Most avid travelers have a wish that they want to fulfill before they die . This wish is to visit the ‘Dark Continent’ of Africa and go on a wild life safari. During this African Safari their fervent wish is get a chance to see one if not all of the ‘Big Five’( a lion, a leopard, a buffalo, a rhinoceros and an elephant) of the Animal Kingdom. The countries of East Africa and South Africa have many wild game filled national parks and game reserves that cater to this wish of tourists and while these parks and reserves provide tourists with the ultimate African Safari experience they also safeguard the animals from ruthless poachers who try to hunt them down and exploit them for their own selfish reasons.
The terms reserve and national Park are often used inter changeably but there is a subtle difference between the two, as reserves are usually managed by local authorities and have facilities for establishment like lodges and campsites and also allow for the inhabitation of the reserve lands by the indigenous tribal folk who usually settle here with their cattle. National parks are usually controlled through the center and do not allow for any form of human inhabitation except for the park rangers and tourists who are visiting the park on a safari.
At most parks local guides and rangers take you out in an open 4×4 vehicle to enable you to have the chance to see the animals at close quarters. Some of these parks even have conducted walking safaris which enhance this experience further. Everyone who has ever been on an African safari also agrees that it is a once in a life time experience which is not to be missed.
The Masai Mara,Kenya
Probably the most well known reserve in the world is the Masai Mara which is located in Kenya and is often simply known as ‘Mara’. This reserve belongs to the red robbed indigenous people of Kenya called the Masais, who are a semi-nomadic, proud cattle- rearing peoples. The Masais have their own culture which is very different to Western culture and they make for fascinating study.
The Masai Mara lies in the Great Rift Valley which is a fault line which stretches from Ethiopia’s Red Sea into Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique where the valley is wide and has within in the towering Oloololo Escarpment. The Masai Mara is one of the best places to witness the annual wildebeest migration which takes place in July or August,when herds of wildebeest travel north from Tanzania’s Serengeti plains towards the Masia Mara to feast on the grasslands. Once they have finished they then head back to the Serengeti in October or November. Other animals that can be regularly spotted here include zebras, impalas, giraffes, Thomson gazelles, leopards, lions, hyenas and the Nile crocodiles that lie in wait of making a meal out the wildebeest as they try to cross the Mara River.
The Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s crown jewel and is a vast open park which is populated by many species migratory birds and animals. The word ‘Serengeti’ means ‘endless plain’ in Swahili and it aptly describes the Serengeti ecosystem which extends beyond the environs of the national park boundaries to include the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the Maasai Mara Game Reserve across the border in Kenya. This highly protected area is now a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most protected sites in the world which has managed to preserve and protect one of the world’s large great migratory systems wherein colossal herds of wildebeest, zebras and impalas travel annually in search of food from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara and back again.
The Kruger National Park , South Africa
South Africa’s Kruger National Park is one of the most visited attractions in the country. The Park with its many species of animal and bird is not only popular with tourists to the country but also with locals who are able to drive around the park and spend the night at one of the public rest houses. Along its western border the Kruger National Park has a number of small private game reserves which cater to the needs of tourists who enjoy watching animals in the wild from luxurious surroundings. These reserves like the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, the Thorny Bush Game Reserve and Timbavati Game Reserve have a variety of safari lodges, cottages, chalets and high end tented accommodations that come kitted out with a wide range of amenities. The specialty of these reserves is that they provide you with trained rangers who work with local trackers to track down the animals that you wish to see.
Spotting of the ‘ Big Five’ is an often requested wish at Kruger National Park. In fact the wild and feral ambience of Kruger was perfectly captured by a video that was shot in September 2004 ,at a watering hole in the park by videographer David Budzinski and photographer Jason Schlosberg. The video which is called Battle at Kruger,depicts a fierce battle between a small herd of Cape buffalo, a pride of lions and a pair of crocodiles and it acquired a legion of fans when it was first posted on Youtube.com in 2007 . The video was later picked up the National Geographic Channel as well.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Often called the Pearl of Africa or the Switzerland of Africa, the Queen Elizabeth National Park is a verdant land which is filled with luxuriant tropical forests, two lakes and the Kasinga Channel located with in. It has a wide biodiversity and is home to a wide array of animals and birds. The park’s animals were once victims of ruthless poachers but now they are well protected as a resulted of which animals like Hippos can be sighted at the Kasinga Channel while mischievous Chimpanzees roam in the lush forests of the Kyambura(Chambura) gorge which is located on the north east boundary of the park. Warterhogs, buffalos, rare aquatic sitatunga antelopes, waterbucks, elephants, monkeys, and leopards are some of the other animals that can be found here.
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Nambibia’s Etosha national park is one of the largest parks in Africa. The park has with in it large salt pans which present a spectacular sight whether they are empty or full as when these salt pans are full they are an important breeding ground for flamingos who gather at the water’s edge and allow for absolutely awe-inspiring photo opportunity . Beyond these salt pans are grasslands and woodlands where animals like the elephants, giraffes, springboks, impalas, zebras and the endangered black faced rhinos roam freely.
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This entry was posted on Thursday, August 28th, 2008 at 9:27 pm and is filed under Africa. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
September 1st, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I’ve been to Kruger a few times, and to one in Kenya. Kruger is awesome, I wish I will get to go back sometime but I doubt it.