Archive for the 'Taste of the Wild Life' Category

The national parks of Africa

November 21st, 2009 -- Posted in Taste of the Wild Life | Comments

Africa is the continent of exotic wildlife and a variety of flora and fauna that would make your eyes stare in wonder. Thus, if you are going to Africa, the best way to savour the real sights of the place is by visiting the various national parks that Africa has to offer you. There are in all, five national parks. Here is a short brief about them so that you know what to expect when you do land up there.

The first one to feature on this list is the Amboseli National Park. This park is in Kenya and is located very close to the border of Tanzania. This park is doubly special for the very reason that, if you travel North West from the Amboseli Park, then you will come to the highest peak of Africa which is the legendary Mt. Kilimanjaro. This park has an exotic variety of wildlife and creatures that you have only read about in adventure stories will be there for real in front of you. The natural vegetation of this land consists of plains, swamps, marshes and some rocky lands as well. The famous tusk elephants of Africa are to be found here and that too, the biggest ones ever. There is heavy rainfall in two seasons.

Then comes the famous Masai Mara. This is very popular and has found its way in popular culture as well. You have probably seen stunning pictures and descriptions of Masai Mara in films, documentaries, and have heard about the safaris and the research teams which go there to explore the exotic flora and fauna. There are many attractions in the park and these include the dense forests for game, hot air balloon rides which give you a stunning birds’ eye view of the Masai Mara. And then there are the open savannahs or the grasslands which are again a trademark of the African wildlife there. This place has a bewildering variety of animals and these include the wildebeest, zebras, lions, leopards, black rhinos, and the bat eared foxes.

The Kruger National Park is another popular destination for those who love wildlife and nature at its best. This is a huge park and covers over 20,000 square kilometers of land in Africa. The Kruger National Park spans the borders of three different countries, ie., Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique. This has the five famous animals, the lion, African elephant, Cape-Buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros.

The Kgalagadi Trans-frontier Park is even bigger and covers 38,000 square kilometers. It is in the Kalahari Desert and here you can see the black-maned lion of the Kalahari as well as the blue wildebeest and red hartebeest. The temperature is dry with very little rainfall.

The last is the Serengeti National Park which is in Tanzania and has one of the world’s oldest ecosystems. There are the never ending grasslands and plains where lions, zebras and cheetahs roam freely. There are many special walking safaris organized here.

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A Taste of the Wild

May 20th, 2009 -- Posted in Taste of the Wild Life | Comments

Zimbabwe in the heart of Africa is a huge hit amongst tourists for its throbbing wildlife and its beautiful and natural experience. There is no better way of feeling the pulse of Zimbabwe’s natural beauty except by visiting its various natural parks. Here is a list of a few parks that must be on any tourist’s check – list.

Matobo National Park: The Park lies in the center of the Matobo Hills surrounded by forested valleys in Southern Zimbabwe. The park is high on its botanic diversity, from Paperbark trees to Wild Pear trees, there are around two hundred kinds of trees that are found within the park premises. Along with the flora, there are some rare animal species found here such as Antelopes and Leopards. The park is also perfect for Hikers and climbers and there are some dams where fishing can be carried out.

Victoria Falls National Park: This Park lies along the South and East bank of the Zambezi River and there is more than one reason to visit this park. The view of the Rainforest that grows around the spray of the water fall is breathtaking and has all kinds of plants like Ferns and Mahogany. Tourists will get a chance to view such animals like White Rhino, Antelope and Eland on safari drives. You may also get a rare chance to glimpse a crocodile in the river.

Hwange National Park: This Park is also located very close to the Victoria Falls and is also Zimbabwe’s largest hunting reserve. Whether you are interested in game or not, this is a trip to a park that you must take. With over a hundred different varieties of animal life to view the park is as good as you can get with an African Safari. The park’s population of Brown Hyenas and African Wild dogs is supposed to be the largest in Africa.

Kazuma Pan National Park: This Park is one of the rare places where the Scenery of the plain land of Africa can be viewed and enjoyed. The park is mainly a haven for the birds, but there are also species of animals such as the Giraffe and Cheetah to look out for.

Chizarira National Park: Lying in Northern Zimbabwe, this is one of the largest National Parks in the country. Located on the Zambezi escarpment, there is a vast range of vegetation to admire here.

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