Holidays in East Africa are some of the most enjoyable and memorable. This part of Africa has lots of things to offer to both local travelers and international visitors. It has a pleasant climate in most regions thus making it a place you can enjoy a holiday at any given time of the year. Some areas in East Africa have more sunny days and are popular spots for holidaymakers especially those from colder regions of the world.

Beach Holidays

These are some of the most popular holiday options in East Africa especially for countries like Kenya. With the Mombasa coast dotted with stunning beaches, it is definitely a great place for that deserved beach holiday. The beach offer fun activities to all and it is one of the major features that tourists look for in a holiday destination. Some of the beaches are ideal for specific water sports such as windsurfing while others are most suitable for scuba diving. Others will offer basically every water sport you could be interested in Kenya.

When choosing the best spot for your beach holiday therefore, it is important to consider all the activities that you will be exposed to. The beach holidays will in most cases have beach resorts and modern hotels as your accommodation options. Always make a point of checking what each option has to offer you in terms of services and comfort. You will find everything from luxurious to adventurous thus it is not as hard to make a decision.

Green Holidays

These are also very popular in East Africa. With lots of natural grounds like; the rain forest, the holidays are breathtaking and memorable in every sense. They are spent in areas with majestic mountains, shimmering lakes, plantations and landscapes that are breathtaking. The best activities that you will enjoy on your East African green holiday include nature walks, hiking, cycling, mountain climbing, game drives, tracking, trekking and also picnicking in the most attractive natural grounds.

The green holidays also come with numerous options for your accommodation with the most impressive being eco friendly lodges. The lodges come in different sizes as they also include Family cottages and will therefore easily accommodate families on holiday. They are located in the most beautiful areas making it possible to enjoy those beautiful sunrises and romantic sunsets. Hotels and guest houses also make wonderful accommodation options for your green holiday in East Africa. Always choose an option that will help in meeting all the holiday needs and expectations that you have but be sure you will not be disappointed in East Africa.Mostly Uganda is well Known as the green Country and it Has a variety of Green Plantations that include Forests like Bwindi Forest in western Uganda  which  is good while taking a Uganda  Safaris The Packages Offered Include Gorilla Trekking,wildlife Safaris and Cultural Safaris.

By: Sophie Evans

The environment is a hot issue that we just can’t afford to ignore any longer. To some, being environmentally aware is a way of life, a necessary and fundamental aspect of existence. To others being ‘green’ is something to aspire to, a lifestyle that with a bit of guidance could be achievable.

Young people have been brought up in a culture of ecological revelations, such as the depletion of the ozone layer and melting polar ice caps. We all know that these things are still happening yet we’ve still got a long way to go before the impacts of modern society on our planet are decelerated. Our parents weren’t particularly clued up about the effect that peoples’ actions have on their environment and recycling was certainly never an option in many houses in the 80s and 90s. However, these days we do have the resources and the knowledge to make little changes that can improve the planet for the better. If we can slow down on the road then we might be able to slow down climate change.

High levels of Co2 emissions are one of the biggest influencers of climate change and environmental damage. Exhaust emissions contain a myriad of chemicals which clog up the atmosphere and cause long term damage to our surroundings. Aviation contributes to a large proportion of the damage. Each jet requires hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel to get to its destination. Short of getting to your holiday resort by rail, a bit tricky if you’re off to the Maldives, there is little that you or I can do about aviation emissions. However, drivers can make a massive difference to the environment by taking a few steps to reduce their emissions and help reduce harmful pollution.

You can reduce the amount of fuel you use by up to 25% by changing some of your habits. Driving is expensive, with the cost of car insurance, road tax and fuel to consider. It’s not difficult to alter your lifestyle; we owe it to our future offspring and more importantly right now, we owe it to our pockets! Whilst we may not live long enough to see the benefit to the environment we can feel the immediate benefit to our pockets.

By being slightly more conscientious drivers we can all make a huge difference. Follow these tips from www.hootcarinsurance.co.uk and you’ll soon help protect the planet and feel the immediate payback in your pocket.

• Keep a steady speed when driving; by reducing the use of your pedals you reduce the use of fuel.

• Anticipate conditions, and accelerate and decelerate efficiently. This is safer and uses less fuel. It is also proven that you won’t get to your destination faster by speeding. According to Earteasy.com the most fuel-efficient speed for your car is roughly 55 mph, or 90 km/h. Increasing your speed from 55 mph to 75 mph boosts your fuel consumption a stunning 20 percent!

• If you are in traffic or caught behind railway gates, then turn off your engine. Idling uses up a great deal of fuel especially when some train gates stay down for as long as ten minutes.

• Keep your tyres pumped up to the correct level. This will save you up to 4% fuel.

• Maintain your car and change the air filter as recommended by the manufacturers’ guidelines.

• If at all possible, car share to work, this will save you money and give you a clear conscience! Some companies arrange car share schemes as do some local councils. See www.nationalcarshare.co.uk and www.liftshare.co.uk for more information.

• Walk to work if you live nearby. Not only will this keep you fit but you’ll also save fuel and money.

• Buy a car with a small engine. This will not only cut emissions but also means really cheap car insurance, cheaper tax and manoeuvrability in busy towns. Driving a 4×4 means 50% less fuel efficiency, so unless you are a farmer and regularly go off road, there really is no need to drive a gas guzzling vehicle in urban areas. By the way spray on mud is a dead giveaway!

So, we can all cut our costs and save the planet at the same time by making a few changes to the way we drive, but what about the future of fuel? Surely driving more slowly can’t be the only solution?

The future of travel

There are some innovative new energy solutions, new engine designs and hybrid car concepts which are set to take off in the years to come.

Hybrid cars are vehicles that have an ordinary combustion engine combined with another energy source such as batteries or electricity. The alternative energy source takes over from the engine when it is inefficient, such as during long slow drives. These hybrids are extremely efficient and half as polluting as normal cars with petrol engines. The good news is you don’t even have to change your beloved car because it can be converted as long as it’s less than six years old. This can be costly but long term it could save you money. There are also several government schemes running that can help you to convert your car. Some manufacturers have already caught onto the benefits of hybrid vehicles. For examples of hybrids look at the Toyota Prius, the Ford Escape and the Honda Accord to name but a few.

Electric cars may be the way ahead for city dwellers. With no emissions and using a quarter of the energy consumption of a similar sized petrol car they may revolutionise driving in the longer term. Although the cars currently on the market only drive at a maximum of 40 mph, they are exempt from tax, some congestion charges and great news for young people… they are in the lowest car insurance group. After the initial outlay of around £8,000 the car is cheap to run and extremely eco-friendly.

The future of fuel

Sulphur free fuel: We can expect to be able to buy this by 2008, in fact this will become compulsory by that date.

Biodiesel: This is a blend of 95% low sulphur diesel and 5% rapeseed oil. This reduces CO2 emissions by as much as 5% and can be used in an engine that hasn’t been converted to this type of fuel.

Bioethanol: Although this could take years to become widely available it produces less air pollutants and is renewable. It is made through the distillation of wheat, sugar or biomass. It can be used blended in unmodified engines or straight in modified engines.

The future of our environment is in our hands. If you can’t afford to buy a hybrid car or convert your engine, you can certainly make a start on your eco friendly lifestyle by following the driving tips above. It’s not too late to decelerate the impact of our polluting behaviour by decelerating our driving. It really is worth it for the future of the planet and for the health of our bank balances.

Editorial notes: Self Drive Uganda is an online car hire provider which offers massive savings on car hire on self drive in Uganda. Choose from a wide range of tours in Uganda and discover Uganda on your own with our self drive tour packages.

As the head of your school, it’s always your role and duty to offer a wonderful vacation to your students. It has been so long since you and your students took a good vacation and it’s now out of your minds. This is the exact spot where you can plan yet another wonderful trip to Africa which will take ages to be forgotten. A wonderful Uganda Safari is such unforgotten experience and together with a gorilla safari, this trip will be your once a life time vacation. Taking your students on this Safari will be one of the best things that you have ever offered them. From young children at school to the adult members, everyone loves seeing animals on the television and this time, it’s a good time to see them in their natural habitat which is just a real learning experience for everyone.

After saving your money for a good period of time and now you feel you are ready to take your family for a great Uganda safari vacation for a number of days. You can start by finding out more information about the kind of package you want yourschool to enjoy. Uganda is really an amazing safari destination that will fulfill your every need. You will want to make sure you are planning your safari with a quality company that has a proven good background in this area. They should be able to provide you with an itinerary of the trip so you can look at it and make sure it is right one for you and your school group.

What makes a Uganda safari more expensive is the gorilla trekking tour, however its experience is worth paying the money. Get your package ready or what you really want and then contact different tour operators to offer you their opinions about it and the prices each one has to offers.

Visiting the pearl of Africa will never be a mistake for your study group. You will enjoy every time you will spend in the wilderness. You can decide whether to take a luxury safari or a low budget safari while you are here. In every National Park there are luxury or top end lodges, mid range and low budget lodges. You will get the chance to see the King of the jungle (Lion) in its wilderness where it rules, buffaloes, leopards, primate species like monkeys and chimpanzees. Then the experience becomes greater when it comes to trekking the mountain gorillas of Bwindi National Park in Uganda.

Booking your tour will be the final stage of the preparations even after confirming your air tickets. This is because gorilla permits are only valid on the date registered on the permits and you better be sure of the exact dates you will fly into the pear of Africa so as to fix your trekking date. You can extend your wild safari to Ssese Islands for a short Island and beach vacation to rest your mind and also enjoy the beauty of Lake Victoria and all the different activities such as spot fishing, swimming, canoeing and visiting the local fish villages as well as the palm oil industries. With all the above in mind, you can as well search more info on the specific destinations you want to visit. There is a lot more information on the internet and in the books. Have fun and enjoy your Uganda Safari.