“Lions on your right!” Our driver’s voice crackled through the speakers in our truck. I grabbed my camera, fixed my lens to the maximum zoom and set my vision to the distance.

We were game driving in Nambia’s Etosha National Park onboard a mammoth overland truck - I didn’t expect to see much wildlife up close, any animal in their right mind would be intimidated by the size of our truck. But as we gently slowed down to a halt, we got a good view of what lay ahead and an awed hush fell amidst our group of 20 travelers.

A pack of nine lions was lying just inches away from our truck, nonchalantly flapping their ears, yawning and drooling – in spite of our presence. According to our guide, this was a herd of lionesses protecting a young male just before it enters adulthood and gets thrown into the wild on its own. We held our breathes and watched in silence as the group of wild cats lay under the shade, taking their afternoon nap and snoozing out loud. At first sight, our group had erupted into a photo-snapping frenzy, but once we realized the insanity of our oblivion, we ditched our cameras and spent the next thirty minutes observing these wild cats, marveling at the rarity of this encounter.

There’s nothing quite like watching an animal in the wild – the emotions that come along with it often stirring and awakening. As a wildlife buff, I’ve always been drawn to places with great wildlife opportunities – the main reason why I’d journeyed to Southern Africa. The dry, arid savanna of Namibia is home to a large collection of wildlife: from the ubiquitous springbok to the zebra, lion, giraffe, leopard and even the almost-extinct white rhino. All of the Big Five except for buffalos can be found here, thanks to the government’s conservation efforts. While Etosha does not readily promise as much wildlife as the world famous Serengeti, it receives much less visitors and delivers a more authentic and hassle-free wildlife watching experience.

An intimate moment between a teenage lion and its mother

Over the two days in Etosha National Park on my overlanding journey with G Adventures, we were rewarded with plenty of impressive sightings: herds of oryx (Namibia’s national animal) grazing amidst zebras; wildebeests galloping on flatland; ostriches roaming in pairs; a lonesome white rhino on an open plain; a lioness sipping water from a pond; and gentle dik diks by the roadside. But wildlife watching in Etosha can be unpredictable: we had one encounter after another on day one, but not a single sighting on day two despite trawling through the park from dawn till daybreak. Despite the irregularity, game driving in Etosha is definitely worth a go – be patient and you’ll be duly rewarded with some of the best wildlife experiences in Africa.

Here are some of my best images from Etosha, hope they’ll give you a feel of how intimate wildlife encounters in Namibia can be:

Namibia’s national animal, the elegant oryx

A zebra grazing the dry grassland

A pair of wildebeest hides under the shade

A lonesome white rhino by the watering hole

The commonly spotted springbok

A lioness sips water from a pond while balancing all fours on a rock

A pair of ostriches wandering through the vast grassland

Sniffing its way around our campsite, a mongoose busy at work

Sunset at Etosha National Park

This is a guest blog post by Andrea Wren.

As I wrapped my legs around the back of a kayak and held on tight, praying that my butt wouldn’t scuff the rocks beneath the rapids, I had the good sense to wonder if I’d chosen my day’s activity wisely. Especially considering our rafting guide was the kind who just loved the boat to flip, his motto being along the lines of “the wetter, the better”.

I was in Jinja, the adventure capital of sub-Saharan Africa in land-locked Uganda, and I was white water rafting on the source of the Nile. The kayak I was fiercely gripping to had come to rescue me from the current, following the upturning of our raft on a particularly furious rapid.

I’m sure our guide Kirk could have kept us dry through the manoeuvring of that rapid had he wanted to, but he much preferred to send us hurtling into the froth like croc bait. Still, with African Fish Eagles soaring in the sapphire sky and the dazzling Malachite Kingfishers flitting in and out of the reeds like airborne jewels, being speedily carried down river – whilst simultaneously trying to save my contact lenses but not swallow the Nile – was fairly enjoyable.

I’ve done rafting before in Colorado, and loved it, but I definitely got a more hair-raising experience in Uganda, a country which is not perceived as having such an adventurous streak. Yet that’s Uganda for you – always contradicting the perceptions that visitors arrive with.

Jinja and the Source of the Nile

Jinja itself is famously known for being where Africa’s great river, the Nile, begins – and it is definitely one of Uganda’s loveliest towns to spend time in. Peaceful and low-key compared to the chaos of the country’s capital, Kampala, there are some decent coffee shops and eateries which cater to international tastes. There’s also good array of local craft and art shops for souvenir shopping.

Jinja’s biggest draw though is the fact that it is an adventure-lovers paradise, with several rafting and adventure companies offering an array of activities from quad-biking through to horse-riding to kayaking. Mainly people come for the Nile rafting though, and yes, there is a chance of spotting Nile crocodiles along the way.

Luckily for us, the biggest reptile we encountered was a monitor lizard, sunning itself across two rocks. We’d been out on the raft since around 10am and spent the heat of the day on the water, and in the water, navigating grade five rapids, around 8 or 9 in total (with a couple of flips) by the end of the day.

Tips for White Water Rafting in Jinja

The worst that happened to me on my rafting day was that I scuffed some skin off my toe on the rocks when heading onto the boat. Pretty bad, huh?

And if you don’t want to listen to my dad (which being an intrepid traveller, I doubt you will), and fancy giving rafting in Jinja a go, then here are my tips:

• Choose a reputable company to book with (of course), and be aware that you do get what you pay for. There are a couple of big operators in Jinja who have been safely taking adventurers rafting for many years. Do your research before you go such as through guide books, and ask many questions.
• Wear comfortable clothes that dry off easily or don’t feel too heavy when wet. If you’re female, rafting shorts and t-shirts are probably better than a bikini, because modest dress is preferable in Uganda. And also – you’ll be exposed to the mid-day sun without cover, and your sun-cream will have many opportunities to wash off, so you don’t want to burn.
• Bring sun-cream and also spare contact lenses if you wear them. They will be stored in a special dry bag for you. Don’t worry abut a hat because you’ll wear a helmet, but you won’t be able to bring anything else like cameras. If you have any medication you need, also bring that.
• Take a spare bag with a change of clothes and a towel that can go in the rafting truck which will be picking you up at the end point, so that you can get nice and dry when your adventure is over.
• You can do the rafting in a day from Kampala if you don’t want to stay in Jinja, as the main companies will collect you and drop you back off, but the town is really nice and has a good backpacker vibe (especially up at Explorers River Camp where we stayed). So spend a night or two here, but still use the provided transport that the company will offer to get you to and from Kampala.

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About the Author:

Andrea Wren is a freelance journalist, travel writer and blogger based in the UK. She blogs at Butterflyist.com, a site which inspires people to have the confidence to push their comfort zones and see the world. Here you can also get her free eBook ‘Travel More, Work Less and Live Life’. Find Andrea on Twitter via @thebutterflyist.

2011 is a year that I’ll always remember – not just for the epic journeys, but also for the amazing people I’ve met and the major milestones in my life. I’ve been extremely lucky on the travel end – with trips to the Arctic, Madagascar and South Africa – places I’d dreamt of visiting for a long time. This year also marked an important event in my life: Alberto and I got married (twice) in celebration of our tenth year together! On the writing front, I’ve had several stories published on TNT Magazine, International Lifestyle and Unearthing Asia Magazine; but more importantly, I’ve launched the brand new WildJunket Magazine, a project that we have been dreaming about for ages and now making a reality (look out for the updates next week!).

In 2011, I traveled to over 16 countries on 12 different media trips.  I’ve had the opportunity to see unique corners of the world, gain incredible life experiences and make some lifelong friends along the way. I have so many people to thank especially you, my readers, who have helped make my dream come true. Here’s a look back at 2010 and the places that have carved a mark in my memories.

Malaysia

At the start of 2010, I rang in the new year with friends and family back in Singapore. After being away for a year and a half, it was good to see the changes in Singapore and get reacquainted with old friends, but it didn’t take long for me to feel restless again, so I headed off to Sarawak in the Malaysian Borneo. Bintulu, Borneo is a destination better known for oil and gas than cultural attractions; few tourists make it out here except for local visitors but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found: lush jungles perfect for trekking, rich traditional cuisine and native tribes with intriguing culture.

Indonesia

After a small wedding ceremony in Singapore, Alberto and I headed over to the private island of Nikoi in Indonesia for a pseudo-honeymoon. We wanted to leave the world behind (internet connection, phone signal, everything!) and Nikoi was the perfect place to be. The private island is ringed with white sandy beaches, coral reefs and a luscious rain forest and our open-concept beach house features wooden furnishing, a sexy four-poster bed and a million-dollar view of the sea.

Andalusia, Spain

By the end of January, we were back in Granada, Spain – I worked hard on writing and got several articles published in various magazines but we also took time off to go on short trips around Andalusia. We explored the Alpujarras, watched wildlife in Doñana National Park and sampled tapas in Cadiz – although we’ve been living here for the last three years, we’re still slowly discovering new places in the area.

Portugal

In February, Alberto and I took a road trip from our base in Spain to Algarve, Portugal, in search of some sun, sand and the sea. It was my second visit to Algarve and I’d been captivated by its wild beaches the first time round; but this time, it surprised me with what it had to offer inland.

Tuscany, Italy

While on a media trip to Tuscany in March, I reunited with some of my closest friends in the travel writing/blogging industry. Together we explored the region – celebrating Italy’s 150th birthday in Lucca, learning to cook Italian food and wandering through the city and countryside on bike.

Manchester, England

Right after the trip to Italy, I zipped off to Manchester to attend the first Travel Bloggers Unite Conference. TBU’11 proved an excellent channel to pick up new knowledge and skills and rub shoulders with fellow travel bloggers – lots of interesting ideas were exchanged and new friendships forged. There were also seminars and workshops that focused on various topics such as SEO, working with PR and most importantly, travel writing.

Spain

April and May were spent traveling around various corners of Spain. I started my journey in the northern prairies of Asturias (as a guest of Asturias Tourist Board) where I tried my hands at playing the Asturian bagpipes, hiked the Picos de Europa and hopped on the luxurious Transcantabrico Train. From there, I went on a road trip with friends through Bilbao and San Sebastian and spent our time feasting on pintxos, savoring home-brewed ciders and lounging on the beach. Going further north to Costa Brava, I went on a power-packed media trip with Costa Brava Tourism. In one week, we hiked on volcanoes, sailed in the Mediterranean Sea, interviewed the world’s best chef and even went skydiving over the coastline.

Jordan

Jordan has always been one of my favorite places in the world – I was thrilled to get the chance to revisit the country as a guest of Jordan Tourist Board and explore a bit more of the country. This time, not only did I get to revisit Petra by night, I also got the chance to fly over Wadi Rum, visit the Roman Ruins at Jerash, float in the Dead Sea and go scuba-diving in the Red Sea.

Our Wedding

The first of July was our official wedding day in Spain – friends and family all arrived from different corners of the world to celebrate the special occasion with us. The wedding was just what we wanted: simple and relaxing, in a dreamy setting, with close friends and family around us. We walked down the aisle to a beautiful ukelele tune, sipped cocktails at sunset and partied with all my loved ones like there was no tomorrow. Friends that we haven’t seen in awhile came and family scattered in different parts of the world turned up. Everyone I cared for was there, including my new husband by my side. It was a special night, one that would stay with me for a long time.

Madagascar and Mauritius

During our month-long honeymoon in Madagascar and Mauritius, we watched the sun set over baobab trees, saw over 30 lemurs in a day, climbed 200m-high rock pinnacles, flowed along crocodile-infested river in a dugout canoe, trekked through eerie sandstone canyons, scuba-dived with an octopus, played with village kids, tried the best crabs ever and sailed on a catamaran to a deserted island. It was exactly the kind of travel I loved and missed – Not only did this trip do me good on an emotional level, Madagascar also stirred my soul in a way I’d never imagined it to.

The Arctic

My expedition to the Arctic was definitely one of the highlights of 2011. As G Adventure’s Wanderer in Residence, I sailed around the Svalbard archipelago onboard their luxurious icebreaker, the M/S Expeditions. The Realm of Polar Bears trip promised to be an epic journey and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Cruising through ice fields and towering glaciers, we were enthralled by the dramatic landscapes that transitioned from icy slopes to tundra plains. On our daily excursions, we went on hikes, zipped amidst icebergs and had intimate encounters with polar bears and walruses.

Iceland

In September, Alberto and I flew off to Iceland to visit our close friend and also visit the island that we’d heard so much about. I knew we were in for some adventures but little did I know Iceland had this much to offer. From Reykjavik, we drove up to Southwest Iceland to see the Northern Lights, climb a glacier, hike an active volcano and snorkel between tectonic plates in Thingvellir, before heading up north to go whale watching and whitewater rafting.

The Pyrenees

By late October, I was back in Spain but this time in the northern region, close to the French border. In the Pyrenees (once again as a guest of Costa Brava Tourism), we dived deep into the region and tried our hands at several adventurous activities again – from canyoning to biking to hot air ballooning and sea kayaking.

London, England

At the start of November, I headed up to London for the annual World Travel Market to network with travel industry folks and learn more about travel writing. I met numerous accomplished writers like Steve Keenan, Matthew Teller and Mark Hodson, who’ve inspired me tremendously, as well as other travel bloggers whom I’ve become close friends with. It was overall an excellent learning experience and I’m hoping to be back next year.

Photo by Travellll.com

South Africa

My year came to an end with a big bang – I journeyed through Southern Africa on an overland trip with G Adventures and it proved to be not only the best trip of 2011, but one of the best experiences of my life. Camping out in the wild throughout the journey, we got to experience Africa in its full glory: meeting locals, driving through savannahs and watching wildlife in their natural habitat. Before starting my overland journey, I spent a few days in Cape Town and fell head over heels for the city. From paragliding to shark cage diving and wine-tasting, the array of outdoor activities in Cape Town was endless.

Namibia, Botswana and Zambia

From CT, I hopped on the G Adventures overland truck and we headed north into Namibia, through the stunning Sossusvlei (where we caught sunrise atop sand dunes) and Etosha National Park, before heading to the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Chobe River and Victoria Falls in Zambia. From there, we then headed back down through Botswana into South Africa ending the trip in Johannesburg. It truly was an amazing journey of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, spectacular sights and lifelong friendships.

What’s Next?

This January, we’ll be making major changes to our lifestyle – Alberto has left his job to join WildJunket and we’re planning to go location independent very soon – our first stop will be Thailand! We plan to be there for a few months, taking our time to explore the country and work on our new magazine at the same time. Our plan is still not finalized but we’re hoping to travel more in Southeast Asia next year before heading to Central Asia and hopefully hop on the Trans-Siberian railway on our way back to Europe. Watch out for the announcement next week!

I’ll continue to write about our travels in the coming year. A big thank you for your support, hope to see you around in the new year!

2012 is quickly approaching and it’s time to start planning for the new year. With the Olympics and other events happening around the world, 2012 promises to be an extraordinary year for many of us. In 2011, we saw many off-the-radar destinations emerging in the travel scene, such as Zimbabwe and Ukraine. In the new year, major sporting, cultural and political events look set to bring new life to several offbeat destinations. After much research and brainstorming, here’s our own list of the up-and-coming adventure destinations for 2012 and we hope they’ll help you decide where you’ll be traveling to in the new year!

1. Cuba

With the newly loosened travel ban for Americans to Cuba, the number of visitors to Cuba has nearly doubled and it is predicted to increase even more dramatically in 2012 as more airlines and companies gain travel access to the country. Current rules allow Americans to visit Cuba on educational and cultural tours but all Cuba travel must be approved by the Treasury Department. Numerous travel companies now have licenses to run guided trips to Cuba, including National Geographic Expeditions – that runs Cuba cultural tours to Havana, Trinidad and Viñales National Park and includes deep immersions with Cuban locals and experts.

Flickr photo by VisualStandpoint

2. Myanmar

Since the release of Aung San Suu Kyi (after more than 20 years of house arrest), the National League of Democracy in Myanmar (NLD) is finally encouraging independent travel to their country. Despite the lift of the boycott, the State Department of U.S. still warns travelers that the authorities “have often prohibited entry or exit at most land border crossings, unless the traveler is part of a package-tour group that has received prior permission from the Burmese authorities.” While the question of safety and ethical travel is still unanswered, we can be sure that Myanmar will be back under the tourist radar very soon. Having been isolated from the rest of the world for decades, Myanmar retains a strong sense of authenticity with its timeless towns, ancient pagodas and undisturbed mountains and rivers.

Flickr photo by Greg Walters

3. Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, a largely unknown country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia, finally grabbed the world’s attention after winning the Eurovision 2011 Contest. In 2012, this Eurasian destination will be hosting the Eurovision contest for the first time and a concert complex has been specially built for the event. As the largest and the most developed country in the region, Azerbaijan makes an excellent base for those planning to explore the surrounding countries, such as Armenia, Georgia and Iran. Start your explorations from the capital of Baku before heading out to the highest peak of the country, Mount Bazarduzu, and hiking through the countryside of Quba.

Flickr photo by Robert Thomson

4. Japan

Having survived several setbacks in 2011, Japan is quickly getting back on its feet and its tourism organization is working full force to get travelers back on its shores. Recovery is well underway with reconstruction of infrastructure and the launch of new air service from the U.S. to Japan. Recently the Japan National Tourism Organization ran promotions on social media platforms to get the word out – with tactics including hosting bloggers in the country as well giving away free flights to the public.  With its creative and innovative tactics, it won’t be long before Japan climbs up the tourism ladder again. Get your city fix in Tokyo before zipping over to the cultural hub of Kyoto on a bullet train and then relaxing on the beaches of Okinawa.

5. Portugal

Having just earned the earned European Capital of Culture status for 2012, the Portuguese city of Guimarães will be under the tourist limelight as travelers in Europe flock to its shores to explore its artistic offerings. Throughout the year, numerous art projects and cultural festivals to be held in the city will surely get its name out to travelers in Europe. As one of the country’s most important historical cities, Guimarães boasts a UNESCO World Heritage historic city centre and it’s often referred to as the birthplace of Portuguese nationality. For more adventure travel offerings, head on down to the southern coast of Portugal for some sun and surf.

Flickr photo by João Paulo Ferreira

6. Belize

In the Mayan World, or Mundo Maya, 2012 signifies the end of the current Maya ”Long Count,” a 5,125-year calendar cycle. Mayan countries including Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico will be ushering in the new era with plenty of Mayan cultural festivities and events that will definitely draw in hordes of new visitors to the region. Belize Tourism is giving its all to attract tourists to its beautiful shores with Mayan exhibitions, a solstice sleepover and a major cultural festival on December 21, the estimated last day of the calendar. If you’re planning to travel Central America as a whole, hop over to Guatemala and explore its new themed cultural tourism route; or head on to Mexico where Mayan events will be centered in Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco and Yucatan.

7. Ukraine

Having made our list for 2011 with the opening of Chernobyl to tourists, Ukraine is making an appearance once again in 2012 as it plays host to the Euro 2012 football championships. While the site of one of the world’s most tragic disasters in history is often the only thing foreigners can think of, Ukraine has plenty more to offer in terms of culture, nature and history – head to the Carpathian Mountains for some camping and hiking, or explore the unique Old Town of Kiev for some insights to Ukrainian culture, and then let your hair down along the unspoiled Crimean shores.

Flickr photo by Jurij Skoblenko

Note: These destinations have been chosen based on our personal observations of travel trends as well as doing research from online resources.

I’ve just returned from a month of travel in Southern Africa and I’m still struggling to find the right words to describe my experience.  It’s been an amazing journey of dramatic proportions – one that has given me rare experiences, shown me the beautiful sights of Africa and blessed me with lifelong friendships.

On my previous travels, I often found myself digging deep beyond a country’s surface; although I barely scraped the surface this time, I felt like I’d gone deeper on a different level. I’d gone deeper into human relationships and I’d learned alot more about friendship, teamwork and looking at life from different perspectives.  This trip taught me about life beyond travel.

And there’s no better setting than Africa. I’ve long known about its raw beauty and wilderness, but it’s a whole different story coming here and actually immersing in the vast savannahs, rich wildlife and intriguing cultures. As I take a step back to absorb all that I’d experienced over the past few weeks in Africa, I’ll leave you with  some photos of my favorite moments during the journey. I’ll be back with more stories from Africa in the new year, enjoy!

A surreal sight: the Dead Vlei in Sossusvlei, Namibia.

Catching sunrise atop sand dunes in Sossusvlei.

Atop the Waterberg Plateau in Namibia.

A rare moment of affection: a teenage lion and its mother in Etosha, Namibia.

My favorite animal, the elegant oryx, grazing along the grasslands of Etosha National Park, Namibia.

 Sunset over the savannah of Etosha National Park, Namibia.

Exploring the Okavango Delta in Botswana on a mokoro.

A hippo pokes its head above the water as we glide past it in the delta.

Meeting the bushmen (San people) in Ghanzi, Botswana.

Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia.

Getting upclose and personal with a white rhino in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

 A buffalo looking straight into my lens. Kruger, South Africa.

We camped out under starry skies and had barbeque around the campfire every night. Absolutely loved it!

 Special thanks to this great group of people and G Adventures for making this trip special!

This experience was made possible by G Adventures ( Dune, Deltas and Falls tour) as a part of their Wanderers In Residence program. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. Read more about my travels in Southern Africa here or follow me on Twitter with the #gadv and #WJAfrica hashtags.

It’s barely dawn and the sky is already striated with purple streaks and wispy clouds. After a night of torrential rain, the air smells wet and fresh. Animals in the delta are quickly awaking, croaking away amidst the reeds. In the water around us, I spot a pair of eyes.  The creature is watching us intently, wriggling its ears as it senses our presence. It dives underwater but resurfaces minutes later, with its ears, eyes and nostrils now in full view: we are just meters away from a hippopotamus. Its chubby and clumsy demeanors can be deceiving – under that big blubber is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. It can run up to 40km/hour and kill a human being with its sheer weight.

We are gliding through the Okavango Delta in Botswana on a mokoro, a wooden dugout canoe traditionally used by locals to get around the delta. Earlier that morning, we’d set off from Maun, the gateway of Okavango, to meander through the canals and waterways in search of raw wilderness. This was one place I’d long dreamt of visiting and it definitely didn’t disappoint. What we found was pristine beauty, extreme tranquility and a tinge of authenticity – it was almost as if we’d entered a completely different planet, one that had been forgotten by the world. Here’s a video shot from my mokoro - listen to the sounds in the background and you’ll understand what I mean.

The hippo poking its head out above the water lilies…

It makes an appearance as we slowly glide by.

Dawn in the delta.

Disclaimer: This experience was made possible by G Adventures (as part of the Dune, Deltas and Falls tour), but all opinions expressed above are my own. Read more about my Southern Africa adventures here or follow my updates on twitter and facebook.

Holding my hands out to feel the wind in my hands, I glide through the air so gently, it’s almost like floating in the clouds. “This the closest feeling to flying like a bird.” Jan, my paragliding instructor from Para-taxi says. He’s right – I’ve never felt more peaceful and carefree.

Ahead of me stands the imposing Table Mountain, recently voted as one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World. Beneath my feet stretch the coastline and turquoise ocean – the wealthy beachfront suburb of Camps Bay on my right and the metropolis of Cape Town to my left. At the height of 500m above sea level, it is dizzying yet breathtaking to have the city spread before us. Here’s a video Jan took while we were up in the air, hope it transmits the sensation I got floating mid-air above Cape Town.

About to take off from the slopes of Lion’s Head

Weeeee….mid-air!

Floating above Camps Bay.

Disclaimer: This paragliding experience was made possible by Para-taxi, South Africa Tourism, Cape Town Routes Unlimited, but all opinions expressed above are my own. Read more about my South Africa adventures here or follow my updates onfacebook.

Over the last week, I’ve been exploring the deserts, canyons and mountains of Namibia while overlanding in Southern Africa with G Adventures. The landscapes have been nothing short of impressive, as we feasted on starkly diverse scenery each day. Starting out our overland journey from Cape Town, we drove far north past the Orange River to get into Namibia. From there, we ventured up to Fish River Canyon, the world’s second largest canyon (next to Grand Canyon) where we drank in outrageous views (and wine) under the sunset. Entering the Sossusvlei National Park, we climbed up Dune 45 at 5am to catch the sun rising as it showered the desert in a blanket of gold. Now we’ve found our way to Swakopmund, the adventure capital of Namibia – recharging ourselves before embarking on the next series of exploring the wilderness. Here are some quick photos of my journey in Namibia.

At the base of Dune 45 in Sossusvlei National Park

Climbing up Dune 45

The surreal landscapes of the Dead Vlei

The world’s second largest canyon – the Fish River Canyon

Mountain zebras in the wild – only found here in Namibia

Eagle owl in the wild

Camping in Sesriem

Enjoying sundowners at sunset by the Fish River Canyon

This was one of the reasons that drew me to South Africa: the chance to get close to one of the world’s most intimidating animal, the Great White Shark. Gaansbai, just two hours away from Cape Town, is considered the white shark capital of the world – home to densest population of great white shark in the world. Here, I got the opportunity to get into a cage and enter the shark’s world.

Earlier that morning, our resident marine biologist, Matt, gave us a crash course on sharks. While movies have made sharks appear to be mindless man-eating machines, they are really not as lethal as you would imagine. Sharks may kill between 5 to 15 people a year but we human beings kill over 100million sharks a year. Statistically, we are more likely to get killed by a falling coconut than sharks. Sadly, the number of Great White Sharks is dwindling rapidly, with only about 3,500 white sharks in the ocean today.

Swimming With Sharks

Zipping over the choppy waters towards Shark Alley, we made our way into the open sea from Kleinbaai. The 18 degrees Celsius water felt terribly cold, while choppy waters made the conditions both dramatic and intense. As I dipped my snorkel mask beneath the surface, I immediately caught a glimpse of the 4m-long shark. I could only hear my palpitating heartbeat and bubbling from my rapid breathing. The Great White Shark that swam before me was large, not quite as enormous as I’d imagined, but its presence was definitely intimidating. In the 20 minutes that I was in the cage, I hardly had time to come up for air as I watched one shark after another, circling our cage and sniffing us out as if we were potential lunch. By the end of the day, we saw over seven sharks – with one in particular swimming right at me, the tip of its nose almost touching my fingers and its tail flipping inches from us.

Here’s a video I shot underwater, hope it’ll help bring you along with me, to this exhilarating encounter with the Great White Sharks:

We didn’t have to wait long before a shark made an appearance.

The shark is attracted to our bait (a wooden figure).

Underwater, I see a Great White Shark swimming towards us…

Its agility and speed is astonishing. Within seconds, it’s gone… but it soon returns for more…

A fellow shark cage diver looking happy to have come this close to sharks.

Note: To make sure we do not interfere or disturb the sharks’ natural habitat, Marine Dynamics assures that on its shark cage diving trips, sharks are not harassed, abused or fed. Boatmen use chumming method (fish oil) to catch the sharks’ attention but they do not disturb the animals’ natural behavior.

This is a sponsored guest post by Dale Morris.

Although Kruger is undoubtedly the largest and most popular National Park in South Africa there are plenty of other wild venues scattered across the country that are, in my humble opinion, just as interesting if not more so. Here is a list of my favorite five wildlife and wilderness destinations and why it is that I love them.

Addo Elephant National Park (Eastern Cape)

In 1931, the Addo Elephant national park was established as a sanctuary for the Eastern Cape’s last 11 remaining elephants. It was pretty much just a zoo back then- a sort of circus attraction that brought in tourists but had very little conservation value. Now however, things are very different and Addo Elephant National Park has grown to become one of the most important and interesting parks in Southern Africa. It’s also grown in size, and from a very humble 2000 hectares, Addo has now become a mega park of some 168,000 hectares covering six different terrestrial habitats: – Nama Karoo; fynbos; and forest; subtropical thicket coastal belt and Marine. It’s the only park to boast the big seven rather than just the big five – Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Great white sharks, Whales and of course Elephants (of which there are now more than 450). It’s also home to the largest penguin colony on the continent. Activities include game drives, horseback riding with wild animals, coastal hikes, 4×4 trails and elephant watching.

Garden Route National Park (Western Cape)

The Garden Route National Park consists of a series of fragmented nature reserves that span multiple habitats and environments ranging from cool misty mountain forests to marine reserves alive with beautiful fish. There are lakes to go boating on, mountains to hike amongst and miles upon miles of undeveloped beaches from where one can spot whales and dolphins. The Garden Route is not a traditional big five park and you won’t see lions, buffalo and rhinos (although secretive elephants do creep around the darkest confines of the forests and leopards are present but rarely seen). Regardless of this, the Garden Route National Park is still one of the most scenically stunning places I have ever visited (In fact I live there). Activities consist of numerous multi-day hiking trails (including the world famous coastal otter trail) boating, fishing, whale watching, camping, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving and paragliding.

Flickr photo by stringer_bel

Imfolozi and Hluhluwe (KwaZulu-Natal)

Imfolozi Hluhluwe (a joined pair of parks) are serious contenders for the number one slot of great wildlife destinations on the whole African continent. Even combined they are much, much smaller than Kruger, but nonetheless they have the same wildlife and in higher densities too. The parks are of great conservation value and during the 80s and 90s they were home to ‘Operation Rhino” a project that saw both black and white rhinos brought back from the edge of extinction. If you ever wanted to see a rhino; LOTS and LOTS, then Imfolozi and Hluhluwe is the place for you. Things to do include game drives, camping, nighttime and wildlife watching. The highlight of a visit though would have to be one of the many guided hikes that are available. Accompanied by a highly trained and armed ranger, you are free to walk for days and days amongst some of Africa’s most potentially dangerous animals. It’s really exhilarating.

iSimangaliso (KwaZulu-Natal)

Situated in the North of KZN is a long thin park that contains some of the most beautiful scenery you are ever likely to encounter. More than 200 kms of untouched beaches skirt a series of protected tropical reefs where you can dive with marine turtles and raggy tooth sharks (which are apparently safe, so I’ve been told). There are saline lakes where crocodiles and hippos amass in startling numbers and there are forests and rolling grassy plains where hundreds of species of animals have made themselves a home. In the words of Nelson Mandela: “Nowhere else on earth can one find the oldest land mammal (the rhino) and the world’s biggest terrestrial mammal (the elephant) living naturally in the same protected area as the ocean’s oldest fish (the coelacanth) and the sea’s biggest mammal (the whale)”. Activities include sun bathing, snorkeling and SCUBA diving, hiking, game drives, kayaking and whale watching.

Cape Peninsula National Park (Western Cape)

What makes Cape Town such a stunning place is not the city itself, but rather the location. Table Mountain looms above the suburbs and skyscrapers, whilst flights to Cape Town from London and many other points of the globe leave vapour trails across the urban skies – but bays and beaches, untouched by development, are just a few minutes’ drive from almost anywhere in the city. The park (of which table mountain is just one feature) consists of a rugged landscape of jagged mountains, secluded valleys and beautiful unspoilt beaches. Quaint little seaside towns are separated by rocky outcrops and lengthy stretches of unhurried winding roads. Activities include taking a cable car up to the top of Table Mountain for a gob-smacking view of the city; a drive around the cape peninsula (or a bike ride if you are up for the strong winds and steep ascents) or perhaps a lazy day on an empty beach. Keep an eye out for dolphins in the waves, penguins on the rocks and muggers in the car parks.

Getting there: Virgin Atlantic has frequent flights to Cape Town and flights to Johannesburg from London. See the Virgin Atlantic website for more information.