Lanzarote is named after an Italian adventurer called Lancelloto Malocello who first discovered and mapped the island during the 14th century.  Before it officially became a Spanish possession a hundred years later.  One look at the map though reveals that Lanzarote is in fact very close to the coast of Africa, which starts to explain its appeal.  As along with the six other islands sin the chain this is the ‘European Caribbean’ – the place the sun starved can head during the winter months, as well as in summertime too.

Lanzarote is especially popular with tourists from the UK.  Last month alone more than 80,000 British tourists arrived on flights to Lanzarote from various UK airports and over the course of this year that figure is expected to reach around 800,000 tourists.  German visitors also love the island – as do tourists from the Spanish mainland.  Who regard the Canaries as their country´s own little tropical paradise.

The island plays host to some weird and surreal landscapes.  As Lanzarote was rocked by volcanic eruptions as recently as 1824.  Erosion has had little time to disturb these pristine lava fields and as a result the Fire Mountains as they are known locally remain the most popular visitor attraction.

But Lanzarote also boasts plenty of the more conventional beauty you would normally associate with a holiday island.  For example there are loads of great beaches to explore, both in and outside the three main holiday resorts.  Whilst there are also lots of atmospheric villages and towns to take in too.  Such as historic Teguise and picture perfect villages such as Yaiza and Haria.  Lanzarote car hire is cheap so it is simple to get out and explore.

Where are the best places to stay?  Accommodation in Lanzarote encompasses every option from cheap studios to expensive luxury hotels.  Most visitors however tend to book a break in either an apartment complex or a four star hotel.  Neither of which will break the bank.  With around 20% of all visitors opting for all inclusive deals.

Whilst the island is a great destination all year round the autumn months are the best time to visit.  Sea and air temperatures remain very pleasant throughout October and November.  But there are none of the crowds that you get during the peak summer season.

Hermanus Times Kalfiefees (4th to 9th August 2010): This festival is organized every year to celebrate the arrival of the Southern Right Whales at the Hermanus Times Kalfiefees. A large number of Whale lovers take places to view celebrate this festival. They make their Hermanus Wine and Food Festival (6th to 8th August 2010): This festival is ranked among one of the 10 best wine festivals in South Africa, and is one of the most attended event by visitors taking cheap flights to South Africa. This is the only wine fare in South Africa where you can taste and purchase more than 200 wines from the various wine estates, olive products, glorious cheese, and loads of specialty food stalls offered by more than 50 local wineries.

Women’s Day Swim (9th August 2010): A series of cold sea swims will be taking place around Cape Peninsula comprising four swimmers at least one women on 9th August this year. Every one is invited to participate. You may participate by taking flights

Cape Town Fashion Week (11th to 14th August 2010): It is one of the premiere “new world” fashion weeks gathering fashion talent from across sub-Saharan Africa. This week will provide an international platform for designers, and visitors taking South Africa cheap flights will take special interest in attending this event. Other events you may attend at Western Cape include; Encounters International Documentary Festival, Gravity Adventure Festival, RMB Winex, Destinations Expo, Youth Music Festival, Franchise and Business Opportunities Expo, and many more.

The History of Walking Safaris

The concept of a walking safari is credited to Norman Carr and his experiences in South Luangwa of Zambia that occurred approximately fifty years ago. The legacy Carr left behind is in part a selection of quality “bush camps.” These camps are generally smaller than the traditional safari lodges, meaning they only accommodate 6-10 people at any given time. The design of these bush camps is made complete with a smattering of thatched cottages that lie along the Luangwa River.

Safari Safety

In order to have a safe Zambia safari, you will need to secure a guide who possesses a great deal of sensory perception and concentration. You are not vacationing in a theme park; an authentic Zambia walking safari means you will be in near proximity to many wild animals without the added safety that a vehicle provides.

The National Parks of Zambia

The national parks of Zambia are well-established and open during the country’s dry season from May to October. South Luangwa does not disappoint in terms of game viewing. Animals you may spot include herds of elephants and buffalo in mating season, lions that are busy defending their territory from competition, and leopards in their own habitat. Other animal species that are native to Zambia are various antelope species, the Cookson’s Wildebeest, and the Thorneycroft’s Giraffe.

Hippopotamuses are also seen in high concentrations along the Luangwa River, especially when Zambia is in full swing of its dry season, which causes the river to shrink. Many times groups of hippos will total to several hundred in one location. The safari tour will in most cases provide concealed areas where you can take pictures and observe hippopotamuses in the wild.

Traveling to Zambia

Zambia can easily be accessed via a direct flight originating from the UK that flies to the capital of Zambia, which is Lusaka. After a short flight, you will arrive in Mfuwe–a small town that acts as an entrance to the bush camps of South Luangwa. When you finally reach your destination, the beauty of Zambia and its untouched wilderness will take your breath away.

Even though you may be eager to get your Zambia safari underway, take the time to first discuss the safari with a person who has traveled to the region. They can give you an unbiased view as to choosing the right kind of camp for you because some of them have a more rustic feel than others.

* African culture
* African history
* The people
* Geography and places such as
* Cape Town
* Johannesburg
* Sun City
* Kruger National Park
* Hermanus

Plan your trip with useful information on:

* Rental cars and cars for hire
* African safaris
* Top vacation spots
* Things to do
* Places to see
* Hotels
* Museums
* Beaches
* Safety
* Getting there
* Family travel
* Adventure travel

A trip to Africa is not hard to plan when you have all the information you need at your fingertips. This is a once in a lifetime journey you are about to go on and you want to make it the best and most memorable vacation and adventure you have ever taken! Start planning now the fast and simple way with africasunset.com!

To go on an African Safari, you just need to go and register with the tourism department which arranges African Safaris of your choice. In turn, you will be able to see the beast lazing around in their natural habitats and basking in the sun. These tourism departments allow you to mingle with the wildlife closely.

Precautions while Taking Africa Holidays

Though your safari is bound to leave you spellbound with all its beauty and encounters with the wildlife, you must take the required precautions as these safaris can also be quite dangerous, as a slip here can even prove fatal. For this, it is extremely important to have a good, knowledgeable and experienced safari guide with you. The first thing to do is to select a good safari arranger with a lot of experience. This will not only increase the amount of fun that you will have, but also take the required safety measures. Tell them the things you want to see and they will plan your safari accordingly. Once you have selected your tour operator, do follow the instructions and guidelines they give to you as they are for your own safety. Having an expert to guide you will only increase your pleasure. As the wild animals are quite moody, disturbing them might cause them to lose their tempers, and hence, you should make it a point to stay in the car itself while you are in the wilderness. Be extremely careful and do not do any such thing that will provoke the animal and he will in turn attack you. Remain with your group as you may get lost if you go alone as you are not acquainted with the area. Always carry a map to be on the safer side.

Imagine what you will feel when you see a lion prowling in his territory like the king of the jungle. Whether you will feel scared, get goose bumps or simply be thrilled, you will definitely learn a lot from this expedition and will take back many memories which will last for your entire life.

An innumerable number of African countries are the perfect tourist spots for African safaris, with various types of exiting and audacious wildlife safari adventures. These safaris will test your guts and catch your attention in a jiffy. The countries famous for these wildlife safaris are Kenya, Zambia, Egypt, Botswana, Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, Ethiopia and many other countries.

These African safaris are ideal for people who have zeal for adventure and to live in conditions similar to a vast number of wild animals. Under the supervision of experienced and qualified guides, you can experience this thrilling adventure and also click pictures, capturing the beauty of the exotic beasts to take back home and treasure for the rest of your life.

Most African nations are dependent on these African safaris as a major part of their income comes from here. There are various locations they can choose for you to go for a safari in and blend with the wild beasts and wildlife of Africa. Though a major tourist attraction, African safaris can also be dangerous and scary as the beasts you see are not tame, but uncontrolled and wild.

Many people tend to forget or don’t acknowledge this fact while planning such expeditions. They think that they are simply going to a zoo. However, this is not so as the animals you encounter are wild and hence, not controlled and tame. Thus, the necessity of a skilled, trained and experienced safari guide who will accompany you throughout your safari arises.

A proper safari guide will know the area as well as the wildlife of the place where you plan to go for the safari, and will therefore, take all the precautions required to ensure that you as well as your entire party is safe and sound throughout the whole journey. However, a new guide who is inexperienced or a guide who just wants to mint money from you will take risks and put you in danger. You should be careful to avoid these guides while choosing a safari guide.

A list of vacation spots is given below:

South Africa

Though it has a very tumultuous history, South Africa is a blend of contemporary as well as historical destinations. Kruger National Park, the world’s first wildlife conservation park is situated in South Africa. The marine biology is something that South Africa is famous for. Hence, while planning out your trip make sure that you take full advantage of this fact and include this in your schedule. The price range of the tour varies from a few hundred dollars to $10,000, depending on the comfort level you opt for and the time period of the tour.

Kenya

Famous for its Masai Mara National Park, Kenya is one place where you can rub shoulders with the wildlife present. The rhinos, elephants, lions and a number of other species found in the Masai Mara National Park make Kenya a photographer’s haven and a tourist’s adventurous venture. The Samburu and Amboselli frank, the neighbouring game reserves make Kenya an immensely popular safari destination. Tourist from all over the world with budgets ranging from a few hundreds to a few thousand of dollars, come here every year and experience the excitement of an African Safari.

Located in the southern tip of Africa, South Africa is a country with a diverse landscape and wildlife, where you can hire cars easily. The nine provinces of South Africa- Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, the Western Cape, Free State, Limpopo, Gauteng, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the North West. Though it has a temperate climate and warm summers and cold winters, there are temperate extremes also. A Mediterranean Climate is present in the Western Cape, as the Benguela Current on the Atlantic has a cooling effect on it. However, the east coast is extremely hot with its sub tropical weather and high humidity, with occasional laps of the Indian Ocean on its shores.

Cape Town’s breathtaking scenery and diverse heritage like the Table Mountain and Cape Winelands paths, Johannesburg’s skyscrapers and humble shantytowns lying next to each other emphasizing the callous results of materialism are something you will see in South Africa. Durban is the home of Zulu and Indian cultures while Port Elizabeth, with its sunny beaches hosts many interesting sports events and activities.

South Africa is an ideal place for an exiting outdoor vacation, filled with many different activities. Renting a car in this situation will prove to be extremely advantageous to you. Gansbaai lets you go shark diving, Walker Bay facilitates whale watching and the Bloukrans River Bridge provides you with bungee jumping off it. An ideal vacation spot for daredevils and people fond of outdoor activities, simply cruising through the wilds will be enough to enchant you with the raw, untouched beauty of nature. The ‘Garden Route’ which runs between Mossel Bay and Tstsikamma National Park is very famous and stunning. It includes the popular Cango Caves, the scenic Outeniqua Mountains and the effervescent George city.

Argus Car Hire is one place where you will get cheap and efficient cars covering a large number of locations, for rent.

Being the most chief trading centre of South Africa, Pretoria, the capital of South Africa is also the home of The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa that is, the national zoo of South Africa. Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg are the other spots which attract tourists.

Cape Town’s Table Mountain is the place you have to visit when you go to South Africa. Immensely popular, this beach like the other beaches gives you a spectacular view. Garden Route’s waterways, lakes, rivers, forests, and waterways is a very beautiful and extremely scenic place. Some of the most popular and best wines in the world are also found in South Africa. Wine tasting tours with cheese can make the trip even better.

Johannesburg, a city with interesting museums of historical as well as cultural importance, is the city where the airports are present. The Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve and Burman Bush Nature Reserve are the major attractions of Durban, a famous vacation spot. Sports activities are encouraged over here by the presence of a seaside. With parks, reserves, sunny beaches and a bustling nightlife, Port Elizabeth is one of the favorite holiday resorts in South Africa. Sowete is a place of historical importance.

Sun City entertains as well as relaxes its tourists through its various types of activities. Pilanesberg National Park is the place where you can take the ethnic balloon safaris, while others can go for quad and elephant back riding.

Kruger National Park comes under Africa’s top three safari destinations and is the best place to bird watch in South Africa. The most famous natural reserve, there are a large variety of animals and their habitats over here. It is a wildlife reserve where you can see the Big Five- buffalo, leopard, rhino, elephant and lion.

Hermanus, a famous land-based whale sighting spot, is the place where the whale festival takes place. The photographers will love the Drakensberg or the Dragon Mountains.

If you have already visited Africa before and would like a new experience then Turkey holidays cheap is something you should take a look at.