Archive for February, 2011
What Is It Like Living In Rural South Africa
Quite a lot of people who have never visited South Africa seem to have this idea that the country is one large wilderness area with Elephants and Lions roaming around between the houses. The truth is that most of the dangerous animals are confined to game reserves and private game farms.
Travelling around in rural South Africa you are quite likely to see the animals as you pass by these private game farms. On one trip this last month I saw three bull elephant right next to the road but behind an electric fence of course and a group of warthog seven giraffe of various sizes a herd of Impala buck and a few Blesbok also a type of antelope. On a previous trip I saw rhinoceros and other buck. And all these trips were for work purposes travelling between towns in Natal in the North East of South Africa.
The electric fences are reasonably effective but about a year ago one of the bull elephants at a game farm at Magudu got really angry flattened the fence and ran a rampage over a number of farms. The owners had to get a helicopter in to find him and dart him and then truck him back at great expense.
We very seldom see lion even in the game farms as they are extremely dangerous animals and are kept behind huge fences made with steel cables and railway lines. When they have escaped they’ve usually eaten a few people before they get recaptured. The rural indigenous people in the country areas live in mud and grass huts that offer little protection from large predators and these people also often walk around at night in the pitch dark which doesn’t help.
In the towns and cities though there is virtually no wildlife seen unless you count squirrels and the occassional snake. When we do spot a small buck or a porcupine it’s a real event. The cities are well developed with large shopping malls that stetch for hundreds of metres some of them four or five levels with artificial wave houses adventure golf cinemas restaurants and so on. Four lane freeways criss cross the cities and any wild animal that finds himself there won’t last long.
In our large state owned Game Reserves like Kruger National Park Umfolozi Game Reserve and others you can have the experience of large wild animals roaming through your accomodation area as once you are inside the fenced reserve there is no separation from the wildlife. People have got up in the morning and found their route to their car blocked by a rhino or some other large unfriendly member of the big five.
So no we don’t have lions digging up our petunias in the garden and we don’t have to shovel elephant droppings off our lawn but the wildlife is close by when we want to see it.
If you don’t believe me come over and have a look!
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What Is A Package Vacation?
Package vacations by their very definition are comprised of at least two but usually more components. Many travelers prefer to buy package vacations because each element is often discounted when bundled together. In addition to that travel agencies work diligently to provide extras within package vacations that may not be available when services are purchased a la carte. Finally package vacations are attractive for people who do not want to research and select each component separately. When you are considering a package vacation the best knowledge you can have is about the various components which should make up a package vacation.
The first component of most package vacations is the actual travel itself. In other words this is the component that determines how you will get from where you live to where you will vacation. Most commonly this is airfare. Depending on your location and where your vacation will occur however it could also be bus travel or train travel. Because your vacation cannot begin until you actually arrive at your destination this is the keystone component for your travel plans. Typically all other components are arranged around your travel plans as the timing of your travel may well dictate how the other components are chosen.
The second component of package vacations is overnight accommodations. This component determines where you will stay when you get to your vacation destination. This could be a cruise ship a hotel a campground anywhere that you can stay. For multisegmented trips you will choose several different accommodations for each of your destinations. Hotels and airlines sometimes partner with one another to offer better fares or rates when their services are purchased together. The amenities offered by your lodging selection can determine what other components you may need to add to your travel. For instance if you will be going to a fullservice resort you may not be interested in adding outside tours and attractions. Depending on the location of your chosen accommodations you may not need local transportation. While the travel piece is the keystone component your lodging accommodations may be the glue that holds all other travel arrangements together.
The third component of package vacations is transportation. Will you need ground transportation services from the airport to your destination? What about your ability to get around when you reach your final destination? What will your plans entail and how will you get to the places you want to visit? Some package vacations offer vouchers to use on local mass transit offerings such as buses or trains. Others bundle in rental cars so that you can set your own schedule of events for the locations you wish to visit. Some hotels and resorts even offer free shuttle service to popular attractions but be sure to confirm this ahead of time instead of assuming your hotel will take you where you want to go. Your own plans and desires will determine what types of transportation you will choose to add to your package vacation.
The fourth component of package vacations is tours and attractions. Depending on how active you wish to be on your vacation you may want to plan ahead for the places you will visit and the tours you will take. Many vacation spots have attractions available that you can prepay at a discount when you bundle into a package location. In addition you may be able to purchase passes that will allow you to visit multiple attractions at one low price. The offerings are highly dependant on where your travels will take you however. Prepaying for attractions may or may not make sense for you depending upon the flexibility you desire for your trip or the openendedness of when the vouchers must be used.
The final component of package vacations is insurance. You have pieced together a wonderfully relaxing vacation for yourself and your family but what insurance do you have that all of your plans will come off without a hitch? Most travel agencies offer trip insurance for their package vacation. This insurance warrants against certain types of disruptive occurrences like massive weather phenomena. In addition the insurance can be utilized to postpone plans if you experience a disruption in your own life. Depending on your vacation destination and your own willingness to risk losing a deposit or the full cost of a cancelled trip travel insurance can be a very wise investment.
Purchasing a package vacation becomes easier when you know what to expect. By knowing what components may or may not be included and asking the right questions you will better be able to choose from all the diverse offerings travel agencies have to offer. You are more likely to be assured of a vacation you will look forward to enjoying.
About the writer: Mike Cole is a freelance writer who writes about vacation deals and the travel industry in general often discussing specific aspects of the travel industry such as a travel agent.
Volunteer In Ghana And Combine Travel And A Long Lasting Experience
Ghana is an African country that is situated right on the south coast of what we call the West African bulge. It shares its borders with Togo Ivory Coast Burkina Fasso and the mighty Atlantic Ocean.
Ghana has always had a rich cultural and natural heritage. There is a narrow and small grassy plain that stretches inward from the Atlantic coast and widens in the east and this stretch of land is home to dense rainforests and different animals and plant species. One of the major attractions in Ghana is the national park at Kakum. As compared to some of the other countries in Africa the national parks in Ghana are relatively small. Some of the animals that you will find in Ghana include different species of antelopes deer lions monkeys and elephants. There is plenty of species of birds for the avid bird watcher and the photographers and then there are the beautiful and colorful butterflies. Another major tourist attraction is the coastline of Ghana which is home to many palmfringed and powdery beaches as well as lagoons.
Why Volunteer In Ghana
Ghana offers a great opportunity to volunteers as you will be exposed to some of the extremes that Ghana is famous for. Volunteering in Ghana will involve working with the people and for the people. Teaching is one of the most sought after volunteer jobs but you can have limitless opportunities for contributing to the overall health and welfare of the people of Ghana. Different types of projects that you can work in as a part of volunteering in Ghana include orphanages education community development HIV/AIDS awareness and health programs.
Types Of Projects Available
As a part of volunteering in Ghana you will get to choose the kind of project you are interested in. The different types if projects available include:
Teaching Projects: Ghanaian schools have a dearth of good teachers whether that is for teaching English or for any other subjects. Volunteering in Ghana programs will help you to teach English in different rural schools across Ghana. Teaching is not just limited to English but you can teach various subjects from science to arts. The different forms of teaching will include subject teaching classroom teaching and extracurricular activities like arts sports and Martial arts. You need to have a basic minimum of high school education for this type of volunteer work in Ghana.
Orphanages in Ghana: There are over 170000 orphaned children in Ghana and the primary reason being AIDS. Some of these children’s have been taken by extended family or even friends but not all of them are lucky enough. There are many more that live on their own on the streets of Ghana or in orphanages. As a part of volunteering in Ghana program you will be working with various orphanages situated all across Ghana and mostly in rural areas.
Humanitarian Projects in Ghana: As a volunteer in Ghana you can opt for humanitarian projects which are similar to community projects but more extensive and mentally challenging. You will be able to contribute towards educating the underprivileged children and women assist in HIV/AIDS awareness for the benefit of mankind and work with the local community in building homes creating an infrastructure for rural schools etc.
Health Care in Ghana: Most of the health care volunteer programs in Ghana deal with diseases immunization and creating awareness in the community. Volunteering in Ghana will involve handling several projects related to creating HIV/AIDS awareness and maintaining statistics of the AIDS infected population.
Volunteer in Ghana Requirements
Age: The minimum age for volunteering in Ghana should be 18 or older.
Duration: The standard duration of most projects is 58 weeks although they can also vary from 12 weeks or 912 weeks.
Language: English
Experience: No experience required unless it is a highly technical project.
Fee and Other details
There is a fee attached to each of the projects that you volunteer for. The fee is charged in advance and is charged for the following:
1.Accommodation
2.Emergency evacuation services
3.Food/meals
4.Travel insurance
5.Transportation within the region
6.Emergency support
7.All types of training material
8.Supervision by local staff
9.Orientation on arrival
10.Local sightseeing recreational activities
Conclusion
Volunteering in Ghana is a great opportunity for all those who have been longing to make valuable contribution to the continent that is known as the cradle of human civilization. Using your business or technical skills you will be able to offer a better alternative to the people of Ghana.
About the writer: Volunteer in Ghana expert copywriter Moe Tamani is a project manager and contributes to Volunteering in Ghana destinations programs at GlobalCrossRoad.com
