An African safari tour to the national parks of East Africa

East Africa is that part of Africa which is the best option for those who are planning to go on an African safari trip for the very first time. It is so because it has to offer to the safari lovers a bit of everything that makes a safari interesting.

Which ever park you visit in East Africa during your African safari tour, you are most likely to see a wide range of different species of animals in large number, which you can’t see anywhere else. In the parks located in Kenya and Tanzania, migration of many wild beasts, in large numbers, take place almost throughout the year.

The migration is seen in Kenya’s Masai Mara during the months of late July through September and then in the Serengeti plains of Tanzania during the months of January and February.

During your African safari tour to the national parks of South Africa, you will notice that, not only are the parks rich with wildlife, but also, has beautiful, diverse landscapes. Here you can see the magnificent snow-capped mountains of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, the incredible Ngorongoro Crater and also the savannah plains of the Masai Mara and Serengeti National parks. This is a place where you can witness and get lost in the pristine beauty of Mother Nature. Therefore this is that part of Africa where you can best enjoy your first time African safari vacation.

Most of East Africa's National Parks are well connected both by road and air. Therefore you can easily plan your African safari to the different parks. However, the roads of this region are a little rough, so it is advisable for travelers with back problems to fly.

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Tips for African safari wildlife spotting

You can measure the success of your African safari by the number of animals you are able to spot along the way.

Spotting animals, during your African safari, does not mean spotting antelopes and other small animals, but spotting Africa’s big five - the Leopard, Lion, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhinoceros. The memories and experiences of spotting these animals in their natural habitat will last you for a lifetime. But to gain this experience and to make your wildlife spotting successful, you need to follow certain tips:

• Choose the right season. The dry season is the most favorable season to go on an African safari. In East Africa the dry seasons are from January to March and July to October. In Southern Africa the dry season starts from May to October.

• Choose the right time of day. Dawn and dusk are the most favorable time of the day to spot the wild beasts.

• Go with a guide. It is always better to be accompanied by a guide as they know where and how to spot the different animals in the thick woods.

• Be alert. Be alert and look around your surroundings. You may spot a leopard up in the tree near you or huge crocodiles in the nearby rivers. Steaming dung heaps are a good indication about how close you are to an elephant. A wildlife distribution map can be of great help to you.

• Carry binoculars. Binoculars prove to be of great help in spotting animals at a distance during your African safari trip.

Resource: African Safari Trip | African Safari

Hwange National Park- the finest home for wildlife in Africa

If you want to visit Africa's finest home for wildlife, plan an African safari tour to the Hwange National Park soon.

During an African safari to this park, you will get to see vast herds of elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes and predators in abundance. If you love bird watching, you will be delighted to see some endangered species of birds along with very large and varied birdlife in this park.

The Hwange National Park is located on the main road in between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls and covers an area of 14600 square kilometers.

This African safari destination is a home of 105 mammal species, with nineteen large herbivores and eight large carnivores. Here the largest proportion of the biomass is made up of elephants. This park also consists of those animals which are specially protected in Zimbabwe. In fact, this park is the only protected area where you can find the gemsbok and brown hyena in good numbers. Also the total population of wild dogs found in Hwange is believed to be one of the largest surviving groups found in Africa presently.

The landscape of the park is diverse and includes sand deserts, sparse woodlands, grasslands and granite outcrops. Man-made waterholes were introduced in the park due to lack of water so that the animals could be sustained through the dry season.

Here you will find many African safari options like walking, driving and horseback safaris, which are great ways of exploring the wildlife. Accommodation is also easily available in the game Lodges.

Traveling through the Hwange National Park is something, like seeing what much of the interior of Africa, most probably, have been like about 150 years back.

Resource: African Safari Travel | African Safari Tour

The check list for first timers planning a safari

African safari planning for first timers is not that easy.

All the tour operators do not provide the safari trips with equal benefits. If you are planning to go on an African safari tour for the very first time, here is a check list which will help you to book the best safari tour for you.

• Ask for a detailed catalog and information about the various safari options that the tour operator is offering. From the information choose the one which suits your interest and budget.
• While making payment, get it cleared, what all are included in the cost and what all are not.
• Make sure the safari you have chosen gives you enough time to enjoy your safari thoroughly.
• Get complete information about the place and the facilities provided by the lodge or guest house where your accommodation is booked.
• Collect information on what type of safari vehicle is provided in the package which you have chosen.
• Enquire whether group safaris will be cheaper for you or traveling alone.
• Enquire whether the tour operators are providing experienced guides or not and if yes whether the guide fees are included in the package.

If you plan your African safari according to this check list, you will be able to enjoy your African safari holiday in a better way.