Game Parks in Southern Africa

BOTSWANA • Central Kalahari Game Reserve • Chobe National Park • Linyanti Swamp • Makgadikgadi Pan National Park & Salt Pans • Mashatu Game Reserve • Nxai Pan National Park • Okavango Delta • Moremi Game Reserve • Savuti Channel & Savute Marsh SOUTH AFRICA • Addo Elephant National Park • Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve • Cape Peninsula National Park • Cedarberg Wilderness • Drakensberg Mountains • Hluhluwe and Umfolozi Game Reserves • Kalahari Gemsbok National Park • Knysna Lagoon, Gadern Route & Wilderness • Kruger National Park • Kruger Private Game Reserves • Sabi-Sands Game Reserve • Timbavati Game Reserve • Makalali Game Reserve • Madikwe Game Reserve • Maputaland Coastal Forest Reserve • Mkuze Game Reserve • Namaqualand • Ndumo and Tembe Elephant Park • Phinda Private Game Reserve • Pilanesberg National Park • Rocktail Bay World Heritage Site • St Lucia Wetland Park • Tsitsikama National Park • Welgevonden Game Reserve • West Coast National Park • Wild Coast and Transkei NAMIBIA • Caprivi Region • Damaraland & Brandberg • Etosha National Park • Fish River Canyon & Ai-Ais Hot Springs • Namib Desert & Namib-Naukluft Park • Skeleton Coast National Park • Waterberg Plateau MALAWI • Lake Malawi • Liwonde & Mvuu Wilderness SWAZILAND • Hlane Game Reserve • Malolotja Nature Reserve • Mkhaya Private Game Reserve ZAMBIA • Kafue National Park • Lechwe Plains & Lochinvar • Lower Zambezi National Park • North Luangwa National Park • South Luangwa National Park • Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park ZIMBABWE • Gona-re-Zhou National Park • Hwange National Park • Matusadona National Park • Lake Kariba • Malilangwe Private Willdlife Reserve • Mana Pools National Park • Matobo Hills National Park • Victoria Falls & Zambezi National Park KENYA • Aberdare National Park • Amboseli National Park • Kenya Coastal Marine Parks • Laikipia Plateau • Lake Victoria & Ruma National Park • Lewa Wildlife Conservancy • Masai Mara National Reserve • Mt. Kenya National Park • Great Rift Valley Lakes • Samburu, Buffalo Springs & Shaba • Tsavo & Chyulu Hills National Parks TANZANIA • Arusha National Park • Gombe Stream National Park • Insinya • Katavi National Park • Mount Kilimanjaro • Lake Manyara National Park • Mahale Mountains National Park • Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area • Ruaha National Park • Selous Game Reserve • Serengeti National Park • Tarangire National Park • Zanzibar & Pemba Islands RWANDA • Parc National des volcans UGANDA • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest • Kibale Forest National Park • Murchison Falls National Park • Queen Elizabeth National Park

Diving in Southern Africa

If it's variety you're after, you've come to the right place. South Africa has an enormously long coastline ranging from about 35°S to 27°S, which isn't quite within the usual range for tropical diving.
But the Mozambique Current flows down our east coast, bringing warm tropical water with it, and at Sodwana Bay we have the most southerly coral reefs in the world

Here you'll find the full complement of pretty colourful fish and some great nudibranchs, including the outrageous Spanish dancer. Whale sharks, turtles, dolphins and ragged tooth sharks are often seen in specific areas.
As you head down the coast the underwater environment changes gradually until, once you reach Cape Town, you're diving in chilly but beautiful kelp forests. There are three major types of kelp, and a short portion of the Western Cape coast is the only place in the world that they all grow together.

We have more than 100 tourism attractions in Johannesbug visit www.mufasabackpackers.com
For overlanding dive tours click HERE
For shark cage diving email us on juan@mufasabackpackers.com
For private diving tours email us on jana@mufasabackpackers.com
For day tours or Kruger park tours click HERE

All tours booked via Mufasa Backpackers will get 2 nights free accommodation in Johannesburg at Mufasa.

Regards
Jana :)

Loving Africa by Jana Fourie: Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Loving Africa by Jana Fourie: Khama Rhino Sanctuary: The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a community-based wildlife project established in 1992 to assist in saving the vanishing rhino. Other obj...

Khama Rhino Sanctuary

The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a community-based wildlife project established in 1992 to assist in saving the vanishing rhino. Other objectives of the sanctuary include restoring an area formerly teeming with wildlife to its previous natural state, and provide economic benefits to the local Batswana community through tourism and the sustainable use of natural resources.

As well as numerous White Rhino, the Sanctuary is also home to other wildlife which have settled naturally or been translocated in. These include zebra, blue wildebeest, giraffe, eland, springbok, impala, gemsbok, kudu, steenbok, duiker, red hartebeest, leopard, ostrich, African wild cat, caracal, small spotted genet, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, and brown hyena.
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary in Botswana stretches over four thousand and three hundred hectares of land and is centered around the Serwe Pan, which is actually a large depression encapsulated by grass and many water holes. The Khama Rhino Sanctuary at Botswana offers the optimum conditions for the survival of white rhinoceroses, with the dense regions of the sanctuary being favored by animals like the giraffe. There are a total of fourteen white rhinos that have been translocated to the sanctuary thus gearing the total numbers of rhinos to eighteen.  The most crucial conservation project undertaken by Khama Rhino Sanctuary is of course the rhino breeding programme, an animal once on the brink of extinction. The contribution made by Khama Rhino to protect and recover the rhino population in Botswana and Southern Africa is very significant. To date the Sanctuary has relocated 16 rhinos to different places within the country from a founder population of four animals. The long term goal of the Sanctuary is to let the rhinos safely breed within its borders and re-introduce them into their natural wild habitats. The security of these creatures within the Sanctuary is well guaranteed by the anti-poaching patrols carried out by our rangers and the Botswana Defense Force.

Loving Africa by Jana Fourie: Gorillas in East Africa

Loving Africa by Jana Fourie: Gorillas in East Africa: Gorillas Gorillas are threatened primate species in the world with the remaining living in Africa and in countries Uganda, Rwanda and ...

Gorillas in East Africa

Gorillas

Gorillas are threatened primate species in the world with the remaining living in Africa and in countries Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Known to be the largest living primates on Earth, Gorillas are of three kinds; 1) Eastern Lowland Gorillas, which reside in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 2) Western Lowland Gorillas which live only in West Africa and: 3) Mountain Gorillas, which are only found in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Listed as one of the top 10 threatened / endangered species, there are only 655 species remaining. There are approximately 355 gorillas in the Volcano and Virunga Mountains of Rwanda and Congo and another separate group of 300 in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. There are no Mountain Gorillas living outside of their native mountain forest home. Gorillas are protected by international law. Capturing or killing gorillas and other endangered species is illegal.

Unlike chimps Gorilla live in groups / families without territorial boundaries but with family's range from 2 to 15 square miles. The females decide who they are going to allow into their family. If a gorilla wants to join another group and the females do not want her in, they will scratch her in the face and keep her out. If a female wants to leave a group to find a male she likes better, but the other females like her very much, they will grab her by the legs and not allow her to leave.

Female gorillas weigh approximately 350 pounds and adult male gorillas can weigh approximately 700 pounds. Adult gorillas can be seven feet tall with an arm span of 8 feet.

Gorillas feed on 58 different types of plant species, including stems, roots, leaves, flowers, thistles, ferns, tree wood and bamboo shoots. Gallium vines, fruits and celery are their favorite foods. Gorillas have much larger teeth in the back of their mouth than humans do so that they can grind foliage, bark and bamboo.

Gorillas like human are curious, they can be bored, bold, annoyed, have pleasure, excited, afraid, can worry, show affection, be thoughtful and they can be hostile. Gorillas like to study people to see if they are friendly.

Gorillas communicate by stomach rumbling which means they are contented, a pig grunt of harsh staccato grunts used when disciplining or complaining. A roar or scream is given when a gorilla is threatened. A loud hoot or roar is given when silverbacks are interacting. This is done by chest beating and thrashing of trees. When gorillas are afraid they send out a powerful odor from their glands.

Having endured decades of civil war in Central and East Africa, gorillas are confronted by the devastating consequences of increased habitat loss, poaching for the bush meat trade and the spread of dangerous diseases like Ebola. "These animals are Threatened" therefore make a tour to these countries to have a look at the few remaining primate giants before they are lost. Spend some time with them, they are awe-inspiring.

Tracking Gorillas

Following breakfast you transfer to the park headquarters for the briefing before you set off at 9:00 am through the tracks to search for the humble giants. You will have to carry packed lunch because it's hard to determine how long it will take you to meet these great apes. However the time ranges between 2-9 hours depending on the movement of the giant primates. There movement is determined by availability of food. The activity is tiresome, it involves walking along steep hilly tracks however encountering these great relatives of man erases all the poor memories/ hardships you went through in trying to find them. They are awesome!

On encountering the Gorillas you will spend a bout an hour with them watching them play, feed and take care of their young ones, just like humans. Oh my they are astounding! Later after one hour you will trek back to your lodge. End of tracking.

For Gorilla trekking visit www.mufasabackpackers.com

Regards
Jana :)

Bushmanskloof Wilderness, Western Cape

Bushmanskloof Wilderness, lying in the northern Cederberg wilderness roughly 270 kilometres from Cape Town, is a South African Natural Heritage Site and it is not difficult to understand why it deserved this label. Not only does it form part of the Cape Floral Region, itself a world heritage site, but it is also pretty magnificent in its own right.

Bushmanskloof Wilderness, at Pakhuis Pass some 45 kilometres from Clanwilliam, is 7 500 hectares of wild life and nature reserve. It is also the site of Bushmans Kloof, a luxury retreat set in a series of thatched lodges. Bushmans Kloof is not only a sanctuary for humans to escape the doldrums of city living and to explore a thriving wilderness, but it is also a place of protection of a variety of wildlife, plant species and bird life that has made it of environmental significance. Game that includes the rare Cape mountain zebra, the bontebok, aardworlf and Cape mountain leopard have been reintroduced into the reserve. There are over 140 species of bird and an incredible diversity of plant life.

The reserve lies between the Cederberg Mountains and the plains of the Karoo, an array of ravines, waterfalls, vast landscapes and over 125 rock art sites dating back 10 000 years, in what is considered one of the world’s biggest open air galleries. There are organised game drives, and botanical and guided rock art tours. There are also river walks, hikes in the mountains, mountain biking, nature trails, and canoeing and swimming in natural rock pools.

If the need arises, there are other places to visit in the area such as the Clanwilliam Museum, the Moravian mission station of Wupperthal, the Goue Vallei and Cederberg private wine cellars, and Lambert’s Bay.

For tours to cape town visit www.mufasabackpackers.com

Regards
Jana :)

Loving Africa by Jana Fourie: Need to know info about Mozambique

Loving Africa by Jana Fourie: Need to know info about Mozambique: Mozambique is located in southeastern Africa and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to...

Need to know info about Mozambique

Mozambique is located in southeastern Africa and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest.

Mozambique is becoming the place to go to as more people discover its stunning beaches, excellent diving and magical offshore islands. There are many types of activities you can do in this beautiful African country, including snorkelling around the Bazaruto Archipelago, sailing on a dhow through mangrove channels or lazing under the palms in the Quirimbas Archipelago. A popular sightseeing trip for tourists is to take an off-beat safari in the wilds of Gorongosa National Park and, of course, being Africa, you can do an infinite variety of wildlife safaris.

The Ilha de Moçambique, (Mozambique Island) is not to be missed. It's the former capital of Portuguese East Africa and is truly unique in atmosphere and environment. You can wander along cobbled streets past stately colonial-era buildings, drink a café espresso at one of Maputo’s lively sidewalk cafés or have a drink at a jazz bar. There is a 3.5 km causeway connecting the Island with the mainland and transport between the two is reasonably frequent. Chapas and buses take you to the southern tip of the island, from where it’s a short walk north through the makuti (reed) town to the old colonial stone town.

VILANCULOS
Our projects are located in Vilanculos (also spelt Vilankulo) which is based in the Inhambane province of Mozambique. Vilanculos is a coastal paradise, rich in culture, but with a rural, rustic feel.The main attractions are their endless white sandy beaches and beautiful coral reefs. It is a haven of tranquillity and an ideal location for snorkelling and scuba diving. Divers have witnessed humpback and bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, marine turtles and many large fish such as barracudas and marlins.

Vilanculous is also home to the coastal wildlife sanctuary; the reserve covers 25000 ha of land and sea and is ranked one of the top biodiversity hotspots in Africa. The reserve consists of a variety of coral reefs, swamps, savannah and wetlands.

There are plenty of activities going on in the local area such as sailing, horse riding, snorkelling, diving and deep-sea fishing. For those who want to immerse themselves in the local culture, a spot of shopping for local hand-made crafts at the markets will go down a treat!

MAPUTO
Maputo is the capital of Mozambique and is renowned as one of the mot beautiful capital cities in Africa. It's a coastal city with Mediterranean-style architecture influenced by its history with Portugal. It's a lovely city to meander in down flame-tree-lined avenues and a great way to pass the time of day is to sit in a sidewalk cafe and watch the world go by. Men dressed in Jellabas congregate in doorways to chat and women dressed in very colourful clothes sell spices at the massive Municipal Market. The aromas of the spices and the bananas stacked on carts in the shade assault the senses and you really know you are in Africa!

Maputo has a lot to offer in the way of museums, shops and markets, and you should definitely make sure you spend some time here - you'll love it. 

GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARK

Gorongosa National Parkoffers something for everyone interested in African wildlife and spectacular scenery. There are lions, elephants, buffalos, and many kinds of antelope, with frequent sightings of sable, impala, oribi, bushbuck, reedbuck, kudu, nyala, waterbuck, and (less frequently) zebra, hartebeest and eland. Lake Urema and its waterways support healthy populations of crocodiles and hippos.The park’s birdlife is fantastic! About 400 species have been sighted in recent years. Many are endemics or near-endemics prized by birders. The Green-headed Oriole, for example, is found in southern Africa only on Mount Gorongosa, and the Moustached Warbler has been sighted at Chitengo and on the mountain.

SOME FACTS ABOUT MOZAMBIQUE

• Full name: The Republic of Mozambique
• Population: 22.9 million (via UN, 2009)
• Capital: Maputo
• Area: 812,379 sq km (313,661 sq miles)
• Major languages: Portuguese (official), Makua-Lomwe, Swahili, other indigenous languages
• Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs, Islam
• Life expectancy: 47 years (men), 49 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 metical (plural meticais) = 100 centavos
• Main exports: Seafood, cotton
• GNI per capita: US $370 (World Bank, 2008)
• Internet domain: .mz
• International dialling code: +258

Nairobi,Kenya Travel Tips!!

Travel Tips

The word Nairobi strikes an instant chord with a tourist. It is the safari capital of Kenya where beasts and humans rule the jungle (albeit different ones). One gets to experience intimate encounters with the animal world, especially the ones that are only heard of but seen on TV channels. One of the most affluent cities in Africa, Nairobi also serves as the gateway to other safari countries bordering Kenya. Unarguably Nairobi is not the safest city on Earth. However, that doesn’t stop tourists from exploring the city with so mean beautiful nuances to it. If certain precautions are taken, a foreign tourist will easily be able to enjoy the unassuming wilderness and the thumping nightlife in the city.

Travel Tips

Situated in Middle Africa, Nairobi is one of those few cities experiencing a mild climate all year round due to its high-altitude location. On the contrary, Nairobi is safe from the blistering heat for which remaining of Kenya and Africa is so well known. Therefore, any time is fun time in Nairobi as the city is busy with preparation for events all year round.

Smart way to travel

Do a overlanding tour,you will see all you want and have a awesome time. The best way to get to know the city as well as all the wild life.Overlanding tours can be booked on www.mufasabackpackers.com these are the best tours done by componies like Nomad and ATC its safe and cheap!!

 Regards Jana :)

Green City in the sun the wonderful Nairobi

Nairobi is a charming, cosmopolitan city, blessed with the most wildlife in the world, making it a great safari destination. Known as the 'Green City in the Sun', Nairobi is the largest city as well as the capital of Kenya.

The city got its name from a Maasai phrase Enkare Nyorobi meaning “the place of cool waters”. The province of Nairobi is located on the Nairobi River in the south of the country. Furthermore, it is the most populated city in East Africa, and the fourth largest city in Africa.

 In 1899, it was popular as a simple rail depot on the railway connecting Mombasa and Uganda. In 1963, the city became the capital of Kenya. Today, Nairobi is a well-known hub for business and culture. It is also a homeland for many organizations and companies.

For tours and Safaris in and around Nairobi contact us now on juan@mufasabackpackers.com or vivit us on www.mufasabackpackers.com 

Regards

Jana  :)

Basic need to know info about Victoria Falls

Formation

The Zambezi River flows across a plateau of basalt, which contains cracks made of weaker sandstone. As the water exploits and erodes the cracks, it creates a chasm, then a cliff over which the water flows, then finally a gorge. As the Zambezi slowly recedes, the process repeats itself again and again; Victoria Falls' current point actually represents the tenth time the process has been repeated: the zig-zaging gorges downriver are evidence of previous erosion of the sandstone cracks.

Human History

Archaeological evidence around the Falls indicates that Stone Age hunter-gatherers were some of the first inhabitants of the area. Europeans first came upon the Falls in 1855, when David Livingstone discovered them during his exploration of the Zambezi River. Railway service in the area began in 1905 with the completion of the Victoria Falls Bridge. War between Zimbabwe and Rhodesia disrupted activity around the Falls starting in 1964, and the government did not allow civilians to enter the area again until 1980. Since then, tourism to the Falls has steadily risen.

Features

Victoria Falls drops from a plateau, measuring 262 feet high on the Falls’ western edge and stretching to 360 feet on the eastern edge. Two islands – Livingstone Island and Boaruka Island – cleave the falls at the base and separate it into individual streams. The rainy season takes place between November and April; at its peak, some 19 million cubic feet of water passes over the Falls each minute. This amount drops considerably during the dry season. A plume of spray from the Falls rises up to 1,300 feet in the air during peak flow times.

National Parks

Two national parks, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and Victoria Falls National Park, protect the area. Both extend into the rain forest surrounding the falls, providing refuge for elephants, zebra, antelope, giraffe, rhinoceros, water buffalo and gazelle. Crocodiles and hippopotami inhabit the river above the falls, and the dry season facilitates river crossings for the elephants as well. Both parks contain lodges, fishing sites and camping sites, as well as walking tours along several jungle paths.

Visiting

Visitors can access the Falls through the town of Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side and the town of Livingstone on the Zambian side. Victoria Falls Bridge provides a view of the Falls and the river below, while Knife Edge Bridge provides panoramas further along the river. Both National Parks contain walking paths which afford views of the Falls, and helicopter charters are available from United Air Charters.

For tours to Zimbabwe click HERE

Regards

Jana :)

The Majestic Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is the only famous waterfall in Zimbabwe, and it is an awesome sight to behold. More than twice the height and width of North America's Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls is considered the largest waterfall in the world by volume. As more travelers have made Victoria Falls a stop on their itinerary, it has become easier to access and to enjoy this natural spectacle.
 Victoria Falls is partly in Zimbabwe and partly in Zambia. The Falls are known locally as "the smoke that thunders" because during the rainy season, its mist reaches 1,000 ft in the air. In the past, the falls were most commonly accessed from the Zimbabwe side, but political developments temporarily caused a drop in visitors. As of April 2011, the U.S. Department of State had not issued any travel advisories for Zimbabwe. The falls can also be accessed from the Zambian side. July through September is generally considered the best time to visit because of favorable weather and the views available to visitors.
Victoria Falls lies along the Zambezi River, straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The local Koloko tribe referred to the Falls as “Mosi-oa-Tunya,” or “The Smoke That Thunders." The water tumbles over a cliff, then flows through a series of gorges which zigzag across the countryside. Lush rain forest surrounds the Falls, hosting numerous species of wildlife sustained by the Zambezi River.
To book any tours to Vicroria falls contact us on juan@mufasabackpackers.com or visit www.mufasabackpackers.com  Mufasa Tours and Safari

Regards
Jana

Loving Africa by Jana Fourie: Just smile and wave :)

Loving Africa by Jana Fourie: Just smile and wave :): Hey all :) This is proof that we have to love Africa, we were here at the Backpackers today and had no electricity at all! There was n...

Just smile and wave :)

Hey all :)

This is proof that we have to love Africa, we were here at the Backpackers today and had no electricity at all! There was no electricity in Cloveredene Benoni a part of the Johannesburg area, and we had 2 Germans 2 Danish 1 girl from Switzerland and 1 from Austria and just a bunch of overlanding tour guides. However everybody had allot of fun chatting and joking on the deck and some just sleeping the Jet Lag away!! I think the one that took no electricity the worst was ME!! Seeing that I work on the website the whole day every day it was very irritating not being able to work at all today! Well atleast I had good company and lots of laughs throughout the day.

So let me tell you why you have to love Africa. We phoned this morning at about 9:30 and reported the problem, the lady at the other end said that they are aware of the fact that there is no electricity in the area and that it should be sorted in approximately 3 hours. So we wait patiently for four hours not just three walking around the premises and deciding on the new driveway and en suite rooms soon to come(we bought the plot next to Mufasa backpackers).We called again at 2:30 and were told that it will be done in the next 30 minutes. Like you know it did not happen! Luckily we are from Africa so we started a fire and just cooked in the traditional African way! Chicken, potatoes veggies and salad all on the open fire and as always it was delicious! Just as the guest started eating the power went on again..Smiles all the way!

There is no time like African time. Thankfully I was born and raised here so its all cool just annoying at times but at least we always have a solution.

So that was my very productive day.....singing the smurfs song to the tourist and doing nothing.. Pfffttt please let it stay on now!!

Regards

Jana

Kruger Photos taken by Jana Fourie

This was taken in the Kruger National Park on 19/01/2012 The elephant was one of the only two we saw. The day before everybody got evacuated out of the park with Helicopters. It looks like the elli wants to charge us put he was just flapping his ears :)

For tours in Kruger National Park please go to www.mufasabackpackers.com

Regards
Jana :)

Lake Malawi

The jewel in the crown of the country’s tourist attractions is Lake Malawi, “discovered” by the missionary-explorer Dr David Livingstone just over 150 years ago. Although totally landlocked, Malawi is not denied its “inland sea”. This vast body of freshwater fringed by beaches of golden sand is not only a scenic wonderland but it provides water sport opportunities for those looking for something beyond sun, sand and swimming. Its approximate dimensions are 365 miles north to south and 52 miles broad, hence the sobriquet: "the calendar lake". The Lake, in the north, is quite extraordinarily deep: 2300 ft/700 m, plunging well below sea level. This reflects the enormity of the natural faulting of the Great Rift Valley, which is the origin of the Lake. The width of the lake’s shorelands vary from nothing to over 25 kilometres (16 miles), the edge of the Rift Valley rising steeply in places and more gently in others.

Because of its rich fish harvest, the Lake plays an important part in the economy. Fishing villages are scattered along the shore and the traditional industry and practices are an attraction to visitors. Access to the Lake is possible along much of its length but it should be noted that it is usually necessary to take a short detour off the main roads in order to reach the beach. Despite the attraction the Lake has to settlement, there are long stretches of totally uninhabited golden sand lakeshore, lapped by crystal clear waters. Kayaking, sailing, snorkelling, scuba diving and water skiing are just some of the lake activities available to visitors. Journeys by lake range from the famous motor vessel the Ilala to sailing in an ocean-going yacht. Cruises into the upper reaches of the great Shire river are also possible.

for more on Lake Malawi go to www.mufasabackpackers.com 

Regrads

Jana :)

Fun time in Kruger

Okay so the last time I went to the Kruger National park it was...well there is no other way to say it. IT WAS WET!!! Jip it was but still amazing just to be there. I’m a sucker for the bush even if everybody gets evacuated with Helicopters from inside the park. But all is well again because its so hot and humid there in the summer it took only one day to dry up enough for all the gates to open again :)

Here is a couple of pictures I took while on a game drive.

If you would like to be the one taking those photos go to www.mufasabackpackers.com and book a tour now!! You wont be disappointed.

Hope you all like these 

Regards

Jana :)

Loving the Kruger National Park,the best way to get close to some of the most amazing animals!!!

I have to say I think Lions likes to strike a pose :)
I think its the coolest feeling ever,being able to take photos of these wonderful wild animals!!

Welcom to Malawi the heart of East Africa

Welcome to Malawi!

The Warm Heart of Africa is beating faster now and the legendary welcome is there for all who wish to experience the unrivalled combination of Lake, Landscape, Wildlife & Culture in one of Africa's most beautiful and compact countries.

This site is brought to you by members of Malawi's travel and tourism industry - accommodation providers , tours & safari companies, car hire & air charter firms. Everything you might need for your holiday in Malawi. Malawi is blessed with a rich diversity of flora and fauna and has no less than nine National Parks or Wildlife Reserves. Whilst it may not have quite the sheer numbers of large mammals (particularly predators) as some of its better known neighbours, it makes up for this in other ways. Malawi provides intensive and exclusive wildlife viewing in unspoilt areas of genuine wilderness.

National Parks & Wildlife Reserves

In recent years the Parks and Reserves have undergone something of a transformation, with private concessionaires helping to improve conservation and the quality of viewing.

In the South is the country's longest established - Liwonde National Park, with excellent accommodation and the country’s best game viewing. Emerging rapidly is Majete Wildlife Reserve, subject to a re-stocking programme and due to become a ‘Big 5’ destination. A new lodge has been built and another is underway. Majete’s neighbours in the Lower Shire Valley, Lengwe National Park and Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve, also now have privately run accommodation, and growing amimal numbers.
In Central Malawi, The once great Kasungu National Park is sadly now rather forgotten and neglected, but the nearby rugged wilderness of the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve is just opening up and promises much, having remained largely untouched for years. Two new lodges will open there in 2010.
In the North, the Nyika National Park is one of Malawi’s jewels and offers unique wildlife viewing on it’s rolling grassland plateau. High quality accommodation is re-opening there in 2010. Nyika is complemented by neighbouring Vwasa Marsh Wildlife Reserve, a lowland area offering bush-game. A new private concession was granted in 2009 in Vwaza, though development has yet to begin.

For all tours, Safaris and overlanding tours in east africa go to www.mufasabackpackers.com
Or contact us on juan@mufasabackpackers.com or jana@mufasabackpackers.com

Regards
Jana :)

Kruger National Park Information

Kruger National Park is long and narrow, and is some 350 kilometres in length, and averages 54 kilometres in width – in size it equates to the countries of Wales or Israel. The Eastern border of the Park is created by the Lebombo Mountains, whilst the Southern border is created by the Crocodile River and the Northern by the Limpopo River (which is also the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe).

The Western border of the Park is formed partly by the Private Reserves which contribute to the Great Kruger Park, and private land. The Kruger National Park thus incorporates a number of geological areas, which in turn affect the vegetation of the park, and thus contribute to the incredible species diversity, not to mention scenery, of this magnificent area. Roughly speaking, the park can be sub-divided into three distinct zones, the Southern, Central, and Northern areas – each with distinct geology/ topography, vegetation, and animal life.

The Park is also criss-crossed by a number of important perennial Rivers, such as the Sabie, Olifants, Lebala, Shingwedzi, Luvuvuhu, all of which (like the Crocodile and Limpopo Rivers), flow in a West to East direction. The importance of the Rivers is reflected in the fact that three of the rest camps in the park are named for a River.

I will post a couple of kruger post so you will be able to find all you need to know!

For Kruger National Park tours please go to www.mufasabackpackers.com tours starting from R3995.00 per person or email us on juan@mufasabackpackers.com

Regards

Jana :)

Ngorongoro Conservations Area ( Tsnzania)

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area boasts the finest blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeological sites in Africa. Often called an ‘African Eden’ and the ‘eighth wonder of the natural world’, it is also a pioneering experiment in multiple land use. For Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the idea of multiple land use means to allow humans and wildlife to coexist in a natural setting. Traditional African pastoralists co-operate with Tanzania’s government bodies to help preserve the natural resources of the area and to ensure a fantastic experience for tourists.

The first view of the Ngorongoro Crater takes the breath away. Ngorongoro is a huge caldera (collapsed volcano), 250 sq km in size and 600 m deep. The crater alone has over 20,000 large animals including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhino. The rhino emerge from the forests in the mists of early morning, and their prehistoric figures make a striking impression, surrounded by the ancient crater walls. No fences or boundaries border the crater walls; animals are free to enter or leave the crater, but many of them stay for the plentiful water and grazing available on the crater floor throughout the year.

Open grassland covers most of the crater floor, turning yellow with wild flowers in June. The Makat soda lake is a great attraction for flamingos and other water birds, while predators hide in the marsh to ambush animals that come to drink from the river that feeds the lake. Also on the crater floor are swamps, providing water and habitat for elephant and hippo as well as numerous smaller creatures such as frogs, snakes and serval cats. Game viewing around Lake Makat is especially rewarding – large antelope like zebra and gazelle come to drink, while herds of hippos sun themselves in the thick lakeshore mud.

The Lerai Forest on the crater floor gets its name from the Maasai word for the elegant yellow-barked acacia tree. Elephants often graze in the forest shade during midday, emerging into the open plains during the early hours of morning and in the evening, as the midday heat abates. The small forest patches on the crater floor are home to leopard, monkey, baboon and antelope such as waterbuck and bushbuck.

Humans and their distant ancestors have been part of Ngorongoro’s landscape for millions of years. The earliest signs of mankind in the Conservation Area are at Laetoli, where hominid footprints are preserved in volcanic rock 3.6 million years old. The story continues at Olduvai Gorge, a river canyon cut 100 m deep through the volcanic soil of the Serengeti Plains. Buried in the layers are the remains of animals and hominids that lived and died around a shallow lake amid grassy plains and woodlands. These remains date from two million years ago. Visitors can learn more details of this fascinating story by visiting the site, where guides give a fascinating on-site interpretation of the gorge.

The most numerous and recent inhabitants of the Ngorongoro Area are the Maasai, who arrived about 200 years ago. Their strong insistence on traditional custom and costume interests many visitors. As of today, there are approximately 42,000 Maasai pastoralists living in Ngorongoro with their cattle, goats and sheep. Their presence is the main difference between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Tanzania’s national parks, which do not allow human habitation. Cultural ‘bomas’, or Maasai villages, give visitors the chance to meet Maasai people on their own terms and learn more about this complex and interesting culture

To book  any safari or overlanding tour to Tanzania click HERE
Tell your storie about Tanzania

Regards
Jana :)

The Karoo...

The hot dry Karoo in South Africa has a sparse barren landscape, where the main economic activity is wool and meat from hardy Karoo sheep. The Karoo pleatau actually covers much of South Africa but we will concentrate on the area where the visitor can find some interesting little towns to visit. The British flag flying village of Matjiesfontein is a national monument in its entirety, and was once a Victoran health retreat as well as a base for Anglo-Boer War British soldiers.

The Karoo National Park has a wide variety of endemic wildlife. Many species have been relocated to their former ranges - such as black rhino and buffalo, as well as Cape mountain zebra. Over 20 breeding pairs of black eagle find sanctuary within the park. There is also a wide diversity of succulent plants and small reptiles.

Tourist Activities in the Karoo 

• Scenic drive along the picturesque Klipspringer Pass with environmentally sympathetic style of construction and scenic viewpoint at Rooivalle.
• Game viewing in own vehicle.
• Karoo 4X4 Trail. This trail may be undertaken in own vehicle, or in a park vehicle with guide.
• Night drives, under guidance of trained staff.
• Nature trails, one of 800 m (Bossie Trail), and one of 11 km (Fonteintjieskloof Trail).
• Karoo Fossil Braille Trail is 400 m long and is specifically adapted for handicapped visitors, depicting the geology and palaeontology of the Great Karoo.
• Bird hide at the dam near main restcamp in the Karoo National Park.

5 Things to seek in the Karoo National Park 

• Black Eagle – with around 20 pairs of these eagles breeding, the park can lay claim to one of the highest densities of this regal species in Africa.
• Tortoises – the park hosts 5 different species, the highest density of species per equivalent area anywhere in the world.
• Quagga – Efforts to rebreed this “formerly extinct” species, now regarded as a zebra sub-species are gathering momentum in the park.
• Cape Mountain Zebra – this species came close to extinction early in the 20^th Century.It is well established in the park and visitors have the opportunity to compare its bold stripe pattern to that of the “quagga” strain.
• Springbok – the emblem of the park and present in high numbers.This is a reminder of the once massive herds that crossed the Karoo on annual migration that could stretch for several kilometres.

Karoo Climate

Annual rainfall totals 260 mm, with the plains being hot in summer, and the mountain areas relatively cool throughout the year. During mid-winter snow occurs regularly on the peaks of the Nuweveld Mountains.

• Cool clothing for summer and warm for winter – the region is subject to sudden changes in weather, particularly in the mountains.
• Remember to bring a hat, walking shoes, sun block, camera, binoculars and bird and mammal reference books.
• Hikers on day trails must always carry sufficient water.

This is just some info on the Karoo. For more info visit www.mufasabackpackers.com or mail me at jana@mufasabackpackers.com

Regards
Jana :)

OKAVANGO DELTA

The Okavango is a labyrinth of lagoons, lakes and hidden channels covering an area of over 17,000 square km and the largest inland delta in the world. Trapped in the parched Kalahari sands it is a magnet for the wildlife who depend on the permanent waters of this unique feature.Sometimes called a 'swamp', the Okavango is anything but. Moving, mysterious, placid, gentle and beautiful, from a wide and winding channel it spreads through tiny, almost unnoticeable channels that creep away behind a wall of papyrus reed, into an ever expanding network of increasingly smaller passages.
These link a succession of lagoons, islands and islets of various sizes, open grasslands and flooded plains in a mosaic of land and water. Palms and towering trees abound, throwing their shade over crystal pools, forest glades and grassy knolls.

The Okavango's water is remarkably clean and pure and this is almost certainly due to the fact that it passes through very sparsely populated areas on its journey from Angola.
Despite this, a staggering 660 000 tons of sediment a year are delivered to its great alluvial fan.
The overall length of the Delta from the border to the Thamalakane River is a little under 300kms and so the core of the Delta is approximately 200km from end to end.

Wildlife
In the lush indigenous forests of the delta and its islands, and along the floodplains spawned by this great marriage of water and sand, more than 400 species of birds flourish.On the mainland and among the islands in the delta, lions, elephants, hyenas, wild dog, buffalo, hippo and crocodiles congregate with a teeming variety of antelope and other smaller animals - warthog, mongoose, spotted genets, monkeys, bush babies and tree squirrels.

Although fishing can take place anywhere in the Delta, if one wants it 'big, mean and fierce', the deeper and faster waters of the major fishing camps in the north of the Delta, in the Panhandle, are probably a better area.

Fishing, bird watching, game viewing, photography or simple relaxation; indulging any of these in the Okavango are experiences without parallel.

Lesotho Tourism

Lesotho

Lesotho’s formidable terrain is created by the sheer walls of the Drakensberg and Maluti mountains, which give sanctuary to a unique developing nation. The friendly Basotho are one of the few mountain peoples in Africa and have developed a rich culture, often in isolated villages. The entire country of Lesotho lies 1000m above sea level and boasts Thabana-Ntlenyana, at 3482m, the highest peak in Africa south of Kilimanjaro
Winter in Lesotho is from June to August, September to April is spring and summer with beautiful warm sunny days and occasional rain. Lesotho boasts 299 sunny days per year.
Maseru is the main centre for anything and everything you need to buy, Exchange, post or dial.It is the only place you will find banks to exchange foreign money and traveller’s cheques.

Lesotho Banks and Currency

Banks are open Monday to Friday (8.30am to 3pm) and Saturdays (8.30am to 11am).
The Maloti (1M=100 liesente) is the national unit of currency. It is fixed to the rand and should be accepted everywhere.

Telecommunications and Postal Services of Lesotho

The telephone system works well in Maseru, but don’t count on it outside of the city centre. Postal services are fast and reliable, sometimes better than in South Africa.

For more info about Lesotho email us on jana@mufasabackpackers.com or juan@mufasabackpackers.com or visit www.mufasabackpackers.com


Regards
Jana :)

Namibia

Almost every visitor to the country will participate on a game drive at sometime or another on their Namibian holiday. The national parks, private game reserves and various conservation and rehabilitation centres are teeming with wildlife; large and small, colourful or dull, noisy and quiet. It is not uncommon on arrival at your accommodation to meet up with other tourists, who always seem to have some fantastic stories to boast about before you've even unpacked your toothbrush.
So how on earth can you match those experiences ? Your anticipation levels should always remain high, but don't be too disappointed if you don't see what the guy before you did. After all National Geographic Wild spend around 2 years producing a 1hr documentary! Chances are you'll see more than the next person. Here are some tips to help you get the most from your game drive:
Animal Sighting Books: Consulting these books (if they are available) is a good start. In Etosha National Park the rest camps at Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni Restcamps all have them. Hopefully visitors before you will report major observations, such as a lion at a waterhole or a leopard in a tree. Your game drive could be taken care of already.
Time of day:

• Morning: These game drives are for those who prefer the quieter sounds and smells of the bush. At dawn, many animals can be spotted scampering around going to ground for the day. Lions will finish off their night time kill. The hazy-red sunrise and appearance of the daytime shift heralds a different sort of wildlife experience. Animals leave their overnight accommodation, sun themselves, groom each other and start to forage. In Etosha (and elsewhere) in the long, dry winter season food supplies become scarce. Predominately nocturnal species such as honey badgers, Cape foxes and bat-eared foxes extend their foraging hours. Giraffe are excellent cat spotters – staring at any danger intently. Birds such as bulbuls and starlings will mob any threat, be it an African wildcat, owl or snake.
• The middle of the day: Some animals do remain active. Plains game drink mainly from 09h00 to 15h00. Elephants continue to graze or browse. Primates forage all day, mainly in trees. Cheetahs, the African wild dog and mongooses are often active during the heat of the day. Others choose to rest in the shade, sleep or finish off a kill. Although it is generally regarded as the most disappointing time of day to game drive, it doesn't mean to say there isn't anything in the bush worth looking out for.
• Afternoon: The late afternoon and early evening are generally more exciting. The setting sun provides extra photographic opportunities. Big cats adore the dry season. Antelope have no option but to tip-toe nervously to a waterhole. Herds of buffalo and elephant vie for bragging rights. Submerged hippos emerge at dusk after a day in the water and trudge onto the shore.
• Night time: Night time game drives are highly recommended. Nocturnal animals emerge. Bush babies, reedbuck, leopard, bat-eared fox, porcupine and honey badger become active. Smaller creatures like the fat mouse, small spotted cat and lesser musk shrew make an appearance. Rules and regulations often limit night game drives though. Many lodges in Etosha conduct night drives for instance on the western side of the park, Ongava Lodge while Onguma Lodge located on the eastern borders also offer an exhilarating after dark experience. Safari camps with floodlit waterholes are also worth their weight in gold. Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni Restcamps in Etosha National Park are excellent examples and night drives can be organized here as well. Many private game reserves in Namibia also have their own private floodlit waterholes and night game drives.
• Be alert: Venture slowly if you are on a self-drive safari. Always look deep into the bush for movement. As every species is both prey and predator, natural camouflage plays an important role in their survival. Colours and shapes are difficult to detect in various habitats. The sounds and actions of the animal kingdom also play an important part on a game drive

Loving Africa: The hyena was dying. It was sitting by the side o...

Loving Africa: The hyena was dying.
It was sitting by the side o...: The hyena was dying. It was sitting by the side of the road with its back turned toward us. It looked, at first, as if it was just ign...

The hyena was dying.
It was sitting by the side of the road with its back turned toward us. It looked, at first, as if it was just ignoring us; as though it had had a big meal. We stopped our 4x4 to look, no more than ten yards away from the animal. But it soon became apparent that something was very wrong. The hyena could only turn its head to look back at us. Then, we noticed that one of its legs was badly mangled and bloody.
"I think its back is broken," said Kevin Macaulay, 29, our safari guide. "It must have been trying to horn in on a lion kill and a lion must have whacked it in the back."
As if hearing him, the hyena managed to lie down and stretch out its neck toward us with its sad eyes, seeming to implore us to do something.
"It'll be dead by tonight," said Kevin.
We had just left Chichele Presidential Lodge, a beautiful hilltop lodge in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, with panoramic views of a floodplain on all sides and animals in every direction. The lodge itself is part of Abercrombie & Kent's group of Sanctuary Lodges and Camps in Zambia. Chichele, with its colonial architecture, canopied beds and private swimming pool, was once used as a presidential retreat. Today, it's even got Wi-Fi connection.
It was not uncommon to drive by herds of Cape Buffalo or zebra in the plains below the lodge and, one day, dozens of baboons came skittering up the hill and jumped up on some of the porches.
"Don't leave your doors open," we were warned laughingly, "or they'll leave wearing your clothes."
At night, those of us who were staying in some of the outlying cabins were not allowed to leave or return to our rooms without a staff member because of animals roaming the property. The owners told of having breakfast on the back veranda one morning and holding their breath as a lioness and her cub walked by casually. On one of the mornings I was there, three elephants were munching on leaves in a tree just outside the property line.
We saw giraffes, elephants, antelopes and hippos, the latter lolling lazily in the water during a river crossing. They mostly seemed unfazed by a carload of tourists snapping away, but we never got close enough to really spook them.
It was the dry season so the vast savannas were parched and yellow, dotted here that there with a lone tree or a clump of trees. We would walk, single file, looking for animal tracks. Two armed guards hemmed us in, walking in front and back just in case. We were told that in the unlikely event of a lion attack, we should stand still and let the guards take care of it.
"The worst thing you can do is run," said Kevin.
The night before we saw the hyena, we got lucky: We spotted a leopard resting on a rock, its stomach distended after what was probably a good meal. We also saw a genet and white-tailed mongoose, baboons sleeping in trees and even caught a rare glimpse of a civet scampering into the woods.
That night there was no moon, so it was darker than usual.
"This is the kind of night when lions like to hunt," said Kevin. "They can sneak up on their prey."
We came across a herd of Cape buffalo grazing in a field, their eyes glassy when hit by the spotlight.
"There will probably be one less of them in the morning," said Kevin, meaning that one of the herd would probably fall prey to a lion.
The next morning was our last at Chichele. We packed up and climbed into the 4x4 for the long, sometimes bumpy ride back to the airport.
As we drove down the hill, we suddenly stopped. There, about twenty yards ahead in a thicket of trees, three huge lionesses were chewing on a water buffalo. Kevin had been right: The lions had struck on a moonless night, and they had been rewarded.
Then we noticed something else: Off to the right of the thicket, a young male elephant was stamping the ground and waving its ears, charging the lionesses and then retreating. When he charged, they would back up, but never too far from their kill. Then they would slowly crawl back and continue eating.
The elephant was charging for a reason. Behind him, about ten yards away, was a baby elephant surrounded by four members of the herd. They were protecting the baby elephant, and the male was trying to scare the lions off. We watched this dance go on for about an hour, with the elephant charging and then retreating and the lionesses eating and sliding away when the elephant go too close. Slowly, the other elephants moved away with the baby. Off to the right, up on a hill, a magnificent male lion, his mane golden in the morning sun, sat watching the entire spectacle, having eaten his fill already.
It was when we drove away that we saw the wounded hyena. .
"What will you do?" I asked Kevin. I knew what he was thinking: The hyena had probably tried to interfere with the lion kill we had just seen.
"Probably nothing," he said. "If the injuries were from another animal, we'll let nature take its course and just leave it here. But if they are man-made, meaning from a gunshot or snare, then we'll have it put down."
And with that, Kevin pulled out his cell phone and called a local veterinarian who would come to the site and make a decision about what caused the hyena's injury. Because it's a national park, vets are on call.
We stopped for a few minutes longer, looking at the animal that looked back at us, pain in its eyes, unable to move. Then we drove on. I never learned what happened to the hyena, whether it was put down or allowed to die a natural death. It was all part of life in the African bush. Part of me doesn't even want to know.
BY JIM CALIO

Cool storie by Jim Calio.
Jana :)

Loving Africa: Namibia The republic of Namibia is a country in S...

Loving Africa: Namibia
The republic of Namibia is a country in S...: Namibia The republic of Namibia is a country in Southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with ...

Namibia
The republic of Namibia is a country in Southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March 1990, following the Namibian War of Independence. The Namib Desert is a broad expanse of hyper-arid gravel plains and dunes that stretches along Namibia's entire coastline. It varies between 100 to many hundreds of kilometres in width. Areas within the Namib include the Skeleton Coast and the Kaokoveld in the north and the extensive Namib Sand Sea along the central coast. The sands that make up the sand sea result from processes of erosion that take place in the Orange River valley and areas further to the south. As sand-laden waters drop their suspended loads into the Atlantic, onshore currents deposit them along the shore. The prevailing south west winds then pick up and redeposit the sand in the form of massive dunes in the widespread sand sea, forming the largest sand dunes in the world. In areas where the supply of sand is reduced because of the inability of the sand to cross riverbeds, the winds also scour the land to form large gravel plains. In many areas of the Namib Desert there is little vegetation aside from lichens found in the gravel plains and in dry river beds where plants can access subterranean water.
Tourism is a huge contributor in Namibia,this created tens of thousands of jobs. The country is among the prime destinations in Africa and is known for ecotourism which features Namibia's extensive wildlife.
For more on Namibia please clic HERE

Loving Africa: Lions in Victoria Falls

Loving Africa: Lions in Victoria Falls: Did You Know… in recent years Africa’s lion population has been in a rapid decline? However, Shaka, the Mfuwe pride male, is doing his best...

Lions in Victoria Falls

Did You Know… in recent years Africa’s lion population has been in a rapid decline? However, Shaka, the Mfuwe pride male, is doing his best to reverse the trend! In the past few months his lionesses have given birth to three new sets of cubs and judging by last weekend’s antics…another could be on the way!
To book a tour to Victoria Falls click HERE

Regards
Jana :)

Visit the majestic Wild Cost

The Wild Cost

The Wild Coast is one of South Africa’s most remote stretches of shoreline. Stretching from East London in the Eastern Cape all the way north to Port Edward and the southern border of KwaZulu-Natal, the region is home to some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the world.It is also the birthplace of two former South African presidents – Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki – and the historical home to the Xhosa nation.
Prior to 1994, the Wild Coast formed part of the Transkei, an independent homeland politically and economically independent of apartheid South Africa.
The area is still somewhat lost in time – a place where hippies, surfers and Xhosa people live side by side, with little in the way of possessions and much in the way of hospitality and friendliness.
While not nearly as glamorous as South Africa’s many popular beach destinations, every year adventurous and eco-loving locals and foreigners travel into the depths of the Wild Coast.
Hikers, surfers, nature lovers and cyclists navigate the coastline, bathing in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, which on a ”busy” day, may usually have one or two locals and a few Nguni cows at the most.
The Wild Coast has also attracted some famous adventurers. Most notably, the United Kingdom’s Prince Harry and Prince William explored portions of the Wild Coast on motorcycles back in 2008 as part of a 1 000-mile charity trek across South Africa
It is a place of steep green hills atop which sit clusters of traditional Xhosa mud huts; a land of windswept cliffs, deserted white-beaches, forests, untamable waves – and numerous shipwrecks.

For more information on this area click HERE to open window in new tab.
To book any tours or accommodation please click HERE to open window in new tab.

Regards
Jana :)