South Africa is the proud host of the Football World Cup 2010, the date of which has been set for June 2010, so you can already start making arrangements. As passionate football fans and travel specialist, we will be bringing you all the Africa World Cup news and destination information.

Remember that you may wish to have a tour of other places other than South Africa before you get down there for this rather fascinating soccer event. Tanzania and East Africa in general is one of the areas you should visit before or after the world cup in the south. It’s such a good idea to start planning now for your trip to the first ever African World Cup. Africa will therefore host thousands of international visitors for the world cup event.

The World Cup is the biggest sporting event of all time and you have a situation in which masses of people are going to be struggling to make bookings on a limited number of flights, accommodation, tickets and much more. Be wise, do your bookings early enough to avoid last hour panicking. Remember to get your insurance coverage for this World Cup trip because you never know what may happen to you. Think more than twice, see you in Africa!!

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Chimp Tales in Mahale Mountains National park

Chimpanzee trackers at Mahale Mountains National Park have to leave at dawn to in order find the chimpanzees. After locating the troop they call in the finding in order for the guides at the lodge to know in which direction they should be walking. Tanzania offers one of the best views of this kind of adventure.

The guides have to wait for the call because they may end up taking the guests in the direction that is completely opposite to that taken by the chimps and this may result in a rather tiring march for.

It is quite interesting to discover that the chimpanzees are so closely related to humans in their biological makeup, and are also vulnerable to human ailments such as the common cold. For this reason, all trackers are given surgical masks before setting off for the tracking exercise. For the same reason, guests with a cold and those carrying any communicable disease are not allowed to get any close to the chimpanzees.

 Climbing in the Mahale Mountains and a seemingly impenetrable forest is such a good exercise; routes were made easier by the paths that were carved out for easier access into the forest. You pass by mango and guava trees that had been growing for over 30 years; planted by Japanese scientists who wanted to study the chimps’ behavior closely and so had to feed the chimps on these fruits as a means of habituating them to the presence of humans.

 The excitement will take you over when you hear their intense whooping calls and sounds. Those with cameras will then start getting them out and preparing to take photos of the exciting primates. It is such an exciting moment to see the chimps interacting, climbing up and down the trees, their intermingling and their general human like behavior. This shows how we are descendants     of these fascinating creatures.

The enormity of the whole experience in Mahale Mountains National park will begin to sink when you lie in your bed listening to the sounds of the forest at night. It is such a precious moment being in this environment and having some experience with the chimps.  There are quite a number of  locations in East and Central Africa where you can encounter chimpanzees; but Mahale National Park is perhaps the remotest and the most striking of all the areas.

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Traveling on a vacation together with your family may mean additional expenses on your part but you can always find a cheap and nice hotel that can cover most of your needs while you are there, and then you can use the extra money to get good travel insurance. Spending on travel insurance will benefit you a lot rather than traveling without one. Choosing a hotel and good travel insurance may take some time but you may always start your search early so that you can get yourself enough time to choose the best service providers.

So how can you secure one?
You can either contact an agent or you can log on to the online sites of the different insurance providers, especially those in the country of your destination and apply online.  Always contact the tour and travel agents in the country of your destination for help in securing good travel insurance. You need to provide some pertinent personal information and you can already get instant quotes online. Between the two options of applying for travel insurance, the online application is easier and a lot faster. You can choose whichever is more suitable for you because in either way, you can still purchase the travel insurance that will cater for all travel risks that you may encounter.  You have to understand carefully the coverage of the travel insurance you have chosen.The travel insurance policy is terminated once you get back from the trip. When purchasing a travel insurance policy, you must not forget to read the fine print. You must understand it fully so that in the event of an accident, there will be no untoward incidents once you claim for the coverage. Traveling for a holiday / vacation will be safer and relaxing with your insurance policy, so get one now.    

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Travel information

Making known to yourself about what to anticipate and how to brace oneself for your trip to the United Republic of Tanzania is one of the most effective things you can do to make certain that your journey is pleasurable and becomes very successful. Here is we avail you with all the relevant information regarding everything that you’ll need to equip yourself for your trip to be very successful. information such as bank information and details about how to convert money, health precautions to acquireextra information about malaria prevention and consciousness, travel insurance policies, where to find hospitals and clinics, information onhow to arrange your visas, and a brief overview of security while you are enjoying your holiday in Tanzania. Once you get to know the basic information then, you’ll be well-informed and ready for your stay in this beautiful country ofTanzania, very confident in all the situations and prepared for the trip of that you’ll not forget.

Travel Insurance

Forethoughts are a necessary part of staying healthy, and while you’ll of course make every attempt to stay fit and safe during your trip, it is ever wise to plan for any emergencies. International travel insurance policy and emergency medical insurance plans are available for purchase before you even leave your home. This is to be sure that you provide for yourself in the event of any unforeseen circumstances.

It is always important to have a medical insurance policy that will insure you while you are travelling, and cover any theft, loss, or any form of health emergencies that you may experience while you are away from home.

Verify your insurance policy’s evacuation criteria and give notice to your travel agent of any essential extra information.

Hospitals

For modest achings and pains during your trip, there are always several hospitals and clinics around the country that will take care of you and be able to prescribe any kind of medication you might need. For emergency casesDar es Salaamhas got the new Agha Khan hospital that will provide excellent care, as does theNairobiHospitaland theAgha KhanHospitalinNairobiKenya.African Air Rescue (AAR) have got clinics and out-patient care centers in both Arusha and Dar es Salaam, andother smaller clinics will be in position to offer consultations and lab services all around the country.Some lodges have also got doctors that can always be called on to assist in case of any medical emergency. For any extra information you may contact your country’s embassy or consulate.

Health

One thing you must know is thatTanzaniais situated in tropics meaning that the climate may be different from what you are used to. You will encounter different bacteria, flora, and fauna than you are accustomed to and because of this it is advisable to take a few health precautions when travelling to ensure that your trip goes on as comfortably and smoothly as possible. a number of tropical diseases here that you must be cautions of.

Malaria:

This is normally top on the list of visitors’ worries, and prevention goes a long way towards keeping you protected. Though it is believed that the anopheles mosquito, the species that carries malaria, hunts only at night, you must make sure that all exposed areas are well slathered in insect repellant at all times. Sleep under a mosqito net; you may get some very good travelling mosquito nets that are available now, but budget travellers are well-advised to bring their own since the nets at most low-end guesthouses may have some holes or are invariably too small. If you’re to sleep in a tent that doesn’t have a net, make it a point to spray insect repellant inside, close the flap, and allow for a few minutes.

Make sure to visit your doctor to get a prescription for some antimalarial drugs that will best suit your health and condition – there are some very good ones available on the market now, but tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding. If you feel achy, have chills and hot flushes, headaches, or a fever either during your trip or up to two weeks afterwards, visit a doctor immediately to be tested for malaria. If your symptoms persist, don’t hesitate in seeking a second opinion. A malaria test only takes about fifteen minutes and involves a simple finger prick, and it’s available around the country. Treatment is widely available and recovery times are fast, provided that you get diagnosed as soon as you notice any possible symptoms. After all this advice, it’s worth noting that not every mosquito has malaria and that if you’re conscientious and take precautions, it’s unlikely that you will be exposed.

Vaccinations: The yellow-fever vaccination is no longer officially required when enteringTanzania, yet because the disease is endemic many doctors will recommend it as a precaution. Other vaccinations that might be considered before you travel include typhoid, hepatitis A and B, meningitis, and tetanus. For more information, contact your doctor.

Food and water: It’s best to drink bottled water when travelling throughTanzania- numerous brands are widely available and served in all restaurants and lodges. Steer clear of ice, raw vegetables, and salads when eating at street restaurants. High-end lodges and restaurants will clean their produce in antiseptic solution, but should you feel wary about anything on your plate, leave it. Try to avoid eating in empty restaurants – the food may have been sitting out for some time – and order your meat well done. On the coast, seafood and fish are usually fresh, but again, make sure everything is well-cooked. While on holiday, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.

Getting There

These days there are many ways to travel toTanzania. Overland railways connect the country, the roads are easy to navigate and well-maintained, cruise ships and passenger liners stop frequently at the ports, and international air carriers arrive and depart daily from the many airports located around the country. Travel toTanzaniais easier and more convenient than it has ever been before. World-class airport facilities and on-the-ground assistance make sure that your visit to the country is perfect from the first moment of arrival.

Whether you’re travelling independently or with a tour operator, be sure to book your ticket well in advance and make sure your return flights are confirmed. Travel agents in major cities can assist you in making any last-minute changes to your itinerary and flights.

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