Africa Safari: Many Countries, Many Different Types Of Safaris

When you think about Africa, images of savannahs, outstanding landscapes as well as splendid animals must be going through your mind. There may be excitement in the air as you must be anticipating meeting proud ancestral tribes; of course, the main attraction would no doubt be the Africa safari.

A Moving Experience

The Africa safari will move you profoundly as well as spiritually and the exhilaration that you will feel will surely make a new person out of you. An Africa safari is something that you will cherish for long and it will sure to be momentous as well as be the adventure that will be hard to beat in one lifetime.

There are many destinations that beckon you to them for your Africa safari including going to Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia as well as Zimbabwe. You can plan your Africa safari to include one or many of these countries and you can choose to take the safari in a small group, or have a customized private safari. It all depends on your whims and fancies, and of course, your bank balance. In fact, you can choose between an adventure, luxury, private, small group, safari excursion, and a camping safari.

The Africa adventure safari will take you to remote areas in Africa and you can take part in many different activities such as hiking into volcanoes craters, visiting tribes of Bushmen, or canoeing bang next to elephants. The luxury Africa safari will allow you comfort as well as style and you will stay in luxury in intimate camps as well as lodges that are away from the normal tourist spots.

If you think that your Africa safari should be private, then you can take your own professional safari guide and hop on board a private 4x4 safari vehicle and set your own schedule that may vary according to movements of animals. The other option is to go in a small group which should suit single travelers as well as couples, or a bunch of close friends.

You may also want to take a safari excursion which is a short program that include combination safaris such as elephant back safaris, camel safaris, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, diving, riding on horseback, fishing, staying in estates, taking train rides as well as having a golfing trip.

You can also opt for an Africa safari in the form of camping safaris that will take you deep into the heart of Africa in the wilderness where you may stay in tents with king size beds, or in dome tents. Of course, you will relish the sumptuous food, which alone can make your Africa safari worthwhile.
Ann Marier has written articles about African safari trips providing helpful tips and advice. Another favorite topic of hers is camping where she writes about camping gear and equipment

African Lion Safari Country; Kenya - The African Lion Safari Land

African lion safari in Kenya is offered in several of the country?s wildlife parks. Most famous is the Maasai Mara game reserve where sightings of the African lion are guaranteed-the same way the sun will rise in the morning and set in the evening. Other African lion safari parks in Kenya famous for their African lion populations include the Tsavo, Amboseli, Nairobi, Nakuru and Meru safari Parks. With a little effort and your diver guide?s acumen, you will be able to spot a pride in each of these African lion safari land parks.

African lion safari of Maasai Mara

Maasai Mara game reserve is said to host over 10 prides of lions if not more. The African lion in Maasai Mara is famous for its black mane. The mane will usually be golden in the African lion?s youth turning to black as it advances in age. The lions of the Mara will be heard roaring next to your camp where they have marked territories and location.

The prides usually occupy one territory (which might be next to your lodge) and it?s guaranteed that they will always be in those environs every day. The Maasai Mara African lion safari land park is rife with succession battles between male lions. The dominant male is constantly fending off other challenging males. The male will in most cases be heavily scarred on the face as a result of battles fought and won before.

The African lion safari in the Mara will find you in the middle of a pride that wants to use your car for shade. They will sprawl underneath and besides your vehicle for hours ignoring your presence. By and large, the Maasai Mara African lion is to an extent used to humans, but that?s not to mean they are any less dangerous. So take no chances.

The African lion safari of Tsavo safari park

The lions of Tsavo East especially, are the most dreaded, and were upon which the movie ?the ghost and the darkness? was based. The lions of Tsavo killed hundreds of railway workers and at one point halted the construction of the East African railway line in 1890?s. They came to be known as the ?man eaters of Tsavo?

The lions here are the most feared and un-habituated due to their limited contact with humans. They are equally harder to locate but more due to the expansive nature of the park. Your tour driver guide in most cases will most certainly know how to locate a pride since they are familiar with their territories.

African Lion safari in Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National park is the only wildlife park in the world within capital city boundaries. It is therefore easily accessible and a show case of what other country based lion safari parks have to offer. The African lion prides of Nairobi national park are fewer due to the relative size of the park. They can however be heard at early mornings and late evenings roaring away. It is always an exciting experience in your African lion safari to see the elusive lions in this park before proceeding to the major national parks in Kenya.

Lions of Meru National Park

The Meru National park easily holds the number one position of the most remote wilderness areas in the country. The wildlife here, unlike other parks is very aggressive and un-habituated. The African lions of Meru National park compare to those of Tsavo and are as such the most feared. Meru national park however is a darling for tourists in search of virgin natural places in their African lion safari photo hunt.

Lions of L. Nakuru National park

Lake Nakuru national park is the most visited park in Kenya. The park is also located 2? from Nairobi and within the Nakuru town and is host to Lake Nakuru, an important Ramsar site. (An Important water-body equivalent to a UNESCO?s heritage site). The park is famous for the millions of the pink coloured flamingo that ring the sides of the lake like one large pink bracelet.

The African lion park prides are easily found and are located in a particular area called the lion hill. L. Nakuru is a very famous park since it also hosts the Black and White African Rhino. The white Rhino populations in the park have improved tremendously and are touted as a resounding success of the rhino breeding programme by the Kenya Wildlife Service.

Let your operator advice you on your itinerary to maximize your African lion safari experience in Kenya. For sure you will see enough African lions and more of the big five game here. That?s not a fact it?s a promise. Enjoy!

Robert Muhoho is a tour consultant with Landmark Safaris. He is degreed in tourism and hospitality management and author to many Kenya tour articles. For free African lion safari info visit them @ www.landmarksafaris.com/tours/wildlife.php

Water Safari Kenya; Top 7 Water Safari Vacations Kenya

1. Tsavo West National Park

This was made famous by the man eaters of Tsavo, the lions that killed hundreds of railway workers in the beginning of the 20th Century. Here you can see most animals, including the ?big five?. This park is situated west of Mombasa and East of Amboseli National Park. This park is a must see in your Kenyan Water safari.

2. Shimba Hills National Reserve

The Shimba hills are also worth a visit. The reserve has a variety of species including Elephant, Giraffe and Buffalo as well as the rare Roan and Sable Antelopes. The forests are home to a number of unusual species including the black and white colobus monkey, Serval cats, Red Duiker and Suni Antelope. An abundance of birdlife is found among the hills, including Honey guides, Turacos, Wood peckers and Sunbirds. Shimba Hills can be done as a day excursion from your Kenyan Water safari on the Kenyan Beach.

The Makupa Market off Mwembe Tayari, is Mombassa?s biggest market, a colourful place featuring a wide range of produce is worth a visit.

Fort Jesus in the Old town built in the 16th Century by the Portuguese is also worth a visit.

3. South Coast of Kenya Beaches

The south Coast of Kenya Beach is famous for its warm, calm, turquoise waters. It is situated south of Mombasa; you have to cross the Likoni Ferry to reach it. All sorts of water sports including deep sea scuba diving, boating, surfing, parasailing, beach parachuting, Hobie skiffs, kayaking, wreck diving are offered. These are very popular sports with Kenya water safari enthusiasts.

North Coast of Kenya Beaches

The North Coast of Kenya beach is the closest beach to Mombasa Island and has an excellent beach for a Kenyan Water safari tour. Most water sports are offered including deep sea scuba diving, big game sport fishing, jetskies, surfing, snorkeling and goggling etc.

4. Watamu Kenya Beach

The 10 km sq Watamu Marine National Park contains unparalleled marine views and it is world-renowned for its deep- sea fishing and other water safari activities. The area features crystal clear warm waters and white sandy beaches.

5. Arabuko Sokoke Forest Wilderness on Kenyan Beaches

Arabuko Sokoke forest wilderness is nestled besides the water safari beaches of Watamu, just minutes from the waters of the Indian Ocean. In this 400sq km reserve there is an untold wealth of natural beauty. The air is filled with butterflies and birds, the trees alive with monkeys and the forest floor home to many mammals.

The forest stretches to the headwaters of the mighty Sabaki River, and occasionally herds of elephant pass through the forest en route to the river.

This rich forest once hid another secret. The 13th century Swahili town of Gede thrived here for hundreds of years, hidden away from Portuguese sailors and the influence of the outside world. The town was eventually deserted, and today the ruins of Gede, lying among the trees and twisting vines of the forests are a haunting reminder of the past?

6. The Tana Delta

The Tana delta is a place of spectacular panoramic views, encompassing a scrub land teeming with game and birds and the endless rolling sands of deserted beaches. Here you can experience the best of both worlds of a Kenyan water safari, spending the morning exploring a river filled with hippos and crocodiles by canoe, and swimming in the blue waters of the Indian Ocean in the afternoon.

7. Taita & Chyulu Hills

Spanning the vast plains of Tsavo, and lying within view of majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro, are the Taita and Chyulu hills. This is a paradise of elephant herds, plains game, cheetah, remote Maasai villages and wonderful views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. This is a breath taking escape from the beach in your water safari in Kenya.

Close to Tsavo East, the nearby Taita Hills are home to a private game sanctuary, with a wide variety of game including Lion, Cheetah, Elephant and plains game. Prolific bird life includes the extremely rare Taita Falcon, a Bird recorded in early Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Taita are in fact three groups of Hills, the Dabida, Sagalla and Kasigau.

Robert Muhoho is a tour consultant with Landmark Safaris. He is degreed in tourism and hospitality management and author to 500 Kenya tour articles. For free Kenya water safari info visit them @ www.landmarksafaris.com/tours/beach.php

Kenya Camping Safaris: Biribiriet, the haven for camping & nature addicts

The valley opens below. Cliffs and high valleys stand in the midst of a sky pregnant with moisture. The rains are about to come. We stop at the Kerio Tingwa Ecotourism camping site for a stretch and to admire the beautiful landscape. We are on our way to Eldoret via the Eldama Ravine road and then to Chepkiit waterfall.

A map on the sign board points to the interesting features in the view. We can see Tongwoto caves, Tingwa hills at 2,700 meters and somewhere below are the Kabilet waterfalls and Kerio River. At the next viewpoint, we can see the white rug on the terrain of the Fluorspar mines.

It?s nearly midnight and we are camping just off the turning from Biribiriet near Eldoret on the Eldoret-Kapsabet road .The night air is cold but stunningly revitalizing. This is the ultimate forest camping experience. The gurgle of the stream running at the bottom of the field, is inviting. The moon, hidden in the clouds, send a little light in the terrestrial grounds but our eyes have become accustomed to the darkness and we are no longer daunted by it. Instead, warmed by the camping fire, we are suddenly animated when somebody suggests a midnight walk with Beryl to the rivers edge in search of frogs! This may be my proverbial chance to kiss the frog and end up with prince charming, so I join in.

The trouble with frogs is that you get to see them more at night and so much of Beryl?s field work is stalking the wilds in the dark armed with torch and plastic bags to catch the jumping jacks.

We tread the grass softly so as not to frighten the amphibians. Ringed by the glow of the torch light, a tiny reed frog tenderly perches on a thin grass. It?s quite a piece of art, this delicate scene.? That?s a reed frog,? Beryl says as our torches beam on many more in the shallow edges of Kipkeren River which thunders over the nearby Chepkiit waterfalls and onwards to Kingwal swamp. Many of the tiny water frogs are breeding and their throat sacs are ballooned enormously to call out female mates. It?s quite a busy little scene by the banks of the river. In contrast, the bigger grass frogs look quite monstrous and scary.

?Frogs are a good indicator of a clean environment ?says Beryl.? Any disturbance of the water quality effects their populations. ?There is no long term national data on the amphibians to compare the state of the environment or the diversity of frogs. Beryl is one of the few young Kenyan?s studying frogs.

It?s amazing. In the light of the following morning, where the scene was busy the night before, there is not a single frog to be seen. I take a leisurely stroll to a secluded water pool surrounded by massive rocks for a morning bath. The water is cool, the early morning clean and pure and the sky is lit with diverse colurs. The Ross?Turaco with its bright scarlet under wing has everybody taken ?under its wing ?it?s a bird of the old forests and quite rare to many birders.

This place is a find for camping nature lover groups. We are camping in this beautiful place surrounded by trees and open glades sandwiched between a picturesque Nandi homestead and the river overlooking a stone buff, all thanks to Mary, who has been researching in the vicinity for six years. ?Everybody keeps running to coast for their holidays. They should come here for a once in a life time camping experience,? she says vehemently. ?You won?t believe the number of stunning places like these.?

We lumbered early out of our camping gear and after the private bath in the rock pool and a leisurely breakfast, Mary gets us up on our feet again. This time, it?s a walk to the Chepkiit waterfall. There is so much to see walking through the glades of grass and forest, its like being in a wonderland.

The turacos awe us time and time again. The harrier hawk, glides to perch on a rock while the tiny leaf-loves and green doves fly about. Black and white casqued hornbills send noisy trumpets in flight while the graceful crowned cranes spread their feathers in elegant flight. There is life everywhere .Even on the rocks ?I wonder what these are? ?Mary asks as she kneels to gently touch the white straw-like threads weaving a pattern on the rocks. I have no idea either. Silk threads touch our bare faces as we walk the jungle part to the waterfall. Its sound reaches us faintly and we step over a border to see this most amazing scene of giant rocks and water and through the wide split in the gorge, a forest stretching into the horizon.

?This is Chepkiit waterfall,? announces Mary proudly. Everybody is bowled over and with a new lease to life; we explore the vistas, moving from rock to rock as the water crashes down. This water will flow on Yala swamp and finally into Lake Victoria.

?The Nandi area is very rich in bio-diversity,? says Mary.? There are lots of places like these.? What we need is to manage these places through researches that they are sufficiently protected.?

We visit the nearby homestead; Janet is busy with the usual house hold chores. The sheep and goats have been let out, the cows have had there morning drink at the river having to walk around the tents, and the cooking is going on. Inside the kitchen, the hand-made stove is ablaze with the firewood, little escaping from the sides so as to make the most efficient use of the precious fuel. Above are the calabashes, adding a dash of deco in the earth walled kitchen. The ?botet? or calabashes are used to store ?mursik? the traditional sour milk of the Nandi. I buy a couple, not to store milk but as a small token of the place.

For more information on the area, you can email; Robert

To explore more of the outdoors and discover all that?s wild, visit a local operator for more information on camping tours. You get to explore places that are off-the-beaten track with people who make every trip an unforgettable forest camping event.
Robert Muhoho is a tour consultant in Kenya and has planned business and vacation safaris for over 10,000 tourists in the East African region. He is a tour operation- major and involved in National tourism policy development in Kenya.

For more information please visit:
http://www.landmarksafaris.com/planner/
http://www.eastafricasafari.blogspot.com

Bring Home Memories With Safari Photos

 

Any tourist knows that one of the more important parts of any trip is to bring back tangible memories in forms of souvenirs, tokens and photos. Well, among all these photos can evoke more memories since it lets you see the actual, present images while you were there.

In this article, we have prepared four tips to help you get the most from your African safari photos.

Know the locations of wonder

Too many of amateur photographers don't typically have enough knowledge on the perfect locations for safari photographs. Well, this time you will know some of them. The prime locations are Kruger National Park (South Africa), Masai Mara (Kenya), Moremi (Botswana), Serengeti (Tanzania) and Etosha (Namibia).

Bring the proper equipments

You may not have the talent for photography yet with the right equipments and devices, you are sure to bring out the best from even the worst photos you have taken.

Your best buddy for safari photos is the digital camera as it provides you countless advantages that you may never have from other camera units.

Be conscious of the composition

Most safari photos are spoiled because they do not have the right subjects in them or the subjects were not thoroughly and properly positioned in the image. You have more control on the composition using positioning principles. Make the most out of the latter though.

The main focus of the composition is how you frame your subjects.

When you choose the composition of the safari photos, you have to have quick decisions, as wild animals dont normally stay for long in single locations. Be extra careful of your movements as well to avoid distracting their attention.

And never forget?be patient

We have no control over the animals that pass our sights. They move at their own phase and at their own time. They simply behave in manners that they naturally do so you cant obviously expect them to move as you want. Be patient in waiting for subjects to come by. And once they do, use all your advantage to capture them in photos. Remember, the most beautiful safari photos are those that depict unusually beautiful movements.

You may not control luck, and that's for a fact. Luck or opportunity is one thing that determines the beauty if action is to be captured in photos. If you are patient, nature may help you see the marvel in each wildlife scene- a chase of preys and predators, lion clubs at play and solitary trees that reserves excellent elegance.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on safari & other useful information, please visit http://safari.articlekeep.com

Explore Africa With An African Safari

I've appreciated traveling ever since my junior year of high school when my class went on a excursion to Rome. Ever since that time, I've had the chance to backpack all the way through Europe, bum around the Caribbean for a month, and even reside in Southeast Asia for a short time. The more exotic the destination, the better as far as I'm concerned. That's why I've lately been thinking about going on an African safari.

Going on an African safari would be an encounter like no other. It would be incredible to see all those superb animals such as lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and more running liberated in their native environment. But unlike hopping on a plane to the Bahamas with merely an overnight bag with me, going on an African safari requires to a certain extent a bit more planning.

The first thing I decided to do was call up a travel agent. I wasn't in truth looking for a quotation at that point. I simply wanted to ask a few fundamental questions to acquire a better picture of what I'd need to do before embarking on my African safari. I'm sure glad that I decided to make inquiries, as there were quite a few things that I never would have figured out on my own.

For instance, I didn't know that I would require a exclusive tourist visa in addition to my normal passport in order to go on an African safari. It's a good thing the travel agent told me about this since it takes in the region of 4-6 weeks for the tourist visa to get processed. An added thing I learned is that it would be a good plan to carry a copy of my vaccination records with me. That's because malaria, dysentery, and other ailments are quite widespread for travelers while on an African safari. I was advised to visit a physician ahead of my journey to get various medicines to help guard against these illnesses.

Once I felt comparatively informed about the arrangements I had to make, I went ahead and started looking at prices. I went online and found quite a few great travel companies specializing in African safaris. Most of these companies have set tour packages that incorporate transport, accommodation, and meals, which would make things a lot easier once I was in that country. Some companies even offered a custom African safari in which travelers could develop their own itineraries. I didn't believe I was fully ready for that, so I ended up simply purchasing a package deal.

I'm parting for my African safari in a few short weeks, and I couldn't be more excited! It's going to be the journey of a lifetime. If you're thinking about departing on your own African safari, check out some of these online travel agents to see if you can obtain a great deal on your trip.

Mitch Hampson is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Cheap Travel Agents so if you would like more information on this subject please checkout his website at http://www.worldtravelnow.info This article is shareware. Use freely with all live links left in place.

African Safari Is Affordable For You

An African Safari is the vacation of a lifetime. Make sure you choose your tour company wisely as there is a lot of difference between tour operators. Looking for great value? Ask a travel agent to keep an eye out for African Safari special offers to find exclusive tours at unbeatable prices. Or if you have some extra time, surf the internet for a few weeks before booking so that you get a good idea of the tours being offered. Safaris, aside from the airfare, are not much more expensive than other guided tours unless you take the luxury option, and it's bound to be an unforgettable vacation.

Safaris to the Kruger Park, which is roughly the size of a small country, are always popular. This area of Africa has seen human habitation for roughly 40,000 years. Indigenous populations coexisted in balance with the local game, but after Europeans arrived and began to hunt for trophies, game populations declined drastically due to the uncontrolled slaughter despite hunting laws introduced to South Africa in 1858.

The area first became protected in 1989, just before the Boer War, after a campaign by Paul Kruger to establish the Sabi game reserve between the Sabi and Crocodile rivers. After the Boer War ended in 1902, the James Stevenson-Hamilton was appointed warden of the Sabi Game Reserve, and formal protection and rebuilding of game stocks was instituted. Stevenson-Hamilton became determined to protect the area permanently by making it a national park. After much lobbying, he succeeded. The national parks act was passed in 1926 and the Sabi and Singwitsi reserves (by then the Transvaal Game Reserve) became the Kruger National Park.

It took a few years before visitors discovered the park. In 1927, a total of 3 tourist vehicles ventured into the park, bringing in an income of 3 pounds. By 1930, there were 900 vehicles roaming on the 500 kilometres of new roads in the park, and staying in the huts and tents that could accommodate up to 700 people. Stevenson-Hamilton was an outdoorsman who disapproved of luxurious facilities, and he attempted to maintain a rustic atmosphere. However, when he left, accommodations were upgraded and the park became a reknowned destination for tourists from all around the world.

By 1955, visitors flocked to the park in numbers exceeded 10,000 a year, prompting extensive development of roads and tourist services along with the fencing of the park boundaries. During peak holiday season, such as Christmas, Easter and July, the park can be quite crowded. There is now a daily limit to number of visitors, so if you must travel in peak season, reserve well ahead of time.

Adjacent to the Kruger on its Western Boundary are a number of private game reserves, including the Sabi Sand, Timbavati and Manyeleti. Kruger Park Safaris offer a huge variety and density of wildlife, as well as a wide range of safari experiences. You'll never be able to see the whole park in just one tour. Safaris include everything from tented walking safaris and self-driving safaris to ultra-luxurious fly-in safaris. Kruger Park holds hundreds of lodges for different tastes and budgets.

The Kruger Park is a year-round destination, but there is a seasonal difference in climate. The dry season (winter) is usually between May and August, although rainfall starts declining in April and is still fairly low in September and October. This is the best season to see game, as permanent waterholes attract animals, the vegetation becomes thinned out, and trees have fewer leaves to obstruct the view. Winter has warm days and chilly nights. The average maximum temperatures is around 24 degrees in winter, and the average minimum is about 8 or 9 degrees, although it can drop as far as 5 degrees. It is important to bring along a warm jacket for early morning and evening game tours.

The wet season (summer), is from November to March. This is when the Kruger Park receives most of its rainfall, usually in dramatic afternoon thundershowers. The weather is hot and balmy, with Average maximum temperatures of about 30 degrees Celcius, with an average minimum of 20 degrees. The summer grass and foliage becomes lush and green, and while this makes for beautiful scenery, it can also make game viewing difficult. Also, animals no longer concentrate around waterholes because there are now widespread sources of water.

However, for birdwatchers, the wet season is the ideal time to visit the Kruger Park, as this is when the migrating birds arrive, and when all the local birds are at their most active. The Makuleke region of the park is renowned for its many species of birds, and visitors may see exotic specimens such as Scarlet Chested Sunbirds, Broadbilled Rollers, Redheaded Weavers, Wattle-eyed Flycatchers and owls, such as the Pels Fishing Owl, the Scops, Whitefaced, Pearl-Spotted and Giant Eagle Owls.

The wet season is also the best time to see baby animals, as most animals calve at the beginning of the rainy season to take advantage of the lush grazing grounds.

Luxury resorts in and around the Kruger Park are not cheap, but offer services such as massages, reflexology and room service for guests who like to remain within the bounds of civilization while still having an opportunity to take day tours and see game.

Overland Safaris in a tour group are the most economical way to see Kruger Park. These group tours are a great way to meet like-minded eco-tourists and enjoy a genuine outdoor experience. Both camping and hotel options are available.

The bush of the Kruger Park can also be experienced on hiking tours. These walks are conducted in parts of the region not accessible to vehicles, including the spectacular Lanner Gorge.

J Schipper loves African Safaris - Living On A Cruise Ship - Condo Cruise Ship

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.