Mauritius Island is one of Africa’s most famous travel destination for luxury beach vacations. Yet, besides its spectacular tropical beauty, the Island has a rich culture that many visitors often overlook. This culture is a unique combination of the cultures, traditions and religion of many immigrant populations that came to the island at different stages in the history of Mauritius.
The unique cultural mix in Mauritius is composed of Indians, Europeans, Chinese, Africans and other inhabitants who all have their own cultural celebrations and religious festivals. In deed many of these customs have been around for more than four centuries.
Diverse cultures co-exist in perfect harmony in Mauritius, making the island an interesting cultural travel destination. It is not unusual for example to find a Chinese pagoda next to a mosque, or churches and Hindu temples in very close proximity.
The rich cultural heritage of Mauritius is also manifested in the country’s cuisine, which is a mixture of oriental cuisine brought in by Indian and Chinese migrants, and traditional western cuisine from the island’s colonial past. There are also several foods unique to Mauritius, some of which combine the finest flavors of the west and the east to suit the Mauritius’ distinct taste.
Mauritian folklore is also a living tribute to the variety and depth of Mauritius culture. This is illustrated by the many different folkloric dances that are unique to the people of Mauritius. There are also numerous chances of watching sophisticated Indian dances if not the Chinese lion and dragon ones.
Mauritius has a fair share of wildlife and bird species, including some brightly colored birds. The game parks are a great place to see most of these. Other places worth visiting for relaxation include the capital city - Port Louis, and the neighboring Mahebourg town. Adventure travel enthusiasts will also find it worthwhile visiting Rodrigues for diving, Caverne Patate for caving, Mount Limon and Mount Malartic for trekking expeditions, and the area around Port Mathurin for coastal hiking.
To travel to Mauritius, visitors need an entry visa. However American (USA) nationals, as well as Japan, EU, and commonwealth countries citizens are exempted from this visa requirement. It is nevertheless advisable to get the latest visa requirement information before traveling to the island. Several shipping lines and international airlines connect Mauritius with the rest of the world. Shipping services are also available between Mauritius and Reunion islands. Information on these services is available from the Mauritius Shipping corporation in Port Louis.
The national airline of Mauritius is Air Mauritius. The airline operates daily scheduled flights to Rodrigues Island. Traveling within the island can be done by bus, taxi, or rental car. For taxis, you have to negotiate the fare in advance because the fare can be quite high especially after dark. You can also hire a boat at some of the major tourist hotspots.
The best time to take a Mauritius holiday trip is from July to September when humidity and heat are lower. Tropical rains are likely from January to April and this is the appropriate time to visit Mauritius if you are looking to have romance indoors.
South Africa’s oldest and most popular national park, Kruger National park, provides arguably the best African wildlife safari experience. As an attestation to this fact, about one million visitors tour this park every year. The national park started as Sabi Game Reserve way back in 1898, to check the destruction of wildlife due to over-hunting. The park was later named after Paul Kruger who was the president of the Transvaal Republic at that time.
Kruger stretches from the Crocodile River in the south, to the Limpopo River in the north and runs for 350 km along the Mozambique-South Africa border. The park is fed by six rivers and has a wide variety of ecosystems; it carries 16 vegetation zones. Kruger is generally flat with an average height of 269 metres above sea level.
The lush and wooded Mpumalanga region in the south of of this 20,000 sq km reserve is the most popular with visitors. Five gates give you access to this area: Crocodile Bridge, Phabeni, Paul Kruger, Numbi, and Malelane. For the more adventurous travelers, the arid northern and central sections in the Limpopo region are ideal destinations. An air of mystery is associated with this region, and as a result has fewer visitors. The Orpen and Phalaborwa gates are its main access points.
A great variety of animal and bird species abound in Kruger national park, making it the most celebrated in South Africa. The species diversity consists 147 mammals, 114 reptiles, 507 birds, 49 fish, and 336 tree species. There is no better destination in South Africa to observe the famous big five game ” Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Buffalo, and Leopard - than in Kruger National Park.
Owing to its wildlife diversity and the presence of complete food chains in the ecosystem, Kruger attracts many scientists interested in researching animal behavior. Cheetahs, warthogs, zebras, impalas, giraffes, hippos, and baboons are some of the animal species found here alongside the big five.
You can access Kruger through nine gates, which are connected to the national road network by tarred roads. From Pafuri Gate in the north to Malelane Gate in the south is a 414 km drive. Once inside the park, it is obligatory to take a game drive. You may chose either a self-navigated game drive, or take a ranger guide as an escort. Kruger allows night game drives, when you can encounter nocturnal animals- bush babies, leopards, hyenas, owls and nightjars.
Many people touring Kruger prefer going for self-drive wildlife safaris on defined regular trails, but you may opt for ranger guided walking safaris if you are more adventurous. There are seven trails in the Kruger wilderness available for walking safaris, giving you the chance to watch wildlife up close as you also enjoy nature’s aroma. You can enjoy a three nights stay in a wilderness camp while on the walking expeditions, though, due to its popularity, early booking is advisable.
There are several means of getting to Kruger national park including scheduled flights from Cape town, Johannesburg, or Durban. The main airports where Kruger flights land are Kruger/Mpumalanga International airport, Phalaborwa airport, and Hoedspruit airport. Chartered flights are also available to the above airports and to the East Gate airport, from where you can also hire rental cars for your safari. Accommodation in Kruger ranges from self-catering and camping sites to more expensive luxury lodges, catering to different likes and budgets of travelers.
Seychelles archipelago is one of the most popular destinations in Africa. Seychelles, comprising 115 granitic and coralline islands in the Indian Ocean, is especially popular among visitors seeking for serene luxury vacation or honeymoon destinations in Africa.
The Islands of Seychelles are placed about 4 degrees south of the equator, between 480 and 1600km off the coast of East Africa. The islands host some of the world’s most beautiful and uncrowded beaches. Anse Source d’Argent in La Digue, surrounded by impressive granite rocks, is one of the most famous Seychelles beaches. Anse La Reunion and Anse Cocos, both situated in La Digue, are equally beautiful, though Anse Cocos is accessible only by foot. Others include Anse Patates on La Digue’s northernmost tip, Anse a la Mouche in Mahe, Anse Forbans and Anse Union
La Digue, Praslin, and Mahe Islands form the cultural heart of Seychelles. The many other remaining islands extend in a gleaming arc towards the East African coast, and are often referred to as the outer islands. Among these outer Islands, only Alphonse and Desroches have accommodation facilities for tourists. Over the years, travelers undertaking holiday tours in Seychelles mostly visit either Mahe, La Digue, or Praslin Islands.
The principal Island in Seychelles is Mahe, which measures about 28km long and 8km wide and hosts the Mahe International Airport. Praslin Island is the second most popular. The famous Coco-de-mer nuts are produced in the Vallee de Mai Forest in Praslin from ancient giant palms. Praslin is situated 44km to northeast of Mahe and has some very exquisite beaches among them Anse Boudin, Anse La Farine, Anse Georgette, Anse Kerlan, Grand Anse, Anse Matelot, Anse Lazio, and Anse Volbert. The other chief Island in seychelles, La Digue, is home to the dream beach destination of Anse Source d’Argent.
Mahe International Airport is the main point of entry for international visitors to Seychelles. The airport is the hub of the Republic of Seychelles’ national airline ” Air Seychelles, which operates weekly flights between Seychelles and four European capital cities and three other main cities around the Indian Ocean. The airline also operates several daily flights within the numerous Islands of Seychelles. Helicopter flight services are also available between Mahe, Silhouette, Fregate, and North Islands. In addition, some Seychelles hotels can arrange special flights when visitors request.
In addition to the world famous beaches of Seychelles, there are numerous attractions that fascinate visitors to the Seychelles islands. These include the legendary Vallee de Mai, Aldabra, Aride Island, Ile Coco Marine National Park,and Curieuse Island among others. The Vallee de Mai, once thought to be the Garden of Eden, and legendary Aldabra, the world’s largest raised coral atol, are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On its part, Aride Island is said to be one of the world’s most important Nature Reserve. The island is home to breeding seabirds of ten species endemic birds such as Magpie Robins, Fodies, Brush Warblers.
The climate of Seychelles is tropical climate. The period between October and March experiences the North West trade winds. Seychelles weather at that time is warm and humid and the sea generally calm. Moving around the Islands can be made relatively easy for visitors using the self explanatory map of Seychelles.
Kenya’s spectacular wilderness and game animals have for long been a magnet for travelers from all over the world. In Kenya, visitors seeking adventures in the African wild get the chance to sample the country’s incredibly diverse landscape, magnificent natural land features, plus a wide range of ecosystems.
There are 33 wildlife game reserves and 27 national parks in Kenya, hosting the millions of animals that make Kenya a haven for game viewing enthusiasts. Among the attractions that distinguish Kenya as the best wildlife safari adventure destination in the world are the great wildebeest migration in the Mara, and the flamingos on Lake Nakuru (the greatest concentration of flamingos in East and Central Africa).
Many visitors from the entire world, for example, travel to Masai Mara every year to observe the great wildebeest migration. Between July and October, around 2 million wildebeest and over 400,000 Thompson gazelles and zebras cross from Serengeti national park in Tanzania to Kenya’s Masai Mara game reserve. The rainfall patterns in the two game reserves determine the migration pattern as the ungulates move in search of greener pastures and water. In the Serengeti, the dry season starts at the end of May, and the animals start their northward journey towards the Mara.
The Masai Mara is a fascinating game-viewing destination all year round, although most people like to time their Masai Mara Safari with the Great Wildebeest Migration. Getting the timing right is, however, really tricky as it all depends on the rains which schedules the migration.
Placed in Kenya’s southwest, the Mara is approximately 300km from Nairobi and is operated and managed by the local Maasai community. Traveling to the Mara will take you about 45 minutes by flight from Nairobi and 5 hours by road. You can find scheduled flights to Masai Mara at either Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson airport in Nairobi. You can also charter a place at Wilson airport. Many tour operators in Kenya offer organized safari packages to the Mara.
For visitors who may not wish to travel much across Kenya, the Nairobi National Park is a convenient destination for wildlife safaris. The park, lying 7km from the city center, is the only natural game reserve in the world situated within a metropolis. It was the first national park to have been established in Kenya way back in 1945, and occupies 117 sq. km.
A great diversity of animal and bird species are present in the Nairobi national park. All the big five except the elephant are found here, alongside cheetahs, hyenas, crocodiles, hippos, antelopes, gazelles, warthogs, hyrax, wildebeests, and monkeys. There are also over 400 resident and migratory bird species including African hawks, martial eagles, ostriches, secretary bird, marabou storks, hornbill, and crowned cranes.
The park has an Orphanage where young and/or injured or deserted animals are kept, studied, treated and released back into the wild when they are ready. A rhino sanctuary was started off in the park making it one of the few places where you are sure to spot a black rhino in its natural environment. There are also walking trails near hippo pools, a Nairobi Safari walk and spacious picnic sites.
Visitors frequent the park any time of the year, as there is a permanent population of game and carnivores. However, the best times are during the July/August period when large herds of wildebeest, eland and zebra migrate into the park, and during the dry season, when animals flock in the northern part of the park in search of water made available from the man-made dams.
Tsavo National park, famed for the movie ‘man eaters of tsavo’, is yet another good wildlife destination. Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya, and is located about 300 km from Nairobi. The park is divided into Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks, with the Mombasa-Nairobi highway separating the two parks. Tsavo West neighbors the Serengeti plains on the south, and has many wild animals owing to the favorable altitude. Tsavo’s major attractions include the underwater hippos and crocodiles observation point in Mzima springs.
Animals present at the Tsavo include leopard, cheetah, buffalo, rhinos, elephant, giraffes, zebra, lions, crocodiles and hippos. Smaller animals include hyrax, mongoose, dik dik. Tsavo can be reached by road and by flight. Kamboyo, Kilaguri, Tsavo Gate and Maxtar airstrips are also at service.
There are several other wildlife safari destinations in Kenya. Amboseli National Park, Samburu game reserve, Lake Nakuru national park, Aberdares national park, and Mount Kenya national park are some of the most popular.
While on safari in Dar es Salaam, you, like many other travelers, may also find it worthy visit other Tanzania tour destinations like Selous game reserve and Mikumi, Udzungwa and Ruaha national parks, which fall in the country’s southern safari circuit. Mikumi National park for example is just a few hours’ drive away. It also takes two hours to Zanzibar by ferry, and an even shorter time by flight. You can arrange day trips from Dar to nearby islands through some Dar es Salaam hotels including White Sands and Bahari Beach hotels.
Occupying 3,230 sq km, Mikumi carries a variety of wildlife including elephants, lion,giraffe, impala, warthog, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, hartebeest and eland. Wild dogs- considered an endangered carnivore species -are found here in good numbers. Other resident animals are crocodiles, hippos, and monitor lizards. Birds are most plentiful in the wet season when up to 300 species gathers here. Many of these are Eurasian migrants, exercising to the full, the freedom that comes with wings. The Mikumi flood plain is the dominant feature of the park, which is bordered on one side by the Uluguru Mountains and on another by the Lumango range. Mikumi forms the northern border of the Selous Game Reserve and is part of a vast wilderness ecosystem covering 75,000 sq km. Open grasslands stretch on the plains, while the miombo woodlands cover higher ground.
Unlike several other destinations in the southern safari circuit, Mikumi is accessible throughout the year. The park is only four hours by road and one hour by flight from Dar es Salaam. If you are on a budget safari, you can take a bus ride to the park gate then organize game drives from there. You can get limited accommodation at the few luxury lodges and tented camps in the park. There are also three campsites. Mikumi is the ideal wildlife safari destination if you find yourself in Dar on a weekend.
The 1,990 sq km Udzungwa Mountains National Park is 348 km west of Dar and 65 km southwest of Mikumi. The mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains that fall southeast of Kilimanjaro. The park is unique in Tanzania, having been created primarily to conserve plant life. The pristine mountain forest habitat hosts numerous rare plants. There are six primate species, out of which two species are endemic - the Iringa red colobus monkey and the Sanje Crested Mangabey. At the plateau area, you find elephants, lions, hunting dogs and buffaloes, though not in as large numbers as in some of the other Tanzania parks. Birds also do well here, and indeed the park ranks as one of Africas most important bird conservation areas. Scientists have in recent times come across at least four previously unknown bird species. The best time to visit is over the dry season between June and October. The hiking trails over the wet season are slippery, which can be quite a nuisance.
Ruaha National park is the biggest elephant sanctuary in the world and the second largest national park in Tanzania, occupying 12,950 sq. km. The great Ruaha river is the lifeblood of this park, hosting many hippos and crocodiles, and drawing thousands of thirsty animals to its banks. Common animal species include water bucks, leopards, reed bucks, hyenas, giraffes, impala, wild dogs, zebra, greater and lesser kudu, and sable and roan antelopes plus many more. The Ruaha landscape is ideal for hiking, and walking safaris are acceptable. There is abundant bird life (over 370 bird species) especially during the wet seasons (March to April and October to November) during which some Eurasian migratory birds move in.
Ruaha has a very diverse flora, with over 1650 plant species found there. The plant and animal life in Ruaha is a unique mixture of eastern Africa and southern Africa flora and fauna. This national park has a hot and dry climate with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in October. Located 128 km west of Iringa town in central Tanzania, Ruaha national park was previously inaccessible, but there are roads today enabling year round access. It takes 10 hours by road and one and a half hours by charter flights from Dar es Salaam to Ruaha. The dry season from May to December is the best time for a safari to Ruaha. During that season, thirsty animals flock the Ruaha river banks, with the ensuing drama (feeding, courting and mating, and fighting) being a spectacle to behold. Accommodation in Ruaha is rather limited, with only one luxury lodge and a few campsites and self-catering chalets.
Selous game reserve is the southern safari circuit’s star attraction. The game reserve derives its name from the Fredrick Courtney Selous, a celebrated naturalist and explorer of the Victoria era. This intrepid traveler died here in a sideshow of World War One, at a time when most of Tanzania was under German colonial rule. Situated 500 km southwest of Dar, Selous is the largest game reserve in Africa, occupying 55,000 sq. km, an area larger than Switzerland. UNESCO declared the reserve a world heritage site in 1982 owing to its significant flora and fauna. The Selous wilderness consists of diverse habitats from savanna woodlands, open grasslands, swamps and forests.
Over 2,100 species of trees and plants have been recorded. The mighty Rufiji River is the lifeblood of the reserve and its numerous tributaries and oxbow lakes are ideal for boat safaris. The wildlife to see here includes buffalo, hippo, black rhino, lion and wild dog. Elephants in particular are numerous and are estimated to number over 60,000. Other inhabitants of Selous are bush back, water buck, reed buck, impala, eland, giraffe, baboon, zebra, and greater kudu. Birders will also find a trip to Selous worthwhile ” over 420 species are on record. In the very large game sanctuaries of the south - Ruaha and Selous in particular, game is scattered and a slow pace is advised, with at least 3-4 days in each. Photographic safaris can be very rewarding here. Most visitors take the time to visit to Stieglers Gorge, which also happens to be a spot favored by leopards.
Getting to Selous takes 7 hours by road and one and a half hours by chartered flights from Dar es Salaam. The road trip is tiresome and only the most adventurous souls are advised to take it. The game reserve is near the coast, and lies at only a few hundred feet above sea level. It is generally hot and humid in the reserve especially between October and March. In the wet season, from March to May, some parts of Selous are closed. The best time for visiting the game reserve is during the dry season, more so June to October. At that time, visitors can take walking safaris, boating safaris, and self drive safaris in 4×4 vehicle. Selous has very limited accommodation facilities. There only a few luxury tented camps and no-frills camps.
Sadani game reserve is yet another Tanzania safari destination worth visiting. Situated in the North Coast, about 50km from Bagamoyo, the reserve gives the visitor a unique beach and bush experience. African game found there include elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, leopards, and zebras. To get to Sadani however, you have to make your own special transport arrangements.
Getting to Dar es Salaam, and Tanzania in general, requires visitors from yellow fever infected areas to obtain yellow fever international certificate of vaccination. Exemptions are made for visitors arriving from non-endemic areas such as Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. The northwestern forest region of Tanzania is considered a high-risk area for yellow fever. Visitors are strongly advised to take anti malaria medication commencing two weeks before travel as malaria is common in Tanzania. Vaccinations against hepatitis A, polio and typhoid are also recommended. In addition, all visitors are required to have a visa except citizens of some African and commonwealth countries. It is advisable to obtain visas in advance from Tanzania Embassies and High Commissions as some airlines may require it before allowing you to board. Visa can also be issued on arrival at Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro international airports and at the Namanga Gate on the Kenya /Tanzania border.
Dar es Salaam can be reached through regional hubs at Nairobi and Johannesburg and to a lesser extent Addis Ababa. The airport is also accessed from other Tanzania airports that serve domestic as well as international flights. These include Kilimanjaro International Airport and Dodoma airport among many others. There is a ferry service between Mombasa in Kenya and Dar es Salaam. Visitors to Dar es Salaam should be advised that taxis moving passengers around the city have no meters and charge a standard Tsh 2000 per journey inside the city center As for ferries to Zanzibar, there is a choice of 4 boats- a hydrofoil, a catamaran and 2 ordinary ferry boats. Yellow fever vaccination certification is a must before boarding for Zanzibar. A port charge of US$ 5 is added to the boat fare.
And like the rest of Tanzania, Dar es salaam never really gets cold and light clothing is recommended. Average daily temperatures hover in the 30 degrees celsius range with October to March being the hottest period. Warmer clothing such as sweaters is however necessary to get you through the evenings and early mornings if you are heading for the highlands. Short sleeve shirts, shorts and trouser for men are sufficient and so are short sleeve blouses, slacks and skirts for the ladies. Nudity is totally unacceptable in the whole country.
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