Victoria Falls - "Smoke that thunders"

Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River, the fourth largest in Africa, on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. This is one of the world's largest, most spectacular waterfall and one of the seven world wonders of nature. Kololi tribe give the name to waterfall, who lived here in the 1800's, "Mozi-oa-Tunya" - "Smoke that thunders" Victoria Falls is a spectacular awesome beauty and splendor.

Victoria Falls extends to 1708 meters in width. It falls from a height of 120 meters into the gorge of 30 meters wide. The waterfall is formed by a sharp fall in the Zambezi in a narrow chasm carved by its waters in the zone of fracture of the crust. Numerous islets at the crest of the falls divide water into several branches. Manufactured waterfall dense fog and a thunderous roar could be viewed from a distance of approximately 40 km. Boiling pot at the beginning of winding gorge 80 km long, through which rushing streams of the waterfall, cross the bridge 198 meters long and 94 meters high. During the flood capacity of the water flow is around 546 million liters of water per minute.

But statistics can not be felt. It worth visiting the waterfall to make sure that the mighty Zambezi River cascade, rush into the Batoka Gorge, is the widest curtain of falling water on the planet.

David Livingstone first heard of the large waterfall in 1851, but only in 1855 decided to visit it. He spent the night on Kalai Island a few kilometers upstream from the Falls, went walking down along the river, and next morning went to a small canoe to meet the thundering smoke. He landed on the largest island on the edge of the waterfall, now called Livingstone Island and from there the first time saw the picture of waterfall. David Livingstone called the waterfall in honor of Queen Victoria. Local tribes called it Mozi-oa-Tunya, "thundering smoke". The waterfall is a part of 2 national parks and attracts many tourists.

With a resolution of the conflict in South Africa, in the region, a more politically sustainable, tourism is rapidly developing. Constantly there are new types of tourism activities, and the industry is becoming more developed. Traveling on a raft on the wild rapids below the falls were the first innovation more than ten years ago.

Victoria Falls is the world UNESCO site.

Zambia is often called the "real Africa"...

Zambia attracts foreign tourists by its primeval nature: 19 national parks, one of the largest in the world - Victoria Falls. Not far from the cultural center Livingstone lies Maramba - Open Air Ethnographic Museum: over 50 buildings represent typical homes of different peoples. Some are folk artisans demonstrate their art in traditional crafts.

In Zambia are living more than 70 nationalities: Bemba (43%), Tonga (17%), Luvale (12%), Malawi (12%), Lozi (10%), etc. Each of the nations are divided into smaller subgroups, each nation speaks its own language, but over the years of independence, the language of interethnic communication in the country has become the language of the people Bemba - Tshibembe. All nations belong to the Bantu linguistic group.

The most common type of housing - round huts with mud walls or wattle with a conical thatched roof. Traditions and consciousness of belonging to one's clan plays an exceptional role in the lives of Zambians, defining their everyday behavior. There are 2 systems of kinship: patrilineal - kinship patrilineal and matrilineal - the female line. The first is found in Tonga, the second - a Bemba.

Two hours drive from Lusaka - and you're in the country's largest national park, Kafue with the area of 22 thousand square kilometers. Vast plains with soft evergreen grass, forests with tree species, as well as groves of teak, which love to be elephants. This park - the most famous habitat of elephants, buffalo, hippos, antelopes and their many "relatives". And besides - 400 species of birds! Hotels and Hunting Lodge with all the modern amenities of higher-level concerts of traditional African music and dance performed by amateur actors from the local tribes are here for the tourists. These entertainment tourists can get in safari (in fact in Africa do not go to parks and reservations, but go on a safari!). The country has 73 officially recognized ethnic groups, and each boasts cult ceremonies and dances. Tribal ceremonies in different parts of the country are almost throughout the year, but most often in August and October, during the most favorable season.

Luangwa Valley is one of the most prestigious nature reserves in the world. Fed by the waters of the river vegetation, it serves as a refuge for a variety of mammals. Especially there are many elephants, lions and antelopes. Throughout the world around you look down giraffes. River inhabits the largest in the country's population of Nile crocodiles.

Zambia is often called the "real Africa" because it is one of the wonders of the world - Victoria Falls, the large animals that are included in the "top ten", and species that occur only here and nowhere else in the world, the richness of bird flocks, the possibility for the most amazing safari and active sports. Finally - original tribal art. And no wonder that tourists coming to this country from around the globe.

Tunisian Tourism

Tourists like Tunisia for beach recreation, maritime walks, thalassotherapy at affordable prices. Tours in Tunisia is a wonderful mix of family and health holidays. Best Resorts in Tunisia are luxury Hammamet, noisy youth Sousse, Mahdia few people on the quiet, modern resort area north of Skanes Monastir.

Tourists in Tunisia cmay have an interesting excursion program: here are the ruins of ancient Carthage, the holy Muslim city of Kairouan, numerous mosques, ancient fortresses, archeological and historical museums.

Most of the hotels of Tunisia are of European class, with large green areas, although many of them are quite old. Tunisia is an African country, but more europeanized than Egypt.

If you are around the orange, olive and lemon groves, you can safely pick the fruits. But first get permission from located somewhere near the guard. In resort areas tourists can wear easily and freely. But in the capital and the old Muslim quarters of the town in shorts and t-shirts it is not better to walk around. In your hotel's beach or the pool of your hotel, women can afford themselves to tan topless. During the Ramadan, visitors better to refrain from smoking, drinking and eating on the streets of cities. It is better not to offer Tunisians to smoke, drink wine or beer, especially to do this together. In hotels you can safely drink and smoke, and you politely cater waiter who fasts. If you come across a man who commits a kneeling prayer, calmly walk behind him. Do not think carefully veiled women. In the hotels and shops made greeting. In shops where prices are displayed, to bargain should not be. Stay vigilant: in crowded places "work" pickpockets. Photography of official buildings is forbidden. It is strictly forbidden to take photos or a video camera at the presidential palace. Police personnel are washed or exposing. Tunisians, without first obtaining their consent, it is better not to take photographs.

Pink Lake is really bright pink!

Pink Lake is really bright pink!
Pink Lake, or Lake Retba in local language Wolof tribe, - is a unique natural phenomenon and one of the main attractions of Senegal. The unusual color of the lake is connected with a high concentration of salt - about 380 gr. per liter, more than in the Dead Sea. At this salinity in the lake can not live any living creatures, except for special cyanobacterium, which produces a red pigment that contribute to the color of water. Color of the lake varies from light pink to brown. The intensity of color depends on the time of the day (from the angle of incidence of sunlight), from the clouds, and especially from the wind, because a strong wind cyanobacteria is activated and begins to produce more pigment.

Pink Lake is located 30 km from Dakar. Tour to Pink Lake - an integral part of all the tourist routes. The thrill you guaranteed! In the Pink Lake, as in the Dead Sea, it is impossible to sink. You can safely lie on the surface of the water, reading the newspaper.

Lake Retba famous by the fact that it is here for many years to finish a famous Rally Paris - Dakar.

Salt is mined in the Pink Lake, and white salt pyramid whimsically fram its shores. Locals mined salt, standing up to their necks in water. Men break the salt deposits are located on the bottom, special hooks, and then draw it from the bottom of spades and lace in the boat. To protect the skin from the corrosive action of salt, they are before you go to the lake, her brush with shea butter, extracted from the fruit of a tallow tree.

It now people are working, standing on the shoulders in the water - 20 years ago at the Pink Lake not swim, and went - there was water up to his waist. But digging about twenty-five thousand tons of salt in a year, people rapidly deepen the lake. In some places its bottom sunk very much - three meters and more. Very soon, removing the old salt is an old-fashioned way is no longer possible and the Senegalese authorities face the problem of employment of the Army feeding around the lake miners and traders. But while each morning dozens of half-naked men, taking uncomplicated equipment, swim out to the middle of the lake, put the boat on the joke and walk into the incredibly salty water ... salt solution of such concentration is capable of half an hour corrode the skin to such an extent that the deposition of the poorly healing ulcers. So before you get into the boat, miners are rubbing with oil. It is obtained from the fruit of a tallow tree, it is called the Scientific butirosperma Park ... This is why their body glitter in the sun ...

Salt of the boats is unloaded usually by women. These fragile-looking creations are wearing on the head a plastic basins filled with wet salt, weighing about 30 kg, and dump salt on the shore to dry. Initially, the salt extracted from the lake, has a dark gray color, but gradually turn white in the sun. In every pile of salt stuck to the plate number of the owner. Salt, extracted here, is mainly for export to neighboring African countries, but sometimes in expensive restaurants serving local fish baked in salt from the Pink Lake.

Salt miners live here, on the lake, in a small village in shacks made of scrap materials: reeds, tires and sheet metal. They come to work at the Pink lake from neighboring African countries and from the Senegalese province, and remain here more than a few years because of poor working conditions. However, they are well earned by African standards: every ton of extracted salt is sold for about 35 euros.

Because of the uncontrolled extraction of salt pink lake each year grows shallow. If no immediate action will be taken to protect this unique natural phenomenon, we risk losing him forever.

Near the lake there is a turtle sanctuary, where, under the supervision of biologists live in various types of marine and terrestrial turtles. In the reserve you can see the largest African tortoise, on the verge of extinction.

Tourism is thriving Senegal...

Tourism is thriving Senegal - this fact is known by experienced travelers: the Dutch, Germans, Englishmen, but most of all - the French. Here, in its former colony, they are coming in clusters. Now the independent Republic of Senegal has kept as the official language French, however, in a country whose economy is the income from tourism is second only to exports of marine products and fish place, say on virtually all languages.

What is Senegal? If Tunisia - is generally accepted European exotics, and South Africa - an exotic Europe, Senegal - this is just what the middle. A stable political environment, mild climate (average annual temperature of 25-27 degrees Celsius), caressing the eyes of a European landscape diversity (tropical forest, African savannah, mangroves), the present flora and fauna, and even then, without which they think a good rest 99, 9% of tourists: the development of chain and 600 km of Atlantic coastline with white sand. The rainy season which lasts from late June to October, in no way interrupts the active tourist life in Senegal. The only thing denied at this time to vacationers, it is the possibility to go on safari, as well as take part in races on bikes or jeep - road washed out.

Moscow - Dakar. Paris - Dakar
The famous road marathon. Perhaps that is all that is known to the average rossiyaninu the capital of Senegal. But this is not its main attraction! And you must make sure that, because even with the obsessive desire to immediately plunge into the African wild life pass Dakar (with its international airport) you will not succeed. Yes it is to anything: there is much to do and what to see, including exotics. So, Dakar. Around 55 hotels, 75 restaurants, 20 bars, 9 discos, 4 casinos. All this, according to experts, accompanied by almost European service. According to those same French hotels, you can choose for every taste and purse, but seduced by the cheap rooms should not: they are clearly no climate control.

Judge for yourself:
Auberge Rouge - double rooms cost about 15 euro. Warm water and a fan.
Al Afifa - from 50 euros per single room and 56 - for a double, suites - from 70 euros. Climate control in the rooms. Warm water. TV. Pool.

To protect themselves from the meeting with a fan instead of climate control (in a hotel with a proud name Continental, for example, air conditioners have only 15 rooms of the 22's), his gaze is drawn to the business-class hotel: double room at Novotel or Sofitel Teranga will cost from 114 euros. However, many inexperienced tourists prefer to rent the vacant houses, and travel around the country to rent a car. Following the advice of the same French, take solar-ocean baths, too, should not be getting any where. Best beach - this is, perhaps, Les almandine, located 20 minutes drive from Dakar. By the way, Les almandine not just beach and resort area with hotels from two to five stars. Their owners - French and Italian hotel system, so you are guaranteed world class service and, importantly, a decent kitchen.

Among other places "coastal recreation" Keep in mind the private beach of Sunugal and tiny - only 100 meters - the beach near the Club Med in Ngor. It is very quiet, very quiet place, protected from waves and with a truly luxurious restaurants. Not far from the airport is located opposite the beach, famous for its regular and considerable waves: Le Virage - a real treasure for surfers.

Pink Lake
An hour's drive from Dakar is located another world-famous " wet seat "- Pink Lake. It is really pink, but in windy weather - almost red. This shade attaches to water, alumina, which, they say, helps with diseases of the joints. Famous Pink Lake and the fact that the level of salt in it than in the Dead Sea, so that its waters can just sit there. Compared with the center of this quiet and peaceful. The lake is surrounded by high sand dunes, which complements the picture of solitude. It is not clear why this is the place chosen for the finish of the famous annual car race.

Night
Most of tourists, if taken some privacy, as a rule, again, want the feast of life. Dakar and adapted for this purpose: the experts of the local nightlife advised to look closely to such clubs as the perfect Le Tropique Club, Le Sahel - the oldest club in the city, where every month supports the Senegalese star style mbalaks Tion Ballago Seck, a youth club La Dune, as well as institution in downtown Le Yaka, where in the evening local music sounds originating from the nearby islands. Particularly fashionable places - a nightclub and disco Hotel Independance L'Obox, which likes to hang out rich Senegalese youth mixed with the Europeans.

Exotics
The main Dakar's home exotica - is its market. Do not be afraid. Markets in Senegal have nothing to do with Taiwanese-Chinese low-cost deposits and a variety of laces (although avoid it completely failed to have any market in the world). Tourists walk on the Senegalese market is not for this. Please be patient, hover help and - forward: slippers from the skin of iguanas, bag leather cobra, the famous Benin bronze figures cast and some ingenious musical instrument - that's over than you need to hunt. Walk, think, ask the price. bargain for a while, in the end - the market still.
But the capital is the capital. Worth it to go this far, to spend the evenings in the clubs and days - on the beach?

This Africa, gentlemen, it's national parks. Biggest - Delta du Saloum and Niokolo Koba. If the question arises, what to choose, to prefer the latter. Niokolo Koba - 900 thousand hectares of land with elephants, lions, buffalo, panthers, monkeys, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles and other animals. To go round and see it all in real time, require a minimum of three days. And if someone will speak the voice of the ancestors, then a license you organize this African hunting (though you can only hunt on certain animals - lions and antelopes). If someone is not enough, go to the Casamance region: for a fee you organize the hunt for crocodiles. Another "decoy" of Senegal is fishing. Practically all the hotels of 4 stars has a fishing club with a boat. There are even more pure "fish" hotel designed specially for tourists, fishermen. The first three training fishing with an instructor, as a rule, free. And then people vestibular apparatus which withstood high-speed travel by boat to the open ocean, "sit down at the bait" and already can not live without the blue marlin and other sardines, which have little to themselves on the hook for climbing, so are rather big and sizes. It is clear why Senegal regularly hosts international competitions for catching sea fish.