Ngorongoro has one of the largest wildlife populations in the African continent. You can look out for the buffalo, zebra, leopard, lions; hyena’s and herds of wildebeest. There’s also the rare black rhino and tusker elephants both of which are worth seeing. It also offers an amazing spectacle of birds with 400 different species and also the Thompson’s gazelles.

Ngorongoro is renowned for its volcanic crater a breathtaking site offering the best sunset view. It’s Africa’s most beautiful areas and the majestic wildlife offers an experience like no other.  You can go at any time of the year and activities include game driving allowing you to explore the crater, a visit to the Masai people gives you the chance to immerse yourself with Ngorongoro.

The Ngorongoro Crater Lodge offers the best hotel accommodation. It’s a famous lodge with services such as a butler and with strikingly well designed and decorated rooms each stay is made memorable. The view of the Crater from the lodge is like no other. It is dubbed after all one of Africa’s most famous Safari destinations and with good reason.

Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind:

• Know where you’re going and what to expect photographically: you need to have an idea of what to expect. The best advice is to get a travel agent as they save you time and money.
• Plan your travel equipment and transport: make sure your flights and accommodation is sorted out properly before going. Should be doing a self-drive make sure a hired car is in place. Also consider the logistics of the equipment you’re going to carry around.
• Plan your gear: for wildlife a long lens is the standard piece of equipment, you don’t want to change lenses too much as this takes time.
• Tourists: It’s best to sign up for a private tour for photographers, these tours are well organised and know the best places to take pictures.

Whether you’re doing a self-drive or signed up with a private tour make a note to make regular stops. Give yourself time to take it all in and enjoy the safari after all you are in Africa!

1. Kruger National Park – South Africa

Home to the big 5, the Kruger National Park always appears in these “Top reserve” lists. Approximately 254 cultural heritage sites are situated within the Kruger National Park, a majority of these happen to be rock are sites.

2. Masai Mara – Kenya

The reserve is home to animals such as the black rhino and the cheetah. Every July the wildebeest migrate from Tanzania to the Masai Mara Reserve. Hospitality and the best game drives are what you can expect at the Masai Mara Reserve

3. Isinya – Tanzania

For a nostalgic African experience, visit Isinya. You find elephants, buffalo, wildebeest and zebra’s in herds. Isinya is in a remote part of Tanzania between Mopane and Acacia where Mount Kilimanjaro is in clear view.

4. Okavango – Botswana

Okavanga is the world’s largest inland delta. The delta floods once each year between June and August, when ironically enough, Botswana experiences its dry winter months.

5. South Luangwa National Park – Zambia

The South Luangwa has a high wildlife population yet people do not visit there much. The South Luangwa walking safaris are the absolute best! Situated far from any city the reserve is the perfect home for cheetahs, hippo’s crocodiles and the rest of the wildlife game.

Have you decided which game reserve you want to visit yet?

Here is a list of the top 5 kid friendly safaris, that are bound to have your little ones entertained while you enjoy a great family holiday.

• Jock Safari Game lodge

The Jock Safari Game lodge offers walking safaris, bird safaris and guided historical tours. There are also game drives, in open land rovers with a team of professional game rangers, whom are there to make sure you have a thrilling encounter with the big five.

• Jaci’s safari lodge

Located in the Madikwe Game Reserve, build on 75000ha of wild game territory. Jaci’s Lodges are now offering a specialized Children’s Safari programme for children.

Activities include bush craft, inspector and detective trails, animal tracking, “birds of a feather”, touch tables, game drives and walks.

• Sanbona Game lodge

The game reserve is located at the foot of the towering Warmwaterberg Mountain in Little Karoo. You find rock art, fauna and flora, spread over the 54000ha of land.

• Ivory tree game lodge

Located at the Pilansberg National Park, this 5 star game lodge welcomes families with children. Children have a kiddies bush bumble program; this is a short safari concentrating on the little things thus deliberately avoiding encounters with the Big 5.

• Riverband lodge

Children of all ages are welcome and may go on game drives with their parents. The lodge also has a playroom, slides and a sandpit for the kids to enjoy.

The packages are set out to specifically cater to kids, making sure that the little ones also get to enjoy holidays set in the safari.

For an amazing festival, no matter the style/genre be sure to come through to Africa. The music always has the African drum within the melodic arrangement. African fashion consists of bright colours, traditional patterns and the most beautiful models you will ever come across. Movies tell of stories about triumph when the odds are against you… that is Africa.

Some festivals to look forward to are:

1. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Happening on 30-31 March 2012, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival is South Africa’s biggest jazz festival. Music legends from all around the world will be performing on the 5 stages. The festival takes place over the two days at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

2. Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival
This annual music festival highlights the traditions of Gnaoua music. Throughout the years the festival has grown to include musicians from all over the world. Each year the venue changes but the festival remains in Essaouira, Morocco.

3. The Zanzibar International Film Festival
Movie enthusiasts should experience the film festival which is one of East Africa’s premier cultural events. The International Film Festival takes place annually in Zanzibar. Features include music, literature, and art from all around the world with films taking centre stage.

You can’t go wrong as long as the festival is in the African continent.

You can’t say you have been in Africa until you have seen the big five up-close and personal.

2. Cruise the Nile

Book yourself on a felucca and float across the Nile River. The boats carry tourists from Aswan to Luxor, stopping at major sights along the way.

3. See the Pyramids

Conduct a historical excursion; explore the pyramids and learn about hieroglyphics, mummies and tombs.

4. Culinary tour

They say “you are what you eat”, take a culinary tour of Africa. Focus on Morocco and South Africa, you will learn about the culture and history of the people through their food.

5. Beaches

Relax on the beaches found in Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Mozambique and Angola.

6. Hike up a mountain

Take a hike up the mountains such as; the Drakensburg, Lions Head and Kilimanjaro.

7. The Victoria Falls

Plan a romantic holiday at the Victoria Falls.

8. Table Mountain

One of the official 7 wonders of the world, Table Mountain is a unique attraction worth exploring.

9. African rainforest

Visit any of the National Parks in Madagascar, and experience another side of Africa.

10. Meet the people

Form life-long friendships with the kind and warm-hearted people of Africa.
A lot of words can be used to describe the African continent, but Africa is beautiful, warm, and has a variety of cultures and people.

Touching on both Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Victoria Falls are a massive curtain of water, the Kololo people call it Mosi-oa-Tunya (Smoke that Thunders).

The Victoria Falls are one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, and they are a world heritage site.
There are numerous holiday makers making their way to the Victoria Falls to experience the natural wonder that is located in the Southern part of Africa.

There are a lot of activities and holiday packages offered from both Zambia and Zimbabwe with regards to the Victoria Falls. Going to the Victoria Falls is one experience you will most likely not forget! The Victoria Falls are a very prominent safari destination in the Southern African hemisphere.

In Zimbabwe, the Victoria Falls are located within a national park which allows for game viewings and tours of the Victoria Falls.

Activities include white river rafting, bungee jumping (off the Victoria Falls Bridge) and even riding elephants. For an excursion filled with fun and adventure, make sure you come to the Victoria Falls.
Zambia or Zimbabwe, it doesn’t matter really… the Victoria Falls will leave you in awe and coming back for more.

The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most popular reserves in Africa. Loved by all, the reserve has been an inspiration for many travel writers, and tourists. Scenes from the movie ‘Out of Africa’ were shot there.

What makes the reserve so special for many people is meeting the Masai people. The Masai’s values and custom often challenge the norms of the west. The Masai live peacefully in harmony and they are known for their red robes.

The reserve has a wide range of game and a unique selection of birds form part of the reserves make-up. Every July you can witness the migration of the wildebeest, coming from Tanzania’s Serengeti plains. They travel approximately 960km to the Masai Mara with obstacles such as the Mara River in their way. The wildebeest come for the grass and around October/November they leave the reserve again.

The Masai Mara has over 53 birds of prey, their birds comes in many different shapes and sizes, with birds such as the lilac breasted roller present.

For a wonderful wildlife experience, head to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, you will learn a lot about the game, the Masai people and about yourself in the process.

It is also important to take a break from the island hopping safari. Make sure that you go by the dhow, where you will meet fishermen and hang around with all kinds of cultural people at the remote reefs. As part of your island hopping safari in Mozambique; you will explore the uninhibited islands which incorporate giant coconut crabs and varied birdlife. Most of the evenings are spent preparing fresh fish on an open fire, right underneath the stars. After that is set and done, you will climb into a comfortable bed in a secure tent planted on the sandy beaches. This is just the right atmosphere for those who love to listen to something before they sleep; they will get a chance of listening to the waving sea.

On the other hand, if Quirimbas were to be featured in the dictionary; it will be synonyms of beautiful, immaculate, relaxed, pristine and all those magnificent elements that are becoming increasingly sporadic in our times. This collection of many islands and coral heads is less developed than the southern island hopping safaris in Mozambique. However, the Quirimbas provides the best entertainment and fun that you can ever get elsewhere in the country.

Here are the top 3 Safari destinations in South Africa:

• iSimangaliso Wetland Park
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was given the honour of being South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in December 1999 due to its natural beauty and unique global values. There are beautiful coral reefs and an array of underwater creatures, popular activities include snorkelling, diving, kayaking and horse riding.

• Pilanesberg National Park
You needn’t worry about your health this park is located where there is no Malaria, if you want an up-close view of the African big 5 (Rhino, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo and Elephant) then this is the safari for you in addition there’s Antelopes, Giraffe and about 300 bird species in the park.

• Madikwe Game Reserve
A great place to take your family, Madikwe Game reserve has a wide range of wildlife and beautiful Safari Lodges. The game reserve is in close proximity to the Kalahari Desert and you can spot the big 5.
South African safari destinations will go beyond meeting your expectations. Only Tarzan will be missing on this expedition.