The Land Where the Lion is No Longer King

Sound quite fascinating, could it be true? Recently the Great annual Wildebeest Migration across the Maasai Mara from the Serengeti Plains was decreared the seventh new wonder of the world. What did this mean to the Lions of the Maasai Mara, these regal and powerful hunters who have dominate the vast grasslands and attracted explorers and adventure seek to the Mara.

To answer this lets travel with you to Maasai Mara, arguably the world greatest wildlife reserve measuring some 1510sq Kms in the heartland of the Maasai, a strongly independent people who still value tradition and ritual as an integral part of their everyday lives. They regard themselves not just as residents of this area but that they are as much a part of the life of the land as the land is part of their lives.

In this small park the largest concentration of wildlife in the world is found.Reason? No one knows. The Mara comprises of open plains, woodlands and riverine forest. The vast grassland plains are scattered with herds of Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle, and Topi. The Acacia forests abound with Birdlife and Monkeys. Elephants and Buffalo wallow in the wide Musiara Swamp. The Mara and Talek rivers are brimming with Hippos and Crocodiles.

But of interest now is that each year the Mara plays host to the world’s greatest natural spectacle, the Great Wildebeest Migration from the Serengeti. From July to October, the promise of rain and fresh life giving grass in the north brings more than 1.3 million Wildebeest together into a single massive herd.

They pour across the border into the Mara, making a spectacular entrance in a surging column of life that stretches from horizon to horizon. At the Mara River they mass together on the banks before finally plunging forward through the raging waters, creating frenzy as they fight against swift currents and waiting crocodiles.

This mighty army of 1.3million plus wildebeest is not deterred by the Lions that lay in wait nor the formidable Mara River with its swift current and crocodiles waiting to profit from a free feast. The wildebeest bring new life to the Mara, through their cycle of regeneration of the grasslands and also for the predators that follow them. This courageous animal which folks say God created when he was tired, giving it a head of donkey, a tail of a horse and legs of a gazelle has of now taken over the “kingship” from the Lion but for how long? Let’s visit the Mara from July-October.

Travel Tips:

Location: Southwest of Kenya
Distance: 300KMS from Nairobi

There are All Sort of Accommodation in Mara from Fix Star Lodges and Luxury Tented Camps, private’s homes to budget accommodation and Camping Sites. When traveling to the Mara travel light the weather is generally warm throughout the year.

If you are planning to take big game walking safaris carry some proper shoes not sandals. Book you travel to Mara through a Travel Agent, Majority are honest but been on the lookout for overcharges shop around in the Internet before you settle for any.

About the Author

I am David Kiarie, the Tours Manager at Beyond Kenya Safaris a Local Based Destination Travel Company. I have a vast knowledge of Kenya Tourism/Travel spanning 20 Years and a passion of wildlife and Nature.

Source: travel-rants

Swimming with Dolphins in Great Exuma

=Nowhere in the world is swimming freely with dolphins an easier and more exciting adventure than in The Bahamas. It is where countless visitors travel to relax on unspoiled beaches, take in stunning scenery, enjoy warm people, and of course, swim in the wild with dolphins. It has become a popular attraction in Great Exuma Bahamas.

Numerous diving programs are offered throughout The Bahamas, making swimming with dolphins a comfortable and wonderful activity for tourists and locals alike. Part of the amazement lies in observing them in their natural habitat, as you dive into open waters along coral reefs.

Swimming with Dolphins

Thirty years ago, swimming with dolphins was less common an event than it is today. At the time, a diver would spot one, maybe two, dolphins. Now, the experience can include an entire family unit. Dolphin encounters take place around the globe, but The Bahamas is recognized as one of the great centers where swimming with dolphins is possible.

Much can be attributed to the natural beauty of the countless islands and cays in The Bahamas. Wild dolphin encounters occur regularly in Bimini, Grand Bahama, the Abacos and Great Exuma Bahamas, just to name a few. You can touch, interact, and even hand-feed these amazing mammals in their natural habitat. But before you start swimming with dolphins, you might want to learn some facts about them.

Dolphin 101

· Most dolphins have acute eyesight
· They have a sense of hearing superior to that of humans
· They have a well-developed sense of touch
· They range in length from 1.2 m (4 ft) to 9.5 m (30 ft)
· They can weigh anywhere from 40 kg (88 lb) to ten tons
· They are social, living in pods (also called “schools”) of up to a dozen mammals
· They are found mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves
· They are carnivores that eat mostly fish and squid
· They use their sonar to communicate with each other
· There are almost forty species of dolphin worldwide

Dolphins and Humans

Dolphins are often regarded as one of Earth’s most intelligent species. Numerous stories are told of dolphins protecting shipwrecked sailors against sharks by swimming circles around them. In many cultures, spotting dolphins during a sea voyage is considered a good omen. Swimming with dolphins is the closest encounter one can experience with these fascinating creatures. On your next trip to Great Exuma Bahamas, be sure to consider this once in a lifetime opportunity, an adventure that will create memories you will treasure forever.

A trip to Bruges.

It was only last winter that I went to Bruges with my parents. Bruges is the capital of the province of West Flanders, the Flemish region of Belgium. In Dutch, Brugge means “landing stage”. Bruges has not changed since medieval times and is a major landmark of Europe. We flew to Brussels and then took a train into Bruges. It is very easy to reach Bruges as it is well connected by train to all Belgium’s major cities.

The Bruges railway station is just five-minute walk from the city’s main market square and not much further from our accommodation. We had booked a lovely room in advance and this made our time in Bruges all the more enjoyable.

As the streets are narrow and there are many canals in the city, it is not advisable to drive to and in Bruges. Instead, you can take advantage of the many guided walking tours of the city, which will be an unforgettable experience for the ones who don’t mind walking long distances.

The first thing we noticed in Bruges was that its medieval architecture has been preserved throughout the centuries and is still intact. We simply could not take our eyes off the medieval buildings that will surely fascinate anyone who visits Bruges. One of the buildings you’ll always remember is Europe’s highest brick tower belonging to the Church of Our Lady, (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk).

Also, make sure that you visit the 13th Century Belfry (Belfort), which hosts the municipal Carillon having forty seven bells. UNESCO has declared Bruges “World Heritage Site” because of its huge assortment of Medieval and early modern art.

It was a pleasure walking down Bruges’ busy squares, parks and cobbled streets, and visiting the town’s almshouses and patrician’s homes. We also stopped to admire the Blacksmith’s Gate, the Ghent Gate, the Cross Gate and the Donkey’s Gate which are part of the medieval ramparts built in the 13th – 14th century. We could even go for a stroll or cycle around these ramparts. What I particularly enjoyed in Bruges though were the four 13th century windmills which are still operating today!

There are lots of museums in the city catering to the different interests of the tourists. There are chocolate museums, diamond museums, churches, lace centers, and collections that will simply baffle those who have an interest in archery. Anyone interested in astronomy (like myself) should not miss the Bruges observatory.

Bruges boasts not only about its medieval monuments but also about its modern architecture. For example, its Concertgebouw (Concert Hall) is a creative ode to Bruges and its dreams. Barge Bridge and Conzettbridge are two other modern masterpieces of the city. Bruges is also famous for its beer and breweries. Many beers have been named after Bruges.

If you plan to visit Bruges with your children, you should know that there are museums and guided tours especially for them. There is also a theme park which all of us enjoyed tremendously.

Last but not least, if you visit Bruges, don’t forget to have ‘Brugsch Swaentje’ (Bruges Swan) and other chocolate products that are guaranteed to leave you craving for more. You may get more information on the official tourism website of the city.