A Guide On How To Stay Healthy On A Safari Trip To South Africa

When on a safari vacation to South Africa, there will be so many things to see and do. The easiest way to mess up your vacation is to fall sick. If your health deteriorates while you are on safari, you can end up missing a lot since you will be bedridden. Are you looking to enjoy your vacation to the fullest? Follow the tips below to stay in top shape as you explore the gem that is South Africa.

Get the Appropriate Vaccine Shots Before Leaving Home

Before starting your safari, do some research and find out the types of vaccination that you need when travelling to South Africa. You can get this information by contacting the relevant consulate in your country. Apart from the requisite vaccination, ensure that you are up to date with all your other vaccine shots. After all, you can never be too careful.

Get Comprehensive Insurance

When going for safari, you can take all the steps possible to avoid getting sick but infections and diseases come without warning. Should you get sick by bad luck, it is best that you have updated health insurance to cater for any treatment that you may need while on Safari.

Without comprehensive insurance, you may end up paying hefty medical bills from your own pocket.

Drink Bottled Water

While on safari, you cannot be too sure that the tap water is truly safe. Remember that many maladies and infections can be spread through contaminated water. To avoid exposing yourself to the risk of catching water-borne diseases such as typhoid and cholera, it is best that you buy plenty of bottled water to drink while you are enjoying safari activities in the Cape.

Be Careful About What You Eat

Though you may be tempted to sample local cuisine from different locations in South Africa as you are traversing the country, watch what you consume very carefully. This should not be misconstrued to mean that the local delicacies are dangerous and you should avoid them. It simply means that your constitution may be ill-suited to handle the local cuisine. Choose what you eat carefully and only enjoy delicacies prepared in hygienic conditions. If you have to acquire groceries, go for fresh farm produce.

Stock Up Some Sunscreen and Mosquito Repellent

Most of your safari time will be outdoors and as such, you will be directly exposed to the elements. The African sun can be quite unforgiving and to avoid sun stroke and burns, you should ensure that you have plenty of sunscreen. To protect your face, it is also a good idea to purchase several hats.

If you did not know, the mosquitoes in Africa can be very aggressive and they also have a healthy appetite for blood. To avoid their pestering bites and the risk of catching malaria, ensure that you also have mosquito repellent at hand. This is especially important if you plan to camp during your safari.

Keep a First Aid Kit Close

As you embark on your safari, you should ensure that you have a well-stocked first aid kit close. Though hopefully you will not need to use the kit, it is never a bad idea to be ready for any eventuality. Your kit should be stocked with medication you may need such as pain killers for migraines, bandages and essential inspect repellents.

Inform Your Guide Of any Medical Conditions

Before setting out on your journey, it is best that you inform your guide of any medical conditions that you may have. This will enable them to formulate a contingency plan on how to respond should your condition get worse as you are enjoying your safari.

If you are going for safari in South Africa, you can trust me when I say the experience will be magical. To enjoy yourself without any hitches, follow the tips discussed in this article. Have an enjoyable and fun-filled safari, won’t you?

7 Best Things To Do In Joburg, South Africa

Johannesburg is one of the most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities in South Africa. Popularly known as Joburg by its locals, Johannesburg has a lot of exciting things to offer to its visitors. Here are some of the 7 best things for you to do in Joburg, South Africa.

1. Tour Museums And Art Galleries

Joburg offers the best of South Africa’s contemporary art. There are lots of art galleries and vibrant art scenes for you to explore. Exhibitions from local artists can be found in The Goodman Gallery, Circa Gallery, Everard Read, and Stevenson Gallery.

You shouldn’t miss exploring the award-winning Wits Art Museum. This and other museums in Joburg such as the Apartheid Museum can give you a glance into the past of South Africa. Don’t forget to visit the prisons where Mandela and Gandhi were once incarcerated.

2. Take A Walk Through The Inner City

The inner city of Joburg experienced an extensive decline in the 1990s. The inner city has experienced a lot of regeneration. The inner city has seen an influx of artists, students, businesses, and projects.

A guided tour is the most ideal way to see the inner city. You can get to learn about the city as you walk through it.

3. Spend Time In Maboneng

Maboneng Precinct is one of Joburg’s hippest neighborhoods. The term Mabonebng is Sotho for “place of light”. You can experience an independent cinema, art galleries, a yoga center, fashion and design shops, and studios. There are also superb bars, a hotel, and restaurants that serve lots of cuisines from Ethiopian to Afro-Asian delicacies.

You should make time to visit Maboneng on Sunday. You can buy almost everything from the Market on Main. This includes art, prints, books, vintage clothing, indigenous plants, and food.

4. Enjoy Historical Fun

Gold Reef City can ensure that you have fun while having a glimpse into the past of Johannesburg. This theme park has been developed to bring out the 19th-century vibe. Gold Reef City has a gold rush town theme.

You can have fun touring the original old gold mine where the park is built on. “The Miner’s Revenge” is one of the rides that can give you a tour of the theme park.

5. Tour Soweto

Soweto is one of the most popular townships in South Africa. It is a great place for you to find out more about the city’s past. You can visit places that gave refuge to freedom fighters like the church. To find out what happened during the student uprisings, the Hector Pieterson Museum is the place to be. This uprising dates back to 1976.

6. Make Time For Green Spaces

One of the largest man-made urban forests in the world is found in Joburg. It has more than 10 million trees. They are spread throughout Joburg. These range from lots of rose bushes to botanical gardens to the indigenous trees. The heart of the city has a wild pocket known as the Melville Koppies Nature Reserve.

The Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve is the perfect place for you if you are into the wilderness. It is located 10 kilometers from the city. There are 20 kilometers of hiking trails in this 680-hectare reserve. They run through valleys and hills. You can get to see wildebeests, zebras, red hartebeests, and more than 200 bird species here.

7.Visit The Cradle Of Humankind

Make time to travel back to the beginning of civilization. The Cradle of Humankind has some of the oldest hominid fossils. These fossils were excavated in Sterkfontein Caves. You can explore the caves to see where the fossils were discovered.

Johannesburg is one of the most exciting cities that you can visit in South Africa. There are many exciting activities that you can indulge in while in Joburg. These 7 things are the best for you to do while in Joburg, South Africa.

Facts About Kruger National Park

South Africa is a fantastic holiday destination that is rich in culture, renowned for the abundance of wildlife, good infrastructure as well as a variety of landscapes. It is famous for being home to one of the most famous National Parks that goes by the name, Kruger National Park. If you are looking for a fantastic place to loosen up a little, this should be the place to be! The points that follow will unleash useful facts about Kruger National Park.

Wild Animals And Birds Based In Kruger.

Several tourists, both local and international, always have a keen interest in seeing the big five-the buffalo, leopard, lion, rhino as well as the elephant. The reason why these animals got the title big 5 is because hunters realized that they are the deadliest animals to hunt on foot. They will never go down without a fight. Currently, animal hunting has been rendered illegal so that the animals increase in numbers . Hence if anyone is found carrying out, that task is fined and jailed. The Big Six Birds cannot be forgotten. The park hosts 147 nomad birds, 253 residents, and lastly 117 non-breeding migrants-this amounts to 517 species.

If you are a bird enthusiast, this paradise will leave you breathless. The birds are as follows the kori bustard, the lappet-faced vulture, the solitary Pel’s fishing owl, which is rarely seen, the martial eagle, the ground hornbill as well as the saddle-billed stork. One of the world’s birding hotspots in the park is the Pafuri and Punda Maria, which are located in the north of the park. If you want to have a beautiful sight of the birds, you can see them in the rest camps or the bushveld camps. Kruger National Park has several dams that will serve good site seeing of birds like the African fish eagle. It also has a few bird routes that include the Lowveld Mpumalanga, which is popular, the Soutpansberg-Limpopo, and the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere birding route. Each of them hosts different birds that it avidly attracts.

The Background Of Its Name.

Paul Kruger, who was once the president of the then Republic of Transvaal, is the one who came up park’s name. As much as he was not entirely educated, he never let that hinder him. He allocated an extensive area of land so that all the wild animals in South Africa would be protected. Paul Kruger was passionate about animals. After he chose the farm where he wanted to reside, he married a woman who later passed on with his children most, during infancy. Paul later displayed leadership skills; hence, he was appointed to be the Commandant-General of the then South Africa.

Later he resigned and went back to his farm, but he was once again elected to the Executive Council then as a vice-president. Kruger was a great leader. He fought some battles and won. When gold was discovered in South Africa, it sent a wave to the rest of the world, and many people came in search of fortunes. In 1883 he was elected as the president. This made him fight for his country’s independence from the hands of the British. The relationship between the British and the Boers broke in 1895 and caused the second Anglo Boer war that occurred in 1899. During the war, he stayed in the capital city, Pretoria, because he was sick. However, when the war failed to favor the people of South Africa, he fled to Europe before Lord Roberts inhabited the city. Kruger passed on at the age of 79. This legacy ultimately led to the development of Kruger National Park.

The above points are facts about Kruger National Park. This is the place to be. You can advise anyone who wants to visit South Africa to ensure that they pop in to see nature’s best. The beautiful birds and the big five will be worth the experience. This is because they are not found everywhere in the world.

6 Best National Parks In South Africa To Visit On Vacation

The Republic of South Africa is going to make for the multicultural vacation of a lifetime. You’ve got to hit up Cape Town and Table Mountain, and you absolutely have to check out the various marketplaces and the unique souvenirs available to you. You’re also going to want to get a good look at the natural attractions and all the wildlife. Check out this short list of the top 6 national parks in The Republic of South Africa.

Kruger National Park ranks #1. Make your way to Malalan Gate in Nelspruit, and prepare for quite the adventure, including a trip over to Crocodile Bridge. Have you booked your South African vacation without a pair of binoculars on hand? If so, make sure you grab a pair before you head out to Kruger National Park. You’re going to want to check out all the wildlife, including leopards, buffalo, elephants, lions and more.

Garden Route National Park makes for an excellent stop as well. You will find it located off of Dumbleton Road in Knysna. You might even want to book a Knysna Lagoon Boat Cruise while in the area. Talk about getting to see the wildlife at the national park and the marine life of the Knysna Lagoon all in the same day. At Garden Route National Park, you can even enjoy a bungee jumping adventure.

Mountain Zebra National Park is next up, and you will find it in Cradock. Enjoy the panoramic views of the main camp, and the hiking trails are great. There is a great restaurant on site, and you can even go swimming. Of course the best part is going to again be checking out all of the wildlife. Not only do you want that pair of binoculars mentioned, but you want to have your camera ready, too.

Pilanesberg National Park is located in Sun City. If you have noticed, your tour of the best parks in South Africa are taking you towards other adventures you want to experience as well. For example, while in Sun City, you need to take the Sun City Day Tour. Check out the Sun City Resort Complex, which is in a volcano crater that is extinct. At least you hope it’s extinct. In all seriousness, this nook and cranny of South Africa is going to be quite fun, and it all starts at Pilanesberg National Park.

Now it’s time to hit up a national park that takes you to the beach. West Coast National Park is just the place. The colorful flora there is gorgeous, and when it comes to the wildlife, you’re going to see all kinds of migratory birds. enjoy the hiking trails, and you might want to plan a family picnic. People even report enjoying whale watching at West Coast National Park. And of course the lovely beach there can’t be beat.

You were promised six of the best South African national parks, and perhaps I saved the best for last. Golden Gate Highlands National Park in Clarens is a great choice. In fact, there are plenty of national parks left in South Africa to explore. When at Golden Gate Highlands National Park, be sure you check out Mushroom Rock and Vulture Restaurant. This national park is known for its spectacular views.

The whole of South Africa is going to make your jaw drop. You and your family are set for the adventure of a lifetime. You’re going to get up close and personal with wildlife in ways that you have never experienced. Can you imagine what all you’re going to see and do while on vacation in South Africa?