Observation tourism is a tourist practice that encompasses many and varied experiences. But they all have something in common: you travel to contemplate, with special attention, a certain element of the environment to be visited. And it is booming, due to its advantages and attractions. That is why Mandala Tours is committed to this form of tourism, which you will be able to experience in all the destinations where we work. More details are provided below.
Some modalities of observation tourism
As we were saying, sightseeing tourism encompasses many variants, and some of them have nothing to do with each other. As a result, travelers who join these experiences often have opposing profiles. But it is normal that the members of the expedition share a passion for what they will observe during the circuit.
Astronomical tourism or astro-tourism
A first type of observation tourism is astronomical tourism or astrotourism: traveling to see the attractions of the sky is something that more and more people are doing. For example, to contemplate the stars and planets at night, in certain parts of the world where conditions are particularly favorable. However, trips motivated by solar or lunar eclipses are also very popular, since they are only seen at certain points of the planet and at very specific times of the year.
The Starlight initiative, which works mainly in Europe, America and Africa, marks certified sites on a map of the world. And one of them is, of course, in the desert of Morocco, where we can take you. But beyond these certified locations, there are many others that are just as conducive and are on our ‘operations map’. This is the case of the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan or the oases of the Western Desert in Egypt.
Birdwatching
Another of the star modalities of birdwatching tourism is birdwatching . Binoculars in hand, it is common to see this type of traveler in areas of the world where a certain type of bird is typical and unique, such as the steep cliffs of a National Park. But another phenomenon that also moves birdwatchers are the great seasonal migrations, which allows to contemplate huge colonies of birds flying or stopping over, as in the Ramsar lagoons.
Some of the many places where you can practice this tourism with us are the surroundings of the Strait of Gibraltar in Morocco, the Nile Delta in Egypt, the Azraq Oasis in Jordan or the lakes of eastern Turkey and Armenia.
Wildlife sightings on safari
Safari trips also respond to an interest in wildlife watching, so they can also be included in this category of sightseeing tourism. In this case, it is necessary to enter nature reserves with the required permits and, aboard a jeep, get close to the large mammals that are the object of the excursion. These animals will depend on the country to be visited, but the interesting thing is that they can be observed in their natural habitat, without causing any disturbance.
Within our catalog of destinations, Tanzania is one of the star countries for this type of travel. Here, some of the animals that appear in our viewfinder are the ‘big five’: lion, elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo and leopard, while the iconic giraffes are also common on safaris through this country. But in general, seeing animals, especially if they are in danger of extinction, is an added satisfaction. This is the case of the Barbary monkeys, which can be seen on our trips to Morocco, especially in the Ifrane National Park.
But these are just a few destinations and typologies, as there are many other options. And since Mandala Tours agencies work on a customized and personalized basis, you can tell us your preferences and we will try to organize a specific circuit for you to enjoy to the fullest.
