Ngala Safari Tours 2012
Posted on Monday, February 06, 2012
For many of us, traveling to South Africa is synonymous with going on safari. Visions of deep forests, herds of animals near muddy water-holes, and leopards lazing in the trees come to mind when thinking about a safari. But safaris are not inexpensive. Not everyone has the opportunity to pay $1,000 a night for the opportunity to have this experience, the cost of staying at some of the pricier private game reserves. The good news is that very high-quality safari tours can be found at half that price or less, and one of those tours is in the Ngala private game reserve.
I recently stayed for five nights at Ngala, a privately-owned game reserve that shares an open border with Kruger national park (one of the largest game reserves on the African continent). Why a private game reserve? The biggest reason is, simply put, more adventure. Kruger is set up in such a way as to minimize human impact, and while the goal is laudable, it makes animal tracking much more difficult. In private parks such as Ngala, the rules are much more flexible. And believe me, the first time the driver pulled our safari truck off the road and drove us straight into the bush in order to keep pace with a group of rhinos I began to see the advantages to safaris on private reserves.
Don’t think that this is reckless behavior. The two guides—one perched on the gun-seat bolted to the front of the truck, rifle in hand—are experts in animal behavior, and know the area inside and out after going through a rigorous training process. We were fortunate enough to be a part of the fun. As part of the vetting process, the guides-in-training are set down in a random spot, and have to make their way through more than fifty miles of terrain without being spotted by anyone (and of course, without being eaten by any of the many leopards, lions, cheetah and other animals frequenting the area). Our guide encouraged us to keep a look out for one of the trainees, stopping at one point when we saw boot prints on the side of the road. The trainee was able to escape our eagle eyes, and managed to get back to camp the following evening, though limping badly from a fall he’d taken climbing a rock face earlier in the day.
We weren’t able to find our human quarry while out on safari, but we saw as many animals as we could hope for. We sat less than ten feet away from two feeding lions, an experience that’s just as viscerally exciting as you can imagine. We even saw two leopards, a very unusual experience due to the reclusive nature of the animal. Keep Ngala in mind when planning a trip to South Africa. The experience is well worth every penny you’ll spend.
Tanzania Wildlife Viewing
Posted on Sunday, January 23, 2011
There is no greater wildlife experience in the world than Tanzania — a nation that devotes 33% of its land to conservation and boasts the highest concentration of animals anywhere on the planet. From the vast Serengeti to the lust rain forests of the Mahale Mountains, Tanzania is home to wildebeest, chimpanzee, zebra, hippopotamus, giraffe, hyena and cheetah — just to name of few! Imagine seeing a hundred Thomson gazelle springing across a dirt road or majestic elephants leading their babies to a watering hole. Tanzania is the only place on earth where the “big five” — buffalo, elephant, leopard, the black-maned lion and the endangered, rare black rhinoceros — all live in one place.
Tags: africa tour , africa tours , africa tours 2011 , tanzania tour , tanzania tour package , tanzania tours
Amboseli National Park
Posted on Friday, June 11, 2010
This is one of Kenya's most scenic wildlife reserves. Every vista is cominated by the majestic peak of Kilimanjaro. Amboseli is best known for its abundant elephant life, but the park's freshwater springs attract a variety of wildlife. Swamps are the perfect place to spot large herds of buffalo as well as some of the park's400 recorded bird species.
Kruger National Park
Posted on Friday, March 12, 2010
South Africa's premier safari experience is Kruger National Park. There you can explore approximately 5 million acres of wilderness on game drives. See over 150 mammals and 500 bird species.
For stunning lodges, consider the private game reserves including Manyeleti, Timbavati and Sabi Sand are located along the western, unfenced border of the park.
April through September are the best for game viewing with warm, dry days and cold nights.
Tags: africa safari , african safari , kruger national park , kruger national park africa , kruger national parks south africa
Blue Train South Africa
Posted on Saturday, February 27, 2010
The Blue Train takes you through the wilderness in South Africa while being pampered. You'll enjoy excellent service and cuisine, as well as elegant accommodations. Meals are prepared by world class chefs and accompanied by world class South African wines. The suites feature goose down duvets, marble bathrooms and a butler. This is not just a train ride, but an experience to be savored like the fine cognacs served after dinner.
Tags: blue train , south africa , the blue train , train africa , train south africa
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