African Nature Tours

I have the newest version of IE.

I don’t think you can…

in the future i plan to go hunting in africa for a safari. basically to hunt lions, elephant, buffalo any big / dangerous game

so i wanted to know what type of rifle i should go with on a safari

Browning BAR Safari (semiautomatic) in .338win mag.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=002B&cat_id=031&type_id=001

Browning A-Bolt Medallion (bolt action) in .375 H&H

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=001B&cat_id=035&type_id=002

Browning BLR Lightweight with Pistol Grip (lever action) in 450 Marlin

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=003B&cat_id=034&type_id=009

or should i get a Side By Side double barrel rifle?

if non of these are good to use in a safari can you recomend to we which rifle and caliber i should get or which type like semiautomatic, bolt action, side by side, or lever action?

Never go after black death with anything smaller than a .375, whether it be the H&H or ultra mag or even the weatherby mags. Semi-auto’s may not be legal or allowed by the guides. Basically just ask the guides. Look at ruger line of safari rifles.

I am planning a safari for myself, my wife and 2 kids? There is so much available. Who do you think is the best and why?

I haven’t tried all of the US companies that offer safaris to Africa, of course, but I can tell you about the one that I and several friends and some of my family consider the best. Over seven years ago, a Arthur Frommer’s Newsletter alerted me to a reasonably priced trip to Kenya from 2AFRIKA, Inc., based out of New York City. Since that time, we have traveled to Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana with 2AFRIKA. All the trips were great value for the money spent, the accommodations were always even better than expected, and the personnel at the company have always been courteous and quite knowledgeable about their products.

I encourage you to contact 2AFRIKA to discuss taking your family on safari; your children will have an unforgettable experience! I’ve just returned from a Kenyan trip with a young relative – she was overwhelmed by the abundance of animals, the beautiful scenery, and the warmth of the Kenyan people. You can find them here www.2afrika.com

So you’ve booked your once in a lifetime safari trip to Africa and now your thoughts turn towards photographing all the wildlife you are going to encounter on your adventure.

It would be a great shame to come across your first African pride of lions and not have some decent pictures of the memorable event to show your friends and family back home.

Unfortunately many people who go on safari don’t realize that the camera lens you take with you will be the deciding factor between getting wildlife photos where the subject is an unrecognizable blob in a sea of vegetation compared to a crisp, tightly framed image of that black maned leader of the lion pride.

I’ve been practicing wildlife photography on safari for over twenty years now and I’ve learnt which are the best lenses to arm yourself with when you go into the African bush to capture lasting, quality images you will be proud to display to anyone.

My recommendations here are for the occasional wildlife photographer such as someone going on an african safari and not for professional wildlife photographers as they have different needs when it comes to camera lenses because they take photographs for a living.

To help you choose a lens to take with you on safari, here is a list of the factors you need to take into account before putting your money down…

1. Size Of The Lens

Anything less than a 300mm lens for the big game you will encounter on safari like lion, rhino, elephant etc will be too small. A 400mm lens will allow you to get good pictures of the smaller animals like bushbuck, vervet monkey and the like. If you are aiming for bird photographs then a 600 mm lens will do the trick.

2. Your Budget

It’s very easy to find lenses that cost thousands of dollars but if you are primarily going to be using it for your safari trip and maybe a smattering of wildlife photography after that, you shouldn’t be spending more than a few hundred dollars. It is possible to get a lens of high enough quality for your purpose in that price range.

3. Image Stabilization

It’s not imperative but if you can get a lens with an image stabilizer it’s a huge advantage on a safari because you can handhold the lens without too much fear of blurring in good light which is especially useful if you are not next to a window in the safari vehicle or don’t have enough space to position your beanbag or tripod.

4. Zoom Ability

On safari one lens is better than two because of the nature of your subject. When you come across a leopard you won’t have time to switch lenses on your camera body because they tend not to stick around for too long so one lens with a good zoom is a big advantage to capture the very shy wildlife you will encounter. Another reason not to change lenses is that dust that is prevalent on an African safari can cause the camera mechanisms to clog up.

So keep these four factors in mind before you make your purchase and if you can find a lens that conforms to all the above requirements than you have a winner.

Bruce Whittaker
http://www.articlesbase.com/photography-articles/the-best-camera-lens-to-take-on-your-safari-62014.html

Blue worked for me.

PETA, among other international groups, has protested the Canadian government’s allowance of the continued seal hunting.

How is this activity which provides food and a way of life to Canada’s northern indigenous people more inhumane than: sport hunting, safari hunting, fishing, or even the poultry/beef/pork industry?? Why single it out?

Peta doesn’t like any of the other things you listed either, and does in fact campaign against them. The seal hunt is just a particularly good campaign to attract attention for such organizations because 1.) the hunting methods are particularly barbaric [clubbing], and 2.) the animals in question are especially cute.

Just this past Sunday we went to the African Lion Safari in Cambridge and they had all the same animals we saw about 20 years ago. Except they didn’t have Tigers or Bears. Does anyone know why? Where did they go?

If you were to go on an african safari, you would not see bears…or tigers. They are not part of the animal species found there.

Vehicle transport in Kenya is the main mode of transport. It usually involves using a vehicle on the major tarmac highways or the village graveled roads. A visitor can choose between using public transport vehicles, tour company vans or higher a car of choice and self drive.
There exist a number of car hire companies that hire out vehicles to individuals or groups. The rate is determined by distance to be covered, region being visited, and period of hire and size of car. Most cars are hired per day and discounts maybe offered negotiated if the vehicle is being hired for a longer period.

Vehicle transport in Kenya is not as expensive as it used to be years earlier, this is because more people have invested in the tourism industry and therefore transport is well considered. The competition between the operators always seems to push the prices down making it an affordable option.
For large groups of visitors, the cost can be dropped significantly by using a large capacity vehicle thereby reducing the cost of acquiring the car.

Most cars available for vehicle transport in Kenya include 2WD vehicles, 4WD vehicles, vans, jeeps and Land cruisers and specialized tour trucks and busses. Most 2WD cars can satisfactorily handle trips to all major tourism circuits in Kenya with ease during the dry season but can lead to miserable experiences when it rains and some roads get impassable for the small vehicles.

<OL>
<LI>Before driving, ensure you get advice from a mechanic familiar with your make of vehicle as to which parts are vulnerable. This includes also  checking gear oil, distilled water, coil, clutch cable, accelerator cable, brake master cylinder overhaul kit, water pump overhaul kit (or water pump), petrol pump, one front and one rear main leaf spring, shock absorbers, HT leads, oil pump, wheel studs, half shafts and bearings.
<LI>During wet weather it’s always advisable to use 4WD vehicles and keep speeds low when traveling on the dirt roads. This gives you control over the vehicle if it skids and lets you have an enjoyable vehicle transport around the Kenyan attractions and parks.
Carry high lift jacks when visiting muddy sections to avoid getting stuck.
<LI>Punctures occur anytime, always have enough spare wheels and repair kit when moving away from town where services are always easily available. You can’t afford spending the night in the bush just because you can’t change the wheel or don’t have a spare one.
<LI>Petrol is always rare when out of town. Ensure you have enough stock to take You through the journey and back.
<LI>Stop and admire the beautiful Kenyan countryside anytime you spot an amazing feature as you vehicle transport around Kenya

</OL>

Sullivan Pau
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/vehicle-transport-in-kenya-travel-kenya-kenya-african-safari-destination-677699.html

On an african safari Kenya you are will encounter the Maasai, and be introduced to their culture, if you choose as your destination the Masai Mara Game Reserve in South Western Kenya or Amboseli National Park on the Southern Edge of Kenya along the Tanzanian border.

The Maasai are tall, lean. They proudly lay claim to the ancient heritage of warriors. The Maasai migrated to Southern Kenya from the Nile Valley in the North of Africa. Their traditional nomadic way of life, herding cattle, has been threatened in recent times as the relentless pulse of modern civilization continues to permeate Kenya.On your African Safari in Southern Kenya you can meet local Maasai and learn about their customs.

Maasai men pass through several initiations into manhood, and then again into status as a wise elder in the community. There are no chiefs of the Masaai tribes, but rather spiritual leaders who take charge within their tribe. Maasai men stretch their earlobes to outrageous size and tattoo their cheeks. They like to wear bright colors, especially red. A Maasai warrior stands tall against his enemy the lion, with his red cloak flowing behind him and his spear planted firmly in the ground to demonstrate his strength and lack of fear.

Traditionally in their nomadic life herding cattle, the Maasai used every part of the cow. They ate the meat and drank the blood, subsisting solely off the animal. They used cattle and goats for bartering. Today they have more settled lives and they grow crops and buy fruits at the local market. They eat maize and rice, potatoes and cabbage. The new way of life can be hard on the Maasai spirit. Once you farm the land it can no longer be used for grazing. This goes against the grain for this proud people who have lived for centuries as nomads.

On your African Safari Kenya you will see Maasai huts made of mud and sticks. Traditionally they build their homes in clusters and live there while the cattle graze the land, then they abandon these temporary shelters when it is time to move on and seek new pasture.

Maggie Nguyo
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/african-safari-kenya-shocking-discoveries-about-the-masai-people-681483.html