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A Guide to the Poconos
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Aptly named the sunshine state, Florida reigns as the most popular holiday destination for its long stretches of sandy beaches, larger-than-life theme parks and near perfect climate all year round. Fringed by 1,200 miles of sugary white beaches...
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Holiday Escapes to Beautiful Botswana
Botswana is internationally acclaimed for its supreme and
unforced combination of tourism and wildlife. 17% of the country
is proclaimed protected and a further 20% made up of wildlife
management areas. With its eclectic mix of serenely beautiful
landscapes and some of the largest populations of wildlife
species found in Africa, Botswana is a premier holiday
destination amongst adventure and eco-tourists. Although the
country is rich in cultural and historical heritage Botswana's
main tourist attractions are the national parks. Of the many
parks and reserves which make up this magnificent country there
are three definite must sees when travelling to Botswana.
The Okavango Delta
Undoubtedly the most striking region in the country the Okavango
Delta is situated in the Kalahari Desert and is the greatest
inland delta system in the world. A natural wonderland of a
thousand islands in a thousand streams, born of a great river's
determination top meet the sea which it never will, as its
strengths are captured by the desert sands which surround the
delta.
The delta ranks amongst the finest of wetlands in the
world and from above it is a vast, fan shaped, emerald
wilderness of waterways, lakes, lagoons and lush forests. Over
1000 species of plant can be found in the delta and the rivers
are teeming with fish, 80 species overall which in turn draws
many birds to the area, the Delta is in fact one of the most
celebrated bird watching and angling regions in Africa. The few
people who in fact permanently live here are mainly fishermen.
Undoubtedly the best way to view this natural wonder is by means
of a mokoro which is a dug-out canoe that manoeuvres swiftly
through the waters near impenetrable areas. The waters are
crystal clear and crocodiles, hippos and hundreds of fabulous
birds can be seen as well as elephants, zebras and giraffes. The
only area in the Okavango that is protected is the Moremi
National Park; the rest of the delta is carved up into giant
private concessions, sprinkled with luxury lodges.
The Okavango Delta has three main areas, the Panhandle which a
15km wide fault in the northwest offers superb fishing but less
spectacular game viewing; the central permanent swamp, with its
maze of pans and water meadows and the arid seasonal swamps to
the south and east. In the months of August to November the
Okavango is hot and dry which makes for magnificent game viewing
but low waters which often prevent mokoro trips. From December
to March the region is hot and wet prompting game to disappear
into the undergrowth but this is when bird and plant life is at
its best.
As independent travel is very difficult in the delta region the
majority of visitors get to experience these amazing swamplands
with the help of tour operators who offer package deals to the
region.
The Moremi Wildlife Reserve
Acclaimed for its sheer beauty and intense variety of wildlife,
this park covers 1812 sq km and is located in the northeast
corner of the Okavango Delta. Comprised of lush wetlands,
forested islands, lagoons, woodlands and grasslands the Moremi
Wildlife Reserve offers spectacular game viewing accompanied
by
gorgeous landscapes. There are no artificial borers and human
encroachment is kept to a minimum, which facilitates game
viewing of such excellent nature. Some of the animals you
will be able to view are Elephant, Buffalo, Zebra, Kudu, various
herds of Buck, Lion, Leopard and Wild Cats. The parks dry months
which span from April to October are the best months for game
viewing; it is also during this time that the impressive herds
of Elephants converge on the Khwai River. The park is home to
over 400 species of bird making it one of Botswana's prime
birding areas. The Pelicans, Ibises, Herons and Storks are only
some of the species which bring gorgeous splashes of colour and
sweet melodies to the area. The reserve is one of the most
beautiful unmarred spots in Botswana and a trip to its tranquil
plains is highly recommended.
The Chobe National Park
Botswana's common border with Namibia's Caprivi region has been
set aside for one of Africa's premier wildlife conservation
parks. The Chobe National Park occupies 10,566 sq km of land and
is home to a splendid variety of wildlife. The park is comprised
of rivers, swamps, scrublands, grassy savannah and natural pans.
One of the most magnificent sights to behold here are the
elephants who move in their thousands along the well-worn paths
of the Chobe River every afternoon to drink. Boasting the
highest elephant population in the world (approximately
45,000) is but one of the Chobe National Park's drawcards. There
are also large herds of Buffalo, Blue Wildebeest, Bushbuck,
Kudu, Impala and Sable while the wetlands are home to impressive
numbers of Hippo and Crocodile as well as an eclectic range of
birds. The Savuti area of the park marks what was once the
massive super lake which covered most of Botswana, its flat dry
lakebed is now a sea of grass which is renowned for spotting
Leopard, Cheetahs, Hyena and Lion.
With the exception of certain sections, which are closed in the
rainy season during November to April, the park is open
throughout the year. The best time to visit it is between May
and September when it is possible to see several thousand
animals each day. Even though the Chobe National Park is one of
Botswana's most developed reserves, many of the roads in the
area are only accessible by 4X4 vehicles. Many visitors to the
park chose a package option which includes luxury accommodation;
safari drives various other guided expeditions.
With the wide range of activities, accommodation and travel
option on offer in this magnificent country, a holiday in the
wilderness regions of Botswana is made easy and accessible for
all tourists. Many tour operators offer exceptional package
deals which allow you to experience the true essence of
Africa.
About the author:
Explore the wonders of Botswana
with Escape Tours African safari packages. The Botswana
Explorer package will take you to world-famous reserves in this
unspoilt and magical country. This trip combines exciting game
viewing with delicious bush cuisine and exclusive bush camp
living. Southern Africa is an untouched and magical gem that is
just waiting to be explored by you.
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