Once Is Not Enough - Safaris Are Always Repeat Expeditions
Credit: Photos istock
There are many â whysâ to safari; being passionate about nature and wildlife, having an adventurous spirit, or for a multi-generation vacation that everybody will enjoy. And, of course, for the romance of it all.
By Christine Potter
Sa-fa-ri. The word trips off the lips invitingly. A safari is, for many, the trip of a lifetime but it seems that once is not enough. For many, that first trip is a superb taster, and a repeat vacation becomes a passion.
“On our first five-day safari we stayed at a tented camp in the Mara,” says Marina Probert of Saskatchewan. “But we realized there was so much more to see, and the first thing we did when we came home was to start saving for the next one.”
Kenya is a high point for safari seekers. Few African countries can compete with its 50-some parks and reserves or the variety and quantity of animals and birdlife within them.
This is the site of the great migration, shared with Tanzania, when thousands of wildebeest and zebra cross the open savannah and rolling grasslands of the Masai Mara (an extension of Tanzania’s Serengeti) jostling for space to cross the Mara River. Predators wait patiently to pick off those who can’t make it.
“There will be blood,” warns safari addict Barry Slater. “This is, after all, the wilderness. Wildebeest babies have to get up and run as soon as they’re born. There will also be amazing sights like mother lions caring for their frolicking cubs, elephants in convoy, huge flocks of flamingos that turn the sky red against dramatic sunsets and sunrises. It’s edgy, and it’s magnificent.”
The Africa experts all agree; July and August, the usual migration months (and the cooler ones) create an unforgettable experience for observers.
There are as many reasons to take a safari as there are animals to see. For some, it’s the perfect romance trip, as it was for Prince William who proposed to Kate Middleton by a secluded lake on the slopes of Mount Kenya, Africa’s second highest mountain after Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
We can’t all borrow a helicopter like HRH did to reach that lake, which looks over the spectacular Rift Valley, but the valley itself is well within range of we lesser mortals. (Kenya has a special meaning for the royal family ever since the Queen – when she was still Princess Elizabeth – stayed at Treetops Lodge in Nyeri with her husband Prince Philip.)
Credit: Photos istock
The Big Five: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and Cape buffalo. The term has little to do with size and everything to do with big game hunters who coined the phrase to describe the difficulty in bagging these creatures, due to their ferocity when cornered.
Namibia – one of Africa’s most stable countries – remains a well-kept secret for safari buffs. The capital, Windhoek, is the starting point for tours and safaris, some using small-plane charters to reach Etosha National Park in the north, with its excellent game viewing.
Namibia’s Skeleton Coast is renowned for its shipwrecks, and the Namib Desert is home to some of the world’s largest sand dunes. Their spectacular shapes and shifting shadows are a favourite subject for photographers worldwide. And now they’re popular with sporty visitors who love to zoom down them headfirst on traditional sand boards.
Safari is Swahili for “long journey,” synonymous with “big game hunt” when the word entered the English language in the 19th century, but today’s safaris are usually conducted with a camera lens and binoculars rather than a firearm.
There are many ways to safari; by guided four-wheel drive (the most common choice in all game-watching African countries), by hot air balloon, and even by elephant back (in Botswana). And there are many “whys” to safari; being passionate about nature and wildlife, having an adventurous spirit, or for a multi-generation vacation that everybody will enjoy. (You don’t need to be a jock or particularly daring to enjoy viewing wildlife.) And, of course, for the romance of it all.
| Inter-Africa & Beyond Wherever your visit takes you in the great continent of Africa, for recreation or business, Kenya Airways – known as the Pride of Africa – can get you there. The Nairobi-based company recently added Muscat and Jeddah to its destination roster bringing the total to 56. With new aircraft orders including the Boeing 737 and possibly the 787 “Dreamliner,” fleet modernization is well underway. Part of the 15-member SkyTeam alliance which includes KLM, Delta, Air France, and others, Kenya Airways was named Africa’s Business Airline of the Year in 2010. “Our main business from North America is with tour operators and missionary groups,” says Shekhar Ramanoorthy, Area Manager, Eastern Canada. “But with the acquisition of the new equipment it’s likely that we’ll open up new markets.” Africa On Sale Goway is offering up to $600 savings on select departures of their 14-day East Africa Safari, the company’s best-selling safari. “This is the perfect combination of Kenya and Tanzania which covers all the must-see highlights,” said Moira Smith, General Manager of Goway’s AFRICAExperts. “We cap the number of guests per vehicle at 6 so everyone has a window seat, use 4x4 vehicles throughout and use first class lodges.” Goway is also offering savings of up to 41,600 on an eight-night itinerary to the Okavango Delta in Botswana. The itinerary includes six nights in two different parts of the Delta and two nights in Livingstone. |
