climbing lions and the flocks of flamingos that travel seasonally to get to this place every year, and many other bird species. Lake Manyara Serena Lodge is the place where we pass the night, granting amazing views to the lake.

The third day we visit Serengeti National Park, going through Ngorongoro conservation area and the crater, with a great panoramic view. We stop by Olduvai Gorge, which is considered one of the palces where human kind was born due to the evidence found. Finally, we stop at Naabi Gate, the entrance to Serengeti. This is one of the most important parks in this zone of the African continent. After doing some observations we head to Serengeti Sopa Lodge.

The following day is spent in observing wildlife from different perspectives inside this huge park, from early in the morning we can see how animals initiate their day and we can find traces of the Great Migration, which takes place yearly in this park. It is possible to do observations from the air, from a hot air balloon, if we book in advance.

The fifth day we go to Ngorongoro Crater, stopping by small villages on our way, like Masai Boma. We can see from close the special environment of this crater, even the big five can be observed in this place. We sleep at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge this day, meals included.

The sixth day we visit Tarangire National Park, the third largest in Tanzania. On our way to this park we stop by Karatu and Mto wa Mbu, where we can buy some souvenirs and gifts. This parks is famous because its herds of elephants and the big trees named baobabs that cover all its surface. This night we stay at Tarangire Sopa Lodge. To end with, the last day if we get up early enough we can walk with a Maasai warrior. After we get to Arusha to have lunch at Shanga restaurant.

Photo by safarisonline

Planning our safari is a quite difficult work we ought to do with a lot of detail in order to fully enjoy of our experience once in the African savannah without worries at all. Such a trip is no easy task to arrange, but all the effort we may focus on it to get everything prepared will worth it because this is a one life time experience.

In fact, a trip to Africa is more complicated for planning than any other trip because of many reasons. Frequently we just know what the travel operators will tell us and we may have no other possibilities but searching thoroughly we may find the best offers and tailor make our trip the way we want.

By following some pieces of advice and general rules we may get each issue ready, step by step, and so all the arrangements for our travel done. First of all we should ask ourselves some questions so that we have everything quite clear, what we want, in order to tell this in a very specific way to our contact, travel agency or touristic operator.

The dates we are travelling are one of the first arrangements, we should find a reasonable time for our trip to Africa depending on our responsibilities and the best time for visiting the spot of interest during the year and set how long we will stay in the African continent; this latter in function of diverse factors like the budget.

The safari will be different if we travel with friends, relatives, couple, etc. In case of selecting an organised trip we will possibly be able to sign up for a group of persons doing the same itinerary. If we desire to make some extra activities than those of the safari we hire we should get informed and book in advance in this moment.

As mentioned before, the budget is the most important constraint given that is may shorten the number of days we are staying and determine the extra activities we may take part of while in Africa. The safaris are organised in many ways, there are plenty of safari types available. We should have it clear when we choose the kind of trip we prefer, a trip in group, with friends, relatives, given that the price and other issues may vary.

One of the most important questions we should answer is what do we want from Africa, because this is the starting point for all the rest. Checking photo albums and consulting the commentaries of other travellers we will known the best safari offers available and later we will decide all the other aspects of our trip.

Photo by africa-safari

Animal lovers find the African continent the best spot for this objective, in the jungle and the natural parks we can take such amazing photos that we will be able to remembering out one life time trip to this continent any time we want.

In their very beginning the safaris were no more than excursions to the African savannah in order to hunt some animal species, but as time went on they have become into excursions meant to observe and catch the animals in high quality photographies, as well as videos. We can move along large paths within the jungle, follow the old mining routes from the Gold Fever time, come down wide and fast rivers, walk in the reserves and parks and an endless list of diverse activities we can manage to do in this incredible continent.

Vehicles such the jeeps are the most common for going out in an observation excursion so that we can watch the animals from different points of view. Also, we can ride local animals as a more exotic mean of transport, setting off in a camel caravan. In general, the schedule for this excursion is very wide because it is attractive to observe the animals at the different moments of the day, being each one a unique experience.

Preparing our safari

The best photo and video camera we can handle for this trip will be necessary. Nowadays the large majority of them are digital so that we need to have a sufficient number of memory cards. We should take into account that many pictures will be shot in order to get some good material. The reason is as simple as noting that the animals hardly ever will be quiet whenever we spot them.

Charges and batteries should be in good condition and we ought to make sure that we will be able to recharge daily; we will use this gadgets for hours each day. In any case, it is a good idea to have at least one spare battery for our camera, even for the mobile phone, if it is able to take pictures. In addition, we should carry binoculars to observe the animals that are located faraway.

Some measures to remember

Before departing we should get informed about the required vaccinations and about the location of the health centres. Also, we should carry a minimal first aid kit for any emergency that may occur or make sure if our guide has got one. Arranging this details will let us enjoy of our trip completely.

A very important fact is that we should wear comfortable clothes always, and have warming cloth, for the lower temperatures during night, handy. Our shoes must let us walk in any terrain and we should carry at least one suit prepared for any weather. During summer the excursions are not recommended because of the high temperatures.

In rainy time there are excursions as well because the routine of the animals is largely different from the one they follow in dry days. Tips are another important fact, if we are reasonably generous we will obtain good information and a better treatment.

Photo by ar.all

We can choose the itinerary the way we want, there are different options availble in this amazing continent. Gorillas are a rare species; remaining just a few more than 700 individuals that live freely nowadays. Their habitat is the bambu forest in a reserve that belongs to Rwanda, Uganda and Congo.

From Kigali or Kampala cities, located in Uganda, it is possible to start our trip. The accommodation is in lodges at any place that belongs to the common region of Uganda and Rwanda for any number of members that take part in the safari.

The conservation are that is home for this animals is the Parc de volcanoes , also know as Volcanoes National Park, the spot meant for gorilla tacking the same way that Nyungwe Forest is meant for chimpanzee tracking.

During our trip to trip to this reserve we can also take some time to visit Akagere for wildlife viewing and game driving tours. Also, Lake Kivu for sight seeing is not far from this spotsand there are other destinations we can visit as a part of our safari.

It is frequent that the safaris that are planned for gorilla viewing start at Kigali International Airport, where the safari guide awaits for us and we get the transfer to Gisenyi to prepare ourselves for the following day, when the safari begins.

During this trip we will have the chance of enjoying the landscape while we go on trekking and hiking routes that are rich in beautiful sights. We will walk along routes in the bamboo forest from early in the morning and we will be able to see the gorillas in their habitat. Before lunch we will have seen the daily routine of these animals, how they play together and get by with each other. We can visit Ruhengeri, Lake Burela and Ruhondo on the afternoon.

Finally, unless we have more spots in our itinerary we go to Kigali city and go sightseeing before getting to the airport.

Photo by Juan Eduardo Undurraga

Tanzania has got many spots that attract a lot of tourist every year, granting some of the most amazing spots in the African continent. The neighbour country Kenya has got the Maasai Mara and Nairobi National Park. Next to the Kenyan border we find the best spots to visit in Tanzania, which are suitable for vacations and safari tours. There are plenty of species that we can observe in this natural zone and in the game reserves. Tanzania is one of the most rewarding places we can visit in Africa.

We need many days just to visit the most famous spots in the country, one of which is the Serengeti National Park. Near this reserve we find the Mount Kilimanjaro, which reserve encompasses many other smaller conservation areas including the Maasai Mara’s reserve.

From hills to grasslands we find both varied landscapes and bustling wildlife in this park. Home for the Big Five we will never regret to spend some days in the Serengueti. One of the most amazing natural events is the great zebra migration that takes place once per year.

Another spot in Tanzania is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area which is centred in the Ngorongoro Crater. Mt. Kilimanjaro is at the same time a formidable place for climbing and a spot with great safari opportunities.

Other two spots that we will visit in a several day safari are the Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park on the southern part of the country and to the west the Gombe Stream National Park and Mahale Mountains National Park, where the chimpanzees live in the forest.

We can arrange a tour to visit the spots we want in Tanzania, tailor making our adventure the way we want. We can save money contacting with an African tour operator and selecting a travel package we like. An important point to set before arriving is the hotel, so that we hace the best possible service.

We can choose among the Tanzanian international airports depending on which region we want to visit, being the two most important the Kilimanjaro International Airport in the north and the Julius Nyerere International in Dar Es Salaam, the largest city in the country.

Picture by destination360