Touring Africa is one
of the most amazing holidays you could possibly have alone, with friends or
with your loved ones. While it’s easy to see that there are many things to do
in Africa, there is nothing more interesting than taking Africa holiday tours.
Taking a safari can provide you with a close-up look at the wildlife native to
this amazing area. If you’re going to be taking the safari with your family,
it’s a great way to teach your loved ones about the animals that all live
there.
How to
Reduce the Impact on the Environment when Traveling There?
Unfortunately, many people avoid taking
safaris in Africa because they are afraid that going on one of these tours is
intrusive and almost dangerous to the animals that they will be observing. The
great thing to know is that many safaris nowadays are reducing their
impact on the environment, making their tours more natural and healthy
for the animals in the area. This allows you and your group to have an amazing
African experience without worrying that what you’re doing is disturbing the
natural balance of nature. Finding one of these safaris is vital to have a less
environmentally impacting experience while still experiencing something that is
truly amazing.
How to
Find the Best Environmentally-friendly Safaris in Africa?
Before taking any tour or looking for some of
the best Africa destinations, you will need to do thorough research on the
specific safari that you will be taking. The way that environmentally-friendly
safaris work is by reducing the emissions of their vehicles, using more natural
routes and allowing the animals to be in their most natural environment. These
are some of the things that you will want to look for when searching for the
right type of safari. If you have further questions about the tour, you may
want to contact the company outright and ask about what they are offering to
someone who wants to have a low impact on the tour that they’re taking.
Summary
Going on an African safari tour is a wonderful experience you won’t soon forget. It’s a great way to spend a holiday with loved ones, but you also want to make sure that you aren’t being overly intrusive to the natural balance of wildlife that you’ll be viewing. Choosing the right safari and tour will make all of the difference, and it’s something you should definitely consider before booking a tour or actually going on one while on holiday. Be sure to look at reviews and ask locals about the available safaris to find out which one is the right option for you. From there, you can enjoy an amazing experience that is both affordable and great for the environment. You will want to ask the tour guide beforehand if you are allowed to take pictures and videos while on the safari tour.
Enjoy your trip and share your experiences
with us below!
As a traveller, you like to travel to places that are quite happening and have much to offer in terms of adventure, food, activities, ancient building and other things. You enjoy your trip more when you are with family or friends. However, have you ever travelled alone? Travelling alone gives you the freedom to explore new places, meet new people, try new things and most importantly try places that are not on regular travellers’ itinerary.
One such place to visit is Stanford. A small village beyond Hermanus in South Africa is a great place to visit not just as a solo traveller but even with friends and family. The thing that makes Stanford the ideal place for solo adventure is its picturesque setting. Driving 23 kilometers from Hermanus viewing scenic beauty along the way, you will find the village of Stanford along the river Klein.
Abundance of activities, adventure, and serenity!! You can find them all in Stanford. However, if you are traveling solo, you might be a little skeptical about your trip.
Here we have some tips for you when traveling solo to Stanford:
1. Travel with an open mind: When you are traveling solo, the first thing that you have to do is to have an open mind. You are going to a new country, will meet new people, see cultural differences and will have to eat different food. So, keeping an open mind when traveling solo will always help. Stanford is a friendly place where you will find villagers gathering to have friendly chats over coffee. You can be at ease when you are traveling with an open mind.
2. Find a comfortable accommodation: finding a comfortable accommodation in Stanford is not difficult as it offers several options to you as a solo traveler. It depends on your requirements and your budget and Stanford offers them all. You can choose accommodation from bed & breakfast, bed only, camping, guest houses, self-catering, hotels, and lodges. You can also look for families that welcome paying guests.
3. Eat locally: Stanford has some amazing places that offer scrumptious meals prepared by the locals. What is more exciting is that you will find the chefs preparing meals using locally produced, seasonal and environmentally friendly ingredients. You can find a range of food destinations in Stanford including gourmet delights, fine dining, country cuisine and pup grub. Going solo here will help you understand the food habits and culture of the locals. Graze Slow Food Café, Yum Eat Café, Don Gelato Ice Cream Parlor; Coffee Shop & Trattoria are some places that you can visit.
Credit: www.tripadvisor.com
4. Be friendly with the locals: Stanford might be a small village but it has people with big hearts. They are friendly, warm and welcoming. They gather around the village square and frequently stop to have a friendly chat over coffee and freshly baked cake from the nearby eateries. Mixing with the locals will help you get away with your solo travel blues if any.
5. Visit the vineyards: Stanford is also home to some amazing vineyard estates. As a solo traveler, you can taste the local vines straight from the vineyards. This will give you a chance to understand how vine is prepared and meet the locals as well. Sir Robert Stanford Estate, Springfontein Wine Estate, Welgesind and Birkenhead Brewery & Walker Bay Winery are some of the more popular of the wine estates to visit.
Credit: www.pinterest.com
6. Adventure and activities: When you are traveling solo, you have all the time to try something new. If you haven’t had some adventure in the past time, here is your chance to do at Stanford. You can choose from various activities like horse riding, bird watching, boat cruises, Great White Shark cage diving, hiking and picnicking to get the taste of real adventure.
7. Explore the surrounding areas: Stanford and its surrounding areas offer much in terms of activities and relaxation. As a solo traveler, if you are looking to be yourself and need a place to retreat, you can check into one of the resorts or estates that are some distance from Stanford. Phillipskop Mountain Reserve, Mosaic Lagoon Lodge and Fynbos Retreat Self Catering are some places that can give you a tranquil getaway from the usual hustle bustle.
Credit: www.xplorio.com
8. Visit the cheese farmstead: A visit to the local cheese farmstead must be in your itinerary to complete your solo adventure to Stanford. Klein River Cheese Farmstead is a great place to visit to try the freshly prepared cheese platter. You will get a taste of the local cheese and a peek into the ingredients that make it so delicious.
Credit: www.culturecheesemag.com
9. Keep your camera ready: You never know when you might get a great shot. With a picturesque background, mountains and River Klein flowing nearby, Stanford can be a photographer’s delight. You can take hundreds of photos to remind you of the beautiful time that you spent with the amazing people of Stanford.
10.Record and journal everything: As a solo traveller, you must keep a journal to record what all you have seen. Stanford being a quite as well as adventurous destination provides a lot to write. Keeping a journal will help you relive the memories of Stanford, a few years down the line.
11. Learn the local lingo: If you want to have the best of time when travelling solo to Stanford, you can learn the local lingo. Although learning the local language in a short span of time is difficult, you can learn the basic phrases that will help you get along with the locals. This will also help you in understanding their way of life and their culture.
While philosophers may debate whether beauty is objective or relative one thing they all agree on is that there are cities in the world which through sheer elegance help us transcend our ordinary existence and lift up our spirits to an almost divine plane of existence. These six cities are the best representation of this ideal.
6. Casablanca in Morocco, Africa
Few cities in the world can possibly hope to match the radiant beauty and overwhelming sense of history found in the city of Casablanca. As the main economic and cultural center of the North African Kingdom of Morocco, this cultural icon stands as a testament to the sheer will and resolve of a people to protect the sanctity of their heritage and sense of being. Casablanca first shot to global fame in 1942 when a movie with the same name was released with Humphrey Bogart as the main star of the film. Since then tourist have flocked to the North African city to be filled with a sense of awe as they experience the magical feeling of traveling through history as you walk among architectural marvels like the Hassan II Mosque and the Notre Dame Lourdes cathedral. Spanish and Portuguese influence can be felt throughout the city due to cultural exchange resulting from conquest and trade.
5. Gold Coast in Australia, Oceania
For anyone who loves the beach then Gold Coast feels like paradise on earth with elegant white sands and deep blue oceans. Surfers have the time of their lives riding monster waves and afterward relax watching a beautiful sunset while sipping margaritas. A whole host elegant restaurants adorn the city, several open cafes and pubs can make the place a delight for locals and tourist. Photographers often spend their time at the Currumbin wildlife sanctuary where there are cute koala bears, parrots, and exotic owls.
4. Venice in Italy, Europe
Try as it may modern architecture still struggles to match the beauty of classical architectural design and no city on earth embodies the beauty and values of classicism better than the Renaissance marvel of Venice. Venice is constructed on an archipelago of more than 100 islands through which the iconic canals of Venice pass through. Notable sites include Doge`s Palace, Rialto Bridge and the Hall of The Great Council.
3. Quebec in Canada, North America
Quebec which means where the river narrows is the second largest city in Canada featuring some of the oldest streets and buildings in North America. The Parc de La Chute-Montmorency offers one of the most scenic waterfalls in the world surrounded by the most breathtaking natural environment imaginable. Local artisans make handcrafted ornaments and commodities that come from the ancient wisdom passed on through the generations that have lived in the area for centuries. The Sainte Anne de Beaupre shrine is a divine center where pilgrims came to worship and remain as an iconic testament of the devout faith of the locals.
2. Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, South America
Perhaps one of the most iconic sites in the world is the statue of Christ the Redeemer atop a hill overlooking Rio De Janeiro. The Santa Teresa neighborhood is an elegant display of a cultural fusion between 19th century Portuguese and local architecture. Sugarloaf mountain stands at 1300ft above the harbor and is globally respected for the panoramic experience it presents to tourists who wish to see the city in all its spender. Whether its the elegant streets during carnivore celebration or white sandy beaches there can be no doubt that Rio is an iconic fit of human accomplishment.
1. Hong Kong in Asia.
The iconic Hong Kong skyline has been the source of inspiration for many photographers and filmmakers. During the night the light from the forest of skyscrapers can seem to light up the waters of Victoria Harbor and it should be no surprise that there are more skyscrapers in Hong Kong per sq ft, than anywhere else in the world. The chic modern skyscrapers put up during British occupation should not deceive you into thinking that Hong Kong doesn’t have a history. The walled village contains the spirit of the days past and embodied in the architecture of the place. The Ocean Park theme park is known as a local version of Disneyland possessing cultural symbols more relevant to the local people. So whether tourists want to enjoy a walk down history, have some fun in a theme park or even relax at one of the famous Hong Kong massage parlors, one thing to be certain of is that this place will not disappoint.
Marriage proposals in Italy, baking bread in the shape of babies in Ecuador, and burning expensive possessions to appease the souls of the dead in China. Across the globe there some strange but wonderful ways locals celebrate their own versions of Halloween. Thomas Cook has collated 50 of the outlandish laws, traditions and locations to create a Halloween map of the world full of need to know trivia you never knew existed.
Here are a few highlights from around the globe:
Halloween Haters
In Dublin, Georgia, USA your face must be fully visible and recognisable by law on Halloween
Vendragues, France it is illegal to wear clown costumes or makeup on this event if you are more than 12 years old
The country of Jordan made Halloween in its entirety illegal in 2014
Most haunted destinations
Multiple UFO, ghosts, orbs sightings and the abduction and reappearance a decade later of a young girl at Barranco de Badajoz in Spain make this the place to visit for believers in life beyond earth.
Visit the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, to become one of many who have spotted a Pharaoh wearing his golden collar, headdress, and riding a fiery chariot with black phantom horse.
Ghostly Traditions
The Romanian ‘Feast of St. Andrew’ involves eating garlic the night before and placing it near doors, windows and chimneys to ward off evil spirits.
In Germany, locals look to protect the visiting spirits drawn out during ‘All Souls Week’, by hiding all their knives so they won’t be injured.
Hati locals celebrate ‘Fed Gede’ alongside the visiting spirits, eating, drinking, warming their bones by the fire and dancing with them.
The travel and tourism industry is booming as more and more people take advantage of low airfares and increased opportunities to see new places. While there has been some resistance to increased visitor numbers in some European destinations, much of the world is still welcoming visitors with open arms.
Here are some suggestions for places to travel and activities to experience in 2018.
The Philippines
Brilliant green rice fields, teeming cities, colourful jeepneys, stunning beaches, and smiling, happy-go-lucky people are all part of the Philippines scene. With more than 7000 tropical islands to choose from, you can find what you are looking for. Divers have long known about the country’s underwater attractions while Northern Palawan is perfect for sea kayakers, and Boracay is a world-class kiteboarding and beach destination.
The Philippines was colonised for 400 years and vestiges of the Spanish era can be seen in exuberant town festivals and centuries-old stone churches while huge shopping malls, fast-food chains and widespread spoken English come from the influence of the Americans.
Boracay Beach. Credit: Philippines Tourism
Manila, the capital, is a pulsating hub that blends the quaint with the modern, the mundane with the extraordinary. Cebu is a choice tourist destination with balmy weather, pristine beaches, crystalline waters, and luxurious resorts. Banaue is a place for nature adventures and cultural immersion and the rice terraces are quite extraordinary. Palawan has thick green forest, white-sand beach, sparkling water and magnificently sculpted jade islands.
Philippines Airlines operates from most continents to Manila and there are some direct services to Cebu.
South Africa
Go almost anywhere in South Africa and you can experience a combination of nature, wildlife, culture, adventure, heritage and style. During these tough economic times, it’s good to find a bargain destination where you can even afford luxury and have spending money left over. There is natural beauty in mountains, forests, coasts and deserts and world-class facilities.
It is not possible to talk about South Africa without mentioning wildlife. Everyone wants to see the Big Five, but there are also whales, penguins, meerkats, wild dogs, birds and much more. If you are looking to experience wildlife viewing in luxury, Tintswalo Safari Lodge, in the pristine private Manyeleti Game Reserve could be the answer. It shares an unfenced boundary with the renowned Kruger National Park and suites are decorated to reflect colonial times.
The same company has beach-side Tintswalo Atlantic, a 5 star, award-winning boutique lodge nestled at the base of Table Mountain National Park near Cape Town. This is one of the city’s hidden gems. The views of a wild sea crashing below contrasting with a roaring fire and fabulous welcome drinks will set the tone for a memorable stay.
For a city location, the all-suites Michelangelo Towers in Sandton, Johannesburg appeals because it is directly connected to the Michelangelo Towers Mall and the Sandton Convention Centre, and is located directly opposite Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square in the in heart of South Africa’s Richest Square Mile.
Monaco
Situated at France’s southeastern corner near the Italian border, occupying an area of just 2.8 sq. km, Monaco might be the second smallest country in the world (after the Vatican), but what it lacks in size it sure makes up for in attitude and variety.
There is an ornate opera house, Michelin-starred restaurants, and casinos, palaces, cathedrals, supercars, mega yachts, deluxe hotels and designer boutiques. There are also museums and galleries, festivals, nightclubs, and gardens with exotic plants and sea views.
Monaco. Credit: Monaco Government Tourist Bureau
The country is one of the most surprising and rewarding destinations in Europe. It is just 30 minutes by car, bus or taxi from Nice Airport through hairpin bends and along rocky cliffs. Monaco enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year and a temperate climate.
Berlin
As most readers will know, Berlin has had a chequered history in recent decades. It is now emerging as one of Europe’s leading centres of culture. The modern Mitte district has the Museum Island UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also two opera houses and six major theatres, as well as museums, innumerable galleries and arts venues. Now, many new major cultural projects are locating here, just a few minutes’ walk apart.
Opened earlier this year, the new Pierre Boulez Saal is a major international concert hall with the elliptically-shaped hall regularly presenting concerts and chamber music. A complete contrast is provided by the 1740s Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin’s first opera house, which reopened in October 2017. Unfortunately, Berlin’s most popular museum, the Pergamon, is partially closed but from mid- 2018, visitors can view part of the Pergamon Altar’s treasures at a temporary exhibition building directly opposite Museum Island.
The James-Simon-Galerie will be the Museum Island’s new central entrance and visitor centre with central ticket office, cloakrooms and facilities, cafés and a museum shop when it opens in 2019.
Berlin-Ansichten. Credit: Visit Berlin
To complement all this development, several major hotels have opened in 2017 and more are scheduled for 2018.
The Berlin City Centre Alexanderplatz, opened in May offering 344 rooms with a modern design over nine floors. Later, The Yard, 4-star boutique hotel with 55 rooms opened, followed by the Orani Berlin, a classy hotel with 42 subtle but rather luxuriously furnished rooms. Between now and year’s end the 60-metre-high Motel One Berlin-Alexanderplatz with 708 rooms, The Meininger Hotel Berlin East Side Gallery with 245 rooms and the Hilton Berlin City East with 254 rooms will all open.
Bargain rooms may well be on offer during the European winter.
Los Angeles
Many readers will have been to Los Angeles, USA but most will not be aware of the wide range of museums, art galleries and concert halls that are spread throughout the city. In the downtown area, the futuristic Walt Disney Theatre is an architectural masterpiece and is right next door to the city’s newest cultural and design showpiece, The Broad. L.A.Live is another vibrant entertainment complex offering restaurants and live music venues.
Walt Disney Theatre. Credit: Discover LA. Photo by Matt Marriott
The Westside perhaps has even more attractions. There is the Getty Center located atop the Santa Monica Mountains then on Museum Row, there is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Pettersen Automotive Museum, the Craft and Folk Museum and the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. In Century City you will find the Annenberg Space for Photography.
Hollywood, known as the entertainment capital of the world, is an essential part of the L.A. experience. Film enthusiasts will love the renovated TCL Chinese Theatre and you can tour the Dolby Theatre, home of the Oscars. Not far away is Universal Studios Hollywood with its rides, shows and tours.
If you consider L.A. nothing more than a gateway to the USA, you had better re-think. It is one of the top picks for places to visit in 2018.
The Best Travel Destinations for 2018www.LenRutledge.com
After working hard all year round and saving every penny possible, there’s nothing better than getting away for a week or two on a summer holiday to relax and recharge.
As summer begins to approach, we start searching for all the usual destinations to find a great deal.
Popular Destinations
There are a number of locations which we all love to return to every year. For example, this UK Business Insider article shows that UK residents love heading back to the likes of Benidorm, Crete and Gran Canaria each summer.
It’s also true that even though we all love to return to the same locations, more of us than ever are able to travel a little further afield.
Destinations like Central and South America, Southeast Asia and even Australia and New Zealand are continuously on the rise as long distance flights have become increasingly affordable.
Staycations
There are also plenty of us that prefer to enjoy a holiday without heading abroad. ‘Staycations’ as they have become known, are more popular than ever.
This article from the Guardian suggests that up to 2.5 million UK residents chose to enjoy a staycation instead of heading abroad. The most popular locations in the UK include the Lake District and Cornwall.
However, no matter how much money we manage to save each year, it’s fair to say that we all have our limits.
There are always a few locations or certain resorts that we could only dream of booking.
There’s a known lighthearted rivalry between the two South African cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town, but how they match up when compared with each other? Continue reading Johannesburg versus Cape Town→
Traveling to an African Safari Camp is one of the most exciting adventures you’ll ever have. Africa is a continent of beautiful, sandy beaches, spectacular mountains, and coral reefs teeming with marine life. A Safari Camp offers the opportunity to see the African plains, lush, green jungles, and some of the most magnificent wildlife in the world. Here are the top Safari Camps to visit:
Chitabe Lediba Camp
1. Chitabe Lediba Camp
Chitabe Lediba Camp is on an island in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The camp at a lagoon that’s now a waterhole is known for the diverse habitats and spectacular wildlife sightings. The camp is perfect for small groups, with panoramic views from the lounge and pool.
Camp Kwando
2. Kwando Camp
Kwando Camp on the Namibian Caprivi Strip offers guest accommodations, day safaris to the Mamili and Mudumu National Parks, cruises, and game drives.
Sasakwa and the Singita Grumeti Reserves
3. Sasakwa and the Singita Grumeti Reserves
Located in the Serengeti National Park in Northern Tanzania, the game reserves is famous for the massive protected area where wildlife in the Great Migration roams free and protected.
Alex Walker’s Serian
4. Alex Walker’s Serian
This camp in the Serengeti National Park in Northern Tanzania is known for being one of the mobile camps that follows the Great Migration. Between December and March, guests can follow the herds, see how the tribes live, and explore the Rift Valley. A great feature is that guests never know what wildlife they’ll see each day.
Tafika Camp
5. Tafika
Tafika and Remote Africa’s bush camps are in the Luangwa Valley in Central Zambia. The camps are famous for the massive numbers of wildlife and their walking safaris. The guides lead groups into Chikoko, Mwaleshi, and the North and South Luangwa at Crocodile Camp.
Catered Camp – Selous Game Reserve
6. Beho Beho, Selous Game Reserve
Beho Beho in Southern Tanzania features luxurious accommodations in the oldest game reserve in Africa. Guides take guests on walking tours into the most remote locations in Africa.
Elephant at Old Mondoro
7. Old Mondoro
Old Mondoro camp in the Lower Zambezi National Park is in Southern Zambia. The camp is on the Zambezi River and is one of the smallest in Africa. Some of the finest canoeing and boating in Africa is found on the river. Day and night game drives and walking tours are available.
Mombo Camp – Moremi Game Reserve
8. Mombo Camp
Located on the Moremi Game Reserve in Northern Botswana, the Mombo Camp has an excellent reputation. Although the activities are rather limited since walking tours and driving at night aren’t omitted, it’s one of the best camps for viewing massive numbers of African wildlife.
Kunene Camp in Northern Namibia
9. The Schoeman’s Skeleton Coast Safaris
Kunene Camp in Northern Namibia, offers, private, guided tours by the owners, in the most remote area of Africa. The camp doesn’t have the amenities found at some of the other camps, but the location on the top of a cliff is breathtaking. The camp is situated above the Kunene River and offers spectacular views.
Elephant Camp Savuti
10. Savuti Camp
Savuti Camp Located in Linyanti Reserve in Northern Botswana, is one of the finest of the smaller camps. The private preserve offers guests access to some of the most remote wilderness in Africa. the camp is on the Linyanti River and offers wonderful wildlife viewing.
Best Travel Guides to Destinations Around the World
