Austin's Travel Blog

By Mario Fazekas

If we ask visitors to African National Parks what would they most like to see on their safari, the answer is usually a unanimous ‘lion or cheetah kill’!

We have been visiting South African national parks for over 16 years and we had not seen a cheetah in the first few years as we used to race around the parks checking the animal sighting boards at each camp and then race off to the sighting area, only to find… nothing!

Our strategy then changed to stop and watch any animal – just enjoying their behavior – and we found that our predator sightings increased and now when we visit the Kalahari we are rewarded with cheetah sightings every time.

In this article we share three of our experiences of photographing cheetah kills in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and provide some important lessons for other visitors.

Sighting number one…

We watched an entire sequence in the Nossob riverbed of a female cheetah stalking a springbok for two hours and then chasing it, catching it – not by tripping it like we see on TV programs, but by jumping onto its back – killing it and then feeding on it with her cub, which she had hidden under some bushes during the kill.

The whole event took four hours and we were the only witness – even though at least ten cars had driven past us they did not even stop as they could see only springboks and not the cheetah that was hidden behind a tree or sand dune.

Sighting number two…

On this visit we had stopped at Tierkop waterhole on the lower dune road and we were watching some gemsbok. Suddenly my wife, Jenny, saw a cheetah lying in the shade under a tree. We knew the gemsbok was too big for the cheetah so we decided to just sit and see what would happen.

About twenty minutes later an ostrich family came walking past us and across the dunes. The cheetah had not moved… then suddenly he burst out of cover and sprinted after the ostriches. The mother and father ostrich tried to draw the cheetah away from the babies but the cheetah zeroed in on a baby and caught it.

Sighting number three…

We were staying at Urikaruus camp and woke one morning to find a cheetah mother and her two adolescent cubs drinking at the waterhole right in front of our cabin! We photographed them until they walked off down the Auob riverbed. We gulped our breakfast down, hopped in the 4X4 and drove down the Auob to see if we could find the cheetahs as we knew there may be a chase or kill.

After about thirty minutes we found them resting under a tree. We tracked them with our binoculars and watched them coming towards us. We could not see any prey for miles so thought there would be no chase when a herd of springbok appeared. We sat in anticipation, fingers glued to our camera shutter release buttons – but nothing! The cheetahs just watched the herd walk by.

We wondered if they had already eaten. Then another herd of springbok appeared and they too walked past the cheetahs when suddenly there was an eruption of hooves and dust – the cheetah mother had, in those few seconds, brought down a springbok! They dragged the carcass under a tree out of our sight where they fed on it.

The lessons to be learned here are:

• Be patient – nature has its own time.
• To obtain these types of unique photographs be prepared to endure uncomfortable circumstances. You can imagine how hot it was at all these sightings as it was summer in the Kalahari Desert with no shade!
• Don’t fixate on lions and other predators – learn to enjoy all animals. Keep in mind that springboks and other less exciting animals are the food of the predators and if you stop to watch the prey animal you may be provided with great photographic opportunities.
• Be alert for sudden action and keep your camera at the ready!
• When you are visiting national parks stop and speak to other visitors – you may not be able to see what they are watching and if you don’t ask you may miss the sighting of a lifetime!

Mario Fazekas is a wildlife photographer living in South Africa, and is the webmaster of http://www.kruger-2-kalahari.com – Find out more about the Kalahari at http://www.kruger-2-kalahari.com/Kalahari.html

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Technorati Tags: Africa, Cheetah, Kalahari Desert, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, south africa

Anyone who travels a lot needs to have luggage that is made from high quality material and that is built to last any condition no matter how much they have to pay for it. You do not want to constantly have to be replacing your gear while traveling.

The majority of us are always really careful with our belongings, but that still does not prevent them from becoming damaged every now and then. Luckily, most of the time this damage is due to the age of our gear and nothing more.

The durability of your suitcase depends firstly on the materials that it was created out of. The second is how well you take care of it. Together these two factors will basically determine how long your case is going to last. It is absolutely vital that you do whatever you can to take the best possible care of your baggage to prevent having to buy new ones every so often.

Unfortunately, many almost always get damaged due to ill-treatment and lack of proper respect for their luggage. Another damaging factor to these is the weather, because too much rain or sun will definitely have your bag begging for some rehabilitation.

Individuals should check their bags prior to leaving for a trip. If need be, take them to a suitcase repair center to have them patched up. While on your trip be sure to always properly handle them to make them last longer. Always make sure your locks are properly working, because a loose lock could mean your personal items spilling out at the most unexpected times.

Many individuals dread not being able to take their bags as a carry-on when flying, because of all the damage that can occur to their bags in cargo transit. However, the airport does provide plastic covers to go over their bags for a small fee. These do not prevent your suitcases from getting damaged if something heavy were to fall on them, rather they act as a security feature to make sure the lids stay shut throughout your flight.

On your journey, your suitcase is vital to your trip. Every thing you need is packed away safely inside along with several souvenirs that you hope to share with your friends and family when you arrive back home. A luggage belt will help you keep things in order as well as in place until you arrive home.

The short article writer has furthermore shared other reports concerning the hard suitcase and as well , vintage Hartmann suitcases.

Technorati Tags: advise, baggage, general, luggage, suitcase, Travel

Costa Rica is a country that is filled with lots of beautiful touristic places. You can visit them when you are on a family vacation, a honeymoon or a trip with friends. That is why it is very hard to try to see them all in one trip so here is a list of the 3 areas that you can’t miss, specially if you are visiting this beautiful country for the first time:

Arenal

You will find Arenal in the northern region of Costa Rica, in the province of Guanacaste. The natural beauty of the Arenal area is perfect for relaxation and enjoyment. This is the perfect place to take pleasure in one of its many hot springs at the base of Arenal Volcano while delighting yourself with an amazing lava show almost every night. All of these of course at a safe distance.

You will find Arenal in the northern region of Costa Rica, in the province of Guanacaste. Here is where you will find the famous Arenal Volcano, one of the top 10 most active volcanoes in the world that rises 1,633 meters above sea level. This beautiful volcano is situated at the end of La Fortuna town. It has been active since 1968. You will also find in Arenal the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge.

There a lot of tours available in the area for adventurous travelers some are: canopy tours, hiking, naturally heated thermal springs, canyoneering, caving and plenty of wildlife spotting.

Monteverde

It is located in the Puntarenas province. Here you will be able to experience the rich biodiversity of the cloud forests, living museums, canopy tours and Spanish schools. But for the adventurous traveler there’s canopy. Monteverde is also home to more than 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds including 30 species of hummingbirds, 2500 species of plants and over 500 species of orchids. The best places to see them are the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve which is the largest privately owned reserve or the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.

Monteverde is the only place in Costa Rica where all the parks are privately endorsed and protected. This place is full of nature, educational and living museums such as butterfly gardens, frog ponds and serpentaruims.

But for the adventurous traveler there’s canopy. As a matter of fact this is where the first canopy was built, along with hanging bridges high overlooking the cloud forest.

Manuel Antonio

If what you want is sun, crystal clear waters, restaurants, luxury hotels and spas, and relaxation? Manuel Antonio is the place to visit. Here you will find something for everyone. Here you will find the Manuel Antonio National Park and its beautiful beaches along with endangered and exotic wildlife.

Today, the docks in Quepos are used for the sport-fishing industry, which is one of the major attractions of this area. Here you will find the famous Manuel Antonio National Park and its beautiful beaches. But the best part is that you will get the chance to see endangered and exotic wildlife.

Marina K. Villatoro, has lived in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for over 10 years. She’s traveled these parts extensively and now loves to organize vacations to these amazing parts of the world. With her first hand experience, she can recommend the best options for you. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!

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Technorati Tags: adventure, adventure travel, arenal, central america, central america travel, costa rica, costa rica travel, CostaRica, family, family travel, manuel antonio, monteverde, Nature, Travel, travel services, vacation specialist, vacations

Before actually buying a personal watercraft (or PWC), many people often rent one from a Lake Powell boat rentals shop. PWCs are less than 16 feet in length and use internal combustion motors for powering water-jet pumps. There are different brands of personal watercraft, including Jet Ski, Wet Jet, Sea Doo, Tiger Shark, and Wave Runner. All of these PWCs require successful completion of boating safety courses in order to legally operate them. PWCs have been disproportionately involved in boating accidents in general, and many of these avoidable tragedies were caused by inexperienced operators who didn’t keep a proper lookout and who operated recklessly.

PWC accidents are typically more fatal or serious than are other kinds of boating accidents. Most of the PWC injuries and accidents involve collisions with other boats and result in concussions and miscellaneous head traumas. PWC use (which requires vigorous physical activity) often causes dehydration that can impair awareness and reaction time, thus increasing the likelihood of accidents. PWC use can also result in severe skin damage to the unwary sun-tanning operator. And many PWC operators are hurt when they get too close to the water in-take underneath the hull.

There are basic safety rules that are always recommended: always wear the best-fitting, Coast-Guard approved life jacket; always use the manufacturer’s engine-stop mechanism on your wrist in case you fall overboard; keep at least 50 feet between you and other boats and you and the shoreline; constantly watch out for skiers, divers, swimmers, and other boats; don’t use waves and wakes as ramps; always obey the legal operating age rules; never use drugs or alcohol while operating; keep yourself sun-screened and hydrated; never stand up when in motion; don’t go near the hull’s underside; and keep the engine turned off when people are nearby in the water.

Most accidents on PWCs happen with operators who are renting or borrowing the craft. This suggests that a lack of knowledge and unfamiliarity with the techniques and etiquette of riding contribute to the accidents. If you choose to lend your PWC to someone, it would be a good thing to give an actual demonstration. Many operators don’t initially know that PWCs take quite a bit of time and distance to completely stop and that they can’t stop instantly or be steered when the power is turned off. Also, there are illegal behaviors that increase the danger on a PWC: turning sharply close to another boat; jumping another vessel’s wake within 100 feet of it; following other boats too closely; chasing other PWCs in small circles; and operating after dark.

Other crucial things to remember about operating include keeping aware of weather forecasts; learning the rules of right-of-way; keeping loose items secure in the boat; maintaining a fire extinguisher; and using a spotter for watching skiers. When you get ready to rent a PWC from Lake Powell Bullfrog Marina, please take time to review your safety rules.

Looking for Lake Powell Bullfrog, then visit www.offshoremarina.com to find the best advice on Lake Powell boat rentals for you.

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The Cliff House Hotel is located in the south of England at the edge of the New Forest and includes the New Forest Restaurant, called the Bay Restaurant. This refurbished dining establishment is enjoyed by non-residents and residents, as they savor the English cuisine served there.

Open from Tuesday through Sunday afternoon, you will be able to enjoy lunch, which is served from 12:00 pm until 2, and dinner begins at 7:00. There is also a wonderful Sunday Roast, which is a highly recommended treat.

The Isle of Wight awaits you, as you gaze at it from your dining table, as well as the Christchurch Bay. And the wonderful Sunroom invites you for a comfortable rendezvous with friends, over a drink and snacks. Coffee and pastry can be enjoyed there, as well, and in the late afternoon you can enjoy some cream tea.

The al fresco patio is a comfortable place to meet, as well as the bar. As you lounge you can enjoy the smell of the sea, and the Bay always serves freshly caught fish and local fresh produce.

Before lunch you may be tempted by one of the many appetizers presented on the lunch menu. One might wish to try the chicken liver pate with toast, served with red onion marmalade, or maybe the chickpea and lemon soup. And for the main entree you may desire the Martins beef and tomato lasagna, or perhaps the road vegetable and goats cheese tart. All of the lunches are served with fresh produce from the area, such as seasonal vegetables and potatoes, or perhaps chips.

Their specialty desserts are made with the local Bramley apples and berries, to create a wonderful apple and berry crumble. Or you may choose another favorite, dark chocolate cheesecake.

For dinner, one of the very special starters would be baked camembert with apple and rosemary jelly, along with celery and toasted ciabatta bread. Or you might try to king prawn in tempura batter. They come with a chili and avocado dip. The main course selection is excellent, as you choose from ten different entrees. There is fresh duck breast with orange and ginger sauce, which you may find very enjoyable. Or perhaps you would like to try the Lymington dressed crab with avocado salad and new potatoes.

And if you are a steak lover, The Bay serves mouth-watering Steak Diane, eight to ten ounce sirloins, and six to eight ounce fillets, along with a peppercorn sauce supplement. And they purchase the best, Hampshire Beef, cut to order before it is char-grilled

If it is romance you seek, or a quiet, fun luncheon with friends and family, the New Forest Restaurant, called the Bay Restaurant, will delight you. Its perfect location in the coastal village of Barton-on-Sea brings visitors from far and near to this area for good food, nature, and the seas. About thirty minutes from the Bay is the active seaside village of Boumemouth, with pubs, and shops, and theatre to further entertain you. And for long nature walks among the trees, you will enjoy the New Forest National Park nearby.

If you want to find out the latest events and activities in the new forest hotel, you should look on the Net to find their web page. The New Forest Restaurant has always been a very good place to visit during the summer or even during peak times of the year.

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Technorati Tags: england, holiday, New Forest, new forest hotel, new forest restaurant, restaurant, Travel, Vacation