World Scientists Petition for Alternate Highway / Warn of Dangers

Save the Serengeti asked experts around the world to sign a petition asking the government of Tanzania to abandon plans for a northern route through the Serengeti and build an alternate route.  In addition a survey was included asking scientists to evaluate the likelihood of various impacts, and add their own information.

Read more:  http://www.savetheserengeti.org/news/highway-news/world-scientists-petition-for-alternate-highwaywarn-of-dangers/#ixzz12GwmCqBp

What I should know for Safari?

"> Everyone agrees that there is substantial planning required by those considering a safari in Africa. How far in advance should I book my safari?It is better to book as far in advance as possible to ensure availability at the time you wish to travel, especially during the high/peak seasons - June to Oct and Christmas/New Year season. What should I take on safari? (Should be used as a guide only) As you will want to capture as much as possible of this amazing tour, don’t forget a camera, camcorder with lots of films, tapes, and replacement batteries for all these. A torch light would come in very handy. Sunglasses, hat, sun lotion, lip-balm, insect repellents and your own toiletry requirements, small first-aid kit, a spare pair of glasses or lenses if you are using one. Don’t forget a swimming costume and you might want to include a good book for the relaxing hours. Sleeping-bags and towels if you are planning for camping safaris must be included.What should I take for mountain climbing? (Should be used as a guide only) Sunglasses/Snow goggles, Rucksack & day pack, 3-4 season sleeping-bag, Insulation pad, Balaclava or woolen hat, Long sleeved shirt, Several pairs of socks, Gloves, Waterproof trousers & jacket, Warm sweaters, Anorak/raincoat, Gaiters, Water-bottle, Wooden walking stick, Hiking boots, Pair of light walking shoes, Warm scarf, Toiletry requirements, Flashlight with batteries, Sun protection cream, Small first aid kit, Lip salve, A whistle and some plastic bags. Baggage Limit: 1 bag 15kgs maximum. It is advisable to have your own insurance covering, travel, medical, baggage and personal injury. Persons undergoing medical treatment should obtain approval from their doctor prior to booking the trek. The trek is taken at the clients own risk. What kind of food do I expect during the trip?  The quality and variety of food available on safari will be a pleasant surprise for our clients. Most lodges serve meals in buffet-style. The food is prepared according to the western-tastes, and includes some local cuisine too. If a camping safari is chosen, fresh meat and produce is prepared by the expert chefs accompanying the clients to the highest standards. Special dietary requirements such as vegetarian or diabetic meals can be easily arranged with prior notice. A vegetarian or vegan may wish to bring along some alternative protein sources. Persons with multiple food allergies, it is advisable to bring along supplemental snacks. Please notify us of any possible dietary restrictions along with booking confirmation Is drinking water safe? In some places tap water is safe, but generally, it is not advisable to drink or brush your teeth with tap water. Bottled water is available everywhere and in almost all Lodges and Hotels and all super markets. On treks and safaris, it is better to carry sufficient bottled water. What Type of Clothes to take? : For safaris, especially in Northern Tanzania (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Arusha), during the day, light clothing is recommended with sturdy shoes and canvas hats. During the night in areas like Arusha and the Ngorongoro Highlands; where the altitude is between 1500 - 2500 Metres; a cardigan or pullover may be essential. In the same pack, remember your sun cream, lotions, sun glasses, a pair of binoculars, and a camera with rolls of film. What would be the accommodations like? Wide range of accommodations is available to suit your budget, lodges, hotels, tented camps, permanent camps to name a few. Most hotels are a nice blend of luxury, ambience, offering picturesque views. Once an inquiry is submitted, we provide you with a detailed list of accommodations available to suit your requirements. Advise regarding photography?For wildlife photography, a 200 mm zoom lens is the smallest that you should use, A 300-400 zoom is preferable. For bird-watchers, a 500mm or larger is necessary, and a wide-angle lens would be ideal for scenic shots. Bring extra camera and flash batteries and plenty of film - you may find these quite expensive and difficult to obtain locally.

Help to save Serengeti

It's the greatest threat in the Serengeti's history — the government of Tanzania has approved a major commercial highway across the Serengeti National Park, in the direct path of ancient wildlife migration routes. Such a highway would be devastating.
Read how can do it here by following this link

Bagamoyo, Tanzania: A Proposed World Heritage Site

Tanzania To Advertise During English Premier League Matches To Attract Tourists

The Tanzanian government has forked Sh800m (£700,000) to Football Association (FA) as advertisement fee in Premier League stadiums in a bid to promote the country’s vast tourism attractions to the outside world.

The country anticipates doubling the number of tourists especially from the United Kingdom from the current 58,000 per year to over 100,000, at least at the end of this season’s English Premier League.

The Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) Executive Director, Aloyce Nzuki, told Daily News yesterday that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in collaboration with Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), TTB and Ngorongoro Area Conservation Authority entered into a contract with Lantech Services Agency to sponsor 114 games of the English Premier League 2010.

“This contract is a special effort by the Tanzanian government to use sports as a way of boosting tourist attractions within Tanzania to the world, placing Tanzania as the leader in using such an endeavour in tourism promotion,” said Nzuki.

Nzuki said TTB has subscribed to advertise in six stadiums by placing 30 seconds digital advert that will appear six times per game on a Led Perimeter wall around the stadiums owned by Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, Stoke City, Sunderland, West Brom and Wolves. The six, he said, are among teams that are under Lantech Services Agency.

“This is an agreement by which tourism promotional ads will be displayed on billboards placed within the football pitch during the 114 games involving the three main focused campaigns”, said Nzuki.

Already ads were displayed on August 14 games between Blackburn Vs. Everton, Sunderland Vs Birmingham and Wolves Vs Stoke City.

Download the list of matches (excel format) that Tanzania will be advertised and make sure to watch and inform others within and outside the organization.

Amani Nature Reserve

Nestled at the base of the central Usambara Mountains, the Amani Nature Reserve is well off the beaten path of the usual safari circuit, but makes a perfect stopover on longer trips and while driving to the Swahili Coast. It`s quiet, tranquil setting offers the perfect opportunity to relax from the rigourous schedule of vehicle-based safaris. Although the area has been the focus of conservation efforts and botanical research for over a century, the Amani Nature Reserve has only been a protected area since 1997. International efforts to preserve the beauty of the Usambara forests within its boundaries have met with much local success. Guided nature walks, prohibited in Tanzania`s national parks, are a unique feature of the nature reserve and offer an exciting opportunity to view the flora and fauna of the area up close. For the aspiring African botanist, Amani Nature Reserve`s incredible diversity of plant life -- between 600 to 1,000 different species -- is sure to attract. The East Usambara Conservation Area Management Programme created and maintains the nature trails, as well as training guides in an effort to encourage village collaboration and conservation efforts. Short or long walks can be arranged, and the guides are very knowledgeable about local species, bird and insect life, and traditional plant uses.

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Southern Africa vs. East Africa, which safari region is better?

First, let’s define the regions… In terms of wildlife safaris, Southern Africa includes South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia while East Africa is essentially Kenya and Tanzania. Meanwhile, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and The Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), all destinations popular for Gorilla tracking safaris, are generally considered Central Africa.  Malawi and Zambia are also sometimes classified as Central Africa.

Historically and up until the 1980’s, East Africa was the preferred destination for safari-goers and wildlife enthusiasts. Kenya and Tanzania offered superb wildlife viewing with a well-developed safari infrastructure of operators with both permanent camps and mobile safari circuits. In contrast, the countries in Southern Africa, while full of wildlife and beautiful wilderness areas, were either politically unstable or mostly undeveloped for safari tourism.

During the 1990’s things began to shift. South Africa’s apartheid came to an end and its monetary unit, the Rand, historically very strong, began to depreciate, making South Africa a very attractive travel destination. Intrepid safari guides in South Africa took advantage of the increase in tourism to open up Botswana and Zimbabwe to hunters and photographers. With the increase in tourist capital, the safari industry in Southern Africa grew and permanent camps and mobile safaris opened in its pristine wildlife areas.

In terms of landscapes and attractions, the regions are quite different. East Africa boasts Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti Plains / Maasai Mara ecosystem and the Ngorongoro Crater. Southern Africa includes Botswana’s Okavango Delta wetland, the Skeleton Coast and Namib desert of Namibia, the miles of coastline with diverse habitats and the Kruger National Park of South Africa, the semi-arid Kalahari Desert of Botswana and northern South Africa, and the lower Zambezi River basin including Victoria Falls along the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The wildlife species found in the two areas are essentially the same; most of the predators and plains game can be seen in both regions and only some birds and a few mammals and reptiles are distinct between the regions. The major differentiation is in the numbers of certain species and the general experience a visitor will have when viewing them.

East Africa offers herds of zebras and wildebeests in the hundreds of thousands. The annual migration between the Maasai Mara in the north and Tanzania’s Serengeti in the south is a spectacle unequaled anywhere on earth today. However, Botswana and Zimbabwe are home to 80% of Southern Africa’s 300,000 elephants and huge herds are a common sight along their northern borders.

The weather also varies between the regions. In East Africa, October marks the beginning of the “short rains” while April brings “long rains.” Many of the safari camps close during the long rains due to difficult driving conditions. In Southern Africa, while each country varies, the rains generally fall between November and March with the rest of the year being mostly rain-free. Most of the camps stay open year-round. The rainy or “green” safari season in Southern Africa offers benefits such as herbivores having their babies, lush green landscapes and dramatic skies, all of which combine to create superb photographic opportunities. Temperatures are similar between the regions with May through August being the cooler months.

The major differences between East Africa and Southern Africa for safaris are the density of tourists, the safari accommodations and the safari vehicles. East Africa, in general, has earned a reputation for a high density of tourists staying in hotel-styled lodges. The most common safari vehicle in East Africa is the mini-van with its pop-up roof, whereby passengers stand up to take pictures while peering out of the roof or sit in the enclosed vans. Conversely, Southern Africa is known for its luxury tented safari camps and huge tracts of wilderness areas with very low tourist densities, making for a private safari experience. The safari vehicles used here are modified, open-air Land Rovers which also add to the intimacy of the experience.

That said, there are a growing number of luxury lodges cropping up in East Africa, particularly in Tanzania and these lodges offer a far more exclusive experience than the large safari lodges which may have typified Kenya and Tanzania.

For the most part, Southern Africa is dominated by huge land concessions, which are owned or leased by luxury safari camp operators, and these concessions are for the sole use of the individual camp and its guests. With an average camp size of only 10-16 guests and only one or two vehicles for the entire concession, one can drive all day and not encounter anything but wilderness and wildlife.

How to plan an African wildlife safari

FOR many travelers, an African wildlife safari is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Making it happen takes planning; like the leopard, you must stalk your prey. But look before you pounce; it's a jungle out there.

Choices abound. Nearly a dozen countries, with scores of parks and private reserves. Top-tier lodges, spartan tents and encampments that rival luxury hotels. Minibuses, four-wheel-drives, walking and canoeing.

An African safari is a true adventure — a journey crafted in the tradition of wealthy 13th-century traders who first hunted the plains of Africa for wild game trophies to hang on their walls. Today, travelers hunt for photo opportunities instead of occasions to kill, but they encounter the same scenes that have fascinated explorers throughout history: thousands of zebras migrating across emerald grasslands, flocks of florescent flamingos creating a field of color across a shining soda lake, lions feasting on a hard-earned kill.

Many travelers trek to Africa in search of the "big five": buffalo, lions, leopards, elephants and rhinoceroses. The chance to get close to these animals in their natural habitats is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but your trip to the Africa is anything but a trip to the zoo. Safaris can be physically taxing and strenuous, and you may not see all the animals you expected. Since most safari destinations are in developing sub-Saharan nations, travelers must take certain safety and health precautions. If you're planning a safari (or just dreaming about it), be as prepared as possible. Get some good guidebooks, talk to friends who've been to Africa and research, research, research. We've outlined some important safari basics, from choosing a destination to getting vaccinated, to help you start planning a successful African adventure.

Types of safaris 

For the most part, safaris are a costly kind of vacation. But as with any other type of travel, you can tailor your safari to suit your personal budget. The length of your safari will affect its cost — although you may want to cut your trip short to save cash, the longer you stay, the less you will probably pay on a per-night basis. If you're looking for luxury digs on your safari (or even just hot water and a comfy bed), prepare to pay more. Budget-minded adventurers should seek self-drive or overland safaris (see below) as opposed to all-inclusive package tours — but be prepared to camp in tents or navigate a 4x4 through the African bush. If you're traveling alone, you will probably have to pay a single supplement, as most package pricing is based on double occupancy.

Luxury safaris 

A luxury safari offered by a well-known tour operator typically costs thousands of dollars per person, per week, with all-inclusive prices covering tours, food, drinks and excursions. Fully catered luxury packages offer travelers the comforts of home in wild Africa. Accommodations range from air-conditioned suites to stylish tents (you'll feel almost like you're camping — aside from the hot running water, rich linens and first-rate service). Ultra-luxurious safari lodges can cost over $1,000 a night.

Overland or mobile safaris 

Overland (also known as mobile) safaris are generally the cheapest type of organized tour safari. An overland safari will involve campsite accommodations, and you will most likely travel in a group with other travelers. Overland safaris are usually participatory — you may be expected to pitch in with chores such as cooking meals or setting up camp.

Diving in Zanzibar

Zanzibar is reputed to have some of the best diving in the world, and the coral reef structures that surround Unguja and Pemba ensure that the marine life is abundant. Good visibility (20 - 60 metres) and a year-round average water temperature of 27°c ensure that you enjoy your Zanzibar diving experience, and also present an ideal opportunity for learning to dive or upgrading your diving qualification.

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The endless plains of Serengeti

Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park, also a world heritage site and recently proclaimed a 7th world wide wonder, For more details visit here