Adventure Coordinators: southern africa

Showing posts with label southern africa. Show all posts

Monday, August 10, 2015

Malawi, Lesotho and Swaziland travel articles

Here are some great articles and links relating to travel in Malawi, Lesotho and Swaziland.

Lesotho
Breathtaking travels in Lesotho and Swaziland
Souvenir Shopping Tip: Shepherd Bells from Lesotho
Tim Butcher in Lesotho

Malawi
Malawi: Africa's rising star
How I spotted the first Painted Dog in Malawi
How I set up Malawi's premier carnivore conservation project
Wildlife of Malawi: A ride on the wild side

Swaziland
Swaziland: Africa's biggest little secret
Breathtaking travels in Lesotho and Swaziland

Wildlife & nature
Tracking rhinos in Swaziland
How I spotted the first Painted Dog in Malawi
How I set up Malawi's premier carnivore conservation project
Wildlife of Malawi: A ride on the wild side

Thursday, July 16, 2015

11 Questions you will ask when planning your African safari

When you plan your safari, there will be lots of questions you have. Here are eleven of the most commonly asked questions about going on an African safari.

1) Which countries are the best to go on safari in Africa?
Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa are the most popular African countries to go on safari. Kenya and Tanzania offer the traditional open grasslands, making it possible to see large heard of game from a great distance, including the Wildebeest Migration. Botswana and South Africa have more bushland, but also offer a more Western infrastructure and plenty of opportunities to get away from the crowds by staying in private game reserves.
For a more off-the-beaten-track experience, consider a walking safari in Zambia, or a trip to Northern Namibia or Zimbabwe.

2) Is it safe to go on safari in Africa?
Politically Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa are some of the safest destinations in Africa, if not the world. Kenya does have it's share of issues, but these tend to occur in the far north, well away from places travellers go.
Most camps and lodges do not have fences fencing themselves off from the surrounding bush. Wildlife can and will stray into the park, but this only heightens the excitement and feeling of being in deepest Africa.
As far as the actual activities go, boating, canoeing, horseback riding and walking to name but a few, while none of them are as safe as staying at home, you will be in the hands of professional guides who will keep you safe so you can enjoy your journey.

3) Is an African safari expensive?
The more comfort you get and the more exclusive your African safari experience, the higher the price. Camping safaris in Africa are the lowest cost (they start at US$200 per person per night), but it entails sleeping in small tents on bed rolls and often you are expected to help with camp duties.
On the other end of the scale, a fly-in safari to a luxury camp deep in the Botswana wilderness can easily set you back US$1000 per person per night.
Keeping mind though that these prices typically include all your transport, accommodation, meals, guiding and park fees. The more exclusive camps also include a good range of domestic and premium drinks.

4) How long should I go on an African safari?
Theoretically you can go ion safari in Africa for as short as one week. But by the time you have flown to Africa, you will likely only have 3-4 days in destination, before you have to return home.
The ideal time is 2-3 weeks. Two weeks is an ideal time to see the best parks of Kenya and Tanzania, or to visit Botswana or see the highlights of South Africa, including Kruger National Park.
Three weeks will allow you to add the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar or a gorilla trek to your East African safari, while in Southern Africa you could add the delightful city of Cape Town and Kruger National Park to your Botswana safari.

5) When is the best time to go on a safari in Africa?
For your first safari in Africa, choose the dry season, as it is the time when there are few leaves on the trees and animals congregate around the little water available. The dry season runs from April through October in Southern Africa. In Kenya and Tanzania, there are two dry seasons. The long dry season stretches from June through October, while the short dry season falls in January and February.
On the other hand, the green (wet) season, comes with a number of advantages. Fewer people means lower prices. It is a great time for bird-watching, and lush landscapes and flowers abound. Skies with towering clouds make for dramatic photography, while animals get their babies, which makes for endearing photos and great predator activity
For more on the topic, see The Best time to go on your African safari.

6) What shots do I need to travel to Africa?
Strictly speaking, most countries do not make having shots mandatory. Diseases that commonly occur in Africa are cholera, hepatitis A, malaria and typhoid fever, among others.
The one shot that some countries make mandatory is yellow fever. At the time of writing this was mandatory when crossing borders between Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.
As the situation on diseases is very fluid I strongly recommend you consult with a good travel health specialist well before setting out on your African safari.

7) Should I bring a mosquito net on my African safari?
If you are on a lodge safari, you do not as lodges will supply you with either an air-conditioned (mosquito proof) room, or a tent with built-in mosquito net.
If you are on a camping safari, you are likely to keep your tent closed, so the only reason you would bring a mosquito net is if you wanted to sleep in the outdoors.

8) What visa do I need for my trip to Africa?
For most nationalities visa are not required to travel to Southern Africa. For East Africa most nationalities do need a visa. As the visa requirements always change, I would strongly suggest you consult your travel agent.
Some countries, such as South Africa and Namibia require you to have at least two blank pages side-by-side in your passport.

9) How much money and what currency should I bring on my holiday in Africa?
If you keep in mind that most of your meals are included, your main expense is for on-the-spot visa, a few meals that are not included, drinks and souvenirs. Budget the same price as you would pay at home for souvenirs, tips, meals and drinks, and you will have enough money.
You know your own shopping and eating/drinking habits, so budget accordingly.

Do bring excess funds with you in case of emergencies, some in cash and some in the form of credit cards.

Bring your funds in cash US$. While traveler's cheques are protected against theft, they are harder and more costly to exchange. Credit cards can be used in more expensive shops but not for normal day-to-day transactions.

10) How much should I tip
This depends on the type of trip you are on. For low-cost camping safaris, budget $5 per guest per day for the guide and $2 per guest per day for auxiliary staff such as cooks and trackers.
On luxury safaris these amounts should go up to US$10 and US$5-7 per guest per day respectively.

11) What should I wear
Bring comfortable, casual wash and wear clothes. Muted colours are recommended for game-viewing. Whites are a no-no as this is an alarm colour in nature.
Game-drives take place early morning and late afternoon which can be cold, especially in winter in Southern Africa (June-August) - bring a light jacket or sweater.
Shirts with long sleeves give protection against mosquitoes and the sun. Zip-off pants give you the option to wear them as long pants in the morning and convert them to short during the hot hours of the day. T shirts and shorts or a light skirt will keep you cool when it is hot.
A lightweight water-proof jacket is recommended if you travel during the green season.
Don't forget swim and beachwear as most lodges have pools.
Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, insect repellent, moisturizer and lip-balm are all essentials.
Most lodges and hotels will arrange for same-day or overnight laundry service. For cultural reasons, some lodges and camps do not wash underwear.
For more information on what to bring on your African safari, please click here.

Related posts
What to bring on your African safari
Highlights of Kenya
Wildebeest Migration
The Best time to go on your African safari
17 Questions you will ask about gorilla trekking in Africa
Feedback from South Africa and Botswana
Serengeti & Zanzibar feedback
Feedback from Africa
Feedback from South Africa

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Feedback from South Africa & Botswana

The following feedback is from a group of 20 passengers for whom I had organized a private trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe abd Botswana.

As far as the trip - it was absolutely amazing!!!! Everyone agreed that it has been a trip of a lifetime and I can't think you enough for organizing our journey. I also want to commend your local office as everything was seamless, the hotels we were booked into - all fantastic; the tours were superb; and all pick-ups, buses, etc. all right on time.

We began with the Cape Milner Hotel in Cape Town - a lovely place with great rooms. Although we started with some rainy days we were able to juggle our schedule and visit a couple of the museums - which were very worthwhile visiting. The sun came out for our Robben Island and Cape Peninsula tour - which were definite highlights. Our stop and lunch at La Petite Ferme on the way to Tulbagh was exceptional. And, although we didn't really get to spend much time in Tulbagh, it was a interesting town to see. Knysna Hollow was again great and with the schedule change we were able to have a free morning and afternoon to just relax - something I think we all needed. Really enjoyed the Featherbed Tour (even in the rain!).

Our next major stop was the Kapama Game Reserve and the Buffalo Camp - an outstanding experience and I think probably the highlight of the trip for everyone. I would not hesitate to recommend that camp - the rooms, the staff, the game drives - all absolutely wonderful and having the entire place to ourselves made it even more special. We all got to see the "Big Five" and countless other animals.

The drive back to Johannesburg was another very interesting trip - seeing the countryside and our guide for this part - Marshall was very informative and gave us a good talk on the country. We were caught in another downpour while visiting Soweto, but the rain did stop after our dinner and we were able to walk around and see some of the township and learn a bit of its history.

Flying into Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe was as expected - but at least now they give out water while you wait at immigration!!! Since we were late getting there, it was about 4ish when we toured the Falls and subsequently almost had the place to ourselves. The water is at the low point, but still it is a spectacular place.

Again, our transport into Botswana was smooth and we arrived at the Chobe Bush Lodge in Botswana. Our rooms there were superb, but he lodge definitely showed that they are still very newly opened and have a fair number of "service bugs" to work out. The river cruise was very enjoyable and the game drives exciting - although a totally different feel compared to the S.African private game drives.

Twelve of our group were transported back to Vic Falls for their trip home and the 8 of us continued onto the Okavango via small 5 seater airplanes. I must admit the delta is certainly so worthwhile seeing - you feel like you are truly in the heart of Africa! The water, the birds and animals, the amazing scenery and beautiful skies and sunsets were magical. Gunn's Camp was much more basic than the Kapama Lodge, but very comfortable, the food was good and the staff very friendly.

I am hoping to get into Toronto sometime in the next few weeks and will definitely try to stop by and discuss the trip in more detail and bring some photos (if I can get them down to a manageable number!!).

Thanks again for giving all of us a tremendous holiday.

Take care, Jane - Woodstock, ON, October 2014

Related posts:
Feedback from South Africa
Feedback from Galapagos
Feedback from Asia & New Zealand
Serengeti & Zanzibar feedback
Feedback from Africa
Customer Feedback winter 2014
South Africa Travel Blog

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Why we do not ride elephants

We are happy to share with you we will no longer offer elephant rides to travellers.

Seeing wild animals on holiday should be a once in a lifetime experience. But the demand for elephant rides, lion and tiger selfies and more is forcing iconic wild animals into a lifetime of misery. Sadly it is these iconic animals that often suffer the most at the hands of a cruel and relentless industry.

More than 2,000 elephants are trapped at cruel tourist attractions where they are undergoing great physical and mental trauma to be forced into interacting with people. Watch this animation and learn about their lives as entertainers.

Our decision is based on an extensive research project by experts from Canadian animal charity WSPA to assess the welfare of captive elephants (and other wildlife) at entertainment venues in Asia and Africa.

Asian elephants are highly endangered and tourism demand has led to the establishment of venues where elephants are forced to do unnatural performances. The demand from travellers is adding to the number of endangered elephants being poached from the wild.

In both Asia and Africa animals are taken from their mothers, their spirit is broken, and they endure cruel and stressful ‘training’ to make them tolerate being ridden.

Clearly this is not something anyone will want to be involved in.

With your help we can stop these cruel practices.

Elephants are best seen in the wild, like here in Periyar, India

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

New off-the-beaten-track trips for 2014

True adventures are found off the beaten track and we have some great trips lined up for 2014.

In earlier blog posts I wrote about new walking and hiking trips and new cycling trips for 2014. For less active cultural trips, we offer some great small-group tours. Below is our lineup of new tours in Europe for 2014. For more new trips ideas, click on these blog posts: Americas, Europe, Asia.

Highlights of Nicaragua: from the twin peaks of Ometepe Island to the ashen slopes of Cerro Negro Volcano, the 'Land of Lakes and Volcanoes' is a great way to escape the crowds. Travel through misty cloud forest, full of birds, wildlife and the sweet smell of orchids, and to isolated Pacific beaches where nesting olive ridley turtles arrive en masse (in season). We also have time to enjoy colonial Granada and revolutionary Leon; rustic, charming cities.

Explore El Salvador: delve into the unassuming beauty of El Salvador and discover why this is one of the hidden gems of Central America. This trip gives you a sumptuous taste of life in this fascinating country, taking you from the lush nature reserves near Ahuachapan, to the charming colonial streets of Suchitoto and the buzzing capital of San Salvador. Sail onto brilliant blue lakes, hike among rich birdlife in spectacular national parks, and discover the Cerro Verde volcano. Walk down cobbled streets and admire colourful houses in a nostalgic small town, and discover a flourishing arts scene hiding behind old colonial doors. Then, bask in the hipster vibe of San Salvador’s bar and café scene and get immersed in a city bursting with energy and contradictions. There are plenty of things to love about El Salvador, and this trip reveals some of the best.

Northern Namibia and Angola: this is a trip for anyone who is ready to get away from the normal tourist trail and explore a remote but fascinating part of Southern Africa; a hardly inhabited area of dramatic beauty and incredible scenery where age-old tribes eke out a nomadic existence and animals roam beyond the borders of any national park. This is a pioneering journey through remote lands where few others have been, following faint sand tracks instead of roads, sleeping under the stars where no hotel would feature, and meeting the magnificent Himba tribe who are strangers to modern society and live as their ancestors have for many centuries.

Armenia, Georgia & Azerbaijan: the Caucasus region of Central Asia holds a wealth of unexplored territories. Wedged between two seas, surrounded by Europe's largest mountain range and straddling two continents, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia are home to some extraordinarily beautiful scenery and incredibly hospitable people. Journey from the fascinating Old City of Baku in Azerbaijan through the quaint towns and glorious hillsides of Georgia, before finishing the adventure in Armenia's laid-back capital, Yerevan. Mixing isolated villages, populous capital cities, ancient castles, breathtaking vistas, abundant natural resources and a flashy nouveau riche, this region of Caucasia offers up a variety of surprising contrasts, fascinating sights and stunning landscapes.

Discover Bangladesh: this intoxicating new trip offers genuine experiences in a destination largely untouched and unexplored by foreign tourists. Outside the chaotic cities we discover the country's true beauty, including the lush tea plantations and rainforest around Srimongal, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Paharpur and Bagerhat, as well as two days spent exploring the wilderness of Sundarbans National Park, the largest mangrove forest on earth. Bangladesh may not offer the grand sites of its neighbours but adventure is guaranteed and the open hearted people of this country are the true highlight.

In earlier blog posts I wrote about new walking and hiking trips and new cycling trips for 2014. For less active cultural trips, we offer some great small-group tours. Below is our lineup of new tours in Europe for 2014. For more new trips ideas, click on these blog posts: Americas, Europe, Asia.