英語聽力：自然百科 體驗魅力東非

Hi, I am Paddy Kim. Today, we’re heading to East Africa, famous for sights like the Serengeti Plain, but there’s a whole lot more of this place than just safaris(野生動物園) and savanna(大草原). It is also home to mountain jungles, fiery volcanoes and the Great Rift Valley(東非大裂谷), a place where scientists have discovered some of the oldest evidence of human life anywhere on the planet.

East Africa, a gateway to a whole other world, among the most popular places to visit are Kenya(肯尼亞) and Tanzania(坦桑尼亞), but more and more travelers are also heading to Uganda(烏干達) and Rwanda(盧旺達). And if you are open to exploring, check out Ethiopia(埃塞俄比亞).

The high season takes place during the dry months from June to August, and then from December to February, that’s usually the best time to go on safari(探險旅行,狩獵旅行) to spot wildlife. And you probably won't be disappointed, not only can you look out for lions, leopards,rhinos, elephants and African buffalo(非洲水牛), but you could witness an event unlike anything, anywhere else on the planet -- the Serengeti migrations.

The earth shakes as over a million wildebeests(牛羚), zebras and gazelle(葛氏瞪羚) cross the Serengeti following the raids.

From their winter feeding grounds in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, the herds migrate to their summer feeding grounds in Maasai Mara National Reserve(馬賽馬拉國家公園) in Kenya, and then make their return trip back again. With the herds, come the hunters. But no matter what obstacles or dangers the herds may face, migration continues. Over 90,000 visitors come each year to watch the age-old spectacle, so for a front row see to the greatest show on earth, be sure to book well in advance.

For wildlife watching, it’s a little bit more up-close and personal, head west to see the rare mountaingorilla(山地大猩猩). There are only about 700 of these creatures left on the planet, you’ll find about half of them in Uganda in BWINDI National Park. About a hundred and twenty live in RWANDA in PARC NATIONAL DES VOLCANS. The critically endangered mountain gorilla is a highlight of one of the world's richest ecosystems. Permits to see these fantastic creatures range from 250 to 500 dollars and some of the money goes toward protecting this fragile habitat.

Strict rules are in place controlling how close tourists can get, and how much time they can spend with the gorillas. But even just a few moments of being within eyeshot of a mountain gorilla will be a thrill to last a lifetime.

If you're interested in more trekking(跋山涉水), how about climbing 19,000 feet? Tanzania holds the continent's tallest mountain-- Mount Kilimanjaro. From the nearby city of Arusha, you can hire guides and porters and set out for Kilimanjaro’s snowy summit. To allow trekkers to adjust to the altitude, the climb takes about a week, but requires no special training or equipment, and the views all along the way are breathtaking.

For something a little out of this world, head for the soda lakes(堿湖) of western Kenya. At Lake Bogoria(伯郭日亞湖), Nakuru(納庫如湖) and Magadi(瑪噶地湖), the salt water bubbles with steam and sulfur. Algae thrive in this harsh Eden, attracting millions of hungry flamingoes(火烈鳥). Fresh water springs and lakes attract other wildlife both familiar and bizarre(奇異的). With the ringside seat by the lake shore, you’re practically guaranteed one-of-the-kind wildlife experiences.

Want a stray from the beaten path? Head to Ethiopia, its rugged mountains have guarded Africa’s oldest independent nation for thousands of years. Near its northern border, the city of Aksum, holds ruined palaces and towering obelisks from the Aksumite Empire. Pilgrims journey to Aksum’s Chapel of St. Mary of Zion where they believe the Ark of theCovenant is kept.

Religion has shaped Ethiopia literally. In nearby Lalibela, eleven churches were hand carved out of mountain rock, the mountains hold other treasures too, hiking in the Simien mountains(瑟門山), you can spot animals found nowhere else, Ethiopian wolves that have evolved to be solo hunters, and troops of Gelada baboons(獅尾狒), they graze like herds of cattle.

After all that hiking and trekking, a little chilling out might be in order. And there’s plenty of rooms to spread out and relax on East Africa’s shores. Coastal towns such as Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa and Zanzibar, are home to pristine (原始狀態(tài)的)beaches, flourishing coral reefs and a view into traditional ways of life that go back for centuries.

You’ll find that English is widely spoken in many major tourist areas, where clothes that are light, long and loose. They’ll help protect you from the sun and fit in with local customs. Traveling on safari to remote locations is slow, so make sure to budget extra time for getting around the countryside. It will be well worth it.