Africa Tours

March 26, 2011

As the second largest continent, Africa straddles the equator accounting for its generally sizzling climate. The soaring sand dunes, hidden waterfalls, exotic wildlife, and distinct tribes make Africa a rich continent, bringing travelers from all around the world.
Vacationers in Africa can explore colorful markets, coffee plantations, local tribes, and a mosaic of landscapes dotted throughout the distinct regions. Travelers will also be pleasantly surprised by a variety of sites not considered characteristic of the hot arid plains of Africa, such as the penguins of South Africa, hundreds of pink flamingos, or the snow-capped mountain of Kilimanjaro.
Safaris offer travelers with the opportunity to hop into a private vehicle while touring the natural habitats of lions, gigantic elephants, towering giraffes, rapid cheetahs, nonchalant hippos, hyper baboons, and more. Sleeping in the heart of these surroundings during a Safari gives travelers the chance to hear the roar of lions and the content banter of animals at night, while accompanied with experienced Tour Directors who provide knowledgeable information and guidance.
Passengers may enjoy the unique lifestyle of a culturally rich Massai village with their dominating spears and quaint huts. The pyramids of Egypt also captivate guests with their mysterious tombs, historical pharaohs, and breathtaking views of the Nile. In addition, Morocco’s bazaars, herds of goats, and musicians of Casablanca will inspire guests with a multitude of enriching experiences

Once stepping onto the diverse and inspiring soil, guests become spellbound while traveling through the core of Africa. While leaving the terrain of Africa may be inevitable, the experience and sights attained will remain in hearts forever. 

 


Travelers can soon return to Egypt’s greatest attractions

February 21, 2011
Egypt has been through some rough times lately but travelers who are planning their Eastern Mediterranean Vacation may be happy to know that the country’s minister of antiquities recently announced it will reopen tourist sites this weekend. These include all of the Pharaonic, Coptic, Islamic and modern landmarks.

 

Vacationers can enjoy the beautiful and awe-inspiring structures that Egypt has to offer by heading to Giza, just 12 miles southwest of central Cairo. There, they can view some of the world’s oldest and most amazing monuments such as the Great Sphinx, the Great Pyramid of Giza and many temples.

Tourists can stay in the country’s capital and explore The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities which contains more than 120,000 items including 27 royal mummies. However, one of the most iconic artifacts is Tutankhamun’s golden mask, which is a must see on any excursion to the facility.

The museum is opened Wednesday and Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM, Fridays from 9 AM to 8 PM and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM.


Ethiopian Airlines to Launch Daily Washington D.C.-Addis Ababa Flights

December 24, 2010

 

 Ethiopian Airlines, one of Africa’s largest and fastest growing carriers, is increasing its number of flights from Washington D.C. with the launch of daily passenger flight between Washington Dulles and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, commencing this June 2010.

Morning departures will be available 10:05 a.m. every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from Washington Dulles with 8:05 p.m. evening departures on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.  The airline will offer 10:15 p.m. nightly service from Addis Ababa to Washington.

The Washington, D.C. hub currently offers four weekly departures on Ethiopian Airlines to Addis Ababa. From there, passengers can connect to 35 African destinations – more than any other airline.

Visit www.ethiopianairlines.com.


Kruger – The ultimate wildlife experience

December 12, 2010

The largest game reserve in South Africa, the Kruger National Park is larger than Israel. Nearly 2 million hectares of land that stretch for 352 kilometers (20 000 square kilometers) from north to south along the Mozambique border, is given over to an almost indescribable wildlife experience. Certainly it ranks with the best in Africa and is the flagship of the country’s national parks – rated as the ultimate safari experience. The Kruger National Park lies across the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo in the north of South Africa, just south of Zimbabwe and west of Mozambique. It now forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park – a peace park that links Kruger National Park with game parks in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and fences are already coming down to allow game to freely roam in much the way it would have in the time before man’s intervention. When complete, the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park will extend across 35 000 square kilometers, 58% of it South African, 24% Mozambican and 18% Zimbabwean territory.

This is the land of baobabs, fever trees, knob thorns, marula and mopane trees underneath which lurk the Big Five, the Little Five (buffalo weaver, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, ant lion and rhino beetle), the birding Big Six (ground hornbill, kori bustard, lappet-faced vulture, martial eagle, pel’s fishing owl and saddle-bill stork) and more species of mammals than any other African Game Reserve.

The Kruger Park is a self-drive destination, although there are guided tour operators, with an excellent infrastructure that includes picnic sites, rest camps, waterholes and hides. The Kruger Park is a remarkable reserve offering an incredible experience of Africa at its most wild.


Ethiopia features some of the highest and most stunning places on the African continent

December 1, 2010

 

Ethiopia features some of the highest and most stunning places on the African continent, such as the jaggedly carved Simien Mountains, and some of the lowest, such as the sulphur fumaroles and lunar-like landscape of the Danakil Depression. It is also one of Africa’s greatest cultural destinations, with no fewer than eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the mystical rock-hewn churches of Lalibela.

Ethiopia is the only country in Africa never to have been fully colonized (with the exception of a five-year occupation by Mussolini’s Italy) and so retains a unique culture, has its own script and language (Amharic) and maintains a strong sense of national identity. Years of totalitarian abuse at the hands of the Derg socialist military regime (1974-1991), drought, famine and continuing border disputes with Eritrea have taken their toll, but Ethiopia survives as an ancient and fascinating destination.

Geography
Ethiopia is situated in northeast Africa, bordered by Eritrea, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Djibouti. It is about twice the size of France. The central area is a vast highland region of volcanic rock forming a watered, temperate zone surrounded by hot, arid, inhospitable desert. The Great Rift Valley, which starts in Palestine, runs down the Red Sea and diagonally southwest through Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi. The escarpments on either side of the country are steepest in the north where the terrain is very rugged. To the south, the landscape is generally flatter and more suited to agriculture.


A time of plenty

November 28, 2010

Imagine an emerald canvas of grassland that stretches for miles, washed in the brilliance of equatorial sunlight and brimming with an abundance of new life. THIS is the green season in the Northern Tanzania Safari – a time of plenty for the animals and a time of splendor for all those who are able to witness it firsthand.

 

Each year, the green season is marked by extremes. Extreme colors saturate the landscape; verdant savannas are peppered with trillions of brightly-hued wildflowers that beam underneath a burning sapphire sky. Afternoon rainstorms steep in leaden horizons, eventually collapsing to the ground in a short but dramatic burst of life-giving moisture. Rainbows gleam above purple cloudscapes after the sky is washed clean, and the animals bask in the cool green splendor of this life-giving season.

 

Extreme life dominates the Serengeti plains during this time, as the wildebeest herds take pause in their never-ending migration to give birth on the southern Serengeti plains. Thousands of tiny wildebeest calves have now joined forces with the herd; wide-eyed and gangly, these babies are building their strength on the nutrient rich Serengeti plains before the herds all are forced to move on sometime in May. These young calves have much to learn during the months ahead as the migration resumes its northward course, laden with perils at every turn. Other animals also start their families during this time of plenty, as evidenced by the numerous cubs, pups, fawns, and foals that frolic over green carpets, bringing hope for continued survival of their species to this harsh African wilderness.

 

Extreme action and thrilling adventures are also inherent to this fast-paced season. The end of the green season including March offers arguably some of the finest wildlife viewing to be found anywhere in Africa. Amidst this world of tremendous color and teeming new life, our clients have certainly had some extreme safari experiences! Guest highlights include several fast paced cheetah chases near Ndutu, a spotted hyena clan ‘battle’ with the Naabi Hill lion pride, large elephant herds at Moru Kopjes and continuing sightings of the critically endangered wild dog (this time in the beautiful valley of Angata Kiti in the remote reaches of East Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area).

 

On the migration front, several medium sized herds of wildebeest remain on the Southern Serengeti Plains southeast of Kusini and also between Lake Ndutu and Naabi Hill, an area referred to as ‘The Triangle’. However, the largest concentrations of all four migratory species (wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and eland) that encompass the famed migration are currently located on Eastern Serengeti Plains. The area between Gol Kopjes and Barafu Gorge is thick black with massive wildebeest herds at the moment. Most pictures simply fail to communicate the immensity of these herds. One can stand (assuming no lions) on the top of the largest kopje in the Barafu complex and look upon tens of thousands wildebeest and zebra grazing peacefully from horizon to horizon. Outstanding!

 

A special thanks to Ralph and Jane Anthony who sent in this spectacular wildebeest migration shot, which was taken on March 20, 2010 near the Gol Kopjes on the Eastern Serengeti Plains. It’s a challenge to capture the enormity of the wildebeest migration on the vast Serengeti Plains in a single frame and all of use here at African Dream Safaris think you did it justice with this beautiful photo!

March 20, 2010 - Eastern Serengeti Plains near Gol Kopjes

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