Africa Travel Information

The Great Wildebeest Migration

Besides several other good reasons, the Masai Mara game reserve remains the most preferred wildlife safari destination in Kenya chiefly because of the great wildebeest migration. This well-documented and dramatic natural event involves over one million wildebeest accompanied by a few other antelopes and hundreds of thousands of zebras.

Wildebeest crossing a river during the great migration. Image courtesy of Wikimedia commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Connochaetes_taurinus_-Wildebeest_crossing_river_-East_Africa.jpg).

Some of the most thrilling moments of the migration are when the animals cross the crocodile-infested Mara river. These are the moments most tourists hope to witness when they book their safari to the Mara around July and August. Unfortunately, the migration is a very spontaneous event and therefore it is very hard to precisely predict when the herds will arrive from Serengeti national. Sometimes they cross into the Mara as early as late June, other times as late as September. This year (2009), the first crossing was witnessed in the first week of July (see this news article).

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It is true that we all travel for different reasons, and our tastes and likes vary.  However, when coming for a holiday in Africa, I think there are some places you just have to visit, and some activities you must undertake to enjoy a complete African safari experience. I have compiled a list of what I consider the top ten holiday activities in Africa. You may not be able to do all of them during one visit, unless of course you have a lot of time. But with proper planning, you can cover aspects of all of them in at least two trips to Africa.

1. Wildlife safaris

An African lion: One of the most popular wild animal in Africa

If you have time for only one safari activity, then wildlife safaris are the obvious choice, especially if the closest you have ever come to an African wild animal is in a zoo. Among all African animals, the big five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard) are the most popular, and perhaps most fascinating to observe. The experience of seeing them and other animals in their natural habitat is indeed very amazing. No wonder the word “African safari” is almost synonymous with wildlife safaris.

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Zambia Safari: Introduction

The mighty Victoria falls in Zambia

When you take an African safari in Zambia, you will understand why the country has been declared the “real Africa” by many people. Zambia is home to some of the finest wildlife game parks in Africa and has magnificent landscapes and natural features. Among the top tourist attractions in Zambia include:

• The mighty Victoria falls (which Zambia shares with Zimbabwe)
• The South Luangwa national park (considered among the top game reserves in the world)
• The Zambezi river (a magnet for inland sport fishing enthusiasts lured by the prospects of catching tigerfish and the rare giant vundu catfish) Read the rest of this entry »

Kenya: Home of the African Safari

The thought of an African safari is almost inseparable from Kenya in many people’s minds. Kenya has has for long been a favorite safari destination in Africa due to its great diversity of wildlife, scenic landscape and land features, exotic beaches, and a beautiful amalgam of African cultures.

Situated on the Eastern Africa coast, Kenya neighbors Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the Indian Ocean. Among the popular travel and holiday destinations in Kenya are the coastal beaches, Kenya national parks and game reserves, the highlands (especially the snow-capped Mount Kenya), and the Great Rift Valley.

Holiday activities in Kenya

Wildlife safaris
These are perhaps what Kenya is most famous for. The country has over 50 national parks and game reserves hosting a wide array of african wild animals. Read the rest of this entry »