The Ngorongoro conservation area was initially a part of the greater known Serengeti before the British set it apart in 1951.

The Ngorongoro conservation area, which  became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, is located towards the north of Tanzania and covers an expansive area of over 7,000 square miles.

The park joins up with the Serengeti to the north-west and it is through here that wildebeest horde through during their world famous migration from the Masai Mara to Serengeti, then to Ngorongoro.

The Ngorongoro area has been the site of on-going experiments on multiple land use. This involves having human inhabitation among the presence of wildlife. The human inhabitants of the Ngorongoro are mainly the Masai. The use of land for these activities is highly controlled to maintain a strong balance of the land for the sake of the eco-system.

The Maasai are allowed to hunt most of the smaller animals like hare, dikdik and gazelles but this activity is also controlled. They are however not allowed to hunt for sport, and the hunting of bigger animals such as elephants, lions, rhino and buffalo among others is strictly forbidden .

The Ngorongoro is named after the long gone mountain which is said to have existed close to two million years ago. The mountain is said to have been 19,000 meters in height and among the tallest in the world. This mountain was an active volcano and at one time, an eruption caused it to cave in and form a 612 meter deep crater.

The Ngorongoro crater covers an area of 264 square kilometers and is easily the most stunning spectacle of the entire Ngorongoro conservation area. The two most eye-catching view points of the crater are from up above where you can see the floor of the crater, and from down below where you can look up at the unbroken, steep, and towering walls of the crater. The crater is doubtlessly one of the most popular Tanzania safari feature drawing over 360,000 annually. Read the rest of this entry »

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Located in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, Robben Island was used as a prison, a hospital for socially unacceptable groups, and a military base between the 17th and 20th centuries.

In the 20th century the maximum security prison facilities of Robben Island held for over twenty years within their walls Nelson Mandela and some of his comrades who were most vocal in the fight against apartheid.

Though the original intention was to detain and quiet anti-apartheid political activists here, the results were the total opposite. Robben Island turned out to be the central and pivotal point that propelled the struggle for democracy and representation onto the international stage.

Today this island is a reminder of the refreshing power of forgiveness. For many, it is a destination of political pilgrimage. Robben Island is, according to UNESCO, a witness to the triumph of democracy and freedom from oppression and racism. The institution has, since 1999, enlisted the entire 6 square kilometers of the island as a world heritage site. Read the rest of this entry »

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Located on the southern tip of Africa, with over 3000kms of coastline with the Atlantic Ocean bordering the greater part of its West, South Africa offers so much to see and do. Each town and region in South Africa offers a different experience telling different stories of the country’s heritage.

Cape Town, rated as one of the top fifty most beautiful towns in the world, is a must visit destination for anyone on a South Africa travel adventure.

Cape town travel is very popular among visitors wishing to enjoy breathtaking views of Cape Town from atop the world-famous Table Mountain. The mountain is christened so because its top looks relatively flat from a distance, much like a table top.

The options for getting to the summit of the Table Mountain are either hiking its steep sides or riding a revolving cable car. The cable car moves relatively slowly allowing the occupants to maximize the experience and if you choose to hike to the top, the aches and pains will be forgotten as soon as you get to the top and get a glimpse of the spectacular view of Cape Town as far as the eye can see.

If you enjoy swimming and sunbathing, you will certainly have a blast swimming and snorkeling in the surprisingly warm waters of Durban. Have fun lazing along the beach; the famous “Golden mile”. It will prove to be a much deserved break.

And if you want to learn a little more about the history of South Africa and the struggles of its people, just visit the Hector Pieterson museum in Johannesburg. The Hector Pieterson museum was set up in honour of them that lost their lives in the struggle for South Africa’s independence. It is named after Hector Pieterson who at the tender age of thirteen lost his life in a hail of bullets fired by police at school children as they were staging a demonstration. Inside, you will find documented tales and testimonies of the life of South Africans during apartheid that are bound to melt even the coldest of hearts.

While still in Johannesburg, catch a thrilling elevator ride to the 50th floor of the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg. Also known as the “top of Africa”, the Carlton is the tallest building in Africa and offers a wide spectacular view of the city of Johannesburg. Don’t forget your camera because the view the Carlton center offers if phenomenal.

Lovers of wine and food can have much fun by taking a trip to the exciting Sun City - described by many as the “Las Vegas” of South Africa. Not only is it breathtakingly beautiful, it is also home to a string of exciting South Africa hotels and casinos. There are daily scheduled concerts and other performances. Everyday is fun day in the splendid Sun City. Read the rest of this entry »

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Kruger National Park, South Africa’s oldest and most popular national park, is the best place to view African wildlife. This fact is attested to by the one million or so visitors who tour the national park annually.

Kruger National Park has its origin in the Sabi Reserve, which was set up in 1898 to stem the effects of over-hunting, and is named after Paul Kruger- once president of the Transvaal Republic that later became part of the Union of South Africa.

Kruger National Park 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 southern part of the 20,000 sq kilometre park, which is located in the Mpumalanga region, is more lush and wooded. This area is very popular with visitors and is accessed though the five gates at Malelane, Crocodile Bridge, Numbi, Phabeni and Paul Kruger. On the other hand, the northern and central sections are more arid and fall in the Limpopo region. Fewer visitors on South Africa safaris come here; giving rise to an air of mystery that beckons the adventurous. You get there via the Orpen and Phalaborwa gates. Read the rest of this entry »

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