Alaska

Known as the great land , Alaska seems like a harsh, remote wilderness and alaska lodge certainly nowhere anyone would want to live. These assumptions are blown away once you visit and alaska lodge are overwhelmed by Mother Nature at her absolute best. From magnificent mountain ranges to ocean shores to glaciers to raging rivers, Alaska is an outdoor enthusiasts dream. In a state that compromises fully 20 percent of the total land mass of the United States, there is practically nothing that can t be found. On a personal aside, Denali National Park is a place you should visit at least once in your lifetime. It will leave a mark and alaska lodge give you a new respect for nature.

Anchorage

Anchorage is home to roughly forty percent of the human population in Alaska as bears, moose and alaska lodge so forth seem to prefer other areas. If you re flying in to Alaska, Anchorage is going to be your destination. Overall, Anchorage is a sprawling, chaotic city. It has received more than its fair share of criticism for being un-Alaskan, but it is the primary choice of homebuyers looking for a big city in Alaska.

Juneau

The state capital of Alaska, Juneau is the best city in Alaska in my opinion. The city abuts rain forests, mountains and alaska lodge the Gastineau Channel. Named after the first prospector to strike gold in the area, Juneau is a collection of modern amenities with old world charm. Buy a home in Juneau and alaska lodge you ll wake up every morning to the most spectacular views in the world. Put another way, Juneau is where the cruise ships stop in Alaska.

Alaska Real Estate

In a state as large as Alaska, prices can vary tremendously. Property in small towns can cost next to nothing, but lets focus on the biggies. $300,000 is the average cost for a single-family residence in Anchorage, while it is going to take $450,000 to buy the same home in Juneau. For 2005, homes in Alaska appreciated at a rate of just over 13 percent.

When choosing your lodge safari, choose a lodge with care. Many visitors want to see the great migration and alaska lodge the Serengeti. Some lodges are in fact hotels and alaska lodge although very nice; they do not contribute to that out of Africa experience. What is called for is a camp experience; these private camps are ideal for the intimate African experience. So when you look to plan your trip do not go for the lodge safari but the private camp safari. Your choice of lodge or camp is an important part of the whole safari experience.

These camps are usually made up of a small number of tents; not your two man tent with no standing room, sleeping on the hard and alaska lodge sometimes damp ground. Not the cooking over a stove and alaska lodge eating grass and alaska lodge sand with your tinned food. No, these private camps have tents that have large comfortable beds, bathroom en suite and alaska lodge butler service. The food is of the highest quality and alaska lodge you dine from bone china and alaska lodge drink champagne [or beer] from crystal glasses.

If you want to listen at night to the song of the African bush with the occasional distant [or sometimes close] roar of a lion; if you want to open your tent in a morning to be greeted by Impala and alaska lodge Zebra grazing so close to your tent you could touch them; then choose one of these camps. If you want to be in a remote part of the park but close to the animals; if you want to stand in to open plains of the Serengeti and alaska lodge not be joined by a caravan of twenty other safari vehicles then the private camp is the option above the mere mass tourist lodge.

There are several such camps scattered throughout the Serengeti. Your choice of camp will depend on what time of year you visit Tanzania. A good camp is Kusini Camp in the Southern Serengeti, small luxurious, and alaska lodge in an ideal spot from the end of December until March, as the great migration is in this area at this time. However, the rest of the year this camp is a bit isolated and alaska lodge animals may be harder to spot.

A problem with planning a safari round the migration is that the migration follows the rains and alaska lodge the rains are notoriously unpredictable. Your camp may end up being in the wrong area of the Serengeti. This year the migration was in the Northern Serengeti at a time of year when normally the animals have crossed into Kenya. Many safari expeditions finding themselves in the wrong country!

This is a head ache for safari operators as a disappointed client is not good for business. This can be solved with a mobile camp this is by far the best option but also by far the most expensive option.

There are a new breed of camps emerging, the semi-permanent camp. This is a tented camp that moves maybe three or four times per year. It will follow the migration ensuring that whilst the migration is in the Serengeti the camp will also be in the mist of the animals. One such camp I have heard good reports about is EMC [Exclusive Mobile Camp Serengeti]. They are friendly, knowledgeable, embrace fair trade tourism and alaska lodge best of all the camp is very good value for money. They have a web site and alaska lodge have an office in Arusha and alaska lodge will give out details of the migration and alaska lodge the position of their camp. This is great for tour operators and alaska lodge also for people wanting to plan a safari.

This is where the internet can help in a positive way; to help you plan a safari that will truly be a holiday of a life time. There is no need to hope your travel agent will do a good job in planning your vacation. Take some of the responsibility your self and alaska lodge plan your safari; check out your destination and alaska lodge accommodation. If you travel agent or tour operator is not cooperative or flexible change them to someone who is willing to earn their commission.

Day 2 - 5: Fly to Elsa's Kopje - Meru National Park in North Eastern Kenya. Elsa s Kopje is a luxurious oasis in the wilds of Meru National Park and alaska lodge was named after Elsa the lioness raised and alaska lodge set free here in Meru National Park; by George and alaska lodge Joy Adamson in the film Born Free. The lodge blends into the hillside of Mughwango Hill, site of George Adamson s original camp. Here game drives will be provided by the lodge in their open vehicles for a romantic African safari, reminiscent of bygone days.

Meru is vast with arid, open plains dotted with Doum Palms and alaska lodge Baobab trees and alaska lodge lush vegetation along 13 rivers, like green ribbons, bisecting the Park. Here visitors will see a diverse range of species, many animals differing from their counterparts in Southern Kenya and alaska lodge Tanzania. Regular sightings include Beisa Oryx, Gerenuk, Elephant, Grevy s Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Lesser Kudu, Grant s Gazelle, Leopard, Lion, Cheetah, Rhino and alaska lodge the rare, elusive Greater Kudu. Meru is famous for its bird life, including riverine and alaska lodge forest species as well as the arid dry country species

Day 6: Return flight to Nairobi's Wilson airport and alaska lodge connection flight to Arusha in Northern Tanzania. Today and alaska lodge overnight is spent Coffee Lodge a lovely luxury lodge set in a working coffee plantation.

Day 7 - 9: Tarangire National Park: Transport 4 x 4 'safari' Land Cruiser to Swala Camp. Swala's nine private, permanent tents feature en suite bathrooms with showers, complemented by fittings and alaska lodge fixtures crafted from local materials to mirror the understated elegance of the time-honored safari style.

Nestled in a remote pocket of Tarangire National Park, Swala is sited in a copse of majestic acacia trees at the edge of the Gurusi wetlands and alaska lodge the unfurling savannah beyond. The stands of ancient baobab trees, large family herds of elephants, prolific bird life and alaska lodge dry season concentrations of wildlife make Tarangire the classic Africa of lore feted by explorers, immortalized in documentaries and alaska lodge sought after by the discerning traveler. This picturesque safari hideaway is exclusive in the southwestern corner of Tarangire National Park, affording guests private game viewing, wilderness luxury, and alaska lodge a privileged glimpse of an Africa, unspoiled by tourism.

Day 10 - 11: Ngorongoro Crater: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge consists of three adjacent, glamorous camps with 30 Maasai-inspired suites perched on stilts on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. From the outside, this unobtrusive lodge resembles a magical Maasai village. Set in classic crescents, each stone and alaska lodge thatch suite has spectacular views of the crater from large glass windows in the bathroom, lounge and alaska lodge bedroom, yet is almost invisible from the crater floor.

Day 12 - 14: Central Serengeti: Your lodge will be Serena Serengeti Lodge conveniently placed for your early morning ballooning safari over the serengeti.

At dawn take off, rising as the sun rises and alaska lodge float in whichever direction the winds of the morning take us. Your pilot can precisely control the altitude of your balloon: sometimes flying at treetop height, sometimes lower, offering a unique perspective and alaska lodge great photographic opportunities of the wildlife below.

Day 15: Return flight from the Serengeti in light aircraft to Arusha for onward flight to Pemba or Mafia Island.

But not all Alaska cruise trips are alike. You first need to decide what you want on your cruise. If you like to be pampered in the lap of luxury then you ll want to take advantage of one of the many Alaska luxury cruises. Here you can relax in the spa, have a wonderful massage and alaska lodge enjoy all the amenities of a first class resort. You will dine on the best foods, available at almost any hour. Just like most cruises, Alaska cruises are the ultimate in pampering guests.

Alaska cruises have something for everyone in the family. Along with the usual cruise amenities of pools, games, exercise, meeting new people and alaska lodge fun, Alaska cruises offer interesting scenery you won t find at home. On your cruise, not only will you ll be amazed by majestic glaciers but you might spot brown bears, eagles, humpback whales or sea lions.

If you want adventure, there are many cruise packages that can satisfy your needs as well as offer typical cruise amenities.

One popular Alaskan adventure is sea kayaking. You can pick from tours in choppy waters or, for the more tame at heart, a calmer course is offered. Sea kayaking gives you an opportunity to get outdoors and alaska lodge see a lot of the coastline which is abundant with local wildlife.

Hiking is another popular excursion that you can try once your cruise ship docs. You can choose from any number of guided hikes using different trails and alaska lodge going out for different lengths of time. It s a great chance to get out in the wilderness and alaska lodge experience nature Alaska style. If this isn t enough for you, you can even work in some rock climbing while you are off ship.

The best time to take an Alaska cruise is in the summer where you will be able to enjoy Alaska in fairly mild weather. There are 2 basic paths that cruises take one goes throught the inside passage which visits Alaskan panhandle ports and alaska lodge the other through the Gulf of Alaska visiting more glaciers and alaska lodge northern points. Be sure that you check the weather and alaska lodge pack accordingly!

1. Lake Nakuru Lodge

Located in the Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru Lodge is in the heart of a Ramsar site, one of the most densely animal populated wetland national parks.

The lodge is a two hour drive from Nairobi through wonderful scenery of the White Highlands and alaska lodge the rift valley floor.

The lodge is an oasis of comfort and alaska lodge can accommodate 120 people including families in rooms, cottages and alaska lodge suites. Among the delights are a bush barbecue and alaska lodge outside catering. They arrange game drives, rhino paddock viewing.

Tsavo West Wildlife Park Lodges and alaska lodge camps

2. Ngulia Safari Lodge

Ngulia safari lodge is located in Tsavo West National Park on the edge of the Ndawe Escarpment with panoramic views of the Sweeping plains.

The lodge is ideal for exploring the Tsavo West, one of the world s largest national parks with over 60 species of mammals within its borders. There is also a famous black rhino sanctuary which guarantees a sighting of this very rare animal.

Accommodation consists of 52 rooms, all en-suite with balconies facing the wilderness. The lodge has a restaurant, two bars, a viewing bay and alaska lodge swimming pool. A nearby waterhole is floodlit to allow guests to see nocturnal animals, including the very elusive leopards, coming to quench their thirst. A special gallery allows Hippos to be viewed underwater.

It is also a bird watchers paradise because of the large numbers of migratory birds that arrive there between October and alaska lodge December. Guests also take a drive to Mzima Springs to observe the hippos from a special viewing point.

Chyulu Hills Wildlife park Lodges and alaska lodge camps

3. Ol Donyo Wuas Eco-lodge

The eco-lodge is set in some of Kenya s most dramatic scenery; Ol Donyo Wuas lies in the foot hills of the Chyulu Range, half way between Tsavo and alaska lodge Amboseli National Parks and alaska lodge just a 45 minute flight from Nairobi.

Accommodation consists of seven individual cottages built from local materials, with spectacular views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Each Cottage has an en-suite bathroom with solar electricity and alaska lodge hot water. Two cottages have an extra bedroom for guests with young children.

The eco-lodge has exclusive use of over 300,000 acres of Maasai-owned wilderness, providing ample opportunities for cultural interaction, bush horse riding, and alaska lodge open vehicle game drives and alaska lodge walking in Chyulu Hills. A wide range of animals can be viewed including lion, elephant, cheetah, hyena, ostrich, zebra, giraffe, jackal, leopard, rhino, wildebeest and alaska lodge gazelle.