On everyone’s list of ‘things to do in life’, going to Africa’s ‘Big Zoo’ to see animals should be at the top of the list.
Everyone thinks that Africa is very poor, so... Yes, Africa is very poor, but most of the most luxurious trips in the world are in Africa.
In 1935, Hemingway wrote in "The Green Mountains of Africa": A "decent" hunting trip for two Americans to Kenya would cost about US$20,000...
What, $20,000? Yes, it was still $20,000 more than 80 years ago. Of course, it was also privately customized more than 80 years ago. Don’t forget that the European aristocrats at that time went to Africa to hunt with real swords and guns.
Nowadays, on animal safari in Africa, apart from the fact that the tools have changed from shotguns to cameras, there is really not much difference.
Although Africa is poor, there is really no "budget trip" when traveling in Africa. Every trip is expensive.
Airplanes, safari transportation, accommodation, meals... traveling to see animals in Africa is not the most luxurious, only more luxurious.
Luxury travel in Africa’s ‘zoo’? Airplane
My trip to Africa started with Kenya Airways.
Whether you are going to Kenya or Tanzania, you can take KQ direct flight from Guangzhou to Nairobi (stopping in Bangkok).
KQ must be one of the best African airlines , the ride comfort and meals are good (no matter the outbound or return journey, Chinese food is provided, which is very considerate of the Chinese people's stomach) especially when flying in business class, drinking a glass of red wine and sleeping before arriving in Nairobi.
Nairobi Airport, the home base of Kenya Airways, is really one of my favorite airports. Various animals are popping up on the glass windows of the airport. From the moment you get off the plane, you begin to create a rich African savanna atmosphere.
The flight attendants in KQ business class are still very beautiful
Flying thousands of miles to see the big animals in my dreams:)
Except for the heavy traffic In addition, there is also small transportation between protected areas. I still strongly recommend small planes. Although the price is a bit expensive, it can really save a lot of time and reduce a lot of bumps...and, if you are lucky, you can also fly on the plane. Saw animals.
Africa’s ‘Zoo’ Luxury Travel? Accommodation
The luxury of protected areas, tented camps and hotels in Kenya and Tanzania will exceed your imagination.
If it’s not just a tent camp, how can it be luxurious? ?Haha, sometimes poverty really limits our imagination.
Did you know that the most expensive tent camp in Tanzania costs nearly 10,000 US dollars per night...
The Selous Serena camp I stayed in was also very luxurious, although There are only a dozen tents, but the ratio of service staff is N:1. There are really many people serving you alone. Only when you get here can you understand what true wild luxury is. Not only is everything in the tents available, but also It is very good at creating a wasteful atmosphere and is definitely suitable for couples or honeymoons.
(In African protected areas with inconvenient transportation, the campsites have electricity, running water, food and wine, and even bathtubs and air conditioning, which are very luxurious existences)
In fact, the campsites in the protected areas Or the luxury of a hotel. In addition to luxurious hardware and thoughtful service, location is definitely an important part of luxury.
For example, everyone likes to go to the Masai Mara to watch the Great Migration, and the Mara Serena safari lodge is definitely the best hotel in Marseille (not one of them). It is located almost next to the viewing point where the wildebeests cross the river. There are 5 major wildebeest crossing points near Mara Serena, any of which can be reached within 15 minutes from the hotel. In the season of chasing the great migration, short distance and fast transportation are particularly important. …Staying here, you can easily get the best viewing position without having to get up early for hours and travel long distances.
At the Kilaguni Serena lodge where we stayed in Tsavo West this time, we could even see the snowy top of Kilimanjaro from the room. We spent a whole day in the reserve chasing elephant tracks. When we returned to the hotel, we found several elephants leisurely drinking water from the pond in front of the hotel. As the saying goes, it took no effort to get there. And every clear morning without clouds and fog, you can sit in your hotel room and watch the Kilimanjaro clouds rise.
The services in tent camps and hotels are really meticulous. It feels like there are always more staff than guests...
Well, maybe what we enjoy is that it was only available in Europe more than a hundred years ago. Services that only nobles can enjoy, so how can it not be luxurious:)...
Luxury travel to African zoos? Part of it? Food
Kenya and Tanzania have been serving each other for more than a hundred years. It is an important battlefield for European nobles to go hunting. Of course, it is indispensable for various restaurants and delicacies that are very exquisite.
But for me, the most luxurious food is actually in the reserve, the 'morning call' of fragrant coffee and chocolate before the early morning safari, the champagne breakfast at sunrise, and the savannah. A '******' lunch with the animals, a red wine dinner under the sunset...
This extremely luxurious and romantic 'beautiful meal'? No one can resist, not to mention the delicious food and wine. ?
Luxury trip to the African zoo? Part 1? Animal sanctuary
Of course we go to the African zoo to see the animals. This is the most luxurious part of the trip to Africa.
So choosing to go to Kenya or Tanzania, when to go, and which protected areas to go have become the most confusing things...? There are so many protected areas, national parks, and protected areas in Kenya and Tanzania. Friends who have hunting area, choice syndrome will be really sad...
And there is really no standard answer to this question? My personal point of view is that in fact, both Kenya and Tanzania are good all year round. Timing, there are wonderful times throughout the year. ?What matters is not the time and place to go, but the timing of going...
Maasai Mara or Serengeti
The journey to heaven in the Masai Mara is indeed soul-stirring, but I also have friends who went there during the peak months of June to September but saw nothing. On the contrary, I went there in October and saw wildebeests crossing the river...
When it comes to choosing a protected area, if If you go to Africa from June to September, you still have to choose the Maasai Mara (of course you have to endure competing with countless old masters from all over the world for a spot, and there may even be so many people and cars that scare away the wildebeests from crossing the river and changing the route). The rest of the time, Maybe you could go to the Serengeti in Tanzania, which is ten times the size of the Masai Mara.
(Popular science: In fact, between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara grasslands, the great migration of animals occurs throughout the year, but the months are different and the migration occurs in different places. The migration army starts from Serengeti From the Getty to the Masai Mara, there are far more rivers than the Mara River, and the Masai Mara's Heavenly Crossing is famous mainly because there are always many fierce scenes of crocodiles preying on wildebeests.)
Tsavo West is not a very popular protected area, but the red elephants here are really famous.
And we also took pictures of Kili from a very good angle here. Majaro...
In addition to the Masai Mara, the most famous protected areas in Kenya are Amboseli. The elephants under the Kilimanjaro Snow Mountain are the landmark pictures here,
It’s a pity that the weather was bad when we were there and there was no Kilimanjaro, but there were really many elephants...
Nakuru (all the flamingos in Nakuru have been flying recently) Arrived further north at Lake Bogoria. In fact, Nakuru not only has flamingos, but also many other birds. It also has the largest number of rhinos and other large animals in Kenya. The chance of seeing rhinos here is , much higher than other parks)
In addition to Serengeti, Tanzania also has Selous: Selous is located in the southeast of Tanzania and is the largest park in Africa. The first and by far the largest nature reserve, it is even four times larger than the Serengeti.
Selous is rich in water and grass, has many lakes and the Rufiji River, the longest river in East Africa, so it is very rich in animal resources. It is said that the number of many animals ranks first in the world. But Selous also has more bush and jungle, so finding animals requires sharper eyes and more patience.
Because there are fewer human disturbances and less development, Selous is more primitive and the animals are more ferocious. In Selous, we actually encountered a crocodile preying on an impala. The crocodile suddenly attacked and dragged the impala into the water before it even responded. Then there was fierce biting and pulling between the crocodiles, and even the impala was killed. The impala's neck was twisted into a knot. The crocodiles in Selous allow us to see the bloody hunting and the cruelty of the animal world.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The biggest difference between Ngorongoro and other protected areas is that it is located in a volcanic crater. Standing on the observation deck on the top of the mountain, you will see very magnificent scenery, as well as the unique landforms here, lakes, grasslands, forests... In the volcanic basin, swamps and lakes nourish the grassland. This is the pastoral area for animals. Compared to the animals in the Serengeti, the animals here live in a paradise. They don’t need to migrate or fight...
< p>(However, it is said that because there is no interaction with the outside world, the animals here are increasingly inbreeding, and the consequences are worrying...)...
Luxury African Zoo Travel? Safari
Safari is not a native English word. In Swahili, its original meaning is actually 'travel', which was later extended to 'hunting trip'.
What is the most important factor in Safari? luck? weather? None, the most important thing must be the guide. I even think that a good guide basically determines the number and types of animals you see.
The process of safari animals is sometimes happy and surprising, sometimes thrilling, and sometimes dangerous... It is a surprise to see a lioness suckling a lion cub, it is exciting to see a cheetah preying on an antelope, and if a rhinoceros is interested in the jeep you are riding in, If you are interested, then it is really 'dangerous'...
Since the development of Safari, there have been more and more ways of safari. People have changed various ways to go deep into nature and Africa, and are far away from animals. Get close contact with the African grasslands and witness the primitive beauty of the African grasslands and the wildness of the animal world.
Safari by car
is the most common and most convenient way to safari. In Kenya, it can be a four-wheel drive jeep or a modified minibus, but in Tanzania it must be a jeep.
What kind of animals you see during safari can only depend on luck and character given by God. No safari company will guarantee you that you will see what kind of animals where, especially those like the Big Five in Africa. 'Big Animal'.
Hot air balloon Safari
has become an increasingly popular way of safari. Lifting into the sky at sunrise, watching running animals in the gorgeous morning glow, and experiencing the vibrant morning of the grassland, the beauty cannot be experienced in person and cannot be expressed in words. If you are lucky enough to be able to overlook the great migration of animals from the air, then your safari trip will be perfect.
Helicopter safari
Similar to a hot air balloon, you can overlook the animal world from God’s perspective. Generally, hot air balloon and helicopter safaris are conducted in the morning. ..Remember that I recommended that the transportation between protected areas should be called small planes? That is also equivalent to a safari:)
Cruise boat? safara
Not all waters are You can go on a cruise safari. The animal you can see most during the boat trip is the hippopotamus. Hippos look cute and cute, but they are actually very alert and fierce. As soon as they hear the motor of the boat, they dive into the water, leaving only their eyes and ears exposed. So we named them 'Watching in the dark'. Watching the scenery in the river (lake) is naturally unique. Likewise, don't make any loud noises.
Horseback safari
This may be the closest to the safari method used by European nobles more than a hundred years ago. Riding on a horse and listening to the guide tell stories about the African grasslands, animals, and tribes is definitely a different experience.
Hiking safari
Under the guidance of a guide, tourists can go on a hiking safari in certain areas. ?Of course, most of the time we will be far away from the animals, but the feeling of walking in the African grasslands and shrubs still makes us sigh. After all, we are walking on African soil with our feet on the ground.
With such close and intimate contact with nature, animals, and the native African culture, how can such a safari trip to the African savanna not be called a luxury trip?