Go for a Safari Tour During the Monsoon for an Offbeat Experience!

Despite the challenges, people opt for African safaris throughout the year. The lure of diverse wildlife and natural splendor lure millions of people from all corners of the globe. Exploring the sanparks, the natural habitats for various wildlife species, including lions and cheetahs, can be a mesmerizing experience. However, selecting the tour time is one crucial factor affecting the overall experience! Every season in Africa has something to offer for tourists. Monsoons may not be the default choice for tourists, but they have advantages.

Why go for a Monsoon Safari in Africa?

The advantages of choosing a safari during the monsoon season become pretty clear on close analysis. These are:

• Relief from the rush- Not everyone likes the idea of group safari tours and sharing accommodation and transport vehicles with others. In most African regions, the off- peak season for safaris is the monsoon season. This can be ideal for couples who want privacy while enjoying wildlife tours and those who do not mind getting drenched in the wild. The pools, lounges, and open-air barbeques at the famous game reserves tend to be less crowded.

• Lighter on the wallet- Safari tour costs can be high based on what is included in the package. However, several operators offer lower package deals to woo visitors in monsoon months. So, those on a limited budget should opt for monsoon safari tours. Apart from a dip in accommodation rates, one can find cheaper-priced flight deals easily. 

• Balanced climate conditions- Avoiding the summer heat in Africa is always recommended, especially for people from colder regions. The monsoon brings some relief from the oppressive heat. However, the downside is the risk of seasonal ailments, infections, and poor road conditions in some places. Tourists can, however, spend more time on game drives and bush walks without sweating or getting exhausted quickly.

• Ideal for birdwatchers—According to the top resources, during monsoon safari tours in Africa, it is easy to spot more bird species alongside predatory mammals and wildebeests. Migratory and native bird species flock to the wetlands and floodplains, which is ideal for avid birdwatchers.

• Ideal for shutterbugs—The flora gets a makeover of sorts as heavy showers drench the African savannah. East African countries look stunning during the monsoon months, with rich foliage and wildflowers blossoming in the national parks and elsewhere. The sunsets and sunrise views also look stellar, with dark clouds adding an element of drama to the scene.

Things to keep in mind 

Those planning for monsoon safari tours in Africa should carefully analyze the pros and cons. While the climate will likely be pleasant and less humid, heavy downpours can play spoilsport! Also, packing for a monsoon tour has to be done carefully. You need to know what to carry and what to avoid, so that you don’t end up carrying excess luggage.

Checking with the operators about health issues like vaccination needs is also necessary. Packing necessary medications and insect repellants is also recommended. To obtain more helpful insight on these issues, one can check out websites like https://www.safari.com/.

Growing Kitty Week Nine - Twelve

Almost Time to Bring Kitty Home

Now that we are ending the major developmental stages in a kittens life, it is time to prepare them for their new home. In weeks nine through twelve, we will go through what is necessary for them to leave the nest. 

Livin' It Up

Now the kittens are fully weaned, litter box trained, and look more like adult cats. They won't be having any major growth spurts in the next few weeks but rather filling out and gaining muscle tone. Their baby teeth should all be in place and their eyes should be changing to their permanent color. They are moving their body more similar to an adult which includes a hunting like behavior and pouncing on their fellow litter-mates. Also, they start reacting to certain substances like cat grass and catnip. This is the time you really can interact with them and introduce them to other pets and friends. Cat trees are also recommended at this time because their nails should be at the point of needing cut. This shouldn't be much of an issue as long as you have messed with their paws enough as young kittens. I think the easiest way is to grab a friend and one hold while the other cuts, or since I am alone most of the time when doing this I just sit them in my lap for a mani-pedi. 

Vaccines and Surgery Time

Most say that 10 weeks old is safe for spay and neuter and this is true. However, we like to spay and neuter our kittens at 12 weeks. The reason for this is because when the kittens get taken to the vet we do not want them to think the vet is a bad place. This being said we like to give the rabies vaccination, spay or neuter, blood work, and any other vaccine or testing all done at the same time while they are under anesthesia. When they wake up they will not remember all of the extra things done so it's not so bad. They get a cozy home for the night with a treat and get to come home the next morning. By 12 weeks all of our kittens will have had their FVRCP vaccines, spayed or neutered, first-year rabies vaccination, dewormed, microchipped, and the first month of Revolution for prevention. Between 13 and 14 weeks the kittens should be ready for their new home. We keep them for an additional ten days to see out the healing process of surgery but other than that they are ready to go.

My New Home

When adopting a kitten, it is important to have your home ready for your new baby. Depending on where you are adopting your kitten from you will need to check with your breeder, veterinarian, or local shelter to help prepare for the new kitten. A few things you might ask would be:

• What type of food has my kitten been eating? This is important. If you all of a sudden change the type of food they are eating it can easily upset their bellies and cause loose stool.
• How often is my kitten being fed and what times? Remember the kittens do best on a schedule so for the first few weeks try and gradually adjust them to your lifestyle and what will work best for you long term. 
• What kind of litter is my kitten used to? Make sure that the kittens only use a natural non-clumping litter. 
• Can I have some sort of toy, blanket or towel that my kitten has had to keep my kitten comfortable when coming to its new home? When your kitten arrives at its new home it is going to be much different from what it has been used to. Smell, noises, tastes. It is nice for the kitten to have something that is familiar to it from before so it can help calm their nerves and realize its new home isn't so bad after all. 

These are just some basic things to ask for when adopting a new kitten. We also recommend that you keep the kitten in a small area at first so it doesn't get lost. Keep a litter box, food, and water dish nearby so it isn't scared to use the potty or get something to snack on. It is also important to keep the kitten warm. Being in a new environment can cause the kitten stress. When kittens stress their immune systems can weaken making it easier for them to catch a cold or get sick. Staying warm can help with that and we use small heating pads for all of our kittens. They like it nice and cozy. And most important have fun with your new kitten. Once it gets settled in it will be full of energy and wanting lots of attention! 

I will go into more detail about preparing your home for your new kitten in a later blog post but this gives you a pretty good idea. 

What are some of your favorite kitty toys?

Until Our Next Cat Convo

-Amanda