Land of Cicadas, Nitmiluk National Park, N.T. Australia

Advantages: Beatiful scenery, unspoilt and outback
Disadvantages: Very hot, very wet at certain times of the year, not easily accesible without transport

...THE KATHERINE GORGE AND NITMILUK NATIONAL PARK KATHERINE: Katherine is a mining town in the Northern Territory of Australia there is not alot in the actual town but the reason for coming here is to experience the surrounding area and the Nitmiluk National Park. FRUIT BATS: We were in to the coach for 7.30 and off to Katherine Gorge for our gorge boat ride. The area where you board the boat is set up for picnics with BBQs and tables with chairs and there were nice clean toilets areas too which we made good use of. There was no reception area to speak of or any gift shop so you just had to wait around out in the open. We were entertained by the flying foxes hanging in the trees; every now and then one would fly across to another tree then fold himself up and hang from a branch again. They are really quite large bats but they d not seem...

catsholiday 28.07.2009 (09.08.2009) · Read review
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Review of Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory

New Zealand's majestic national park

Advantages: Pristine scenery, stunningly clear air,
Disadvantages: None really

...New Zealand's highest mountain is a set of three icy peaks, the highest being 3754m above sea level, dominant in the tussocky McKenzie Country in the South Island. Mount Cook is the central point of the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and it's also prominent in the Southern Alps, grand to view when you drive along the Tekapo to Twizel long straight roads, or alongside the hydro canal which takes water to the Upper Waitaki district network of lakes, canals, rivers and hydro dams. Whether you fly over this natural wonderland in fixed wing or helicopter aircraft, or view it from a tour bus window, your own vehicle or a hired automobile you will never drive the length of the huge valley without stopping in awe and wonder. You leave the main highway near Pukaki Dam, it is clearly signposted and once you drive alongside Lake...

Writing321 23.02.2006 · Read review
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Review of Mt Cook National Park (New Zealand)

Zion National Park..Hikers Heaven

Advantages: Breathtaking scenery, Friendly, Helpful Rangers.
Disadvantages: Weather unpredictable in Spring. Be Prepared!

...We spent two days of our holiday in South West USA at Utah's Zion National Park and we couldn't have been more impressed with the parks facilities. It cost $20 per vehicle to enter the park, the pass is good for 7 days, and as I said in my Grand Canyon op, it could work out cheaper to buy a 12 month annual pass if you're planning to visit more than a couple of National Parks. Once inside there is a large car park and brand new visitors centre with plenty of information and facilities. Outside the visitors centre is the shuttle bus stop. The buses are free and run every 7 minutes. A round trip on the bus takes 90 minutes and there are plenty of places to get off and hike or site see and the next bus wont be far behind when you're ready to move on. The buses run from 5.30am to 11pm. At the Zion Lodge (about 5 stops in...

buzzz 31.05.2001 (13.06.2001) · Read review
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Review of National Parks

Timanfaya National Park

Advantages: A must see of the island - great views
Disadvantages: Limited access - Tour coach and limited private car hire access ( must walk after a while! haha)

...On a recent holiday to the island of Lanzarote, listening to other peoples experiences we felt it was a must to visit the islands national park of Timanfaya. The coach ride was approx 20mins from where we were stayin in Playa Blanca (the southern tip of the island). We were greeted at the entrance of the park by a carving of the devil (the symbol of the park) the parks restaurant is a must see, experiencing the heat of the huge circular grill, which uses soley the heat from the volcano. This is achieved due to magma still being in the chamber below the earth surface (very uncommon) this lets the open grill achieve temperatures of around 300C. We also experienced experiments using the volcanos heat including holding the volcanic stone which was still hot and we were asked to hold the stone as long as we could! Very hot so wasnt held...

ben220 12.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote

Colorado's National Parks

Advantages: Stunning scenery
Disadvantages: Avoid winter months, beware of altitude sickness

...Colorado has two main National Parks: Mesa Verde and Rocky Mountains National Park. Mesa Verde National Park is located in south west Colorado and people go there to view the historic ruins of the dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans or Anasazi built more than 800 years ago, rather than for hiking, biking etc. The park houses the greatest concentration of Indian ruins in North America and is truly fascinating. The dwellings are set in cliff faces and mesa tops and there are several concentrations of dwellings within the park including Wetherill Mesa and Chapin Mesa. Cliff Palace is the largest ruin with several hundred rooms, including ceremonial ?kiva? chambers. In the park there are several camp grounds and lodges along with the Chapin Mesa museum and panoramic viewpoints. The museum explains the lifestyle of the Anasazi...

NIKKIT 05.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of National Parks (Colorado)

Yosemite National Park

Advantages: ....
Disadvantages: ....

...Hello @ all... Have you ever heart something about the Yosemite National Park? It`s situated in California and has an area of 30,451square- kilometres. History °*°*°*°* At first I will tell you something about the History of the National Park. The Indians settled this country already before Europeans came California. But the Miwok- Indians lived since over 4000 years there. So- Just 1851 the Park was discovered of the whites. Now President Abraham Lincoln make the country over to the state California with the condition to protect the nature. Therefore the Park was pronounced in 1890 to a National Park and so the National Park visit more than 2million people today. Sights °*°*°* Another important fact to mention are the sights. People who think about it find that theYosemite Valley is the most attended and beautiful...

Darumbaja 04.02.2003 · Read review
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Review of Frommer's Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks - Frommer's

Lake Nakuru National Park

Advantages: Flamingoes, Spotting Leopards, Lions, Rhino
Disadvantages: No elephants, small park

...I used to live in Kenya, about 50km away from the town of Nakuru. A regular activity for myself and the family would be to visit Lake Nakuru National Park every Wednesday afternoon. Having lived in Kenya, I had the chance to visit so many different game parks, however Nakuru has always been a firm favourite of mine. The park is set around Lake Nakuru, and so provides the perfect setting for any visitor to enjoy their game drive. The Park is very easy to drive around, so driving yourself is not a problem. The Lake is famous for its huge attraction of flamingoes (sometimes seen in their millions) throughout the year, which adds to the beauty of the landscape. During your drive you are likely to see an extensive variety of animals and bird life. The park is home to 4 of the big 5 with the park being too small to hold elephant...

troggers4 30.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of Lake Nakuru, Lake Nakuru National Park

Etosha National Park

Advantages: magnificent wildlife (volume and variety), easy vehicle access
Disadvantages: limited facilities

...Etosha National Park is one of the greatest game reserves in the world and offers a feast of opportunities for wildlife spotting. To anyone with an interest in wildlife, this is the real gem of Namibia. Etosha can offer excellent game viewing without the masses of tourists that are found in most parts of East Africa. The park itself is 8,600 square miles and has roads that are suitable for any type of motor vehicle. It is best in the dry season when huge herds of animals seek to quench their thirst at the waterholes. At the heart of the park is the Etosha Pan - a giant depression which was perhaps once a lake but which now fills with water only occasionally when the rains are exceptionally heavy. The silvery white sands of Etosha are often referred to as the 'Land of Dry Water' with the salt pan covering almost a quarter of the park...

stuartmelvin 20.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Etosha National Park (Namibia)

Hwange National Park

Advantages: Elephant herds at close range, variety of wildlife
Disadvantages: bleak landscape, limited chance to explore on your own

...Hwange National Park is a huge wildlife area in the North West corner of Zimbabwe - not far from Victoria Falls. You should pick your lodge carefully when visiting Hwange. It is better to be inside the park where game viewing is possible all the time. Good lodges inside the park include Makalolo Plains, Giraffe Springs, The Hide, Chokamella. These lodges have excellent guides who are licensed to walk in the park (they are armed). There are also good lodges outside - but you need to travel into the park and will miss such moments such as an elephant drinking from the lodge swimming pool in the evening. You can also do the park on a self drive basis (perhaps staying at Hwange Safari Lodge / Main Camp) - that's fine if you want to do your own thing (but you will never see as much wildlife if you don't go with a professional guide). Also...

stuartmelvin 20.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)

Matobo National Park

Advantages: other world scenery, freedom to explore, excellent wildlife in compact area
Disadvantages: not too many places to stay - book early

...The Matbobo (or Matopos) Hills National Park is probably my favourite area of Zimbabwe. This area of the country has landscapes like nowhere else in the world, offers excellent wildlife viewing and yet it is possible to explore most areas in your own vehicle or on foot. The area is often overlooked with attention drawn to Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park. If you are visiting Zimbabwe then make sure to include Matobo on your itinerary. The land here is covered with an extraordinary collection of huge bare granite hills with gravity-defying boulders scattered all over the countryside creating a quite unique and distinctly mysterious landscape. The most spectacular areas are within the Matobo Hills National Park. The local Matabele people call it Malindidzimu (the place of ancestor spirits). The park is famous for its outstanding...

stuartmelvin 20.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Matobo National Park (Zimbabwe)