SAFARIS IN BOTSWANA'S OKAVANGO AND CHOBENeed elephants? Here is the greatest collection of pachyderms in all of Africa... with zebras and hippos and monkeys, oh my! And the world's largest waterfalls are just a short distance away...
Botswana has the greatest collection of elephants in all of Africa. You can see them - along with giraffes, zebras and hippos - when you walk in the bush, or drive slowly by in a jeep. The Okavango Delta is flooded in winter, so animals flock there â?? great for close up observation by boat. You ride in mokoro dugout canoes; two passengers with one guide. And you can combine your safari with a visit to the worldâ??s largest waterfalls in Zambia, just a short distance awayâ?¦
AUTHOR - Ruth Lor Malloy is a freelance travel writer and prize-winning photographer currently based in Toronto, Canada. She has lived in India, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, and the United States. Ruth has published guidebooks on China, worked as a tour guide, and collected ethnic clothing for museums. Her winter sport is alpine skiing, and she has an enjoyable website.
Visual Travel Tours by Ruth Lor Malloy
Quebec's Joyous Ode To Winter
Safaris In Botswana's Okavango And Chobe
The World In Toronto
Toronto's Many Chinatowns
Visiting Today's Mongolia
Price: $9.99
AFRICAN BALLOON SAFARI The hectic pace of contemporary life can turn into a monotonous daily routine which never seems to end but, occasionally, the spirit of adventure comes to the fore, a burning desire to do something a little different. And what better than an airborne African safari in a hot air balloon! As the sun rises above the Earth, unique ever-changing horizons appear as Nature begins to stir and even the trees seem to delight in the dawning of a new day. Civilization appears to be a long way away and, from the airy heights of the balloon, nothing disturbs the balance of nature below. Everything is in perfect harmony as the sun illuminates each detail of the landscape and the balloon allows us to see nature at its most revealing. And soon one forgets various preconceived ideas about Africa: it is not just a land of scorched earth but one of lush green vegetation, an intense green that stamps itself indelibly into the memory. While the balloon's shadow drifts across the African terrain we stare down inquisitively at the ground below, the native inhabitants going about their daily tasks oblivious to our presence, hunting for food and rearing their young as they have done for thousands of years.
ARABIAN DESERT SAFARI The oldest Arabian trading city, Dubai is a pulsating desert metropolis in the Middle East which is today synonymous with High Tech and Bedouins plus tall desert sand dunes, rocky terrain and the blazing sun. The Al-Fahidi Fort is Dubai's oldest building and was built at the beginning of the 19th century and now houses the Dubai Museum. Narrow alleys lead through the Goldsuk, the traditional covered bazaar, in which shops and stalls are packed closely together, with merchandise worth millions glittering in tempting shop windows. But for those who wish to experience something a little different, the sand dunes of the desert are the perfect setting for Dune Riding, an exhilarating extreme sport that's off the normal tourist trail. Setting off in convoy in four-wheel drive vehicles, at first the track is smooth, though undulating and, to get into the mood, this initial terrain is usually tackled with caution. And then it begins: as though on a continuous roller coaster set on sand, the horizon moves constantly as the ride follows deep ruts and then, at high acceleration, ascends high dunes, only to return downwards at stomach-churning speed. Then, in the mountains, the Wadi Water Drive follows craggy riverbeds and bumpy gravel tracks followed by further thrills in the fascinating Hajar Mountains. After all this, a camel ride turns the frenzied ridiculous into tranquil sublime and a Bedouin barbecue rounds off a perfect day in an ancient land that offers more than just a holiday!