If you are a foreigner looking for a good location in South Africa to spend your holiday, or even if you are a South African who just needs a weekend break, the Kruger National Park is ideal. You can find cheap accommodation and there is something to suit any budget.
The Kruger National Park is a nature reserve along the border of Mozambique. This border is clearly seen by the natural barrier, the Lebombo Mountains. The park, which is about 350km long and 60km wide on average, exists of plat grass and bush covered plains better known in South Africa as the savannah or bosveld. There are several entrances or gates to the park, each with its own name.
The Kruger National Park can be divided into three sections: the south, central and the north. The South, which is also known as the hill country of the Kruger National Park has easy access and a large number of camps and game drives. Central consists of open grassy plains, roamed by the large predators and herds. The North is a more remote part of the Kruger National Park, and thus offers more rest. It consists of mopane plains.
There is more than enough accommodation at the Kruger National Park. You will find many rest camps, as well as bush camps, the smaller version of a rest camp. All these camps have different names.
You can book a safari tour with an operator at the Kruger National Park. They will take you out in a 4×4, or minibus. This depends on budget. Some people however argue that a better way to experience the Kruger National Park is to hike. This means a guided walk where you get into close contact with the life on the park. Of course your guide will take all steps necessary to ensure your safety, such as staying out of scent ranges of the more dangerous animals. Many South Africans also prefer to drive the Kruger National Park by themselves. The Park has many facilities which make this possible, such as petrol stations etc.
Accommodation at the Kruger National Park is easy to find and not as costly as one might think. There is a selection of accommodation to suit everyone’s preferences. Booking is as easy as clicking a button. There are so many websites which allow you to “design” your own holiday and then offer very affordable rates. You can also see maps of the Kruger National Park and decide which location you would like to rest at. You can find a bargain deal for your holiday break at the Kruger National Park.
Visit the exploresouthafrica.net/geography/krugerpark.htm Kruger National Park in South Africa for a safari to remember!
I’ve noticed lately the tourists that make their way to central Mexico (Guanajuato) tend to be either the loosey-goosey backpackers or the tourist elite who tend to have a lot of experience in coming to strange and new places.
The backpackers (and there’s nothing wrong with loosey-goosey, I would like to add) seem to be a highly adaptable group that can, more or less, stay almost anywhere, under most conditions, and more easily go with the flow, no matter what the flow throws their way.
The tourist elite group has the money to stay in places that cater to every wish. This group can shell out the bucks to stay at places that cater to every whim and make the accommodations feel safe and secure. Because of this group’s vast experience at traveling, these people are not rattled much when they encounter new and strange things within a culture.
What has become apparent to me is there is a missing class of tourists. It is the middle-class income group of Americans and Canadians who, although they’ve heard of central Mexico, have never visited. They might want to check central Mexico out as a cheaper alternative to the classic resort areas of Mexico, but are terrified to come to a place where Spanish is the predominate language and where they might have a bit of a rough go at managing their trip.
In March 2007, while tooling about the smaller towns looking for article fodder, we met an American woman sitting quietly on a bench reading. She told us she and her husband take the time and effort to come to central Mexico to escape the traditional Mexican resorts with their sky-high prices. She also told us of friends who vacation in the resort areas and would never think of coming to central Mexico because of the language factor.
Whenever I think of the language issue and tourists, I am reminded of the travel writer, Bill Bryson, and his book, Neither Here Nor There. This man went all over Europe despite being devoid of language skills. Yet, he did it and produced a very funny book because of it.
Spanish, though immensely helpful for the central Mexico wannebee monolingual American traveler, is not necessarily a major requirement. Now, admittedly, we’ve seen some tourist meltdowns in some foreigners who miraculously got to Guanajuato only to discover that “everyone speaks Spanish here.” You can read these all-to-frequent comments on many travel forum websites.
The misconception is that English is going to be spoken by the locals involved in the tourist service industry everywhere in Mexico. Unfortunately, it’s not so.
My belief is that if central Mexico wants to attract more and more Americans and Canadians, it should begin the process of becoming bilingual in English. I remember being so amazed in the resort areas of Mexico that so many were bilingual. In central Mexico, they’ve yet to get the vision that English will attract more visitors who want to spend a lot of money in their establishments.
What those who could vacation in central Mexico don’t generally know is there are ways of overcoming their fear of the language factor. They don’t realize there are places other than the hyper-expensive places that can easily set you back $150.00 to $250.00 USD a night. We saw this American man, who, again I say, miraculously showed up in Guanajuato, have a meltdown. In an act of desperation, he whipped out his cell phone to call home. His conversation went something like, “I’m turning around and leaving this place…no one speaks English.” While it is not true that no one speaks English, I can understand his frustration because in the town where I live, English is not widely spoken.
How these tourists end up in central Mexico seems to me to be the greatest miracle!
One way to overcome this sometimes-paralyzing handicap is to, of course, learn some Spanish. There are home study courses that can offer you far more versatility in the language than you might think.
Another way is to stay in one of the high-quality Bed and Breakfasts that are scattered around town. Some of these establishments have Americans who are totally bilingual and bicultural. They will take care of you and alleviate your fears about getting around town where you would be hard pressed to find English speakers. There are also some casa-roberts.com/” target=”_blank Mexicans B & B owners who are totally bilingual and bicultural who would offer you the same peace of mind as well as fine accommodations at considerable savings over what you would pay in the resort areas.
I really think this is the way to go. There have been some B & B’s in Guanajuato for quite a while that could set you back the equivalent of your children’s college tuition. If you can afford to pay resort prices and want to, the uber-rich places are here for you. However, if what you want is a cheaper, high quality place with a home-like atmosphere where not just your sleep and eating needs are met but one in which the owner can set you straight on cultural issues and guide you through the rough spots, then you want the smaller, and in my view far more versatile, Bed and Breakfasts.
And, let’s be honest, if you want to venture out and try stretching your vacation muscles by coming to Guanajuato, you need more than three hots and a cot when your vacation legs feel a little rubbery in a place where Spanish is predominately spoken.
More Americans and Canadians could come to central Mexico and take advantage of the mind-expanding experience of visiting the birthplace of the Republic of Mexico. Colonial Mexico exudes history and culture with each step you take. This is the place where it all began. The resort areas, fun as they most certainly are, having seafood to delight your tastes, expenses to break the bank, is not all Mexico has to offer.
There’s far more to see and it’s right here, in central Mexico.
zyworld.com/theolog/Page1.htm Learning a New Language Has Never Been Easier
If you’re lucky enough to be in London during the summer months, when the Queen takes her annual summer trip to Scotland, make best efforts to get tickets for a tour of Buckingham Palace. Since 1837, the Palace has served as the official London residence of the reigning monarch (today, Her Majesty the Queen along with husband Prince Philip), but it also serves as offices for the monarchy and an impressive location for state ceremonies and entertaining. Over 50,000 people visit annually as invited guests for meals, receptions and Royal Garden Parties. Approximately 450 people are employed on site.
If you’re going to be in on vacation in London in 2006, the Queen’s 80th birthday will be celebrated at the Palace with a special exhibit of her dresses and jewelry that is included as part of the tour. There are, not coincidentally, eighty gowns on display – with some dating back to the 1940s. Visitors will also be able to see the officially-commissioned 80th birthday portrait of the Queen by Australian/British entertainer and artist Rolf Harris.
There are nineteen ornate state rooms at the Palace which are opened to the public from the end of July through the end of September (dates vary by year, check www.royal.gov.uk for specifics). Guests are also allowed to view the famous and very secret gardens and lake hidden within the Palace walls. To allow as many people as possible to visit, tickets are issued for times every fifteen minutes throughout the summer days from 9:45 AM to 3:45 PM.
The £14.00 entrance fee will also provide you with an audio tour in one of six different languages, and there are discounts available for seniors, children and families. There is a ticket office at the Visitors Entrance (Buckingham Palace Road), or you can book in advance online at www.the-royal-collection.com.
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Florida is known for its sunshine, beautiful beaches and ever-present theme parks. What many people don’t realize is that Florida has some of the most awesome camping spots you can find in the United States. Swimming, boating, hiking, biking and more define our Florida camping locations. Let’s take a look at just a few that offer a place to pitch your tent or park your RV.
Anastasia State Recreation Facility is located on Anastasia Island in northeastern Florida. You can walk or drive to the nearby four and one-half miles of beaches, for your sunning, swimming and fishing pleasure. Hike the Ancient Sand Dunes Nature Trail and see what Florida was like before the Spaniards arrived. Just a hop, skip and jump away is the tourist city of St. Augustine, where you can visit many attractions like Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum or the Alligator Farm Zoological Park.
St. Andrews State Recreation Area is located in the Florida Panhandle. Sugar-white sands cover the beaches and meet the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Swimming, boating, fishing and biking are popular here. Take a hike on one (or both) of the trails — Heron Pond Pine and Gator Lake. Shell Island is nearby and in the warmer months, you can take a glass-bottom ferry to the island. Not too far away is Panama City Beach, where you can walk the boardwalk and see the sights.
Oscar Scherer State Park is located in the south-central part of the state. Some of Florida’s most beautiful Gulf Coast beaches are a short drive away. For you hikers and bikers, there are more than 15 miles of trails to explore. Why not rent a canoe and see the park by water? If you are hankering to catch some dinner, both freshwater and saltwater fishing are great. Relax and stay awhile.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a mecca for all those who like to get wet. Located in the Florida Keys, Pennekamp is known world-wide for its fantabulous snorkeling and diving. Not exactly looking to get wet? Try the glass-bottom boat tours out to the coral reef — the only living one in the continental United States. Hiking and biking are also popular. Fishing, canoeing and kayaking are other ways to while away the hours.
There are over 160 State Parks, and numerous National Parks in Florida. Over 60 offer some sort of camping — sometimes full-service, sometimes primitive (and sometimes both). Oh, and there are several parks that even offer cabins, complete with linens and a view (and sometimes even air conditioning)! There are also about a gazillion private parks, although none offer the beauty of the great Florida outdoors or variety of services as do the Florida State Parks.
Why not walk on the wild side and do some camping on your next Florida vacation? Visit great-florida-vacations.com/florida-camping.html/ great-florida-vacations.com/florida-camping.html for more information about Florida camping and campgrounds.
Gail Nettles is a Florida native who enjoys introducing the Sunshine State to visitors. She also publishes the websites great-florida-vacations.com great-florida-vacations.com and your-florida-keys-vacation.com your-florida-keys-vacation.com which feature some of Florida’s parks and campgrounds.
