wildlife travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

 Shamwari Game Reserve is a 20 000 hectare private reserve boasts Africa’s five eco-systems – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard. It is able to support a wide variety of plant, animal and bird life. The reserve is situated along the Bushmans River, 45 minutes drive from Cape Town, South Africa.
 
 
You are will offered of 7 different lodges on this private game reserve. Choose a lodge for your ideal African experience. The features are spacious verandas overlooking the Bushman’s River, mini bars, air-conditioning, hair dryers, electronic safes, coffee making facilities.
You can fill your time with relaxing, reading, spa treatments, swimming, enjoying delicious cuisine. The wellness centre ensures that your stay here leaves you feeling relaxed and refreshed. 
   The park offers its guests a host of activities to make your African safari experience even more memorable. Guests can to see lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, springbok, bushbuck and etc. All game activities are accompanied by experienced and knowledgeable guides.
For more information visit – http://www.shamwari.com

Carnarvon National Park is a spectacular gorge system with towering cliffs. It is sets approximately 600km of Brisbane, Australia and it’s Queensland’s most popular attraction. Carnarvon Gorge has over 35km of walking tracks crossing water streams, passing through lush tropical palm forests and tranquil waterfalls at the heart of the 300,000ha National Park.

Activities:
* Climbing on the sandstone cliffs
* Join a tour of the magnificent Gorge with tour guides
* You can relax under the stars in front of the starlight cinema
* Bird watching – eucalypt and cabbage palm forest and attracts 170 bird species
* Wildlife watching in the National Park. There are wedge-tailed eagles, peregrine falcons, lorikeets, parrots, kangaroos and etc.
* Trekking and hiking are also available. Popular spots are the Devil’s Signpost, The Ranch and Battleship Spur.
* Camping

For more info click here .

Mala Mala is internationally acknowledged as the world’s top game viewing destination. Exhilarating game drives and guided walks in beautiful unspoilt wilderness offer close encounters with Africa’s game, big and small.

The rooms at Mala Mala are individually decorated, spacious and comfortable with traditional thatching on the roof. Each offers spectacular views and are equipped with his and hers bathrooms, 24 hour temperature control, insect proofing, direct dial telephones, a mini-bar and a mini safe. Despite the comfort offered, MalaMala retains an authentic camp atmosphere.

Dinner is served in the grand old African manner, under the stars in a reed enclosed boma, a MalaMala tradition for over 60 years. Seated around a log fire, under the starry African sky, enjoying superb food and outstanding South African wines is yet another highlight of the MalaMala experience.

Overview of Main Camp at Mala Mala:

* 18 luxury thatched bedrooms (including suites, family rooms, a disabled suite and a single rooms
* Separate “his” and “hers” bathrooms per bedroom
* Full range of guest amenities
* Heated towel rails
* Insect proof screening on all windows
* Mini bar and mini safe in each bedroom
* Hair dryers, Bath robes & Shaver plugs
* Insect repellent supplied in all bedrooms and on all vehicles
* Daily New York Times Fax
* Private verandahs overlooking the surrounding bush
* Purified water
* Maximum number of guests per game viewing vehicle is 6
* Internet access
* Complimentary bottled Mount Anderson Spring water in each bedroom
* Filtered swimming pool
* International direct dial telephones in each bedroom – 24 hour service
* Facsimile and e-mail facilities available
* 24 – hour electricity with standby generator
* 24 – hour air-conditioning and heating
* Room service
* Gymnasium
* Complimentary laundry service
* Safari Bar featuring an international selection of beverages
* Safari Boutique
* Wine Cellar
* The Monkey Club – Video Den/Library
* Tea and coffee making facilities in each bedroom
* Overhead fans
* Babysitting services available by appointmen

At Mala you can hike, canoe, ride horses, golf or just relax on the beach overlooking the beautiful Indian Ocean at Pezula. Located on South Africa’s Garden Route, we recommend spending a few days exploring a different aspect of the country’s beautiful scenery and impeccable hospitality at this award-winning, eco-friendly resort.

Visit the World of Primates and see massive gorillas and chimpanzees on the Monkey Islands. Dublin Zoo is all about fun, learning and conservation, there is so much to see and do. The Zoo, set in 66 acres within Phoenix Park, is one of Ireland’s top attractions and home to more than 700 species of birds and animals from around the world.
Dublin Zoo welcomes over 700,000 visitors each year. Explore the thirty-acre African Plains, which is home to giraffes, zebras, hippos, rhinos, African wild dogs, lions and chimpanzees. Discover World of Cats, World of Primates, and Fringes of the Arctic… and be sure to take a trip on the Nakuru Safari in the African Plains.

The Zoo suffered during the Easter Rising of 1916 as the shortage of meat forced some of the animals to be killed to keep the lions and tigers alive. Fuel shortages during the Second World War also meant cutbacks in heating the tropical houses. Rodrigues fruit bats are one of Dublin Zoo’s endangered species. Fruit bats, as their name suggests, feed on fruit and because of that are very important to the rain forest. Bats cannot digest the seeds and pips of the fruit that they eat and so the seeds leave the bat’s digestive system “wrapped” in fertilizer. Without bats many rain forest trees would not be able to sow their own seeds. Dublin Zoo also has a more formal education programme. This uses the zoo as a resource for young people and adults to learn. Sessions for schools are linked to the syllabus at primary and secondary level. The topics include genetics, art, rain forests and conservation.

Visitors can also explore the zoo’s gift stops, which offer “quality merchandise raising money” for the continued well-being of Dublin Ireland Zoo. The main gift stop is over 2,000 square feet, and offers the largest range of soft toy animals in Ireland, as well as clothing, arts and crafts supplies, stationery, souvenirs, and photography equipment. Visitors can buy photos and paintings of international animals, as well as many animals of Ireland. The Zoo also has an arts, crafts, and hobbies shop called “Creative Instincts”. In the African Plains section of the zoo (where visitors can gander at beautiful, but certainly non-Ireland animals), Out of Africa stocks a variety of African crafts, souvenirs, and clothing items. Budding zoologists can dine at the newly constructed Meerkat Restaurant, which actually features a Meerkat exhibit within the restaurant. The Stripes Restaurant, among other zoo restaurants, also offers a variety of dining options.

Etosha National Park in Namibia was first established in 1907, when Namibia was a German colony known as South West Africa. The Etosha Park (from 1958) is located 435 km (Okaukuejo) or 530 km (Namutoni) north of Windhoek. The park can be entered through either Von Lindequist (Namutoni) or Andersson Gate (Okaukuejo). It is one of the Africa’s largest parks covering area of 22 270 square kilometres. The Etosha pan’s size is 4 590 square kilometres, while all pans cover more than 5 100 square kilometres. The park, which is open throughout the year, is accessible from two gates – one in the east and one in the west. While each of Etosha’s 3 camps has its own character and atmosphere, all three have comfortable chalet accommodation, well equiped camping sites and modern amenities. A vast area on Namibia’s central plateau, a haven for 93 mammal species and 340 bird species, the park’s focal point is the Etosha Pan – a flat saline desert, 130 km long by 50km at its widest in the eastern sector of the park.
The game viewing in Etosha National Park is excellent, the best time being from May to September – the cooler months in Namibia. Visitors to Etosha Game Reserve can expect to see many buck species, elephant, giraffe, rhino and lions. More fortunate visitors will see leopard and cheetah. There is a network of roads linking the three campsites and subsidiary roads lead to various waterholes. Etosha has a high concentration of lion, one of the largest remaining populations of black rhino and 340 bird species. “Specials” include Hartlaub’s francolin, Rappell’s parrot and White-tailed shrike.

Some animals, like an albatross, are distinguishable by a single unique body part – in this case, wings. What stands out more than anything about a giraffe is a quality, more than any particular part. Everything about a giraffe is long. A giraffe is often almost 19 feet tall, making it the tallest animal on earth. Its legs alone are about six feet long. Its neck is even longer. Even a giraffe’s tongue is just about two feet. The distinctive black and white stripes of the zebra sharply contrast with the scorching, dry Etosha landscape. Only about four feet tall at the shoulder, the zebra (Equus burchelli), is the short-legged, striped member of the horse family. Common throughout the deserts and grasslands of eastern and southern Africa, many zebra herds live close to Etosha’s watering holes.

Antelope number in the tens of thousands: springboks, gemsboks, red hartebeests, blue wildebeests, elands and kudus. Even the elusive black-faced impala. The cats slinking through the grass are difficult to spot, but be assured prides of lions and a few cheetahs and leopards are stalking their prey. 340 species of birds have been recorded in the Park and about 114 mammal and 110 reptile species live in the Park. The most remarkable feature of Etosha is the Pan itself – a vast shallow depression which becomes a lake when good rains fall. This Pan is so huge it can be seen from space and has a sodium content of more than 3% which attracts wildlife requiring salt in their diet.

The Blyde River Canyon Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa: The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve extends along the Blyde River Canyon’s winding path, which at every turn offers more and more impressive views over sheer edges dropping 800m into the riverbed. Beneath the Canyon the Blyde River also yields the unique and critically threatened Lowveld Riparian Forest, which now covers only 100 hectares in extent.

Blyde Canyon Country is characterised by towering mountains, deep ravines, green valleys, fast-flowing rivers and an abundance of wildlife, including The Big Five. Its scenery is unsurpassed, its vegetation both varied and lush and the rich selection of bird life includes a breeding colony of the rare bald ibis. Just over halfway down, the swift-flowing Blyde River is joined by the Ohrigstad River from the west.

Their tops appear to have a hut-like rounded roof. Where the Blyde River (”river of joy”) and the Treur River (”river of sorrow”) meet, water erosion has formed one of the most remarkable geological phenomena in the country, known as “Bourke’s Luck Potholes”. Over thousands of years, surreal cylindrical rock sculptures created by whirling water.
The scenery of the 25 000 ha reserve is unsurpassed, its vegetation both varied and lush and the rich selection of bird life includes a breeding colony of the rare bald ibis.

Enjoy adventure at its best at the Blyde River Canyon Reserve, where an abundance of hiking trails await your voyaging. Other enjoyable activities on offer at Blyde River Canyon Reserve include white water rafting, mountain biking, walking trails, luxury 4×4 game drives, golf, tennis and abseiling or boat trips on the Blyde Dam. The Blyde River has many opportunities for adventure activities such as river rafting, black water tubing, abseiling, rock climbing and scuba diving.

Only 35 minutes from Kruger National Park:This is the perfect family safari, offering wildlife nature conservation, cultural interaction, and adventure. On this Kruger Park safari you will spend time in Kruger National Park, Balule Private Game Reserve and enjoy activities at the Blyde River Canyon. You will learn about the plant and animal life, and how important each aspect of nature is. At the end of the day you will realize that plants, animals, predators and the insects are interdependent upon one another. The canyon is home to a diversity of plants and many animal species, including the Big Five, Antelope, Giraffes and Hippo. A number of plant species is endemic to the area, some only occurring on a single mountaintop. Predators include civet, leopard, serval, and caracal. Hippo and croc lurk in the rivers and lakes and the most distinctive of the bird species are eagles, buzzards, and falcons.

Popular activities in the reserve include fishing and hiking to beauty spots such as God’s Window, which offers unparalleled views across the canyon and the Lowveld. The town of Pilgrim’s Rest is of particular interest as a former gold-mining town between 1873 and 1972.

The Beijing Zoo lies west of Xizhimen and is in the western part of Beijing, China, was known for a short time after the founding of the People’s Republic as Western Suburbs Park. Located in the northwest area of the city, it is home to more than 7000 animals, including golden monkeys from Sichuan, yaks from Tibet, sea turtles from the Chinese sea, Manchurian tigers and snow leopards.

The buildings in the Zoo cover an area of more than 50,000 square meters, including the monkey hill, the panda hall, the lion and tiger hill, the elephant hall, and many others. Altogether there are more than 30 large halls. The Beijing Zoo, is the oldest and largest zoo in the Asia Pacific area and the world-famous home of the giant pandas, the Chinese sea, Manchurian tigers, and snow leopards. The Beijing Zoo is also famous for being the home of zoological research and for housing many rare birds and animals.

You will meet the sorts Panda, Giant and Red Panda in Zoo. One of the most famous mammals in the world, the giant panda is meek and looks like a bear. With the exception of its shoulders, its limbs and the rims of its ears and eyes which are black, this lovable animal is white all over. Statistics show that China now has only approximately l,000 giant pandas living in the wild, in some remote mountain areas of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces.

The Beijing Ocean Hall was opened to the public inside the Zoo in 1999 and is the biggest in China. There is there several different areas of fish: the Rain forest Adventure, the Tidal Encounter, the Acipenser Sinensis Aquarium, the Whale and Dolphin Discovery, the Wonders of Coral Reefs, and the Marine Mammal Pavilion. The Zoo exhibits not only the variety of living places for the animals but also the different rooms, halls, pavilions and luscious trees and plants. It combines the garden arts of the East and West that typically adapts to the environment of the wild animals living here.

Yellowstone is America’s national park located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Established in 1872, Yellowstone is the first national park established in the world and covers 8,987 km². Geysers, hot springs, a grand canyon, forests, wilderness, wildlife and even a large lake can all be found inside the park. Due to the park’s diversity of features, the list of activities for visitors is nearly endless. From backpacking to mountaineering, from kayaking to fishing, from sightseeing to watching bison, moose, and elk wandering into the parking lot of the visitor centers, most visitors enjoy a memorable experience in nature.
Most of Yellowstone National Park is on a plateau about 8,000 feet above sea level. The Park also features mountains and canyons. The entire Park is surrounded by mountains. The highest mountain peaks in the Park reach a little over 11,000 feet high. Experience Old Faithful, the most popular geyser in the world, or view the colorful Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. View bears and wolves, elk and buffalo in the Lamar and Hayden valleys. Learn about the history of national parks and the National Park Service. Hiking, camping, fishing, or attending a Ranger-led program or a Yellowstone Institute class, are also popular activities. Skinny-skiing Yellowstone is one of the premier winter-wilderness experiences in North America. To glide along the abandoned, snow-covered trails of the Old Faithful area in winter is to enter bottomless silences and watch tendrils of steam writhing in the chill wind. The geysers occasionally roar and billow, and buffalo use their massive heads to clear the frozen grasslands of snow.Each year, it draws 3 million visitors – one-third of the U.S. population will visit this place during their lifetime. They come to experience the park’s restless geology; to see grizzlies, gray wolves, and herds of buffalo; to fish legendary trout streams like the Madison and the Yellowstone River. Most of all, they come to reconnect in some way with a sense of primordial America, the larger-than-life landscape that existed before railroads, highways, telephones, and a host of other technologies began to cut everything down to size.
Preserved within Yellowstone are many geothermal features and some 10,000 hot springs and geysers, 62% of the planet’s known total. The superheated water that sustains these features comes from the same hot spot described above. Most of the geothermal features (hot springs, geysers, etc) emit gaseous sulfur, and though to most people the odor is not terribly offensive or overwhelming, people with respiratory difficulties should consult their doctors before visiting.

Yellowstone and the huge tracts of national-forest land that ring it comprise one of the world’s last intact temperate ecosystems—all its major species of plants and animals are still present. Yellowstone is widely considered to be the finest mega fauna wildlife habitat in the lower 48 states. Animals found in the park include the majestic American bison (buffalo), grizzly bear, black bear, wolves, elk, moose, mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and mountain lion.

Together the geothermal features, mountains, gorge, rivers, lakes, and waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park create an amazing physical landscape. There is also a large variety of living things that contribute to the Park’s ecosystem. Yellowstone is one of the most popular national parks in the United States. The park is unique in that it features multiple natural wonders all in the same park. At peak summer levels, 3,500 employees work for Yellowstone National Park concessions and about 800 work for the park.

In the south-western corner of Kenya, close to the Tanzanian border, is the Masai Mara area. It is dominated by the Masai Mara National Reserve, the most popular game park in Kenyahe Mara. Comprises 200 sq miles of open plains, woodlands and revering forest. Contiguous with the plains of the Serengeti, the Mara is home to a breathtaking array of life.The Masai Mara is perhaps most famous for its lions. All other members of the “Big Five” are to be found in the Masai Mara, although the population of black rhinoceros is severely threatened, with a population of only 37 recorded in 2000. Hippopotamus are found in large groups in the Masai Mara. These numerous migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by a block of hungry predators, most notably lions and hyena.

Each year the Mara plays host to the world’s greatest natural spectacle- impressive feature is the annual migration of 1,300,000 wildebeest, 191,000 zebra and 360,000 gazelle from the plains of the Serengeti that cross the Tanzanian border and rivers to reach the Mara’s lush grassland from late June, hunted by the predators: lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and circled by vultures as the journey unfolds. Their dramatic river crossings are a reality for tourists visiting in July – August.

Wildlife moves freely in and out of the reserve, and through neighbouring Masai lands. Outside the boundaries of the reserve there are many other small camps and lodges, some of which offer walking, horse riding and other safari options.
The Masai Mara National Reserve is administered by the local county council. It is probably the most famous and most visited reserve in Kenya.
An African Safari is an amazing travel experience. The diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes make Kenya and East Africa the perfect locations for an African Safari. Discover Kenya ’s stunning game parks, lakes and mountains. Complemented by romantic, colonial-inspired safari camps. This safari features the open plains of the Masai Mara, famous for its annual migration of wildebeest and zebra.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda, on the edge of the western Rift Valley, covers an area of 331 sq km (128 sq miles). The forest, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, is a sanctuary for around half the world’s mountain gorillas, including the Mubare and the Habinyanja groups. It is also famed for being the home of the Colobus monkey, various species of chimpanzee, hundreds of species of birds and many other animals, including forest birds, snakes, lizards, chameleons and butterflies. As well as animals, the park is home to huge trees covered in creepers, a bamboo zone and rare plants, including mistletoe and orchids. Trekking permits to see the gorillas are strictly limited and must be booked in advance.

Bon Bini on Bonaire!
If you want to practice a lot of diffrent sports from scuba diving to windsurfing or just relaxing at the beaches, you`ve just found the right place for the amazing vacation.
One of the most extra ordinary thing to do in Bonaire is to see the wildlife. Iguanas meditatively toast themselves atop the desert rock formations of Washington Slagbaai, while vast orange-pink clouds of flamingoes drift across bone-white salt flats. There are only four places in the world where flamingo colonies breed-Bonaire is one of them. In fact, more flamingoes live on the island than humans. This chariness seems to be unnatural: if nature ever dressed a diva, the flamingo is it. The pink cotton candy feathers, the graceful, wavy neck, and the long sinewy legs all seems to cry “look at beautiful me“.In fact, the birds are so sensitive to noise and intrusion that the slightest disturbance will cause them to quickly flee. They will never come close to people, and on Bonaire, you must go to them. There are two places to see Bonaire’s flamingoes. One is at the Pekelmeer Sanctuary to the south, where the birds flock around the salt ponds; the other at Lake Gotomeer, in Washington Slagbaai National Park in the north.

Have some serious fun in the adventure sports capital of the world—New Zealand! Whether it is sailing or sea kayaking off the Bay of Islands, hiking the Routeburn, trout fishing, scuba diving, bungee jumping or sheep mustering, we will put together the ultimate New Zealand vacation for you.

New Zealand’s awesome landscapes, lush forests, amazing wildlife and pleasant climate make it a haven for many outdoor activities, and a great place to unwind. New Zealand society is diverse, sophisticated, and multicultural, and the honesty, friendliness, and openness of Kiwis will impress you.

And the great advantage of New Zealand is that all of its diverse physical, cultural, and artistic landscapes are so close to each other!
You will find a variety of awesome landscapes in New Zealand, all within easy reach of each other. Spectacular glaciers, picturesque fiords, rugged mountains, vast plains, rolling hillsides, subtropical forest, volcanic plateau, miles of coastline with gorgeous sandy beaches — it’s all here. With vast open spaces filled with stunning rugged landscapes, gorgeous beaches, often spectacular geothermal and volcanic activity, a temperate climate and fascinating animal and plant life, and it is no surprise that New Zealand’s pure natural environment is so attractive to visitors from other countries.

New Zealand is a year-around destination, and does not have a specific rainy season. Rain falls throughout the year and keeps the landscape wonderfully green, a delight for hikers. New Zealand`s summer months are from December to February, and they bring high temperatures and lots of sunshine. Days are long and nights mild. Summer is an excellent time for bushwalking, swimming, surfing, boating and other watersports. The fall months from March to May are little cooler but weather can still be excellent. Colorful changing leaves make these months a scenic delight, especially in the regions of Central Otago and Hawke`s Bay known for the fall splendor. Winter months from June to August bring more rain in the North Island, and snow to the South Island. This is an excellent time to visit glaciers and mountains, and enjoy world-class skiing. The spring months from September to November bring warmer weather again, and flowering plants all over the country. If you are into whitewater rafting, this is the time as melting spring snow makes river water levels excitingly high!

With a long, often indented coastline of almost 18,000km, New Zealand is a diver`s paradise. Coastal waters teem with colorful, fascinating sea life and the usually clear waters make for excellent viewing, especially in the prime months from February to June. Many of New Zealand`s prime diving spots are just offshore, offering easy access. One of the best spots is the crystal-clear waters of the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, whose amazing range of fish, including many tropical species, was considered by the late Jacques Cousteau to be one of the world`s top five diving locations. Other popular areas are the sheltered Bay of Islands, four hours drive north of Auckland; and in the South Island, the dramatic fiords of Fiordland, and Stewart Island with its breathtaking kelp forests and huge paua (abalone). Two accessible wrecks on the New Zealand coast also provide special diving opportunities.

New Zealand has a unique and dynamic culture. The culture of the indigenous Maori people affects the language, the arts, and even the accents of all New Zealanders. Maori first arrived in the area over 1,000 years ago, and today make about ten percent of the population. Maori culture is a rich and varied one, and includes traditional and contemporary arts. Traditional arts such as carving, weaving, kapa haka (group performance), whaikorero (oratory) and moko (tattoo) are practised throughout the country. Practitioners following in the footsteps of their tipuna (ancestors) replicate the techniques used hundreds of years ago, yet also develop exciting new techniques and forms. Today Maori culture also includes art, film, television, poetry, theatre, and hip-hop. New Zealand gained its independence from Britain in 1907.