Walking Safari Across The Ngorongoro Conservation Area

There are a number of walking safaris across the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Northern Tanzania they vary in length from eight to twelve days. Generally your safari will begin with a day or two of game drives. The Tarangire is a nice place to have your pre-walking safari game drives. These first few days can also include morning walking safari along the border of the park it is essential you take a guide and an armed ranger with you. Bellow is an eight day itinerary

On day three the walking safari proper begins. Starting in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and walking to the Olmoti crater takes about four hours and is a pretty walk as you advance up through the rainforest slopes to the crater rim and viewpoint.

As you walk across the Ngorongoro Conservation area the altitudes will vary considerably. So be prepared and have many layers of clothing available as the temperature may vary as dramatically as the altitude. A water proof jacket is essential.

Altitude related Illness can kill you and every year tourists die from altitude related illnesses. Higher altitudes are colder even in Africa; there is less oxygen and to walk slowly is essential especially if you climb above 1,500 to 3,000 meters above sea level. You should be breathing easily with no panting and no extreme physical excursion. Drink water regularly and eat a light diet with lots of carbohydrates. It is essential to keep warm.

The fourth day will continue across to the distant Empakai Crater. This walk covers open grassland through a dramatic natural amphitheatre created by encircling volcanoes. As you pass the local villages the Maasai will rush out of their traditional homes to greet you. A few moths ago as we passed a village the elders of the village asked for help with a woman who had just been bitten by a snake; we still had the vehicles with us were able to take this woman to a hospital. Ordinarily this woman may have died as there are no clinics or hospitals in the area.

Day four: The walk up to Empakai is steep and slow going but affords awe-inspiring views, especially from the top where the sheer sided sunken crater can be seen. This is a special day as you will camp on the Crater Rim, with Empakai on one side and Ol Donyo Lengai, the holy Masai volcano, on the other. Be warned this day has about eleven hours of walking and is a very tiring trek.

Hiking in hot or sunny weather often causes heat exhaustion the signs/symptoms are weakness/fatigue, headache, vertigo, thirst nausea/vomiting faintness high body temperature. The treatment is to lay flat in shade, remove clothing to cool the patient, soak the body with cold water, re-hydrate patient and monitor body temperature.

Heat stroke is more serious with the signs/symptoms being delirium, coma, rapid pulse, rapid breathing; skin hot and dry, body temperature above 40c [104 f]. Treat as for heat exhaustion but this condition can be fatal so seek medical assistance quickly ? evacuate if possible.

Day five will have you scramble down the sheer-sided slopes of Empakai onto the crater floor for a foot safari. Empakai Crater is a sunken volcano with a soda lake covering most of the crater floor. Flamingos nest here during the day to escape the blazing heat of the Rift Valley. A large forest on the western shore is home to antelope, buffalo, leopard and lion, with large seasonal zebra and wildebeest populations when they pass through on their migratory circuits. Today makes the hard slog of the previous day well worth the effort. This is Africa as few tourists will ever experience.

Day six and the Maasai Mountain of God, Oldonyo Lengai looms out of the sunrise as we head out early to avoid the African heat. We arrive at the escarpment, the sheer wall that looms out of the Rift Valley floor, to admire one of the finest views in Africa. Bellow lays the sweeping vistas of the great Rift Valley; a drop of 1500ft. The scattered active volcanoes, primitive rock formations, glimmering soda lakes and clustered Maasai bomas make for a dramatic and moving experience. The final six kilometers are across the tough uncompromising terrain of the valley floor is in extreme heat; it is a long six kilometers. The reward to your walk is a shaded camp that is perched above a refreshing stream, only a half-hours walk from a heavenly waterfall.

Day seven has a very early morning an optional climb of Ol Donyo Lengai (2878m), an active carbonated volcano with spiritual significance to the Maasai. It is best not to book this climb in advance as many people are just too tired to climb this mountain. The climb starts at midnight so as to see the dawn from the top ? it is also because the climb is very steep and on loose scree and there is no shade from the sun. The cost will be about US$50 per group of six people.

The end to this walking safari is a visit to Lake Natron one of the soda alkaline lakes that jewel the East African Rift, here is a display of water birds including a multitude of resident pink flamingos. There is also the opportunity, body willing after the past few days hiking, to walk up a gorge carved into the Rift Escarpment to a waterfall to wash off five days of dust.

Day eight is a return to Arusha town where most safaris in Northern Tanzania begin and end.

For a more comprehensive guide to Walking Safaris and Ngorongoro Conservation Area contact Ian through http://www.betheladventure.co.uk or Philemon http://www.aardvark-expeditions.com Using responsible tourism to change lives.

Top Five African Safari Destinations

Any vacations in Africa will not be complete without going on a safari to experience the wild animals and the peace and tranquillity of the bushveld.

Any vacations in Africa will not be complete without going on a safari to experience the wild animals and the peace and tranquillity of the bushveld.

But there are literally hundreds of national parks and wildlife areas in Africa that you can travel to.

And some are definitely better than others when it comes to providing the potential for a great safari holiday.

In my experience, and in the general consensus of the wildlife tour industry and other sources such as the first hand accounts of safari trips in the travel diaries at African Safari Journals, here are the top five safari vacations in Africa:

1. Tanzania - Serengeti

During the annual migration, when the wildebeest and zebra pack up and leave their grazing areas to find fresher ones, the Serengeti is an astonishing place to be.

It's a very good safari vacations in africa destination at other times of the year too but the migration has been ranked by many as one of the wonders of the natural world. Hard to beat in the safari stakes.

2. Kenya - Masai Mara National Park

If you want to see the big cats, this wildlife park is top of the pops. Lion, leopard and cheetah abound and they are relatively easy to spot because of the grassland vegetation which means you get unrestricted views for miles around.

Another big plus is the fact that going off-road is allowed as long as you are not making new trails of your own.

This is one of the few vacations in Africa parks that still allows this and it is a big advantage because the animals will rarely oblige you and stay next to the major roads.

The only downside here is that because of it's popularity there are a lot of people around so if you want to spend time in isolation with nature this is not the place to go.

3. South Africa - Kruger National Park

For sheer variety of species no other place in Africa can come close to the Kruger Park. And because it is so large (larger than Wales) it has a number of different ecosystems that you can pass through in your search for animals and birds.

It is one of the best managed parks in Africa and the accommodation and infrastructure is superb.

4. Botswana - Selinda Reserve

Seasoned safari travellers rate this reserve in north Botswana extremely highly and they return to it again and again, drawn by the very high concentration of wildlife, high standard of accommodation and service and exclusivity.

5. Zambia - South Luangwa National Park

South Luangwa is a diamond in the rough, just waiting for enough exposure to bring it to its rightful place in the crown of vacations in African wildlife destinations. But for the moment it's relative isolation as one of Africa's best kept secrets is part of it's charm.

It has a reputation as one of the best places in Africa to see the elusive leopard and it is the birthplace of the walking safari.

Bruce Whittaker is the founder and CEO of African Safari Journals which contains many safari travel journals and pictures from previous trips to aid in choosing possible African safari holidays and has been on numerous safaris throughout Africa.

Safari Adventure in Botswana - Leopard Sighting

On one of several African safaris, this one in the Okavango Delta, our guide frequently pointing to the high points of interest mentioned it was getting late as he beaconed at the slowly sinking sun. I remember as our group was marveling at a pride of lions, brothers as we were told by the guide, spectacular lions with black manes doing what they do best, resting on the floor of the savannah. Blending in with the high grass, barely visible except for the occasional black manes one would see as they turned over, yawned and then fell back on their side continuing their R&R. Suddenly a call came over the guides radio. A leopard sighting! The guide asked if we wanted to go, it was late in the evening, the sun was beginning to set. The guide explained that it was a ways off and the leopard, as elusive as it was, may have moved from the spot by the time we got there. Unanimously, we all agreed to take that chance.

On one of several African safaris, this one in the Okavango Delta, our guide frequently pointing to the high points of interest mentioned it was getting late as he beaconed at the slowly sinking sun. I remember as our group was marveling at a pride of lions, brothers as we were told by the guide, spectacular lions with black manes doing what they do best, resting on the floor of the savannah. Blending in with the high grass, barely visible except for the occasional black manes one would see as they turned over, yawned and then fell back on their side continuing their R&R. Suddenly a call came over the guides radio. A leopard sighting! The guide asked if we wanted to go, it was late in the evening, the sun was beginning to set. The guide explained that it was a ways off and the leopard, as elusive as it was, may have moved from the spot by the time we got there. Unanimously, we all agreed to take that chance.

We began to tear across the savannah, only able to drive on the existing trails. Drivers are not allowed to make their own trails not in this neck of the woods! As we bounced from side to side in our open Land Rover, getting closer to the leopard every moment, the sun sank further and further. And then..no, not the leopard, but we saw four lionesses taking down a zebra. The zebra was barely alive, with one lioness on the throat, one on the rear end, one underneath and another resting close by. Finally, with the zebra succumbed, they begin to enjoy the fruits of their labor!

We begged the driver to stop and he said, what about the leopard. We told him to wait until after we take pictures of the sighting. Cameras clicking away, we spent way too much time there, but worth every minute, as the sunset became more beautiful with each passing moment. And then off we went, rushing to see the leopard!

Still with some daylight remaining, we arrived to see the most spectacular, stunning and regal leopard perched atop a huge rock, barely visible when his head was down. As he lifted his head out of the same color of grasses surrounding him, oh my god, what a sight! Gently he moved his head from side to side, surveying any potential threat or danger and gently laid his head back down as if to saycan you please let me get some rest here? As if posing for our hundreds of pictures, the leopard casually and slowly got up to move, from the heat of the sunlight to the shade of a nearby tree, as the sun was slowly going down in the distance. And as the sun set, and we could only see the eyes of the leopard, we realized it was pitch black in the Okavango Delta.

How do we get back? How do we see? Can we find the roads? Were not in the city; there are no streetlights, no signs, and no headlights! Like most guides, ours knew exactly where to go and how to get there. But first he asked us, who knew the way back everyone pointed in a different direction, so we chose his. Tearing back across the savannah, the only things visible were the many eyes of animals in the bushes or out in the open. The guide pointed to the eyes, and would say, theres a hyena over there, theres a lion over there, but really the only eyes we wanted to see were the eyes of the Chief Camps guides as they greeted us back at camp. WHAT AN ADVENTURE!

Kay L. Trotman, a Travel Agent specializing in African Safaris and Group Tours and Cruises, lives in Southern California. She is an avid amateur photographer and shoots pictures of her safari adventures and her beautiful flower garden. Travel information can be found at www.KayTravel.com. Many of her pictures can be purchased as custom photos or cards at www.KaysCreativeCards.com

African Safari Adventure

In the remote eastern corner of Botswana, at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers, lies an area known historically as the Tuli enclave - a diverse wilderness of savannah, riverine forests, marshland, open plains and sandstone outcrops. The reserve name is derived from the magnificent Mashatu trees, which are prevalent throughout this immense tract of privately owned land. Mashatu is also the home to no less than seven of Africas giants: the African elephant, the lion, the giraffe, the baobab tree, the eland, the ostrich, and the kori bustard. It is fitting therefore, that some 75,000 acres/30,000 hectares of pristine game land be set aside for these unique, prodigious features of this exhilarating continent.

In the remote eastern corner of Botswana, at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers, lies an area known historically as the Tuli enclave - a diverse wilderness of savannah, riverine forests, marshland, open plains and sandstone outcrops. The reserve name is derived from the magnificent Mashatu trees, which are prevalent throughout this immense tract of privately owned land. Mashatu is also the home to no less than seven of Africas giants: the African elephant, the lion, the giraffe, the baobab tree, the eland, the ostrich, and the kori bustard. It is fitting therefore, that some 75,000 acres/30,000 hectares of pristine game land be set aside for these unique, prodigious features of this exhilarating continent.

Its here that you will experience a unique and spectacular safari experience and many would argue that you have not lived until you have cycled in the Land of the Giants!

Head out early morning and late afternoon - push yourself to your physical limits on ancient elephant-trodden pathways, over rough gravel, and through cool streams of water. In a land as diverse as Mashatu, you are guaranteed new mediums and trails around every corner. The panoramic vistas are enhanced ten-fold as your adrenalin courses through your veins.

Your safety is secured in the hands of the armed rangers who head-and-tail the team of cyclists and who remain in radio contact with a support vehicle which travels a close distance behind (and out of earshot of) the cyclists at all times.

Mashatu Game Reserve, an area of history and legend, offers some of the most exciting game viewing in Africa. It is a place of exceptional beauty where one can explore the rugged, unspoiled African landscapes guided by experienced rangers and trackers. In addition to the game experience, Mashatu offers a view of Africa, unchanged since the days of early visitors such as Kipling, Selous and artist/explorer Sir Thomas Baines. Historic and archeological sites abound; notable are the Motloutse Ruins and the Pitsani Koppie sites.

The excitement of Mashatu has not changed over time. It is still home to large herds of elephant, prides of lion and cheetah. Along the river courses, huge Mashatu trees provide shade for eland, impala, wildebeest, giraffe and zebra, whilst at night, the bat eared fox, African wild cat and the magnificent leopard search for prey. Some 350 species of birds may be seen. Mashatu Game Reserve proudly provides a refuge for the largest single population of elephant on privately-owned land in Africa. Known as the relic herds of Shashe, these elephants are the last living testament to the great herds that once populated the meandering Limpopo valley. Today the population on Mashatu Game Reserve alone, is estimated to number in excess of 700.

The wildlife experience at Mashatu is personalized. Dedicated and experienced Tswana rangers and trackers are keen to show you their world. The Cycle Teams set out at dawn and again at dusk in search of the diverse variety of fauna and flora which abound throughout the reserve.

The richness of the Mashatu experience has been considerably enhanced with the continuous development of new adventure activities, like the unique Cycle Safari. The bush may now be enjoyed from the added vantage points of mountain bike and on foot.

Whether you visit Mashatu for the excitement of the big game viewing, the relaxation of unspoilt Africa, the adrenalin of adventure in the wild or to simply experience a pace of life that beats to the rhythm of a different drum your Safari Expedition will change your life!

Contact TerraSea Travel & Tours for your next adventure: 1-800-403-8488
www.terrasea.net; E-mail: info@terrasea.net

Home Travel Agent: Will I Be Able To Live On My Home-Based Travel Agent Salary?Tim Bruxvoort

Does travel to places like Fiji, Rome, Italy, Hong Kong, Bora Bora, Paris, London, and Australia sound like something you want to do? Would you like to stroll on secluded beaches, dine in quaint little restaurants, or wander around in ancient castles? If so, becoming a travel agent may be a good choice for you.

But can you really make decent money being a travel agent? Is there a future in it?

According to the United States Department of Labor, "Industry consolidation and increasing use of the Internet to book travel will result in a decline in the employment of travel agents. The Internet increasingly allows people to access travel information from their personal computers, enabling them to research and plan their own trips, make their own reservations and travel arrangements, and purchase their own tickets."

So as the need for travel agents declines, so too will their salaries. And salaries of travel agents are already low. The United States Department of Labor, says that the "Median annual earnings of travel agents were $26,630 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $20,800 and $33,580. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $16,530, while the top 10 percent earned more than $41,660."

So if you had years worth of experience the best you would do is around $40,000 U.S. a year, which is very well likely to decline. And more likely you would only be earning $25K or less as a travel agent. That's not a very attractive salary for most people.

So if you become a travel agent you'll have the benefits of huge discounts on travel, but you won't likely be making money enough to afford to travel. In fact, you'll barely have enough to cover living expenses.

So does that mean you should look for another more profitable occupation?

There is a solution so you can still become a travel agent. The best way is to become a travel agent is with one of the new travel-based network marketing organizations. You become a travel agent of one of these travel companies and you get all the benefits of being a travel agent.

You still make money on travel commissions, but you also make money by helping other people become their own travel agents. This enables you to make way more than you could as an ordinary travel agent. In fact, if you do it right, you can make as much in a month as many travel agents make in a year.

With the trend moving towards people making their own travel plans, you're just helping them do what they are going to do anyway. Everyone wins! And you get to see the world in style!

Tim Bruxvoort is the Internets Foremost Home-Based Business and Success Coach who helps people create successful and profitable lives in their own home-based businesses. You can visit his website at www.homebasedriches.com . If you are interested in becoming a travel agent, go to www.times10travel.com for a free report.

What you need to know about south africa safari

The land of Cape of Good Hope, wonderful flora and fauna, multiple languages and mother of eminent leader like Nelson Mandela, South Africa awaits no introduction.
There are more than a few reasons that make this country an apple of everyones eye.

The Matchless Wildlife Adventure

One of its distinguished features is the Kruger National Park that invites visitors from all round the world. The ferocious as well as the gentle wildlife is at parade in this park. The park that is the home for the Big Five Animals i.e. lions, elephants, leopards, black rhinos and Cape buffalo, is supposed to be the largest wildlife park in the world today. Young as well as adult come to South Africa with a dream to encounter exclusive 142 species of animals and 507 types of birds found here. This park is the most breathtaking adventure trip for all its visitors. The wonderful fantasy of Jungle Book comes to life for the children when they gaze at huge tigers, rhinoceros, giraffes etc. walking close to them. The park has specific timings when it is thrown open for safari. The place is always thronged with researchers and those making animal documentaries.

Wildlife can also be discovered at the Tsittsikamma National Park. Apart from numerous birds and animals species, the site is blessed with beautiful coastal cliffs, waterfalls and deep narrow valleys. When it comes to whale watching, the experience at the Walker Bay (at the coast of Cape Town) is unprecedented. It is an awesome experience when huge mammals like whales and sharks seem to be at hand. The Karoo desert is famous for its Mountain Zebra National Park that has inhabited some of the most unique zebra species. There is also the Karoo Nature Reserve that has nestled bizarre desert plants like kudus, buffaloes, hartebeests, springboks etc. The lovely and queer ecosystems that include coral reef, shore, lake, swamp and grasslands can be perceived at the renowned site called Greater Lucia Wetland Park. The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in the Zululand region is a destination worth visiting for all the wildlife devotees.


The Cities that Count

The city of Cape Town is one of the oldest cities of South Africa. The city receives vacationers attention due to many reasons. The significant causes include the stunning Table Mountain, The District Six Museum which is quite informative about the place and the displaced people, The South African Museum, The Castle of Good Hope that has been functioning as a guard to this area since ages.

The city of Durban is popularly known for its 230 days of sunshine and its being the third largest of the South African cities. The city owns a refreshing beach known as The Golden Mile Beach, the Seaworld that holds attractive dolphin shows, the Waterworld with lots of slides etc. Also to be seen is the Time Warp surfing Museum that has a rare collection of the surfing mementoes.


The South African city of Johannesburg has its own charisma. This wealthiest metropolis was once widely known for mining of gold from various sites here. The other pulls of the city are the South African National Museum of Military History, the Dynamite Museum, the Madiba Freedom Museum (well known for the exhibiting the life of Nelson Mandela) and the Johannesburg Zoo. The Newtown region of the city is dedicated to industrial work. But it has the admired Museum of Africa, the Soweto Art Gallery that parades the magnum opus of black artists, the SAB World of Beer and much more.

The Western Cape Province is the area at the edges of Cape Town. This region is swarming with visitors due to the multiple attractions. The wine lovers never miss a chance to visit The Winelands area around Stellenbosch that has ample of wineries. The high mountain ranges like Franschoek, Slanghoeck etc add to the splendor of the place. If you encounter atypical sandstones and paintings on rocks and caves, this mystifying place is the West Coast and Swartland.


The Bloemfontein, the judicial capital of the country and the provincial capital of the Free State Province is stuuded with museums and so visitors throughout the year.

The Western Gauteng region of Gauteng Province receives special attention due to the wonderful caves in this area.


The Northern Province lures the tourists with its exquisite nature reserves. The highly acclaimed is the Ndzalama Wildlife Reserve.

The National Botanical Gardens on the Crocodile River in the Mpumalanga Province are quite informative about the geography of South Africa. The Little Dragon Mountains and impressive rock formations in this quarter are evergreen tourist spots.


About the author:
Mansi gupta writes about south africa safari topics. Learn more at http://www.vacationtosouthafrica.com.

But Why Zambian Safaris and Tourism?

Because Zambian safaris are Africa's best kept secrets! Theyve made Zambia the most enticing destination in African safari today.

Livingstone in Zambia is now acclaimed, and rightly so, the southern Africa Adventure Centre!

The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) has ranked Zambia as Africa's No 1 emerging tourist destination.

The UK 2004 Trends and Spends Survey also awarded Zambia the No 10 ranking in the "best long-haul destinations". At No 10 Zambia is the only other African country in the top ten ranking

Zambia, the Land

Covering a total surface area of 752,614 square kilometers, Zambia is a large country. It is slightly larger than Texas State in the USA or slightly larger than France and Belgium combined. Zambia is generally a high plateau averaging between 1,060 metres (3,500 ft) and 1,363 metres (4,500 ft) above sea level. This makes the countrys weather mild and pleasant.

Zambias water surface is 11,890 square kilometers equivalent to 2% of the land surface. The water bodies are mainly from the three natural lakes in northern Zambia. The fourth is in the south, the exciting man-made Lake Kariba. When commissioned in 1957 Lake Kariba was the largest man-made lake in the world. It measures 280 kilometres long and 40 kilometres at its widest.

Zambia, the People

There are over 73 dialects spoken in Zambia, but the official language is English. All media and business is in English and most Zambians speak it fairly well. Out of the 73 ethnic groups (tribes) 20 celebrate special cultural ceremonies on an annual basis. These manifest customs, social life, rituals, oral history, material and spiritual culture. Visitors are welcome to watch these ceremonies.

During these traditional ceremonies the music and dance characterize quiet beauty, bustle, bounding life or brimming joy. The emphasis will vary from breathless acrobatic spectacle amid propulsive drumming to fine subtleties of sound and movement.

There is freedom of worship in Zambia with over 15 different churches. However, 60% of Zambians follow the Christian faith.

Zambia, the Natural Resources

Zambia has 19 national parks and 34 game management areas. The parks alone cover 47,662 square kilometres. This accounts for 6% of Zambian land. Some game reserves are privately owned while the major ones are state controlled. Zambia has a wide variety and a large profusion of wildlife, both large and small and including over 741 bird species.

Apart from its abundant wildlife in parks and reserves, rivers, and lakes, Zambia holds 6% of the worlds copper reserves. It also has world-class quality emeralds, aquamarines, amethyst and tourmalines.

Vegetation is savannah type with lots of trees varying in density. The climate makes Zambia suitable for a wide range of farming crops. Vegetables and fruits such as citrus, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, avocadoes, all grow everywhere.

Zambia, the Climate

Although Zambia lies in the tropics, the general height of the plateau ensures that the climate is seldom unpleasantly hot, except in the valleys. There are three seasons: the cool, dry winter season from May to September; the hot, dry season in October and November; and the rainy season, which is a little hotter, from December to April.

Find out why Zambias tourism is Africans best-kept secret
http://www.zambia-the-african-safari.com

About The Author

Enestle Zimba is geologist of over twenty years and manages Zambia African Safari (ZAS) part time. Enestle is dedicated to the promotion of safaris and tourism in Zambia and the conservation of wildlife and the environment.

Get 7 FREE Zambia African Safari reports by subscribing here
http://www.zambia-the-african-safari.com/subscription.html
enestle.zimba@kcm.co.zm

Planning your Own Gorilla Safari Will Save You Money - Here's How

Going on a gorilla safari must rank as one of the best wildlife experiences left in the natural world. Many people describe it as an overwhelming and awe-inspiring experience and worth every penny they spent on making it happen. But it doesn't necessarily have to cost the earth.

You can organise and plan your own trek far cheaper than it would cost if you used a safari company as they need to work through the applicable wildlife authorities in each country to obtain gorilla permits anyway and you can do the same if you know how.

The trade-off is that it will be more inconvenient for you because you will need to organise all the logistics yourself whereas with a gorilla safari company you just turn up and go along for the ride.

If you are a do-it-yourself traveller, here is what you need to know to make it possible and save yourself some money...

Where to Find the Gorillas

Mountain gorillas are highly endangered and there are isolated pockets of them left in Uganda, Rwanda and the Congo. It's estimated that there are less than 650 mountain gorilla left in the world.

Travel to the Congo is considered risky because of the political and military instabilities that exist there but Uganda and Rwanda are perfect for a gorilla safari.

Your chances of seeing the gorillas are excellent in both Uganda and Rwanda because they are tracked each day by experienced trackers so their locations are known down to the last 24 hours. It's possible but quite rare for visitors not to see the gorillas.

In Uganda the big apes live in the Bwindi National Park and in Rwanda they can be found at the Volcanoes National Park.

There are three habituated gorilla groups in the Bwindi forest and a total of eighteen permits are issued every day at six per group.

In Rwanda there are four habituated gorilla groups and eight permits are issued per group bringing the total per day to thirty two.

There are some simple rules that apply when visiting these great apes: Don't go if you are sick because you might infect them and they are very susceptible to human diseases, no flash photography, maintain a seven metre distance, don't eat or drink around them and each group can stay for a maximum of one hour.

Best Time to Go on a Gorilla Safari

Bwindi is a rainforest so you can expect precipitation most of the year with the heaviest rains occurring in March - April and September - November while other months are reasonably dry. Annual precipitation is between 1130 mm and 2390 mm.

The annual temperature ranges between 7-20 degrees c with the coldest period between June- July.

The climate in the Volcanoes National Park is changeable and you can generally expect both sun and rainfall during the day. At 1,700m above sea level it is generally quite cold particularly in the evening so warm clothing is advised.

The park receives a high amount of rainfall, over 70 inches (1,800 mm) per year and daytime temperatures average about 70F (21C). The dry season occurs mid-June-September and December-March.

Rain is an inconvenience on a gorilla safari but it's not an insurmountable obstacle. Just make sure that you take a good pair of hiking boots with you because it can become very muddy and some parts are pretty steep which can cause you to slip.

Travel and Accommodation

Bwindi in Uganda can be reached from QENP in the north (2-3 hours), from Kabale to the south (1-2 hours), or from Kampala via Mbarara (6-8 hours). The roads meet at Butogota, 17km from the Buhoma entrance gate.

Two up-market tented camps, a lodge, community-run budget rooms and camping are available near the Buhoma entrance gate for accommodation the night before the gorilla safari.

In Rwanda the day before the gorilla trek you can take a 2 USD minibus to Ruhengeri (2 hours) or a 2 USD Virunga or Okapi bus from Kigale. Buses leave every hour (on the hour) from near the gare routire/bus station. If you want to leave early in the morning from Kigale it might be a good idea to buy a ticket the day before, but if you leave in the afternoon, you might buy a ticket in the morning.

In Ruhengeri you can stay at any of the decent guesthouses ranging from Home d'Accueil at 5USD, to Muhabura which is clean with private bathroom at 20USD. The expensive Gorillas nest is at Kinigi, a taxi car drive out of town.

About The Author

Bruce Whittaker

Where and how to get the gorilla permit and transportation plus accommodation tips, advice and costs for both Uganda and Rwanda so that you can decide between them..http://www.african-safari-journals.com/gorilla.html

The Top Three gorilla safari companies if you decide to use a guide rather than plan your own trek..http://www.african-safari-journals.com/gorilla-trekking.html

African Safari Photography Best Five Destinations

Good wildlife safari photography is not only about composition and camera equipment because you first need to find your subjects before you can even lift your camera. This best five African wildlife destinations list helps you do that.

Once you have been going on wildlife photography safaris in Africa for a number of years you begin to realise and recognise that certain areas are better than others for generating good animal picture opportunities on a consistent basis.

The ranking is based on over twenty years of my safari photography experience, forums, countless trip reports and travel journals, travel magazines and prevailing wisdom in the Africa travel industry.

1. Serengeti NP - Tanzania

One of the best safari parks in Africa bar none, the Serengeti is a safari photography dream destination.

The wildlife viewing on a photographic safari here often borders on the spectacular aided by the fact that the vegetation is predominantly grassland which makes spotting animals from a distance considerably easier and provides less obstacles like bushes and trees to obscure your subjects.

The grassland is also able to sustain a multitude of herbivores like wildebeest, zebra and gazelle which in turn sustains a large population of predators to feed on them so it's no surprise that the Serengeti is often referred to as "big cat central". In the Masaai language Serengeti means "endless plain" which is very close to the truth.

Two extraordinary events occur here that make it an even more remarkable place to take a Tanzania safari. The annual wildebeest migration and the birth of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest foals.

The migration occurs as the massive herds of up to a million individuals begin their search for better grazing by moving north. The exact timing is dependant on the seasonal rains but they travel across the Serengeti en masse roughly between April and August.

In February - March, months before they begin their epic journey, the wildebeest give birth within a six week period to hundreds of thousands of calves, taking advantage of the sweet grazing available in the Serengeti at that time. They all foal at the same time to cause a glut of prey opportunities for the predators who make full use of the bonanza while they can.

And so can you with some remarkable picture opportunities in the offing.

2. Masai Mara Reserve - Kenya

This is one of the places where your camera will start steaming from overuse especially if you are after big cat pictures.

Along with the Serengeti in Tanzania, this is without a doubt the premier game viewing destination in Africa because of the quality and quantity of wildlife sightings and safari photography opportunities to be found here.

This sometimes works against it because in certain places it can be overrun with photographers and tourist in safari vehicles all jostling for the best position around a bemused lion pride or leopard in a tree.

But if predators are what you seek from a safari photography trip then this reserve will deliver them in spades in the form of lion, cheetah, hyena and even regular leopard sightings if you know the right areas.

Taking a hot air balloon ride over the plains will provide a unique perspective for your safari photography efforts not to mention an amazing experience.

3. Kruger NP - South Africa

The Kruger National Park has to rank as one of the best South Africa safari photography destinations, only slightly behind the Masai Mara and Serengeti when it comes to wildlife viewing because the vegetation in Kruger can be dense and sometimes mars the ability to see longer distances and get clear wildlife pictures.

But the variety of animals, birds and ecosystems that you can experience here are unparalleled anywhere else in Africa and the accommodation, roads and facilities are top notch and all at a very affordable price.

It's not unusual to see lion, leopard, cheetah, a pack of wild dog, rhino, elephant, buffalo and a whole host of antelope, crocodile and hippo in the course of a single trip including a variety of insects and reptiles.

On the bird front you will be spoiled with a seemingly never-ending supply of eagles, hawks, water birds and a host of migratory and indigenous species to the tune of about 510 different varieties.

You can easily do a self drive safari photography holiday here and still see a decent amount of wildlife especially if you stick to the central and southern portions of this massive park (larger than Ireland). The north has fewer animals due to dryer conditions but also less tourists which makes for a more isolated and intimate wildlife experience.

4. Okavango Delta and Moremi GR - Botswana

The Okavango Delta must qualify as the most unique and varied safari area in Africa and photographs of the landscape here are almost as prized as the wildlife pictures themselves.

The delta lies in the North of Botswana and it consists of narrow water channels lined by papyrus, floodplains covered knee deep in water, hippo filled lagoons, forest glades and savannah grassland.

You can go on outstanding safari photography expeditions here on foot, using a 4x4 vehicle, a mokoro (dug-out canoe) or a motorised boat.

Vast herds of buffalo, elephant, gazelle and zebra roam this rich ecosystem which is fed by the Okavango river which has its source in the Angolan highlands and floods the delta every year.

This treasure trove of available prey attracts the predators too and lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog thrive here. The dry season is the best for game viewing because the animals are drawn to the permanent water sources.

The Moremi game reserve consists of strictly controlled, privately managed concessions and it falls within the Okavango delta area and has no fences which leaves the animals free to roam around as they please.

There are a number of upmarket Botswana safari lodges in Moremi such as the Vumbura concession which contains both wetland and savannah areas for the best of both worlds.

The Delta is at its most impressive in August when the water is at its deepest and most of the young are born between November and March when the vegetation is lush and dense so it might be a good idea to plan any Botswana safari photography trips to coincide with these events.

5. South and North Luangwa NP - Zambia

Some experts have branded the Luangwa National Park as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world because the density of game you can find here mixed with the isolation and pure unadulterated wildness of it is almost without compare.

Because it is reasonably undiscovered except to the locals in the know and a select few foreign visitors, it hasn't been overrun by masses of tourists yet and you can experience a safari photography vacation here as it should be and some say that is the best Africa has to offer.

There are over 60 species of animal here with the unfortunate exception of rhino because they were poached into extinction and over 400 different kinds of birds.

They all rely on and are drawn to the winding Luangwa river which is crowded with some of the biggest concentrations of hippo and crocodile you will find anywhere in Africa. it has been estimated that there are 50 hippos per kilometre of this congested river.

The South Luangwa was the birthplace of the walking safari and it is still a very popular way to explore the area from a quality collection of safari lodges and camps. Night drives are another excellent way to see leopard which are reputed to be more regularly seen in this park than anywhere else in Africa because of the high concentrations of the predator. Lions and even rare sightings like honey badger, civet and wild dog are likely to be seen.

To take the true Zambia safari photography adventure a step farther, the northern luangwa area is even more remote, wild and isolated than the south and the wildlife and bird viewing experience is from the top draw. Definitely one for the safari cognoscenti.

About The Author

Bruce Whittaker

Wildlife photography tips and advice about the best nature cameras, lenses and techniques to improve your pictures on safari..http://www.african-safari-pictures.com/wildlife-photography.html

African primate pictures taken on safari of chimpanzee, gorilla, baboon, vervet, mandrill and colobus monkeys..http://www.african-safari-pictures.com/primate-pictures.html

The Best Wildlife Camera To Take On Safari

Good wildlife camera equipment on safari can make the difference between pictures you will be proud to show your friends and family when you get back and ones where it's difficult to figure out exactly what you were photographing because it's only a fuzzy black dot surrounded by green vegetation.

I take wildlife photographs for a living and I have had to quickly figure out what the best cameras and lenses are to get the job done effectively.

Digital or Film - Which is better for a safari?

Wild animals are very unpredictable. That's one aspect of safari photography that makes it so exciting because you never know what you are going to get but this also means that the number of pictures you need to take to get a keeper increases.

And if you use film that can become very expensive whereas with a digital wildlife camera you can take as many as you want and then just delete the ones where the lion has ducked behind a bush, the cheetah has blurred because the autofocus locked onto a twig in front of it and the exposure of the hippo was way off because of the reflected sunlight in the water.

You can also make consistent use of bracketing to get the perfect exposures without worrying about cost or running out of film which can be a problem in certain remote areas of Africa where safaris take place.

So more is better in this case but what about quality? The fact is that digital quality is fast catching up to film unless you fall into the professional category and are going to be selling your safari pictures or entering them into competitions. In that case it might be better to stick to film because the trained eye will be able to spot the difference but in most other cases digital quality is more than adequate.

Digital also gives you valuable feedback while you are still on safari so that you can try and improve on that elephant picture with the ear cut off the next day. You also have a lot more control over the final product because you can use software like Photoshop to enhance and fine tune your pictures.

Digital SLR or Compact Wildlife Camera

A safari is the dream trip of a lifetime and it's a great opportunity to get some fantastic wildlife pictures but it's not necessary to buy the latest and greatest digital SLR and lenses to get them unless you are planning to take nature pictures for a living or are a serious photography enthusiast and are going to make regular use of the camera and lenses after the safari anyway.

The cost of a digital SLR wildlife camera is high compared to a compact but that is only half the story. The lenses that you need to purchase for decent wildlife photography often cost more than the camera itself making it a very expensive business indeed.

And a bulky camera body and multiple interchangeable lenses do add to the weight of your luggage and the inconvenience of carrying everything around with you.

Digital compact cameras on the other hand are not extremely expensive and the results that you can obtain from them are almost on a par with a digital SLR camera and you don't have to worry about any additional lenses if the compact you buy has a decent zoom covering the range from 80mm to about 300mm. There are a few of them on the market that do have lenses like this and the range of the zooms increase every year.

And compact cameras live up to their name by being relatively small and light and one lens means no additional weight or carrying and no time wasted changing to another lens to suit the situation.

The Best SLR Digital Wildlife Camera for Nature Photography

If you have decided to go with a digital SLR then by all accounts the best one to purchase for wildlife photography at the moment is the Canon EOS 20D due to the blinding speed of its shutter release (near instantaneous) and its continuous shooting speed of 5 frames per second to a maximum burst depth of twenty three frames. It also powers up in next to no time at all.

This wildlife camera is as fast as you will ever need to freeze wildlife action and get the picture in the can before the animal moves off into the undergrowth.

There are other SLR cameras that are nearly as good like the Nikon D70 and the Pentax ist D so take a look at them too before making a decision.

The Best Compact Digital Wildlife Camera for Nature Photography

Canon comes up trumps again in the compact camera category with the Canon Powershot S2 IS. The factor that makes this camera ideal for safari wildlife photography is its huge 12X optical zoom lens (36 - 432mm equivalent) with a built in image stabiliser which cuts down on blur when using such a massive zoom lens.

A 5 megapixal sensor is more than enough to produce stunning safari images and as long as you can live with a slight shutter release lag and power up delay this compact wildlife camera is perfect for a safari trip.

About The Author

Bruce Whittaker

Five essential wildlife photography tips that will help you improve your animal pictures rapidly and remarkably..http://www.african-safari-pictures.com/wildlife-photography-tips.html

The best wildlife camera to take with you on a photographic safari..http://www.african-safari-pictures.com/wildlife-photography-tips.html