AFRICA |
AFRICA |
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H. Ryder Haggard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Somerset Maugham, Ernest Hemingway,
Winston Churchill and
countless others have glorified the mystery and suspense of what is
still known as the Dark Continent. Now you too can explore the
inner sanctum from the comfort of your armchair. Just Click --
and Know. Snow-capped Kilimanjaro, floating above the clouds is no doubt one of the most beautiful and impressive sights in the natural world. Even hard-boiled non-believers, in their unguarded moments, empathise with the Maasai who call it the “House of God”. The mountain is one of the Seven Top Summits of the world –it has the highest point on the African continent. Though there are higher mountains, they form part of mountain ranges, Everest for example. But Kili, as it is popularly known, is the highest freestanding mountain in the world. It rises gently from 3,000 feet, reaches for the heavens and only halts after a 16,000 feet ascent. The diameter at the base is an amazing 64 kilometres. *** Bill Clinton, together with his wife went on safari in Botswana in 1998. The power couple was greatly fascinated by the wildlife, and the serious games of life and death they play. Affirming his position on top of the food chain, the president ate for dinner some of the animal species he had watched earlier. His evening buffet included zebra, crocodile, impala in monkey sauce, and giraffe. "I tried it all", he declared with satisfaction. But the former American president is only one in a long line of heavy hitters to enjoy the wildlife havens of Botswana. Hollywood legends, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor chose to remarry here, for example. *** Zanzibar is referred to as the Spice Islands with good reason. The fragrant scents of cloves, cardamom, nutmeg and vanilla hung in the warm tropical air. To this day sailors claim that they can recognise the aroma of the islands even when far out at sea. Surely, not even die-hard fans of the Spice Girls can claim anything similar. But the spice business is relatively recent, less than 200 years old. It is the fascinating history of the islands that evokes the image of magic and romance in the minds of visitors. *** Africa is a treasure house for birding. The continent has over 2,050 bird species recorded, two thirds of which are found nowhere else. East Africa, in particular, has an amazing variety of birds, perhaps due to a mild climate devoid of extremes. The region has 4 of the Top Ten Birding Sites in Africa as rated by the African Bird Club - an international organisation devoted to the study of Africa's birds. These sites are: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda), Bale Mountains (Ethiopia), the Rift Valley Lakes (Kenya) and Murchison Falls Park (Uganda). This is an amazing article of almost 2500 words. Click HERE to read it all. *** The wildlife safari is a key item on the South Africa tourist menu. Those who chose to see Africa's wildlife here will not be disappointed. The game viewing experience is excellent at the top rated Kruger National Park and at other well-regarded game parks in the country. Wildlife is protected in over 300 public and private game and nature reserves. SANParks (South African National Parks) manages 20 national parks spread throughout the country. *** Egypt is one of the most fascinating destinations on the world tourist map. This extra ordinary country is today the favourite vacation spot for many, just like it was in the days of the early Greeks and Romans. The thoroughly cultured Greeks, in particular, were fascinated by this civilization that predated theirs by at least 2000 years. The biggest draw continues to be the amazing abundance of historical treasures- temples, pyramids and museums -contained in this one country. But the destination offers more than just the wonders of antiquity. Your visit to Egypt can be rounded off by a cruise down the Nile and a beach vacation at the top notch Red Sea and Sinai resorts. *** Kenya's 480 km coast is one of the principal attractions for visitors to the country. Every year, hundreds of thousands of sun lovers find their way here. Many are returning pilgrims who truly know that the sun here is ever faithful. Unlike other beach destinations, the visitor is served with much more than just sun and sand but is delighted to discover ancient coastal forests and historical sites and a people with a fascinating history and culture. The casual visitor impressed by the tranquil beaches and gentle people will not suspect the colourful and eventful history of these realms.For the tourist, the Kenya coast can be seen as five regions. These are: the town and island of Mombasa; the south coast -stretching from Mombasa to the Tanzanian border 135 km away: the north coast- covering the beaches from Mombasa upto Kilifi, 60 km away: Malindi and Watamu about 130 km to the northeast of Mombasa and Lamu island and archipelago, 225 km further up from Malindi. Each of these regions has similarities in terms of history, culture, natural attractions and beach experience. But as sports fans will understand, it is the differences that matter to the dedicated fans of each region. *** Namibia's top draw is the Etosha National Park, rated as one of Africa's finest game sanctuaries. The birding experience in the country is truly superior. The range of activities you can indulge in the unsurpassable physical environment is truly impressive. Ballooning over the desert, skydiving over land and sea, paragliding, whitewater rafting and sand skiing along coastal dunes are good activities for starters. More fun games to pick from include abseiling - that most spectacular of rock sports, coastal and fresh water angling, desert camel riding, scuba diving, 4x4 desert runs, hiking and mountaineering. ***
Almost every description of the Seychelles
appears to be a bit over the top. Is it only the easily impressed who get to
visit and write about the Seychelles? The magic of these islands is however
real. Impressions gained of this dream island paradise will be your refuge
when you return to those long working hours. Just like everybody imagines
paradise, the Seychelles islands are far away, peaceful and stunningly
beautiful. ***
As winter approaches in the northern hemisphere, the earth’s rotation round
the sun means that summer beckons in the south. I admonish you- take a few
days off and follow the sun! The best place to catch the Town’s claim to
being the most beautiful city in South Africa is undisputed. And seasoned
travel writers readily accept the merit of Cape
Town’s claim that is indeed one of the most beautiful cities in the
world. It takes 22.5 hours to get to South Africa from Oklahoma City. One friend of mine in South Africa has a ranch with sixty five square miles. It is packed with game. "Do you have any trouble with poachers?" I asked. "None at all," he responded. "We bury them right where they fall." If he was joking my keen observational skills could not detect it. ***
Uganda is a beautiful country with an impressive
people. This is one of my favourite countries in all of Africa. The people of
Uganda have survived the troubles of 1967-86 period and emerged standing upright
and wearing a smile. In that short period, the country suffered under the
caprice of two despicable despots. One was the indisputably insane Idi Amin and
the other, the arguably insane Milton Obote. ***
Tanzania's natural
endowment as a wildlife safari destination is
unrivalled. Wild animals roam in vast areas as God intended on that sixth day of
the creation. These areas are designated as national parks and game reserves and
have a high reputation for being uncrowded and unspoilt. The magnificent
collection of game sanctuaries to the north of the country, near the border with
Kenya, is referred to as The Northern Circuit. This is the most popular and
accessible wildlife safari route in Tanzania. I can positively say that this is
one of the finest game viewing areas anywhere in the world. The game aside, the
spectacularly diverse cluster of eco-systems and habitats is a dazzling
experience for many a visitor. |
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