Articles
Zimbabwe
If you’ve kept tabs on our blog, it’ll come as no surprise to see Zimbabwe appear freshly laundered on our web-site. At the end of 2009, Amanda Mitchell, one of our team upped sticks and relocated to Harare. She's therefore in an idea position to keep us upto date on what is actually happening "on the ground". The re-emergence of this once hallowed safari destination has given us the opportunity to go exploring as if it were a new discovery. You may be pleasantly surprised to know just how much there is to see and do in Zim, and new things are emerging all the time. Consequently, we’ve decided to chart our travels “live”, as it were, and keep you upto date as new experiences come to light. At present, the main areas of interest to a visitor are the Victoria Falls (yes, it is in Zim!), Hwange, Motobo, and Mana Pools on the Zambezi. These areas still offer tremendous wildlife populations, interesting culture and unique scenery. Other areas such as Gonarezhou, Kariba and the Eastern Highlands are opening up once more and promise to offer experiences to rival any other safari destination. Zimbabwe's professional guides are still among the best in Africa and with them you can see a wide variety of animal and birdlife from a game-drive vehicle, on foot, horseback or just above the water in a canoe. Furthermore, areas such as Gonarezhou and Mana are right off the beaten track...so ideal for a little exploration of your own. As if you needed any more reasons, Zimbabwe currently represents very good value at the moment so now is a good time to visit...before everyone else jumps on the bandwagon. read more
The Serengeti Plains formation
The plains cover more than 5000 sq km of the Serengeti and surrounding areas - almost a third of the park area and are probably what most people think of when you mention the Serengeti (it's actually what the word means in Maasai - "endless plains"). It's really worth looking for at why they are there and how the whole landscape fits together with the rift valley and Ngorongoro. read more
The Serengeti Wildebeest Migration
The Serengeti wildebeest migration is one of the wildlife wonders of the world and one of the principle aims of most visits to the Serengeti and surrounding areas. It involves not only something in the region of 1.5 million wildebeest, but also an estimated 200,000 zebra and 400,000 gazelles. read more
In Africa with your family
Having travelled so much with our own children in Africa, family Safaris are something in which we have plenty of experience. For children, Africa is intoxicating and profoundly liberating. As parents, adventures aside, one of the immeasurably valuable things you'll find here is time. Time in Africa is an exotic and slow-moving beast. read more
Mobile Tented Safaris
We've learnt that the word "camping" is something of a loaded word, so we have to be careful where we point it. But let's be clear - this isn't the sand-in-your-sandwiches, putting up a tent the size of a large bin-liner type of nightmare camping. When you travel with a camp like the Loliondo Wilderness Mobile you get large walk-in tents with beds, a dining tent, a superb crew of people looking after you and an experience that's very hard to beat. read more
Camps beyond the ordinary
The best camps are about so much more than the material luxury they appear to offer. Anyone can do bling, but there are remarkably few who know how to deliver the sort of experience that stays with you for the rest of your life. read more
Under the stars
Whenever I manage to get a clear view of the night sky, I find there’s something deeply emotive about staring into the inky depths of the firmament. To lose one’s self among the constellations and feel that fleeting sense of perspective - “I am merely a dot” - is a wonderfully grounding experience. At such times, it’s hard to think of convincing reasons why our difference to the rest of the animal kingdom is anything but superficial. read more
Chimp Tracking in Tanzania
There are a couple of places in Tanzania that offer oustanding chimpanzee tracking. Both of these places lie on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. As is often the case, it is the least known that offers by far the richest experience. read more
Zanzibar Stonetown - another view
Stone Town is a town like no other. We could talk here in many cliches: of the town's dark and mysterious atmosphere born of a turbulent history, of sultans' intrigues and explorers' dreams, of historic buildings, of spice and slave traders, but a few hours in Zanzibar's Stone Town are enough to realise that - while this is all true - it's not the whole picture. read more
What does a safari cost?
How much does a safari cost Unfortunately this is rather like asking what it costs to shop at Waitrose. The answer of course depends on whether you're planning to live off fillet steak or Pedigree Chum. The choices - and the quality - on safari can vary considerably. read more
Flexibility - the real luxury
In our experience, flexibility is something that is least valued before people go on safari, and most valued when they're actually there. read more
How to get started
It can be difficult to know where to begin when you first start considering a safari. A good starting point is to look at when you can travel, or, if you have the flexibility, when you would need to travel to see what you are interested in. read more
Tented camp or permanent lodge?
Considering whether you want to stay under canvas, or in a stone or brick lodge is an important start in deciding where you want to go on safari. However, before you decide, you need to be aware that in Africa things arent always as they seem. read more
How we price our safaris
When you book with us, you won't pay any more than if you were to book direct with the camps and lodges concerned. This is because we've negotiated specially discounted rates from all of our suppliers. read more
Do I want a private vehicle and guide?
Your guide, and the amount of time he can devote to you and your interests will have a major impact on the quality of your safari. It's no exaggeration to say that your guide can make or break your trip. read more
What can I do on safari?
The short answer is probably "a whole lot more than you thought". But when you start to plan your safari, rather than focusing on specifics - whether you're after a walking safari, a boat safari or a driving safari for example - we feel it's important that you get a feeling for the breadth of activities that are on offer. If you like the idea of a bit of variety, then a good itinerary will offer you a selection of these activities. read more
What activities are there in Zambia?
Zambia as a destination is ideal for those who want to be active and really immerse themselves in the bush. It is predominantely famous for its walking safaris BUT there are a host of other activities available too. read more
How the Serengeti works
The Serengeti stands out head and shoulders above most other parks in Africa, but to get the best from it, it pays to understand how it works and, importantly, what to expect from each region in the different seasons. read more
How Tanzania Works
Tanzania has some of the very best wildlife areas anywhere in Africa. Only a fool would argue with that. Having said that, you can get a Tanzania safari very wrong just as you can get it very right indeed. You must know where to go, when and with whom. read more
How Lions Hunt
Lions tend to hunt mostly by night or in the early mornings, and for much of the rest of the time are the embodiment of lassitude. However, being opportunists they'll hunt whenever the chance arises and that could be the middle of the hottest day. read more
The Natural High thing
Imagine Standing 50ft from a wild African Elephant. With your guide you've left the private landrover and now you're on your own two feet. There are no minibuses, no roads, no signs and no other tourists. read more
The Tongwe Trust
The Tongwe people of West Tanzania inhabit one of the most beautiful and remote places on the planet. Their homeland ranges from thickly-forested Mahale Mountains, where chimpanzees and elephants roam, to the crystalline waters of Lake Tanganyika. They make their living by subsistence farming, fishing and trading, often across the lake with neighbouring Congo. read more
The best time of year to visit Tanzania
If your main objective is to see large quantities of animals, then the easiest time of year to do this is between June and October - Tanzania's dry season. This is particularly the case in Ruaha and Selous in Southern Tanzania, Katavi in Western Tanzania as well as Mahale Mountains on Lake Tanganyika, although in June and early July the chimps can still be high up in the mountains. read more
Southern Tanzania - Ruaha and Selous
Southern Tanzania arguably has more in common with Southern African countries like Zambia, than it does with Northern Tanzania and the rest of East Africa. The southern parks Ruaha and Selous aren't as well known, or as much visited as the north, but to say that they're anybody's secret is probably sadly no longer true. read more
Tanzania with your family
One of the greatest things you can do as a family is to scoop everyone up and take them on safari. Its a fact. We've brought up our own kids in Africa, we've guided numerous family safaris over the years and there is just no doubt that its a brilliant way of having fun together and in some cases rediscovering those kids that you may feel have been 'lost' to facebook, nintendo or if they're older perhaps the pub! read more
The best game areas in Tanzania
Tanzania can rightly lay claim to some of the very best game areas in Africa. read more
Combining a safari and the beach
Tanzania is superbly placed to combine a first class safari with a few days on white sandy beaches and turquoise waters of the Indian ocean. Zanzibar and Pemba Island are a short flight from the mainland and are very easily combined with virtually any part of Tanzania. read more
Tanzania's highlights
Tanzania is full of exceptional safari highlights but amongst our favourites are: read more
Northern Tanzania - Serengeti and the rest
Northern Tanzania is all about game. At its most basic, its about the sheer numbers of elephant in Tarangire, the diversity and concentrations of game and birdlife in the Ngorongoro Crater and the wildebeest migration as it roams through the Serengeti and surrounding areas, shadowed by the attendant predators. read more
Light Mobile Camping in The Serengeti
This little camp isn't everybody's cup of tea. In that respect it's rather like Marmite (if the mixed metaphor isnt too confusing), because those who like this kind of thing will love it. read more
Walking Safaris in Tanzania
Tanzania is one of the better places for walking safaris in Africa. It is though important to distinguish between 'hiking up hills' as in climbing Kilimanjaro or even Meru or Hanang and the very different experience of a 'wilderness walking safari', which is a particular area of expertise for many of us at Natural High and what we are talking about here. read more
Where are the best game areas in Zambia?
The South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi are good bets as far as game viewing is concerned. In the dry season, game concentrates on the lush grass of the flood plains on the banks of the respective rivers that feed both parks. The Lower Zambezi is inaccessible during the rains and so is generally closed from December to early June, while certain camps in the South Luangwa stay open throughout the year. If you are looking for a good wildlife hit, you can't really go wrong combining these two camps in your itinerary. read more
Serengeti - what about the low Season?
We reckon one of the best ways to experience the Serengeti, is to consider looking at some of the parts that are considered to be out of season. Now this won't be right for everyone, and if you're a bit squeezed for time, it may not be a priority, BUT it's amazing how empty (of tourists) some parts of the park are outside the conventional seasons. As an example, Ndutu in the southern Serengeti is sublime in the dry. When you first arrive, if you're expecting high concentrations of game you may be disappointed, but give it time and take things slowly and you will see wonderful things here and almost certainly without any accompanying hordes. Cheetah are never far away, small cats such as serval and caracal can be found round the egde of the soda lakes, not to mention lots of elephant in the acacia woodland. Likewise game viewing in the northern Serengeti can be excellent even when the migration has headed south. Kenya's Maasai Mara is only a few miles north and, as everyone knows, it offers a great year round safari experience. Exactly the same applies in the northern Serengeti, with lots of resident game, very few visitors and certainly one of the richest Serengeti experiences overall. Ferreting out off season opportunities is not everybody's cup of tea, but there's a good reason that the afficianados take this approach and it's well worth considering if you're happy to take things slowly whilst making your budget extend further. read more
Northern Tanzania Light Camping Safari
Light mobile camping safari, including a 3 day walking safari in the heart of the Serengeti read more
When's the best time to visit Tanzania?
When asked this question it takes a tremendous effort not to say “…it depends.” But, in the interests of brevity (and so as not to annoy you too much) the simple answer is “between June and October”. read more
Walking Safaris in the Selous (video)
Last month we sent Tom Hamner off to the Selous to see if he could capture something of the feeling of the place on film. Tom spent a week there, walking, game driving and sleeping out under the stars based at Sand Rivers Lodge. Here's the film he made for us: read more
Which are the best game areas of Tanzania?
Of all the safari countries in Africa, Tanzania has the greatest number of parks that offer virtually guaranteed sightings of most of the major mammal species. So the quick answer is that there are 8 major parks, all of which will deliver exceptional wildlife viewing. Again for simplicity, my own personal ranking (based on the overall quality of the game experience) would be read more
What's the food like? (video)
It can be hard to get an idea of what the food is going to be like when you head off into the bush with a light mobile camp, so we've put together a short film to give you an idea of what you can expect. Click on the video below to watch it - it may take a moment or two to load. read more
When's the best time to visit Zambia?
The best time to visit Zambia is traditionally during the winter months between June and October/November. This is typically the dry season when days are bright and clear and temperatures pleasant during the day, although they can be quite cold at night. As the season wears on, the grass dies back and the foliage thins out, making it easier to see the animals. Furthermore, water becomes more scarce so wildlife concentrates around the remaining water sources. read more
Should I go to Zambia in the off season?
The off season is known as the emerald season in Zambia. The Lower Zambezi closes down completely as does the North Luangwa National Park. In South Luangwa the rains fill up the rivers and oxbow lakes and flood much of the park. Most of the smaller bush camps close during the emerald season however some of the higher and larger camps remain open. read more
What are the best areas to visit in Zambia
Like all holidays, there is no one size fits all for holidays to Zambia, although there are of course general recommendations. A good starting point for a Zambian safari would include the Victoria Falls, Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa National Park. The time you spend in each area does depend on your particular interests, available time and budget. read more
Best places for walking in Zambia
South Luangwa is excellent for walking and was where walking safaris were pioneered. All the camps and lodges are geared up for walking, some being exclusively for walking. This area also has specific, set departure mobile walking safaris. read more
When's the best time to visit Mahale?
There's really quite a simple answer to this question and it depends what your objectives are. If your primary concern is to see the chimps, then the obvious time to go is in the low season, which means the time between November to March. The reason for this, is that the season is low because it doesn't suit humans quite so well as the high season. The same isn't true of the chimps who dont give a fig about the weather. read more
When's the best time to visit Ruaha?
In many ways, Ruaha is a little like Tarangire in being an archetypal dry season park. It’s criss-crossed with a network of rivers and sand rivers, many of which retain good clear drinking water through even the most extreme of Ruaha’s intense dry seasons. read more
What's the temperature like in Zambia?
May to August. The coolest, dryest time of the year, with temperatures 24-28°C during the day, dropping as low as 7°C at night. Probably the best time of year to visit Zambia: come early in the dry season for birdwatching or to see Vic Falls at their biggest, or later when the bush has dried up for good game-spotting on safari. read more
Night drives in Zambia
Most of the camps and lodges in Zambia offer night drives and indeed usually incorporate them into their afternoon game drive. While one or two night drives can be quite fun and you might see leopard, much of the time you are sitting freezing cold watching a light flit about the bush and catching the odd banded mongoose going about its business. read more
How safari days are structured in Zambia
Most of the camps, with the exception of specialist walking camps, offer game drives, walking and night drives. Unlike some other destinations where activities follow a rigorously pre-determined schedule, you can usually expect a reasonable degree of flexibility. Clearly there are better times of the day to do drives/walks than others and your guide will advise you accordingly, but if you see something fantastic out on a drive, you can rest assured that you won't be hustled back to camp because breakfast is at 8.42am on the dot. read more
Walking safaris in Zambia
Zambia is currently one of Africa's best walking destinations. Combining an ideal landscape, great game and top guiding, and the capability to walk within National Parks, Zambia is hard to beat on two feet. The Luangwa National Parks and Lower Zambezi are particularly well known for the quality of the walking. read more
What am I paying for in Botswana?
Over the last ten years, the destinations of Botswana have developed their own unique character. Tourism is the second biggest earner after diamonds and the strategic approach of the government towards high quality, low impact tourism has had a marked effect on the industry. The development of the tourism industry in the country has been tightly regulated with carefully controlled designation of camp sites and permanent lodge sites, and a strict ceiling to the number of “beds” allowed on any one particular site. In some areas only 20 people (including staff) are allowed on a camp-site. Particularly in the Okavango Delta, this policy has seen a network of very small camps (sometimes only 4 rooms). read more
What are the main areas to visit in Botswana?
Botswana has a well earned reputation for the spectacular game viewing. Probably most well known is the Okavango Delta. This, the largest inland delta in the world, is a mass of water, reed-beds, forested copses and wide flood plains. It floods seasonally between December and May when the torrential rains in Angola head downstream and fill out the narrowing channels. Water being as elemental as it is, this verdant patch in an otherwise parched country attracts a wealth of bird and animal life. Furthermore, the water adds another dimension to game-viewing so those who are keen to escape from the vehicle can enjoy the peace and proximity of a dug-out mokoro. read more
What about Botswana in the low season?
During the summer (traditionally safari low season), the rains fall, the grass grows lush and high and water is plentiful which means that the game is dispersed and tricky to spot amongst the vegetation. There is still the prospect of seeing wildlife, though, and some areas are better than others at this time of year. read more
Getting from A to B in Botswana
It goes without saying that accessing tiny camps in a Delta is a considerable logistical head-ache. For the most part your journey into, out of, and between camps in the Delta will be by private charter. Although the term “private charter” conjures up an opulent, exclusive private-jet type experience, these flights will be mainly in small single or twin-propeller aircraft which are good and nippy and great for landing on bush airstrips. The fortunate thing is that you don’t have to hire the whole plane and generally, with a minimum of two passengers, there will be a per seat rate as with a normal airline. Some operators offer “mobile” safaris which may combine road and air transfers. These are often scheduled group departures which leave on set dates and you may be joining a number of other people but usually no more than 6. This way of travelling can help save a few pennies and you can see some great areas that you wouldn’t normally see by air. On the flip-side, there may be a fair amount of time spent in a vehicle which may not suit everyone. read more
Best places for walking in Botswana
In Botswana, there’s walking and then there’s walking. In the National Parks (i.e. Chobe National Park, Moremi Game Reserve), it is generally not possible to walk. However, many camps, especially in the Delta, occupy land within private concessions where walking is permitted. Within these areas, walking may depend on the levels of the flood water, but generally it will be possible to have a leg-stretch if not a marathon hike. read more
Back to basics in Botswana
For those looking to experience the elemental safari, there are a few notable offerings in Botswana. Our current pick of the litter includes the following places: read more
Is Botswana a family destination?
Absolutely. However, this does need to be qualified. Firstly, you may want to read our article on age restrictions. Many camps and lodges don’t allow children below the ages of 8 or 12, some won’t let under 16’s out on walks, so you need to check first what options are available. You should also note that some camps don’t offer concessionary rates to children and even, in some instances, may require you to take exclusive use of a vehicle or part of a camp at an extra fee. read more
Child restrictions in Botswana
There is no easy way to sum up the child restrictions in Botswana. Every lodge seems to have a different rule; some do not allow any children under 12 years, while others allow children but only those over 6 years old are allowed out on excursions (making a family safari a little pointless). The majority of camps set the minimum age at either 8 years or 12 years. read more
I want to visit Vic Falls on my safari
Victoria Falls lies between Zambia and Zimbabwe but is actually only a stone’s throw from Botswana and Namibia too. If you are doing a safari in any of these countries, it would be a shame not to catch a glimpse of this spectacular landmark and perhaps indulge in one or two of the activities on offer here. read more
I want to see birds in Botswana!
Birdlife in the Okavango Delta will give any destination a run for its money. There is a total of 550 species of birds in Botswana. Each area has its list of particularly special endemics and the diversity of habitats mean that the bird watching will be varied and interesting. In fact, it’s difficult to imagine an African safari destination where there could be more to see on the bird front. read more
When's the best time of year to visit Botswana?
Tricky question. It’s best to start by asking yourself what you are most interested in seeing. Like any place, what is great for one person, may be another’s idea of hell. read more
Northern Serengeti Photos - Jan 2010
What is there to see in North Luangwa?
The North Luangwa is pretty close to untamed African bush. There are few roads and consequently, game viewing is principally on foot. Because you are on your feet, you may not see quite as much game as when you are in a vehicle, nor get quite so close; however, there is no shortage of game in this area. There are lots of elephant and wildebeest, zebra, impala, warthog, puku, kudu, elend and huge numbers of lion. There are also wild dog and leopard though these may be more of a challenge (and more rewarding!) to see. read more
What about accommodation in North Luangwa?
The camps in North Luangwa are generally seasonal since the rains make it impossible to access at any other time of the year. Kutandala Camp and Mwaleshi Camp, for example, are only open from June to October since the rains make it impossible to access at any other time of the year. Norman Carr Safaris do operate during the green season and are one of the very few. Camps are generally simple, rustic and made of local materials and often rebuilt afresh every year. They are aimed at providing simple comforts, relying on nature to adorn the surroundings. read more
Why join the stampede?
What's the accommodation like in the Luangwa?
Most companies have a combination of lodges and bushcamps. These are all very individual and can very easily be combined with each other. There is also the option of doing mobile walking safaris where you walk from camp to camp. The beauty of the bushcamps is that the day is slightly more relaxed, walking is the main activity, so you feel as though you have earned the huge amounts of delicious food on offer and you really do experience the smaller things of the bush as well as, of course, the thrill of coming across the bigger game on foot. read more
What is there to see in South Luangwa?
Luangwa is well known for large populations of all the major African mammals (with the exception of rhino, which were poached to extinction in the 80s - but are being reintroduced into North Luangwa). It has a reputation for some of the best leopard sightings in Africa. This is partly because of the ideal nature of the habitat which includes thick riverine bush with plenty of cover, lots of game and some large shady trees to lie up in and also, unlike many parks in Africa, night game driving is allowed. There are bush buck, puku, kudu, impala, zebra (although not many in the south) the indigenous Thornicroft giraffe and all the main predators, lion, leopard etc, including wild dog and the smaller predators such as genet, civet, mongoose etc. The bird life is excellent and very vocal with the oxbows and river attracting a vast number of water birds. The game viewing is outstanding up near Mfuwe (the park entrance) where the animals are very used to vehicles all year round. Mfuwe area is also quite busy, so you have to be prepared for other vehicles which you really notice at night because of the spot lights used on night drives. The lodges around Mfuwe are usually a base from which to go into the park and with the game being so habituated in the area, it is an idea to have a night or two at the beginning of the trip for some game drives and night drives and to then head off into the bush for the walking. The north park and Nsefu sector which has camps such as Tena Tena, Nsefu, Kaingo, Mchenja and Tafika, is particularly beautiful with some really very impressive ebony groves. These tall and majestic trees give a dreamy dappled shade to almost lawn like grass underneath and are a haven for the game. The area is also generally more open with the huge Mtanda plains and hot springs/salt pans which certainly at the beginning of the season makes for slightly easier game viewing. read more
What are mobile safaris?
By definition, mobile camps are just that...designed to be relatively easily moved every few days. This means that they have to be lightweight enough to be packed in a day into trucks and popped up in new sites. In the early days of hunting or photographic safaris this is exactly how people got out into the bush for weeks or months (well, in the very early day you would have substituted trucks for dozens of porters). There were no permanent lodges or hotels, few roads and you had to carry absolutely everything with you. read more
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