Interesting African Facts - DID YOU KNOW? - #00014

There are 22 volcanoes in Tanzania however they are all extinct except for Ol Doinya Lengai which last erupted in 2007

Ol Doinyo Lengai-The Mountain of God - Issue #00014 - November 27, 2010

Ol Doinyo Lengai-The Mountain of God November 27, 2010 - Issue #00014 North of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, is an active volcano named Ol Doinyo Lengai. Elevation 2962m ( 9718 ft. ), that erupts every seven years or so. It is a one-of-a-kind volcano that spews out a unique black lava at about half the temperature of normal volcanoes which turns white upon cooling. One renown volcano researcher referred to Ol Doinyo Lengai as a ”toy” volcano. It is usually possible to climb to the top and stroll over solidified lava flows, and walk amongst the lava cones. Panoramic views from the top are truly breath-taking.The volcano is off the beaten path, deep into Masaai territory, and is rarely visited. The Masaai  tribe refer to Ol Doinyo Lengai as the “Mountain of God”, and they believe that the mountain increases fertility advising women having difficulty conceiving, to visit the volcano. You’ve been warned! The trek up to the crater is an exceptionally demanding climb of around 1700m (5600 ft) reserved for the fit and determined. Experienced Masaai guides lead the trek which, although steep, is not considered a technical climb however you will need to use your hands near the top. To avoid the daytime heat, it is best to start at midnight from the camp at Lake Natron. The ascent takes about 5 -6 hours and the decent can take 2-4 hours. Other things to do in the area include a tour of Lake Natron with its large resident flamingo population, a visit to authentic Masaai villages, and walks along natural river gorges encountering waterfalls, plunge pools and a natural jacuzzi. The trek up Ol Doinyo Lengai is a great addition to a game safari of the Northern Park Circuit, and/or as a tune up to trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro.   LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS 1-888-50AFRICA 1-888-502-3742 8AM-8PM EST Provides quality Private-Custom Tours, either Escorted or Independent, at very competitive pricing. Call us for a free Africa Safari consultation: 1-888-50AFRICA Do you want to receive a weekly full edition of our newsletter: Click Here Visit our website for details on planning your dream African Safari www.liondogafricansafaris.com

Africa Victoria Falls - Issue #00013 - November 20, 2010

Victoria Falls - November 20, 2010 - Issue #00013 Victoria Falls straddles the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the Zambezi River is the main source of water for the falls. At one time, Victoria Falls was mostly visited from the Zimbabwe side but under President Mugabe’s rule, most of the tourists now visit the Falls from the Zambian side. Victoria Falls is the largest, most beautiful and most majestic waterfall on the planet; it is the 7th wonder of the world as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is well worth the visit on these merits alone. However the appeal of Victoria Falls escalates when one realizes all the various activities available to all visitor types.  For the adventurous types; there is swimming at the Devil’s pool, class V white water rafting, bungee jumping, zip lining, gorge swinging, flights over the Falls, quad biking, etc. For the animal lover types; there is elephant bush rides, encounters with rescued lions, horse riding, bird watching, rhino walks, etc. For the casual and romantic types; there is a lunar rainbow phenomenon to witness, a drink or tea while looking over the Falls, enjoying a sundowner from a cruise boat, fine dining, shopping, etc. For the sports minded; there is tiger fishing, clay pigeon shooting, golf, hiking, gorge climbing, canoeing and kayaking, river boarding, etc. For the culture minded; there is interactive drumming and dancing, cultural visits, museums, etc. What ever the type or age of visitor, there is something for everyone in Victoria Falls which makes Victoria Falls a must-do destination when touring Africa.   LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS. LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS 1-888-50AFRICA 1-888-502-3742 8AM-8PM EST Provides quality Private-Custom Tours, either Escorted or Independent, at very competitive pricing. Call us for a free Africa Safari consultation: 1-888-50AFRICA Do you want to receive a weekly full edition of our newsletter: Click Here Visit our website for details on planning your dream African Safari www.liondogafricansafaris.com

Interesting African Facts - DID YOU KNOW? - #00013

At Victoria Falls during the rainy season (March to May), the Zambezi’s flow can be 10 times greater than in the dry season ( September to December ) however the most thrilling class V white water rafting actually takes place in the dry season.

About Lion Dog African Safaris - DID YOU KNOW? - November 6, 2010

All clients of LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS who have trekked up Mt Kilimanjaro thus far, have all successfully summated the highest peak of Uhuru; far surpassing a typical failure rate of about 20-30 % across the board.

Interesting African Facts - DID YOU KNOW? - #00010

Did you know that Tanzania is only one of 4 countries in all of Africa, where one can still see the Big Five. 

The African Lion Dog - Issue #00010 - October 30, 2010

The African Lion Dog

There is the occasional inquiry if the Lion Dog, used in the moniker for Lion Dog African Safaris, actually exists.

The African Lion Dog , a.k.a. the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a dog breed developed in Southern Africa where it was used (amongst other things) to hunt lions which is where it derived its name as the Lion Dog.

The creation of the Lion Dog breed can be traced to the early pioneers of the Cape Colony of southern Africa, who crossed their dogs with the semi-domesticated, ridged hunting dogs of the Khoikhoi tribe.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback's distinguishing feature is the ridge of hair along its back, running in the opposite direction to the rest of its coat.

As lion trackers, Ridgebacks were sent out in packs of two or more (usually twenty) to track down, then corner and wear down a lion by taunting and goading it into confusion, a tactic known as keeping the lion "at bay".

The dogs, working in revolving groups, kept the lion at bay until the hunter arrived to dispatch the occupied lion with a well placed rifle shot from relatively close range.

The Lion Dog is truly an animal of African heritage and despite its reputation as a brave hardy dog , Lion Dogs make excellent pets with the right owner.

LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS


Provides quality Private-Custom Tours, either Escorted or Independent, at very competitive pricing.

Call us for a free Africa Safari consultation: 1-888-50AFRICA

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The Chagga Tribe of Kilimanjaro - Issue #00011 - November 6, 2010

The Chagga Tribe of Kilimanjaro

The Chagga are the predominant tribe around Mount Kilimanjaro, and trekkers will encounter Chagga acting as their porters and guides for the trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. The Chagga are one of 120 different tribes in Tanzania, whose population is estimated at about 2 million in a country 37 million, forming the third largest ethnic group in Tanzania.

They are thought to have gradually migrated to the area as banana farmers in the 15th century, displacing smaller and weaker tribes, arriving as a number of independent chiefdoms which vied for supremacy over each other.  Even today the Chagga is considered to be comprised of around 400 different clans.  The Chagga flourished as farmers with the fertile soil and favorable climate of the region, and traded with the Arab caravans and other adjoining tribes. Many chiefdoms back then had several produce markets largely run by women, just as they are today.

European missionaries were accepted in the region in 1848 and exposed the Chagga to western religion, medicine, education, and the cash crop of coffee was developed to export outside Africa. While many Chagga are Christians, traditional beliefs still play an important part in their lives.  For instance, the practice of circumcision has largely been abandoned however polygamy is still commonly practiced.

Largely as a result of their wealth derived from coffee, Chagga today generally have a relatively higher standard of education, and are well represented in the spheres of Tanzanian business and politics, and many work as officials, doctors, or teachers throughout Tanzania, however many Chagga continue to subsist primarily by growing crops and tending some livestock and poultry.

The Chagga have traditionally handed down their farms from one generation to the next and as the population has increased, the farms have become smaller and smaller to the point of not being able to support the entire family. Therefore it is not uncommon today for the Chagga to be a guide one day, farm the next day, and bee keep the day after. The Chagga are known for their sense of enterprise and strong work ethic.

The Chagga have always recognized the mountain as the source of their farming success and the dead are still buried facing the mountain in veneration. It is doubtful the Chagga trekked to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro prior the arrival of the European as their lack of clothing simply prevented it. Today the local economy continues to derive another form of livelihood from Kilimanjaro and that is by escorting tourists to summit the mountain.

The Chagga have mainly adopted western attire although the kanga is very popular with the female gender even as a wrap over western wear. There is a museum of Chagga Culture in the area, and 1-2 day tours of Chagga farms are also available for any party interested in learning more about the Chagga.

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The African Wild Dog - Issue #00009 - October 23, 2010

The African wild dog has a colorful, patchy coat, large bat-like ears and a bushy tail with a white tip that may serve as a flag to keep the pack in contact while hunting.

Wild dogs are the most efficient hunters on the African continent, catching up to 85% of the prey they actually chase – far more successful than lions who are only about 30 % successful. Wild dogs prey on gazelles and other antelopes, warthogs, wildebeest calves, rats and birds such as ostrich.

The wild dogs are active primarily in the early mornings and late afternoons.  The Wild Dogs have a peculiar, playful ceremony that initiates each hunt where they circulate among themselves, vocalizing and touching each other until they get excited. On the hunt, members of a pack vocalize to help coordinate their movements, its voice is characterized by an unusual chirping or squeaking sound, similar to a bird.

Wild Dogs make no attempt to hide from their prey.  They simply approach a herd until it stampedes, then single out an individual -- usually one that's slowed by old age or disease. Some of the dogs run close to the prey, while others follow behind, taking over when the leaders tire.  They can run long distances at speeds up to 35 miles per hour. Often, other pack members will try to outflank their prey cutting off its means of escape.  Eventually the victim succumbs to exhaustion and it is not long before the pack brings it down.

One African Wild Dog usually grabs the victim's tail, while another attacks the upper lip or nose, and the remainder disembowel the animal while it is still alive but immobilized.  It is this gruesome method of killing that has given the Wild Dog its bad reputation. The hunting members of the pack return to the den where they regurgitate meat for the nursing female and pups.

African wild dogs have an unusual breeding system.  Only one pair of dogs reproduces in a pack; other pack members act cooperatively to care for the young of the breeding pair.  It has been said that African wild dogs are the most social of all mammals, never living apart from a pack at any stage in their lives.

Throughout Africa, wild dogs have been shot and poisoned by farmers, hunters and, at one time, by rangers because of their negative reputation.  However, the most serious threat today to the Wild Dog is disease such as distemper , parvovirus and rabies brought on by contact with domestic dogs that accompany the increasing human populations.

There were once approximately 500,000 African Wild Dogs in 39 of Africa’s 45 countries, and packs of 100 or more were not uncommon.  Now there are only about 3,000-5,500 Wild Dogs remaining in all of Africa with approximately half that population residing in the Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania where sightings are still common.

Today, African Wild Dogs live in much smaller packs of 6 to 20.  One would have to be very fortunate to see Wild Dogs today in the Serengeti where only about 60 wild dogs remain.  Our generation may be the last to see the African Wild Dog in the wild.


LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS


Provides quality Private-Custom Tours, either Escorted or Independent, at very competitive pricing.

Call us for a free Africa Safari consultation: 1-888-50AFRICA

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