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Archive for March, 2010

Games For Backpackers

What are the best games for backpackers? Apart from being ones that you will actually enjoy they need to be lightweight and easy to carry. Here are some suggestions some for games that don’t even need to be carried anywhere but in your head.

Chess Years ago I took a white handkerchief and used a ruler and pen to draw lines on it making an eightbyeight grid of squares. I darkened in the appropriate ones with a permanent marker to create a chess board. Then I bought 3 chess set threw out the board and put the lightweight chessmen in a small plastic bag with my folded up cloth board. I have taken this 3ounce game with me to other countries and on many backpacking trips over the years.

Card Games A deck of cards weighs just a few ounces. You can even get a miniature deck if you want to really cut that weight. When it comes to lightweight games for backpackers this is a great idea because there are perhaps a hundred different ones which can be played with one deck of cards. You probably already know a few including games like solitaire that don’t require another player.

Mancala If you have never played this one you can look up the simple rules online. The game usually consists of a wooden board with six depressions carved out on each side and a larger “bank” on either end plus 24 glass beads per side. There are no boards I have seen that are small enough for backpacking but once you know the game it can be played on the shore of a sandy lake or stream by digging two rows of six holes and putting four pebbles or pine cones in each.

TicTacToe This classic can be played on any piece of paper if you have some with you. Alternately you can scratch out a tictactoe board in the dirt or make one with four straight sticks. If you don’t want to scratch your x’s and o’s in the ground you can just use five each of two different objects like pebbles and pine cones.

Survival Games There are many “survival games” that you can play without needing to carry anything. If the members of your group know a few wild edible plants for example you can challenge each other to spot the first wild raspberry or cattail plant as you hike. On winding trails you can each guess what your heading is before checking the compass to see who is closer.

When in camp for the night you can play mental games like creating a survival scenario and trying to think of the best way to get out safely. You can pick an item like a pine cone or a trekking pole and then see who can think of the most ways to use it in a survival situation. Of all the games for backpackers these are some of my favorites because they are fun and they hone your skills and knowledge.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Copyright Steve Gillman. See the Wilderness Survival Guide get the ebook “Ultralight Backpacking Secrets And Wilderness Survival Tips” as well as gear recommendations and stories at: http://www.TheUltralightSite.com

Game Reserves In Kenya: Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park’s unique geography and geological history it holds fascination for geologists naturalists botanists ornithologists and preservationists. Of course wherever there is interest to science there is also appeal to the perhaps less scientific species among us the tourist who is none the less eager for new and interesting information .

50 Million years ago subterranean forces ripped apart the earths crust creating a yshaped crack across the surface of the earth. The crack known as the Great Rift Valley stretches from Syria and Lebanon at one end to Mozambique at the other end. The Red Sea the Gulf of Jordan and the Gulf of Aden were all formed around and because of the rift.

Lake Victoria along with all the great lakes in Africa and in fact Lake Nakuru itself all formed as a result of the rift. In East Africa and in particular in Kenya the two branches of the rift are known as the Eastern Rift Valley and the Western Rift Valley now both contain Kenya Game Reserves. As the earth cracked and tore volcanic eruptions forced up huge amounts of molten rock. Today the area is still marked by extinct and active volcanos as well as geysers and hot springs.

The area of the Rift Valley is rich in fossils and remains of our hominid ancestors. It is a favorite site for archeologists and geologists having reminders and clues of the earths history and of our history as a human species. Ape ancestors over ten million years old have been uncovered in the Rift Valley. The 8 lakes of Kenyas Eastern Rift Valley have high concentrations of minerals and salt.

Lake Nakuru is located in Kenyas Eastern Rift Valley. It is a shallow alkaline lake that is home to some special organisms not found either in the sea or in fresh water lakes.

The special algae that thrive here are favored by the pink flamingos the parks biggest tourist attraction. The charm and beauty of the flamingos covering the lake like a fluttering pink scarf floating over the water is said to be one of the most beautiful sights in Africa and Lake Nakuru one of the more wondrous Kenya Game Reserves.
For more information about safaris in Kenya Kenya Game Reserves Lake Nakuru and some of Kenyas other attractions visit http://www.mykenyaguide.com/gamereservesinkenya.html

About the writer:  Maggie Nguyo is a Kenyan who is well versed with most Kenya travel aspects. She is also the editor of http://www.mykenyaguide.com a website that is invaluable to travellers to Kenya. Written in a simple and personal manner this website gives you insights and tips to help you to plan for your most memorable holiday in Kenya.

Freeport Bahamas: Take A Break And Savor The Fun Side Of Life

For the initiators Freeport Bahamas is a location on the globe that fulfills your dreams of an ideal vacation. The city is a free trade zone on the island of great Bahamas which lies exactly 160 km northeast of Fort Lauderdale Florida. Tourism being the mainstay of the city about a million visitors are welcomed here annually. Home to ethnic preColumbian Lucayan inhabitants the city is often referred as Freeport/Lucaya. Variety of sights and smells greet while you are on your morning sojourns. The garden of groves situated in the city is one such place where you are subjected to the pristine nature in the form of rare flowers trees and singing waterfalls. And if you are one of those who are interested in getting hold of ethnic flora then Center of Rand nature is an apt place for you. You will find most of the hotels located along the southern Atlantic Ocean shore. Shopping is a fun aspect of the whole tour package at the international bazaar near the downtown Freeport and the port Lucaya market place in Lucaya. Discover the history of Freeport Bahamas with the development stories doing the rounds. The city has been developed from what was part of a swamp and the scrubland once by Wallace Groves a Virginian financier in 1955. As far as sports lovers are concerned a lot of water sports like the deepsea fishing scuba diving and many other activities are there to hold on your attention. Freeport Bahamas is situated at an ideal distance of about 68 miles from the West Palm Beach and is accessible by the large vessels ass well. It has got a cruise terminal a transshipment port and a private yatch along with a ship management facility. For the funfilled night outs there are Casinos theatres nightclubs and the beach side bars. Freeport Bahamas comes alive with the awesome night shows and the bands which remind you of nothing but your joyous youth. For the gamblers as well there are numerous casinos where one can try out his luck. An array of games take care of the most of the gamblers yearning for variety. For the beginners lessons and tips to play these games are also offered by the casino care takers. For the water sports lovers snorkeling is an apt way to unwind. To find one surrounded by the unique flora and fauna of an ocean is a sure fire way to bliss. Savor some of the best delicacies of the city by booking a seat at any seaside eating joint. Here items like conch fritters and other seafood is served to the customers. Freeport Bahamas is a free trading zone and no taxes are paid on the income profits distribution and even on the items which are either exported or imported. The place banks on its natural landscapes that offer peace of mind to many a tired soul. Combined with a modern lifestyle Freeport is an ideal location to forget the humdrum of life. It amazes one to discover that a place still exists on this very earth that offers solitude and an unparalleled scenic beauty to its visitors. The accommodation rates can be checked form the local travel agents or better go for the government provided manuals. These will serve your purpose perfectly as every range and economic class has been catered to.

About the writer:  Suzane Gray has been offering Bahama travel and vacation packages advice for quite some time. To find cheap Bahamas vacation Bahamas golf vacation Bahamas vacation package Freeport Bahamas Cheap Bahamas Vacation Grand Bahamas Island that best suits your needs visit www.gobahama.com.