Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on Jul 26

Want to improve your wildlife photography - without standing in the cold!

There are hundreds of wildlife photography centres around the world that offer the chance to get up close to ‘wild’ animals in their natural habitat.

Some specialise in local or native wildlife and others hold a vast number of more exotic species for you to get up close to - like Lynx, Jaguar and Tigers - and you are virtually guaranteed a sighting!

So what are these places and how come you can get so close to the animals - and have the perfect backdrop for your images as well?

The Setting:
Basically, wildlife enthusiasts have built up a collection or animals over the years and house them in captivity.

Whether they were originally rescued animals or have been bred in zoo-like circumstances - they look great - just like their free-roaming counterparts.  I mean a fox looks like a fox whether its in the local woods or in a wooded enclosure doesn’t it.

So why stand around for hours all day waiting for a sighting - when you can virtually guarantee a perfect view from a local photography centre?

Many animals are kept in outdoor enclosures that mimic their natural habitat, whereas others are kept in an easy to maintain enclosure and transferred into a more photogenic and natural looking location when you arrive on site.

The Benefits:
Well clearly you can see that a days shooting is going to be a lot more productive if you visit a centre like this for your photography - and you pictures will be better to boot!

By getting so close to quite human-accepting animals, you don’t need to use your longest zoom ever!  You can use a normal shot thus making your shot that much clearer and easier to enlarge at home.

And as the animals are so used to people being around, you can get some great shots of their natural behaviour with their surrounding and other animals in the enclosure.  For example, they will curl up to sleep close to you - and if it is snowing you could get some fantastic shots!

But it’s not just about the final shots - its about the techniques you can use in the field.  For example, you can get to see how these animals move, what settings work best for still or moving animals and of course what lighting and angles get you the best images.

All this is virtually impossible in the field as you may just see an animal for 1 minute as it passes behind trees - you will have no time to plan for these - so you need to already know the best techniques.

The Extras:
Not only could you come away with your best photo ever of an owl - but you could have your only ever picture of a shrew or an otter or an exotic species.

Animals that are nocturnal or live underground - or in a different country - are things that you may never get to photograph in the wild.  Or you may have a collection of shots where you have to tell people what it is as it’s too small or blurry to see!

And, many of these sites have both wildlife experts to hand and if requested a wildlife photographer on site to help you work through your shots and to understand your camera that little bit better.

And becoming a regular at any animal sanctuary or photography centre could mean that you are in line for ‘first pickings’ at any new animals, scenes or special events that they offer.

And if there is a fresh layer of snow on the ground - you could get those perfect moments on film!

posted by Travel Cat on Jul 22

Welcome back, and I hope the first 5 beautiful spots tempted you enough to come back for this second part!

So, let’s get straight back into it, and get going on the final 5 - hope you like them…..

6) The Great Rift Valley - East Africa
Needless to say, this huge region is filled with wildlife and absolutely beautiful landscapes!

Surrounded by huge lakes, miles of mountains and plateaus and crammed full of greenery - you will certainly need you camera working on overtime! It contains some of the highest mountains in Africa as well as active and dormant volcanoes and some of the largest lakes in the world!

Witness where man first stepped out into the world and where this massive continent is actually splitting in 2 creating a new ocean!

7) Serengeti/Masai Mara National Park - Tanzania/Kenya
This is one of the largest and most visited National Parks in Africa due to it’s endless landscapes filled with huge game and indigenous tribes.

Famous for its unbelievable migration of around 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra every year! As a result it has the largest population of lions of any national park and has the other 4 from the notorious ‘Big Five’.

Be prepared for some endless views of the savanna and the bumpiest car rise you have ever been on!  Alternatively, why not hire a hot air balloon for a champagne ride across the sky and get a panoramic view of this unforgiving landscape.

8.) The Great Dunes - Namibia
Down the southern edge of the continent and bordering the cold southern Atlantic Ocean - this region is one of the driest areas in the region. After years and years of little rain - the dunes have grown and grown into some of the largest dunes in the world!

Although you might think that makes for a bland landscape - you would be wrong. The canyons formed here and the huge wetlands along the coast add to the sheer beauty of the harshness fund here. Spotting a single antelope on an almost endless dune several kilometers in length is something to be admired.

9) Underneath The Red Sea - Egypt

Take yourself to another world underneath the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea Riviera! 

Filled to the brim with tropical and colourful fish, huge shallow-water reefs and marine mammals.  Whether you stay close to the shore or snorkel from the beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada - or you charter a boat out into deeper water and spend the day in this underwater world!

10) Marrakech - Morocco
If you love bright colours, the hustle and bustle of lively markets and a whole host of adobe buildings and materials painted in the brightest of hues - them this is the place for you.

This vibrant city - close to the entrance to the Mediterranean - is a hagglers heaven! With different cultures plying different trades on every corner, and different kitchens offering an endless array of foods and cooked meals - plus the influence of different religions on the architecture: this offers a whole different kind a beauty from the natural landscape surrounding it.

Send in your pictures!

posted by Travel Cat on Jul 16

There are thousands of amazing locations in Africa, but I have narrowed it down to my Top 10.

Spread across this huge continent and all showing off the varied cultures and landscapes that can be found from the very north to the southern tip of this diverse and colourful continent!

Africa is  the second largest continent in the World - and there is plenty here to prove it.  From the glorious Mediterranean Sea way north of the Tropic of Cancer, to within miles of Antarctica in the south; from the roaring Atlantic Ocean on the West Coast to the gentle azure water to the Indian Ocean to the East.  And everything in-between!

Currently known as the birthplace of human evolution, this country is still filled with indigenous people and new-comers alike.  There are over a billion people living here, with over 2000 languages spoken by those living here. 

But it’s not just about the people - the places are breath-taking too, with every known habitat type found here.  From mountains and volcanoes to deserts and valleys; from tropical cloud forest to barren Savannah - and all the different wildlife that offers.

So, imagine you are planning your next vacation here - and choose your ideal location!

1) Okavango Delta - Botswana
The most lush and verdant wetland - that doesn’t empty in to the sea!  This inland ‘estuary’ fills with water during the wet season - leaving you totally surrounded by endless wildlife and plants.

Miles and miles or canals and waterways to travel along, attracting huge numbers of elephants, hippos and giraffes.  Not to mention flowers, insects and birds galore!  Hotels are on the main rivers and tributaries - so you can share breakfast with a herd of elephants!

2) Garden Route - South Africa
Famed for it’s ocean views and mountain backgrounds - this coastal stretch is crammed full of flowers in the peak season - crammed full!

Not only are there whales to see in the warm Indian Ocean where it meets the cooler Atlantic, but our own history right before us.  The shells on the beaches weren’t brought here and dumped - they are thousands of years worth of human waste; from when we first became humans and discovered seafood!

3) Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe & Zambia
This huge slice through the middle of 2 countries is just jaw-dropping.  The nearly 2000 metres wide Zambezi river falls over the top - and has cut back into the rocks over thousands of years to engulf 7 different gorges - and now looks like a great big gash in the landscape that seems to swallow up the river into the ground beneath it!

Needless to say there are different locations from which to view it - and there are hotels along it’s banks - but the best view must be from a helicopter flying into the heart of the gorge!  Nothing would be more amazing than getting inside this amazing natural feature!

4) The Seychelles - Indian Ocean
Needless to say that these tiny islands are totally beautiful!  Surrounded by the Indian Ocean and dotted with tropical jungles and exotic species - you can’t go wrong here!

There are 115 islands to choose from for your visit - although some are more populated than others!  Some have those amazing giant granite ‘pebbles’ resting at the waters edge, and others are a haven for tropical birds and insects.  Whichever you choose - I doubt you will be disappointed!

5) Madagascar - Indian Ocean
Another island nation - altogether larger than any in the Seychelles - but is unique for it’s lemurs, chameleons, baobab trees and the Dodo!

With miles of exotic coastline edged up to by dense tropical jungles - this is a haven for wildlife lovers!  The island was under colonial control for thousands of years so there is a lot of European influence in language, culture and architecture.  Quite a interesting mix!

These are just the first 5 beautiful places in Africa that I would recommend - so join me in a few days for the remaining 5 spots - if these aren’t enough for starters! 

posted by Travel Cat on Jun 21

Thousands of people have flocked to the South - but what are they missing out on?

South Africa is a very beautiful country, and deserves a visit - especially if you are already out there!  It seems a waste to just watch the football without taking a trip out to some of the amazing places along the 1553 mile long coast as well as those inland.

Whether you like the flowers, the scenery, the mountains, the culture or the wildlife - there is plenty to choose from without having to travel to far away from all the football frenzy!

And if you are not even watching the World Cup - still consider flying to South Africa while the tourist infrastructure is at it’s best!  Find yourself a lovely hotel or safari lodge and go exploring!

The Coast:
Follow the famous Garden Route along the coast and you won’t be disappointed!  There are some amazing coves, sandy beaches, windswept cliffs and friendly villages stretching from the Western Cape to the Storms River.

Walking the route is now as popular as driving these days - and you can see why when you hear tales of whale encounters and millions of fossils from our ancestors kitchens!

This route actually follows along the Indian Ocean, and so is relatively warm and wet - so is covered in verdant vegetation and filled with over 300 species of bird and an equally diverse insect life.  Inland lakes and the backdrop of the scenic moutain ranges adds to it’s beauty as do the luscious forests of the Fynbos and temperate forests!

The Wildlife:
Well, you could easily take a trip to one of the largest wildlife parks in the whole of Africa - if you went to Kruger National Park or a mini-break safari.

In just a few days you could well have seen all 5 of the ‘Big 5′ - which is certainly a feather in any animal lovers cap!  Lions, Buffalo, Leopards, Elephants and Rhino - as well as Hunting Dogs, Zebra, Ostrich, Giraffe, Cheetah and Hyenas to name a few more!

You could be camping close to 1 of the 9 different wilderness paths in place, close to one or more of the many rivers (in hope of seeing a hippo) or even perched in the tree tops themselves in one of the amazing eco lodges or bush camps.

Whether you safari in jeeps, on horseback or on foot - you can be sure of an amazing trip and certainly one never to forget!  The animal encounters here could be the most impressive you ever see - apart from that last minute extra time goal!

The Mountains:
Well, Table Mountain has got to be one of the top 10 ‘mountains’ that anyone has ever heard of - and for good reason; as it dominates the skyline from the city of Cape Town.

This flat-topped mountain is around 3 kilometers wide and offers breath-taking views back down across the city and the coastline.  Tourists flock here for this reason, and the popular cable car rarely runs empty as it chugs up to the top giving passengers a 360 degree view of the mountains!

The main vegetation on this huge sandstone monument is Fynbos (a unique display of hundreds of different flowering plants endemic to this region) and is protected as a World Heritage Site as a result.  Mountain wildlife includes many smaller creatures like mongoose and lizards along with a whole array of brightly coloured birds.  All the larger mammals have been eradicated from the area - so if you see a lion up there; think yourself very lucky!

If you are there for the whole World Cup - you could see them all! 

posted by Travel Cat on May 26

It is really easy these days to get information on any type of travel - so why not try something completely different! 

Imagine being in the absolute middle of nowhere - places that noone else you know has ever seen. places that aren’t even on your friend’s list of places to see this year - or in the next 10 years - like shark-watching 10,000 miles east of Australia, or watching a hit movie just miles from the Antarctic?

You want this?  If so - you need to get yourself on a cargo ship.  You can find them heading out around the world every day of the year from almost every big port in the world!

Now I know that doesn’t sound appealing to everyone - but the things you see will certainly be ‘once in a lifetime’.  Imagine the adventure of being 3 months at sea! Or sailing through the Panama Canal - and out past remote uninhabited Pacific Islands.

The Ultimate Vacation?
It could really be a vaction like nothing you have ever done before - or are likely to do again!

Of course it doesn’t have to be that long a time away, and you can choose some routes that are a lot closer to land and stop of at some pretty nice looking destinations along the way.   And you don’t need to stay onboard for the entire journey - you can hop off at any port along the way and just see where life takes you.

Those less adventurous might want to know exactly where they are going in advance - but that’s OK too - as the ship’s cargo has to go from A to B - that’s the whole point of them crossing the oceans in the first place - so you can guarantee a definite stopping point at the end - whereas you can’t always guarantee a stopping point in the middle!

Maybe you would prefer a trip from the UK to Australia like in the pioneering days of exploration - thankfully there is luxury these days, and it only takes around 84 days rather than the 6 months it probably took the average passenger a few hundred years ago!

Or maybe the 2 month trip from South America to the Far East, the 35 day trip from the US to the Mediterranean, or even the 7 day voyage around the British Isles checking up on all the lighthouses!

The Result:
Well, rather than telling your travel stories like everyone else - ‘when I was in Mexico…..’ or ‘when my family went to Hawaii’ - you can start your story with how many continents you cruised past, or how many miles you traveled in 1 day!

It will certainly be like nothing you have ever experienced before.  The people you will meet, the countries you will encounter - and the extreme weather you could get to witness first hand!  Imagine writing a travel journal of your voyage - just like Darwin did!

It might be worth trying out a few shorter boat journeys before you settle for something long-haul - as if you get seasick, this might not be the vacation for you!

Of course, check that your travel insurance covers your whole journey, and your passport is valid for the whole time you are away - and your vaccinations are current for all countries you might stop off at on the way.  Bad weather or maintenance could land you at any time in any country - so be prepared!

If you are still interested, then visit GeoCities Freighter for other peoples experiences on Cargo Ships and read their tips before booking your own once-in-a-lifetime ‘mega-cruise’.