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Most great investors pursue a similar strategy. Warren Buffett is one example that comes to mind, though there is someone who’s done a shade better. Warren Buffett probably needs no introduction. He may be the greatest investor who ever lived. If you study his portfolio over the years, a couple of interesting things stand out.

The first is the fact that Buffett owns large amounts of relatively few stocks. On average, over the past 30 years, Buffett’s top five holdings made up 76% of his total portfolio. Also, Buffett held onto his stocks for nearly four years, on average. That’s a far cry from the annual trading most investors do.

Now, I know we are not all junior “Warren Buffetts.” So we should probably not recommend putting 98% of our money in our favorite penny stocks. But I want to make the point that great investment returns often come out of portfolios made up of a few stocks held for a long time. And over time, these stocks come to dominate the portfolio.

Really, it gets to one of the key ingredients to successful investing. You should invest only when the odds tilt heavily in your favor. Since these opportunities are naturally rare, you ought to bet big when you find them. If you manage to avoid big losers, you will do well over time.

Sun, Sand and Surf - an apt description for Goa? But Goa is much more. Ancient temples and old churches? Yes. Portuguese Colony? Carnival City? The original refuge of the hippies? Yes again! Beach Paradise, India’s tourism capital… the list goes on.

Goa, ‘Pearl of the Orient’, is located in South Western India on the coastal belt known as the Konkan. While naturally blessed with a fortuitous combination of vast expansive beaches, forested hills and fertile plains, Goa’s tourism potential is the result of the potent intermingling of historical occurrences and the absorption capacity of its own compelling spirit.

Goa, Past and Present

Its creation divinely attributed to Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Goa’s ancient rulers included the Rashtrakutas, Kadambas, Silahar, Chalukyas and the Bahamanis.

More recently,significant from the tourism point of view, Goa became a coveted colony of the Portuguese, liberation by the Indian Army granted it Union Terriotry status, later upgraded to State of the Indian Republic.

It is to this fact, perhaps more than any other, that Goa owes its special tourism appeal. For, had Goa been a British colony, history would have been written very differently. Under Portuguese domination, the Iberian culture found a ready crucible to amalgamate with the original sensuous, fun loving Goan spirit. The best of what both worlds had to offer was assimilated into one people, leading to a flowering of the aesthetic, musical, even culinary arts.

The spirit of Sucegado - carefree enjoyment and tranquil peace is probably Goa’s most important, if intangible, tourism export. Also reflected in his ‘happy’ acceptance of the Portuguese cultural invasion is the Goan’s inherent adaptability and willingness to mix, qualities that hold the tourism industry in good stead.

A melting pot of races and religions, the fusion of the Eastern and Western cultures into its own unique ethos of mirth and self-contentment is what attracts Indian and foreign tourists, choc-a-bloc, to Goa.

Such a thriving destination on the world tourism chart, Goa has many attractions to offer. Carefree beach bumming in the true spirit of Sucegado, adventure and watersports, high culture with the churches and an anachronistic way of life that still endures in Old Goa, wild party hopping and culinary adventures … Goa’s tourist is charmingly eclectic in his calling.

Beaches in Goa

India’s unchallenged beach capital, Goa’s coastline is generously sprinkled with sand and surf: From popular tourist spots where one usually sees more skin than sand, to untouched havens that are worth taking that extra trouble to discover.

Starting from Calangute in North Goa , clustered around Panaji, the capital of Goa, and further down, Margao in South Goa, are the most popular beaches on the tourism circuit. These are thickly surrounded by the usual agencies of tourism - hotels and facilities offering modern day luxuries, restaurants, shops, resorts, entertainment centers, spas, resorts, the works.

Outside this ring, moving either North from Calangute or South of Margao the Goa’s beaches become refreshingly more pristine and unpopulated. There, it’s just the sea, surf washed sand, sparkling or alternatively shaded by abundant palms fronds, and you!

Some of Goa’s Popular Tourist Beaches

Vagator: 22 km from Panaji, this crescent shaped beach on the Chapora River basin, in the shadow of the Chapora Fort, is a quiet place to unwind, but during the tourist season is a scene for all night parting.

Anjuna: 18 km from Panaji, nestled between the sea and hill, this is a scenic beach that dazzles tourists with its natural beauty.

Baga: One of Goa’s northern beaches, it is comparatively emptier and surrounded by scenic beauty.

Calangute: Hot tourist favourite, Calangute in North Goa, 15 km from Panaji, is the ‘Queen of Beaches’. The down side of tourism means that this stretch of sand is overcrowded at any time of the year.

Sinquerim: 13 km from Panaji, Sinquerim is popular with tourists for its water sports facilities offering water-skiing, para-sailing diving and surfing.

Miramar: Located just 3 kms from Panaji, it understandably sees the tourist rush and is dotted with houses of the rich and famous. However, lying along the mouth of the Mandovi River as it meets the sea, it is interesting for its view of the Aguada fort.

Aguada : Famous for the17th century Portuguese fort, this has now been converted into a Hotel. Though it’s grounds occupy much of the area around, the beach is open to general tourists.

Agonda: Secluded, this beautiful long stretch of silvery sand is refreshing. Just the place to unwind, feel the sand and listen tom the stories of the sea. The nearby Cabo de Rama is historically interesting. Local legend has it that Lord Rama stayed here with Sita during his exile.

Majorda: A local version of the ‘Ramayana’ has it that Ram was kidnapped as a child and brought up at Majorda. Later Jesuits discovered the best Goan toddy here and today the best bakers in Goa are from here

Colva: 39 km from Panaji and immensely popular with tourists, Colva offers hotels, discos, shops and restaurants. Colva is also famous for the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, which has the statue of Menino Jesus.

Benaulim: Less than 2 kms from Colva, this thriving center of handicraft art is known for the traditional rosewood furniture. The Church of St. John the Baptist on a hill is quite famous as is the monsoon feast of Sao Joao celebrated as thanksgiving.

Varca, Cavelossim, Mobor: These beaches south of Benaulim are really inviting. Cleaner and less crowded than others, they are studded with some exclusive beach resorts in Goa and food shacks. Tourists may get an opportunity to watch wild dolphins.

Palolem: 70 km south of Panaji, this white sandy beach is some commercial activity, including restaurants and shops. Weekends especially tend to get crowded here.

CHURCHES IN GOA

Another contribution of Portuguese rule to Goa’s Tourism is the occurrence of splendid churches, especially in Old Goa. Originally spread with passionate fervour by the former rulers, Goa, Rome of the East, sees the dominant influence of Christianity, both in the religious and cultural spheres. Visible expressions of this are the Churches of Old Goa. Historically, these can be classified into the following periods, reflecting changing architectural styles and iconography.

Early Period: Typified by Goa’s oldest surviving church, Our Lady of Rosary on Monte Santo in the ‘Manueline’ style named after King Emmanuel of Portual. This is a blend of Gothic and Renaissance with the motifs featuring Portuguese seamanship. The construction being unsuited to Goa’s weather, very few of these can be seen by tourists today.
Baroque Period: ‘Golden Goa’ time of hectic missionary activity including the arrival of St. Francis Xavier, saw many grand churches in the contemporary European style built. These include the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Augustine Church of Our Lady of Grace.

Indian Baroque Period: Reflecting local Goan influences in style and design, including the outer faade and inclusion of tropical motifs such as flowers and fruits. Outstanding amongst these are the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the Church of Holy Spirit, Margao.
Rococo Period: Typified by the smaller size of construction but with excuisite ornate finishing with local motifs, it is also known by the use of Stucco on the exterior faade. St, Stephen at San Esteyan near Panaji is a notable example.

Modern Period: Starting from the nineteenth century onwards, this period saw the liberation of Goa’s churches from the rigid norms of the past as different styles flowered. An example is the Nossa Senhora employing the gothic style.

Most churches in Goa continue to fulfill their spiritual purpose, revered by Hindus and Christians alike, while also serving as artistic and cultural attractions for tourists.

Goan Hindu Temples

Goan Hindu Temple architecture is another tourist attraction typified by the influence of local style over the rigid architecturally rigid structure. The maratha influence on Goa’s religious architecture lies in the Deepmal or Lamptower which is from two to six stories high, decorated with oil lamps on festive occasions. Mughal influence seems to express itself in the dome that covers the central shrine in place of the traditional shikhara, as also the Naubat Khana - a small tower at the entrance of the courtyard. Portuguese Christian influence is visible in the curving roofs of the Mandapas.

Not many of Goa’s earliest temples survived the Moghul and later the Portuguese invasions (exceptions are the “Pandava Caves” dedicated to Lord Shiva, located at Aravelam and the Shiva Temple at Tambdi), which saw temples being razed and churches erected in their place. As a result most surviving temples that the tourist in Goa comes across are comparatively modern. The Mahalaxmi Temple in Panaji was the first temple allowed by the Portuguese, following much deliberation, in 1818.

Goan Cuisine

Food is another attraction for the tourist in Goa. Touring in Goa is a wonderful way to encounter Goa’s inimitable cooking is as much a mélange of different cultural invasions as its art, music, culture and literature. The staple for Hindus and Christians alike is rice and fish curry. And while tourist’s taste buds succumb to the temptations of Ambot Tik (Prawns/fish in a sour hot gravy), Sorpotel (fiery wet pork) and Xacuti (spicy meat dish), washed down with Feni (a pungent potent brew made from cashew nuts) it can be too much for the uninitiated palate to handle. Deserts in Goa come in the form of sinfully delicious Dodol (made from coconut and Goa jaggery) and Bebinca (a baked dish with coconut juice and egg yolk)

Truly, this amazing pot-pourri of beach, nature, food and drink, culture and kitsch, religious fervour and profanity and fun galore that represents tourism in Goa would be hard to find anywhere else in the world.

Roozbegh Gazdar
Content Writer
http://www.traveljini.com
seo@traveljini.com

Having the right camping gear on any camping trip makes all the difference when it comes to staying comfortable and enjoying yourself.

Probably the most important camping gear to have on any camping trip is the camping tent. It provides you with shelter from the elements… wind, rain, snow, cold and heat.

Camping tents come in many sizes, weights and levels of durability. As with all camping gear, it is necessary to determine what function your camping tent will serve. If you are planning a backpacking - camping trip, especially for any length of time or distance, you are going to want a camping tent, as well as all your camping gear to be lightweight, compact, durable and waterproof.

However, if you are taking the family on a weekend camping outing to a state or national park, you probably can treat yourself to the luxury of having a larger, bulkier, canvas-type camping tent. Of course, being waterproof here too is also recommended.

When shopping for camping gear, especially your camping tent, take the time to research the different brands and guarantees available, and get recommendations from referrals and reviews.

Making your camping trip an enjoyable one, always begins with having the right camping gear. And, having the right camping gear starts with having the right camping tent.

If you are thinking of taking an unusual vacation, then here is an article you may find of interest. You will never be able to travel in outer space but everyone can see what distant planets and asteroids look like when they discover a meteorite. Meteorites are the windows of space travelers right here on earth.

There are all kinds of trips and vacations that you can go on. Trips don’t have to be formal. They can be a random walk thru the countryside or a walk thru a park. Now how about a new twist. Go hunt for space junk, meteorites , or indian artifacts. Each year ten of thousands of meteorites hit the earth. They are worth big dollars to the finders. In fact they are worth more than gold. You might say they are black gold. This is your chance to find one. You also will be able to say that you have entered the Twilight Zone.

Did you ever go on a strange vacation? Well this one is out of this world. When you come to Truth or Consequences to see the new space station that will launch tourists into space, do a little walking to find space junk…meteorites on our ranch. Hunting for meteorites does not have to be a bone chilling adventure to the Antarctic where the temperature is 50 below zero F and 50 mile per hour winds. Meteors enter the earth atmosphere everywhere. They impact everywhere. The trick in finding them is to look where they have had a good chance of impacting or where they have been concentrated by natural forces of the earth and HAVE NOT BEEN DESTROYED BY WEATHERING. This means deserts are a good place to search for meteorites. Deserts can change over the centuries. But deserts don’t alway have major weathering. Thus if you want to find meteorites you may want to come to our Truth or Consequences Ranch. It is located in New Mexico adjacent to the Chihuahuan Desert. There are trillions and trillions of terrestrial rocks for each meteorite that could be in this area. Metal detectors are used by many professional meteorite hunters around the world. Metal detectors can easily distinguish between ferrous and non ferrous rocks. Since not all meteorites are ferrous only the ferrous meteorites will be found by the metal detector. Modern metal detectors can balance out dominant background rocks. This inhances the detector to find the meteorites. Metal detectors creat a constant hum. The volume and pitch of this hum increases as the detector passes over the metallic object. There are hot rocks which produces a signal but is a false positive. Thus detecting requires concentration and you will see lots and lots of hot rocks. You must also keep a visual eye for other interesting rocks which can be meteorites. It seems that the best way to find meteorites from this area is to use a combination of metal detecting and good old-fashioned shoe-leather foot searching. The weather is not hard to predict for the Truth or Consequences area. Don’t bother to bring a rain coat, it only rains 10″ per year. The winters are mild as it is Southern New Mexico. It could get to 10F, but not for many days of the year. A clear sky with a gentle breeze is the norm.

You can see Jamies web site for unusual travellers at http://www.huntingrelics.com

What is dolphins echolocation? If you dismantle this word, you will notice that it is actually a word that was created by putting the words “echo” and “location” together. So is it important? Yes, it is as it allows you to get a basic definition of the word.

The word “echo” means that the sound that was produced by either a living being or an object actually comes back to its source. The further away the object is, the lower the frequency of the echo. The closer the object is, the higher is the frequency. Dolphins usually can emit sound ranging in frequency from 1.5 up to 11.0 kHz. Most of the time, echolocation has sounds of frequency ranging between 2.0 and 4.0 kHz but certain dolphins can emit sounds such as whistling at a frequency as high as 15.0 kHz. The echo is then producing an acoustic image of the located object or living being is then analyzed and identified.

What is the use of dolphins echolocation? It has quite a few purposes: identifying and locating objects, predators, food, a lost calf or a sick member of their pod. In fact, they can even detect a woman’s pregnancy even before she find out about it and as a result, will behave in a protective manner.

How dolphins echolocation does physically works? Sounds are emitted by the “nasal sac” which is located behind the “melon” (rounded part of the dolphin’s forehead). Then, as the sounds echoes back, the melon is in charge of focusing on sounds and defining them as to enable the dolphin’s brain to analyze and identify their source.

What type of information does echolocation provide to the dolphin? A lot more than you think, for example, it allows the dolphin not only to locate and identify the source but also to discover the size, direction, distance, speed and even the internal structure of any object or living being in the water.

Is the dolphin the only mammal to use echolocation? No, other species such as bats use echolocation as both a safety and survival skill. In fact, the sonar used by the Marine, fishermen, the airport, and other human facilities and services have and are still studying dolphins echolocation to create, years ago, and perfect the technology behind it.

Is dolphins echolocation their language or not? In fact, echolocation can be used as part of their language but is not a language. You see, a dolphin’s language is made of a variety of sounds. Some of them are used in echolocation to warn or locate a member of their pod like a lost calf or a sick or injured member of their group or even a dangerous situation or predator in which cases; echolocation becomes part of their language. In other times, a variety of sounds will be used to communicate a variety of information such as anger, joy, a desire to play, etc.

If you wish to learn more information about echolocation or any other topic or article related to dolphins, I invite you to go to http://dolphins-and-more.com

Planting White Pine Trees In the Lansdale Pa. Area White pines. Whenever I think of white pines, I remember hunting when I was a kid and standing near trees that were giants. Now every pine tree I plant, I can invision those days in the deep woods and those grand trees and hope someone else will have that same enjoyment. These trees will help you too in establish a desired vision to your landscape.

Beyond their size, white pines also fill important ecological niches. They grow across broad ranges of forest and urban conditions, finding much of North America to their liking.

White Pine trees need protection from deer, disease, insects, and competing weeds and shrubs. The better your weed control the better your trees will grow. When seedlings are planted, it best to plant them with large spacings to allow more light to the plant. If these trees are planted in shade, they tend to be more open. White pines are used around new construction because they perform in a wide range of soil conditions. If you have compacted soil from new construction, we suggest smaller trees of 3-5′ height.

All people handling seedlings and small trees need to help with the life support of your plants. Seedlings are like fish out of water and need care which is often overlooked between the time the seedlings are lifted and transplanted. Improper care means higher mortality. Do not try and reinvent the wheel. You must protect seedling from moisture and temperature extremes, as well as physical damage. Seedlings are living and should be handled carefully. For a higher survival rate, treat trees carefully and plant them immediately. I like to have a backup plan for planting if the weather turns bad. I will sometimes switch from lining out the seedlings to potting them up if I realize that the soil conditions will not be right for an extended lenght of time. If planting must be delayed a few days, keep the plants in a cold, protected place with air circulation between the trees. Keep the trees out of the rain and wind. To check if the trees need water, feel the media at the roots.. If it isn’t damp, water the trees and allow the excess water to drain. In cool, damp weather, the biggest threat to these trees is from mold. Try to keep out of soil seedlings moist by either restricting water loss with a water vapor barrier or by wetting the roots at regular intervals. While handling or planting try to reduce temperature and air movement around the seedlings. Windy days can dry out seedlings so consider waiting for calmer weather. Once your soil conditions are correct OUR FREE USE PLANTERS will make planting a snap so its will be worth waiting for good planting conditions.

HOW TO PLANT

Ideal planting days are cool and cloudy with little or no wind. If possible, avoid planting on warm, windy days. The soil should be moist not wet. Care in planting is more important than speed. Make sure the roots are never allowed to become dry. Bare root seedlings should be carried in a waterproof bag or bucket with plenty of moist material packed around the roots to keep them damp. Ideally, bare root boxes should be kept refrigerated or packed in ice or snow. Don’t freeze the trees. Competition from weeds, grass, brush or other trees is very detrimental to survival and growth of seedlings. Choose areas free from this competition or clear at least a three-foot square bare spot before planting. Seedlings should not be planted under the crown of existing trees, or closer than 6 feet to existing brush. Avoid areas near walnut trees. Brush aside loose organic material such as leaves, grass, etc., from the planting spot to expose mineral soil. If organic matter gets into the planting hole, it can decompose and leave air spaces. Roots will dry out when they grow into these spaces. Open up the hole, making sure the hole is deep enough for the roots to be fully extended. If roots are curled or bunched up, the tree will not be able to take up water correctly, will often weaken and die, or may blow down later due to poor root structure. Take a tree out of your planting bag or bucket only after a hole is ready. When exposed, the fine roots can dry out in as little as 30 seconds. Seedling shoots and roots lose water to air, roots require more protecting.Unlike leaves ,they do not have stomata (closeable openings on the surface of the leaves) or any waxy coatings to help reduce water loss. If the roots apear dry they are probably dead. Now I know you are thinking,”I will place them in a buckect of water and store them there until planting”. This will not work. Submerge plants for no longer that a couple of minutes. Placing them in water cuts them off from oxygen. Remember to remove the container before planting a containerized tree. A helpful hint to all those new gardeners just starting is to remember to always plant green side up. Hold the seedling in place in the hole, making sure the roots are straight, fully extended and that the tree is neither too shallow or too deep in the hole. Fill hole, allowing soil to fall in around the roots. Tamp with hands or with your heel. Don’t crush the roots by jumping up and down around the seedling like there is a snake curled up around the seedling. It is delicate. Fill with more soil, if necessary, and tamp. Tamping is important. If soil is not firmly packed around the roots, there will be air pockets that can dry out the roots, and the seedlings may be weakly anchored. It is far easier to plant the tree strait up then have the tree leaning and have to adjust the tree later. (Addition of fertilizer and plant vitamins at the time of planting is not generally necessary.) Take your time in planting. Proper spacing will help you grow a more valuable crop. I have tried to get more production from a limited area by over planting and then thinning, but I always have had trouble in harvesting …. digging is slower and poor quality usually results for a portion of the crop. Avoid these tree planting errors:

Tangled roots Planting too shallow Planting too deep Air pockets Turned up roots (this is called J rooting) Planting trees that are not tolerant of wet soils in poorly drained areas Planting over rocks, septic tanks and leach fields, on sand mounds

CARE OF TREES FOLLOWING PLANTING Check periodically to be sure that brush, grass and other vegetation is kept under control by mowing, mulching, spraying or a combination of these treatments. Always obtain advice from a licensed pest control advisor before using chemicals. You ag extension agency may offer courses in application of chemicals. Monitoring the appearance of your trees will help you to detect signs of insects, diseases or other problems. Apperances also help sell your product. Look for foliage turning yellow, new foliage drooping or other signs of poor health. It is easier to take successful corrective action if the problem is detected early.

Over watering is a common problem in irrigated plantations. You probably won’t need to water more frequently than every 7-10 days. Give your trees a thorough, deep soak and then let the soil dry out before the next watering. This encourages the roots to grow down in search of water. Frequent, shallow watering encourages root growth near the surface and the trees are more dependent on irrigation and are less windfirm. Animals can be a major cause of damage to young trees. Porcupines, gophers, mice, rabbits, deer and cattle are the most frequent source of damage. In many states you may have to call your game commission and get their recomendations on legal methods to protect your crop. In our state, you can get help from the Pa. Game Commission to kill deer that are a threat to your seedlings or obtain a free fence to keep deer away from your seedlings. Over the years we have lost more trees to mice than any other animal. Put rat baits out on a regular basis. Over the years we have lost more seedlings and plants to mice than any other culprit including deer and rabbitts combined. You can see other articles written by Bill Hirst about trees, plants, and shrubs at http://www.zone5trees.com

http://seedlingsrus.com/Arborvitae.html

http://seedlingsrus.com/FreeFencing.html

http://seedlingsrus.com/Winter

http://zone5trees.com/Hedges

http://zone5trees.com/PlantingInstructions.html

http://zone5trees.com/ProfitsGrowingTrees.html

What Does It Mean?

Here’s what your debt ratio means. (I am assuming here that you included a mortgage payment. If you don’t have a mortgage payment, then these numbers should include your rent or the monthly payment you expect to pay, including taxes and insurance, if you buy. If you don’t pay rent or have a mortgage, but you are falling into these categories, then you can assume your debt level is high.)

36 Percent or Less: A debt ratio of 36 percent or less is generally considered healthy. You would not have trouble getting a mortgage with that debt ratio (provided you qualified on income and credit history, of course). The higher your debt ratio, the more risky your situation.

37 Percent to 42 Percent: You will probably find it easy to get credit cards, but it may be more difficult for you to get other types of loans. If you want a mortgage, you may still qualify for a VA or FHA loan, but some lenders will expect you to pay a higher rate or reduce some of your debt first. It would be a good idea to pare down your debt now, while it is manageable.

43 Percent or More: You may be keeping up with the bills, but your debt ratio is definitely on the high side. Financial difficulties are probably right around the corner if you don’t start taking action.

50 Percent or More: Plan a strategy for reducing your debt before it gets too far out of hand.

Most mortgage lenders, by the way, follow the “28/36 percent” rule when evaluating debt/income ratios. That is, to qualify for the mortgage, your monthly house payment debt (including taxes and insurance) should not exceed 28 percent of your gross income. Your total monthly debt paymentshousing plus all other revolving and unsecured debtsshould not exceed 36 percent of your gross monthly income. (Notice that only leaves 8 percent for nonmortgage debts.) FHA and VA loans and some first-time-buyer programs are more lenient, with acceptable ratios as high as 41 percent. If you can’t meet those debt ratios, you may be required to put up a higher down payment, take out an unconventional mortgage (such as owner financing), or pay some of your debts before you can qualify for the loan.

Coaching is a term that has become incredibly familiar over the last 8 years. The term personal coaching first became popular in the United States where, together with NLP aka Neuro Linguistic Programming, it became part of a new and improved tremendous wave of really proactive therapy techniques.

In many ways both Performance Coaching and NLP are an answer against certain factors of the human-centred therapy movement, in particular Humanistic Counselling. A criticism of the person-centred approach is that it is awfully reactive and not decidedly proactive. Although this works fantastic with some clients, with other clients long periods of no exit in sight or low return for time and effort occur. Life coaching and NLP are both humanistic in stance, spending time on improving a person?s well-being rather than jumping into the minefields of childhood, like traditional therapy. Their emphasis is, however, deliberately proactive and used to make you happy. Get help with stress management with a life coach.

Performance coaching is not about preaching to the coaching client what to do. This is a common misconception. Some lifestyle coaches are fairly successful in their business careers and then make the change to coaching, assuming that they will only be required to share their pearls of breathtaking wise wisdom with the life coaching client. Sharing pearls of wisdom is more like mentoring an apprentice in a specific environment. Coaching is instead about life as a collective.

Which is the best African safari company for my safari trip?

This is a question that comes up very frequently and it’s not surprising.

There are so many safari operators in the market all promising the earth that it is very difficult to choose between them, especially when you know nothing about them.

But there is a way to improve your chances significantly of making the right choice of safari company for your dream African safari trip and avoid the ones that might turn your trip into a nightmare. And it consists of three simple steps.

Don’t let this happen to you

If you leave this decision to chance and just go with the safari company that seems the best or the cheapest you might end up in a situation like Dale and Dana Russell who went on safari in Tanzania and chose their safari company by gut instinct and price.

They were the only two in the safari vehicle on this trip but things started to go downhill fast when they asked their driver and guide questions and he would only answer in monosyllabic grunts and sometimes not at all.

And then on the way to the Serengeti from Nairobi he began to visit his relatives while Dale and Dana had to sit fuming in the safari vehicle.

To make matters worse when they finally did reach the
Serengeti he would drive straight at the animals as if he was going to run them over and then stop at the last moment. And finally on the way back to Nairobi he did run over and kill a goat that was crossing the road, making no attempt to swerve or slow down.

Beware. There are a few shoestring operations like this out there but this one has fortunately since closed down.

So how do you avoid these cowboy operators when you choose a safari company for your trip? Simply apply the following three steps and you will cut out all the risky operators.

Recommendations from others

Some of the best advice you will receive about a safari company is from people who have been on a trip with them already. They can tell you exactly how the company performed and it’s first hand information without any kind of marketing agenda.

This is a great way to create a shortlist of safari companies so if you know anyone who has been on safari before ask them about it. But what if you don’t know someone who has been on safari before?

No problem. There are dozens of websites on the internet that list safari trip reports and travel diaries written by the people who have previously gone on the trip themselves. Find them and learn from them. The tips and recommendations you can glean there are very valuable for your own trip.

Check their credentials

The next thing you need to do is check the credentials of the safari company you are planning to use to make sure they are reputable.

To do your own research here is the process to follow…

Membership in safari associations don’t guarantee that a company is reputable but it can be a pretty good indication so find out if your prospective safari guide is listed.

Here are the associations you can check: KATO - Kenya Association of Tour Operators, TATO - Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, SATSA - Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, TASA - Tours and Safari Association of Namibia, ATTA - African Travel and Tourism Association and ASTA - American Society of Travel Agents.

If they are not members it doesn’t automatically mean they are not reputable but it does afford some peace of mind.

Ask the right questions

So you have a safari company in mind and you’ve done a little research to find out more about them and now it’s time to get in touch. What questions do you need to ask to make sure you are going to get the best value for your money?

Find out how many other people there will be on your trip. Some of the companies can be guilty of trying to cram too many people into the safari vehicle and that can become unpleasant.

And ask about their payment policies. Some companies place the clients money in trust until the tour occurs so that in the unlikely event of the company going into liquidation your money will be safe.

Make sure they explain their cancellation and refund policy to you clearly and the timing of reservations and payments that need to be made.

There are dozens of other questions that you can ask but these should go a long way towards establishing if they are a fly-by-nighter just out to make a quick buck.

Follow the three steps and you can find the best safari company for your trip with unerring accuracy.

The Top Three African Safari Operators list at the African Safari Journals website is compiled by using the recommendations of previous safari travellers and covers the best companies in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.

Not sure where to go on safari? These are the Top Five Safari Destinations in Africa ranked by using trip reports from previous visitors to these areas.

Review one of the world’s greatest selections of properties in Spain here!

Although the Property Index is generally viewed as a recent concern, doing business since March 2007, they have quick attained to expert status. Actually, they are a pretty hassle-free concern focusing entirely on offering their expert opinion to every client determined to rent, buy, sell or let land across the world. They’re guaranteed to be of assistance to you to hit upon smack what you crave very swiftly not to mention easily. Real property is available all over the place in our times, certainly the most called for area being property available for sale in Spain. It should really be no problem to tick off the sensational estate available in Spain, one motive for choosing properties here being a combination of the houses and apartments for sale and the opportunity of living together with such a energetic, eager and welcoming populace.

It is one of the most sought after areas in our times, and in view of the lovely landscape and the great climate surrounding you all the time, how could you ever say no! Real property in Spain is very rich in history and culture, this part of the world is and has always been home to quite a few civilizations. Some 25-30 years back you would find just a small number of English keen on estate in Spain. Ask just about anyone who has relocated to Spain and they’ll be sure to corroborate this. Plenty of people would insist on seeing it as a plain vogue and others insist on seeing it as a practically a fetish. People that repair to this place range from young freshly weds looking for a bit of a new perspective to retired clients meaning to enjoy themselves and have a break.

There might be obstacles when buying estate abroad; you can find there are a hundred actions to follow when budgeting, surveying or actually purchasing. Even if only a single step is missed that is sure to escalate insurmountable obstacles as well as, even more important, monetary loss. Naturally, as is to be anticipated with this sought after area, estate might be fairly upscale in this location and that is absolutely owing to the wide spread market demand. Regardless of this the client patently is somewhat spoilt in terms of choice in a region blessed by phenomenal terrain and pleasant panorama. It offers the whole shebang a buyer could possibly itch for and more.