Africa safaris
Hundreds of game parks and reserves now vie for considerable wildlife bragging rights, but it hasn’t always been that way. The safari has changed dramatically since the likes of Roosevelt when the idea of a fine safari was to see the great wildlife, and shoot it. There are now so many different ways of enjoying a safari in Africa: by vehicle, on foot, canoe, kayak, micro-lite, hot air balloon and mountain bike but critically there is huge variance in both parks and the style of the safari.
For the huge herds of game the countries of Tanzania and Kenya are king with their abundance of predators and the extraordinary 'Great migration'. Zambia has rightly claimed the 'walking safari' mantle and the coast of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mozambique the marine safari. Uganda and Rwanda are almost exclusively known as the home of gorilla treks, while Gabon is fact gaining a reputation for its wildlife, especially in the forest clearings, or ‘Bai’, where it is not unusual to see elephants, buffalo, gorillas, forest hog, chimpanzees and 3-4 different antelope at any one time.What to look for in a good safari
There is huge disparity in standards and whistle stop tours, although appearing to show a good view of the countries, actually are nothing like as comprehensive as spending quality time in one area. Prices vary also due to vehicles used, ratio of staff to clients and seasonal changes, and a good guide/spotter is essential. Research and more research is critical if your agent, operator or so called expert hasn't been there, call someone else. A good safari cannot be beaten by any other holiday.
There is huge disparity in standards and whistle stop tours, although appearing to show a good view of the countries, actually are nothing like as comprehensive as spending quality time in one area. Prices vary also due to vehicles used, ratio of staff to clients and seasonal changes, and a good guide/spotter is essential. Research and more research is critical if your agent, operator or so called expert hasn't been there, call someone else. A good safari cannot be beaten by any other holiday.
Irresponsible SafarisSaba Douglas Hamilton, Kenyan wildlife film-maker, has become increasingly concerned with some irresponsible wildlife developments that are trashing some prime wildlide habitat.
This development was approved by Kenya's National Environment Management Authority on the basis that the EIA declared that it would be a temporary camp. This is not the case and you can clearly see large and very permanent concrete buildings, again in a patch of woodland that was previously heavily utilised by wildlife.
Click here to read the full article.
Recent Africa news
- 90% drop in Africa’s lion population in 20 years. Does anyone care?
- Black Rhino moved to new home in the Karoo National Park
- Male eland antelope ‘crack’ their knees to attract the girls
- 'Golden' lion of the South Luangwa National Park
- Knysna elephants – No evidence for more than 1 survivor
- Woman Injured by Buffalo on Mountain Zebra National Park Hiking Trail
- Wild dog and cheetah survey in Kruger National Park – You can help
- Four rhinos poached in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
- Zimbabwe rhino poachers released
- Richard Leakey speaks about Bushmeat - The most significant immediate threat to the future of wildlife in Africa
- Kalahari Game Reserve devastated by fire
- Blanket ban on bushmeat could be disastrous for forest dwellers in Central Africa - Ignoring it could be disastrous for wildlife
- Is Namibia killing the golden elephants?
- African lion populations declining steadily - Will reintroduction be the only way to save some populations?
- Even the most sensitive tourism might be bad for wildlife
More Africa news
- Fire in Addo Elephant National Park
- Older matriarchs the key to elephants surviving droughts
- Addo update - Lion cub and Black rhino calves
- Zimbabwe rhino poachers sentenced to 27 years
- Orphaned giraffe gives birth in Kenya’s Meru four years after rescue
- Unusually coloured animals from the Luangwa
- Nature reserves attract human settlement, but at a cost to biodiversity
- Leucistic impala photographed in South Africa
- Namibia rhino hunt controversy
- Africa Rhinos numbers up but Northern white rhino may be extinct
- Spate of crocodile deaths in Kruger puzzles ecologists
- Emergency grant to maintain poaching patrols in Kenya's Tsavo park.
- New Look Addo Elephant National Park Now About Much More Than Elephants
- Elephant Cull Back on the Menu in South Africa - Animal Rights Protests.
- Mudumu National Park
Festival of Wildlife 2008 - Madagascar
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The Festival is a unique trip which mixes customers and experts with wildlife specific skills to enjoy a packed but fun-filled itinerary of wildlife viewing, workshops, presentations and general wildlife related discussion. We have been joined in the past by such prominent people as wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd, Jonathan Scott from the BBC Big Cat Diary series, and top wildlife photographers Mark Carwardine and Nick Garbutt, to name but a few.
Walking safarisSome areas of Africa purport to have walking safaris but really only involve ambling in a game reserve for a few hours with a selection of plains animals. A proper walking safari means very small groups, with armed guides and rangers, and is probably the rawest way of experiencing the African wilderness. South Luangwa in Zambia has traditionally been the home of the finest walking safaris with some very experienced high class operators. From June to November small walking safaris trek betwee
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South Luangwa Valley Explore one of Africa’s most exciting wildlife places: South Luangwa National Park with Peter Geraerdts, wildlife photographer and safari operator. “If a holiday should alleviate stress and provide adventure at the same time, then…’ ...the South Luangwa National Park is the place to be for the real adventurer! At over 9000 KMS2, it is one of Africa’s most pristine places. It features a high game density in a wide variety of habitats, enormous spaces and a rarity of wildlife often unseen in
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Samburu and Buffalo Springs
Not as popular as some other parks in Kenya, but it is hard to see why. These two parks are divided by the sandy Ewaso Nyiro River but are essentially the same. This area of Northern Kenya is lower, drier and hotter than the Masai Mara but the rewards, especially along the river margins, are huge. Ringed by vertiginous escarpments everything about the park is unusual from the geography to the species. Among the rarer species to be seen here are the gerenuk, endangered Grevys zebra, Reticulated
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Related News Articles
'Golden' lion of the South Luangwa National ParkOne of our readers, Egil Dröge, has sent us photos photos of a very unusual young lion that is clearly much lighter than his siblings.
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Rhino poaching- the poacher tells all.
The Van Deventer brothers were arrested in South Africa on charges of poaching rhinoceroses. Having entered into a plea bargain with the state, the brothers received reduced prison sentences. Shortly afterwards, they contacted investigative journalist and Africa Geographic columnist Ian Michler. They wanted to tell their story.
Popular wildlife & conservation news stories from the past
Why are Bonobos so laid back?
Canopy Raft Program discoveries and photos from Madagascar.
Another Mountain gorilla found dead.
‘Lost forest’ yields several new species.
Huge translocation of ungulates underway in Kenya as thousands of animals are moved to Meru National Park.
Only Lesser flamingo breeding site in East Africa under threat from industry.
Key rhino sanctuary expanded in Kenya.
Photo story. Martial eagle Vs White stork - Masai Mara.
Jewellery made from snares - Poachers turn fashionistas.
Kruger Park full - visitors turned away.
13 arrested in clampdown on poaching in Kenya.
Endangered black rhinos return to Tanzania.
40 rhinos killed in Zimbabwe.
3 rangers and 4 poachers killed in gun battle in Kenya.
Canopy Raft Program discoveries and photos from Madagascar.
Another Mountain gorilla found dead.
‘Lost forest’ yields several new species.
Huge translocation of ungulates underway in Kenya as thousands of animals are moved to Meru National Park.
Only Lesser flamingo breeding site in East Africa under threat from industry.
Key rhino sanctuary expanded in Kenya.
Photo story. Martial eagle Vs White stork - Masai Mara.
Jewellery made from snares - Poachers turn fashionistas.
Kruger Park full - visitors turned away.
13 arrested in clampdown on poaching in Kenya.
Endangered black rhinos return to Tanzania.
40 rhinos killed in Zimbabwe.
3 rangers and 4 poachers killed in gun battle in Kenya.
Popular Africa stories
- Grevy’s zebras endangered.
- Millions of swallows saved by new radar system.
- Desert crocodiles of the Sahara.
- Mountain gorillas in danger as rebels move into gorilla zone.
- Kenya Launches National Conservation Strategy to Boost Rhinos.
- Lesser flamingos get stay of execution at Lake Natron.
- Ugandan forest spared from scourge of biofuel.
- Another ranger killed in the DRC as the situation deteriorates further.
- Vulture-killing drug now on sale in Africa.
- Primates in Peril - 25 most threatened species of primate.
- A New Population of De Brazza’s Monkey found in Kenya.
- Wildebeest Migration Deaths in the Maasai Mara.
- Research finds more Knysna elephants than expected.
Top African Safari Destinations (in no particular order)
- Chobe, Botswana
- Masai Mara, Kenya
- Virunga Volcanoes, Uganda and Rwanda
- Etosha Pans, Namibia
- Luangwa Valley, Zambia
- Serengeti Plains, Tanzania
- Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
- Samburu & Buffalo Springs, Kenya.
- Lake Nakuru, Kenya
- Okavango Delta, Botswana
- Kafue National Park, Zambia.
ELEPHANT BACK SAFARIS: CONSERVATION OR CRUELTY.
Shearwater Adventures, a tour operator from Zimbabwe, is under fire for capturing wild elephants for use on elephant back safaris. However Shearwater strongly defend their position by pointing out that the drought in Zimbabwe is devastating the elephant herds.
Read both sides of the argument.
Read both sides of the argument.