text:
Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi, on the Arctic Circle, is the capital, transport hub and main commercial centre of Lapland, Finland's northernmost province. The city is 2,613 km (1,623 mi) south of the North Pole. It is a highly popular tourist destination and is considered to be the official home town of Santa Claus.

Understand

Rovaniemi is a transport and tourist hub for Finnish Lapland. Sitting on the Arctic Circle does not harm the latter role, and Joulupukki, presenting himself as Santa Claus to foreigners, has understood that this is the place to meet people. Tourist businesses have also flocked here. Easily reachable, Rovaniemi still has rivers, a fell, mires, vast forests, Midnight Sun and Northern Lights: much of what Lapland means to most people.

As the capital of Finnish Lapland, the city has several important museums, cultural venues and educational institutions. It has the feel of a university town when you get to the right venues. The University of Lapland and Lapland University of Applied Sciences have about 10,000 students in total.

In 1960, Rovaniemi became a city, and in 2006, it merged with the surrounding municipality. With the resulting area of, nearly the size of all Cyprus, it became the largest city in Europe. With 63,500 inhabitants it is also among the ten most populous cities this north, globally. Some 52,000 live in urban areas. The population is Finnish-speaking (96%). The original Sámi population has integrated with the Finns and disappeared; there are some Sámi here, but not significant numbers. The first Sámi village is 175 km to the north.

The Finnish Air Force maintains a base (Lapland Air Command) which is situated at the city's airport. Therefore spotting some military aircraft above the town is daily. The Rovajärvi shooting range is the largest in Europe and due to Finland's membership in NATO it will be increasingly used also by international troops. On occasion, you may bump into soldiers, conscripts, and military personnel.

The Kemijoki river, noted for being the longest river in Finland, flows by the city centre. On the east side of the river there is a large, forested hill called, which is a hub for outdoor activities. Ounasvaara also has a plethora of facilities such as a golf course, a nature trail network, and a winter sports resort.

The city was razed to the ground by the Germans in the final days of World War II. In the years to come, the city was completely rebuilt with inputs from Alvar Aalto, a Finnish architect, who planned the city's footprint in such a way that it resembled the shape of a reindeer's head.

By plane

Taxi cabs are readily available at the airport, but getting to the centre is expensive. However, Santa Claus Bus provides a minibus shuttle service between the airport and hotels in the city centre at a fare of €7 per person one way. The service is available for every departing and arriving scheduled flight. Local bus service Line 11 is even cheaper (€3.5), but slower and is available only at some flights. See Rovaniemi's route planner to find out local transport connections. There are car rental companies at the airport.

Most long-distance coaches towards the north-east (e.g. Pyhä-Luosto, Sodankylä, Saariselkä and Inari) stop at the airport. Timetables may not be ideal if arriving by plane, but most popular destinations are well served. For destinations to the north-west or south, you most probably need to visit the bus station in the centre.

By train
Rovaniemi is the terminus of most trains from the south. The line extends only some 80 km further east-north-east, to Kemijärvi. The journey from Helsinki takes 9–12 hours and is reasonably comfortable in a sleeper (about €200 for two persons, add €50 for an en suite bathroom). If you arrive from Helsinki, Tampere or Turku with the overnight train, you can also take your car with you (add €100, about as much as fuel and wear if driving).

From Russia you can either go via Helsinki or take the train to Kandalaksha on the Murmansk railway and continue by bus (check connections).

The railway station is outside the city centre, within easy walking distance – you face north when you exit the station, and the city centre is to your right, to the north-east. Most of the long-distance buses stop here as well. There are a few taxis waiting for each train. If you need to call one, notice that there are two taxi stands and make sure the driver knows at which one you are waiting – or just tell them that you are waiting at the station's front door.

By bus
is about a kilometre from the city centre, a few hundred metres uphill from the railway station. Coming by coach from the south is relatively cheap but requires about 14 hours of sitting.

Eskelisen Lapin Linjat, Onnibus and V. Alamäki operate daily to Rovaniemi from Helsinki (some of them via Helsinki Airport), Jyväskylä and Oulu. Timetables and tickets are available through Matkahuolto. The prices start from about €30 for a 15-hour overnight trip from Helsinki.

There are connections from Tromsø, Alta and Vadsø in Norway, at least in summer (2023: 1 Jun–15 Sep). See Matkahuolto for timetables. In winter (Dec–Mar) The Arctic Route connects Rovaniemi with Tromsø. For travellers from Russia, there might be a twice-weekly cross-border service with Kandalaksha (Finnish: Kantalahti). If you come from northern Sweden, you can transfer at Haparanda to a direct bus to Rovaniemi, which leaves either from the Tornio-Haparanda travel centre or from Tornio central bus stop, which is near enough to walk to from there.

By car

Rovaniemi is an important road hub for Finnish Lapland. The most important directions are:

 * Highway 4 (E75) from Kemi (in the south-west) and Ivalo (north-east). This highway comes all the way from Helsinki, about south, or all the way from Vardø in Norway, about  north; you could come from Murmansk via Raja-Jooseppi and Ivalo, or via Salla
 * Highway 78 from Ranua, Pudasjärvi, Puolanka, and Paltamo (near Kajaani) (south-southeast). With road 5 coming from Helsinki to Kajaani, this is an alternative route between Helsinki and Rovaniemi,.
 * Highway 79 from Kittilä and Muonio (north-west, the latter on E8 from Tromsø)
 * Highway 81 from Kuusamo and Posio (south-east)
 * Highway 82 from Salla and Kemijärvi (east-north-east)
 * Highway 83 from Pello (west-north-west)

If driving from Germany or Central Europe in general, the shortest alternative is to drive through Sweden along road E4 all the way to Luleå and then through Haparanda to the Finnish border and on to Rovaniemi.

Unless you like driving long distances or visit destinations along the route, a good alternative is to take a ferry from Travemünde to Helsinki, then board an overnight train (see above) from Helsinki and unload your car in Rovaniemi, ready for any local trips.

Get around
Being not too big of a town, the best way to get around the city quickly is on foot. However, some of the main attractions are far away and buses are sparse; most households have a car.

By public transport
The local transportation is provided by city of Rovaniemi and the services are collected under the Linkkari portal. A route planner for local transport is available. Mobile tickets can be bought using the Waltti or Routes and Tickets app.

Most local buses have a blue-green livery with a white reindeer figure. The most useful line is line 8 from the railway station via the city centre to the Santa Claus Village and (some departures) to the airport. Local transport is more frequent during daytime in weekdays of school years, and low during the weekends and in summer. There are no night lines.

Rovaniemi local traffic has a zone system. The whole urban area, including Santa's Village and the airport, belongs to Zone A, while the rest of the municipality belongs to zones B or C. Within the Zone A, a single bus ticket for an adult costs €3.50 and a 24-hour ticket €4.50. The single ticket allows transfers during one hour.

Outside the urban area
You can use Matkahuolto and Matka.fi to search for bus routes between given locations outside the urban area. Villages by the main roads usually have daily connections. There are also some connections to the villages operated by Linkkari. Usually you need to invoke the Linkkari bus at least one day beforehand, as they won't drive empty buses. Most sights outside the urban area won't be accessible by bus.

All trains from and to the south stop at, some 25 km south of the city centre. A one-way ticket to Muurola costs €4 and the trip takes about 18 minutes. The overnight trains that continue to Kemijärvi also stop at tiny in the morning (Rovaniemi–Kemijärvi) and evening (Kemijärvi–Rovaniemi). This railway stop mainly serve Rovajärvi shooting range. The ticket for Rovaniemi–Misi is about €7.30 (43 min).

By taxi
Taxi services can be rather expensive. Below is a list of taxi call centres operating in the city. You can ask the staff at your accommodation to call a taxi for you.

 * Lähitaksi: phone +358 100-7300

By scooter
You can rent electric kick scooters for use in the centre from Finnish Joe Scooter.

See

Most tourists come to Rovaniemi for precisely one thing: Santa.

The famous midnight sun, when the sun doesn't set at all, is seen between June 6th and July 7th (even though the city centre is south of the Arctic Circle). There are white nights from May until mid-August. In winter auroras are seen on most nights if the sky is clear.

Museums etc.

 * The and the  survived the otherwise somewhat complete destruction of the town during the Lapland War, and are therefore rare representations of pre-war wood architecture. The Alaruokanen house was built in the 1860s and serves today as a banquet hall. The old railway station was built in 1909 (before World War II the railway was where the highway E75 is now). The building is in bad condition and awaits new use (as of 2020).
 * The and the  survived the otherwise somewhat complete destruction of the town during the Lapland War, and are therefore rare representations of pre-war wood architecture. The Alaruokanen house was built in the 1860s and serves today as a banquet hall. The old railway station was built in 1909 (before World War II the railway was where the highway E75 is now). The building is in bad condition and awaits new use (as of 2020).
 * The and the  survived the otherwise somewhat complete destruction of the town during the Lapland War, and are therefore rare representations of pre-war wood architecture. The Alaruokanen house was built in the 1860s and serves today as a banquet hall. The old railway station was built in 1909 (before World War II the railway was where the highway E75 is now). The building is in bad condition and awaits new use (as of 2020).
 * The and the  survived the otherwise somewhat complete destruction of the town during the Lapland War, and are therefore rare representations of pre-war wood architecture. The Alaruokanen house was built in the 1860s and serves today as a banquet hall. The old railway station was built in 1909 (before World War II the railway was where the highway E75 is now). The building is in bad condition and awaits new use (as of 2020).
 * The and the  survived the otherwise somewhat complete destruction of the town during the Lapland War, and are therefore rare representations of pre-war wood architecture. The Alaruokanen house was built in the 1860s and serves today as a banquet hall. The old railway station was built in 1909 (before World War II the railway was where the highway E75 is now). The building is in bad condition and awaits new use (as of 2020).
 * The and the  survived the otherwise somewhat complete destruction of the town during the Lapland War, and are therefore rare representations of pre-war wood architecture. The Alaruokanen house was built in the 1860s and serves today as a banquet hall. The old railway station was built in 1909 (before World War II the railway was where the highway E75 is now). The building is in bad condition and awaits new use (as of 2020).

Natural attractions

See also Do below.

Programme services
Various Arctic safari companies can arrange all sorts of cold and snowy activities like snowmobile safaris, husky sledding and reindeer sledding. Most of the tour operators have summer activities available too. Try e.g. a wild moose safari; you'll get half of the price back if you won't see a moose. In total, there are nearly one hundred companies that serve travellers with a variety of activities!

Outdoor sports
There are various outdoor sports activities available, mostly at Ounasvaara hill.

Hiking and birdwatching

In summertime you can hike the marked routes on and around Ounasvaara's forests (or elsewhere). Interestingly there are some rocky areas, which are ancient shores from the time after the last ice age, still visible by these routes. Prepare to face mosquitoes in the forest. From the top of the hill you'll find great views to the forests, hills and swamps outside the city. The city centre is not very easy to see from the top, however a short walk to the in the forest provides an excellent downtown panorama.
 * [[File:Red-flanked Bluetail, Sinipyrstö 6.7.2018 Rovaniemi - Flickr - Olli Pekka Karlin.jpg|thumb|The red-flanked bluetail spotted at the Ounasvaara hill is at the western end of this Siberian species' habitat.]]
 * Santa Claus' nature trail 2018.jpg
 * Santa Claus' nature trail 2018.jpg

Biking and canoeing
There are a few places that offer bicycle rentals in town, including Hostel Cafe Koti and the Lauri guesthouse. The Tourist Information Centre can provide up-to-date information.

Swimming
In summer there is a small and very popular sand beach next to the camping area on the Ounasvaara side of the Kemijoki. In June the sun is shining to the beach until midnight. Swimming close to the shore is safe but because of the dangerously strong stream, do not even consider to swim across the river! There is a floating safety barrier surrounding the beach. There used to be a shallow lagoon but it was filled in 2020 as reindeer used to poop into it.

Otherwise you may swim in a pool...

Festivals and events
Simerock is organized at the. At there are major indoor events such as the Snowmobile Fair and occasional rock concerts.

Buy

There are some souvenirs and fur products for sale at the, on the pedestrian street, and — of course — at the Santa Claus Village. At the once famous there are mostly berries for sale in the summer and Christmas trees before Christmas.

There is a fancy and popular event Rovaniemi old-style market fair (Rovaniemen Wanhat Markkinat) during the weekend in mid-August with lots of local products and delicacies for sale. These are arranged at the, near the Jätkänkynttilä bridge.

Eat
Considering the size of the city, Rovaniemi has a remarkably wide range of restaurants. You will find anything from sushi to bear meat and from hamburgers to traditional delicacies.

As elsewhere in Lapland, the traditional restaurant meal is sautéed reindeer (poronkäristys), consisting of slices of reindeer meat stewed in a frying pan with butter and water. A "bowl" of mashed potatoes is placed to the dish and the hole is filled with stewed meat. This is garnished with lingonberry jam and sometimes slices of pickled cucumber. It's worth trying once at least – you should be able to find this dish in most better restaurants around town. Salmon (lohi) and lavaret (siika) are other common ingredients.

You can find the light greyish flatbread called rieska from any grocery store. Those are usually made of barley (ohrarieska), sometimes potato (perunarieska). A comb-shaped, slightly sweet pastry kampanisu is eaten with a cup of coffee. It is a true speciality of this area but much harder to find.

If you are about to buy some reindeer cold cuts from the market, make sure there is a word poro on the package. Horse meat looks the same but is much cheaper.

Budget

The lunch canteens at the University offer cheap alternatives (€2.95–6 per meal for students as subsidized by the state; €8 for guests, as of 2023), but the meals are served only around noon (mostly 11:00–14:00). There are such canteens at the university and at the university of applied sciences. Also, the lunch café at Arktikum gives student discount.

At the Lordi's Square there is sometimes a fisherman selling freshly caught and pan-fried vendace (Finnish: muikku), a small freshwater whitefish.

Stay safe
Rovaniemi is a safe city. You're unlikely to face any major dangers.

Consulates

 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * Republic of Korea
 * 🇮🇸 Iceland
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇳🇴 Norway
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇩🇰 Denmark

Pharmacies
Each week one of the following three pharmacies has a call week with extended opening hours.

Internet
As of Nov 2023, Rovaniemi has 4G from Telia and 5G from DNA and Elisa, and Wi-Fi is widely available in public places. There is 4G coverage from all carriers along the highway from Kemi on the coast, and a patchy signal along other routes.

For exaples of free Wi-Fi and internet terminals, check the and the.

Go next

 * Downhill (and cross-country) skiing from November to April in Levi (near Kittilä), Luosto (near Sodankylä) and Pyhä (near Pelkosenniemi).
 * Ranua with an Arctic wildlife park
 * Inari, the Finnish capital for the Sámi, 315 km farther north

title: Rovaniemi


text:
Rovinj

Rovinj (Italian: Rovigno) is a city in Istria. The city is officially bilingual (Croatian and Italian).

By plane
Rovinj is served by Pula airport approximately 30 km south. The easiest way to reach Rovinj from the airport is to drive - the journey takes approximately 40 minutes. Cars are not permitted in Rovinj, but Rovinj is pretty small, so parking is available close to most of the outside of Rovinj. Prices are around per hour (the park-o-meters accept only coins).

By bus
There are also buses from Central Pula run by Flixbus.

By boat
Venezia Lines is a high speed ferry company in the North Adriatic, linking Venice to the Istrian coast and in particular Rovinj. Departure (in season) every day at 17:00 and arrival at 20:00.

Get around
Rovinj and the surrounding area are small, and are easily accessible on foot. Bicycle hire is quite inexpensive in Rovinj and there are very good cycle tracks up and down the coast.

See
Rovinj is best explored on foot. Worth seeing are the original entrance into the city, the Balbi Arch; the market at Valdibora; the cathedral of Sv. Euphemia; the artists' street of Grisia, described as "Rovinj's Montmartre"; and the harbour in the centre of town.

There are also taxi boats and excursions to St Katherine's Island, in the harbour.

Do

 * Walk around in Rovinj.
 * Climb the campanile of the cathedral of Sv Euphemia in the middle of Rovinj.
 * Shop for truffles, olive oil, seafood or fruit and vegetables in the open air market, between 07:00 and 16:00.
 * Cycle there are miles of cycle tracks to the south through pine forest that follow the coast line. Cycle Hire is relatively cheap for good quality bikes.
 * Swim right there, below the church you can clamber over the rocks and take a dive in the Adriatic.

Rock climbing
There is a big climbing area just half an hour by foot from the city centre (follow signs to the Park Hotel, then 10 minutes further down the road).

There are several other climbing areas in the region, but you need a car to get there:
 * Limski Canal
 * Dvigrad

Buy
The excellent market on Valdibora sells fresh fish straight from the boat; truffles and truffle oil; olive oil; plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Eat
''Be sure to carry cash, as not all places accept cards, and in those which do, the feature is usually "temporarily out of order". Many establishments close over the winter.''

Go next
Rovinj is well-placed for visiting the Limski Kanal (Lim Canal), where the film The Long Ships was shot. Excursions can also be made to the Brijuni Islands National Park, and to many of the other cities in Istria, such as Pula, Novigrad, Porec, Pazin, and Opatija. A slightly longer journey could take you to Rijeka; Izola or Piran in Slovenia; or Trieste in Italy, all of which fall within the ancient boundaries of Istria. There is a daily high-speed ferry during the warmer months to Venice from the harbour in Rovinj. The ferry takes about 2 hours and takes you to almost the centre of Venice.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Rovinj


text:
Rowy

Rowy is city in Pomorskie in Poland. It is situated at the coast of Pommerania at a wide sandy beach. The Slowinski Nationalpark with the biggest dunes in Europe starts east of Rowy.

Get in

 * by plane - the international Lech Walesa airport at Gdansk or the international Szczecin-Goleniow airport
 * by car - from Gdansk or Szczecin by the route E28 to Slupsk and than just north to the coast.
 * by train - (PKP)
 * by bus - (PKS)

Get around
The sea resort is not quite big, so you can easily walk on food or rent a bike.

Go next
Gdańsk Bay:

 * Pommeranian metropol Gdansk with a beautiful old town and the biggest gothic brick church worldwide
 * sea resort Sopot with the longest European mole
 * sea resort and port Gdynia with the biggest Baltic port
 * sea resort Puck

Vistula Bay:

 * medieval town of Elblag
 * sea resort and medieval town of Frombork with the grave of Nicolaus Copernicus
 * sea resort Kadyny with one of the best European studs

Kashubian Coast:

 * Slowinski Nationalpark with the biggest dunes in Europe
 * sea resort Leba
 * sea resort Jastrzebia Gora
 * sea resort Rozewie
 * sea resort Wladyslawowo

On the Hel Peninsula:

 * sea resort Chalupy
 * sea resort Jastarnia
 * sea resort Jurata
 * sea resort Hel

On the Vistula Peninsula:

 * sea resort Krynica Morska

title: Rowy


text:
Roxas

There's more than one place called Roxas.

Philippines

 * Roxas (Capiz) - A town in Capiz.
 * Roxas (Palawan) - A town in Palawan.
 * Roxas (Mindoro) - A town in Mindoro

title: Roxas


text:
Roxas (Palawan)

Roxas (pronounced Rohas) is a municipality (town) on the east coast of Palawan, north of Puerto Princesa.

Understand
Working-class middle-sized town. Even though it is considered a 1st class municipality, it seems as though parts of the Manila slums have trickled out into the country.

Roxas is not a spectacular place scenery wise. It is more of an agricultural and fisheries area. The town proper itself including many other Barangays had previously been mined for Silica and still bears the scars of the environmental destruction. It is just a place where people struggle to live. Day in and day out the people living there are just going about their modest lives. They are not very accustomed to dealing with a lot of tourists except those passing through, but they are genuinely quite excited to interact with any tourists that show them an ounce of friendship or give them the time of day.

There is really no sense of local pride in being from Roxas. Most of the people have migrated there from other islands probably because of the cheap/free land and have decided to stick it out due to the decent agriculture and fisheries. The pride of the people is more about which island they came from, not where they are living. Because of this lack of local pride, the town itself has very little to no aesthetic appeal, things look as though they have just been scraped together in a very poorly thought out manner.

If you're looking for outdoor adventures and majestic beauty, Roxas will probably sorely disappoint you, but if you're looking for a taste of the quiet country farm life (if you make it out into the Barrio's) or the weird culture that is the Philippines (Asian, Spanish, Chinese and American all mixed in awkward proportions) then it is worth spending a moment, taking a breather and meeting a few locals, if for nothing else but a unique view on life.

There are two ATMs in town but neither accept foreign cards. There are a few money changers with rates lower than PP & El Nido so try not to get stuck here without any local currency.

Get in
Roxas is on the main east coast road of Palawan, running between Puerto Princessa and El Nido. There are daily buses and shuttle vans from the new marketplace terminal in San Jose, Puerto Princessa. In general the buses take an average of 3-4 hours to reach Roxas while shuttle vans take 2 hours.

Get around
Travel within the main city proper is easily accessible by foot in less than 15 minutes in any direction. Traffic is comprised mostly of people walking, motorbikes and tricycles. Compared to downtown Puerto Princesa, Roxas is relatively smoke-free and pleasant and safe to walk in. A stretch of the national highway running through town has separate and elevated sidewalks, making it safe for pedestrians to walk along the highway (unusual for a Palawan city). A bicycle can be rented from Richard at the Fort Wally Food Stop, located across from the "Gasul" petrol station, along the waterfront, for. If you talk to Richard in advance, and take the bike at 3 PM, Richard might be available to give you a free mini-tour of the town on a bicycle, starting at about 3 PM.

See
The most spectacular thing to see are the thousands of giant fruit bats that fly over the city nearly every night just before sunset. If you have never seen them, or find yourself in Roxas for a night or two, it is worth going down to the pier or near the waterfront to see if they are flying in your direction, it is quite an amazing sight.

Do
Roxas in general is a stopping off place on your way to El Nido if you absolutely can't manage the long bus ride in one day, but there really is nothing majestic or life changing to see, so if you're on a tight schedule you would probably would not regret skipping it. Roxas also acts as something of a jumping off point for the lovely Port Barton.

 * Island Hopping - Within the municipality of Roxas there is a nice island resort called Coco Loco. You can either take a day trip or rent the cabins for overnight visits.  It is about a 45-minute boat ride from Roxas town proper.  The island is peaceful and quiet with a very good swimming, nice corals and unique shelf that drops off into the unknown.  Just ask around and you will eventually find the right information.
 * Umalad Falls - If you're stuck in town proper and are looking for "something" to do outdoors on the cheap for a couple hours, there are very modest waterfalls and swimming pools on the edge of town (Ulmalad) that are a source of water for the locals. If the water has already dried up because of the heat, the short walk in the woods is a nice tropical jungle experience that can break up and refresh your day.  Ask a tricycle driver to take you there.
 * Matalangaw Falls - Located half-way between Roxas and Port Barton in the sitio of Matalangaw. This is a nice and relaxing area, not only for the sheer peacefulness of the atmosphere, but also for a refreshing hiking and swimming break from the rough and bumpy road you have been travelling.  The swimming area is located approximately 3 km from the main road and is very easy walk.  Follow the signs and when you see the little statue, you know you have made it to the main swimming hole.  Beyond the main swimming and resting area are two more falls for the more serious adventurers.
 * Butterfly Resort - A 5-minute ride outside of town in Barangay Malcampo is a nice peaceful place called the "Butterfly Resort".  It is not well advertised and quite modest, but it is a good place to relax and unwind.  The beach is not a spectacular place to swim, but it is wide and long, perfect for strolling, beach combing and on low tide poking around the tide pools and nearly exposed corals.

Buy
One of the things to note in Roxas are the cashews. Roxas is one of the leading cashew producers and has many different locally made cashew nut delicacies. If you like cashews, you really should try some during your short stay or pass through Roxas. If you want to find some for your trip, either ask inside the stores you visit or look for signs saying "Pasalubong" (meaning gifts to bring back to family and friends).

For the budget minded travelers, this is your last and best stop to buy cheap fresh fruits, veggies, fish and meats before heading up to the "tourist priced" El Nido and TayTay where you will be spending money nearly equivalent to wherever you came from on fresh fruits.

Roxas is an agricultural area, so take advantage of the cheap prices and fresh produce. Especially the fruits!

 * Market (Palengke) - The main public market in Roxas is located near the main bus terminal and it is literally under one minute walking distance. There are also a wide selection of street foods available in this area.  As noted before, the prices of fresh produce in Roxas are much lower than those of Taytay and El Nido, so stock up.  If you're lucky to be passing through on a Friday or Saturday there is also a public market where many farmers bring their products into town to sell.  The prices and deals are unbelievably good during the public market days.

If you need other grocery goods, besides the many sari-sari (variety) stores scattered around Roxas where you can buy nearly all your supplies such as soap, dry foods and water. The main grocery stores with large selections are:

 * Roxas Commercial
 * Vilman's
 * San Rafael

For hardware or fishing supplies the main store of interest is Number 6.

Eat
Depending on what your looking for, there is quite a variety to be had in Roxas. From the street side "turo-turos" to the few scattered restaurants. Here are the most notable:

 * Aromasit Vietnamese restaurant
 * Town Syte. Known for its chicken-inasal.
 * Modern Bakery
 * Houia Keau Vietnamese restaurant
 * Mr. Donut
 * Botega resto-bar Filipino food, nice outdoor seating area by the ocean
 * Near Botega, across the street from Petron is another ocean front restaurant, the "fanciest" one in town.

Drink

 * Territoryo

Sleep
There are multiple Pension houses in Roxas. The most notable is the Rover's Pension, which is no more than a 100 meters (1-2 minute walk) from the main bus terminal. The prices are very reasonably priced for the modest accommodations. Just ask a tricycle driver or local for directions because none of them are advertised well.

 * Rover's Pension. . Run down, dirty, separate charges for pillows, bed sheets, towels, and toilet paper.
 * NJ's Pension
 * Donya Nela Pension: Clean basic rooms for . Big house built in colonial style with a big garden. Depends on your room location, the karaoke downstairs might bother you at night.
 * Emerose Pension
 * Pentenyo Pension
 * Dos Bocales

Connect
Roxas Tourism Office (directly across the street from Rover's Pension House)

If you're looking for Internet access, Roxas is your best bet before TayTay and El Nido which both have limited electricity throughout the day. Roxas has 24-hour electricity, so if you need to get connected ask a local resident or tricycle driver for directions to one of the many internet shops. Internet access here in Roxas is nearly half the price of what you will be paying in Taytay or El Nido, so take advantage while you can.

Stay healthy
If you're in need of any medical assistance there are two hospitals in Roxas, both the Baptist Hospital and the Medicare Hospital. The hospitals are located on the opposing far ends of town, but there are a few medical clinics within the town proper itself, near the Rover's Pension house.

Stay safe
There are police and fire stations near the main bus terminal.

Go next
Buses, shuttle vans leaving north to El Nido, south to Puerto Princessa and a Jeepney and other hired vehicles west to Port Barton daily.

title: Roxas (Palawan)


text:
Roxbury (Maine)

Roxbury is a town in Oxford County, in the Lakes and Mountains region of Maine.

Get in
Roxbury is located on Route 17 north of Mexico and South of Byron. Roxbury pond is located just off Route 120 north of Rumford before entering Andover.

Buy
There is a convenience store on Route 120 just before the turn to Roxbury Pond.

title: Roxbury (Maine)


text:
Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park is in south-central Nepal.

History
Chitwan National Park was established in 1973, and today covers an area of 932 km2. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Landscape
The protected area consists of Sal forest, and riverine grasslands in the flood plains of the Rapti, Reu and Narayani Rivers. The Churia hills rise towards the south from 150 m to more than 800 m. The western portion of the park is comprised of the lower but more rugged, Someshwor hill. The park shares its eastern boundary with the Parsa Wildlife Reserve.

Wildlife
More than 540 bird species have been recorded in the protected area. Reptile species include gharial and mugger crocodiles, monitor lizard, rock python and king cobra. Mammal species include rhinoceros, sloth bear, tiger, leopard, langur and rhesus monkeys, sambar deer and chital. Most elephants are domesticated and used for taking tourists on sightseeing excursions.

Climate
It is quite hot and humid most of the year.

Get in
Most visitors travel to Sauraha and then day trip into the park. Through intentional removal or natural disaster, all the bridges crossing the river into the park near Sauraha have been removed so visitors must cross by canoe.

By plane
Bharatpur (Nepal) is the nearest airport, about 10 km away.

By bus
The nearby town of Sauraha has good bus connections with Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Fees and permits
For all activities inside the park, visitors must pay Rs. 2000 per day for a permit.

Additional charges apply when visiting the Community Forest (Park Buffer Zone). It's difficult to get tour operators to commit to a price, but quotes range from Rs. 300-500.

Get around

 * Pony & trap Pony rickshaws for 2 people
 * Ox cart Bigger groups can be pulled by 2 oxen
 * Elephant safari
 * Jeep
 * Electric Rickshaws

See

 * Gharial Breeding Center near Kasara, 1 km.
 * Elephant Breeding Center
 * Lake Lamital
 * Lake Devital
 * Bikram Baba', a religious site.
 * Local native dances - quite interesting and usually included in your "hotel package". Stick dancing is very loud as they hit sticks together to form a rhythm.

Do
The primary activity in Chitwan is wildlife viewing by foot, jeep, boat, or elephant. There are numerous travel agencies in Sauraha that can arrange a tour or you can organise one through your hotel. Packages vary greatly both in cost and what's included (meals, accommodation, transportation, park permit) so confirm the details, preferably in writing, before any money changes hands.

Be skeptical of anyone who is too enthusiastic about your chances of seeing wildlife; as the guides say, "this is not a zoo," and many visitors leave without spotting the park's large mammals. Maximize your chances by visiting in March or April when the elephant grass is short and by planning multiple excursions into the park over several days. Tigers are especially rare; a guide may only catch a glimpse once or twice per year.

Permits and at least two guides - even for a single visitor - are required for anyone venturing into the park. Everyone must leave the park at sunset. If you have planned an overnight excursion you will sleep adjacent to the park in the Community Forest (Buffer Zone).

Canoe trip
Take a leisurely float down the Rapti river as the boatman steers you past flocks of birds, crocodiles, gharial, monkeys, and, if you're lucky, large land animals drinking from the river. If you want to be sure to see some kind of wildlife, a canoe trip is a good choice as you will certainly see several species of bird and crocodiles are very common.

Dugout canoes depart from Sauraha at 7AM or 1PM, take 1 - 2 hours, and usually form the first stage of a jeep safari or jungle walk. You'll be asked to tip the boatman when he drops you off so consider bringing some small bills. Prices range from Rs. 800–1,500 (+ park permit) per person (2018) depending on the duration and number of passengers.

Elephant rides
Several agencies actively discourage elephant rides on the grounds that it is cruel to the animal. However, if you ask around you'll find agencies willing to book you a tour. Prices are around Rs. 2,500 for an hour.

Ethical tours
As a great alternative to the elephant rides there are two companies organising ethical tour. One is StandUp4 elephants https://www.su4e.org when you can hire an elephant from the owner and let him to do what ever it wants. It's called happy hour. The second one is https://directaidnepal.com This company established the first elephant refuge, they have private land and elephants are completely free there. You can buy an ethical tour and go to see elephant in their natural environment.

Jeep safari
Jeep safaris offer a good alternative to Jungle walks for those who want to see more of the park or don't want to spend the day bushwacking on foot down narrow paths.

Jeeps depart across the river from Sauraha at 7AM or 1PM - ensure the tour includes crossing by boat as there is no bridge. Half day (4 hr) and full day (8 hr) tours are available, but half day are much more common. If you are interested in a full day, you may have to rent the entire jeep if the operator can't find enough passengers for the trip. A jeep seats 10-12 people depending on the configuration, some with side-facing bench seats and others forward facing. Expect to pay around Rs. 1,500 (+ park permit) per person for a half day (2018).

Jungle walk
Jungle walks are a great way to experience the park up close. A guide will lead you down jeep tracks, paths, and along riverbanks in search of wildlife while teaching you about the flora, fauna and history of the park. Most agencies recommend a full day jungle walk (with canoe) to allow visitors to go deeper into the park. Visitors should be moderately fit as you will have to cover to  on foot; however, smaller groups will have more control over the distance.

Checklist:
 * Pants and a log-sleeved shirt of dull, earthy colors
 * Backpack for your gear - if you have a bright pack but have a dark rain-cover consider using it
 * Lunch and snacks, if not provided as part of your tour package. Restaurants in Sauraha have "boxed lunches" on their menu for this purpose
 * 2L of water per person per day
 * Sunscreen and DEET-based bug spray to repel mosquitoes and ticks

Single Day
Half day (4 hr) jungle walks start from Sauraha at 7AM or 1PM. Full day walks depart at 7AM and return at 5PM with a 1 to 2 hour lunch break. Some agencies and hotels will arrange tour groups which can greatly reduce the per-person cost.

Prices are dependent on what's included (meals / transportation / canoe) and how many people in a group. Expect to pay from Rs. 4,300 (inc. park permit) per person (2018) for a large group with no meals, to Rs. 10,000 (inc. park permit) for a personal tour with meals included (2018).

Two Day
Those wishing to venture deeper into the park may embark on a two-day jungle walk. The first day is much the same as a single day walk, but instead of returning to Sauraha you will spend the night in a village in the buffer zone. The second day is spent exploring the farther reaches of the park before returning to Sauraha via bus or jeep.

Your accommodation and dinner are typically not included in the price quoted by agencies and you will be responsible for paying them when you arrive in the village. Depending on your package you may also need to provide breakfast, lunch and return transportation. Ensure you understand what is included before setting out.

Motorcycle safari
Explore traditional Tharu villages per motorcycle. Hearts and Tears Motorcycle Club organises tours out of Pokhara, and brings a local nature guide along for the ride. Just amazing.

Buy

 * Local honey
 * Stuff from Bikram Baba if you are religious
 * Local Tharu alcohol

Drink
There are no drinking establishments in the park. However, there are several bars in the nearby town of Sauraha.

Sleep
As of 2018 there is no longer any accommodation inside the park and visitors are not permitted to remain after dark.

There are many hotels located in the nearby town of Sauraha and this is where most visitors stay. It is also possible to stay at a camp or viewing tower but these are located in the buffer zone, across the river from the park.

Go next
If you want to see more of Nepal, visit any of the tour offices or ask your hotel manager to buy a bus ticket onward. Nearly everyone sells these, so shop around to save 50-100 rupees on your ticket. The tickets will most likely be for the local bus and not the standard tourist bus like you may have arrived in.

If you want to go to India from Chitwan, you can buy a bus ticket the same way to the border (tell them you want to go to Sonauli). Sonauli is the border town and is about 4 hours from Chitwan. When you arrive, you should be let off at the last stop (after Lumbini, which is only a few minutes apart). Your bus will be swamped with touts wanting to take you the 2km to the border in their bicycle rickshaws. It should only cost NPR30-50 so bargain accordingly (and remember to be clear that you are both talking about Nepalese rupees and not Indian rupees!). Note that some drivers will take you to a money change office just in front of the Nepal immigration office and then demand extra payment for the unscheduled (read: commissioned) stop. Just pay the formerly agreed upon amount and walk away. The immigration office is on the left side of the road. After getting your exit stamp (don't let them try to charge you a fake exit fee), walk through the large "Welcome to India" arch and proceed straight ahead past the first grouping of police guards on the left and on to a small "office" that is a long table with 3-4 men sitting with entrance forms. The sign is small and so a bit difficult to see and is also on the left side of the road. After filling out your entry form and getting stamped you can either get a taxi to take you onward to your intended city or you can walk approx another 200 m ahead to the bus lot (on right side of road) and ask around for your intended destination.

title: Chitwan National Park


text:
Royal Manas National Park

Royal Manas National Park is in Central Bhutan.

Understand
Covering over 1,000 km², this park and its adjoining Manas National Park in Assam provide a sanctuary for many wild animals, including tigers, leopards, rhinos, bears, pangolin and elephants. Designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1966, the area was upgraded to national park status in 1988.

Landscape
The park covers the eastern Sarpang District, the western half of the Zhemgang District, and the western Pemagatshel District.

It is connected via biological corridors to Phibsoo Wildlife Area, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Phrumsengla National Park, and Jomotsangkha Wildlife Area.

The southern Indo-Butanese border separates this park from Manas National Park, a UNESCO heritage site.

Climate
During the monsoon season from May to September, up to 5,000 mm of rainfall can occur in the national park, but there is little rain in other parts of the year. The best travel period is from November to March, because in this period the temperatures are very pleasant.

Get in
Stop at the ticket booth.

title: Royal Manas National Park


text:
Royal Natal National Park

Royal Natal National Park is in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, bordering onto the Free State province and Lesotho. The Tugela Falls, the world's highest waterfall (by some measures), can be found here.

Understand
Best time to visit is in late summer (March to May) when all the rivers are full, the air is crystal clear and vegetation is lush and green.

History
The park was established in 1916, but only received its current name in 1947 after the British Royal Family visited there in May that year. Despite its name, it is not a South African National Park and is administered as a provincial park by KwaZulu-Natal Parks rather than SANParks.

Flora and fauna
Bushbuck and baboons are common. Other animal that may be encountered are Rock Dassies, Otters, Mountain Reedbuck, Duiker and Black-backed Jackal. The only animal that poses any real danger to humans are the baboons and contact with them should be avoided while hiking.

Climate
Rainy season is between October and March, mostly as short lived afternoon thundershowers. There is a possibility of snow between April and September. Winters (April to September) is dry and wind is common in late winter.

Get in
From the N3, take the R616 just south of Ladysmith towards Bergville (35 km). Where the R616 meets the R74, take a right turn and follow that road for a further 29 km until it joins with the R615. Take a left turn and you will reach the park within another 19 km. Roadsign are clearly displayed along the way. For a more scenic route, take the exit the N3 at Harrismith and take the N5 towards Bethlehem for about 5 km, then turn left onto the R74 and follow this for about 38 km, then take a right into the R615. Following this route will take one past the Sterkfontein Dam.

Drive with extra care along the R615 as it passes through a number of rural villages where livestock and school children cross the road at will.

Entrance to the park is open 24 hours for residents and from 6AM to 10PM (May-Sep) and 5AM to 7PM (Oct-Mar) for day visitors.

The nearest petrol station and tyre repair shop is in Bergville, 48 km away.

Fees
A daily conservation fee is payable at the park entrance. R50 per adult, R25 per child day.

Get around
The speed limit within the park is, but mostly you will walk rather than drive.

Hiking
There are a number of walking and hiking trails in the park. A booklet on all the walks is available at the Information Centre for R50.

 * Short walks

 * Long walks

Mountain biking
There are a number of mountain biking trails accessible from Witsieshoek Lodge.

Fly fishing
There are two dams located behind the day visitors picnic area. As per South African law, a fishing license is required to fish anywhere in the country. This can be obtained from the Information Center.

Horse riding
Horse back excursions are available from Rugged Glen camp.

Buy
There is a shop at the Information Office (first building on the left after entering the park) that sells most of the basic necessities (from washing powder and ice to boerewors and beer). The selection is not huge, but they do not try and take advantage of being the only shop in the park; prices are reasonable with no outrageous markup added. (R15 for a beer for example (2018)).

The shop also stocks the usual curios, branded clothing, travel books and maps.

A mini-ATM is located behind the Information counter. One can perform a normal withdraw, but the mini-ATM will provide you with a slip rather than cash. Exchange this slip for cash at the information counter.

Sleep

 * Lower Camp: There are 8 2-bed chalets with one bedroom, a lounge incorporated in the bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchen and 5 4-bed chalets with two bedrooms, a separate lounge, a bathroom and a kitchen.
 * Upper Camp: There are 6 2-bed chalets with one bedroom, a separate lounge, a bathroom and kitchen and 7 4-bed chalets with two bedrooms, a separate lounge, a bathroom and kitchen.
 * Cottage: Two 6-bed cottages accommodate 6 people each in 3 bedrooms, lounge/dining area, a bathroom and fully equipped kitchen.
 * Thendele Lodge: Accommodates six people in three en-suite bedrooms, a bathroom, a lounge and dining room and a fully equipped kitchen.
 * Thendele Lodge: Accommodates six people in three en-suite bedrooms, a bathroom, a lounge and dining room and a fully equipped kitchen.

 * Directions:
 * From Ladysmith, turn off just south of Ladysmith and follow the Bergville road for 55 km. From Bergville travel 30 km towards Olivershoek Pass/Harrismith and then turn left at the Drakernsburg North sign. It is approximately 16 km from there to the Royal Natal entrance gate.
 * From the South, turn off the N3 at the Winterton/Northernberg Resorts turn off and pass through Winterton and Bergville. Turn left at the Northern Drakernsberg North signboard. It is approximately 16 km from there to the Royal Natal entrance gate.
 * From Harrismith, turn right and travel 5 km on the Bethlehem road where you turn left onto R74/R712 at the Phuthaditjaba sign. Turn left again 8 km along this road at the Bergville/Olivershoek pass/R74 sign. The park is approximately 16 km from this turn off.

Stay safe
Before going on a long hike, be sure to fill in the mountain rescue register at the Information Center or at Thendele camp. Also make sure to sign out again on your return. This allows officials to keep track of who is on the mountain and to initiate rescue parties should you be overdue.

Weather can change fast in the mountains and mist can often cause visibility to drop to near zero, especially higher up the mountain. Should you be caught in thick mist, stay where you are and wait for it to lift; eventually it will and you can continue your hike safely.

Go next
The scenic Sterkfontein Dam is located on the R74 towards Harrismith about 50 km outside the park.

Spioenkop dam, nature reserve and the Second Boer War memorials on the Spioenkop Battlefield is located less than 80km away towards Ladysmith. To reach the battlefield, follow the R74 to Bergville and the R616 from there toward Ladysmith. About 25 km from Bergville, a gravel road will lead off to the right towards Spioenkop. It is well sign-posted and the gravel road is in good condition. Entrance is R20 per person. Keep the entrance ticket as it also covers access to the nature reserve.

The central Drakensberg is about 90-minute drive away and an easy daytrip.

title: Royal Natal National Park


text:
Royal National Park

The Royal National Park is a New South Wales national park on the southern fringe of Sydney in New South Wales, around south from the CBD. It is the world's second national park after Yellowstone, and the first to hold the "national park" title.

History
The Royal National Park is the second oldest national park in the world, proclaimed in 1879 just after Yellowstone. Though it may be proclaimed as the second, it was the first place to use the term national park as Yellowstone was initially called Yellowstone Public Park, while Yosemite, albeit it being claimed in 1864, only being called Yosemite National Park in 1890. But Royal is not often considered as such since a) Australia did not federate until 1901, meaning it was still a part of the Colony of New South Wales and b) due to Australia's unusual national park system, is still managed by the NSW Government, with some federal involvement as part of Australia's National Reserve System, so it's often why Yellowstone is considered the world's oldest national park, not Royal.

It is easily accessible from Sydney and is popular for picnics, walking and other recreation. The picnic areas within the park are largely at Audley, next to the Hacking River. The Audley Boatshed and Visitor's Centre are there too. However, there are many other picnic areas within the park, and many other areas to explore.

Today, Royal National Park is on the Australian National Heritage List, along with the Garawarra State Conservation Area not only for its flora and fauna, but also because it was the starting point for conservation in Australia.

Landscape
Royal National Park was once a quiet and secluded part of Sydney is now well and truly on the international tourist trail. Sites like Figure Eight Pools, Wedding Cake Rock, and Wattamolla can attract crowds of all nationalities. And the park may reach capacity and close on summer weekends and holidays.

Climate
Royal National Park is mostly cool during winter, and warm during summer. See the forecast for the next seven days by the Bureau of Meteorology

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
This is general guidance how to get in to the park. The park itself is large (for Sydney standards), so check your plan your itinerary carefully, especially if you are not driving, to ensure you can get to where you want to be. Information on accessing specific destinations within the park is contained within the destination information, below.

You can drive or walk through the park at any time, but the picnic areas close at sunset and people staying late will be ejected by the private security employed in the park.

By train

 * There are train services from Sydney City to, , , and stations which are on the western perimeter of the park (go on the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line). From each of these stations you can access several signposted bushwalks.  Given time, you can even walk between them.  At each of these entry points there are shops to purchase food and drinks.  However it is not straightforward to access Audley, the main picnic areas, or the coastal areas of the park from these access points.  The services run to these suburbs at 30 minute frequency and take 45 minutes for the trip.

To access Audley from Loftus, walk east from Loftus following the tramline and the 45-minute easy walk to Bungonia Lookout over the river and Audley. Consider whether you want to walk down the hill to Audley (or more to the point, consider if you want to walk back).

To access Audley from Waterfall follow the Uloola track for 3 hours to Audley passing Uloola falls, follow the signs from the station carpark.

 * There are hourly train services to on the southern boundary of the park.  This is an access point to the southern end of the coast walk.  It is a 10-minute steep uphill walk from the station to the park boundary at Bald Hill, it is signposted.  It is about an hour walk to Werrong beach (nudist) or two hours to Burning Palms beach from this point.

 * There are also train services to to meet a ferry to .  This is an access point to the northern end of the coast walk.  The trains run every 30 minutes and the ferries run every hour. Don't expect them to connect. Turn left out of the exit to the station, and then left through the railway underpass to get to the ferry.  About 5 minutes walk.  It is 15 minutes walk from the ferry wharf at Bundeena to the park.  You will need to know where you are going, and consult a map.

Topographic maps of the park can be viewed online at the New South Wales Lands Department. Bundeena has a nice beach by the side of the wharf, and nice cafes. It is not in the park, but it is surrounded by it.

By tram
Loftus Tramway Museum runs hourly trams from Loftus station to at the top of the hill at Audley every hour on Sundays. From the end of the tramline there is a 1-km sealed path (Bungonia Track) to walk to the lookout at the top of the cliff. It is a steep 30-minute walk (Honeymoon Track) down to the main picnic areas at Audley. The tram line is only about 2 km long, and it is possible to walk the length of the tram line from Loftus on the days the tram isn't running. However, you will need to take great care crossing the Princes Highway from the station - and you may choose a different walk for just this reason.

By car
You can drive into the park at Audley, at Waterfall and at Stanwell Tops. Follow the signs from the Princes Highway.

A flat daily entry fee of $12 applies for all parked cars up to and including 8 seats (you do not have to pay if you are just passing through the park and do not stop). Beyond 8 seats you will need to pay a fee of $4.40 per adult and $2.20 per child. Options for purchasing are:

 * attendants at park entry points
 * the Audley Visitor Centre
 * parking pay machines at some carparks
 * the NSW Park'n Pay app (for the flat $12 fee only, and be aware there is poor mobile reception in the park, pay using the app before you leave the highway)

If payment points are closed or unstaffed, you are still expected to pay. Rangers will check cars for payment and issue fines if you have not paid.

Alternatively, you can purchase a National Parks annual pass for your vehicle from $65 which will give unlimited access to Royal National Park.

Get around
There are well developed roads to get around by car within the park, and these can be used to access the walking trails and the major picnic areas. There is plenty of parking at the main picnic areas.

Cycling is permitted on the trails but not the tracks unless marked (trails designed for ranger or fire access by 4wd, tracks are narrow, with steps, designed for walkers). Bicycles can access many trails that are closed to cars. The main sealed through roads through the park are steep and hilly, with many bends, and with cars that invariably exceed the speed limits and advisory corner speeds. See cycling in New South Wales.

There are still many areas of the park can only be accessed by walking.

Maps of the park are available for purchase from the visitors centre in Audley, or many map and bookshops around Sydney. Individual brochures for the walks and beaches are available at no charge.

Scenery

Flora and fauna

 * Lyrebirds, Crimson Rosellas are common within the park. The Lyre birds tail fans out like a peacock, and they can often be seen in pairs.  Crimson Rosellas common, some are used to being fed and they will eat out of your hand (although strictly speaking, you probably shouldn't feed them).
 * Goannas can be seen around Audley (and elsewhere). Large monitor lizards.
 * Kangaroos and Wallabies, are rarer in the park then they used to be before the last bushfire. Wallabies can be seen in the bush by the Hacking River.  Kangaroos on the open plains around Era.
 * Turtles and fish can often be seen in the rocks from the weir at Audley. If you are canoeing up Kangaroo Creek from the boatshed, look on the logs that have fallen on the waters edge.
 * Kookaburras, Cockatoos, and Galahs are common all over the park, as in most of Sydney.

Walk
Stay safe. Carry enough water for your trip, water is not usually available in the park, and what water there is often not safe to drink. Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back. Although the park is not of the scale of other Australian National Parks, it is still possible to become lost.

The park is one of the best places to do day walks from Sydney. You can walk along spectacular sandstone cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean with views to the north to Sydney or to the south to Wollongong. Alternatively you can walk in the river valleys behind the headlands. There you will find tall rainforest trees such as the Lilly Pilly Acmena smithii or the fragrant Celery wood Polysias elegans.

 * Lady Carrington Drive from Audley or Forest Island. This is a well marked trail from Audley, and probably the most popular walk in the park. You can cycle this trail as well with a mountain bike. It is mostly flat, wide and follows the Hacking River.
 * Coast walk. The Coast walk is a 30-km walk starting at Bundeena and ending at Otford. See the section above on how to access these points. Along the way it passes most of the Park's significant beaches, including Wattamolla, Garie, Era and Burning Palms. It climbs headlands, goes along sandstone cliffs and around rocky foreshores. It passes depression-era huts set in a valley with deer at Era, and no shortage of kangaroos. This walk is recommended to take 2 days. You can camp at North Era with a permit. If you are fit and keen the walk can be done in one day. If you plan your walk during the migration of the humpback whales you might get lucky and see a mother and her calf.

A comprehensive list of the walks available, and details of the routes can be obtained from the Visitor Centre.

Swim

There is no swimming in the river at Audley.

Canoe, kayak and row
The historic boatshed adjacent to the Audley picnic area has row boats, canoes, and kayaks for hire. From here you can paddle around the picnic areas and clearings of Audley. If you want a bit of a longer jaunt, load your boat or canoe with water and snacks, and head upriver. The right fork is a wider clearer trip up Kangaroo Creek, see sandstone cliffs, turtles and birdlife in an easy 1hr paddle. Take the left fork under the timber bridge to head up the river proper. How far you can get depends on recent rainfall and how overgrown with reeds the river is at the time. You can probably count on a good 2½ hours of paddling to reach the limit of canoe navigation. This fork is probably not as scenic, and a bit harder going, but after 45 minutes you can count on having the river to yourself, with the consequent increase in wildlife spotting opportunities if you are quiet. There are some muddy landing spots upriver you can stop at if you are keen, on the right of the river it is inaccessible except by canoe. Swimming is not allowed near the picnic areas at Audley, but there are a few nice spots to jump in after you have been canoeing for a while upriver.

Private craft (canoes & kayaks) are allowed. The boat rental operator has put up signs saying they are not allowed, but on checking with Park Rangers, this is not so, March 2012.

Cycle
You can use a mountain bike in the park on trails (wide roads with a barrier to prevent access by cars) except where signposted. Pick up the brochure on cycling in the park from the Visitor's Centre.

 * Lady Carrington Drive is a popular family off-road easy cycling location, and bikes can be hired from the boatshed which is an easy cycle from the start of the track. They can give directions at the boatshed.
 * If you have your own mountain bike you can catch the train to Waterfall and cycle along the Uloola Trail to the falls. Follow the cycleway south from the station past the primary school, and down the service trail.  It is around 12 km return cycle along wide and mostly well graded trail.  You can cool off by paddling in the water by the falls if they are flowing.

Kiosks and take-away

There is a kiosk at Wattamolla beach and at Garie beach usually open on weekends during peak times. Nice for an ice cream on a hot day, but don't rely on them being open for camping supplies as they seem to close up if the business isn't there.

There is a selection of coffee shops and take away places at Bundeena. There is a coffee shop and take away at Otford outside the park's southern boundary. On a sunny weekend you will likely find an ice-cream van or two at Bald Hill, near the southern exit of the Coast/Cliff Walk.

Picnics
The park is an excellent place for a picnic.

There are free electric barbecues provided at Audley, Wattamolla, with many picnic tables provided. There are still some fireplaces left for wood fires

There are picnic tables at regular intervals along the roads through the park.

Drink
Whatever you want to drink, bring it with you. Water for the walk or beer for the barbecue.

Although the streams run clear through the bush and look refreshing, they are not recommended for drinking without boiling. There isn't a single stream in the park that can be relied upon to be running without recent rainfall.

Camping
The office here is the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Farnell Avenue, Audley Heights,. Contact the NPWS for camping permits if you intend to camp in any of the campgrounds. Camping elsewhere in the park is forbidden.
 * Bonnie Vale campground. This campground has 40 sites. It is in the north-eastern corner of the park near Bundeena. You access it by road off Bundeena drive. The campground has excellent facilities including drinking water, toilets and hot showers, but there is no power. You can camp in caravans. The fee is $14 per night for adults and $7 per night for children. Bonnie Vale is a 15-minute walk from the Bundeena ferry wharf.  Much of the camping area is closed for asbestos remediation.
 * North Era campground. This campground is accessible by walking along the coast track from Bundeena or Otford, or by walking the much shorted walk from the parking lot adjacent to Garawarra Farm. The campground has composting toilets, but no other facilities, and wood fires are banned. The fee is $5 per night for adults and $3 per night for children.
 * Uloola Falls camping ground. This campground is accessible by walking along the Uloola Track from Waterfall, Heathcote or Engadine. The campground has composting toilets, but no other facilities, and wood fires are banned. The fee is $5 per night for adults and $3 per night for children.

Stay safe

 * Mobile phone reception is very limited in the park. There are no transmitters in the park.  If you need mobile phone reception move around, and try and get to the highest ground possible.
 * Most trails within the park are well developed and well marked. However some trails, particularly the coastal trails, include rocky ground, sea rocks, and beaches, where following the trail on the ground is difficult.
 * Eastern Brown snakes are sometimes seen sunning themselves along the less well traversed tracks or rocks next to the tracks. Sometimes they can even be seen on Lady Carrington's Drive.  They are a shy snake, and usually waste no time getting out of your way.  Don't do anything silly like try to touch one, scare it away with a stick, or corner one.  Give them space, and they will get out of your way.  Their bites can be dangerous, even deadly.  If you do get bitten, get help.
 * Leeches come out when it rains. They don't hurt, they do you no lasting harm, and will drop off when they have had their fill.  They do leave you a bit bloody though if you try to pull them off.  If you don't want them on you, avoid walking in the rain, or wear thick long socks and long pants, checking them occasionally and avoiding brushing against plants.  Insect repellent will deter them, but it also washes off in the rain, so it is a bit hopeless, really.

Go next
Visit the Sydney Tramway Museum, open on Sundays and some holidays, just adjacent and North of the park turnoff from the Princes Hwy at Loftus. You can't enter the tramway going south on the Princes Highway, so if you are heading south, follow the Old Princes Highway through Sutherland.

Travel south along the coast road via the new Sea Cliff Bridge. A bridge built over the sea by the cliff edge, just south of the park and Stanwell Park.

Travel further south along the highway, and in around half an hour you will be in Wollongong.

Heathcote National Park is just to the west of the Princes Hwy, and without the coastal vistas or development of the Royal National Park. If you are looking for a natural landscape with walks, fewer people and no cars, then consider a bushwalk here. As you will have to park outside of the park, there are no admission fees either.

title: Royal National Park


text:
Royal National Park (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Royal National Park:

Australia

 * Royal National Park - A national park in New South Wales.
 * Mt. Royal National Park

South Africa

 * Royal Natal National Park - A national park in KwaZulu-Natal.

title: Royal National Park (disambiguation)


text:
Royal Oak

Royal Oak is a suburb of Detroit in Oakland County, Michigan known for its trendy downtown shopping area and bars. 1 mile South of Royal Oak is Ferndale, a place very similar to Royal Oak, known for its large lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender population. North of Royal Oak is Birmingham, an opulent area known for its upscale boutiques.

Get in
I-75/the Chrysler Freeway is located directly east of Royal Oak, and runs north-south. I-696/the Reuther Freeway is located directly south or Royal Oak, and runs east-west. Bordering the left-hand side of Royal Oak is Woodward Avenue, which runs northwest-southeast, and will take you southbound directly into Detroit.

By train

 * Route serving Royal Oak:
 * Wolverine Service operates several times daily between Pontiac and Chicago including stops along the way in Troy, Royal Oak, Detroit, Dearborn, Ann Arbor, Jackson, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Niles, and New Buffalo. There are many train connections in Chicago.
 * Wolverine Service operates several times daily between Pontiac and Chicago including stops along the way in Troy, Royal Oak, Detroit, Dearborn, Ann Arbor, Jackson, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Niles, and New Buffalo. There are many train connections in Chicago.

Get around
Royal Oak is a very walkable city, the downtown area is a mile long, Main Street and Washington Street are the definite downtown areas to walk around.

Events

 * Arts, Beats & Eats Downtown Royal Oak. Oakland county's annual festival celebrating art, music, food and community. Labor Day weekend. $3 before 3pm, $5 before 5pm, and $7 after 5pm

Disc Golf
Royal Oak has 2 Disc Golf courses, it is an inexpensive game to get into; there are liquor stores located directly across from the parks that sell individual discs ranging from $9-$18. Also, the store "In Flight" in the Oak Park/Ferndale area also sells discs and other disc golf accessories. The Throw Shop in Ypsilanti, an hour West on I-94, is the largest disc golf store in the region, well worth the trip as it also features a 28-hole disc golf course.

Eat
While a lot of fast food restaurants and chains such as Noodles & Company and Jimmy John's can be found in Royal Oak, as a visitor you shouldn't bother wasting your time eating in those establishments.

Non-Alcoholic
There is a Starbucks and Bean & Leaf Cafe located in Royal Oak, both of which are on Main Street.

Bars
Royal Oak has a ton of bars such as Mr. B's Pub, Woody's, Duggans, O'Tooles, Rock on 3rd, Goodnite Gracie, Sky Club, Ye Olde Saloon, Norm's Field of Dreams and Luna Lounge.

Brewpubs
Luckily for beer enthusiasts there are a fair number of brewpubs in this area. Brew pubs are restaurants that brew their own beer. For around 10 dollars you can also buy a "growler" from these establishments which holds a half gallon of beer and is a means to buy take-out beer. Besides being a great deal, growlers make a great souvenir. Also, just a short bus ride away is the Woodward Avenue Brewery in Ferndale, take the Smart 450/460 Direction: Inbound (Runs down South Washington) in Royal Oak to get there.

Stay safe
Royal Oak is generally considered a safe city with a low crime rate. Crime is highly uncommon during the daytime but spikes considerably during the night time.

While most crime in Royal Oak affects residents, there have been many cases where travelers were victimized, especially in the case of burglaries of vehicles with out-of-state plates.

Walking
While Royal Oak's downtown area is a very safe place, avoid walking into alleyways during the night time. Many strongarm robberies and rape attempts take place in the city's downtown alleyways. The sidewalks and streets of Downtown Royal Oak are otherwise safe to walk during the daytime and night.

Avoid walking in any neighborhoods near or around an industrial park, railroad or apartment complex at night. Drug dealers are often present in these types of neighborhood after dark. If you choose to walk through such neighborhoods after dark remember to wear neutral-colored clothing and avoid large groups of people.

In addition, try not to walk on the Eleven Mile corridor during the night-time outside of the Downtown area as it is where many robberies in the city take place.

Car theft
Always park in a well-lit area during the night time. Lock your doors and roll up your windows. Even during the day time, car burglaries are common, especially when an open window is involved.

Take further precaution regarding your vehicle if you are the owner of a Chrysler vehicle. Chrysler and Dodge automobiles are often targeted for navigation systems and owners of such vehicles may fall victim much easier.

Panhandling
Royal Oak has a significant homeless population in the city, mostly centered around the downtown area and industrial neighborhoods. If you are approached by a panhandler simply state in a firm tone of voice that you do not wish to pay them and walk away.

title: Royal Oak


text:
Estrada Real

The Estrada Real ("Royal Road"), in Southeast Brazil, is one of the oldest roads in the Americas. It is becoming a popular itinerary for those in search of culture, history, typical regional food and a large variety of outdoors activities.

Understand
Cutting through the States of Minas Gerais and São Paulo to the port cities of Paraty and Rio de Janeiro, the Royal Road thrived during the diamond and gold-digging years of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, linking many of the most important historic towns in the region.

History
Portuguese colonists of Brazil and their African slaves began building the road in 1697 shortly after gold, diamonds, and other precious minerals were discovered in the present-day state of Minas Gerais. The purpose of the road was to transport those minerals from the interior to the coast and then to Lisbon. The original road — the Caminho Velho — began in Paraty and went north through the towns of São João del Rey, Tiradentes, Coronel Xavier Chaves, Congonhas, Itatiaia and, ultimately, Vila Rica, today's Ouro Preto. Later, the distance to Ouro Preto was shortened by the Caminho Novo, which started from Rio de Janeiro. The road was extended northward through Mariana, Catas Altas, Santa Bárbara, Barão de Cocais, Ipoema, Conceição do Mato Dentro, Serro, São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras, and, at the northernmost point, Diamantina. The length of both roads combined is about 1,400 km (850 mi).

Transportation along the road was tightly controlled by agents of the Crown to prevent smuggling and unauthorized movement. Goods were transported in mule trains known as tropas, led by tropeiro mule drivers. Products from Portugal made their way up the road while minerals made their way to the coast, as manufacturing and many crops were prohibited by the Crown so as to keep the region economically dependent on Portugal. Many of Brazil's hearty dishes, such as feijão tropeiro and tutu, were originally prepared by the tropeiros, who needed food that could be transported without spoiling.

The towns along the Estrada Real were opulent in the days of gold and diamonds, but by the end of the 18th century, the minerals became more scarce and the economy went into decline. Governmental and non-governmental organizations have worked to turn the Estrada Real into a route that leads tourists through the cradle of Brazilian culture. The road is still mostly unpaved, and the towns and villages along the way appear much the way they did in the 19th century. Magnificent churches still stand in towns that have been economically stagnant for over a century. The tourism initiative is educating people to retain their traditional ways and preserve the Baroque architecture of their old churches and government buildings

Get in
While the route can of course be taken in any of its segments, the most convenient starting points for those coming from outside the region are:
 * Diamantina, Minas Gerais - at the north end of the route
 * Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais - in the center of the route near Belo Horizonte
 * Paraty, Rio de Janeiro - at the south end of the western leg
 * Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro - at the south end of the eastern leg near the city of Rio de Janeiro
 * Guaratinguetá, São Paulo - on the Presidente Dutra Highway (BR-116), the main highway between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro

Go
Itineraries within that route normally follow: From Ouro Preto, the Road splits into:
 * Diamond Route (Caminho do Diamante) - from Diamantina to Ouro Preto, via Serro, Barão de Cocais, Catas Altas and Mariana.
 * Sabarabuçu Route (Caminho do Sabarabuçu) - an alternative path between Barão de Cocais and Ouro Preto.
 * Old Route (Caminho Velho) - from Ouro Preto to Paraty, via Tiradentes and Cunha
 * New Route (Caminho Novo) - from Ouro Preto to Rio de Janeiro, via Barbacena and Petrópolis

title: Estrada Real


text:
Royal Way of Prague

If you have just a few hours to spend in Prague, you should travel the Royal Way. The Royal Way (Královská cesta in Czech) is the traditional coronation route of Czech kings. The way starts at the Republic Square, where a city seat of Czech kings used to be, passes many of Prague's most impressive sights and ends at Prague Castle. All of the three world wonders listed on the Hillman's list that happen to be in Prague (Old Town, Charles Bridge, and Prague Castle) are included in this itinerary. And, of course, the whole Royal Way is part of the Historic Centre of Prague which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. You will also visit several places with a great opportunity to look over a great part of the city. Prague has much more to offer, but the Royal Way includes the most important and most beautiful treasures.

Understand
The first monarch to use the Royal Way for his coronation was Albert II of Habsburg in 1438. In the next 400 years almost all rulers followed in his tracks. The last one was Ferdinand I of Austria who was crowned in 1836. Since the 16th century, when the permanent seat of Czech kings moved to Vienna, the Royal Way was used also for official visits of the king in the Czech capital. For those Habsburgs who are buried in the St. Vitus cathedral in the Prague Castle, the Royal Way was also their last journey ever.

Pros

 * Definitely the "BEST OF" Prague and certainly one of the top sights in Europe
 * Historically meaningful, this is a historic path of the Czech coronation parades

Cons

 * Often overcrowded with tourists
 * Not an original idea, most visitors of Prague see at least part of the Royal Way

Prepare
Take a pair of comfortable shoes. A map of Prague or a GPS unit and a printout of this page would be useful - it is not impossible to get lost in Prague even for someone who has lived there for 20 years. Also, you will probably need some money - the Royal Way goes through several tourist traps, and you may be tempted to buy expensive souvenirs or buy refreshments in a restaurant or a pub. The whole area is quite expensive. You will also need to buy a ticket to get inside some of the sights, which is worth the money, but is not necessary. On the other hand, you can go this route without any money at all. However, in such a case, especially in hot weather, pack a bottle of water since the Prague Castle stands on a hill. And, last but not least, do not forget your camera. If you take just one picture in Prague, it should be a picture taken somewhere along the Royal Way. And if you are a geocacher, take your tools and cache data. There are caches along the Royal Way.

The time needed to complete the route may vary greatly. The route is about 3 or 4 km long, so it can be easily completed in an hour. But the number of opportunities to spend time along the way is so great, that it will probably take much longer and it can take even a whole day.

Get in
For instructions on how to get into the city, see Prague.

The Royal Way starts at the Republic Square, which is very well connected to other parts of the city. The most reliable way to get there is by subway, line B (yellow), station "Náměstí republiky". Pay attention when leaving the station. You should go through the "Náměstí republiky" exit, not "Masarykovo nádraží", which leads to a railway station nearby. Tram lines 5, 8, 14 (and night lines 51 and 54) and bus lines 133 (and night lines 505, 509 and 513) also stop at the Republic Square. If you have just arrived in Prague by train at Masarykovo nádraží, you can easily reach Republic Square on foot.

If you happen to be at Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí), do not bother with public transport and go to the Republic Square on foot - walk down the Wenceslas Square and then to the right, through the Na příkopě street with many shops, which leads directly to Republic Square. This way, although not part of this itinerary, is worth it. If you are going with subway A or C, you may also consider getting out at Wenceslas Square (stations Můstek or Muzeum) instead of changing to the B line. It is not faster, but if you do not enjoy the subway ride and changing lines, it may be a good idea. Just pay attention when getting out, and take the "Václavské náměstí" exit.

Getting out of the castle: After you have completed the Royal Way and your visit to the Prague castle, you have several possibilities. You can backtrack to the Malá Strana and take some tram there. You can also leave the castle at the opposite site and take the tram 22 which will take you for example to the subway A station "Hradčanská". If you have time to spare, you can explore the area around the castle and visit some of the sights there, which are discussed below.

Republic Square
The starting point is on.

Here, you can see a magnificent building in Art Nouveau style, the (Obecní dům in Czech), built in 1905-1912. The main space within the Municipal House is a concert space, Smetana Hall, named in honor of the famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. The Municipal House is very important for the Czech history for two reasons. On October 28, 1918, after the fall of Austria-Hungary, Smetana Hall was the scene of the proclamation of the independent state of Czechoslovakia. During the Velvet Revolution in November 1989, the Municipal House was the place of the first meeting of the communist government with representatives of the Civic Forum led by Václav Havel. But in the age of kings, long before the Municipal House was built, Royal Palace (Královský palác or Královský dvůr) stood there. The Royal Palace was built in c. 1380 by Wenceslas IV. and was used as a residence of Czech kings until 1484. The Royal Palace was the starting point of the coronation parades and therefore this is the place, where The Royal Way starts.

To the left (or south) you can see the (Prašná brána in Czech) built in 1475. The Powder Tower got its name in 18th century, when it was used for storing gunpowder. The coronation parades entered the Old Town through the gate in the tower. You should also go that way. But before you continue, consider visiting the tower itself. For 40 Kč (various discounts are available) and 186 stairs (no discounts), you can enjoy the view from the gallery in the height of 44 meters (the tower is 65 meters high). You will also see a small exhibition about the Royal Palace and life in Prague in middle ages. The Powder Tower is open April to October, from 10AM to 9PM (the last tickets are sold 30 minutes before closing).

Celetná Street
From the Powder Tower, you will continue through the Celetná street, one of the oldest streets in Prague. It is about 400 meters long and its name comes from calty, a type of pastry which used to be made here (since the 13th century). Most of the houses in the Celetná street are of romanesque or gothic origin, but most of their facades were renewed in baroque style. (Dům U černé Matky boží in Czech) built in 1911-1912 is a fine example of a cubist architecture.

Old Town Square
Here, see the famous.

Walk To the River
Walk to the river. Beware, Karlova street is a tourist trap. It is usually full of dealers trying to sell dubious souvenirs for steep prices. For some strange reason, Russian souvenirs such as matryoshka dolls, fur-caps, or soviet badges are very popular there - better ignore them, as they have little connection with Prague or Czech culture. If you want to spend some money for souvenirs along the Royal Way,

Prague Castle
The former seat of the King and is now the seat of the Czech president. This is Prague's number one tourist attraction so expect huge crowds and possibly long lines, especially during high tourist season. Your best bet is to come early, as soon as the castle opens. Similar to other royal palaces, there is an hourly changing of the guard ceremony. At noon, the ceremony includes fanfare at a flag ceremony in the first courtyard.

Stay safe
The area is very safe. The only problem may be pickpockets in crowds, especially in trams.

Go next
So you have seen the Prague castle and want to get out? There are several options. If you want to quickly go back to your hotel, train station or some other place,

title: Royal Way of Prague


text:
Royan (disambiguation)

There is more than one place in the world called Royan:

 * 1)  Royan, France - A famous seaside resort in the Charente-Maritime département.
 * 2)  Royan, Iran - A town formerly called Alamdeh in Northern Iran.

title: Royan (disambiguation)


text:
Royston

Royston is a town in Hertfordshire.

Get in
Royston is easily accessible by rail (on the Kings Cross/Cambridge line) and has good road connections north/south on the A10 and east/west on the A505.

Get around
There is a bus service round the town - the number 16 bus links various locations such as the train station, the town hall and the local supermarket to the residential areas of the town approximately every 45 minutes, though it's not that big a place so you can walk wherever you need to go. There are also buses to other nearby locations
 * 18 Royston to Buntingford - 7 times a day during the week, with connections there to Hertford
 * 90/91 Royston to Letchworth via Baldock - 3 times a day during the week
 * 127 Royston to Guilden Morden - 5 times a day during the week

There is also an express coach run by National Express that links Royston Tesco to Luton Airport, Hemel Hempstead, Heathrow Airport and Cambridge. Tickets for this service are limited and best booked online. This service runs 9 times a day, 7 days a week, but does not run from the Town Centre.

The train station in the town centre has trains that will take you to Cambridge, Ely and King's Lynn, as well as Letchworth, Hitchin and Stevenage on the way to London and (occasionally) further to Gatwick Airport and Brighton

See

Buy
Shop in the high street with some delightfully old fashioned stores, alongside some modern chain stores. Nothing as big as M&S but you can get most things in the town if you look. The town centre also offers a bakers, "Days", and several charity shops.

There is also a market held every Wednesday and Saturday, as well as an occasional Farmer's or Italian market.

Eat
There are plenty of places to eat in addition, food is usually available in the public houses.

Drink

 * Coach and Horses
 * Jockey
 * Chequers
 * Green Man
 * Boars Head.
 * Heath Sports Club on Therfield Heath.

Sleep
Rooms available at The White Bear public house and at The Green Man.

title: Royston


text:
Rtina

Rtina is a town in the Dalmatia region of Croatia.

Understand
This part of Dalmatia is well known for its strong wind that blows in the winter. That is why the climate is one of the healthiest in Europe (especially for the people with respiratory diseases).

Around 500 people live in Rtina. During summer there is 5000 and more people arrived as tourists. Place is very quiet and calm so it is perfect for good and trouble free vacation. Local people are very polite and welcome to outsiders. Tourist business is growing each season which improves look of the place.

title: Rtina


text:
Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park, in Central Tanzania, is a very impressive park with an abundance of wildlife. In addition, due to the park's remote location, it is not on the main tourist circuit, and so visitors can enjoy viewing the wildlife without competing with hordes of other tourists.

Understand
The park is home to very large prides of lions, giraffes, herds of elephant and many other wild animals. The road network follows the Ruaha River, where the animals congregate in the dry season.

History
The park was established in 1910 by the Germans and initially called Saba Game Reserve. In the late 1940s, the British took over, renaming it Rungwa Game Reserve. In 1964, it was finally named Ruaha National Park, after the Ruaha River, and gazetted. Ruvaha in the local Hehe language means ‘river’. The Usangu Wildlife Management Area was included as part of the park in 2008.

Flora and fauna

 * Lions, cheetahs, buffalo, wild dogs, hyenas
 * A population of 10,000 elephants
 * Giraffes
 * Kudu (greater and lesser)
 * Sable and Roan antelopes
 * Hippos, crocodiles, impalas, jackals
 * A large variety of bird life

Climate
Ruaha National Park is generally hot and dry. Its temperature does not vary so much all year round because of its location near the equator. All year-round, the nights are warm. October to March are the warmest months, while the coolest are from June to August. The altitude variations within Ruaha range from 720 to 1886 m (2362 to 6188 ft) which results in a variation in temperatures. For every 1000 m you climb, temperature drop by approximately.

Dry season (May to October); May, June, July, August, September, and October are the coolest months of the year and the temperatures range from during the day and at night. the sun is at its peaks while the skies are clear with very few clouds.

The wet season from November to April; In November it begins to rain although it is not easy to predict the exact timing. The wet season is usually hot and humid while the average temperature is between during the day and  at night.

By road
Petrol can be bought at tye Park headquarters for a relatively high price, so better fuel up in Iringa.
 * Self-drive. The most direct route to the park is from the town of Iringa on the main Zambia-Dar Es Salaam trunk. A dirt road traverses west to the northwest to the park entrance.  The road is in reasonable condition and can be travelled by a two-wheel drive vehicle.
 * Hire. From Iringa, you are looking at US$120 per day to hire a 4x4 to get there and drive around the park (this includes a driver and the cost of the fuel). This may seem like a lot of money but the drivers are excellent spotters of the game and avoid you the misfortune of missing some interesting and hidden animals.

By air
Upmarket tourist resorts ferry their guests directly to the lodge via light aircraft. The landing strip is near the main camp on the Ruaha River.

Fees and permits
Permits are obtainable at the gate.
 * International travellers. US$60 per vehicle and US$30 per person. (2006).
 * Tanzanian passport holders. A reduced fee in local currency.

Get around
Self-drive or join an organised safari.
 * Guides can be hired for about US$10 -- recommended to increase game spotting and for orientation in the park.

See
An impressive display of fauna and flora.

Lodging

 * Mdonya Old River Camp. www.mdonya.com
 * Ruaha River Lodge.
 * Jongomero Camp.
 * Bandas. The Bandas are basic but clean with mosquito nets. They are beautifully situated near the River and have a self-catering kitchen Warm showers a fireplace and you can do some game spotting right from huts on the river bank. Reservations through park headquarters +255756144400. Price about US$20 per person/night. Basic local meals can be obtained at headquarters canteen, 1 km from the Bandas.
 * Mwagusi Camp. The price is US$70 per person per night for local visitors and US$500 per person per night for foreign tourists. Price includes accommodation and meals but not drinks. The accommodation is made up of self contained traditional bandas with hot solar showers and flushing conveniences scattered along the Mwagusi Sand River.  Inside the banda is the sleeping “tent” fitted out with comfortable bed, desk for writing your journal, etc.  Every banda has a veranda overlooking the sand river where you can watch the game wander by in the early morning and evening in unbridled comfort.

A typical day at Mwagusi can consist of the following:
 * 07:30	Coffee served in your banda
 * 08:00	Early morning bird walk
 * 09:00	Breakfast (juice, fruit, toast, coffee, tea, eggs, etc.)
 * Game Drive
 * 11:00	 Morning coffee and pastries (if required)
 * Game Drive
 * 13:00 Lunch (3 courses – e.g. gazpacho, buffet, dessert and coffee); afternoon game drive
 * 16:00	Afternoon coffee and pastries (if required)
 * Game drive
 * 18:00	Return to camp, hot shower
 * 19:30	Cocktails in Sand River around a camp fire, evening meal (5 courses) set in Sand River surrounded by elephants and lions within touching distance

It is also possible to arrange a day's walking safari, although this definitely not for the faint hearted as the guides don’t like to carry guns (make sure you know how to climb a tree)!

title: Ruaha National Park


text:
Jurupa Valley

Jurupa Valley, also known as Rubidoux, is a city in Riverside County in Southern California.

title: Jurupa Valley


text:
Ruzomberok

Ružomberok (German: Rosenberg; Hungarian: Rózsahegy; Polish: Rużomberk) is a town in Central Slovakia, in the historical Liptov region. It has a population of around 30,000.

Understand
The city lies on a cross of historical and current trade routes. Historically, it was part of Likava - which is a village next to it.

It is similar in character to other cities in the region (like Liptovský Mikuláš or Martin). Major employer in the city is Mondi SCP, a paper-making/processing company. The city also hosts one of the biggest Slovak colleges - "Katolícka univerzita".

Get in
Major train route also has a stop at the. Next to it, there's also a bus station, where inter-city and inter-country buses operate. Another way to get in is by car.

Get around
Private car is the most common way of transport, but the city has a public bus network which operates in around 1/2-1 hr intervals on the most common routes. The buses also operate to the nearby villages, mostly from the main station. Taxis operate mainly from the bus station and around city center (at Hotel Kultúra).

Apart from a few hilly parts (Klačno, Baničné, Cemetery surroundings), most of the town is easily accessible by bicycle, within ~20 minutes. The city center is also reasonably accessible by foot, 30 minutes should suffice in most cases.

See

Culture

 * City center with shops and a few parks.
 * History museum Havránok, showing history of former Celtish settlings in the region.
 * City center with shops and a few parks.
 * History museum Havránok, showing history of former Celtish settlings in the region.

Do
Many attractions are present in or nearby the city.

Hiking
Plenty of hiking trails exist in the surrounding mountains. Check OpenStreetMap for detailed maps of hikes around the city.

 * Few hours hikes to surrounding peaks include Čebrať (the most prominent hill), Mních (the one with a broadcast tower), and Sidorovo
 * A pleasant hike through meadows from Vlkolínec to Malinô Brdo and back
 * Panoramatic hikes to Malinné peak (it's possible to take Hrabovo cablecar for a large part of the way), Tlstá hora and Veľký Choč (ideally from Valasská Dubová) are more demanding and good shoes are recommended, as well as weather forecast awareness.
 * A hour's drive from the city, it's possible to reach stunning mountains like High Tatras and Roháče (in Western Tatras)
 * Multi-day hikes via mountain tops, sleeping in small shelters or (alpine) huts:
 * Low Tatras (start at Liptovská Lúžna or Korytnica)
 * Great Fatra (start at Malinô Brdo)
 * Little Fatra (start at Terchová) - a picturesque Veľký Rozsutec mountain.
 * Great Fatra (start at Malinô Brdo)
 * Little Fatra (start at Terchová) - a picturesque Veľký Rozsutec mountain.

Biking

 * Mountain biking in Malinô Brdo - more than 10 tracks of different difficulties available.
 * Mountain biking in Malinô Brdo - more than 10 tracks of different difficulties available.

Many mountainous routes in the Čutkovo valley, Lubochňa valley and other surrounding areas.

Sports

 * Football: MFK Ružomberok play soccer in SuperLiga, the top tier. Their Štadión pod Čebraťom (capacity 4900) is 2 km west of town centre.
 * Nearby mountains provide multiple possibilities of skiing (skibusses available in the winter), e.g., Donovaly or Jasná.
 * At the Liptovská Mara, there are some watersport activities possible.
 * Speleology in the (mostly small) caves around the city.
 * Nearby mountains provide multiple possibilities of skiing (skibusses available in the winter), e.g., Donovaly or Jasná.
 * At the Liptovská Mara, there are some watersport activities possible.
 * Speleology in the (mostly small) caves around the city.
 * Speleology in the (mostly small) caves around the city.

Fun

 * In the nearby villages, there are multiple water parks available, including:
 * Bešeňová - as detailed in Liptovský Michal
 * Liptovská Osada - Gothal
 * Lúčky - Kúpele

Eat
Multiple restaurants and coffees are present in the city center. Most commonly regional food and pizza are served. Also the Čutkovo and Hrabovo valleys have restaurants.

Nearby the city, popular options include:

 * road to Banská Bystrica - see South-Western Liptov (still just 10-15 minutes by car from center).
 * road to Žilina:
 * road to Dolný Kubín:

Go next
The nearby areas of Orava, Liptovská Mara and Liptovská Osada.

Mountain ranges Tatra National Park, Great Fatra, Little Fatra and Low Tatras.

Cities Žilina, Martin, Banská Bystrica, Liptovský Mikuláš

title: Ruzomberok