January 23rd, 2012
January 21 ISSUE # 67
What’s New ; Tip Of The Week ; Featured African Animal ; Did You Know ? ; Wit and Humour ;Swahili Term Of The Week ; Upcoming Events
WHAT’S NEW
African Economic Growth
The Economist recently did an article covering the positive economic growth in Africa ( http://www.economist.com/node/21541008 Economist Article on Africa’s Growth ) in all the 50 + countries (except for Zimbabwe ruled by Robert Mugabe) with comparisons made to the Asian continent of yesteryear. It is very refreshing to see a positive article written about Africa amongst all the doom and gloom news that the mainstream media perpetuates about Africa.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Connecting Flights
Regarding international flights, although it is desirable in most instances to have connecting flights close together in time ; luggage is more prone to get lost when the flights are too close together not allowing enough time to transfer the luggage from one flight to the other. It often takes lost luggage one to three days, if ever, to catch up to travelers. Keep this in mind when arranging all connecting flights.
As a pre-caution, it is a good idea to pack your carry-on luggage presuming that your check-in luggage might not arrive with you.
Excerpt from African Adventure Guidebook
FEATURED AFRICAN ANIMAL
African White-backed Vulture
African White Backed Vulture
The African White-backed Vulture has a bald head, broad wings and short tail . It needs 4 to 6 years to reach adult plumage. At maturity it has the following biometrics; Length: 89-98 cm; Wingspan: 210-220 cm; Weight: 4,2-7,2 kg and can live up to 19 years.
The African White-backed Vulture utters a croaking when at nest or near carcasses but it may make a squealing noise when disputes occur for food. It is common in wooded areas which support populations of large grazing mammals and can also be found along streams.
The African White-backed Vulture may be the most numerous of African vultures and it feeds mainly on carrion. These birds are adapted to feed on soft tissues, and cannot rip open large carcasses with thick skin. The African White-backed Vulture searches its food by soaring high above the ground locating food with its keen eyesight. When one bird finds a freshly killed animal, it wheels in the sky to signal other vultures to come and eat.:
The African White-backed Vulture makes its nest in trees which is small in size for these larger birds.
Excerpt from www.oiseaux-birds.com
DID YOU KNOW ?
The African White Backed Vulture is very tame, sometimes venturing into towns, searching for food.
WIT AND HUMOUR
Vulture Humour
SWAHILI TERM OF THE WEEK
I am from …. – “Ninatoka …….”
UPCOMING EVENTS
Register on the Lion Dog African Safaris Website for the following FREE presentations;
A ) Winnipeg , How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 6:30 pm February 8, 2012 (New ! )
B ) Regina, How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 6:30 pm February 8, 2012
C) Saskatoon, How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 6:30 pm February 9, 2012 .
D)Calgary , How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , February 12, 2012
E) Edmonton , How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , February 15, 2012
F) Calgary, Fig Tree Travel Initiative Presentation, 4 pm, February 26. Details to follow.
Contact us today for your African tour. GO BIG, GO AFRICA !
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January 23rd, 2012
People who are still planning where they could go for a short inexpensive trip then Mallorca could be a perfect choice. There are now a number of cheap Mallorca holidays being offered by different travel packages and they would surely be able to save and use their money to enjoy other fun activities and buy some souvenirs.
Mallorca is such a pretty paradise, people could go for a swim in some of the lovely beaches in the place and enjoy the nice and very warm service in the resorts. People could also just enjoy an afternoon stroll and just go sightseeing and then rest in one of the best restaurants nearby. People would really have a great vacation, it could be short but it would really be worth every minute. People could also just stay in their villas to get some rest and spend quality time together. Overall, the place is perfect for fun and relaxation.
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January 23rd, 2012
There are many romantic places for couples to enjoy, which can provide the special experience they deserve, but with a unique twist to the honeymoon entirely. These luxury honeymoons will give you a different story to tell all your friends and provoke envy in the coming years.
My first choice for a unique and rare, shared-honeymoon was going to spend one or two weeks in beautiful Botswana. If you’ve never considered spending their honeymoon camping in Africa, maybe you should. Botswana safaris can be surprisingly romantic. This is an ideal choice for couples who love nature and want to get right to your door every day. You may be uncomfortable, but sleep in a luxurious bed in a canvas tent.
The romantic sound of the night lulled to sleep each night. And of course you so hot that you’ll never lose solid walls, and is guaranteed to miss the closeness to nature as soon as you return home together. Enjoy a private outdoor bath by candlelight, surrounded by fragrant rose petals with her new husband is an experience you’ll never forget.
You might even consider yourself a safari in one week, with the chance to see exotic animals in their natural habitat, completely comfortable in their habitat. Explore, albeit with a guide, it is practically a necessity in Africa, Botswana is one of the most beautiful honeymoon location in the world. You can go on a safari with your loved and most honeymoon packages will offer with facility with a affordable prices. Civilization will not intrude on their time together, but there is no need to leave their luxuries during their honeymoon. Instead you’ll enjoy them somewhere outside the area.
Some resorts even offer their own private pool, while others are placed tantalizingly close to the warm sandy beach of the Indian Ocean.? Identification pick up a bottle of black sand in memory of the glorious afternoon on the beach could happen there.? You may not want to spend all your time sitting on the beach, but a bit of time for water is almost a requirement.
Therefore, what is better than an experience you can call your own, with all the luxuries of the nearby stations, but the natural advantage of special. Not much, If you have ever thought a trip to Africa, perhaps you might choose it for their honeymoon. I hope you join me for the next installment of this new series, when you are traveling to another honeymoon could not have considered, but could be the perfect choice for you.
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January 18th, 2012
Safari Artist Fred Krakowiak
goes on safari to Africa and Victoria Falls
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Fred Krakowiak talks about his life as an artist and safari expert. For the last ten years Fred has taken a walking safari in the santuaries of South Africa. Learn about his adventures and tips if you would like to go on safari yourself. Find out what it’s like to stand in the mist of the world’s largest water falls, Victoria Falls. Listen as Fred talks about his last safari where he was just a few feet way from the watchful eye of a bull elephant.
About Fred Krakowiak Fred Krakowiak, author of Africa: An Artist’s Safari, is recognized as a leading wildlife artist as well as a safari expert. His artwork is commissioned internationally by both private and corporate collectors. He creates vibrant paintings of wildlife from Africa and across the world by capturing them in motion with unique techniques using mediums such as oil on copper and dye on silk.
Early on, Krakowiak realized his passion for painting as well as his genuine love for African wildlife. Blessed with the gift of an artist’s eye, he is able to detail every nuance of the animal’s very existence. With over twenty-five years of conventional study in various mediums including watercolor, oil, pen & ink and dye on silk, Krakowiak’s foundation has been his formal training in the ancient art of Sumi (pictures in ink). The fundamentals of Sumi require the artist to learn from their mistakes and often omit details. Krakowiak’s paintings illustrate that what is missing is as important as what remains. This skill allows viewers to become involved in the painting by filling in the missing details with their imagination and experience the power of action at that exact moment of passion.
Krakowiak’s book Africa: An Artist’s Safari is a narrative that chronicles his travels in Africa. He was inspired to capture African animals by his awareness that one day his artwork and stories may be all that remains of these majestic creatures. His appreciation and respect for the mysterious beauty of these animals and the land was the motivation for creating his beautiful book. Described as a “feast for the eyes” by the Virginia Quarterly Review, Africa: An Artist’s Safari was the recipient of the prestigious 2008 Ben Franklin Award for large format cover design.
Tags: africa, african safari, Cruise With Bruce, fred krakowiak, internet radio show, podcast, safari artist, safari to victoria falls, see victoria falls, victoria falls art
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January 18th, 2012
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January 18th, 2012
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January 13th, 2012
CHRISTMAS 2011
And finally…the end of the year is here and how fast it arrives. It feels like it was just yesterday when we welcomed new faces into the Beho Beho team with the start of the season in May. December is a month often characterised by never-ending Christmas parties, last minute gift buying and then finally the jubilant time with family and close friends as everyone gets into the mood of the silly season. It is Christmas – a time of eating and drinking too much and giving gifts and thanks to those who colour your life in some special way. The New Year follows immediately after, a time to let go of any lingering upsets or grudges and welcome the new year with hopes of a year filled with love, friendship, prosperity, health and happiness. The month of December is a month of joyful fun as well as soulful reflection.Christmas in the bush is always a truly remarkable occasion. Sipping mulled wine or toasting with champagne whilst watching a hippo or elephant at the watering hole – it can’t get better than that! And even though we don’t have crisp cold snowflakes and a warm hearty fire that one would correlate to thoughts of Christmas – we are lucky to have the wide blue sky above us encouraging some ice cold beers or chilled wine, a barbeque feast and perhaps a dip in the swimming pool. December finds itself at the start of the rainy season, so the weather can be dramatic – and many past Christmas days have seen thunderous storms and blasting wind whisking cutlery and plates off the table. This year though – we were lucky to have a clear blue sky and a glorious sun that shone all day long.
A week before Christmas the Beho Beho staff went through their annual transformation – from camp employees to industrious Christmas elves. Baking and decorating cookies, cutting out and making Christmas cards, erecting the thorny whistling acacia Christmas tree, hanging ball-ball’s and making the star to go on top. It was a busy time as we prepped and carefully thought out what to create using best what we had around us and all the time focussing on getting that special magical Christmas spirit. Karin and Kimberley agreed that since it was going to be the green season and with such beautiful new green grasses, sprigs and shrubs around – that the colour scheme for Christmas would be lime green, turquoise blue and silver. Red was banned from the tree (much to the upset of others… ) and kept only to a minimum. A stylish and refreshing take on the normal dark green and red Christmas that most people are accustomed to. Why else would one go away somewhere wild and exotic for Christmas – to get away from the intoxicating mass consumer sale of red and green and nasty Christmas carols played on repeat in every store that is often a city Christmas! So we chose to do something a bit different and make it an extra-special and unique Christmas spent in an extra-special and unique place!
Eventually we were ready to receive our eleven wonderful guests who too like us had magical thoughts of Christmas a little different this year. Everything kicked off on Christmas Eve when Karin and the kitchen had cooked up a fearsome feast of delicious Christmas cuisine. Before dinner as we enjoyed a glass of mulled wine – Walter showed and explained the multitude of stars in the southern hemisphere to guests on the parade ground. Dinner was set in the Eagles nest and the table was decorated in black and gold with Christmas crackers, golden leaf candle wreaths and a big side table filled with golden painted seed pods and snail shells and a pile of glittering golden-wrapped Christmas Gifts. The traditional turkey with chestnut stuffing and gammon was served buffet style with rice, potatoes, pumpkin fritters, veggies and cranberry and bread sauce. For pudding Christmas cake drowning in Brandy custard sauce and with beautiful marzipan holly leaves on top. We decided to ditch the hot and fuzzy Santa’s hats for everyone and instead each place setting gave either a King’s crown or Princess Tiara. We all toasted, drank and ate with our majestic looking Gold crowns like true royalty! Next was gift-opening – and each person present received a lovely gift – for the girls a Zanzibar scarf and for the boys some locally made bottle openers.
Everyone awoke on Christmas day and ventured out on some merry game drives and some did a walk. Whilst everyone was out Kimberley hung secret stockings left by guests and set-up for Christmas day lunch. Karin and the cooks started early with their culinary preparations. It was decided that Christmas day lunch would be enjoyed in the Lookout Banda and luckily the weather was glorious making it the perfect setting. Tables were set with silver and green beaded charger plates, green leaf wreaths with lime green, blue and silver decorations. Specially made woven baobabs with green and blue material wrapped around the bark and small glass beads adorned the centre of the table. Lunch was a feast of meats – duck, glazed ham, calamari and garlic prawns with potato and a variety of green salads. Dessert was a decadent chocolate cupcake layered with brandy butter and sugar cream icing in our traditional colours of bright blue and green!
Next came the exciting part of the day – more gift finding and opening. Blue and green locally made stockings hung from a rope in the lookout banda – each adorned with someone specials name. After lunch everyone went to find their gifts and snipped them free from the rope. Girls were treated to a lovely African print vanity bag that contained a lovely set of locally made bone napkin rings. The boys were delighted to receive real wooden Maasai fighting sticks (Hopefully not to be used during Christmas!) The stockings were of course filled with quality streets and toffees – otherwise they wouldn’t have been proper stockings at all really! We all meandered up the hill after lunch – as full as an African tick – and everyone retired to their rooms for a well-deserved afternoon nap or swim in the pool.<
As Christmas was over and it started to dwindle in our minds – we looked forward to New Years Eve and yet another fun party celebration. We said sad goodbyes to our Christmas guests but welcomed new and fabulous faces to celebrate the close of 2011 with. New Years Eve was celebrated in style and with such a variety of nationalities (Italians, Germans, British and South Africans) – we had a few surprises from around the globe. It all started with dinner on the parade ground where we enjoyed a feast with a starter of duck wontons in sweet soya sauce and pomegranate rubies followed by a main of roast gammon, roast potatoes, rice, vegetables and an apple and gravy sauce. Dessert was something special – and following on from a Mexican New Years Eve tradition, one gold coin was hidden in one of the chocolate mousses which it is believed would bring the receiver a year filled with luck and wealth! After dinner we returned to the main area and Kimberley discussed some interesting New Years Eve traditions celebrated all over the world. Did you know that in Spain at the countdown one should stuff a grape into your mouth at every chime of the countdown from 12 leaving you with a very well-stuffed mouth of grapes as the clock strikes 12. In Italy – wearing red panties on New Years Eve brings good luck for the year to come, in the USA the dropping of the ball in Times Square is a big highlight – dropping something of worth is thought to bring luck and wealth. In Germany, lead is melted in a spoon and poured into cold water and the shapes read your future for the next year as well as finishing off the evening by eating a marzipan pig for good fortune. 2012 is also taking us into the year of the dragon according to Chinese Astrology – a fiery sign that promises to provide us with a year of unsurpassed enthusiasm and passion!
A chest of fancy dress masks and items had been set-up in the main area and before we knew it – everyone had a silly mask especially the two youngsters celebrating the eve with us. There was also a table filed with fun sparklers and party poppers. Next up, the Masai who work for us at Beho Beho offered to sing and dance to welcome the New Year. This was performed on the parade ground and provided our guests with an amusing show of some local singing and sky-high jumping by the magical Masai. Next up a small fire was created down on the parade ground and guests were encouraged to follow on after a Southern American tradition – of writing down any negative experiences of the past year and throwing them into the fire – destroying them or allowing them to be let go. Thereafter, a wish, hope, promise or dream for the coming year is written down and again cast into the fire to make it come true of course! Before we knew it – it was almost time for the countdown and in typical British tradition Auld Lang Syne was set-up to play and with poppers in hand we counted down….ten…nine…eight…seven…six….five…four…three…two…one….Happy New Year!
Party Poppers cracked and confetti filled the air. Hugs and kisses and well wishes were passed to everyone and we popped open bottles of fizzing champagne and toasted and enjoyed the moment welcoming the new year of 2012. We hope your Christmas and New Years Eve celebrations were both as joyful and jubilant as ours at Beho Beho were. We wish you and your families a prosperous and happy new year. May all your dreams and wishes come true and bring health, love, laughter and happiness to you. And now a quote for the start of the new year goes as follows…”We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce
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January 13th, 2012
Choose a Malaria Free Family Safari in South Africa
Planning the perfect family safari takes a lot of time and consideration. For families with younger children, there is even more to the thought process. Do the areas you wish to visit have child friendly accommodation? Are the activities you have planned appropriate for children of a younger age? Will the children suffer side effects to their anti-malaria medication? Whilst most of your questions will only be answered through research, there is a solution to one. Malaria free family safaris are fast becoming the holiday of choice for those wishing to visit Africa with their children. All situated within South Africa, there are three malaria free zones to consider as your family safari destination.
The Eastern Cape, Limpopo and North West Provinces
The Eastern Cape boasts a number of renowned safari reserves, as well as claiming the rights to the malaria free safari initiative.
Sites such as the Shamwari Private Game Reserve offer luxury, child friendly accommodation and the chance to spot a vast array of wildlife, including the ‘Big Five’. Not far from Shamwari lies the Addo Elephant National Park, which can raise your big five sightings to a big seven. The park houses five separate habitats, inclusive of a marine reserve which plays host to both the great white shark and southern right whale. The Pilanesberg Game Reserve in the north west transports you inside the crater of an extinct volcano with its unique setting. An authentic terrain comparable to that of east Africa, the rolling savannahs surround a central man-made lake, the Mankwe Dam, literally translated as ‘Place of the Leopard’. The Madikwe Game Reserve also lies within the North West Province and offers a similarly authentic family safari experience. In the north sits the Limpopo Province, home to the Waterberg Reserve. An eclectic landscape of mountains, swamps, valleys and rivers, this spectacular park also holds secrets to the past, with examples of ancient artefacts discovered in the area. Hassle free and exquisite destinations, these are just some of the choices for your malaria free family safari.
Extending your Malaria Free Family Safari
There are plenty of options for extending your family safari in South Africa, the top two hot spots being Cape Town and the Garden Route. The city of Cape Town, under the watchful gaze of Table Mountain, offers a diverse cultural blend influenced by a flood of immigrants in the 17th century. The Garden Route provides a haven for thrill seekers and sun worshipers alike, with plenty of adventure sports on offer along the coasts glorious beaches. However you choose to spend your time in South Africa, your malaria free family safari will be the holiday of a lifetime.
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January 13th, 2012
Preparing an African Safari, Safety tips and Guide.
If you feel you are ready for an African safari, think again. Even if you are travelling to a country you are familiar with, it is still very important to be aware of the physical conditions and safety. This is very important if you are considering a visit to most of the African countries. Here are tips on what to do before leaving home and while you are abroad.
Before leaving home
Make sure you have enough Information about the country you are visiting, including that on traditions and security concerns. This can be got from the travel guides and Directory. Ensure that you are updated on the current issues and changes in the politics.
Remember to make a computer scan of your passport, write your passport number down and potentially learn it in case you lose it. Its important that you note down the diplomatic mission offices to the country you are going to. This ensures easier processing of your documents in case you lose or misplace them.
Photocopy any official documents you might have with you, scan them and email them to your self so that you can access them wherever you are. The internet cafes are almost in every Major and small centre districts of Africa so you would have no trouble over this.
It is very important to have a medical check up to prepare for a healthy holiday. Remember you are looking forward to having the best time, so you would not like a simple illness to distort every thing you planned. if you have a chronic illness( like diabetes, high blood pressure, sinus problems or even nervous disorder), check with your doctor, who can at the same time give you a letter explaining the same problem in English and the details .
Its important to read the health tips for the traveler. Diseases like Malaria have to be avoided. Some of the things you will eat won’t go down well. Be armed!
Make sure you have seen your dentist recently. And it is also advisable to pack a medical kit with pain killers , repellants , bandages , and an antiseptic cleaners, for your self and children travelling with you If you are on regular medication , take care to pack enough to last the travel time .
Ensure that you’re insurance coverage is valid in case you become sick or injured abroad. Some insurance campanies specialize in overseas travel insurance and may allow you to buy short-term coverage.
It is recommended that you attend practical training courses to equip your self with the skills and state of mind for a safe and productive mind for a safe and productive trip.
Check out the political situation in the country you are to visit and get psychologically prepared. Official web sites on the Internet will provide you with the ideal information. Inform your self on the quality of public transport at your destination.
Set a limit on your credit card, so if it is stolen, thieves will be unable to takeout a large amount of money on it.
Clothing is very important. Please get to know the climate and weather conditions before you take on a safari. If you have hired a safari operator, contact the company for recommendation on clothing during the specified period of your travel. Remember that decency is preferred by all the African countries.
At the destination
After you get to your destination, there are more important points worth considering to avoid illness so as to enjoy your holiday .
To relive symptoms of jetlag, eat lightly, drink a lot of fluids but avoid alcohol and caffeine a few days after your trip.
Try to relax and sleep on your flight so you can be energetic nonce you reach your destination .Try to sleep when locals do in order to get used to the local time.
Watch out for road signs: the most common reasons for death abroad is car accidents. Visitors are not always aware of the driving culture at the place they visit.
Use two wallets. Hide one of them with essential belongings in your jacket pockets. Fill the other with a small amount of money. In case of an assault you can hand this one over.
Do not count your money in public, as you might become a target for thieves
Know what notes you have in your pocket and wallet. Keep larger denominations away from prying eyes.
It is better to book an earlier flight than a later one. It is easier and safer to find your hotel and the people you may need to meet during the day than the night.
Try not to stand out in the crowd and if you have an expensive laptop, cover it so it is not apparent.Do not use or take an expensive mobile phone; an older one, reliable model will do.
Learn to identify what the uniforms of the local police look like.
Do not take any taxi you find – check to see if it belongs to an official company . Ask the hotel reception about rates you can expect to pay when you use a taxi.
Always set a price before getting in the taxi or ask for a meter to be used . Pick up the hotel’s business card. You can always present this to a taxi driver if you cannot find way back especially in the local language.
This presents a just a few tips on Travelling to Africa. If you are planning a Safari, some countries not to miss out include Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana and Rwanda.
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January 8th, 2012
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