Wednesday, January 30, 2008

African Safari Photos Will Capture Your Dream

You have always had an interest in photography, and would like to add more exotic landscapes to your portfolio. As a result, you have made a list of places that you would like to photograph, and Africa is at the top of the list. You have decided that you would like to take a safari, so what you need are some tips as to how to take the best African Safari photos.

About African Safari Photos

If you have seen African safari photos, you know that you will need a special kind of camera to be able to capture those exotic animals up close. It is important to note that the camera you choose will need a particularly strong zoom lens. This is because the animals will not come close to the vehicle you are in, and because they might be easily startled by a flash.

Thus, with the flash preferably turned off, you are now ready to take your African safari photos. Begin by considering the time of day. The most impressive pictures are usually taken either at sunrise, sunset, or in direct sunlight.

Thus, if you are beginning your safari during sunrise, you can begin by taking a picture of the sunrise against a specific kind of backdrop. If you take an African safari photo of just the sunrise, that really could be a sunrise from anywhere. Thus, you need something in the picture that definitely reminds those who are looking at the picture that it was taken in Africa.

For example, if you are preparing to take an African safari photo of the sunrise and you happen to see a herd of giraffes walking by, be sure to take a picture. Or, you can ask your safari guides to pose for a picture against the backdrop of the sunrise. One more idea is to take a picture of particular buildings or signs that clearly indicate where you are.

When it comes to taking pictures of animals, your safari guides will most likely be sure to tell you about the necessary safety precautions to take. First of all, stay in the vehicle at all times, even if it is stopped. You might be able to ask the driver if you can take certain pictures at certain points outside of the vehicle.

Next, you should make sure that you are properly insured against any hazards. This includes your camera equipment. If you would like more information on the proper ways to take African safari photos, be sure to do some research on photography sites that have to do with that topic on the internet. You are sure to take beautiful pictures of your safari with the proper research.
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

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Sunday, January 13, 2008

African Safari Kenya: Top 14 African Safari Parks in Kenya

1. Nairobi - Tsavo East African safari

Your first African safari day targets the huge and expansive Kenya wildlife safari park called Tsavo. The Kenya safari party departs Nairobi in the morning and proceeds to Tsavo East Wildlife Park. This is Kenya?s largest game sanctuary famed for its huge herds of elephants.

Tsavo East is also famous from the ?man eaters of Tsavo? , a group of Lions that killed by the hundreds the rail line workers in 1890?s. The park is so huge that game drives could easily go on for hours while seeing all the ?big five? wildlife and astounding land formations and rivers.

Your Tsavo East African safari snippet is full of the big five and spectacular geographical features in a semi arid area.

2. Tsavo East - Tsavo West African safari

On your second African safari day, you will cross over the Mombasa highway that divides Tsavo East and West. Tsavo West is a miracle waiting to be discovered in an African safari. It is full of exquisite volcanic lava flows, crystal clear springs fed and filtered by underground labyrinth of volcanic porous rocks.

There are numerous caves with dripping water and moss made from the Pleistocene volcanic era. Enchanted Forests that stand on volcanic rocks offer a cool and welcome relief from the sun.

You will have early morning game drives before breakfast and later proceed to Tsavo West Wildlife safari park arriving in time for lunch. Afternoon is spent in your lodge at leisure followed by a game viewing drive. Dinner and overnight at your lodge and entertainment from Kamba people African safari dancers.

3. Tsavo West ? Amboseli Wildlife African safari

On the 3rd day African safari, you will depart Tsavo West after breakfast and game drive for Amboseli Wildlife safari park a place of stark contrast. Amboseli National Park is in the shadows of Africa?s highest snow-capped mountain-Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Towering way above the park, the mountain is imposing and offers a picture perfect opportunity of photographing the big five with a background of the bald headed, snow-capped Kilimanjaro. The greatest attraction here is the vast herds of Elephant within the park and the bull Elephant that have the biggest tusks in Kenya.

The evening game drive will complete this full African safari day. Photograph over 200 elephant herd crossing the road right in front and at the rear of your car-sandwiched. You are accommodated in the Amboseli Serena or Ol Tukai 5 star African safari lodges or a mobile tented camp at the community campsite.

4. Amboseli Wildlife Park African safari

You spend your 4th day of African safari at the park lounging. Get to swim in the lodges? swimming pool with a spectacular view of elephants drinking from a spring 50 yards away. Your room is also fronted by a spring that elephants love to drink from. You will spend the whole of your day observing elephant behaviour from a distance of less than 50 yards from your bed and verandah.

Early morning and late evening game drives are standard where you get to see the Lions, cheetahs and the occasional leopard-the ultimate prize. Dinner and overnight at the lodge or budget campsite.

5. Amboseli ?Naivasha Wildlife African safari

Day five of this best of African safari package sees you crossing from the Southwestern of Maasai country to the mid-western area and on the floor of the great rift valley of Kenya. You depart after breakfast and proceed to Lake Naivasha.

This is the second biggest fresh water lake in Kenya. On a boat ride you will be able to see the numerous hippos wallowing and yawning while making loud bleating sounds.

You depart in the afternoon for an optional tour to Crescent Island. The Lake is a bird? paradise and has a larger number of hippos. Dinner and overnight at your lodge or budget tent.

6. Naivasha -Maasai Mara

You are driven from Naivasha on the sixth day crossing the Great Rift Valley floor and up the Maasai highlands into the world famous Maasai Mara game reserve. The Maasai Mara is the epitome of a African safari.

Arriving at your lodge, have a leisurely afternoon followed by an optional evening game drive (in most cases nobody opts out of this one). Your game drive is so spectacular with so much wildlife that your head will spin.

Elephants graze 2 yards away from your car, a herd of 500 buffalos stare in unison with a thousand eyeballs mean as brick face, lions sprawl underneath your car for shade and cheetahs mount on the hood of your car for that vantage view point for prey-SUBLIME.

You spend the evening being entertained by the Maasai morans in a bon- fire setting.

7. Maasai Mara Game Reserve Wildlife African safari

Day seven is spent at the Maasai Mara game reserve lounging and breathing the fresh air of the Maasai plains. A full day game drive is usually offered and this will literally drop your jaw with awe.

The captivating African wildlife as found in the Maasai Mara will leave you yearning for more and yet satiated to the brim with safari photos. (You will run out of camera memory and battery power before you ran out of wildlife.)

Lunch is served at the bank of Mara River where Hippos can be viewed as you munch away the freshly prepared cuisine and a sea of fresh fruits flown daily from Nairobi. Such are the comforts you get in your African-African safari.

Dinner will be served at the lodge and entertainment by the Maasai group.

8. Maasai Mara - L. Victoria Tour

On your eighth day, next destination is Africa?s and world?s second largest fresh water lake. This is Lake Victoria, the source of the second longest river in the world called the Nile that feeds the whole of Egypt and was revered even in pharaoh?s time.

Lunch is taken at your lake side hotel and in the afternoon you will have an optional boat ride in the lake. This lake covers the whole of the three east African countries; Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. You will proceed to Kakamega for dinner and overnight at the golf hotel or campsite.

9. L. Victoria - Mt. Elgon Tour

Your day nine in Kakamega enchanted tropical rain forest will see you having bird walks. Some rare and endemic birds are found in this forest.

You will return to the lodge for early lunch before you proceed to Mount Elgon Wildlife safari park for a game drive including a hike to the Kitum Caves (Elephant Caves). The kitum caves are so large that they can fit 100 elephants at a go. This is where elephants come to lick the salty cave wall rocks. The caves are so beautiful with cascading waterfalls at their entrance and trickling springs inside their bowels.

Mt. Elgon has an elephant platform and overlooks both Uganda and Kenya at its highest point. The trees are lined with liana, climbers and moss laden with morning dew that creates a feeling of ?out of Africa?

Dinner and overnight at the Mt. Elgon Lodge, the Kenya Wildlife Service Bandas, or campsite.

10. Mt. Elgon -Lake Bogoria -L. Baringo Tour

You will Depart Mt. Elgon on the tenth day after breakfast for Lake Bogoria with lunch en-route. This is a salty water lake on the rift valley floor. The lake is famous for its teaming flamingo populations and the ever hissing hot water springs. A lot of teams have boiled eggs on these natural cookers.

On Arrival and you will have a game drive, which will take you to the hot water springs. In the afternoon you will depart Lake Bogoria for Lake Baringo for dinner and overnight at the lodge or campsite.

11. L. Baringo - L. Nakuru Tour

On your eleventh day, you will depart for Lake Nakuru Wildlife safari park after break fast arriving in time for lunch. Lake Nakuru is a RAMSAR site, a world wetland heritage site. The Lake is famous for its rhinos and the flamingo populations. It also has some lions, leopard, giraffe, waterbuck, baboons, gazelles, impala and buffalo. Diner and overnight at the hotel or campsite.

12. L. Nakuru ? Samburu African safari

After breakfast in Lake Nakuru on the twelfth day, depart passing through the equator where you will have an 'Equator ceremony' as you continue to Kenya's semi-arid area, the Samburu National Reserve.

Samburu national reserve is world famous for it is here that the survivor series 4 was shot. Samburu is a replica of the Maasai Mara with a lot of wildlife and crocodiles.

Lunch and game drive are taken en-route. Dinner and overnight at the lodge or campsite.

13. Samburu Game Reserve Tour

Day thirteen is a full day lounging in a wildlife park. Morning and afternoon game drives are usually provided. See the endemic ?giraffe antelope? aka the gerenuk as it stands on two rear feet to browse the leaves of the areas short acacia trees. Observe the rare, endangered and endemic grevy Zebra.

Full day in the Reserve with morning and afternoon game drives. All meals and overnight at the lodge or campsite.

14. Samburu / Nairobi

On the fourteenth day of your African safari, have an early morning game drive before breakfast and thereafter depart for Nairobi.

This will complete your full best of African safari within 14 days. This African safari is priced differently depending on whether you want to be accommodated in lodges or campsites. Lodge accommodation is naturally more expensive but also more luxurious with all the comforts of a hotel.

Cost of your African safari in Kenya

Camping on the other hand enables you to sample the real Kenyan tour wilderness and freshness of nature. Lodge based African safari s average between USD 250 to USD 400 depending on the luxury sought.

Camping on the other hand enables you to sample the real Kenyan tour wilderness and freshness of nature. Camping incentive safaris depend on the group number and the larger the number, the lower the cost. An average of 4 travelers pays USD 100 per day per person for this 14 or less day?s package.

Robert Muhoho is a tour consultant with landmark safaris. To tailor your own shorter or longer best of African safari visit them http://www.landmarksafaris.com/planner

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Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Where To Go For Lion Safari

All African safaris offer rare opportunities to catch a glimpse of creatures that may only be found in the wild. And as vast and diverse as Africa can get, it can provide unimaginable things from the strangest to the wildest creations there are.

Lion safari, one of the keen focuses for most travelers since it offers satisfactory game can be found in various sites in Africa. It is the passport for adventure where a guest may spot nature working within itself to maintain the equilibrium.

Lion safari is best encountered in its natural habitat. Some of the well-known sites of lion safari are the following:

Kruger National Park
Because of the Kruger's excellent game-viewing opportunities, it is included in the top priorities when it comes to lion safaris. It is created even before the emergence of some of the national parks that we now enjoy, which makes it the pioneer in the field. The preservation was initiated in 1889 to help protect the wildlife of South Africa, which then was faced, with the swelling problems of unrestricted hunting.

Pilanesburg National Park
Lion safaris are found in Pilanesburg, which is revered for its being malaria-free, thus the comfort of game-viewing.

Kalahari Gemsbok National Park
Because it is naturally intended to create a haven for wildlife animals, Kalahari is home to unimaginable number of animals. It is characterized by being semi-dessert, which borders in between Namibia and Botswana.

Chobe National Park
Found in Botswana, Chobe is recognized for harboring the largest congregation of buffalo and elephants.

Linyanti Game Reserve
Linyanti Game Reserve, on the other hand, nurses the largest prides of lions and equally large population of some good preys such as the elephant.

Lake Manyara National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Being included in the list of most famous reservation parks, these two harbors the impressive tree-climbing lions and black-maned lions respectively.

Masai Mara National Reserve
Found in Kenya, Masai Mara collects a year round game-viewing and is the finest national park in all Kenya.

Serengeti National Park
On top of the heap is the Serengeti, which is also known for another name- the big cat central, which is so much closer to the truth. Since grasslands dominate the seemingly endless land, it is much easier to view games here. The migration of wildebeest and the collection of buffaloes and zebras make Serengeti a great place for the interplay of preys and predators. Yearly, millions of wildebeests come here between the months of April to August to seek better grazing in the far South.
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

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Friday, September 21, 2007

Walking Safari in the Selous Game Reserve

The walking safaris are usually based around a campsite which will be positioned under tall shady trees close to one of the many lagoons close to the Rufiji River. The Selous is a magical place and simply sitting in front of your tent you are able to watch the endless procession of birds and animals throughout the day. The camps are small with up to about six tents. Some are made from mosquito netting and your are truly sleeping under African skies.

The tents are large enough to stand in and have proper beds with mattresses. It is comfortable by camping standards but remember you are in the wilds of Africa and to be prepared to rough it just a little is a requirement. Showers are usually bucket showers but the water will be hot. Relaxed meals with excellent food are prepared over open fire and the camp cooks are trained chefs.

Another great draw of the Selous is this huge reserve has high concentration of animals and a low concentration of tourists and is probably one of the best places to see animals in Tanzania.

Tanzania does not allow walking safaris in its National Parks with just one or two exceptions, however, the Selous is classified as a Game Reserve and so walking safaris are allowed. The walks are usually three to four hours long and the game around the river and lake systems act as a magnet for a vast mixture of animals including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, hippo and crocodile. The area is also home to one of the few remaining wild dog populations in the world. There are more than 300 species of bird here and this is a paradise for any animal enthusiast.

The buffalo population stands in excess of 110,000. Waking in a morning, around the camping area you may be able to witness hundreds of buffalo coming to drink water from the Rufiji River. This alone is one reason [among many] to make the Selous your safari destination. The buffalo have a reputation to be bad tempered and dangerous to humans. This ferocious reputation is a little unfair as like most animals they tend to avoid humans, unless harassed or wounded.

The best time to book a walking safari in the Selous is from June until September when the weather is dry and warm - with animals being draw to the plentiful water around the Rufiji River. Grazing is also spare on the ground making this time of year easy for spotting the large concentrations of game.

If birds are your main passion then the hotter and greener season of October to March is a good time to come with many young hatching at this time. Be aware that from November through to January there is a good chance of rain.

The Selous is not far from Dar es Salaam and there are air strips to the Selous making access easily. The cost of the regular scheduled flights in light aircraft is not expensive from Dar es Salaam, with most camps will include transfers from the airstrips to the camp as part of their service.

For more information on Tanzania and the Selous look at http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk and for safaris look at http://www.betheladventure.co.uk - Support responsible tourism and change lives.

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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

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.

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