Where is Mount Mabu?

I watched a documentary about this rainforest and it caught my imagination. Fancy using today’s technology ‘Google Earth’ and discovering a forgotten rainforest deep in the mountainous north of Mozambique! The video below is an interview with Dr Julian Bayliss about the discovery back in 2005 and further links to news articles from the time. Extraordinary stuff!

Mount Mabu and its surrounding virgin rainforest in northern Mozambique covers approximately 7,000 hectares. Mount Mabu is approximately 1,700 m (5,600 ft) high. Although it was known locally, the Mount Mabu forest and its extremely diverse wildlife were unknown to plant and animal scientists until 2005. It was ‘discovered’ by scientists from Kew Royal Botanic Gardens by browsing Google Earth’s satellite view to look for potential unknown wildlife hotspots in Africa. It is frequently referred to as the ‘Google Forest’ and the ‘Butterfly Forest’.

Lonely Planet Zambia Mozambique & Malawi

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Mount Mabu

One Great Reason to Visit Mount Mabu

One great reason to visit this travel destination is because no one else rarely does!

Dr. Julian Bayliss: The Lost Forest of Mount Mabu

For More Information

• Wikipedia
• Related Article about the discovery

As the first chills of winter are beginning to bite our toes, it’s getting difficult for the average folk to leave their beds early in the morning. For kids, winter is synonymous with snowboarding, snowball fights, sledging and Christmas, for adults it’s the perfect time to hibernate. If the thought of hitting a snow-clad peak in the dead of winter leaves you cold, why don’t you fly to Australia? Just follow the sun and explore the top 5 winter-blues busting destinations of Australia.

Why Australia?

The island of Australia, due to its unique climate, offers both cold and warm weather activities for different age groups. Australians experience cold and dry winters in the months of June, July and August.

According to the BBC weather reports, the average temperature of Australia is 46-55 degrees Fahrenheit, during winters. Thus, the mild weather prevailing in the continent makes room for a plethora of wintertime activities.

Top 5 Tourist Attractions

Whitsundays, Queensland

Whitsundays is a group of tropical islands stretching from Bowen to Laguna, over viewing the Great Barrier Reef. Tourists can explore the entire region on a luxury yacht. Book a vessel and let the wild winds inflate your sails. Kick back and relax on the chalky sands of Whitehaven Beach. Snorkel the reef and islands, witness the scenic flight of migratory birds over the islands or simply bask in the heat of winter sun.

Byron Bay, New South Wales

Byron Bay is the hotspot of senior travellers. Here, you can rediscover your inner Zen with spa, mud-baths, Reiki, meditation and yoga. What’ more? You can sign up for surfing lessons, spy humpback whales as they drift towards the northern horizon, kayak with dolphins in a hot-water pool or simply walk around Cape Byron.

Darwin, Northern Territory

While the southern part of the continent experiences chilly winter winds, Darwin enjoys a bright, sunny weather, warm temperatures and cloudless skies. Want to fall in love with Australian lifestyle? Go ahead and survey the Mindil Beach Sunset markets. Browse through 200 stalls and enjoy scrumptious tropical cuisine.

Uluru, Northern Territory

Uluru, in Northern territory is famous for the Lulur-Kata Tujatu National Park, where tourists enjoy camelback riding. Move through the red sand dunes of Uluru and witness breathtaking panorama at the sunset. Dine alfresco under the stars on a rooftop restaurant, enjoy the Sounds of Silence and unfold the mysteries of Anangu Culture.

Broome, Western Australia

A 22km-long camel ride at the sunset tempts vacationers into visiting Cable Beach in Broome. It’s a perfect holiday destination for musicians, artists, families, celebrities, youngsters and backpackers who wish to break from the hectic city life. Watch your favourite movie at the Sun Picture Theatre or dig into the glorious past of Australia at Pearl Luggers.

Things To Do

Tourists enjoy hiking, biking and horseback riding in winters because winter days are quiet, sunny and clear. Just put on your woollen jackets and walk around the park, all the while enjoying the stunning scenery.

Head to the Alpine region of Victoria or visit the lofty, snow-clad peaks in New South Wales. Participate in snowboarding, skiing and mountain climbing activities. If you’ve time, you can visit the Perisher Ski Resort with your family.

Both Perth and Melbourne host international film festival in the honour of Australian Cinema. Visit these cities to get a glimpse of famous celebrities.

If you’re bored of your boring lifestyle, simply catch a flight from UK and land in Australia. Get more information on UK flight arrivals from local tourism companies and book your flights accordingly!

Travel Photo of the Week: Amethystine Python

During our lovely break to Port Douglas we took a day trip northwards to explore the Daintree Rainforest region to Cape Tribulation. After crossing the Daintree River we stopped at the superb Daintree Discovery Centre. A must if you are in the area! The centre has won a multitude of awards in both general tourism and ecotourism. The highlight is most definitely the aerial walkway which takes you into various levels of the rainforest canopy and finishing off with a climb up the canopy tower to view of the rainforest treetops.

Whilst ambling along the elevated boardwalk with a small cluster of visitors, a young lady beside me called ‘Snake‘. We all stopped in our steps wondering where this snake was. As it turned out it, it was right in front of us and intertwined with the rainforest vines – very well camouflaged. The snake was an Amethystine Python and a small movement had caught the lady’s eye. Very well spotted we all thought! The small movement turned into further movements until it’s head poked out for some classic photos to be taken. What a good sport!

Gran Canaria is the second most populous island in the Canary Islands archipelago. It has long been a popular spot with tourists who value the stunning scenery and warm, spring-like temperatures that last throughout the year. While cheap holidays to Gran Canaria draw 2.2 million visitors to the island’s beaches every year, the sunny coast isn’t the only attraction for vacationers.

Head inland on the island, and you’ll discover a misty and magical world of dense, green laurel trees and ferns, thick with moss and cut by waterfalls and bubbling streams.

The laurel forests or “laurisilva” of the world are heaven on earth for botanists. These pockets of dense forest are scattered across North Africa, Southern Europe and the Canary Islands and play host to some of the most interesting flora and fauna on the planet. These humid woodlands are thought to be relics from another age, left over from the ancient forests that covered this area almost twenty million years ago.

In Gran Canaria the sad story is that the laurel forests have been in sharp decline in recent years, with many rare and indigenous animals disappearing almost entirely. Currently, just 1% of the original laurel forest is thought to remain on the island. This precious habitat is sheltered at Los Tiles, where the atmospheric conditions of the surrounding mountains create the perfect environment for maintaining this natural paradise. The air is consistently moist, allowing tree and plant life to flourish.

Anyone hoping to visit will be pleased to learn that there are walks through the forests, the shortest of which is the .75 km climb up the Mirador Topo de las Barandas. As you reach the peak you’ll be treated to a spectacular view down the deep gorge that runs through the middle of the forest. This hike takes about 45 minutes and is the perfect way to start the day.

More adventurous hikers may be interested in a ravine-side hike to the Marcos and Cordero Springs, where you’ll pass through a series of canal tunnels that, in the past, brought water to the island. It can be quite slippery, so wear decent hiking boots and pack a raincoat – everything here is wet! A torch would also be advisable, as there’s no natural light in the tunnels. This walk takes about 5 hours.

Whether you’re a keen botanist or a tourist looking for something a bit different, the laurel forest is definitely worth a look before it’s too late. Unlike many delicate and rare environmental spots, Gran Canaria is easy to reach on an affordable holiday, and the experience of the laurisilva will be completely priceless.