The Top 4 Things To Do In Victoria Falls

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While a trip to the iconic Victoria Falls is something that you have to do when you are in the Victoria Falls area, there are many other things that you need to try. Many of these activities are not for the faint-hearted, but will be worth it for the unforgettable experience that you have. While there are a lot of things that you can do while in Victoria Falls, there are certain things that you need to take the time to do.

Batoka Gorge Swing

Everyone loves going on a swing, but this is taking it to the next level and is not recommended for people with a fear of heights. When you complete the Batoka Gorge swing, you will stand on a platform which is 120 meters above the fast flowing Zambezi River. You will be attached to a harness and then have to simply step off the platform.

When you leave the safety of the platform, you are going to drop around 70 meters in a free fall. The rope will then tighten and you hit the swing part of the experience. The rope will swing you in a 95-degree arc of adrenaline pumping fun.

There is only one operator that offers this experience and you will need to book with them before you head out. This operator is the same one that offers a white water rafting experience on the Zambezi River. If you book both experiences with them, you will generally be able to get a bundle discount.

Bungee Jumping

If you are looking for a better free falling experience than the Batoka Gorge swing, you should look at bungee jumping. There is a 111-meter bungee jump from the center of the Victoria Falls Bridge that you can do. This is one of the top experiences for any adrenaline junkie heading to Victoria Falls.

The bungee jump has been consistently voted in the top 5 across the world. There are 2 operators that you can work with, but the costs will be the same as will the experience. You will be jumping off the middle of the bridge and free fall for around 4 seconds before coming close to the surface of the Zambezi River.

A Flight Over The Falls

If you want to experience the Victoria Falls in a different way, you can fly over them. There are 2 ways that you can do this and you need to choose the one that works for you. The first is by helicopter and the second is by microlight.

The helicopter flight over the falls is known as the Flight of the Angels and is one of the most loved attractions. You will fly over the falls for 125 minutes and take in the different views from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides. There are different operators depending on which country you start the flight, but the experience is one that should not be missed.

If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, you can look at a microlight flight over the falls. A microlight is essentially an open-air propeller powered kite. The benefit of this vehicle over the helicopter is that you feel like you are flying while you look at the waterfalls. This offers a very different experience when compared to the helicopter as you are able to feel the wind as you fly over the falls.

Vic FAlls Helicopter Trip

Take A Dip In The Devil’s Pool

The Devil’s Pool is something that you need to experience, but only if you are not scared of height and a bit fearless. Also known as Livingstone Island, this is the spot where you can literally hang over the edge of the falls and stare into the drop below. However, it is important to note that the Devil’s Pool is only open at certain times of the year because of the dangers that come with taking a dip there.

There are other restrictions as well such as the number of daily visitors being limited to 80. This is why you need to plan ahead if you want to take a dip in the Devil’s Pool. If you are going to be visiting when the Devil’s Pool is not open, you can head to the Angel’s Armchair which offers a similar experience.

okavango-delta-safari-game-drive-botswana

A Visit To The Okavango Delta

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Recently we steped out of Kenya and the Masai Mara to visit another African wilderness in Botswana. We went to explore somewhere very close to our hearts, the Okavango Delta.

We have been to the Okavango Delta a number of times but this time would be different instead of camping we would be going to stay at some of the world’s most luxurious camps and lodges to get some ideas to bring back to Kenya.

The Okavango Delta one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is formed when the Okavango River reaches a large tectonic depression in the Kalahari desert. Unlike most rivers this water never reaches the ocean as it either evaporates or transpires before it can. The Okavango River is fed by the summer rainfall of the Angola highlands and spreads approximately over a  250 km by 150 km area, creating a magnificent and essential wildlife area for animals, birds, crocodiles, hippos and other wildlife to congregate and sate their thirst from the hot desert surrounding it.

On our journey we would be visiting some of the best luxury safari lodges in Botswana, Selinda Explorers Camp, Wilderness Safari’s Mombo Camp and Sanctuary Retreat’s Chief’s Camp near Chief’s Island.

Our first stop was Selinda Explorers Camp which is set on the Selinda Spillway in the Selinda Game Reserve and is Great Plains Conservations wildest experience. It trys to create an experience of old style African explorers discovering Africa for the first time and is ultimate luxury under canvas tents positioned along the Selinda Spillway. The best way to showcase what the camp has to offer is with a video.

After Selinda we moved on to Mombo camp, which is the premier Okavango Delta camp, and probably the most famous and recognized camp around the world. Combo s renowned for it amazing game viewing, especially its wild dogs. If you want to watch wild dogs in Africa and see them hunt and possibly even kill, Mombo is the place to go.

Mombo Camp

Mombo is run by Wilderness Safari’s and is situated on Chief’s Island which is renowned for its amazing wildlife and the incredible interactions guests get to witness. To understand the exclusive nature of where you are in Africa, we have included a map of where the camp is provided by Wilderness Safari’s.

mombo-camp-map

Our next camp is also located in the Moremi Game Reserve and takes its name from Named after Chief Moremi. Our last camp is Sanctuary Retreat’s Chief’s Camp. It is Sanctuary Retreat’s flagship camp is is now for it’s exceptional levels of service and customer experience. It is also located on Chief’s Island in the Mombo Concession, an area known as the ‘predator capital of Africa.

If you are looking to see predator interactions like Lion, Leopard and Wild Dogs there is no place better than the Mombo Concession.

sanctuary-chiefs-camp

If you are thinking about visiting Africa and the Okavango Delta, we would definitely recommend it and push you to go the luxury route as you are treated to so much more of what the Delta has to offer than on the self camping route. If it is in your budget to do so, do not hesitate. Let us know about your experience we would love to hear about it and to find out if any of our advise helped you at all.

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What You Need to Know About the Samburu National Reserve

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Samburu National Reserve is a 165-square kilometer safari situated at the southeastern corner of Samburu District in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It is bordered to the south by Ewaso Nyiro River, which separates it from the Buffalo Springs National Reserve. Samburu National Reserve is one of the lesser-known national parks in Kenya, but is nevertheless teeming with life and is home to some of Africa’s rarest flora and fauna. The reserve’s topography is mainly open savannah with clusters of acacia trees, forest, thorn trees and grassland vegetation. The mountains Koitogor and Ololokwe are also visible in the reserve. This rugged and semi-desert park is a community-based wilderness that is preserved and operated by the resident Samburu communities under a centralized local council. It can be entered via the Ngare Mare and Buffalo Springs gates.

River

Ewaso Ng'iro river

The Samburu National Reserve is located on the southern bank of the northern Ewaso Ngiro River, which is the primary source of water in the reserve. The river’s name is derived from the local community’s language which means “brown water”. Ewaso Ngiro River is considered as northern Kenya’s biggest and least seasonal river which draws a big population of Kenyan animals to the park. It has become a fundamental component to the survival of the wildlife, as well as the expansion of human population and socio-economic developments. The river has a continuous water supply due to the glaciers on Mount Kenya. It is 50–100m across, shallow and dotted with sandbars. Ewaso Ng’iro flows from the Kenyan highlands and empties into the famous Lorian Swamp.

Wildlife

samburu wildlife

Samburu National Reserve is relatively small in size compared to other Kenyan parks like Masai Mara but it does not fall short of diverse wildlife. In fact, the second most visited game reserve in the country and is home to some of the most threatened species in Kenya. It is also renowned for its rare species of animals unique to the park known as the Samburu Special Five – Somali ostrich, grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe and beisa oryx. The dominant mammal of Samburu is the elephant with around 900 population which spend all or part of their year in the reserve ecosystem. Other common mammals are impalas, olive baboons, Grant’s gazelles, waterbucks, hippos, dik-diks, and warthogs. Lions, cheetahs, crocodiles, leopards, and African wild dogs are also common sightings in the reserve. Additionally, Samburu is also home to a large population of Nile crocodiles.

Aside from the numerous wildlife found in Samburu National Reserve, the safari is also a bird haven. Birdwatchers can expect to see hundreds of species on an average game drive. There are over 350 different species of birds identified in the reserve including hornbills, vultures, kingfishers, marabous, bateleurs, hornbills, guinea fowl, bee-eaters, Somali ostriches, woodpeckers and many others. There is also avifauna including birds of prey like the palm-nut vulture, Verreaux’s eagle-owl, Egyptian vulture, lappet-faced vulture.

Game Drives

game drives samburu

Samburu has become the preferred game reserve for tourists looking for a quieter safari with fewer game vehicles. Game drives often follow the winding, sandy tracks close to the meandering river, where almost anything can be seen from a herd of elephants drinking and bathing in the river to a pride of lions or to a flight of graceful leaping impala with the spectacular scenic background of rolling hills.

Samburu People

samburu national reserve

The Samburu people live on the outskirts of the reserve in rural villages that survive primarily off the land. The Samburu people are a tribe is known for their remote culture, pastoral and nomadic way of life. They are considered as semi-nomadic pastoralists who herd mainly cattle but also keep sheep, goats, and camels. Samburu people are closely related to the Maasai. They speak the same language, wear a similar traditional dress of blankets and beads, and maintain a very similar lifestyle. Visitors are encouraged to visit the local Samburu villages to get the chance of interacting with the community colorful Samburu people in their traditional setting and experience their culture. Visiting the local villages is also a good opportunity to purchase traditional Samburu souvenirs, art, and collectibles.

A Trip to Amboseli National Park

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Kenya is home to the modern safari and has several world heritage sites. It has a considerable land area devoted to wildlife habitats. Thanks to its diverse climate and geography, expansive wildlife reserves and national parks are developed in Kenya. One of which is the Amboseli National Park.

The Amboseli National Park is a 39,206 hectares park located in Southern Kenya, specifically in the Loitoktok District, Rift Valley. This wildlife safari spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border. Amboseli was declared a national reserve in 1968 and became a national park in 1974. It considered as the second most popular safari in Kenya after Maasai Mara. The name “Amboseli” comes from a Maasai word meaning “salty dust”. The safari is also known for its panoramic views of the highest free-standing mountain in Africa, the Mount Kilimanjaro, which is across the border in Tanzania. The western section of the park is dominated by vast Lake Amboseli, which is dry outside the rainy season.

Amboseli National Park

Wildlife

Because of Amboseli’s sparse vegetation, the park offers some of the best opportunities to see African animals. Amboseli National Park’s signature attraction is the sight of hundreds of African elephants with best views of Mt. Kilimanjaro at the backdrop. There are over 900 elephants in Amboseli and these large herds of elephants are seen up close so visitors get o experience an ultimate safari experience.

Amboseli’s varied wildlife also includes huge herds of wildebeests and many other animals giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, Wild dogs, Buffalo, Lion, Crocodile, Mongoose, Hyrax, Dik-dik, Leopard, Lesser Kudu, Monkeys, Hyenas, Antelopes,and Nocturnal Porcupine. There are also about 600 different bird species including water birds, pelicans, kingfishers, crakes, hammerkops and 47 types of raptor. The wildlife in Amboseli congregate around the very few watering holes during the dry season and disperse when the rains increase the availability of water throughout the park

With the end view of protecting the wildlife, the park has several rules which should be observed by the visitors which includes never getting out of the vehicle, except at designated spots; no off-road driving; always keeping to the tracks; no harassing the animals in any way; and always giving the animals the right of way.

Other Activities

The park offers panoramas of the Mount Kilimanjaro’s peak and the park’s plains and swamps. There is an observation hill in Amboseli which allows an overall view of the whole park especially the swamps and elephants. The Swamp below the observation hill hosts the big 5 and a variety of water fowls like the pelican and Egyptian goose.

The visitors can explore five different habitats in Amboseli ranging from the dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli, woodlands, wetlands with sulfur springs and the savannah. In addition, the contemporary Maasai culture and authentic indigenous lifestyle can also be experienced in Amboseli by visiting the local Maasai community who live around the park.

amboseli

Amboseli National Park: Weather and Climate

Average temperatures in Amboseli vary only slightly throughout the year because the climate in the region where the park is situated is hot and dry. Drought is typical in this area, and evaporation is high with the minimum average daily temperature is 27°C and the maximum is 33°C. Rainfall is expected during April and May and during November and December. The total annual rainfall is just 300mm.

A day in this wildlife safari can be a long hot day. The visitors are encouraged to wear cool and comfortable clothing. Wearing a sunhat can be beneficial too. Camera, binoculars, sunglasses, and water to drink are the things you should never forget when visiting Amboseli National Park.

Overall, the Amboseli National Park offers big skies and far horizons combined with swampy springs and dry and dusty earth trampled by hundreds of wildlife animals.

The Maasai

The Maasai Community of Kenya

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The Maasai community are a Nilotic tribe ethnic to the southern parts of Kenya and the northern parts of Tanzania. They are a semi nomadic warrior tribe who are best known by the local people for their tendencies to reside near game parks and game reserves and for their distinctive way of life and dressing.

They Maasai speak a language known as Maa a member of the Nilo-saharan Language that is also ethnic to the Nuer and Dinka. They have also been educated in the official languages of both Tanzania and Kenya namely Kiswahili and English.

The Maasai
Both the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments have instituted programs with the aim of encouraging the Maasai to leave their traditional lifestyle. However, the Maasai have remained adamant about their semi-nomadic lifestyle and refuse to change it. Lately, Oxfam has made claims that the Maasai culture should be embraced responding to climate change since the Maasai are able to farm in scrublands and deserts.
According to the oral history of the Maasai, they originated from the lower Valley of the Nile that is just north of Lake Turkana. They started migrating south during the 15th century and settled in the large expanse that is southern Kenya and central Tanzania. Most ethnic groups that had already settled there were forced to resettle in other areas. Others were assimilated into the Maasai tradition like the Cushites and these assimilations produced tribes like the Samburu and Kalenjin.
The Maasai are strongly Patriarchal in nature. This means that the men usually make the major decisions for the tribe. These men are made up of mostly of the elder men who are believed to be wise and good decision makers. They have a full body of law that governs their whole aspect of behavior. There is nothing like formal execution. Payment is done in form of herd of cattle.

maasai-herd
All of the sources of food for the Maasai are met by their cattle. They indulge in meat, drink the milk produced by the cows and in some occasions drink the blood of the animals. During celebrations, they slaughter bulls, oxen and lambs for meat. Though their lifestyle is mainly dependent of cattle, lately, they have adopted other sources of food such as sorghum and rice.
Their mode of clothing varies with the age of the person. For instance, young men wear black for a long period after they have undergone circumcision. However, red is the most prevalent colour.

A Few Things I Loved Most About Masai Mara

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The Masai Mara has become the premier destination for tourists that want to view wildlife within their natural environment. The sheer abundance of wild African animal species, the annual migration of herds of wildlife and also the lions would be the greatest attraction.

While these attractions are what initially drew me to see this spectacular location, they are not the things i truly loved about Masai Mara. Don’t get me wrong, the migration was absolutely magnificent and seeing a lion initially left me in awe. But there was clearly just much more towards the experience that made my entire journey memorable.

Mara-bush-houses-Mara-house-breakfast-on-verandah

One of many aspects which includes stayed with me the most is definitely the sounds from the African bush that haunt me to this day. It is actually so still and quiet compared to the city noises i are getting to be so used to, but a once, it is noisy in it’s own right.

Just before the sun even begins to peer on the horizon, countless bird species begin to twitter, tweet and sing to each other. It is possible to believe they are shouting out their morning greetings to 1 another and discussing their day ahead. When the sun is up, this cacophony dies down as being the birds move away and off to start finding their food preferred by the day.

The multitude of insect noises made it a hardship on me to fall asleep in the beginning. Thousands of insects sound their calls to potential mates and especially loud, are the crickets that sing their song in to the starlight. The insects don’t stay quiet in the daylight hours either. The cicadas constantly screech out their location and potential being a mate to many other insects in your community.

The sound of an automobile establishing or even a loud boom instantly sends the bush into silence as every living types of wildlife waits with bated breath to find out if there exists danger, what form that danger could take and should it be headed inside their direction. This stillness is all encompassing, especially after your ears have become used to the noise.

male-lion-roar_1393518iProbably the most terrifying sound inside the bush is of male lion claiming his territory in the dark. Unlike popular belief, lions rarely roar and a lot commonly make a booming, guttural barking sound that sent shivers down my spine and made my hair get up on end. The noise was extremely close to our camp which caused it to be more disconcerting. It is actually a sound that my visceral brain recognized and knew to fear.

The shades in the African bush are simply just awe inspiring. In the morning, every feature is tinted with a slightly pink hue as being the sun taints the landscape. Later within the day, I needed never witnessed quite a similar hue of blue as the azure that defines the wide open African skies.

Darkness comes quickly within the African bush and within 20 minutes of watching direct sunlight set in a variety of brilliant colors, I really could not see my hand looking at my face. It took a little while for your stars to seem in a number and intensity that we had not expected, regardless how often times I had heard the knowledge described.

Even later at night, I had been fortunate enough to witness a whole moon rising. I have got never seen the moon so big, so white roughly bright. It lit up the landscape in ways that was both eerie and delightful to behold. It absolutely was like seeing the bush veld in shades of grey as opposed to the colorful pallet that may be displayed through the day.

The smells and tastes from your bush will also stay with me. Through the morning dew towards the start of a rain storm, the odors from the air just seem much more intense than We have ever proficient in my entire life. Each type of grass, tree and flower also gives off it’s own unique fragrance.

Wild-Eye-Mara-Camp-2-of-51The meals I was served was an experience in and also of itself. I opted for traditional African cuisine as an alternative to consuming food that has been adapted to fit our Western palates. The staple is a kind of maize meal porridge that is served savory at lunch and dinner but sweet in the morning for breakfast.

I actually have also never eaten so much meat in my entire life. The Africans treasure meat and each meal has enough protein to hold you going throughout the day. Game and bush meat were often on the menu and that i found the taste to get more intense than any other type of meat I had ever eaten.

The Masai Mara was not practically the wildlife as well as the bush to me, but rather it absolutely was the entire sensory experience that this provided I loved the most and will carry with me for eternity.

Find The Animals To See Over A Serengeti Safari

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Visiting Africa is a great way to see some of the different types of wildlife, but to view them inside their natural habitat instead of being within a zoo. The issue for a number of people is they are certainly not sure which from the animals they are likely to see while they are over a Serengeti Safari which often makes it much simpler for individuals to find out more about the joys they are able to have. Without this people might have some problems in acquiring to experience the beauty that is present in this region because they are not aware of what animals to take into consideration.

Common Animals Seen

 

Serengeti-National-ParkWhile you are visiting this region, you will recognize that their are a few quite typical animals that you could see. These will likely be shown below, with a quick little description for each animal to help you figure out which animal you will be seeing.

The African elephant is amongst the first animals that you will notice is normal through the park. These animals are illegally hunted for his or her ivory tusks, but they are beautiful creatures that happen to be often times the largest land animal, but the key feature may be the long nose that is viewed as a trunk.

Giraffes are another common animal in the Serengeti. By using these animals, they are likely to possess a long neck that men and women can see above all else. However, men and women find these animals may have an original camouflage pattern that is going to make it easier to allow them to hide in the brush along with other aspects of the plains.

Hippos are an animal people might want to see, but they need to realize these are generally a very dangerous animal also. These animals look much like a large overgrown hog, however are very beautiful and quite often can be found in and around the water which is present. So these are generally a frequent animal that individuals can readily see when they are traveling in this area and know the animals will be beautiful.

Buffalo and Zebras are animals that are going to be discovered as well as being quite common from the group. These animals are a herding type of animal so it is possible to see them within the different herds. However, exactly what is nice is the fact that these animals are excellent to see and merely sit back and see their majesty while they go about their daily business.

Hunting animals can also be a standard find in this area and many times you will notice their are animals which will be intriquing, notable and easy for you to spot, if you possess the proper guide.

Lions certainly are a common animal that you just will like seeing. Unless you are out once the lions are stored on their hunt, that may be a risky time, you could only discover them lying around, but you should realize these are one of the best hunters on the planet. So it is essential to make use of the proper caution as you usually are not at the top of the meals chain here.

Cheetahs are a quick cat that can strike without much notice. However, these animals generally will pursue their prey and therefore are commonly seen. So it will likely be easier that you should see these animals and know they are going to provde the great views and adventure you would want to have.

Rare Animals

 

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African Wild Dog

Unfortunately as a consequence of hunting and in some cases reduction in habitat men and women find their are a couple of animals which can be rarely seen around the Serengeti now. However, if many people have the proper guide their is really a chance they are able to see these animals and enjoy their company.

Black rhinos are animals that happen to be tough to find, but the reason being these are rare. These animals have a great horn in the midst of their head and frequently are seen as a majestic animal for folks to consider.

The African Wild Dog is an additional animal that may be rarely located in the region. However, what people must realize is these are an attractive animal and they also should feel better about being able to see. These animals are seeking like all of those other dogs around, but they are often viewed as a great hunter and survivor.

When folks are looking at going for a Serengeti Safari, they may wish to find out about a number of the animals they will certainly see when they are using the trip. By permitting this info it will likely be feasible for people to keep their eyes open, but additionally determine if the animals will be easy to enable them to see, such as the Elephant or extremely difficult such as the Rhino.

The Masai Mara Lions A Fantastic Animal

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The Masai Mara lions are one of the most famous lion prides on earth. However, what many people will not realize is also, they are a small group of lions which includes faced quite a few challenges. A few of the challenges are obvious from the decline of habitat the animals have seen, but some of the other challenges have come from humans in such a way that people never though they would have to see before. When individuals do look at the challenges, though, they will quickly see this is an element of the Marsh pride which has overcome these challenges and they are seen as a majestic animal for folks to enjoy.

Male Lion and Lioness (Panthera leo), Mating Pair, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Male Lion and Lioness (Panthera leo), Mating Pair, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

The Difficulties

Reduction in habitat is probably the main challenges the lions have gotten to beat. The loss is coming from the proven fact that individuals are expanding and once they expand they may be cutting in the hunting grounds and even the watering locations of these majestic animals. However, this is a challenge that may be being addressed by using parks and also other reserves which can be setting the vast majority of land aside to be left alone and natural for your animals.

Accidental or purposeful poisoning can be another issue the Masai Mara lions have experienced to deal with. While many people overlooked this mainly because they were concerned about Cecil the lion, they have to realize two lions were poisoned by a cow that had been left to enable them to feed on. The poisoning thankfully only affected both of these lions, yet it is a stark reminder that in spite of these beautiful creatures being this kind of popular draw for individuals to discover they are being hunted and poisoned by people that tend not to mind for the lions of your potential income boost they could supply the region.

The Beauty

Lions can be a beautiful animal then one that is certainly endangered, however are only a stunning animal. While some individuals will view these the same as they will view their home cats, they should realize these are wild animals and quite often seen as a very fierce hunter. As the lionesses will generally end up being the hunters using the males being those which are performing most of the kind of posing for pictures that people are incredibly proud to discover and post.

The male lions are the ones together with the large manes and if they are around they will likely generally make their presence known once they feel threatened using a giant roar. However, if people begin to see the males with some of the cubs they are going to notice they have a tendency to enable them to climb around them and they are fairly docile compared to numerous the animals that are present in the area. So people will need to make sure they know relating to this fact since they may mistaken the gentle look of these creatures and strive to approach them.

When individuals are considering the beauty of lions they are going to generally would like to know a little more about the way the lions will be leading their life. However, they should also realize together with the Masai Mara lions they will face a good number of challenges as well. By realizing this it will allow customers to start to feel good about their chance to see the lions face-to-face, but additionally really know what they are considering. Concurrently, it lets people start to be aware what they are able to do to aid in combating the challenges that are present and starting to place the squeeze on the lions and their existence.