Monthly Archive for May, 2009

Planning Your Safari Tour of South Africa

You have always loved the idea of visiting a faraway place and seeing exotic sights. You also have an interest in photography, so you think that your next vacation should be a South African safari tour. However, there are several things that you will need to plan first before you embark on your South African safari tour.

About South African Safari Tours

The first thing that you should consider is what South African safari tour you should go on. There are a variety of South African safari tours you can choose from. However, the two things that you need to consider the most are the price, and safety.

When it comes to the price, you will notice that the prices of South African safari tours tend to vary widely. This is because some are run by local individuals, while others are run by companies. Do not choose a tour simply because you think that the cheaper price is more reasonable. Sometimes the better tour is indeed the more expensive one.

Instead, do some research on the tour that you are thinking of taking. If it is reputable, a travel agency or an internet travel site should easily recognize it. Be sure that you gather reviews of the tour as well, so that you have a better idea of how reliable it is.

When it comes to safety, that is the most important thing to consider. Be sure that the tour you choose is led by a certified guide. Also, be sure that the tour is one that does not take you into areas that could be dangerous. There is an element of risk to any South African safari tour, and you should be sure that everyone is well-insured.

Another thing that you should consider is your own health, For example, if you have arthritis or a heart problem check with your doctor before you go on your tour. Also, there are some diseases that can be gotten, such as malaria, when out in the wild. You should be sure that you get the appropriate inoculations.

The next thing that you will need to consider is your camera equipment. Since you are almost certainly wanting to take photos on your safari, you should be sure that your camera is of excellent quality and fitted with telephoto lenses, and one that can withstand rough conditions.

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Adventure on an African Hunting Safari

Many city people are fascinated by the notion of going on an African hunting safari, and getting close to nature-in-the-raw in the African jungle or on the African plains. The thought of it is enough to create vacation dreams for many North Americans, yet translating those dreams to reality can be a little bit complicated. Regardless, that does not stop people from dreaming away about riding on the back of an elephant and enjoying the company of some locals before watching a lion chomp down on its prey. The adventure and majesty of Africa certainly comes alive during a wonderful safari trip.

The term "safari" simply refers to an overland journey. This term has been used to typically refer to visitors in Africa, although it has no actual geographical connotation. There is also a certain thematic element attached to the term, drawing upon visions of khaki clothing and a certain type of hat. Regardless of the stereotypical connotations of the term "safari", the word still calls upon some adventurous notions that many people desire to discover for themselves.

The original term was a reference to the early big game hunters that frequented Africa. Men, typically of European descent, would head to Africa to bask in its glory and to partake in the lay of the land. During this trip, the men would gather in hunting parties and hunt down various rare animals. They would take trophies for themselves and display them on walls back home, as was the custom. It became a veritable rite of passage for many men in the higher echelon of European culture, maintaining a status grip over those people for quite a few years before hunting became unfashionable.

Those times often represent a brutal period of time in the history of Africa. The notion was that Africa was a piece of property that belonged to Europe and, therefore, the animals on it also belonged to Europe. The historical significance of these safaris often carried deep-seated connotations of colonial control and power over the continent. To this day, that history still influences Africa.

Nowadays, the term "safari" usually refers to taking a photo safari. Instead of shooting animals with bullets and keeping the heads mounted above the fireplace, people are taking pictures and putting together various photo displays of the magical animals they have seen while on safari in the beautiful African continent. These photo safaris are becoming incredibly popular with people of all ages that wish to have the experience of a lifetime taking in the wilderness and grandeur of the incredible continent of Africa.

Safari parks are now also becoming common in North America to offer an experience resembling an African safari. This is a zoo-like tourist attraction that creates an environment where people can observe all sorts of exotic animals from a safe vantage point. The safari park is usually walked through or ridden through in a vehicle that is driven by a guide. The guide describes the animals that are seen and offers an historical context for the park, giving tourists and guests a complete tour of the park and engaging them in knowledgeable conversation.

The game reserves in Africa are typically on a very much larger scale than a safari park, of course. For this reason, most people still wish to head to Africa to see the magic of nature for themselves in as natural a setting as possible. Within the confines of a game reserve or a safari park, people are engaged with the pure wonder of seeing such incredible animals such as the lion or giraffe. As long as such areas are able to protect some of these animals, people will be able to participate in photo safaris for many years to come. The love of animals, exotic and domestic, may well be the greatest ally to the protection of various species threatened with extinction.

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African Animals On A Bender

Watch what happens when wild African animals discover one the problem temptations we sometimes think is unique to humans - the addictive pleasures of consuming alcohol.

This video gives a unique view of Africa's animals that is not often to be seen on safari, and little known outside those who observe African wildlife closely.

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African Safari Travel Stops

Taking a safari vacation in Africa is something that should be well planned out, as there is considerable time and money invested and a very different natural and political environment from what you may be used to. Understand the differences between the African safari travel companies before booking, and be sure to ask what areas the safari will travel through. Knowing what you are getting into and planning for it will make or break the entire vacation experience.

Your safari adventure in different countries might also be very different. A lot of African safari travel stops will be determined by the type and cost of different lodges. The differences are many. There are lodges with five star quality, lodges built into trees, and lodges for travel with small children. All of these choices change the cost and the trip experience. African safari travel is different in Kenya than Tanzania. The parks and natural lay of the land will determine where all of the animals might be found.

If traveling in Kenya, some of the places to see would be Marsabit National Park and Amboseli National Park. These two parks are a long way apart. Marsabit is in north central Kenya and Amboseli is southwest and very near Tanzania.

You should take the time to ask your safari company about these parks. Another area to see in Kenya is Masai Mara National Reserve. It is located partially in Kenya but most of the reserve is in Tanzania.

African Safari Travel Destinations

Whether the planned safari is in Kenya or Tanzania or another country, there are differences because of dealing with different governments. Also the landscape of the countries can vary widely. Different African countries offer different places for African safari travel. Tanzania and Kenya have excellent animal management policies that take care of not only the animals but the land as well.

One last thing to consider when in the planning stages of an African safari travel is looking into companies that go to more than one African country. Perhaps you would like to visit more than one country since the trip to get to Africa is long and costly. Check into the possibility of safaris covering more than one nation. Try to plan out where the safari company will go and then check other companies to see if they go to different places. Sometimes there might be a difference and you can book two smaller trips with different African safari travel companies for a better and more varied experience.

African safari travel is a special and unique way to visit the African plains. For those who have often thought about it but not ever followed through, now is the right time to follow ones dreams and see the splendor that is Africa.

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