Africa Travel Information

It is true that we all travel for different reasons, and our tastes and likes vary.  However, when coming for a holiday in Africa, I think there are some places you just have to visit, and some activities you must undertake to enjoy a complete African safari experience. I have compiled a list of what I consider the top ten holiday activities in Africa. You may not be able to do all of them during one visit, unless of course you have a lot of time. But with proper planning, you can cover aspects of all of them in at least two trips to Africa.

1. Wildlife safaris

An African lion: One of the most popular wild animal in Africa

If you have time for only one safari activity, then wildlife safaris are the obvious choice, especially if the closest you have ever come to an African wild animal is in a zoo. Among all African animals, the big five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard) are the most popular, and perhaps most fascinating to observe. The experience of seeing them and other animals in their natural habitat is indeed very amazing. No wonder the word “African safari” is almost synonymous with wildlife safaris.

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The pyramids at Giza, Egypt. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org

Arguably, nothing today is more symbolic of the engineering prowess of the ancient Egyptians than the pyramids. Most of these pyramid-shaped structures are believed to have been constructed between 3000 BC and around 1800 BC, a period between the old and middle kingdoms of ancient Egypt. Over 100 pyramids still survive today, though many more certainly existed before. It is believed that most pyramids were constructed as tombs for the Pharaohs and other members of the royalty.

The pyramids at Giza are the most known. The largest of these, the pyramid of Khufu (popularly known as the great pyramid of Giza), is the only remaining member of the “Seven wonders of the ancient world”. Read the rest of this entry »

The Maasai Tribe: Africa's most celebrated tribe. Image by JaviC: http://www.flickr.com/photos/javic/

The African people and the impressive amalgam of African cultures is perhaps what makes Africa a truly interesting continent. Africa has such a diverse culture, from the very traditional lifestyle of the Masai and Samburu of Kenya, and the San of Southern Africa, to the unique Swahili culture in the Coast of Eastern Africa, the Arab culture of Northern Africa countries like Egypt, Libya, Northern Sudan, Morocco,  and Tunisis, to the more westernized cultures in most big African cities.

Apart from just being the world’s poorest continent, there are many facts about Africa that you may find amazing, some positive and some not so positive.

The African Continent in General

• Africa is the world’s second largest continent after Asia.
• Historians and archaeologists believe the continent was the original home of all mankind. Some of the oldest fossils of man’s prehistoric ancestors have been found in Eastern and Southern Africa.
• With 53 independent nations, it is the continent with the highest number of countries Read the rest of this entry »

Namibia's fish river canyon: great trekking destination

Among all popular travel destinations in the world, Africa is most renowned for the “safari” concept. The idea of an African safari is almost inseparable from game (wildlife) viewing and birdwatching. This is undoubtedly the reason why Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania are favored by most people wishing to travel to Africa. Outside these wildlife safari destinations, the other top places in Africa travel are Egypt – because of its many historical sites, and the Seychelles and Mauritius Islands – being ideally suited for luxury vacations in their exotic beaches.

What many people do not know is that there are many other African countries that offer travelers a safari experience as good as (and in some cases even better than) that in the countries mentioned above. Read the rest of this entry »

Anse Cocos beach in Seychelles

If you are looking for the perfect honeymoon holiday destination in Africa, you do not need to look any further than the Seychelles Islands. The Islands are situated in the Indian Ocean, about 1500 km off the shores of the East African coast. The Islands consist of 115 scattered islands located north east of Madagascar.

The pristine beaches of Seychelles are certainly the Island’s top attraction. The refreshingly uncrowded beaches bear very little interference from human activity, and offer such peace and calm that cannot be found in most other beach destinations in the world. The Vallee de Mai garden is probably the most renowned Seychelles beach. Yet, there is much more to Seychelles travel than just the beaches. Other equally fascinating tourist attractions in Seychelles include: Read the rest of this entry »

Zambia Safari: Introduction

The mighty Victoria falls in Zambia

When you take an African safari in Zambia, you will understand why the country has been declared the “real Africa” by many people. Zambia is home to some of the finest wildlife game parks in Africa and has magnificent landscapes and natural features. Among the top tourist attractions in Zambia include:

• The mighty Victoria falls (which Zambia shares with Zimbabwe)
• The South Luangwa national park (considered among the top game reserves in the world)
• The Zambezi river (a magnet for inland sport fishing enthusiasts lured by the prospects of catching tigerfish and the rare giant vundu catfish) Read the rest of this entry »