The word ’safari’ originates from the Swahili word for journey, which in turn comes from the Arabic term for travel, ’safara’.

In English safari has been defined as an overland journey by hunters, occurring especially in Africa. The meaning of the term safari has shifted over time with less of a focus on hunting than traditionally held.

Today there is more emphasis on the journey or trip with an intention of viewing, photographing and appreciating the wildlife of Africa. Safari has more recently been defined as an expedition in search of wild game, moving away from hunting per se.

With the expansion of tourism and the increasing popularity of game viewing you can now find many kinds of safaris. Safari types include; walking safaris, safaris for singles, photography safaris, family safaris, game viewing wildlife safari adventures and the once popular hunting safaris.

Africa is the place for going on safaris, so take your pick between the various countries offering superb wildlife safari tours:

• Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• There is also a variety of safari trips in South Africa going to various game parks, such as Kruger National Park.

Read further: Africa Travel Guide

Garden Route Travel Guide / The Garden Route includes one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline, whose starting point is constantly contested as towns such as Witsand, Stilbaai and Albertinia join the route that winds its way for some 200 km via George, Wilderness, Sedgefield and Knysna on to Plettenberg Bay and culminating in the Tstisikamma Forest – a fairyland of giant trees, ferns and bird life.

Mountains crowd close to a shoreline dotted with beaches and bays, and vividly coloured wild flowers delight the eye. Between Heidelberg and Storms River, the Garden Route runs parallel to a coastline featuring lakes, mountains, tall indigenous forests, amber -coloured rivers and golden beaches. Meandering trails are followed by hikers, the forests invite long, leisurely drives, and the lakes and rivers lend themselves to swimming boating and fishing. A wide range of leisure options, spectacular scenery and a mild climate guarantee an unforgettable holiday experience when visiting the Garden Route in South Africa.

The region provides a stirring study in contrasts. The delightful town of George, known as “The Gateway to the Garden Route”, graces a coastal plateau in a fertile area of lush greenery at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains. Oudtshoorn, “Capital of the Klein Karoo“, is set in a semi-arid valley, providing the ideal habitat for ostriches which are farmed here on a grand scale.

The Garden Route, South Africa

The Garden Route stretches on the southern coast from Heidelberg to the Tsitsikamma Forest and Storms River. It’s a nook of the country that offers inspiration to writers and artists whose presence gives the Garden Route a trendy flavour. It is also a top priority of many a foreign visitor. The coastal drive links a series of charming towns interspersed with natural beauty. Along the way, every kind of adventure activity is possible; scuba diving, abseiling, fishing and more. The Tsitsikamma National Park, perched on a tumultuous Indian Ocean shore is one of South Africa’s most dramatic protected areas, combining marine and land attractions. Its indigenous forests are a haven for birdlife. One of the most geologically interesting parts of South Africa is the Klein Karoo, with its towering mountains and sheer gorges.

An important geological feature is the Cango Caves, a series of caverns and chambers naturally hewn out of limestone, situated outside the city of Oudtshoorn. The Cango Caves are among the top ten most visited South African attractions. Oudtshoorn itself, the heart of the ostrich feather industry when it was in its hey day the late 1800s and early 1900s, is well worth a visit. The grandiose, old feather palaces are still to be seen, while ostrich farms, now involved in the commercial production of meat, leather, eggs and feathers, can be toured, with the possibility of riding an ostrich.

Source: SA-Venues

Africa Travel Guide

The first step in planning your luxury safari vacation is to determine where your interests lie and what you want out of the safari experience.
Perhaps a fly-in safari to Namibia’s soaring apricot coloured sands at Sossusvlei, the unique Etosha saltpan, the huge mountainous deserts of Damaraland with its desert adapted elephants and rhino or the hauntingly beautiful skeleton coast with its varied scenery and interesting wildlife. Namibia is also the perfect destination for those interested in astronomy as it offers some of the finest star gazing in Southern Africa. Namibia combines well with the stunning contrast of Cape Town’s beaches and beautiful winelands.
South Africa is a great destination if you are after a varied holiday. You can combine an elephant back safari, big 5 game viewing in the Kruger National Park and then relax with some whale watching in the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town with pristine beaches and the picturesque winelands of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. South Africa is an eclectic fusion of cultures and this diversity is evident in its architecture, music, cuisine, languages and physical landscapes. Whether you are looking for a luxurious, peaceful safari lodge like Leopard Hills in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in the Kruger National Park or an elegant yet unpretentious hotel like the Cape Grace, nestled in the shadow of the majestic, awe inspiring mass of Table Mountain – South Africa has it all.
Neighbouring Mozambique with its rugged coral coastline and treasure islands is another fantastic destination for beach lovers with miles and miles of white sandy beaches and crystal clear aquamarine waters abundant with neon coloured marine life. It is a diver’s paradise and a wonderful destination for deep sea and fly fishing. It is also home to a population of rare dugongs or “sea cows” which are said to have been the inspiration for the legendary tales of mermaids.
Another unforgettable African safari experience is the wildlife migration in the Serengeti in East Africa where you can experience a bird’s eye view of the great migration in a hot air balloon and then enjoy a bush breakfast on the plains. You will also have the opportunity to explore the magnificent East African coastline in a dhow. Tanzania boasts the 8000ft high Ngorongoro Crater, the majestic snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro and the sunny islands that make up Zanzibar. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Stone Town; the old quarter, with a warren of narrow alleys ways housing a colourful array of shops and bizarres or just laze about on the romantic beaches. Snorkelling or diving will appeal to the more adventurous of spirits. Tanzania and Zanzibar are well matched to neighbouring Kenya.
The Masai Mara in Kenya is perfect for viewing the wildebeest migration and also boasts the Rift Valley lakes full of water birds and semi desert regions such as Sambura and Lake Turkana. Kenya is the ideal destination for a traditional vehicle safari or a fly-in safari. There are some superb small camps and lodges that have opened in recent years such as the Elephant Pepper Camp and Cottar’s 1920′s Camp which will give you an authentic feeling of a bygone era.
To the west of Tanzania is Rwanda where you can bear witness to the testimony of the power of the human spirit, a remarkable country whose people have overcome tremendous adversity and challenges.
Rwanda’s Parc National des volcans (PNV) is made up of 1345 square feet of mountain forest and is home to six virunga volcanoes and the endangered mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is becoming ever more popular and offers nature lovers the opportunity to experience the largest and most endangered of the living primates, up close and personal. The gorilla, with its DNA being 97-98% identical to humans, is the third closest of our living relatives. You will be accompanied by highly experienced guides who have spent most of their lives in the forest. It takes between 1 and 4 hours to find the gorillas but the reward is well worth the trek as you will have time to watch these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat; feeding, playing, resting and caring for each other. Permits are limited, to preserve the natural habitat of the gorillas, so it is essential to be flexible and to book your trip well in advance.
Zambia is the perfect destination for those looking for an active safari, offering great walking and canoeing activities as well as excellent day and night game drives in an open top vehicle tracking herds of buffalo, zebra and antelope. Take your time exploring the Zambezi floodplains with elephants, crocodiles and hippo. The Busanga Plains is home to millions of small antelope and tree climbing lions. Chiawa Camp and Chamilandu Camp are well worth a visit. Zambia is also home to one of the top ten travel wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunyi which means “the smoke that thunders”. David Livingstone captured the beauty of the falls with the words, “scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”. Approximately 546 million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge of the falls and the shear raw energy is an experience to behold. The Royal Livingstone and the recently opened David Livingstone Safari Lodge offer splendid views in elegant, luxurious surroundings.
South of Zambia is Botswana with its beautiful, tranquil and unspoilt Okavango Delta (the only inland Delta in the world), supporting millions of plains game, elephant, giraffe, antelope and the big cats. The semi desert regions of Chobe and Savuti are famous breeding grounds for elephant herds and prides of lion. Botswana is a great destination for both short breaks and longer vacations and is equally suited for a relaxing, slow paced safari or a more adventurous safari. Great locations include Baines Camp, a small intimate camp with expansive views over the Boro River and Lebala Camp which sits on a peninsula that juts out into the heart of the Linyanti Delta. Botswana combines well with Cape Town or Mauritius.
Now that you have determined the destination, you will need to decide whether you would like to stay in luxurious camps or minimalist bush accommodation and whether you would like to drive or fly between destinations. Luxury safaris offer excellent value for money and with currencies like the dollar, pound or euro in your pocket you will be pleasantly surprised at the luxury you will be able to afford.
Another important aspect of arranging your luxury safari vacation is to make sure you use a well established tour operator. It is essential that the tour operator’s staff are well travelled and have personally visited the various hotels, lodges and camps you intend to visit. This will help them tailor make your trip to your exact requirements as they will have first hand knowledge on what the various destinations have to offer. The tour operator should be impartial and preferably have no financial interest in any of the camps, hotels and lodges. An established tour operator will also have developed good relationships with the various camps over the years and will be able to arrange visits to the local communities and villages giving you a unique insight into their way of life.
Whatever your choice of destinations Africa will, time and time again, delight the senses of even the most jaded of travellers. It is a continent that is truly alive with endless possibilities.

Source: Article Snatch

Africa travel Guide

How To Choose The Best Of Costa Rica Tourism

While many people prefer to arrange their own travel plans, some people actually prefer if the headache of traveling were taken out of their hands. You will find that arranging to go on one of the many Costa Rica tours will provide you with many great features. The benefits of Costa Rica tourism are included.

To book one of these Costa Rica tours you will need to check out the different tour operators. This way you can choose from the best of Costa Rica tourism. If you prefer to know in advance what interesting information can be found for the different tours you can use the internet. Here you will be able to find information about Costa Rica tourism

As with most of the Costa Rica tourism sites that you will find there are the cultural and fun tours. Depending on your preference and travel plans you will be able to see if there is a way that you can combine these two tour type plans together.

The taste for all things cultural and fun or adventurous in Costa Rica tourism can be taken in one go when you go on one of these tours around Costa Rica. At these tours you can see the sights of the city while you are floating down the coastline of Costa Rica or you can see about taking a leisurely ride down the many rivers.

There are many different types of Costa Rica tourism vacations that you can look into. For instance you can book your vacation to Costa Rica for group parties, wedding anniversaries can be held here in the different parts of Costa Rica. You can find Costa Rica tourism vacations which are found off the beaten track of civilization.

Besides going to these types of Costa Rica vacations you will find that relaxing at a spa is an enjoyable vacation idea that you can look into. As with all of these different Costa Rica tourism sites in Costa Rica you will need to make sure that you have all of the details that you need known and you have plenty of time left to book your dream vacation.

Read More:

Africa Travel Guide

Africa – A Perfect Safari Holiday Destination

Africa Travel Guide

The land offers exotic natural scenic beauty and its inhabitants truly in their raw forms to mesmerize your traveling experience. So, if you planning a vacation to rejuvenate your senses, Africa holidays will surely charm you.

Many countries of the continent provide daring Africa safaris capable of holding your nerves including Kenya, Zambia, Namibia, Mauritius, South Africa and others. These holiday safaris give you a chance to hobnob with wild monster and feel their activities. You can also get closer and take some amazing pictures that will remain in your memory for a longer period of time.

Holiday safaris are the main tourist attraction of African nations. People willing to take safari holidays Africa can get appropriate arrangements to fix their meeting with wild beasts. If you are staying at resorts then you can contact their travel & tourism to guide you properly. They will further make you registered with holiday safaris which lead you to see giraffe, gazelle, lions and wild elephants. Imagine how you feel when you see a real lion roaring and establishing his power. The unspeakable emotions and feelings will always stay in your conscious.

African safari holidays are a full package of excitement and danger. Therefore, one should keep utmost care and precaution while planning to go on Africa safaris. Choose your place carefully and always accompany experienced people for the real fun. Do not get out of your vehicle while you are in jungle as monsters can be attacking sometimes. Maintain some distances to capture your fun moments and do not anything that can entice animals to attack you.

Africa offers you some real thrilling safari experiences that you will cherish for long. It is an ultimate vacation which gives you a challenging encounter with several powerful animals of the real jungle. Plan you Africa safari to experience mystique and heart taking encounters and save some good memories

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anirban_Bhattacharya