If you’re heading to Africa on that once-in-a-lifetime safari, then you should make sure you have suitable luggage for your trip.

A hard suitcase is not recommended as you’re likely to be using all manner of transport – from light aircraft to Land Rover and Landcruiser safari vehicles – between destinations. In such cases, a soft bag is preferable that you can access more easily, fit into smaller spaces, and looks less “citified”.

Of course, there are numerous choices when it comes to choosing a softer bag to carry your luggage, but again, for travel in Africa, you do need something that’s tough and durable.

Choice of color is also important, but not critical. It’s just that earthy, neutral tones fit in better and blend with the colors of the African bush than do bright primary colors like red or blue.

If you see photos from yesteryear of the old Africa Hands and hunters like Ernest Hemingway, they opted for durable canvas luggage on their forays into Africa. They obviously knew something, so it’s a good idea to follow their example and find the modern equivalent – a tough, sturdy yet good-looking canvas and leather safari bag.

There’s a small, family-owned business in South Africa that manufactures a fine range of canvas luggage, made from hard-wearing rip-stop canvas and finished in genuine leather and brass fittings, as in the example below:

Canvas and Leather Trail Bag from Dirt Road Traders

The company that makes the luggage, Dirt Road Traders, also produces a range of safari clothing that’s favored by many of Southern Africa’s leading safari companies, not only for their safari guides and field staff, but also for their management and front-of house staff.

To find out more and see the full range of canvas and leather luggage and the safari clothing, visit their website, Dirt Road Traders.

Malachite Sunbird (Nectarina famosa) in "eclipse" plumage, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

I photographed this sunbird in my neighbor’s garden in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal,  South Africa. Initially I was puzzled by the bird’s plumage and couldn’t immediately identify it.

Then I found a book that explained this was a Malachite Sunbird (Nectarina famosa) in “eclipse” plumage, the stage before the bird acquired its full breeding plumage.

Fortunately, a few weeks later I was also able to photograph a Malachite in its spectacular metallic-green breeding plumage, below:

Malachite Sunbird in spectacular metallic-green breeding plumage

Sunbirds feed primarily on nectar from flowers and will sometimes perch briefly on the plant or shrub before flitting off in search of more nectar. This is a good opportunity to photograph them against often colorful blooms and foliage, but you have to be quick.

Have a look at this awesome selection of Marilyn Monroe portraits by renowned photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt.

Taken in 1953, seven years before her tragic death, the photographs show the screen icon at her Hollywood home dressed in simple black top and white slacks.

Although completely different from the traditional “sex goddess” images one associates with Marilyn, the images nevertheless show her haunting beauty and have already become timeless classics, attesting to her natural beauty and photographer Eisenstaedt’s talent in portraying this.

See also these Marilyn Monroe Fine Art Prints.

This new selection of 2012 Travel Calendars, including wall calendars, desk calendars, and poster calendars, features colorful and eye-catching photography and art showcasing iconic travel landmarks around the world. For those who enjoy travel or are simply fascinated by our planet, a travel calendar makes the perfect gift as it will be used for a full 12 months, is visually pleasing and, best of all, is inexpensive.

For the full selection of 2012 calendars now available for ordering online, see the Calendars page.

Sports fans will love this selection of 2012 Sports Calendars, which include calendars from Sports Illustrated and ESPN, and cover a range of sports, from skiing to golf. A sports calendar, whether featuring a favorite team, golf course, or simply sports facts and trivia, will make the ideal gift as it’s useful, practical, and inexpensive.

For the full selection of 2012 calendars now available for ordering online, see the Calendars page.

A great selection of 2012 Movie Calendars, showcasing movie calendars from vintage to modern, plus calendars from the Golden Age of Hollywood is now available for ordering online. Calendars are visually spectacular, practical, usefuf for a full 12 months, and inexpensive, so make ideal gifts.

For the full selection of 2012 calendars now available for ordering online, see the Calendars page.

From dedicated petrolheads to those who simply appreciate fine automobiles and classic cars, our 2012 Car Calendars will be much admired and appreciated. If you’re needing a practical but inexpensive gift for someone who loves cars, look no further!

The range of wall calendars, desk calendars, and poster calendars, showcase a mix of auto classics, covering Super Cars, Dream Cars, European classics from Porsche and Ferrari to VW Beetles and the Mini, Concept Cars and all-American favorites like the Corvette and Mustang, plus muscle cars and hot rods.

For the full selection of 2012 calendars now available for ordering online, see the Calendars page.

Superb selection of 2012 fine art calendars now available. Calendars are visually eye-catching, practical, and inexpensive, making them the ideal gift.

This gallery of fine art calendars for 2012 features art collections plus renowned individual artists such as Impressionists Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gaugin, Camille Pissarro, and also more modern masters like Henri Matisse, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Kandinsky, Klimt, Paul Klee, Mark Rothko, Ton Schulten, and Jack Vettriano.

For the full selection of 2012 calendars now available for ordering online, see the Calendars page.

Now available – a selection of outstanding animal and nature poster calendars for 2012. Subjects include African animals and landscapes, Arctic animals, birds, butterflies and insects, orchids, waterfalls, plus photography by renowned nature photographers.

For the full selection of 2012 calendars now available for ordering online, see the Calendars page.

If you’re puzzled by taxonomy and how scientific names are allocated to wild animals, then you’re certainly not alone.

Take, for example, the vervet monkey, which is commonly found throughout much of Africa. It’s very difficult to find consensus on the scientific name, with the most popular being Cercopithecus aethiops, Cercopithecus pygerythrus and Chlorocebus pygerythrus.

There are evidently at least six species of vervet monkey and scientific advances, particularly in the field of DNS, mean that new discoveries are constantly being made, which in turn mean changes to animal names.

For a basic overview and fact sheet on the vervet monkey without too much scientific mumbo jumbo, see Vervet Monkey Information.