| If you are looking for an African safari adventure, | | | | while boats are also the best way to get around |
| you will often find your self spoilt for choices. | | | | the swampy wildlife sanctuaries of Namibia's |
| There is Kenya with it's famous wildlife including | | | | Capriivi Strip. If you use a horse or an elephant as |
| the great wilderbeest migration in masai mara. | | | | a as a means of transport you'll be often be able |
| Then there is southern Africa with a lot to offer. | | | | to approach other species much more closely |
| If you are a water person then, paddling up | | | | than you would if you were on foot or in a car. |
| creeks, gliding across placid lakes and pushing | | | | Neither horseback nor elephant-back safaris are |
| through reeds while dodging crocodiles is an | | | | particularly widespread in africa, however; in |
| exciting way of seeing wildlife, not so much for | | | | general horses don't have too good a time of it in |
| glimpses of crocs, or hippos (which may just be | | | | Africa thanks to sleeping sickness and other |
| showing their nostrils), but for the animals, so you | | | | parasitic diseases. Good places for horseback |
| can get much closer. Canoeing or boating safaris | | | | safaris include Kenya's masai mara, Botswana's |
| are most rewarding in semi-arid areas, whose | | | | elephant-packed Tuli and Mashatu Game |
| rivers and lakes are obviously of paramount | | | | Reserves, Northern Malawi's inspiring \Nyika |
| importance to local wildlife. Sadly kenya's masai | | | | Plateau, Zimbabwe's Lake Mutirikwe National Park |
| mara and the famous mara where the wildebeest | | | | (where you can get close to white rhinos), the |
| migration occurs each year doesn't offer that to | | | | alphine highlands of Ethiopia's Bale Mountains |
| visitors. In West Africa drifting along in a canoe on | | | | National Park, and Swaziland's Mlilwane Wildlife |
| the River Niger is a major thrill, especially on the | | | | Sanctuary. There are also horseback safaris at |
| edge of Niger's portion of hyenas and jackals can | | | | masai mara. Unlike their Asian cousins, the African |
| be seen. Guinea's parc National du Haut Niger is | | | | elephant has never been too partial to the ideal of |
| more wooded, and gives you a chance of | | | | having to lug people around on their backs, so the |
| spotting chimpanzees. Gabon is excellent for | | | | recent introduction of elephant - back safaris in |
| pirogue trips, with boats available in coastal | | | | Zambia (Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park), South |
| Akanda National Park, and inland at Minkebe Lope | | | | Africa (Pilanesburg National Park), and in |
| National Parks. In East Africa, Tanzania's Selous | | | | Botswana's diminutive Mokolodi Nature Reserve, |
| Game Reserve is the main place for boating, | | | | owes unwitting thanks to the days ivory poaching. |
| which can be combined with bush walks. You're | | | | Orphaned elephants rescued by sanctuaries, and |
| spoilt for choice in Southern Africa. Boating safaris | | | | their offspring, have grown up to be trusting of |
| in Zambia's South Lungwa National Park are very | | | | humans. Lastly don't forget camels. In Niger's Air |
| popular, and the country also allows canoeing | | | | Mountains, where small population of Savanna |
| safaris in the swampy Kafue National Park (great | | | | animals still survive, you can spend days on |
| for water-loving antelopes), and along the | | | | camelback exploring the edges of the Tenere |
| Zambezi. In the latter you can extend your trip | | | | sand dunes. Actually, "days" isn't quite true after a |
| over several days, spending nights under canvas. | | | | few hours in the saddle, you'll probably find |
| Neighbouring Zimbabwe also offers Zambezi | | | | walking a rather more comfortable experience. |
| canoeing expeditions, as part of trips to Mana | | | | Jerry Wanga is editor of An African Safari |
| pools National Park. To the north, Malawi's Liwonde | | | | website that gives information and ideas on Africa |
| National Park is an exceptional place for seeing | | | | vacations. You can view more info on African |
| elephants, hippos, crocs and birds from a boat, | | | | safari and Kenya's masai mara on the website. |