African Safari Tour

This Blog Post is from Associated Content and sponsored by Safari

Eco-resorts offer a fresh perspective on traveling through rainforests and untouched riverbanks of the world, and you can go beyond an eco-safari to take in nature at its best. From exploring the Amazon river to vacationing in your own cabin overlooking the Caribbean coast, there are plenty of ways to get in touch with nature-besides, how else are you going to justify another vacation? Here's where to set your sights as you explore the world's eco-resorts:

Head to the Eco Trails of Kerala in India for an incredible experience on the Kerala river, the place to take in a houseboat cruise that skims the coastline and heads out to sea to a variety of coastal destinations. These socially responsible eco tours are just one of the many activities available in the area, and the eco-resorts network here includes the Bamboo Grove Eco Lodge at Thekkady, the Tharavadu Heritage Home at Kumarakom, or the Tharavad Heritage Resort at Aleppey. Kerala is considered to be one of the fifty 'must-see destinations of the world', and offers plenty of beaches and rivers for exploring.

The Hiliya Resort Home Stay program makes the world's top eco-resorts with its tropical forest, natural rivers, and old Kerala style Bungalow in the middle of an organic farm. It's here that you can enjoy deluxe accommodations and indulge in an organic menu each day; the lush countryside and forest offers plenty of opportunities for exploring, and you can take part in a morning walk on the farm, learn the art of coffee plucking, or trek through the forest after a day on the river. Call 0091-493-621 1575 for more information.

You'll need to book a trip to Jamaica for one of the leading eco-resorts in the area; the Hotel Mocking Bird Hill is a beach retreat located in a lush tropical setting. Just a short drive from the Caribbean coast, this enchanting spot offers plenty of gracious hospitality with an eco-friendly touch. The luxury boutique hotel has become famous for its proximity to exotic birds and endangered species around the area, and you can indulge in nature while enjoying the 'simple joys of living'. Call 876-993-7267 for more information.

Still, if you're quite comfortable with the idea of living inside a rainforest for a few days, you might be better off at an eco-friendly hotel. The Pacific Palisades Hotel in downtown Vancouver is committed to the green movement with certified PowerSmart cleaning products, a hotel-wide recycling program, and a gracious setting that can accommodate all tastes. This is one of the leading eco-resorts in British Columbia, serving a special organic menu along with complimentary organic coffee and tea. Call (604) 688-0461 for more information.

From the sunny shores in Jamaica to the beautiful views at your disposal on the Kerala River, you can enjoy your hideaway from city life at these top eco-resorts around the world. An eco-retreat can be just what you need to enjoy the simple things in life, and lend a 'green' hand in the process.

More info on Safari can be found on our main site!

The Following Blog Post is from Associated Content and sponsored by Kenya Safari Holidays

Want your wedding to be romantic, full of beauty and romantic charm? Here are the top ten most beautiful wedding locations in the world.

The Grand Hotel in Florence, Italy sits on the River Arno in the heart of the city. This 18th century palace was transformed into a grand hotel with a ballroom that's sure to wow you.

Fly by helicopter to reach the top of a mountain in New Zealand and you will surely experience beauty beyond compare. With a panoramic view of lakes, rivers, mountains and the landscape, no other view will even come close. New Zealand wedding services will help you in planning a wedding on top of a glacier or in a charming country church.

Le Château d'Esclimont in France will help you to live out your princess fantasies. This estate is located 45 minutes outside of Paris and not far from Versailles. An enchanted lake, and 150-acre estate will give you and your guests plenty of room to relax, fish, hike or ride horses.

Le Saint Géran and White Sand Beaches, Mauritius is located 500 miles east of Madagascar in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The culture pairs Asian and African elements and provides for a very relaxing vibe. It's a wonderful spot for a wedding because the beach setting is easily paired with an African safari honeymoon. Also on the island are a luxury spa, and golf course, for your guests to enjoy.

The Cathedral Park Hotel in Drakensberg, South Africa a very unique setting with its stone and thatch chapel. There is a huge picture window right behind the pulpit that allows you to wed in front of the stunning views of the Drakensberg mountain range. The hotel's presidential suite contains a private veranda, spa and steam baths. After the wedding, enjoy a hike through the mountains, where you will find Bushman rock paintings and wild animals. Don't forget to check out the golf, horseback riding, swimming and hiking to the beautiful natural waterfalls and gorges. The Spioenkop Game Reserve provides for the viewing of giraffes, zebras, rhinoceros, eland and antelopes.

The Tandjung Sari Resort in Bali, Indonesia has long been high on the list of exotic and beautiful wedding locations. This resort owned by an Indian family provides for an oceanfront view and an escape from the tourists traps in Bali.

The Dalhousie Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland will provide a royal setting for your special day. Scotland boasts numerous castles and this one used to be a 13th century fortress. The castle is elegantly furnished and even has a restaurant in the dungeon.

The Legion of Honor in San Francisco, California is set on a hilltop overlooking where the Pacific Ocean spills into San Francisco Bay. This museum, with its neoclassical architecture, provides for spectacular wedding photos.

A Dramatic Cave in South Wales, Britain provides a unique and natural setting for your nuptial exchange. There are a number of show-caves in South Wales including “The Dome of St. Paul's,” which includes a large lake fed by two waterfalls.

Central Park in New York leads you to a romantic wedding in the heart of this beautiful city. Popular locations in the lush gardens include the conservatory gardens, Bow Bridge, the pool and the Shakespeare garden. Whether you are traveling near or far, there is surely a place you can have a romantic and unforgettable wedding.

Visit our sponsor Kenya Safari Holidays today!

The Following blog post is sponsored by Luxury African Safari Holidays

For an Earth Day activity that's fun and just a little bit different than the usual, a “Soil Safari” is a great way to teach kids about an often overlooked part of the environment.

Even though many people think of it as just plain “dirt,” soil has a very important role in our environment. It is so important in fact, that it is considered one of the four elements of life along with air, sun, and water. Soil gives plants a place to put their roots so they can grow upright instead of falling over. It provides a home to millions of tiny creatures, some who break down decaying matter into plant food. Soil stores this food, and also collects and stores water when it rains or snows.

During this Earth Day activity, your kids will learn what makes up soil and gain an understanding of the importance of soil in the environment.

What is soil made of?

So what exactly is soil? It isn't just ground up bits of rock or some dust that blew in from the next county. Soil is made of a combination of nonliving (called abiotic) and living (biotic) things.

The biotic parts of soil are pretty amazing. They may include small organisms such as worms, grubs, bacteria, slugs, and roly polys. Biotic parts also include roots or decaying matter like leaves, twigs, and dead bugs and other critters. The abiotic parts of soil are what people call dirt. These are minerals that make up soil and are either sand, clay, or silt, or some combination of these. Water and air also make up the abiotic parts of soil.

Who would have thought that dirt contained so many things?

Planning the safari

The goal of this activity is to take soil samples from different areas and compare the similarities and/or differences back at home. A city park usually has the most varied assortment of soil types and is a great place to begin. Since you and your kids will be digging holes, getting permission from the parks department is important. However, parks aren't the only places to find samples. Back yards (both organically cared for and chemically treated yards), a vacant lot or road side, school yards, under trees, along rivers or ponds, or dirt alleys are other places where dirt samples can be collected.

Collecting the samples

Items needed for this activity include a small shovel, marker, and several gallon ice cream buckets (with snap on lids) or empty vegetable bags.

To collect the dirt samples, press the tip of the shovel into the ground as far as it will go, and lift out a mid sized scoopful of dirt. Place the sample into the ice cream bucket, snap on the lid, and mark on the side of the bucket exactly where the sample came from. Once you and your kids have collected specimens from different locations, it's time to bring them back to the “lab” for a closer look.

A closer look

To examine the soil, first cover a large work table with newspaper and then pour the samples in different locations on the table. Be sure to leave plenty of space between the piles of dirt so they don't get mixed up during this activity.

Working with one sample at a time, have your kids break apart the soil with their fingers and take a close look at what it is made up of. On a blank sheet of paper, they can record what they see and smell. Things for the kids to take note of should include the color and smell, how the soil feels in their hands, the texture, the moisture content, and what sorts of living and nonliving things were found. They should also look for signs of pollution, such as litter that hasn't broken down or automotive oil.

Once your kids have analyzed each soil sample, they will be able to draw quite a few conclusions from their findings.

What they will learn

On a soil safari, kids will learn that not all dirt is the same. Some of the things that kids will discover from this activity might include the following:

1. Some soil types have more sand or silt, while others may be more clay like.

2. How to describe the physical properties of soil such as sticky, clumpy, grainy, wet, or powder-like.

3. That different plants have different soil needs.

4. What tiny animals make soil their home.

5. How decaying plant matter (compost) can improve texture.

6. The impact pesticides and ground pollution have on tiny animals living in the ground.

7. What soil conditions allow roots to grow easier.

8. Not all soils smell the same.

9. Why certain types of soil hold more water than other.

Soil is really a fascinating science and there is so many more things to discover than just the few things listed above. For more soil related activities, the following three sites are filled with interactive games and experiments that are fun for kids of all ages.

http://www.blm.gov/nstc/soil/Kids/index.html
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case2/c2m2.html
http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html

Visit our sponsor Luxury African Safari Holidays today!

Thanks to Luxury Safari Holidays for sponsoring the following blog post

Africa is undoubtedly the most preferred destination for a wildlife safari vacation. Whether you are a wildlife enthusiast, a honeymooner, a photographer or a nature lover, an African safari would be an unforgettable experience for you. The enchanting beauty and grandeur of nature, wildlife in its natural habitat and the adventure that you will experience in Africa can be found nowhere else in the world. Throughout Africa there are renowned wildlife parks attracting tourists from the world over.

South Africa is a must see for anyone visiting Africa continent. The Famous Kruger national park boasts of having one of the largest reserves of wild animals in the world. You will find a great variety of animal and birdlife. Being one of the best managed parks of Africa, it provides the tourists with top quality infrastructure and accommodation facilities. Other places to visit in South Africa are Table Mountain, winelands and Hermanus, where you get a chance to watch whales.

Tanzania is another major tourist attraction of Africa. In Serengeti Plain, one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries in the world, you will find more than thirty herbivores and about five hundred species of birds. Besides being a tourist attraction, it is also a major center of scientific research. Pemba Island is another place for tourists to visit. It is popular among tourists for its scenic beauty and the excellent luxurious resorts it provides.

In Zimbabwe and Zambia, you can view some of the world's best wildlife in South Luangwa Reserve and its surrounding private reserves. Apart from having a great variety of animal and plant life, the park provides the tourists the facility to stay at one of the lodges or they can choose to stay at Tena Tena camp, one of the best of its kind in Africa. Victoria Falls is another must see place for tourists. Listed as UNESCO world heritage site, it is considered as one of the natural wonders of the world. Activities such as abseiling, bungee jumping; elephant back rides, helicopter flips and micro-lighting give plenty of options to fun loving tourists.

Uganda safari is considered the best African safari by its proponents. It is one of the few places, which is not yet thronged by mass tourists. In Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park, You get to see some endangered species of gorillas, along with chimpanzees, baboons, zebras and warthogs in their natural habitat. Bird watching, chimp tracking and mountaineering on Rwenzori Mountains are some exciting activities that you can enjoy here.

You will find some of the last few unexplored wildlife places of Africa in Botswana. At Okavango Delta, you can watch elephants and antelopes from a canoe known as mokorro floating on the river surface. At Chobe National park, you find a great variety of wildlife and hundreds of elephants.

With its rich wildlife and many great wildlife parks and places to visit, a wildlife safari vacation in Africa provides an unforgettable experience to the visitors.

Be sure to visitLuxury Safari Holidays at the main site!

The Following Story is from Associated Content and sponsored by Luxury Safari

Africa is undoubtedly the most preferred destination for a wildlife safari vacation. Whether you are a wildlife enthusiast, a honeymooner, a photographer or a nature lover, an African safari would be an unforgettable experience for you. The enchanting beauty and grandeur of nature, wildlife in its natural habitat and the adventure that you will experience in Africa can be found nowhere else in the world. Throughout Africa there are renowned wildlife parks attracting tourists from the world over.

South Africa is a must see for anyone visiting Africa continent. The Famous Kruger national park boasts of having one of the largest reserves of wild animals in the world. You will find a great variety of animal and birdlife. Being one of the best managed parks of Africa, it provides the tourists with top quality infrastructure and accommodation facilities. Other places to visit in South Africa are Table Mountain, winelands and Hermanus, where you get a chance to watch whales.

Tanzania is another major tourist attraction of Africa. In Serengeti Plain, one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries in the world, you will find more than thirty herbivores and about five hundred species of birds. Besides being a tourist attraction, it is also a major center of scientific research. Pemba Island is another place for tourists to visit. It is popular among tourists for its scenic beauty and the excellent luxurious resorts it provides.

In Zimbabwe and Zambia, you can view some of the world's best wildlife in South Luangwa Reserve and its surrounding private reserves. Apart from having a great variety of animal and plant life, the park provides the tourists the facility to stay at one of the lodges or they can choose to stay at Tena Tena camp, one of the best of its kind in Africa. Victoria Falls is another must see place for tourists. Listed as UNESCO world heritage site, it is considered as one of the natural wonders of the world. Activities such as abseiling, bungee jumping; elephant back rides, helicopter flips and micro-lighting give plenty of options to fun loving tourists.

Uganda safari is considered the best African safari by its proponents. It is one of the few places, which is not yet thronged by mass tourists. In Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park, You get to see some endangered species of gorillas, along with chimpanzees, baboons, zebras and warthogs in their natural habitat. Bird watching, chimp tracking and mountaineering on Rwenzori Mountains are some exciting activities that you can enjoy here.

You will find some of the last few unexplored wildlife places of Africa in Botswana. At Okavango Delta, you can watch elephants and antelopes from a canoe known as mokorro floating on the river surface. At Chobe National park, you find a great variety of wildlife and hundreds of elephants.

With its rich wildlife and many great wildlife parks and places to visit, a wildlife safari vacation in Africa provides an unforgettable experience to the visitors.

Click our link:Luxury Safari for more info

Thanks to African Safari Holidays for sponsoring the following blog post

This, we were told later, is larger than DisneyWorld but it is so shrouded with trees that it seems to be 1/4 the size of DW.

We plodded directly ahead and slanted off to the left. Near the far end of the park, on the left, is a jeep safari ride. It is fun and uses a recording that is played at covert moments-at times when the driver awaits radio communication with guards seeking illegal hunters of animals. We saw real animals: lions, elephants, and the animals one would see at a zoo with barriers that were camouflaged by weeds and tall grasses. A very enjoyable ride we took a 2nd time as well a few days later. We then visited other natural exhibits of birds, frogs, etc. Then, we advanced towards a mountain ride using a most odd-looking train-car. Since I was within � second of losing my glasses on Space Mountain the first evening at DisneyWorld, I decided–on this similar ride–to remove my glasses and held on to the bar ahead of me as best I could. While I couldn't clearly see anything, the ride was never-the-less exciting.

We also visited a ride that combined Ellen Degeneras and the TV scientist Bill Nye …..who took us on a visit from the times of the dinosaurs to today. This ride was both pleasant and very confusing. we hear a man in a radio station booth trying to bridge time. And the ride-was a moving group of theater seats! It needs to add continuity-to make sense.

We also visited a live Lion King play/dance.

As we walked between 'rides', I noticed a shrub that did not look quite ordinary-its petals were out of sync with its surrounding and it was standing not in among the shrubs and trees but instead, on the walk way. I knew something was up. In a few seconds, I paused and the shrub began moving and soon I could make out a face–it was a lady on stilts covered in shrubs and leaves. It was the most interesting 'activity' that was not an activity at all. Bravo!

Then, we went on one of the most unique rides at African Safari land-a round raft that rode a waterway! It appropriately cautions riders that they will get wet! We got wet a bit and it was an enjoyable splash or two!

Click our link:African Safari Holidays for more info

The Following blog post is sponsored by African Safari

If you're thinking that an inexpensive weekend get-away would be just the thing to recharge your batteries then why not visit 'The Wilds' in southeast Ohio for a wild safari tour of African animals roaming about on 10,000 acres of natural habitat.

Safari Tours

Safari tours range from as low as $20 for the Safari Transport tour to the Sunset tour at $65. For the money, the Sunset Safari tour offers the most value beginning with a buffet dinner at the Overlook Café.

After dinner you'll enjoy a guided tour on an Open-Air Safari transport for an opportunity to view rhinos, giraffes, antelope and other wild animals in natural surroundings at feeding time. The Open-Air Safari also includes a stop at the Carnivore Conservation Center for a glimpse at rare and endangered animals.

Safari Photo Camping Weekend

Bring the whole family for a photo safari camping weekend. You can fish from a canoe on one of the lakes and then enjoy wildlife watching. You will be house in a Mongolian style yurt that sleeps up to 12 people. The modern facilities include a shower house and dining yurt .

Expert photographers will show you photo techniques for photographing wildlife. The giraffe, tallest of all living animals, is a common sight in the park and is easy to photograph. The prehistoric-looking rhino is a solitary animal and can weight up to a ton or more. Rhinos are a little more elusive to photograph.

They rest during the day near their favorite water hole and are more active in the evening and early morning. Many other African animals are easy to photograph. Some of the animals you'll be able to photograph are bison, camels, wild horses, cheetahs, zebras, wild dogs, giraffes, and cranes.

Carnivore Conservation Center

Visit a one-of-a-kind 60-acre carnivore conservation site dedicated to many endangered carnivores such as Cheetahs, African wild dogs and dholes. The center is for the breeding and study of endangered carnivores.

Enjoy a fishing weekend

If you are a member of The Wilds and like to fish, you can rent a private luxury cabin on one of the lakes in the park. The cabin sleeps 12 and has a full kitchen and eating area. Each bedroom has its own bath and wireless internet service. You have exclusive use of the lake with canoes for fishing.

Mountain biking

The Wilds has 15 miles of challenging mountain bike trails that is open to the public.

Lodging

Spend the night at nearby Zanesville which has fifteen bed & breakfasts. Fifteen minutes north of Zanesville is my favorite b&b, Sarah's House, an 1860 Victorian home. It's within driving distance to a large Amish community, the Longaberger Basket Company, the Zane Grey Museum and, of course, The Wilds. Sarah's House is a cozy, friendly b&b that will fit anyone's budget.

History

The Center for the Preservation of Wild Animals received 9,154 acres of reclaimed mine land from the Central Ohio Coal Company in 1986 and is a private, nonprofit conservation center.

More info on African Safari can be found on our main site!

Thanks to Luxury African Safaris for sponsoring the following blog post

So you have been given the green light to arrange your next exciting overseas travel adventure. You have chosen South Africa is the travel destination but in your planning process, you're at a loss to know what best to include on your itinerary. You've accepted the long haul flight from your home country and want to make the most of every moment of your time in South Africa by including the most exciting highlights.

You may ask what South Africa's highlights are and maybe the first thoughts that jump to mind are Cape Town and the Kruger National Park. Well, can I take this opportunity to tantalize your taste buds?

Cape Town and Kruger National Park are the biggest selling destinations in South Africa, but wow, there is so much more to explore in this beautiful country! Let me divulge on its “must see and do's”.

Cape Town, Western Cape Province

Just recently been voted “the 3rd Best City in the World” by US Travel and Leisure Magazine 2008. Cape Town offers a huge diversity of things to do including culture activities and theatre shows, great shopping, casino entertainment, outdoor adventures and scenic nature tours, historic tours, wine tasting, beer tasting and brandy tasting. You will find a number of things here to keep you entertained. She's beautiful, she's vibrant and she'll leave you with lasting memories.

Cape Winelands, Western Cape Province

The Cape Winelands refers to the beautiful wine growing area stretching from Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch all the way over the Hottentots Holland mountain range to Montague and Robertson showcasing over 200 different wine estates. These world-class estates offer wine tasting and some offer cellar tours providing a fascinating insight to the winemaking industry. The scenery is magical with dramatic mountain backdrops and endless vineyards that change colours with the changing seasons.

Hermanus, Western Cape Province

Known as the best land based whale-watching destination in the world, Hermanus is visited by Southern Right Whales between May and December every year. Moving north from the cold Antarctic, attracted by the warmer waters along the South African coastline and the calm waters of the protected bays, they come to mate and calve. The most spectacular close up sightings of these gentle giants can be seen from the rocky coastline or from a licensed chartered boat offering exhilarating boat-based whale watching. Witness them skyhopping, lobtailing or breaching, typical actions that when seen close up leave you breathless. September month seems to attract the majority of numbers and this is also when you can experience the colourful Hermanus Whale Festival, festivities celebrating the return of the whales.

Garden Route, Western Cape Province

The coastal area stretching from Mossel Bay to Tsitsikamma is known as the Garden Route. A beautiful area made up of rugged rocky coastline, long white sandy beaches, fairytale evergreen forests, protected endemic fynbos vegetation and botanically rich lakes and estuaries. The popular coastal towns of George, Wilderness, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay attract a huge number of tourists every year who come for the temperate climate, natural beauty and numerous outdoor activities.

Game Reserves of the Eastern Cape Province

Africa is well known for its exciting wildlife but also for its malaria. The Eastern Cape offers excellent Big 5 game viewing in a malaria free zone, a big draw card, especially for families traveling together with young kids.

Isimangaliso Wetland Park, Kwazulu Natal Province

Listed as South Africa's first World Heritage Site in December 1999 in recognition of its superlative natural beauty. Covering about 240,000ha, with a further 84,000ha in, on or under the sea, this is a large chunk of sub-tropical paradise stretching 220km along the East Coast from St Lucia to the Mozambique border. As well as a mind-blowing range of natural systems, ranging from dune, swamp and coastal forests to rocky and sandy shores, coral reefs and submarine canyons, mangroves, savanna grassland and the largest protected wetland in southern Africa, it is a culturally fascinating area and has immense fun potential. Game drives, bird watching, hippo and crocodile cruises, cultural tours, fishing, canoeing, scuba diving, snorkelling and whale watching are some of the activities that can be enjoyed.

Kruger National Park, Limpopo and Mpumalanga Province

World renowned as an exceptional wildlife destination, Kruger National Park is approximately 2 million hectares in size and is South Africa's largest game reserve. Unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.

Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Mpumalanga Province

The Sabi Sand Reserve is the birthplace of sustainable wildlife tourism in Southern Africa, and is the oldest of all the private reserves in South Africa. It has only ever been a wilderness area and is home to a vast wildlife population, including The Big Five, and a number of endangered species too. Flanking the Kruger National Park, animals pass unhindered between the reserves. This is where you will find some of the oldest and well-known private game reserves such as Londolozi, Mala Mala and Singita offering their exclusive luxury lodges and the authentic all-inclusive African safari experience.

Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng Province

The Cradle of Humankind Site covers 47 000 hectares of land, mostly privately owned and is made up of 12 dolomitic limestone caves containing the fossilised remains of ancient forms of animals, plants and most importantly, hominids. The dolomite in which the caves formed, started out as coral reefs growing in a warm shallow sea about 2.3 billion years ago. The Maropeng Visitors Centre, an internationally acclaimed tourist attraction, highlights, by means of interactive, visually stunning exhibits, the universal relevance of the Cradle of Humankind as our ancestral home. A fascinating display and a definite “must see”.

Soweto, Gauteng Province

Soweto - melting pot of South African urban culture, rich with the history of the struggle against apartheid. Soweto is the most populous black urban residential area in South Africa with a population count of close to 900 000. The name Soweto is an acronym for South Western Townships, a cluster of townships sprawling across a vast area 20km south west of Johannesburg. Soweto is best visited accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who will not only give a real sense of its history but help you understand its ongoing evolution. A tour to Soweto would normally include the Mandela Museum, where Madiba once lived; a stop at the Hector Pieterson Memorial; a drive down Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world to have housed two Nobel Prize winners (Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu); Freedom Square, where the ANC's Freedom Charter was proclaimed to thousands in 1956; and the Regina Mundi Church, the “Parliament of Soweto”, where the bullet-marked walls are witness to ex-security-police brutality.

These suggestions offer a basic insight to South Africa's ability to “wow” her visitors but there are many more hidden gems under her veil. The “off the beaten track” areas are sometimes even more spectacular so be sure to investigate these. Also combining a visit to a neighboring country like Botswana, Namibia or Mozambique adds great value as well. So is South Africa a great travel destination? I believe you will find it absolute fabulous!

More info on Luxury African Safaris can be found on our main site!

[flickr()]

The Following Story is from Associated Content and sponsored by Luxury African Safari Holidays

Are you at a loss for white elephant gift ideas for this year's Christmas party? Get ideas for great gifts that won't break the bank.

Gift Cards:
Massage gift certificate- Men and women can both enjoy massage services. The secret to making this the most envied white elephant gift of the whole party lies not in the amount put on the card, but in the salon or spa from which the massage certificate was purchased. Aveda salons offer a variety of services, but their services are targeted more at women. Instead of going for the “beautifying” services, find a spa or massage practice that offers a variety of services targeting men and women. Deep tissue and sports massages will appeal to men while gentle Swedish massage or a physically active Thai massage, which incorporates yoga, might appeal more to women. And, for those who don't enjoy massages, or who already have a regular masseuse, a spa or salon that offers a variety of other services and products will allow them to use a gift certificate toward a different purchase.

VISA gift card- VISA pre-paid gift cards are accepted almost everywhere a VISA card is accepted and act just like a credit card. Recipients can use the cards at restaurants, retail stores, even for groceries. The cards are available on giftcards.com or at participating banks, such as Wells Fargo. Purchasers choose the price they want, so the card fits any budget. 

Tickets:
Lottery or raffle tickets- For a general audience made up of people whose individual likes and dislikes you could have no way of knowing, lottery scratch-offs and tickets for prize drawings are a great way to go.

Buy a blank or generic Christmas or holiday celebration card, and include the tickets along with any additional information they would need to know. For example, if the raffle ticket prize is a weekend getaway, the recipient will need to know details: Where is getaway city? Are there specific dates for which the prize is valid or invalid to be redeemed? What business or nonprofit organization is selling the raffle tickets? How will the recipient be informed if they are the winner? To give lottery scratch-off cards, no additional information is necessary, but including a penny for scratching is a funny and thoughtful addition to the gift.
Pens:
A pen is a unisex-appropriate gift, and it can even be a good gift for children and teens. Pick from a few of these reasonably priced pen options for a gift that can be enjoyed by virtually anyone:

Fisher Space Pen- For a very reasonable $20, the Fisher “Original Bullet Pen” is a pocket sized pens that comes in classic chrome and a variety of other colors. It is popular because it can continue to write at any angle, even upside down. It's called the “Space Pen” because it can even be used by astronauts in outer space. 

Lamy- A German producer of fine pens, Lamy makes good pens available to all. The Safari Collection pens start at just $17 for a ballpoint and a little more for the fountain pens. They come in several colors, including the very cool clear. The special edition blue and red color starts at just $20. 

Drinks:
Champagne- Champagne is thought of as an indulgent luxury drink, something used for special occasions and celebrations. New Years Eve is one of those “special occasions” on which virtually every adult toasts to new beginnings with a bottle of bubbly, and since New Year's Eve is a mere week from Christmas, skip the tired bottle of wine and pick up some champagne. Bottles can be purchased at prices to fit any and all budgets. Bottles of Korbel and Andre's can be found in grocery stores everywhere for under $10, perfect for a low budget gift. More expensive champagnes can be purchased at some grocery and liquor stores and wine cellars.

Be sure to visitLuxury African Safari Holidays at the main site!