06 July 2014
Featured African safari tour 2014: Private Safari Southern Africa
12/07/14 19:06 Filed in: African Safari Holiday
The highest level of luxury one can experience on African safari are intimate camps, intimate wildlife sightings, personal service and delicious food. The featured safari itinerary offers high-end standard with the best safari lodges and camps of southern Africa on the best safari destinations with private vehicle game drives, butler service and outstanding cuisine. The wildlife areas are the Sabi Sand in South Africa and Chief’s Island in Moremi, Botswana, both with excellent Big Five sightings. And at the Victoria Falls guests stay at Sindabezi, on an island in the Zambezi River.
Inspired? View and download the itinerary here.
Ute Sonnenberg for Roho Ya Chui, Travel Africa
How to prepare for gorilla trekking
10/07/14 20:21 Filed in: African Safari Holiday
Seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is the dream of many and one should be prepared to make sure, the gorilla trek becomes really a pleasure.
The gorillas live on high altitude in mountainous terrain. They are wild animals, roaming free in the forests and it is not possible to say in advance where exactly they will be when you start with your trek. That means the trek can take hours, meaning hours of walking in the mountains on high altitude with high humidity. In other words, you should be physically fit when doing that and mentally prepared for long hours of trekking, all the way to find them and then all the way back.
Do some cardio before you go on your trip, if you are not doing it anyway, and don’t do the trek when you have a jet lag. You might be quickly exhausted. If you are visiting other safari lodges before the gorilla trek, mind the food. The food in safari lodges is usually very good and one can easily gain a few kilos within a week, which need to be carried during trekking. Don’t carry too much with you on the trek. An extensive camera equipment gets heavy uphill. If you feel you cannot do it when actually arriving there and seeing where the trek goes, don’t do it then to avoid health problems.
There are always stories where the gorillas come into camp and maybe you are lucky to be there when that happens, but don’t expect that. Rather be well prepared and enjoy the trek even more when it turns out to be easier than you thought. Gorilla treks are a bit the opposite of the usual African safari activity sitting on game drive vehicles, although even that can be exhausting.
Enjoy the magic of a gorilla trek!
Ute Sonnenberg for Roho Ya Chui, Travel Africa
Image: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
What offers an African safari at Serengeti Under Canvas?
09/07/14 19:50 Filed in: African Safari Holiday
Serengeti Under Canvas is a semi-mobile camp in the magnificent mother of all savannas, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The camp moves with the Great Migration of the wildebeest for excellent game viewing right there where it all happens. Game drives are conducted in 4x4 vehicles with not more than 6 guests per vehicle, providing space also for the wildlife photography lover with a bit more equipment. The accommodation itself provides all what one could need of nowadays comfort with good food and service, but nothing more, well except an intimate bush experience on prime location.
The camps are easily accessible by light aircraft transfers or road transfers. Nearly all dietary requirements can be met and the sundowners can be enjoyed with premium brands. Some might be hesitant to stay in tents in the middle of the African bush, but it provides the ultimate African safari experience through the touch of traditional safari with the comfort of today.
We use Serengeti Under Canvas for our Wildlife Photography Experience Serengeti and include it often in safaris of the northern circuit in combination with lodes in other regions. Please ask, if you would like to receive more information.
Enjoy your African safari experience.
Ute Sonnenberg for Roho Ya Chui, Travel Africa
Featured African safari tour 2014: Botswana Desert and Delta
08/07/14 19:50 Filed in: African Safari Holiday
It is always tempting to put as much as possible into an African safari itinerary, but if you only have one week, don’t hop too much around. Staying in one place for longer provides the better experience and it increases the chances of seeing the best of the area. A too travel heavy safari might sound easy to do when planning it, but it is mostly exhausting and feels rushed.
A well balanced tour is the featured safari tour, including two completely different areas of the same Kalahari, the desert and the Okavango Delta.
View and download the itinerary here.
Ute Sonnenberg for Roho Ya Chui, Travel Africa
Want to get close to Animals on African safari?
07/07/14 19:50 Filed in: African Safari Holiday
Yes, might be the immediate answer, but close is relative. You want to be close enough to the wildlife to get great photographs, but you shouldn’t be too close and get the animal agitated. Most African safaris offer bush walks as part of lodge activities and they are a great opportunity to experience the bush from the same level as the animals. However, listen to the instructions and stay close to your guide. Also with game drive vehicles you can get too close to for example elephants and you don’t want to make an elephant angry. Respect the animals, don’t get in their path and watch out for possible signs of their discomfort.
For more advice for the right behavior around animals read Alan Murphy’s post right here.
Happy safari wildlife watching!
How active are mobile African safaris?
06/07/14 17:31 Filed in: African Safari Holiday
A quick answer could be, that depends on what you want, and that is good. You can plan a mobile African safari suitable for your own pace and interests. A mobile safari is very flexible and camp is moving with you. You can choose to walk, go by boat or by 4x4 vehicle. Depending on the budget you can either carry your “camp” on the roof of your vehicle and that will be called roof top tents or a private mobile camp will be pitched for you while you are doing your safari activities, that you can arrive in the late afternoon and the cool drinks are already waiting for you. A mobile safari has a more active character than a lodge safari and that comes partially through the character of the camp. It will at least feel already more active, because of the tents in the middle of nowhere and the more intense experience of the bush. One is more conscious of where one is, than in a sheltered lodge environment and more exposed to the elements and movements of nature. It is also more inviting to be active and do walks, canoe rides, boat rides, fishing and more. However, it is always what you want and what is suitable for your physical condition. Don’t push yourself; rather move slowly than being exhausted and not enjoying the great environment you are in. Mobile safaris offer the ultimate bush experience.
Happy safari travelling!
Ute Sonnenberg for Roho Ya Chui, Travel Africa