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Beautiful Ranguana Caye off Placencia Peninsula, southern Belize

THE LATEST NEWS FROM TAMU SAFARIS

Welcome to Belize!

Since introducing Belize as our newest travel destination, our clients have come back delighted with the incredible natural beauty and friendly people of this small Caribbean country. Its distinctly Creole atmosphere welcomes all who come to explore it. And it continues to surprise us with what it has to offer - for a small country of only 250,000 people, and less than a two hours' flight from the United States, Belize has spectacular marine life - the second largest coral reef in the world - and verdant rainforests, with ancient Mayan archeological sites that are among the best to be found anywhere.

And Belize is a great family friendly destination, too. Traveling with our own children to Belize in January 2002, we were snorkeling near the Silk Cayes - three little tropical jewels on the Belize coral reef - when all of a sudden we saw the fin of a whale shark surface about 200 yards away. This was no cause to panic at all. Whale sharks - the largest fish in the sea - live on plankton and are among the rarest and most endangered animals on the planet. These gentle giants are magnificent to behold in the wild, and now we had a chance!

A rare black jaguar peers out from the foliage in Belize.

Our local guide took the boat to where we had just sited the whale shark fin. There it was - more than 25 feet long, easily weighing more than a ton. It was right on the surface and it came right beside the boat, so close that it was just an arm's length away. Amazing! We marveled at such a magnificent creature. Our 10-year-old son has since decided that he wants to become a marine biologist when he grows up. Belize is one of the few countries in the world where you can see whale sharks. The best months are March-June, around the time of the full moon, although it is possible to see them year round, as our own experience revealed.

A large male iguana basks in the mid-day sun on a fishing dock

So if you are thinking about a wonderful nature vacation closer to home, whether you are a couple looking for that special vacation together, a family, or a group of friends who love to explore nature and culture, we encourage you to come join us for a truly great travel experience, combining "Rainforest, Reef, and Ruins" in Belize. Here is a sample of what you can do: Beginning with several days exploring the rainforests of the interior, canoeing jungle rivers with a guide, marveling at the rich bird life and rare animals, you then proceed to discover the intriguing wonders of the ancient Mayan sites of Xunantunich, Altun Ha, or Lamanai, their mysteries still being unraveled as new archeological evidence continues to come to light. Then, explore the second largest barrier reef in the world, stretching along Belize's entire coastline, with its fantastic marine life and tiny tropical islands. Magnificent diving, snorkeling, fishing and swimming are all available in crystal clear blue waters. And getting around Belize is quick and easy, due to short distances and good roads. This means that you get to spend most of your time enjoying the sights you have come to experience, rather than traveling between them. Contact us to help you plan your own Belize adventure!

The Lion and the Oryx: A True African Tale

At Home Together on the African Plains. Photo: Daily Nation

Over the next three weeks, lion and oryx calf were an inseparable pair, the calf walking side by side with the lion and laying down next to her in peaceful contentment. The lioness brought her hunted kills back to share with the oryx. While the calf could not share the food the lioness offered, it grazed peacefully beside her while she ate, nibbling on the lion's ears and grazing on nearby grass. Scientists, visitors and local Kenyans watched in fascination as the tale unfolded, unable to explain the events. "And the lion shall lie down with the lamb" crossed everyone's mind as, over the Christmas holidays, peaceful day followed peaceful day for this unlikely pair.

Then another lion - an old, hungry male - strayed into the area, spied the calf while the lioness was away drinking water at a waterhole, and moved in to dispatch the easy prey. The touching partnership was ended, but will forever remain a tale told around the campfires of East Africa, no doubt making its way into local legend and lore...

A safari to Africa continues to offer the greatest wildlife experience on Earth, as well as the opportunity to learn about the diversity of cultures and peoples that share these landscapes. Nature continues to unfold in all of its mysteries, and the spectacle of life is painted in large pictures across the diverse habitats of Africa. Kenya and Tanzania still play host to the largest migration of land mammals on the planet, with the yearly wildebeest migration cycling through the Serengeti ecosystem. The annual rains flood the Okavango Delta and nourish the broad spectrum of environments in Botswana. The tropical islands of the Indian Ocean team with ancient cultures and rare plants and animals, from Zanzibar to the Seychelles, complimenting the dramatic wildlife spectacles on Africa's mainland. No matter how many times we visit the Serengeti plains, or the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa moves us with its incredible beauty, its amazing wildlife, and her wonderful people. It is why we do the work we do, and we're happy to help you design and plan your own special experience of the African continent - or come join us on one of our select scheduled trips:

Serengeti Sunset

Serengeti Summertime Sojourn
June 26 - July 10
Come explore the vast Serengeti when the wildebeest begin their annual trek north towards Masai Mara, as the greatest wildlife migration on the planet unfolds in all its beauty and drama.

Tanzania Full Moon Safari
August 13 - 27
December 7 - 21
Listen to the sounds of the African night as the full moon rises over the plains, glowing over the distant kopjes or the verdant walls of Ngorongoro Crater. Explore these diverse environments teeming with wildlife by day, from Arusha in the east to Serengeti in the west.

Poling through the Okavango Delta by mokoro Photo by S. McCardell

Botswana's Okavango Journey
June 20 - July 4
July 17 - July 31
The Okavango Delta is the largest inland waterway in the world, and its ebbs and flows feed a complex and dramatic ecosystem in the heart of Botswana, where desert gives way to marsh and grasslands, and the flow of the water creates vast islands and deep channels from season to season.

Come explore the enchanting beauty of this remote wilderness!

TAMU SAFARIS
P.O. Box 175 • Brooksville, ME 04617 USA • 800-766-9199
cosal@tamusafaris.com