The Top Five African Safari Destinations!

Going on African safari would be the adventure of a lifetime for many. Africa, despite it's political unrest and problems over the last century is still a mysterious and beautiful part of the planet and to see it once will provide lifetime memories. But what part of Africa do you want to see?

The great thing about African safaris is you can choose from either a limited number of destinations to visit or depending on your budget, can see it all from top to bottom. So what are the most popular African safari destinations?

Serengeti

The Serengeti is a great year round destination. Tanzania has plenty of attractions but it's the Serengeti which provides Africa in all it's glory. Big cat lovers won't be disappointed whether it's lions, leopards or cheetahs you want to see but there is a multitude of wildlife on offer in this special part of the world.

Okavango Delta

Remember the "Jungle Jim" adventures. When you visit the Okavango Delta you'll feel like you are in another world. Why? This virtually untouched and untamed part of Africa provides safari lovers with just about everything they have dreamed of about deep and darkest Africa. From fauna to flora to water, the Okavango Delta has it all and quite literally, could satisfy all your safari requirements.

Kruger National Park

South Africa's Kruger National Park is a vast and spectacular piece of real estate. Wildlife abounds here but the great thing about this part of Africa is the variety it offers visitors. It's just about everyone's favorite African safari destination as there are endless types of safaris you can choose from. Whether you want to take a self-drive safari or a walking safari; or maybe get off the beaten track a little, Kruger National Park can provide the setting. Kruger has many well organised safari options and is an ideal destination for the whole family.

Masai Mara

Like the Serengeti, Kenya's Masai Mara is teeming with wildlife. Even better still, it has it's own unique appearance. The migration of wild beast during the second half of the year from the Serengeti could just about make "the wonders of the world" list and many veteran African safari seekers will make more than one trip to this part of Africa just to witness this spectacle.

Victoria Falls

Visiting Victoria Falls is like viewing a part of Heaven. The fact it's such a spectacular viewing experience is one thing but the more adventurous of us have the opportunity to try activities of a more daring nature. Victoria Falls combines everything nature has to offer in one convenient location and is a must see for students of photography.

These are just some of the many highlights an African safari has to offer. Seeing all five in one trip would be ideal but visiting just one or two of these areas will whet your appetite for more. Beware, it's addictive and the "danger" is you could very well become an African safari "junkie."

Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster. If you're planning an African Safari then don't miss this report on the top five safari destinations! Plus, read the latest african safari related news and reviews at:http://www.african-safaris-site.com

African Lion Country Safari - Safari Lion Animal Facts - African Wild Lion Hunting Safari in Kenya

The king of the forest or so the African lion has been re-baptized. The lion may be the king of the savannah but certainly not of the forest; it is not its habitat. Its scientific name is panthera Leo, a carnivore; class- mammals; family- felines. Its length may reach 2 ? meters, its height one metre. The female is slightly smaller. Weight; 200 to 250kg. Gestation period; 105 to 110 days. Length of life; up to 20years.

The lioness not only takes care of the cubs (three or four at a time) but it is also the more expert and agile hunter. Zebra and antelopes of various types like impala, Kongoni, make up the regular diet of an African lion. In need, it does not scorn rats, rock rabbits, and even carrions of elephants, buffaloes and giraffes.

The worst enemy of the lion is a rather innocuous animal, the size of a small dog; the porcupine who very cleverly waits for the lion to run after him then suddenly stops letting the hunter stick its nose in a forest of sharp quills in its jaws as this may remain stuck there for life, a painful reminder every time it has to chew.

The lion is a proverbial glutton; it may eat up to one fifth of its weight at one meal. However, it may also fast for three or four days. Humans may become its prey as well. The man eaters of Tsavo became famous during the building of the Mombasa-Kisumu railway. One station carries their name; Simba (Kiswahili for Lion)

Only the male lion wears a mane; it begins to grow at about three years of age. Famous is its roar, it may be heard for 5miles around in the savannah. In African fables and proverbs the lion is often humiliated, tricked or defeated by other small defenseless animals.

Kenya rhino animals

The rhino is the second largest in size after the elephant. There are in Africa, two species of Rhino, the black and the white one. Where black only means a shade darker, white means dirty grew; a bit of a confusion which could be cleared by calling each with its scientific name of ceratotherium simum (the white one) and Diceros Bicornis (the black one).

The first attains a length of 4 ? meters and a weight of 4 tons while the second does not reach 4 meters and just manages 2 tons. The gestation period of the first is a hundred days longer than that of the second, estimated at 450-480 days.

The looks of the rhino are far from friendly; perhaps is nature?s gift to a timid (so experts believe) and even easily frightened animal. There is no doubt that its sight is very poor, so when feeling in danger it plays the bully and charges anyhow to scare off the supposed enemy be it an animal or a vehicle. The two horns on its snout are truly a formidable weapon; but their scope is rather to enable the animal to tear or uproot its food (besides grass and tree bark, roots form its favorite diet)

Rhinos prefer small company; every family chooses its territory and rarely goes beyond the boundaries. The rhino has a queer characteristic; a very conjugal act. This may be the source of the legend widely believed in Asia that Rhino horn powder is a powerful aphrodisiac. That is why it has been exterminated in some places and reduced to very few in others. The legend is not dead yet

Robert is a travel expert with Landmarksafaris. He has authored more than 1000 articles on Africa Kenya animal holiday trip. Learn more of your experience in the best of all Kenya animal Holiday safaris here: http://www.landmarksafaris.com/tours/wildlife.php/?refferer=ezinearticles

Tips On Spotting Lion Country Safari

The big five. Whoever gave that name and whoever designated which animals should be included in their revered group must be given honor since he (or they) have picked the best constituents of the group. But the question still arises why other more graceful and robust animals were not included in the list.

Why are not giraffe, being the tallest member of the animal kingdom is not chosen for the big five? Or the hippos and the gorillas, are they not large enough?

Actually, the term big five was not given primarily to the five members because they were large or graceful or tall. The main category facilitated by the hunters (and not the tour operators) is the difficulty of cornering these large animals and bagging them.

The lion, being one of the big five along with the rhino, buffalo, leopard, and elephant is very much esteemed since it is the king of the jungle. Though safaris are not exactly characterized as jungles in the typical sense, lion country safaris are still very much sought after.

Lions tend to be lazy though. However, it is their instinct to give as much distance away from humans if possible. This is why they are rather hard to hunt than those of the plains games like the antelopes, wildebeests and the likes. So how would one maximize lion country safari game viewing?

For one, you have to know the right season. It is usually the dry season that encourages the congregation of both preys and the predators in common places. These places are normally around the riverbed, water holes and the lakes. If you would not want to take the risk of getting to near with the lions and other wild animals, you may chose to avail small shelters that overlook the spots where animals naturally proceed. Nonetheless, you can maximize the use of your open vehicle.

Summer is not only good because it is when most animals group. This is also the season when vegetation is significantly thinned. Thus, better game viewing. It is strange how the biggest of elephants can camouflage with the thickest grasses but that still is the way that it goes.

Dry season varies depending on the region where you are camping. In the eastern Africa, first dry season occurs between January to March and the second dry season is from July to October. In southern Africa however, dry season extends from May through October.
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

A Jungle Safari Party Will Drive Kids Wild

Safaris are a unique look at wildlife and animals in their natural habitat and often called the adventure of a life time. Because animals are loved by children and they are so easy to find everywhere, a Jungle Animal Safari is a terrific party idea. Invitations can be taped to a box of animal crackers. Decorations can include camouflage netting (which could form a sort of tent or cave for a play area), stuffed animals, and anything with an animal print can add to the festivities. Snakes and vines can be draped in doorways or from ceilings and a CD of animal sounds or jungle drums can be used to add ambience.

Safari Games to be played might include:

Wild Animal Charades Game: Names of various wild animals are written on pieces of papers and put in a bowl (or a safari hat) so that no one can see the writing on them. Then one guest at a time pulls a slip out and has to act out the animal in hopes that the other guests can guess what animal is being acted. The player that guesses it correctly, gets to draw the next slip.

A Safari Expedition Party Hunt: A safari scavenger hunt can be set up, or if there are enough types of animals (either hard plastic or stuffed) a search that requires finding the animal that made the prints can be set up so that teams of guests have to identify the animal that made certain paw and hoof prints. This can be made by creating ?Giraffe Crossing? signs and noting the hoof prints on it, or something more subtle. The ultimate goal is for the kids to locate and identify the matching prints.

Animorphing: Guests pick out the names of two different animals from the hat/bowl. They are then required to draw a picture of what animal would be created if the two animals they drew were to be combined For example, if a tiger and a chimpanzee were the names drawn out by the guest, he would draw something that was part chimpanzee and part tiger and it may be called a chimpiger. Other guests will then try to guess what 2 animals were made to create the new animal.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies http://www.partysupplieshut.com, using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes (PartyThemeShop.com) to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Kenya tour and safaris: the ultimate experience

Your Kenyan Safari

The Kenyan holiday experience is touted to be the most comprehensive in Africa. It is the only country that you will experience 3 district climatic conditions namely, Coastal Humid, cool highland and dry desert. The attractions here also range from the beaches 1) white sands, 2) wildlife, 3) the scenery of the great Rift Valley, 4) the green plantations of the highlands, 5) the cradle of mankind archeological sites, 6) No distinct cultural ethical endowments show-copped markets among others.

a) Wildlife Safaris Kenya has managed to maintain its wildlife in natural areas in National Parks and Reserves. The big five wildlife including Rhino, Lion, Leopard, Elephant and Buffalo is all found in these parks Including the small bovid. Among Kenyans most parks include the indomitable - Massai Mara - Nakuru National Park - Aberdares National Park - Tsavo National Park (11,000 kms equal size of Israel) - Samburu - Amboseli National Reserve - Among other 57 Parks and Reserves Nairobi National Park is the only park located within a capital city in the world. Lions, Zebras, gnus, Leopards, Rhino, Buffalo are 5minutes from the CBD.

Wildebeest Migration

The single most popular wildlife spectre in Kenya is the annual wildebeest migration to and back from Serengeti into the Maasai Mara. The wildebeest migration is such a phenomenon it involves movement of over 10 million animals crossing plains and rivers. The huge migration is such that the satellites in space picks it up as a fluid mass of black trail. The Maasai Mara lodges are usually overbooked and full in the migration months of June-Nov.

Lion and Oryx

Some years back a story extra ordinaire caught the attention of international media. This was the story of an old lioness called 'Namunyak' in Samburu National Reserve. The lioness had formed a bizarre habit of adopting 4 young Oryx for days on end. The lioness was actually protective of its adoptee(s) that she couldn't go to hunt for fear of her being killed by the males of her pride. This made her loose a lot of weight but still held on strong. On four different occasions the lioness adopted an Oryx calve after the other despite being frustrated by the male lions and disposition of others by the rangers. Namugaki is still out there in the wild while the 4th adoptee was rescued by the Kenya Wildlife Rangers can now bee seen mature at the Nairobi orphanage.

Mzee the Tortoise & Owen the Hippo

Haller Park is the former world reclaimed Bamburi Nature Trail at the coast. Reclaimed from cement Quarries of Bamburi Cement Factory the park has been fully rehabilitated with conserving trees and stocked as a zoo with giraffes, hippo gazelles Oryx, Eland, fish, snakes, etc.

A very recent and ongoing development at Haller Park has been the extra ordinary friendship between 100+ old tortoise and a young 5+ hippo. While mzee the Tortoise has seen it all unfold at Bamburi, Owen the baby hippo was orphaned after the mother died elsewhere. Now, the story is said that Own started to spend time with Mzee (Old man) upon arrival at the Park. This bond has now developed such that the two, feed, sleep and walk together. They are inseparable and Owen is especially aggressive to any intruders.

Other stories always emerge of unique unions between different wildlife species including one between a lone buffalo and a murderous black Rhino in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. It all goes to show how free ranging animals take their entitled liberties.

Wildlife viewing in the Mara is done in 8 seater Mini vans and land cruiser trucks. The Mara is so beaming with wildlife that you can almost touch an elephant feeding. 1 - years one metre off the road. And that is from right next to the gate. Balloon safaris are the most satisfying way to view the gazillions of wildlife and especially the big five balloon safaris are booked on demand from Nairobi.

ii. Beach Safaris

Nothing beats a coastal holiday like one experience in the Kenya White Sand Beaches. This is especially good for visitors in need of lazing in the tropical coast sure for a tan and swim. Other water sports available along the beaches include - Water/wind skiing - Surfing - Deep sea fishing - Scuba diving - Swimming with dolphins - Jet skiing - Coral garden snorkeling and - Glass bottomed boat rides into marine parks

The accommodation facilities along our beaches range from 4-5 star deluxe with top of the range international service standards. You can make your choice between beach cottages, lodges, hotel and eco-camps

iii) Cultural Safaris

Kenya has a diverse cultural background from its over 42 ethnic groups. The most spectacular is however the Maasai warrior tribe which lives among wildlife in the Mara Reserve. The Maasai have a specifically intriguing lifestyle as they co-exist side by side with very dangerous wildlife. Their Moran warrior culture prepares young initiates into the warrior (army) age set. These Morans emerge from their clustered life in braided, red ochre hair, clad in very colourful red kikoi (cotton fabric) tyre sand als and complete with a spear, they are a sight to behold.

The Swahili culture at the coast is also very unique including their architecture, dressing, food etc. Cultural safaris are also organized around mythical stories like the Samson-like Lwanda Magere, Warriors, the Nyamgondho man who turned into a tree stamp after chasing away his wife given from the Gods.

The Bomas of Kenya offers traditional dances and foods and is located in the city far 1 day excursions. There are also National Museums that have collected artifacts from traditional societies for display in Museums in most towns in Kenya.

iv) Adventure Safaris

And for that visitor full of energy, Kenya offers a variety of high energy, high adrenaline, dare devil activities for that memorable feeling. The snow-copped 5000m+ Mt Kenya is a challenge to may seasoned mountain climbers. There are several built-up resting camps as well as provided for climbing routes. Climbing gear and guides are lined at base camp for the 5-6 day climb.

Bungee jumping and white water rafting is done 50 km from Nairobi town at Sagana/ that is along the upstream of Tana River.

Biking is usually organized activity within wildlife areas from your lodge. Trekking game safaris are also done in community group ranches in the Maasai Mara area.

Other adventure safaris include the overlander camping, off the beaten truck trips. These camping safaris usually involved covering larger areas and gets more interior, takes longer days but is also the most rewarding.

Adventure safaris will usually include camping in mobile 1-2 man tent units. Catering is provided while transport is by overlanders and or trucks.

v) Sport Safaris Kenya is globally recognized for its world class, record breaking athletes. Our success in International athletic gains is attributed to high attitude training. World standard high altitude camps have now been started and caters for athletes looking to improve performance.

In addition there is now a national calendar of Marathons in Kenya that athletes can test their performance i.e Nairobi Marathon, Lewa Marathon among others. Lewa Marathon is especially unique as it takes place in the middle of a game community reserve. The runners are running in the middle of Lions, Buffalo, Zebra, giraffe etc. It is a world famous event that attracts international participation. Other sparking activities in Kenya popular with visitors include Deep Sea fishing, the Coastal Regarta,---

vi) Nature Safaris

Kenya enjoys a spectrum of scenic attractions test the appetite of any nature loving tourist. From the snow capped mountains in the tropics to the descent dunes to the North East of the Country.

The Natural tropical forests of Arabuko SoKoke is a must go for any nature tourist. The coastal forest has resident elephant regulations. Among the endemic species include the elephant shrew, and the little scoops owl. The community butterfly project is also a must see for visitors.

Kakamega forest is a remnant of equatorial forest running through to DR Congo. The forest canopy is so high and interlocked it creates a permanent dark under cover. Activities in many of Kenyans forests includes bird watching, forest walks, camping Biking etc.

The Great Rift Valley provides scenic beauty observed from the Eastern Escarpment. The Rift Valley floor is dotted with active volcanic activity in the form of geysers, hotsprings and smouldering mountains, fresh water, lakes and crater lakes. L. Bogoria is an exciting destination where one boils eggs off the steam of hotsprings, flamingoes are plentiful in these lakes including Elementaita, Nakuru and Bogoria . Preferred accommodation is exclusive camps and lodges.

vii) Charity & Mission Safaris

The philanthropy safari magnitude is growing exponentially due to the increasing North South pro-pour movement. Needy situations in Africa including Kenya are a result of HIV/AIDS, Education, poverty environment, Hunger etc. There exist very ideal projects with which charitable financial and human resources are channeled to Kenya including: - Destitute Homes - Conservation Organization - School teaching - Hospitals - Churches/mosques/temples

Participants in this kind of travel include

-Gap year students -volunteers -Missionaries -Internship programs etc

There are as such organizations and tour operators that handle the traveling, orientation, booking and other logistics of such groups. Others also understand placement of these human resources in needy institutions as volunteers, teachers, interns, missionaries etc.

Accommodation is mainly hostels, home stays & Budget hotels due to the lengthy stay and the fact that this group is more of workers than tourists.

viii)Historical Safaris

Kenya is credited as the cradle of mankind, from where the earliest remains of human bones were discovered by Dr Richard Leakey. Evidence of the earliest, man were discovered at Koobi Fora on the shores of L. Turkana, formerly L. Rudolf. Other areas that remains and tools of(adze) of the human ancestry have been found include Kaariandusi and Ololgesailie, archeological sites. All early ancestry artifacts are collected and displayed at National Museum at Nairobi. These archeological sites are also developed into tourist attractions.

There are also caves believed to have been shelter of the early man across the country. Rock paintings are evident in such areas as the

a)Mt Elgon Kitgum and Makingeny Caves b) Mfangano Island and in Malaba district.

The USAID has recently given aid to rehabilitate and preserve these caves. Other caves at Shimoni have been used as stockade for slaves in transit to major markets in Zanzibar for onward transmission to South America & Europe. Recent colonial war between the Mau Mau freedom fighters is also evident. Bombings of the Mau Mau that created lakes can be seen at Aberdare forest and Buffalo Springs Reserve.

Accommodation for historical tourists is arranged in towns closest to such sites.

Visiting Kenya for Safari

Tour operators have already pre-packaged safaris on Beach, Nature, Historical, Wildlife, Adventure Cultural, charity and Mission, Sport activities. You will need to select from a pre-arranged list of the sum.

Alternatively, some tour operators have facility to tailor a safari, whereby you fill in a form indicating your preferences from which the tour operator makes your itinerary with your endorsement. Accommodation in Kenya depends on your budget and you are able to choose from budget to 5 star deluxe.

On land transport also offers you options between 8-seater minibus, self driven cars or 4x4 and coaches.

I welcome you to Kenya for an experience worth its weight in gold.

Robert Muhoho

Robert 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

Night Safari: Solace, Peace And Marvel

 

Looking at the night sky. The hobby that we seem to have received from our ancestors. A past time that enjoys a special place in our personal history and the history of the world. No matter how many times we look up at the night sky, we are still arrested in awe everytime we catch a glimpse of its wonder.

Too many things were inspired just by mere looking at the night sky. One of such things that have gathered too much controversy and competition is the race towards the moon. Well, now we're getting too far?

You see, if you want to see clearer view of the sky, go to places where the sky is barren, where it is not blocked by soaring man-made buildings. Where our vision is not flawed by the shimmering lights of urbanization. Go to where it is peaceful. Go to where the night sky is clear and pleasant so you may evoke memories of past and sentiments of the Wisdom that created everything that lies at your sight. Go to African safari and watch the night as it rolls.

One of the most captivating images of night safari are those that depict the Serengeti National Park.

The park is simply vast and endless. The plains flat and the vision, clear. Not only are these suitable for game-viewing, it is also well suited for star gazing.

Serengeti has no other lights except the one that is given off by the moon and slightly contributed by the stars. The nights are clearer here and it is seldom that clouds impede your vision.

Serengeti night safari doesn't not only provide peace and rest, it also calms the heart. It eases our troubles during the day and it washes the fatigue brought by the tiring journey we took during the daytime.

Whether you are on walking safari, riding the balloon, or driving, the views of Serengeti does not change at all. It is still impressively beautiful as it is during the day. Too much of the wild life activity may be lacking but it is after all, nighttime. Everyone needs to rest except only off course the nocturnal animals.

If you prefer to have a higher view, you may try camping at Seronera Valley for a night.

Though Serengeti is truly full of activities during the waking hours, its main beauty can also be perceived with the night sky. If there is a way to count the stars that surround you during the night, it still won't work when you arrive at Serengeti for a night safari. They are countless and they number in millions?

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

Best African Safaris

 Africa is a land of adventure, and offers some exquisite safaris for enthusiastic travelers. In order to make proper plans, one should also find out about the best safaris offered by the continent. The best safaris normally offer wildlife sightseeing in their untamed surroundings. Some of the best African safaris are found in the regions of Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Botswana boosts of famous national parks like Chobe National Park, Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Linyanti Game Reserve. Chobe National Park is the third-largest game park in the country, and is famous for its huge herds of elephant and buffalo. The Chobe River borders the park, and a traveler can undertake game viewing by boat and spot hundreds of huge animals coming down to drink at the river in the dry season. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the largest reserves in the world and is home to thousands of springboks, gemsboks, wildebeests, hartebeests, lions, cheetahs and giraffes.

Kenya also offers an incredible variety of African wildlife and fascinating local culture with an array of safaris to choose from, including trips to Aberdare National Park, Amboseli National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve and Samburu National Reserve.

The Aberdare National Park offers spectacular scenery along with abundant wildlife, including elephant, buffalo, black rhino, lion, leopard and various antelope. On the other hand, Masai Mara National Reserve, regarded as Kenya's finest wildlife park, supports a year-round population of lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes and zebras.

Namibia offers a safari experience different from other wildlife countries, and includes spectacular desert scenery, colorful local culture and fascinating wildlife. Major wildlife parks in the country are Namib-Naukluft National Park and Etosha National Park.

South Africa is home to the continent?s most famous wildlife reserve, Kruger National Park, along with other popular game parks like Pilanesburg National Park, Hluhluwe and Umfolozi Game Reserves, and Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. Kruger National Park is South Africa's largest and most famous wild-animal reserve, and contains more species of wildlife than any other game reserve in Africa.

Tanzania has some of the largest and most underdeveloped game reserves in Africa and some of the best-known parks, like Lake Manyara National Park, Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park, Serengeti National Park and Tarangire National Park.

In order to make African safaris memorable, it is imperative to plan ahead. Knowledge about the best safaris in the continent would certainly help a traveler visiting the famous wildlife parks.

African Lion Safari provides detailed information on African Safari, African Lion Safari, African Safari Vacations, Best African Safaris and more. African Lion Safari is affiliated with Botswana Culture.

When You Want To See Them All, Go To Kenya Safari

Although there is a large market for competition with other African countries, Kenya still assumes its top place in harboring visitors from all over the world. Much of Kenya is usually deemed as safari, which in turn made it famous.

Even before the birth of other countries to compete for tourist market, Kenya has already emerged as the pioneer. During its discovery, famous people such as President Roosevelt, Prince Edward, Ernest Hemmingway and the likes have already explored the safaris of Kenya. This created a snob appeal though. In a sense, the big people went to Kenya safari because the world expects them to while those who have the resources to travel do because it seemed to be one of the certifications to reach the 'up society'.

In our modern-day however, Kenya safari is already open for all people who are willing to enjoy wildlife and culture.

Because of its unfailing guarantee to have you experience the big five (namely lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) its fame is unequalled by any other regions who themselves offer other wonders. Kenya ecosystems cover an array of other substantial members of the savanna.

Kenya safari does not only rely its fame on its vast resources for wildlife, it is also known for its kaleidoscopic landscapes which are characterized with highlands, rift valley, grasslands, moonscape at the north and the snow capped, magnificent Mount Kenya.

Considering the over 50 wildlife reserves and national parks, it would be impossible for one visitor to not love any of them. It is off course expected that one cannot visit all them in a single trip. So unless you have all the resources to travel and take the off beaten tracks, it would be best if you would plan your trip well and organize your voyage so you may get the bests of all worlds.

For travelers with limited budget, your best bets would be Amboseli, Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Samburu, Aberdares, and Tsavo. And for those who have time and money, you may explore great laces such as Kakamega Forest, Meru, Marsabit, Mount Elgon, Mount Kenya, and Shimba Hills.

Even with a big budget or low, Maasai Mara is still a definite stop over. This is the place where all filming of wildlife in Kenya are created. This haven of wildlife offers immense varieties of animal species that it would be hard to believe that they are all contained in a single place.

All of these perhaps contribute to the perception that wildlife lovers should and must visit Kenya safaris at least one time in their lives so as to witness a great part of the creation.

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

Discover The Canadian Paddling Safari On the Grand River... One Hour West of Toronto

Canoe, kayak or raft trip the Grand River to experience sightings of Canadian wildlife within an hour drive of Toronto. Seeing the returned presence of species once gone from the valley has become the highlight of an evening paddle on the Grand River.

The Carolinian Forest along the shores of the Grand River has the largest diversity of plants and wildlife in Canada. The best way to see wildlife is with a quiet evening drift on the river. Having a guide knowledgeable of where to look increases the opportunity of observing animals and birds. Once trained on where to look and how to distinguish shapes, amazes everyone.

Creatures absent twenty years ago are being sighted... even the locals are in disbelief. The bald eagle is back, the fishing ospreys are nesting and the extinct turkeys abound. There are snarling possums, random sleek otters and an abundance of beaver. Fish populations have changed with the migration of steelhead trout and increase in smallmouth bass. As the varieties of species in the food chain expand, there is an increase response from the predators above.

There is also the regular wildlife to view. In the sky soar the huge turkey vultures, the echoing geese and chattering kingfishers. The whitetail deer populations are abundant in the valley and often visible along the river in the evening and early spring. On moonlight paddles there are coyotes howling, horned owls hooting and large blue herons croaking. There are mink fishing, raccoons washing clams and a choir of frogs and toads to hear.

Traveling in the middle of the river allows minimum disturbance to observe wildlife. Rafts are an excellent vehicle for families and non-water people to safely travel in. There is presently one company offering guided evening paddles on a regular schedule in the Grand River valley. It is called the Grand River Rafting Company and is based in the Paris/ Brantford area. They offer guided evening services with canoes, kayaks and rafts. There are even platform raft drifts with deckchairs for those wishing to sit and observe. The trips are 2 to 3 hours in length and are designed to fit the busy travelers' time frame.

For visitors from Europe, Asia and around the world, the nearness of this wilderness to Toronto is an excellent opportunity to experience a piece of Canadian outdoors. The Grand River is one hour from the Toronto Airport and 10 minutes off the 403 Highway. There are hotels, B&B's and campsites for individuals and couples, just fifteen minutes away from the river. There is also a family/group Bed & Breakfast called River Ridge which can accommodate up to 12 visiting people. There are nearby restaurants, fast food and grocery stores to satisfy the appetite of anyone.

The Grand River is nature's safari route through the wilderness of Southern Ontario. A guided paddle through this Carolinian forest is worth the visit. It is just a short distance from Toronto with a maximum Canadian wildlife experience for all.

Garth Pottruff's Grand River Rafting Company not only does rafting, but exclusive guided canoe and kayak trips on the Grand River in Paris, Ontario. He offers evening paddles and moonlight for the opportunity to view wildlife.He has watched the Grand River make a comeback from an almost dead river to a thriving wildlife community. For trip info click: http://www.grandriverrafting.ca

Preparing for Your African Safari

There are numerous preparations you should make before you leave for your African safari vacation. It is especially important to be aware of the physical conditions and safety considerations if you are considering a visit to Africa. Research the political situation in the country you are planning to visit before you book and confirm your travel. Official web sites on the Internet will provide you with complete and up-to-date information.

Before You Leave Home A crucial consideration is to pack wisely and don't over-pack. But how do you determine what's essential and what's not? Although having the proper clothing is very important, the key is to travel light but travel smart. It is recommended that you check out the local climate and weather conditions before you embark on a safari. If you have booked through an African travel specialist for your trip, contact that company for clothing suggestions during the specified period of your travel.

Be sure to include good walking shoes that are comfortable and already broken in; don't make the mistake of bringing brand new shoes. Include comfortable, but protective clothing for your safari. Long-sleeved shirts help protect your arms from the sun and long pants will help protect you from mosquitoes, especially in the evenings. Wearing neutral-colored clothing will help you blend in with the surroundings while you are admiring the wildlife and will also reflect the sun, keeping you cooler. You may also want to bring along a warm jacket for cool nights. In addition, you'll want to take some "dressier clothes" for when you're planning to be in one of the larger African cities where more formal attire is appropriate.

Sun Protection Regardless of the time of year you visit Africa, the sun's heat will be significant during the day. High SPF sunscreen and lip balm are a must, as well as a hat, bandana, sunglasses and so forth. Covering up when in the sun is the best approach to ultraviolet ray protection. Generally, fabrics with a tighter, denser weave give the best protection. Knit constructions, such as cotton t-shirts, give relatively poor protection (SPF rating of 4.8) since UV rays pass through loops on the knit structure.

What about Health Care and Medicine? You should definitely schedule a doctor's visit for a complete medical check up well in advance of your departure. First and foremost, you should remember to have prescriptions filled with an adequate supply of the medications you are currently taking. If you are visiting an area known to have malaria, you should consider taking prophylactic malaria medication. Your family physician and safari travel company can offer advice regarding this medication based on the region you are planning to visit. It is also a good idea to have a dental check-up before your travel.

Be sure to enquire about the quality of the drinking water and, if in doubt, drink only bottled. Many people become dehydrated when on safari because they forget to drink enough water - be sure to drink plenty of water every day. Re-hydration tablets are also a good item to bring along, just in case.

Pack a medical kit with painkillers, bug repellants, anti-diarrhea pills, bandages and antiseptics for yourself and anyone traveling with you. Finally, ensure that your insurance coverage is adequate in case you become sick or injured abroad. There are insurance companies that specialize in overseas travel insurance and offer short-term coverage's to suit all needs - your travel agent can help with recommendations.

When You Arrive After you arrive at your destination, there are some additional points worth noting to preclude illness, accident, or injury so you can enjoy your holiday to the fullest. First, to relieve symptoms of jet lag and fatigue, eat lightly, drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol and caffeine for a few days after your arrival. Also, try to adjust your activity levels to the local time zone as soon as possible to get you physically in sync with the local time.

One of the most common reasons for injury abroad is automobile accidents. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the local driving culture, road signs, speed limits and local police vehicles before attempting to drive.

When walking in cities and urban areas in Africa, you may want to consider using two wallets. Hide one of them with the bulk of your cash, traveler's checks, credit cards and other essential items in a safe place on your person. Fill the second wallet with a small amount of money, and use that for routine spending. In addition, you should avoid counting your money in public, as this will cause the unwanted attention of potential thieves. Finally, if you must take an expensive laptop or camera when walking around in populated areas, try to conceal them as much as possible, preferably in an older or beat up bag.

Eyes on Africa, an African safari company, boasts an extremely knowledgeable team of staff members, who are passionate about every aspect of travel to Southern Africa, including its wildlife and safari destinations. When you're ready to plan your African safari, a holiday in Africa, or if you just have questions, please feel free to contact us toll free at 800-457-9575 or visit our web site at www.eyesonafrica.net/contactus.htm and complete an information request form.

Safari in Africa

It is thought that safaris as we know them now, i.e. hunting wild animals, started as long ago as the nineteenth century, the term being coined by Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton, the English explorer, when gentlemen of a certain class took pleasure in killing beasts in their natural habitat, in order to prove their manhood and bag a trophy for the library wall.

Nowadays, thankfully, there are few amongst us who would consider slaughtering the wonderful creatures of Africa as a sport, but we still like to experience the adventure of hunting them down in order to watch them in the wild.

Most people are keen to see the "Big Five" - elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, lion and leopard. Why the graceful giraffes and antelopes and cheetahs, the fastest creatures on earth, are left out of this revered group is a mystery, but that's the way it goes. In addition to the mammals, there is also a fantastic array of colourful bird life as well as butterflies and insects, so never a dull moment on safari.

Uganda is much improved, having recovered from the depredations of Idi Amin and you can risk Zimbabwe if you want but the best safariing is to be found in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa. Within these countries, there are many different game parks or reserves, each with a special character or attraction and often a different group of resident animals. For example, the Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro Conservation Area is famous for the enormous herds of wildebeest, zebra and antelope where the calves are born before the grazing runs out and the herds move on. In Kenya, Tsavo East National Park is renowned for the largest herds of elephant in the country, whereas the Masai Mara is home to all of the Big Five as well as most other species as well as being the best place to see the migration south of the wildebeest, zebra and antelope back to the plains of the Serengeti.

There are also many types of safari to choose from. You can travel by small purpose-built mini-bus which holds about eight people, by jeep, by elephant or horse or even, for the adventurous, on foot (accompanied by an armed guide, of course).

You can stay overnight in luxurious lodges (very welcome after a hot dusty game drive) or permanent camps (nearly as luxurious), in tree-top eco-friendly hotels or join in setting up camp on the more rugged safaris. You can also book a beach holiday and just take a half-day or a night or two away, booked locally.

The most important part though, is not your mode of transport or your accommodation, but the animals. The thrill of the chase, the news from your driver that one of his colleagues has just seen a lioness with her cubs, right by the trees over there, the excitement of actually seeing in the wild, a beast which you many only have seen previously in photographs or at best, behind bars in a zoo.

You may see sociable elephants, usually to be found in large family groups, if you're lucky, with babies in tow. You may see black rhino, but he probably won't see you - they have extremely poor eyesight but a great sense of smell. Then there are tall, elegant giraffes, munching from trees far out of reach of the other beasts, dainty antelopes, big cats, ferocious or playful and so much more.

Put these fabulous creatures together with the vast beauty that is Africa and the sense of the dangerous and the exotic and you have the experience of a lifetime so go and shoot a few animals (with your camera, of course).

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to African Safaris

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