Alan

The Southern Pride is on the move. In the menacing darkness, a dozen hungry lions circle a large herd of impala.

Chaos erupts in the bush as the big cats launch their attack, taking down a huge ram only a few metres from our Land Cruiser.

Moving in on the action, we position ourselves close enough to capture the ensuing feeding frenzy without disturbing the diners. It’s every cat for itself as the pride piles onto the fresh kill like a crazed rugby scrum, snarling, snapping and fighting to devour still beating organs and rip bloody chunks of flesh from bone.

Tonight, I’m an eyewitness to an awesome display of primal brutality. And confident that I’ll have the stunning pictures to prove it because I’m engaging the services of a professional safari photographer to assist me with every step.

Capturing such visceral wildlife encounters on camera has always been an integral part of the safari experience. Now, private game reserves such as Sabi Sabi, adjacent to South Africa’s Kruger National Park, offer their guests the unique opportunity to have an expert guide them through the intricacies of taking that perfect, once-in-a-lifetime coffee table book cover shot.

“Professional photographic safaris offer an incredible opportunity to take much better pictures, improving and enhancing your total safari experience,� says Zulch Conradie, manager of Sabi Sabi’s Earth Lodge.

“It’s almost like you’re opening the curtains on a whole new subject.�

The professional photo safari I recently took in Sabi Sabi is tailored to travellers who can afford more expensive pro and “prosumer� SLR cameras but don’t know how to most effectively use them in a challenging environment like the African bush.

It’s also a great option if you’d rather hire the services and gear of a pro for a day or two on safari than haul around expensive, hefty cameras and telephoto lenses with enough zoom to capture that perfect, once-in-a-lifetime, wildlife picture.

Either way, booking the services of a pro safari photo guide like Sabi Sabi’s Andrew Schoeman is a great idea if you want National Geographic-calibre memories.

For a few hundred dollars, this former safari guide turned photographer will accompany lodge guests on game drives, providing expert, hands-on guidance on subjects such as proper framing of your subject, what angles to use and how to use the available light in multiple situations. Then he’ll walk you through a streamlined post-production process using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom to help make them look their best.

“Most of our guests arrive with basic camera knowledge and are looking for the simple explanations that can sometimes lead to that Eureka moment,� says Schoeman one afternoon as we roam the dense terrain of the Sabi Sabi reserve in a land cruiser, searching for prime lion, leopard and elephant photo ops.

“You can read about all of the camera functions in a manual,� he adds. “But it’s not getting processed. There’s nothing like having someone there alongside you explaining that if you push this button or turn that dial you get completely different results.�

Cape Town has once again been crowned one of the top 10 cities in the world, coming fourth in Travel and Leisure magazine’s annual “World’s Best Awards” and claiming a spot in the magazine’s hall of fame.

It was also ranked the world’s top city in the Africa and Middle East category.

Travel and Leisure readers determined the best destinations, hotels, cruises and companies in the 18th annual poll designed by the magazine’s editors.

“Cape Town has consistently featured in the Travel and Lesiure line-up, and we are proud to maintain a top of mind position with the world’s most avid travel lovers,” Cape Town Tourism chief executive officer, Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, said in a statement last week.

Five of the city’s hotels also appeared on the list, with the Cape Grace claiming the highest spot in 26th position, up from 44 in the 2012 awards. This earned the hotel a spot in the hall of fame.

The hotel also claimed pole position in the top city hotels in Africa and the Middle East category. The Mount Nelson was ranked sixth, the Twelve Apostles Hotel Spa came in 10th, the OneOnly Cape Town eleventh and theVictoriaAlfred Hotel was named thirteenth.

Safari lodges around South Africa also claimed numerous spots on the list, with Singita Kruger National Park taking the top spot at third, up from seventh in 2012.

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve and Singita Sabi Sand, both at the Kruger National Park, took 10th and 11th position respectively.

Du Toit-Helmbold believed the success of the safari lodges would contribute to the success of Cape Town’s tourism. “The prevalence of these exclusive hotels bodes well for the luxury market in Cape Town as many high-end safari travellers include a trip to Cape Town on their itinerary,” she said.

“The fact that they continue their journey in Cape Town in some of the continent’s – and the world’s – best hotels means Cape Town remains firmly on the luxury travel map.”

At Kruger National Park in South Africa, tourists are allowed to drive through a safari without a guide. 

Limpopo, United Kingdom, July 05, 2013 –(PR.com)– Bushwise introduces Hospitality Internships: Unique and exciting career development opportunities in the African wilderness

Since Bushwise was founded in 2006 it has earned its reputation as one of South Africa’s leading professional safari field guide training schools, accredited to the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA). To date Bushwise has trained over 200 professional field guides, many of whom are now working at some of the finest lodges on the best game reserves in Southern and Eastern Africa. 2013 has seen the exciting launch of a second branch to Bushwise’s offerings; Hospitality internship training courses at luxury safari lodges on the game reserves of Southern Africa, allowing participants from around the world to build on their experience in the culinary, tourism and hospitality sectors by working in a pivotal role in safari lodge operations in the exhilarating surroundings of the African wilderness.

Bushwise Hospitality Internships begin with a 2 week bush and wilderness orientation course at Bushwise’s idyllic bush campus in the Limpopo Province, led by expert FGASA-accredited trainers. For many, the bush experience will be entirely new and in order to operate efficiently and effectively in a guest-facing role lodge operations, interns will need to possess vital fundamental bush skills and knowledge, such as how to tell the difference between a spitting cobra and a black mamba, what to do if an elephant approaches the boma and how to identify a bird of prey calling from a distant acacia tree. The orientation course will allow interns to develop basic but essential knowledge of Southern Africa’s wildlife and conservation issues, together with bush survival skills and first aid, that will later be applied to their working role to enhance the experience of, and ensure the safety of, their guests who will be on their African safari holiday of a lifetime.

After the 2 week orientation course, equipped with newfound knowledge of not only Africa’s wildlife, but also an indepth understanding of the South African Hospitality Industry, including local wines and culinary traditions, interns will embark on an 8 or 18 week internship in a tailor-made position at a pre-selected luxury safari lodge, partnered with the Bushwise training school. Based on a Big-5 reserve, interns will be immersed in the wilds of the African bush, experiencing the safari industry first hand, and will participate in a skills exchange with local staff at the lodge; bringing and sharing their international experience whilst learning new skills from their fellow local staff-members to take with them into their future career.

Bushwise Hospitality internship placements include front of house, culinary positions, spa treatments and general lodge operations. The program provides a potential stepping stone to an exciting career in the safari hospitality industry, with unparalleled networking opportunities in the luxury safari world. Bushwise welcomes friendly, responsible and enthusiastic professionals with a curiosity for, or an established passion for, South Africa and its wildlife. The Bushwise Hospitality courses provide unique career boosting professional experience which will make a vibrant addition to a CV and catch the eye of future employers, taking any career in the Hospitality Industry to the next level.

For more information please contact rachel@bushwise.co.za or visit www.bushwise.co.za/hospitality-internships
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greenwoodrachel
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/GVIBushwise
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bushwise

Key functions

Before embarking on our first game drive together, Schoeman runs through the camera’s complex settings, starting with autofocus.

“There are a lot of functions in today’s high-end cameras, which can be daunting for a lot of people. But you only need to use very few of them to get good results reading the light in the bush and knowing the best place to select your light when you’re photographing certain subjects,� he says.

“The real key is getting your subject in focus … If you don’t have a sharp photo, it doesn’t matter what you’ve got. You’re going to throw it away.â€?

Schoeman goes on to explain single point focusing, as well as the relationship between shutter speed, aperture and ISO setting – the sensitivity that the digital sensor has to light.

Understanding what combination of these settings works best in various situations while on safari is key.

“We initially determine the guest’s skill level and help them tailor camera settings specifically for wildlife,� Schoeman explains, noting he often guides accomplished landscape photographers or wedding photographers who are out of their depth in the bush.

Find the light stuff

Crash course complete, Schoeman and I set off to roam through Sabi Sabi’s diverse habitat that is home to the Big 5 — lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant — as well as cheetah, wild dog and some 200 other animal species indigenous to the area.

Soon, we come across a male lion calling in a thundering roar for his brother to join him.

This battle-scarred old warrior looks like he’s seen his fair share of predatory turf wars, as does his sibling, who soon appears sporting an equally pocked face, battered body and gnarled mane.

Soon, we’re close enough for me to begin shooting with Schoeman’s Nikon D3 full-frame SLR camera.

I’ve fixed it to a stabilizing swinging metal bracket that snugly fits over the Land Cruiser’s door frame, supporting my heavy 200-400mm zoom lens.

As Schoeman whispers instructions, I make settings adjustments on the fly until it all begins to make sense and I have my own Eureka moment.

Here I am, photographing Africa’s most iconic animal with pro gear and a dozen years of wildlife photography expertise at my exclusive disposal.

All that, and a new-found understanding of how best to capture such savage beauty on my first ever picture perfect safari.

IF YOU GO

Arriving: Sabi Sabi lies 500 km east of Johannesburg. Charter flights connect the Sabi Sabi Airstrip with Joburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport. South African Airlines’ regional carrier, Airlink (flyairlink.com), also offers daily scheduled flights from to Nelspruit, a scenic two-hour drive from Sabi Sabi.

Sleeping: Situated in the world-renowned 65,000 hectare Sabi Sand Wildtuin in the southern section of the Kruger National Park, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is home to four air-conditioned luxury lodges, each with its own unique theme. This writer stayed at Earth Lodge. Sculpted into an earthen slope, almost invisible in the landscape, it has been described as the most environmentally sensitive lodge in Africa. Each of Earth Lodge’s 13 spacious suites features individually designed furniture, a private plunge pool and is decorated with wooden sculptures by renowned South African artist Geoffrey Armstrong.

Booking a Sabi Sabi photo safari: Sabi Sabi’s Professional Photographic Safaris run for one full day and must be pre-booked. The cost per guest photographer is R4500 (approximately $560). It includes the services of a pro photo guide, use of a safari vehicle and your choice of a Nikon D700, D3 or D3S with a Nikon 200-400mm f/4 lens or a Canon 70 Mark III or IV with a Canon 300mm f/2.8 or 500mm f/4 lens. Additional equipment can be rented upon request.

Recommended outfitters: Toronto-based Kensington Tours (kensingtontours.com / 888.903.2001) and Askari Travel (askaritravel.com / 877.279.1902) both offer customized South African safaris that can include visits to Sabi Sabi.

More tips: Sabi Sabi has played host to many of the world’s top wildlife photographers during the past 30 years. For great tips on getting the most out of your safari, be sure to check out their extensive and helpful online pro wildlife photography guide at sabisabi.com/photography.

The Real Housewives of New York City star Ramona Singer is getting ready to send her daughter Avery off to college — but before that, she decided to take her daughter on the vacation of a lifetime to South Africa.

“Avery is my only child and she is graduating from high school and going into college and that is a major transition for her,”

Ramona tells RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview. “And it’s going to be a major transition for me because she is on her way growing up and separating herself from us and I wanted to create a really beautiful memory and do something really different.”

PHOTOS: Ramona And Avery Singer Go To South Africa

Ramona continues, “I went to Africa three years ago and fell in love with it and Avery always said she wanted to go to Africa.”

For 11 days, Ramona, her husband Mario, Avery, and one of Avery’s friends traveled around South African staying at luxury reserves including Phinda Private Game Reserve, Dulini Game Lodge, and Ngala Tented Camp.

“You are propped in the middle of nowhere with nature,” Ramona describes. “Something about the air in South Africa, it’s the freshest smelling air. There’s nothing like it.”

The group spent their days going on safaris.

PHOTOS: Ramona Singer Suprises Her Daughter Avery With Birthday Balloons

“Every morning, we got up very early for a three-hour safari ride,” Ramona shares. “We would have our early morning tea or hot chocolate [out by the water]. And then you go back and have a big breakfast at 9:30. And then it’s time for lunch. And then you go out again for a couple of hours. You get back around 7:00 PM and you have to be escorted to your room at night because there are animals there.”

But it wasn’t all play.

Ramona and her daughter also visited an orphanage, several schools including one for handicap kids and a health facility that are all supported by the Empowers Africa Foundation.

“Avery is big on helping children,” Ramona says. “And I’m involved with the Empower Africa Foundation, so we went to some of the schools and to an orphanage that was built in one area. We are involved in helping to raise money. We wanted to see where the money goes.”

PHOTOS: Ramona Singer Celebrates Her Daughter Avery’s High School Graduation

At the schools, Avery spent time interacting with the kids.

“Avery wanted a more hands on experience spending time with the children,” Ramona says. “Avery played with the kids. We brought soccer balls for the boys and for the girls, the nets game. They gave Avery a uniform and she went on the field and played netball with them. She interacted with the children and played with them and talked to them and took pictures with them.”

Ramona adds, “I’ve never seen my daughter so happy.”

“Avery has a very special soul,” Ramona says. “I’m very proud of her. She is very grounded. She’s bright and outgoing and she has a big heart.”

PHOTOS: Reality TV’s Hottest Stars

Overall, Ramona is glad that she got to share this experience with her daughter.

“You are in middle of no where. There’s no Internet or cell service,” she says. “You’re one with nature and the animals. It was a spiritual experience.”

But now it’s getting close to time for Ramona to say goodbye to her daughter as Avery heads to college at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.

“I have so many emotions going through me,” Ramona confesses. “I’m excited for her and happy and sad and confused. I feel a huge loss. Sometimes, this overwhelming emotion comes that feels like my heart is being ripped out.”

PHOTOS: Plastic Surgery Secrets Of The Not-So Real Housewives

“You know how people don’t like to talk about how difficult child birth is?” she asks. “Women don’t talk about how gut-wrenching and heart-wrenching it is when your child goes off to college. It is devastating for every woman.”

But Ramona knows that it’s time for Avery to branch out on her own.

“It’s going to be very difficult,” she concludes. “But I have to let go. She has to grow.”

Tanzania ‘best safari destination in Africa’

Details

Published on Monday, 24 June 2013 03:04

Written by MARC NKWAME in Arusha

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 A FEW days after the Deputy Natural Resources and Tourism Minister, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu declared that the country was now aiming at attracting two million tourists annually; Tanzania has jusat been voted the best Safari Destination on the continent.

The votes were cast by more than 1,000 safari travellers and industry experts who took part in the largest survey of its kind to reveal the best safari country in Africa.

The results are now out and Tanzania came out the outstanding winner. The Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, said that Kenya’s days as the leading tourism destination in the region were numbered and that “very soon Tanzania will take the lead.”

It was just a matter of hours and now Tanzania has been voted in the lead, followed by Botswana. Kenya came third, Zambia fourth and the best of the victory was derived from the fact that South Africa, the best known country in Africa, finished in the fifth position.

“SafariBookings.com,” an online marketplace for African safari tours, had conducted a two-year-long study, gathering reviews from more than 1,000 safari-goers and reputable industry experts to see which African country is best for African safaris. With a score of 4.8 out of 5 stars, Tanzania took the spotlight as the most outstanding winner, beating Botswana by about a tenth of a point.

Rounding up at the top five were Kenya, Zambia and South Africa. The study was based on 2,305 reviews from safari travellers and 756 reviews from industry experts, most of whom are reputable guidebook writers working for Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommer’s, Bradt and Footprint.

“More than half of the safari travellers have undertaken multiple safaris and have a good idea about what’s offered. This secures the fact that Tanzania deserves this top spot,” reads a release from “Safari-bookings” which was sent to Arusha over the weekend.

“Tanzania was rated the best tourism spot because it is home to two of the most famous safari destinations in the world, the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater,” reads the release. Ngorongoro and Serengeti were both declared the new Seven Wonders of Nature early in February when Tanzania produced three out of the Seven winning features the third being Mount Kilimanjaro.

“Both parks offer stunning scenery and some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. Serengeti National Park is primarily known for the annual migration of more than 2.5 million wildebeest and zebra.” The Ngorongoro Crater is a popular safari destination because the wildlife viewing in its immense volcanic caldera is superb throughout the year and sightings of game species such as lion, hippo and rhino are almost guaranteed.

 

 

 

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IT was supposed to be an idyllic safari trip in one of South Africa’s most
beautiful national parks.

But it turned into one ‘el of a day for a group of German tourists, who
watched in panic as a FIVE-TONNE elephant charged at their car.

FIVE TONNE beast batters vehicle carrying terrified Germans on safari in Kruger National Park, SA

The incident, caught on camera by one of the group, saw an angry male elephant
charge at the vehicle, shattering a side window and petrifying those inside.

Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.

The footage shows the vehicle pulling over to admire a group of elephants
crossing the road – including a small baby who falls over.

But this phant-astic sight takes a turn for the terrifying when two males
emerge from the bushes, locked in a tussle.

Without warning, one of the males breaks off and stampedes towards the car, as
a woman inside tries desperately to wind up her window.

Shouts of “go, go go!” can be heard from the passengers as the giant mammal
smashes the side window, showering the troupe with glass.

Fortunately for those inside, that was the end of the assault, and the shocked
tourists made a speedy getaway.

The attack took place in Kruger National Park – one of the few national parks
visitors are allowed to drive through without a safari guide.

Kruger was home to a similar incident in April, when an enraged elephant
demolished a car and left two passengers in critical condition.

From Senegal to South Africa to Tanzania, we track how the first lady of fashion chose her outfits during the Obama’s visit to the African continent.

From southern India to the shores of South Africa and beyond, it was a journey that tired him out thoroughly. But given the fact that he is a workaholic and so he doesn’t have any regrets.

The ‘Singam’ (Lion) in his second avatar is more ferocious, but classier, says actor Suriya, a day before Singam II in Tamil and Yamudu II in Telugu hit the over 2,000 screens worldwide. The film also stars Anushka and Hansika Motwani, Vijaykumar and Nasser.

Asked to throw more light on the sequel to the 2010 runaway hit, the southern heartthrob says if Yamudu showed a rustic village cop, the sequel has the same ‘Dorasingam’ as a sophisticated sleuth hunting down a top criminal on foreign shores with help from an honest politician.

Most of the original cast has been retained in the sequel. The only addition is Hansika Motwani, who has a role specially carved out for her, one which needs a new environment and hence South Africa. Of course, there’s this special number and a wee bit of the story for Anjali, the Seethamma… and Balupu girl too.

Asked why many of his films revolved around cops, Suriya says with a grin, “I don’t know but it’s a fact that I know a lot of policemen. I know about their lives too. My movies are a way of adding value to their role in society. Not all cops are as bad as we hear about them. They have emotions and families. There is something about a cop’s uniform that stiffens the spine the moment they wear them and I swear I have experienced it when I done the role.”

Keywords: Singam, Suriya, Hansika, Anushka, Tamil movies, Telugu movies, Yamudu, Doraisingam, Nasser, Vijaykumar, blockbuster, sequel

Acamor Academy, an initiative of Acamor Journeys, has unveiled an experiential educational programme, ‘Cricket Safari in South Africa’, for school students in India, with the aim of promoting an experiential approach to learning through out-of-classroom sessions. The ten-day programme will include a training session by Jonty Rhodes, former cricketer from South Africa, in Durban, and playing matches against local schools in Durban and Cape Town. The programme will begin in October 2013.

Targeting leading schools in India, the programme will cost Rs 230,000 per student, selected after due procedure. Candidates will be shortlisted based on their proficiency in cricket, extracurricular achievements, career aspirations and overall character and personality. Students in class VIII-XII in the current academic year are eligible to apply for the programme. On completion of the programme, students will be given a certificate.

At Kruger National Park in South Africa, tourists are allowed to drive through a safari without a guide. 

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We’ve created this package in order to provide a truly pampered experience from the moment you board your flight, through to the exclusive experiences on the ground, but it is priced at a value that is hard to beat. – Terry von Guilleaume

Ft. Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) June 27, 2013

South African Airways Vacations® announced a new, exclusive vacation package to South Africa that features unequalled luxury and award-winning experiences at every stage of the journey. The 9-day “Business Class Luxury Package” features Skytrax 5-star comfort-rated Premium Business Class travel on South African Airways (SAA), three nights at the world-famous OneOnly Cape Town with private tours, and three nights at the Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge for safari. Both properties are on the most influential “best of” travel lists and are well-known by even the most sophisticated jetsetter. The “Business Class Luxury Package” is priced starting at $10,999* (restrictions apply), and is available for travel now through Sept. 27, 2013. To book the package, please call 855-FLY-SAAV (359-7228), or visit http://www.flysaavacations.com/south-africa-travel/business-class-luxury-package/. Travellers can also learn more about customizing their trip with optional add-ons and trip extensions.

The journey, featuring SAA’s award-winning flatbed seats and in-flight service, will ensure that travellers arrive refreshed and ready to experience their dream trip. Upon arrival in Cape Town, the OneOnly Cape Town will serve as the oasis from which to base the relaxing yet exhilarating experiences in the “fairest Cape”. Separate private tours of the Cape Peninsula and wine regions in luxury vehicles will add to the exclusivity of the experience, with visits to some of the region’s world-famous wine farms, such as the Ernie Els Winery, where visitors will sample South Africa’s finest vintages.

The experience continues at the Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, deep in South Africa’s famous Sabi Sand Reserve. Personal service, outstanding cuisine and close wildlife encounters from this exceptionally luxurious lodge will result in a life-changing experience that will impress the most experienced world traveller. The lodge’s design blends with the bush, immersing guests in the region’s breath-taking vistas.

“We’ve created this package in order to provide a truly pampered experience from the moment you board your flight, through to the exclusive experiences on the ground, all resulting in an unforgettable trip,” said Terry von Guilleaume, president of SAA Vacations. “Its high level of luxury is meant to satisfy even the most discriminating traveller, but it is priced at a value that is hard to beat. Even luxury enthusiasts love a great deal.”

To book the SAA Vacations “Business Class Luxury Package,” please call 855-FLY-SAAV (359-7228) or visit http://www.flysaavacations.com/south-africa-travel/business-class-luxury-package/.

SAA Vacations® 5-Star “Business Class Luxury Package”:

•     Round-trip Premium Business Class international and domestic South African flights on South African Airways, Africa’s most awarded airline
•     3 nights at the luxurious OneOnly Cape Town on the VA Waterfront, on a bed and breakfast basis
•     Private full-day Cape Peninsula Tour in chauffeured luxury vehicle
•     Private Cape Winelands Tour in chauffeured luxury vehicle
•     3 nights at the Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge in the world-famous Sabi Sands Reserve
•     All safari activities and meals on a fully-inclusive basis
•     Transfers, English-speaking guides and meet and greet by professional SAA Vacations staff
•     SAA Vacations packages are customizable, with optional trip extensions and additions to fit every preference

To discover more SAA Vacations® packages to South Africa, Southern and East Africa, visit http://www.flysaavacations.com/.

About SAA Vacations®

A division of South African Airways (SAA), the national airline of South Africa and Africa’s most awarded airline, SAA Vacations® is highly regarded for its wide array of affordable luxury packages to Africa, and utilizes SAA’s extensive route network to create packages for travel throughout South Africa, Botswana, Victoria Falls, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, as well as East Africa. The program is managed and fulfilled by Destination Southern Africa (DSA), which was founded in 2001 and offers an extensive portfolio of tour programs with a variety of hotels, game lodges and safari companies throughout Southern Africa. DSA was one of three tour operators in the U.S. that was officially appointed by MATCH to develop and sell travel packages for soccer fans visiting South Africa for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, making it a partner with extensive knowledge and know-how in planning the perfect African vacation.

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Business Class Luxury Package:

Price is per person based on required double occupancy. Valid as of June 5th, 2013 for departures from Washington, D.C. between August 11 – September 27, 2013 with the same itinerary available at higher prices during other travel periods. Price for other departure cities and/or travel dates may vary. Subject to availability and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Prices are valid for new bookings only, are not retroactive and may change without notice. Baggage and optional service fees, cancellation charges and other restriction

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Tanzania gets the thumb’s up as Africa’s best safari destination, according to an international survey released by Safari Bookings.com, an online African tour expert.
The survey, involving 276 specialized safari operators, eight major safari destinations, 139 wildlife parks and reserves, more than 2,300 user reviews and 756 expert reviews, placed Tanzania as the best safari destination in Africa.
Botswana and Kenya were tied for second place, with South Africa and Zambia sharing a fourth-place finish in the poll.
Tanzania is home to two Unesco World Heritage Sites: Serengeti National Park and the Ngrongoro Crater, located in Tanzania’s northern safari circuit, as well as Mount Kilimanjaro, the continent’s highest peak. The Serengeti is home to the annual Great Migration from December to April, in which over 2.5 million zebra and wildebeest migrate annually. Tanzania was also cited for being the best spot to track chimpanzees.

Mary Fitzpatrick, a U.S-based author of six Lonely Planet guides to Africa, including Tanzania, says: “With its abundant wildlife, excellent species diversity and evocative acacia- and baobab-studded landscapes, Tanzania is one of Africa’s most rewarding safari destinations.”

Philip Briggs from South Africa, a renowned travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including “Brandt Guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa,” believes there is no better safari destination than Tanzania. “Tanzania’s superb network of wildlife reserves is the most extensive in Africa, collectively covering a quarter of the country’s surface area and harboring around 20% of the continent’s large-mammal biomass.

Tanzania offers two safari circuits: the more popular northern circuit and the wild southern circuit.

The northern circuit incorporates the Serengeti plains and Kilimanjaro. Using Arusha as a base, travelers can visit Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park, although the most popular tourist destination on the circuit remains the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s largest volcanic craters.

The southern circuit is vast and remote, a veritable wilderness where visitors can explore complex ecosystems and species in a relatively unexplored part of the country. A further highlight is the little town of Mikindani, a good base for diving expeditions.

During a 2009 stopover in his ancestral Kenya, President Obama said, “I have the blood of Africa in me.” He is the first American president able to make such a declaration, but that’s not the only thing that will be different about his first major tour of the continent that begins today.

Unlike his immediate predecessors, his primary focus will not be human rights violations, AIDS or aid. This president will be taking care of business.

The weeklong trip with his family includes stops in Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, each representing a different region of the continent and chosen for very strategic reasons. The goal is for the “U.S. to significantly increase our engagement in the years to come,” said Ben Rhodes, the White House deputy national security adviser for strategic communications.

New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told BET.com that Obama is developing the next phase of the nation’s relationship with Africa.

“The trip shows a new direction and attention, and instead of focusing on aid or hunger, which are important, he’ll be talking about business, economic development and how we can get the Export-Import Bank involved in Africa with American and African businesses,” Meeks said. “And he’s bringing along a number of business folks, including African-Americans, to make these kinds of contacts.”

The first stop is Senegal, where the president will highlight the French-speaking, Muslim-majority nation’s growing democracy and economy. Senegal also can play an important role in helping the U.S. combat Islamist extremists in neighboring countries like Mali. Obama will meet with President Macky Sall and regional judicial leaders. He also will participate in an event focusing on food security.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Senegal’s First Lady Marieme Faye Sall will have tea and visit the all-girls Martin Luther King Middle School.

South Africa has the continent’s largest economy and serves as a shining example of democracy. In addition to a bilateral meeting with President Jacob Zuma, Obama will host a town hall at the University of Johannesburg in Soweto. The event is part of his Young African Leaders Initiative. He also will meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The first lady is scheduled to have tea with South Africa’s First Lady Thobeka Madiba-Zuma. She also will visit with a group of high school students and participate in a Google+ Hangout with teenagers from across the nation and several American cities.

It is not yet known whether Obama will visit former South African president Nelson Mandela, whose failing health is a signal that he’s approaching the end of his life. According to the White House, the president will pay tribute to Mandela’s contributions to the world, but will defer to the elder stateman’s family with regard to a visit.

Upon learning that Obama is coming to South Africa, Mandela opened his eyes and smiled, one of his daughters said.

The final stop, Tanzania, also is a partner with the U.S. on security matters and offers opportunities for significant American business investment. It’s the first country visited by Chinese President Xi Jingping. While the U.S. struggles to get an economic foothold in Africa, China has become the continent’s biggest trading partner.

“The continent is currently on the cusp of a transformative economic rise where it’s important that the United states has a seat at the table in helping Africa reach its full potential and not cede any ground to other nations,” said Rep. Karen Bass, ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s subcommittee on Africa.

In addition to meeting with President Jakaya Kikwete, Obama will attend a roundtable with business leaders from the U.S. and across Africa. According to Rhoades, it will be an opportunity for the president to “really focus on what we can do to increase trade and investment from the United States into Africa” and “advance our trade relationships.” 

“It shows we’re not going to allow China and other countries to do the kind of work and investment in Africa that we can do better because we can help them grow their economies,” said Meeks.

While in Tanzania, the first lady and former first lady Laura Bush will attend the African First Ladies Summit, Investing in Women Strengthening Africa, hosted by the George W. Bush Institute. The summit’s focus will be the important role that first ladies play in promoting women’s education, health and economic empowerment.

The trip to Africa also will give the administration opportunities to highlight initiatives like Feed the Future, an agriculture initiative, Bass added.

“The president will be laying out new initiatives around energy on the continent, again signaling a commitment from the U.S. to help Africa’s economic rise,” she said.

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Four Seasons Serengeti

“We’re trying to give people a different safari experience,” says James Kostecky, the general manager of Four Seasons’ just-finished resort in the storied Serengeti National Park. The idea, he explains, is to make tromping around the bush palatable to first-timers who may have been curious about safari but troubled by qualms about safety and comfort, especially older travelers and families with children. “You can get rough and tumble here, but you can also chill out.”

The Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti’s 77 sumptuous rooms and villas are linked by elevated walkways—stretching half a kilometer from end to end—that feel less vulnerable than paths on the ground, especially when plenty of Maasai watchmen are on hand to escort guests after dark. And they’re far more comfortable than the “Lodge” in the resort’s name might suggest. They can be reached by the only elevator in an East African safari lodging, and they have a contemporary African look and such niceties as air-conditioning, massive rain showers, satellite TVs, and Wi-Fi (boo that there’s a charge for it). The 12 suites and five villas have private pools, and all the rooms have bang-up views and terraces for what one manager calls “sofa safaris.”

Then there’s the typically friendly and anticipatory Four Seasons service, and resort amenities like a swimming pool, a kids club (the resort allows ages 8 and up), three varied restaurants (an all-day buffet, a casual poolside restaurant, and an African-themed grill), two bars, and an accessible wine “cellar” (actually on the upper floor, with a savannah view). Meals and surprisingly good house wines are included in the rates, which start at $445 per person in low season (comparable to some high-end camps in the region, which don’t have all the staff and services).

Although there’s more distance between guests and nature than at more traditional safari outposts, the Four Seasons has a great site, with year-round  watering holes that almost guarantee wildlife sightings. They’re so sure, in fact, about the one beyond the infinity swimming pool that they’ve trained a camera on it so guests can watch the drinking elephants or waterbucks from their rooms. For guests who want to rouse themselves, of course, the resort makes a fine base for game drives and balloon rides over the Serengeti.

But a reality of safari is that bumping around in a Land Cruiser can get repetitive and back-achy. Even people who think they want to do every drive end up skipping some, and here there are plenty of ways to fill that time. Some are indulgent, like an afternoon by the pool or a treatment in the spa, which is staffed mostly by Thai therapists but offers local flavor with Africology products and a massage performed with a Maasai implement (very good, not just gimmicky). A yoga pavilion is in the works, and there’s already a gym, which I appreciated after a week of being reminded how much eating, drinking, and sitting safari usually entails.

Others are educational; programs range from tastings of South African wines led by the hotel’s France-trained sommelier, to a Discovery Centre for interactive exhibitions, films, and periodic talks by visiting experts. It’s the first lodge-based conservation and education program in East Africa, and the Four Seasons is justifiably proud of it—you can learn a lot more here than by trying to read a field guide in a moving Land Cruiser. Guests can get involved in research projects too, such as heading out with escorts on walking safaris to set camera traps and watching their recordings the next morning (a huge hit with kids, says Discovery Centre manager Oli Dreike).

Because of its size, the Four Seasons isn’t really in the game drive business, so guests are best off booking through a tour operator such as Micato Safaris (which, along with the Four Seasons, sponsored my trip), which will provide driver-guides and vehicles. After 47 years in the safari business, Micato employes many of the continent’s best guides, has impeccable connections, and offers a great deal of hand-holding—from shipping guests top-flight duffle bags (which guests will never lift themselves) before they arrive to filling out their immigration forms when they depart. Between Micato and Four Seasons, there’s no easier way to experience East Africa.

Seasoned Africa hands recommend flying British Airways from London to Nairobi, as it’s more comfortable than the current options between Europe and Tanzania. (And there are no direct flights from the U.S.) It’s a quick hop from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro, and another from there to the Serengeti.

 

 

Four Seasons Serengeti

“We’re trying to give people a different safari experience,” says James Kostecky, the general manager of Four Seasons’ just-finished resort in the storied Serengeti National Park. The idea, he explains, is to make tromping around the bush palatable to first-timers who may have been curious about safari but troubled by qualms about safety and comfort, especially older travelers and families with children. “You can get rough and tumble here, but you can also chill out.”

The Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti’s 77 sumptuous rooms and villas are linked by elevated walkways—stretching half a kilometer from end to end—that feel less vulnerable than paths on the ground, especially when plenty of Maasai watchmen are on hand to escort guests after dark. And they’re far more comfortable than the “Lodge” in the resort’s name might suggest. They can be reached by the only elevator in an East African safari lodging, and they have a contemporary African look and such niceties as air-conditioning, massive rain showers, satellite TVs, and Wi-Fi (boo that there’s a charge for it). The 12 suites and five villas have private pools, and all the rooms have bang-up views and terraces for what one manager calls “sofa safaris.”

Then there’s the typically friendly and anticipatory Four Seasons service, and resort amenities like a swimming pool, a kids club (the resort allows ages 8 and up), three varied restaurants (an all-day buffet, a casual poolside restaurant, and an African-themed grill), two bars, and an accessible wine “cellar” (actually on the upper floor, with a savannah view). Meals and surprisingly good house wines are included in the rates, which start at $445 per person in low season (comparable to some high-end camps in the region, which don’t have all the staff and services).

Although there’s more distance between guests and nature than at more traditional safari outposts, the Four Seasons has a great site, with year-round  watering holes that almost guarantee wildlife sightings. They’re so sure, in fact, about the one beyond the infinity swimming pool that they’ve trained a camera on it so guests can watch the drinking elephants or waterbucks from their rooms. For guests who want to rouse themselves, of course, the resort makes a fine base for game drives and balloon rides over the Serengeti.

But a reality of safari is that bumping around in a Land Cruiser can get repetitive and back-achy. Even people who think they want to do every drive end up skipping some, and here there are plenty of ways to fill that time. Some are indulgent, like an afternoon by the pool or a treatment in the spa, which is staffed mostly by Thai therapists but offers local flavor with Africology products and a massage performed with a Maasai implement (very good, not just gimmicky). A yoga pavilion is in the works, and there’s already a gym, which I appreciated after a week of being reminded how much eating, drinking, and sitting safari usually entails.

Others are educational; programs range from tastings of South African wines led by the hotel’s France-trained sommelier, to a Discovery Centre for interactive exhibitions, films, and periodic talks by visiting experts. It’s the first lodge-based conservation and education program in East Africa, and the Four Seasons is justifiably proud of it—you can learn a lot more here than by trying to read a field guide in a moving Land Cruiser. Guests can get involved in research projects too, such as heading out with escorts on walking safaris to set camera traps and watching their recordings the next morning (a huge hit with kids, says Discovery Centre manager Oli Dreike).

Because of its size, the Four Seasons isn’t really in the game drive business, so guests are best off booking through a tour operator such as Micato Safaris (which, along with the Four Seasons, sponsored my trip), which will provide driver-guides and vehicles. After 47 years in the safari business, Micato employes many of the continent’s best guides, has impeccable connections, and offers a great deal of hand-holding—from shipping guests top-flight duffle bags (which guests will never lift themselves) before they arrive to filling out their immigration forms when they depart. Between Micato and Four Seasons, there’s no easier way to experience East Africa.

Seasoned Africa hands recommend flying British Airways from London to Nairobi, as it’s more comfortable than the current options between Europe and Tanzania. (And there are no direct flights from the U.S.) It’s a quick hop from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro, and another from there to the Serengeti.

 

 

 

This is moment an irate giraffe came too close for comfort for safari tourists on a game drive in South Africa.

Dramatic mobile phone footage shows the group desperately trying to flee in their jeep as the huge animal gives chase through the wild.

In scenes reminiscent of the T-Rex chase in the film Jurassic Park, the giraffe, which towers at around 16-20ft tall, gallops behind the vehicle as terrified passangers look on.

As the jeep rounds corners and speeds under trees, the animal slips into the distance before reappearing as it gathers pace.

The group eventually lose the creature, before turning around and driving off to safety.

 

The close call was captured on a mobile phone camera by passenger Henk Roos, who uploaded the clip to YouTube where it has gone viral with more than 15,600 hits.

In a post underneath the video, he wrote: “After an amazing wedding we went on a game drive and a hormonal Giraffe started to chase our jeep.

“After about 5km of being chased I started recording the chase on my phone. You can see how he gets closer and closer after every turn.

“We started to run out of road and the ranger banged on the side of the jeep to scare him off. We started to make a noise and he stopped.

“Just in time as we had to make a 4 point turn to continue on the road!”

Arusha — A FEW days after the Deputy Natural Resources and Tourism Minister, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu declared that the country was now aiming at attracting two million tourists annually; Tanzania has jusat been voted the best Safari Destination on the continent.

The votes were cast by more than 1,000 safari travellers and industry experts who took part in the largest survey of its kind to reveal the best safari country in Africa.

The results are now out and Tanzania came out the outstanding winner. The Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, said that Kenya’s days as the leading tourism destination in the region were numbered and that “very soon Tanzania will take the lead.”

It was just a matter of hours and now Tanzania has been voted in the lead, followed by Botswana. Kenya came third, Zambia fourth and the best of the victory was derived from the fact that South Africa, the best known country in Africa, finished in the fifth position.

“SafariBookings.com,” an online marketplace for African safari tours, had conducted a two-year-long study, gathering reviews from more than 1,000 safari-goers and reputable industry experts to see which African country is best for African safaris. With a score of 4.8 out of 5 stars, Tanzania took the spotlight as the most outstanding winner, beating Botswana by about a tenth of a point.

Rounding up at the top five were Kenya, Zambia and South Africa. The study was based on 2,305 reviews from safari travellers and 756 reviews from industry experts, most of whom are reputable guidebook writers working for Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommer’s, Bradt and Footprint.

“More than half of the safari travellers have undertaken multiple safaris and have a good idea about what’s offered. This secures the fact that Tanzania deserves this top spot,” reads a release from “Safari-bookings” which was sent to Arusha over the weekend.

“Tanzania was rated the best tourism spot because it is home to two of the most famous safari destinations in the world, the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater,” reads the release. Ngorongoro and Serengeti were both declared the new Seven Wonders of Nature early in February when Tanzania produced three out of the Seven winning features the third being Mount Kilimanjaro.

“Both parks offer stunning scenery and some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. Serengeti National Park is primarily known for the annual migration of more than 2.5 million wildebeest and zebra.” The Ngorongoro Crater is a popular safari destination because the wildlife viewing in its immense volcanic caldera is superb throughout the year and sightings of game species such as lion, hippo and rhino are almost guaranteed.

SafariBookings.com, an online marketplace for African safari tours, oncluded a major study of the best countries in Africa for safari holidays. After analyzing thousands of reviews from both safari-tourist as well as industry experts, Tanzania came out as the clear winner.

The study used 2300 user reviews by over 1000 people from 53 nations, as well as 756 expert reviews from reputable guidebook authors, working for Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommer’s, Bradt and Footprint.

The overall average rating of Tanzania in both the user and expert reviews is 4.8 out of 5 stars, which is the highest score of all the eight major safari countries, beating Botswana by about a tenth of a point. Rounding out the top five were Botswana, Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa. All of the 8 countries received a 4 star rating or higher and can be considered quality safari destinations on their own.

Magnificent wildlife viewing in first-rate parks; a wide range of budget, mid-range and luxury safari options; and the opportunity to extend a safari holiday by relaxing on the nearby beaches of Zanzibar are among the top reasons why Tanzania came in at number one.

The study also breaks down the ratings by month and the team behind SafariBookings was surprised to see all months consistently received high ratings. Even during the wet season, when wildlife viewing in the western and southern parks is less rewarding. When looking at the ratings per park, the study also revealed Tanzania’s top-rated park is Serengeti National Park, followed by Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park.

The Serengeti is one of the most famous parks of Africa and featured in many documentaries. The park is home to the annual great migration where over 2.5 million wildebeest migrate from the Serengeti to Kenya and back. The scenes where herds of wildebeest cross the crocodile infested Mara River have been broadcasted all over the world.

For the full analysis, including the ratings of the other safari countries and Tanzania’s major parks, please visit http://www.safaribookings.com/blog/2/