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Best Digital Cameras For Kenya Tanzania Uganda Safari Travel

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:27:30 +0000

The Best Compact Digital Cameras for Kenya Tanzania Uganda Travel, Safari Photography

Though our safari guides are dedicated photographers, they often don’t take digital cameras with them when they are on a safari in Tanzania Kenya Uganda as they rather not to have the interruption and concentrate on making the experience as enjoyable as possible for tourists who have paid for the privilege. Our guides do have lots of other opportunities to travel on their own and photograph incredible wildlife & scenery. With this “best digital camera information our travel guides hope to pass on advice to help you get the best digital camera for travel, safaris and wildlife photography.

Best Digital Cameras for Travel in Kenya Tanzania Uganda – the most important features are:

The camera should be Handy – This for a safari travel camera is vital, it should be easy to place in your hand luggage; it has to be simple to hold, we highly recommend a compact digital camera for touring Africa. Remember that professional photographers carry large photographic equipment because it’s their job and you are on Kenya Tanzania Uganda holiday with the idea being to enjoy it.

Don’t become a Target – Another thing to keep in mind is that if you travel around populated cities like Nairobi, you are immediately a target for thieves.

Safari Camera – When you travel on safari in Africa, you most probably will be traveling on a 4×4 and the size of your camera is not that critical as long as it is easily available, but if you plan on a walking safari, again a small easy to carry camera is highly recommended.

Best Cameras for Wildlife Photography

When photographing wildlife the most important features to look out for are:

Get in close to the subject – Big Zoom required – the principals of Africa wildlife photography are similar to photographing polar bears in the arctic, you need to get as close as possible.

Digital Camera Battery types and Battery life

Battery life and what type of batteries the camera takes is also an important consideration to take into account, remember if you are traveling to remote locations there may not be any electricity to charge your batteries, therefore buying a spare battery or two is a must.

Below are recommended best digital cameras for Africa travel and wild life photography, by taking into account three main features of large zoom and compact size camera

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 is the successor to the very popular FZ18 and has increased resolution: 10.1 Megapixels.

It has an amazing super-zoom with an 18x optically stabilised lens (27-486mm, 35mm equivalent) and if that is not enough there are options to add a 1.7x teleconverter to it. As well as the zoom for t great close ups of wildlife; the 27mm wide-angle feature is ideal for your broad Masai Mara and Serengeti landscapes allowing you to capture a wider view.

Canon Powershot SX10 IS

Canon’s latest super-zoom, taking over from the fantastic PowerShot S5 IS. Unlike the Panasonic, it uses AA batteries to power it. The massive 20x zoom (28-560mm equivalent), is perfect for getting close to large wildlife like elephants and rhinos. The Canon Powershot SX10 IS boasts 10 Megapixels with the latest DIGIC 4 processor adds AF tracking, more efficient video compression, and a clever self-timer mode which waits for a new person to appear before starting the countdown..

Canon Powershot SX10 IS and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28.

Both cameras are very alike in most regards

Canon Powershot SX10 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 Zoom tele (T) 560 mm (20 x) 486 mm (18 x) Dimensions 128 x 88 x 87 mm 118 x 75 x 88 mm (4.6 x 3 x 3.5 in) Image stabilization Yes Yes Format SLR-like SLR-like Price guide £322 £260 Max resolution 3648 x 2736 3648x 2736 Effective pixels 10.0 million 10.1 million Battery / Charger No Yes Battery AA batteries (NiMH recommended) Lithium-Ion rechargeable Weight (inc. batteries) 600g 417g

Other Super Zoom Cameras Worth Considering Other than the above recommendations for the best camera to take on Kenya safari, you may wish to also take a look at the options below, all great cameras and all that meet our requirements of being compact enought to easily carry whilst traveling, have a great zoom on it to get nice close up photos of the wildlife and must be not too expensive

By: Esther Muthoni

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Travel is Much More Than a Vacation for 50-plus Crowd

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 02:16:44 +0000

New boomer Web site finds top travel dreams of 50 plus Americans include traveling to Hawaii, Europe, Australia and Italy

The days of settling for a quick trip to Florida are over or so it seems for the 50 plus crowd. What has always been an important part of Americans leisure activity is now becoming a full blown passion for baby boomers. In fact, 75 percent of boomers today consider themselves travelers and 30 percent of mature travelers travel for adventure.

Recently, Eons.com, a new Web site for people 50 and over who want to live life to the fullest, challenged Americans to submit the goals and dreams they would like to accomplish on their way to living to age 100.

This growing collection of more than 70,000 LifeDreams personalized collections of top things to do before you turn 100 reveals that nearly half of the top 100 goals adults 50 plus want to accomplish center around travel. What may come as even more of a surprise is the type of travel people are planning: Eons visitors are not naming passive vacations; rather they seek to experience and learn about the world and themselves through meaningful journeys and adventures.

If you are over 50 today, you will, on average, live 20 years longer than your grandparents did, explains Jeff Taylor, founder and CEO of Eons. This provides more opportunities than ever before to get the most out of life. Eons members have told us that they are planning to use this time to travel to new places, to continue to learn, to deepen their relationships and to just have fun. Travel is never more important than when you are over 50 now is the time to live out your dreams.

Eons lists a range of travel experiences, from seeing the Grand Canyon to going on safari in Africa, as among the 100 most popular LifeDreams of its visitors. The top five travel dreams include traveling to Hawaii, Europe, Australia and Italy, as well as taking a cruise.

Up until now, the typical first step in planning a trip was to choose a destination Italy or Hawaii for example. However, we are finding that many boomers are now starting their planning based on their interests and goals, like a walking vacation or a family reunion, explains Ronnie Mae Weiss, an Eons travel expert. From there, the research, planning and fun begin.

For active vacations, boomers are more likely than a younger audience to train with friends or with a personal trainer prior to the trip. Diving into the cultural nuances of a region, taking a conversational language course or inviting friends over to test regional recipes are other ways to make the most of preparing for trips. This new generation is embracing the Internet as a resource and is likely to have a community of past travelers and friends to share and suggest hidden treasures to enrich their travels,adds Weiss.

The travel industry is turning its attention to the financial prowess of this new 50 plus generation. Approximately 8,000 Americans turn 50 every day, and boomers control $2 trillion in disposable income annually. New offerings are being created to meet the unique needs of this age group, from plan it yourself travel to extensive package vacations that can be tailored for couples, adventurous individuals or families seeking intergenerational vacations that bring children, parents and grandparents together.

Unique travel companies like Geographic Expeditions, ElderHostel and Earthwatch, along with others, are offering experiential trips that enable people 50 and over to participate in environmental, cultural, volunteer and other interest driven activities as part of their trips. Industry leaders such as Hyatt Hotels are creating special offers and programs, including destinations and packages that are particularly appealing to this age group.

Travel for people 50 and over is rapidly changing, says Tom OToole, senior vice president, strategy and systems, Global Hyatt Corp. We find it very interesting that travel is among the most aspirational concepts for this group. As such, incredible opportunities are being opened up for the travel industry, including Hyatt, serving these peoples dreams of traveling around the world.

By: Rajinder Dogra

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Why Everyone Needs To Book A Holiday Safari In Africa

admin — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:10:31 +0000

There are a wide variety of activities offered in most holiday safari packages. Visit local tribes and Bushmen, learn about customs and cultures, and take part in game drives and hikes, which are a staple when on Safari.

Observing animals in their natural habitat is a tradition among holiday safaris in Africa and instead of asking what kind of animals you should expect to see on an African safari.

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Why Everyone Needs To Book A Holiday Safari In Africa

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:39:19 +0000

So, you have done the vacation thing – winters in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, summers in Europe, spring holidays spent on the sun warmed beaches of South America – and now you are wondering just what is left in the way of a holiday destination. And anyone tired of more traditional vacations or for anyone seeking thrills and adventure – not to mention excitement and exotic culture – should be a holiday safari in the lush, beautiful wilds of Africa.

People automatically think of animals when they hear the word “safari,” and while animals are certainly a large and interesting part of any Safari in Africa, they are by no means the only part.

There are a wide variety of activities offered in most holiday safari packages. There are riding and walking tours, during which visitors can see not only game but also breathtaking scenery and depending on the region of Africa, motorboat tours, canoe trips and the self drive itineraries can ensure you get to unearth the hidden Africa.

Visit local tribes and Bushmen, learn about customs and cultures, and take part in game drives and hikes, which are a staple when on Safari.

Observing animals in their natural habitat is a tradition among holiday safaris in Africa and instead of asking what kind of animals you should expect to see on an African safari. A better question would be to question which can you might not expect to see! The Big Five, referring to leopards, lions, elephants, buffalo, and rhinoceroses, can almost always be found, drinking from watering holes, lounging the heat of the day away, or hunting food (or prey, as the case may be), but they are by no means the only animals you can see. And again, depending on the region of Africa where the safari takes place, visitors can enjoy a diverse range of birds and not to mention giraffes, gazelles, wildebeests, and alligators.

In between all of these exciting, adventurous activities, there is also ample time for rest and relaxation, whether it be reading or napping through the balmy heat of midday or taking leisurely tours through the bush. And after a long day, there is no greater retreat than to enjoy the beautiful African sunset, while looking onto the breathtaking countryside. So experience the raw, primal world of nature for yourself and learn about the rich local cultures and customs by booking your own Safari holiday in Africa, which is sure to offer something for everyone.

So, you have done the vacation thing – winters in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, summers in Europe, spring holidays spent on the sun warmed beaches of South America – and now you are wondering just what is left in the way of a holiday destination. And anyone tired of more traditional vacations or for anyone seeking thrills and adventure – not to mention excitement and exotic culture – should be a holiday safari in the lush, beautiful wilds of Africa. You just have to decide, when and where to take the first step.

By: Simon Dance

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Kenya Tanzania Uganda Tour operators & Travel Agents

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:45:43 +0000

Selecting a tour agent or safari operator in Kenya Uganda Tanzania out of the many is very difficult let alone where to travel and which travel package is budget friendly luckily you can profit from specialized information of previous Africa safari travelers and the feedback they have given. By using the procedure below you can select the best safari company and tour agency for your travel needs in East Africa.

The knowledge by travelers through African safari trip reports, safari articles, forums, blogs as well as Kenya tourism board, Tanzania safari board, Uganda safari association helps narrow the vast number of Africa safari companies and travel agents to a list of dependable tour operators in Africa.

Selecting A Trustworthy Safari Company and Tour Operator

Thinking of a Kenya Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar Safari, these guiding principles should assist travelers judge a genuine travel agent or con travel

Travelers should know that the Tour operator and travel agent have different roles in planning an African safari; however both have an influence in the success of your planning your safari in Africa.

If you have chosen a safari itinerary from a travel agent that you have dealt with and trust, always ask the travel agent who the safari ground handler operator is for the tour. This is because most travel agencies in Africa don’t operate safari vehicles of their own and only sell tickets.

Both the safari operator and travel agent should have a good reputation, come highly recommended and have driver guides with fine character

Ask the travel agent or tour operator for details of one or two of their previous travelers and ask the travelers directly what are their thoughts of the said tour operator or travel agents.

Do their recommendations march up? Safari association membership isn’t a fool-proof gauge of finding top safari companies us most tour and safari association membership is based on annual subscription as opposed to merits.

What are their payment policies? Genuine Safari companies operate on a 30% deposit and balance on arrival. Genuine Africa travel agents and tour operators should be open with their cancellation policy. Travel agents and the safari operators should be superb, not only during the email correspondences and planning stages of your safari, but also during the tour

Do the tour operators or travel agents members of staff come highly qualified? Do they run an actual office with a physical address? As it is with the increase in tourism, there are many tour operators who only have a website with no offices and only operate from cyber cafes

Well maintained safari vehicles are important as well is the number of travelers reserved per vehicle. Ideally each passenger should have a window seat and a normal safari vehicle is licensed to carry between seven to eight. Emergency equipment should be kept on the vehicle, for example a fire extinguisher and spare wheels

By: Esther Muthoni

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