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Friday, April 26, 2013

Did you know: The name "Tanzania" derives from the names of the two states, Tanganyika and Zanzibar?

On 26 April 1964, Tanganyika joined with the islands of Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, a new state that changed its name to the United Republic of Tanzania within a year. The name "Tanzania" derives from the names of the two states, Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

Picture by Juan Nel ©
Zanzibar
 
Tanganyika originally consisted of the British share of the former German colony of German East Africa which the British took under a League of Nations Mandate in 1922, which was later transformed into a United Nations Trust Territory after World War II. The other parts of German East Africa were taken into Belgian Trusteeship, eventually becoming known as modern-day Rwanda and Burundi.


Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Republic_of_Tanzania [26.04.2013]

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Madagascar, sanctuary of nature: The Hidden treasures

From North to South, Madagascar is full of riches and treasures making the Big Island one of the most interesting destination to visit. One of its characteristics is the extremely rich biodiversity.

Marojejy National Park



Marojejy, located in the North East part of the Island, is a mountainous relief dominated by the eponymous mount (2,133 meters) and, in its upper part, covered by primary vegetation composed of heath, moss and lichen. In some areas, the mountain thicket is complemented by mountainous rainforests (1,800-2,000 meters). Lower, to 800 meters, the medium-altitude rainforest is fully expressed in spite of very uneven reliefs, where ridges follow steep slopes. Below to the sea, the landscape is dominated by dense tropical rainforest. 


The environment of the park is favourable to the development of flora: 305 species of Pteridophytes of which six endemic have been inventoried on the massif of Marojejy, which ranks the park first among Malagasy protected areas for its particular richness in Pteridophytes. More than 50 species of palms have also been inventoried; they are especially abundant in lowland forests but remain present to the peaks.


Marojejy also contains a wide variety of fauna, including 115 species of birds and 11 species of lemurs. A third of reptile and amphibian species known in Madagascar are identified, 16 of which are endemic to the high mountain. But the reputation of the park is in particular due to the presence of the rare Prophitecus candidus or Simpona Malandy.


Protected Area Complex of Masoala         


The Masoala complex is the the largest protected area in Madagascar including Masoala Park and Nosy Mangabe Special Reserve.


Besides its large surface area, located in the North East, Masoala Complex amazes by its geographical characteristics as it is one of the few places in Madagascar where primary forest descends lower than 1,300m altitude to the sea. This environment makes the region one of the richest in terms of biodiversity: half of all species of plants, mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles in Madagascar can be found there. The flora, apart from ferns, is composed of about 50 species of palms, 7 species of mangrove and about 100 species of seaweeds. In Masoala, there are more than 600 species of plants including one of the most fascinating carnivorous plants: the Nepenthes masoalensis.



The fauna of Masoala is also very rich : 102 species of birds found (60% are endemic) including the Madagascar Serpent Eagle also called Eutriorchis astur, 10 species of lemurs, a wide variety of reptiles, amphibians and fishes.


The sea of Masoala is also rich, in particular with the Humpback Whale and the Southern Right Whale, the bottlenose dolphin and the pink belly dolphin. A species of Sirenians, Dugong, also exists in this region. Seabeds are not left out, with no less than 41 coral genera.



Analamazoatra Mantadia Complex            




Analamazoatra Mantadia is the sanctuary of biodiversity closest to the capital, Antananarivo.
It is in this green setting, destined for its preservation in the heart of the rainforest, that the biggest and most "human-like" lemurs, the famous Indri have made their home. Indeed, this primate - endemic to Madagascar - would share some characteristics with humans, the most visible are its preference for group living and monogamy.

 

The humid climate and lush vegetation of Mantadia have been greatly favourable for the development of biodiversity. On the 15,480ha partially covered with forest, lianas and epiphytes such as mosses, ferns and orchids meet their needs. They in fact vary widely, with more than 100 species inventoried. They coexist with invasive species such as Camelea sinensis and Rubus mauricana. 



Apart from the Indri, 13 other species of lemurs, 51 species of Boa reptiles including the famous Boa Manditra and 84 species of amphibians live in Mantadia. In the rivers live several endemic species of fishes.
Insects are not left out. Lepidoptera and Coleoptera represent more than half of all inventoried insects, with extremely rare species such as Urania madagascariensis, known as being one of the seven most beautiful butterflies in the world.



The Makay Massif             


Even more enigmatic, Makay was sculpted in huge massifs of crystalline rocks by erosion for several hundred millions of years. Stretching over more than 7,500sq km in South-West Madagascar, it is a real monument of nature, and it’s difficult access makes it one of the least explored and exploited areas.
Tropical rains cause significant disintegration of sandstone which is manifested by landslides, formation of caves, and agglomeration of large amounts of white quartz at the bottom of the canyons.
 

The valleys with a depth of several hundred meters were suitable for the development of many plants and animals species which have been self-sufficient for millions of years to generate new species. In a first inventory of biodiversity, biologists have been able to record some new varieties of endemic plant; on their side, ichthyologists have caught a little fish named Pachypanchax absolutely unexpected in this region.
Among all the hidden treasures of the sanctuary, a team of scientists discovered what may be the most ancient petroglyphs in the Island in many caves and rock shelters of the Massif. Some have been identified by scientists as dating from the 13th century. 


So the Makay, often described as the last Eden, contains an infinite amount of treasures to discover.
 

Monday, April 8, 2013

The Villas are ready at Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa, Zanzibar


  



Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa, the luxurious resort on the South East Coast of Zanzibar, has added Villas to their resort on the 5th of April 2013. Already the winner of Tanzania’s Leading Resort at the World Travel Awards in 2012 and a few years consecutive, Karafuu decided to add even more choice for their clients in the form of these luxurious Villas. The Villas are situated along the white sandy beachfront under the palm-grove with a spectacular view of the Indian Ocean. The entrance is through a private garden and direct into an ample living room. 



Each villa has two separates bedrooms with dressing room, one large living room, two bathrooms and its own private pool. They are fully equipped with mosquito nets, ceiling fan, independent air conditioning, hot and cold running water, hair-dryer, telephone, television, minibar, tea/coffee maker, and safe box and WI-FI connection. – (it can house a maximum of 6 people).



Book your Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa package now. Click here >


 

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Carnaval International de Victoria, Seychelles Carnival 2013, Victoria.

Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

I must be honest in that I didn’t expect a big carnival when the Seychelles Tourism Board invited me to their third Seychelles carnival. Big it was. Carnival fever was in the air and all around. Twenty or so floats were put together by groups from abroad, spanning the globe from Brazil to China, the United States to Russia, from South Africa to Zimbabwe, and from India to Italy and more.

 Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

The streets were lined with locals and foreign visitors standing several deep on the sidewalks, and those with the wish to see better, found vantage points on rocks, trees and buildings, as the parade made its way through the center of capitol of Seychelles, Victoria.

 Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

Colourful costume creations, well-chosen music, and, of course, dance routines and performances showed that the “carnival of carnivals,” the Carnaval International de Victoria, is here to stay, becoming a magnet for all carnival nations from around the world wanting to participate in Africa’s number one carnival show. Also in the parade of dancing & costumes, two navy units from India and Russia, took part in performing a traditional march past, with the Russians performing their goose step routine and stealing the show.  

 Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

Thank you for Berjaya Beau Vallon that accommodated us in their lovely hotel on the North Coast of Mahé Island. Thank you to Air Seychelles for getting us to Seychelles and back and thank you to the Seychelles Tourism Board who invited me to see this spectacular. 

 Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

Until next year for Seychelles Carnival 2014 when we shall meet again. 

Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©


Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©



Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©



Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©

Seychelles Carnival 2013 by Juan Nel©


 By Juan Nel