Scenic and Serene Marakele National Park
Marakele National Park, one of the SAN parks is best for the scenic beauty, wildlife, birds and should not be missed if you are in South Africa. It is easily reachable. Food, accommodation and other traveler requirements are available at the nearby town Thabazimbi. You can spend 2+ days inside the park to fully enjoy the beauty of this park. The accommodation inside the park is very good and one should stay and enjoy the nature and wildlife. It is having rough roads that would test your driving skills as well. Wild lifes that are spotted during the visit include Giraffe, Rhinoceros, Impalas, Zebras, Ostriches, Vultures etc., The memorable scenic places include the drive on Mbidi road and the site of the valley, while driving down from the top Lenong Viewing point.
DE
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic
I had a perfect safari through Tarangire National Park, everything was well prepared. Two very friendly and helpful guides, made that trip perfect. I had been deep impressed. Weather had been fantastic, the guides tried to show as much animals as possible and I often think back to that trip
Review about Queen Elizabeth National Park by Kent MacElwee
We drove through Queen Elizabeth between National Parks and really could not believe the wildlife. I wish we had more time there. We met people who camped there, who really loved their experience.
Review about Mgahinga Gorilla National Park by Kent MacElwee
Amazing hike, through volcano terrain, to try and locate the very rare Golden Monkeys. We found them, in amidst the bamboo forest.. really amazing..! Also, a must see, for fans or rare primates, volcano hikes, beautiful terrain.
Review about Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by Kent MacElwee
The hardest hike I have ever done-- beating through thorns and dense bush, it took us 4 hours to find the gorillas -- wow, it was worth it. Incredible to see them lounging and foraging and eating and sleeping. A mother and tiny baby, a silverback, a few females, another competing male. So docile, in general.. Really incredible.
Chimpanzee trekking
My wife and I did an all-day Chimp trek. So fascinating. You spend a day with them, as they travel through the forest, you share their daily routine. You see them making choices, resting, eating, drumming on trees (!), interacting. The trek itself is flat, you cover a good area, but not too hard (MUCH easier than Gorilla trekking, which I also recommend). Chimpanzees are our closest relative.. see them in the wild, in their natural habitat, up close.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
This is a great place to see wild life.
We visited this park last year and I was pleasantly surprised with the beauty of nature and its animals. We stayed in the park accommodation and we found them to be clean, comfortable, spacious and well equipped. What a pleasure. The parks shop has all that one needs when visiting a park and the public ablutions are clean and modern.The restaurant is geared for good food and the menu has quite a variety of South African dishes.
Concerning the wild life, this is a green park with lots of animal and you will see elephant. You can do your own game drives or use the Sanparks open vehicles. There are picnic spots that are well maintained but always remember that your are in a national park with wild animal and please be careful.
We will visit this park again in 2015 as we take in tour groups and we always enjoy this park.
Life-changing, life-affirming!
Foremost, the individualized attention that I received was incredible - from personal pick-up and transportation to the orientation and assisted itinerary. It was almost fate to be taken to a local restaurant - the Ogopogo - how terrific to explain to the owner that origin of this word (my son lives in Kelowna) AND to be able, post-trip, to send him a T-shirt from the Okanagon with "Ogopogo" on it to hang in his bar!
My guide solicited my input to chose my desired itinerary so that I was able to visit the Genocide Memorial - a "must see" plus a drive-about tour and a stop at a local market. The drive to the Mountain Gorilla Lodge through amazing scenery was particularly enjoyable with frequents stops to capture it on film.
The service at the Gorilla Lodge was wonderful with great cuisine, lovely service and great company. Entertainment included dancers of every age from a local school. Staff were concerned with comfort and the fire in the lodge was appreciated in the cooler mountain climate.
Just when you think that it couldn't get better, time to go to Volcanoes National park and trek! A short orientation at the site and additional entertainment from the local dancers, the somewhat strenuous trek...eased with assistance from the guides!...was beyond worth it when the gorilla troop was encountered. There was every age group in the troop and we were particularly fortunate to visit the troop that had surviving twins and witnessed them in their mother's attentive arms. Words are insufficient to describe the experience! - I will tell you that it touches your very soul. When you make eye contact with these close relatives, I do not know who was studying who....I DO know that I was gifted with their trust and tolerance to be allowed to observe them for an hour which went by TOO QUICKLY.
Returning from the site, there is an internal quietness from the contact with these forgiving animals - they hold no malice for the wrongs we have committed. The experience is life-changing.
DE
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Tanzania by Wolfgang Klinsmann
friendly people all over the country, a fantastic countryside, I hope to come back soon to see more of these magic country
Review about Uganda by Kent MacElwee
Uganda has the BEST primate wildlife viewing of any country. The people are incredibly helpful. My wife and I used local buses for transportation, to cut back on costs between the national parks. We planned ahead and setup treks for Gorillas (Bwindi), Chimps (Kibale), and Golden monkeys (Mgahinga Park). We booked a driver to get use from the Gorillas to the Chimps, and drove slowly through Queen Elizabeth Park, to spot some of "the Big 5". Uganda is amazing -- don't miss it!