These would include the nations of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The tourism industry here will have to rise up the stakes to fulfill the demands of this combined East African zone. African Safari Travel will have all the information to market these regions. Attractions, flights, hotels and East Africa Tour operators listings will appear. What wonders does this region hold? � Kenya is the crown safari destination of Africa due to its considerable land area of wildlife habitat, including the maasai mara, land of annual mass migrations of animals. � Tanzania is the land of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak. It has Africa’s largest lake Lake Victoria and has the Serengeti plain which is also witness to mass migrations. � Uganda is home to the endangered mountain gorillas. This is trhe world’s hotspot for gorilla trekking. The three nations together make the right combination for the perfect African Safari. Source: Uganda Travel Guide
Daily Archives: January 25, 2012
Serengeti & Mara Mass Migrations: Natural Wonder of the World
Imagine hundreds and thousands of wild beests, gazelles, zebras, buffalos moving across rolling grasslands and acacia savannah. This is the spectacular, breath-taking phenomenon of Africa’s most popular mass migration game reserves: Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya and Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. In this region, wildlife roams free, for calving, in search of grazing land and water. December – March: Most wild beasts are in Southern Serengeti. This is where the march begins. As winter approaches and the grass starts to dry out, the vast, family herds of Wildebeest, scattered over the sweeping grass plains of the Serengeti, join into bigger herds, all moving north towards the Mara, driven by the prospect of sweet, young grass from the impending rains there This is the time when the wildebeest’s reproduce. This also results in predators hunting for their food. So you get to see your share of daily sightings of lions, hyenas and cheetahs and at times the elusive leopard. April – May: AS they move on other animals join the migration. The animals start tiring out , injury and fatigue result in high mortality rates of the migrant population. Now a large numbers of griffon vultures follow the herds on their journey. Eventually, this massive column of animals reaches the Grumeti River, only to be butchered by hungry crocodile as they plunge into the waters to reach greener pastures. June- June: Following the rainfalls, the migration moves north before crossing the Kenyan border into the Maasai Mara. It is here that the Mara river crocodiles have a feast. Videos repeatedly shown on national geographic and discovery have captured the scenes really well. November: The army of animals returns southward to the replenished grasslands of the southern Serengeti, thereby completing the migratory cycle. As local conditions of drought and rainfall influences grass growth, the timing’s of the mass migration may also change. Nevertheless, this huge congregation of animals breaks up into large herds, and these herds cross the river at different times, and different places so you are not likely to miss out on the action, when to go for the event. In addition the resident wildlife of these wildlife parks is also amazing. Become a witness to this sea of animals, spread out from horizon to horizon, the experience will be unforgettable. Read
In Photos: Scintillating Seychelles
Seychelles has the smallest population of any sovereign state of Africa. It is an archipelago nation of 158 islands in the Indian Ocean, some 1,600 km east of mainland Africa. Its economies mainstay is tourism and these pictures will tell you why.
Adowa dances of Ghana: A tribute at the funeral
Did you know that cultural dances converge on the funerals of the deceased in Africa? Adowa, the funeral dance is danced in all parts of Ghana. It ceremonies the funeral with graceful, dignified walking movements and today is performed at festivals and other special social events as well. Adowa is a dance form that mimics the deft movements of the antelope. As the dance form developed it borrowed from dances like Kete and Denesewu. Dancers and musicians of the group Adikanfo from Ghana Various parts of the body pick up specific rhythms from particular drums for motivation, while the body turns, spins and bows are suggested by the melody in song. Adowa is a dance also performed at Ye Goro Bra (Puberty Rites) celebration for young girls. Adowa is from the Ashanti region of Ghana. Like the Atsiagbekor dance of the Ewes the drum language communicates to the dancers and their movements are responses to this. The Ewes, Fantes, and the Gas presently practice it. Next time you visit Ghana do try to be present where this dance is performed, you will not only enjoy it but will experience a part of there culture. Read
New safety rules cause transportation crisis in Kenya
Passengers to and from Lamu Island were left cut off as the Government enforced the rule requiring all boats to have life jackets for safety purposes. The Kenya Ports Authority and the police enforced the order. Though they had been given a notice of the rule about two months ago, most of the boats had not complied with the life jackets order at the expiry of a notice issued. This meant good money for speed boats that had complied with the order. Some of the travellers who opted to make connection in Malindi and Mombasa paid Sh400 each for the trip. The trip normally costs only Sh100 while the other bigger boats charge even lesser at Sh50. Though buying the jackets must have been expensive for the boat owners since even the cheapest cost Sh2,500. probably the government should give them more time. Source: AllAfrica
The breathtaking red sand dunes of Namibia
Namibia is a land of contrasts with red sand dunes in Namib Desert which are the number one tourist attraction. The spectacular red dunes cover 34,000 square kilometers and stretch 130 kilometers inland from the coast. Sossusvlei are the highest and the most spectacular sand dunes in the world. You can climb the 200-metre-high dune and then launch yourself down its sheer face, running in slow-motion as the sand sucks you down. It’s like running on a sponge. If you move faster than your feet can pull out of the sand then you will face problem as your feet struggle to keep up with you. It is critical to keep control or you can swallow half the dune and there’s a lot of dune to swallow. The best time to view the sand dunes is at sunrise. At this time the colors are strong and constantly changing. As the rising sun strikes them, creating spectacular wavy lines, the eastern side of the dunes turns bright red and the shaded side stays a deep black. It will allow you for wonderful photographic opportunities. Sunset also offers excellent photo opportunities. Go on safari here and enjoy wide open spaces nestled between the vast desert landscapes. These are awesomely enormous and eerily tantalizing. I’m sure you will be really stunned by the spectacle arranged by nature. Source: stuff