If you have visited Africa before and experienced the expansive natural beauty of this continent, or if you have never visited and would like to see this majestic scenery through a guided tour, our eight-day excursion to Botswana and Victoria Falls includes early morning, daytime and night safaris, exploration and guided tours in Botswana's Chobe National Forest and Wildlife Preserve, a cruise on the Chobe River and two days at Victoria Falls.
Victoria Falls International Airport in Zimbabwe is just 21 kilometers (about 13 miles) from the town of Victoria Falls, where we will start and end our Botswana safari tour. Those already on tour with us will meet up here with other guests who are joining us for this portion of the excursion. We will stay the first night at the four-star Cresta Mowana Safari Lodge on the Chobe River near its convergence with the Zambezi River. The lodge overlooks the Namibian floodplain where wildlife converges. The Chobe Game Reserve is nearby.
We move on to the Chobe National Forest and Game Preserve for days two through five of our Botswana safari tour. On the sixth day we return to the Victoria Falls area where we will stay at the four-star Victoria Falls Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe near Zambezi National Park, which lies on the north bank of the Zambezi River in Zambia.
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, also known by its traditional name of Mosi-oa-Tunya or the smoke that thunders, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site described as the world's greatest curtain of falling water. Just over one mile wide, the falls discharge more than 500 million liters of water per minute when the Zambezi River is in full flood between February and May. During the dry months, the falls become braided channels discharging about...
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...nd pangolin.
The Nogatsaa and Tchinga areas in the northern region of the park are less-traveled, hot and dry. During the rainy season, natural clay pans fill with water that remains into the dry season.
A Few Facts about Our Tour
Hotels and lodges, meals and ground transportation are part of the package for our Botswana and Victory Falls tour. During our stay within parks and game reserves, experienced guides escort our group for activities including walks to observe game and drives during different times of day to observe both animals and birds.
Safety is of utmost importance to us. Our guides know the area well and are familiar with the habits of wildlife so that you can experience the natural activities of these animals from a well-stationed observation point. They also know the local lore including identifying medicinal plants and spotting the unusual.
This aspect is “The Double-edged Sword of Ecotourism.” In this chapter, Stanford expresses the positives and negatives of ecotourism. Ecotourism is a form of tourism which involves visiting fragile and undisturbed natural areas and in this case, the main reason is to see gorillas. Ecotourism has its good and bad. It is good because those poor communities that live close to the habitats of the apes can have a source of revenue. Those areas are really poor, and with ecotourism, they can earn about $9000 dollars a month. However, those areas may not exactly be the safest. Stanford cites a 1999 cross border attack by rebel groups in Rwanda in which 8 ecotourists were murdered and this attack deterred tourist from going there for many months. Another negative aspect of ecotourism is how it affects the apes. Although, many apes who do live in these areas of habituation and have tourists coming in and out, the apes develop really high stress levels. When humans move too quickly or make loud noises, the apes are stressed out and can flee. Not only that, but increased stress levels lowers their immune systems making them more susceptible to disease. Stanford ends this chapter saying that ecotourism is bound to happen if the countries are too poor to provide for their people and that “the apes will have to live with the results” (190). In
Located in the popular Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in California. Every year, mother nature’s breathtaking beauty attracts millions of people from around the world. People hike for three long and fatiguing hours in anticipation of witnessing forceful water rushing down the steep mountain from 2,425 feet above. Last summer, my family and I backpacked through the Yosemite Falls Trail and I came to learn what a truly exhausting experience it is.
For visitors interested in an authentic back country experience close to the city, you need to look no further than the St. Mark’s Summit trail. This 11km
Would you prefer vacationing in a dense jungle or a scorching hot desert? Thankfully, I have had the privilege to do both. Over the past year, I have traveled to the beautiful rainforests of Costa Rica and the barren wilderness of Bonaire. By studying the parallels and differences of both destinations, one has the ability to understand the travel expectations, habitats, and activities of Costa Rica and Bonaire.
...rains Energy, Water Supplies." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 6 Apr. 2012. Web. 3 Nov. 2013. .
The African community of Gombe remains the center of the events throughout the book. Goodall describes it as “peaceful” and “hauntingly beautiful” (Goodall 2). The monkeys are the main residents in this beautiful place, as they can suddenly take over any calmness or serenity that was once there. “Goblin abruptly sat up and, almost at once…instant pandemonium broke out.” (Goodall 2). Many characters are born and die throughout the story, and their setting is always described, as if being compared to the eternalness of nature. “The field staff found Charlie’s dead body lying near the Kahama Stream” (Goodall 106).
This past June, I was given the opportunity to travel to Canada and see the expansive falls with my own eyes. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the falls is that they are not in some far away place in the country. They are right smack in the middle of a town, the town of Niagara Falls. As a child, I envisioned the falls as a giant rushing shower of water. However, I could never have imagined the great beauty and breathtaking view the falls offer.
Golden beaches, majestic mountains, cascades, roaring rivers and mineral springs are just a few of what the island has to offer. All over the island you can find main tourist hubs which are equipped with large resorts, luxury villas, five-star hotels and modern guesthouses. One of the most famous natural attraction in Jamaica is Dunns River Falls. This attraction is located in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, which encompasses of a 180m mountain waterfall with lagoon pools surrounded by trees which then runs off in the ocean. Also in the town of Ocho Rios, one can find one of the most exciting attraction that is name Blue Hole because of it's depth and color of the water it holds within. At this attraction visitors can explore the falls and do cliff diving into the Hole. Blue Hole has been gaining popularity but still is one of Jamaica’s hidden treasures. Another attraction, which is located in Montego Bay, is Zipline Adventure Tours. This attraction will suit the outdoor enthusiast and adventurers. From kayaking to zip-lining, tour guides take guests on a breath-taking experience for a little adrenalin rushed adventure. The exuberant nightlife is by far the best attraction the island has to offer. No matter what day of the week it is visitors can find a wide range of nightly events, where they can join a lively atmosphere and enjoy themselves to the
Along these lines Botswana is a country which has an amusing population development history. At first the country was dwelled by the San or the Basarwa and Khoi. It is argued that these groups originated in in the north of Africa. Around the 300A.D (After Death of Christ) they migrated to the south, where they found the Bantu groups. The groups were chased from the south by the Bantu groups as they believe that they were a threat to their livestock. The san people were the native Botswana people. In 1961 the country experienced colonialism from Britain. Thus the colonies decided to...
The phrase ecotourism seems to be on the lips of many travel agents and corporations looking for new ideas in executive or "yuppie" getaways. But many "civilians" are wondering what ecotourism is and what is expected of them if they do go on a so-called ecotour. Ecotourism is defined in different ways, by different groups of people with different agendas. Many tourists are attracted to the adventure that is associated with many remote, natural areas. Others wish to encourage conservation practices in environmentally sensitive areas, using profits to restore habitat, change public perception through education, and develop community. However, local people also want the opportunity for new jobs and capitalist ventures. No matter how one chooses to look at ecotourism, it is a new element shaping the use of rainforests and other natural settings. Likewise, ecotourism appears to be altering the lifestyles of indigenous peoples and causing certain changes in local animal behaviors.
Disaster tourism: traveling to a disaster scene not primarily for helping, but because it is interesting to see. It can be a problem if it hinders rescue, relief and repair work.
...are the observers. They enjoy field trips and activities that involve nature, such as insect or leaf collections. Home economic activities may also be good for the naturalist.
A true nature-lover’s dream, ecotourism allows the average traveller to enjoy pristine nature in its original form. Ecotourism, also known as jungle tourism, responsible tourism, and sustainable development, is one of the fastest growing trends in the tourism industry. Defined as responsible travel that benefits environmental conservation and improves the well being of local people, it acts as an alternative to conventional tourism, aiming to educate the traveller, provide funds for ecological conservation, foster respect and increase awareness of different cultures. It is a truly unique experience, where one has the opportunity to visit a corner of the earth that has evaded the touch of human hands.
Belsoy, J. 2012, ‘Environmental Impacts of Tourism in Protected Areas’, Journal of Environmental and Earth Science, vol. 2, pp. 10.
Ecotourism typically involves travel to destinations where the physical environment and cultural background are the main attractions and is meant to give tourist another view of the impact of human beings on the environment, and to foster a greater appreciation of our natural habitats. In recent years, “ecotourism has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism market, influenced primarily by public demand for more environmentally and responsible tourism” (Boo, 1990, Eagles et al 1993). In addition, “ecotourism is the purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the culture and natural history of the environment; taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem; producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people” (Garen, 2000,221).