The concern over al-Shabaab is largely because of the Uganda bombings which I previously wrote about. The terrorist group acknowledged responsibility for the bombings. Since then, Kenya has been on a high security alert, considering that the country’s border with Somalia is very porous. Kenya has reinforced its security troops along the border. In the past one week or so, we have heard reports of some skirmishes between al-Shabaab militants and the Kenya police. But these are not very uncommon.

About the constitutional referendum, we Kenyans will be voting on August 4th on whether or not to adopt a new constitution. The last time we had polls here, violence erupted following the disputed results. And, expectedly, the US state department issued another travel alert.

While I understand the fears of new violence after the referendum, I think the 2008 violence taught us a big lesson. There’s no way we are going back down that road again. Certainly, some people may try to disrupt a political rally here and there, but the government is doing a commendable job.

So what is my take on the newest travel alert? The US state department reserves the right to warn its citizens of potential trouble. I also want to believe that the alert is informed by competent intelligence reports.

As a Kenyan on the ground however, I remain confident in the assurances by our government that it has put adequate measures for the security of everyone in the country. For quite some time now, the government has been aware of the al-Shabaab threat and, I believe, has handled it adequately. And, going by government reports in local media, the government has also deployed many police officers in potential trouble spots to prevent a repeat of violence after the referendum.

Needless to say however, it is good to take precaution. If you plan to travel to Kenya around this time, you’d be prudent to monitor news and information from the country. Let your travel agent know your concerns, and they will advise you.

Update: August 09, 2010

It is now five days since we Kenyans held the national referendum on the constitution.  Contrary to what some people feared, it was very peaceful and successful during and after the referendum. Despite the rigorous campaigns before the elections, the losers gracefully accepted defeat. As Kenyans, we are all united in celebrating the dawn of a new era. Never before has there been such optimism in the country. This reinforces my belief that Kenya learnt the 2008 lesson very well, and Kenyans will never again allow the country to sink that low.

If you are planning to come to Kenya, I can only say KARIBU SANA.

A Male African Lion, One of the Most Popular Safari Attractions

So you are finally ready to take that trip to Africa you’ve been planning for for several years. Of course you are excited about the chance to see lions, elephants, the other African big five and other animals in their real wild habitats. Or probably the prospects of a luxury beach holiday in the Seychelles or Mauritius islands. Or the much anticipated tour to the great pyramids, Abu Simbel, and other monuments of ancient Egypt.  But, wait a minute, where do you start?

If you are like many other travellers, you’ll probably want to use the services of a travel agent to help you put your trip together. Even with the rising popularity of travel booking sites like expedia, kayak, orbitz, and others, you will at some point need to consult a “real” travel agent. Your choice will be between a travel agent based in your home country or one operating in the country/destination you will be visiting.

In a previous post, I mentioned that you should ideally use an agent in the destination country, but that does not mean you can not get a good deal from an agent in your home country. Whatever your choice, today I am highlighting what I think are the important things to consider when choosing a travel agent. The list in not completely exhaustive, is not arranged in any particular order, but I hope you will find it helpful.

1.  Destination and product knowledge
Your ideal travel agent should know more about your destination than the average guy on the street. You may not for example know that the bush lodge that your friends recommended last year is currently closed for renovations, or, say, the government has for some reason closed public access to a certain beach front. A good agent will have all this insider information.

Test the agent’s knowledge by asking questions.

2.  Credentials, accreditations, and affiliations
There are many dishonest travel agents, and you surely want to stay away from such. Find out if the agent is affiliated to any professional organization in their home country or internationally. Associations like ASTA, IATA, KATO (Kenya Association of Tour Operators), etc demand a certain level of professionalism from their members. You will have more confidence in your agent if they belong to some of these reputable associations. And even if they don’t, they should at the very least be registered with the government/regulating authorities.

3.  What guarantees do they offer
It may be hard for an agent to guarantee you that you will see some black rhinos or any other animal during your safari trip. But they can definitely inform you if your tour will be private or you will be grouped with other tourists. If you want to stay in five-star lodges during the safari, the agent should guarantee you upfront that they will indeed book you in five star lodges. And when they cannot book the services you are requesting for, they should be able to honestly tell you so.

4.  Pricing and special discounts
A good number of the more established travel agents have negotiated special rates hotels, lodges, and even with some local airlines. Try to find out if your agent has any such special discounts that they can pass to you. Traveling in Africa is somewhat expensive and any savings in costs without compromising on quality is a good thing

5.  Clarity of the booking terms and conditions and the cancellation policy
When you book and pay for the services of a travel agent, you are likely not to be refunded your money in full if you cancel your travel plans for whatever reason. And there are many good reasons for that: administrative costs, booking fees prepaid to hotels and other service providers, etc. A professional travel agent will clearly state their cancellation policy in a language that you can easily understand. Ask for the cancellation policy and any other booking terms and conditions. If they are not clearly stated, ask for clarification.

6.  Ease of contact/communication
Assume things go wrong, as they sometimes do when traveling in Africa, you’ll want to easily reach your travel agent. It may be a delayed flight, or a car breakdown in the bush, or anything else. A good agent will provide you with multiple channels of communication, and an emergency telephone number, just in case need arises. If an agent takes too long to respond even to the simplest of your inquiries, you may do yourself a lot of justice by going for a more responsive agent

7.  Offline and online reputation
Friends’ recommendations is one great way of gauging an agent’s reliability. In the absense of such recommendations, read online reviews in sites like tripadvisor.com and the many travel forums like lonely planet’s thorntree forum. Of course, you should not take all reviews, whether positive or negative, at face value. There’s quite some self promotion, sponsored positive reviews, and mudslinging in some review sites, so use your judgement when making your choice based on online reviews.

8.  General professional outlook
Start with the agents website, if they have one. It can give you a good insight into how “serious” and professional they are. But don’t just stop at the website. Look at the quality of email or communication you get from them, the personal touch, professional courtesy, depth of knowledge etc. Trust your gut instincts, informed by the above mentioned factors, and you are in for a memorable trip in Africa.

Two black rhinos in the Lewa conservancy in Kenya. The rhino is one of the African "big five". Image by Harald Zimmer courtesy of wikimedia commons.

1. Decide on what you are interested in
In a previous post in this blog, I mentioned five of the main Africa holiday activities, among them adventure travel, sightseeing tours, and wildlife safaris. If you are like most people, you may not have the time to do all of them in one visit. Which is why the first thing to do is to decide on want to see in Africa. This will help you narrow down on a few destinations.

For many first time visitors, the choice is easy: wildlife safaris, especially to see the big five in the wild. In this case, some of the most obvious options are East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania), and Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia). However if your interest is to see rare and unique animals and plant species, you’ll definitely want to consider destinations like Madagascar.

If you are interested in cultural and historical sites in Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia are some of the possible destinations. Likewise, for a relaxing beach holiday, you may have to choose from among the Indian Ocean islands like Seychelles, Mauritius, Zanzibar, and Comoros. Sometimes, you may want to have a little bit of everything, in which case you may have to go on a multi-country tour, or pick a destination like Kenya which offers most of these attractions.

2. Research on the possible destinations, then pick one (or a few)
After prioritizing on your main area of interest, you should then compare each possible destination against others. For example, you may want to compare between East Africa or Southern African destinations for a wildlife safari. Botswana is ideal for exclusive safaris, because they deliberately regulate the number of visitors in their game reserves. This means that it will be more expensive than Kenya for example, but you have more privacy and probably a more satisfying safari experience. Another example, the beaches of Seychelles islands may be more pristine than those in Zanzibar, but you may not have the same cultural experience as you’ll find in Zanzibar or Lamu. Again, a beach holiday in Seychelles will be more expensive than in Zanzibar.

For multi-country tours, you need to find out how easy or hectic it will be to travel from country A to country B. Unless you have a lot of time (and money), it may be easier to combine Egypt, Kenya, and Zanzibar in one tour than, say, combining Ethiopia, South Africa, and Seychelles.

3. Find out more about the chosen destination
Once you have settled on a destination, you need to collect some essential information about traveling to the chosen country. Things like visa requirements and mandatory vaccinations are important. Some countries require you to be vaccinated against yellow fever, hepatitis B, etc before going there. And for your own health, knowledge of the prevalent diseases (e.g. malaria and Bilharzia) in your destination will help you take necessary preventive measures, including consulting a doctor prior to traveling if necessary.

You will also need to know about the weather patterns in your preferred destination, to determine the best time to go there. Obviously, you wouldn’t want to be in Zanzibar for a beach holiday during the heavy rains season.

Information on the culture and language of the people is also important. If traveling to East Africa for example, knowing a word or two of the Swahili language would do you more good than harm. Likewise, understanding the Muslim culture in Morocco will help you know how to conduct yourself in relation to alcohol and cross-gender relations.

4. Consult with reputable organizations in your chosen destination

This is especially true if you are traveling to Africa for the first time. You have probably heard the saying that “without a travel agent, you are on your own”. Much as some people dislike travel agents, you are better off dealing with an agent based in the country you are traveling to, than doing it all by yourself. It is a well known fact that for lodges and hotel bookings, you are likely to get better rates through a travel agent, than if you approach the hotel directly.

Perhaps you want to plan your own unique trip instead of going for a holiday package. Even that way, you should still work with reputable agents for the specific services like renting a car, flight reservations, hotel booking etc. If anything should go wrong in the course of your trip, your travel agent is better placed than you to follow up with hotels, airlines and other service providers. The trick therefore is in identifying the reputable agents because, like in any other continent, Africa has its fair share of scammers.

5. Gather as much information as possible on the planned holiday activities
Any reputable travel agent will give you full information about the activities and places they have booked for you. Before you finally travel, make sure you have received all the booking vouchers (for hotels and lodges), airline tickets, and receipts for any payments you have made. Where possible, the travel agent should furnish you with photos of the places you will be staying, or the contact addresses or website links to those places. You’ll not be acting paranoid if you insist to see these, and a travel agent of good reputation would not mind providing you with the same.

6. What to pack: strike a balance
You will have to compromise between traveling light, and carrying all the essential items for your safari. Africa will give you many amazing photo opportunities. You don’t want to miss those, which is why a camera is essential. But you don’t have to carry a bulky professional camera where a smaller high resolution amateur camera would do, unless of course you are a professional photographer. The water in some parts of Africa may not be very safe for drinking untreated, but again, you don’t have to carry a big water filter when water-treating tablets or bottled water would suffice. My point is strike a balance. If there are things you can buy cheaply in the destination country if and when you need them, there is no need to carry them from home.

Go2africa.com has some great tips on what to carry on most safaris.

7. No matter what, do not throw caution to the wind
Some basic dos and don’ts apply universally. In any city for example, whether Johannesburg-South Africa or Paris-France, you would not walk in some streets alone past certain hours of the night. You also know that engaging in indiscriminate and unprotected sex increases your chances of contracting HIV/AIDS, whether in Amsterdam’s red light district, or deep in the Masai Mara game reserve with a Maasai warrior you’ve just met and fallen in love with. Regardless of how friendly a person appears, if you have no professional or personal relationship, you would not entrust them with your stuff or sensitive information like your credit card details. In short, apply common sense on matters pertaining your personal safety, and the safety of your property.

8. Be polite, be courteous, fit in, but do not go overboard
In the course of your travels, you are likely to interact with many locals, from the airline crew, to tour drivers and travel guides, hotel staff, entertainers etc. Treat them with due respect, do not be patronizing, and you will have a memorable trip. Show respect to the local cultures.

I read some Africa travel tips that advise you to carry some goodies (sweets, used books, used toys, used clothes, etc) to give to the less fortunate; I totally disagree. Unless philanthropy is a key part of your travel plans, just stick to your mission: enjoy your safari. In any case, genuine philanthropy will only give donations that make a real change in the recipient’s life.

It is OK to dress and look like a tourist if you are one, especially in the resorts or lodges where you will stay. However, if you need to fit in when you step out of the safari schedule to get a local feel, do not go overboard in your dressing. For example, you’ll look ridiculous dressed in a Masai shuka in the center of Nairobi, unless you are a Moran. In most African cities, you will still be fine in any attire that you can wear in your home city.

9. Step out and have fun
There’s more to Africa than what your safari package may cover. In your travel plan, you should spare one or two free days to step out and get a local feel of things. Move out and interact with the local people away from the confines of safari vans. Most African people are genuinely friendly and easy going, and you may learn a lot just by interacting with them. In the cities, it’s OK to sample the nightlife if you feel like it. But bear in mind point no. 7: do not throw caution to the wind

A Kenya Airways boeing plane taking off

Air transport is obviously the most convenient and fastest way to travel to Africa and also within the continent. You therefore need some information about African airlines before you embark on your next safari or beach holiday. I hope you’ll find this post on Africa airlines adequately helpful for your Africa travel plans.

The Top Four National Airlines in Africa
Several African countries have national airlines that operate regional flights within Africa as well as international flights to and from other world destinations. The top among these are South African Airways, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and Egypt Air.

• South Africa Airways (SAA)
SAA is the national carrier of South Africa. The airline’s headquarters and main hub is at the OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng, near Johannesburg. Besides domestic flights in South Africa, the airline operates regional flights to several cities in Southern, Eastern, Central, and Western Africa. These include Nairobi, Victoria falls, Dar es Salaam, and Mauritius.

South African Airways also has a very extensive international reach, with flights from Africa to the United Kingdom, Germany, USA, Brazil, and China among others. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance, giving you access to several other routes not directly operated by South African Airways. If you are travelling to any destination in Southern Africa, South African Airways is probably your best option. Visit the South African Airways website for bookings and reservations.

• Kenya Airways (KQ)
This airline is Kenya’s national carrier, with its headquarters at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi. From its Nairobi hub, Kenya Airways operates regional flights to many African destinations, including Egypt and Sudan in North Africa. KQ has one of the best route coverage in Africa, while also operating international flights to the United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and India.

Kenya Airways is a member of the SkyTeam, whose 11 members include the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Alitalia, Air France, and Delta Airlines among others. You can find reasonably cheap airfares to Eastern Africa from the KQ Website.

• Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
Ethiopian Airlines was recently in the news for quite a negative reason: the crash of its flight 409 almost after taking off from the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport in Lebanon. Yet despite this unfortunate accident, ET has one of the best safety records among African airlines. The Airline is the national carrier of Ethiopia and operates from Bole International airport in Addis Ababa.

Like KQ and SAA, ET has a very extensive route coverage in most of Africa. In addition, it has flights to Israel, the United Kingdom, USA, Belgium, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia among several other international destinations. You can make your online reservations at the Ethiopian Airlines website.

• Egypt Air (MS)
No other African airline covers Northern Africa as extensively as Egypt Air. The Airline operates flights to Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia and Sudan, alongside many other Africa regional flights. Egypt Air also has international flights to most Middle East destinations including Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel, and Lebanon. In Europe, Egypt air covers Austria, Germany, UK, Portugal, and Russia among others. MS also operate flights from the JFK international airport in New York city, USA to Egypt and North Africa.

The headquarters and main hub of Egypt Air are at the Cairo International Airport in Cairo. If you plan to travel to North Africa, Egypt Air is your best choice. Please visit Egypt Air’s Website for flight search and bookings.

Other African National Airlines
Besides KQ, SAA, MS, and ET, other reputable national airlines in Africa with international coverage are Royal Air Moroc (Morocco), Air Mauritius (Mauritius), and Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe). The general reputation of Air Zimbabwe has however been affected by negative reports about the Zimbabwe economy and Robert Mugabe mismanagement. Most other African national carriers operate mostly domestic flights within their countries, and regional flights to other African destinations.

International Airlines Operating flights to Africa
A number of international airlines operate flights to the main commercial hubs in Africa. These include:

• From Europe: Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Virgin Atlantic, plus others
• From USA: Delta Airlines (flights to Cairo, Dakar, and Accra from either JFK,
• From the Middle East: Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines , and Gulf Air
• From Asia: Singapore Airlines, Korean Air (to Egypt)

Online Flight Search and Reservation
If you are planning a trip to Africa, please do visit this Travel Reservations System. You can search for flights availability and even book them online fast and conveniently.

Young African Elephant Bull

Two African countries, Zambia and Tanzania have requested for a “one-off” sale of their ivory stock piles. Their case will be heard this weekend (March 13).

When CITES imposed a ban on ivory trading about 20 years ago, it was because of the rampant poaching that had almost wiped out the African elephant population in many countries. The ban saved the elephant from extinction.

In November 2008, some Southern Africa countries successfully lobbied for a one-off sale similar to the one Tanzania and Zambia want. For obvious reasons, this created a loophole for poachers to “legally” sell their ivory. Since then, cases of elephant poaching have risen in many countries, reversing the gains made when the ban was imposed.

On this issue therefore, I side with the Africa wildlife conservationists in opposing the request by Tanzania and Zambia.

Surprisingly, this week alone, I have received e-mails from several safari operators and adventure camps in Tanzania, requesting me to sign a petition to voice my opposition to the one-off sale. Which raises the question: in whose interests is the Tanzania government acting, if most stakeholders in the Tanzania tourism business are opposed to the sale?

If you agree with my opinion, you can also sign the save the elephant petition here.

More information:

http://www.bloodyivory.org

http://www.kws.go.ke/info/promotions/detail/Road_to_Dhoha.html

Update 1
Thankfully, participants in the CITES meeting in Doha rejected Tanzania’s and Zambia’s proposal. Read details here.

The True Gems in Africa Travel

Maletsunyane falls near Semonkong in of Lesotho

In a previous post on Africa travel, I mentioned some of the most preferred Africa holiday destinations, among them Kenya, South Africa and Egypt. While these countries may be the favorite destinations among many travelers, their attractions are not necessarily superior to those in other less-traveled African countries. In fact, in my opinion, there are some countries that offer a more satisfying African safari experience, often with the added advantage of being less crowded. These include: Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, and Mozambique

Lesotho
This landlocked country is neighbored on all sides by South Africa. One of the things that make Lesotho a unique travel destination is its beautiful mountainous scenery. The entire country lies at over 1000 meters above sea level, and has arguably some of the best hiking trails in Africa. The traditional way of life of the Basotho is, to say the least, very fascinating. The best way to enjoy a holiday in this country is on horse back.

Madagascar
If you want to see some of the most weird wild animals in Africa, and indeed in the entire world, then Madagascar is the place to be. Experts estimate that up to 70% of the animal species found in this Island nation are found nowhere else in the world. These include the fossa, lemurs, and tenrecs among others. Add this unique wildlife to the mystical culture in most of Madagascar, and you get a most unique travel experience.

Malawi
Some people say that if you want to see the real Africa, then you should travel to Malawi. And there is a good reason for that. Malawi is endowed with such a beautiful landscape that you’ll simply love the country. From the huge Lake Malawi, to the peeks and escarpments of Mount Mulanje, you can not help but feel like you are on God’s paradise on earth. The Malawi people are among the most friendly in Africa, making traveling to Malawi an immensely enjoyable activity

Mozambique
With a coastline of over 2000 kilometers, Mozambique is a haven for lovers of luxury beach holidays, and water sports. Dune boarding, windsurfing, snorkeling, and water-skiing are some activities you can engage in while there. The Quirimbas and Bazaruto Archipelagos are just some of the paradisaical places you can go for the perfect honeymoon on the beach. And when you get bored with the beach and the sea, you can take off for a unique wildlife safari in the Gorongosa national park.

Elephants in Amboseli National Park. Mt Kilimanjaro is in the background. Image by Disdero in Wikimedia commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elephants_Kili_2.jpg

I read a very interesting report in the Daily Nation today. The Kenya wildlife service (KWS) plans to trans-locate about 7,000 herbivores, mostly zebras and wildebeest, from some private ranches and game reserves in Kenya to the Amboseli national park. Apparently, following last year’s drought in Amboseli, the herbivore/carnivore balance in the park was severely disrupted. The predators are now attacking the livestock of the neighboring Maasai people. You can read full details of the story here.

Looking at it from a different perspective, the KWS action raises a number of questions. Is it fair to the game reserves from which the zebras and wildebeest will be taken? What will happen to the predator/prey balance in these ranches? I know, KWS may rightly argue that in these reserves, that “balance” was largely skewed in favour of the herbivores. After all, species trans-location is an acceptable and proven animal conservation strategy. There have been several animal translocations in Kenya in the past, though not on such a large scale. One past translocation that comes close in scale was the fairly successful translocation of 228 elephants from Shimba hills national park to Tsavo East (see story).

Perhaps my second question is more important: Could we have done anything to prevent the current situation in Amboseli? During the drought, I heard it suggested that KWS could provide water to the wildlife, by artificially replenishing the water levels in the several watering holes. This would help lower the death rates among the herbivores. While this would certainly make a small difference, lack of pasture was the most devastating effect of the drought in Amboseli. And since the drought affected the surrounding region, Maasai herdsmen had no choice but to graze their animals in the park, thus increasing competition for pasture. There’s perhaps little we can do to regulate weather, but the elephant trust website does offer some few solutions (visit their website).

Amboseli national park is one of the main destinations for wildlife safaris in Kenya, alongside Masai Mara game reserve, Aberdares national park, Lake Nakuru national park, and Tsavo national park. I therefore hope that this effort by KWS bears positive results, and that the national park does not experience such a drought ever again.

The great white shark: a member of the "Big 7"

For the next few months, South Africa is obviously going to receive a lot of attention thanks to the forthcoming FIFA 2010 World cup in June. Without any doubt, the soccer tournament is in itself a great boost to South Africa tourism, and is expected to inject over 20 billion rand to the economy. But perhaps more importantly, it will help raise awareness of South Africa as a great African safari  destination.

In a previous post on South Africa, I mentioned wildlife as one of the greatest tourist attractions in South Africa. The country takes great pride in being the only African destination where you can see the big seven -the big five plus whales and sharks (more so the great white shark and the southern right whale). In addition to wildlife safaris, South Africa will always remain for a great travel destination for the following reasons:

• Adventure travel at its best: Whether you are a fan of extreme activities, or you are into more moderate adventures, you will surely have lots of fun in South Africa. Some of the activities you can engage in include abseiling off Table mountain, scuba diving at Sodwana Bay, shark cage diving at Dyer Island, rock climbing in Montagu and other places, trekking expeditions along the Garden Route, white water rafting, skydiving,  surfing, bungee jumping, etc. To put it simply, the range of adventures available to you in South Africa is arguably the best in Africa.

• Amazing scenery and landscape: South Africa is a country of stunning natural beauty. The country has diverse landscape ranging from the the snow-capped Drakensberg mountains, to the lush beaches and coastline along the Garden route.  The view of the Table mountain towering over Cape Town is breathtaking. When you travel to South Africa, create some time to also see the incredibly beautiful Cape winelands, the cape of good hope, and Hogsback. Yet these are just some of the many beautiful places you can see in the country.

• Great facilities to cater for all tastes: South Africa has some of the best resorts and hotels in Africa and in the world. Last year (2009) for example, the Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa received the World Travel Award for the World’s Leading Boutique Hotel. In the same year, Bulungula lodge was the runner up in the ethical category of the Guardian (guardian.co.uk) travel awards. Saxon Boutique hotel is a luxury hotel, while Bulungula lodge is a backpackers’ facility, showing the quality of South Africa hotels of all levels. Other South African resorts like The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa in Cape Town and Singita Private Game Reserve lodges have several won international awards in the past. Add the fact that South Africa has superb communication and transport infrastructure, and you will understand why travelling in South Africa is a delight.

• An incomparable cultural experience: Travel through KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape, Soweto in Johannesburg, Pretoria and other big cities, and you will appreciate why South Africa is called the “rainbow nation”. You will experience greatly diverse African cultures alongside Hindu and European culture all in one nation. The South African cultural villages offer you an opportunity to learn more about some of the African cultures when you have little time to travel across the country.

• A great historical heritage: In South Africa, you get the chance to visit eight UNESCO world heritage sites, most of which are of historical and pre-historical significance. If you love ancient art for example, you will be pleased to visit the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park and see ancient rock paintings created by the San people almost 4000 years ago. You may also want to visit Robben Island, the prison island where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held during apartheid in South Africa.

Online Booking for South Africa Holidays
If you are planning to travel to South Africa, you can click here for holidays in South Africa offered through the Africaguide website

A northern white rhino. Image from the rhino resource center http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/

While I was away, a lot has taken place in the Africa travel scene. Bill Gates once again visited Kenya on a philanthropic mission and a safari.

Also in Kenya, four of the eight remaining  northern white rhinos were introduced to ol-Pejeta conservancy in Laikipia to give them a chance to breed.  This is definitely good news to animal  conservationists if the plan succeeds. Not so the request by Tanzania and Zambia to be allowed a one-off sale of their ivory stockpiles, a move opposed by Kenya and Rwanda.

Other Africa travel news that have made headlines include the crash of an Ethiopian Airline plane near Beirut, the trampling to death of two tourists by an elephant in Mt Kenya national park, and the closure of False bay beach in South Africa following a fatal shark  attack on a tourist from Zimbabwe.

Now that I am back to work, I hope to be able to regularly update this blog to be a meaningful information resource for your Africa travel plans. Alongside the usual informational travel articles, I will be covering events that I think you, my readers, may want to know about. The forthcoming Sauti za busara cultural festival in Zanzibar, the 2010 world cup in South Africa, are some examples of what I have in mind. Happy reading, and as always, I welcome your comments.

The big five consist of buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhinoceros. They were given this name, not because of their massive sizes, but because of how difficult and dangerous it was to hunt them down. In the earlier days when there were less restrictions on hunting, big game hunters considered it a great achievement to capture or kill one of these animals.

African Cape Buffalo

The huge upcurving horns give the African buffalo a real dangerous look

The African cape buffalo is a big and very intimidating cow-like animal with a dark-skin almost black in color. These ill-tempered animals are reputed to have killed so many trophy hunters, more than other animals did, hence their inclusion in the big five. During your safari in Africa, you will see large herds of buffaloes (as many as 2000 members) in the top game reserves in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. Occasionally however, you may spot a solitary buffalo bull, an extremely dangerous and ill-tempered animal, especially if it is wounded.

Older buffalo bulls have a darker skin than the females and the younger males. The older males also have a hard shielding protecting the base of their skulls.

You can find more facts about the cape buffalo at the Animal files website and this animals facts website.

The Elephant
No other animal on land rivals the African elephant in size. Yet, despite its huge size, the elephant is a peaceful animal when it is not threatened. Unfortunately however, in many places in Africa, human beings have encroached into lands that were previously the habitats for elephants and other wild animals. Inevitably, this has led to conflicts between man and elephants e.g. when man seeks to protect his farm, and the elephants are looking for pasture in their traditional grazing fields. This human-wildlife conflict has often resulted to cases of elephants killing people.

Some fun facts about the African elephant

• Like human beings, elephants show great respect for their dead. They bury them under tree branches and mourn for them. I have also heard of reports that when elephants come across the bones of a dead elephant, they stop briefly to pay respect (see this information in the Animal planet website for example).
• They have very good memory. Elephants remember and can retrace their grazing routes even if they revisit them after several years.
• Male and female elephants stay and graze in different herds, only getting together during the breeding season.

You can find more information about African elephants in the pbs.org nature website.

Lion
If you have read the book The Man-Eaters of Tsavo or perhaps watched the movie by the same title, then you know that African lions are very ferocious hunters. Like many other animals however, lions do not normally attack men unless cornered or injured. That does not mean you should attempt to get any close to a lion in the jungle. In your safaris, it is only wise to stay in your vehicle at all times.

Some fun facts about the African lions:

• Unlike all the other African big cats, lions are social animals, living in prides consisting of up to three males, several more females and their cubs.
• Though they are the reputed “king of the jungle”, lions are actually quite lazy. Their renowned hunting prowess is mostly because they hunt in groups. A lion can not chase their prey for very long distances.
• The female lions (lionesses) do most of the hunting, while the males defend their pride’s territory.
• Only the males have manes, the long bushy hair around their necks and heads. However, some maneless male lions are found in Tsavo national park in Kenya, and in Senegal in West Africa.

You can find more interesting information about the African lion at the national geographic website and in the lion lovers web site.

Leopard

A leopard resting on a tree

In my opinion, the leopard is the most beautiful of the African wild animals. Sadly, it is also a very elusive cat, not easily spotted during the day. Among all the big cats of Africa, leopards are the most adaptable, and can be found living in greatly varied environments. If you are not very familiar with African animals, you can easily confuse between a leopard and a cheetah. But if you have a keen eye, you will notice that they are remarkably different from their body-build to the shape of their skin spots. This newsletter article by go2africa.com can help you distinguish between many of Africa’s similar looking animals.

Some fun facts about Leopards:

• They are nocturnal, hunting mostly at night and spending the day resting on tree branches.
• After a successful kill, leopards prefer to drag the bodies of their prey up the tree branches, away from other stronger predators like the spotted hyenas and lions.
• Despite their relatively small size, leopards are very strong and bring down much larger animals. Some unbelievable incidences concerning leopards have been recorded, like a leopard killing a crocodile in Kruger national park in South Africa.

Rhino
Perhaps no other animal has caught the attention of animal conservationists than the African rhino. There are two rhino species found in Africa: the white rhino and the black rhino. The main distinguishing feature between the two species is the shape of their mouths. The white rhino has a broad square-lipped mouth while the black rhino’s mouth is more pointed, almost triangular. Both species are endangered species, having been almost wiped out by poachers. Due to their size, rhinoceros have no other natural predators apart from man.

Some interesting facts about African rhinos

• They have a very poor eyesight, but very good sense of smell and hearing.
• Due to the poor eyesight, rhinos tend to charge very easily at offending objects.
• The white rhino is primarily a grazer, feeding mostly on grass, while the black rhino is a browser, feeding on leaves, bushes, plant shoots, etc.
• Despite the color reference, the two species have no remarkable difference in skin color.