Archive

Posts Tagged ‘Africa’

Luxury Safaris To Tanzania, The Chance Of A Lifetime

February 16th, 2009 No comments

For a lot of us, luxury safaris seem like the kind of exotic holiday we will never be able to experience. Luxury Tanzania safaris, in particular, seem extremely out of reach. Heck, for most of us, we probably do not even think of the word “luxury” when we are thinking about safaris at all. However, it might be time to reconsider on all of those counts.

Going on a safari in Africa is truly a once in a life time opportunity. It is one of those holidays about which many of us can only dream because we think it is so far out of our reach or our budget. However, going on a luxury safari is becoming a reality for a lot of people these days. Contrary to what you might be thinking about safaris in general, it is entirely possible to enjoy a luxury one. You do not have to rough it; you will not be left in the wilds of Africa with just a tent to protect you.

While the thought of luxury is appealing, it is not the only worthwhile thing you can experience. A lot of people go on safari, luxurious or otherwise, because of the sights. The landscape, the animals, the local customs: you will be able to experience all of these things on a safari. The lush scenery and the amazing animals in their real habitats draw an increasing amount of people.

Today, there are a lot of traveling companies which specialize in safaris. They especially know how to tailor the safaris to clients who prefer a little luxury. However, you will not have to sacrifice the experience at all. Thanks to local experts and guides, you will get a truly unique experience.

The whole point behind their operation is to leave you with amazing memories. They want to create a truly memorable holiday for you, not just one which is luxurious. The higher your expectations, the more they strive to meet them and then to exceed them. That is why there are always local guides ready to help you to enjoy the landscape and the experiences as a native.

There are a variety of ways in which you can take and enjoy your safari. For example, some safaris are conducted entirely on horseback. This allows you a truly authentic experience. All the nuances you would miss in a vehicle will be available to you. The same can be said for a relaxing, interesting trip down the river in a safari boat.

If you are not an expert at riding a horse, do not worry. You will have an abundance of guides there to help you and to keep you completely safe. You just need to enjoy what you see. When you take your safari on horseback, from an amazing vantage point.

Now that you have the opportunity to reconsider your opinions on a luxury safari, what are you waiting for? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You will get to see things that many people only dream of seeing.

About the Author:

Kenya Camps -The Amazing Mara Timbo

February 12th, 2009 No comments

The camp is german run, located belowe the oloololo escarpment bordering the Mara River and sitting on the edge of the Masai Mara Game reserve. The region between the Mara River and the Esoit Oloolo form expansive rolling plains and provide a great sight to view animals in their natural habitat.

The Mara Timbo camp consists of seven luxuriously made tents which are en-suite with bathrooms. Lavish yet simple African dcor is the hallmark of each tent interior. It is thatched with grass to ensure that even in hot weather the interior will remain cool. Each tent is equipped with a private veranda, an outdoor bathtub and a sitting area. This is a 5 star establishment.

Each individual tent is a work of art which houses a king size bed, a safe deposit, a bathroom, double sinks, hot and cold shower, flush toilet, 220/240 volt power supply plus host of other amenities used by visitors. The tents are lauded for their privacy and space that gives ine room to move around easily. At the beck and call of each tent is a well trained, professional female butler who provides room service, and gives informative titbits about the camp, Masai Mara and nature.

The camp has a restaurant that provides sumptuous meals. Visitors have a choice of three menus that have three course meals to choose from with one of them being vegetarian. Candle lit dinner is organized under the open skies next to a roaring campfire. The restaurant has a bar and lounge which are artfully decorated with cosy chairs that make you want to laze away the evening. There is a well stocked reference library for the avid readers.

The Mara Timbo camp has a Message Tree- house that ensures visitors are provided with refreshing and professional body message with aromatherapy based oils. The message tree house has a stunning view of the Mara River where one can see the hippos milling around.

Sightings are guaranteed being at the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Your stay at the camp you will see plenty of animals; two big Hippo families inhabit the Mara River directly in front of the camps lounge. Taking a nature walk around the camp you will see large resident populations of herbivores including giraffes, elephants, buffalos, monkeys, Rhinos and zebras. Predators most notably lions and hyenas can be spotted. The leopard being elusive is rarer but can also be sighted in this area. Night game drives, bird watching and Cultural visits can also be organized.

The camp has within its vicinity a curio shop. This shop is well stocked with t-shirts, souvenirs, beadwork done by Masai, and hats plus a host of other items which form ideal gift items for loved ones back at home. Suppliers to the curio shop include Kenya kanga, Marula studios, and Kenya beads.

The Masai Mara isa 40 minute flight away from Nairobi Wilson airport. The Mara Timbo is located near the Oloololo gate of Masai National Reserve and the kichwa Tembo Tembi airstrip. Guests have the option of being picked up at the Kichwa Tembo airstrip and transferred to the camp. The drive to the camp is a first hand experience of the Mara, you get not only to ogle at the scenery but the animals also.

About the Author:

Tanzania Travel: Dar es Salaam and the Southern Safari Circuit

February 9th, 2009 No comments

Many people visiting Dar es Salaam also take tours to such Tanzania national parks and game reserves as Ruaha, Mikumi, Udzungwa, and Selous. These parks are part of Tanzanias southern safari circuit. It takes only a few hours drive to get to Mikumi national park from Dar es Salaam. Getting to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam takes two hours by ferry, and an even shorter time by flight. Some hotels in Dar es Salaam (e.g. Bahari Beach Hotel and White Sands Hotel) can also arrange day trips to nearby islands for visitors.

Mikumi national park is home to a great variety of African wildlife including elephant, buffalo, lion, wildebeest, hartebeest, warthog, African crocodile, hippos, monitor lizards and a considerably high number of the endangered African wild dogs. The park also has a prolific bird life especially during the wet season when up to 300 species of Eurasian migratory birds flock the area. The Mikumi flood plain is undoubtedly the most prominent land feature in the game park. The flood plain is neighbored on one side by the Uluguru mountains, and on another side by the Lumango hills range. The national park borders Selous game reserve, and forms part of a 75,000 sq. km. wilderness ecosystem covered by open grasslands in the plains and miombo woodlands in the higher grounds.

Unlike several other destinations in the southern safari circuit, Mikumi is accessible throughout the year. The park is only four hours by road and one hour by flight from Dar es Salaam. If you are on a budget safari, you can take a bus ride to the park gate then organize game drives from there. You can get limited accommodation at the few luxury lodges and tented camps in the park. There are also three campsites. Mikumi is the ideal wildlife safari destination if you find yourself in Dar on a weekend.

Lying 348 km west of Dar es Salaam and 65 km southwest of Mikumi is the Udzungwa mountains national park. The mountains are part of the Eastern Arch Mountains found southeast of Kilimanjaro. Having been purposely created to conserve plant life, this unique Tanzania national park hosts many rare plants in its forest. The forest is also inhabited by several primates, including the endemic Sanje crested mangabey and Iringa red colobus monkey. Also found in the plateaus are elephants, lions, buffaloes and hunting dogs, though in smaller numbers compared to other parks and reserves. Udzungwa is also an important African sanctuary for bird life In recent times, four previously unknown bird species have been discovered by scientists here. The period between June and October, i.e. the dry season is the best time to visit this park. Hiking trails get unpleasantly slippery during the wet season.

The Ruaha National Park is rightly named after its lifeblood- the Great Ruaha River. Occupying 12,950 sq km, it is Tanzanias second largest national park and the world’s biggest elephant sanctuary. Home to numerous crocodiles and hippo, the Great Ruaha draws many thirsty water buck, leopard, buffalo, reed buck, wild dogs, lion and hyena to its banks. Plain animals such as zebra, greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope, impala and giraffe are found on the plains stretching from the rivers edge. The topography is agreeable to hiking and walking safaris are allowed. In wet season months of March to April and October to November the bird population peaks and the park has over 370 bird species, including some Eurasian migrants.

Ruaha has a very diverse flora, with over 1650 plant species found there. The plant and animal life in Ruaha is a unique mixture of eastern Africa and southern Africa flora and fauna. This national park has a hot and dry climate with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in October. Located 128 km west of Iringa town in central Tanzania, Ruaha national park was previously inaccessible, but there are roads today enabling year round access. It takes 10 hours by road and one and a half hours by charter flights from Dar es Salaam to Ruaha. The dry season from May to December is the best time for a safari to Ruaha. During that season, thirsty animals flock the Ruaha river banks, with the ensuing drama (feeding, courting and mating, and fighting) being a spectacle to behold. Accommodation in Ruaha is rather limited, with only one luxury lodge and a few campsites and self-catering chalets.

Selous Game Reserve is the star of the southern safari circuit. The reserve is named after the intrepid Fredrick Courtney Selous, a celebrated Victoria era explorer and naturalist. He met his end here in a sideshow of the First World War. The Great War had spilled over from Europe as the Germans then ruled parts of todays Tanzania. Located 500 km to the southwest of Dar, the reserve occupies a staggering 55,000 sq km ” larger than Switzerland- and is the largest of its kind in Africa. The Selous was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982 due to the significance of both its flora and fauna. This immense wilderness has a diversity of habitats including savanna woodlands, swamps, open grasslands and forests.

There over 2,100 plant and tree species in Selous. Rufiji river is the lifeblood of the game reserve and has many oxbow lakes and tributaries suitable for boating safaris. Lions, elephants, black rhinos, buffaloes, hippos, wild dogs, elands, impala, water bucks, giraffes, zebras, greater kudu, baboons, and bush bucks are just some of the wild animals found in Selous. Birdwatchers also have an exciting tour in Selous, with over 420 bird species. Just like in Ruaha, game animals in Selous are widely scattered due to the large size of the reserve. The best game watching experience is attained by taking a slow pace, preferably 3-4 days. Visitors can enjoy a rewarding photographic safari in Selous, with Stiegler’s gorge being a favorite spot also favored by leopards.

From Dar, you arrive after a 1-” hour charter flight or by traveling for 7 hours by road. Travel by road is not advised, except for the most adventurous souls. Selous is near the coast and is just a few hundred feet above sea level. The climate is hot and humid, particularly between October and March. Part of the reserve is closed in the wet season between March and May. The best time to visit is over the dry season period of June to October. Then on safari you can walk, boat and ride a 4WD vehicle. Accommodation is limited to just a few luxury tented and no-frills camps.

Sadani game reserve, located in the north coast about 50km from Bagamoyo, is also worth visiting. Sadani gives one an experience of the bush at the beach, and the wild life seen at the reserve including elephants, leopard, giraffes, lions, buffaloes and zebra. The reserve is, however, accessible only with special transport arrangements.

Before getting into Dar es Salaam and Tanzania, visitors from yellow fever infected areas have to be obtain certificates of vaccination against the disease. Travelers from the following areas where yellow fever is not endemic are exempted from this: Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. The forest region in northwest Tanzania is regarded a high risk yellow fever area. Malaria is also common in most of Tanzania. It is advisable to start taking appropriate anti-malaria treatment two weeks before arrival. Typhoid, hepatitis A, and polio vaccinations are also advisable. In addition, with the exception of citizens of a few African and commonwealth countries, visitors must have Tanzania visas to get into the country. While it is possible to get the visa at entry points like Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, and Dar es Salaam international airports, where possible, get the visa in advance from the Tanzanian mission in your country. Some airlines may not allow you to board flights to Tanzania without the visa.

You can get to Dar es Salaam through such Africa travel hubs as Johannesburg, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa. There are also numerous domestic flights in Tanzania to Dar and other airports including Kilimanjaro international airport and Dodoma airport. By sea, ferry services from Mombasa to Dar es Salaam are available. Visitors can tour around Dar es Salaam city using taxis, which charge a standard fee of Tsh 2000 for a journey within the city center. To travel to Zanzibar by ferry, you have a choice of 4 boats ” 2 ordinary ferry boats, a hydrofoil, and a catamaran. You will need to produce the certificate of yellow fever vaccination before boarding the ferry. In addition to boat fare, you will have to pay US$5 for port charges.

Dar es Salaam, like most of Tanzania, does not get very cold. Light clothing is therefore most suitable. Temperatures average around 30 degrees celsius, the hottest period being from October to March. Male travelers can carry decent short sleeved shirts, shorts and trousers, while skirts, short sleeve blouses, and slacks would be enough for the female traveler. If you will be visiting the highlands however, it is advisable you carry some warmer clothing like sweaters for the early mornings and the evenings. In the entire country, nudity is unacceptable.

About the Author:

Luxury Holidays To The Most Romantic Destinations On Earth

February 6th, 2009 No comments

Luxury holidays no longer have to be such a fantasy for you. They are within your reach and within your budget. More and more people are taking luxury holidays to the Caribbean, Maldives, Mauritius, Dubai, Thailand, and Malaysia. As you can plainly see, the entire idea of luxury is becoming broader. You are no longer restricted to certain, so called ritzy locations. Thus you should learn all you can about the aforementioned places. See if a holiday at one of them would be the best choice for you.

Naturally, when people think of luxury, they think of the Caribbean islands. If you want a warm, tropical vacation that puts you in mind of a sunny, sand filled paradise, this is where you need to go. Of course, tanning, swimming, and surfing is not all you will have to do. Quite the opposite, the Caribbean offers all the best in terms of entertainment and cuisine.

You might not know quite as much about Maldives, but you will soon. Maldives is actually a bunch of islands. They can be found near India. Specifically, they can be found near the Lakshadweep islands near India. Tourism as an industry is booming there. There are a large number of different tourist resorts from which you can choose. That way, you can choose your own level of luxury.

Mauritius is another location with which people are not as familiar. However, that likely will not be the case for long. This island is located in the Indian Ocean, right off the African coast. It is almost six hundred miles away from Madagascar. There are many other islands surrounding it. In addition to being culturally and ethnically rich, Mauritius was once the only home of the dodo bird.

Dubai is a truly luxurious destination. It is extremely diverse and many cultures are represented there. For all of that, it is a surprisingly calm, relaxed, and tension free city. Needless to say, this makes it a perfect vacation destination. It is well known for its annual entertainment options, not to mention its rich and diverse cuisine. Not only that, but if you go at the right time, the odds are high that you can experience the making of an authentic Bollywood movie.

Everyone knows about Thailand. The place that produced Bangkok is just about infamous. If you are into excitement and dazzling entertainment, then Thailand is the right destination for you. Full of lights, exotic entertainment, and loads of excitement, you will come away from your holiday feeling absolutely dazzled.

Finally, let’s talk about Malaysia. A part of Southeast Asia, it is extremely diverse as well. If you want a fast paced, exciting holiday, Malaysia can suit your needs. However, it is also the perfect place if you want a quiet, relaxing vacation surrounded by natural beauty.

Not so very long ago, it seemed like only the very wealthy, well to do people out there could afford to even think about going on a luxury holiday. That is partly because the typical locations were so exclusive. Neither of those things are true any long. If you want a little luxury, it is right at your fingertips. All you need to do is think about where you want to go. Once you have made that decision, as you can plainly see, the world is your oyster. There are destinations all over the world which you can choose to visit.

About the Author:

All About Swiss Airlines

January 20th, 2009 No comments

Swiss International Airlines Ltd., also called as Swiss is the dominant airline of Switzerland. In 2001, Swissair, a former flag carrier of Switzerland reported the bankruptcy and then Swiss was formed. Its flights cover the Europe, North America, and South America, Africa and Asia and its centre is situated at the Zurich Airport.

After initial trouble stemming from financial difficulties and the September 11 attacks, the airline attempted to attach itself to other airline groups. In 2005 Lufthansa bought a minority stake in Swiss and Swiss operations began to be integrated into Lufthansas. The takeover was complete in July 2007. By 2008, Swiss was half the size it was 10 years earlier and has still not returned to Swiss Air size, but with its new network, Swiss been able to carry the same number of passengers as it did in 2002.

Swiss is a member of the Star Alliance and has codeshare agreements with several other airlines, expanding its flight offerings. Swiss now flies to destinations in Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania, China, Japan, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, Canada Mexico, US, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Chile.

Swiss has in its operation a fleet of 77 aircrafts of which 20 are operated by its subsidiary Swiss European Airlines. There is a variety of choices on offer for checking in either through the web or phone. The check-in is also accessible in more than 50 train stations to travelers flying out of Switzerland. On offer are three classes namely: Swiss First, Swiss Business and Swiss Economy.

In Swiss First customers have access to special lounges at the Zurich, Basel and Geneva airports, and a separate check-in counter. Seating features an ottoman and table for two that folds away when not in use. Gourmet a la carte meals are served on the customers schedule and, on long-haul flights out of Switzerland, Swiss specialties are also available. Telephone and network connections are available on Airbus A330 flights.

Swiss gives the excellent and luxuriant facility to their business travellers like priority boarding and departure lounges. Certain planes also provide telephones, Internet, and messaging services.

All classes of the Airbus A340 as well as A330 are equipped with facilities of watching films and television, music and games.

The frequent flyer program of of Swiss is Miles and More. It is possible for the customers to redeem miles on Swiss flights as also on othe Star Alliance partners and twenty othe affiliate airlines. Miles can also be earned or made use of by partner hotels, car hire companies and credit card purchases.

Swiss Air is committed to minimizing the negative impact of their operations on the environment. Setting the pace for others, the company has substantially cut CO2 emissions and reduced their fuel consumption to one of the lowest in the industry. The Swiss flight management system automatically optimizes aircraft performance to achieve maximum efficiency by making adjustments to airspeed and altitude based on current weight and atmospheric conditions. Swiss has also adopted numerous environmentally conscious operational procedures, including flying below maximum speed and early retraction of flaps, to help reduce both costs and emissions.

About the Author: