Selous Game Reserve is the largest wildlife controlled area in Africa, covering fifty five thousand square kilometres, which is comparable to the size of Switzerland. As such Selous can justifiably claim to offer unparalleled wilderness and an amazing safari destination.
The spectrum of wildlife here is diverse, all the more interesting because its southern location attracts a unique combination of East and Southern African wildlife, both resident and migratory, and particularly a curious and colourful assortment of over 440 known species of birds. Some of Africa’s most sought after game can be found in Selous Game Reserve including elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo, crocodile and herds of plains game, yet it remains one of the least visited of the great game sanctuaries on the continent.
Ambleside is a very popular and picturesque town situated at the heart of the Lake District National Park, close to the shores of Lake Windermere, which is England’s largest lake. Ambleside itself has become a major tourist resort and one of the most popular bases for exploring the Lake District with an array of excellent shops, restaurants, plus a great choice of of Lake District self catering venues including camp sites, bed and breakfasts, hotels and Lake District cottages.
Ambleside is mostly a Victorian town, although there has been a settlement there since pre-Roman times. Galava, a fort located beside Borrans Park in Ambleside was built by the Romans and was used to house around 500 soldiers. The fort was built to defend the lower fells of South Lakeland from invasion by the Picts and Scots, and also to guard the road to the Roman Port at Ravenglass which is accessible from Hard Knott Pass.
Since The Borrowdale Hotel was bought in March by Lake District Hotels, some of the bedrooms have already been refurbished. Now a more noticeable transformation is about to take place under the watchful eye of Stephen Wilcock who moves from The Lodore Falls Hotel to take up his first role as General Manager.
Stephen Wilcock was Deputy General Manager at the Lodore Falls Hotel during the last four years and was instrumental in minimising disturbance for hotel guests during the £2 million pound Lodore Falls refurbishment. His move to the Borrowdale Hotel coincides with imminent plans to update the lounge, dining areas and remaining bedrooms at the hotel. Work has already started in some of the bedrooms and regular guests have given very enthusiastic praise for the work so far. The lounge will be refurbished during November - in plenty of time for Christmas and there are exciting new plans for the dining room which are due to start in the New Year.
Saadani Game Reserve was gazetted in 1964, covering an area of some 250 sq km from the Wami River in the south to the Mligaji River in the north, with the Moshi railway line as the western boundary.
In 2003 Saadani was upgraded to become Tanzania’s latest National Park under the direction of TANAPA (Tanzania National Park Authority). Boundaries have been expanded to include land north of the Mligaji, which is an important area containing the only permanent elephant population in the area as well as sable antelope. The total protected area now covers over 1000 sq km and the TANAPA headquarters are based at Mkwaja ranch.
Saadani is geographically the closest reserve to Dar es Salaam (130km) and, even considering the present situation of no coast road, it is still a similar distance in terms of time to Mikumi National Park, the next closest wildlife destination. Construction of the coast road from Dar es Salaam is underway and once completed, this will reduce driving time to around two hours from Dar making Saadani the closest wildlife destination to Dar offering an irresistible combination of beach and wildlife viewing.
Saadani sits directly opposite Zanzibar’s Stone Town, which is located approximately 42 kilometres away. Regular flights are available from Zanzibar to Saadani and these only take about fifteen minutes. Visitors to Zanzibar will find an excellent choice of Zanzibar hotels and most other types of Zanzibar accommodation, including villas and lodges. Read the rest of this entry »
Christmas in the Lake District has been a popular choice for couples and families for some years now. Escaping from all the expense and stress of organising presents and the Christmas lunch. The beautiful scenery is so enticing in the winter months and the festive season. Now the Lake District is being a hot spot for company Christmas parties. Many Lake District hotels have spiced up their 2008 Christmas Party programme by providing alternative party themes as well as their traditional Christmas party nights enjoyed by many. With a choice of themes to suit a range of pockets, many Lake District hotels are introducing theme nights such as Elvis Tribute Nights, Las Vegas Casino Nights as well as a Fajitas and Margaritas Party food themes.
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Appreciation of Dubai properties grew rapidly between 2004 and 2006 due to the government deciding to change from the trade based economy to a services and tourism based economy. This had led to huge and groundbreaking skyscrapers so synonymous with Dubai today. Dubai property is so innovative. They have the tallest building in the world that is used solely as a hotel, the Burj Al Arab. This crown is soon to be taken from this iconic building with the completion of The Rose Tower. This tower was completed in 2007 but is yet to open as a hotel. Vying for the tallest building in the world is being undertaken by a number of developments which are still in construction and due to be completed around 2009. Approximately 50km away is a proposed 200 storey tower with a projected height on 1,200 metres!
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The New Forest is located in South East England, namely South West Hampshire and some of South east Wiltshire and is the newest National Park in England.
Named by William The Conqueror the ‘new hunting forest’ in 1079 the landscape of the New Forest has hardly changed since then. The woodlands and heaths are looked after today using the same ancient systems implemented by William The Conqueror mainly in the form of Commoners which are the local inhabitants who farm cattle, pigs, donkeys and ponies. These areas are called pasture woodland are left open for the cattle and pigs, also deer. The Ancient and Ornamental woodlands cover 3,692 hectares of the open forest. There are also a number of other workers who manage the forest from rangers and keepers to skilled woodsmen, all of which work full time to look after the forest.
The New Forest is a popular location for all ages and interests. All year round there are activities such as guided walks, historic and geographic talks and traffic free cycle tracks with many New Forest bed and breakfast establishments to stay in. There are now a wide ranging selection of New Forest accommodation venues available, from 5 star country house hotels and bed and breakfasts to stunning New Forest self catering cottages.
Dancing in the Dark, based near Penrith in Cumbria have been providing professional Lake District mobile disco entertainment throughout Cumbria since 1988. Whilst Lake District wedding discos are their speciality they provide entertainment at a range of other functions and events including corporate entertainment, office parties, birthday celebrations, christmas parties and karaoke nights. So whether you are organising a birthday party for a friend or relative, looking to keep your delegates entertained during a corporate event, or trying to arrange the best Christmas Party in town, Dancing in the Dark will make your event a roaring success.
Popular with a broad clientele, this stretch of coast was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural beauty in 1959. Compromising of a total of 171 square kilometres, the North Devon AONB spans from Marsland Mouth on the Cornish border to Combe Martin and the edge of the Exmoor National Park.
The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status means the area is nationally protected for the beauty of its landscape. It is made up of several distinct landscape types, each with its own special habitats and geology, including the most vulnerable and beautiful parts of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve centred around the village of Braunton and its estuary.
Due to the fantastic beaches, plentiful attractions and distinct landscape, Devon holiday homes are a popular choice. Excellent transport links mean travelling to North Devon is quick and easy. The M5 motorway takes you right down to the junction with the main link road, the A361 leading to Barnstaple and then even Exeter airport is only 40 miles away.
The area hosts a wide variety of gardens and houses, family attractions, theatres and leisure facilities. Sea and coarse fishing are accessible nearby and there are three top golf courses including two championship courses at Saunton. For golfers, second homes in Devon are the ideal choice. Holiday Lodges in Devon will provide much welcomed relaxing accommodation after a hard round of golf but with the space to store golf clubs and other kit.
Sarah and Alan Ayres, proprietors of Woodlands in Windermere, are pleased to announce the award of a fifth star by the AA, which has been awarded for their exceptional standards of quality guest accommodation and service.
Woodlands Hotel in Windermere is a handsome Edwardian Villa situated between the villages of Windermere and Bowness in Cumbria – the Lake District, just a few minutes away from the shores of Lake Windermere. Guests will enjoy the luxury, stylish and contemporary Boutique accommodation being offered at Woodlands, which has now been formally recognised as being one of the finest hotels in the Lake District. There are a total of fifteen luxury and en-suite guest bedrooms including a choice of single, double or twin bedded rooms. The resident’s bar and lounge is an exciting space for guests to relax after a long day’s site seeing and exploring.
According to the AA, a five star Guest House needs to demonstrate an awareness of each guest’s needs with nothing being too much trouble. All bedrooms must be en-suite or have a private bathroom, with excellent quality beds and furnishings. Breakfast must include specials/home-made items, high quality ingredients, and fresh local produce.
The AA inspector who recently undertook an overnight inspection of Woodlands said it was lovely to return this Windermere Guest house and find the refurbishment completed with a high level of comfort being offered to guests. The inspector commented on the brand new bedrooms and bathrooms, saying they had the biggest impact on the level of quality, stylishly decorated and well equipped. The standards of service and hospitality were also highlights of the stay with members of staff demonstrating a friendly, welcoming attitude and spontaneity. The choice at breakfast has been increased, with quality items offered on the buffet and a tasty, accurately cooked hot dish.
Combining a spa treatment with a holiday or weekend away is becoming more and more popular. With the stresses of work and family life, the ability for total relaxation and making the most out of a much deserved weekend break is a must. Spa’s located within Lake District hotels are the most convenient and give the most relaxation as the guest can simply come down from their room and within a matter of seconds be in having a spa treatment, no need to get in a car or walk for miles.
One such example if The Lodore Falls Hotel situated on the edge of one of the most beautiful lakes in the English Lake District, Derwentwater. The Borrowdale valley where Derwentwater and The Lodore Falls Hotel is situated, is dominated by this 3 mile long lake. It is very close to Keswick and with large connections with Beatrix Potter. There are easily accessible points to get down to the lake with a path that runs all around the shore. It is a very popular area with lovers of all activities and it is one of the few pieces of water in the Lake District that has retained its peaceful atmosphere despite being right in the heart of the most popular area for walking. Lake District spa treatments can be anything from a variety of massages to facials, tanning, waxing, manicures, pedicures, anti-ageing, eye treatments, facials, sunbed and bridal treatments. With the popularity of getting married in the Lake District, a Lake District spa offers ultimate pampering for the bride.
Elemis is a high rated brand of facial, massage and body therapy treatments. The Lodore Falls Hotel offer Elemis Spa Therapy which is developed by a specialised team, with extensive clinical & scientific studies. Elemis professional spa-therapies are world renowned for their powerful massage sequences combined with the most dynamic activities, available in the world today. Lake District pamper days are also available in some of the Lake District spas. Locals can then use these facilities or guests who just want a full day of relaxing.
The name “Ullswater” is believed to have come from an early Viking settler but due to a stone circle called The Cockpit at Barton Fell, some say it could have been earlier. The valley has many farms which is now the main economy of the area along with tourism. Some of the farms which are still working today, date back to as early as the sixteenth century.
Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District at a length of 8 miles. The lake is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the area and is a very popular place to stay for walkers wanting to tackle Helvellyn, Highstreet and Fairfield. The Coast to Coast walk goes through Patterdale with the Patterdale YHA situated on the route. For less adventurous walkers, there are many lower level, less strenuous walks such as the lovely Hallin Fell walk. It is approximately 3 miles long and of the same distance, the Aira Force Walk. Aira Force is the most spectacular waterfall in the Lake District and the beautiful walk through a leafy glen is wonderful.
If staying in the youth hostel is not for you, the area is blessed with a plethora of hotels in the Lake District ranging from small bed and breakfasts to luxury 80 bedroom hotels with bars and restaurants. At the Pooley Bridge end of the Lake which is the North of the Lake, there is a choice of camp sites so the area really does cater for everyone.
As a break from the walking, a trip down the Lake from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge or vice verse is perfect. The vessel is a steamer boat and the Ullswater Steamers have been operating on the lake for nearly 150 years. Staying at one of the Lake District hotels at Glenridding means you are perfectly situated for the Steamer pier.