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…)
Why community-based tourism is so important October 23, 2007
Posted by Clarissa Hughes in : Community, ecotourism , add a comment
The concept of the Peace Parks is gaining recognition for the vision that it is. I have written about it many times before as a model that shows the way forward for people and the planet. The embracing symbolism of transfrontier conservation areas cannot be overstated because it will only be by a process of inclusion and integration that humans will continue to exist as a species. If we fail to acknowledge and sanction the right-to-life of all of creation we will be left with a denuded and over-used earth unable to support humans.
We have a choice and the time for making that choice is now. We cannot afford to put it off.
One idea that is gaining ground in Africa is that of community-based tourism. (more…)
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.
Great Walk in Tsavo National Park June 3, 2007
Posted by Ralph Pina in : News, Safari , add a comment
Tomorrow I leave on the Great Walk of Africa, traversing 200km of West and East National Parks in Kenya. Can’t wait. We follow the Tsavo and Galana rivers across this great African wilderness. The place has a fascinating and infamous colonial history, mostly revolving around the legendary “man-eaters” of Tsavo who preyed on the labourers who built the Lunatic Express railway that runs north-south across the park.
I have built a preliminary map of the route (its a gross approximation) but will be taking my GPS to log the track and publish on Google Earth and Google Maps.
Update: Impressions of the Great Walk
Got to go…
