Africa National Parks International
Offers
Reviews
 |
Gorilla Trek in Parc National Des Volcans (Rwanda)
by catsholiday We came to Rwanda specifically to see the Mountain gorillas that live in the mountains shared between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In fact the hotel we stayed in 'The Mountain Gorilla View Lodge' looked out to the mountain that had the border of these three countries at the top. The area where we saw these ... wonderful creatures was in the Parc des Volcans National Park near Ruhengeri in Northwest Rwanda. BE PREPARED Prior to leaving home we were given a list of dos and don't s for the gorilla trek. We were advised to wear strong walking boots, warm clothes, a waterproof jacket and trousers if you wanted and to wear long socks to tuck your trousers in. We were advised not to wear blue or black as these colours attract Tsetse flies and also not to wear camouflage colours as the army wear those. A pair of gardening gloves or thin leather gloves are also suggested as being handy when in the forest to protect your hands. The gorillas are not found below 3000 feet and so you are walking at altitude which is more tiring and it is also quite cool and very often raining or damp and misty. ON THE DAY We were collected at 6.30 am from our hotel and driven to the Mountain Gorilla centre for a briefing and to be put into our groups. This seemed to take ages but we were entertained by a group of local dancers who were very good. While we were waiting there was coffee on offer, toilet and a small gift shop with postcard, books and some T shirts. We decided to forgo the coffee because we knew there were no toilets on the trek so it was a quick hide behind the bush if you needed to go. After what seemed ages but was probably just over half an hour we were called together into our groups. We were introduced tour guide, and then each other then told which group we were going to visit. Our group was called Ugenda named after the silverback who was the boss of the group. This was quite a small group as two of the females had died. I believe there were about ten in total as a couple of the group moved between this and another group depending on their loyalties at the time. The group had two silverbacks which was unusual but the younger one had to obey Ugenda as he was the alpha male in the group. A maximum of eight people are in each group and they assess your fitness by a quick look at you, and probably from information passed on from your guide too. We were put in the medium level group and one couple also supposed to be in our group decided they were better than that and asked to be put in a higher level group. Frankly so long as we saw gorillas we really didn't care which group we were in but they were put in another group so we only had six people in ours which was even better. There were some pretty enormous Americans and also quite a few elderly looking fold but none were turned away and they all went off to see gorillas. Our guide did say that he saw a large woman being helped back into the lodge by a lot of people but they must have gone to the closest gorillas as this woman struggled to even walk on flat ground around the restaurant. WE SETOFF We got back in our own vehicle with our Rwanda guide and he drove us to the village where the trek begins which was an hour away over fairly rocky dirt roads. When we arrived at the village we met the porters and these lovely people carry your bag and help you along the way. You give them a tip of $5 at the end of the trek, as we only had one we gave her a bit more as she was very sweet. One lady in our group had a walking stick as she had a muscle wasting disease and her porter held her hand/arm the entire way and supporter her all along the route. She did very well but the guide took it pretty slowly so she could sit and have breaks as we climbed upwards. At the village they offer you a wooden walking stick to help with the walking but we declined as it was something extra to carry but the other people accepted and said that it was handy. The first 1000 metres is all up hill and out of the National Park, it is quite a steep trek and over stony paths and rough ground. We stopped just outside the wall of the park to recover and take photos of the view. The wall entrance has a very narrow long gap so that large animals such as buffalo and elephants do not get out of the park and destroy the villager's crops. Anyone fat might actually have difficulty squeezing through as it was a very tight fit for us and I wouldn't describe either of us as fat! Once in the park you are in a bamboo rainforest and initially there is a path or trail of sorts which is muddy and rough. Once you get close to the gorillas you leave your porter and everything except your camera and what you are wearing with them. You then continue with the guide and the tracker who has a gun in case you meet an angry buffalo or similar. You then are no longer on a path but you follow the guide through the bush as he machetes his way through. I had naively imagined the gorillas would be in a clearing and we would watch from afar but no they are in the forest moving through eating as they go and we followed them, stopping when they did. We were so close we could have touched them. Obviously you do NOT touch them and in fact if you have any illness such as cold you are not allowed to go to see the gorillas as they are susceptible to human illness. You are also instructed not to spit anywhere in the National Park so many footballers would not be invited in! They also tell you not to eat near the gorillas but you can take food into the park so long as you bring back what you don't eat. Sometimes it can take up to three hours to get to the gorillas once in the park so you could be away a long time. Once you find your gorilla group you stay with then an hour but no longer and this is so that the gorillas do not become stressed. All the time we were with our group the guides made happy gorilla noises to keep them feeling content. You are told that if one charges you then you should sit down and look away - easier said than done I would imagine. Our group were perfectly happy and ignored us most of the time. They continued to eat and move through the forest with us behind. Then a couple of them found a tree with huge round squash and climbed up to pick them. They then sat and turned their backs on us to eat them. A mother and her baby sat and ate close by them baby went off with her sister and Mum took a rest almost under our feet. She lay flat out and stretched her legs then had a scratch, closed her eyes and slept. At the same time the younger silverback was just to our left and he watched us for a while then decided it was all too much of an effort and he went to sleep too. He slept a bit like a cat or dog and had his nose on his arm and his back legs sort of under him so not quite as relaxed as Mum on her back spread out. The hour we were with the group went really quickly and then we machete our way through the forest and back to the porters to collect our things. We were so lucky as we had bright sunshine all the way up the climb and with the gorillas but as we began to come down thunder could be heard. The mist came over and just before we got back to the village the rain started. The way down was quicker and less breathless making but I found it was much harder on my knees and quite slippery at times. Had it been raining I think it would have been even more slippery and certainly in the park it was very muddy in places so you do have to be prepared to get wet, muddy and also be quite sure footed. A good strong pair of walking boots is essential although one woman in our group did have trainers I think she would have really had trouble if it has been very muddy and wet. Some tour agents seem to give better advice than others. We booked with Rainbow tours who are very knowledgeable about this part of the world and they use local tour companies such as Magic Tours in Rwanda (our guide was from Magic Tours) and Za Tours in Madagascar. We were given excellent advice on clothing, temperatures, what to expect, visas, and so much more. They other people in our gorilla group were with different companies and neither had been told about the gloves and the Australian couple hadn't realised that walking boots were really needed so she was very lucky. My husband said he wouldn't bother with the gloves but as you are sliding your way over the vegetation there are some pretty big thorny plants and sting plants so I was quite glad of mine. I just took some thin leather gloves and they were perfect. The advice about blue and black clothes was pretty irrelevant as the porters all wore blue so presumably they were not bothered by tsetse flies. Some people at the meeting place were wearing bright coloured clothes and they were not turned away but I would suggest this was pretty thoughtless as they must stand out like sore thumbs to the gorillas. WHAT DOES IT COST? To get a gorilla permit costs $500 US per person for one visit to the park so that this is not a cheap visit. You obviously have to get to Rwanda or Uganda and stay in a hotel too. If you want to visit Diane Fossey's grave it is a six hour trek and you have to pay $75 US so we decided to give that a miss as it was up on top of a mountain hard trekking and expensive. Gorilla trekking is not something you would do every year as it is VERY expensive but they charge that to limit the numbers and also to pay the trackers and all those employed to protect the gorillas. GORILLA CARE Within the park there are three types of groups. There are some groups who are protected but are pretty much left without human contact. There are those like we saw who are free to wander and live wild but are used to people visiting, they have vetinary care when needed and are pretty closely watched. There are others who are tagged and used for research they are still allowed to roam pretty freely but are much more closely monitored. Vets from overseas often come and volunteer to work with the gorillas for the experience and presumably there are some who are on site at all times to put the volunteers in the picture. WOULD I RECOMMEND? Well yes whole heartedly this is something we have wanted to do for some time but the price and the difficulty getting here has always been a bit off putting. It would not be everyone's cup of tea and certainly wouldn't suit those whose idea of a holiday is sitting on a beach all day then the bar at night. This is the sort of holiday for people prepared to be flexible, pretty fit, and put up with a few inconveniences. However if you are keen on wildlife then I would say this is a dream holiday. The chance to spend an hour with a gorilla family in the wild and be so close that you could touch them is an experience that cannot be bettered in my view. If you are planning a trip then do PLAN it carefully. Take the right precautions, the health advice; be prepared for less than perfect food, possibly no electricity and wifi and not least some very long flights, lots of waiting at airports and then long uncomfortable drives along very bumpy roads. Having said all that if you are happy to be adaptable and you love wildlife and seeing creatures in the wild then this trip would take a lot of beating. Save up and go for it! Thanks for reading and hope this might be useful for someone going on a gorilla trek and of interest to others. This review may be posted on other sites under my same user name. ©Catsholiday Read the complete review |
 |
La Vallee des Couleurs Nature Park (Mauritius)
by garymarsh6 La Vallee des Couleurs Nature Park. The Vallee des Couleurs Nature Park is a recent discovery in Mauritius and has been open for about 10 years. It was discovered in 1998 when the farmers tiling the land discovered the different coloured earth underneath a plot of land that was being tilled for farming. It is similar to ... another area in Mauritius called Chamarel which is more famous and popular but only due to it being discovered first. In my opinion this park is much nicer than Chamarel . The valley can be found in the south eastern corner of the Island surrounded by natural forests and mountains. Within the park there are three waterfalls which are individual and different. It is a superb site to visit as there are some fantastic local flora and fauna including ebony, different types of ferns, and orchids. Arriving at the park there is a small visitor's centre which is quite basic but there are toilet facilities here and a small gift shop selling souvenirs and ice creams etc. It is possible to have a picnic in this area. The car park is rough and not made up but quite adequate. When you buy your tickets to enter the park you are also given a small map of the park and the walk route. The paths are not very smooth and there are some steep inclines so it might not be possible to complete the whole of the circuit if you have mobility problems. The first area you walk past is laid out with exotic plants and flowers surrounded with natural trees that are quite mature. Besides this pathway are small enclosures where there are giant tortoise, deers , geese, ducks and other small farm animals. It is possible to pet these animals. Passing this small animal enclosed area you come to a splendid area with a panoramic view right down to the coastal areas looking out across the spreading parkland down below you which is lush with plants so brilliantly green. The lookout point provides an opportunity to look out over the whole of the valley. After this the pathway leads down quite steeply and all the time you can hear the crashing down of water towards the bottom you come across the waterfalls which are splendid and being in a shaded area is quite nice because you are shielded from the hot sun. It is possible to swim in the water fall area although I wouldn't recommend it. There seems to be some mosquito activity going on around the water area. The rivers contain shrimps, eels, carp and other small fish. Continuing to follow the pathway will bring you to another vista point where again you get a beautiful view of the seaside out into the turquoise blue Indian Ocean. It is here that you will see the many coloured earth. It is a massive area which has been exposed to the elements after being cleared so that it can be seen. It is about the size of a football pitch. The sands are like fine little baubles and the colours range from light brown through the spectrum to mauve yellow reds blues and greens. It is a beautiful site and shows you the power of nature. The different colours occurred during the eruptions of a massive volcano called basin Blanc and the lava and ash that was expelled by the volcano when cooled lay on the ground and developed into the 23 different colours that can be seen today. It is not dissimilar to the sands of Shanklin on the Isle of Wight and souvenirs are sold containing the different coloured earths. The unique thing about these coloured sands is if they are shaken and mixed together then they will separate back into their respective colours. The sands take on different colours according to the time of day and as the sun crosses the island the hues give off different colours which are fascinating in itself. From here it is quite a trek back to the entrance which is generally uphill for most of the way although it is steep it is not recommended to rush anyway due to the heat but will probably take about 30 to 45 minutes at a slow stroll. Throughout the visit to the park you might catch a glimpse of the native monkeys in the lush undergrowth and in the trees. It is best not to touch them or frighten them in any way as they can become quite vicious. The biggest bonus for me is the fact that there are no snakes in Mauritius so there is no worries about being taken by surprise at all wherever you might be in the country so that is always an added bonus in my opinion. So for snake phobes it is an ideal island to visit. If there were then this place would be out of bounds for me. I can honestly say that it is a lovely park to visit combining it with a picnic and you should aim to spend half a day here. Entrance to the park is incredibly cheap at only a couple of pounds. I would thoroughly recommend a visit here if you are visiting Mauritius. Address:- La Vallee des Couleurs Nature Park. Mare Anguilles Farms Ltd. Mare Anguilles Chamouny. Mauritius. Tel : 2518666 Tel / Fax : 2928841 Read the complete review |
|
|
Addo Elephant Park (South Africa)
by kama0529 I've been to Addo Elephant Park several times over the past few years when I've been traveling around South Africa (also known as my favourite place on earth!). It is the absolute must go place if you pang to see elephants in the wild as its an almost foregone conclusion that you WILL see elephants - and probably several other species of ... animal as well. The park was set up in 1931 in order to provide a protection for elephants whose numbers were dwindling at the time. ***Getting there*** Addo Elephant Park is situated just outside of Addo, about 45 minutes from the town of Port Elizabeth on South Africa's southern coast. From Port Elizabeth, we took the main N2 road towards Grahamstown and then turned off left when we saw signs towards Addo Elephant Camp. Its not a hard drive, but once you leave the N2 the road isn't completely great as there are some potholes and so you need to take care while driving. The long stretch of road from the N2 mostly is without streetlights and so if you're traveling there in the dark (as I have done on one occasion) then its important to take even more care. Its a long straight road and its practically impossible to get lost......even for me! There are several gates into the park, but I've always gone in through the main gate because its the gate that is easiest to find and its also got the visitor centre there. ***The Visitor Centre*** As you drive into the main gate you have to pay a conservation fee which, at the time of our visit, was R130 (about £11.50) for foreign visitors per person per day. This gives you access into the park and to the visitors centre. I think this is pretty good value because we've always spent a whole day there whenever we've been. The Visitors Centre is the first area you come to when you drive through the main gate. Its here that you can find toilets, a restaurant, a souvenir shop and the office where you can book guided safaris. The restaurant is okay - but certainly nothing special. You can't go wrong if you grab a burger or a steak and although its not memorable, it will fill a hole. If you're choosing to eat at popular times (between 12-2 mostly) it does get pretty busy and so if you're in a big group its worth booking a table. I do find it a little odd that you can eat ostrich and kudu here when the chances are you've just been taking photos of them in the main park area! ***Driving through the park*** We've always taken the option to self-drive in the park as its easy driving on tarmac or gravel roads and a 4 wheel drive is not necessary. Basically I found driving round the park very unstressful as there is hardly zero traffic and it just feels very relaxing to be driving around in search of elephants. Its all done at a very unhurried pace - and I think in many ways, the more unhurried you are when you drive round, the more you will be rewarded. And the fact that I'm the one doing the driving kind of makes me feel like its more of an adventure because anything I come across is something that I personally have found - and its just mine for that moment. There are many examples, but here are a few memorable experiences: I remember being sat watching a herd of elephants playing in the waterhole. They seemed completely oblivious to my presence and played like toddlers would in a paddling pool. Another time I came across to big bull elephants fighting which was a little unnerving as they were really going for each other, but I kept my distance and just sat and watched them right through to the resolution of the challenge. I also remember sat watching some antelope and this little family or warthogs walked past with piglets that could have been no more than a few days old. They stopped not far from the car and the infant warthogs started feeding from their mother - which was wonderful to watch. I've seen buffalo, various antelope, hyena, cervets, warthogs, zebra, black rhino, elephants (of course), ostrich - and the notorious dung beetle which are a protected species within the park. But the speciality here is, without doubt, the elephants which you can find in massive herds throughout the park - or as single nomadic males. There are trails to follow - or routes to follow - but to be honest they are not easy to follow at all and inevitably I ended up finding myself off the trail I was trying to be on and found myself on another one. It can get a bit frustrating - but once I gave up trying to be too ordered and just went with my instinct it was much more enjoyable. I guess for some this park could be a little sedate as its not really about searching for the elusive lion kills or bombing around the park ticking animals off your list. But its a place to enjoy nature, to contemplate and reflect - and to do while watching some of the worlds most wonderful and sophisticated animals. ***Organised Sundown Safari*** On one occasion we went on an organised sundowner safari where you go on one of the big 4 x 4 open-air jeeps with a small group of other people. This was organised at the visitors centre and cost R285 (about £25) per person and allowed you to go into the park with a guide once all other visitors had left the park and be there as the sun gets lower in the sky and the animals become more active. Once the sun starts to set, the jeep stops and you get out and have a glass of wine and a few snacks - hopefully watching a beautiful sunset. To be honest, I think if you've had a good day driving around the park then I'm not sure you gain anything more from driving around in the jeep - especially if you're going to be doing another safari while you're in South Africa. Although the guide does share some information with you, its nothing that you can't find out from a guidebook. Don't get me wrong.....its perfectly pleasant, but if you're on a budget, its probably an unnecessary expense which isn't worth the high price. ***Where to stay*** You can stay within the main camp as there is accommodation there which suits all budgets. However I've always stayed in B & B's outside the camp but within the Addo district. I can very much recommend both Chrislin African Lodge and Happy Lands - both of which are wonderful B & B's within 15 minutes drive of the park and beautifully located. You can find both of these on Trip Advisor - and I'm sure if you stay at either, you'll be very satisfied with your choice. ***What else is there to do in Addo?*** Although the main reason we've come to Addo is to go to the Elephant Park, there are several other things I would recommend in the area: - Elephant Back Safaris (www.elephant-back-safaris.com) where you get to ride giant elephants bare back on a three hour safari. This was a wonderful experience and although expensive, I would highly recommend it. However, the journey there, although only 20kms from Addo is hair-raising - and so opt for them to pick you up! Honestly, the drive there was probably the most scared I have ever been! Raptor and Reptile Centre: This is quite a small centre and the number of animals is quite limited, but I enjoyed it because I was able to get up close and personal. Darren, the manager, is very enthusiastic and this kind of rubs off! Daniell Cheetah Breeding Farm: This is a wonderful place which breeds cheetahs to be released into the wild. However, they also have a pet cheetach who we could play with, and two other cheetahs who were used in a Disney film who you can get close to and pat. While we were there they just had a litter of lion cubs born - and as they were under 5 weeks old, we were permitted to pick them up and pet them (any older and we wouldn't have been allowed). This was one of the most memorable moments of my life! ***Overall*** Give yourself a few days in Addo. Its a lovely area and its a nice place to explore at leisure. Read the complete review |
Africa National Park International |
||
|---|---|---|
|
1 review National Park International / Address: Nansana Hoima Road, Plot 64, 203 P.O. Box 22754 Kampala, East Africa - Gorilla trekking is a memorable, life-changing experience – a life time adventure in the heart of Africa's most spGorilla Trekking in Ugandaectacular Rainforests. Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and ... |
|
|
National Park International / Nature reserve in South Africa. |
|
|
1 review National Park International / Nature park located in Mauritius, which contains natural geological coloured earth from a volcano |
|
|
National Park International / Haller Park is the largest animal sanctuary in Mombasa. The Park boasts an enormous variety of animals, reptiles, insects and botanical gardens. |
|
|
National Park International / National Park in Sierra Leone |
|
|
2 reviews Country: South Africa / National Park International / World Region: Africa - The park is situated some 615 km from Cape Town, 195 km from Port Elizabeth and 68 km from Plettenberg Bay. The heartland of the park stretches some 5 km to sea, protecting a wonderland of inter-tidal life, reef and deep sea fish. |
|
|
1 review Address: Cape Town / National Park International / South Africa / Tel: +27 0 21 431 8400 |
|
|
1 review Madagascar / National Park International / Africa |
|
|
3 reviews Country: Namibia / National Park International / World Region: Africa - Etosha National Park in Namibia was first established in 1907, when Namibia was a German colony known as South West Africa. At the time, the park’s original 100,000 km² (38,500 mile²) made it the largest game reserve in the world. Due to political ... |
|
|
2 reviews Country: South Africa / National Park International / World Region: Africa - Located on the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. |
|
| Africa National Park International Recommendations 1 2 next | ||
| dooyoo Results 1 - 10 of 22 | ||
