Enjoy Your Private Trips

Briefly continuing on the theme of last weeks blog, the strength of the Australian dollar against the US means there is no better time to schedule fantastic East Africa Safaris (the US dollar is the currency charged for travel & accommodation in East Africa) East Africa Safaris can aim to follow in the footsteps of Karen Blixen, or give you a 3D version of the Big Cat Diaries. In either event the favourable exchange rate has the effect of making all East Africa Safaris more affordable: so now is the time to set your plans in motion.

Of course, East Africa is not the only place where the currency of travel is the US dollar. It also applies in Botswana, rendered unique by the Okavango River which flows inland (rather than to the sea) and dissipates in the Kalahari Desert. This lends itself to African Safaris with a difference! Can you even begin to imagine your makoro slipping silently through a mantle of water-lillies as the papyrus sways with the gentle breeze at the bank. Indeed so beautiful and serene is it that I often recall the scene to feature in my regular meditations or creative visualisation exercises!

Since Botswana tends to be a relatively expensive destination, the budget conscious may want to consider the more affordable African Safaris destinations while still taking advantage of the favourable exchange rates. Zimbabwe is one such place where the US$ is also utilised as as a travellers currency. As well as being relatively affordable for African Safaris, Zim is a very versatile location. In addition to catering for the more traditional African Safaris, it has something exciting and different to cater to all tastes. While Victoria Falls is known for its spectacular waterfall which is world heritage listed, it is also known as one of the adventure capitals of Africa where you can abseil off the Victoria Falls bridge, plunge down the rapids of the mighty Zambezi in a white water raft or walk with lions. The less adventurous are also catered for with picturesque walkways, sunset cruises on the Zambezi or, one of my favourite activities, the flight of angels (ie a helicopter ride over the falls)

A few hours away from Victoria Falls by road lies Zimbabwes largest national park, Hwange which provides all that African Safaris could hope for, to which I can personally attest having visited there last November! A comfortable flight from Hwange can then take the holiday maker to a place which is really just a dot on the map, Bumi Hills. After a few minute transfer by barge, the unsuspecting traveller arrives in an idyllic haven called Musango, a place that keeps calling me back. Musango is a Safari camp situated on its own island in Lake Kariba, just off the shoreline of the Matusadona National Park. It boasts an abundance of wildlife from buffalo and elephants to the rare black rhino (African Safaris dont often offer the possibility of bumping into the black rhino). The Matusadona National Park is also an ornithologists paradise with a myriad of birds to be seen frequenting the birdbaths in front of the lodge and rooms. But it was the charm of the place that entranced me, from the little stone huts that house guests to the funny little metal birds dotted hither and thither to the broad sweeping vista from either the veranda of the reception area or the adjacent swimming pool. But I also loved the variety of activities offered, such as total relaxation at the camp, walking safaris, big 5 game drives, tracking of wild black rhino in the adjacent rhino sanctuary, village tours, canoeing, game cruises and tiger and tilapia fishing on Lake Kariba. Unfortunately our time was too limited to avail of many of the activities but I will never forget the wonderful afternoon hours spent drifting along in the barge on what I suppose one would call a game cruise this was definitely one of my more memorable African Safaris! I will be back!

As Horace said He who has begun has half done. Dare to be wise; begin now is the time to capitalise on the favourable exchange rate as it increases the affordability of African Safaris.

http://www.destinationsafrica.com.au/

The African Safari is a tradition which goes back many years. The word safari has its root in the Arabic word safar which roughly translated means to make a journey. This was then borrowed into Swahili as safari and simply cane to mean to travel. In its original context a safari would refer to any kind of travel and was often used in the context of travelling long trade routes. The modern connotations of khaki shorts, pith helmets and great adventure only came later.

The earliest African safaris were therefore not relaxing holidays but where in fact trading operations. The Arabic and African cultures established great trade routes between them on which large caravans of traders would travel across vast distances to trade their wares. The rich resources of Africa meant that many profitable and highly prized objects were traded throughout Africa on those early African safaris.

As colonisation began European trade caravans quickly joined in on a large scale. European safari caravans were generally very large and required huge numbers of staff to crew them and vast amounts of supplies to sustain them. Some of the routes they travelled became known to be particularly treacherous and required very careful and skilful navigation and bartering to get through safely. This was particularly true as they began to trade increasingly in slaves as well as other precious materials.

It was only with the ending of the slave trade that the purpose of African safaris shifted from one of trade and commerce to one of adventure and exploration. it was at this point that naturalists and explorers such as William John Burchell and Gustav Fischer redefined what it meant to go on safari. They went on exploratory travels throughout Africa identifying and cataloguing new animals that they encountered.

It was also at this time that African safaris became known for another popular pursuit, namely hunting. African safaris soon became synonymous with hunting trips with many enthusiastic hunters travelling to Africa in the hopes of bagging the most impressive trophies.

It was this era of African safaris that gave us the connotation of adventure and exploration that are still associated with safaris today. Ironically we also have these early hunters to thank for much of the conservation movement concerned with African wildlife today. This is because many of the great hunters kept great records of their time in Africa. Their stories, writings, drawings and paintings crated a greater awareness of Africa igniting the idea of conserving it for generations to come.

Nowadays African safaris are simply considered a luxury holiday option. While they might still be associated with adventure most of the wildlife shooting is done with cameras and the treacherous travelling by trade caravan has been replaced with landrovers. The modern African safari involves game drives and walking tours, cocktails at sunset and catered meals under the African stars. But if you long for the iconic African safaris of yesteryear do not despair, for while the pith helmets might be in short supply the khaki shorts still abound.