LET’S TAKE A WEEKEND TO AFI MOUNTAIN DRILL RANCH

Every nature lover will dream to visit the Afi Mountain Drill Ranch which is a home to variety of primates, including magnificent chimpanzees and gorillas. Located at the Boki local government area of Cross River State, the drill ranch is internationally recognized centre for the protection of endangered primates. It is actually the most successful centre of its kind, and it has helped the Cross River State to be on the road map as the most environmentally controlled state in the whole of Nigeria.

The road to the drill ranch is a very long one as one has to maneuver his way through the hilly and galloping roads. But the real fun of the adventure is experiencing the rustic atmosphere of the place.

Founded in 1991 by two US Conservationists Liz Gadsby and Peter Jenkins, the centre mainly conserves species inhabiting the place especially the drill monkeys which happen to be one of the most endangered species of primate presently in the world. They are very unique because they can be only found in three places across the world: the south western part of Cameroon, the highland of Bioku in Equatorial Guinea, and the southern part of Nigeria, in Cross River State.

There are about 300 of drill monkeys aside the gorillas and chimpanzees kept in the closure and are fed three times daily. The animals found there are not bought neither do the ranchers go hunting for them in the wild. But they are illegal held drills and gorillas often caught by the hunters and are handed over after seizure by the authorities for rehabilitation.

At the drill ranch, everyone learns how to treat the animals, use the tools and even communicate with them. It is so interesting to hear the staff there call the animals by name and tell you their ages and where they’re brought from.

The drill monkeys are the second biggest in the world after mandrill, and the males are bigger than the females. One male dominates a whole group and they usually go in a small group of 20 in the wild.

20-25 years ago, the drill monkeys happened to be one of the best bush meat hunted by the Cross River Communities. Hunters kill them a lot because they move in a group and also because they are short-tailed monkeys and could not jump long distances.

The drill monkeys are very useful to the ecosystem as they help to fight certain insects that breed some toxic bacteria that destroy our forest, hence the need to conserve them from getting extinct.

There is no limit to activity to enjoy at the Afi Mountain Drill Ranch. You can also experience a trek through the canopy walkway that runs through the forest, about 25 metres above the jungle floor. The ranch is also available for overnight stay if you want to make a visit for more than one day, where accommodations in form of cabins are provided. The ranch has about six cabins which can accommodate up to 15 people, and are powered by solar energy. Inside the cabins, you can see animals in their natural environment, and gives you the feeling of being around animals and sleeping close to them.

Some Fascinating Things Honeymoon Vacation Does To Your Romantic Life.

Congrats! You have finally wedded and have completed the tradition. After wedding there should be the honeymoon. But you may say it is not necessary. Yes, it may not be necessary, but it is very important for your new relationship. This is because the wedding you just did is for your parents and your friends, and you did it to meet the norms of your society. The honeymoon is about you and your spouse; so it is a chance for you two to strengthen your relationship after the hectic wedding schedule.

Your honeymoon is an experience that you will always remember even after long you have wedded. You will love to tell the story about the fascinating things you did and the amazing experiences you had for years to come. That is why choosing a honeymoon destination should reflect on what you want in your new life.

You should know that honeymoon vacation enhances your chances of marital bliss. Happiness is what every newly wedded wants to experience in their marriage; and your honeymoon is perhaps the most important holiday of your life to start your marital happiness. So make it a special moment, and strive to spend it in a beautiful and romantic setting. You can decide to have it in a rustic lodge that doesn’t skimp on luxuries, just as it can be found in safari camps. Spending some time together in your honeymoon can make you keep a nice view of your spouse for years to come, and this breezes in happiness to your soul as you show appreciation for the gift of love you found in your spouse. What do you think could be more blissful than spending some time with your spouse in a romantic sunset, with red roses littering the ground?

Honeymoon escape is also useful for you to be bonded together as husband and wife; to mutually understand each other. With a new place and environment, it makes you two come closer. What could be more bonding than having a dinner with your spouse at the beach? How lovely such experience could be sitting oppositely to your spouse in an encircled hurricane lamp as you wine and dine, chatting humorously together! During your honeymoon, you are invariably making your relationship stronger and you develop sensitivity to each other. You re-solidify your love and establish a glued intimacy with each other. So, go spend a vacation with nature where there is nobody but you and your spouse!

Hence, African countries offer the most popular destination for holidays and promise an unforgettable honeymoon. Whatever your budget allows Africa has the perfect answer. From fine dining splendor, heavenly forest hideaways and spectacular safaris, this astonishing continent offers something for each and every discerning couple.

Do you plan to go on a safari honeymoon? Africa also runs to overflowing with natural beauty and wildlife. Think of places like Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya, and Kruger National Park in South Africa with bountiful wildlife viewing. Spending some days viewing wildlife will certainly be a honeymoon to remember, with memories to last you a life time. You can engage in action packed activities like moving round in an open four-wheel jeep searching for the big five, or you walk through the bush clinching your spouse’s hand. You see and smell, touch and hear things you would never encounter in your original home. Your senses go into overdrive, connecting you with nature in the most beautiful way.

You can as well enjoy your honeymoon sleeping under a starry African sky in a forest cottage where you can experience a thrilling romantic stay or a wonderful landscape viewing. The cottages are equipped with modern luxuries and a swimming pool, and they are a type of accommodation that have great beauty with roof beams, timber floors, solar powered and an open fire place.

What about an escape to beaches for your honeymoon? Africa also provides you with exotic places to ensure you and your spouse have a blissful honeymoon vacation. For example, Zanzibar is one of the finest beach destinations located in Tanzania, East Africa, and of course, the world’s most romantic honeymoon destinations, and it has excellent accommodation facilities that ranges from luxury beachfront cottages to exclusive boutique hotels and  tasteful spa resorts.

Know it today that honeymoon escape to romantic and beautiful settings is the ingredient for creating lasting and unforgettable memories that enhances marital bliss. So, treat your spouse to an amazing honeymoon experience today, and you will be excited you did!

WHY TANZANIA REMAINS AFRICA’S BEST SAFARI DESTINATION

Africa is richly blessed with so many touristic features from cultures that are as diverse as the attractions- islands and beaches, rainforests and caves, museums and monuments, theme parks and historic sites, to amazing wildlife viewing experience.

In the aspect of game-viewing experience, Tanzania tends to offer one of the best safaris in the continent of Africa. Although there are many exciting safari destinations in Africa, Tanzania happens to offer unparallel wildlife viewing and other complementary attractions that could appeal every tourist.

Tanzania, a great wildlife destination, offers excellent animals viewing throughout the year; and you can find the big five in any of the three safari circuits of the country. The big five are refers to the five most dangerous animals to hunt like buffalo, leopard, lion, elephant, and rhino. Other high profile animals you can find in their great numbers are giraffe, hippopotamus, zebra, wildebeest, hyena, and wild dog.

Tanzania has more wildlife than most African countries and the percentage of land set aside for game reserves and parks exceeds most countries of the world. At the northern circuit, the country offers about seven national parks including a conservation area. At the southern circuit, the country has about four national parks and a game reserve while it has one and two national parks both at the eastern and western circuit respectively. In the northern circuit, the places to visit for a delightful game-viewing are the Ngorongoro, the Serengeti and the Tarangire National Parks.

The Ngorongoro is a conservation area and is a very magical place to witness. The area has about 80,000 Maasai people; and has an open grassland, swamps and lakes. Ngorongoro is said to have been created out from Kenya, and it has about 30,000 animals. You can see the big five there, and everywhere you look you can see animals in their thousands-zebras, wildebeests, warthogs, impalas, etc. Ngorongoro is just an incredible scene of animals and should be a must visit if you want an amazing game-viewing experience.

Another interesting area to visit in Tanzania for a wholistic safari experience is the Serengeti National Park. Serengeti is a famous national park in the world and has about 30,000km square land mass. You can see millions wildebeest migrating, and about hundred thousand zebras. The Serengeti National Park was created in 1951 and happens to be the oldest national park in the country. If you desire to see large number of baboons, hippopotamuses, monkeys, and giraffes then make Serengeti your priority.

One more important place to have a beautiful wildlife experience is the Tarangire National Park. Tarangire is about 160km from the Kilimanjaro airport, and it is the sixth largest park in the country and fifth to be opened after independence. It was established in 1970. The park has so many huge trees scattered the entire park, and also has a major river that provides the wild animals water to drink during the dry season. But during the dry season, it can be difficult to find any of the big five because they might have moved away due to insufficient water to drink.

Aside being a perfect safari destination, Tanzania is also a home of idyllic beaches and warm tropical waters. The Zanzibar is a place in Tanzania known for clear warm waters making it a perfect destination for beach lovers.

What of the desire to learn the early civilization of man? Then a visit to Olduvai Gorge which is located between the Ngorongoro crater and the Serengeti National Park is a perfect place to find out how man evolves.

So, for a taste of intriguing safari experience and exciting adventures, Tanzania offers wonderful surprises.