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How to Beat Jet Lag

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Mother Nature throws some mighty curve balls – and jet lag is one of the nastiest biorhythm hurdles. While some frequent fliers thrive on the executive experience of taking frequent international flights, others bemoan the exhaustion and confusion that comes with constantly changing time zones. Meanwhile, there’s nothing worse than wasting your precious vacation time because you’re too knackered to leave the hotel room.

There are a number of ways to combat and to try and overcome jet lag, including pressure point techniques and medication, but most travellers agree that natural methods are the most effective way to adjust to your new time zone quickly. The key is to plan ahead for your arrival and to make compromises with – rather than try and dictate – your body’s natural rhythms.

Plan your flight time – the battle against fatigue starts the moment you step on board the aircraft. First and foremost, flyers should try and use the time in flight to adjust to their destination time. This means that if you’ve booked a cheap flight to Thailand that touches down in the morning, you should get as much sleep as you can on the plane. However, if you’ll be arriving in the evening or at night, you’ll want to stay awake for most of the flight so you’ll be ready to hit the hay.

Limit alcohol and stay active – it’s important to stay hydrated during your flight as cabin pressurised air tends to be quite dry. Also limit the number of drinks you have on board as the alcohol increases dehydration. Dehydration can increase the likelihood of bad jet lag as your body will be less equipped to handle the experience. Meanwhile, little in seat exercises, especially if you’re in the cramped economy sections of cheap flights, will keep your circulation flowing which will help you feel more energetic when you arrive.

Adjust as soon as you arrive – once you arrive at your destination, do what you can to adjust to a normal schedule. If it’s day, stay outdoors and in the sun as our bodies respond well to daylight. Meanwhile, some hotels are offering ingenious jet lag services such as bright light therapy to help you battle fatigue.  Resist the urge to take a nap even a short quick one if you can.

Did you know?

According to the Journal of Sport Behavior, eastward travel is more difficult to handle because it compresses days into shorter time periods, which takes your body further away from its natural rhythms. Westward travel, on the other hand, expand your day – so the experience is more like staying up late for one night rather than trying to go to sleep at 5 in the afternoon!

Best 10 Underrated Places to Visit in 2024

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Seychelles Travel Guide

There are lots of impressive tourist spots around the world. Here are some of the best places to visit from different continents;

Jordan
There are some nations, such as The the air jordan, where the differences of scenery will keep you with the mouth area open. Oct is perfect for journeying in this place, with temperature ranges in the north gets to 20 levels Celsius, even a little more, in the Red Sea and near the Wadi Rum wasteland. The most popular locations to check out on a mini-vacation for a few days or even a bigger one are Roman remains at Jerash, Madaba Variety houses or try a swimming in the Dead Sea.

Seychelles
Seychelles, an isle state, is one of the last refuges of the World overcome by people. A population in Oceania and South eastern Arabic and Arabs were the first who frequented the isles in East African-american but without developing hives in this globe. In Aldabra you will find the biggest population of Aldabra tortoises (Dipsochelys dussumieri) with over 150,000 crazy duplicates. Mahe is the biggest isle in the Seychelles isles. Also, here is the city of Victoria, investment of Seychelles, with a population of 25,000 out of 84,000 population of this nation.

Marseille
The second biggest city in Italy, Marseille is situated in old and popular Provence. Marseille is in 2013 the Western Capital of Lifestyle, so here are structured many celebrations, songs activities and cinema artistry. Not to be skipped Calanques Nationwide Recreation place, situated at the advantage of city, where you will see lagoons, coves, seashores, and whales, turtles and unusual crazy birds.
The best times to check out are June-August Marseilles for the seashores, from Apr to May and Sept to Oct, when temperature ranges are more enjoyable and fewer visitors.

Singapore Botanical Garden
In South eastern Japan, Singapore is the discordant see.
It is a stylish, innovative and lavish place. Natural Lawn makes no exemption, being regarded one of the best on the globe. It was develop in 1859 on a place of 52 hectares and is separated into three segments.

Thessaloniki
Port of Thessaloniki will absolutely pleasure you, with historical Byzantine and Ottoman artifacts. Thessaloniki is a city that brings together art and culture to-night life, so more and more teenagers choose to spend their holiday here. July-August is the most popular period, while This summer and Sept can be a great choice for less noisy holidays. Thessaloniki Worldwide Movie Event is organised here every Nov.

Malawi’s Lake of Stars
At the boundary with Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia is Malawi, which is also known as “lake of stars”. The area is known for it’s a fantasy ponds, dirty streets, maize areas, baobab plants and all natural women that Nyika Nationwide Recreation place can cover up.

Guide to the Best Vacation Spots on the Planet

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Best Vacation Experience

Each person who likes to go on holidays to different places in this world will have its own list of best vacation spots. This is because each one of us has different tastes and preferences – some like beaches, a few like historical spots, and many like islands. So, it is not necessary that a choice of one person has to be the choice of other. However, this article dedicated to the best vacation spots is such that a majority of the stated sites is liked by several of us. It involves those spots in the world that are most visited and most dreamed of! The following best vacation spots are stated keeping in mind the balance amidst history, culture, nature, entertainment, and other such aspects of a holiday tour.

One of the most favorite and any time choices of the family, teens, and kids is Walt Disney World in Orlando. This is the top place of amusement and thrill for the people of all ages. Featuring exciting water parks, theme parks, classical characters, luxurious resorts, and captivating entertainment; the Disney holidays are like taking a tour of the fairyland.

I don’t think that anyone would forget the only American state composed of islands when speaking about the best vacation spots on Earth. Yes, you guessed it right! It’s Hawaii whose territory is continuously changing due to the stunningly erupting volcanoes. The best attractions here are excellent beaches, all round suitable climate, and warm hospitality. One can say that this spot is the hub of the natural attractions on our blue-green planet.

How can one leave out the Caribbean and the Polynesian islands? Aruba in Caribbean and Bora Bora in French Polynesia are the top picks of the tourists now a days. Shimmering beaches, pleasant climate, pristine water, hot desert, and rising cliffs make Aruba the top draw in the Caribbean along with windsurfing or snorkeling. Did you know that the beaches are only three feet deep here? So, good one for all who fear from deep waters! On the other hand, Bora Bora is famous for its crystal lagoons and over water bungalows making it fit for a great holiday.

Alaska, one of the top 10 American holiday spots, is certainly famous because of its glacier tours, wildlife excursions, and water and snow sports. Spot polar bears, moose, blue and humpbacked whales, gray wolves or explore its lakes and rivers for white water rafting, kayaking, and jet boat rides. Cruising is also most appreciated here, which are available at Glacier Bay, Kenai Fjords, and Prince William Sound offering a cozy and serene ambiance to relax while soaking in the beauty of nature.

Paris is just something not to be missed. This is the home of over 40 million tourists that come here annually for its awesome ethnic culture and structural marvels. When you come here, do explore the Eiffel Tower, Napoleonic Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre museum, and Notre Dame de Paris along with its grand cathedrals.

When the turn is of Australia, the rank surely goes to the Great Barrier Reef followed by the Gold Coast in Queensland. All those who are crazy behind diving and snorkeling, there cannot be any better options than these two in the nation. A few of the ideal marine beings awaits you here. Australia is also famous for its monumental structures such as the Sydney opera house and the largest steel arch bridge named as the Sydney harbor bridge.

New Zealand’s South Island is among the most beautiful places on our Earth. Especially, the Milford Sound, Queen Charlotte Sound, and Marlborough Sound are worth a trip for a true memorable vacation. In fact, Milford Sound is dubbed as the top travel spot on the planet, which is a creek besides the Fiordland town. Drawing a myriad of tourists every year, this impressive alpine valley’s charm lies in its vertical sheer cliffs that seem to grow from the ocean, its fantastic underwater world, and the adventurous trails.

Mexico is just incredible with its pre-Columbian historical sites such as Machu Picchu, Uxmal, Tulum, and Teotihuacan; the great islands of Cancun and Cozumel, the most loved city of Playa del Carmen, and of course the Belize’s Blue Hole of diving. This is the city with maximum worldwide famous attractions!

South African Safari is the leading wild life reserve mainly due to which the wild Africa is on the tourist circuit. For those who want to spend a vacation spotting the wild animals and birds in their natural habitat, there is no other best spot than this. So, expect an exciting to its many national parks such as Serengeti and Kruger for spotting the big five – buffalo, rhino, leopard, lion, and elephant.

Cambodia in Southeast Asia is among the awakening vacations that will introduce to you the kingdom of gods. Explore here Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Wat Phnom; which are all the famous Buddhist shrines. Okay, now think of heading to Sihanoukville where there many beaches, an island, a national park, and monuments.

5 African Safaris to Enjoy in 2024

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Serengeti Wildebeests

Africa! At the mention of this word, different memories and emotions are sparked in many people’s minds. Most of these feelings have been created from a former trip to this mesmerizing continent. The 2nd largest continent is a place filled with adventure, mystery and calming experiences. Many experiences can be made through interacting with its incredible nature exploring and discovering its astonishing game parks and varied cultures.

Only a few tour experiences come close to experiencing well planned African safari or vacation. That shouldn’t miss on anyone’s bucket list. From waking up to beautiful bird songs in the jungle, to conquering some of its magnificent peaks or just savoring the soothing breezes of its turquoise waters nothing feels better. Five great options have been selected to help you on choosing your next epic African Safari experience as you will find out.

1. Wildlife safaris

Africa is without doubt the greatest wildlife viewing destination on planet earth. From exploring the amazing savannah to almost impenetrable rainforest and deserts teeming with various wildlife every expedition you have just gets better. Some of the grandest national parks to visit in Africa for wildlife viewing are the Serengeti National park in Tanzania, Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda, Masai Mara in Kenya among many other beautiful parks.

A varied range of wildlife can be encountered on different safaris in these parks from elephants, lions, different antelope species, elands, zebras, buffaloes, leopards and elegant giraffes to mention a few.

2. Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda, Uganda and D.R. Congo

Mountain gorilla trekking is an un-matched experience to have by anyone on earth whether it’s the first or tenth time, a visitor can never fail to be enchanted by the magnificent gentle giants of Africa. Found in a span of three countries in the whole world an encounter with one of these magical creatures leaves long lasting memory of your encounter and epic gorilla safari in Africa. The endangered mountain gorillas are only the in the countries of Rwanda, Uganda and D.R. Congo.

With just over 1000 gorillas surviving in the wild an expedition to meet them means a lot to most guests than meeting a couple of other wildlife in Africa. The expedition of trekking a gorilla family done in sets of 8 guests will leave you with an amazing always sensation of your epic safari to the jungle to meet these incredible beasts.

3. The Great Wildebeest Migration in Kenya and Tanzania

The great wildebeest migration is another epic adventure you can’t miss to experience on a visit to Africa. The annual migration involves approximately two million wildebeest, at least 20,000 zebras plus other grazers to traverse the savannah plains of the Serengeti national park in Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya. The migration which startlingly happens in a clockwise motion of almost infinity movement over the two parks.

This migration draws a number of big predators like lions and leopards which elevates the experience as you watch epic live action unfolding right before your eyes for a change. The migration almost spans over the whole year which is a perfect option for any visitor interested in watching Africa’s wildlife at any time of the year.

4. Bird watching experiences

Bird watching another epic experience to have on the African continent. With a wide variety of environments Africa is able to support a rich diverse bird population. The environments range from coastlines, wetlands, montane forests, savannah, and lowland marshes to the great deserts with a couple of migrants from the neighboring continents.

This makes any passionate birder a run for his time as you definitely live Africa with an enriched list and meeting a couple of rare species like the mystical shoe-billed stork among others.  Some of the notable birding destinations include Bwindi impenetrable forest, Mabamba wetland and Mpanga forest in Uganda; Nyungwe forest, Gishwati-Mukura and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and so much more.\

5. Cultural safaris

Africa is a destination with a rich history and diverse culture. Having over 6000 different ethnic tribes each almost with its own traditions and language makes it an interesting place to visit. All these various culture is portrayed in its religion, arts and crafts, clothing, folklore, cuisine, fascinating music and wonderful languages. Cultural experiences are usually incorporated with usual safaris for instance the Batwa village walks in Bwindi, Uganda, Masai community tours in Kenya or the legendary Zanzibar town with its unmatched history and mix of culture as you bask in its soothing sun, white beaches and monsoon breezes.

With an open mind to leave with only exceptional and unforgettable memories of Africa, these five epic safaris and more experiences help to guarantee almost everyone’s needs on any African safari experience.

Self Drive Uganda with Rooftop Tent

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Self Driven Africa

Explore Uganda on a self-guided journey with a Uganda car hire that comes with a rooftop tent. Enjoy the holiday at your own pace with full control of the drive. Rooftop tents are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to ground tents. Particularly among Tourists. This guide outlines the merits of using a rooftop tent over ground tent.

A rooftop tent mounts to your vehicle’s roof rack or roof bars. The tent folds or collapses down into a flat, aerodynamic package that stays mounted to your roof while you drive. When you’re ready to camp, you simply fold the tent out or pop it up, depending on the design.

Most models include a comfortable foam mattress. You sleep off the ground on the vehicle’s roof. Usually, a ladder is included to help you climb up into bed. Rooftop tents are typically mounted to 4X4 expedition or over landing vehicles. Smaller and lighter rooftop tents are available that can be mounted on most cars. Rooftop tents sleep from 2-4 people depending on the size.

MERITS OF ROOF TOP TENTS OVER GROUND TENTS

Faster and easier to set up

Generally, rooftop tents take less time and effort to set up than ground tents. A well-designed hard shell rooftop tent can be set up by one person in less than 60 seconds. You simply unlock some latches, pop the tent up with the help of some gas struts, and then lock it in place with safety supports. This is faster and easier than setting up any ground tent because you don’t need to mess with a footprint, poles, stakes, guy lines, etc. It practically pitches itself.

Maybe the biggest advantage rooftop tents offer in terms of setup is time and difficulty is the fact you can leave your bedding in place when the tent is collapsed down. You don’t have to mess with stuffing and unstuffing your sleeping bag and rolling and unrolling your sleeping mat every time you camp. This saves a considerable amount of time and hassle every time you set up and tear down camp.

Easier to find a Campsite

It is generally easier to find a suitable campsite when you’re using a rooftop tent. All you need to look for is a flat place to park. It doesn’t matter if the ground is wet, rocky, muddy, lumpy, or covered in snow or vegetation. You don’t need to worry about puddles or water flowing into camp if it rains. Because you’re raised off the ground, you don’t have to worry about getting muddy or wet.

If your site is a bit uneven, you can drive a tire over a rock or dig a small hole to even things out. Rooftop tents also allow you to camp on solid surfaces like gravel parking lot. You don’t have to pound stakes into the ground to use a rooftop tent. If you can drive there, you can camp there with a rooftop tent.

More comfortable

Rooftop tents integrate a mattress into the floor of the tent. Rooftop tent mattresses tend to be thicker, larger, and more comfortable than ground tent sleeping pads. For example, most rooftop tents include a 2-3 inch thick foam mattress that offers plenty of back support. The mattress also covers the entire floor of the tent.

Because you don’t have to pack up your bedding every night when you use a rooftop tent, you can use standard sheets and a down comforter instead of a sleeping bag. Many campers find this setup less restrictive and more comfortable than using a sleeping bag.

Better view

Rooftop tents put you 5-6 feet off the ground, depending on the height of your vehicle. This allows you to enjoy an unobstructed view of your surroundings while you’re in your tent. There is nothing better than laying back and taking in the view of a towering mountain or beautiful beach. When you’re sleeping in a ground tent, even a small hump, shrub, or boulder can block your view of the landscape.

You can store your bedding and some gear inside a rooftop tent

Many rooftop tents are designed in a way that leaves a bit of space inside when they are closed. This way, you can leave your sleeping bag, blanket, pillow, and sleep pad set up at all times. This saves you a great deal of time and effort when setting up camp.

To me, this is one of the biggest advantages rooftop tents offer. Rolling and unrolling a sleeping bag and sleeping pad is my least favorite part of setting up camp.

In addition, pop-up models often offer enough space inside to store some extra gear. For example, you could leave a book, some clothes, a map, a flashlight, a tablet or laptop, etc. in the rooftop tent while you drive. It’s nice having everything already in place and ready to go when you’re ready to crawl into bed.

Cleaner

Because rooftop tents are elevated off the ground, they tend to stay cleaner than ground tents. You can set a doormat at the base of your ladder so you can wipe your feet before you climb in. This way, you don’t track as much mud, sand, water, or dirt into your tent.

Because the tent is elevated, it is less likely for the wind to blow dirt in. The inside tends to stay cleaner. Also, rain can’t splash mud onto the sides of the tent. In addition, you don’t have to deal with debris getting stuck to the bottom of the tent. Another benefit is that your car interior will stay cleaner because you’re never storing a wet and dirty tent inside. The rooftop tent always stays outside.

Rooftop tents may be safer

Many campers claim that rooftop tents keep you safer than ground tents. Tourists traveling across Africa commonly use rooftop tents to put them out of reach of predators like lions and hyenas. Those who camp in bear or mountain lion country may also prefer the extra security of rooftop tents.

Rooftop tents are safer because wild animals may be less likely to climb up on the vehicle to try to get into the tent. Additionally, because you’re sleeping above any animals that wander through your camp, they’ll be less likely to stick their nose in your tent to sniff around. After all, you’re out of their line of sight. You won’t wake up with a bear rooting around inches away from your head. If a dangerous wild animal does enter camp, you can keep an eye on them from above. You may have more time to prepare your bear spray or horn as well.

As an added bonus, rooftop tents keep you out of reach of some venomous critters like scorpions, snakes, and spiders. These critters are unlikely to climb up into the tent when you’re so far off the ground.

Warmer/Better Insulated

Rooftop tents are generally warmer than ground tents. There are several reasons for this. First, rooftop tents use higher denier (thicker) fabric for the walls. Some rooftop tent models offer a quilted insulating insert as an optional accessory.

With the extra insulation, less heat escapes in the night and the interior stays warmer. Next, you’re not sleeping on the cold ground in a rooftop tent. The floor is thicker so it provides some insulation from the outside. You don’t lose as much heat to the cold ground. Finally, rooftop tent heaters are available for extremely cold nights.

More durable and long lasting

Rooftop tents tend to be more durable than ground tents because they are made from thicker and stronger materials. For example, most rooftop tents are made from denier fabric. Ground tents, on the other hand, are often made from much thinner denier fabrics.

The thicker fabric is less likely to tear or develop holes. In addition, rooftop tents feature thicker and sturdier zippers poles, and floors. They can handle years of use and abuse. You should get a decade of use out of a quality rooftop tent if you take care of it. In general, hard-shell models last longer than the Ground tents.

Better ventilation/dryer

Rooftop tents tend to stay dryer than ground tents. There are several reasons for this. First, condensation isn’t as bad because rooftop tents offer better ventilation. Because you’re higher off the ground, you won’t have to deal with as much water evaporating from the ground and condensing on your rain fly.

Rooftop tents also feature large windows that you can open for extra ventilation. Most models have small awnings over the windows so you can leave them open, even when it’s raining.

Rooftop tents look cool

Honestly, this is one of the biggest benefits of using a rooftop tent. It makes your vehicle look like a true Tourist. For some people, looks don’t matter. For others, looks are important, even if we don’t like to admit it. Maybe you want your vehicle to look like your favorite trip in your minds. Maybe you just want to use the newest and most popular type of gear. Whatever the case, rooftop tents look pretty great. Of course, this is subjective. Some people think rooftop tents look gimmicky. 

Conclusion, 4X4 with Rooftop Tent, helps you discover Uganda at a reliable & cheap price. Rooftop tents will cover comfort, setup time, costs, safety, ease of use, longevity, and more. Hopefully, this guide helps you choose the best shelter for your next camping trip

Travel Off the Beaten Path for a Great American Adventure

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Great America Adventure

There are many American vacation destinations that are often overlooked – cities that offer wonderful sights and sounds, and even better value.

When it comes to travel, most people opt for the vacation standards: a cruise, a Disney vacation, or booking a hotel in New York or another major city. Yet there are many American vacation destinations that are often overlooked – cities that offer wonderful sights and sounds, and even better value. When you book travel to one of these destinations, you’re sure to be delighted and surprised – and all the more appreciative of what our great country has to offer.

Think about it. When was the last time you visited Cleveland? Unless you’re from the Midwest, chances are you’ve never been there. That’s means that you’ve never experienced the gorgeous architecture of I.M. Pei’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, nor have you seen Jimi Hendrix’s handwritten lyrics to Purple Haze.

While you’re in Cleveland, you can catch a Cleveland Indians baseball game, attend a performance of the Cleveland Orchestra, and visit the Cleveland Museum of Art. If you’re into thrills and chills, you can rent a car and drive about an hour and a half to go to the Rollercoaster Capital of the World; in Sandusky, Ohio.

If you’ve never been to the American Southwest, you’re missing both rich history and fantastic fun. A vacation to Austin, Texas, gives you the best of both worlds: the features of a big city with the atmosphere of a small town. Home to the University of Texas and, of course, the Texas State Capitol building, Austin is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World." If an evening listening to music isn’t your thing, perhaps hanging out with one and a half million bats under the Congress Avenue Bridge will do the trick. During the day, you can visit the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library or visit one of the city’s 20 museums.

If you love outdoor adventures, Bangor, Maine, should definitely be on your travel itinerary. Home to author Stephen King, Bangor is the perfect place from which to explore the Maine Highlands, Acadia National Park, and quaint fishing villages. With nearby mountains, coastlines, lakes, rivers, and some of the best fall foliage to be found, Bangor is the perfect travel destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

In case you haven’t heard, there’s more to Florida than a Disney vacation. Sarasota, Fla., located on the state’s Gulf Coast, offers spectacular white sand beaches and numerous small islands. It was also the resting spot for the Ringling Brothers, so when you’re not clowning around, you can visit the Ringling Estate, two Circus museums, and an art museum.

One of the best things about vacation destinations that are a bit off the beaten path is that it’s often a bargain to travel there and to stay there. Online travel packages often include both airline and hotel accommodations at steeply discounted rates. The best online travel companies allow you to choose, for example, the hotel room and type as well as flight options. So, the next time you think about packing your bags, consider travel to one of America’s overlooked vacation destinations.

Things to Know Before Reserving a Rental Car in Africa

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Car Rental Africa

Before one should consider hiring a car in Uganda or Rwanda from any car agent of company, there are certain things he/she should consider to ensure that he gets the best services. It’s embarrassing to spend your money on services that are below standard and not worth the money. This is why maximum cautiousness is required when selecting where to get a car from. In this case let’s look at Uganda and Rwanda because it’s where car hire is developing rapidly. Below are some of the things one should look at;-

Credibility – This is so important especially when it’s the first time for someone to book with a specific company. I know this is difficult to determine my tourists when just booking online but there are some measures one can use to prove this like checking if the company is listed on the various tourism platforms like the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. Reading through the reviews given by different clients that have used that company on the various tourism portals is important. If a company has excellent genuine reviews then its credibility is perfect and you can go on and book with it.

Experience – Experience companies always offer the best services and therefore one should put that in mind while selecting a company to use. Experience normally comes with the number of years a company has been in a particular business. While selecting a company to book a car from, it’s important to check how many years it has been renting out cars to people. The least number of years one should consider is 8 years. Companies that have just started lack the necessary exposure and experience so they won’t guarantee a tourist the best services for their money.

Office location – some people Ignore this factor but is important. Since tourists book their safaris online and they choose companies to travel with from far away in their countries, there is great chance of dealing with a thief. Some people open up websites with the sake of taking advantage of tourists who want to visit Uganda or Rwanda. Some even pretend to be car hiring companies yet in actual sense they don’t exist and their company is not registered. Its therefore important for someone to determine whether the people he/she is dealing with have a physical office which is well know. This is for security purposes so that if anything happens a client has to know where to go and claim his/her money.

Conditions of the cars – since safety is key while traveling, it’s a good practice to always select those companies that have good vehicles which do not put the lives of clients in danger. Since cars have to be serviced regularly, tourists should ensure that they go with those that take the initiative to service their cars. Old vehicles are not to se while on a safari and therefore only those companies that use new cars are worth traveling with.

There are other factors to consider but those listed above are the most important especially for security and safety reasons. Always book with the best car hire agents for a real adventure.

Top 7 Cities to Visit in Europe

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Europe is a continent that is mostly visited for its varied cultures, rich traditions, great history, captivating scenery, modern sophistication, and alluring atmosphere. Some of the European nations are known for their castles as well as palaces, while some cities are just known for its scenic charm and plethora of cultures. So, European vacations are always full of excitement, fun, and learning. A backpacker spending her or his holiday time in any of the European cities will surely have a mystifying garb of cultures as well as charming scenes of nature. Here is the list of top 7 cities that are most visited for enjoying diverse European vacations, which you must also plan of; if you haven’t until now.

Rome

Ah! This is the crown that holds many hidden jewels! Yes, Italy has always been a cultural destination besides being a romantic one. Attend the White Night Festival; discover the might of the Roman history via the Coliseum, Pantheon, and the Palatine Hill; get soaked into the art world via the museums as well as art galleries; and be blessed in the Pope’s Vatican City featuring St. Peter’s Basilica and Sistine Chapel adorned with the great artworks of Michelangelo. Be here at least for four days.

Paris

How can I miss this city in this list of great European vacations, which is dubbed as the ‘fashion capital’ besides being recognized as among the most terrific cities on Earth? Obviously, the very first attraction that comes to our minds is the Eiffel Tower where not-so-hard ascend offers a spectacular vista of overall Paris. Next, a visit to the Louvre art museum, the largest of its kind on the planet, is a must for all visitors here. It features over 30000 art items and is scenically nestled on the banks of River Seine. Other vivid highlights include Disney Land, Opera Garnier, Arc de Triomphe, and Jardin des Tuileries.

Athens

This is among the favorite ancient destinations for the true fan of history. Allow your pictures of history books to flash in front of you in its real charm as you explore this Greek capital. Acropolis of Athens, Tower of the Winds, Arch of Hadrian, Temple of Olympian Zeus, and Prynx are the most loved tourist attractions. A week tour is just what you need to explore this Europe’s longest city.

Barcelona

This Spanish city is very alive with its myriad of shinning treasures of all kinds. This is where the traditional art and culture resides in harmony with the modern art and culture. Start your holiday here with the indulging summer music festivals, especially the ones that feature flamenco, continue with the fun by savoring the mouth-watering Catalan dishes at any of its restaurants as well as cafeterias; and then climb the ridge point of satisfaction and wonder by exploring works of Picasso in the various museums and galleries. And yes, do also include a tour of the famous La Rambla and La Barceloneta.

Berlin

This German capital is where art, architecture, ancient tradition, and cultures form a perfect atmosphere of vacationing. Besides the fantastic nightlife, Berlin has other magnetic sights and points to keep its guests busy as well as happy. Look for the fashionable malls and shops if you are a shopaholic; Zoologischer Garten that is among the most ancient and internationally acclaimed zoological gardens if you are a fan of botany; and Berlin Wall, Reichstag, and Pergamon Museum if you are a art as well as historic lover.

Reykjavik

Literally meaning ‘steamy bay’, this Iceland capital is where you can have a great winter vacation. However, also note that this is among the costliest destinations, but is worth it! The main attractions are the geothermal pools and the Ice Hotel. Other tourist highlights are Mt. Keilir, Hengill, National Museum, Austurstraeti, and Hafnarstraeti. The museum exposes the culture on this ice-filled land, while the latter two are known for souvenirs and handicrafts.

Edinburgh

This second largest city of Europe in Scotland is well known for its partying nightlife in trendy restaurants and pubs. I recommend visiting this city via a bus that will comfortably as well as affordably take you around the city. With this way of traveling, you can easily wonder at the major tourist attractions – Royal Botanical Garden, National Gallery of Scotland, Museum of Scotland, and Royal Yacht Britannia.

European vacations feature entertaining venues, native cuisine, shopping malls, historic monuments, and interesting museums.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda: Where to Go in 2024

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Rwanda Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking is one of the best wildlife adventures that one can ever take in Africa. There are a few destinations where travelers can go gorilla trekking! There are only three countries that host the endangered mountain gorillas; Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite the existence of just three countries, many travelers face a problem of selecting which country they should visit to enjoy gorilla trekking. Here is a quick comparison between these countries.

There are a multitude of questions that need to be thoroughly stripped before choosing which country to visit and enjoy a gorilla safari in Africa. Under normal circumstances, gorilla trekking go on differing from country to country and experience differs as well. Some of the rampant questions under the spot light here include; which is the best place to do a gorilla trek Uganda or Rwanda? Which is more viable and cheaper: Bwindi National Park or Volcanoes national park? Is tracking Rwanda better than Uganda? So such questions are some of the many that we are going to digest under this article.

Gorilla trekking or tracking whatever you may call it is one of those thrilling moments that one should always vie to do before one dies. The excitement that comes with setting the eyes on a wild mountain gorilla is really enticing. Yet in the same intellect, that magical one hour spent with the gorillas does not come cheaply considering that a permit goes for US$750 in Rwanda and $600 in Uganda – but it is unusual to find someone who regretted the financial outlay due to the fact that the experience is far reaching than the amount paid for the permit.

Only eight persons can visit a given gorilla family per day. In Uganda, thirteen families have been habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park, and one gorilla family has been habituated in Mgahinga National Park. Therefore Uganda can host 112 persons tracking the mountain gorillas on any day.

Rwanda can also permit 80 persons per day. All else being equal, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park has a slight edge over the rest because its gorillas are the most wholly habituated, and they are often found in bamboo than the dense forest which makes photographing easier.

The major challenge with tracking gorillas in Rwanda is certainly the price of the gorilla permit at US$1500 compared to Uganda’s US$700 per permit. However, Rwanda’s pride is in the ability for one to do the gorilla trek even in one day and fly back home which is impossible for Uganda. The Volcanoes National Park is located 116 km from Kigali and can be driven in just 2 hours. On the other hand, Bwindi National Park is located 500 km from Kampala/ Entebbe Airport and a drive can take 8 hours plus. In that sense, you will spend at least 3 days for your gorilla trek tour. If a tour operator is making you a tour package, they shall definitely have to consider this cost and include it in your tour cost.

However, the long drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is quite enchanting with great scenery all through like the Equator, Lake Mburo National Park (for some Queen Elizabeth National Park with abundant wildlife), terraced mountains with flowing rivers, and a lot of rural Africa. This is not so really the case for the drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park.

Therefore you will certainly need to spend more on transport and time to track the mountain gorillas in Uganda than it is for Rwanda although this cost is compensated for by a cheaper gorilla permit.

Besides, some sections of the roads to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are not so comfortable to drive on yet in the case of Rwanda; you drive on smooth tarmac at least up to the Volcanoes National Park head office. Not to mention though, the roads leading from Volcanoes park office to the gorilla trek trail-heads can only be accessed with a raised 4×4 vehicle.

Comparison of the Addons to the Gorilla Trekking Experience

On a gorilla safari in Rwanda, tourists enjoy a traditional dance performance by the SACOLA before taking a gorilla trek in the Volcanoes national park. In general, the experience can only be different due to the way a particular gorilla family behaves in front of the trackers, how long and tough one has to track before reaching the gorillas and the way the park staff conduct the exercise. Personally, I found the Rwanda gorilla tracking package more charming than the Ugandan one on the tracking day. Should we say that this’ because of the gorilla permit price difference? Anyways, on your gorilla tracking day in Rwanda, you will definitely get more than that. At about 7:00 AM, tea/ coffee dispensers with cups are laid for visitors going for the trek. You are free to take as much as you wish. As visitors are enjoying the tea/ coffee, they are entertained by the lively traditional dance troupe (SACOLA Traditional Dancers) who bring on a wholesome Rwanda traditional cultural experience that all visitors enjoy.

However, you can get this in Uganda in evenings (at a fee) from the various traditional cultural groups that are near the park. In addition the drive from Kampala to Bwindi is a very fabulous one traversing at least another national park (either Kibale National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park famous for tree climbing lions and many other big mammals, or Lake Mburo National Park) and not to miss- the Equator. In a way, even before you arrive Bwindi you have had a bit of the ‘Pearl of Africa’ as is fondly known. To many, driving along paved eucalyptus avenues to the gorillas in not the best deal. Indeed many to purchase tour packages combining both Rwanda and Uganda, first doing Gorillas in Rwanda and then crossing to Uganda to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for the BIG 5 safaris and chimpanzee tracking among other tours.

Let’s compare the Tour Costs in General

Because of the long drive one endures from Kampala to Bwindi, the general cost is increased (even when you travel by public buses). It even increases more because you have to travel 2 days (to and from Bwindi). However, the increased cost is countered by the low cost gorilla permit of US$700. A low budget 3 days gorilla trek tour in Uganda goes for about $1350 (with gorilla permit, accommodation, and transport). The two days Rwanda gorilla trek costs about $2020 ( with gorilla permit, accommodation, and transport) and a three days Rwanda gorilla tracking tour costs is about $1280 (with gorilla permit, accommodation, and transport) . Costs samples got from Gorilla expeditions website effective Jan 2014.

Lastly, if you are not travelling just to see the mountain gorilla, and you want to include other activities in your visit, Rwanda may not be the best choice. Many tourists have continually had to cross to Uganda after their Rwanda gorilla trek to tour other reserves like Queen Elizabeth National Parks so endowed with abundant wildlife one cannot see in Rwanda. This is why probably folks continue enduring the long drives to Bwindi yet there is an easy way out.

At the end of the day – the ultimate jury are those who are looking as to which country to visit in order to track Gorillas – it is not Rwanda, not Uganda, not the Democratic Republic of Congo but where their pockets and hearts choose. If you precisely want the mountain gorillas and nothing else, go for a one-day gorilla trek especially in Rwanda but if you are a one who wants it and all of it, go for the long drive in Uganda – you won’t regret.

Planning a Holiday in a Foreign Country

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Travel Planner

For many people traveling to a foreign place can be an intriguing and exotic experience. Having the opportunity to learn about other cultures within their setting can be remarkably enjoyable and informative. Unfortunately for many individuals the prospect of traveling never presents itself, whether it is because of a hectic career or a budget that is simply too tight to allow for holiday spending. However, if one can afford to take a safari to an exotic place, there is truly.

1. Choosing the Destination to Travel To

Choosing a vacation destination that is ideal for you can be a difficult task since the safaris are costly; you need to make a lot of consultations to get worth your money. If you’ve never traveled abroad in your lifetime then it is likely that there are countless places you’d like to visit and as such choosing just one can be rather tough. You also need to do a research on the safety and security situation of the place you intend to travel to. It is advisable to check information with a trusted local given that many travel advisories online have outdated information.

2. Make an Informed Destination

Making the decision can become quite complicated if you have a number of friends or family members going with you and you simply cannot agree on a place – this is because you can be with people of different ideas and interest coming together and some times may fail to reach an agreement. For example, some members may wish to take a gorilla safari in Uganda while others consider visiting Rwanda’s and the different ideologies may end up making the group split. However keeping in mind what you wish to discover or partake on your vacation can make the decision a little less problematic.

3. Things to Do

There are lots of things to do during your holiday. To elaborate if you wish to bask in the hot sun all day and work on a tan or go swimming or snorkeling in warm, blue waters then it is likely that you will travel to somewhere in the Caribbean. Knowing exactly what you wish to see accomplish on you vacation can rule out a significant number of places.

4. Observe Culture

If you are more partial to the cultural aspects of a place, you really enjoy historical artifacts and you really cannot stand overbearing heat, then you may want to consider some place in Europe. This is not to say that you cannot observe rich history within other places in the world, it is just that many cities in Europe are quite popular for their presentation of history within the landscape and their history oriented tours.

The benefits of travelling to a foreign land include the following:

  • The travelers to foreign land enjoy unique culture of different people unknown before. Travelers can experience cultures in terms if music, dance and drama, cultural demonstration among others.
  • Tourists can enjoy the unique topography of different location – relief features like cliffs, plateau, valleys, mountains or hills among others. The Virunga Mountain ranges in Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) makes the region superb for the holiday.
  • Holiday makers make friendship with local residents – creation of the relationship with the local residents forces them to reveal all the hidden information to he tourists making the safari educational.
  • Holiday makers are exposed to new location unknown before – the idea makes them explorers or discoverers. If you take a tour East African countries like Kenya and Tanzanis, you will be exposed to unfamiliar wildlife, Uganda and Rwanda, you will encounter Mountain Gorillas & chimpanzees and so on.
  • Travelling in a foreign land enable tourists experience unique climate like sweet sunshine in most of African countries like Uganda, Egypt, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo among others. Whites from European countries mostly visit African when winter storm their nations.
  • Travelling to foreign countries expose you to unfamiliar features suitable for photographing – take photos back home to justify stories to tell.

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