KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 4th Boeing 777-300ER named Amboseli National Park jetted into Kenya on Friday evening on its maiden commercial flight.

The  425-seater aircraft is the latest addition to  KLM fleet and it signals a double ‘first’ being the first aircraft to leave the Boeing plant using environmentally friendlier paint and the first to be named after a national park in Africa.

The Amboseli National Park aircraft is painted silver with dark blue accents of the SkyTeam Alliance – a deviation from the well-known KLM blue. The naming is aimed to educate people that responsible flying and enjoying the beauty of our planet can be combined.

According to the airline the PH-BVA has been named after Kenya’s “Amboseli National Park,” in honour of the parks biodiversity conservation efforts. Amboseli National Park which was branded “Kilimanjaro’s Royal Court” is a jewel in the crown of Kenya’s world-famous national parks. The 390-km sq park has fantastic views of Kilimanjaro and is surrounded by six communally owned ranches. It lies 250 km south of Nairobi in Loitokitok District and is one of the most popular Kenya safari destinations.

KLM is the only airline in the world that names aircrafts with none-coded names and have been using national parks since March 2008.

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Zambia is considered to possess the largest water resources in the whole of Southern Africa.

This is because the country has a wide assortment of rivers both big and small, all across the country. From these rivers hail not less than twenty awe inspiring waterfalls that make Zambia’s landscape look like illustrations of the Garden of Eden.

The thunderous roar of the steady flowing waterfalls as water goes over their rocky edged cliffs is one of the most powerful sounds of nature. Various hotels offer tours, picnics and brunches at various waterfall sites. If your Zambia hotel does not have this, you can pack up a basket and have your own perfect little picnic.

Except for stubborn little monkeys and baboons, the sites of the falls are fairly safe as long as you keep off the waterfall edges.

The most remarkable of these falls is the glorious Victoria Falls Zambia which falls on the Southern Province. The Victoria Falls hails from the Zambezi River and is classified as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It covers a spectacular 1600m over a 100m high drop. The falls provide five vantage points; the devils cataract, horse shoe falls, rainbow falls, the main falls and the Eastern falls.

Each of these viewing points is an experience all on its own. If you happen to view the falls at sunset, then you will have no doubt that you are in the presence of a world wonder; sunset at the Victoria Falls has often been described as the most beautiful sight in the world.

Another beautiful cascade also falling on the Zambezi is the Ngonye falls. The falls is a wide spread of water falling 12m down below. Though Ngonye falls are not so high, the magnitude of falling water is close to that of the Victoria Falls. Ngonye falls are placed on the Western Province of Zambia and provide a wonderful picnic site.

Equally beautiful is the 20m high Nyambwezi Falls  situated in the Western Province on the Nyambwezi River. The falls provide a most unique camping site which is located under a natural rock shelter. The shelter contains pre-historic wall engravings and rock paintings among other evidence of late stone-age human existence in the area.

All the other popular waterfalls are located in the Northern Province of Zambia and make for interesting Zambia tours and safari. The most spectacular waterfall in this province is the Kalambo Falls which at 221m high is the second highest waterfall in Africa. The Kalambo falls are located on the Kalambo River which forms the border between Zambia and Tanzania. The falls are also home to the rare marabou stork as well as an array of many other creatures. 

Also in the Northern Province is the Lumangwe falls on the Kalungwishi River. The Lumangwe Falls are a small scaled version of the Victoria Falls. The beautiful falls occupy a 100m wide cliff and are 35m high. The locals around this area believe that the waterfall is the home of a great snake spirit called Lumangwe. Apart from the Lumangwe falls, there are two other waterfalls on the Kalungwishi River. Five kilometers downstream of the Lumangwe is the Kabweluma Falls. The Kabweluma Falls comprises of three flat bed waterfalls each spilling into the next. The first and main cascade is 25m high followed by two smaller cascades. Locals believe that this falls are the home of yet another snake spirit that lives under the rainbow which is in view at any time of day. The Chimpepe Falls come next down the Kalangwishi River. A lot of fishing is done on the Chimpepe falls and fish are in plenty here.

The Ntumbasuchi Falls comprises of a series of white water streams and pools along the Ng’ona River which then culminate to form the 30m high sacred waterfall. The waters of Ntumbasuchi are believed to be sacred by locals and are used to bathe chiefs, newborns and in the olden days, warriors just before they took off to war. The locals believe that the water cleanses a person’s spirit and protects them from bad fortune.

The Chipoma Falls also comprises a series of falls formed by rapids similar to those of the Ntumbasuchi falls. The Chipoma Falls are on the Chimanabwe River where a series of mini falls of forceful rapids each about 5m high form an overall 40m high waterfall.

Another sacred waterfall on the Northern Province is the Mumbuluma Falls on the Mumbuluma River. The Mumbuluma falls are formed by a two step cascade which plays the background of the temple of the protective sibling spirits Makumba and Ngosa, who are believed to have fallen from the sky and into the river.

The last of the waterfalls in the Northern Province are the Chisimba, Mutumuna and Kevala Falls. These falls are made up of three successive sheets flowing down a wide cliff. The three falls are separated by very shot distances and although they are named separately, most people refer to the whole setting as one waterfall. During the peak of the rainy season, the heavy floods merge the three falls into one wide roaring force. The falls are regarded as sacred and spirits are believed to reside within the caves behind the waterfalls.

And in the Eastern Province of Zambia along the Kaombe River hails the Kundalila falls. The falls are 70m high and spray down to natural pool which is popular for diving and swimming. If you are not brave enough to get into the water, you can take a canoe which will ferry you out almost to the very foot of the falls. However the falls are not the only eye treats in this area.

The vast Luangwa valley which has the best view from the top of the waterfall is legendary for its delightful display of wild flowers spread out as far as the eye can see. There are also more than two hundred species of birds and butterflies in this area.

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Surrounded by Eritrea and Djibouti to the North, Sudan to the West and Northwest, Somalia to the East and Southeast and Kenya to the South, Ethiopia is one of the most attractive countries in Africa.

The Simien National Park is one of the many popular and important sites boasted by Ethiopia. The park covers an overall area of approximately 14,000 hectares and is located on the vast Amhara plateau in the Western Simien highlands of Northern Ethiopia. The Simien National Park is a World Heritage Site and was made so in 1978. However, in 1996, the park was added to the list of delicate World Heritage Sites in danger as a result of continued encroachment of the land by humans.

Activities like cultivation, mining, woodcutting, hunting and construction of permanent as well as semi-permanent structures are threatening to completely deplete the resources within the park. Currently, there are a little over 30,000 people residing in villages within the park and they all rely on the park’s resources in one way or another. Therefore, 60 per cent of the total area of the park is under pressure from human settlement.

The Simien National Park receives over 2,000 foreign and even more domestic visitors per year. This rather impressive number goes to show that the park has a lot to offer despite its battle to survive depletion. The most attractive feature at the park is the landscape itself. According to various travel journals and documented testimonies of global travelers who have been on a Ethiopia tour, the landscape of the Simien National Park is one of the most thrilling in the world.

The remarkable setting of the park is made mainly of a level upland which is then dotted with sharp rises of the earth and high peaks, most rising over 2,000 meters. The sheer contrast experienced at the park is what makes it exciting and gives it its uniqueness. The towering pinnacles that form the Simien Mountains, coupled with the sudden drops that go on to form yawning gorges and glorious cliffs are a real eye treat.

The highest peak at the Simien National Park is the Ras Deshen Mountain which is 4,624 meters high. It is the highest peak in Ethiopia as well as the fourth highest in Africa. The Ras Deshen is very popular with mountain climbers and there are various camping sites set up as you go up the mountain. Though Ethiopia is generally hot, the mountains at the Semien National Park can get very cold especially at night as the highest cap of the Ras Deshen is covered with snow and ice.

The scenery of the park came to be after a series of seismic activity caused an upset in the leveled land a couple million years ago. Volcanic activity then resulted with the flow of lava forming several layers of rock and compact ash. Years of erosion then followed leaving behind a dramatic countryside of jagged surfaces and unleveled land.

Since the land at the Simien National Park is mainly made up of volcanic ash, it is very fertile and the vegetation here is a true testament to that. Though farmers have cleared a lot of the land for cultivation and grazing, particularly the lower slope, the rest of the land is filled with lush vegetation and seasonally, an attractive blanket of flowers covers the land.

The vegetation at the Simien National Park grows in four separate belts depending on altitude. The first of these is a lush forest, followed by dry woodland, which is then followed by grassland and last comes the moorland. The vegetation encourages the presence of quite a number of different bird species. The park is popular for bird watching because the landscape is vast and pictorial. There are the more common species of birds such as hawks, eagles and herons.

Other bird species are only found in Ethiopia and a number of scientists as well as bird watching enthusiasts visit the park every year to watch them. These include; the wattled ibis, the Abyssinian catbird, the thick billed raven, the black headed forest oriole, the black winged lovebird and the spot-billed plover.

There are a number of animals also residing at the park. The most popular are the hairy gelada baboons that are quite amusing to watch as their social behavior is much like that of humans. There is also the Simien fox which is named after the park. Also known as the Ethiopian wolf, the Simien fox is a carnivore which mostly preys on rodents and other small creatures. The most important species however is the Walia ibex mountain goat which cannot be found any where else in the world.

The goats are well adapted to the terrain and can negotiate even the most treacherous cliffs and mountains without so much as losing their footing. The goats are grazers and feed on leaves and grass. It is not uncommon to see the goats grazing among the farmer’s animals. There have been fears that the goats could face extinction from being hunted by the settlers in the area.

There were also cases of campers who had visited the park hunting the goats for food. This was brought to a complete halt when the park started proving scouts for every party that goes hiking or camping in the park. The guides are trained in first aid which is very important as accidents have been known to happen especially when mountain climbing. The guides are also armed with a firearm for protection against the wild animals which are potentially aggressive for example leopards, wild cats, hyenas, the Simien fox and even the Walia ibex mountain goats which have long sharp horns that are potentially lethal especially when protecting their young.

The main recreational activities at the park are hiking, camping and mountain climbing. Campers carry their own ready made food such as packed foods bought from stores outside the park. The more old fashioned campers however prefer to carry pots and pans and prepare meals themselves. They buy chicken, eggs and even small goats from the villagers and if a lot of meat is left over, they then smoke it to preserve it.

This provides a real feel of the camping experience as it is supposed to be however, the choice is yours. It would be wise to carry a lot of bottled water as this is guaranteed safe for drinking; you can also carry a few beers. It is however prohibited to get drunk within the park as some parts of the landscape are very unforgiving and the recklessness that comes with drunkenness could lead to serious injuries and even death.

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The Ngorongoro conservation area was initially a part of the greater known Serengeti before the British set it apart in 1951.

The Ngorongoro conservation area, which  became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, is located towards the north of Tanzania and covers an expansive area of over 7,000 square miles.

The park joins up with the Serengeti to the north-west and it is through here that wildebeest horde through during their world famous migration from the Masai Mara to Serengeti, then to Ngorongoro.

The Ngorongoro area has been the site of on-going experiments on multiple land use. This involves having human inhabitation among the presence of wildlife. The human inhabitants of the Ngorongoro are mainly the Masai. The use of land for these activities is highly controlled to maintain a strong balance of the land for the sake of the eco-system.

The Maasai are allowed to hunt most of the smaller animals like hare, dikdik and gazelles but this activity is also controlled. They are however not allowed to hunt for sport, and the hunting of bigger animals such as elephants, lions, rhino and buffalo among others is strictly forbidden .

The Ngorongoro is named after the long gone mountain which is said to have existed close to two million years ago. The mountain is said to have been 19,000 meters in height and among the tallest in the world. This mountain was an active volcano and at one time, an eruption caused it to cave in and form a 612 meter deep crater.

The Ngorongoro crater covers an area of 264 square kilometers and is easily the most stunning spectacle of the entire Ngorongoro conservation area. The two most eye-catching view points of the crater are from up above where you can see the floor of the crater, and from down below where you can look up at the unbroken, steep, and towering walls of the crater. The crater is doubtlessly one of the most popular Tanzania safari feature drawing over 360,000 annually.

The floor of the Ngorongoro crater is the habitat of a wide array of animals including the big five. Game drives to the floor of the crater are never disappointing. There are three large herds of elephants and even greater herds of zebra, gazelle and antelope. Lions are also in plenty here and watching them is an unforgettable experience. Being in the presence of lions at the crater is even more exciting if you get to hear a male lion’s roar echoing off the crater walls; it is exhilarating as well as spine chilling.

If you love picnicking and enjoy being in the presence of unperturbed nature, there are various picnic sites set up at the crater. The picnic sites are very secure and save for flicking a few ants off your sandwich, there will be no interruptions by wild animals. The volcanic ash at the crater is very fertile and therefore trees grow well here. The tall trees provide the picnic sites with a cooling shelter that is not too cold.

Ngorongoro also provides a little excitement for lovers of history as it is located in East Africa; the cradle of mankind. East Africa gained this name because the fossils of the earliest hominids known to have existed down the evolutionary chain were found here. The first of these were found in the Olduvai Gorge by the renowned archaeologists Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey in the 1950s.

The Olduvai Gorge is seated along the rift valley in the Northern plains of the Ngorongoro conservation area. The gorge is still undergoing excavation and more evidence supporting the evolution theory is being sought. A relatively short distance from the gorge, there is a tiny museum where you can see pictures of Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey and their team doing the early excavations. You can also see replicas of the fossils found here and educate yourself on their significance in evolution.

If you are fascinated with various aspects of the African culture and indigenous tribes, you can interact with the Masai who are one of the most popular African tribes. The Masai have inhabited the Ngorongoro conservation area for over 50 years. They are famous for their leaping dances which are perfomed by the tall morans (warriors) and are known to invite tourists to their manyatta (homestead) to watch these dances and share a meal.

The meals of the Masai mainly consist of roasted meat and milk mixed with blood; both from cows. If offered this meal, do not decline, this is considered rude by the Maasai. If you don’t care much for milk mixed with blood, take at least one sip, this will satisfy them. However, you will be missing out on a whole new tasty experience if you do not eat the roasted meat. The Maasai have perfected the art of roasting meat over a fire for many years. The roasted meat is always soft and well-done, not to mention incredibly delicious.

The Ngorongoro conservation area is flanked by a couple of lakes. The most popular of these are Lake Eyasi and Lake Manyara. Lake Manyara is especially excellent for taking canoe trips and most people use this as their approach to the Ngorongoro crater. The lakes and other water sources provide water for both the Maasai and the animals living in this area.

Another delightful experience at the Ngorongoro national park is bird watching especially at the lakes. Lake Ndutu is mainly popular because of its high bird population. The most common bird species here are flamingos, storks and ducks. Cheetahs and lions are also in plenty here. The cheetahs are very fond of hunting these birds and a cheetah chasing a flock of birds as some of them fly away could make for a fine picture to add to your collection.
Photo by Karen Hoffman

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Table Mountain is one of the most well-known mountains in Africa, offering a magnificent backdrop to the city of Cape Town in South Africa.

Renowned for the sheet of clouds that pours incessantly down its slopes, the mountain provides mountain climbers a wide range of routes.

Table Mountain adventures depend on your preference; you choose whether you want to reach the peak and enjoy spectacular views of Cape Town or simply move around the cool shade of indigenous forest. But no matter your choice, you will never be disappointed.

Hiking on Table Mountain is a preferred activity among locals and tourists and several trails of varying difficulty are available. Steep cliffs around the summit limit the number of direct ascents from the city side. There is a prominent gorge up the centre of the main table known as Platteklip Gorge, which offers straight forward ascent to the summit. This usually takes between 1-3 hours depending on one’s fitness level.

Longer routes to the summit go through the Back Table, a lower area of Table Mountain placed to the south of the main plateau. From the Southern Suburbs side, the Skeleton Gorge and Nursery Ravine routes begin at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

The route via Skeleton Gorge to Maclears Beacon is referred to as Smuts Track in honour of the late Jan Smuts, who was a keen hiker. The Bridle Path, also known as Jeep Track, makes a less steeper ascent from Constantia Nek along the road used to service the dams on Back Table. Kasteelspoort, a gorge overlooking Camps Bay, is the most popular ascent on the Atlantic side.

Rock climbing on Table Mountain is also a popular activity for most people who undertake Cape Town tours. There are well-documented climbing routes of varying degrees of difficulty up the many faces of the mountain. The main climbs are placed on cliffs below the upper cable station. No bolting can be done here and only traditional climbing is allowed. Commercial groups also offer abseiling from the upper cable station.
Those who don’t have the muscle-power or hiking skills can also reach the summit without breaking a sweat, thanks to the Aerial Cable Car that revolves its way to the top.Going up the mountain along the 1200m cableway is really an experience. The cable car’s rotating floors ensures that each of the 65 passengers get a 360 degree view of Cape Town Peninsula, Robben Island and the Table Bay.