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Hippos in Serengeti

Serengeti National Park in Northern Tanzania is one of the most popular safari destinations for most travelers and tourists. It attracts all kinds of wildlife animals and beautiful & colorful birds migrating from different parts of the world.

Many herds cross to Serengeti looking for pastures and breeding grounds and it is during this migration animals have to cross crocodile-infested rivers. It is in these rivers where you find the largest residents, the Hippopotamus of Serengeti basking under the sun in these muddy waters flashing their powerful jaws and keeping enemies at bay.

Quick Facts About Hippopotamus of Serengeti

Where do hippos live?

Hippos live in Sub-Saharan Africa spending most of their days submerged in water keeping their skin cool and moist. According to National Geographic, Hippos spend upwards of 16 hours per day in water.

The majority of hippo populations are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, north through to Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan, west to The Gambia, and south to South Africa.

Hippos are herbivores?

Hippos are considered to be herbivores consuming mainly plants. They will eat fruits if available, and they do enjoy watermelons but for the most part, their diet consists of short grass.

Are Hippos Endangered?

Yes, according to the African Wildlife Foundation, the conservation status of hippos is vulnerable to being pushed to extinction because of rising demand for their teeth, skin, and meat. The unregulated hunting and poaching have driven the number of live hippos down to about 140,000.

How many babies do hippos have?
Hippos have a gestation period of 8 months. Nomarly mother hippo gives birth to one baby at a time.

Are hippos dangerous?

Yes, hippos are dangerous and aggressive creatures with powerful jaws accompanied by very sharp teeth. Every year hippos are responsible for more than 3000 deaths.

What is hippo lifespan?

In the wild hippos live up to 40 – 50 years but in captivity, hippos can live past 50 years. Donna the hippo was the oldest hippo known, she died at the age of 61 at the Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville, Indiana in 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hippos in Serengeti National Park

1. Where is Serengeti National Park located?

Serengeti National Park is in Northern Tanzania and is a popular safari destination.

2. What kind of wildlife can I see in Serengeti National Park?

The park attracts a variety of wildlife animals and migratory birds from different parts of the world.

3. Where can I find hippos in Serengeti?

Hippos are often found in the rivers of Serengeti, particularly in areas that are crocodile-infested.

4. How do hippos spend their day?

According to National Geographic, hippos spend up to 16 hours per day submerged in water to keep their skin cool and moist.

5. Are hippos herbivores?

Yes, hippos mainly consume plants and occasionally eat fruits such as watermelons.

6. Are hippos endangered?

According to the African Wildlife Foundation, hippos are vulnerable due to unregulated hunting and poaching, reducing their numbers to about 140,000.

7. How many babies do hippos have?

Hippos generally have a gestation period of 8 months and usually give birth to one baby at a time.

8. Are hippos dangerous?

Yes, hippos are known to be dangerous and aggressive, responsible for more than 3000 deaths every year.

9. What is the lifespan of a hippo?

In the wild, hippos can live up to 40-50 years. In captivity, their lifespan can exceed 50 years.

10. Who was the oldest known hippo?

The oldest known hippo was Donna, who lived to be 61 years old and resided at the Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville, Indiana until 2012.

Culture, Lifestyle, Travel, Travel Adventures,

When To Decide Between Beach Holidays and City Holidays

by travzdlaFebruary 16, 2020

When do we decide between city or beach vacations?

At some point, everyone feels like they need to go on vacation. The fact is not everyone can plan or go on vacation due to time, money, responsibilities, and life in general.

When people plan on taking a vacation, the main factors that they consider are where they want to go, and what they want to do.

Do they want to relieve some stress, or do they want to experience different environments and do different activities in their daily life? From there one can decide the best place to go according to what they want to do.

The two types of vacation places people most consider to go are city vacation and beach vacation.

These two major vacation places have some differences between them. Most people would choose one over another, we will take a close look at what kinds of activities one can do while vacationing in these two different places. One thing I can say they are both good places for vacation but it all depends on your interest and what you want to do.

City vacationing

City vacation has numerous things to do and places to see. If you want to enjoy the city vacationing, being open-minded will be a good idea and it will really help.

Because One of the main opportunities of city vacationing is that you will have the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the culture of the city or place of which you are visiting.

In cities, you will able to experience local culture, historic and non-historic architecture, art galleries, local restaurants, etc.

In some cities, you can also have an opportunity to get amazing city tours and learn more about the city’s history, culture, interesting facts and some myths or urban legends.

For instance, if you take your vacation in New Orleans there are different tours available such as Ghost tour, Cemetary tours, Food walking tour, Katrina recovery tour and many more. With a little bit of research before you go on your vacation, you can explore a lot of ideas on what to do in your chosen city.

Beach vacationing

While beach vacations can be a great way to relax, and chill they can not be done any time of the year like city vacation.

This means taking beach vacation can depend on season, most of the time can be done in summer, late spring and some late fall. designed.

Usually, beach vacations specifically cater to tourists, The beach has a relaxing, laid back atmosphere. There are many activities to do while you are on a beach vacation, activities such as water skiing, deep-sea fishing, sailing, diving, and much more.

Another great thing about a beach vacation is seafood. If you like seafood you have tons of selection of the freshest seafood money can buy. Most of the time you will be spending around the beaches, most of the activities will be around water, visiting restaurants and if you like nightlife maybe you can hoop in the bar/pub, live band, and some night club.

Some beaches have actives or events that you can attend. For instance, if you go to Myrtle Beach they are tons of events and activities such as Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam, NASCAR race experience, Horry County Fair, Atlantic Beach Bikefest and many more.

I prefer a city vacation because you are more likely to do a lot of activities all you need is time and be well prepared. The city vacation is ideal for anyone who likes to learn and explore different cultures, for people who like to see life from a different perspective.

There is a lot of interaction with the locals. Unlike the beach vacation most people you going to meet will be the tourists and also most beaches are kind of excluded a little bit far from other areas.

There are advantages of city vacations they are affordable because there’s a lot of options on where to stay, where to eat and there is always public transportation which makes it easier to explore the city. In another hand, the beach vacation can be somehow expensive because most of the hotels and other accommodations around the area are expensive.

You can always decide where you want your destination to be. Whether it is a city vacation or beach vacation there are several things you have to consider.

Those things are time, budget and what you want to do or what you want to get out of it. Of course, most of the time vacation’s purpose is to take a break from work and our busy exhausting routines, if that’s what you think, then you would think of a place where you can relax and just enjoy the view and whatever else there is to do.

Culture, Lifestyle, Travel, Travel Adventures,

Travel Tips to European Countries: Spain

by travzdlaJanuary 31, 2020

Spain is famous worldwide for its flamenco dancers and bullfights and the architecture style. Cave paintings, renaissance cathedrals, Moorish palaces prove the diversity of the country. Spring, fall and early summer are very pleasant here, though summers are hot. Spain’s capital and largest city are Madrid.

Culture

Spanish is the regional language of Spain. English is spoken there. Over a period of time, Spanish people have become modern in order to gel with the changing times and are no longer conservative. But that hasn’t changed the values, traditions, manners, and customs of the locals. People here have two surnames(last names). The first surname/last name can be used to refer to the person. To greet someone, a handshake will do the job. It’s normal to take a small gift along when visiting someone’s house. Dinner is generally taken very late at the night most restaurants in Spain open late for dinner. People wear casual but not too casual compared to the U.S. most of the time. Men are expected to wear jackets at some restaurants. Swimsuits should be confined to the pools and beaches. Recently a ban has been applied to smoking in public places.

Shopping

Shops open quite early in the morning and stay open late in the evening. In the afternoon, they are closed for lunch or siesta. Porcelain and leather goods are famous and they will be good gifts for friends and family members back home. Bills are to be paid along with the service charges, so tipping is a matter of gratitude.

Electricity

Voltage is 220 volts and the frequency is 50 Hz

Transportation

IBERIA airline is the national airline of Spain. Many other low-cost airlines offer services in the country such as Air Europa, Wamos Air, Vueling Airlines, and Binter Canarias. There are nearly thirty international airports in Spain, out of which Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, and Malaga are famous. Duty-free shops, restaurants, banks, car hire, and tourism information are available at the airports. There is also railway transportation between Spain cities and nearby countries or Europe in general. Cities that you can get metro/rail system are Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Granada, Madrid, Malaga, Murcia, Palma, Parla, Santa Cruz, Seville, Valencia, Velez Malaga, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and Zaragoza. Underground service also works to transport passengers to their destinations. Buses are available every 15 minutes and trains are available every 20 minutes. Bus fare and schedule and operations depend on the city you are. Taxis are available throughout the day. There is a good network of roads connecting Spain north to south. Toll booths are installed in some parts of the country. Carrying a few Euros will help smooth sailing at the toll booths. If driving one’s private car, it would be better if the travel insurance covers medical costs too. Carrying a medical kit can prove to be of some help.

Duty-Free Items

200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos 50 cigars or 250g tobacco (300 cigarettes, 150 cigarillos, 70 cigars and 400g of tobacco for EU nationals)
1litre of spirits if exceeding 22 percent volume or 2 liters of alcoholic beverage not exceeding 22 percent volume and 2 liters of wine (1.5 liters exceeding 22 percent and 3 liters of up to 22 percent and 5 liters of wine for EU nationals)
250ml eau de toilette and 50g of perfume
500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract (1000g of coffee and 4000g of coffee extract for EU nationals)
100g of tea or 40g of tea extract
Gifts up to the value of approximately €37.26. (the U.S $ 41.58).

Places to Visit in Spain.

1: Barcelona.

Barcelona is my favorite city in Spain. There are a lot of things to do and a lot to experience in this magnificent city. You can do a lot of things from sightseeing to cooking classes. My must-see /visit or do while you are in Barca(as I like to call it, and yes I’m a soccer fan) are;

La Sagrada Familia
Park Guell
Las Ramblas
Camp Nou Stadium(again soccer fan)
La Boqueria (Boqueria Market)

There is a lot to do, and for beach lovers, there are tons and tons of beaches in Barcelona.

2:Madrid

Madrid is the largest and capital city of Spain. If you like the sound of Spanish guitar, the swish of flamenco this is your place to be. A lot of food, dancing and partying all day and all night in this beautiful city. My pick for must-do/see or visit while in Madrid are ;

Prado Museum
Plaza Mayor
The Palacio Real
El Rastro flea market
Puerta del Sol

There is a lot to do in this city, you can hop on bus tours which they provide a lot of activities to do from wine tasting to cooking classes.

3: Valencia.

If you like to be outdoor or on the beaches, Valencia is your place. You can visit the beach with golden sand and have a very wonderful view of the Mediterranean. My pick for Valencia are :

Mercado Central
Plaza Ayuntamiento
City of Art and Science
Valencia beaches

There are tons of things to see and do in Valencia. In general, Spain is a very beautiful country there are a lot of places to visit such as Seville, Granada, Ibiza, San Sebastian, Canary Islands, etc.

Lifestyle, Travel, Travel Adventures,

3 Adventure Travel Safety Tips

by travzdlaJanuary 1, 2020

3 Adventure Travel Safety Tips

Thousands of people throughout the world today are considering adventure travel for several good reasons. Most of them want to simply discover the hidden secrets of a certain place, while others want to experience a new taste of culture and beliefs. They want to meet new people, learn a new language, or simply see the exotic flora and fauna of a certain place. There are others also who engage in adventure travel to discover themselves, their capabilities, and their limitations.

Although the reasons for considering adventure travel are good, we can deny the fact that tours and trips to mountains, rainforests, rivers, and even on-air are dangerous to some extent. Yes, they are exciting, but they can be dangerous as you have no control as to what will happen while on travel. Because of such fact, some sorts of safety preparations must be considered before the traveler departs from home. Doing some kind of homework before you leave can be a great move to take as it can help lessen the chances of mishaps to occur.

So when considering adventure travel with your peers, make sure that you are prepared enough for whatever is involved. Know the destination, the guides, and what you are about to do. Most of all, make sure that you know yourself.

Consider the Safety of Your Trip

When choosing adventure travel, one of the most important things that every traveler can to do to avoid dangers along the way is to research the destination and the trip. Know the level of your adventure, whether it is extreme or unusual, and think about the possible dangers associated with this kind of activity. Also, consider the tour guides but don’t think that because you have a tour guide, you’re safe. Well, that doesn’t apply all the time. Having a guide doesn’t eliminate the risk.

Understand that there several unexpected situations that your guides can’t control, no matter how powerful and strong they are don’t easily think that because you will be part of a group, you will be safe. Again, that’s not always true. So the best thing you can do now is to carefully research the company you will be dealing with, including their tour guides. Make sure that the company is responsible enough to handle every adventure. If you are not planning to use a tour guide or company make sure you do your research and be careful with your surroundings.

Know What to Do and What to Expect from Your Travel

Adventure travel is very demanding investment. So before you leave, be sure to know what to expect and what to do on your trip. You can ask about the foods and accommodations, the gender, age and interests of your fellow adventurers. Also, assess your skills. Also, make sure that you are physically and mentally ready for your adventure travel.

Know Yourself

Knowing oneself is by far the best thing that every person can do when considering adventure travel. So ask yourself if the activity you are considering is what you want. Also know your condition, whether you are fit enough or unfit for the adventure travel. Well, the best way to know your condition is to get medical advice from your doctor. Simply find out if adventure travel is best for you or not. If not, then look for an alternative, something that your health can tolerate.

Lifestyle, Travel, Travel Adventures,

How to Plan for Adventure Travel Tours

by travzdlaDecember 30, 2019

Planning is the first major step to take when considering adventure travel tours. Its importance basically lies in the fact that the way you plan determines the outcome of your experience. So if you plan your adventure travel tours properly and ahead of time, the result would be great and truly memorable. So, how to plan properly for adventure travel tours?

There are a lot of basic ideas to note when planning for your adventure travel tours. A few steps are mentioned below. If you want to know how you can obtain an ultimate adventure experience, then take note of the following:

Know what you want

Deciding on adventure travel tours can be one of the biggest decisions you can ever make in your whole life. So it is better to be sure and certain as to what you want or desire for your adventure travel tours. The key here is to know your desires. Ask yourself some questions. Think about your dreams, and how to make them happen. You might think of visiting Aspen and engage in its world-class skiing, or you might just want to stand in a line for a couple of hours just to see the Mona Lisa in Paris. The idea of a cruise to the Caribbean might also appeal to you, or you might want to whale watch in Maui, Hawaii or sightseeing in Barcelona. Indeed there are a lot of options available for your adventure travel tours and what you really desire is what will basically determine the outcome of your adventure. So simply know what you want and base your decision on that.

Do a Research

If a trip to the Caribbean is the fulfillment of your dream, then there’s a possibility that you’ve been thinking about the place for a long time. Well, now is the right time to make it happen. But before you go for your adventure travel tours, try to do research about your trip first. This will surely prepare you and give you ideas ahead of time of what adventure travel tours can offer. Ask for recommendations, read magazines and books, or go online and ask the Chamber of Commerce of the place you are considering. Those basically are the right moves to take.

Think About the Budget

Your adventure travel tours can be expensive. So, before you engage in one, make sure that your pocket is big enough for the money challenge. Budget your adventure travel tours in advance and balance everything that is involved. Don’t forget to include travel insurance, gasoline costs, auto repairs, and other possible expenses to your budget.

Avoid Over Planning

Over planning means doing things that are not included in your original plan. Well, for some, this just imposes additional efforts and additional budget, which may ruin your entire adventure travel tours. So, before you go for your adventure travel tours, think about some possible extra activities that you might encounter in the way, like having a drinking spree with a couple you just met.

Enjoy and Relax

Adventure travel tours are designed for people to enjoy. So once you are on your way to an adventurous undertaking, then just enjoy the moment. Don’t pressure yourself. Do what you can only do and have a good time.

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