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Shopping in Manchester: A How To Guide

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Ahabu Phillip
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Manchester is a vibrant city, buzzing with the noise of tourists and locals alike. Manchester isn’t considered one of Britain’s best attractions, but it is anything but an eye sore; Manchester is better known for its shopping scene and culture. If you are thinking of doing your shopping in Manchester then its variety of shopping centres and markets will certainly appeal to you. Now to make the experience as easy and pleasant as possible here is a shopaholic’s guide to Manchester.

Manchester Arndale Centre

The Arndale Centre in Manchester is one the most incredible venues to shop at. Upon arrival you can ask for your own free style advisor who will shop with you and help you pick outfits that will complement your figure or complexion. The Arndale Centre also has its own food court which is open later than the majority of the other shops; the shopping centre is also extremely accessible with over 1,400 parking spaces available and Market Street Station and Studehill station less than a 5 minute walk away.

The Northern Quarter

The Northern Quarter in Manchester is the home of creativity and fashion, so for those looking for a great shopping experience or working in a creative industry, the Northern Quarter is perfect for you. The Northern Quarter is host to shops that cater for artists, fashion designers and there are even a couple of art galleries! Whilst I was in the Northern Quarter I also visited some of the sweetest little cafés; I don’t believe in shopping without rest breaks!

The Northern Quarter isn’t far from the Manchester Arndale Centre, and so you can also visit the Northern Quarter via the Market street station, although the Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly are much closer. The majority of the Northern Quarter is open every day from 8am – 5pm.

The Triangle

In Manchester there is only one place to find all of the latest brands and unique shops all under one roof. The Triangle in Exchange Square, Manchester, is located opposite Selfridges and used to be the corn exchange. The Triangle was reborn in 2000 as a shopping centre that specialized in health, fashion and beauty products

The Triangle is also host to a wide variety of shops that sell food and drink, as well as eateries, restaurants and cafés, examples include Zizzi and Pizza Express.

Again, the Triangle isn’t far from the other shopping centres or train stations, and there are several car parks available within the immediate vicinity where your other half could drop you off if they don’t feel like shopping with you.

The Fashion Market

There is a Fashion Market on Tib Street in the city centre of Manchester where you can browse a myriad of different wares at moderate prices. You’ll be sure to bag a beautiful bargain if you visit the Fashion Market, but if you’re not in the mood for spending a great deal of money you could just visit with your significant other and take in the sights and smells of this incredible place. The Fashion Market is also a location where budding designers and artists can display their products and demonstrate their talents in an open environment.

The believe that the market was easier to get to than any of the other shopping centres as City Buses stop at Piccadilly Gardens and Cross Street which are both incredibly close to the market, the nearest train stations would be Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly .

Manchester is a city full to the brim with interesting places and curious stores, but for the best experience you’d have to plan your trip as not all of the shops are as close together as the ones that have been described. And remember that shopping in Manchester is a must activity while you’re there.

Johannesburg or Capetown: Sibling Rivalry

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admin
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Cape Town

Cape Town may have the mountain, but Johannesburg is edgy and exciting, writes local resident Caroline Hurry

Johannesburg flaunts her faded assets like an ageing transvestite, but judge her surface appearances – acid-stained toxic mine dumps, electrical pylons and scarred roads – at your peril. Joburgers keep threatening to ‘semigrate’ to Cape Town but seldom follow through. “I’ve tried Cape Town but every time I see mad, bad, Johannesburg’s distinctive skyline with the Hillbrow Tower’s luminous Adam’s apple and the Southern Life Centre’s huge Johnnie Walker Striding Man building wrap, I realise I’d rather be here,” says artist Kerry Edgar. “Yes, taxi drivers skip red lights and hijackers wear Armani but Jozi’s edge is unique.” Cape Town may have the mountain, but Johannesburg – Jozi – has that hipster soul. Here, it’s as easy to find a ‘smiley’ (sheep’s head) as Jo Malone candles or ‘muti’ (traditional medicine) that will bring an errant husband to heel. And long-time residents still gasp at the orange intensity of the sunset from the Nelson Mandela Bridge, albeit caused by dust and pollution. One Cape Town concept blossoming in Jozi is the Neighbourgoods Market (neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za) held Saturdays in the central neighbourhood of Braamfontein, which – like the Newtown and Maboneng Precincts – has undergone a massive revamp. “It encapsulates the real Rainbow Nation and encourages entrepreneurship,” says local psychologist Uscha Klonaros. “The market unites everyone who supports creativity, humanity and equality. You can buy pomegranate and berry smoothies, hemp clothing, organic chocolate, whatever. It’s even trendier than 44 Stanley Road nearby.”

But the most sparkling jewel in Braamfontein’s revival crown is the glass-walled Wits Art Museum (www.witsfoundation.co.za/art.asp) on the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Jorissen Street, which opened in May this year. Built at a cost of R42m (£3.2m), the 5,000m2, double-volume space showcases 10,000 pieces, including Nigerian hats, Ndebele beadwork, David Goldblatt photographs and drawings by Sam Nhlengethwa, William Kentridge and the exiled artist Gerard Sekoto.

In the new and hugely successful Maboneng Precinct (www.mabonengprecinct.com) comprising Main, Fox, Commissioner, and Kruger streets in downtown Jozi, artists of all types have flocked to Arts on Main for studios, galleries, essential project spaces and the funky Sunday Market on Main.

A 1970s industrial building made way for a second urban redevelopment project, Main Street Life, a residential block with a boxing gym on the roof. On the top floor the 12, custom-designed suites of the 12 Decades Art Hotel (www.12decadeshotel.co.za) honour Jozi’s 12 decades of existence. In Fox Street, The Bioscope (www.thebioscope. co.za) is one of the city’s finest art house cinemas and has its own restaurant, the Chalkboard Café. For local greenery, take in the view of Jozi’s urban forest from Munro Drive or head for Delta Park, one of the city’s biggest green lungs with three dams, a bird sanctuary and fresh perspectives of the swish suburbs of Sandton and Rosebank.

Cape Town is gobsmackingly gorgeous in contrast to Johannesburg, who keeps her beauty under wraps. While trips to Cape Point, the V&A Waterfront, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Seal Island, Robben Island, Rhodes Memorial (for great views of the Atlantic and Indian oceans) and a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain are always worthwhile, you’ll be spoilt for choice exploring the Mother City’s other myriad attractions.

Tongue in cheek, the locals divide Cape Town into ‘curtains’ – the wealthy ‘Botox Curtain’ for the area along the Atlantic strip – Clifton, Camps Bay, Llundudno; the ‘Snoek Curtain’ for the Indian Ocean side – Simon’s Town, Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay and Muizenberg; and the ‘Lentil Curtain’, denoting Noordhoek and Kommetjie’s more bohemian lifestyle.

“I grew up in Fish Hoek and love the transformation happening behind the Snoek Curtain,” says Cape Town writer Louise Marsland. “Despite the rebuilding chaos that is Main Road in Kalk Bay right now I still haunt the area for its quirky boutiques, antique shops, the cupcakes from Olympia Bakery, Ann Donald’s independent Kalk Bay Books and Annex restaurant (www.kalkbaybooks.co.za), overlooking the harbour where you can eat the fresh catch from the colourful fishing boats.

“Take the stunning Boyes Drive alternative route. Or just take the train – worth the views alone – and lunch at the indestructible Brass Bell restaurant (www.brassbell.co.za), still perched over the sea, still surviving the annual storms that take out at least one deck at a time.”

The winding road that slithers along the Atlantic coastline to Kommetjie culminates in the Slangkop (snake head) Lighthouse, South Africa’s tallest cast-iron tower. Under renovation for months, it’s shining anew. “I’ve never seen it looking so good,” says local photographer Trevor Sampson, who recommends pelagic day trips out of Simon’s Town, where the penguins at Boulder’s Beach are not to be missed. “Fantastic sea birds and you’ll fall in love with the penguins.”

Apart from Hout Bay’s dazzling World of Birds (www.worldofbirds.org.za, the largest bird park in Africa), bookkeeper Carol Sharp, a resident of the gorgeous resort of Fish Hoek, says a walk through the Glencairn Wetland nature reserve is all the more special when guided by Sir Rupert Bromley, chairman of local environmental group GEESE (www.geeseglencairn.org). “Just call and ask for him,” she says.

Travel editor Hilke Burns suggests horseriding along Noordhoek Beach, then lunch under the oaks at the family-friendly Noordhoek Village (www.noordhoekvilage.co.za) for great organic produce. “You can see the best sunsets from Skebanga’s deck at the Red Herring or the tree-top terrace at Monkey Valley,” he says.

A drive through the Cape wine district is essential with dozens of wine farms in every direction but local oenophile Ann Wallis-Brown particularly recommends the Heritage Audio walk at the Spier Winery in Stellenbosch (www.spier.co.za). “Written by Brett Bailey and beautifully narrated by Jill Levenberg, it is the story of a slave girl who died at Spier 200 years ago. It takes about an hour and you visit 12 touch points around the estate. Afterwards enjoy a Heritage wine at the stunning new Wine Tasting Experience venue.”

Did I mention the Milnerton Market, a waterfront Sunday flea market on Paarden Island? Think junk, pancakes, biltong stalls, ginger beer and breathtaking views of Table Mountain. According to Cape Town trend-spotter Pam Sykes, it’s “an essential antidote” to the hip Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill that gave rise to the Jozi’s Braamfontein version. “Actually,” she says, “Maybe you shouldn’t mention it at all.”

WAY TO GO

Southern Africa Travel

Tel. 0800 189 1375/www.southernafricatravel.com

Specialises in tailor-made tours of South Africa, from cycling around the Cape winelands to forays into Zambia and Botswana to the Victoria Falls. Most holidays are custom-designed but scheduled departures include a 13-night Grand South Africa tour, starting in Johannesburg and ending in Cape Town.

Rainbow Tours

Tel. 020 7666 1250/www.rainbowtours.co.uk

Offers tailor-made holidays in South Africa. Its city break options in Gauteng province include a stay in Soweto, where some residents have opened up their homes as B&Bs, certified by the Soweto Accommodation Association, and will show you the vibrant ‘Golden Mile’, a street that’s buzzing with food stalls, arts and crafts and shebeens (bars with music, serving local beers).

Bushbaby Travel

Tel. 0845 124 4455/www.bushbaby.travel

A socially responsible tour operator specialising in family travel to South Africa, taking in cities, the Cape and, for clients with small children, the malaria-free game reserves, as well as offering more adventurous tours to remote regions all over southern Africa.

Gorillas Not Lost in the Mist

By
Ahabu Phillip
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Gorilla Charges

When you go for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, remember there are only around 1000 Mountain gorillas alive in the world, and a third of this population lives in Rwanda. This exhausting trekking activity, mostly up at Karisimbi Volcano (4507m) in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Formerly, the Susa group was the biggest family, but they have since split into two smaller groups. The activity itself is one of the most emotional and challenging experiences of a lifetime. But most importantly, it makes you realize how privileged I could be to meet them, and the danger our closest relatives are still in.

Almost human
Mountain gorillas do not survive in captivity and are very susceptible to human diseases, so you will not see one in any zoo. With 98.5% of their genes similar to us humans, just looking into one’s eyes will tell you there is a lot of human-like intelligence there. But this similarity is also very dangerous. In 2009, two gorillas from the Hirwa group in Rwanda died from what is now believed to have been a human pneumonia virus infection. Gorillas have been hunted, as recently as in the last couple of years, and their mountainous home forest is shrinking at an alarming pace under the pressures of overpopulation and the need for farming land.

The future
Luckily, through research, most famously Diane Fossey’s work in the 1960’s and 70’s, education and especially carefully controlled tourism, the Mountain gorilla population have now increased to an estimated 1000 individuals. A permit is expensive, but for a precious hour, you get one of the most memorable wildlife experiences on earth, and the money is used to fund research and conservation. Thankfully the governments of Rwanda and Uganda have realized that live gorillas are much more valuable than the unspeakable alternative.

Help save the gorillas
The best ways to help save the gorillas are through tourism, but make sure you book your permit through a reputable operator, and do not go on a trek if you are ill. Also stay well away from the gorillas when you are with them, although this is not always possible, sometimes curiosity gets the better of them too.

Touched by a gorilla
One visitor to Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp in Bwindi, Uganda discovered just how unpredictable and curious gorillas can be. The local gorilla family simply walked through the camp, and under the watchful eye of the silverback, some of the younger family members started grooming his hair. When you encounter the silverback of the Susa group, you can be terrified; he can move a lot faster than his huge almost 300kg hulk suggested, you can only imagine the adrenaline pumping through him at that moment!

Gorilla trekking tips
Take lots of water and some snacks. Some groups can be close to base camp, but some can be a couple of hours hiking up some very steep paths, as it’s advisable on any trek.

Wear good hiking boots, long light-weight trousers and gloves (like gardening gloves) are great as protection against nettles.
Take a few days to acclimatize to the altitude before you attempt the trek. Learn more about the history and culture and go shopping shop for beautiful local wood carvings and delicate baskets.

Take a spare camera memory card and make sure your camera is fully charged, but leave your heavy flash behind; you are not allowed to use it as it might scare the gorillas. Most of all, enjoy it! It truly is a once in a lifetime experience.

See them for yourself
You can still get a permit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda for US$1500, In Uganda, the permits are still around US$700, and Gorilla Encounters can help you book a gorilla permit in advance prior to your memorable gorilla visit in East Africa

Go on a Safari in South Africa’s Big Game Parks

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Game Viewing Safari in South Africa

South Africa’s game reserves offer an almost bewildering choice of experiences. Local travel expert Caroline Hurry offers some top tips to managing your time

Enjoy your South African safari in style . It’s a long journey to Cape Town or Johannesburg and worth some investment, and some research, to make the most of your experience, as there are a great many game reserves and a lot of possible ways to see them.

Smaller private reserves in the Cape, KwaZulu Natal, in or around the massive Kruger Park – Lion Sands, Sabi Sands, Kapama, Timbavati – offer better opportunities for close encounters of the wild kind. You can drive yourself there by all means – most visitors to South Africa prefer self-drive holidays – but all the lodges recommended here provide 4X4 off-road game drives with a ranger, sundowners, guided walks, a bush spa, exclusivity, privacy and top-notch accommodation.

Best riding safaris

Ant’s Nest (pictued left) in the Waterberg region (waterberg.net) of the Limpopo Province offers guided rides for all ages to allow greater access to the wildlife via open plains to woodlands. The area is malaria-free, so great for families. In the Kalahari. try Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, the country’s largest private game reserve, with top quality horses and instruction for all ages and levels. It’s also malaria-free.

Best for sleeping under the stars

Go out on a limb. Tinyeleti (pictured left), one of two ‘forest ships’ – Chalkley is also popular – in Lion Sands, part of the vast Kruger National Park, offers the ultimate ‘Me Tarzan, You Jane’ fantasy in Big Five territory. Your ranger drops you off before sunset with all your provisions and picks you up the following day.

Become one with the savannah from your lofty perch under a celestial canopy as the chortle-barks of grazing hippo and the high-pitched hoot of a Scops owl punctuate the Sabi River’s murmuring lullaby. A waning moon will illuminate the naked, white torsos of knobthorns stripped by elephants. Expect a resident genet to help clean the last morsels from your dinner plates.

Best for families

Five ecosystems merge at malaria-free Shamwari (shamwari.com) in the Eastern Cape, favoured by families. Wildlife specialist Dr Johan Joubert and his staff heal injured creatures at the park before returning them to the bush. Volunteers are also welcome at the Born Free Foundation here, which nurtures once-abused lions and leopards in their natural habitat. When not cosseting his ‘kitty cats’, animal care manager Glen Vena teaches children why lions must never be castrated (“their manes fall off”) and how to blow a kudu horn, the original vuvuzela. Further north, Madikwe is a popular choice for those who don’t want to take anti-malarial medication; there’s a good chance of seeing the Big Five and the reserve has a thriving population of rare wild dogs.

Best place to see wild dogs

With fewer than 3,600 in the world, you’re more likely to encounter wild dogs in Madikwe (madikwe.com), against South Africa’s border with Botswana, than anywhere else. These ‘painted dogs’ are to be found splashing in the Marico River at sundown, before embarking on the evening hunt, trailed by hyena and assorted scavengers. The owners of Jaci’s Lodge say their child-friendly philosophy – children go on game drives and guided nature walks – makes them a hit with families.
Volunteering conservation projects include rhino notching and wild dog collaring.

Best for safari and city

From Cape Town, hire a car. View the Atlantic and Indian Oceans from the Rhodes Memorial, Table Mountain or Cape Point. Smell the roses in Kirstenbosch Gardens or swim with the penguins at Boulders Beach before winding up the Garden Route via the Cape winelands to enjoy a Big Five safari at Kariega Game Reserve, with two rivers
and rich biodiversity.

Alternatively, head up the whale coast for Hermanus, Overburg, Walker Bay, and Gansbaai, the best places for viewing Southern Right whales and jagged-toothed sharks.

Best for luxury

Kruger and Sabi Sands have the biggest abundance of high-end lodges and camps. Expect bush spas, private plunge pools, hamman-sized bathrooms with outdoor rainforest showers, gourmet food, crisp white linen, fine silverware and guided walks with highly knowledgeable rangers or trackers offering superb game drives day and night. Places to stay include Singita (Boulders Lodge, pictured above, and Ebony Lodge); the extraordinary Earth Lodge at Sabi Sabi; Royal Malewane in the Kruger, where the top suites have private plunge pools; Ivory Lodge at Lion Sands, or the 1933 Villa, ideal for extended family or groups. At &Beyond’s Ngala Private Game Reserve, stay under canvas in style at the Ngala Tented Camp. Or live out your Karen Blixen fantasies at Mala Mala’s adults-only Rattray Camp, all colonial-style leather sofas, cut-glass crystal and (a bit less Blixen), private heated plunge pools.

Best (and only) place to take a night-time elephant safari Camp Jabulani, a Relais & Chateaux camp in the Kapama Game Reserve near the Kruger, has its own herd of rescue elephants which take guests on safaris to spot the Big Five (below). There’s a wonderful sense of peace, game viewing from the back of a gentle elephant, with no motor noise. Evening safaris finish with sundowners and canapes in the bush. Or take a night elephant-back safari, the only opportunity in the world, the camp says; guides pick out animals with spotlights, or switch off the lights so you can gaze at the Milky Way. Afterwards, you can even put your elephant to bed (campjabulani.com).

Best for the Big Five

In KwaZulu-Natal, Phinda’s proximity to stunning coastal reserves makes it the perfect place to mix beach and bush. The Varty family restored this 56,800-acre reserve into a living tapestry of woodland, grassland, wetland, and rare sand forest, home to cheetah, black rhino, and 415 species of bird. On guided walks, you’ll learn which plants you can use as a toothbrush, and what to do should you meet a lion. (Hint: Don’t run, or you’re dinner.) There are numerous volunteering opportunities here: rhino tracking,
elephant population monitoring and hyena research. Or for almost guaranteed sightings, Mala Mala, bordering the Kruger, offers miles of pristine lowveld wilderness and a rich concentration of game (pictured above; malamala.com).

Best place to see leopards

Riverine luxuriance at Londolozi (Londolozi.com), a private reserve bordering the vast Kruger National Park, lends itself to libidinous leopards that enchant with their seductive beauty. Here, I saw two mating within metres of a basking crocodile and three lion demolishing a kudu carcass. You don’t get wilder than that. This 15,000-hectare Sabi Sands reserve, with the highest concentration of leopards in Africa, harks back to the colonial 1920s – when co-founder Charles Varty hacked through buffalo thorn, hunted lion, skinned kudu, and dispatched puff adders – but with all today’s mod cons, obviously. Stay at Tree Camp, cradled by 1,000-year-old leadwoods overlooking the Sand River.

Best for prehistoric relics

Walk over rocky dinosaur footprints up to the only known Bushman painting of a cheetah at Samara (samara.co.za) in the Karoo, where you can fondle the vertebrae of a 250 million-year-old dicynodont or get up close with two of nine cheetah. At Bushman’s Kloof in the Cedarberg Mountains, there are daily tours to see the rock art left by bushmen who lived here for millennia and used painting as a way of expressing their spiritual culture.

5 Reasons Why You Should Take a Safari to Uganda

By
Ahabu Phillip
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0
Uganda Road Trip

Uganda is the pearl of Africa and many people have traveled to this beautiful less known country in the heart of Africa. Located between Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Sudan, Uganda is one of the upcoming travel destinations in Africa. The Lonely Planet voted as the best place to visit in 2012 and today many travelers have taken a safari to Uganda in order to enjoy the unique attractions which are found within the country.

Though most renowned for gorilla trekking safaris, Uganda boasts of many tourism attractions including various primates, natural monuments, historical sites, and incredible wildlife. Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park host nearly half of the remaining mountain gorillas, the main attraction that attracts most tourists!

There are also several safari parks for game viewing, nature trekking and sightseeing and the top parks include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo national Park. Here are the top reasons why you should visit Uganda at least in your lifetime;

1. Mountain Gorillas and other Primates

Uganda is home to almost half of the total remaining population of the mountain gorillas and this is the main star attraction that has continuously pulled the tourists to the country. Gorilla safaris are the most popular adventure activities and several tour packages are offered by tour operators at good price deals!

Gorilla tourism is the single most tourism product that will continuously bring travelers to Uganda who are interested in watching the mountain gorillas in the wild! Within Bwindi impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National Park, there are several habituated gorilla groups where travelers track the gorillas and these include; Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, Mubare, etc. Many tourists have travelled to Uganda in order to enjoy gorilla trekking with in the Pearl of Africa.

Apart from the mountain gorillas, Uganda has also got 12 other primates! These include chimpanzee populations which are found in Kibale National park, Kaniyo Pabidi, Budongo Forest, Semuliki Forest and also in Queen Elizabeth National park. These chimps have greatly attracted many tourists who would like to go chimpanzee tracking in  Uganda.

2. Peaceful Kampala City

Kampala, the capital of Uganda, is the most friendly and peaceful city to stay in Africa. This city has got many attractions which include; religious sites, historical sites and natural monuments. The most popular places to visit are the Kasubi tombs, Kabaka’s Lake, Bulange building, Uganda museum, Gadaffi Mosque, Makerere University, Wamala tombs, Naggalabi Coronation site, and, many more which have continuously attracted many people to come for safaris to Uganda.

3. Incredible Wildlife in Safari Parks

Uganda has got many safari parks which have host incredible wildlife species including the big five. Top national parks include; Queen Elizabeth National park, which has many animals including the kobs, antelopes, buffaloes, crocodiles, hippos and the chimpanzees which are found in Kyambura Gorge in Maramagambo Forest, Kibale National park which harbors many chimpanzees and other primates, Murchison falls National park, the most scenic park which has also got many animals including the crocodiles, hippos, monkeys and the elephants. Lake Mburo National park is another rewarding place, the best place to see zebras, elands, antelopes and kobs. Rwenzori National park, host to the legendary mountains of the moon have greatly attracted many tourists to come for hiking in Africa.

4. Unique Culture and Hospitable People

The unique culture of the people of Uganda is a great tourist attraction and this is so unique given the more than 52 different tribes which live in Uganda. A safari to Uganda is a rewarding experience of the traditions of various people including  the Baganda, Banyoro, Banyankole , and many others. There are also many cultural attractions which have attracted many people to come for safaris to Uganda. Top cultural sites to visit include; the Kasubi Tombs, Wamala tombs, Bulange building and many more.

5. Uganda’s Nightlife

The country has also got many entertainment places which have continuously attracted many tourists to enjoy their holiday in Uganda. There are several clubs, theatres, cinema halls around Kampala which include; Amnesia, Club Silk , beaches and many more. There are also many golf courses, natural parks for meetings, classic hotels and many other happening places.

We wish you a nice safari to the Pearl of Africa!

5 Activities In & Around London

By
Ahabu Phillip
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London City

For travellers seeking urban destinations, London has always been among the most popular options in the world. In fact, going by numbers reported by CNBC, London was the most popular option for city tourism in 2015, with over 18 million overnight visitors recorded over the course of the year.

Despite the city’s reputation and incredible tourism numbers, however, most of the travel recommendations you come across almost exclusively concern its sights and monuments.

To be sure, London is overflowing with historic buildings, fascinating monuments, and museums that you could spend years exploring. But there’s more to do in the city than simply go sightseeing!

If you’re as drawn to London as so many people around the world, you’ll want to make time to stroll the city and take in some of the top sights. But you’ll also want to busy yourself having fun and experiencing the English culture a little bit.

And for that, the five activities I’ve listed here can be a nice start.

Cruise The Thames

I’m cheating a little bit with this one, because cruising the Thames is in large part about seeing the sights of London from a different vantage point. Nevertheless it’s an incredibly charmed way to spend an afternoon, and that vantage point is worth it.

According to The London Pass’s cruise page, you can take a river tour anywhere between 30 minutes and 3 hours long during which you’ll pass by some of the city’s most stunning landmarks, including the Tower Bridge, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and many more.
See A Soccer Match

There might not be a better way to enjoy yourself in London than to take in a major soccer match. While tickets are in high demand, there are a lot of chances to explore.

Currently there are five London teams participating in the top-flight English Premier League. Arsenal and Chelsea are the two most prominent London clubs, but in truth a match at any of the London venues makes for an amazing experience.

Go On A Pub Crawl

You don’t have to be a big drinker to appreciate the enthusiasm and reputation surrounding the London pub scene. It’s a city known for bars with history, character, and crowds, and a lot of tourists enjoy nothing better than to try out a bunch of them on a renowned pub crawl.

There are actually several different pub crawls that have gained some fame in London, but fortunately there’s a site dedicated to sorting through them, so you should be able to find one that suits your particular preferences.

Take A Day Trip To Cheltenham

One of the really great things about London for tourists is that it’s situated within reasonable driving distance of a lot of other great places in England.

So if you’re travelling and in search of recreation, don’t be afraid to look outside of the city! If you happen to be going in the spring, one of the best day trip options for pure entertainment is visiting the Cheltenham Festival just a short drive out of town.

This is a massive horse-racing event held every March and often taking on the flavour of a carnival as much as a sporting event.

As explained at Betfair’s Cheltenham page, there are four full days of racing and each one features a particularly prominent event and celebration. At Cheltenham, the competition is top-notch, the fans are incredibly fun loving, and the atmosphere is incomparable.

Take Castle Tour

Another option for a day trip outside of the city is to go on a tour of some of England’s castles. To some extent, this too could be classified as sightseeing, but there’s also an active and adventurous aspect to actually getting out and seeing these incredible structures in person.

Some are effectively ruins and others have been astonishingly well preserved, giving the impression they’ve hardly been touched by the passing centuries.

And luckily some of the most impressive castles are in fairly close proximity to London, including Bodiam Castle, the Tower of London, Anderitum, and Dover Castle.

It’s just a small sampling of the endless ways you can enjoy yourself in and around London, but hopefully it’s a helpful reminder that there’s far more to this popular tourist destination than the sights alone.

Planning Budget Safari Travels in Africa

By
Ahabu Phillip
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0

Traveling overseas is a great thing for a holiday to meet new friends, culture and adventure but saving some dollars from your travel holiday adds joy to your life at the same time to your credit card giving you high chances to discover more around the world if time permits. Are you looking at saving some money from your travel holiday Africa is the best Continent for budget travelers especially in the East Africa region. The region has all you need in a budget tour to Africa from accommodation, transport to tourist unique attractions. No trip can be successful without planning because this will give a clear guide on what exactly you want to see or visit, where to sleep and how to get there and even know the interesting attractions to give priority than the other. Africa offers wonderful experience to all kinds of travelers, researchers, adventure seekers, photographers, journalists but would advise you to read travel guide books of particular countries of your interest and websites, Lonely Planet, Bradt and many others. Also contact local tour operators who organize tours to different destinations for more detailed information before leaving home.

Where to Grab Budget Travel Deals

Rwanda is an easy country to visit in East Africa than you can imagine because all its main attractions are close to other giving chance to travelers to explore one after the other coupled with the frequent RwandAir flight schedules connecting different continents.The country holds beautiful travel secrets, Lake Kivu, The Genocide Memorial, Parc National des Volcans, Nyungwe forest, Mountains and all Rwanda safari tours are complete with at least a Quick run to Rwanda’s main National park-Volcanoes the Home for the unique and endangered Mountain Gorilla’s. You discover Rwanda but make sure a minute for culture is a must a Iby’wachu cultural village a place where you can know Rwanda’s cultural past in just a day. Moving around Rwanda is not hard since most attractions don’t require entrance fees,the Genocide sites, Lake Kivu and some nature walks in the volcano forest. However one can visit three Rwanda attractions and only pays for one that’s Lake Kivu, the Genocide sites and Volcanoes National Park. Transport is a must to take you around, Accommodation and a Gorilla permit fee of $1500 per person in case you are to track Mountain Gorillas.

If you are backpacking in Rwanda, hire one tax to take you through the entire trip since public transport isn’t available from to the Volcanoes Mountain Gorilla park. Get some local Rwanda currency before leaving Kigali city because credit cards are not accepted in places outside Kigali and that will give you hassles in making payments to different service providers. Travel with U S dollars in addition to Rwanda Francs and best exchange rates are granted in different forex bureaus. Budget accommodations are everywhere and cheap in both the city centre and near different attractions solving all Rwanda Questions about Cheap Rwanda accommodations for a Rwanda Tour. Look at parting with 35-80 per night on both bed and breakfast and Full Board basis. Also several airlines offer great rates to Kigali international airport including Emirates, Quarter, Rwanda air, Kenya airways, British airways, Brussels unlike others. So it’s always very easy for travelers all over the world to connect to Rwanda. Apply for your Rwanda Visa online before travel to be on the safe side and receive it upon arrival at the airport costing US$30.

Uganda, the Land Gifted By Nature

Uganda a landlocked country in East African country that shares borders with Sudan, Rwanda , Kenya Tanzania & Democratic Republic of the Congo and all the other countries provide access to the country making it easy for travelers to visit multiple countries around the region while in Uganda. The prime attraction here is the Silver back Mountain Gorillas and their family members though the country has many things to do and experience. Most Uganda parks are well stocked and easily accessed by road.

Public transport buses leave Kampala city to different locations of the country every day in the morning so travelers get a chance of visiting different Uganda National parks & attractions like locals.

Among the Diverse wildlife and beautiful rain forests include the Bwindi National Park, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth Game Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park & Murchison Falls Game Park are best and most visited by backpackers to Uganda. Also Entebbe, Jinja & Kampala City are the best backpacking towns in Uganda with cheap transport, food and accommodation. Hotels and hostels that fit budget travelers can be found all over and bookings are normally made online with payments upon arrival as you check in. Compare various options before booking and always book the right hostel or hotel for a right place. Other cheap travel countries in the region are Kenya, Congo and Tanzania.

Cyrus: Lost on Aphrodite’s island

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Visit Cyprus

Most visitors to Cyprus stay on the coast, but away from the neon and the nightclubs is a world of mountain trails, dramatic gorges and sleepy wine-growing villages.

I decided I would lose myself in Cyprus. Why not? The spring sunshine was blazing and the fields were scarlet and blue with poppies and cornflowers. The roads were empty. Driving through the western foothills of the Troodos Mountains, the spine of peaks that runs across the west of the island, is pretty hit-and-miss in terms of navigation in any case, as a crossroads may point in several directions to any one village, and maps of the island tend not to agree with one another. So I turned inland from the main Limassol-Paphos road and headed hopefully for the hills.

Windows wound down to let the intoxicating scent of wild herbs breeze through the car, I climbed up through wine country, regimented rows of vineyards ripening in the Eastern Mediterranean sun, other fields green with almond and apple orchards, herds of goats sheltering from the sun under the branches of ancient olive trees.

I stopped at Alassa, near the Kouris Dam, one of many reservoirs that keeps the island watered. Birds of prey wheeled overhead on the afternoon thermals. A sole fisherman, the only other human in sight, sat patiently by the water’s edge. Insects hummed in the sun. It was hard to imagine that this is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, receiving some two million visitors a year. Where was everybody? Not that I was complaining.

Almost reluctantly, I headed on upwards through the village of Monagri, a cluster of whitewashed houses with terracotta roofs arranged around a squat church. A couple of wineries here sell locally produced reds and Commanderia, the amber dessert wine that’s been made on the island for 4,000 years. The streets were almost deserted save a couple of old ladies in black, sitting outside their houses. We exchanged a ‘Kalispera’ (good afternoon) but they didn’t speak English and my Greek is limited to tourist phrases. Up here in the hills, it’s a different world from the hustle and bustle of the coast, where Cypriots, already proficient in English and German, are turning their hands to Russian to communicate with the newest influx of sun- and pleasure-seekers.

Onwards and upwards to Omodhos, the winegrowing capital of the Troodos, where I spent the night. Coach tours come to Omodhos laden with day trippers from the coast, here to admire the monastery, shop for souvenirs and taste the wines. But if you arrive late afternoon and stay in one of the agrotourism establishments – Stou Kir Yianni (www.omodhosvillagecottage.com) is my favourite, just three suites in an old stone house – the atmosphere gradually mellows. Finally, after sunset, the town reverts to the locals.

The next day, vaguely following the map, I headed high into the Troodos, through cool pine forests, the busy resorts of the coast shimmering in a blue heat haze, miles below. I hiked the Caledonia Trail, one of several well-marked footpaths maintained by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation. It’s an easy, two-mile woodland descent along the course of the chilly Kyros Potamos river, scrambling over mossy rocks and occasionally, balancing on stepping stones to cross the river itself. The reward at the end is a plunge into the deep pool under the Caledonia Falls, where the river gathers pace and tumbles over a jutting rock face. Further down the hill, the Psilo Dentron tavern serves freshly grilled mountain trout. This being Cyprus, famed for its hospitality and love of food, there’s usually a taverna to be found at the end of any walking trail.

SEEKING THE AUTHENTIC CYPRUS

The island is full of surprises once you leave the busy coast, which although known for its luxury hotels and spas, is another world from the quieter, more authentic Cyprus I was seeking. I love the protected Akamas Peninsula on the island’s far western tip, according to legend, the one-time hunting ground of Adonis and location of the woodland glade in which he first spotted Aphrodite bathing in a rock pool (sadly, a rather uninspiring tourist attraction nowadays). But love-struck gods and goddesses aside, Akamas reveals great natural beauty. With a friend, I walked the Avakas Gorge, initially wandering under pine, cypress and carob trees before the trail narrows into a deep, sheer-sided gorge, strewn with giant boulders that have toppled off the tops of the cliffs during the island’s various earthquakes. On the broad sweep of Lara Beach, leatherback and green sea turtles come to lay their eggs and in summer, you can help the volunteer conservationists who keep a patient vigil over the hatching eggs, putting protective cages over the sandy nests and removing exposed eggs to a hatchery. On bright nights, hundreds of newly hatched baby turtles scurry down the beach, guided by the moon, to the sea.

A much tougher hike, and one few visitors know about, is the ancient Camel Trail, an intriguing path leading from the former copper mines of the western Troodos to Paphos on the coast and named after the camels that used to bear the heavy loads. The walkable section starts in Kaminaria village and leads over rocks and through dense pine forest to Vretsia village. Along the trail are three graceful medieval stone bridges, Elaia, Kefelos and Roudias, built by the Venetians in the 15th and 16th centuries. The bridges are purely ornamental now but make great picnic spots, in the serene surroundings of the deep forest.

Again, there are numerous agrotourism houses to stay in around this area. The whole agrotourism concept is supported by the government, which gives grants to restore old stone houses for tourism and help preserve village life; like many Mediterranean destinations, Cyprus struggles to maintain its village communities as young people leave for the bright lights of the coast. There are more than 50 houses in the official agrotourism scheme and many more private ventures. Village life follows the same lazy pace wherever you go. Enjoy meze and organic wine in the local village taverna for dinner, shoot the breeze with the owner over a raki or two and fall asleep listening to the wind in the trees. We were woken every morning by a cacophony of donkeys braying and roosters crowing; rural life may be peaceful but it’s not necessarily quiet.

MOUNTAIN MONASTERIES

No visit to Cyprus is complete without visiting one of the mountain monasteries, which are spectacularly wealthy and produce their own wines and liqueurs. Kykkos, northwest of Troodos, is the richest of all and owns a precious icon painted by the apostle, Luke, which pilgrims line up to admire. But it’s the monastery itself that’s breathtaking, simply dripping with gold, beautiful paintings and lavish frescoes.

Near here, down a track signposted from the Kykkos to Stravos road, is Cedar Valley, an unusual phenomenon in that it’s the only spot on the island populated by indigenous Cyprus cedars, related to the graceful cedars of Lebanon, and a wonderfully cooling place to walk, the wind singing gently in the tall trees and all manner of bird life, including jays, who showed a healthy interest in our picnic. It’s a longish hike, 13km along the marked trail, but worth it. From the Trypylos fire lookout point at the top, 1,362 metres above sea level, you can see the peaks of the Troodos in the background and beyond the treetops in the opposite direction, the foothills stretching away in the distance. Again, not a soul in sight. I can’t think of a lovelier place to get lost.

Walking with dinosaurs in Kimberley Australia

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Walk with Dinosaurs in Australia

Amy Watkins explores the stark and rugged Kimberley in northwest Australia in search of prehistoric creatures, ancient rock art and towering waterfalls

A trail of dinosaur footprints stood out against the red earth. I was at Gantheaume Point in northwestern Australia’s Kimberley region. Out there it’s easy to imagine a live T-Rex wandering around the dramatic sandstone in an area that is three times the size of the UK and is home to geography that dates back 250 million years. Populated by spiky spinifex grass and chubby boab ‘upside down’ trees, the violent landscape – pocked by awe-inspiring sandstone formations that have been squeezed out of the red earth over millions of years – is a stark reminder of the power of nature.
Evidence of ancient peoples is etched on to cave walls and aboriginal art sites are a highlight of the rugged region. Relatives of dinosaurs – prehistoric-looking crocodiles – lounge on mangrove riverbanks, while eagles and fruit bats fly overhead.

The Kimberley is the outback of popular imagination and can be explored by 4WD along the rough Gibb River Road that links Darwin to Broome. Doing it by expedition ship is another way to discover the remote corners of the Kimberley and I sailed with Orion, a luxury Australian expedition line. Our voyage began in Darwin, the tropical capital of Australia’s Northwest Territory.

GETTING AIRBORNE

Life is relaxed in the Top End and the city is a pleasant modern mix of restaurants and outlets offering croc-spotting tours. We headed west towards the old pearling centre of Broome and our first stop of Wyndham – where we berthed at the rickety pier. This is the oldest town in the Kimberley region, where gold was discovered in 1885 among the mangroves and mudflats.

It’s challenging to visualise the sheer scale of the Kimberley, but getting airborne is a good way to explore the vast landscape. Purnululu National Park, to give the Bungle Bungles their original Kija Aboriginal name, is famous for sandstone karst domes that emerge from the desert like gigantic beehives. The surreal orange and black ringed cones are surrounded by vast escarpments and dry riverbeds that cut through the earth like lightning bolts. We flew over Carlton Hill Station, a desolate plateau where Baz Lurhmann filmed much of his movie, Australia, and circled over ridges of earth that were pushed up like an angry crocodile’s spine. There were plenty of opportunities to see real crocodiles later in our 10-night journey, either among the mangroves of Hunter River or sunning themselves on rocky outcrops as we made our way to King George River Falls. Saltwater crocs lazed by the river and rock wallabies sheltered from the hot sun in the cracks in the sandstone. We made our way on inflatable Zodiac craft through the impressive gorge to the Twin Falls. The sun was beating down and a scramble up the side of the 80m falls was rewarded with a dip in a pool. Back down in the gorge, we were given another cool down when our drivers took us through the gushing waterfalls, deafening us with the thunder of nature raining down on our heads.

Later in the trip, we witnessed another incredible display of hydropower at Talbot Bay, where fast-moving tides surged through a gap in two sets of rock and created a ‘horizontal waterfall’. The Kimberley has some of the highest tidal ranges in the world, with spring tides of up to 12m, and this natural phenomenon is a swirling, violent reminder that nature is boss out here.

ANCIENT ART GALLERY

These extreme tides also cause a fascinating sight at Montgomery Reef, where tidal changes caused the reef to suddenly appear out of the water and created cascading waterfalls. As we waited in the Zodiacs, the reef appeared to rise up around us, revealing small sharks, manta rays and green turtles that appeared as if by magic.

Montgomery Reef was once the hunting ground of the native Worrora people. Our Zodiacs took us to a shell-strewn beach overlooked by curious-looking boab trees, where we disembarked and climbed to a cave surrounded by Kimberley Rose trees and swooping Brahaminy kites.

Inside the open-sided cave was an ancient art gallery. The Worrora used white ochre to paint fish, animals and Wandjinas (ancestral beings with haloed heads representing rain clouds) and when moisture gets into the sandstone it creates an eerie glow.

Ancient rock art is a highlight of the area. Jar Island, named after the fragments of pottery that were left behind by Macassans who came to collect sea-cucumbers in the 18th century, is home to possibly the world’s oldest figure paintings. Aboriginal people believed Gwion gwion (bird) art was created when birds pecked the rocks until they bled. The painted human figures have been named ‘Bradshaw’ art after the first European who recorded them in 1891 – a wasps’ nest covering one was carbon-dated to be more than 17,000 years old.

Towards the end of our journey to Broome, where old pearl luggers and historic tales awaited us, we stopped at the northernmost point of the Kimberley. As I scanned the pristine beach buffered by red cliffs at Cape Leveque, my footprints were the only mark on the pure sand. Dramatic and remote, the unforgettable Kimberley had given me the chance to walk in the footsteps of the dinosaurs and catch a glimpse of an ancient world, unspoiled by humans and time.

 

Using Buses To Travel Around Britain

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Ahabu Phillip
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When it comes to getting around the UK, there is no doubt that the road network is really the spine of the country, but for many bringing a car is a little too daunting, and the unfamiliar roads can often be a trap to catch out the unwary tourist. This is why utilizing the bus network to get around can be a great middle route, and can often be cheaper than renting a car in order to drive around the country.

One of the first things for those planning a visit is to find out more about the major bus companies that operate services across the country, and finding the routes that will serve the journeys that people will be looking to make. Using websites such as Traveline or other services that offer a journey planner and can identify bus routes that might be suitable is a very good place to start for those looking to travel by bus.

Another factor that can be beneficial about using buses is that there will usually be a number of different options when it comes to getting around, with the longer distance services going between the different cities in the UK, and the smaller services helping to travel once they have arrived in an area. These services are ideal, and allow visitors to see as much, or as little of the country and the scenic routes as they want.

An important thing to do when planning a bus journey is to be aware of the timescales on the routes that are being used, and having an alternative plan in place because although it is not frequent, occasionally buses will run late, and knowing the alternatives for traveling can be useful in this situation.

As well as knowing how to travel around using the British bus network, being able to buy tickets in advance can also reduce the stress of traveling and save on the queuing that can delay journeys. By putting in a little work in advance of the trip, it is much more likely to go smoothly and to be the enjoyable holiday that visitors will want and will expect from their visit to the UK.

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Journeys Magazine is a travel publication with In-depth features on best destinations to visit, things to see. tips and advice to help you travel around the world.
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