Family Safari Holidays to Uganda

When planning your Family SafariHolidays you should consider visiting the country referred to by Winston Churchill as the Pearl of Africa – Uganda. This East African country has not yet fully developed as a tourist destination so there is still the opportunity to feel that you are discovering things for the first time. The fact that three quarters of Uganda’s annual tourist visitors are from other African countries shows you that it is a country worth visiting. If you do visit Uganda then you will have the chance to see the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural environment as well as tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha Plains which is part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. These tree climbing lions can only be seen in two places in the world so you must make time to see them lounging in the trees. During your Family Safari Holidays you should also visit the Murchison Falls National Park. The waterfall in this park is spectacular and if you go on a boat trip you will get to see crocodiles and hippos. Rwenzori National Park is comprised of a mountain range in south-west Uganda which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo. These snow capped mountains reach a height of 5,109 metres and definitely worth taking a hike in. If you are feeling very adventurous then a trip white water rafting along the Nile is recommended. Uganda offers the best white water rafting in Africa with a range of rapids available depending on your skill.

See gorillas in Uganda during your Safari Holidays

Uganda is one of only three countries in the world where mountain gorillas can be seen in their natural habitat. Seeing a few of the last 800 mountain gorillas in the world will be the highlight of your Family Safari Holidays in Uganda. Tracking mountain gorillas is possible in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Bwindi National Park is 200 square miles in size and is a World Heritage site. There are 23 gorilla families living in the park and two of the families have been familiarized with humans so that they are comfortable with being visited by small groups of tourists. The gorillas in Uganda are still incredibly vulnerable from both the risk of poaching and capture for the illegal pet trade as well as conflicts with local farmers due to crop damage. Visiting one of these national parks during your Family Safari Holidays helps provide financing to enable staff to adequately protect these majestic animals.

Getting to Uganda for Safari Holidays

If you book your Family Safari Holidays through a tour operator then they will be able to advise you on flights. The main airport is Entebbe Airport and it has flights from most major destinations although direct flights from Europe are only possible from the UK, Brussels and Holland. The majority of tourists will require a visa to visit the country but do check with your nearest embassy. There is no train service in Uganda.

Discover Zambia as part of your Family Safari Holidays

Zambia is a big country with lots of different things to see. It is not yet fully on the tourist map so you can still go there and enjoy “the real Africa”. The key item on any itinerary to Zambia is Victoria Falls and you will want to prioritise visiting them during your Family Safari Holidays. The Kololo tribe that lived in the area in the 1800s described it as the “Mosi-Oa-Tunya” meaning “the smoke that thunders”. Nothing can prepare you for the awe-inspiring site of the waterfall and the falls are listed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. 546 million cubic metres of water fall over the edge every minute. The waterfall is 2 kilometres wide and has a 100 metre drop. The Victoria Falls waterfall is faced by a cliff capped by a rain forest and you can follow a path along this cliff to view it at close range – just prepare to get soaked! Victoria Falls is part of the Zambezi River which travels through six countries to the Indian Ocean.  Your Family Safari Holidays should be planned so that you can take the time to travel along the Zambezi for a while and enjoy viewing wildlife along the river banks as well as perhaps indulging in some of the excellent fishing available.

Enjoy a traditional festival during your Family Safari Holidays

Zambia has a number of traditional festivals which take place throughout the year and if you happen to be on your Family Safari Holidays at the same time as one of these is on then you should definitely go and take a look. The Kazanga Ceremony is Zambia’s oldest traditional festival and has been taking place between June and August for the past 500 years. Another major festival is the Kuomboka Festival which celebrates the migration of the Lozi King from his dry season home in Lealui to his wet season palace in Limulunga. The king wears an elaborate costume and travels down with the river with a flotilla of barges. All of the festivals have music, dancing and delicious local food and will truly be a highlight of your Family Safari Holidays.

Eating and drinking during your Zambian Family Safari Holidays

All the big game viewing and amazing sites of your Family Safari Holidays will leave you with a big appetite at the end of the day and you won’t regret trying out the local delicacies. The main food of Zambia is a maize product called nsima which has a similar consistency to mashed potatoes. You roll it into a ball and dip it into stews with your hands. The local stews or relishes are very healthy and are filled with meats and vegetables including okra and pumpkin leaves. A meal of nsima and relish will only set you back about $1. You can wash your meal down with the local beer called Mosi or perhaps try maize based soft drink called maheu. Of course western food is also widely available for the unadventurous.

Enjoy Family Safari Holidays to the African island of Madagascar

The beauty of family safari holidays in Africa is that there are numerous itineraries to stunning beaches and islands around the east coast with the Indian Ocean. The largest of all these islands is Madagascar which is in fact the fourth largest island in the world. Although there is no Big Game in Madagascar it is incredibly biodiverse. Because at one point the land mass of Madagascar broke off from the coast of Africa, the animals there evolved differently. As a result Madagascar has some of the most fascinating wildlife anywhere on the planet including striking creatures such as ring tailed lemurs, with their long tails and huge eyes. Madagascar is also a cultural melting pot making it one of the most rewarding places that offer family safari holidays. As well as traditional safaris on four-by-four vehicles to the reserves it is also possible to use Madagascar as a base for an island hopping trip through the country. Furthermore for an unforgettable experience you can sail around the coast on the classical African dhow boats.

Family Safari Holidays to the National Parks of Madagascar

As well as numerous wildlife reserves, strict nature reserves and private reserves there are 20 different national parks in Madagascar. The Masoala National Park is in the north east of the island and it encompasses the Nosy Mangabe Reserve. With 2,300 square kilometres of protected rainforest it is the biggest national park on the island and, having been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, a must-see if you come here for family safari holidays. As well as 10 species of lemur and various frogs and owls that live in the forest, the park also has an expanse of coastline where it is possible to see humpback whales. If you are interested in trekking then the Isalo National Park has a variety of challenging terrains. Another place with a huge cross-section of rare animals is the Andringitra national park. Visitors to this large area of ravines and mountains can see hundreds of species of birds as well as lot of lemurs and frogs. Most of the park is dissected by the Tropic of Capricorn so your safari holidays are sure to be hot and steamy.

What should you know about Family Safari Holidays to Madagascar?

Unfortunately although Madagascar is such a unique place it is also troubled. The country has had an unstable history so you should also check out the political situation on the Foreign Commonwealth office website before travelling. However your family safari holidays operator will be able to give you guidance so follow their advice and you will be fine. The best time of year to go to Madagascar is from March to December as the other three months of the year constitute the rainy season. Animals to watch out for are the stray dogs which can sometimes be found wandering through the cities. If you are keen to visit the capital Antananarivo don’t go out on your own at night.

Rwanda Safari Holidays

Although Rwanda is a relatively small country in the east of Africa it is a great destination for family safari holidays as it can offer something that only one other country can – Mountain Gorillas. Rwanda, along with Uganda, has the sort of mountainous terrain and rainforest in which these huge beasts make their habitat. With the help of an experienced guide you can track the gorillas through the forest in the footsteps of famous conservation experts such as David Attenborough and Dian Fossey. The latter is the famous zoologist about whose life the movie Gorillas in the Mist was made. The scenery in Rwanda is worthy of any Hollywood epic as the country is situated in the eastern part of the Albertine Rift, so you will enjoy family safari holidays here immensely.

What are the benefits of Family Safari Holidays to Rwanda?

If you visit Rwanda not only are you travelling to what is nowadays a relatively safe and stable country, but you will have a family safari holidays experience that not many other people can claim to share. By going to Rwanda you are investing in a country that is starting to rely more and more on tourism. Therefore your money will be put back into the conservation projects to help these primates which are heavily endangered - Mountain Gorillas have sadly always been a prime target for poachers. Furthermore there are also fascinating habitats such as the Nyungwe rainforest which is home to hundreds of smaller species of flora and fauna and is an ideal location for bird watching. Nyungwe is one of three national parks in Rwanda including the Akagera National Park. Akagera is a great place to see other Big Game during your family safari holidays in Rwanda such as elephants and buffalos with giraffes and zebras present too. The gorillas are in the largest of the national parks, the Volcanoes National Park, which spreads across the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. It is in the Volcanoes National Park that the awe inspiring silverback gorilla can be found, one of the biggest and most intelligent mammals in Africa. Although the trek into the forest to find these gorillas can be arduous, safari holidays companies offer luxury accommodation in Rwanda so that you can ease off any aches and trains once you are back at the lodge.

How to arrive on your Family Safari Holidays to Rwanda

To get to the Rwanda international airport in Kigali you can either connect from neighbouring countries such as Uganda or get a direct flight from Brussels airport in Europe. If you come from countries such as the USA, the UK and South Africa, there is no visa requirement to enter Rwanda. Otherwise you will need a visa which does not cost much. However, whether or not you need a visa it is necessary to have a vaccination for yellow fever if you want to return to the country you are travelling from. Family Safari holidays to Rwanda can be as short as three days and as long as you want.

Relax during your Safari Holidays on Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago

Mozambique is best known for its gorgeous white sand beaches. With over 1,000 km of coastline along the Indian Ocean you can be sure of finding the perfect beach to relax on during your Family Safari Holidays. Arguably one of the key areas of coastline in Mozambique is the Bazaruto Archipelago which is a stunning island resort and marine park. The archipelago is made up of five islands and is the only official marine reserve in the country. Described as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, the park protects all of the coral reefs around the islands. The archipelago has range of environments to explore including sand dunes, tidal flats and inland saline lakes and these provide a haven for a variety of seabirds. The coral reefs also provide homes for many species of fish as well as marine mammals. In fact this area of the ocean provides a home for the largest population of dugongs along the coast. Dugongs are large marine mammals which are the closest modern relative to Steller’s Sea Cow which were hunted to extinction in the 18^th century. Scuba diving is the main activity in the archipelago with opportunities to see dolphins, hump back whales, whale sharks, sharks, manta rays and turtles. A more leisurely activity is to go on a dhow safari along the coast. This area of coast is ranked as the best black marlin fishing destination in the eastern Indian Ocean so it’s a great spot to indulge in some fishing during your Family Safari Holidays.

Safari Holidays stop in Ilha de Mozambique

Ilha de Mozambique is definitely worth taking a trip to when visiting Mozambique during your Family Safari Holidays. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which has been described as haunting and magical. The small island is attached to the mainland by a 3.5km causeway. It was the capital of Mozambique for four centuries as well as previously being used by Arab traders. Ilha is a unique mix of colonial Portuguese architecture and old Swahili architecture. In centuries past the Ilha was the site of slave trading as well as spice and gold trading. The fort at the southern end of the island contains the Church of Nossa Senhora do Baluarte which is the oldest surviving European building in the southern hemisphere and dates back to 1522. Other buildings worth seeing include the Palace and Chapel of Sao Paulo which was built in 1610 as a Jesuit college and is now a museum. There are also several mosques and a Hindu temple. A trip to Ilha de Mozambique will add a touch of culture to your Family Safari Holidays.

Getting to Mozambique for your Safari Holidays

Almost all visitors except those from neighbouring countries will require a visa to enter Mozambique for their Family Safari Holidays. Mozambique’s policy is to charge you the same cost for your visa as what your country charges Mozambicans. To fly to Mozambique from most countries will require flying via South Africa.