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Best Gorilla Treks & Hikes in Rwanda

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The day started with a funny little chaos that I meet my child hood friend at the airport and felt like turning down my trip for his. I gave my driver a hard time in the process of making up my mind to either proceed with my trip or join my friends. Being sole on my trip made me feel like will have the best fun if I teamed up with my friend. I wonder why such ideas popped into my mind on the very day my trip in Rwanda begun.

The plan was to spend time hiking Mountain Karisimbi & Bisoke, track gorillas and then cool off the hike by relaxing at one of Rwanda’s beach which I finally chose to do with my friend since he was men to be in Rwanda for a 3 Days Gorilla trekking trip and was to be in the country for 5 days. We agreed to use the same car and by coincidence our Gorilla tracking dates where the same so we never spent more on Gorilla permits. The decision disorganized the organizers a little bit but at last we had the most awesome Memorable Rwanda safari   than never before.

When my friend agreed to do the trip with me and the itinerary, I felt happy and excited to hike with someone I had always longed to meet again. That’s one of the things I always wished to happen though we had lost contacts of each other for over 10 years. Our lunch in Kigali was superb that we had to taste the   country fries and soft drinks. Shortly after we left Kigali for Ruhengeri a blessed land of Gorillas and hikes. If you love gorilla tracking and hiking holidays you will truly find the most exciting route in Rwanda.It’s hard to know how beautiful, attractive, and important the country’ can be and its attractions until the day you visit.

The 3 hours drive from Kigali-Ruhengeri is full of inspirational views which make you feel like extending the final destination to a far distance so that you look at other great views a thing we couldn’t do. I love taking a nap in the car but this time round failed since my eyes were too busy and occupied. The   awesome views of the Virunga volcanoes shinning in up  in the sky on top of the town in the north give your camera the first caption of the city view. Just after   our driver showed us other lovely views of Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Muhavura and Gahinga a thing which boosted my morale of hiking the two mountains.

We Retired in Rwanda budget lodge -hotel Muhabura a legendary place which accommodated a Rwanda Gorilla Hero Dian Fossey during her days. The hotel was too comfortable and relaxing. The hot shower calmed us down   energizing us for the next day great adventure. We tracked Gorillas in volcanoes national park an adventure which gave us a million reasons to visit Rwanda again. We spent a full one hour with the silver back and its other family members admiring how unique some creatures can mean to be.

The Gorillas somehow behave like us in caring for the little’s and just wondered if they were made humans what would have made me visit Rwanda. After the trek and lunch a culture dance group was ready to entertain us something we embraced with two hands and enjoyed the royal dance and also felt like royalty. The Next morning we headed out for the morning Golden monkey trek and a visit to the Gorilla hero tombs. While here I realized the importance of Gorilla conservation and how fossey’s efforts contributed to the world exclusive life time adventure in Africa.

We thought we had seen enough before climbing mountain Karisimbi & Bisoke but surprisingly the tough hike become rewarding in the end. The hike took us two days and we ascended for seven hours passing through Bisoke to our overnight point. We made several stops to catch up our breath and also take photos until the next day when we finished the hike. The descending was easier that we arrived on the ground quite earlier than expected.

The porters said some climbers see Gorillas during the climb since volcanoes national park is located just close to the mountain. Monkeys and birds are the other friends you keep meeting as you hike up. After we left for a Lake Kivu Rwanda’s prime beach and Lake destination for relaxation and fun for a day which marked the end of my fantastic Rwanda safari holiday in Africa.

Top 5 Safari Destinations in Uganda

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Uganda is a beautiful country is located in East Africa. It’s among the places on earth where one can have incredible wildlife on an African safari. Known to many as the pearl of Africa, Uganda is a very unique wildlife safari destination with 10 national parks, which are homes to diverse wildlife species. While in Uganda seeking for the best wildlife experiences, there are safari destinations that must be on ones top list because of the incredible wildlife wonders they offer. Most of these are located in the remote areas in the country and give tourists an opportunity to get intimate with nature. They include the following.

The Snow Capped Rwenzori Mountains

They are located in western Uganda and also referred to as the mountain of the moons. These mountains stretch from Uganda to Congo with several peaks with the highest Margherita standing at 5109 meters above sea level. The Rwenzori Mountains have glaciers and water catchment area and therefore sources of a number of rivers including the Mubuku River in Kasese district.

Tourists to the Rwenzori mountains have a range of activities they can engage in like hiking to the top of the snow capped peaks, trekking safaris to discover more about the wild animals and the unique montane vegetation while others can go nature walks. Wildlife safaris to the Ruwenzori’s are very exciting and always provide tourists with a very exciting wild mystical challenge.

Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks

They are both located in southwestern Uganda and are the best destinations for mountain gorilla safaris. These two national parks offer the ultimate mountain gorilla safari experiences as tourists track through the forested mountains to get personal and up close with one of their closest wild relative. Bwindi impenetrable has half of the world mountain gorilla populations with 11 habituated mountain gorilla families.

In Mgahinga gorilla national park, the gorilla safaris are taken to another level as gold meets silver. Mgahinga has one habituated mountain gorilla family plus the rare golden monkeys. This means that one can enjoy encounters with silverbacks and golden monkeys as they relax in the jungle.

While in any of these eco tourism and wild heritage sites, tourists can engage in a number of wildlife activities that include mountain gorilla tracking, forest walks, birding, mountain climbing and cultural visits.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

This is a combination of wildlife wonders and the top savanna national park in the pearl of Africa. With a land area of 1978 kilometer squares, queen Elizabeth national park covers two of the great lakes (lake Edward and lake George), the Kazinga channel which connects the two lakes plus and number of craters and crater lakes like lake Nyamununka and lake Katwe.

The park has a number of wild animals that include chimpanzees, elephants, hippos, over 600 bird species, lions, waterbucks, buffaloes, baboons, leopards, warthogs and many others. Tourists in this national park can engage in a number of wildlife activities that game drives, boat trips, chimpanzee tracking, nature walks, wildlife research tours and cultural visits. With such a diverse ecosystem, it’s no wonder that queen Elizabeth is the most visited savanna wildlife destination in Uganda.

There are other safari destinations where tourists can enjoy and encounter wild gem on a Uganda safari and these include Murchison falls national park, which is the largest national park in Uganda and a place with the most powerful waterfall in Uganda, Kibale forest national park a home of the chimpanzees and the primate capital of Uganda, mount Elgon national park located in eastern Uganda and many others. Wildlife safaris in Uganda can be experienced at any time of the year under the guidance of a trusted tour guide or on private safaris.

Wildlife Safari in South Luangwa National Park

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Visit Zambia and enjoy the pleasures at the South Luangwa National park and enjoy the safari delights here in this part of the world. The wildlife inhabitation here fills your tours with the kind of adventure that you would have longed for. As the wildlife provides you ultimate delights on the banks of the River Luangwa, this one of the highest in Africa and provides ultimate delights in this part of Southern Africa. With pods of hippos, and many lions, elephant, leopard and the African wild dogs along with the giraffe and zebras this is one of the best places to get wildlife sights. With the kind of variety of avifauna species that are found here, the south Luangwa national park is a lovely place to be in and also should not be missed when you are going on a tour to South Africa.

South Luangwa National park is a lovely destination in this part of the world which provides you with the best kind of tour delights and travel destinations. The River Luangwa runs through the centre of this beautiful park spanning over 3475 square miles. The River has made its own trail in the entire valley and it creates a beautiful escarpment and leaves a lot of ox bows and lagoons which are filled with hippo and fish.

South Luangwa is very popular for the many hippos which form a mainstay of wildlife here. Then of course you have the Cookson’s wildebeest which is very special to the valley of Luangwa. The African Wild Dog is also found here in the beautiful surroundings of Luangwa Valley.

Once upon a time the Luangwa Valley was filled with fascinating sights of the elephants but then poachers made life difficult for the elephants and their numbers started receeding. The rhino was very sadly enough poached so much that it got extinct.

A birder’s haven, there are more than 400 birds here and these have been recorded with a lot of interest and care. Safari tours  Southern Africa include the birds in view and also the warthog and the zebra apart from others.

Luangwa Valley is popular for the walking safari which is filled with many ways to experience wildlife experiences. It is home to some of the best safari guides and if you get a good guide you would surely cherish your visits to this beautiful land in Southern

Africa. Walking safaris are not permitted for children below the age of 12. these are given at every lodge and camp in the South Luangwa and these are the major attractions in tours to this part of Africa.

There are also traditional game drives which provide with the best of wildlife experiences and these offer you the best and the most promising travel memories ever.

Birding safaris are another popular activity here and give you a lot of time to enjoy. The best time to come here is during the months of November to February. This is the time the birds mingle with the rest of the migrating birds .There are Carr safaris which provide good itinerary and bird sights.

The South Luangwa Valley also has provisions of a green season when the River Luangwa gets filled and when there are lovely boat trips possible too. There are groves of ebony trees here and there are also excellent opportunities to see these lovely fascinating birds.

South Luangwa National park  is open all the year around and looks most beautiful in the green season. One needs at least three nights in South Luangwa. If you can sty for a week the better. the remote surroundings and the lovely ambience, the beautiful haven and the mighty landscape and fascinating terrain all enthrall you totally and you would go back with an enchanting travel kitty.

Visit South Luangwa National Park and bask in the delights of an interesting wildlife destination in this part of the world.

Best Destinations for Family Safaris in East Africa

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Family travels should be life changing, Interesting, exciting and engaging for all ages as they are designed to spark a passion, inspire a sense of wonder. When these experiences are shared with loved ones, they bring you closer together. Many book family safaris in Africa to different destinations year round during summer and winter but whoever visits Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania get memories that last forever. It’s very rare to find people with the same interest on a family trip yet it’s the order of the day in East Africa.

However, family tours are fun in places with multiple activities such as wildlife parks, beaches, theme parks, zoos, etc since there is something for everyone. If you travelling with children it’s good to visit destinations with wildlife, sand, natural environment setting, though some destination activities are limited to some age of children for example a child below 15year of age isn’t allowed to trek Mountain Gorillas in both Uganda or Rwanda since the activity requires hiking in the jungle forest and in the Virunga Bamboo forest. But all family trips to either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or volcanoes national park are always wonderful since even children are entertained by different forest walks ,community tours as they wait for their parents to return back from the Gorilla trek.

Also family holidays are nice if you plan it with balanced room for leisure and adventure since they need to be full of complete fun and relaxation. Most accommodation facilities in different tourist destinations are built with room for family gate ways to cater for groups or guests who feel like sleeping close to each other or in opposite lodge rooms. Facilities are the same like that of the other lodge guests though family arrangements are made on request like special dining table for meals & drinks and even surprises if one of the family members is celebrating a birth day or any achieve. Take a quick look at some of the recommended travel destinations with awesome family adventures that will make everybody happy and relaxed in East Africa.

Murchison falls Wildlife Park in Uganda

This is a great place in Uganda full of nice family adventures for all ages and wildlife watching on land is every trip highlight to the park. Tourists view the park wildlife starting at 6.30am local time and the morning session always end at 10:30 am a time when they retire for breakfast at their respective lodges. You can also enjoy the evening session which start from 5.00pm – 7.30pm which is always done just after the afternoon 3hrs Boat cruise an activity which take you to the play ground of hippos, crocodiles and buffaloes, thousands of birds, including elephants along and others.

Taking a five-hour Nile Delta boat trip downstream to the papyrus-filled delta where the Nile empties into Lake Albert is another family adventure which take you to the main birding point for shoebills, some wildlife can be spotted . You need to book early since different tour companies book it often. Other activities include Spot fishing, Chimpanzee tracking, Forest walks, Bird watching walks, Nile Navigation and nature walks. Plan a trip here and discover what makes the might falls unique in Africa.

Queen Elizabeth National park in Uganda

A family trip in Queen Elizabeth is unforgettable leaving your family with nice photo captions & stories to tell. A morning game drives starts your day at Queen Elizabeth an activity where you will catch up with all the early risers in kasenyi area, the elephants, lions, kobs, buffaloes among others. The moment to remember is when you all sail on the kazinga channel waters on a boat ride to the school of hippos, wildlife birds among others. Chimpanzee tracking at kyanbura gorge is something you don’t have to miss during your stay. Spend a full day adventure in the ishasha sector of the park and view tree climbing lion up in trees as they play and rest in their lovely homes. While here you can just proceed to Bwindi forest in Buhome and track the Mountain Gorillas a main highlight activity for many guests to Uganda. Enjoy a true African wild setting as you explore the pearl of Africa.

Serengeti National Park the wildlife Haven in Tanzania

The land of endless plains is a home to several wildlife animals and fauna ready to entertain your family through your stay giving you a fantastic lifetime experience full of real leisure and fun. Every day will get a different and magnificent experience in Serengeti seeing the highest wildlife concentration large wildlife on earth. The big five are the park flowers and grass and watching the lions hunt and eat their prey is a very nice experience which I feel everyone should witness. Animals you must view include leopards, cheetah, lions, zebras, buffaloes, etc plus the sweet lovely sunset view. A Ballon ride is another way of making your wildlife viewing exceptional so take it on if you can. The accommodations are excellent with different cuisines for every taste.

Masai Mara Game reserve

Kenya a place full of freedom for the old and the young with many foreign investors who created a calm environment for children fun back then as they relocated to the country permanently with their families. Having been on a family trip safari trip in Kenya with two children I just advise you to use right travel experts who will design your trip in lavish way full of relaxation and fun no rush from one place to another. By the way there are adults who are delicate like children so family trips are the best and Kenya is a place to be.

The country has all you need in the fun massive wildlife experience, birding, exceptional beach holidays etc. With accommodation there are several Masai Mara camps & lodges which are well stocked for families without forgetting the Ranches in Laikipia where parents who travel with children are given time to enjoy a moment together as the ranch guides entertain children with lots of activities like camel riding, swimming, fishing, game drives, among others. Before choosing a family destination flexibility & comfort is an important factor. Request for the best family arrangements from your expert making your trip inspiring and loving as you discover the destination treasures of a destination of your choice.

Tongole Foresees Strong Partnership With African Parks

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Tongole Wilderness

African Parks, a renowned non-profit conservation NGO, recently took over the management of Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park in Malawi. Tongole Wilderness Lodge, a luxury eco-lodge nestled deep amongst the breath-taking Miombo woodlands of the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, look forward to working with African Parks towards the common goal of ensuring the best management of the wildlife & communities in this wilderness area.

“We are very excited about the management of Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve (NWR) being granted to African Parks. Tongole has laid strong foundations for improved conservation education and ensuring local communities are benefitting from the protection of this unique natural area. African Parks’ ethos complements that of Tongole perfectly and will ensure that the future is bright for both the wildlife of NWR and the surrounding communities and we look forward to working together to achieve this.”

A summary of proposed plans for NWR includes:

  • translocation of a large amount of wildlife, including approximately 400 more elephants and 600 more general antelope species to the reserve;
  • improved protection of the reserve by maintaining a strong force of government scouts;
  • training and equipment for staff, so that they can effectively conduct patrols, in order to reduce poaching;
  • creation of 150km of access roads in the reserve so that access and tourism revenue may increase;
  • initiation of community projects, including scholarships, cultural centres for tourism purposes, community employment and education projects to establish conservation value;
  • management of infrastructure e.g. park offices.

This is a historic and exciting development for Malawi, conservation of the country’s wildlife with direct benefits for local communities, and its growth as a tourist and safari destination.

Tongole have rightfully been nominated as Best Community Focused Safari Property in the 2016 Safari Awards.  African Parks, a 2015 Safari Awards winner, will no doubt give Tongole’s existing community empowerment efforts a massive boost.

Wild Game Drives in Uganda

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Games in Uganda are conducted in savannah grassland – such areas include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Semuliki National Park among other regions.

In the savannah region, game drives are conducted on vehicles and the most cases, the vehicles are pop up roofed for clear viewing of animals, birds, drainage features, and topography among others. Tourists on game drives are advised to come with Cameras to take amazing photos for future reference.

Savannah regions are characterized by:

Trees:

Deciduous – lose their leaves to reduce transpiration because of the winter drought.

Xerophytic – drought resistant.

Sclerophyllous – Leaves are small, waxy and thorn like.

Roots are long and extended to reach deep underground.

Tend to grow to 6-12m in height and contain “Y” shaped branches.

Trunks are gnarled, and bark is thick to retain moisture.

Example; The baobob tree has a trunk of up to 10m in diameter. Its root like branches holds only a minimum number of tiny leaves in order to restrict transpiration. Some are estimated to be thousands of years old. Their trunks are resistant to the local fires.

Shrubs/Grasses;

Grasses grow in tufts and tend to have inward curving blades and silvery spikes.

After the onset of the summer rains, they grow very quickly to over 3m in height. Elephant grass grows to 5m.

They become yellow by sun drying.

By early winter, the straw like grass has died down, leaving seeds dormant on the surface until next year’s rains.

In terms of biotic activity, over 40 different species of large herbivore graze on the grasslands, including wildebeest, zebra and antelope. It is also home to several carnivores – predatory, like lions/leopards/cheetah or scavengers, e.g. hyenas. Termites and microbes are the major saprophytes. Fire is the main determinant of the savannah biome.

As more trees are removed for fuel, and over grazing reduced the productivity of grasslands, the heavy rains gullies and the wind blows away the surface soil. Where the savannah is not farmed, there are usually more trees, suggesting that grass may not be the natural climactic climax vegetation.

The abundant grass feeds a variety of wildlife and on the other hand sustains their presence hence wonderful game drives for example Semliki National Park – Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve. Smaller forest and larger savannah elephants are regularly seen, along with buffalo, waterbuck, crocodile, warthog and Uganda kob. With luck, you may even see pygmy hippopotami, leopards and elusive bushbabies. In the park, Morning, afternoon and night game drives are conducted – night games exposes visitors to nocturnal like leopard, bush Babies, white- tailed- Magoon among others.

For night game drives, it is advisable to do it with a ranger and the safari guide should be able to provide great light to enable tourists view night moving creatures.

Queen Elizabeth National Park – drive through Kasenyi, the North Kazinga Plains and the Ishasha Sector offer virtually guaranteed buffalo, antelope and elephant sightings, along with warthogs and baboons. Being the second largest National Park in Uganda, it is not surprising to find groups of animals and birds. From Kampala to the park, it’s approximately 6 -7 hours drive.

In Murchison Falls National Park – drive around Buligi game tracks on the northern bank with a trained ranger guide is a fantastic way to see and photograph the wide range of animals in the Nile Valley. Visitors will marvel at herds of buffalos, dozens of elephants, warthogs and towering giraffes, along with bushbucks, reedbuck, duikers, kobs, oribi and the unusual-looking hartebeest. The Murchison Falls is situated in northern Uganda, 4 hours drive from Kampala.

Kidepo valley National park – Amazing animals are found in Narus Valley during early mornings and late afternoon – 6am and 4pm are optimum times to set off on game drives. Expect to encounter lions, elephants, leopard, bush duiker, jackal, bushbuck, bush pig, Kavirondo bush baby, buffalo and mong others.

Lake Mburo is the nearby national Park from Kampala- the drive through the park exposes tourists to a variety of animals and birds. Being the smallest park in Uganda, it is easily covered and viewing Zebras, Kobs, Antelopes, and Waterbucks among others. Lake Mburo National Park is covered by Acacia woodland, wetlands, grassy hillsides, rock outcrops and seasonally flooded valley floors. The newly introduced 15 giraffes in Lake Mburo National Park are expected to pull more tourists to visit the park. It should be noted that giraffes where transferred from Murchison Falls National Park.

For comparative study, clients are advised to visit all the five parks because some creatures which are absent in one park, can be found in another. Would you like to take a safari in Uganda and enjoy game viewing? There are lots of safari offers available from various tour operators in Uganda.

Private Safaris Vs Group Safaris

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Most travelers wonder whether to join a scheduled safari or organize a private safari in Africa. In this article, uncover the truth about private safaris vs group safaris.

Private tours are organized for an individual (single traveler), couples or a group of people with a common goal and Interest. In most occassions, private safaris are organised on request from the tour operator. On the other hand, group tours are prepared for groups of people with different goals and interest – travelers can be coming from the same location or different one. Group tours are normally sold at a lower rate if compared with private safaris given that the cost is split within the group members.

Characteristics of private safaris:

Private tours are arranged for smaller group as compared to group tours. It can be organized for a single traveler, couple, work mates or few family members.

Private safaris targets only members with similar goals and interest like Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, birds, hiking among others.

Private tours are characterized by high level of privacy – like honey moon trips, family tours. In other words facilities like accommodation, vehicle among others are shared by few people. In most occasion you will always travel with the people you know such as friends, mates etc.

Private trips are expensive compared to group tours – this is because few people solicit fund – if it’s a family safari, the elders pay for the young members and the husband can pay for the wife. The vehicle is purposely for the specific travelers – No sharing.

Private safaris are easily managed than group trips- the guides attend to a few people and maximum care is given.

As the word private, the safaris are also privately organized but under maximum security – the travelers knows each other properly.

On private safaris, the guide can easily answer the questions of few tourists – the ranger to can make the trip easily.

For attraction viewing like Chimpanzee tracking or Gorilla trekking, travelers can view the attraction clear – the few people at the scene can easily see the attraction since there is low competition.

Groups Tours:

Group tours are enjoyed by the enjoyed by groups of people with different interests and goals – they can be coming from different location but united by the safari. Group tours are much cheaper compared to private trips.

Facilities like accommodation, safari vehicles, and guides and so on are shared to lower the safari costs. In other words – privacy is limited.

On the other hand, group tours are much interesting and informative since travelers move while sharing different views about the new destination, attractions among others.

Group trips unite travelers from different locations – friendship is created.

To tour operators with many tourists, great discounts are offered on accommodation, vehicles, boat rides among other activities. This is a big deal but at low costs per person – in low seasons, the Uganda Gorilla permits are discounted from $ 600 to $ 300, accommodation rates are also reduced.

In case one member is attached by transmitted diseases – other members are also like to be attacked. Diseases like Measles, cough, chicken pox, red eyes among other. Therefore, travelers are advised to move with medications.

For effectiveness, tour operators are advised to clear draw a schedule table for group tours on their website to enable clients of similar interest book together.

In Uganda and Rwanda, group tours are suitable for those looking for special interest trips like Rwanda gorilla safaris, chimpanzee trekking, Mountaineering, birding among others. In Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park, Mgahinga National Park and Volcanoes National Parks, a maximum of eight people are allowed to track each gorilla group.

Leobo: A James Bond Safari

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Leobo Private Reserve

‘Built on a 20,000 acre completely private conservancy with mountains, rivers, open plains, 250 kilometres of sandy tracks, lakes and waterfall and dubbed James Bond in the bush, Leobo Private Reserve has of all the toys for every generation to enjoy. From two resident helicopters, a fleet of quad bikes (including high speed racers for the more adrenaline thirsty to children’s mini quads for the more juvenile petrol heads), a Polaris buggy, five horses, dirt bikes, mountain bikes and kayaks, you name it, Leobo has it.’

With his close to 18 years in the travel industry Toby Warren, Founder of Exceptional Travel, thought he’d seen most angles, when it came to new safari properties, until he visited Leobo in South Africa’s Waterberg 2 months ago.

‘One of Leobo’s key differences is that where many African lodges focus on safari and conservation, Rory decided that the backbone of the property should instead be on science and quite simply good, honest fun (although the safari and conservation elements are thrown in for good measure too).

The science in question is astronomy and I don’t mean star gazing through any old telescope. Leobo has a revolving, fully automated observatory dome with a 20 inch research grade telescope and, with barely any light pollution in the Waterberg Mountains, the astrophysics experience at Leobo is both internationally renowned and is certainly unrivalled in any private property you will visit in Africa.’

But you don’t have to be interested in far off galaxies to enjoy Leobo’s own private galaxy.

‘the real key to Leobo is, and I make no excuses about saying it again, the fun of having a private reserve where there are no rules (except minor ones which may just about save your life), there are no time constraints and there are absolutely no limits to what you can do. Guests are encouraged to play hard and enjoy all that nature’s playground has to offer. And that is exactly what we did.

From being dropped off by helicopter for sundowners on an impossibly remote kopje, sipping cocktails in the roof-top Jacuzzi whilst drinking in the endless panoramic views and then helicopter paintballing (yes you heard me correctly) whilst your friends try to avoid being splurged on quad bikes below, our weekend at Leobo was something that only few can dream of, let alone do.

Designed by Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, famous for creating the infamous North Island in the Seychelles, their skill of blending design and interiors with the surrounding landscape, combined with owners Rory and Lizzy Sweet’s imagination, appreciation of adventure, and wicked sense of humour, has resulted in a property which not only breathtakingly beautiful, but which is also a feast for the senses.

Rory is passionate about the reserve that he owns and loves, and who says in his own words “it is my favourite place in the world and I want others to enjoy it too”. And he really means it. His enthusiasm for sharing the experience with others resonates around Leobo, its staff and its atmosphere and it is quite clear that this is no commercial enterprise but rather a personal invitation to enjoy something a little different.’

For all these reasons Leobo has maintained its top spot in the Safari Awards Best Safari House category for 2 years running and is already a nominee in a number of categories for the upcoming 2016 Safari Awards.

Want to feel like a secret safari agent in your very own award winning hideaway in Africa?  Here’s your chance, take advantage of Leobo’s incredible helicopter packages for next year.  Get in touch to find out more.

Angama Mara: A Ground Breaking Safari Lodge Launches In Kenya

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Angama Mara has opened! This much anticipated newcomer to Kenya’s bespoke safari scene has taken just 11 months to build since the first peg was planted – a ground breaking achievement in itself.

There is little that is conventional about the creation of Angama Mara: translated from Swahili to be suspended in mid-air, it is the only luxury lodge to be set high up on the Great Rift Valley Escarpment, with views that stretch for miles across the Maasai Mara 300 meters below. Its 30 tented suites, split between two totally separate camps, have been crafted by Nairobi’s finest tent maker, using the world’s largest custom built cutter/plotter and a further 42,000 man hours to complete.

With a pedigree in lodge high design, architect duo Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, working alongside stylista Annemarie Meintjes, have designed the tented suites with 11meter wide floor to ceiling windows – another industry first. Whilst taking inspiration from Nairobi’s Muthaiga Club but with a major departure from the norm, the guest areas will also offer a one-of-a-kind multifunctional space centred on the magnificent views.

Flexibility and ingenuity will be at Angama Mara’s core with days planned around what the guests may want to do, and when. As their wishes change from day to day guests will have the opportunity to enjoy the knowledge and companionship of more than one guide. The guiding team will also endeavour to match like-minded guests with each other: birders will go on safari with fellow birders and serious photographers the same. First-timers to Africa will be guided differently to old-timers. Holding guiding in the highest regard, Angama Mara’s guides have been chosen for their ability to find animals off the beaten track, their great knowledge and storytelling skills but most of all for giving their guests an unforgettable safari.

Another stand out point is Angama Mara’s access to the acclaimed Mara Triangle, a remote part of the Maasai Mara renowned for the year round quality of its game viewing as well as for the reduced number of vehicles that can access it. Wildlife viewing can also be enjoyed straight from the lodge looking down onto the plains below whilst resident game around the lodge is plentiful too. Every tent is equipped with binoculars and there is a spotting scope in the guest area.

Tailor-making their safari further, guests will also be encouraged to eat where they prefer, when they prefer: out on safari with a picnic under a solitary tree, privately on the deck of their tent, more romantically in the guest areas or family-style on long tables under the stars at a Bush BBQ. Celebrating Kenya’s best, they will enjoy tea and coffee from the Highlands, beef from the north, freshly grown fruit and vegetables from owner-run smallholdings and seafood from the coast.

And finally, it is not usual to see those with 30 years in the luxury safari industry having a hands-on approach in the day to day running of the business. Both at the lodge and in the market place, owners Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald’s active involvement will assure the sole and full focus of the management in ensuring their guests’ safari is as unforgettable as Angama Mara itself.

More about Angama Mara

With its modern interpretation of a 1920’s safari, unquestionably one of the attractions of staying at Angama Mara is because of where many of the most romantic scenes from the film Out of Africa were filmed 30 years ago adding romance and nostalgia to the guests’ stay. The Out of Africa kopje (small hill) which features on the movie’s poster has been left untouched for guests to picnic in private and explore.

With safaris being one of the most bonding, exciting and learning holidays on the planet it is only natural that Angama Mara welcomes children of all ages with arms wide open. There are four sets of 2 interconnecting tents, tailor-made menus and more activities than can be imagined to be enjoyed with or without parents.

Doing Well By Doing Good is Angama Mara’s ethos. They believe that by making guests happy they can make a real difference in the community in which they operate. Without happy guests they don’t have a business and without a profitable business they cannot make meaningful and sustainable differences. The Angama Foundation will engage with neighbouring Maasai communities and with the Mara Conservancy to deliver on their promise of Doing Good.

A Safari in a Kenyan Conservancy

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Kenya Safari Conservancy

Does a safari viewing wildlife in pristine wilderness without masses of other tourists present & which benefits the community who share the land with the wildlife tick a lot of your safari wishlist boxes?  Jake Grieves-Cook, Managing Director of conservation & safari experts Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps, tells us why a safari on conservancy land provides the most rewarding wildlife experience.  Be prepared to make a difference.

‘The future outlook for wildlife in Kenya has greatly improved in recent years with the realisation that expanding the area of protected habitat for wild animals is vital if they are to continue to survive in their present numbers.  The movement to establish new wildlife conservancies beyond the parks is an important and positive step in providing a safe haven in which wildlife can increase.

Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps have been at the forefront of creating what they are calling the Conservancy Concept.

The Conservancy concept was developed as one of the solutions to stop the increasing losses of wildlife populations in Kenya outside the parks where previously a large proportion of wild animal species were to be found. The conservancies create new areas of protected habitat exclusively for wildlife on additional land adjoining the existing parks and reserves. However this cannot be done unless the communities who own the land to be set aside as wildlife conservancies can derive income and benefits from allowing this to happen which match or exceed alternative forms of land use.

The renowned elephant conservationist Cynthia Moss has written recently:
“The establishment of the conservancies in Kenya has been the single most successful conservation initiative since the creation of national parks in the 1940′s. Conservancies protect land for Kenya’s wildlife and even more important create sanctuaries of safety. In addition conservancies bring benefits in the form of direct payments and jobs to the people who share the land with wildlife.”

Some of the first people to organise wildlife safari tourism on Maasai community lands outside the parks were Willie Roberts with Paramount Chief Lerionka Ole Ntutu at Ol Choro Oiroua who formed an association in 1993 to allow Maasai landowners to earn an income from tourism on their lands and Richard Bonham who established a lodge on the community-owned Mbirikani Ranch. Earlier on, in Laikipia the Craig family at Lewa Downs and the Dyers at Borana also pioneered the development of wildlife conservancies on what had previously been cattle ranches and Ian Craig has worked with pastoralist communities in the Northern rangelands of Kenya to conserve wildlife within a vast area.

Building on their example, over the last twenty years we developed a new model of leasing large tracts of land from Maasai communities of Amboseli and the Mara in the areas adjacent to the parks in order to create new wildlife conservancies. These are then paid for by using the income from tourists staying at our Porini Camps and they also create livelihoods for the families of the landowners whose plots make up the conservancy.

Starting with 14,000 acres at Selenkay Conservancy in Amboseli and 8,000 acres at Ol Kinyei in the Mara (which subseqently expanded to 18,000 acres) , our model was based on a minimum size of 8,000 acres, exclusively for wildlife and with limits on the tourism density by setting a maximum on the number of tents and vehicles allowed in the conservancy. Following this we were involved in co-operating with other tourism partners and Maasai landowners to set up Olare Orok, Motorogi and Naibosho Conservancies based on our models. This has created a new conservancy movement that has led to more wildlife conservancies being established on similar lines, such as Mara North and Olderkesi.

Visitors who stay in the small camps within the conservancies have a very special safari experience as they can see all the wildlife in pristine wilderness but without masses of other tourists present. We have established a formula of no more than one tent per 700 acres and no more than twelve guest tents per camp in the conservancies which we have been involved in establishing: Selenkay Conservancy in the Amboseli eco-system and Ol Kinyei, Olare Motorogi and Naboisho conservancies in the Mara. This ensures a low-density form of tourism which has less impact on the environment and which provides a more intimate and rewarding experience for the visitor.

As the land is leased on a per acre basis from the individual owners whose plots have been put together to form the conservancy and with an annual increase in the rent, the landowners income is guaranteed, regardless of whether the actual tourist numbers fluctuate, so they are not dependent on having more tourists in the conservancy in order to have a growing income. That removes the pressure to over-develop tourist facilities and makes it possible to keep to the maximum of 1 tourist tent per 700 acres and 1 vehicle per 1400 acres.

For more information on the Conservancies in the Mara and where to stay choose a camp in one of the conservancies where tourism income goes towards the costs of leasing the land as protected wildlife habitat and help to make a difference.’

Deservedly Jake Grieves-Cook is one of the 2016 Safari Awards Best Contribution to Tourism nominees.

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