Samui Tourist Attractions

Koh Samui is a beautiful Thai island and is one of the most visited travel destinations of Thailand together with Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai.

There are plenty of things to do and places to visit for tourists. If you are planning a trip to Samui should definitely visit some of the wonderful tourist attractions listed further on in this article. Have a great time on this beautiful holiday island and be sure to visit some of the places listed here.

Beaches

If you love the beach then you certainly will have an amazing time on Koh Samui. Some of the finest Thai beaches are located on this tropical island. Some of the beaches that you should definitely visit during your vacation include Chaweng Beach, Big Buddha Beach and Lamai Beach.

Big Buddha Statue

The most famous attraction is most certainly the Big Buddha statue. The golden Buddha statue is twelve meters in length and is adjacent to a temple and various different Buddhist shrines. If you would like to visit it then please head down to route 4171 and go the direction to the airport.

Butterfly Garden

One of the most tranquil and unspoiled places on Samui is the butterfly garden. This magnificent attraction is home to large variety of butterflies and is open daily for visitors from 08:30 until 17:30.

Aquarium and Tiger Zoo

If you are traveling with your children then you should definitely take them to the aquarium and tiger zoo as they will have a wonderful time. There are a variety of daily shows which include shows with birds, tigers and even sharks. The Aquarium & Tiger Zoo is open every day of the week from 09:00 until 18:00.

Snake Farm

If you are interested in seeing a snake show involving King Cobras then head down to the Samui snake farm. Not only can visitors view a variety of venomous snakes but also dangerous centipedes and scorpions. The King Cobra shows start every day at 11:00 and 14:00.

Waterfalls

There are a number of remarkable waterfalls which you can visit during your holiday. The most popular waterfalls on Samui are Hin Lat and Na Muang and you can swim at both locations.

James is travel consultant living on Phuket and is working on a number of projects. If you are looking for information about Phuket then be sure to visit his Phuket guide which includes an excellent section on Phuket Laguna.

Game Drive in Selous

The Selous National Park in Tanzania is the largest protected area of it's kind in Africa. Covering an area the size of Belgium, Selous is a UNESO World Heritage Site. Running through Selous is the Rufiji River and it is along its banks that many of the safari camps of Selous are located. The river is fed by lakes and lagoons all of which are focal points for safaris in Selous.

Most of the safari camps in and around Selous Game Reserve offer their guests of choices of three types of safari; game drives, boat safaris and walking safaris. Boat and walking safaris are both excellent options but it is the traditional game drives that are most popular.

Open safari vehicles are driven by an experienced guide who points out various animals that you almost certainly wouldn't even notice. The guide will also give you the names of the colourful birds and other animals that you come across. The "Big Five" (leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino) can be found in Selous Game Reserve but remember that this is wild Africa, not a zoo so it is by no means certain that you will see all of the "Big Five".

Unlike Europe where we have 4 distinct seasons, Selous has a wet and a dry season. The dry season starts in June and lasts until November and it is during this period that game viewing is at its best. The water holes have dried up so wildlife makes for the lakes and lagoons and there is also less foliage which mean that spotting game and birds is much easier. It is also the best time to see the larger predators.

The wet season covers the rest of the year and although the early part of the wet season between December and February, game viewing can still be good but it can feel very humid. For bird watchers, January to May is the best time to visit the Selous although the rains can make some roads impassable and many lodges and camps are closed between March and May.

Selous Game Reserve also boast around a third of the African Wild Dog population. The Wild Dog is critically endangered with around 1,300 of them living in Selous. Also known as "Painted Dogs", they are social animals and hunt as a pack.

The lakes in Selous attract a wide range of birdlife with the majestic Fish Eagle being the favourite of many people. Its call is as distinctive as is white head and can be seen perched high in the trees close to the lake or soaring high in the sky. As well as storks, heron and other wading birds, the lakes are also home to crocodiles and Africa's most dangerous animal, the hippo. Occasionally, you will see hippo out of the water during the day but usually they are resting with their heads bobbing on the surface.

Visitors really need a minimum of 3 nights to ensure they have the opportunity to see the magnificent wildlife that the Selous Game Reserve has to offer.

Rob Atherton
Explorer Travel
http://www.big5.explorertravel.co.uk/SelousGameReserve.htm