Interesting African Facts - DID YOU KNOW? - #00011

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.

African Army Ant and Driver Ants - Issue #00012 - November 12, 2010

Africa Army Ant and Driver Ants November 13, 2010 - Issue #00012   When visiting Africa, the main focus of our attention is often the bigger animals however we should also be very mindful of the insects below us; particularly army ants or driver ants, as they are more commonly known in Africa. Army ants can march 20 meters (65 feet) in an hour in columns up to 20 meters (65 feet) wide swarming and devouring almost everything in their path. Army ants can kill and eat up to 100,000 animals in a day, mostly other insects including other ants. However army ants can also kill larger animals such as lizards, snakes, cooped chickens, and other small mammals.  African driver ants have even devoured tethered cows. A few unlucky humans have died the same way, but these cases are rare, usually involving unconscious or inebriated individuals. Observers have witnessed herds of panicked elephants flee from columns of driver ants. Several species of birds actually accompany army ants catching and eating any insects that are flushed out by the ants.   In areas where army ants are prevalent, tuck your long pants inside your socks if you are wearing them. If you see a column of army ants, get out of the way. African tribes have found out that, if you soak the leading columns with kerosene/petrol and set fire to them, it diverts the ants away. View full newsletter Click Here Do you want to receive a weekly full edition of our newsletter: Click Here      LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS 1-888-50AFRICA 1-888-502-3742 8AM-8PM EST Lion Dog African Safaris provides quality Private-Custom Tours, either Escorted or Independent, at very competitive pricing. Visit our website for details on planning your dream African Safari www.liondogafricansafaris.com Call us for a free Africa Safari consultation: 1-888-50AFRICA

Interesting African Facts - DID YOU KNOW? - #00020

Did you know that the tongue of a giraffe can be as long as 45 cm (17.7 inches) ? 

African Safari Pre-Conceived Notions & Big Cat Lessons - Issue #00020 - Janurary 8, 2011

Life Lessons From Big Cats January 8, 2011 - Issue #00020   There is a very interesting video at this link http://www.wimp.com/bigcats/ regarding two photographers following big cats in the Okavango Delta as their subjects. African Safari Pre-Conceived Notions    The mission of LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS is to have our clients experience the best and safest African tour possible. When we successfully accomplish our mission, we end up with happy clients who repeat with us and/or refer our company to acquaintances. It’s a win-win situation. Unfortunately many consumers contact us with pre-conceived notions and plans about touring Africa which may hinder our ability somewhat to fulfill our mission, as follows A) Consumers have pre-determined the time they have chosen to tour Africa. Pre- determining the tour time significantly limits tour options in many instances. I have written an article titled, When To Go To Africa, which goes into some detail outlining the best times to tour Africa based on numerous factors. My suggestion is that consumers read this free article before choosing the time when they plan on visiting Africa. B) Consumers who are misinformed Many consumers contact me overwhelmed and/or confused with misinformation which often has to be dispelled before moving forwards. There are several common sources where misinformation is dispensed. One source of misinformation originates from country tourism marketing campaigns. Some African countries such as South Africa and Kenya have done a terrific job of marketing themselves as the greatest tourist destinations however there are other lesser known destinations in sub-Saharan Africa that offer as good and often much better and safer destinations to tour. The tour industry in North America is rife with pre-packaged tours to destinations all over the world. Our assessment is that many of the pre-packaged tours to Africa are lacking in both substance and value, and that the pre-packaged tour literature tells consumers what  they want to hear rather than on what they need to hear. Strangely enough, another source of misinformation comes from well intentioned acquaintances who have previously visited Africa. If someone has only been to Kenya for instance, they will likely think that Kenya is great, but compared to what? However, had they had visited both Kenya and Tanzania, they might actually be able to inform you that Tanzania is actually better by comparison. Another good example of misinformation from acquaintances involves the popular trek up Mount Kilimanjaro. Some acquaintances may have chosen to have bottled water, portable toilets, hyperbaric gamow bags, oxygen tanks etc, carried up the mountain, over and above the basic necessities; and these acquaintances might have you believe that it is essential you have the same items yourself for your trek. Although all these items are available for all treks, there is no hard evidence to suggest that additional money spent on this extra equipment and supplies increases the safety, enjoyment or success of summiting the mountain. The biggest source of misinformation and misrepresentation is found on the internet. There are literally thousands of websites devoted to touring Africa however there are very few ways of distinguishing the legitimate from the illegitimate businesses. Even amongst legitimate businesses, there can be huge differences in the tour settings, the service, and all the other variables that make or break a tour. Most companies do not aspire to make customer satisfaction their number one priority as we do. My first bit of advice for clients is to trust only the information obtained from reliable expert/specialist sources who are looking out for your best interests, such as what is found on LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS'S website, from our free guidebooks, and from our knowledgeable staff. My second bit of advice is to obtain references from your sources. Requesting and following up on references should require very little effort yet it is probably the most important measure consumers can take to make sure they are in good capable hands. A huge red flag should go up when references are not available or favorable. C) Prospects with unrealistic cost expectations Some prospects are under the false impression that because Africa is largely third world status, that tours for Africa should be dirt cheap. The fact of the matter is that tours are priced similar to what a similar North America tour would cost which is remarkable considering the duration; the setting; the quality of guides, food, transportation, accommodation; and the logistics in putting a quality African tour together. Some tour companies to Africa do overcharge for their services when comparing apples to apples.  Please refer to our website for standard industry costs of the budget, mid-range, and luxury levels to determine if quotes are in line with the norm. With a little effort on both our parts, we trust that we will steer you straight about touring Africa and that we will accomplish our stated mission for you and yours. Your satisfaction and our reputation depends on it.   View full newsletter Click Here Do you want to receive a weekly full edition of our newsletter: Click Here     LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS 1-888-50AFRICA 1-888-502-3742 8AM-8PM EST Lion Dog African Safaris provides quality Private-Custom Tours, either Escorted or Independent, at very competitive pricing. Visit our website for details on planning your dream African Safari www.liondogafricansafaris.com Call us for a free Africa Safari consultation: 1-888-50AFRICA

Interesting African Facts - DID YOU KNOW? - #00019

17 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have died of AIDS.

At least 25 million people in Africa are HIV-positive.

There are 12 million children who have lost their parents to AIDS in Africa

The SECRETARY BIRD - Issue #00019 - December 31, 2010

The SECRETARY BIRD   December 31, 2010 - Issue #00019 Whilst on safari, one often encounters interesting animals that they may not have been previously aware of. The Secretary Bird falls into that category.  The Secretary Bird is a large bird of prey, distinct from all other birds of prey, endemic to Africa, usually found in the open grasslands and savannah of the sub-Sahara. The Secretary Bird is instantly recognizable as having an eagle-like body on crane-like legs which increases the bird’s height to around 1.3 m (4 ft) tall. Although the Secretary Bird is able to fly, the Secretary Bird habitually hunts its prey on foot. They can either catch prey by chasing it and striking with the bill, or stamping on prey until it is rendered stunned or unconscious enough to swallow. Prey consists of insects, small mammals, lizards, snakes, young birds, bird eggs, and sometimes dead animals killed in wildfires. There are some reports of Secretary Birds killing young gazelles. Adults hunt in pairs and sometimes as loose familial flocks, stalking through the habitat with long strides. While the birds roost on the local Acacia trees at night, they spend much of the day on the ground, returning to roosting sites just before dark.   View full newsletter Click Here Do you want to receive a weekly full edition of our newsletter: Click Here     LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS 1-888-50AFRICA 1-888-502-3742 8AM-8PM EST Lion Dog African Safaris provides quality Private-Custom Tours, either Escorted or Independent, at very competitive pricing. Visit our website for details on planning your dream African Safari www.liondogafricansafaris.com Call us for a free Africa Safari consultation: 1-888-50AFRICA

Interesting African Facts - DID YOU KNOW? - #00018

The world's largest diamond was the Cullinan, found in South Africa in 1905. It weighed 3,106.75 carats uncut. It was cut into the Great Star of Africa, weighing 530.2 carats, the Lesser Star of Africa, which weighs 317.40 carats, and 104 other diamonds of nearly flawless color and clarity. They now form part of the British crown jewels.

TANZANITE: The New Gemstone - Issue #00018 - December 24, 2010

TANZANITE: The New Gemstone December 24, 2010 - Issue #00018 Tanzanite is a precious gemstone that was only discovered in 1967 by a Maasai tribesman. Due to its relatively recent discovery , it is often referred to as the “new gemstone” although it is over 600 million years old. The gemstone is only found in a thin strip of land 7 km ( 4 miles) wide and 10 km (6 miles)  long in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro 70 kms (45 miles)  from the town of Arusha , and 14 kms ( 9 miles)  from Kilimanjaro Airport in the country of Tanzania. Experts maintain that the chances of finding Tanzanite elsewhere is very slim and it is estimated that the present supply will be completely exhausted in 15-20 years. Tanzanite is 1000 times rarer than diamond. Tanzanite is unique among gemstones for its multi-dimensional colour, radiating a dazzling kaleidoscope of royal blue, violet, indigo, lilac and periwinkle. The price for Tanzanite can range anywhere from $200 to $1000 per carat depending on the quality of the stone. One client of Lion Dog African Safaris recently returned with Tanzanite purchased at a store located at the Dar Es salaam airport for $800, and got it appraised at a value of $1200 upon returning home. There is fake Tanzanite and inferior Tanzanite that is passed onto unsuspecting buyers so it is highly advisable to get educated about Tanzanite before purchasing Tanzanite on the open market. A very interesting way to learn more about Tanzanite, and to perhaps purchase the gemstone at the source, would be to have Lion Dog African Safaris arrange for you to visit the Tanzanite mine and visitor centre as part of a Tanzanian tour. Tanzanite Quality Scale™ This Guide is based on the Tanzanite Foundation’s Tanzanite Quality Scale™, an internationally recognized system for grading and valuing tanzanite.    The 4 C'S In a similar way to diamonds, tanzanite is graded according to the 4 C's. The 4 C’s stand for: Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat weight. The higher the combination of these characteristics, the more rare and valuable the stone. Understanding and check all 4 C's before purchasing your tanzanite.    Color Color refers to the blue in tanzanite and its degree of violet saturation. The depth of color ranges from Exceptional to pale, with a 'B' or 'V' following 'v' or 'b' to indicate a predominance of blue or violet hues. Clarity Clarity refers to any natural flaws or inclusions in a tanzanite. Tanzanite ranges from Internally Flawless to Heavily Included. Cut Cut refers to the shape, facets and proportion of a tanzanite. A 'fine' cut ensures that the gem's facets reflect light to create maximum brilliance. Carat Carat refers to the term used to measure a tanzanite’s weight. One carat has 100 points and weighs 1/5 of a gram. View full newsletter Click Here Do you want to receive a weekly full edition of our newsletter: Click Here      LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS 1-888-50AFRICA 1-888-502-3742 8AM-8PM EST Lion Dog African Safaris provides quality Private-Custom Tours, either Escorted or Independent, at very competitive pricing. Visit our website for details on planning your dream African Safari www.liondogafricansafaris.com Call us for a free Africa Safari consultation: 1-888-50AFRICA

Interesting African Facts - DID YOU KNOW? - #00017

The floodwaters that fill up the Okavango Delta originate 500 km (300 miles) away in the Angolan highlands to the northwest.

The Okavango Delta - Issue #00017 - December 18, 2010

The Okavango Delta December 18, 2010 - Issue #00017   The Okavango Delta is in the country of Botswana and is the largest inland delta in the world covering an area roughly the size of Puerto Rico or 3 times the size of Prince Edward Island . The Okavango Delta is essentially a depression in the northern part of Botswana, adjacent to the Kalahari Desert, that gradually fills up with floodwaters. As the waters arrive, huge numbers of  African wildlife from all directions also arrive into the Delta, in numbers likely exceeding the numbers of animals on the Serengeti migration, although this movement of wildlife  into the Delta is more fragmented than on the Serengeti. The runoff creates a pristine wetland area dotted with islands and laced with a network of slow moving channels of water creating an oasis for a multitude of animals, fauna, and the visitors who want to drink in the experience. The Okavango is home to all manner of African mammals and reptile, over 400 species of birds and over 1000 species of plants. The Okavango Delta  is truly the best oasis in Africa. The Okavango Delta is divided up into approximately 20 private and public concessions.  Private concessions have the advantage of offering more off road opportunities, night drives, walking safaris, and provide much more privacy than in the public reserves.  Each concession has its own variation on the environment and some concessions are rated better environments than others. From the towns of Kasane or Maun in Botswana, it is necessary to fly small planes into and within  the Delta to reach the various camps.  There are over 40 camps within the Delta catering mainly to a few mid-range but mostly a luxury clientele with nothing for the budget traveler.   The average guest density in the Delta is 1 guest for every 42 square kilometers, 50 times less than the Masaai Mara Park in Kenya.  Professional English speaking guides lead all the tours out of each of the fully staffed camps. The  permanent tented camps come with all the amenities and are located either on dry areas, wet areas, or mixed areas comprised of a dry and a wet area.  Dry areas are explored by open sided 4WD vehicles offering great sightlines of big and small game plus hundreds of bird species.  Dry areas also offer walking safaris.  Wet areas are explored by motor boat in the deeper water, flat bottoms or mokoro ( local dug outs) in the shallows, and short walking tours on the islands. Guests typically stay 2-3 nights at a camp, and many guests manage to overnight at one to three different camps on a single tour in order to experience the various environments. Choosing the right blend of camps definitely makes for a better tour. Another consideration in camp selection are the extra curricular activities offered. One of the upscale camps has undertaken a black and white rhino reintroduction program, another camp provides horse rides amongst the wildlife,  another camp offers elephant back safaris; and other camps are renown for the number of lion kills of water buffalo, or for more sightings of  the endangered wild dogs. View full newsletter Click Here Do you want to receive a weekly full edition of our newsletter: Click Here      LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS 1-888-50AFRICA 1-888-502-3742 8AM-8PM EST Lion Dog African Safaris provides quality Private-Custom Tours, either Escorted or Independent, at very competitive pricing. Visit our website for details on planning your dream African Safari www.liondogafricansafaris.com Call us for a free Africa Safari consultation: 1-888-50AFRICA

Interesting African Facts - DID YOU KNOW? - #00016

The Nile crocodile has a virtually indiscriminate diet. Estimates are that up to 200 people, often washing clothes by a riverbank, may die each year in the jaws of a Nile crocodile

Vicious Crocodile Attack - Issue #00016 - December 11, 2010

Elephant mum shakes a vicious crocodile off her trunk! December 11, 2010 - Issue #00016 Article by Daily Mail Reporter - Last updated at 4:14 PM on 18th November 2010 These dramatic pictures show a clash of the titans as a protective elephant mum and a ferocious crocodile get in an epic tug of war in Zambia. The female elephant and her baby were drinking from the Luangwa River in the South Luangwa National Park when they were attacked.  Leaping out of the murky waters a vicious crocodile bit down on the female's trunk. ATTACK: The crocodile sprung from the water as a baby elephant and its mum were having a drink from the river The baby elephant went to hide behind mum as the croc attacked The elephant was brought to her knees as the crocodile thrashed around. Brought down on her hind legs, the elephant didn't give up and turned away from the water, despite the predator clamped down on her trunk. Using incredible strength the female managed to shake off the croc after walking away from the water.    The elephant managed to turn away from the water even the croc was trying to pull her in With her baby safely on the far side, the mum stepped away from the water with the croc still clamped on The mighty elephant dragged the crocodile all the way out of the water as she walked away They were seen feeding from the river later in the day. South Luangwa National Park is well-known for its mighty elephant herds of up to 70 individuals. Measuring 9000 square kilometers, the park has 60 animal species including baboons, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, leopards, lions and hippopotamus.   Despite the unwanted appendage, she and her baby broke into a run. Water gushes from the mum's trunk as she finally shakes the croc, with her baby momentarily tripping over the predator before the pair made off safely. She survived the attack along with her baby, despite a second scare when the baby tripped as the pair ran away.   View full Lion Dog African Safaris newsletter Click Here Do you want to receive a weekly full edition of our newsletter: Click Here       LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS 1-888-50AFRICA 1-888-502-3742 8AM-8PM EST Lion Dog African Safaris provides quality Private-Custom Tours, either Escorted or Independent, at very competitive pricing. Visit our website for details on planning your dream African Safari www.liondogafricansafaris.com Call us for a free Africa Safari consultation: 1-888-50AFRICA

Interesting African Facts - DID YOU KNOW? - #00012

When army ants are cut off from the rest of the colony they commence ‘circular milling’ until all the ants are dead.

Interesting African Facts - DID YOU KNOW? - #00009

No two African wild dogs are marked exactly the same, making it easy to identify different individuals.

Interesting African Facts - DID YOU KNOW? - #00015

The majority of chimpanzees are right handed like humans.

Mahale Mountains National Park - Issue #00015 - December 4, 2010

Mahale Mountains National Park December 4, 2010 - Issue #00015 On the extreme west side of Tanzania, south of the town of Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika, is Mahale Mountains National Park, a very remote park visited by only by a few hundred people a year who stay at mid-range or luxury permanent tented camps. Mahale offers a number of outstanding attractions for visitors such as mountain climbing, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking and relaxing on deserted, pristine, white, sandy beaches. However the main reason to visit Mahale is to track and observe chimpanzees. There are some 21 locations of chimpanzee remaining in Africa and Mahale is considered by some to be the best place in the world for chimpanzee safaris. This park is home to around 1,000 chimpanzees whom do not seem to mind being watched like their cousins at Gombe Stream National Park which is located just north of Kigoma. Chimpanzees are the part of the ape family and share a special genetic relationship with human beings, over 99%; making them the closest relative of modern man. Chimpanzees are also more closely related to man than to the gorilla. The chimpanzee has a thickset body, no tail, and much of the body is covered with long black hair, but the face, ears, fingers and toes are bare. Chimpanzees walk and climb using all four limbs and they have longer arms than legs. Like humans, chimps have opposable thumbs and opposable big toes which allow them to grip things with their feet. A full-grown chimpanzee has five or six times the strength of a human being. Adult males weigh between 40 and 55 kg ( 90 and 115 pounds) and they are about 1.2 m tall (4 feet) when standing upright. Females are slightly smaller. Chimpanzees in the wild live normally live to their forties. Noisy and curious, intelligent and social, each with its own distinctive personality, the chimpanzee has been observed using inanimate objects as tools. Chimpanzees communicate much like humans do by using facial expressions, vocalizations, body language, grooming, tickling, kisses and pats; and chimpanzees laugh when they play. The chimpanzee eats about 200 kinds of fruit; termites, ants, honey, bird's eggs, and will kill and eat birds and small mammals. Every night chimpanzees construct nests of vegetation, nine to twelve meters (30-40 feet) high in a tree, in which to sleep. The best time to visit the Park is during the dry season (mid-May to mid-October) when the chimpanzees are likely to be seen in big groups, the sunshine illuminates the fish in the Lake, and the beach is an inviting place to relax. View full newsletter Click Here Do you want to receive a weekly full edition of our newsletter: Click Here     LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS 1-888-50AFRICA 1-888-502-3742 8AM-8PM EST Lion Dog African Safaris provides quality Private-Custom Tours, either Escorted or Independent, at very competitive pricing. Visit our website for details on planning your dream African Safari www.liondogafricansafaris.com Call us for a free Africa Safari consultation: 1-888-50AFRICA