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Best Parks for Gorilla Trekking in Africa

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Go Gorilla Trekking

Uganda, DR. Congo and Rwanda in Africa are the best destinations and only three countries where you will find the last mountain gorillas in the wild. When planning your gorilla safari in Africa, you need to first know which country that can fit your budget. You need to know the costs that are standard, costs that cannot be negotiated but standard. This will help you to plan your best budget tour based on facts.

Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

In Uganda mountain gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In these areas tracking takes place at 5 locations; Buhoma Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo in Bwindi and Ntebeko in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. All locations combined give a total of over 18 gorilla groups, however the permit number are limited because only 8 people are allowed to visit a gorilla family per day for only one hour.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is undoubtedly the best point in the entire world to enjoy the ultimate gorilla experience.  Bwindi Impenetrable is a World Heritage Site located south- western Uganda, a sanctuary for chimpanzees, bird species, and butterfly species but most famous for its mountain gorilla population, more than half of the world’s gorillas permanently live here.

Uganda’s dense forests are home to over half of the world’s 1004 or so mountain gorillas as of May 2018, the rest live in the neighboring Rwanda and the Democratic Republic if the Congo. As they do not survive in captivity, preservation of these fragile habitats is essential for their survival.

Accessibility to the Park

By road; Bwindi impenetrable National Park can be reached from Queen Elizabeth National Park to the north (2-3 hours), from Kabale to the south (1-2 hours), or from Kampala via Mbarara (6-8 hours). The roads meet at Butogota, 17km from the Buhoma entrance gate. A 4WD vehicle is necessary during the rainy season.

By Air; Guests can fly from Entebbe or Kampala (Kajjansi airfield) to the modern tarmac airstrip at Kisoro. Planes can also be chartered to the grass Kayonza or Savannah airstrips. Bwindi is well served by three airfields at Kayonza and Kihihi for the northern sector and Nyakabande in Kisoro for those going to track gorillas in the southern sector (Nkuringo, Nshongi and Mishaya).

Sectors for tracking mountain gorillas

There are 4 locations for trekking gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and these are Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. The 4 locations have a total of about 18 families as of December 2018. Tracking permits need to be bought prior to tracking by booking directly with the reservations office at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Headquarters or through a reputable tour agent. Permits can be paid for up to two years in advance.

Number of people to track and how old

According to the number of people allowed trekking the gorillas, only 8 visitors are allowed to view the gorillas for one hour per day, participants must be aged 15 or over. And they will be accompanied by trained armed guides while with the gorillas.

The Gorilla Experience

Tracking commences every morning from the park headquarters at 8:00am. Your guide will then lead you along generally clear paths up into the forest, in radio communication with the trackers that stay with the group so that they can be located. The mountain gorillas cover large distances throughout the day and they rarely do stay in one area. The guides will use their knowledge of the gorilla’s habits and information from the previous day to locate the group’s whereabouts.

Climate

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is chilly in the morning and at night with average temperatures ranging from 77⁰C – 20⁰C. The coldest period in Bwindi is June and July, while wet seasons are March- May and September-November with total annual rainfall of up to 2390mm. Rains in March-May are short. They are heavier in September-November but can just be long hours of soft drizzle.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Covering an area of about 33.7 sq. kilometres, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the south-western park of Uganda bordering Congo and Rwanda. The Park is a habitat for man’s closest mountain gorillas which roam about the whole forest in search for food.

This Park is one of the few places in the world where the endangered mountain gorillas live and it attracts people from different countries to come to Uganda for gorilla safari tours.

Accessibility to the park

By road; Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be accessed by use of a car from Kampala via Kabale to Kisoro. This journey takes about 8 hours.

By air; one can board a plane from Entebbe to Kisoro Airstrip which is near the park. This is the quickest mode of access and it takes about 1 hour. There are daily scheduled flights which must be booked long in advance with your local Uganda safari operator.

On a daily basis, the moment you visit the park, the welcoming atmosphere is an evidence of adventure filled of natural beauty. A day’ trek through the forests of Mgahinga with a well-trained guide explains the gorillas’ behaviors along the way is a lifetime experience.

Usually, gorilla trekking tour starts from Ntebeko entrance gate around 8:00am in the morning daily taking 2-4 hours. A visitor is expected to budget for his/her time well while with a gorilla family since the maximum time allowed to spend with them is one hour.

Gorilla Permit Price

You need to know the cost of a gorilla permit before booking your safari trip. A gorilla permit in Uganda costs US$800 USD per person, while Gorilla Habituation Experience costs US$1500 USD per person spending 01 and 4 hours with gorillas respectively.

Other places that provide an opportunity for gorilla trekking are Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda as well as Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo. So, before you decide to book a gorilla tour in Uganda, you need to convince yourself that you have made the right decision on where to trek these gorillas.

Where Will Travelers Go First After the Corona Virus

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Covid Travel

With some countries opening up and loosening travel restrictions around the world. People just want out of there. This will mean a lot of movement though most countries have got restrictions on how when to travel inside out.

Travel companies are all trying to benefit from this as they have been struggling to make ends meet as well as lying off some workers. The travel system we all know has been affected directly as it is travel and there is no travel.

For now we do not expect a lot of international travels , this is due to many factors and the thinking if covid-19 stayed in a certain part and I get it there. People will want to move regardless of the corona virus pandemic.

In Africa however the Uganda safaris and East Africa are much pampered and in gear to get moving. We are eagerly waiting for visitors to come around. The government and travel agencies like the UTB are advocating for local tourism. They are aging people to support tour operators in this move.

The road trips offer a sense of both freedom and personal control of travels. This would be a much cheaper way to start the travelling. But where will they go first.  Will people travel internationally or local?

 1. You’ll need more than a passport

International travel will need more than a passport to go through. Some countries will go ahead a d force you into quarantine and testing you again at the border even if you have a negative certificate.

Entrance will be refused unless you have a certificate of immunity due to the fact that you’ve recovered from an infection or because you’ve been vaccinated in case the vaccine is available.

This means that sort term travels will be because of you must, not because you want to travel. When you thing about the business side validation of travel documents. Countries will likely only open their borders where there is merit and it’s safe to let travelers through. This may mean temporary visas and more documentation that you’ll need to take with you when traveling.

2. Travel will have different expensive seasons

Governments will need to turn lockdown measures on and off in order to keep demands on healthcare systems at a manageable level.  This means there will be closing and opening in short short times around until the covid-19 is no more. Travellers will use this short limited time to travel around the world but not for long.

This will also not be confirmed because of the changes on plain, limited sits and dramatic increase in prices for the last minute bookings as well as availability.

3. Recovery will be uneven

A lot of things are changing and we have starts seeing the real factors that are affecting not only the travel world but everything around us. There are big chances that things may not be normal anytime soon.

Things to do with the health care systems, travel, food, daily life of gatherings and social behaviors may be set apart. The word is moving to social distancing error.

The fact that all fingers don’t have the same size, countries recovery will also vary according to their capability in terms of money and people’s response to the stringent measures put in place. The government officials and the ministry of health guidelines form the world health organization.

Honeymoon Vacation at Nam Hai Resort In Vietnam

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Nam Hai Resort

Why you should stay at Nam Hai in Vietnam if you choose it as a honeymoon destination.

Picking a Honeymoon Vacation Resort is one of the big decisions of your life. Where to go that is different, and not where everyone else goes. It is worth examining Vietnam where you can certainly find more than one romantic luxury hotel for your honeymoon vacation. It is exotic, it is different, and it has a history and a culture as well as beautiful beaches and it is tropical as well.

Why not consider the Nam Hai Hotel which is one the best Vietnamese Hotels, and it is certainly developing a reputation as the best Beach Resort in Vietnam, and would be a great choice for your Romantic Honeymoon vacation Resort.

It sits on the east coast on a beautiful stretch of white sand beach known as Ha My beach close to the historic city of Hoi Nam and it is south of Danang.

This Spa Resort consists of 60 elegant one bedroom villas, each with indoor and outdoor sitting areas, and a lavish bathroom opening onto a private garden with an outdoor shower. There are 40 one, two, three, four and five bedroomed villas all with almost unobstructed views over the South China Sea, each with its own kitchen and a private pool.Add to this iPods, free hardwire internet, and surround sound TV and entertainment system.

As a hotel you will find the Nam Hai has so much space that it never seems at all busy, even when it is full, which is ideal for a honeymoon vacation resort. It is also very much on its own with no other hotels nearby which is nice. For a honeymoon vacation a pool villa is the ideal choice but honeymooners need to ensure their villa are not on a hill but close to the sea. You’ll find the private garden is large with a large pool and a number of sitting areas. The best bit of the pool villas is that you get your own private personal butler and it is little touches like this that makes the Nam Hai Hotel the perfect honeymoon vacation resort.

Outside the villa, there are three infinity pools which have amazing views of the ocean, and the staff around the pool bring you towels, water, cloths, body mist, if you need it they bring it, but they remain unobtrusive, always a sign of a great luxury hotel. The beach is long, deserted, but no chairs on the beach itself.

In terms of the meals at the Nam Hai Hotel, starting with the breakfasts which is a very good buffet, and also food cooked for you including eggs, Vietnamese pancakes an waffles. Lunch by the pool with the likes of Caesar salad, chicken pita, pizzas are uniformly good, and just what is needed in the middle of the day.

Dinner in the main restaurant has plenty of choices and good quality of food, and it looked good on the plate which is important. The Vietnamese and Thai specialties are particularly good.

If you want to go to Hoi Nam, where there a number of very good restaurants. there is free transport, but taxis are pretty cheap anyway.

Nam Hai hotel is quite unique and close enough to the culture of Vietnam, that if you get bored of your honeymoon resort you can soon immerse yourself in the culture. Finally everyone on the staff of the Nam Hai hotel are very anxious to please, always polite, enthusiastic, especially to practice their English.

Nam Hai is a romantic luxury hotel, very suitable for a honeymoon vacation, and a great base for exploring the culture of Vietnam.

Gorilla Watching in Volcanoes National Park

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Gorilla Watching

What’s cooler than scouting for mountain gorillas in their natural habitat? Nothing if you ask us! Just plan a trip to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda to catch a glimpse of these gentle creatures.

The Volcanoes National Park covers almost 40 million acres of lush wilderness and it’s also Africa’s oldest national park. The park’s grounds used to be less immense but it has fortunately expanded significantly over the years.

It was only a few decades ago that gorillas were seriously threatened with extinction from poaching and habitat encroachment, and it’s partially through the conservation efforts of Dian Fossey that many are still around today. Dian studied mountain gorillas in their natural habitat for 18 years and spearheaded many campaigns against poachers. Her research improved the gorillas’ reputation considerably; instead of being thought of as dangerous wild beasts, gorillas are now known to be remarkably gentle and intelligent animals.

The easiest way to observe them in the wild is to book a gorilla tour—but be sure to arrive early! Head to the village of Musanze, and remember to arrive by 7 a.m. to get a gorilla trekking permit. They’re US$1500 each, and only 96 permits in total are available each day as the park tries to keep tourist numbers down to ensure that the gorillas remain relatively undisturbed. Almost a dozen different groups of gorillas make their home in the park, so there are good chances you’ll spot some.

When is the Best Time to Go?

It’s possible to go gorilla trekking year-round, but try to visit between December-March to avoid the rainy season. To learn more about your safari options in Rwanda, click here.

Gorilla Trekking in Africa’s Forested Mountains

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Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla tracking in Africa is carried out in three countries including; Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Viewing the mountain gorillas within the wild is one of the most fascinating wildlife safari encounters on earth. Mountain gorillas are endangered species that make the life experience of viewing these primates in their natural habitats extraordinary and so beautiful.

The gorillas are about 1000 individuals that are remaining in the world and according to the national geographic. The world Wildlife Fund estimates that the number of gorillas remaining is 1060 individuals. The opportunity to trek the mountain gorillas in these rain forests is once a lifetime adventure and is one of the greatest wildlife experiences in Africa.

Where to Go Gorilla Trekking?

The best places to trek the mountain gorillas in Africa are the three countries that offer gorilla trekking in Africa and they include; Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries are all found within central Africa.

These are naturally found within the dense rain forest s and are also found within the moist tropical as well as the sub-tropical forests of the Albertine Rift in central Africa. These places are two forested mountainous areas that are occupied by the African mountain gorillas.

These national parks where tracking is carried out include; Mgahinga Gorilla National park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Bwindi has got 24 habituated gorilla groups. Located in southern Uganda, Bwindi is the most popular touristic place in Uganda. Most Uganda safaris feature gorilla tracking in this impenetrable forest as one of the major highlights that you should not miss. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has got one gorilla family, the gorilla families that are found in the southern part of the park include; Mubare, Rushegura, Habinyanja, are found in the Buhoma area, Rushaga has got Mishaya, Nsongi, Kahungwe, Bisingye, and the Bweza. Nkuringo family has one group in Nkuringo Area and Ruhija area has got three families including; Kyaguriro, Buitukura, and Oruzogo.

Mgahinga has got one gorilla family and it’s called Nyakagezi and it moves between Rwanda and Uganda, and in the past two years have been staying in Uganda and it consists of ten individuals which include; four silverbacks.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is known as a UNESCO World Heritage site and also lies in southwestern Uganda, it has half of the wild remaining mountain gorillas totaling 480 which is half that remaining in the whole world. This national park covers an area of 331km of this thick montane as well as the low land rain forest.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also located in the east western part of the country and it borders Rwanda just near Volcanoes national park and also near the Democratic Republic of Congo around the Virunga National Park. It’s also a gorilla territory that is in the Virunga Volcanoes region and spans three main central African countries. This national park is the smallest of all the parks and it covers 34km forming part of the large Virunga Conservation Area, which is also 434km of the volcanic mountains. More so, the park is home to one gorilla family that moves between Uganda and Rwanda and this has made it hard to trek.

The national parks are managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority and it takes over 12 hours to drive to both the national parks. The drive will give the tourists a real picture of what a rural area looks like and also goes through the beautiful scenery that is so fantastic to the eyes of the viewer. There is also an alternative way of reaching these two national parks, this is by taking a domestic flight from Entebbe International Airport by a charter to Kayonza Airstrip which is also near Bwindi and the guests can be driven for a short distance to the park headquarters.

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

The Volcanoes Park Rwanda also covers an area of 125km and it’s a unique scenic forest that is covered with mountains as well as six volcanoes. The park has got over 480 mountain gorillas and is found along the border of the Virunga Conservation Area which is known as the Virunga Mountains.

This conservation area includes the volcanoes national park which is also managed by Rwanda. This park is where the great primatologist Dian Fossy lived and also carried her research about the mountain gorillas. The main gorilla groups that are found here include; Amahoro, Agashya, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Umubano, Kwitonda, Bwenge, and Ugenda family.

On a gorilla safari in Rwanda, you can also witness the Kwita Izina, a big event where the naming ceremony of mountain gorillas is carried out in Rwanda. This activity attracts many people and this has brought in lots of revenue to the country. If you are looking for such an experience, you should consider booking a safari in the first week of Sep

Gorilla Trekking in Congo

Gorilla trekking in Congo is carried out from Virunga National Park, this park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it’s located in the eastern Democratic of Congo and borders both Uganda and Rwanda. The park covers an area of about 7800km and is home to over 200 gorillas that are mostly located in the southern part of the park.

When is the Best Time to Go?

The best months to go are the months that fall in the dry season: June to October and December to March.

What are the Essential Things to Pack?

Here are the essential things to pack for a gorilla safari in Uganda, Rwanda, or DR Congo.

Great Deals for Travelers

Looking for a discounted gorilla safari? Why not take advantage of the promotional offers for both Uganda and DR Congo? The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) offers discounted gorilla permits at US$400 per person (per trek) during the months of April, May, and November. The Virunga National Park also offers discounted gorilla permits from mid-March to Mid May at just US$200 per person (per trek).

Why it’s Worth it to Keep a Cash Rewards and Travel Credit Card after COVID

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Travel Credit Card

If you’re eager to travel after spending much of the past year at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may want to consider opening a travel credit card, if you don’t already have one.

A cash rewards credit card can certainly have benefits when traveling—after all, putting extra money back in your pocket is helpful no matter what you decide to spend it on—but a travel credit card might give you a better bang for your buck depending on how you plan to travel and how frequent of a flyer you are.

However, picking up a travel credit card doesn’t mean you should drop your cashback card. In fact, you may be able to maximize your rewards by keeping them both in your wallet — and improve your credit score at the same time. Read on to learn how.

Balancing rewards

Many travel credit cards offer great value when points or miles are used for travel expenses, but not as good of a return when points are used for retail purchases or as statement credits. What’s more, it can take a while to build up enough rewards for a round-trip flight or a hotel stay. Even if you’re still wary of traveling now, you can build up your rewards for trips down the road as most travel cards don’t have blackout dates.

While you’re playing the long game with your travel card, cashback rewards can reward you with some extra spending cash right now. In particular, cashback cards can provide better value when used for statement credits. If both your travel and cashback cards have distinct bonus categories, such as a bonus for dining out on your travel card and a bonus for online shopping on your cashback card, you can get the best of both worlds by shopping smart.

Credit score benefits

In addition to maximizing rewards between great cashback and travel credit cards, keeping both a cashback and travel credit card open will also help your credit score stay glowing.

There are two factors in particular that can affect your credit score when you open an account: your average account age and your credit utilization ratio. Credit bureaus want to see an older average account age, so maintaining current accounts will help ease the minor ding of opening a new credit card.

If you have a revolving balance, opening a new card can also improve your credit utilization ratio. This ratio is the amount of your total credit that you’re using — so if you currently have a $2,000 debt on a card with a $5,000 limit, you’re using 40% of your available credit. However, if your new credit card has a limit of $4,000, you’re now using about 22% of your available credit. Generally, you want to keep this number below 30% — but keep in mind this only works if you don’t build up revolving debt on your new travel credit card.

Why Travelers Love the Hewanorra International Airport

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Hewanorra International Airport

Are you going on vacation, and flying in or out of Hewanorra International Airport? Here’s what travelers love most about this Saint Lucia airport.

  • The Hewanorra International Airport is the largest airport in St. Lucia.
  • Its vision is to become the gateway to the Caribbean to the rest of the world.
  • Traveling to the Hewanorra International Airport?

Here’s what you need to know about this emerging airport.

Getting Around Hewanorra International Airport

There are dozens of different options when it comes to navigating from the Hewanorra International Airport around St. Lucia. From affordable to luxury, there’s something for everyone. Some of the most popular transportation services include ferries, cars for hire, business, helicopters, and taxis.

Unsurprisingly buses are the most affordable option for getting from the airport around the island. Bus rides anywhere can cost less than $10. But, the bus scheduled is “flexible” to say the least. If you choose to take the bus, allow yourself extra time.

Taxis and cars for hire are other popular transportation options. Everything from standard sedans to limousines, luxury sedans, and even more VIP services are available.

Travelers who aren’t into planning can find taxis and cars for hire services at the airport when they land. But, planners who aren’t into waiting around can also coordinate taxis and cars for hire beforehand.

Ferries and helicopters offer travelers airport VIP services. These services are available at the airport, so no complicated coordination is required.

So Many Airlines!

Nearly every major airline flies to the Hewanorra International Airport. There are also a handful of international cities that fly directly to St. Lucia. Here are some of the airlines that currently fly to the Hewanorra International Airport.

  • American Airlines
  • Delta
  • US Airways
  • British Airways
  • Air Canada
  • Caribbean Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic
  • Jet Blue
  • Air Caraibe
  • United Airlines

In addition to the range of airlines that fly to the airport, there are direct flights from multiple cities in Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean.

Canadians can fly direct from Montreal or Toronto. In the United Kingdom, there are direct flights from London and Manchester. There are also many cities scattered all over the Caribbean that fly direct to the airport.

Hewanorra International Airport Location

Wherever your destination is in St. Lucia, you can get there from the Hewanorra International Airport. This airport is a longstanding gateway to VIP cruises throughout the Caribbean.

The airport is located within minutes from dozens of destinations. Sandy and Anse Des Sables Beaches are nearby. Along with Coconut Bay Resort and Spa, St. James Club Morgan Bay, Rendezvous, and Sandals’ Halcyon Beach. The airport is also near Rodney Bay, Gros Isle and Pigeon Island.

Travel services from the airport will take you to Soufriere. This destination city is just over an hour away. Hummingbird Beach, Diamond Falls, and Sugar Beach are all located in Soufriere.

Food Options

The Hewanorra International Airport isn’t s food destination by any means. But, compared to some of the other island airports in the Caribbean, it’s got some options.

The Tarmac Lounge and Island Deli both offer quick eats like burgers, fries, other fast food items, beverages, and snacks. Tangees is a small kiosk know for ice cream and other sweet treats. Rituals Coffee House is known as the “Caribbean’s premier coffee house.” It serves all your favorite coffee specialties in addition to small sandwiches and small bites.

A Fresh Design

Beautiful airports are long overdue in the Caribbean. The Hewanorra International Airport is undergoing a $175 million upgrade. This means more space and upgraded technology like check-in, passport control, and security.

The airport aims to offer a more extensive range of concierge services. Expect to see changes like more efficient check-in, passport control, and security. Most importantly, expect to feel an increased level of comfort in a customer-friendly and aesthetically pleasing environment.

The goal is that soon the Hewanorra International Airport will be the Caribbean’s leading air transportation hub. The “HIA Project” is a 30-year master plan to innovate the airport. The growth of this airport is aimed to create more opportunities with airlines for direct flights to more places.

Aside from functionality, the design of the airport will be modern yet beautiful. The architecture of the airport was inspired by the Calabash plant, the Saint Lucia national plant.

A Colorful History

Hewanorra or “Iouanalao”  is Carib for “Island of the Iguanas.”

The indigenous people of St. Lucia were the Arawak. But, they were overrun by the Caribs near 800AD. The island didn’t become “St. Lucia” until the late 16th century.

The discovery of St. Lucia by westerners is uncertain. But, the first Europeans to frequently visit the island were pirates. Peg Leg and Blackbeard were just some of the infamous pirates that used the island as a base for 100 years.

In the 1600s Dutch, British and French settlements started to form on the island. Eventually taking the island from the native Caribs. Europeans fought for dominance over the island throughout the next couple of centuries.

European rule brought slavery and industry to the island. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s, after slavery was abolished, that St. Lucia began to organize a government.

The Hewanorra International Airport was originally the Beane Army Airfield. It was an active United States military airfield during World War II. The former military base was simply repurposed for commercial use in the 1960s.

The Gateway to Adventure

The Hewanorra International Airport is the world’s gateway to the Caribbean now and in the future. All travelers will be welcomed by an array of services and options that fit their travel needs.

Ready to book your dream vacation? Treat yourself like a celebrity and get the VIP experience you deserve! Book your luxury getaway here!

5 Ways to Make Your Soul Happy This Weekend

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Weekend Travel

Weekends are for “living the life.” There’s no work and you can get away from those people that you think you spend too much time with, which is not something that you necessarily enjoy. Sadly, you probably devote your weekends to sleeping in until noon or having an early start for the pile-up of chores you failed to take care of during the workweek.

If you have been neglecting self-care over the weekends, it’s time to put a halt to all that. If you wish to keep your soul happy, you need to treat yourself to something good. The best time to do that is over the weekend.

Happiness Should Be a Priority

But why should your soul’s happiness matter? First of all, it’s one of the best strategies against professional burnout. A deviation from the same old same old is a fantastic way to rejuvenate yourself.

Secondly, a happy soul creates a healthy body. Negative feelings and weariness trigger the body’s release of the stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol. Studies show that excessive amounts of stress hormones weaken the immune system and make the body prone to various illnesses.

There’s still a bunch of other reasons why you should exert the effort to create a happy soul. But the bottom line here is, it is important. So, to help you create happy weekends to benefit you, here are five of the best ways to do so.

  1. Meet up with your best friends

Work and other life responsibilities often leave very little time to hang out with your favorite people such as your long-time best friends. Call them up and set a date for some R&R.

Or, invite them over to your home. If you are not keen on slaving in the kitchen for your meetup, see if your pals would agree to a potluck. Another option you have is to simply order food in. If you are from Abu Dhabi, there are countless restaurants to choose from to create an eclectic spread for you and your friends.

  1. Do Something you Love

Think about the hobbies you enjoyed before life became too busy. Did you love to go dancing or singing? Were you into sports? How about enrolling in classes for them? Not only will you grow your knowledge and skills, but you can even make new friends by indulging in some old or new hobbies.

  1. Have a Staycation

Look for accommodations in your area where you can have an “instant” vacation. A beach club in Abu Dhabi where you can spend the whole day pampering yourself or simply hanging out with friends is a good idea. You can rent a cabana by the pool, and when you get hungry, there’s a selection of restaurants to choose from. It truly will feel like you are on a short holiday.

  1. Go to Brunch

There truly is no better time of the week for a brunch than the weekend. This meal is an absolute treat because you do not have to wake up early, plus, there’s a bigger selection of food items available to you.

For example, the Friday brunch offering of Saadiyat’s Safina holds abundant possibilities, and some items come with spirits. You can have a gastronomic feast with your family or friends, and you all can just take your time with the meal. You can pace yourselves and fully delight in a multiple course brunch.

  1. Do something that you have never tried before

A growth in experiences is always good for the soul so secure that by doing something exciting and new such as riding your first roller coaster, asking somebody out on a date, or trying bungee jumping to conquer your fear of heights. Doing something you have never tried before is one way to prove that you can overcome anything that’s been stopping you from living your best life.

Most of the time, after trying something new, your eyes open to even greater possibilities and many of them can increase your joy.

Let Your Soul Flourish

A happy soul attracts positivity in this life. It is an open door to healing and boundless opportunities for a more fulfilling existence. So, make it your commitment to treat yourself with experiences that are fun and reinvigorating when you can; your soul needs them.

Most Majestic Animals You Can See on Safari

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African Lion

Certainly one of Africa’s biggest drawcards is by far the exceptional wildlife, best viewed on a traditional safari holiday. You’ll have the opportunity to get up close with some of the rarest animals on the planet. Here are a few of these exceptional species that you’re likely to encounter on safari:

  1. Lion

The lion is called the king of the savannah for a reason. This apex predator is often found lazing in the shade of trees during the hottest part of the day. The males of the species feature the iconic mane, and are usually the leader of the pride. The female lions, however, will do the bulk of the hunting of their main prey, which includes gazelles, water buffalo, or zebras. It is the female lions that also handle the rearing of the cubs.

  1. Elephant

These placid pachyderms are famous for their large flapping ears, magnificently curved tusks, and of course, their long trunks. There are two main species of elephants, namely the African and Asian elephants. The African elephant is larger in size and has bigger ears than its Asian counterpart. African elephants also have comparatively longer tusks. A herd of elephants is exclusively made up of adult females and their offspring, with the males choosing to lead a more solitary existence.

  1. Rhinoceros

These large animals can grow up to eleven feet in length and have a height of at least five to six feet. An adult rhino can easily weigh as much as two tonnes. All of that bulk is further enhanced with a horn, or a pair in some species, protruding from the snout of the animal. It is this horn that has made this majestic beast one of the most endangered species on the planet as a result of the misguided belief that these horns possess healing properties. The ivory of these horns is also highly prized, which leads to the poaching of all rhino species.

  1. Giraffe

A giraffe can stand at seventeen to eighteen feet, and most of that is due to their long necks, which can be six feet in height. Their long necks allow them to graze for leaves at the very tops of tall trees where few other grazers can reach. Giraffes also have extremely long legs too with a leg easily reaching six feet in height as well. These incredibly long legs allow giraffes to run at over thirty miles per hour.

  1. Hippopotamus

The hippopotamus is a semi-aquatic animal that you should be wary of. You may not think that a pudgy hippo is no danger, but you would be wrong. Hippos are actually one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. Statistically speaking, these animals kill more people than crocodiles in a single year.

These animals are just some of the amazing species that you can see up close when you go on an African Safari Tour. You really should try out a tour at least once in your life to behold these rare and beautiful creatures.

4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Visit to Saudi Arabia

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Visit Saudi Arabia

As more and more travelers recognize the beauty of Saudi Arabia, the interest in visiting the country is growing. Here, culture and religion are the most important things, which means that it is essential to understand them prior to arriving so that you can thoroughly enjoy your trip.

If you are heading over to that part of the world soon, here are four ways to make the most of your visit to Saudi Arabia.

  1. Read these books to get a sense of the history and culture.

One of the best ways to prepare for a trip to Saudi Arabia is to spend some time reading the authors who have captured elements of the country through their words.

First on your reading list should be “Cities of Salt” by Abdul Rahman Munif which describes the radical transformation that the discovery of oil has created on the lives of the locals.

For a contemporary issue, read “Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman’s Awakening” by Manal al-Sharif which is an autobiographical account detailing the battles that the women of Saudi Arabia have tackled in order to be able to drive. It has only been a few months since the ban on women driving was lifted, so this book is as timely as it gets.

  1. Take the time to learn about local customs thoroughly.

Presumably, one of the reasons you have opted to travel to Saudi Arabia is because you are interested in learning about another culture and experiencing a different way of life. For this reason, before you arrive in Saudi Arabia, you should take the time to learn about local customs thoroughly. This will help to ensure that you remain safe and respectful while traveling.

Keep in mind that women are not allowed to travel alone, and women aren’t allowed to enter particular establishments. Furthermore, there may be locations with separate entrances for men and women. If you opt to stay in a hotel in Makkah near the Haram, you are have the opportunity to witness the special beauty and abundant culture of the place.

As a woman, when in public, you should wear an abaya which is a full-length garment that covers your outfit. You aren’t required to wear a headscarf,  but it is a sign of respect.

As a man, when in public, you should wear full-length trousers and shirts with sleeves (short sleeves are okay).

Other local customs include shaking hands when both greeting and saying goodbye to someone. Unlike Europeans, citizens of Saudi Arabia do not kiss while greeting each other. However, Saudis do tend to stand very close when talking, so be aware of this and don’t move away — that will be taken as an insult!

  1. Recognize that your camera can get you in trouble.

Generally, the traveling types are also the photograph-taking types, but in Saudi Arabia, this may prove slightly challenging. While the country is opening up more and more to tourists and visitors, they still aren’t comfortable with things inside their border being photographed.

You are not allowed to take photographs of government buildings or high-traffic locations (such as mosques and markets). Additionally, if you are caught snapping pictures of locals, this can also get you in a significant amount of trouble.

  1. Make a list of food you want to taste.

Saudi Arabia has a long history of excellent cuisine and trying as much of it as possible should be a priority during your time in the country. No matter where in the country you are going, you will be able to find incredible food as Saudis pride themselves on their cultural dishes.

So that you can hit the ground running (or tasting) as soon as you arrive, you should do some research before your trip to discern what dishes you don’t want to miss.

Whether you are looking for places to eat in Makkah, Madinah or Jeddah, you are going to be in for a treat. Opt to order dishes such as Fatir (flatbread), Kapsa (chicken and rice) and a Laban Drink (yogurt drink). Usually, all Saudis drink a lot of coffee and refusing a cup of it is presumed to insult.

Additionally, tipping is practiced in Saudi Arabia. Locals tend to recommend tipping around 10 percent for waiters, drivers, and other service professionals.

Are you considering a trip to Saudi Arabia? What intrigues you about the country? Let us start a conversation thread in the comments below!

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