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
- Cheetah and African wild dog 'exterminated' in northern Cameroon
- Samburu Morans engaged to protect wildlife
- Sniffer dogs being used to track cheetah
- Large mammal populations fall in Africa’s national parks
- Hiker killed by buffalo in South African national park
- Somak puts controversial Mara lodge back on sale and withdraws from Tourism Association
- Call to end recreational big game hunting in South Africa
- Shipment of animals from Zimbabwe to North Korea is cancelled.
- Video: See the daring relocation of a silverback gorilla
- Silverback family who can’t live with each other… or without
- Famous bull elephant killed by hunters in Zimbabwe
- New highway to cut the Serengeti in half?
- World cup safari football team
- 40 vultures poisoned in Tanzania
- Hwange National Park animals being sent to North Korea
More Africa news
- Six black rhinos to be released on the Serengeti
- Addo's biggest tusker dies in fight with another elephant
- Protea Hotels withdraws application to build hotel beside Zambian World Heritage site
- Elephant butchery in Tanzania an open secret – 31,000 elephants killed on the Selous National Park
- Black rhinos to be released in North Luangwa Valley
- Elephant ivory imports allowed into the USA - Rednecks versus villagers
- Carnage continues in Zimbabwe
- Devastating floods destroy 6 tourist lodges in Kenya’s Samburu National Park
- 7000 zebra and wildebeest to be moved to Amboseli to restock after drought
- Somak holidays remove controversial new Masai Mara camp from sale.
- Does the Masai Mara need a new lodge in pristine habitat? - Somak seems to think so. And there are unanswered questions.
- Wild dogs seen & photographed on the Serengeti
- Nairobi National Park drought over – Wildlife thriving
- Party disgrace on shores of Lake Kariba
- Rhino poaching hits critical levels in Kenya
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
New highway to cut the Serengeti in half?Reports now circulating on the web suggest that the Government of Tanzania has given the go ahead for a road to be built right across the Serengeti, potentially blocking the migration route of the wildebeest, threatening the wildlife with a large amount of high speed traffic and providing easy access to many poachers.
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Elephant ivory imports allowed into the USA - Rednecks versus villagersWildlife Extra was under the misapprehension that it was illegal to import ivory into the USA. Given the very recent decision by CITES to prevent Tanzania and Zambia from down listing the elephants to appendix 2, Wildlife Extra is speechless to discover that it is perfectly legal to kill wild elephants in some parts of Africa, including Tanzania, and then import the tusks, skin and other disgusting mementos into the USA.
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Huge seizures of 1169 kgs of elephant ivory in Kenya and Ethiopia The Kenya Wildlife Service has seized the largest haul of ivory in recent history at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, following on 2 days after a similar seizure in Ethiopia.
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Legendary Mountain gorilla silverback dies of old ageTrackers at the Karisoke Research Centre found the legendary silverback gorilla Titus dead on his night nest in Volcanoes National Park.
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Congo’s wildlife rangers launch offensive against armed groups trafficking charcoal in gorilla zone of VirungaThe Congolese National Park Authorities have sent the biggest ever deployment of armed rangers to strike at charcoal-making operations run by armed groups deep in the forests of Virunga National Park in Eastern DR Congo.
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Brutal Namibian seal hunt caught on film – Journalists attackedSecret footage smuggled out of Namibia has revealed the brutal reality of the Namibian seal hunt - and the subsequent attack on British journalist Jim Wickens and South African cameraman Bart Smithers.
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Kenya wildlife down by 40% - Community tourism protects species better than National ParksWildlife populations throughout Kenya-inside as well as outside the national parks-declined by 40 percent from 1977 to 1997.
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Mali’s elephants under threat from droughtThe future of a rare herd of desert elephants in Mali is under threat from one of the worst droughts in living memory, which has left a key water source at its lowest level in a quarter of a century and is breaking down the usual peaceful co-existence between the elephants and local herdsmen.
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Leucistic baboons of the Luangwa Valley.Another reader, Steve Tolan, of the Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre has also seen some leucistic baboons inthe Luangwa Valley. There does seem to be a "leucistic hotspot" in the Luangwa, as we have had several reports of different animals from the beautiful part of the world.
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'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.
In praise of the much maligned hyena – Needs a PR makeover The hyena gets a bad press. Dan Beaton sings its praises.
Darwin, morals, altruism, violence and chimpanzees – An essay by Daniel Beaton
Between 5 and 8 million years ago, somewhere within the African continent lived an animal that was an ancestor to both modern humans and the chimpanzee, or rather chimpanzees - as we must not forget the bonobo.
Click here to read Daniel's essay
Click here to read Daniel's essay
Safari with childrenMy kids were so excited about the thought of going on safari in Kenya, and we had a great time. A walking safari, 4 days on the Masai Mara seeing pretty much everything, the flamingos and rhinos at Nakuru, everything you want to see. And the abiding memories? Hiding under the seats of the open top landrover while watching lions hunting, (as all they have learned from years as armchair viewers is that lions will eat you.) and the hotel with a swim up bar and free coke!
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
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.
