African Community News

Following on from my Safari trip last year, below I have tried to put together an overview of what you can expect when going on an African safari holiday. Safari holidays may not always be as relaxing as a beach holiday for example, as you may have to get up early and do a lot of walking. But Safari holidays are also extremely rewarding and can be one of the best experiences of your life.

The people you might meet and the sights that you can expect to see are quite magnificent. To be sure to take a good camera with you as you will want to photograph every single moment and animal you see.

You can even book to have a private tour guide take you on Safari and they will be responsible for making sure you have a great experience whilst  keeping you safe, getting you good viewings of the animals and surroundings.

If like me you have watched many wildlife documentaries, it can still not prepare you for the experience you will have going on an African Safari holiday.  Going on a Safari should be top of every ones list of things to do and can be enjoyed at any age.

There is nothing quite like seeing wild animals roam free across the land with no bars obscuring your view or affecting the way the animals behave. In Swahili, the everyday language of East Africa, the word Safari translates as “going on a journey” and what a journey it is.

The great thing about Safari holidays is that no matter how many times you go it never gets boring and each time you will have a different experience to take home with you. Not many holidays where you return to the same location time and time again can offer you that. As well as the wildlife you can also enjoy the amazing sunsets and far reaching views that Africa has to offer.

Historically, the Gorilla population has suffered greatly due to human activity. Thanks to the efforts of conservationists, the prevailing opinion in the surrounding communities changed to one which placed far greater value on the lives of gorillas. This, coupled with conservation, has allowed the gorilla population to begin to grow again. Thanks to the apparatus to care for the gorilla population we can now go on a holiday trek through their habitat, seeing the environment they live, the various animals there, and of course the gorillas themselves. This is a unique experience, which hasn’t been shared by many people at all. The local wildlife managers become familiar with entire communities of gorillas, and they will share with you the individual stories of each gorilla, giving you an in depth look at their lives, beyond what you see right in front of you. There is a lot to see and experience on such a trip, from the way they live, to how the surrounding humans interact with them. Overall it makes for an interesting life experience which is worthwhile having.

Zimbabwe has for the past couple of decades, been suffering under economic sanctions by the west. This has changed within the last couple of years, with the recent political overhaul which happened there. These sanctions coupled with the poor economic management of their political class, has resulted in the cost of living being extremely low. This means that you can go on holiday there for relatively low prices. The country itself is a place of great natural beauty, and the people are welcoming to outsiders. Visiting there for a holiday is a great choice, and the welcoming environment that tourists get makes it a great holiday destination in Africa, equal to any other country in Africa. As a place, it is geographically land locked, so going there to go to the beach isn’t really an option. If that wasn’t something you were interested in anyway, going to Zimbabwe could give you a great holiday.

Rwanda is a real unique country, and it’s benefits from having some of the greenest parts of Africa, while it is home to many Gorillas. If you want to go Gorilla trekking then Rwanda is the ideal place for you.

The Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda is an ideal place to explore gorillas, and you’ll be guaranteed close up views. Watching a Gorilla with their family is a unique experience, and in Rwanda you’ll benefit from views of a mighty silverback, females and their babies.

Lake Kivu in Rwanda is like a beach, it is the sixth largest lake so you’ll be forgiven for mistaking it for the sea. It’s a place of relaxation so it’s great for a lazy boat cruise. Rwanda also has an interesting culture, and history. The country is still recovering from a genocide in the 1990s, and you to can be a part of its new development.