Elephant options in Africa May 2, 2008
Posted by Ralph Pina in : Animals, Conservation, Safari, Tourism, ecotourism , 1 comment so far
No doubt you have heard by now that South Africa has decided that culling will once again be an optional intervention in the management of elephant populations, albeit an intervention of last resort, to address what is known as “the elephant problem”. Elephant conservation has been enormously successful in southern Africa (58% of the population), to the extent that some conservationists now argue that there are “too many” elephants. Personally, I think that the problem could be restated as “too little elephant habitat”. (more…)
The Kalahari: A Queen of a Desert December 6, 2007
Posted by Salomi in : News, Safari , add a comment
If you love nature, traditional South African food, and a good and funny host, this Kalahari Tour is for you!
I arrived at Upington at 08h00 and we set off immediately to the Kgalagadi National Park - a dream came true! I had wanted to visit the Kalahari since I was 14 years old.
Manyara, Maasai & Marriage: a personal view of northern Tanzania November 12, 2007
Posted by Julia in : African Peoples, Conservation, Safari, ecotourism , 1 comment so far
Finally, my bags were packed and I was holding electronic air tickets to fly to a land I dreamed of visiting for a very long time!
Flying from Cape Town, I flew into the gateway city for most safari expeditions (Johannesburg) and spent a night at a lovely little guesthouse. Outlook Lodge was a welcoming overnight stop after leaving the comforts of my own home. On the following day, a quick transfer to Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport where I met the rest of the group.
Unfortunately after a 3 hour delay we finally arrived at 22:45 at Kilimanjaro Airport. It was interesting to discover the journey took us from Johannesburg to Dar Es Salaam (4 hours), then from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar (a whole 10 minutes airborne!!) and lastly a flight from Zanzibar to Kilimanjaro (40 minutes) – Jambo!
The thing about African wilderness trails November 10, 2007
Posted by Ralph Pina in : Safari, ecotourism , 5comments
Walking on a wilderness trail is the only way to feel the pulse of the African “bush”. That is what I believe anyway. I have experienced my fair share of the African safari concept: vehicle-based photographic safaris, 
game drives and stays in high-end and exotic game lodges, and even canoe safaris down the wild Lower Zambezi. But none of this compares to following a game trail on foot: listening for a warning call, watching the reactions of the tracker, sniffing the breeze, or simply existing in your immediate sphere. Nothing compares - except perhaps for the canoe safari. (more…)
Circles in the Bush October 21, 2007
Posted by Ralph Pina in : Safari, ecotourism , add a comment
(With apologies to Dalene Matthee…)
Machampane Wilderness Camp in Limpopo National Park, Mozambique, shares the western bank of the Machampane River with tall fever trees at a pool called Xisivene - which apparently means “deep pool”.
The wilderness trail experience that runs out of the camp is similarly structured to the iconic trails that operate in the Kruger National Park across the border. Machampane’s accommodation is a tad more luxurious though - large walk-in tents on stilts with en suite bathrooms.
Download the Google Earth track of Machampane wilderness trails.
Book the Machampane wilderness trail.
Battle of the Leopards September 14, 2007
Posted by Marcelle in : Safari , add a comment
Kruger Park is world renowned and the standard of the accommodation is excellent. All based on self-catering but at the same time comfortable and clean. The meals served by Leonard, our guide, were mouth-watering and it was so special to sit there under the stars and enjoy a real South African braai. These guys can cook. Mmmmm!
The highlight of our trip was seeing the territorial fight between two male leopards. It is impossible to relay the excitement and what it sounds like when one leopard actually rips open the other one’s skin. The growling cut through my whole being and while it is exciting it is also so sad to see these magnificent creatures all bloodied.
Impressions of the Great Walk in Tsavo July 25, 2007
Posted by Ralph Pina in : Safari , 1 comment so far
Tsavo. A place of ghosts….. Read my personal take on the Great Walk in Tsavo.
The photo at right was taken on the Galana River. A peaceful scene…
In the Company of Man Eaters July 16, 2007
Posted by Clarissa Hughes in : News, Safari , 1 comment so far
Conjure up a marriage between “Out of Africa” style camping and hunter-gatherer game tracking and you get the Great Walk. Taking place in Kenya’s largest national park, Tsavo, the walk covers a comfortable 153 kms in 12 days.
Situated in south eastern Kenya Tsavo is approximately 12,000 km2 and was designated in 1948 by the colonial government. Divided into East and West the boundary between the two sections of the park is formed by the Mombasa-Nairobi highway and the railway line that connects hinterland to the coast.
Great Walk in Tsavo National Park: Google Earth track and photos July 14, 2007
Posted by Ralph Pina in : News, Safari , add a comment
Well, I’m back from the Great Walk of Africa. It was truly one of those “experiences of a lifetime”. But Clarissa will write a descriptive piece about the Great Walk. I have, as promised, prepared a Google Earth track of the Great Walk (it downloads an eventual 2.2MB target kmz file). Also our photos are here and here. Enjoy.
Camping under the stars in the Okavango June 6, 2007
Posted by Shurene in : Safari , add a comment
Camp under the stars, get soaked by the spray of the spectacular Victoria Falls, Sunset on the Zambezi River, Hippos yawning & Elephants swimming in Chobe, A mokoro trip on the Okavango Delta and wild camping – with the cry of the Fish Eagle giving you goose bumps.
Just a few of the sights & sounds that greeted me on my recent 10 day Okavango Experience. Camping is the true way to find your soul in Africa. We had the wonderful opportunity to meet & spend time with the locals from Zambia & Botswana.
In Livingstone ( Zambia) we participated in a local community initiative – a guided cycle ride through the local village. This was an initiative from one of the locals, who used the income earned from the USD25 participants paid, to establish a local school. Our guide – Oliver – was one of the local teachers, who showed us the traditional ways – from building to beer drinking.
