Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)

                    

           Magnificent Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)

Plitvice National Park In Croatia Is Considered To Be One Of The Most Beautiful Natural Sights In Europe. Due To Its Natural Beauty And Significance, This System Of 16 Interlinked Lakes And A Large Forest Complex Around It Were Set Aside As A National Park In 1949. In 1979 The Park Was Inscribed On The Unesco World Heritage List. 

The Plitvice Lakes Area Has Been A Site Of Continuous Human Settlement Since Prehistory, And Today, Locals Still Inhabit Small Settlements Scattered Around The Park. Though It Is Indiscernible Today, The Lakes Have Been Constantly Modified And Changed By Humans Over The Centuries. Some Have Been Filled In To Provide Farmland, Whilst A Number Of Tributaries Have Been Diverted To Provide Water To Local Villages.

Since The Medieval Times, It Has Been An Area Of Strategic Importance Within Eastern Europe, Providing The Backdrop To Scenes Of Fierce Fighting Between The Advancing Ottomans And The Unified Austrians And Croats Of The Hapsburg Empire. The Forests Provided Much-needed Refuge For Civilians Fleeing The Violence, As Well As Being Used As A Key Frontier By The Conflicting Armies.

Somehow, The Park Escaped Relatively Unscathed By The Ravages Of Centuries Of War, And By The 19th Century, It Was Already Being Developed As A Holiday Resort, With Numerous Hotels And Restaurants Constructed By The Lakes. By The 1960’s, A Decade After The Area Was Declared A National Park With Protected Status, Tourism Was Really Booming. In 1979, It Was Officially Registered As A Unesco Site Of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Geography Of The Park

 

The Plitvice Lakes National Park Is Situated About A 2-hour Drive South Of Zagreb, Close To The Bosnia-herzegovina Border. This Mountainous Area Is Known As The Dinaric Alps, A Majestic Southern European Chain Stretching From Kosovo To Slovenia. The Lakes Themselves Are Bookended Between Two Mountains – Mala Kapela At The Western End, And The Eponymous Plješevica To The East.

It Was These Mountains That Provided The Foundations For The Creation Of The Tiered Lakes Offering Such Enchanting Beauty Today. The Soft Sediment Rock Which Allowed The Lakes To Be Carved Out Is Also Largely Responsible For Their Alchemic Colour-changes. The Fluctuating Presence Of Minerals In The Water Means That Their Colour Can Vary Between Milky Blue To Bright Turquoise.

The Issue Of Protecting This Stunning National Park Has Long Been Taken Seriously, With Restrictions In Place To Safeguard The Delicate Ecosystem. This Has Allowed Plant And Animal Species To Flourish. The Beech And Fir Woodlands Are A Haven For Some Of Europe’s Most Rare Species, Including The Brown Bear And Over 100 Species Of Bird, While The Translucent Waters Of The Lakes Are Filled With Fish.

Interesting Facts About Plitvice Lakes National Park 

 

Given The Long Human History Of The Area, Myths And Legends Have, Over Time, Sprung From Each Of The 16 Lakes. One Of The Most Popular Myths Is The Tale Of An Ancient, Magic Queen Who Was Responsible For The Creation Of The Lakes. Unsurprisingly, There Are Many Stories Surrounding The Theme Of Drowning.

The Ecology Of The Park – Having Survived Many Wars In The Past – Was Most At Risk During The Croatian War Of Independence. The Presence Of Landmines Was The Main Threat. Fortunately, By The Turn Of The Millennium, The Park Was Declared To Be Safe Once More, And Tourism Eagerly Returned.

 What To Do At Plitvice Lakes National Park

Whatever The Time Of Year, You Can Make Use Of The Miles Of Trails And Boardwalks Throughout The Park. In The Summer, The Lakes Sparkle A Dazzling Turquoise, While In The Winter They Are Frozen, The Waterfalls Paused In Time. Outside Of The Winter Months, Electric Boats Are Also Available. They Are Practically Silent, Allowing You To Take In The Vast Tranquillity Of The Park. Further Afield, There Are Labyrinth Caves And The Remains Of Ancient Castles To Explore. If You Get Lucky (Or Unlucky, Depending On How You Look At It), You May Even Spot A Bear.

How To Get To Plitvice Lakes National Park

Zagreb International Airport Is The Most Convenient Method Of Transport For Visitors Arriving From Elsewhere In Europe. From There, It Is A 2-hour Journey South To The Plitvice Lakes. Hiring A Car At The Airport Is The Easiest Option, But Public Transport Does Also Serve The Plitvice Lakes – Shuttle Buses Run From The Airport To The Main Bus Station In Zagreb And From There, There Are Buses Which Go Direct To The Park.

Where To Stay Near Plitvice Lakes National Park

Staying In The Park Itself Offers Unrivalled Access To The Natural Beauty Of The Area. There Are Three Different Hotels Available Within The Park If You Are Looking For A Civilised Stay, But If You Really Want To Get In Touch With Nature Then There Is More Rustic Accommodation. There Are Plenty Of Campsites With Bungalows And Pitches For Tents. There Is Also Accommodation Available In Guesthouses Within The Surrounding Villages, Offering A Taste Of Local Life. If You Choose To Stay Here, Then Having A Car To Access The Park Will Make Life Much Easier, But Locals Should Be Able To Give You Advice About Bus Services.

 

Luxor (Egypt)

 

                                                                               Luxor (Egypt)

Luxor is Located In Upper Egypt Luxor Has Been Described As The World’s Biggest Open Air Museum. Nowadays It Has Been Elevated To The Status Of Governorate, Though It Is Still Classified As Being In The Province Of Qena. It Has A Population Of Round About 230,000, Most Of Who Are Employed In Tourism Somehow, Though There Are Many Who Are Employed In Agriculture And Commerce. It Is One Of The Most Popular Destinations In Egypt, Being One Of Those Places That You Must See. Because Of This Almost Every Tourist Company Has An Office Somewhere In The Town.

It Has Been Estimated That Luxor Contains About A Third Of The Most Valuable Monuments And Antiquities In The Whole World, Which Makes It One Of This Planet’s Most Important Tourism Sites. Monuments Such As The Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, The Valley Of The Kings, The Valley Of The Queens, Deir El-bahri (The Mortuary Temple Of Hatshepsut), The Workers Village At Deir El-medina, The List Goes On And On And On. Though Most Visitors Will Stay For Just A Few Days, It Would Take A Substantial Amount Of Time To Visit Everything In This Amazing Town.

Once Known As Thebes, Luxor’s Importance In Ancient Egyptian History Cannot Be Denied. It Was The Religious Capital For Almost All Of The Pharaonic Period Which Is Why The Town Is Dominated By The Two Temples; The Temple Of Luxor, And The Immense Temple Of Karnak; The World’s Largest Temple Complex.

Dedicated To Amun Ra, The Temple Of Karnak Was Constantly Expanded By Successive Pharaohs, Each Adding His, Or Her, Tribute To The God. The Site Dates Back To The Middle Kingdom Under The Reign Of Mentuhotep (11th Dynasty), But Most Of What Can Be Seen Today Is From The New Kingdom. Other Parts Of The Complex Include Sites Dedicated To Mut, The Wife Of Amun Ra, And Their Son Khonsu.

Most People Know That Luxor Was Once Thebes, But “thebes” Was Not What The Ancient Egyptians Called It. Ancient Texts Show That It Was Called T-apt, Which Means “the Shrine”, With The Ancient Greeks Calling It Tea Pie. The Arabs Had Problems With Pronunciation And So It Became Thebes To Them. The Name Vanished Then As The Area Submitted To The Desert And Then By The 10th Century Arab Travellers Thought The Ruins Were Of Grand Buildings So Started To Call It Al-oksour, Or “site Of The Palaces” Which Slowly Became Luxor.

Though It Was Never The Capital Of A United Egypt, Thebes Was Capital Of Upper Egypt During The Times When Egypt Resorted To Being Split Into Two. This Was Especially True During The Period Of The Hyksos Invasion When Avaris Became Capital In The North. Thebes Was Where The Various Pharaohs Of Upper Egypt Were Based, And It Was From Here That The Final Campaign, Under Ahmose I, To Expel The Hyksos Originated.

Today Luxor Is Split Into Two, By The River Nile, And These Two Areas Are Known As The East Bank (Where The Town Lies) And The West Bank. Though This Was Also True In Ancient Times, The Two Parts Were Called The City Of The Living (East Bank) And The City Of The Dead (West Bank). Like Most Of The River Nile, The Western Side Tends To Be More Desert, With The Eastern Side Having Far More Arable Land, And So Settlement Sites Tended To Favour This Latter Side.

Luxor Is Situated 670km (416 Miles) To The South Of Cairo, 220km (137 Miles) To The North Of Aswan, And 280km (174 Miles) To The West Of Hurghada. It Is The Second Most Popular Place To Visit In Egypt, Behind Cairo, And Is Accessible In A Number Of Ways.

You Can Go Luxor By These Ways

By Flight:
Luxor International Airport Is Located 6km (4 Miles) East Of The City And Can Be Reached From Most Countries Around The World, Though It Is Most Popular For Charter Flights. From Here You Can Also Fly To Most Of The Main Cities And Towns In Egypt, As Well As Arriving From Them. Egyptair Runs Daily Flights From Cairo To Luxor, As Well As Luxor To Cairo, Which Take, On Average, About 50 Minutes.

By Train:
Luxor Is Situated On The Main Cairo To Aswan Railway Line And Has A Modern Station In El-mahata Square. Services To Both Cairo And Aswan Are Very Frequent, Though Restriction On Tourists Are In Place Right Now Which Allows Them To Only Use The Sleeper Service, Or The Trains Either Side Of Them.

By Road
Though Luxor Is Connected By Road To Cairo And Has A Good Bus Connection With The Capital, Tourists Are Asked Not To Attempt To Use This Mode Of Transport For This Journey And Are Therefore Left With Only Rail Or Flight As An Alternative. The Road To Aswan Can Be Used Though As It Gives The Opportunity To Visit Sites Such As Edfu And Kom Ombo. Hurghada Is Reachable By A 3.5 Hour Bus Journey, Opening Up The Red Sea For Those Who Wish A Change. Please Note: If You Do Intend To Use This Mode Of Transport You Are Best Booking Your Seats At Least 24 Hours In Advance To Ensure You Get The Seats You Want.

By Cruise
Nowadays You Can Only Go To Aswan By Cruise Boat, Though Some Operators Do Offer The Opportunity Of A One Day Sail To See Dendera. The River Nile Has Not Been Used For Cruises Between Cairo And Luxor Since The Late 1990’s. 

Oasis of Huacachina (Peru)

Oasis of Huacachina

Just 8 Km Away From The City Of Ica, In Southern Peru, Lies The Picturesque Oasis Of Huacachina. Built Around A Small Natural Lake And Surrounded By Enormous Sand Dunes That Stretch Several Hundred Feet High, Huacachina Has The Look And Feel Of A Remote Saharan Outpost, But In Reality, It Is Only An Hour'S Drive Away From The Pacific Coast. It Has Long Been A Tourist Destination For Wealthy Local Families From The Nearby City Of Ica, And Lately A Major Destination For Sandboarders Who Travel From All Around The World To Ride The Peaks.

The Oasis Is Basically A Collection Of Resorts And Restaurants Around A Blue-Green Lagoon Surrounded By Huge Sand Dunes, With A Permanent Population Of Around 100, Who Depend Entirely On Tourism. The Oasis Flourished In 1940S And 1950S As A Getaway For The Peruvian Elite And Regained A Certain Prominence Through Tourism Promotion Campaigns In The 1990S.

Today It Is A Backpacker'S Paradise And A Top Destination For Sandboarding And Dune-Buggy Rides. However, Tourism Is Taking Its Toll On The Lagoon. Groundwater Consumption Has Caused The Water Level Of Huacachina'S Lagoon To Sink Sharply. For The Past Several Years, The Lagoon Is Fed By Water From Other Sources To Prevent It From Drying Up. Called The 'Oasis Of America', Huacachina Is One Of The Few Remaining Natural Oases In America.

Most Scenic and Adventures Road Trip Karakoram Highway (Pakistan,China Border)

Karakoram Highway (Pakistan)

Karakoram Highway Completed in 1979 and opened to the public in 1985, the Karakoram Highway, formally known as the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway, is a 1,300km road which links Hasan Abdal (located a few kilometers beyond Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan) with Kashgar, the second most important city in Xinjiang province, China.

What was once an important ”Silk Road” route which used to link the Indian sub-continent with China, is today considered the 8th wonder of the world, since the altitude and the hard conditions in which it was built made it become an architectonic masterpiece.

Therefore, the Karakorum Highway has attracted travelers from all over the world for decades; not only because it is the highest paved road in the world (4,800m at Khunjerab Pass) but also because it goes through the three greatest mountain ranges on Earth: the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush. The Karakoram Highway is, perhaps, one of the only places in the world where you can admire a mountain 8,000 meters high, like Nanga Parbat, from the window of your car.

The Karakoram Road is, definitely, the most epic road trip ever.

Moreover, these colossal mountains and the huge contrasting landscapes are not the only reason for going on such a journey. Along the way, you will pass through an endless number of regions, where a large number of ethnic and religious groups live: from the Punjabis in the center of Pakistan to the Ismailis in Hunza, the Tajiks in Tashgurkan and, of course, the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Traveling along the Karakoram Highway is like going on a journey through several tiny countries, whose inhabitants will bless you with their hospitality.

After spending no less than 40 days hitchhiking my way from village to village and experiencing quite a few adventures, I have compiled all the necessary information that will help you travel along the Karakoram Highway (KKH).

Things you need to know before planning your trip
When to go? – Due to the snow and the low temperatures, the side valleys are not accessible in winter. The road itself remains passable all year long, but you should be aware that, from October to November, the temperatures drop drastically. Nevertheless, if you plan to cross from Pakistan to China, or vice-versa, you should know that, because of the snow, the Khunjerab Pass remains closed from November to March. For more information, read: How to cross from Pakistan to China.

You must arrange your visas in advance – You should have a valid visa for entering both China and Pakistan.

How many days are needed? – It depends on how many side valleys you would like to visit, as well as your method of transportation. As an example, if you wanted to do the whole journey from Islamabad to Kashgar, traveling in your own vehicle and stopping overnight in 4 or 5 key places, I think that you would need a minimum of 10 days to complete it. If you wanted to explore some side valleys, you should add 2 or 3 additional days for each valley you visit. I spent 40 days along the road and was not able to see everything I wanted!

Internet – On the Chinese site, the internet works relatively well in the different towns and cities, especially in Tashkurgan and Kashgar. On the other hand, forget about connecting in Pakistan, as the connection is practically non-existent. However, I heard that the Chinese are about to introduce Wi-Fi in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Is it safe? – If you are worried about Pakistan, you should know that the KKH goes through the safest region in the country.

Are you free to move around? – On the Pakistani side, after the city of Gilgit, there are no police checkpoints, which means that you can go wherever you want. On the other hand, on the Chinese side, you will be in the sensitive Xinjiang province, where you will find endless restrictions imposed by the Chinese authorities. For example, during the 130km from the Pakistani border to Tashgurkan, taking pictures is not allowed. In addition, you can’t travel that section independently but you must go by public transport or with a Chinese local guide.

Altitude – The highest point on the Karakoram Road is 4,800m at Khunjerab Pass and, throughout, a significant part of it is above 3,500m. Since the ascent is quite gradual, most travelers don’t show any symptoms of altitude sickness. However, try to drink loads of liquids and, just in case, bring Diamox with you. 

Majestic Yosemite National Park (California) U.S

                                                       
                                                       Yosemite National Park (California) U.S

Yosemite National Park, Scenic Mountain Region In East-central California, U.s. It Is Situated About 140 Miles (225 Km) East Of The City Of San Francisco And Some 100 Miles (160 Km) Southeast Of Sacramento. Devils Postpile National Monument Lies About 15 Miles (25 Km) To The East, And Kings Canyon National Park Is About 40 Miles (65 Km) To The Southeast. The Park, Surrounded On All Sides By National Forest Lands, Encompasses 1,189 Square Miles (3,080 Square Km). It Was Designated A Unesco World Heritage Site In 1984. Park Headquarters Are Located At Yosemite Village In Yosemite Valley, In The West-central Part Of The Park.

The Park Is Situated In The Heart Of The Sierra Nevada Range, And Most Of It Lies Within The Basins Of The Merced And Tuolumne Rivers. The Land Rises From West To East, The Eastern Boundary Forming A Drainage Divide. Most Of The Tallest Peaks Are In The Southeastern Area Of The Park, Many Exceeding 10,000 Feet (3,050 Metres); Mount Lyell, At 13,114 Feet (3,997 Metres), Is The Highest Summit. Glaciation Has Sculpted A Number Of Deep U-shaped Valleys, Notably The Yosemite Valley Of The Merced River. The Valley—which Curves In A Gentle Arc About 7 Miles (11 Km) Long And Between 0.5 And 1 Mile (0.8 And 1.6 Km) Wide—features A Number Of Attractions, Such As Sheer Rock Walls That Rise 3,000 To 4,000 Feet (900 To 1,200 Metres) Above The Valley Floor, Yosemite Falls, And Huge Domes And Peaks. The Greatest Of These Domes Is El Capitan, A Granite Buttress Near The Western End Of The Valley That Rises To 7,569 Feet (2,307 Metres) Above Sea Level And Towers Some 3,600 Feet (1,100 Metres) Above The Valley. Overlooking The Head Of The Valley Is Half Dome, Which Reaches An Elevation Of 8,836 Feet (2,693 Metres) And Provides A Commanding View From Its Top. The Renowned Yosemite Falls Consists Of Upper Yosemite Fall, Lower Yosemite Fall, And The Cascades Between Them; Their Combined Drop Of 2,425 Feet (740 Metres) Is One Of The Highest Cataracts In The World. Other Notable Waterfalls In The Valley Include Bridalveil, Nevada, Ribbon, And Vernal Falls.

Yosemite’s Climate Is Strongly Influenced By Elevation And By The Mountainous Terrain. Summers Are Warm, With Many Hot Days When High Temperatures Often Reach Or Exceed 90 °f (32 °c) In The Valley, And Afternoon Thunderstorms Can Occur, Especially At Higher Elevations. Winters Are Cold And Snowy. Although Winter Daytime Highs Are Often Mild In The Valley, Temperatures At Higher Elevations Typically Remain Below Freezing. Precipitation Is Moderately High And Falls Mostly As Snow During The Winter; Annual Total Precipitation In The Valley Averages About 36 Inches (910 Mm), And Snowfall Averages About 65 Inches (1,650 Mm).

Plant Life In The Park Changes Markedly With Elevation. Lower Elevations Are Characterized By Scattered Trees (Both Deciduous And Coniferous), Shrubs, And Meadows That Fill With Wildflowers In The Spring. At The Level Of Yosemite Valley Grow Larger Stands Of Conifers That Include Groves Of Big Trees (The Giant Sequoias), Notably At The Mariposa Grove In The Southern Part Of The Park; Higher Up, Closer To The Timberline, Are Mountain Hemlocks And Lodgepole Pines; And Still Higher Are Rocky Alpine Areas That Support Only Cold-tolerant Species Such As Lichens.

Animal Life Is Plentiful And Varied Within The Park. Large Mammals Include Mule Deer, Black Bears, Coyotes, Mountain Lions (Pumas), And The Endemic And Endangered Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis Sierrae). Various Squirrels, Chipmunks, And Bats Constitute Most Of The Smaller Mammals, Which Also Include The Rare And Endangered Pacific Fisher (Martes Pennati Pacifica). More Than 250 Species Of Birds Have Been Observed In The Park, Of Which Some 165 Species Reside There Or Visit Regularly And The Others Are Seen There Only Occasionally. Among The More Common Birds Found Are Steller’s Jays, Western Meadowlarks, And Mountain Bluebirds. In Addition, There Are Populations Of Amphibians (Including Salamanders, Toads, And Frogs), Lizards (Notably Western Pond Turtles), And Fish (Especially Trout).

Spectacularly Scenic Jordan Wadi Rum Desert

                                                  Jordan's Wadi Rum Desert

Wadi Rum is 720 square kilometers of protected area in southern Jordan. Visitors are captivated by the tall sandstone mountains that reach up to 1500 meters high. Canyons cut their way through these mountains, creating pathways for visitors on foot. Other trails are best explored by camel or with jeep tours.

The Bedouin, Wadi Rum’s local people, have been living here for thousands of years. A traditionally nomadic tribe, the Bedouins were originally goat herders who moved from location to location throughout the desert. Many have become villagers but some still maintain the wandering lifestyle. Today, visitors can learn about their history and culture by staying at a Bedouin campsite overnight while visiting Jordan.

Within Wadi Rum, there are a number of sites worth seeing. Burrah canyon is the perfect place to watch the sunrise or sunset as the sun creates an orange glow on the rock. Visitors can find ancient rock inscriptions in the Khazali canyon or visit Lawrence’s spring, where Lawrence of Arabia is thought to have washed during the Arab revolt. Finally, don’t underestimate the challenge of climbing a desert sand dune. From the top, there is an amazing view of the desert landscape.
          
Wadi Rum can be visited easily from within Jordan or from Israel. The ideal visiting months are from March to May and September to November. The summer months can be extremely hot and the winter months have very cold nights.

One of the best ways to get the full Wadi Rum experience is with a tour. There are several Petra and Wadi Rum combination tours that leave from Eilat and Aqaba. Depending how much time you have, there is a two-day tour or a three-day tour available.

A few reminders for visitors, because of the desert climate, it is important to wear a hat and carry water with you at all times. With Bedouin culture, it is polite to ask permission before taking photos of the Bedouin people. Additionally for women, dress modestly out of respect for the culture of the people.

Wadi Rum is about a 3.5 hour drive from Amman, Jordan, and a one hour drive from Aqaba and the southern border crossing from Israel. Public transportation is available from both cities to the Wadi Rum Visitor Center.

Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya

                                                                               Maasai Mara (Kenya)

The Maasai Mara lies in the Great Rift Valley, which is a fault line some 3,500 miles (5,600km) long stretching from Ethiopia’s Red Sea through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and into Mozambique. Here the valley is wide, and a towering escarpment can be seen in the hazy distance. The animals are at liberty to move outside the park into huge areas known as ‘dispersal areas’. There can be as much wildlife roaming outside the park as inside. Many Maasai villages are located in the ‘dispersal areas’ and they have, over centuries, developed a synergetic relationship with the wildlife.

There are four main types of terrain in the Mara – the Ngama Hills to the east with sandy soil and leafy bushes favoured by black rhino; Oloololo Escarpment forming the western boundary and rising to a magnificent plateau; Mara Triangle bordering the Mara River with lush grassland and acacia woodlands supporting masses of game, especially migrating wildebeest; and the Central Plains, forming the largest part of the reserve with scattered bushes and boulders on rolling grasslands favoured by the plains game.

     

The Mara is perhaps best known for the Great Migration, which takes place every year July to Septemberr. During these months the yellow savannah is dotted black by more than 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra and antelopes that migrate from the Serengeti to the Mara in search of food and water.

Mara and Serengeti parks are interdependent wildlife havens. This is where the world’s largest multi-species migration takes place. The movement is, centered around the wildebeest migrating from Serengeti into Masai Mara during the dry period in Tanzania, crossing the mighty Mara River on their way. The Great Wildebeest Migration rightfully deserves its standing as one of the natural world’s most astonishing spectacles. Compromising of more than 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras and antelopes, the Great Migration constitutes the last surviving multi-species migration on the planet.

   From end of July onwards, millions of freshly arrived brown and black dots scatter the great plains of the Masai Mara National Reserve, making this Natural Wonder of the World even more wondrous until they wander back in December. The life cycle of the wildebeest is a snapshot of the circle of life of all living creatures. The wildebeest spend their lives wandering, unwearyingly trekking between the Serengeti in the South to the Masai Mara in the North.

Every sequence in a wildebeest’s life happens in accordance with Mother Earth. Their migratory routes are determined by the rain patterns; they wander in a constant pursuit of water and fresh grass. Similarly, their calving instincts are timed to the movements of the moon, resulting in a three-week long birth fest on the Serengeti plains in February.
The comings and goings of the wildebeest also shape the lives of many other species. For the predators of the Masai Mara, the arrival of the wildebeest marks the beginning of a time of feasting and prosperity. The Big Cats, in particular, thrive during the migration season. The abundance of available prey means that the lions, cheetah and leopards are able to grow strong and produce healthy offspring. The dramatic contrast between life and death to be witnessed during the Great Migration makes the Migration Season a particularly spectacular time to visit Basecamp Explorer Kenya.

Most Dangerous Island In The World

                                                                       North Sentinel Island

It’s hard to believe that there are people in this world who have no idea about the internet or cell phones. These are tribes that are completely cut-off from global civilization and do not welcome any kind of contact from the outside world.
North Sentinel Island, a part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal Ocean between Myanmar and Indonesia, is home to one such tribe. The Sentinelese people are so hostile to external contact that the island has been dubbed the ‘hardest place to visit’ in the world.
The Sentinelese are thought to be direct descendants of the first humans who emerged from Africa. They have lived on the tiny island for almost 60,000 years. Their exact population is unknown; it could be as low as 40 or as high as 500.

It doesn’t matter whether you are friend or enemy, whether you arrive at the island shores on purpose or by accident, the locals will greet you the same way – with spears and arrows. Gifts of food and clothing are of no importance to them. They were even hostile to rescue missions after the tsunami in 2004.
In the aftermath of the disastrous tsunami that had hit the Indian Ocean in December 2004, a group of rescuers reached out to the Sentinelese in an Indian Navy helicopter. They wanted to find and help survivors, although chances were slim. They tried dropping food parcels to the ground, but they were met with hostility. A sole Sentinelese warrior emerged from the dense jungle and shot an arrow at the Helicopter

Not much is known about these tribal folk; their language is alien and their habits unknown. Their settlements are hidden in the thick jungle, so we have no clue about how they live. All we know is that the Sentinelese are hunter-gatherers; they do not farm. They live on fruits, fish, tubers, wild pigs, lizards and honey.India has sovereignty over North Sentinel, but I doubt these people even know what India is. After several failed attempts to make friendly contact with them since 1964, the Indian government has finally backed away. All visits to the island are banned. The Indian Navy has enforced a 3-mile buffer zone to keep tourists, explorers and other meddlers away. Accidental encounters still do occur, and none of them end well.

There are several horror stories of how the Sentinelese have treated their guests. People either return from the island terrified and injured, or not at all. In 1896, an escaped convict from the British prisons of The Andamans drifted on to the shores of North Sentinel by accident. A few days later, a search party found his body on a beach, punctured by arrows and with his throat slit.
In 1974, a group went there to make a documentary, and the film’s director took an 8-foot arrow in the thigh. A few of the recordings from that visit were included in the larger documentary, Man in Search of Man.
Indian anthropologist T.N. Pandit conducted several government-sponsored trips to the island in the late 80s and early 90s. “Sometimes they would turn their backs to us and sit on their haunches as if to defecate,” he said. “This was meant to insult us as we were not welcome.”

Surprisingly, there has been only one instance where outsiders did not have to face an aggressive reception. On January 4, 1991, 28 men, women and children approached Mr. Pandit and his group. “That they voluntarily came forward to meet us, it was unbelievable,” he said. “They must have decided that the time had come.”
Unfortunately, the last contact with the islanders in 2006 didn’t go as well. Two fishermen were killed while illegally fishing within the range of the island.
The Sentinelese are among the last of the uncontacted people – communities who live without contact with globalized civilization – left in the world. Perhaps it’s best to leave them alone; bringing them out into civilization might not be the best thing for them. They might not be immune to several diseases and adapting themselves to the modern world could be extremely difficult.

        It’s amazing that even in the most drastic conditions, the Sentinelese do not want any help. I find this behavior very curious. I do wonder how they view outsiders and the world around them. I wonder what they call themselves, or if they are aware that we call them ‘Sentinelese’.

Chocolate Hills of Bohol Island (Philippines)

The Chocolate Hills in the Philippines are not, unfortunately, made of candy. These hills are more a feast for the eyes than the tastebuds. (Unless you like dining on dirt and grass, in which case, how's that going?) These uniform lumps of earth are visually stunning, but the fact that no one knows how they formed is, perhaps, even cooler.

You can find the Chocolate Hills in the town of Carmen on the island of Bohol in the Philippines. One of the country's most popular tourist attractions, these hills are scattered over a 50 square kilometer area. And they sure aren't ant hills—each of the 1,200 or more mounds stands 30–50 meters tall (that's 100–165 feet). Though this hilly patch of earth sounds like the perfect setting for Willy Wonka's summer home, the hills are made of regular ol' dirt and grass. In the dry season, the hills uniformly take on the chocolate brown color that earned them their name. The wet season brings out the green grass.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Costa Rica

Explore The Earth Most Adventures Rainforest 

Imagine walking through the clouds thousands of feet above sea level. At the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, you can embrace the misty atmosphere, which serves as one of the most coveted ecotourism destinations in Costa Rica. The reserve encompasses a 26,000 acre biozone, brimming with a marvelous diversity of wildlife and plant life. There's no question that Monteverde Cloud Forest is truly a nature lover's paradise.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is located in the northern part of the Puntarenas province on the Continental Divide. It is six kilometers east of the town of Santa Elena and around 150 kilometers from San Jose. Without a doubt, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is one of the most breathtaking nature reserves in the entire world.

A True Cloud Forest
Shrouded in a unique misty cover, this biological reserve sets itself apart from the other rainforests of Costa Rica. What we call clouds are actually mist produced by the high humidity at the elevation of 1,600 meters above sea level. The moisture catches around the branches of the tallest trees, harboring a thriving ecosystem below. As a matter of fact, while the entire country of Costa Rica represents 0.03 percent of landmass on the planet, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve alone houses 2.5 percent of the world's biodiversity.

Stunning Flora and Fauna
Extending across eight distinct biological zones, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is home to more than thousands of species of plants and animals. Look toward the top of the giant trees where more than 500 species of birds live. The most popular birds in this region are the elusive queztal and the three-wattled bellbird. Discover the flora and fauna, including jaguars, toucanets, pumas, monkeys and the red-eyed tree frogs that have come to serve as the poster-animal for Costa Rica! There are also 420 species of orchids and 200 species of ferns. When exploring the forest you will be sure to encounter a variety of these spectacular wildlife. You might even catch a glimpse at the golden toad, a toad species only known to exist here in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
Step foot on the Continental Divide, where one foot will be on the Caribbean side and other on the Pacific side. With views of both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, this reserve is filled with a huge array of lofty and soaring trees laden with remarkable epiphyte plants.

Discovering the Forest
For visitors, there are a handful of ways to explore the reserve. First, you can take advantage of the network of trails in the reserve that stretch across 13 kilometers of the forest. The trails are well-maintained and perfect for day trips. Visitors also enjoy the scenic vistas from "La Ventana" overlook, boasting mountain peaks along the Continental Divide. Another great way to explore the forest is to take a skywalk or a zip-line tour or canopy tour, where visitors can experience the forest from a series of bridges and cables that offer a bird's eye view of the forest. This tour is offered at a nearby forest and not in the actual reserve. With such a lofty altitude, this region is not for the faint-hearted.