South Africa doesn’t have to be all about safari holidays. South Africa is a popular holiday destination for many people including those looking to relax on a beach.

Ukunda is situated very near to the spectacular Diani beach which with its shallow clear blue ocean is a beautiful place to take a holiday.

If you want to participate in some activities when there, then why not try snorkelling or scuba diving to explore the underwater sea life or if you would rather keep your feet dry, then take a trip on one of their glass bottomed boats.

There are many restaurants close by that will simply blow you away with the range of food and quality of the food on offer. If you do fancy a safari trip then why not combined the both in to one trip and spend part of it relaxing by the beach and the other part travelling round one of the world’s top safari destinations. With so much on offer, South Africa is not a place you will get bored of.

If you heard someone say “elephant safari” you would probably assume they meant they were going on a safari holiday to see elephants, but did you realise that you can actually ride an elephant through a safari?

With many South African elephants being hand reared it is now seen as a very safe way to travel around on safari and can just add to the whole experience. Not only do you get to see some magnificent animals and take in the breath taking views, but do it all on the back of one of the world’s largest mammals.

Believe it or not the cost to ride one of the animals is approximately 775R1 which equates to about £35!

Elephant riding isn’t for everyone and the activity is not open to children under 12 but if you do get the opportunity to have a go then I would strongly recommend it. It will probably be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

A safari holiday can vary drastically in price and there are many factors that contribute to it. Below are a few of them:

Accommodation: Where you stay on safari can play a big part in hiking the price up. If you chose to stay in luxury accommodation such as one of the luxury lodges then you will be paying substantially more than you would if you chose to stay away from the safari camp and travel in.

Destination – Some places are a lot more expensive than others when it comes to an Africa safari. Tanzania is one of the expensive locations to stay in along with Botswana and Namibia.

Time of year – The seasons play a big part in the safari holidays and the climate changes across Africa. Their summer periods are warm and wet whereas the winters are cooler (but by no means cold) in the day and dry.

Safari holidays can be one of the best experiences of your lifetime. Most safari holiday packages are not cheap, but if you are going to do it then you might as well do it properly. Some companies offer luxury safari trips which include staying in 5 star accommodation, having beautiful meals prepared for you and even the chance of participating in off the beaten track safari tours that are exclusive to their company.

South Africa is by far the most popular holiday destination for a safari and with the good climate and miles up on miles of land perfect for the wildlife it is easy to see why. Luxury safari holidays may cost a little more but the experience is promised to be one that you will never forget.

If you have an interest in a certain animal then these safaris can be tailor made to ensure that you spend the majority of your time with the animals of your chose such as the Gorillas or Elephants.

Most of us have heard of animal charities such as Born Free and World Wide Wildlife Federation, but imagine being able to see for yourself exactly how the money people donate is being used and giving up a bit of time to get hands on with helping the charities in their work.

Charity safaris allow you to do all that and more. With many species in Africa on the verge of extinction or on the endangered list, it is vital that these charities remain to ensure that these amazing animals are round for generations to come.

If you have been on a safari holiday before then why not try a charity one this time. Whilst in Africa you will get the chance to see animals that have been helped by the charity, collect vital data that is needed for research and even possibly feed some of the animals that are being hand reared.

These types of safari holidays are approximately the same as a usual safari but can give you a lot more satisfaction knowing that you have helped to conserve an important area or species.

Believe it or not you can actually book to go on a safari hunting holiday… This allows people to go to South Africa and hunt lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, white rhino and many many more animals. The prices vary for this type of experience depending on what and where you wish to hunt.

The companies that offer this type of hunting experience state that they actually contribute far more to wildlife conservation than any other conservation incentive. It is great that they do contribute but I can’t help but feel it is kind of in one hand and out the other, as there wouldn’t be as much call for conservation areas if they did not allow the hunting of these magnificent animals.

There has been huge controversy recently about an American Dentist who is pictured with a lion that he and his team lured out of a conservation area so he could shoot it. He then had to leave it until the following day to go back and kill them animal leaving me in no doubt that this animal suffered for nearly 24 hours.

Safety is a major concern for many holiday goers when it comes to safari holidays in Africa. Safari holidays in South Africa are actually extremely safe in general and there are very few incidents, and the majority of them that do happen are not linked to animals. You need to prepare for a safari holiday more so than others such as considering clothing you wear to protect yourself from the heat and insects that may be around. There will be limitations set by the safari guide as to what you should and shouldn’t do when on a safari and these should be adhered. They will often tell you what to do should you find yourself in a certain situation where you have come in to difficulty. The tour guides will often have years of experience in what they do and know the area well. They will have carried out risks assessments and set up the necessary safety process to ensure that these risks are minimised.

If you are looking to go on a safari holiday then you need to research the areas and time of year you are thinking of going to get a true picture of what type of wildlife you will expect to see. Some people automatically assume that they will see Lions, Elephants, Wildebeests etc no matter when or where they go but this is not true.

If for example you are interested in seeing the gorillas then you may want to consider booking a gorilla trek rather than a jeep safari as this is the only way to get up close to the animals in their natural environment. Gorilla treks are not for the faint hearted but off re some amazing experiences that you could only imagine.

Your tour operator should be able to advise you on what trip would be best suited to what you are looking for but there is no harm in doing a little bit of your own research online first.

The Maasi Mara National Reserve is a large game reserve in Kenya. It is one of the best places to go if you are looking for the thrills of a safari holiday and can be a holiday that you will never forget.

The Maasia Mara Reserve is located in South western Kenya in Africa and was first set up in 1961 and only stretched 200 square miles compared to its 583 square mile radius it now covers.

It is famous throughout the world for its exceptional population of Cheetahs, Leopards and Lions and of course the great migration. The great migration takes place sometime between July and October and you can expect to see animals such as Zebras, Gazelle and Wildebeests migrating to and from the Serengeti.

The terrain of the reserve is primarily open grassland with seasonal river-lets. Wildlife tends to be most dense in along the western border of the reserve as this is mostly swamp land where there is no shortage of water and minimal tourist disruption.

The mighty Black Rhino is one of Africa’s most distinctive creatures and, sadly, one of its most threatened. The species is critically endangered and shrinking habitats and poaching (the horn is prized in some cultures as a medicine and commands a high price on the black market) have made preserving this precious species an uphill struggle. In the 1970’s, over 20,000 Black Rhino roamed the plains of Kenya but that number is now below 600 individuals.

The good news is that these animals are in the relative safety of several sanctuaries and there numbers are gradually increasing again. Protection from poachers and an active research program are helping to boost numbers so there may be hope for these beautiful creatures yet. A safari holiday is a great way to see the amazing animals of wild Africa but it can also help with conservation efforts too. Tourism brings much needed money to the National parks and local economies and gives greater economic value to the wildlife as an attraction than as prey for poachers. You may not be lucky enough to see the elusive Black Rhino on your trip to Kenya but you’ll be guaranteed a memorable trip and may even do a little good for the local wildlife too.