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).

Even when not crossing the Mara or Grumeti rivers, the wildebeest are in almost constant movement within the Serengeti plains in Tanzania, with their migration pattern largely dependent on the rains and pasture availability. The migration therefore has no real beginning or end, the wildebeests start their unending pilgrimage the moment they are born.

What many people may not know is that, besides the wildebeest migration, there are other similarly spectacular sights involving wild animals in Africa. The bat migration in Zambia, and the Ruaha wildlife spectacle in Tanzania are some of these.

Zambia’s Mass Bat Migration

Every year in the October-December period, millions of straw-colored fruit bats move in mass through the Kansaka national park in Zambia. People who have witnessed this event regard it as one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in the world. Twice a day, at dawn and at dusk, the “flying foxes” blacken the skies as they fly to or from their night-time feasting on the seasonal fruits in Kasanka. During the day, the bats roost on every available tree in the forest, in itself an amazing sight to behold. Considering that Kasanka national park is not a very well-known wildlife destination, it is perhaps no surprise that such an astonishing event can remain almost unknown. One traveller who witnessed the migration first-hand describes it in the Wanderlust travel website.

The Ruaha wildlife spectacle

The national parks and game reserves in Tanzania’s southern safari circuit are largely unexplored, in comparison to those in the northern safari circuit. Probably because they are less accessible, these parks remain unchanged for centuries, and are wildlife havens.

Ruaha national park is one such park. It derives its name from the great Ruaha river, the site at which one of the most interesting wildlife drama takes place. Generally, the park is arid and very dry throughout the year. It is however driest from May to December, during which period all animals in the park are drawn to the banks of Ruaha river. With all these animals together, what unfolds right at the river banks is really dramatic: animals courting and mating, predators hunting down their prey, animals fighting, etc. Nowhere else in Africa will you get such a wildlife safari experience.

Ruaha national park has a lot more to write about. I will probably write a post about it in the near future.

Namibia's fish river canyon: great trekking destination

Among all popular travel destinations in the world, Africa is most renowned for the “safari” concept. The idea of an African safari is almost inseparable from game (wildlife) viewing and birdwatching. This is undoubtedly the reason why Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania are favored by most people wishing to travel to Africa. Outside these wildlife safari destinations, the other top places in Africa travel are Egypt – because of its many historical sites, and the Seychelles and Mauritius Islands – being ideally suited for luxury vacations in their exotic beaches.

What many people do not know is that there are many other African countries that offer travelers a safari experience as good as (and in some cases even better than) that in the countries mentioned above. Travelers seeking the ideal African wildlife safari, cultural or historical tour, adventure travel, and luxury beach holiday will find perfect alternatives in countries like Namibia, Ethiopia, and Mozambique among others.

1. Namibia: African Wildlife Safaris and Adventure travel at their best

Situated in Africa’s southwest, the scarcely populated Namibia offers you a nice blend of wildlife safari and adventure travel opportunities. The Etosha national park ranks among the greatest game reserves in Africa, and is the star attraction in Namibia travel. African animal species found in Etosha include elephants, rhinos, lions, buffaloes, leopards (i.e all the big five), giraffes, wildebeests, and many many more. The springbok are particularly abundant here, alongside other Southern Africa antelopes like the black faced impala, and the Damara dik dik. See these pictures from Etosha National Park at boncherry.com blog

Antelope in Etosha national park

Etosha has an amazingly good road network, making it easy for travelers seeking self-drive safaris in Nambia. The park also has good accommodation facilities ranging from budget camping resorts to more upmarket resorts and lodges. Okaukuejo and Namutoni are the oldest camps in Etosha.

Perhaps the most astounding sights in Namibia are the Sossusvlei sand dunes deep in the Namib desert. Some of these giant sand hills stand at heights above 300 meters, the highest in the world. On the rare occasions that it rains in the Sossusvlei, a turquoise lake forms in the clay pan (vlei) and remains for quite some time because of the low infiltration rate. Getting to Sossusvlei is an adventure worth taking, and so is the experience of climbing up the sand dunes barefoot.

The Fish River Canyon, one other key attraction, is very popular for adventure travel in Namibia. Hiking expeditions in the canyon is however a preserve for the physically fit, and is only possible during the winter months (May through September). Some reports dispute the claim that Fish River Canyon is the second largest in the world after the Grand Canyon in the US. Still, it is undeniably one of the top adventure travel destinations in Africa.

There are several other attractions in Namibia including the Skeleton Coast, Swakopmund, and Naukluft park. You can find more information about Namibia travel on the Namibia online travel guide.

2. Ethiopia: Cultural Tours and Safaris
Apart from Egypt, arguably, no other country in Africa can rival Ethiopia’s rich historical and cultural heritage. According to the Ancient Web site Ethiopia “…can lay claim to having the oldest continuos Kingdom in the world, starting over four thousand years ago with the Kingdom of Axum..”

One of the Monolithic Churches in Lalibela Ethiopia

Relics of this rich past are the main highlights of Ethiopian cultural tours. The historical monuments in the city of Axum and Lalibela include the Queen of Sheba’s palace ruins, the 11 monolithic churches in Lalibela, and the Obelisk at Axum. Gondar and Harar cities are the other sites of cultural significance. Gondar is home to several medieval castles from the 1600′s AD, when it was the capital city of Ethiopia. The walled city of Harar is sacred for Muslims, and is also very fascinating to visit.

The ancient Meroe Pyramids in Sudan were built during the kingdom of Kush, which extended from Northern Ethiopia into Sudan and beyond. They are therefore an extension of Ethiopia’s cultural heritage. You may find it interesting that there are more pyramids in Meroe Sudan (actually twice as many) than there are in Egypt.

There is more to Ethiopia than cultural safaris. The Simien mountains and other Ethiopian highlands are excellent destinations for trekking, adventure travel and mountain climbing expeditions. You can also see wildlife in Ethiopia national parks like Awash National Park and Bale Mountains National Park.

3. Mozambique: Romantic Beach Vacations
With a coastline stretching more than 1000km, Mozambique on the southeastern coast of Africa is an alternative travel destination for romantic beach vacations, and sea sports travel. Mozambique’s pristine and untouched white sand beaches offer the exclusivity and seclusion ideal for high-end travelers, especially at the Quirimbas archipelago. A beach holiday in the Islands off the coast of Mozambique rivals any luxury beach vacation in Africa.

Tofo beach on the Southern coast is a marvelous destination for scuba diving, surfing, swimming, and deep sea fishing among other sea sports. Tofo is a haven for backpackers and other budget travelers.

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)
• The Luangwa valley (part of the great Rift valley, this pristine wildlife sanctuary is the ideal location for guided walking safaris in Zambia. Four game parks, including the South Luangwa national park, are found in this valley)
• Kafue national park (Zambia’s largest game park, provides unrivalled birdwatching, fishing and game viewing safari experience)

Travelling to Zambia
Getting to Zambia is possible by both flight and road. Several international and African airlines operate Zambia flights. These include British Airways, Air France, KLM, South African Airways, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines. The Lusaka International Airport is the main point of entry for flights to Zambia.

Zambia is also accessible by road from South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe. You can also get to Zambia by train from either Zimbabwe or Tanzania. Be sure to check travel and visa information for Zambia before arranging your Zambia safari.

Popular Zambia Holiday activities

• Game viewing in the Zambia national parks
• Walking safaris in the Luangwa valley
• Canoeing and water sports adventure safaris in the Zambezi river
• Sport fishing
• Balloon safaris
• Birdwatching safaris