Archive for June, 2009
Make Reunions An Unforgettable Experience
Planning for a yearly family reunion is a best way so as to keep all your family members siblings aunts cousins uncles nieces grandparents and nephews connected. An annual gathering of all the extended family members is a great way to keep everyone in the circle about forthcoming or recent weddings births or any other life events. Family reunions offers you a much more private experience than a ordinary yearly Christmas card so even if you are not having the habit of planning a family reunion every year theres no time like the current to get started!
Many times family members will be living so far apart from one another that getting together and having fun may happen only once or twice a year. This is particularly true with extended families all the cousins and great aunts and uncles whom you see hardly ever unless you host or attend a reunion. What to mention the older we get it seems we will get busier as well. This blend of distance and busy lifestyles makes it essential to start planning a family reunion at least few months before the date you wish to host it.
Selecting a location for it can be a very good experience of narrowing down many unique and interesting locations to the one perfect fit for your whole group. Or it could be a tense event of trying to shape out how you could be fair to the relatives living in New Jersey and also to family out in California Louisiana and Virginia all at the same time.
Sometimes during planning a family reunion it will become necessary to make decisions that will impact whether certain guests will attend the program. Location of the event and the cost of reaching there will often decide whether family members will be ready to travel for the event. In cases where family members live all over the country just try to select a location that would please the largest number of people or send an email survey with the major locations you are considering and try to get a oral response of what they would prefer. Then go with majority rules.
A perfect location for your family reunion could just be a park or a lakeside community a mountain retreat or else a beach community. Consider all the possibilities for the location and also the ages and interests of your family members who are most likely to attend. In the end dont beat yourself up about the tiny stuff. The most vital thing is that you are making an effort to create this fun and enjoyable event.
Dont forget to look for a location that provides sufficient space for your guests to spread out and chat hold up on old times or even just go for a picnic lunch. Picnic tables are superb options for seating larger groups. You could even bring blankets for the younger relatives to have relaxation on the ground but just remember that not all will do it themselves. Keeping all these in mind reunions can be a great one.
About the writer: Ron Victor is a Expert author for family reunions and women’s retreats. He has written many articles like church retreat family retreat mountain retreat. For more information visit our site http://www.palimountain.com Contact me at ron.seocopywritergmail.com.
Kenya And Tazania Combined Camping Safaris
An Ideal itinerary for a vacation in East Africa after an all year’s hard work. Takes you to breath taking sites as you get the true African jungle experience taking you through the unpertabed flora and fauna.
This is a safari that promises the best of Kenya and Tanzanias premier parks. Visit the small but rewarding Lake Nakuru National park thereafter proceeding towards Masai Mara Kenyas most celebrated game park. This is where the great wildebeest migration is a spectacle to behold for any would be visitor to Kenya mainly in July and August of each year.
In Tanzania Ngorongoro Crater is said to have the worlds densest population of lion. In Lake Manyara lions have developed a liking for residing in the branches of trees where they can both sleep and watch for prey whilst the Serengeti is notable for its large migratory herds of wildebeest and zebras with strings of predators in trail. The Ngorongoro crater also offers amazing wildlife viewing and scenery
Day 1 Nairobi Lake Nakuru National Park
We depart Nairobi and drive down the Escarpment to the floor of the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park for an afternoon game drive. The park covers 180 sq km and is home to warthogs waterbuck buffaloes reedbucks and the occasional leopard. White and black rhinos were introduced to the park some years ago and you will find white rhino at the southern end. The park has also retained its reputation as an ornithologists delight with more than 400 species of bird found here. We spend the night at a Lake Nakuru Guest House inside the park
Day 2: Lake Nakuru Masai Mara
Depart the camp soon after breakfast and drive via the scenic floor of the Great Rift Valley to Masai Mara. Lunch at a campsite before proceeding for evening gamedrives.Dinner and overnight stay at Mara Campsite
Day 3amp; 4: Maasai Mara
Full days spent exploring the park in search of the big 5.Morning and afternoon game drives are offered. Optional hot air balloon safari can be arranged at an extra cost of US 425 per person. Dinner and overnight stay at Mara Campsite
The Mara offers wildlife in such variety and abundance that it is difficult to believe: over 450 species of animals have been recorded here. You will easily see lions rhinos hippos crocodiles giraffe wildebeests zebras buffalo warthogs hyenas jackals wild dogs buffalo leopard many kinds of antelopes and elephant. It is in the Mara that perhaps the most spectacular event of the natural world takes place. This is the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra from the Serengeti Tanzania in search of water and pasture. Following on their heels are the predators of the savanna lion cheetah wild dog jackal hyena and vultures
Day 5 : Maasai Mara Musoma
We leave the campsite and drive through the southern part of the reserve viewing game as we proceed to the Tanzanian border at Isebania / Sirari. We stop for the night in a quiet town on the shores of the immense Lake Victoria known as Musoma. The surrounding countryside is home to many different tribes including the Kuria Jita Luo and Taturu. Musomas colourful port and variety of tribes make it a vibrant town. Dinner and overnight at Penunsila hotel
Day 6 : Musoma Serengeti National Park
Leaving in the morning we drive south and west to the western corridor of the great Serengeti via Ndabaka Gate with a picnic lunch enroute. The afternoon is spent viewing game and we overnight at a campsite
Day 7 : Serengeti National park
Full day spent exploring the park. Morning and afternoon game drives ate offered. Dinner and overnight stay at a Seronera campsite.
The Serengeti National Park is arguably the most impressive wildlife sanctuary in the world. During the months December through March the seemingly unending plains of the southern Serengeti and the Conservation Area are inhabited by enormous herds of wildebeest and zebra. The great herds graze on rain ripened grass. In the calving season late January through mid March the herds concentrate at the Ndutu and Salei plains Southern Serengeti / Ngorongoro Conservation Area attracting the attention of predators like lion cheetah and hyena.
Day 8 : Serengeti Ngorongoro conservation area via Olduvai gorge
We view game as we drive southeast up into the magnificent Ngorongoro Conservation Area .Stop over at The Olduvai Gorge with picnic lunch en route Over at the Olduvai where we spend the night at the Simba Lion campsite on the crater rim.
The Olduvai Gorge cuts through rock beds layered in time sequence from 2 million years ago to the present and it is here where humanoid bones have been found dating back to over 1.75 million years including a direct ancestor of modern man. Fossil foot prints over three million years old have also been found here and are the most ancient footprints yet discovered. There is an excellent site museum where you can explore the diggings with a guide and it is also a great place to view birds such as the purple grenadier red and yellow barbet speckle fronted weaver and slaty colored boubou.
Day9: Ngorongoro Arusha
Early breakfast then descend into the crater for a full morning crater tour. Lunch then proceed to Arusha. Dinner and overnight stay at Sinka Hotel
The Ngorongoro crater is the worlds biggest whole volcanic caldera at 8300 sq km and is arguably the most stunning arena.
It is frequently described as one of the wonders of the world not only because of its geological magnificence but also because it serves as an extraordinary natural sanctuary for some of Africas largest populations of large mammals. Ngorongoro and other freestanding mountains are volcanic in origin formed during the fracturing process that created the Rift valley 15 to 20 million years ago. When it peaked in size 3 million years ago it was a similar height to Mt. Kilimanjaro today
Day 10 : Arusha Nairobi
Break fast then board the morning Shuttle bus to Nairobi to arrive by 1400 hrs. Drop off at the airport to board your home bound flight.
Best of Kenya and Northern Tanzania adventure camping safari covering Samburu national parkSweetwatersLake Nakuru and AASKTC 002 NaivashaAmboseli/Northern Tanzania National parkSerengetiNgorongoro Lake Manyara and Tarangire in 15 Days .
Day 1: Nairobi Samburu Game Reserve
Pick up from your hotel at 0700 hrs and passing the majestic Mt. Kenya en route to the open savannah of Samburu Game Reserve. We camp in the narrow stretch of palms and woodland by the Ewaso Nyiro River which provides water for the animals and some relief from the equatorial sun.
Day 2: Samburu National reserve.
Full day spent exploring the park. Dinner and overnight at a campsite.
The highlights of Samburu game reserve is the spectacular scenic beauty rivers and forests. It is an area where the local people have a rich and colorful heritage. The reserves have numerous permanent springs and a wealth of wildlife which includes leopard hippo elephant lion reticulated giraffe grevys zebra and crocodile in the Ewaso Nyiro River. Over 365 species of birds have been identified in the sanctuaries.
Day 3 Samburu Mt. Kenya/Sweet waters
Depart Samburu and proceed to Mt.Kenya region. Lunch at Mountain Rock lodge followed by after noon game drives at the Sweetwaters game ranch. Children can also enjoy a full hour of Horse riding Dinner and overnight stay at Mt.Rock campsite
Sweetwaters is the only sanctuary for rehabilitation in Kenya of these widely abused chimpanzees with two groups living in an environment as close to their natural habitat as possible. The site is also a dedicated black rhino breeding area.
Day 4 Mt. Kenya Lake Nakuru National park.
We break the camp soon after breakfast and proceed to Lake Nakuru National park. Lunch enroute followed by an afternoon game drives as the pick lake. Dinner and overnight at a campsite.
Lake Nakuru is a shallow alkaline lake on the edges of Nakuru town and lies a distance of 160 kilometers from Nairobi. The lake is world famous as home to millions of flamingoes. The number of flamingoes depends on the water level which determines the quantity of algae on which the birds feed. Flamingoes are known to migrate to other Rift Valley lakes whenever the water level is low. The National Park surrounds the lake and was gazetted to protect the colony of flamingoes as well as provide sanctuary for endangered species such as the rhino. There are about 25 white and black rhinos one of the largest concentrations in the country. Predators are also residents to this park while Rothschilds giraffe have been translocated into the park for safety
Day 5: Lake Nakuru Naivasha
We break the camp soon after break fast and proceed to Lake Naivasha.Morning visit to hells gate national park this park can be explored on foot or by cycling bicycles are available for hire at an extra cost. Dinner and overnight stay at fishermans camp
Hells gate national park is characterized by diverse topography and geological scenery. It has historically been an important home for the rare lammergeyer but it is now thought that the famous pair of birds may not have nested in the park for several years.
One is encouraged to hike and cycle in the park. This is a rarity in Kenyan National Parks and is only made possible due to the lack of large predators such as lions and cheetahs
Day 6 : Lake Naivasha Amboseli National park
Break the camp and proceed to Amboseli national park. Via Nairobi Amboseli is the magnificent park at the foot hills of Mt.Kilimanjaro.After noon gamedrives followed by dinner and overnight stay at a campsite.
This small park at 392 sq km is the second most popular park in Kenya after Maasai Mara mainly due to the spectacular backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro on the southern boundary.
Day 7 : Amboseli National park
Full day spent exploring the park. Optional visit to Maasai villages can be arranged with our guide between game drives. Overnight stay at a campsite.
Amboseli means the place of water in Maasai language. The park has an endless supply of water which is filtered through thousands of meters of volcanic rock from Mount Kilimanjaro. Animal species seen include elephant zebra wildebeest giraffe impala and leopard. The birdlife seen here includes pelican bee eater kingfisher African fish eagle and pygmy falcon. Amboseli is one of the most popular parks and offers excellent accommodation facilities. There are five lodges and two campsites inside the park. Kilimanjaro forms the backdrop of this game sanctuary and it is a sight to see and marvel at. The nomadic richly decorated Maasai who are deeply steeped in Maasai culture entertain visitors with enchanting dances of ageless Africa.
Day 8: Amboseli Lake Manyara
After breakfast we drive into Tanzania via the Namanga border. We also pass through Arusha to Lake Manyara National park with lunch enroute. Regardless of the direction we approach Manyara from the view is always fantastic. We proceed to a campsite for dinner and overnight stay.
Lake Manyara is a shallow alkaline lake that is part of the Rift Valley wall; the lake is at the base of this dramatic western escarpment giving it a beautiful and serene setting. In addition to this peaceful setting Lake Manyaras main attractions are its rich bird life tree climbing lions and its hippos which you can see at a closer range than many other places. Lake Manyara also hosts thousands of flamingos at certain times of the year and has diverse vegetation ranging from savannah to marshes and acacia woodland enabling a variety of wildlife habitats including butterflies.
Day 9: Lake Manyara Serengeti National park
Morning gamedrives at Lake Manyara National park then proceed to Serengeti national park.Game is viewed as we proceed to the campsite for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10 /11 Serengeti National park
Full days spent exploring the park .
Serengeti is Africas most famous and Tanzanias largest park covering 14736 sq km and is adjoining with the Masai Mara National reserve in Kenya. With a wildebeest population of about 2 million and several other hoofed species which include zebra Thomsons gazelle impala topi Grants gazelle Kongoni Eland Kirks dik dik klipspringer roan Oryx oribi waterbuck buffalo giraffe and warthog the Serengeti is sure to attract a string of prey such as lion leopard cheetah hyena golden jackals and bat eared foxes. Elephants are relatively scarce and the few remaining black rhinoceros are restricted to the Moru Koppies area.
Serengeti also offers rewarding bird viewing with ostrich and kori bustard being common a variety of larks finches and raptors can be seen but the most distinctive small bird is the lilac breasted roller.
Day 12: Ngorongoro via Olduvai Gorge
After an early breakfast we drive south to the magnificent Ngorongoro crater via the historical Olduvai Gorge whilst game watching only interrupted by a picnic lunch enroute. We stop and set camp at the Simba Lion Campsite.
The Ngorongoro crater is the worlds biggest whole volcanic caldera at 8300 sq km and is arguably the most stunning arena. It is frequently described as one of the wonders of the world not only because of its geological magnificence but also because it serves as an extraordinary natural sanctuary for some of Africas largest populations of large mammals.
The Olduvai Gorge cuts through rock beds layered in time sequence from 2 million years ago to the present. It is here where humanoid bones have been found dating back to over 1.75 million years including a direct ancestor of modern man. Fossil footprints over three million years old have also been found here and are the most ancient footprints yet discovered. There is an excellent site museum where you can explore the diggings with a guide and it is also a great place to view birds.
Day 13 : Ngorongoro Tarangire national park
Morning crater tour then proceed to Tarangire national park .Dinner and overnight at a campsite.
Day 14: Tarangire Arusha
Full morning gamedrives the return to the camp for lunch. Break the camp soon after lunch and drive to Arusha town for overnight at a budget hotel.
Herds of up to 300 elephants scratch the dry river bed for underground streams while migratory wildebeest zebra buffalo impala gazelle hartebeest and eland crowd the shrinking lagoons. It’s the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem a smorgasbord for predators and the one place in Tanzania where drycountry antelope such as the stately fringeeared oryx and peculiar longnecked gerenuk are regularly observed
Day 15 : Arusha Nairobi
Board a Nairobi bound shuttle bus and drive to Nairobi to arrive at 1400 hrs.
About the writer: Muchina is a tour consultant with Beaverline Safaris a Nairobi based tour operator commited to giving its clients the best of services through its highly effient and dedicated stuff. For all your East Africa Travel needs kindly contact Beaverline safaris at infobeaverlinesafaris.com or visit our Website at http://www.beaverlinesafaris.com
Importance Of Coed Camps
Summer is here. What better way to enjoy the summer than go on a camp. Students of all ages from seven to eighteen or nineteen love going to camps. They learn to live away from their families staying with their people of their age group. They also learn to be independent. This in turn helps in developing their personality. There separate camps for boys and girls and also coed camps. In a real life situation a person has to interact with men and women. So it is a good exposure to send children to coed camps.
Camps have to be chosen according to individual tastes. Some might like academic camps while some may be interested in fine arts. Still others might be interested in sports. Different camps cater to individual needs according to their age and interests. When it is a coed camp some points must be taken into consideration. First the policies formed by the camp. The type of projects that would they would take up and whether they would work in groups in the various projects. The living quarters should be clean. The amount of interaction between the boys and girls and the length of stay should be taken into account. Care should be given to the security arrangements and the supervision that they get. The number of counselors in ratio to the number of students hours of curfew and the number of visits allowed by outside persons should also be known. The safety factor should be given importance. There should trained people knowing first aid and CPR. There should also be hospital nearby.
After all these factors are considered the type of camp according to individual interest should be chosen. Camp life makes a person more mature and helps them learn to handle difficult situations.
There are different kinds of camps to choose from. There are Academic camps which lay emphasis on educational development. One such camp is Seacamp Association Inc. Florida. Sports camps are also popular. One such is ‘Trapeze School New York Bean Town’ Massachusetts. The participants can learn juggling fly on the trapeze and other tricks from the circus that comes to town. There are also sports camps giving them coaching in soccer and basketball. There is also one at Pennsylvania “Sixers”. There is traditional vamp at California called ‘Camp Ocean Pines’. There is camp for Performing and Fine Arts located at ‘Long Lake Camp for Arts New York. There is another camp for Performing and Fine Arts at Berkley.
There are also tours for teens with travel such as the iD Tech camps where there is study abroad program with film making in Spain. This involves staying with a host family. They are exposed to the Spanish language and culture. There are also adventure camps; one such is Sea Trek BVI British Virgin Islands. There are also cyber camps where they are taught about computers computer gaming web Page Designing. They are located in California Illinois Oregon and Washington.
Some of the camps are Camp Walt Whitman for boys and girls. This is a coed camp in New Hampshire. There is ‘Camp Friendship’ in Central Virginia. They have coed traditional camps and also adventure camps. They have more than fifty activities.
Coed camps are healthy and prepare on to handle real life situations in addition to enjoyment and socializing. Children and teenagers should be ready to go to camps especially coed camps. So why don’t you start now and join a camp today.
About the writer: Mari milian is an Expert author for Coed camps and youth summer camps. She has written many articles like Children summer campsboys summer campsovernight summer camps horseback riding camp and music summer camps. For more information visit: paliadventures.com contact her at caterina.miliangmail.com
