Tag: africa

by Incredible Planet Staff

The Many Variations Of Weather In Tenerife


Places

Commonly referred to as La Isla de la Eterna Primavera, which translates to the island of eternal spring, Tenerife really does embody its moniker. Winter and summer are essentially indistinguishable in temperature, given the region’s sub-tropical climate on year-round basis.

Given its location on Africa’s western coast, Tenerife lies on the same line of latitude as the Sahara. As such, the pleasant climate conditions that can be experienced most of the year should not come as a tremendous surprise.

The weather in Tenerife is generally very mild and averages between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius in winter and between 26 and 28 degrees in the summertime. Sun tends to shine during all twelve months. While there are rare occurrences in winter when the sun feels as though it has gone into hiding, this is certainly not the norm. The bottom line is that no matter when a visit to Tenerife is planned, the weather is highly likely to be pleasant indeed.

The tradewinds have a fair amount of influence over the weather in Tenerife, and when they hit the northern and northwesterly zones, they transform into high, condensed cloud banks. When combined with older currents from the Atlantic Ocean, the mountainous regions and deep valleys, the winds can produce noticeable climatological distinctions across the different regions.

During the winter months, it is entirely possible for there to be warm sun in southern coastal areas, but also snow in the high altitudes near Mount Teide. The differences can be staggering at times, with the town of Santa Cruz possibly having heat and sun while neighbouring La Laguna sees cooler temperatures and the possibility of showers.

The northern and southern portions of Tenerife see the most substantial contrasts in weather conditions. More than 75 percent of the island’s rain is seen on the northern side, with lush landscapes standing as evidence of this.

There are times when Tenerife will witness serious rain showers. Fortunately, these tend to be fairly brief in duration, and the sun returns hastily.

It is not unheard of for Tenerife’s climate to take an uncomfortable turn with hot winds blowing vigorously. The phenomenon marks the appearance of the Calima, wind that comes from the Sahara region. Somewhat like the notorious Sirocco, this wind develops when elevated pressure accumulates in North Africa. Cooler northern fronts from the Canary Islands sweep up debris from the desert to create heated winds containing notable amounts of sand.

When conditions converge in just the right manner, it is possible for a depression to form to the southwest of the Canaries, something which makes the Calima far more intense. During such times, Tenerife in its entirety can acquire a coat of sand and also experience limited visibility. During a 2002 storm, it was necessary to shut down the airport for a time.

The term Calima comes from the Canary Islands and is used to describe the existence of dust in the air that originated from the Sahara and Sahel regions. When the Calima is at its worse, the air takes on a marked thickness and a reddish hue, with lower visibility quite common as well.

It is most common for the Calima to appear during spring as well as during the summer. This is when the dust clouds that develop in the Sahara and the Sahel make their way across the Atlantic, sometimes going all the way to America. This is a fascinating climatological occurrence, without a doubt, and is something that makes visiting or living in Tenerife a unique undertaking. Anyone who has ever been to Tenerife will attest to this fact.


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by Incredible Planet Staff

Entertale signs deal with Kano state in Nigeria for new Business TV show


Business

For the first time, the Nigerian Kano State Government launch “Doing Business in Kano” a monthly TV series that showcase the Nigerian state government transformation to ease doing business and support entrepreneurship climate in the state.

“Doing business in Kano” TV series would be interviewing entrepreneurs and business people on the various initiatives of the state government to support entrepreneurship. The TV series would be streaming live exclusively on Neur TV Channel 109 on Entertale.

“Doing Business in Kano” Is an initiative of Mr. Salihu Tank Yakasai, The Special Adviser to Kano State Government on New Media “We are thrilled to partner with Entertale, to showcase business and investment opportunities and our rich cultural heritage of Kano state to international
investors and African audience around the world.”

The “Doing business in Kano” would show potential international investors the peaceful business environment, different reforms and the
the readiness of the state government to grant land and tax incentives to would-be investors in the state to revolutionize agriculture and promote investments in various sectors.

The Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said “We have decided to make land acquisition very easy and speedy. A lot of red-tapisms and a lot of bureaucracies and we decided to replace that ministry with the Bureau for Land Management. Kano is working to boost both the Nigerian
economy and the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)”.

Gaia Giordani, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Entertale “Our Partnership with Kano state government to showcase the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sector and an estimated 1.6 million businesses and enterprises across all economic activities in the state is at the core of Entertale mission of promoting African business and investment opportunities around the world”.

As at 2017, Kano state has the second largest population in Nigeria with an estimation of 16 million inhabitants that are mostly young, agile and sustainable workforce with 50 percent of the population between 15 years and 64 years, and 47 percent under 15 years. The total state GDP is put at $12.393 billion, per capital is $1.288.

by Incredible Planet Staff

Entertale is creating a future of African TV that looks brighter than we thought


Technology

Knowledge is always very critical, and I have always been intrigued by what happens in that part of the world wondering there has to be more than just the poor rhetorics you hear over and over on media. Heard about this from one of my kid’s friend and was going to check it out.

Having been in the media publishing business for 22 years, I know committing to TV format and movies at the same time is a difficult task for Big companies like Sling or Hulu both of which I own an account. But this company, Entertale, is proving a robust African institution with its vision of being the future of African TV.

Africa is chasing the world and very slow at it. Linear TV is still a huge deal over there, but with the most populated number of youth and quick adaptation to technology, the gamble might be the right one for the social TV network. Over two decades, we have seen Television grew as a medium and the rise of shows that can compete with or surpass any film regarding narrative complexity and visuals. But almost no one watches television in 2018; they watch TV while they check their email, or update their Facebook, or play Candy Crush and this is where Entertale will flourish. Also check these websites for watching unblocked full movies for free.

The more tale one consumes on the platform; the more one becomes convinced they are being designed specifically for this type of audience in mind and also for someone like me. The company knows the direction young generation consumption is going to play – our iPads at the hotel or the road, home to families with wandering eyes, and not in darkened cinema free of diversions.

Some of the TV channels are from youtube but who cares really and how is that a big deal as it is the same channels and the problem of easy discovery is solved. “You will see a few things you will enjoy, every time” one must concede. “and it’s an addition to what I have – a good one indeed. And if you think I exaggerate, I only ask you to try it.”

If the $8 million covers are by any chance is true, by the end of this calendar year, Entertale.com will have 250 movies, and TV shows added content arsenal available on its live streaming TV service. You could cancel cable, stop going to the movie theater, throw away your television, and still have hours of new content to watch every single night you get back from work all year round and its African!

by Incredible Planet Staff

15 Fun Things to Do When Visiting the Masai Mara for Holidays


Places

The Masai Mara National Reserve, also popularly known as Masai Mara or simply as The Mara, is one of the biggest and best known game reserves on the entire African continent. Located in the world-famous Great Rift Valley, this vast reserve covers approximately 1510 square kilometers and is home to the Big Five, as well as a host of other wild animals that you may not find in any part of the world.

If this is the first time you are hearing about the Mara then here is an interesting fact you should know about- most of the wildlife documentaries that show the Big Five were shot somewhere within the Mara. With millions of visitors flocking in every year and literally millions of different animals to see and tons of fun things to do, the Masai Mara National Reserve is the ultimate tourist destination for anyone who wants to experience the best that nature has to offer.

Most tourists who visit the Mara usually find it helpful to plan their itinerary in advance before they arrive so that they cover all the places that they want to visit. If you plan to go this way, then you need to talk to Travel and Tours agency that is familiar with the park so that they can help you plan your itinerary properly.

Alternatively you could choose to go for one of the pre-designed tour packages offered by Kenya Tours and Safaris, which is one of the leading Travel and Tours companies in the country, and let them show you the best that this remarkable game reserve has to offer. One of the best things about this company is that they also provide custom tour packages where you, the tourist, decide exactly where you want to go and what you want to do while visiting the Mara- with their help, of course.

Whichever option you decide to go for, visiting the Mara is definitely an experience unlike any other. And to help you make the most of your time at the reserve, here is a list of 15 fun things that you can do when you visit Masai Mara this coming holiday.

  1. Take A Daytime Game Drive

Masai Mara is huge- really huge. There is no way you could ever cover even half of the reserve on foot, at least not within the time frame that you have. As such, if you want to cover as much of the Mara as you possibly can then the best way for you to do so would be by taking a daytime game drive. Most of the day game drives start early in the morning so that you can catch the animals as they wake up and go for their morning drink at their favorite watering holes. The early morning start is also a chance to take in the beautiful scenery of the Mara against a beautiful, glowing background provided by the sunrise across the savannah. Drive through the reserve and get the chance to see all the animals in their natural element- as they graze, hunt, feed and do all those little things you never thought animals could do.

  1. Take A Nighttime Game Drive

Not all the animals in the Mara operate during the day. There are many night creatures out there and you can see them all by taking a night drive through the reserve. Experienced guides will take you on these drives that begin late in the evening when some of the day operators are just starting to settle in for the night and they will take you to the best places to watch as the night gangs take over and begin their routine activities.

  1. Take A Nature Walk

A game drive might be a great way to get to see the whole reserve but there is only so much that you can really see from inside your vehicle. It is easy to miss some of the smaller animals because of their size or because the noise from your vehicle might scare them away. The best way to meet these special creatures is by taking a nature walk through the park. There are many scenic nature walks spread out all across the reserve and your guide will accompany you on your journey through them, showing you what you need to see and explaining all the fun things about the animals and the plants that you probably knew absolutely nothing about.

  1. Go Bush Camping

The best way to be truly at one with nature is to try and experience it in the same way as the animals in the wild actually do. So instead of retiring indoors you’re your lodge, why not try out bush camping. Again there are many designated bush camping sites that are spread out all across the Mara and most of them are close to where you can see and hear the animals as they go about their night time business. Of course, all the bush camping sites are safely secured so that you can get to be at one with nature and the animals without fearing any harm from them.

  1. Explore The Masai Culture

As you might have suspected, the Masai are the people who inhabit the Masai Mara. They are a unique ethnic tribe that has lived in the Mara for centuries and their way of life has remained largely unpolluted by the modern way of living. You can take the chance to get a feel of how they live and participate in their day to day lives by taking a tour of their villages. The Masai are very friendly people and will be more than happy to welcome you into their manyattas and show you how they live. If you are lucky then you might find them at one of their many cultural festivals which are conducted the same way as they have been for centuries and where you will get the chance to become part of them.

  1. Go Bird Watching

There are more than 1000 known species of birds that live in the Masai Mara, and scientists suspect that they might still be several that are yet to be discovered. If you love birds then you can take the chance while you are there to go bird watching and maybe even see if you can identify some of the unique bird species on your own.

  1. Make A Documentary

Whether you want to use it to inform people and spread the news about a particular cause, or you just want to have something to store those precious memories inside, shooting a documentary inside the Masai Mara is one of those things that you just can never forget and your tour guide will help you make all the arrangements needed to make that happen

  1. Go On Balloon Safaris

Only one thing beats exploring the Masai Mara on the ground- exploring it from the air. Going on a balloon safari gives you a unique opportunity to see how the reserve looks from the air and take in panoramic views of the savannah landscape that spreads out as far as the eye can see in all directions.

  1. Spot The Big Five

Most of the other parks and game reserves on the continent have two or three of the Big Five but the Mara is different because it has ALL of them. Of course they are not all going to be found sitting in one place but it can be a fun activity to create a checklist and try to spot all of them during your visit to the reserve.

  1. Watch The Annual Wildebeest Migration

Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Masai Mara is where you can watch as millions of animals make their long annual trek from Kenya to neighboring Tanzania in search of substinence. Watching them as they try to cross the violent, danger-filled waters of the Mara River is an experience unlike any other on the planet.

  1. Help In Rescuing The Animals

There are several animal shelters across the Mara where animals with special needs are cared for and you can participate in the activities taking place there as you try to help the animals and get up close and personal with them. Think of how it would feel to feed a baby giraffe from a bottle- fun right?

  1. Take Part In Team Building Activities

If you are planning to tour the Mara as part of a group then you should definitely take part in one of the team building activities that are organized daily on the reserve. Plus, you can also design your own team building activities with the help of your tour guide and take part in them if you prefer not to join other groups in theirs.

  1. Stay At An Eco-Lodge

Forget about 5-star resorts and hotels- if you are in the Mara then it is time for you to get in touch with your wild side. Of course the wildest activity might be sleeping in a bush tent but if you want a similar experience but do not wish to take it that far then staying at an eco-lodge on the reserve would be perfect for you.

  1. Go On A Horseback Safari

Picture the wind blowing through your hair as you gallop across the wide savannah, with zebras, antelopes and gazelles all around you and a herd of buffalos in the distance. That is the kind of experience that you can get by taking a horseback safari through the Mara, which your tour guide can help you arrange.

  1. Enjoy A Bush Dinner

Most people believe that nothing tastes better than bush meat. Well, this is your chance to find out for yourself by taking part in a bush dinner where you will be served with an assortment of game meat which you get to enjoy under the beautiful night sky of the savannah.

With so many things to do and even more exciting things to do, it is impossible not to have fun when you visit Masai Mara. But, that said, the amount of fun you are going to have will ultimately depend on who takes you on the tour. The importance of choosing the right Travel and Tours company when visiting the Mara cannot be overemphasized. With decades of experience, skilled tour guides and a thorough understanding of the Masai Mara, Kenya Tours and Safaris is definitely the best agency to go to when planning a visit to the Mara. You can get in touch with them directly by visiting their website here and start planning your perfect holiday trip today!

by Incredible Planet Staff

Finding the Best Masai Mara Tour Packages This Easter


Places

Easter is just around the corner and if you have not yet made your holiday plans then you will be thankful that you found this piece today. Time is running out- the best way to make sure you have an exciting and unforgettable Easter holiday is to plan well in advance so you better start taking notes right now if you want to make some good memories.

Masai Mara is definitely one of the best places to visit over the Easter holidays, and for good reason too. It provides the perfect chance to see the Big Five in their natural element, enjoy sunrises and sunsets over the expansive savannah landscapes, settle down for a night in the heart of the wild and to take part in a host of other exciting activities. However, it is important to point out that the quality of your holiday will, to a significant extent, depend on the tour company that you choose to handle your excursion into the Masai Mara. To be more specific, how much you get to depend on the type of tour package that you choose and, therefore, this is one decision that should not be taken lightly.

Easter is considered one of the high seasons among tour companies, with thousands of visitors flocking into the country and even more locals scrambling to tour the Mara during this time. As you might expect, all the tour companies will be keen to attract these visitors to go for their services and many great tourist packages being offered during this time. So here is a simple rule of thumb that will save you a lot of heartache down the line; if the deal or package appears too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. A little skepticism could save you a lot of money and help you avoid scams that really have nothing good to offer.

The best way to find the best Easter tour packages for Masai Mara is by comparing different packages along various pointers, each of which is important in determining the overall quality of the tour. Below are some of the things that you should take into close consideration when comparing various Masai Mara tour packages in order to find the best one.

The Costs Involved

When comparing the costs of different Mara tour packages, you might want to go beyond simply looking at the figure at the bottom of the page. In this context, the cheapest tour package is not always the best one and if you are really keen on getting the best tour package then you should be prepared to dig a little deeper into your pocket since they are definitely not going to be the cheapest. The key here is to try and attain an optimal balance between the actual amount of money that you will have to pay and the quality of service that you are going to receive in exchange.

Start by going through all the expenses that are covered under the cost of the tour package. The best packages will usually include the costs of the following;

  • Accommodation during the tour
  • Transportation- ideally, this should include pick up and drop off at designated places which you can access with ease, as well as the costs of game drives and all other transportation needs during the tour.
  • Full board- although some tour companies also offer half board, it is usually better to go with a package that includes full board if you can afford it.
  • Park fees- this includes all park entry fees as well as camping fees. Note that many tour companies usually do not include park entry fees in their packages and this could present challenges down the line so make sure that you only go for tour companies that cover the same.

It is also important to find out and compare the costs that are not included in the tour package so that you can prepare to cover the same on your own. The most commonly excluded costs include the following;

  • Drinks such as sodas, wine, beers, etc.
  • Personal expenses
  • Laundry

Accommodation

Whether you are thinking about camping out in a tent and experiencing nature in its true element, or you would much rather prefer to stay at an eco-lodge, it is important to find out and compare the types of accommodation that come with different tour packages before you make your decision. For instance, since Keekorok Lodge is one of the best lodges in the Masai Mara, you might want to restrict your choice to only tour packages that include a stay at the lodge.

It is also a good idea to find out about pre-tour and post-tour accommodation. Although this is typically not included in the actual tour package, some of the best tour  companies, such as Kenya Tours & Safaris will usually be able to help you in making private arrangements for the same and this can be quite helpful if you are coming in from outside the country and are not 100% sure about your schedule.

Services and Itinerary

Because of the sheer size of the Masai Mara, and the numerous activities that one can engage in while visiting, it is usually advisable to first do your research and pick out the places you would like to visit the most, the things you would like to see and the activities you wish to take part in and then look for a tour package that will allow you to do all of the above. For instance, if you are keen on seeing the Big Five then you might want to go for a tour package that includes more game drives. But if, on the other hand, you want to see more of the smaller animals and enjoy bird watching then you would want to go for a tour package that includes nature walks through the Mara.

It is also important for you to make sure that there will always be an experienced, professional guide by your side at every step of the tour. And this does not just mean having a driver who knows all the roads within the Mara- you need a friendly guide who is knowledgeable and who will be able to provide you with additional information about the things you see and answer all the questions that you might have.

Most of the best tour companies will usually be more than happy to provide you with additional information about their packages upon request and you should take advantage of this to find out as much as you can before you decide on which package to go for. Kenya Tours & Safaris, one of the leading tour companies in the country, offers some of the best Easter tour packages of Masai Mara and you can get in touch with them directly through their website at http://kenyatoursandsafaris.com/ to find out more and request a free quote.