Africa - Blogs - Tripatini2024-03-29T12:02:54Zhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/AfricaChristmas in the Wild: South Africa Safaris with a Festive Twisthttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/south-africa-ecotourism-safaris-christmas2024-01-30T12:12:11.000Z2024-01-30T12:12:11.000ZKaren Anthonyhttps://tripatini.com/members/KarenAnthony<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12368340063?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>For the ones searching for a completely unique and unforgettable excursion experience, consider celebrating Christmas surrounded via the untamed splendor of the South African wilderness. South African safaris offer a festive twist to the traditional holiday season, blending the magic of Christmas with the joys of encountering majestic wildlife. Here's how to make your Christmas within the wild an great and remarkable adventure.</p>
<h2>1. Safari Lodge Celebrations</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.safari.com/blog/best-value-for-money-luxury-safari-lodges">Many luxury safari lodges in South Africa</a> cross the greater mile to create a festive atmosphere for their visitors. Picture arriving at a club adorned with Christmas decorations, wherein the nice and cozy African breeze includes the heady scent of festive spices. Lodges regularly host unique Christmas Eve dinners with traditional South African dishes and international cuisine. Guests can revel in the sounds of the bush while savoring a festive feast underneath the stars.</p>
<h2>2. Bushveld Christmas Traditions</h2>
<p>Experience Christmas traditions with a South African twist in the heart of the bushveld. Some lodges organize Christmas morning sport drives, permitting guests to witness the dawn over the savanna and notice natural world stirring inside the early light. Imagine replacing presents with cherished ones in the presence of elephants, lions, or giraffes—a definitely particular and intimate birthday celebration surrounded by using nature's wonders.</p>
<h2>3. Festive Game Drives</h2>
<p>Christmas Day inside the wild may be packed with great adventures. Instead of the acquainted sight of a decorated tree, imagine the pleasure of monitoring wildlife through the desolate tract. Festive sport drives often consist of surprises like encountering animals with Christmas-themed names, inclusive of reindeer-like impalas or birds with excursion colorings. It's a pleased and lighthearted manner to celebrate the season.</p>
<h2>4. Christmas Bush Dinners</h2>
<p>Safari resorts often organize unique Christmas bush dinners, imparting a fascinating placing beneath the full-size African sky. The glow of lanterns and the bonfire crackle create a paranormal environment as guests dine al fresco. Traditional South African braais (barbecues) may additionally function prominently, offering a flavor of neighborhood flavors amidst the rugged beauty of the bush.</p>
<h2>5. Community Involvement and Giving Back</h2>
<p>Christmas is a time for giving, and a few safari lodges embody the season's spirit via regarding neighborhood groups. Guests may additionally have the possibility to participate in community initiatives, along with gift drives for neighborhood youngsters or helping conservation tasks. This provides a significant and philanthropic aspect to the vacation experience.</p>
<h2>6. Christmas Wildlife Surprises</h2>
<p>Nature frequently offers its festive surprises. Imagine witnessing a herd of elephants transferring gracefully through the bush, their majestic presence developing a unique Christmas memory. The calls of nocturnal animals because the solar units can upload a melodic backdrop to the vacation celebrations, making it an revel in not like every other.</p>
<h2>7. A Relaxing Retreat</h2>
<p>While Christmas inside the wild is full of adventure, it also offers moments of tranquility. After a day of exploring, visitors can unwind in expensive resorts that seamlessly combination consolation with the charm of the African landscape. Whether it's a private chalet overlooking the savanna or a tented camp nestled in the heart of the wilderness, the accommodation becomes an vital a part of the general safari experience.</p>
<h2>In Conclusion: A Christmas Celebration like No Other</h2>
<p>A South African safari throughout the Christmas season is a party of nature, journey, and network. It's a chance to get away the ordinary and embrace the exceptional, developing reminiscences with a purpose to ultimate a lifetime. Whether you're tracking wildlife on a sport pressure, playing a festive bush dinner, or simply basking inside the serenity of the African bush, Christmas inside the wild gives a unique and enchanting manner to experience the magic of the holiday season. For the ones searching for the superb, a South African safari affords an unforgettable Christmas birthday party below the huge celebrity-studded African sky.</p></div>A Look at the Traditional Arts and Crafts of Kenyahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/traditional-arts-and-crafts-of-kenya2024-01-09T08:25:00.000Z2024-01-09T08:25:00.000ZDan Kariukihttps://tripatini.com/members/DenhumHolidays<div><p> <a href="https://www.denhumholidays.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/A-Look-at-Traditional-Arts-and-Crafts-of-Kenya-2-jpg.webp" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.denhumholidays.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/A-Look-at-Traditional-Arts-and-Crafts-of-Kenya-2-jpg.webp?profile=RESIZE_930x" alt="A-Look-at-Traditional-Arts-and-Crafts-of-Kenya-2-jpg.webp?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a></p>
<p>For many, the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to <strong>Kenya</strong> is <a href="https://www.denhumholidays.com/10-explore-kenyas-wildlife-national-parks/" target="_blank">wildlife and safaris</a>. But visitors should also keep in mind this country´s rich artistic and cultural heritage - thanks to its more than 70 ethnic groups such as the <strong>Kikuyu</strong>, <strong>Kamba</strong>, <strong>Luhya</strong>, <strong>Maasai</strong>, and <strong>Kalenjin</strong> - both to witness (such as tribal dances) and to buy as mementos of their trip here (esecially masks, figurines, and other forms of sculpture). This beautiful country keeps the spirit of its ancestors alive through every move, every breath, and every piece of handmade art. There’s something so special about every tiny piece of wood that comes out of the hands of Kenyan artisans. Art in Kenya often depicts scenes from regular life or cultural practices. As you know, Kenya was a British colony for a long time (from 1920 to 1963, to be precise). But, not once was the spirit of the people broken during this time. Most conquered countries throughout history reflect their sorrow by making more toned-down and dark art. Not the Kenyans. The majority of the artwork found here is characterized by bold colors and vivid patterns. They rebelled against the darkness and always dreamed of independence. Once they reached it, it became the day of history they’re proud of the most. Right now, those vivid colors serve as a reminder to celebrate and be grateful for every breath and every day they live under the sun.</p>
<h2>Vibrant Jewelry Is an Essential Part of Kenya´s Traditional Arts and Crafts</h2>
<p>A great part of Kenyan culture is jewelry. Necklaces and bracelets made from <a href="https://www.denhumholidays.com/kazuri-beads/" target="_blank">beads</a> are widely available at shops and markets. But, interestingly, women are not the only ones using jewelry—quite the opposite. For example, soldiers of the Samburu people of north-central Kenya use hairstyles, jewelry, and ochre body painting to exquisitely delicate effect - highly valued among the <strong>Samburu</strong>, who put a premium on physical beauty and decoration (which in turn leads them to be dubbed “Butterflies” by neighboring tribes). Beaded jewelry is especially prevalent, especially among the Maasai, <strong>Rendille</strong>, Samburu, and <strong>Turkana</strong> tribes of the <strong>Great Rift Valley</strong>, and some of it quite elaborate and intricate, with colors and patterns conveying various kinds of symbolism. <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12347625668,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12347625668,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12347625668?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/94887823@N07/8692281514" target="_blank">Margot Kiser</a></em></span></p>
<h3><span style="font-size:14pt;">Tattoos for You</span></h3>
<p>The temporary, non-invasive adornment of the body using dye made from the henna plant is most often associated with <strong>India</strong> and parts of the <strong>Middle East</strong> such as <strong>Morocco</strong> and <strong>Egypt</strong>. But it´s also prized by various cultures in Africa, including Kenya, where henna tattooing is having something of a renaissance, often with flowery motifs. Most farmers’ markets have henna tattoo artists, and getting a henna tattoo (which fades with exfoliation after one to three weeks) is an excellent way to experience the culture and <a href="https://www.denhumholidays.com/best-travel-tips-for-better-trips/" target="_blank">enjoy the holidays here</a>. </p>
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<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/anli6AYKGnk?si=E_x_iItRKUUt1m5e" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<h2><br /> In Kenya, Music Is Life</h2>
<p>A central part of tribal ceremonies, Kenyan tribal dances and music sometimes use wooden drums wrapped with animal skin and sold in local markets. Dancing and singing aren´t just fun – it’s a way to live life being happy for what the future brings, and it’s a way to respect the past and all that’s already been. If you, for example, came here and said that you don’t know how to dance or how to sing (which is a common thing to say out of fear of being judged), Kenyans would look at you as if you said that you don’t know how to breathe. The concept of not knowing how to lose your body to the rhythm is unknown to them. Everybody contributes to making wonderful melodies - which by the way have also inspired Westerners have to incorporate them into their own music. So don’t be afraid to participate in the dancing around the fire (if you get invited by locals, of course), as it's one of <a href="https://www.denhumholidays.com/kenya-cultural-tours-and-safaris/" target="_blank">the best cultural experiences</a> you can have here. <br /> <br /> On another front, modern music is also a big part of the culture in cities such as Nairobi and <strong>Mombasa</strong>, with genres including taarab from <strong>Zanzibar</strong>, Congolese soukrous, and Kenya´s own benga and kalpop, alsong with imports such as Europop, funk, hip hop, reggae, soul, and rock.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.denhumholidays.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/A-Look-at-Traditional-Arts-and-Crafts-of-Kenya-4-jpg.webp" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://www.denhumholidays.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/A-Look-at-Traditional-Arts-and-Crafts-of-Kenya-4-jpg.webp?profile=RESIZE_930x" alt="A-Look-at-Traditional-Arts-and-Crafts-of-Kenya-4-jpg.webp?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a></p>
<h2>Evocative Tribal Masks</h2>
<p>During tribal ceremonies, masks show respect for the tribe’s ancient ancestors. Adding hair and jewels on a mask is a way of showing respect for the deceased. The gods, animals, spirits, and even ancestors are typically represented through the masks worn by the participants in these rituals. You´ll be able to pick up your own mask mementos at markets throughout the country - you can of course pick whatever appeals to you, or if you have a guide, ask his/her advice.</p>
<p><br /> <span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12355684655,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12355684655,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12355684655?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindadevolder/45211587404" target="_blank">Linda De Volder</a></em></span></p>
<h2>Wood and Soapstone Carving</h2>
<p>Animals, humans, masks, images from nature, and elaborate designs and patterns are just some of the subjects hand-carved into not just masks but figurines, as well as bowls, spoons, cups, and other household items. The <strong>Akamba</strong> tribe has a longstanding reputation as some of Kenya’s finest woodworkers and carvers, and the Island of <strong>Lamu</strong> is the hub of coastal carving, where <strong>Bajun</strong> tribal members are said to have inspired Arab artists to produce a distinctive fusion of styles. Meanwhile, some ethnic groups, such as the <strong>Kisii</strong> of the <strong>Tabaka Hills</strong> in the west, specialize in carving figurines and other objects in soapstone (above), which is composed of compressed talc. And you don’t even have to go far afield to find handmade treasures, many city markets - and even <a href="https://www.denhumholidays.com/best-nairobi-luxury-hotels/">hotels in Nairobi</a> and elsewhere offer traditional woodwork for sale.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12355694298,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12355694298,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12355694298?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8070463@N03/1195586795" target="_blank">Tambako The Jaguar</a></em></span><br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>The Clothes Which Make the Kenyan</strong></span><br /> <br /> Many Kenyans these days wear Western-style clothing, and Arab-style garments are also worn by some among the 11 percent who are Muslim. But with some tribal groups, traditional dress is still more common. Among the Masai, for example, women still often don colorful wraps called kanga, set off by bead necklaces, and men are known for wearing red-checked, blanket-like shuka (red being considered the color of strength). Also known for their distinctive clothing, headdresses and accessories are the <strong>Turkana</strong> people of the north and the <strong>Samburu</strong> (closely related to the Masai). <span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;word-spacing:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;display:inline;float:none;">Many of these, too, may be purchased in regional markets for visitors interested in accessorizing their own apparel with a Kenyan tribal touch. </span></p>
<p> </p></div>A Guide to the Best Riad Townhouse Hotels in Fez, Morocco for Next Triphttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/fez-morocco-riads-hotels2024-01-04T18:03:18.000Z2024-01-04T18:03:18.000Zrohny joneshttps://tripatini.com/members/rohnyjones<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12345436285,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12345436285,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="750" alt="12345436285?profile=RESIZE_930x" /></a></p>
<p>Because they provide an authentic Moroccan experience, <strong><a href="https://moroccoroamer.com/top-riads-in-fez/">best riads in Fez Morocco</a></strong> are fantastic. Traditional Moroccan riads are world-renowned for their ornate design and craftsmanship. The exquisite, hand-laid tile work commonly associated with Morocco is visible everywhere. Traditional designs of riads offer a lively yet peaceful ambience, perfect for unwinding. You won't find better service or cuisine than this at any hotel you've stayed at. A riad is where you have your favorite Moroccan dinner while there! Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Moroccan culture as locals show you around in their traditional riad style.</p>
<p><strong>They offer beautiful central courtyard with a high, open ceiling</strong></p>
<p>A central courtyard with an open ceiling is a vital feature of most riads. A modest riad may have one or two fountains. Plus, most of the larger riads offer swimming pools to their visitors. You may also count on the presence of verdant trees, plants, and flowers to adorn the area. The garden aims to achieve a haven of greenery in the middle of the city. Well, the riads are designed with this central region in mind because it is so beautiful. The windows and balconies face inwards instead of the outside world. Each room's window will face the courtyard rather than the street outside.</p>
<p>During the day, the entire house feels like a sunroom because of the abundance of natural light. Two distinct contexts have made use of this design. This spacious home with a central courtyard can be a welcome refuge from the heat in the sweltering Moroccan summers. This function ensures that riads remain pleasant throughout the summer, even during the warmest parts of the day.</p>
<p><strong>Accommodations: A limited selection of tastefully furnished suites</strong></p>
<p>Size is a defining characteristic of riads as opposed to hotels. With fewer rooms to decorate, each one can be given its distinct personality. Every detail of the room is meticulously designed. Instead of having a uniform design, each area will showcase its unique personality and characteristics. Your room's exquisite woodwork and artwork will astound you.</p>
<p><strong>It is centrally located within the Medina</strong></p>
<p>You will appreciate the uniqueness of this place once you come inside. You can find a riad in any of the old towns. These refuges are located on the outdoors, away from the din of everyday life. A riad is a little oasis in the middle of a bustling city. After venturing into the bustling streets, many travellers have found this tranquil contrast quite appealing.</p>
<p><strong>Drawbacks:</strong><strong> Riads demand a higher price</strong></p>
<p>Staying in a riad does have its drawbacks. Comparison to a hotel, the price for such exquisite service and furnishings will be much higher. Therefore, there may be better options than a riad if cost is your primary concern. You don't need anything fancy if you're only going to spend the day sightseeing or need somewhere to sleep before your flight. The location and signage of a riad make it more or less challenging to locate than a hotel.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion </strong></p>
<p>Despite the price difference compared to hotels, we have personally witnessed people thoroughly enjoying their time in riads. Most guests at a riad leave wishing to return for another unforgettable experience. Visit Morocco Roamer Blog to uncover about <strong><a href="https://moroccoroamer.com/morocco-deserts/">Moroccan Sahara Desert guide</a></strong> and most enchanting destinations.</p></div>Experience the Wild Beauty of Zimbabwe Safari Adventurehttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/zimbabwe-safaris-ecotourism2023-12-22T09:05:58.000Z2023-12-22T09:05:58.000Zrohny joneshttps://tripatini.com/members/rohnyjones<div><p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12332778079,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12332778079,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12332778079?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">The raw, untamed wilderness of Zimbabwe beckons adventurous travelers seeking thrilling safari experiences. From steamy jungles to sweeping savannas, Zimbabwe’s diverse landscapes provide the perfect habitats for an astounding array of </span><strong>wildlife</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Get ready to have your breath taken away by thundering Victoria Falls and come </span><strong>face-to-face</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> with the “</span><strong>Big Five</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">” - lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffaloes. As one of Africa’s top safari destinations, Zimbabwe offers once-in-a-lifetime encounters to create lasting memories.</span></p>
<p><strong>Hwange National Park’s</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> staggering </span><strong>14,600</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> square kilometers make it Zimbabwe’s largest park. Here in these seemingly endless grasslands and Kalahari sands roam vast herds of elephants, hundreds strong. Watch them jostle playfully around waterholes and tear whole trees from the ground. Keep your eyes peeled along the forest fringes for endangered African wild dogs and lions lounging in the dappled light.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Further north lies the Zambezi River, lifeblood for the sublime wilderness of </span><strong>Mana Pools National Park.</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> Canoeing between the park’s islands and sandbanks, get a hippo’s eye view of this </span><strong>UNESCO</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> World Heritage Site. Launching your vessel from the riverbanks, glide silently through golden mornings, the calls of fish eagles and grunting hippos announcing another perfect day in </span><strong>Africa’s Eden</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">However you choose to arrive, the thunderous roar of </span><strong>Victoria Falls</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> will welcome you. Peer over the precipice shrouded in mist, as the wide Zambezi hurtles </span><strong>354 feet</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> into the narrow </span><strong>Batoka Gorge</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> below, creating the world’s largest sheet of falling water. Take a dip where a tranquil rock pool swirls at the lip of the Falls, or if you’re feeling brave, try bungee jumping into the abyss itself!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">In </span><strong>Matobo National Park</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">, bizarre domes of granite dominate the scenery. Bouncing over roads in open </span><strong>4x4s</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">, the rich diversity of wildlife reveal themselves before your eyes. Watch herds of zebra grazing between balancing rocks. Scan the treeline for elusive leopards and black rhinos, indigenous to Zimbabwe. In cool dark caves, discover bushman rock art, hidden for thousands of years until now.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Down in south-eastern Zimbabwe lies </span><strong>Gonarezhou National Park</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">, the country’s second largest reserve. Yet with its rugged terrain and remoteness from main tourist trails, it offers lucky visitors an untouched wilderness to explore. Spot nimble cheetahs and wild hunting dog packs roving across the remotest pockets of this park, their wildness protected by its isolation.</span></p>
<h2><strong>Safari Adventures For Lifelong Memories</strong></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Safari days start before the dawn breaks, climbing into </span><strong>open-top 4x4s</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> swathed with amber spotlights. Your experienced safari guide will read animal tracks in the fine dust, skillfully negotiating the terrain while you scan the scrub for any signs of movement. When wildlife is spotted, take photos galore, making every early morning and late night drive unique.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Walking safaris move at a gentler pace, the soft crunch of footsteps across the bushveld filling the silence. Crouching low, inspect a porcupine’s spiny quill lying on the path, or catch the skittish dart of a colorful lizard between granite boulders. Stop for coffee brewed over crackling campfires, swapping stories with your guide about their past Wildlife Authority patrols.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Spot colossal Nile crocodiles basking on sunny riverbanks from the cool tranquility of a canoe safari. Trust your </span><a href="https://falconsafaris.com/12-days-sooty-falcon-safaris"><span style="font-weight:400;">expert guide</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;"> to safely navigate you through channels thick with hippos, as fish eagle screams echo across the water. Glide past submerged elephants with just their trunks peeping out like snorkels - an experience to imprint on your memory forever.</span></p>
<h2><strong>Cultural Connections with Zimbabwean Communities</strong></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Utterly unique to Zimbabwe are chances for deep cultural connections, learning about distinctive local lifestyles, arts and traditions. Spend an evening around a dancing fire in a rural village, marveling at thrilling traditional dances and hospitality. Tour vibrant local sculpture gardens, uncover ancient bushman cave paintings, or learn to play the </span><strong>Mbira</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> instrument with a master musician.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">By learning about the Shona culture, you connect profoundly with the heritage of </span><a href="http://www.falconsafaris.com"><span style="font-weight:400;">Zimbabwe’s largest ethnic group</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">. Whether it’s appreciating stunning traditional textiles or grasping the symbolism of ceremonial masks - through cultural experiences, differences dissolve into the joy of our shared humanity.</span></p>
<h2><strong>Plan Your Bespoke Zimbabwean Safari</strong></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Zimbabwe rewards visitors year-round. For best wildlife viewing, target the drier months between </span><strong>April-October</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">. The rainy season may deter some safari-goers, but those who venture out between November-March are rewarded with lush landscapes and excellent birdwatching, without the crowds!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Choose between rustic tents, adventurous campsites or lavish safari lodges to match your style and budget. Whether enjoying sweeping savannas from a secluded wooden deck, or dozing inside an expansive walk-in tent, your base will provide superb comfort. Don't forget to </span><strong>pre-book</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> your domestic flights, and stock up on suitable clothing, binoculars, and reference books before your trip.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Responsible wildlife viewing, supporting local jobs, crafts and conservation projects all ensure your memories are infused with soul and purpose. Read up on tourism guidelines for each park, get ready to treadright. Zimbabwe generously fulfills its reputation as a mighty safari stronghold.</span></p></div>4 of the Best Restaurants in Cape Town´s Victoria and Albert Waterfronthttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/victoria-and-albert-waterfront-cape-town-restaurants-dining2023-12-13T08:13:21.000Z2023-12-13T08:13:21.000Zrohny joneshttps://tripatini.com/members/rohnyjones<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12323603057,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12323603057,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="750" alt="12323603057?profile=RESIZE_930x" /></a></p>
<p>Do you want to know which restaurants are the best at the V&A Waterfront? Among Cape Town's most visited spots, both by residents and visitors, is the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The V&A Waterfront is the spot to go if you're in search of tasty restaurants with breathtaking views! <strong><a href="https://www.capetourism.com/best-restaurants-waterfront-cape-town/">Waterfront restaurants</a> </strong>serve a variety of trendy cuisines, including seafood, Italian, Japanese, and South African.</p>
<p>Making a dining reservation at one of the many excellent restaurants in the area can be a daunting task. We have selected the top eateries at the V&A Waterfront, so you can be certain that you will have a delicious meal.</p>
<p><strong>The Waterside </strong></p>
<p>This is the newest restaurant from the illustrious La Colombe company. Situated in the V&A Waterfront's Pierhead structure, The Waterside offers high-quality cuisine with a laid-back, sophisticated appeal.</p>
<p>You can anticipate a tranquil and cozy atmosphere to savor your meals, far from the cacophony of the primary V&A attractions. Indulge in the breathtaking waterfront views from floor-to-ceiling windows and let the food take the stage in the sleek, minimalist decor.</p>
<p>The La Colombe group, headed by Scot Kirton, has a remarkable roster of restruetants, including the flagship La Colombe, the Franshoek outpost La Petit Colombe, Foxcroft, Epice, and Protege.</p>
<p><strong>At Emazulwini Restaurant</strong></p>
<p>At Emazulwini Restaurant on Makers Landing, you can see Chef Mmabatho Molefe reworking traditional street cuisine from South Africa. In all likelihood, the paradisal cuisine of this restaurant is reflected in the name, "Emazulwini," which means "the heavens" in English.</p>
<p>Indulge in a multi-course feast that takes you on a gourmet tour of Zulu cuisine. You can have dishes that highlight dishes like fried sardines, amasi (a fermented milk product), and pearl millet. The meals and plating are on par with Cape Town's finest restaurants, despite the seemingly basic materials.</p>
<p><strong>Willoughby & Co</strong></p>
<p>For the best Japanese fusion cuisine in Cape Town, head to Willoughby & Co. Among the top sushi joints on the V&A Waterfront, this chic spot never fails to attract a crowd. Enjoy a wide variety of Japanese delicacies, including sushi, flash-grilled salmon steak, tempura, hot and sweet soups, Asian salads, and more.</p>
<p><strong>Makers Landing</strong></p>
<p>Be sure to drop by Makers Landing if you're seeking for more relaxed dining options on the Waterfront. When compared to other restaurants along the V&A Waterfront, this one takes a novel approach. South Africa's unique culture is celebrated via food at Makers Landing, a community that launched in December 2020.</p>
<p>Plus, it has a market where you can enjoy some of the country's most delicious. You can have freshly prepared foods, in addition to being a place where aspiring food entrepreneurs can learn, grow, and create. Some traditional South African dishes are included in this, such as gatsbys, shisanyama, and samosas.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>
<p>Spectacular <strong><a href="https://www.capetourism.com/restaurants-in-durbanville/">restaurants in Durbanville</a> </strong>serving up some of the world's most innovative cuisines and most visually arresting interior designs can be found along Cape Town's V&A Waterfront. At the V&A Waterfront, you can find anything from casual eateries to posh restaurants with live entertainment at your table.</p></div>10 Places Which Show How Zambia Is Eco-Amazinghttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/zambia-ecotourism-safaris-adventure-travel2023-11-09T12:34:37.000Z2023-11-09T12:34:37.000ZHelen Brownhttps://tripatini.com/members/HelenBrown<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12289079652,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12289079652,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12289079652?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cataratas_Victoria,_Zambia-Zimbabue,_2018-07-27,_DD_05.jpg" target="_blank">Diego Delso</a></span><br /> <br /> <br /> When it comes to safaris and ecotourism, Zambia often takes a back seat to the likes of <strong>Botswana</strong>, <strong>Kenya</strong>, and <strong>Tanzania</strong>. But this large country in south-central <strong>Africa </strong>is positively packed with eco treasures, and its marquis attraction is one of the planet´s most spectacular waterfalls, <strong>Victoria Falls</strong>, which it shares with <strong>Zimbabwe</strong>. In addition, there are some 20 teeming nature reserves which offer as rewarding an eco-experience as any of Zambia´s neighbors – arguably even more so, without the crowds (just be sure to check the websites of each or <strong><a href="https://www.zambiatourism.com/">ZambiaTourism.com</a></strong> for the best times of year to visit). Another interesting note is that “walking safaris” (aka safari walks and bush walks) were essentially pioneered in Zambia – in the 1950s by renowned British conservationist <strong>Norman Carr</strong> as a more immersive and less invasive way for visitors to experience wilidlife.</p><p>Anyway, here´s a quick look at ten of Zambia´s top eco magnets:</p><p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bangweulu_Swamps.jpg" target="_blank"><br /> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hDS6Ndboy0g?si=jrgoPfI3EgRaiJIu" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </a></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.africanparks.org/the-parks/bangweulu" target="_blank"><br /> Bangweulu Wetlands</a></strong></span></p><p>Up in the northeast next to <strong>Lake Bangweulu</strong>, this is a 3,800-square-mile (9,850-sq.-kilometer) expanse of swampland as well as plains, forests, and meadows which get flooded during the rainy season. It´s particular appealing to birdwatchers, as it´s home to more than 400 species, with standouts including the African spoonbill, great white pelican, pygmy goose, saddle-billed stork, and especially the endangered, elusive shoebill stork. There are plenty of mammals, too, such as elephants, hippos, hyenas, jackals, zebras, and most notably black lechwes, a kind of southern African antelope endemic to wetlands. Getting here from Lusaka requires 5½ hours’ worth of connecting flights.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12289172276,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12289172276,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12289172276?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Male_Bush_Elephant_Head_Trunk_Up_Kafue_Jul23_A7R_05195.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Tagooty</em></span></a></p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="https://www.zambiatourism.com/destinations/national-parks/kafue-national-park/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Kafue National Park</span></a></strong></p><p>An eight-hour drive west of Lusaka, at nearly 8,650 sq. mi. (22,400km²), Zambia´s largest national park (and all of Africa´s second largest) is practically the size of <strong>Massachusetts</strong> or <strong>Wales</strong>. Most of Kafue is covered by what´s known as miombo woodlands (a mix of grasslands, shrublands, and savannas) but it´s most famous for its <strong>Busanga Plains</strong> up in the northwest, on which roam large prides of lions, herds of elephants and antelopes, and packs of cheetahs, as well as smaller herds of zebras, large schools of hippos, crocodiles. In addition to walking safaris and game drives, canoeing on the <strong>Kafue River</strong> is also a great way to experience the park.</p><p><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12289079863,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12289079863,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12289079863?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.zambiatourism.com/destinations/national-parks/kasanka-national-park/"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Zambia Tourism</span></a></em></p><p><strong><br /> <a href="https://www.zambiatourism.com/destinations/national-parks/kasanka-national-park/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Kasanka National Park</span></a> </strong></p><p>From the largest to the smallest, Kasanka is just 150 sq. mi. (390km²) and is an 8½-hour drive from Lusaka. It´s home to diverse wildlife including elephants, hippos, and more than 470 bird species, but Kasanka is most famous for the world´s single largest mammal migration: that of millions of fruit bats, which at dawn and dusk fill the skies most impressively from October through December.<br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12289176269,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12289176269,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12289176269?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/22711505@N05/25782882248" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Ron Cogswell</span><br /> </a><br /> <br /> <strong><a href="https://www.africanparks.org/the-parks/liuwa-plain" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Liuwa Plain National Park</span></a></strong></p><p>Speaking of migrations, this remote reserve (way out west, and a full day´s flight/drive from Lusaka) is home to Africa´s second largest wildebeest migration after that of Kenya-Tanzania, numbering in the tens of thousands – a majestic sight which takes place in November and December. In addition, throughout Liuwa´s 1,300 sq. mi. (3,369km²) of grasslands you can spot cheetahs, spotted hyenas, leopards, lions, zebras, and more than 300 species of avians.<br /> <br /> <br /> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kvxZF2uZJu0?si=ym8JE4uvPJzwqEik" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p><strong><a href="https://www.lowerzambezi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><br /> Lower Zambezi National Park</span></a></strong></p><p>On the banks of the <strong>Zambezi River</strong> a three-hour flight east of Lusaka, this pristine, 1,580-sq.-mi (4,092km²) <strong>UNESCO World Heritage</strong> spread is mostly woodland savannah and home to some 57 species of mammals and reptiles, including antelope of various types, Cape buffalo, crocodiles, a large population of elephants, hippos, leopards, and lions. Plus in addition to land-based safari camps and expeditions, you can also tour via canoe on the river and visit villages of the local people, the <strong>Goba</strong>.</p><p> </p><p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pkyv8MlIQOg?si=dZUaznIin6Glw1Eh" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="https://www.zambiatourism.com/destinations/national-parks/north-luangwa-national-park/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14pt;">North Luangwa National Park</span></a></strong></p><p>Up in the northeast, remote and relatively little visited, here you´ll find a marvelously off-the-beaten-path experience via walking safaris and game-spotting drives. Its 2,880 sq. mi. (4,636km²) of mopane woodland, riverine forest along the <strong>Luangwa River</strong> and its tributaries, open grasslands, and acacia thickets are home to species which besides many avians includes various kinds of antelopes along with black rhino, buffalo, elephants, lions, wildebeest, and zebras. You get here from Lusaka via flights (five hours and 40 minutes) chartered by safari tour operators; no independent travel is permitted for the time being.</p><p> </p><p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Kpd9C6xru4?si=dN6TT81uMoLEgVaD" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="https://www.zambiatourism.com/destinations/national-parks/nsumbu-national-park/"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Nsumbu National Park</span></a> </strong></p><p>Located at the southern tip of <strong>Lake Tanganyika</strong>, way up north and reachable from Lusaka with a full day of flying/driving, in “Sumbu´s” 1,255 sq. mi (2,000km²) of rugged, hilly grasslands you can spot many of the species mentioned above (though admittedly fewer in numbers due to the neglect of the park up till around 30 years ago, with animal populations now recovering), with the added wrinkle of a beach where you can fish and go on boat excursions as well as snorkeling and scuba diving.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Luangwa_National_Park#/media/File:Luangwa_River_crossing.jpg"><br /> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rUGBS2JvH3g?si=KkQlwmtfmou1LCMG" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <br /> </a></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.southluangwa.com/?msclkid=3d09fa103d4c1fa984df9f5c8736a479">South Luangwa National Park</a></strong></span></p><p>Mostly woodland savannah, this is probably the country´s best known park (and what´s widely considered one of the world´s greatest wildlife sanctuaries), and is known for some of Africa´s highest concentrations of wildlife along the Luangwa River and its lagoons – especially Cape buffaloes, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, hippos, leopards, and lions, in addition to more than 400 species of birds. If you had to choose one nature park to visit in all of Zambia, I guess it would be this one. (And by the way, it´s here where Norman Carr actually pioneered the walking safari some 70 years ago. Way to go, Norman!)<br /> <br /> <br /> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hmdJjGMrYQc?si=DG0UE2T0dc4cr0WE" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.zambiatourism.com/destinations/waterfalls/victoria-falls/" target="_blank">Victoria Falls</a></strong></span></p><p>And last alphabetically but obviously for many first in the imagination, one of the world´s most spectacular waterfalls, on the <strong>Zambezi River</strong> (above and top) – better known to locals in the Sotho language as <strong>Mosi-oa-Tunya</strong> (“The Smoke That Thunders”) – is of course a Zambian eco experience like no other. Twice the height and well over twice the width of <strong>Niagara</strong>, <strong>Vic Falls</strong> is a bucket lister if ever there was one. Plus activities in the area include whitewater rafting; bungee jumping; ziplining; microlight and helicopter tours; taking a dip in Devil´s Pool right at the edge of the falls; quad and horseback riding; and cruising on the Zambezi. And you can also go wildlife spotting of many of the species mentioned above at a compact national reserve near the falls, <strong><a href="https://www.zambiatourism.com/destinations/national-parks/mosi-oa-tunya/" target="_blank">Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park</a></strong> (25 sq. mi/66km²). <br /> <br /> </p><p> </p><p> </p></div>The Top 10 Beaches of Angolahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/angola-top-beaches2023-10-24T11:05:00.000Z2023-10-24T11:05:00.000ZHelen Brownhttps://tripatini.com/members/HelenBrown<div><p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidstanleytravel/19699922970"><br /> </a><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12264143073,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12264143073,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12264143073?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidstanleytravel/19699922970"><span style="font-size:8pt;">David Stanley</span></a><br /> <br /> <br /> This southern African country´s mostly arid coastline runs 994 miles (1,600 kilometers) along the <strong>Atlantic Ocean</strong>, so that leaves plenty of room for a bevy of beautiful – even stunning – strands. They range widely in amenities, from full service to wild and practically deserted. Here are the top 11 worth noting, running from nearest to farthest from capital <strong>Luanda</strong>:</p><p> </p><p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Yr5zRQxad0?si=462q4ObLSKQGwp4D" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <br /> <br /> <br /> <strong><a href="https://welcometoangola.co.ao/en/local/angola/guia-pratico-para-conhecer-luanda/ilha-de-luanda/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Ilha Luanda</span></a></strong><br /> <br /> Can´t get closer than this! Extending out into <strong>Luanda Bay</strong> and just a few minutes from downtown, Luanda “Island” is actually a spit of land, a little over four miles (seven kilometers) long. And thanks to its good beaches and proximity to the city, this is probably the most popular beach (and general R&R) destination in the country, where <em>luandenses</em> go to let their hair down and packed with amenities from water sports to hotels, bars, restaurants, shops, and nightspots, along with the <strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/clubenauticodailhadeluanda/">Club Náutico</a></strong> yacht club.</p><p> </p><p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OCiJjiImlXM?si=GycpM59SSUb0pKdP" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://welcometoangola.co.ao/en/directorio/descobrir-a-ilha-do-mussulo/" target="_blank">Ilha do Mussulo</a><br /> </strong></span></p><p>About an hour-and-a-half drive south of Luanda (it´s easier and faster to go by boat from the city´s <strong>Capassoca</strong> terminal) <strong>Mussulo Island</strong> is in fact a peninsula - and one with a nature reserve dubbed "the lung of Luanda." In any case, it´s a picturesque getaway with pristine beaches surrounded by lush vegetation and waters practically as flat as a lake. It´s also fairly popular for water sports like windsurfing, kitesurfing, and jet skiing, and has restaurants, beach clubs, and a few resorts, but even more vacation rental properties – some quite luxe indeed.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ2y8mQ59AQ"><br /> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dJ2y8mQ59AQ?si=GpdjH1r_A79chgzU" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <br /> </a></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Praia do Sangano</strong></span> <br /> <br /> Just 15 minutes or so farther south of Mussulo, this stretch of palm-and-evergreen-fringed golden sand also has plenty of amenities (bars, cafés, restaurants, water-sports rentals) and is known for its relaxed atmosphere and is usually less crowded than Mussulo (especially during the week).</p><p> </p><p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pRju2Vkss-o?si=SQgQH-Oc9g9pDylZ" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><br /> Praia do Cabo Ledo<br /> </strong></span></p><p>About a couple hours south of Luanda, located in the <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/kissama-national-park-a-phoenix-of-angola"><strong>Kissama National Park</strong></a> in a cove surrounded by cliffs and palm trees, wide Cape Ledo (above and top) can also boast its fair share of amenities at hand and Is also a favorite of both locals and visitors, plus its consistent waves attract a good number of surfers.<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12264142287,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12264142287,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12264142287?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beach_in_Sumbe,_Angola.jpg">jlrsousa</a></span></p><p><strong><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;">Praia do Sumbe<br /> </span></strong></p><p>A bit farther south – and a 5½-hour drive down from Luanda – this sandy stretch fringed with palms near the good-size city of <strong>Sumbe</strong> (pop. 280,000) is uncrowded; has clear, calm, and mostly quite shallow water (therefore great for families with young kids); and is known for its natural beauty. And there are of course plenty of services and places to stay right nearby.</p><p> </p><p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GfdzVv0FN5s?si=bWpUYkPEQM3bRBKq" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Praia da Baía Azul</strong></span> <br /> <br /> Way down south near one of Angola´s bigger cities, <strong><a href="https://welcometoangola.co.ao/en/local/angola/conheca-benguela-a-cidade-das-acacias-rubras/" target="_blank">Benguela</a></strong> (pop. 809,000, an hourlong flight or ten-hour drive from Luanda), <strong>Blue Bay Beach</strong> is famous for its striking blue waters, fantastic fishing, and natural beauty, surrounded by dramatic cliffs and rock formations to explore if you´re so inclined. With very calm waters, Baia Azul is also fairly quiet but does have a few hotels and restaurants as well as some water sports on offer.</p><p><br /> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YE9L-MW4gDg?si=DS2r6w12AdJdzn2t" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </p><p><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Praia Morena</strong></span></p><p>Also near Benguela, one of the country´s most popular and best known beaches (above and top) features golden sands and clear blue waters and is also known for its vibrant atmosphere with bars, restaurants, and live music. And by the way, you might also want to find a bit of time to fit in a visit to Benguela´s <strong><a href="https://destinobenguela.com/en/turismo/locais-interesse/museu-nacional-arqueologia.html">National Museum of Archaeology</a></strong>, which overlooks Praia Morena and is housed in a limestone 17-century slave depost and presents a variety of exhibits and more than 9,100 artifacts dating back to prehistoric times.</p><p><br /> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l1NrPXCyfRY?si=S91syUcKu-KAE9ya" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><br /> Praia da Caotinha<br /> </strong></span></p><p>This fairly small beach (a mere 328 feet/100 meters long), also on a little cove surrounded by cliffs, is a bit south of Benguela, with a vibe that´s serene and castaway, with limited amenities.</p><p><br /> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/st2uoTnESog?si=HeqXN3IXf7fE4fqf" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:14pt;"><br /> Praia da Baía Farta</span> </strong></p><p>About a half hour north of Benguela, this expansive beach in the city of <strong>Baía Farta</strong> is known for its calm, clear waters –making for great diving and snorkeling – and because of its length it never feels crowded. Be sure to try the fresh seafood at one or two of the beach restaurants here.</p><p><br /> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ILfY8ey8KbM?si=y7kVHzTZ4zY0NL5C" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><br /> Praia da Restinga</strong></span><br /> <br /> Near Baía Farta near the city of <strong>Lobito</strong>, this wide strand on a three-mile sandspit is clean, pretty, and uncrowded, with plenty of the usual amenities at bargain prices.</p><p> </p><p>For more info, check out <strong><a href="https://welcometoangola.co.ao/en/local/angola/guia-pratico-para-conhecer-luanda/ilha-de-luanda/" target="_blank">WelcometoAngola.co.ao</a></strong>.</p><p> </p></div>The Allures of Ivory Coast/Côte d´Ivoirehttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/ivory-coast-cote-d-ivoire2023-10-14T16:06:52.000Z2023-10-14T16:06:52.000ZHelen Brownhttps://tripatini.com/members/HelenBrown<div><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12256877292,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12256877292,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12256877292?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ivory_Coast_Base_Map.png" target="_blank">ERCC</a></em></span><br /> <br /> <br /> A bit smaller than <strong>England</strong> and a bit larger than <strong>New Mexico</strong> this chunk of <strong>West Africa</strong> (formally known in French as <strong>Côte d'Ivoire</strong>), gets only some 670,000 visitors a year but deserves many more, as a fascinating mix of natural, cultural, and historical attractions. Here are its top draws:</p><p><br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12256878074,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12256878074,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12256878074?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vue_du_quartier_%27Le_Plateau%27_d%27Abidjan_%2823711182653%29.jpg">Citizen59</a></em></span></p><p><strong><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;">Abidjan</span></strong></p><p>The country's largest city as well as sub-Saharan <strong>Africa</strong>´s sixth largest (pop. around 5.7 million), the former political and still economic capital is a bustling metropolis with a mix of modern skyscrapers (in its business district Le Plateau), vibrant markets, cultural sites, and the national airport. Top musts include the vibrant <strong>Treichville Market</strong>, the 43-year-old Roman Catholic <strong>St. Paul's Cathedral</strong> in Le Plateau, the affluent suburb of <strong>Cocody</strong> with some beautiful stretches of beach; and <strong>Banco National Park</strong> – just 13½ square miles (about 35 sq. kilometers) but the world´s only primary dense tropic forest in an urban area apart from <strong>Tijuca Forest</strong> in <strong>Rio de Janeiro</strong>.</p><p><br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12256937263,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12256937263,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12256937263?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jbdodane/9626696361" target="_blank">jbdodane</a></span></p><p><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Yamoussoukro</strong></span><br /> <br /> Located inland a 2½ hour drive north of Abidjan, the country´s political capital since 1983 (pop. 422,000) was a village of just 500 up till the 1950s and was afterward developed and elevated to capital status by Ivory Coast´s first and longest serving president, <strong>Félix Houphouët-Boigny</strong>, a native son. He was also responsible for the construction here of the Roman Catholic minor basilica <strong>Notre-Dame de la Paix</strong> (<strong>Our Lady of Peace</strong>, above), the world's largest church (with space for up to 18,000 worshippers), with architecture inspired by <strong>Saint Peter's Basilica</strong> in <strong>Vatican City</strong>. There´s also a white <strong>Grand Mosque</strong> (Muslims make up around 39 percent of the population, as against 33 percent Christians). The rest of the city´s architecture has been described as a dilapidated “time capsule of the 1970s,” with landmarks such as the <strong>Presidential Palace</strong> (known mostly for its three lakes stocked with big – and reportedly several man-eating – Nile crocodiles) and the <strong>Boigny Felix Houphouet Foundation for Peace Research</strong>.</p><p> </p><p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t_F10rtZ5Fo?si=C-BHetpQZZC3HBRk" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grand_Bassam,_Ivory_Coast.jpg"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><br /> </em></span></a><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Grand-Bassam</strong></span></p><p>Speaking of dilapidated, down on the coast a half hour from Abidjan, the French colonial capital (though just briefly, from 1893 to 1900, though it remained a key seaport for years afterward(,with a current population of around 125,000, is a <strong><a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1322">UNESCO World Heritage Site</a></strong> with plenty of colonial-era buildings – many pretty shabby and some even abandoned – with standouts including the <strong>Post Office and Customs House</strong>, the <strong>Ganamet House</strong>, the <strong>Hotel de France</strong>, and the main bank. Other attractions include the <strong>Akan Costume Museum</strong>, which offers insights into the local culture, showcasing a variety of traditional costumes and masks. However, most people actually come here for the long beach, lined with restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels. </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12256937474,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12256937474,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12256937474?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a></em></span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/botalex/24148248710"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Dr Alexey Yakovlev</em></span><br /> </a></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:14pt;">Ecotourism in Nature Parks and Reserves</span> </strong></p><p><strong><a href="https://www.parc-national-de-tai.org/">Taï National Park</a><br /> </strong><br /> Near the border with <strong>Liberia</strong> – just 215 miles northwest of Abidjan but reachable only by a five-hour flight– one of West Africa´s last remaining primary rainforests (above) is a 1,300-square-mile UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its biodiversity. Taï is home to a wide variety of wildlife including pygmy hippos, chimpanzees, and various species of monkeys.</p><p><strong>Comoé National Park </strong><br /> <br /> Ivory Coast´s other UNESCO World Heritage reserve is way up north –a more than six-hour flight from Abidjan – and at 4,440 sq. mi. is West Africa’s largest. Renowned for its biodiversity, Comoé´s habitats range from savannah to forest and its array of wildlife is extensive, with more than 500 species of birds and some 135 of mammals, including elephants, hippos, and many species of antelope. It’s also listed by UNESCO as in danger due to poor management, unregulated poaching, and overgrazing.</p><p><strong>Îles Ehotilés National Park</strong><br /> <br /> Located near Assinie (see below) a three-hour drive east of Abidjan, these half dozen small islands offers nearly 41 square miles´worth of lovely landscapes/seascapes, mangroves, and diverse birdlife of 128 species, mostly aquatic.</p><p><br /> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LMkzzb8b8ww?si=4ngLyGn4qvQl__VK" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:14pt;"><br /> Beautiful Beaches</span> </strong></p><p>Apart from the beaches at Cocody and Grand Bassam, the country´s main strands are the following:</p><p><strong>Assinie</strong></p><p>Located an hour 40 minutes east of Abidjan, this long stretch of golden sand and crystalline waters (above) also features swaying coconut palms; a wide variety of water sports such as Jetskiing and parasailing; and an array of beachfront bars, restaurants, and hotels/resorts from budget to luxurious.</p><p><strong>Jaqueville</strong><br /> <br /> On the other side of Abidjan – on a barrier island just under an hour´s drive westward – this hidden gem is a long stretch of white sand that´s relatively undiscovered by tourists, yielding a more peaceful and secluded beach experience yet also a variety of beachfront bars and restaurants. Jaqueville also offers an appealing ecotourism bonus in the form of nearby mangrove forests, harboring a variety of wildlife and explorable by kayak or boat.</p><p><strong>Sassandra </strong></p><p>Somewhat farther west – four hours from Abidjan – this laid-back fishing town offers an ideal respite for those looking for a more relaxed environment, along with golden sand with clear waters and a variety of bars and restaurants; dramatic cliff scenery; and a lagoon visitors can explore by boat or kayak.</p><p><strong>San Pedro</strong></p><p>Even farther west than Sassandra – a five-hour drive from Abidjan and just under three if you fly – another tranquil fishing village is home to another stretch of golden sand and amenities similar to Sassandra, minus the lagoon and mangroves.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12256938894,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12256938894,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12256938894?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jbdodane/9620667359"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>jbdodane</em></span><br /> </a></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>The Man Region</strong></span><br /> <br /> Located inland in the west of the country –6½ hours by car and three by plane from Abidjan and a four-hour drive from Yamassoukro, Man is famous for its scenic beauty, with rolling hills, cascading waterfalls like <strong>Le Cascade</strong>; dense rainforests; and peaks such as <strong>La Dent de Man</strong> and <strong>Mount Tonkoui</strong>, which at 3,027 feet is the country´s second highest</p><p> </p><p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kjDiscXD1zc?si=gHoOURyhSUhYy7Er" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Community Tourism</strong></span></p><p>While the Akan are by far the majority - more than 42 percent - there are around 60 other ethnic groups throughout this small country, such as the Ebrie, the Gur, the Krous, and the Mande. And a number of Abidjan-based tour operators can introduce visitors to their cultures and ways.</p><p> </p><p> </p></div>5 Fabulous Sites of Classical Antiquity in Libyahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/libya-roman-greek-archaological-sites-archaeology-history-unesco2023-10-03T13:46:14.000Z2023-10-03T13:46:14.000ZRiccardo Rhttps://tripatini.com/members/RicardoR<div><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12238952290,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12238952290,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12238952290?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:Libya_5453_Leptis_Magna_Luca_Galuzzi_2007.jpg" target="_blank">Luca Galuzzi - www.galuzzi.it</a></em></span><br /> <br /> <br /> The territory of what is today <strong>Libya</strong>, along with <strong>Algeria</strong> and <strong>Tunisia</strong>, was once part of ancient Rome´s second most prosperous region after Italy itself, beginning with the Roman Republic´s conquest of <strong>Carthage</strong> and the rest of the Punic Empire in 146 BCE and lasting until 439, when it was in turn conquered by Germanic Vandals. Its legacy (as well as that of ancient <strong>Greece</strong>, which had its own colonies along this coast) lives on today in some extraordinary archaeological sites which will thrill ancient history aficionados, and here are ten of the most significant: <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Leptis Magna</strong></span></p><p>Located near the modern-day city of <strong>Al Khums</strong> and just under a two-hour drive east of capital <strong>Tripoli</strong>, this is is one of the most Mediterranean´s most prominent and best-preserved Roman ruins of all, protected as a <strong>UNESCO World Heritage Site</strong>. Founded by Berbers around 1000 BCE, like Carthage it became an important city of for the Phoenicians, and then for another 500 years flourished under Roman rule. Emperor <strong>Septimius Severus</strong> (193 BCE-211 CE) was a native of the city, and a number of landmarks date from his rule; highlights include the <strong>Severan Basilica</strong>, a grand amphitheater (top), a marketplace, forum, the <strong>Arch of Septimius Severus</strong>, the <strong>Hadrianic Baths</strong>, and much more.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12238953080,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12238953080,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12238953080?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/duimdog/127614169/in/set-72057594105577693/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>duimdog</em></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><br /> Sabratha</strong></span></p><p>Another UNESCO World Heritage Site and like Leptis Magna one of the three cities of ancient Roman <strong>Tripolis</strong>, it´s was founded as a trading post by the Phoenicians around 500 BCE and is located on the coast about 45 minutes west of Tripoli. Its impressive remains include a well-preserved 3rd-century theatre (above, one of the most imposing of its type in existence), basilica, and various temples.</p><p><br /> <span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12238954058,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12238954058,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12238954058?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cyrene8.jpg">Maher27777</a></em></span></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:14pt;"><br /> Cyrene</span> </strong></p><p>Also known as <strong>Kyrene</strong> , this one´s a bit farther afield – on the eastern coast between Benghazi and Derma (the city devastated by the recent floods) and reachable from Tripoli in a bit over four hours by flying to Benghazi, then driving, if you don´t want to spend 12 hours driving the entire way. Before it was conquered by Rome, this was one of the principal cities in the Hellenistic world, founded around 630 BCE; as yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site is famed for ruins including the Temple of Zeus, the Sanctuary of Apollo, a large theatre, a renowned library, a necropolis, and Roman tombs. Just 20 kilometres (a bit over 12 miles) away, you can also see <strong>Apollonia</strong>, a harbour town which served as Cyrene´s port, with ruins of Roman baths and a small theatre as well as several Byzantine churches; there´s also a museum dedicated to Apollonia in the contemporary town of <strong>Susa</strong> next door.</p><p><br /> <span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12238955286,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12238955286,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12238955286?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ptolemais_(5283376622).jpg" target="_blank">David Stanley</a></em></span></p><p> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:14pt;">Ptolemais</span> </strong></p><p>Also well worth a stop in this area (it´s located between Cyrene and Apollonia, part of the modern-day village of Tolmeita), this was one of the Pentapolis (five significan Greek colonies of this region, which also include Cyrene, Apolonnia, and Tocra, below). Founded in the 7th century BCE and then in the early 3rd century BCE expanded under and named after one of the Ptolemies (the Greek dynasty which included Cleopatra and ruled Egypt and this part of North Africa for nearly three centuries), ruins of villas, a basilica, and public baths.</p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Tocra</strong></span><br /> <br /> Also known and <strong>Tauchira</strong> and <strong>Tukrah</strong>, and located just 40 minutes west along the coast from Ptolemais, remnants of a Roman theatre, basilicas, tombs, baths, houses, and various other structures are visible at both the oldest and least excavated of the Pentapolis towns (sadly, it´s also under threat from coastal erosion, which has already resulted in the loss of a significant part of the site)..</p><p> </p></div>The Case for Cape Verdehttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/cape-verde-attractions-tourism-travel-culture-cuisine2023-09-30T11:15:56.000Z2023-09-30T11:15:56.000ZHelen Brownhttps://tripatini.com/members/HelenBrown<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12237266853,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12237266853,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12237266853?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chaves_Beach_in_Boa_Vista.jpg"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Romazur</em></span></a><br /> <br /> <br /> With just 600,000 inhabitants, this former Portuguese colony (from 1462 to 1975) is an ten-island archipelago off the coast of <strong>Senegal</strong> which in recent years has become a rising tourism star – especially among Europeans, above all from <strong>Britain</strong>, <strong>Germany</strong>, <strong>Portugal</strong> (unsurprisingly), the <strong>Netherlands</strong>, and <strong>Belgium</strong> – due mostly to some of the world´s most gorgeous beaches, with tawny sands, crystal-clear waters, and excellent swimming and water sports (particularly snorkeling and scuba diving). But <strong><em>Cabo Verde</em></strong> (its name in Portuguese) also offers stunning volcanic landscapes; warm, welcoming people; a tasty cuisine; excellent ecotourism (including first-rate humpback whale watching from February through May); and a diverse culture with a unique blend of African, Portuguese, and Creole influences. Some top destinations and experiences not to miss:</p><p><br /> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kjrNqVQEcMU?si=AtX7-2YdAmGNPbkh" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p> <br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Boa Vista Island</strong></span><br /> <br /> The stars here are desert-like landscapes and wildlife including sea turtles (particularly between July and September). It's a great place for beach lovers (<strong>Praia de Chaves</strong>, top, is especially is a dream) and visitors seeking a tranquil, laid-back vibe.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12237267871,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12237267871,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12237267871?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pico_do_Fogo_volcano_in_Cape_Verde.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Pascal Givry</span></a></p><p><strong><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;">Fogo Island</span></strong><br /> <br /> Musts are active volcano <strong>Pico do Fogo</strong>, the country´s highest peak, up which you can hike to score some truly breathtaking views, and the charming town of <strong>São Filipe</strong>, known for its colonial architecture and wine production.</p><p><br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12237275092,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12237275092,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12237275092?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salt_Island_Sal.jpg"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Asapshobo</span><br /> </a></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Sal Island</strong> </span><br /> <br /> Besides beautiful beaches like <strong>Santa Maria</strong>, and <strong>Ponta Pedra</strong> (fabulous surfing!), Sal is famous for its water sports (windsurfing kitesurfing, and snorkeling are especially popular), other outdoor activities, and the salt pans which gave the island its name, such as <strong>Pedra de Lume</strong>.</p><p> </p><p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y7Cdovk4Shg?si=oFEcwQESFQZXkuEg" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><br /> Santiago Island</strong></span><br /> <br /> You may fly into and out of national capital <strong>Praia</strong> (pop. 159,000), although the country does also have another half dozen on other islands including Boa Vista, Fogo, and Sal. Praia´s main attractions include a charming old quarter (on the tentative list of <strong>UNESCO World Heritage Sites</strong>) and an interesting ethnographic museum of culture. Also very much worth a visit, a 20-minute drive away, is UNESCO-World-Heritage <strong>Cidade Velha</strong>, the oldest European settlement in the tropics, whose major landmarks include several churches and a 16th-century fortress (above). On the beaches front, a standout is <strong>Praia Tarrafal</strong> up north in the town of the same name, a relaxing destination with a laid-back atmosphere (on a less happy note, nearby there´s also a <em>campo de concentração</em> (concentration camp), a penal colony for Portugal´s political prisoners as well as African opponents of its colonial rule, in operation from 1936 to 1974 and now a ¨museum of resistance.¨</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Littoral_nord_de_Santo_Antao.jpg"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VV6kXFvpNkk?si=Vflp0BMz4WfmsnqY" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <br /> </a></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><br /> Santo Antão Island</strong></span><br /> <br /> Lush and mountainous, this paradise for hikers and nature lovers boasts dramatic landscapes, lush valleys, picturesque villages, and again, beautiful beaches (the most notable being <strong>Praia Grande</strong>).</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12237279692,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12237279692,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12237279692?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/21160385@N02/49304984546">Paul Arps</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><br />São Vicente Island</strong></span><br /> <br /> Its largest settlement, <strong>Mindelo</strong> (pop. 70,000), is considered the cultural capital of Cape Verde, with a lively nightlife music scene (especially the traditional genre called <em>morna (see below)</em>, You can also explore its historic center, dating back to 1736, the colorful local markets and enjoy more great beaches such as <strong>Praia da Laginha</strong>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12237279895,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12237279895,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12237279895?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cachupa_2.jpg">Xandu</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Tasty Cuisine</strong></span><br /> <br /> Standouts include <em>cachupa</em> (above, a hearty cabbage-and-bean stew, often including meat or fish), <em>pastéis</em> (fried turnovers made with fish), and of course a cornucopia of fresh seafood (especially tuna, lobster, and octopus). The locals also make an excellent rum, called grogue.</p><p> </p><p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_GVvXbyfQ0I?si=gYJIXtnUgrRSpAsE" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"> <strong>Fascinating Music/Culture</strong></span><br /> <br /> The country is particularly is renowned for its music and dance, notably genres like the upbeat <em>coladeira</em>, funaná, and the best known, the wistful <em>morna</em>, comparable to Portugal´s fado and considered the national music genre <em>par excellence</em>, its most famous artist is still the late, great, Grammy-winning <strong><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/cesaria-evora-cape-verde-music">Cesária Évora</a></strong>. </p><p> <br /> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jgtmXJZWvys?si=VaoChY_rpnImAwYz" width="750" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><br />Fun Festivals</strong></span><br /> <br /> If possible, time your visit to coincide with an event such as the pre-Lenten <strong>Carnival</strong> of Mindelo (above; in 2024 it begins on February 13); the <strong>Festival of Santa Catarina</strong> (November 24) in the town of <strong>Assomada</strong> on Santiago Island; the <strong>Kriol Jazz Festival</strong> on Sal (mid-April); and the country´s most popular music event, the <strong>Festival de Baía das Gatas</strong>, held on a full-moon weekend in August on São Vicente.<br /><br /><br />More info: <strong><a href="https://www.visit-caboverde.com/en" target="_blank">Visit/CaboVerde.com</a></strong>..</p><p> </p><p> </p></div>The Fantastic Philae temple in Aswan, Egypthttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/philae-temple-aswan-egypt2023-08-09T18:11:34.000Z2023-08-09T18:11:34.000Zarabscountrieshttps://tripatini.com/members/arabscountries<div><h2 class="has-tertiary-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading">When was the Philae temple in Aswan built?</h2>
<p>In the same place as the current Philae temple, King Nakht-Nepf in the fourth century BC built a huge temple, and after him in the same place, king Ptolemy Philadelphia in the third century BC built his great temple. As he wanted the Egyptian people to love him like in <a href="https://arabscountries.com/egyptian-pharaonic-civilization/" target="_blank">the Egyptian pharaonic civilization</a>, so he showed them that he believes in their great gods. As many kings made the same and pretend to be the son of the Ancient Egyptian gods as Ancient Pharaohs used to do ceremonies for that.</p>
<h2 class="has-tertiary-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading"><span id="Where_is_the_Philae_temple_located" class="ez-toc-section"></span>Where is the Philae temple located?</h2>
<p>The location of the Philae temple nowadays is on Agilkia island in the middle of the Nile river in Aswan. However, earlier its location was on Philae island and later UNESCO transferred all the Philae island buildings to Agilka. The high dam constructions affected it as it was about to sink.</p>
<p>Its location is distinguished among other temples because of its nature and isolation from the modern constructions between the water. In addition, the Philae temple is near Aswan where you can visit other temples. Don’t miss this chance.</p>
<h2 class="has-tertiary-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading"><span id="How_to_get_to_the_Philae_temple" class="ez-toc-section"></span>How to get to the Philae temple?</h2>
<p>It is on agilika island in the Nile River near Aswan. So you can take a taxi from Aswan to Philae temple Marine. There, you will find many boats for transferring visitors to Agilika Island where you can enjoy your time with the great historical site of the Philae temple.</p>
<h2 class="has-tertiary-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading"><span id="Meaning_of_Philae" class="ez-toc-section"></span>Meaning of Philae</h2>
<p>Philae is a Greek word that means “beloved”. It has another Arabic name “Ans Al-Wugud” as it has a strong relationship with many cultural stories.</p>
<h2 class="has-tertiary-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading"><span id="Philae_temple_history" class="ez-toc-section"></span>Philae temple history</h2>
<p>During the Ptolemaic era, like any invader in Egypt, the kings tried to involve the Egyptian people by believing in their Egyptian Gods such as Isis, Osiris, and Horus. Therefore, Ptolemy II believed in the Egyptian God Isis and ordered to build Philae temple to the sacred Egyptian Goddess Isis.</p>
<h2 class="has-tertiary-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading"><span id="The_rescue_of_the_Philae_temple" class="ez-toc-section"></span>The rescue of the Philae temple</h2>
<p>After building the high dam of Aswan, the Philae temple was about to sink as the water covered about of its walls. However, UNESCO made a great project to rescue this great monument from sinking.</p>
<p>In 1972, its resurrection was really amazing as first the workers cut the stones into many pieces each piece was up to 30 tons with an average of 20 tons. Then they transferred it to Agilica Island. Agilica Island is about 500 m far from Philae Island. After that, they put their parts together again. This entire project took 2 years “<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/activities/173/">The Rescue of Nubian Monuments and Sites</a>“.</p>
<p>It is one of the greatest works in archaeological engineering as the workers installed 3000 steel plates at the bottom of the Nile at a length of 12 meters to form a temporary dam to retain water around the island, so it took two years to save the entire island to surround the island with two rows of steel plates.</p>
<h3 class="has-tertiary-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading">Philae temple of Isis</h3>
<p>It was dedicated to worshiping the great God and Goddess Isis the main god of the temple. Besides Osiris and their son Horus. You will see that the walls of the temple show us their myth of them. One wall shows Isis bringing Osiris back to life and then she gives birth to Horus. Besides, in another scene, Isis is mummifying God Osiris after his death.</p>
<h2 class="has-tertiary-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading"><span id="Philae_temple_ticket_price" class="ez-toc-section"></span>Philae temple ticket price</h2>
<p>The price of the Philae temple in Aswan for tourists is 200 Egyptian pounds while for Egyptian people 40 Egyptian pounds. Philae temple entrance fee for students is 20 Egyptian pounds only.</p>
<h2 class="has-tertiary-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading"><span id="Philae_temple_architecture" class="ez-toc-section"></span>Philae temple architecture</h2>
<p><img class="wp-image-4003 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" src="https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-3316778_1280.jpg?resize=660%2C437&ssl=1" alt="egypt-3316778_1280.jpg?resize=660%2C437&ssl=1" /><a href="https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-3316778_1280.jpg?resize=300%2C199&ssl=1">https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-3316778_1280.jpg?resize=300%2C199&ssl=1</a> 300w, <a href="https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-3316778_1280.jpg?resize=768%2C508&ssl=1">https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-3316778_1280.jpg?resize=768%2C508&ssl=1</a> 768w, <a href="https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-3316778_1280.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1">https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-3316778_1280.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1</a> 1280w" alt="Philae temple in Aswan" width="660" height="437" data-recalc-dims="1" data-lazy-loaded="1" /></p>
<p>The temple architecture is great as a great corridor was built. In addition, it is decorated with Corinthian pillars that have made it one of the great architectural sites. There is also a birth chamber for Isisi where you can see on the walls a scene of Isis breastfeeding Horus.</p>
<p><img class="wp-image-4004 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" src="https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4789780_1280.jpg?resize=660%2C417&ssl=1" alt="egypt-4789780_1280.jpg?resize=660%2C417&ssl=1" /><a href="https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4789780_1280.jpg?resize=300%2C190&ssl=1">https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4789780_1280.jpg?resize=300%2C190&ssl=1</a> 300w, <a href="https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4789780_1280.jpg?resize=768%2C485&ssl=1">https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4789780_1280.jpg?resize=768%2C485&ssl=1</a> 768w, <a href="https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4789780_1280.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1">https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4789780_1280.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1</a> 1280w" alt="Philae temple in Aswan" width="660" height="417" data-recalc-dims="1" data-lazy-loaded="1" /></p>
<p>There is also a small temple beside the Philae temple. It was dedicated to the worship of God Horus which was built by Ptolemy V.</p>
<p>Later in the roman other constructions were built such as the roman temple for King Trajan. It shows scenes of the king presenting wine to Goddess Isis and God Horus and presenting incense and the sacred water to God Osiris.</p>
<h2 class="has-tertiary-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading"><span id="Philae_temple_sound_and_light_show" class="ez-toc-section"></span>Philae temple sound and light show</h2>
<p><img class="wp-image-4005 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" src="https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4808390_1280.jpg?resize=660%2C437&ssl=1" alt="egypt-4808390_1280.jpg?resize=660%2C437&ssl=1" /><a href="https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4808390_1280.jpg?resize=300%2C199&ssl=1">https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4808390_1280.jpg?resize=300%2C199&ssl=1</a> 300w, <a href="https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4808390_1280.jpg?resize=768%2C508&ssl=1">https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4808390_1280.jpg?resize=768%2C508&ssl=1</a> 768w, <a href="https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4808390_1280.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1">https://i0.wp.com/arabscountries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/egypt-4808390_1280.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1</a> 1280w" alt="Philae temple in Aswan" width="660" height="437" data-recalc-dims="1" data-lazy-loaded="1" /></p>
<p>In the Sound and Light show Aswan, the Philae temple will be brought this magical temple will be brought back to life, especially the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. This significant temple is the most popular tourist spot in the 18th and 19th centuries. Enjoy an exceptional journey at the Philae temple Sound. And also Light show, which will steal your heart by revealing ancient secrets and mysteries.</p>
<p>You can check more from this link <a href="https://soundandlight.show/en/show/philae-show?gclid=CjwKCAjw6fyXBhBgEiwAhhiZsrQX4iURGMYLiZfbWgUxCxfJLqIxyw2WHwf-U4F07mZaObEuiweR7RoCuOkQAvD_BwE">Sound and Light show</a>.</p>
<h2 class="has-tertiary-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading"><span id="Temples_between_Luxor_and_Aswan" class="ez-toc-section"></span>Temples between Luxor and Aswan</h2>
<p>If you are planning to visit Luxor and Aswan, you must take a cruise between them. So, you can enjoy the natural scene with the temples. It really worth visiting, you will find other historical monuments such as:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://arabscountries.com/abu-simbel-temple-aswan/" target="_blank">Abu Simbel</a> Temples</li>
<li>Valley of the Kings</li>
<li>Temple of Hatshepsut.</li>
<li>Colossi of Memnon.</li>
<li>Karnak Temple.</li>
<li>Temple of Horus.</li>
<li>Temple of Kom Ombo.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="has-tertiary-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading"><span id="Temples_in_Aswan_Egypt" class="ez-toc-section"></span>Temples in Aswan Egypt</h2>
<p>There are many temples in Aswan such as:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://arabscountries.com/abu-simbel-temple/">Abu Simbel Temple</a>.</li>
<li>Philae Temple.</li>
<li>Kom Ombo Temple.</li>
<li>Khnum temple.</li>
<li>Kalabsha Temple.</li>
<li>Karnak Temple.</li>
<li>Luxor temple.</li>
<li>Deir el-Bahari Temple.</li>
</ul>
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> </div></div>A Trek to the Iconic Crater Mountain in Kenya´s Great Rift Valleyhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/crater-mountain-great-rift-valley-hiking-trekking-adventure2023-07-21T23:23:20.000Z2023-07-21T23:23:20.000ZDenis Michenihttps://tripatini.com/members/DenisMicheni<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12158147259?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-size:14pt;">This week's highlight was an exhilarating hike to Mount Longonot, an iconic crater mountain nestled in Kenya's Great Rift Valley. Our adventure commenced from Nairobi on a chilly Tuesday morning. As we drove past the picturesque Rift Valley Escarpment, excitement filled the air. By 8:00 AM, we reached the foot of Mt. Longonot, ready to conquer its magnificent heights.</span></p>
<p> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12158148493,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12158148493,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12158148493?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>The Hike</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Mt Longonot Basics<br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Total Distance:</strong> 6.2km up and back, 13.5km including rim hike ( My App recorded 15 Kms)</span></p>
<p><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Duration:</strong> 3-6 hours hiking time ( We took 4 Hours)</span></p>
<p><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;">Difficulty Level: Moderate to advanced ( Some points are abit tough but with okay fitness level you should be able to hack easily). </span></p>
<p><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;">Location: Naivasha, Kenya, within Mount Longonot National Park </span></p>
<p><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;">Cost: Citizens & Residents – 250 KSH, Non-Resident Adults – $26 USD, Non-Resident Children – $15 USD</span><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;">Opening Times: 6AM-6PM every day</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:18.6667px;">Photos</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:18.6667px;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12158152073,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12158152073,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12158152073?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:18.6667px;">Just a few metres from the gate we encounter these beautiful impalas grazing.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:18.6667px;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12158152881,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12158152881,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12158152881?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">After 1 hour and 30 minutes of hiking, we finally reached the first peak, but I must admit, I felt utterly exhausted. It had been a year since my last hike, and this one definitely took a toll on me.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12158153286,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12158153286,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12158153286?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Another sighting; this time a Masai Giraffe from a distance. We were also able to see a herd of buffalos and giraffes but from a great distance and out of our cameras reach.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12158154264,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12158154264,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12158154264?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">A Mini crater observable as we enbark on a wark around the crater</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12158154101,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12158154101,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12158154101?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Mt Longonot Kilele Ngamia Peak covered by Fog</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12158154492,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12158154492,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12158154492?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Made it to the peak after 3 Hours </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12158155454,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12158155454,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12158155454?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">At this point still we dont have a clear view of crater as it is foggy. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12158155855,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12158155855,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12158155855?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">The Fog clears and I am able to get clear shot of the crater</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12158156093,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12158156093,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12158156093?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">W descend to the starting point at 12.30 PM have lunch and later return back to Nairobi</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">For Mt Longonot Hike Check out full details on our website <a href="https://africavacationsafaris.com/safari/mt-longonot-hike/">Mt Longonot Hike | Starting from $120 per person (africavacationsafaris.com)</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Or email us directly via info@africavacationsafaris.com | Whatsapp +254723315919</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p></div>A Month-by-Month Guide to Kenya and Tanzania's Wildebeest Migration Spectaclehttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/kenya-tanzania-wildebeest-migration-wildife-ecotourism2023-07-06T20:27:10.000Z2023-07-06T20:27:10.000ZDenis Michenihttps://tripatini.com/members/DenisMicheni<div><p> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12131282487,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12131282487,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="750" alt="12131282487?profile=RESIZE_930x" /></a></p>
<p>Embark on an awe-inspiring journey as we delve into the remarkable phenomenon of the wildebeest migration. In this month-to-month guide, we'll explore the intricate patterns and exhilarating moments that define this epic migration across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Brace yourself for an unforgettable adventure as we unravel the secrets of nature's grand spectacle. Interested in booking a Migration Safari? Head to our website and look at this <a href="https://africavacationsafaris.com/safari/masai-mara-and-lake-nakuru-national-park-safari/">safari</a></p>
<p><strong>January</strong></p>
<p>As the new year dawns upon the Serengeti, vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle begin their migration journey. After the calving season in December, the herds gather in the southern Serengeti plains, preparing for their epic voyage. Witness the energy and anticipation in the air as they graze and replenish their strength.</p>
<p><strong>February</strong></p>
<p>The herds continue to graze in the southern Serengeti, growing restless. With the arrival of fresh grasses brought on by seasonal rains, the wildebeest start their northward migration towards the Serengeti's western corridor. Along the way, they face treacherous river crossings, testing their strength and agility. </p>
<p><strong>March</strong></p>
<p>By now, the herds have reached the western corridor, where they feast on the lush grasslands. This period showcases some of the most challenging river crossings, particularly at the Grumeti River. Watch in awe as thousands of wildebeest take the leap of faith, braving crocodile-infested waters in a daring display of survival. </p>
<p><strong>April</strong></p>
<p>As the rainy season continues, the herds push further north, leaving the western corridor behind. They venture into the central Serengeti, where the landscape transforms into a patchwork of savannah and woodlands. This time of the year offers fantastic opportunities to witness breathtaking scenes of wildebeest grazing against the backdrop of picturesque landscapes.</p>
<p><strong>May</strong></p>
<p>The migration enters its transitional phase as the wildebeest traverse the central Serengeti, drawn by the allure of greener pastures in the northern reaches. The herds continue to face river crossings, most notably at the crocodile-infested Mara River. Brace yourself for thrilling encounters as wildebeest leap into the unknown, their determined spirit driving them forward. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12131284097,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12131284097,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="750" alt="12131284097?profile=RESIZE_930x" /></a></p>
<p><strong>June</strong></p>
<p>With the arrival of the dry season, the wildebeest migration reaches the northern Serengeti. Witness the crescendo of the migration as vast herds accumulate on the lush grasslands, awaiting the opportunity to cross into the Maasai Mara in Kenya. This is a prime time for game viewing, as predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs seize the opportunity to hunt amidst the abundance of prey. </p>
<p><strong>July</strong></p>
<p>The herds surge across the Mara River, creating dramatic scenes of chaos and resilience. Thousands of wildebeest and zebra brave the strong currents and the lurking predators, making their way into the Maasai Mara. This period presents a remarkable spectacle, drawing wildlife enthusiasts and photographers from all corners of the globe.</p>
<p><strong>August</strong></p>
<p>Having reached the Maasai Mara, the wildebeest find respite in the Kenyan grasslands, feasting on the nutritious vegetation. The stage is set for incredible encounters as predators capitalize on the abundance of prey. Witness the power dynamics between lions, hyenas, and other apex predators as they compete for their share of the bountiful feast. </p>
<p><strong>September</strong></p>
<p>With the onset of the dry season, the herds begin their southward migration, bidding farewell to the Maasai Mara. The wildebeest cover vast distances as they make their way back to the Serengeti, traversing the perilous Mara River once again. This period offers another chance to witness thrilling river crossings and the remarkable determination of these resilient</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Interested in Kenya and Tanzania Safari? Head over to our website for more details: <a href="http://africavacationsafaris.com/" target="_blank">www.africavacationsafaris.com</a></p>
<p> </p></div>Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast: Unveiling Coastal Paradise in Egypthttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/marseilia-beach-5-north-coast-egypt2023-07-02T09:44:31.000Z2023-07-02T09:44:31.000ZKelly Wilsonhttps://tripatini.com/members/KellyWilson<div><p><strong>A Tranquil Paradise Awaits at Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast Village</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://flatandvilla.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Marseilia-Beach-5-North-Coast.webp" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://flatandvilla.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Marseilia-Beach-5-North-Coast.webp" alt="Marseilia-Beach-5-North-Coast.webp" /></a></strong></p>
<p>Welcome to Village <a href="https://flatandvilla.com/en/north-coast/marseilia-beach-5/">Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast</a>, a captivating coastal destination developed by Marseilia Group. Nestled within the picturesque region of Ras Al Hikma in Egypt's North Coast, Marseilia Beach 5 offers a golden opportunity to own a unit in this exquisite village. With its remarkable villas and chalets, Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast Village provides an idyllic setting for an unforgettable vacation or a lucrative investment opportunity. Book your piece of paradise in this enchanting Marseilia Ras Al Hikma Village today.</p>
<p><strong>A Coastal Haven Close to Everything You Need</strong> in Marseilia Ras Al Hikma Village</p>
<p>Strategically situated at kilometer 210 on the Alexandria-Matrouh Road, Village Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast enjoys a prime location that offers easy accessibility to prominent landmarks. Hacienda West and Fouka Bay, among other upscale villages, are adjacent to Village Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast, ensuring a vibrant neighborhood. Explore the nearby attractions, including the pristine beaches and the new Fouka Road, only a 3-minute drive away. Marseilia Ras Al Hikma Village is conveniently connected to Dabaa Road and Wadi El Natroun Road, providing convenient access to various destinations. Notably, Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast Village is just a 50-minute drive from El Alamein Airport.</p>
<p><strong>Architectural Masterpieces with Direct Sea Views at Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast Village</strong></p>
<p>Immerse yourself in the architectural marvel of Marseilia 5 Resort. Marseilia Group has meticulously crafted this project to be a masterpiece that perfectly complements the mesmerizing beauty of Ras Al Hikma Beach. The innovative designs of the units in Village Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast provide an exceptional living experience, with most units offering captivating views of the sea.</p>
<p>Marseilia Beach 5 in the North Coast showcases an impressive architectural design that complements the natural beauty of the surrounding area. As part of the Village Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast, also known as Marseilia Ras Al Hikma Village, this resort stands out with its innovative and visually stunning structures. The meticulous attention to detail in the design of Marseilia 5 Resort reflects the commitment of Marseilia Group to create an exceptional living experience within Marseilia North Coast Project. The combination of elegant aesthetics and breathtaking views makes Marseilia Beach 5 a highly desirable destination for residents and visitors alike.</p>
<p>Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast Village, located within the charming Marseilia Ras Al Hikma Village, offers an impressive selection of unit types to cater to diverse preferences. As part of the renowned Marseilia North Coast Project, Marseilia 5 Resort presents an array of options for residents and investors alike. From luxurious villas to cozy chalets, Village Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast provides a range of unit types to suit various lifestyles. Whether one seeks a spacious standalone villa, a stylish townhouse, or a charming chalet, Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast Village ensures there is a perfect unit type to fulfill their desires. With meticulous attention to detail and thoughtful design, each unit type in Marseilia Beach 5 offers a unique blend of comfort and elegance, making it an ideal destination for those seeking an exceptional coastal living experience.</p>
<p>Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast Village, nestled within the captivating Marseilia Ras Al Hikma Village, offers a diverse range of unit areas to suit every lifestyle. Marseilia 5 Resort, a prominent feature of Marseilia North Coast Project, presents an array of options for residents and investors. From cozy chalets to spacious villas, Village Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast caters to various preferences. The unit areas in Marseilia Beach 5 range from 55 to 450 m<sup>2</sup>, providing ample space for relaxation and entertainment. Whether one desires a compact retreat or a grand retreat, Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast Village ensures there is a perfect unit size to meet their needs.</p>
<p><strong>Indulge in Unparalleled Luxuries and Recreation at Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast Village</strong></p>
<p>Indulge in the unparalleled services and facilities provided by Marseilia North Coast Project. At Marseilia Ras Al Hikma Village, you can experience the Lazy River, an exciting water attraction that ensures endless fun and relaxation. Dive into any of the 20 swimming pools, available in various sizes and depths, offering refreshing moments under the sun. Village Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast boasts a world-class hotel that warmly welcomes guests with exceptional hospitality. Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast Village takes security seriously, with 24-hour surveillance, guarded entrances, and security personnel to ensure a safe environment for all residents and visitors. Explore the commercial area, hosting internationally renowned brands for a delightful shopping experience. Stay fit and active at the outdoor gym or find tranquility at the yoga and spa area. The Beach Club provides a perfect setting to unwind and enjoy the stunning coastline. Families can rest assured that their children will have a blast at the fully protected Kids' Area. Additionally, maintenance and cleaning services ensure that Marseilia Village 5 maintains its impeccable appearance.</p>
<p><strong>Discover Competitive Prices and Flexible Installment Options at Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast Village</strong></p>
<p>Marseilia Group understands the importance of affordability, and Village Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast offers units for sale at competitive prices. The price per meter in this remarkable project vary depending on the unit type and size. You can buy your dream chalet or villa in Marseilia Ras Al Hikma Village, with chalet prices ranging from 1,600,000 EGP to 3,700,000 EGP. For townhouse villas, prices start from 4,800,000 EGP and go up to 5,900,000 EGP. Twin houses in Marseilia Beach 5 range from 3,000,000 EGP to 7,200,000 EGP, while standalone villas start from 16,000,000 EGP. Enjoy the flexibility of convenient payment plans with installments that span up to 10 years, making your dream of owning a unit in Village Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast more accessible.</p>
<p><strong>Experience the Perfect Blend of Luxury and Tranquility at Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast Village</strong></p>
<p>In conclusion, Village Marseilia Beach 5 North Coast offers a remarkable blend of luxury, convenience, and natural beauty. With its prime location, innovative design, outstanding amenities, competitive prices, and flexible payment plans, this Marseilia Group project is an exceptional investment opportunity. Whether you seek a serene retreat or a thriving coastal community, Marseilia Beach 5 has everything you desire. Don't miss your chance to own a unit in this prestigious village. Embrace the allure of Marseilia Ras Al Hikma Village and embark on a journey of coastal living at its finest in Egypt's North Coast.</p></div>5 Outstanding Eateries in and around the Mauritius Resort Town of Quatre-Borneshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/flic-en-flac-mauritius-restaurants-dining-food-culinary2023-06-12T15:30:00.000Z2023-06-12T15:30:00.000Zpatricia margarethttps://tripatini.com/members/patriciamargaret<div><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11597083069,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11597083069,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="11597083069?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://escalecreole.net/menu/" target="_blank">Escale Créole</a></em></span><br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight:400;">On the central west coast of <a href="https://tripatini.com/group/mauritius/forum/topics/the-islands-of-mauritius-will-take-your-breath-away" target="_blank">this stunning <strong>Indian-Ocean</strong> island off the coast of <strong>Africa</strong></a>, less than a half hour's drive from capital <strong>Port Louis</strong>, the quaint fishing village of <strong><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/flic-en-flac-mauritius=edit" target="_blank">Flic-en-Flac</a></strong> (the name thought to derive from the old Dutch <em>fried landt flaak</em>, meaning "free flat land," from when Mauritius was held by the <strong>Netherlands</strong> from the end of the 16th to the beginnng of the 18th century) is home to a thriving tourist industry centered around its 13 kilometres (eight miles) of coastline including a long, gorgeous, white-sand beach along a shallow, coral-reef-protected lagoon. This includes a variety of hotels, resorts, and guest houses for all budgets, along with shops, bars, nightclubs, even a casino. And of course that includes dozens of restaurants. Here's a look at five of the best:<br /><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DragonVertRestaurant/" target="_blank">Dragon Vert</a></strong></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-weight:400;">Located in nearby <strong>Quatre-Bornes</strong> - casual but with soothing, elegant, Zen décor - the longstanding "Green Dragon" is a family-run must for lovers of Chinese cuisine (although tweaked for local/European tastes), with favorite dishes including chicken fried rice, prawn croquettes, Szechiuan chicken and shrimp, and "crusty" squid. A little on the pricier end of the local restaurant scale, though, if that matters. </span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://escalecreole.net/en/welcome/" target="_blank">Escale Créole</a></strong></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-weight:400;">Mauritian creole cuisine reflects the island's diversity of cultural influences, including African, South Asian, and European, and this homey spot in a lush tropical garden specializes in warm service and savory, exotic dishes such as creole sausages, rougaille (pork-and-tomato stew), cabbage and salted fish cangraillé, chicken curry, and salmi venison, all served with rice, beans, and chutneys. Open weekdays for lunch only (as well as one Saturday per month). <br /> </span></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Panarottis Pizza Pasta</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Everybody loves pizza, right? This restaurant is child friendly which means they can stay busy with things and you can spend some quality time with your loved one.<br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Rajah Saheb Indian Restaurant</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Two-thirds of Mauritius' population is descended from laborers brought from the Indian Subcontinent, and India and Bangladesh remain among its main sources of immigration. So you'd expect great Indian restaurants, and this one in Quatre-Bornes is a good example. Quatre Borne hosts you with this restaurant for the popular Indian cuisine. The parking and WiFi here is not a fret and this is the perfect place to plan for parties and conferences. You will not be disappointed by this place.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> <br /> <em>For cheap car rentals in Flic-en-Flac, click <a href="https://inncarsholiday.com/uk/en/car-rental/mu/flic-en-flac" target="_blank">here</a><strong>.</strong></em><br /> </span></p>
<p> </p></div>5 Fabulous, Once-In-A-Lifetime Horseback-Riding Holidays on 4 Continentshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/horseback-riding-horse-dude-ranch-holidays-vacations2023-05-10T10:40:00.000Z2023-05-10T10:40:00.000ZBea Villiershttps://tripatini.com/members/BeaVilliers<div><p><a href="https://stohttps//www.ranchrider.com/ranches.php?loc=21rage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10796267459?profile=RESIZE_930x" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10796267459,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10796267459?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a></p>
<p><br /> Now that COVID restrictions are largely a thing of the past, once-in-a lifetime, bucket-list experiences are again within reach - with the caveat that our will to see the world is tempered with an awareness of travel's negative impact. So the pandemic was an awakening. <br /> <br /> Offering handpicked riding holidays, specialist tour operator Ranch Rider has rounded up five dream horseback adventures that align with our newfound consciousness:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.ranchrider.com/ranch.php?ranch=35" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10796268296,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10796268296?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><br /> <strong><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://www.ranchrider.com/ranch.php?ranch=35" target="_blank">Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort, British Columbia</a><br /> <br /> </span> </strong></p>
<p><span class="gmail_default"></span>Luxury might be an important element in many once-in-a-lifetime journeys, but it's far from the only one as our desire to protect the environment has never been more heightened. This spread of 80,000 acres of pristine wilderness, near <strong>Kamloops</strong> and a 4½-hour drive northeast of <strong>Vancouver</strong>, has an intimate lodge featuring boutique rooms along well luxurious safari-inspired glamping tents - all housing up to just 16 guests at a time - manages to elegantly combine the two.</p>
<p>Besides riding horses, other pursuits here include fly fishing, lake swimming and guided eco-adventures. Of this last option, the "Waterfall Ecology Hike" is billed as an “Indiana Jones” type experience, part reflection (the journey detailing the devastation of the 2017 wildfires in this region) and part inspiration (the adventure prompting you to heal the planet after giving you the rare opportunity to see climate change up close). There's also the option to tune into your own natural rhythm at the "Star Camp" (set in its own private dark-sky reserve), located deep in the Cariboo wilds. Seven nights with Ranch Rider from £10,173 pp (two sharing) including accommodation, meals, most ranch activities, taxes, gratuities, and excluding car hire and return flights (exact prices available on request). Departing June to September.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10796271669,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10796271669,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10796271669?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><br /> <strong><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://www.ranchrider.com/ranch.php?ranch=79" target="_blank">Follow the Bedouins in Jordan</a></span><br /> </strong></p>
<p><span class="gmail_default"></span>How we experience destinations - and with whom we travel with - are also questions we are all keen to explore in the post pandemic era. A bucket-list country, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, made <strong>CNN</strong>'s 2022 list of dream destinations, and our new horseback adventure (above and top), which starts and finishes in capital <strong>Amman</strong>, includes a visit the mysterious, spectacular Rose City of <strong>Petra</strong> during six days of exhilarating riding through <strong>Wadi Rum</strong>, the "Valley of the Moon."</p>
<p><span class="gmail_default"></span>More eco-friendly than travelling by jeep, and guided by local bedouins, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to appreciate the wonders of this vast lunar-like landscape through the eyes of the locals. The ten day Follow the Bedouins ride from £1,500 pp (two sharing) includes all accommodation (half board hotels in <strong>Madaba</strong>, <strong>Petra</strong> and <strong>Aqaba</strong>, full-board in Wadi Rum, along with bivouac tents), guides, entrance fees and transfers; return flights, and gratuities (left to guests' discretion) are exluded. Riders (12 years old and up) must be able to trot and canter comfortably. Departures are available in spring and autumn, and <strong>Red Sea</strong> or Amman extensions are available.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10796275080,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10796275080,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10796275080?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.ranchrider.com/ranch.php?ranch=76" target="_blank">Kenya's Borana Lodge</a></strong></span></p>
<p><span class="gmail_default"></span>In some regions, COVID's forced absence of visitors caused nature to hit the reset button, while in others we learned the critical importance of travel in uplifting communities and supporting conservation. Nowhere more so than in <strong>Africa</strong>, where the pandemic was an unfortunate gift for poachers. Located in central Kenya in the rugged wilderness of the <strong>Laikipia</strong> plateau - just under three hours from <strong>Nairobi</strong> and overlooking <strong>Mount Kenya</strong> - is one of the continent's most successful rhino sanctuaries, the <strong><a href="https://www.boranaconservancy.com/" target="_blank">Borana Conservancy</a></strong>. And its original eco haunt, <strong><a href="https://www.ranchrider.com/ranch.php?ranch=76" target="_blank">Borana Lodge,</a></strong> is home to the official pride rock, the landmark featured in <strong>Disney</strong>'s <strong><em>The Lion King</em></strong>.</p>
<p><span class="gmail_default">This eight-bedroom boutique lodge has few neighbours in its 32,000-acre backyard, ensuring safaris here have a more intimate feel than those in the much better known <strong>Msai Mara</strong>. Built from local materials, the property sits atop a rocky hill with panoramic views over the plateau. Primely positioned, the infinity edged pool allows for 24/7 wildlife viewing as the animals make their way to the waterhole, and there's a range of exciting activities - with horseback safaris front an centre, but also including ranger walks and even paragliding. For next-level horseback adventures, ride across Lolldaigas, the Monkey Valley and Mpala, and camp out under East Africa's starlit skies. Five-nights with Ranch Rider from £2,730pp (two sharing) in low season which includes a £650 donation to conservation. Price includes transfer from nearby <strong>Lewa Downs</strong>, all conservancy activities, and full board but excludes return flights. Departures year round.</span></p>
<p><span class="gmail_default"><br /> <br /> <a href="https://stohttps//www.ranchrider.com/ranch.php?ranch=58rage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10796277495?profile=RESIZE_584x" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10796277495,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10796277495?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a></span></p>
<p><span class="gmail_default"><strong><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://www.ranchrider.com/ranch.php?ranch=58" target="_blank">Zapata Cattle & Bison Ranch in Colorado</a></span><br /> </strong></span></p>
<p><br /> <span class="gmail_default">The call to halt climate change grew even louder over the course of the pandemic, as people began to see the dramatic effects of a sudden curb in emissions. Owned by <strong><a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/zapata-ranch/" target="_blank">The Nature Conservancy</a></strong> and run by forward thinking <strong><a href="https://ranchlands.com/pages/the-ranchlands-collective" target="_blank">Ranchlands Collective</a></strong> founder <strong>Duke Phillips</strong>, this 103,000-acre ranch near the town of <strong>Mosca</strong>, 3½ hours south of <strong>Denver</strong>, is tackling climate change the cowboy way. In this south-central portion of the <strong>Centennial State</strong>, responsible farming and conscious cattle-grazing work together to conserve the soil and regenerate the earth. Philips' methods are a mirror of pre-settler times when herds of bison (the ranch has a herd of 2,000) would pass through the high plains, their movementmimicking nature, their hoof action an ecosystem process in the same vein as wind, water, and fire. </span></p>
<p><span class="gmail_default">Where the legendary Western owpokes stand and ride tall plays a part in Zapata's holistic plan and take in the spectacular surrounds, the landscape composed of meadows, wetlands and cottonwood groves, and the property overlooking the <strong>Sangre De Cristo</strong> mountains and the huge rolling sand dunes of the <strong>Great Sand Dunes National Park</strong>. Six-nights with Ranch Rider from £2,510pp (no single supplement), the ranch holiday including opportunities to gather cattle and ride alongside the herd of wild bison. The price includes accommodation, meals, and most ranch activities and use of ranch facilities, along with taxes and gratuities, but excludes return flights. Departures May through October.</span></p>
<p><strong><span class="gmail_default"> </span></strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.ranchrider.com/ranch.php?ranch=43s://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10796278480?profile=RESIZE_930x" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10796278480,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10796278480?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.ranchrider.com/ranch.php?ranch=43" target="_blank">Argentina's Estancia Los Potreros</a></strong></span></p>
<p><span class="gmail_default"><br /> A</span>uthentic travel is connected to culture and long held traditions, the benefits of this type of tourism trickling down into local communities. Set in a beautiful reserve at the top of the <strong>Córdoba Hills</strong>, this 6,500 acre ranch dating back to 1573 is located in the north of the country, a 6½-hour drive or 3½-hour flight from <strong>Buenos Aires</strong>. The experience at this fourth-generation, Anglo-Argentine family is more homestay than farmstay, and your hosts, the Beggs, have lived and worked on the property for more than a century, spanning four generations. An authentic introduction to the gaucho (Argentine cowboy) lifestyle, the ranch combines pleasure riding across the pampas with opportunities to rope and round up the 700-strong herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle. The weekly "gaucho games" and polo matches offer more in the way of adventure, but for pure exhilaration ride to "the top of the world, " the highest point on the property, and appreciate the spectacular views out over the <strong>Sierra Chicas</strong>. </p>
<p><span class="gmail_default"></span>Off ranch, the owners support several community projects including a nearby rural school, and they are also working with local authorities to re-introduce endangered wildlife to the Cordoba hills. Save 18 percent (465pp): Seven night stays during September (known to be one of the best months to travel to Córdoba) with Ranch Rider from £2,080pp (no single supplement) including accommodation, meals, drinks, ranch activities, use of ranch facilities, and taxes but excluding return flight. Full price £2,545pp.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><span class="gmail_default">Besides the above, </span><em><a href="http://ranchrider.com/" target="_blank">Ranch Rider</a> offers riding holidays in <strong>Botswana</strong>, <strong>Eswatini</strong> (formerly Swaziland), <strong>Kenya</strong>, <strong>Mexico</strong>, <strong>Namibia</strong>, <strong>South Africa</strong>, and <strong>Tanzania</strong>. The specialist tour operator is part of the Frontier Travel collection, which also includes <strong>Frontier Canada</strong>, <strong>Frontier Ski</strong>, <strong>Frontier America</strong>, <strong>American Round-Up</strong>, <strong>Holidays 2</strong>, and <strong>Independent Traveller</strong>'s Africa programme. The company offers tailor-made skiing holidays, bespoke itineraries, including fly-drives and escorted holidays, and ranch holidays. For more information on Ranch Rider<strong>,</strong> see our site, call (020 8776 8709, or email <a href="mailto:ranchrider@frontier-travel.co.uk" target="_blank">ranchrider@frontier-travel.co.uk</a>; ATOL-protected; No 5405 ABTA W3207.</em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>10 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Kenyahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/kenya-travel-tourism2023-05-03T12:51:26.000Z2023-05-03T12:51:26.000ZCity Sightseeing Tourshttps://tripatini.com/members/CitySightseeingTours<div><p>Truth be told, many travellers from abroad fail to understand what you should know before visiting Kenya and the <a href="https://www.kevictours.com/reasons-to-visit-africa/"><strong>reasons to visit Africa</strong>,</a> right? Visiting a new place always comes with lots of cautiousness because of the unique and uncommon things one might experience.</p>
<p>Good news, this article will help you know some of the best practices you should implement or should know before visiting Kenya for amazing vacations. And so, Kenya, a land of diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and abundant wildlife, attracts many tourists from all over the globe.</p>
<p><strong>But what should you know before visiting Kenya? Let’s find out;</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Always check the updated visa requirements and fees</strong></li>
<li><strong>Keep abreast of the political climate and any travel advisories</strong></li>
<li><strong>Kenya experiences day and night; Know when to travel</strong></li>
<li><strong>Respect local customs and traditions</strong></li>
<li><strong>Not everyone can speak fluent English; learn some Swahili</strong></li>
<li><strong>Stay hydrated to avoid dehydration and heat exhaustion</strong></li>
<li><strong>Take precautions to ensure your Safety</strong></li>
<li><strong>Get vaccinated</strong></li>
<li><strong>Pack comfortable and sturdy shoes for walking and hiking</strong></li>
<li><strong>Consider visiting community-based tourism projects or eco-lodges</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>So, whether you're a first-time traveller or a seasoned adventurer, <a href="https://www.kevictours.com/book-now/"><strong>Kevic Tours & Company Ltd</strong></a> can help you structure and book any best and most affordable hotels in Kenya as you plan your visit.</p>
<p>Is that enough? No! Read on to discover everything you need to know about Kenya before you plan to have an amazing trip.</p>
<h2>What You Should Know Before Visiting Kenya</h2>
<h3>1. Always check the updated visa requirements and fees</h3>
<p>Most visitors to Kenya will require a visa to enter the country. This is a rule of thumb passed almost in all countries in the world. You can’t move outside your country without a visa.</p>
<p>However, there are <a href="https://akotheesafaris.com/72-countries-that-kenyans-can-travel-to-visa-free-or-get-a-visa-on-arrival/">some countries one can move to from Kenya without having a visa</a>. Nonetheless, checking the latest visa requirements and fees before you travel is important to avoid any complications or delays upon arrival.</p>
<p>You can apply for a visa online before your trip or upon arrival at the airport in Nairobi. However, applying in advance is recommended to avoid delays or issues. Additionally, ensure you have all the required documentation and fees ready to present at the border.</p>
<h3>2. Keep abreast of the political climate and any travel advisories</h3>
<p>Kenya has had a somewhat unstable political climate in the past, and it's important to keep abreast of any political developments and travel advisories that may be in place. Knowing the upfront information about the country you're looking forward to travelling to accords you peace of mind even before landing.</p>
<p>And so, before you travel, check with your government's travel advisory service for up-to-date information on any security concerns or travel restrictions in place.</p>
<h3>3. Kenya experiences day and night; know when to travel</h3>
<p>Kenya is close to the equator and experiences 12 hours of daylight throughout the year, with sunrise around 6 am and sunset around 6 pm, especially in the <a href="https://www.kevictours.com/reasons-you-should-add-mombasa-to-your-travel-wishlist/">coastal region where you can experience the best and most amazing sunse</a>t. This gives the country an adventurous experience never seen before.</p>
<p>However, the country also experiences two rainy seasons (March to May and October to November), affecting travel and outdoor activities.</p>
<p>To make the most of your trip, you can plan your visit during the dry season (December to February and June to September) when wildlife viewing and outdoor activities are at their best.</p>
<h3>4. Respect local customs and traditions.</h3>
<p>Kenya is a country with a rich cultural heritage, and it's important to be respectful of local customs and traditions. This includes dressing modestly, removing your shoes when entering someone's home, and seeking permission before taking photos of people or their property.</p>
<p>Additionally, be respectful of local wildlife and follow the guidance of your tour guide or ranger when visiting national parks and reserves.</p>
<h3>5. Not everyone can speak fluent English; learn some Swahili</h3>
<p>While English is widely spoken in Kenya, not everyone you meet can speak it fluently. Learning a few phrases in Swahili, Kenya's national language, is a good idea to help you communicate with locals and show respect for the local culture.</p>
<p>Some common phrases include "Jambo" (hello), "Asante" (thank you), and "Habari" (how are you?).</p>
<h3>6. Stay hydrated to avoid dehydration and heat exhaustion</h3>
<p>As mentioned earlier, Kenya is a hot and dry country, and staying hydrated is important to avoid dehydration and heat exhaustion.</p>
<p>Ensure you drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially outdoors. You can also drink coconut water or other electrolyte-rich drinks to replenish your body's fluids.</p>
<h3>7. Take precautions to ensure your Safety.</h3>
<p>While Kenya is generally safe for tourists, taking precautions to ensure your safety is always a good idea. Safety is paramount; you can't trade your life for anything.</p>
<p>Therefore, avoid walking alone at night, especially in unfamiliar areas, and keep your valuables secure. Be wary of scams or petty theft, such as pickpocketing or theft from unattended bags. Make sure to stay alert and aware of your surroundings at all times.</p>
<h3>8. Get vaccinated</h3>
<p>It's important to consult your doctor before travelling to Kenya to ensure you have all the necessary vaccinations and medications. This may include vaccinations for yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and malaria prevention medication.</p>
<p>Make sure to get vaccinated well before your trip, as some vaccines may require several doses or take time to become effective.</p>
<h3>9. Pack comfortable and sturdy shoes for walking and hiking</h3>
<p>Kenya can be hot during the day, but it can also get quite cool at night, especially in the highlands. Pack appropriate clothing for the weather, including lightweight and breathable clothing for the day and warmer layers for the evenings.</p>
<p>It's also important to pack comfortable and sturdy shoes for walking and hiking and a hat and sunglasses to protect you from the sun.</p>
<h3>10. Consider visiting community-based tourism projects or eco-lodges</h3>
<p>Kenya has a rich culture and abundant wildlife, and supporting local communities and conservation efforts is important. Consider visiting community-based tourism projects or eco-lodges, which provide employment and income for local communities while preserving the environment.</p>
<p>Choose tour operators prioritising responsible and sustainable travel practices, such as minimizing waste and respecting local customs and traditions.</p>
<h2>Bottom-Line; What You Should Know Before Visiting Kenya (10 Facts)</h2>
<p>In conclusion, visiting Kenya can be an incredible experience, with its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and abundant wildlife. However, being prepared and informed is important before embarking on your journey.</p>
<p>By following the tips outlined in this article, such as checking visa requirements, respecting local customs, and staying safe and hydrated, you can have a safe and enjoyable trip while supporting local communities and conservation efforts.</p>
<p>With a little planning and a sense of adventure, visiting Kenya can be an unforgettable experience. Should you have any booking problems or need to find a place to stay in Kenya, contact us at; <strong>info@kevictours.com</strong></p></div>9 of Cape Town's Most Photographable Spotshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/cape-town-south-africa-travel-photography2023-03-17T05:40:00.000Z2023-03-17T05:40:00.000Zrohny joneshttps://tripatini.com/members/rohnyjones<div><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10926047489,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10926047489,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10926047489?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Bo_Kaap_Cape_Town.jpg" target="_blank">Stephanjvv</a></em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The "<strong>Mother City</strong>" is a photographer's dream, offering an seemingly endless supply of impressive landscapes and cityscapes making it the perfect place to practice and hone your photography skills, whether your're a beginner or a pro. And needless to say, <strong>Instagram</strong> <span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:center;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;display:inline;float:none;">❤ </span><strong>Cape Town</strong>! Here are nine terrific examples.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><br /> <a href="https://www.capetown.travel/getting-to-know-the-bo-kaap/" target="_blank">The Bo-Kaap</a><br /> </strong></span></p>
<p>Situated on the slopes of Signal Hill above the city centre, this district also known as the Malay Quarter is one of the most colourful in Cape Town. It's also steeped in history, having been home to the city's Muslim community for more than 175 years (the <strong>Nurul Islam</strong> mosque was established in 1844, and the <strong><a href="https://www.iziko.org.za/museums/bo-kaap-museum/" target="_blank">Bo-Kaap Museum</a></strong>, in an 18th-century house which is the district's oldest, shows how a prosperous Muslim family of the time lived). And by the way, the next-door <strong>De Waterkant</strong> neighborhood is a bit less ostentatiously chromatic but still plenty picturesque.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://dhlstadium.co.za/" target="_blank">Cape Town Stadium</a><br /> </strong></span><strong><br /> </strong>Built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, these days this 15-storey, state-of-the-art stadium one of the city's most iconic landmarks and is also used for rugby, tennis, and concerts. Its crisp, curving, and elegant modern design - which appears to change colour depending on the weather and time of day - lends itself plenty of photo ops both inside and out.<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10993932257,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10993932257,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10993932257?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castle_of_Good_Hope,_Cape_Town_01.jpg" target="_blank">Bernard Gagnon</a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://castleofgoodhope.co.za/" target="_blank"><br /> The Castle of Good Hope</a></strong></span></p>
<p>Also known as the Cape Town Castle or simple The Castle, South Africa's oldest surviving manmade structure has stood as a historic local icon since 1679, when it was completed by the Dutch East India Company.. Once located on Table Bay and now part of central Cape Town after land reclamation, it's now home to three museums and provides some great scenic grist for your camera (plus come at night, too, when the walls are gaily lit with multicolour lights).</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.capetown.travel/six-reasons-to-visit-greenmarket-square/" target="_blank">Greenmarket Square</a></strong></span></p>
<p>Located in the City Bowl district at the heart of downtown Cape Town, one of its oldest squares (built in 1696 as a slave market) is cobbestone-paved, pedestrian-only, and serves up plenty of photo ops both day and night, thanks to street entertainers and bustling stalls that sell a variety of fascinating wares including colourful souvenirs to and African art. Speaking of art, you can also pop into Greenmarket's best known building and one of the city's oldest, the <strong>Old Town House</strong>, now home to the <strong>Michaelis Collection</strong>, strong in Dutch and Flemish old masters. Hard to get a bad shot here!<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10993940655,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10993940655,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10993940655?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cape_Town,_Blue_Lodge,_206-208_Long_Street.JPG" target="_blank">Ossewa</a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.capetown.travel/your-long-street-cheat-sheet/" target="_blank">Long Street</a></strong></span></p>
<p>This is indeed indeed a long street, but the stretch right near Greenmarket Square in particular just exudes energy and excitement, and it's been famous since the 1960s as a funky "bohemian" and nightlife hangout, with myriad bookstores and antiques shops as well as bars, clubs, cafés, and restaurants (especially African cuisine). Come here in the daytime to capture its various examples of its ornate Victorian and Cape Dutch architecture (with the <strong>Blue Lodge</strong>, above, being a good example of the former). </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.sgcathedral.co.za/" target="_blank">St. George’s Cathedral</a></strong></span></p>
<p>Begun in 1901 and finished in 1936, the seat of the <strong>Angican Church</strong> of southern Africa's neo-Gothic exterior and soaring interior with its beautiful stained-glass windows will also give your camera (or smartphone) plenty to work with. It's also right in city centre, two minutes from Greenmarket Square and four from Bo-Kaap.<br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10993816863,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10993816863,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10993816863?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BRENDON_WAINWRIGHT_-_Table_Mountain_1.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Brendon Wainwright</em></span></a><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/" target="_blank">Table Mountain</a></strong></span><br /> <br /> Two miles long and more than 3,500 feet high, this flat-topped is a dramatic, ever present part of the city landscape and a surefire photography bonanza whether from near, far (like here, captured from another mountain called Lion's Head), on top, or from below. Up top it's also home to a national park. The only limit to portraying this Cape Town icon is your vivid imagination.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.waterfront.co.za/" target="_blank">The V&A Waterfront</a></strong></span></p>
<p>With 300 acres (123 hectares) of beautiful marinas, more than 450 cool eateries and shops, 22 heritage sites and museums, and scenic waterfront promenade, urban photographers will find plenty to occupy themselves at the <strong>Victoria and Albert Waterfront</strong>. Two attractions here which may be of special interest are the <strong>Two Oceans Aquarium</strong> (with more than 3,000 marine species native to southern African waters as well as the cold <strong>South Atlantic</strong> around <strong>Antarctica</strong>) and <strong>Cape Wheel</strong>, a Ferris wheel that offers breathtaking views over the waterfront area, centre city, and Table Mountain. Day or night, it's all good<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="https://zeitzmocaa.museum/" target="_blank">Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA)</a></strong></span></p>
<p>Occupying the renovated historic <strong>Grain Silo</strong> complex at the V&A Waterfront, Africa's largest museum dedicated to contemporary art from throughout continent and the African diaspora serves up plenty of arresting visuals for your camera. Woza Afrika!</p>
<p><br /> All this whet your photographic appetite? <a href="https://www.safarisforafrica.com/cape-town-tours" target="_blank">Start planning a trip to Cape Town today</a>!</p>
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<p> </p></div>Venturing into Morocco's Sahara Deserthttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/morocco-sahara-desert2023-02-05T08:40:00.000Z2023-02-05T08:40:00.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10972318069,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10972318069,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10972318069?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a>photos | David Paul Appell</em></span></p>
<p><br /> <br /> When good friends asked my husband and me to join them to spend New Year’s Eve in <strong>Morocco</strong>’s <strong>Sahara Desert</strong>, it was hard to say no. We’d visited this country many years ago and had been utterly entranced by its culture, architecture, food, and people – yet we’d not yet gotten to the vast dunes of its northeast. And quite a trip it turned out to be..<br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10925725277,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10925725277,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10925725277?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><br /> <br /> <br /> Flying into Marrakesh, we spent a couple of days exploring its exotic, labyrinthine medina; its expansive <strong>Jamaa El-Fna</strong> square; and like iconic landmarks like <strong>Koutoubia Mosque</strong> and the <strong>Saadian Tombs</strong>. Then our party of six climbed into a van operated by a tour operator called <strong><a href="https://marrakechcitylife.com/">Marrakech Citylife</a></strong> (highly recommended) and off we went, heading toward the town of <strong>Merzouga</strong>, 349 miles (562 kilometers) east. </p>
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<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10925741882,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10925741882,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10925741882?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><br /> <br /> Now, this is an exhausting drive of more than nine hours if you were to do it in one fell swoop, but we made several fascinating stops along the way. Our first, some five hours east, was the town of <strong>Aït Ben Haddou</strong> in the <strong>Ounila Valley</strong>, famed for its 11th-century <em>ksar</em> (fortified village), which centuries ago was a thriving stop on the caravan routes which crossed the Sahara. Constructed of rammed earth, adobe, clay bricks, and wood, its buildings cling to the side of a hill and offer. Just a small handful of families live there now (most instead inhabit a more modern village just across the dried up bed of the <strong>Ounila River</strong>), but it’s a favorite stop for tour groups and independent travelers alike, drawn by its evocative window back into the medieval past. An that vibe has also drawn the film and television industry, which has used it as a backdrop for some 18 productions over the past 60 years, from <em>Sodom and Gemorrah</em> to <em><u>Game of Thrones</u></em>. In fact, there’s a full-fledged movie studio in the pleasant nearby city of <strong>Ouarzazate</strong> (pop. 71,000) called <strong><a href="https://discoverouarzazate.com/destinations/studios-atlas/">Atlas Studios</a></strong>, founded in 1983 to service this industry, and we had a brief stop there to look at some of the sets (though we didn’t go into the movie museum or take the studio tour).</p>
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<p>A couple of hours later we ascended into the <strong>Atlas Mountains</strong>, climbing a series of hairpin switchbacks in the dramatic Dadés Gorge - whose sheer rock walls soar 650 to 1600 feet high - and spent the night at the small, simple <strong><a href="https://hotel-newmars-dades.com/">Hotel New Mars Dadés</a></strong>. We saw more – and walked along a stretch – of this spectacular gorge (above) as we headed out the next morning toward Merzouga. It was another long drive – some 8½ hours – but broken up by lunch; pit stops; a stop at a roadside shop where my husband and I bought heavy wool <em>djellabahs</em> (traditional, full-length Berber tunics) to wear in the Sahara; and most interestingly of all, the old khettara irrigation/well system near the town of <strong>Melaab</strong>. Marked by a field of mounds, these are underground channels tunneled out by the Berbers of centuries ago to tap the waters of the Atlas Mountains. Truly fascinating! We finally pulled into Merzouga at the end of the afternoon and overnighted at one of the town’s better hotels, the <strong><a href="https://ksarbicha.com/">Ksar Bicha</a></strong>.</p>
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<p>The next morning was the big day. After breakfast, we were taken on a just-over-three-hour 4x4 tour of some of the nearby desert flats, including a stop on a low ridge to hunt for fossils (the Sahara was under water millions of years ago) and a visit to a nomad camp where <strong>Hossein</strong>, his wife <strong>Mona</strong>, and adorable toddler son <strong>Omar</strong> greeted us with tea and a snack of flatbread stuffed with onions, carrots, and green peppers. Getting by traditionally by trading goats, sheep, chickens, and camels, today income from visiting tourists plays a large role in supplementing their income. This was followed by a performance by a local music/dance troupe of <strong>Gnawa</strong>, a black ethnic group originally brought to Morocco from a region called the <strong>Sahel</strong> as slaves by an early-18th-century sultan. It was a powerful performance of singing backed by drums, a three-stringed <em>hajhuj</em> lute, and most notably <em>qraqab</em>, metal hand cymbals.</p>
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<p>Then after a fine lunch at <strong>Restaurant Chez Ibrahim</strong>, we spent an hour or so riding quads out into the dunes, where we also got to do a little sand boarding – on our butts atop a repurposed snowboard. Super fun!</p>
<p><br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10973198464,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10973198464,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10973198464?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><br /> <br /> <br /> After all that – ta-da! – it came time for the main event. We pulled up to a staging area where scores of hulking dromedaries (one hump, as opposed to camels, which have two) waiting to ferry tourists out to the desert camps. Our party climbed aboard (and yes, with José and I clad in our wool <em>djeballahs</em>), the droms rose ponderously to their feet and off we swayed for about an hour and twenty minutes, led by a pair of Berber lads. And yes, I admit at one point I played on my phone the famous main theme from <strong><em>Lawrence of Arabia</em></strong> – the area was close enough to town to yield a couple of bars of signal. Our Western sensitivities had us feeling a bit sorry for the dromedaries – especially seeing them afterward with one foot hobbled to keep them from wandering off – but these sturdy creatures were designed for this climate, and seemed well cared for (in fact, it’s totally in the locals’ interest to do so, being so critical to their livelihoods).</p>
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<p><br /> <br /> Finally the <strong><a href="https://www.merzougaluxurydesertcamps.com/">Merzouga Luxury Desert Camps</a></strong> came into view in a hollow beneath us – some 35 or so cream-colored canvas tents flanking a dining hall seating 75 to 80 visitors. The tents themselves are hardly “luxury,” despite the name – they have electricity (even bedside USB ports!), and you can upgrade to one with a private toilet and shower – but with no furniture except a decently comfortable bed dressed with a pair of heavy camelhair blankets – because that night the temperature got down to a frosty 38⁰ Fahrenheit (just over 3⁰ Centigrade).</p>
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<p>A hearty dinner – with wine and beer, even – was followed by an evening of entertainment on the rise above the camp, where a large steel tent frame sans canvas was set up to showcase Gnawa and other traditional music. In this particular case, as it was New Year’s Eve, this was combined with a Berber-Arab-Euro-Latino dance party that had everybody up and moving – and believe me, watching turban-clad Berber guys getting jiggy to “<strong><em>Despacito</em></strong>” and <strong>Bad Bunny</strong> was something to behold. After the stroke of midnight and fireworks, we skipped the cake to fall unconscious in our tents.</p>
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<p>The next morning, we passed on a return camel ride to head back to town in a 4x4 – a trip of just 15 minutes – and reboarded our van for the 211-mi. (339km) drive to Fez. Without stopping it takes around seven hours, but with lunch plus a couple of interesting stops (feeding peanuts to Barbary macaques in a national park and a spin around <strong>Ifan</strong>, a “hill station” and ski resort built by the French in the 1920s with some resemblance to a Swiss mountain town), it took closer to ten.</p>
<p>All in all, exhausting in some ways, but also totally exhilarating – truly a desert sojourn to remember forever!<br /> <br /> <br /> <em>With Marrakech Citylife tours, the base cost for this three-day trip was 190USD per person, including lodging and most meals.</em></p>
<p> </p></div>The Top 5 Things to Do/See in Tanzaniahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/tanzania-destinations-attractions-travel-tourism-ecotourism2022-12-12T06:25:00.000Z2022-12-12T06:25:00.000ZNyemo lekuonahttps://tripatini.com/members/Nyemolekuona<div><p class="pw-post-body-paragraph rs rt qm kj b ru rv hc rw rx ry hg rz sa sb sc sd se sf sg sh si sj sk sl sm ji ki"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10881114059,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10881114059,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10881114059?profile=RESIZE_930x" width="750" /></a><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maasai_Mara_Wildebeest_Migrations.jpg" target="_blank">Kidoleeee</a></em></span></p>
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<p id="a909" class="pw-post-body-paragraph rs rt qm kj b ru rv hc rw rx ry hg rz sa sb sc sd se sf sg sh si sj sk sl sm ji ki"><br /> This East African country is home some of the continent’s most most famous national parks and other attractions, including <strong>Mount Kilimanjaro</strong>, Serengeti National Park, and the island of Zanzibar. Here's a quick look at a quintet not to miss: . </p>
<p class="pw-post-body-paragraph rs rt qm kj b ru rv hc rw rx ry hg rz sa sb sc sd se sf sg sh si sj sk sl sm ji ki"><a href="https://www.zepisaafricansafaris.com/tanzania-wildebeest-migration-safari/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Witness the Great Wildebeest Migrations</strong></span></a><strong class="kj ha"> <br /> <br /> </strong>Within the <strong>Serengeti</strong> ecosystem (which include's <strong>Kenya</strong>'s <strong>Masai Mara</strong>) there are some 1½ million wildebeest along with around a million zebras and significant numbers of elands and Thompson’s gazelles. Following the rains which bring new grass, these groups conceiving their offspring on the southern plains around February, then move west and north, showing up in the northern Serengeti and the Mara by about July, then head back south again about October. It's a truly amazing sight to witness, and numerous tour operators include the migration in their offerings.</p>
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<div class="fusion-text fusion-text-5"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009492062,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009492062,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009492062?profile=original" width="750" /></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nungwi_(2010-011-1318-T).jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Moongateclimber</span></a></em></div>
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<p class="pw-post-body-paragraph rs rt qm kj b ru rv hc rw rx ry hg rz sa sb sc sd se sf sg sh si sj sk sl sm ji ki"><strong class="kj ha"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Go Beaching/Snorkeling/Diving in Zanzibar</span></strong><br /> <br /> Apart from ecotourism, Tanzania has some gorgeous beaches, and <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/zanzibar-tanzania-beaches" target="_blank">many of them</a> are on <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/zanzibar-tanzania" target="_blank">this three-island archipelado</a>, such as <strong>Nungwi</strong> (above), <strong>Kendwa</strong>, and <strong>Jambiani</strong>; divers and snorkellers will aso be in heaven, both for shore diving/snorkelling and excursions to spots on the reef such as <strong>Mnemba Island</strong>. Zanzibar's capital <strong>Stone Town</strong> is also worth a day or two thanks to its UNESCO World Heritage old quarter, full of appealing, mostly 19th-century architecture as well as the early-18th-century <strong>Old Fort</strong>.</p>
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<p class="pw-post-body-paragraph rs rt qm kj b ru rv hc rw rx ry hg rz sa sb sc sd se sf sg sh si sj sk sl sm ji ki"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Go Wildlife Spotting in Ngorongoro Crater</strong></span><br /> <br /> Another <strong>UNESCO World Heritage Site</strong>, this African Eden inside an old volcaniccaldera 16 kilometres (ten miles) across include grasslands, freshwater and soda (hypersalinated) lakes, and acacia woodlands - home to a wide variety of untamed life, most notably including lions, black rhinos, wildebeests, hippos, zebras, Cape buffalos,and flamingos (no giraffes or crocodiles, though). There are plenty of safari lodges to choose from, and of course many tour operators, such as <strong><a href="https://www.zepisaafricansafaris.com/tanzania-safari-tours" target="_blank">Zepisa African Safaris</a></strong>, include Ngorongoro in their Tanzania offerings.</p>
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<p><br /> <strong class="kj ha"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Trek up Africa's Highest Peak</span> </strong></p>
<p>Mighty <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/mount-kilimanjaro-tanzania-africa" target="_blank">Kilimanjaro</a> towers 5,895 metres (19,341 feet) over the plains below, but reaching the summit is less a matter of climbing than of trekking - and even the wheelchair-bound can manage it. On the other hand, it's not necessarily a total doddle, due to the cold and altitude (most people who fail to make it to the top wash out because of altitude sickness).<br /> </p>
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<p class="pw-post-body-paragraph rs rt qm kj b ru rv hc rw rx ry hg rz sa sb sc sd se sf sg sh si sj sk sl sm ji ki"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong class="kj ha">Meet the Chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains</strong></span> <br /> <br /> In the west of the country on the shores of <strong>Lake Tanganyika</strong>, the <strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090401152956/http://www.mahalepark.org/" target="_blank">Mahale Mountains National Park</a></strong> is home to around a thousand chimps, along with plus eight other primate species such as baboons and red colobus monkeys.The experience of tracking and watching these creatures in the wild is magical and thrilling, and it is made even more special because of the beautiful landscape as well as eco lodges. PThere are also plenty of tour operators to take you here, of course.</p>
<p class="pw-post-body-paragraph rs rt qm kj b ru rv hc rw rx ry hg rz sa sb sc sd se sf sg sh si sj sk sl sm ji ki"> </p></div>The Islands of Mauritius Will Take Your Breath Awayhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/mauritius-islands-africa2021-06-06T08:21:09.000Z2021-06-06T08:21:09.000Zpatricia margarethttps://tripatini.com/members/patriciamargaret<div><p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009535900,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009535900,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009535900?profile=original" width="750" /></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;">A republic of five volcanic islands 1,134 kilometers (705 miles) out in the <strong>Indian Ocean</strong> east of <strong>Madagascar</strong>, and with a population of 1.3 million, <strong><a href="https://www.tripatini.com/group/mauritius" target="_blank">Mauritius</a></strong> is one of the most gorgeous places you can visit, and known especially for its ethnic as well as ecological diversity. Here's a quick rundown of its islands and what each has to offer:<br /> <br /> </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009536893,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009536893,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009536893?profile=original" width="750" /></a></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Mauritius Island</strong></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> This country's main and most populous island (top and above), home to its capital <strong>Port Louis</strong> (pop. 147,000) and international airport, is the perfect colourful destination for the one who want to enjoy diving and snorkeling on the world's third largest coral reef; swimming and surfing its turquoise waters; sunbathing on its 160km (90 mi.) of beaches; and capturing its spectacular landscapes in photography. <a href="https://inncarsholiday.com/uk/en/car-rental/mauritius" target="_blank">Rent a car on Mauritius island</a></span> <span style="font-weight:400;">- just 65km (40 mi.) long and 45km (30 mi.) wide - to discover the many enticing sights and adventurous experiences it has to offer, especially the forested, mountainous interior with its rustic, quaint villages. The coastline, meanwhile, is home to more than two dozen luxury resorts as well as a variety of smaller hotels and guest houses. <br /> </span></strong></p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-weight:400;">And one especially noteworthy corner of this island is <strong>Le Morne Brabant</strong> (above), a peninsula at its extreme southwestern tip with a cave-riddled 556-meter (1,824-foot) summit which spans 12 hectares (30 acres) and has 3.5km (two mi.) of hiking trails as well as its own microclimate - a great place to get an eye-popping view of the offshore "underwater waterfall," an optical illusion created by silt falling between two coral reefs. It's no wonder it was declare a UNESCO World Heritage Site (awarded not only due to its natural attributes but also its historic/cultural importance as a 19th century refuge for escaped slaves).<br /> </span></strong></p>
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<p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009536666,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009536666,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009536666?profile=original" width="750" /></a></strong><br /> <strong><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;">Rodrigues Island<br /> <br /> </span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-weight:400;">Located 560km (350 mi.) east of Mauritius island, tiny Rodrigues (108</span></strong>km²/42 sq. mi.) is <strong><span style="font-weight:400;">full of sandy beaches - some 20 of them. You can also enjoy meeting giant tortoises at the</span> <span style="font-weight:400;"><strong><a href="https://www.francoisleguatreserve.com/" target="_blank">François Leguat Giant Tortoise and Cave Reserve</a></strong>, home to over 3,000 of these extraordinary creatures. Hike nature trails; visit villages whose inhabitants farm, fish, raise cattle, and make an indigenous form of traditional folk music called Sega Tambour; and enjoy the outdoor pursuits including wind and kite surfing, ziplining, and scuba diving. This turns out to be many visitors' favorite Mauritian island! </span></strong></p>
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<p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009537063,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009537063,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009537063?profile=original" width="750" /></a></strong></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Agaléga & St. Brandon <br /> </strong></span></p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-weight:400;">These outer islands very different from the others, and are barely inhabited; the two islands of Agalega have barely 300 residents and the nearly 40 sand banks and islets of St. Brandon atoll an even smaller handful (and mostly non permanent) scattered across several settlements. Options to explore include sunning and swimming on pristine, white-sand beaches; snorkeling with sharks, giant sea turtles, and other tropical fish on its coral reefs; witnessing Green and Hawksbill sea-turtle nesting and spawning; and on Agaléga watching the locals engage in the main "industry" here: harvesting coconuts.<br /><br /> <br /></span></strong></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12015152066,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12015152066,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="750" alt="12015152066?profile=RESIZE_930x" /></a><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://www.iledesdeuxcocos.com/" target="_blank">Ïles de Deux Cocos</a></span> </p>
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<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Île des Deux Cocos</strong></span></p>
<p> <br /><strong><span style="font-weight:400;">Speaking of coconuts, on the "Isle of Two Coconuts," a five-minute boat ride from Mauritius island, is a luxury-resort isle centred around a beautifully restored, century-old villa, and is also home to the <strong>Blue Bay Maritime Reserve</strong>, a fantastic place to enjoy sport fishing and being wowed by beautiful corals and various underwater fauna via snorkelling, scuba diving, and glass-bottom boat. An extraoridnary experience for an overnight or a day trip.<br /> </span></strong></p>
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<p> </p></div>South Africa DMC for Southern Africa Travelhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/south-africa-dmc-for-southern-africa-travel2019-07-06T10:06:56.000Z2019-07-06T10:06:56.000ZNeelam Satyawalihttps://tripatini.com/members/NeelamSatyawali<div><p><span>Get your vacation package tailored with the best of Southern Africa packages from the <strong>South Africa DMC</strong>. Offering the best destinations, loaded with adventure and leisure, the tour package can be ideally customized as per your needs and travel reference. Talking about the family vacation in South Africa, the tour operators offer the best activities as biking, zip-lining and more.</span></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009385076,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009385076,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" class="align-center" alt="9009385076?profile=original" /></a></p><p><span>For kids, a destination like Sun City Resorts and Tsitsikamma are the best that where one can enjoy the day at Water Park, try out bungee and a lot more. </span><span>When it comes to booking a vacation package of South Africa, the diverse culture of the city makes it difficult to pick up the best tours and activities. There are tour operators, experienced and knowledgeable enough to assist you through the entire tour.</span></p><p><span>Make sure you have your tours pre-booked by your tour agent to enjoy the adrenaline of hiking, shark cage diving, the cruises and charter tours and so more falling on the itinerary. Everything from the safari tours to the best accommodation, the intercity transfers and the entirely customized itinerary, you can get a perfect vacation plan by booking your <a href="https://www.southafricapackages.com/" target="_blank">South Africa Tour Package</a> in advance.</span></p></div>6 of the Best Authentic Dishes to Try in South Africahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/south-africa-cuisine-food-dining-culinary2019-09-13T13:13:51.000Z2019-09-13T13:13:51.000ZNeelam Satyawalihttps://tripatini.com/members/NeelamSatyawali<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009380259,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009380259,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="750" alt="9009380259?profile=original" /></a></p><p><br /> <br /> Whether they're here on a <a href="https://www.southafricapackages.com/south-africa-honeymoon-tour" target="_blank">honeymoon tour</a> or for any other reason, the Rainbow Nation in addition to history, culture, and safaris as well as other ecotourism sweetens visitors' experiences with its own unique cuisine, the legacy of African, Dutch, English, French, Indian, and Malay influences over the centuries. Here are a half dozen not to miss:<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bunny Chow</strong></span><br /> <br /> South Africa's most famous dish (top) originated in the city of Durban's Indian community in the 1940s and has been gradually finding its way beyond the country's borders. Eaten with the hands, basically it's a loaf of crusty bread stuffed with spicy curry in chicken, pork, lamb, or vegetarian varieties, and topped with lentils and other beans.</p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009381082,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009381082,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="750" alt="9009381082?profile=original" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Gatsby</strong></span><br /> <br /> Especially popular in Cape Town and the Western Cape, it's a submarine sandwich filled with chips (french fries) along with a variety of other ingredients such as fried fish, calamari, chicken, eggs, sausages, or masala steak, bathed in a pepper-based sauce.</p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009381473,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009381473,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="750" alt="9009381473?profile=original" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Boerewors</strong></span> <br /> <br /> <br /> A meat lovers' favourite, this coiled, charcoal-grilledsausage is made primarily from beef, usually with some lamb and/or pork mixed in, seasoned with toasted corander seed, black pepper, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. <span>A juicy and delicious addition to your <a href="https://www.southafricapackages.com/" target="_blank">South Africa holiday</a>!<br /></span></p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009381501,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009381501,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="750" alt="9009381501?profile=original" /></a><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Biltong and Droewors</strong></span></p><p></p><p>Dating back to the days when there were no refrigerators to preserve food, biltong is a dry-cured jerky made from beef or springbok (a type of antelope) and droewors are air-dried sausages based on the boerewor but with a higher beef content; they're coated in a mixture of vinegar and spices such as coriander and pepper are coated and then left to dry.</p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009381684,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009381684,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="750" alt="9009381684?profile=original" /></a><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Cape Malay Curry</strong></span></p><p></p><p>Back in the 17th century, the Dutch and the French were importing slaves to the Western Cape and Cape Town from Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Madagascar. They brought their traditional cooking along with exotic spices as cinnamon, saffron, turmeric and chili, giving rise to boldly flavoured Cape Malay cuisine, of which Cape Malay curry is the best known example. Made with chicken or beef, the seasonings in this curry are a blend of sweet (cinammon, ginger, dried fruit such as apricots) and savoury (garlic, onions, cumin).</p><p></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009382468,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009382468,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="750" alt="9009382468?profile=original" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Braai/Shisha Nyama<br /> <br /></strong></span> South Africa's version of barbecue - beef, chicken, pork, lamb, vors sausage, and <em>braaibroodjies</em> sandwiches - grilled over wood or charcoal. And it's a social occasion that's a beloved South African institution!</p><p></p><p></p></div>A Rare White Giraffe Sighting in Kenyahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/white-giraffe-sighting-in-kenya2017-09-25T11:04:53.000Z2017-09-25T11:04:53.000ZVincent Onyangohttps://tripatini.com/members/VincentOnyango<div><p><img src="http://www.hirolaconservation.org/images/blog/july2017/image1.png" border="0" alt="" /></p><p></p><p>In early june this year, reports of a white baby giraffe and its mother were reported to us by the rangers who got the report from one of the villagers adjacent to the Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy of northeastern Kenya. We hurriedly headed to the scene as soon as we got the news. And lo and behold, there right in front of us were the two celebrated albino giraffes, so close and extremely calm and seemed not disturbed by our presence. The mother kept pacing back and forth a few yards infront of us while signalling the baby giraffe to hide behind the bushes – a characteristic of most wildlife mothers in the wild to prevent the predation against their young.</p><p><br /> While observing the magnificent long necked animal looking at us, I could not but help see the fading reticulates on their skins! It was evident that the coloration especially on the mother giraffe was not as conspicuous as the baby. The question that lingered in my mind was if the fading on the skin was something that happened at birth or thereafter in the adult giraffe life? This is because the baby giraffe, had very conspicuous reticulates but with a small tinge of the white coloration that seemed to continue fading away leaving the baby white as it approaches adulthood.</p><p><br /> <br /> This is only the thirds sighting of white (or "leucistic") giraffes on record. The very first reports of a white giraffe in the wild was reported in January 2016 in Tabzania's Tarangire National Park, and the second Tanzania; the second was two months later - like this one, also in Kenya's Ishaqbini Conservancy.<br /></p><p><img src="http://www.hirolaconservation.org/images/blog/july2017/image2.png" border="0" alt="" /></p><p><br /> As a matter of fact, these sightings have gotten the the communities in these areas (especially within our conservancies) so excited that everybody has been participating in reporting the sighting of these magnificent animals. <br /><br />But the question that lingers in the minds of many is, is the giraffe white or what’s up with its coloration? Experts have explained that the condition is known as leucism, which results in the partial loss of the pigmentation of the giraffes original color. In this very sighting in Ishaqbini, there was a mother and a juvenile The communities within Ishaqbini have mixed reactions to the sighting of this leucistic giraffe and most of the elders report that they have never seen this before. ‘This is new to us” says Bashir, one of the community rangers who alerted us when they sighted the white giraffe. “I remember when I was a kid, we never saw them” he added. “It must be very recent and we are not sure what is causing it” he said. </p><p><br /> As excited as the locals, Hirola Conservation Programme Director and founder Dr. Abdullahi Ali says, "Nature is always stunning and continue to surprise humans. These rare snow-white giraffes shocked many locals, including myself, but these gave us renewed energy to protect and save our unique wildlife. I am positive these rare giraffes will change the perception of outsiders regarding north eastern Kenya in which many people have negative perceptions. I remember two years while I was in the US someone asked me where do you come from in Kenya and I said Garissa in eastern Kenya. Her immediate response was that "there is a lot of nothing there". Snowy white giraffes and the rare hirola antelope are off course not everywhere! In this regard and in partnership with local communities, relevant authorities in Kenya and international partners, we promise to protect these beauties and their vital habitat. We are also curious to know the daily whereabouts of these giraffes, so we will keep an eye on them."</p><p></p><p><span class="font-size-1"><em>Story Courtesy of Hilora Conservancy Programme</em></span></p><p></p></div>Kenya and Tanzania Travel Dealshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/kenya-and-tanzania-travel-deals2012-04-20T03:59:38.000Z2012-04-20T03:59:38.000ZAdventure Panorama Tourshttps://tripatini.com/members/AdventurePanoramaTours<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008700697,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008700697,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="155" height="88" alt="9008700697?profile=original" /></a> If you are looking for good <a href="http://www.adventurepanoramasafaris.com/index.php/kenya-tanzania-budget-safaris/182-kenya-and-tanzania-safari-deal-3" target="_blank">safari deals in Africa</a>, it is advisable to be sure if it is a genuine deal or it has hidden costs. The phrase 'Good Deals' has a lot and a very deep meaning when it comes to tourist reality check and it takes a tourist time to come to terms with it. The experiences by different tourists and their feedbacks after their various adventures has really left a lot to be desired. Some travelers find out that the quotation they had been given has hidden costs when it is too late. A tourist deal is not a good deal if it is not sealed and adhered to by either a tourist or a <a href="http://adventurepanoramasafaris.com/" target="_blank">tour operator</a>, and it starts right from the internet or through your mode of correspondence.</p><p>One very clear reality put into consideration by all the tour operators in Kenya and Tanzania is the amount of time taken, energy spent and the pain undergone by all tourists preparing to visit the parks, game reserves and even climb or trek mountains. This is therefore an opportunity to manifest the gratitude, sincere appreciation certain assurance to all the tourists with the interest of <a href="http://vastkenya.com" target="_blank">travelling to Kenya</a> and Tanzania for their holidays, the determination from these tour operators and the promise to give you the real good deal by making your holiday a reality.</p><p>If it is your first time to plan coming to participate in Kenya or <a href="http://www.asantetanzania.com" target="_blank">Tanzania safari</a>, you might not have any contacts or probably any recommendations to contact any tour operator. You may need to know who to trust with your deposit when you are transferring a deposit for your trip. Some tourists also become skeptical of what could happen to their money if one or two things don't go on as scheduled before. This is where the phrase 'good deal' is best applicable. A situation where either the tour operator or the client keeps his or her promise in regards to the correspondence, standing by what was said and delivering the services promised to be offered during the <a href="http://www.adventurepanoramasafaris.com" target="_blank">safari</a>.</p><p>This article is therefore meant to prepare all the tourists to identify among other destinations, Kenya and Tanzania's <a href="http://adventurepanoramasafaris.com/" target="_blank">reliable tour companies</a> which make them want to come here every holiday.</p><p>If you have always believed that you are a good and successful tourist and want to remain the same, never get attracted by questionable offers you come across in the internet and promising to give you the best services. Cheap is always expensive and if you don't ever want to gamble with your holidays which took you months or years to plan, Try to deal with the right people and you will always deserve genuine services and a fruitful <a href="http://www.adventurepanoramasafaris.com/index.php/tanzania-adventure-safaris" target="_blank">adventure safaris</a>!</p><p></p><p><a title="Adventures Panorama Tours" href="http://www.adventurepanorama.com/">Adventures Panorama Tours</a> . Titan Complex, Mezzanine Floor, Chaka road, Hurlingham </p><p>E-mail: <a href="mailto:info@adventurepanoramasafaris.com">info@adventurepanorama.com</a> Tel: +254202473085 Mobile Phone: +254725881811, +254731616881</p><p></p></div>Best Option For Africa Adventure Lovershttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/best-option-for-africa-adventure-lovers2012-04-20T02:30:00.000Z2012-04-20T02:30:00.000ZAdventure Panorama Tourshttps://tripatini.com/members/AdventurePanoramaTours<div><p>Just to hit the nail on the head, one of the best <a href="http://adventurepanoramasafaris.com/index.php/component/content/article/145" target="_blank">Africa tourist destinations</a> is Tanzania. This is another region in Africa that I can comfortably describe as 'the world in summery', because in the tourism fraternity, it has all it takes for any adventurous traveler to sacrifice till the last penny for! This is the basic reason why budget travelers, luxury lodge travelers, the young, aged and any other group of travelers who get a chance of coming to Africa would always want to spare a week or so to venture deep into the <a href="http://adventurepanorama.com/8-days-best-nature-trails.html" target="_blank">Tanzania national parks</a> and game reserves including the lakes and mount Kilimanjaro before they fly back home.</p><p>Tanzania is the leading <a href="http://adventurepanorama.com/tanzania-safaris/adventure-tours.html" target="_blank">adventure holiday destination</a> in East Africa, lying in the southern part of the equator and bordered by Lake Malawi and Lake Victoria, which is the source of river Nile. In its western boarder lies the African deepest and longest fresh water lake, Lake Tanganyika, which also happens to be the second deepest in the world. The Indian Ocean gives it the privilege to display some of the most wonderful white sandy beaches. Apart from this, Tanzania also has both permanent and seasonal rivers Rufiji and Ruaha which together give this land the biggest surface of water masses in Africa. The topography of Tanzania is decorated with a wide variety of beautiful riverine basins and savannah grasslands. Various sizes of tropical forests and mountain ranges are such an attraction.<a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008700454,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008700454,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="440" alt="9008700454?profile=original" /></a> Its mangrove forests and coral reefs cannot be forgotten.</p><p>Different plants and animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world take refuge in the large and spectacular wilderness areas that are believed to be the remains of a once wide-spread equatorial forest, that makes it one of the best destinations for <a href="http://vastkenya.com/bird%20watching%20safaris.htm" target="_blank">birdwatching safaris</a> too. The tribes of Tanzania are almost three times more than those of Kenya, although with Kiswahili being widely spoken and used as their national language, it is rare to encounter two or more people conversing in their ethnic languages.</p><p>Funnily enough, these many tribes prefer inhabiting just particular sections of the country: - The major concentration of the population is at the coast, the shores around Lake Victoria and the fertile soils of the northern mountains, leaving a big percentage unoccupied. No wonder twenty-five percent of the Africa's game is found here. This makes Tanzania to be the leading <a href="http://adventurepanorama.com/7-days-arusha-lake-manyara-serengeti-ngorongoro-and-tarangire-budget-tours.html" target="_blank">adventure travel destination</a> in Africa.</p><p>To the Northern border lies the famous Serengeti plains, temporary and permanent home to millions of <a href="http://vastkenya.com/wildbeest%20migration.htm" target="_blank">wildebeests</a>, where the yearly migration either originates from or ends. During the great migration period, a lot of activities take place on this long way of up to forty kilometers. Hyenas, cheetahs, lions, leopards and even wild dogs make frequent kills as they take advantage to pounce on the sick and weak herbivores.</p><p>Lying on the floor of the Eastern Rift Valley, Lake Manyara was initially used as a hunting ground because of the abundance of its animals. It is now a famous national park with a superb birdlife. It is here that one can also see the elusive <a href="http://adventurepanorama.com/5-days-lake-manyara-serengeti-ngorongoro-and-tarangire-budget-safari.html" target="_blank">tree-climbing lions</a> and the abundance of hippos that are seen at a closer range than anywhere else. Canoe safaris are also possible on the lake and mountain biking in mountain border areas.</p><p>Ngorongoro crater which is the largest perfect caldera in the world is situated just 18 km away from Lake Manyara. This world renowned wonderland is part of a much larger area of inter-related ecosystems consisting of beautiful crater highlands, vast stretches of places, bushes and woodlands which cover an area of 8300 square kilometers with a width of around 20 kilometers.</p><p>To the south-eastern part of Lake Manyara next to the Tarangire river lies the beautiful Trangire National Park. The animals here roam freely and it receives the highest number of wildlife concentration during the dry season. The park is also recommended for <a href="http://www.adventurepanoramasafaris.com/index.php/budget-adventure-safaris-kenya/166-kenya-bird-watching-safaris" target="_blank">bird watching</a> offering not less than 300 species of birds.</p><p>Have you ever heard of a number of discoveries including the skull of Zinjanthropus? All these took place at the Olduvai Gorge. It is found between the plains of Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater. This is a 50 kilometer long strip where very important fossil humanoid remains have been unearthed. Several other bones and teeth belonging to roughly 150 species have been excavated here.</p><p></p><p><a title="Adventures Panorama Tours" href="http://www.adventurepanorama.com/">Adventures Panorama Tours</a> . Titan Complex, Mezzanine Floor, Chaka road, Hurlingham </p><p>E-mail: <a href="mailto:info@adventurepanoramasafaris.com">info@adventurepanorama.com</a> Telephone: +254202473085 Mobile Phone Number: +254725881811, +254731616881</p><p></p></div>16 Days Kenya Tanzania Uganda Safari Adventureshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/hybrid-solar-eclipse-tour-in-kenya-total-solar-eclipse-safari2019-02-09T13:30:00.000Z2019-02-09T13:30:00.000ZClaude Edmondhttps://tripatini.com/members/ClaudeEdmond<div><p></p><p><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>16 Days Kenya Tanzania Uganda Safari Gorilla Adventures Safari<br /></strong></em></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Start in Nairobi and end in Lake Naivasha! With the safari tour 16 Days Kenya Tanzania Uganda Safari Adventures, you have a 16 day tour package taking you from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha and through Nairobi, Kenya and 11 other destinations in Africa. 16 Days Kenya Tanzania Uganda Safari Adventures includes accommodation as well as an expert guide, meals, transport.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 1 Nairobi - Masai Mara National Park</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Pick up from your Hotel at 8.30 am drive to the view point of the Rift Valley, descend the escarpment and drive via Narok town then to Masai Mara for lunch at the camp. After lunch proceed for afternoon game drive in Maasai Mara game reserve famous for its black manned lion and yearly migrations of wildebeests from Serengeti in Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya, dinner and overnight at the Enchoro Wildlife Camp or similar Meal Plan lunch and Dinner.</span> <br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;">Start point JKIA, Nairobi, Kenya</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 2 Masai Mara</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">After breakfast, full day spent game viewing and exploring this spectacular park with picnic lunch served in the park at the Mara river border of Kenya and Tanzania, return to the camp for dinner and overnight Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Masai Mara Game Reserve is the Kenya’s finest and most outstanding wildlife sanctuary where gentle rolling grassland ensures animals are never out of sight. The sensation of the great wildebeest migration between July and October is unparalleled.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 3 Masai Mara - Lake Nakuru</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">After breakfast, we depart and proceed to Lake Nakuru arriving in time for lunch. After lunch, afternoon game drive is planed coming back to our budget hotel in the evening for Dinner and overnight stay. Meal plan Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 4 Lake Nakuru - Nairobi</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">After breakfast, proceed to Lake Naivasha National park for a boat ride to see more hippos from inside the lake. The lake is also a home to various species of birds found along the Great Rift Valley. Leave Naivasha after lunch for Nairobi arriving late afternoon for overnight stay in Nairobi at Kenya Comfort Hotel.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 5 Nairobi - Arusha National Park</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">After breakfast, depart from Nairobi with a shuttle bus for Arusha arriving at Namanga Border for visa process before proceeding to Arusha arriving in time for lunch at Arusha national Park hotel. Time permitting; you may do evening game drives in the park. Meal plan Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 6 Arusha - Lake Manyara</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Pick up from your hotel in Arusha at 8.30 am leave for Lake manyara National park arriving in time for lunch with afternoon game drive, dinner and overnight at Africa Safari Glamping camp Meal plan Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 7 Lake Manyara - Ngorongoro Crater</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">After breakfast, leave Lake Manyara for Ngorongoro crater arriving in the afternoon, descend 2000 ft (670m) into the crater floor for full day crater tour with break for lunch at Ngoitoktok springs picnic site. Black manned lions, rhinos, buffaloes, elephants and other grazing animals abound. Evening game drive, return to Ngorongoro wildlife campsite for dinner and overnight.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 8 Ngorongoro - Serengeti</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">After breakfast, we depart Ngorongoro for Serengeti arriving in time for lunch. After lunch proceed for afternoon game drive in this unique park to see the many animals, dinner and overnight at Serengeti serener campsite or Serengeti wild camp meal plan Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 9 Serengeti</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Morning and afternoon game drive in the Serengeti with a lunch and leisure break at the lodge or campsite in the midafternoon .The term ‘Serengeti’ means endless plains in Maasai language. In the central plains there are carnivores like, leopards, hyena and cheetah. This park is normally the scene of the annual migration of the wildebeest and zebras, which occurs between Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara game reserve. Eagles, Flamingos, duck, geese, and vultures are among the birds that can be seen in the park, Dinner and overnight at your camp Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 10 Serengeti - Lake Victoria Mbita Point</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">After breakfast, proceed to Lake Victoria Mbita Point arrive in the afternoon in your hotel.The rest of the day at leisure. Meal Plan Breakfast and Dinner.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 11 Lake Victoria Mbita Point</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">A lot of activities will be taken i.e bird watching. Balmly tropical weather and the clear cool waters of Lake Victoria, make Mbita an ideal place for relaxing on the shores. Wide warm sandy beaches, perfect for swimming fringe the lake, surrounded by quiet fishing villages and lush green hills. The lake is ideal for exploration by boat and is regarded as Africa's finest fishing grounds. The place is a paradise for birdwatchers. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 12. From Mbita point transferred to Kampala City.</strong></span></p><p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;">Early morning breakfast then depard Kampala Uganda. Lunch will be enroute . Dinner and Overnight will be at Hotel.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 13: Jinja to Bwindi Impenetrable national Park</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">After breakfast at your place of stay in Kampala, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park departing at 6:30am. You drive to the country’s south west heading for 527km journey taking about 9 hours. Accommodation at Buhoma Community Banda Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 14 Gorilla trekking</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Briefing about Gorilla trekking and the History of Bwindi impenetrable Forest, southwestern Uganda and after embark on Mountain Gorilla Tracking in the forest, have an evening Batwa / Bakiga Cultural Performance at the lodge.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">This is the day that will mark your re-union with your long lost cousins – mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest and bonding. You will wake up early for brake fast then drive to the tracking point. You will gather at the respective park headquarters with other tourists for briefing in the morning at 8am where you are also allocated the respective gorilla families to track. From here, you head to the forest in the company of the armed ranger guides that will lead you up the gorillas.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">In the evening, chilling at the lodge grounds you are treated to a traditional thrill performance of the local Batwa or the Bakiga that live around the park. They have magical songs and dancing styles which definitely make your evening colorful. Accommodation Buhoma Community Banda</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 15 Transfer from Bwindi Forest Gorilla Tracking Park, to Kampala</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">After breakfast, embark on the transfer back to Entebbe. You drive through the magical highlands of Kigezi covered with mist in the morning before continuing through impressive south western Uganda landscapes of Ntungamo with extensive banana plantation and cattle farms. A lunch stop will be made at Igongo Cultural Center arriving in Entebbe for dinner and an overnight stay.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Day 16 Kampala City – Nairobi</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">After early breakfast proceed to Entebbe to catch your flight to Nairobi. Arrive in Nairobi in the mid afternoon and connect with your international flight back home.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>The cost per person sharing will be US $ <span class="prv">4,617</span></strong></span></p><p></p><div id="divtagdefaultwrapper" dir="ltr" style="font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font-family:Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Claudious Tours and Safaris</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font-family:Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Buru Buru Business Complex</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font-family:Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">P.O Box 43749 - 00101</span><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><b><u>Nairobi, Kenya <br /></u></b> Cell: +254 714 729 600</span><br /><p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Cell: +254 736 092 199</span></p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Skype: Claude.edmond3</span><br /> Email 1: <a href="http://gmail.com/" target="_blank">claudioustours@gmail.com/</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font-family:Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Email 2: <a href="mailto:claudioustours@hotmail.com" title="claudioustours@hotmail.com">claudioustours@hotmail.com</a><br /><p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;">Website: <a href="http://www.claudioustours.co.ke" title="http://www.claudioustours.co.ke">http://www.claudioustours.co.ke</a></p></div></div>Is Education the Key to Reducing "Irresponsible" Tourism?https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/is-education-the-key-to2010-04-19T09:30:00.000Z2010-04-19T09:30:00.000ZWest Africa Discoveryhttps://tripatini.com/members/WestAfricaDiscovery<div>Having read a recent <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5g11Rcqo7Yr4m0k7RPY-MPJDEOQvQ" target="_blank">article</a> in the Associated Press about the lack of knowledge that travellers between 18 to 30 have about the World, I asked myself: is this ‘responsible’? Shouldn’t they know about the destinations they are going to visit? In my view, education before departure nurtures a sense of respect and responsibility towards a countries people and heritage and can have a substantial effect on minimising the negative effects of tourism. <br /><br />There are many reasons why young people want to travel; to escape from their daily routine, flee from their household to acquire independence or to take a break to decide whether they want to go to university or to work; but do they consider their impact on local populations in destinations? I am sure a lot of them do, but there are also a lot who definitely don’t.<br />I would like to illustrate a simple example of ‘irresponsible tourism’ from when I was in Banjul, the Gambia. I remember, whilst travelling through the country from Northern Senegal to Casamance in the South, being at a beach bar on the tourist stretch near Banjul and hearing a group of young British people shouting abuse at the waiters in a very derogatory way. This really offended me and also made me embarrassed of being of the same nationality as these ‘irresponsible tourists’.<br />The negative impacts of tourism are very present and are much easier to quantify than the positive ones due to the sheer number of cases and the rapidity of negative influence, however, the positive effects of tourism are very possible. As a result of the increased focus on ethical consumerism, specifically that of sustainable and responsible tourism, more and more stories are surfacing on the benefits tourism can have on local communities in impoverished rural areas of the world, if managed efficiently.<br />For example, in the Gambia, a movement of sustainable and responsible tourism projects has been increasing for the past 10 years and, as a result, an organisation called the <a href="http://www.asset-gambia.com/" target="_blank">Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism</a> (ASSET – Gambia) has been created to efficiently manage a network of community-based tourism activities which allows the money spent by the tourist to be distributed amongst the local communities in the area. Benefits such as a boosted local economy, sustainable community development schemes, environmental protection initiatives, empowerment of local individuals, entrepreneurship opportunities, cultural pride and historical preservation, amongst others, are starting to be felt by the local communities in the areas operated in such as Kartong and Gunjur.<br /><a href="http://www.icrtourism.org/" target="_blank">The International Centre for Responsible Tourism</a> (ICRT) has been successful over the past 10 years in creating a buzz around the term ‘Responsible Tourism’. They have organised events such as the Cape Town (2002), Kerala (2008) and Belize (2009) International Responsible Tourism Conferences which resulted in the drafting of declarations outlining policies and guidelines for the development and management of Responsible Tourism in destinations. These events have inspired many governments around the world to change their tourism policies to implement more ‘responsible and sustainable’ practices.<br />Now, slowly but surely, tourism practices which not only focus on providing an unforgettable and unique experiences for tourists, but also emphasise on maximising benefits for local communities and environments whilst minimising the negative effects of tourism, are being implemented by tour operators and other tourism projects all around the world. The best part about this is that most of these are small to medium and locally based companies who have a link to the local communities in the destination, therefore focussing on a solely locally produced product, developed by, managed by and involving local people.<br />Obviously, there are stories of ‘green-washing’ and ‘false-advertising’ using the ethical terminology to attract tourists, however there are also those genuine projects that do work towards these positive outcomes.<br />For these positive outcomes to be felt, not only do travellers who decide to undertake a ‘journey of a lifetime’ need to consider reading up more on the destinations they plan to visit, but government bodies, tourism professionals, local organisations and communities also need to realise that tourism can be much more beneficial to their country if managed in an efficient and sustainable way. Not only would sustained local economies be created in communities in rural areas, providing these with sustainable development opportunities, but they would also attract more tourists thanks to unique experiences coupled with the promise of an ethically managed holiday.<br />For more information on the ‘Responsible Tourism’ concept and suggested practices, click <a href="http://www.westafricadiscovery.co.uk/responsible-tourism.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />You can also contact us at <a href="http://westafricadiscovery.co.uk" target="_blank">info@westafricadiscovery.co.uk</a></div>Working together towards our common goalshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/working-together-towards-our2010-02-19T18:58:56.000Z2010-02-19T18:58:56.000ZWest Africa Discoveryhttps://tripatini.com/members/WestAfricaDiscovery<div><div style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_S8hy1YOboMw/S369UdMNfYI/AAAAAAAAADs/gmBRHR14Lpo/s1600-h/logoICRT_eng.jpg"><img style="margin:0pt 10px 10px 0pt;float:left;width:299px;height:302px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_S8hy1YOboMw/S369UdMNfYI/AAAAAAAAADs/gmBRHR14Lpo/s320/logoICRT_eng.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439993559041015170" name="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439993559041015170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">In a world such as ours it is essential to work together in order to achieve goals If attempted alone it is not possible. Since West Africa Discovery started we have made a big effort to develop partnerships to help develop Responsible Tourism in West African region. We are extremely grateful to our <a href="http://www.westafricadiscovery.co.uk/partners.html">current partners</a> in the field who have made a lot of effort already to spread the word of Sustainable Tourism in their respectful countries, and to have gathered important information which has helped us grow in the past five months.</span> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br />This week was a mile stone! After filling out various application forms and having waited for board meetings to decide our fate, we have finally been accepted as a member of the <a href="http://www.coalition-tourisme-responsable.org/ENGLISH/index.html">International Coalition for Responsible Tourism</a>, a Paris based ‘umbrella’ which has gathered together experts & professionals of the tourism industry, more than 80 NGO’s & associations in 35 countries, and a committee composed of experts each specialised in one of the three axes of sustainable development (economic & fair-trade, social & culture, ecology & biodiversity).</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The main aim of the International Coalition is to inform, to raise awareness, to convince and to mobilise the main actors in the tourism field (professionals, governments, national & international NGO's) to the interest of the concept of Responsible Tourism.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">As a member, we have been given a mission…</span></div><br />*To promote West African Responsible Tourism to the European market<br />*To promote World Day for Responsible *Tourism in June by organising a local event during that particular day<br />*To inform, raise awareness and make tourism development authorities (Ministries, local or regional authorities, professionals, etc.) inWest Africa understand the importance of getting engaged in a more responsible tourism through lobbying and defense speeches and actions<br />*To raise travelers’ awareness about Responsible Tourism and Sustainable Development<br /><br /><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This is exactly what we have set out to do when we started West Africa Discovery. Convenient hey?</span> <br /><div style="text-align:justify;"><br /><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">So, we are looking forward to the 2nd June 2010, as we will be organising an event to raise awareness and promote the Responsible Tourism concept around West Africa. Watch this space!</span> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br />In the mean time, to learn more about Responsible Tourism, West Africa and what we do at West Africa Discovery, visit our website <a href="http://www.westafricadiscovery.co.uk/">here</a>.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">We also list a selection of unique and unforgettable <a href="http://www.westafricadiscovery.co.uk/holidays.html">responsible and sustainable tours, accommodations and volunteer projects</a>, offering the opportunity to discover the wonders of West Africa.</span><br /></div></div>Africa Cup of Nations: Young Ghana team falter in the finalhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/africa-cup-of-nations-young2010-02-05T19:00:00.000Z2010-02-05T19:00:00.000ZHarry Bunnellhttps://tripatini.com/members/HarryBunnell<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Georgia, serif;line-height:20px;"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008540483,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="" style="float:left;" /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Georgia, serif;line-height:20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Last Sunday, on a cold day in London, I was settled in for a day of sport which of course featured the Cup of Nations final between Egypt and Ghana. The two hours of coverage on BBC2 gave me the chance to watch football in faraway lands, and enjoy a beer in the comfort of my living room; perfect. Unfortunately this was one of only three matches accessible to the masses (the semi finals were shown on BBC3) and scheduled at the same time as the big Arsenal v Manchester United match. You just have to see pictures of people around the world of people wearing replica shirts to know that the English Premiership match would receive the better coverage. Still, despite the poor scheduling I was looking forward to the final since I was pretty sure it was going to be a good match. Egypt were going for a record third cup title on the trot against a plucky young Ghanaian team who had battled through to the final despite injuries to key players.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Georgia, serif;line-height:20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:rgb(94,94,94);line-height:normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Georgia, serif;line-height:20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:rgb(94,94,94);line-height:normal;">It was a true African football classic; North Africa against West Africa, the oldest average team against the youngest, age and experience against energy and technique, and the Cup record holders against their closest rivals to this honour. Egypt didn’t play their best football, and the Ghana Black Stars impressed with their skills and swift counter attacks, however they were unable to prevent the immense skill of Egypt sub Mohamed Nagy Gedo who blew them away with his fifth goal of the tournament (despite coming on as a sub in every game!). The Egyptians dominated the competition on the way to their history making treble. The Pharaohs are now on the longest unbeaten run in the tournament's 53-year history (19 matches spread across the last three tournaments). Their defence only conceded two goals, and they also had the best attack with 15 goals. Player of the tournament was awarded to captain Ahmed Hassan, who is also now Egypt’s most capped player.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Despite Egypt’s record breaking triumphs, the Cup for me and most others was a little disappointing and marred by the violence at the start with the attack on the Togo bus. The pre-tournament tragedy resurfaced towards the end when the Confederation of African Football ridiculously decided to ban Togo from the next two tournaments. Fans at the stadiums were minimal with most flying in the day before because Angola is far too expensive for most to have long term stays. Even if many visitors will largely remember Luanda's hectic traffic, the building works, and the pricey cost of pretty much everything in Angola; locals took pride in showcasing the new stadiums and infrastructure.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Pharaohs are the best in Africa for the time being, however after they missed out on World Cup qualification I’m counting on the</span> <a href="http://http//wadiscovery.blogspot.com/2009/12/world-cup-effect-west-african-role.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">West African teams shining for Africa</span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">in a few months time.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Contact me at</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="mailto:harry@westafricadiscovery.co.uk"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">harry@westafricadiscovery.co.uk</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Visit</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.westafricadiscovery.co.uk"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">www.westafricadiscovery.co.uk</span></a></span></p></div>