Egypt hotels are divided into four main categories: European standard  hotels, tourist class hotels, medium range hotels and cheap hotels.

European standard hotels are hotels that generally fulfill a good European hotel standard. They are very few and are confined to the capital city, Addis Ababa. They include the Sheraton and the Hilton.

Tourist class hotels in Ethiopia are mainly government owned and are often used by tour companies. They offer comfortable rooms, hot shower, satellite TV, and restaurants that serve western food. These chains of hotels include; The Ghion chain of hotels, which dominates almost all of the northern routs and The Ras chain of hotels which controls the south eastern part of Ethiopia.

Medium range hotels are for those whose main concern is to keep accommodation costs low while at the same time having a comfortable and clean surrounding. They mostly have hot showers and TV. Most of them have good restaurants and waiters that can communicate in English. Cheap hotels cater to people who are on a very restricted budget. They have a clean bed and cold showers.  We have compiled a short review of some of the best Addis Ababa hotels to help you plan your Ethiopia tour.

Located at the heart of the city, half a mile from the cathedral and about five miles from Bole International Airport is the Hilton Addis Ababa. The five star hotel that is ideal for business and exploring Ethiopia many historic sites. This lush and exotic hotel is situated right in the city centre surrounded by 15 acres of well and artfully landscaped garden.

Hilton Addis Ababa is so near many other places of interest like; half a mile from it is the Post Office Museum and Ethnological and Archaeological Museum, about a mile away is the Ethiopia National Museum, about to miles south is the Martyrs’ Monument and the African Union Headquarters. Three miles is East is the Merkato, Africa’s biggest open air market. Read the rest of this entry »

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Zambia has in the recent years joined the league of Africa’s most engaging attractions tempting even the most travelled tourist. Zambia is endowed with a wealth of beautiful sceneries, picturesque physical features, unspoilt swathes of plains and an authentic wildlife experience.

The main highlights for the tourist are Victoria falls -one of the world’s most outstanding natural attractions, and the Zambezi river- which offers adventure types great canoeing, white-water rafting and bungee jumping. Others are the world wonders of South Luangwa National Park, North Luangwa National Park, Kafue and Lower Zambezi.

Situated in the northern frontier of southern Africa, Zambia is squashed between East and Central Africa. The landlocked country shares its borders with eight countries: Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi and Mozambique to the east, Zimbabwe to the south-east, Botswana and Namibia to the south, Angola to the west and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north-west. Read the rest of this entry »

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A Kenyan man bit a python that wrapped him in its coils and hauled him up a tree in a struggle that lasted hours, local media said on Wednesday.

Ben Nyaumbe, bit a 13ft (4m) python which wrapped him in its coils and dragged him up a tree during a fierce three-hour struggle.

The serpent seized farm worker in the Malindi area of Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast over Easter weekend. Nyaumbe bit the snake on the tip of the tail during the exhausting battle in a small village in Malindi.

The victim told police he managed to reach his mobile phone from his pocket to raise the alarm when the python momentarily eased its grip after hauling him up a tree. Nyaumbe used his shirt to smother the snake’s head and prevent it from swallowing him.

His employer arrived with police and villagers, who tied the python with a rope and pulled them both down from the tree with a thud. The snake was later taken to a sanctuary but it later escaped. “We want to arrest the snake because any one of us could fall a victim,” said Peter Katam Police superintendent.

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The East African Community has agreed to start a single tourist visa for the region, the tourism minister, Serapio Rukundo, has said.

Rukundo said in a statement that the EAC members were discussing a protocol to create and market the region as a single tourist destination.

Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya and Uganda make up the EAC.

“The private sector has responded positively to uni-visas, although we have not yet set the date to start issuing them,” he said.

Rukundo added that the five countries were in the final stages of negotiating for the Common Market Protocol. The protocol involves free movement of people, goods and services across the region.

He said the members had started to coordinate their policies in the tourism industry and were establishing a framework that would ensure equitable distribution of resources. Read the rest of this entry »

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As you fly into Kigali International Airport the view below is breathtaking. Dozens of hills appear to beckon the plane, perhaps trying to invite you to explore them. And soon before you know it you will be right inside Kigali City.

Kigali, situated at the centre of Rwanda, has a number of breathtaking viewpoints along its hills that will leave the visitor asking for more. The main shopping and commercial area is around the Hotel Mille Collines, with the government district on the neighbouring Kaciyiru hill. The markets, the handicrafts, the Muslim quarter and the genocide memorial in Gisozi are some of the main places of interest.

A majority of visitors to Kigali head straight to Rwanda’s main tourist destination; Parc National des Volcans. Situated in the far northwest of  Rwanda, Parc National des Volcans comprises 125 square km of dense mountain forest and is home to the six  Virunga Volcanoes. The reserve was gazetted in 1925 to protect the Mountain Gorillas – thus becoming the first national park in Africa.

Parc National des Volcans stands out among other Rwanda safari destinations as it is the country’s only park providing the opportunity to view the primates in their natural mountain habitats at close range. Read the rest of this entry »

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Ethiopia is a land of wonder and enchantment, a country with one of the richest histories on the African continent. ‘Lucy’, the world’s oldest almost complete hominid skeleton - more than 3 million years old - was discovered here.

Ethiopia, the land of the biblical Queen Sheba and the origin of coffee, has so much to offer visitors, including the historic Route, covering the ancient town of Axum, with its amazing carved obelisks, Christian festivals and relics, including the biblical Ark of the Covenant; Gondar, with its castles and palaces; Lalibela with its remarkable rock hewn churches and the walled muslim city of Harar.

Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, is a huge attraction and one of a string of Great Rift Valley Lakes. Most of these lakes boast national parks that are home to an incredibly huge array of birdlife and wildlife.

The high, rugged, Simien Mountains in the south are features prominently among popular Ethiopia tours destinations as they host some of unique wildlife and are ideal for trekking. Read the rest of this entry »

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Rwanda, popularly known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’, is a land-locked country endowed with breathtaking landscape and diverse wildlife.

Located in east Central Africa, wrapped by Zaire, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi, Rwanda is especially famed for its large share of the world’s remaining population of endangered mountain gorillas. Numbering in the hundreds, the gorillas live in  Parc National des Volcans and are heavily protected from poachers.

Parc National des Volcans, situated in the far northwest of  Rwanda, comprises 125 square km of dense mountain forest and is home to the six  Virunga Volcanoes. The reserve was gazetted in 1925 to protect the Mountain Gorillas – thus becoming the first national park in Africa.

Parc National des Volcans stands out among other Rwanda safari destinations as it is the country’s only park providing the opportunity to view the primates in their natural mountain habitats at close range.

A walk through the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes that tower up almost 15,000 feet offers captivating views of beautiful terraced hills in all directions. The picturesque peaks of volcanoes – visible through the gaps in the forest canopy – seem to beckon your ascent. Read the rest of this entry »

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Mauritius is one of the best places on earth to spend your honeymoon or just to retreat from the hustle and bustle of your day to day life. Placed magically on a vibrant tropical island in the Indian Ocean with endless white sandy beaches and over a hundred shades of blue in the seas, Mauritius will transform your honeymoon or retreat into an unforgettable moment.

Everything in Mauritius is possible. Mauritius hotels , for instance, offer extensive honeymoon packages and they can also help you organising every detail of your retreat. You will especially get enthralled by the spectacular scenery around you - miles of lush sugarcane plantations, mystical mountains, cascading waterfalls and rainforests fringed by coniferous trees and casuarinas.

Mauritius has the most amazing wildlife, including some brilliantly hued birds that you can admire at the game parks. Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius is a great place to relax in and so is the neighbouring town of Mahebourg. And in case you are looking for a place with some bit of action then you can tour Mount Limon and Mount Malartic - ideal for hiking. It is also rewarding to visit the area around Port Mathurin;good for coastal hiking; Rodrigues for best diving opportunities; and Caverne Patate for caving.

To enter Mauritius, you need a visa unless you are a national of a Commonwealth country, the EU, Japan or USA. Always check updated visa requirements prior to travel. Mauritius is well connected by international air carriers and shipping companies. There are several monthly shipping services between Mauritius and Reunion - contact the Mauritius Shipping Corporation in Port Louis.

The national carrier, Air Mauritius, operates daily flights to Rodrigues Island. There are several tour operators and car rental agencies. Buses are slow moving while taxis, though easily available, are expensive, especially after dark. Negotiate the fares before starting. Another alternative to taxis in places like Grand Baie is to rent a motorbike or bicycles — a great way to soak in local colour. Boats can be rented in Mauritius at major tourist hotspots.

Mauritius has typical coastal tropical climate; there are no extremes of temperature. Winter, from July to September, when humidity and heat are lower, is the best time to take a Mauritius holiday safari. Tropical rains are likely from January to April, when you can romance indoors. For diving enthusiasts, the clearest waters are between December and March; surfers are advised to go between June and August; while anglers will be delighted at the big game fishing available from October to April.

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There is a popular African proverb that says “When two bulls fight its the grass that gets hurt“. In this case in the wild when two elephants square off, its the dust that gets a beating..I came across this two amateur interesting videos that captured two massive elephant bulls battling it out. Enjoy

Here is another short one

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Today’s post is a little off-topic but bear with me as it relates to travel. It’s got all to do with the Zimbabwean president Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

I couldn’t believe it when I heard that Mugabe’s government had denied visas to three senior international figures who were to visit Zimbabwe on a humanitarian mission last Friday.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former American President Jimmy Carter, and Nelson Mandela’s wife - Graca Machel had scheduled a visit to the southern Africa country but were denied travel visas on arrival in Harare last week.

I’m so disheartened to learn that Mugabe is trying to cover up the humanitarian crisis in his country at the expense of innocent Zimbabweans. Read the rest of this entry »

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A group of zebras attempted to cross the Mara river in the Masai Mara, Kenya, on November 13 when a crocodile jumped from the water, biting the head of one of them.

The stricken animal attempted to make a getaway for the shore, but didn’t stand a chance as two more hungry crocodiles lurked menacingly in front of it as well.

In the end the zebra was taken down by all three predators, who enjoyed their catch on the shore of the river in an action captured on film by Reuters.

The Masai Mara is one of the most popular game reserves in Africa and the Mara river is notorious for being infested with crocodiles. Read the rest of this entry »

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Leisure Lodge, one of the most popular lodge in Kenya is among the top hotels in the world.

The hotel was recently voted among the top 99 world best according to the most visited website in the hotel industry; www.holidaycheck.com

Leisure lodge is located in Diani, along the Kenyan coast, and was selected based on reviews by travellers on the website that attracts 200,000 views daily with sample reviews of over 210,000 hotels.

The award is presented annually during the ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel show.

Leisure Lodge is one of only three golf resorts in Kenya. Photo Caption: Diani Beach Kenya

Kenya Africa Safari

Kenya Flights

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