What’s Up!

For you animal picture lovers, there is a beautiful coffee table book named On This Earth: Photographs From East Africa by Nick Brandt. Samples pictures below.

Featured Animal

Did you know

The most popular food for the locals in Tanzania is ugali, a porridge made by boiling cornmeal. This dish is comparable to the grits eaten in the southern United States. Ugali is often eaten with stew, vegetables or meat. Goat, chicken and mutton are the most commonly eaten meats. Roasted corn is also popular and is sold on almost every street corner. Hot tea is a popular beverage and is always served when people are socializing.

Wit and Humor

Swahili Term of the Week

Thank you very much = Asante sana

Read Original Post: African Safaris Newsletter #81

This content was provided by Lion Dog African Safaris - African tours to visit the Jewels Of Africa and written by damangmedia

 AFRICAN JEWELS SAFARI NEWSLETTER

 April 14 , 2012    ISSUE # 79

What’s Up!

Lion Dog African Safaris has added a second African Travel Buddies Tour. The African Adventure Buddies Tour is a party comprised of like-minded individuals seeking others to tour Africa together for companionship and savings. The first tour takes place in October 2012; the second tour takes place in January 2013. Contact Jen at jlubey@LionDogAfricanSafaris.com for more information on either tour.

Featured Animal

The Okavango Swamp Cats Part 1

Did you know

Africa was once joined to South America and Australia as part of the supercontinent Gondwana, which broke up between 270 and 200 million years ago. For another 30 million years, Africa and Eurasia were periodically linked by land bridges, which enabled the spread of mammals between the two continents.

Wit and Humor

Swahili Term of the Week

Lion: Simba

Read Original Post: African Safaris Newsletter #80

This content was provided by Lion Dog African Safaris - African tours to visit the Jewels Of Africa and written by damangmedia

 AFRICAN JEWELS SAFARI NEWSLETTER

 April 14 , 2012    ISSUE # 79

What’s Up!

Lion Dog African Safaris has added a second African Travel Buddies Tour. The African Adventure Buddies Tour is a party comprised of like-minded individuals seeking others to tour Africa together for companionship and savings. The first tour takes place in October 2012; the second tour takes place in January 2013. Contact Jen at jlubey@LionDogAfricanSafaris.com for more information on either tour.

Featured Animal

The Okavango Swamp Cats Part 1

Did you know

Africa was once joined to South America and Australia as part of the supercontinent Gondwana, which broke up between 270 and 200 million years ago. For another 30 million years, Africa and Eurasia were periodically linked by land bridges, which enabled the spread of mammals between the two continents.

Wit and Humor

Swahili Term of the Week

Lion: Simba

Read Original Post: African Safaris Newsletter #79

This content was provided by Lion Dog African Safaris - African tours to visit the Jewels Of Africa and written by damangmedia

What’s Up!

1. Ibuprofen reduces altitude sickness US study says.
• Medicine: Ibuprofen can reduce acute altitude sickness suffered by a quarter of the people who travel to mountains to climb or ski, according to a clinical study published Tuesday.
• Grant Lipman, the Stanford University researcher who led the study, described altitude sickness as being like “a really nasty hangover”. The symptoms include headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and poor appetite.
• In the worst cases, altitude sickness can cause cerebral edema, an often fatal brain swelling. Ibuprofen, an active ingredient in over-the-counter painkillers like Advil, reduced altitude sickness symptoms by 26% in a study of 58 men and 28 women, Lipman and his team reported. Other altitude sickness drugs are available but can have undesirable side-effects, according to researchers.
2. Xavier Ortega (Spain)
• Trekking through the forests of Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania, Xavier could hear the small band of chimpanzees moving ahead through the trees. ‘After a couple of hours,’ says Xavier, ‘I walked into a glade and there they all were.’ He sat down, trying not to make any movement, so the group didn’t feel threatened. Though they were used to researchers following them, they were not familiar with him. But they accepted his presence, and for the rest of the day he was able to observe their interactions. ‘It was fascinating,’ says Xavier, ‘to see so many facial expressions and gestures, and hear them ‘speak’.’ He was particularly drawn to a mother with a small infant and took   many pictures of her, his favorite being this most tender of moments

Featured Animal

Mountain Gorillas

Did you know

Gorillas and Humans are 98% genetically alike.

Wit and Humor

Swahili Term of the Week

Gorilla: Sokwe

Upcoming Events

Lion Dog African Safaris has added a second African Travel Buddies Tour . The African Adventure Buddies Tour is a party comprised of like minded individuals seeking others to tour Africa together for companionship and savings. The first tour takes place in October 2012, the second tour takes place in January 2013. Contact Jen at jlubey@LionDogAfricanSafaris.com for more information on either tour. Or you can fill in the form below and Jen will contact you.

Read Original Post: African Safari Newsletter Issue #78

This content was provided by Lion Dog African Safaris - African tours to visit the Jewels Of Africa and written by damangmedia

What’s Up!

We would like to introduce in Chumbe Island in Zanzibar Tanzania. Not many know about Chumbe Island, and those that do, know about its underwater beauty with open air accommodation that offers both privacy and oneness with nature. No one lives here except park staff. Chumbe Island will appeal to those that just want to kick back and enjoy the islands tranquil setting and excellent snorkeling.

Tip of the week

It is a good idea to have a general medical and a dental check done well before departing and addresses any pressing issues prior to departure. It is also suggested that clients get any recommended flu shots at least 2 weeks before embarking.

Featured Animal

“Rusty”- Lion Dog African Safaris namesake

Did you know?

Longest river in Africa – The “Nile River” which is also the longest river in the world.
It runs from Uganda all the way to Egypt for 4,132 miles (6650 km).

Wit and Humor

Swahili Term

Dog: Mbwa

Upcoming Events

We are pleased to announce the African Adventure Buddy Program Fall 2012  . If you are looking to team up with other like-minded travelers to experience some of the Jewels Of Africa, for companionship and savings, check out this fantastic tour program. We expect this program to fill up quickly so don’t delay.
Contact us today for your African tour. GO BIG, GO AFRICA!

Read Original Post: African Safari Newsletter Issue #77

This content was provided by Lion Dog African Safaris - African tours to visit the Jewels Of Africa and written by Mike Donovan

Whats Up!

1. Here is an interesting article titled Voluntourism Does More Harm Than Good
2. Here is another good reason to book your African tour now before airfares increase as per this article Airfares Are Chasing Oil Prices Higher
3. Check out all of the new Testimonials
4. We are pleased to announce the African Adventure Buddy Program Fall 2012  . If you are looking to team up with other like-minded travelers to experience some of the Jewels of Africa, for companionship and savings, check out this fantastic tour program. We expect this program to fill up quickly so don’t delay.

Tip of the Week!

If encountering poverty and imperfection upset you, perhaps a trip to Africa is not for you. However if you love the outdoors and wildlife, and accept imperfection, then there is no better place on earth to visit than Africa.

Featured African Animal – Crocodiles African Safari

Did You Know

Mummified crocodiles and crocodile eggs have been discovered in Egyptian tombs.

Wit and Humour

Swahili Term of the Week

Crocodile: “Mamba”

Upcoming Events

Register on the Lion Dog African Safaris Website  for the following FREE presentations;

• Dallas/Fort Worth, How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 25, 2012
• Denver/Castlerock, How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 26, 2012

Contact us today for your African tour. GO BIG, GO AFRICA!

African Adventure Buddy

Read Original Post: Crocodiles African Safari – Lion Dog Newsletter Issue 76

This content was provided by Lion Dog African Safaris - African tours to visit the Jewels Of Africa and written by damangmedia

What’s up!

Here is an interesting article:
No Proof Flying Coach Causes Blood Clots

Tip of the week

Travel in Botswana & Local Customs: A more traditional life is strong in rural areas of the country, so ask permission before taking someone’s picture, as well as avoiding photographing airports of military buildings. Clothing should not cause problems with casual wear accepted throughout the country and standard dress in the cities

Hippopotamus - Featured African Animal

Ever notice how the hippopotamus seem to get pinker as the day goes on? The royal flush that suffuses the naked skin of these heavyweight herbivores is due to an oily secretion that they produce when exposed to intense sunlight. Colorless to begin with, but quickly turning red, this gooey substance-more like mucus than sweat – acts as a sunscreen and helps to cool the animal. It contains two pigments, hipposudoric acid (red) and norhipposudoric acid (orange), which absorb ultraviolet radiation and scatter the light. Hipposudoric acid is also strongly anti-bacterial, which may explain why hippo’s numerous cuts and wounds – the result of their territorial skirmishes – seldom become infected.

Learn More about our African Adventure Buddy Program Fall 201

Did you know?

-A group of hippos is called a “bloat.”

Wit  & Humor

Swahili Term of the Week

Gift: “Zawadi”

Upcoming  Events

Register on the Lion Dog African Safaris Website  for the following FREE presentations;

1. Dallas/FortWorth, How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 25, 2012
2. Denver/Castlerock, How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 26, 2012

Contact us today for your African tour. GO BIG, GO AFRICA!

Read Original Post: African Safaris Newsletter Issue – 75

This content was provided by Lion Dog African Safaris - African tours to visit the Jewels Of Africa and written by damangmedia

WHAT’S UP

Gorilla Encounter

Lion and Crocodile Encounter

TIP OF THE WEEK

TIPPING ON KILIMANJARO

It is common practice amongst the other outfits to tip the guides, assistant guides, cooks, porters all individually on the mountain. However to avoid all the hassles and problems that this current practice entails, LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS strongly suggests that each trekker simply put $USD 200 in small denominations in an envelope and present this to the head guide or one of the office managers upon completion of the trek .  The head guide or manager will distribute the tip fairly amongst the trekking staff themselves.

FEATURED AFRICAN ANIMAL

The African Python

DID YOU KNOW ?

The African Python can go months up to a year between eating

WIT AND HUMOUR

SWAHILI TERM OF THE WEEK

Where is the toilet ? -”Choo iko wapi ? “

UPCOMING EVENTS

Register for one of our upcoming Lion Dog African Safaris presentations

1. Dallas/Fort Worth , How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 25, 2012
2. Denver/Castlerock, How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 26, 2012

Contact us today for your African tour. GO BIG, GO AFRICA !

Join our African Adventure Buddy Program Fall 2012

Read Original Post: AFRICAN JEWELS SAFARI NEWSLETTER #74

This content was provided by Lion Dog African Safaris - African tours to visit the Jewels Of Africa and written by damangmedia

WHAT’S UP

We have over a 90 % success rate in clients successfully summiting Mount Kilimanjaro but we wish to extend a very special congratulations to Nellie Pintus who is 72 years old and reached Uhuru Peak on February 8.  Nellie’s  testimonial is on the Testimonials  page .

Contact us if you might like to talk to Nellie about her trek and how she trained for it.

TIP OF THE WEEK

BEST TIMES TO TREK KILIMNJARO

To avoid in-climate weather, schedule the trek sometime between January to mid March , and from June to October. If possible, schedule the trek departure 4 days before there is a full moon to illuminate the mountain for the final ascent.

FEATURED AFRICAN ANIMAL

The Jackel

Physical Characteristics

The three jackal species found in East Africa differ mainly in color and choice of habitat. The sandy-colored golden jackal prefers open, grassy plains, while the side-striped jackal lives along waterways with dense undergrowth. This jackal is drabber in color, has a white tip on the tail and indistinct stripes along the sides of the body. The black-backed jackal is recognized by the mantle of black hair on the back that contrasts with the rust-colored body. The tail is black-tipped, as is that of the golden jackal. The black-blacked jackal is usually the most frequently seen as it is more diurnal than the other two species.

Habitat

The common jackal lives in open savannahs, deserts and arid grasslands. Side-striped jackals are found in moist savannahs, marshes, bush lands and mountains. The sliver-backed jackal lives primarily in savannahs and woodlands.

Behaviour

Jackals live singly or in pairs, but are sometimes found in loose packs of related individuals. They are among the few mammalian species in which the male and female mate for life. Mated pairs are territorial, and both the female and male mark and defend the boundaries of their territory. Sometimes pups will stay with their parents and help raise their younger siblings. Most pup deaths occur during the first 14 weeks of life, so the presence of helpers increases the survival rate. Family or pack members communicate with each other by a screaming yell and yapping, or a siren-like howl when a kill is located.

Litters number up to six but usually average two to four. It takes about 10 days for the infants’ eyes to open, and for the first few weeks of life, they remain in the thickets or holes where they were born. At about 3 weeks, they begin to spend time outside playing with their litter-mates. At first the games are clumsy attempts at wrestling, pawing and biting. As they become more coordinated, they ambush and pounce, play tug of war and chase each other. The mother changes den sites about every two weeks, so the young are less likely to be found by predators.

The pups are suckled and fed regurgitated food until they are about 2 months. By 3 months, they no longer use the den but start to follow their parents, slowly learning the territory and observing hunting behaviour. By 6 months, they are hunting on their own. Their parents, however, continue to feed, groom and play with them.

Sometimes pups stay with their parents and help raise their younger brothers and sisters. At times they bring back food to their younger siblings or babysit them while the parents hunt for food. Most pup deaths occur during the first 14 weeks of life, so the presence of helpers increases the survival rate.

Diet

Jackals can best be described as opportunistic omnivores. They cooperatively hunt small or young antelopes and also eat reptiles, insects, ground-dwelling birds, fruits, berries and grass. They will pick over kills made by large carnivores and even frequent rubbish dumps in pursuit of food.

Predators and Threats

Being highly adaptable and resourceful, jackals have not displayed large population depletions like many other African carnivores. However, increased habitat loss causes them to infringe more and more on human settlements, where they may be viewed as a danger to livestock and poultry.

From AWF website

DID YOU KNOW ?

The demographic with the highest failure rate to summit Mount Kilimanjaro are young men, likely from not following sage advice and/or from picking the wrong trekking outfit.

WIT AND HUMOUR

Seen at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro !

SWAHILI TERM OF THE WEEK

mountain- “mlima”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Register on the Lion Dog African Safaris Website  for the following FREE presentations;

1. Victoria , How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 5 , 2012
2. Vancouver , How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 6,  2012
3. Kelowna , How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 7, 2012
4. Dallas/Fort Worth , How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 25, 2012
5. Denver/Castlerock, How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 26, 2012

Contact us today for your African tour. GO BIG, GO AFRICA !

Read Original Post: AFRICAN JEWELS SAFARI NEWSLETTER ISSUE # 73

This content was provided by Lion Dog African Safaris - African tours to visit the Jewels Of Africa and written by Mike Donovan

AFRICAN JEWELS SAFARI NEWSLETTER  February 25, 2012 ISSUE # 72

What’s Up ; Tip Of The Week ; Featured African Animal ; Did You Know ? ; Wit and Humour ;Swahili Term Of The Week ; Upcoming Events

 WHAT’S UP

Kondoa Rock Art Sites

Kondoa Rock Art

In the Kondoa district in Tanzania, there is a World Heritage Site containing an impressive collection of between 150-300 sites of rock art dating back 3000 years . The paintings vary greatly in style, size and colour, reflecting the changing nature of the peoples inhabiting the area over the millenia (from hunter-gatherer to agro-pastoralist) and their livelihood and belief systems. Some of the shelters are still considered to have ritual associations with the people who live nearby. Day visits to the Kondoa District can easily be incorporated in our clients programs for those who indicate an interest.

TIP OF THE WEEK

MISCELLANEOUS THINGS TO DO BEFORE DEPARTING

  If your home is vacant while travelling,  there are a few things to consider doing.

You do not want to tell too many people that you are going away and you do not want to leave tell tale signs that your house is vacant. For instance, suspend any newspaper subscription, put up a “No Flyers Please” sign on your mailbox, arrange to have your grass cut or snow shovelled, and leave a few lights on. Call the postal service to have them hold your mail

Just before leaving, flush all your toilets, turn your hot water heater to its lowest setting and turn the main water supply valve off to the house to prevent any leaks and floods from occurring while away. Turn the thermostat down, and secure all the doors and windows.

Some house insurance policies require that the house be checked every 3 days by a reliable person while it is vacant.

FEATURED AFRICAN ANIMAL

  The Crested Porcupine

Crested Porcupine

The crested porcupine is the largest and heaviest of African rodents. The head is roundish and rather domed, with a blunt muzzle and small eyes and ears. The legs are short and sturdy, and each foot has five toes, all equipped with powerful claws.

The porcupine is, of course, easily recognized by its most notable feature—its quills. Quill length on different parts of the body varies, from 1 inch up to 12 inches on the back. Usually the quills lie flat against the body, but if danger threatens, the porcupine raises and spreads them. Scales on quill tips lodge in the skin like fishhooks and are difficult to pull out. New quills grow in to replace lost ones.

Habitat

Porcupines are most common in hilly, rocky country, but they can adapt to most habitats. Excessively moist forests and the most barren of deserts seem to be the only exceptions. They have even been found on Mt. Kilimanjaro, as high up as 11,480 feet.

Behavior

Natural shelters among roots and rocks are modified by porcupines to suit their needs. They will inhabit holes made by other animals but also dig their own. These burrows are most commonly occupied in family units.

The porcupine warns potential enemies of its defense system when alarmed. It will stamp its feet, click its teeth and growl or hiss while vibrating specialized quills that produce a characteristic rattle. If an enemy persists, the porcupine runs backward until it rams its attacker. The reverse charge is most effective because the hindquarters are the most heavily armed and the quills are directed to the rear.

Not much is known about the breeding habits of porcupines in the wild, but the gestation period of the African crested is about 112 days. Between one and four young are born in a grass-lined burrow. They are well-developed and have their eyes open at birth. The young leave home for the first time at about 2 weeks of age as their quills, soft at birth, begin to harden. They are quite playful and, outside the burrow, they run and chase one another. The young are suckled for 6 to 8 weeks, when they begin to eat vegetable matter. Porcupines readily adapt to captivity and become quite tame, some living as long as 20 years.

When porcupine populations close to cultivated areas surge, they can become serious agricultural pests. They are smoked out of their burrows and hunted with spears, nets or dogs, practices that have eliminated them from densely settled areas.

Diet

Porcupines primarily eat roots, tubers, bark and fallen fruit but have a fondness, too, for cultivated root crops such as cassava, potatoes and carrots. Sometimes porcupines will take carrion back to the burrow to nibble on.

Predators and Threats

Especially in heavily settled areas, porcupines can be serious agricultural threats and porcupines can do a lot of crop damage in a single night. They are hunted using dogs, spears or nets, or smoked out of their burrows.

excerpt from AWF website

DID YOU KNOW ?

Rock Art paintings are available for purchase at Rock Art Prints http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.racctz.org%2Fpage11%2Fpage11.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHFqjmP6pKpibqpw48TiEU8cx00dg

 WIT AND HUMOUR

Rock Art Cartoon

SWAHILI TERM OF THE WEEK

Artwork- “Sanaa “

UPCOMING EVENTS

Register on the Lion Dog African Safaris Website for the following FREE presentations;

A) Victoria , How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 5 , 2012

B) Vancouver , How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 6, 2012

C) Kelowna , How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 7, 2012

D) Dallas/Fort Worth , How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 25, 2012

E) Denver/Castlerock, How To Best Safari Africa Presentation 7:00 pm , March 26, 2012

Contact us today for your African tour. GO BIG, GO AFRICA !

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Read Original Post: AFRICAN JEWELS SAFARI NEWSLETTER February 25, 2012 ISSUE # 72

This content was provided by Lion Dog African Safaris - African tours to visit the Jewels Of Africa and written by Mike Donovan