Phila Airport Parking Vacations

Tanzania national parks and game reserves are home to an amazing diversity of wildlife, making for incomparable Africa game watching safaris. Among these game reserves, the five parks below stand out as the best of the best.

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha national park occupies 12,950 sq km, making it the second largest national park in Tanzania. Located 128 km from Iringa, this park is named after the great Ruaha river, which attracts many thirsty animals to its banks, among them lions, leopards, hyenas, water bucks, and reed bucks. The river also hosts several hippos and crocodiles. Other animals found in Ruaha include zebras, wild dogs, giraffes, lesser and greater kudu, impala, and several antelope species. Ruaha national park is unique in that it combines Southern Africa and Eastern Africa flora and fauna.

Ruaha’s topography is ideal for hiking and walking safaris. In the rainy season between March to April and October to November, the bird population peaks to a high of over 350 bird species – including some Eurasian migrants. Ruaha’s climate is hot and dry, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in October. The Ruaha is was until recently totally inaccessible, but there is now a year round road access to the park. From Dar es Salaam, road travel takes 10 hours while a charter flight takes 1 and and half hours. The best time for a safari is over the dry season- May to December.

Lake Manyara National Park

The Lake Manyara National Park is without doubt the best destination for birdwatching in Tanzania due to its unrivaled birdlife. The waterfowl and several migratory birds are some of the bird species found here. Lake Manyara national park is also one of the greatest places for viewing leopards atop the lush green vegetation. Tree-climbing lions are also common in parts of the park. The National Park is located between Lake Manyara and the walls of the great Rift Valley, which rise up to 610 meters above.

The periods between December and February and between August and September constitute the best times for going on safari in Lake Manyara national park. However, it is still possible to see animals throughout the year. Most parts of the park are easily accessible, making it possible for you to see all its major attractions in two hours. Lake Manyara National park has three habitats: groundwater green forests, acacia woodlands, and open floodplains.

Tarangire National Park

Named after the Tarangire River, Tarangire National Park is also part of the northern tourism circuit. The park area is approximately 2,600 sq km and has a high concentration of wildlife during the dry seasons as well as a high number of elephants. With over 570 bird species, the place is surely a birdwatchers’ paradise.

The best time to go on safari in Tarangire national park is in the dry months from June to September. The dry weather at that time force many animals to congregate at the river to drink water. There is also less vegetation cover at this time, giving you great animal spotting chances. You also stand a better chance of seeing pythons at Tarangire than in any other places, particularly because Tarangire pythons have love climbing trees.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Located towards the north of Tanzania on an area of over 7,000 square miles the Ngorongoro conservation area was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in’79. The park joins up with the Serengeti to the north-west and it is through here that wildebeest horde through during their world famous migration from the Masai Mara to Serengeti, then to Ngorongoro.

At the center of this conservation area lies the 264 sq km Ngorongoro crater, whose floor is inhabited by a great array of wildlife. Since the crater provides one of the greatest and very satisfying game watching experience, it is not a big surprise that it remains one of the most popular Tanzania destination for wildlife safaris.

Great herds of gazelle, antelope and zebra can be seen grazing along the river beds as well as large herds of elephants moving from one corner of the park to the other. It is also possible to see prides of lions sleeping lazily under the shady trees or at least hear a lion’s roar echoing off the walls of the crater. This is an exciting, though at times, shocking experience. Birdwatchers will also enjoy visiting Ngorongoro. Lake Ndutu in the area is home to a thriving population of birds. Some of the bird species you will see here include stocks, ducks and flamingos among may more.

Serengeti National Park

In the local Masai language, the word “Siringit” means unending plains. Serengeti’s name is derived from this word, describing the national parks open grassy plains. Occupying 12,950 sq km, this national park is part of the same ecosystem with Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya. This vast plain is the home of over 30 large mammal species and about 500 bird species.

The Serengeti hosts the largest and longest overland migration in the world, dubbed the Great Wildebeest Migration. The semi-annual occurrence that is said to be the world’s most spectacular wildlife show is one of the ten natural travel wonders of the world. Others include the Ngorongoro Crater and Victoria Falls.

The great wildebeest migration from Serengeti to the Mara generally takes place between July and August. It is however impossible to correctly predict its timing as it is largely dependent on the rain and pasture availability patterns. The reverse journey of the migration happens around October. About 2 million herbivores participate in the migration, with some of the most interesting moments being when they cross the Mara river in pursuit of greener pastures.

Serengeti is reached by both road and air. The road trip from Arusha, situated some 320km from the park, takes approximately 8 hours. International visitors to Serengeti are served by the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha. From there, the visitors can travel by road to the park or take either scheduled or charter flights to Serengeti airstrips like Kirawira or Seronera.

See great Tanzania vacations packages and also make your reservation for Tanzania hotels in the author’s website.

Nairobi is the most exciting town in Africa – hands down. This fact is little known, so this article gives you an insiders look of the food scene, hotels, lounges, bars and the trendy cosmopolitan inhabitants of the Capital of Kenya – Nairobi. Nairobi is thrilling, fun and a never sleeping city – the hub of Africa.

Swanky residents enjoy sumptuous cuisine in Kenya’s restaurants, lounges and bars. Afro-fusion cuisine create a whole new adventure for foodies. Maize cobs roasting by the roadside provide an amazing snack to the high paced tempo in the city.

The five star living is juxtaposed by informal dwellings. Less to do with the lack of ambition of the Kenyan people but more to do with the lack of provision of affordable decent housing. This never stops Kenyans as the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. Pick up some trendy in-door and garden furniture by the roadside.

Nyama choma, the most succulent barbeque of savannah-fed beef, veal, lamb or goat is so good it needs to be a key export. The meat is juicy, lean and with just the right texture to make a meat connoisseur coming back for more. The hotels are trendy and with several five star hotels to choose from, you are guaranteed a chic and luxurious place to lay your head.

From the Nairobi Serena, which has the lush Central Park surrounding it, making you forget you are in the city center. The Nairobi Safari Club is an all suite hotel – luxurious and tremendous value. If you want enjoy the westlands action, the Holiday Inn is just what you are looking for. Nestled in the shopping and party central of Nairobi, only 3 kilometers from the City Center.

If you are up for some fun on a Thursday evening, Havana is where to see and be seen – the Cuban restaurant and bar comes alive with the most cosmopolitan crowd that Kenya has to offer, live music and an electrifying ambiance. Now foodies can choose from the Central American greats with Mexican cuisine at Alcapulco or Japanese restaurants like Furisato both in Westlands. Blancos is creating however the most exciting and adventurous afro-fusion cuisine. They deserve a page of their own for us to do them justice and we strong recommend a visit.

Gigiri in Nairobi is home to the United Nations Environment Programme headquarters. Nearby, the Village Market, Kenya’s first open plan mall plays host to the Maasai Market. This is a world renowed market selling beautifully crafted tableware, accessories, fashion, interior design, and traditional ornaments. Village market is also home to Tribe displaying afro-chic interior design at its best – this five star hotel is truly unique.

The art and theater scene is alive and well. From Gallery Watatu where you can enjoy exceptional paintings to Phoenix players that stage some of the most refine artistry in town. In 2009, Kenya played host to the Haymarket festival. Nobel Laureates Wangari Mathai and Wole Soyinka joined renowned local and international narrators and poets hosted by StoryMoja. Incidentally, the StoryMoja crew staged their play ‘ Cut off my tounge’ in London. Who said Kenya’s do not engage in the literary arts?

MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) are to be applauded for recognising the emergence of Kenyan music onto the world stage and is hosting the awards in Nairobi. This celebrates the Kenyan renaissance that is train, in music, design, fashion, art, cuisine – you name it. Nameless, STL, Amani and Wahu ( who won best female artist last year) are all amongst Kenya’s musicians who have received nominations for this year. So get your party shoes on and get ready to party to Kenyan music as well as celebrate music and artists from across Africa.

A true sign that Kenyan fashion has matured is the Kiko Romeo store at the trendy Yaya Center mall. The Festival for African Fashion and Arts (FAFA) awards hosted annually in Nairobi highlight that African fashion is envouge and the designers are at the top of their game. We salute the fabulous trend – celebrating Kenyan culture, creativity, enterprise and talent. Kenyan’s both young and old are showing that wearing our own unique get up is what being hip is about.

So the next time you are travelling through Kenya on transit at JKIA or planning a safari or beach holiday, be sure to stop and enjoy Nairobi. A treat that will leave you wanting more! See you in Nairobi.

Nyaruita Gateri, the Chief Adventurer at Journey Kenya has been traveling around Kenya for over two decades and knows fabulous locations to see animals in Kenya and to experience Kenya culture. Visit the discover section on Journey Kenya to get your excellent free guide to kenya animals, Kenya map and kenya people and to share your own experiences, stories and photos.

Nothing beats being up close with wildlife. It can be an awesome and unforgettable experience seeing wildlife in their natural habitat. When it comes to wildlife, African safari vacations are quick to come to mind.

African safari vacations are extremely popular today that travel agencies and companies have packages designed to give tourists an African safari adventure. These tours have experts on board, of course.

If you decide to go on an African safari adventure, you’ll be living in lodges and camps with hot showers. Your meals and barbecues would be prepared by a cook hired for your specific African safari tour.

Most of the African safari vacations are in Kenya, with a beach holiday possibly included in the package. Kenya is a country that boasts of 40 national parks and game reserves. The Kimana Game Sanctuary is one of the most popular and spectacular game reserves in Kenya. It is situated at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Rich rain forest is the terrain at the Mount Kenya National Park and stretching plains dominate the Masai Mara. Guides drive parties in 4×4 vehicles or in open back trucks. Sometimes, they travel in mini buses.

For an aerial view of the landscape, there are fly/drive packages, using small, light aircraft. Kenya brings opportunities to see leopards, gazelle, crocodiles, giraffes, zebra, lions and hippos.

South Africa is the ideal destination for your African safari vacation if you’d like to see different landscapes (e.g., semi-dessert, old forest, open grassland, wetlands, etc.). South Africa’s Phinda region can be explored by foot, air or car.

There are also African safari vacation packages that include exploring South Africa by boat. Expect to see lions, buffalo, rhinos, leopards and elephants. You’ll see packs of hyenas and wild dogs, leopards and elephants when you tour the Madikwe Game Reserve.

There are also African safari packages to Uganda and Rwanda. If it’s chimpanzees and lowland gorillas you want to see, you’ll see plenty of them in Uganda. You’ll see gorillas at the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

To see the different bird species of Uganda, you can walk through the Mgahinga Volcanoes, a tropical rain forest, on foot. The Queen Elizabeth National Park has a great savanna wherein you can see giraffes, elephants, birds and antelopes. Another popular destination that can be reached by boat is the Murchisson Falls National Park. The waterfall is a sight to behold and you’ll see wildlife that includes zebras, baboons and warthogs.

Mountain gorillas abound in Rwanda. It’s said that if you’ll see about 350 mountain gorillas in the slopes of the Parc National des Volcans. Uganda and Rwanda are popular African safari destinations for those who are after seeing volcanoes, lakes, forests and waterfalls, as well as lowland and mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Dream vacations can be described as vacations where the person does what his heart desires. These are the vacations where you really make your vacationing dreams come true; it may be driving up the coast of California, going to a bull run in Spain, or visiting the Taj Mahal in India. A person can find true happiness and joy when his heart is light. Happiness creates a load of endorphins that make travelers feel happier and live longer.

In these current economic conditions, many people feel too stressed to spend money on a vacation. They would rather save the money for an emergency situation. As a result, they end up feeling stressed out and as times get harder, they get more and more depressed. This takes years off of your life by assisting with the aging process. It is a well known fact that stressed out people not only look older, but age more internally.

For those who have the means to take vacation, they feel like they have no extra time. They spend time between working and looking after their family. Children are busy with after school activities and keep their parents on the run. The dreams of family vacations seem far removed.

If money or time is your problem, there are vacation solutions for you. Selecting the right airline in addition to the right travel package can help you save dollars without affecting the quality of the vacation. Moreover, most online travel websites will work with your scheduling needs. These are both important for having a stress free vacation. When you remove stress, again, you add years back to your life. Plan your vacation far in advance. This will help you take advantage of early bird specials.

Voyages to Africa, if planned ahead of time, can give you a big bang for your buck. There are numerous exotic locations in Africa that cater to different types of vacationers. They have safaris, hunting trips, mountain climbing, white water rafting, and bird watching in places ranging from Kenya to Egypt. An African vacation is sure to excite and titillate, promising an exhilarating vacation. An Australian vacation can introduce a vacationer to wonderfully magical scenery and deep sea diving off the Great Barrier Reef. Seeing kangaroos in the outback can definitely fulfill childhood dreams.

Some travelers much prefer the laid-back atmosphere of Europe. They’d rather visit cities like Paris, London, Milan, Madrid, and Venice. These trips offer lots of history, museums, and luxury. This can definitely be a relaxing vacation option of planned the right way.

The airline that you choose can make a difference in the price of your trip and therefore the feasibility of your trip. An excellent example is Emirates Airlines. They are based in Dubai and are a top carrier in the airline industry. With more than 100 destinations, they are not only a safe airline, but a luxury carrier as well. Their destinations are great, but their star quality service is even better.

If a vacationer picks Emirates Airlines as their carrier of choice, the have the opportunity to take an exotic Arabian adventure, which means tours, safaris, deep-sea fishing or cruises. As an addition feature, a vacation with Emirates Airline can win a vacationer a free stay at Atlantis The Palm, which includes access to Aquaventure and The Lost Chambers. Both are new and exclusive vacation hot spots.

No matter where you choose to vacation, always plan ahead, and be prepared for any surprises. Choose an airline like Emirates Airline that offers affordable tickets, vacation packages, and superior service. After your vacation you will be amazed at how much younger you feel.

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.