Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Kenya tour: The rhinos of Kenya

The history of the rhino can be traced back to 45 million years ago.

The Baluchitherium, an ancestor of the Indian rhino, was the largest land mammal that ever lived. It was 18 feet high and 36 feet long. It lived over 20 million years ago.
Fortunately, the rhino is on its way back, thanks to the efforts of well wishers and volunteers.

THE PROBLEM
The problem of the rhino has been its beauty, the horn. It is made of keratin, a substance found in human hair and nails. Powdered Rhino horn has been used extensively in traditional medicine in Asia and to make ornamental dagger handles in the Yemen. The demand is so great that traders are prepared to pay poachers vast sums to kill rhinos for their horns.
Because of these, Rhinos have faced wholesale slaughter. To stop these abuse governments and bodies such as Save the Rhino teamed up together to halt the abusive. Thanks to them, the overall decline of the rhino has been halted, and populations in Africa are beginning to stabilize.

A CLOSER LOOK.....
The rhino belongs to the family Rhinoceroteridae. They are 5 species placed in 4 genera.
Three of these species are found in south-central Asia and the other two live in Africa south
of the Sahara. Rhinos inhabit savannahs, shrubby regions and dense forests.
The African species live in more open areas than do the Asian species.
Their habitat has to generally have access to water. They usually drink everyday.
Their horns are dermal growths originally composed of compressed keratin. Usually they have 1-2 horns. Both hind and forefeet have 3 digits with a small hoof. They are known to have poor eye sight but strong hearing and smell. The tough and wrinkled skin has very few scattered hairs. The tail ends with stiff bristles.

BREEDING...
Female rhinos give birth every 2 years to a single calf, which is active soon after birth.
The calf remains with the mother until the next offspring is born.
Gestation is 420-570 days. Sexual maturity is reached at 7-10 years for bulls and 4-6 years for cows.They a life span of up to 50 years.

Note that the African rhinos are more aggressive than Asian species.
They use their horns to attack and toss their enemies.
This can be especially dangerous and can kill attackers instantly.
African white rhinos have a preference of feeding low to the open grounds whereas the black rhino usually browse on leaves and have a tendency to stay hidden.
They have been noted to be more active in the evening, through the night and in early morning, spending their days resting in heavy cover.
Rhinos sleep in both standing and laying positions and love to wallow in muddy pools and sandy riverbeds. They penetrate dense thickets by shear force, often leaving behind a trail that other animals later use. Rhinos run with a cumbersome motion, reaching top speed at a canter. They can, however, attain speeds of up to 45 km per hour for short distances.Basically the black rhino is more solitary and territorial except for the mother-child unit.
Groups of adult cows or bachelor bulls are sometimes formed, however, and during the mating season pairs of rhinos may stay together for up to 4 months.
Rhinos mark their territories with urine and by dropping their dung in well-defined piles that can reach up to 1 m in height. They often furrow the areas around these piles with their horns and make the piles even more conspicuous.
The black rhino has a wide vocal range and can possibly communicate like an elephant,
through frequencies below the range of human hearing. Breathing is an important part of communication.
Unlike the white rhino-calf, the black rhino calf normally runs behind its mother.

CURRENT STATUS..
There were an estimated 20,000 black rhino in Kenya in the 1970s.
By 1982 the population was reduced to fewer than 400. Since then, their number has
increased and now stands at over 450. The number in fenced areas has risen at an average
rate of four percent each year when the conditions are good.
Since 1984 the Kenyan government has pursued an active program devoted to the
recovery of Kenya's black rhino, with efforts centering on the development of specially
protected or fenced sanctuaries on government and private land, such as Lewa.

Rhino populations under custodianship both on private land (Solio Ranch) and in some
State-run areas (such as Nairobi National Park) have provided set up for new populations
(including reintroducing animals into an electrified-fence sanctuary inside the KWS-run Tsavo West and Meru National Parks). The private sector thus plays an important part in the conservation of rhino in Kenya and currently supplies many of the animals being used to restock state parks.

Kenya is currently the stronghold of the Eastern African subspecies Diceros bicornis michaeli,
a home to about 88 % of the population in 1995. Like South Africa and Namibia, Kenya is doing translocation to set up new populations while aiming to ensure that donor populations
remain productive. The public plight of the black rhino has attracted support from many different areas. Today, scientists are formulating a method of «fingerprinting» rhino horn based on the nutrient content of each specific rhino conservation area. This will enable them to pinpoint the area a rhino came from, its family group, and even its preferred diet. It is also an important step toward eradicating poaching, as scientists will be able to determine where a rhino was when it was killed.
About the Author
Peter Philip is the operator of Natural Track Safaris, a Kenya based nature safari company catering for family outdoor adventures, camping and overland safaris. For more safari information visit http://www.natural-track.com/kenya-tours.html

Trusting a Travel Agency with your Vacation

Planning a successful vacation is all in the details. A travel agency will have the necessary information, contacts, and expertise to ensure that the minor details that can usually make or break your trip are properly looked after, and not forgotten. While trusting friends to find that perfect location for your vacation can be one thing, making all the necessary calls and reservations for flights, car rentals, lodging, tours and everything else can be time consuming and costly. Trusting a travel agency to make these arrangements can save you time, money, and unnecessary headaches. Qualified travel agents have instant access to the best possible prices for all of your travel accommodations as well as the knowledge and relationships to arrange everything that best fits your budget and needs.

In trusting a travel agency, you will want to ask multiple questions to ensure you are getting everything you want out of your vacation. Using a travel agency also means that you will not have to ask any questions once you embark on your retreat. From where to eat, what to visit, and how to get to these places and safely, your travel agency is able to have all of this information ready for you before you even leave for your trip.

Your safety while on vacation is the number one concern to your travel agent. A qualified and professional travel agency will be fully aware of the local political climate as well as any other factors that may directly impact you or your family. Having to cancel a planned vacation is never a pleasant thought, but when you use a travel agency, they will be able to offer alternative solutions that you may not have come up with on your own.

From arranging transportation at your destination to planning outings for your children or finding the local hot spots for an evening’s entertainment, a travel agency can take care of everything for you in advance. Minor details and problems that can ruin a vacation will be minimized when planning with a travel agency. Not having to worry about the little things can make for a stress free vacation.

Most people that are planning a vacation these days will not have unlimited funds available, and are hoping to take advantage of the best possible rates being offered. Trusting a travel agency to plan vacations, book flights and arrange other transportation is a great way to ensure that you are getting the best deals available.

Due to their contacts and established relationships with travel accommodators, your travel agency will have access to all of the up-to-the-minute rates and special deals. By being in the business of travel, the relationships that travel agencies build with industry suppliers will, in turn, create more savings for the vacation traveler. While many of the everyday deals can be found due to the advent of the internet, many deals would not be possible without help from a travel agency. They make it possible to obtain local information about your chosen destination by helping to ensure that your vacation will be as safe, relaxing and entertaining as you chose.

Reasons for trusting a travel agency with your vacation planning are as obvious as they are numerous. A traveler will save money on rates, time, and the amount of headaches they might endure during decision making processes. The little things, such as fees and extra charges from local and international airports, local customs that should be adhered to, local hotspots that may interest you, or where to get the best cup of coffee, are all known by your travel agency.

This information can all help to make your trip go much more smoothly. With the click of a mouse button, or with one telephone call or office visit, your dream vacation can be completely planned in very little time through a travel agency. Comparison shopping can be terribly time consuming, especially if you are not familiar with the industry and all it has to offer. Researching which airlines travel to which destinations can be a major time consuming activity, even before beginning to compare rates so that you will get the best deals.

The travel agency's expertise and firsthand knowledge can save you countless hours of time by having this information at readily available for you. One of the nicest benefits in using a travel agency is that by having all of the necessary information available, they are able to provide options, alternatives and suggestions to your plans, which will further serve to enhance your vacation experience. Trusting a travel agency, for many people, is the most cost efficient and stress free method of planning any vacation or business trip.

About the Author

Josh Webber is a freelance writer who writes about vacationing and working with a travel agency.


Saturday, May 30, 2009

Top Hotels Recommended by Travel Agents

The hotel you choose to stay in while on vacation can often make or break your entire trip. The best and most comfortable hotels will enable you to completely relax and enjoy every minute of your much-deserved retreat. While there are many places on the internet that you can easily research and book hotels, you often will not obtain the best deals, and exactly what you are looking for, without help from a qualified travel agent.

A travel agent can help you determine exactly what hotel you are looking for along with all of the specific accommodations you want to revel in while being away. A travel agent can also help you deal with any added stress that might come from dealing with and booking a hotel at a far away destination. It is highly suggested to invest in the use of a travel agent when booking hotels, flights, car rentals and more, so that you are sure to get the best deals, most discounts, and a guaranteed fantastic trip.

There is a laundry list of top hotels recommended by travel agents at most popular resort locations. It is very important for you to find the type of hotel that is going to be best for you and your family, so that you can be eligible to get the best deals. No matter where you are going, there is usually a star-rated hotel in the vicinity. If you choose to stay at a travel agent recommended hotel, not only will you be staying in a wonderful place, but you are also more prone to receive discounts and special advantages as per request from your travel agent. Many hotels have relationships with travel agents and will treat their customers like royalty as part of a thank you to the travel agent for sending business their way.

There are several qualities in a hotel that can make them one that a travel agent will recommend. It is important for the hotel to first be in a good area where the traveler will feel safe and comfortable to bring their friends or family. Another great reason to use a travel agent is that they will be able to steer you clear of any unsafe areas in destination location. You might be unaware of the local conditions of a hotel when you book it yourself, whereas a travel agent can inform you with those necessary details. If you are spending money on a hotel you want to be one hundred percent sure that you find exactly what you are looking for including your safety. A travel agent can look at the hotel and let you know whether your preferences will be accessible from that area.

Being safe and in a highly touristy area are two very important aspects that will determine if a hotel will be recommended by travel agencies. Another criterion for a recommended hotel is that the hotel meets high standards on the inside. The hotels need to be clean, comfortable and reliable. If a hotel has a 24 hour concierge desk, room service, and other amenities they will most likely be a highly praised and highly recommended place to stay. Hotels with other accommodations such as an indoor pool, sauna, gym, and complimentary services will often be on the top of the recommended lists and will, in turn, be the most popular. Again, the more business a hotel will get the more prone they will be to give discounts as a thanks offering for doing business with them.

A travel agency also tends to recommend any hotels that carry a good reputation and an impressive history. This is very important because it is part of what makes staying in a hotel a memorable experience for you. When you find a hotel that has a good reputation, you will be able to confidently enjoy your stay, knowing that you and your family are being left in good hands that will take care of every need you may have. It is very comforting when a hotel enables you to feel right at home while you are enjoying the perks of a new and exciting destination.

Whether you are using a travel agency to book your trip, or to get great hotel recommendations from them, you can rest assured knowing that the hotels they recommend will be worth staying in. These hotels are going to be safe, in a good location, have all of the necessary amenities and perks, and will have a valuable reputation and history. Using a professional and qualified travel agent to book your next hotel stay will be a great way to get wonderful discounts and a guaranteed fabulous vacation.
About the Author

Josh Webber is a freelance writer who writes about travel agents and the travel industry, often focusing on vacationing tips like finding discount cruises.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Steps Involved with Working with a Travel Agency

Working with a travel agency is a great way to plan exciting trips for family vacations, singles getaways or business travel. In order to make the process as simple and efficient as possible, it helps if you make a few preparations before sitting down with an agent and making the final plans. Here are some tips about what you can do to work with an agent and have your travel itinerary locked in and ready to go in very little time.

One of the most important aspects of working effectively with your travel agent is to have some idea of where you want to go. In some instances, such as a business trip, this is a simple task that involves identifying the destination you must reach in order to conduct your business. When planning a vacation, this factor may be a little broader. Still, it is helpful if your agent knows in advance that you want to spend two weeks by the ocean or would like to spend your vacation at a mountain resort. Supplying the agent with details of this type makes it possible to begin assembling information on destinations, travel arrangements, and accommodations
for you to consider.

Along with having some idea of where you want to go on your vacation, it is also helpful in many cases to determine how much you can reasonably afford to spend on the travel. Even when traveling for business, many companies have limits on costs associated with airfares, hotel rooms, and other aspects of the trip. Providing your agent with a maximum amount you can spend will help to narrow the field of options in terms of travel, accommodations, and amenities that he or she can secure on your behalf.

With the general destination and the total cost allowance in place, the agent can then address any special needs you may have. For example, a business traveler may need to book a conference room at the hotel, using the space to meet with clients. Vacationers may need to consider special needs for young children such as daycare or other on-site services at the hotel. Even something as simple as allergies may come into play, since the agent will want to verify the hotel can substitute their traditional goose feather pillows for something that will not make you sneeze all night long.

Do not forget to mention any activities or sights you would like to enjoy while on the trip. In many instances, the agent can make arrangements in advance for day passes to amusement parks, as well as obtain tickets for plays and other live entertainment. In some cases, the agent can arrange all or part of the cost for these extras to be bundled into the total cost of the travel package, which means you will not have to pay extra to enjoy these types of amusements.

Keep in mind that the travel agent will take into consideration every piece of information you supply. A competent travel agent will also ask you some additional questions. Some of these may seem irrelevant, but that is rarely the case. The reason behind the seemingly unrelated questions may provide clues about the type of room you would be most comfortable in, or little things you like or dislike that may influence which hotels the agent suggests for your stay. Since the idea is to provide you with the best possible travel arrangements within the perimeters you provide, the agent will seek to learn as much as possible to help meet that goal.

As the plans begin to take shape, you will notice that the travel agency will also begin to supply you with information that will help make the trip more pleasant for you. This will include providing you with many of the little things you will need to know in order to enjoy your hotel or the general area. This will include informing you of sights, restaurants, or entertainment venues that are within walking distance of the hotel, the nature of any public transportation available at your destination, and any cultural nuances that would help you communicate effectively with the local citizenry. These little extras can make a big difference, especially if you will be vacationing in a location where the language and culture are different from your own.

Just before your agent actually books any of your arrangements, he or she is likely to go over each aspect of the trip with you one more time. This is for two reasons. First, it helps to ensure you are happy with the overall plan the agent has created for you. Second, it serves as one last check to make sure neither of you can think of any other factor that must be addressed. Once you are both satisfied the travel plans are complete, the booking begins and the agent supplies you with a packet detailing all the arrangements that have been put in place.

It is important to remember that even the best agent cannot arrange a satisfactory trip if you do not supply information about what you want and need for the trip. Provide as much detail as you can, and be sure to ask questions as you go through the planning process. Also be prepared to answer any questions put to you by the agent. Working together, the two of you will create travel plans that will ensure the success of your trip.
About the Author
Jennifer Bailey is a freelance writer who writes about travel and leisure, often focusing on a particular aspect of vacationing such as utilizing a travel agency.

Monday, February 2, 2009

THE FAR HORIZONS OF INDIA

When the scorching summer turns the plains into a fiery cauldron, lend your ears to the call of the mountains. Take a plunge into the depths of rolling greens and crystal clear lakes.

Wake up to the call of a hornbill in the North East. Sip a cup of tea rich with Yak milk at Leh. Attend an unplugged folk art performance in Himachal. Challenge the white waters in Uttaranchal. Or if you are too lazy, just put up your feet and soak in the Bhutanese sun. Reach out for Far Horizons this summer.

Leh and Ladakh
Explore the land of quaint Gompas, friendly Ladhakis, shimmering aquamarine waters, cold deserts and the numerous passes to begin with. Get your tour organized: the deluxe and semi deluxe camps at the most pristine locations along with jeep safaris, innovative tours, surface transport and hotel reservations.

Himachal
Snow peaked mountains stand sentinels against a clear blue sky to welcome you at the land of Himachal. Here you can explore small British colonies, their bustling malls and lakes, densely wooded forests, wild life and much more.

Uttaranchal
This newly founded state is a great destination for those of you who want a weekend getaway as well as an extended one. Explore Jim Corbett, Munsiari, skiing destination Auli or just travel around the entire length and breadth of Kumaon to catch the pulse of traditions and culture.

The North East
The treasure house of nature unravels at the North East. Discover Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Assam and Arunachal and feast in the sheer natural exuberance of these lovely locations.

Bhutan & Nepal
If you want to do a jungle safari at Chitvan or indulge in the pleasures of gambling in a casino-Nepal is the place to be. If you intend to have a quite holiday amongst picturesque hills and meadows or visit a monastery we recommend Bhutan.

Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips, hints, guide and points to ponder pertaining to traveling, do please browse at our websites.

Resource Box: www.aonetrip.com