This is exciting news for hotel owners, tour operators, and other players in the Kenya travel industry. Kenya recently joined the world of true broadband, and many serious business want to exploit online opportunities through e-commerce.

Just a few months ago, most operators in the tourism sector found it very expensive to accept online payments. This is because no local bank offered e-commerce services. This possibly restricted tour operators and travel agents from maximizing on the existing potential.

In developing this service for the tourism sector, KCB partnered with NightsBridge of South Africa. NightsBridge provide travel software with real-time connectivity to some hotels and lodges inventory.

Prior to the KCB e-commerce solution, I&M bank was the only other Kenyan bank offering online payment processing services, which they introduced in January 2010. The entry of KCB therefore signals that e-commerce in Kenya is on its way up. With the government planning to stimulate e-commerce in the country, we expect other banks to launch similar products soon.

The concern over al-Shabaab is largely because of the Uganda bombings which I previously wrote about. The terrorist group acknowledged responsibility for the bombings. Since then, Kenya has been on a high security alert, considering that the country’s border with Somalia is very porous. Kenya has reinforced its security troops along the border. In the past one week or so, we have heard reports of some skirmishes between al-Shabaab militants and the Kenya police. But these are not very uncommon.

About the constitutional referendum, we Kenyans will be voting on August 4th on whether or not to adopt a new constitution. The last time we had polls here, violence erupted following the disputed results. And, expectedly, the US state department issued another travel alert.

While I understand the fears of new violence after the referendum, I think the 2008 violence taught us a big lesson. There’s no way we are going back down that road again. Certainly, some people may try to disrupt a political rally here and there, but the government is doing a commendable job.

So what is my take on the newest travel alert? The US state department reserves the right to warn its citizens of potential trouble. I also want to believe that the alert is informed by competent intelligence reports.

As a Kenyan on the ground however, I remain confident in the assurances by our government that it has put adequate measures for the security of everyone in the country. For quite some time now, the government has been aware of the al-Shabaab threat and, I believe, has handled it adequately. And, going by government reports in local media, the government has also deployed many police officers in potential trouble spots to prevent a repeat of violence after the referendum.

Needless to say however, it is good to take precaution. If you plan to travel to Kenya around this time, you’d be prudent to monitor news and information from the country. Let your travel agent know your concerns, and they will advise you.

Update: August 09, 2010

It is now five days since we Kenyans held the national referendum on the constitution.  Contrary to what some people feared, it was very peaceful and successful during and after the referendum. Despite the rigorous campaigns before the elections, the losers gracefully accepted defeat. As Kenyans, we are all united in celebrating the dawn of a new era. Never before has there been such optimism in the country. This reinforces my belief that Kenya learnt the 2008 lesson very well, and Kenyans will never again allow the country to sink that low.

If you are planning to come to Kenya, I can only say KARIBU SANA.

Enjoy Your Egypt Holiday in Style

As a holiday destination, Egypt stands head and shoulders above other African countries. So much that probably everyone in the world knows about the Egyptian pyramids and the other relics of ancient Egypt civilizations. You should read my previous post on the top-five must-see sites in Egypt if you need an introduction to some of the country’s attractions.

A Nile Cruise Ship At Aswan, Egypt. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org

A good number of Egypt’s historical sites are located on the banks of the Nile river. These include Aswan, Edfu, Karnak, Kom Ombo, Luxor, and the Valley of the kings. Luxor, the starting point of most nile cruises, for example, is home to the Luxor Temple, which was built around 1400BC as a tribute to the gods Amun-Min, Mut and Chons.

Besides the magnificence of the Luxor temple itself, other interesting things to see here are the obelisk, the statues of Ramesses, the gigantic pylons, and the avenue of sphinxes which connects the temple to the nearby Karnak temple complex. You can find more information about Luxor and the other equally fascinating temple sites at the  sacred destinations website.

Apart from just allowing you to explore ancient sites, a Nile cruise offers you one of the best opportunities to see how people in rural Egypt live. Naturally, the fertile Nile valley is Egypt’s most inhabited region, besides the cities. During your cruise therefore, you get a true cultural experience while aboard a floating luxury hotel.

The typical Nile cruiser has almost all the facilities and luxury of modern hotels of equal rating, though their rooms may be smaller. (Yes, the Nile cruisers are rated as 5-star, 4-star, etc., just like “normal” hotels). The amenities in a luxury Nile cruiser may include internet access, a swimming pool, souvenir shops, massage parlors, and a bar.

While you cannot really compare the Nile cruisers to an ocean-based luxury cruise ship, they are definitely superior the riverboats in any other part of the world.Depending on the tour company you book your trip with, your Nile cruise can take anything from three to seven nights. You are most likely to start your trip from Luxor since most boats operate between Luxor and Aswan.

If you love adventure, you can explore the same portion of the nile using traditional boats locally known as feluccas. But that is only if you are willing to give up the luxury of the cruise ships in favor of the thrill of the felucca adventure.

Nile Cruise Holiday Booking
There are several tour companies through which you can book your tour of Egypt. Once again, I recommend Africa Guide to you.

Map of Somalia: The country is quickly becoming a breeding ground for terrorism in Africa

I know, this is meant to be purely a travel blog, but the terrorist bombings in Uganda deserve a comment. In case you haven’t heard about it yet, you can read the news in Yahoo , BBC , CNN , and several other websites.

If truly it is the Somali Al Shabaab militia that carried out the attack, there’s real need for the entire African continent, and indeed the whole world, to move with greater speed to rectify the situation in Somalia. I know, we already have an African Union peace keeping mission on the ground, but obviously it is not achieving the desired results. The transitional national government is still very weak, while Al-shabaab and other similar radical groups seem to be gaining strength every day. By expanding their tentacles beyond Somalia, they are sending a strong signal that they want to remain a force to reckon with.

I am a travel blogger, and my knowledge of security matters is minimal, but I know one thing for sure: if Al Shabab or any other terror group gets rooted in the Eastern Africa region, it will adversely affect our travel industry, among other things. The 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, plus the 2002 Kikambala bombings in the Kenyan coast taught us quite as much. Tourism is an important part of the economy of at least four countries in Eastern Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia. And, of course, you can not overemphasize the importance of peace and stability to our economy. In this era of globalization, Africa and the world cannot afford the consequences of a destabilized Eastern Africa region.

We may have neglected Somalia for long, probably thinking that their internal woes cannot affect us, but we should know better now. It is not too late: The world can and should act to end the lawlessness in Somalia. The Uganda bombings should be our wake up call. Could it be time for us to petition the United Nations to act more decisively on Somalia? Other online petitions have had great success in the recent past, perhaps someone with a louder voice than mine should start one on Somalia. What do you think? Please feel free to leave your comments below.

Happy and safe travels!

A Male African Lion, One of the Most Popular Safari Attractions

So you are finally ready to take that trip to Africa you’ve been planning for for several years. Of course you are excited about the chance to see lions, elephants, the other African big five and other animals in their real wild habitats. Or probably the prospects of a luxury beach holiday in the Seychelles or Mauritius islands. Or the much anticipated tour to the great pyramids, Abu Simbel, and other monuments of ancient Egypt.  But, wait a minute, where do you start?

If you are like many other travellers, you’ll probably want to use the services of a travel agent to help you put your trip together. Even with the rising popularity of travel booking sites like expedia, kayak, orbitz, and others, you will at some point need to consult a “real” travel agent. Your choice will be between a travel agent based in your home country or one operating in the country/destination you will be visiting.

In a previous post, I mentioned that you should ideally use an agent in the destination country, but that does not mean you can not get a good deal from an agent in your home country. Whatever your choice, today I am highlighting what I think are the important things to consider when choosing a travel agent. The list in not completely exhaustive, is not arranged in any particular order, but I hope you will find it helpful.

1.  Destination and product knowledge
Your ideal travel agent should know more about your destination than the average guy on the street. You may not for example know that the bush lodge that your friends recommended last year is currently closed for renovations, or, say, the government has for some reason closed public access to a certain beach front. A good agent will have all this insider information.

Test the agent’s knowledge by asking questions.

2.  Credentials, accreditations, and affiliations
There are many dishonest travel agents, and you surely want to stay away from such. Find out if the agent is affiliated to any professional organization in their home country or internationally. Associations like ASTA, IATA, KATO (Kenya Association of Tour Operators), etc demand a certain level of professionalism from their members. You will have more confidence in your agent if they belong to some of these reputable associations. And even if they don’t, they should at the very least be registered with the government/regulating authorities.

3.  What guarantees do they offer
It may be hard for an agent to guarantee you that you will see some black rhinos or any other animal during your safari trip. But they can definitely inform you if your tour will be private or you will be grouped with other tourists. If you want to stay in five-star lodges during the safari, the agent should guarantee you upfront that they will indeed book you in five star lodges. And when they cannot book the services you are requesting for, they should be able to honestly tell you so.

4.  Pricing and special discounts
A good number of the more established travel agents have negotiated special rates hotels, lodges, and even with some local airlines. Try to find out if your agent has any such special discounts that they can pass to you. Traveling in Africa is somewhat expensive and any savings in costs without compromising on quality is a good thing

5.  Clarity of the booking terms and conditions and the cancellation policy
When you book and pay for the services of a travel agent, you are likely not to be refunded your money in full if you cancel your travel plans for whatever reason. And there are many good reasons for that: administrative costs, booking fees prepaid to hotels and other service providers, etc. A professional travel agent will clearly state their cancellation policy in a language that you can easily understand. Ask for the cancellation policy and any other booking terms and conditions. If they are not clearly stated, ask for clarification.

6.  Ease of contact/communication
Assume things go wrong, as they sometimes do when traveling in Africa, you’ll want to easily reach your travel agent. It may be a delayed flight, or a car breakdown in the bush, or anything else. A good agent will provide you with multiple channels of communication, and an emergency telephone number, just in case need arises. If an agent takes too long to respond even to the simplest of your inquiries, you may do yourself a lot of justice by going for a more responsive agent

7.  Offline and online reputation
Friends’ recommendations is one great way of gauging an agent’s reliability. In the absense of such recommendations, read online reviews in sites like tripadvisor.com and the many travel forums like lonely planet’s thorntree forum. Of course, you should not take all reviews, whether positive or negative, at face value. There’s quite some self promotion, sponsored positive reviews, and mudslinging in some review sites, so use your judgement when making your choice based on online reviews.

8.  General professional outlook
Start with the agents website, if they have one. It can give you a good insight into how “serious” and professional they are. But don’t just stop at the website. Look at the quality of email or communication you get from them, the personal touch, professional courtesy, depth of knowledge etc. Trust your gut instincts, informed by the above mentioned factors, and you are in for a memorable trip in Africa.

Map of the proposed highway through the Serengeti. Obtained from the African Wildlife Foundation Website: www.awf.org

Lately, there has been a lot of furore about the plans by the Tanzania government to construct a major commercial highway through the Serengeti national park. The proposed road will link Arusha with Musoma town at the shores of Lake Victoria, passing right through the northern part of Serengeti.

Serengeti, as you may already know, is the starting point of the great wildebeest migration, an annual event that has been declared the world’s most spectacular natural event. During the dry season in Serengeti, millions of wildebeest, zebras and other small herbivores migrate northwards into the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya in search for pasture. The animals then move back to Serengeti in the wet season. Every year, thousands of tourists time their East African safari so as to see this great migration.

Book a safari to see the migration
If you have never seen the migration, this may be your best time to witness the spectacle. Click here to see some great wildebeest migration packages in Kenya, offered through Africaguide. Who knows, the Tanzania goverment might just implements its plan, marking the end of the migration as we currently know it.

Effects of This Highway

My question today however is this: Could the government of Tanzania be so short-sighted as not to see the negative consequences of its plan? Or are we just crying wolf when there’s no real cause for alarm? You see, tourism is one of the most important sectors of the Tanzania economy, and the Northern safari circuit is arguably the most preferred tourist destination. (Serengeti is a key part of this northern safari cicrcuit). Is it possible that the government has not conducted a proper feasibility study of the project, vis-a-vis the possible loss of tourism revenues? Any competent government would.

Besides just stopping the wildebeest migration, conservationists point out that the construction of the road will have many other consequences including:

• Death to the animals due to speeding traffic and disruption of their migration paths.
• Increased poaching due to improved access
• Destabilization of the Serengeti ecosystem through the possible introduction of new animal diseases and invasive plant species

Obviously, the conservationists have many valid reasons to oppose the Serengeti highway project. None of them is disputing the real economic need to link Musoma and its environs with the rest of Tanzania through a proper road network. All they are saying is that this should not be at the expense of this UNESCO world heritage site. The African wildlife foundation and other conservation organizations have in fact proposed an alternative route, but the government does not look keen to consider it. Whatever happens, I hope sanity will prevail, and the government of Tanzania will act in the best interests of its people, its economy, and the spirit of regional integration.

What is not being said very loudly is the effect of this road on the Kenya tourism industry, especially in the Masai Mara. If the wildebeest migration is halted, the Mara will lose its most important appeal as a safari destination.  Even worse, the population of lions, other big cats, and other predators in the reserve could be negatively affected. What would the Mara be without its lions?

Online petition against the Serengeti highway:
If you want to sign the petition against this project, please visit this link. You may also participate in discussions in the Stop the Serengeti Highway page on facebook. I have not yet signed the petition, but most probably will, once I read adequate the facts from the government’s and opponents’ points of view.

Two black rhinos in the Lewa conservancy in Kenya. The rhino is one of the African "big five". Image by Harald Zimmer courtesy of wikimedia commons.

1. Decide on what you are interested in
In a previous post in this blog, I mentioned five of the main Africa holiday activities, among them adventure travel, sightseeing tours, and wildlife safaris. If you are like most people, you may not have the time to do all of them in one visit. Which is why the first thing to do is to decide on want to see in Africa. This will help you narrow down on a few destinations.

For many first time visitors, the choice is easy: wildlife safaris, especially to see the big five in the wild. In this case, some of the most obvious options are East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania), and Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia). However if your interest is to see rare and unique animals and plant species, you’ll definitely want to consider destinations like Madagascar.

If you are interested in cultural and historical sites in Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia are some of the possible destinations. Likewise, for a relaxing beach holiday, you may have to choose from among the Indian Ocean islands like Seychelles, Mauritius, Zanzibar, and Comoros. Sometimes, you may want to have a little bit of everything, in which case you may have to go on a multi-country tour, or pick a destination like Kenya which offers most of these attractions.

2. Research on the possible destinations, then pick one (or a few)
After prioritizing on your main area of interest, you should then compare each possible destination against others. For example, you may want to compare between East Africa or Southern African destinations for a wildlife safari. Botswana is ideal for exclusive safaris, because they deliberately regulate the number of visitors in their game reserves. This means that it will be more expensive than Kenya for example, but you have more privacy and probably a more satisfying safari experience. Another example, the beaches of Seychelles islands may be more pristine than those in Zanzibar, but you may not have the same cultural experience as you’ll find in Zanzibar or Lamu. Again, a beach holiday in Seychelles will be more expensive than in Zanzibar.

For multi-country tours, you need to find out how easy or hectic it will be to travel from country A to country B. Unless you have a lot of time (and money), it may be easier to combine Egypt, Kenya, and Zanzibar in one tour than, say, combining Ethiopia, South Africa, and Seychelles.

3. Find out more about the chosen destination
Once you have settled on a destination, you need to collect some essential information about traveling to the chosen country. Things like visa requirements and mandatory vaccinations are important. Some countries require you to be vaccinated against yellow fever, hepatitis B, etc before going there. And for your own health, knowledge of the prevalent diseases (e.g. malaria and Bilharzia) in your destination will help you take necessary preventive measures, including consulting a doctor prior to traveling if necessary.

You will also need to know about the weather patterns in your preferred destination, to determine the best time to go there. Obviously, you wouldn’t want to be in Zanzibar for a beach holiday during the heavy rains season.

Information on the culture and language of the people is also important. If traveling to East Africa for example, knowing a word or two of the Swahili language would do you more good than harm. Likewise, understanding the Muslim culture in Morocco will help you know how to conduct yourself in relation to alcohol and cross-gender relations.

4. Consult with reputable organizations in your chosen destination

This is especially true if you are traveling to Africa for the first time. You have probably heard the saying that “without a travel agent, you are on your own”. Much as some people dislike travel agents, you are better off dealing with an agent based in the country you are traveling to, than doing it all by yourself. It is a well known fact that for lodges and hotel bookings, you are likely to get better rates through a travel agent, than if you approach the hotel directly.

Perhaps you want to plan your own unique trip instead of going for a holiday package. Even that way, you should still work with reputable agents for the specific services like renting a car, flight reservations, hotel booking etc. If anything should go wrong in the course of your trip, your travel agent is better placed than you to follow up with hotels, airlines and other service providers. The trick therefore is in identifying the reputable agents because, like in any other continent, Africa has its fair share of scammers.

5. Gather as much information as possible on the planned holiday activities
Any reputable travel agent will give you full information about the activities and places they have booked for you. Before you finally travel, make sure you have received all the booking vouchers (for hotels and lodges), airline tickets, and receipts for any payments you have made. Where possible, the travel agent should furnish you with photos of the places you will be staying, or the contact addresses or website links to those places. You’ll not be acting paranoid if you insist to see these, and a travel agent of good reputation would not mind providing you with the same.

6. What to pack: strike a balance
You will have to compromise between traveling light, and carrying all the essential items for your safari. Africa will give you many amazing photo opportunities. You don’t want to miss those, which is why a camera is essential. But you don’t have to carry a bulky professional camera where a smaller high resolution amateur camera would do, unless of course you are a professional photographer. The water in some parts of Africa may not be very safe for drinking untreated, but again, you don’t have to carry a big water filter when water-treating tablets or bottled water would suffice. My point is strike a balance. If there are things you can buy cheaply in the destination country if and when you need them, there is no need to carry them from home.

Go2africa.com has some great tips on what to carry on most safaris.

7. No matter what, do not throw caution to the wind
Some basic dos and don’ts apply universally. In any city for example, whether Johannesburg-South Africa or Paris-France, you would not walk in some streets alone past certain hours of the night. You also know that engaging in indiscriminate and unprotected sex increases your chances of contracting HIV/AIDS, whether in Amsterdam’s red light district, or deep in the Masai Mara game reserve with a Maasai warrior you’ve just met and fallen in love with. Regardless of how friendly a person appears, if you have no professional or personal relationship, you would not entrust them with your stuff or sensitive information like your credit card details. In short, apply common sense on matters pertaining your personal safety, and the safety of your property.

8. Be polite, be courteous, fit in, but do not go overboard
In the course of your travels, you are likely to interact with many locals, from the airline crew, to tour drivers and travel guides, hotel staff, entertainers etc. Treat them with due respect, do not be patronizing, and you will have a memorable trip. Show respect to the local cultures.

I read some Africa travel tips that advise you to carry some goodies (sweets, used books, used toys, used clothes, etc) to give to the less fortunate; I totally disagree. Unless philanthropy is a key part of your travel plans, just stick to your mission: enjoy your safari. In any case, genuine philanthropy will only give donations that make a real change in the recipient’s life.

It is OK to dress and look like a tourist if you are one, especially in the resorts or lodges where you will stay. However, if you need to fit in when you step out of the safari schedule to get a local feel, do not go overboard in your dressing. For example, you’ll look ridiculous dressed in a Masai shuka in the center of Nairobi, unless you are a Moran. In most African cities, you will still be fine in any attire that you can wear in your home city.

9. Step out and have fun
There’s more to Africa than what your safari package may cover. In your travel plan, you should spare one or two free days to step out and get a local feel of things. Move out and interact with the local people away from the confines of safari vans. Most African people are genuinely friendly and easy going, and you may learn a lot just by interacting with them. In the cities, it’s OK to sample the nightlife if you feel like it. But bear in mind point no. 7: do not throw caution to the wind

A view of Nairobi City, the capital city of Kenya

Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, is the main point of entry for most people travelling to Kenya. Whether coming for a safari, a business trip, or you are on transit through Nairobi to another destination, you’ll most likely arrive through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.

Sometimes you may not need to spend more than a few minutes in Nairobi, especially if you are proceeding on safari immediately. Other times however, you may have to spend a night or two. With its wide choice of hotels, Nairobi will not disappoint you.

Some of the best known five star hotels in Nairobi include the Nairobi Serena hotel, the Hotel Intercontinental Nairobi, Panari hotel, Nairobi Hilton hotel, and the Fairmont Norfolk hotel . There are several other hotels ranging from five star luxury hotels to budget hotels. So whatever your budget, you’ll definitely find suitable accommodation for your stay in Nairobi.

Lately, several new hotels have been constructed in Nairobi, perhaps an indication that the Kenya travel industry is recovering from the woes of the recent past. The three most notable of these new hotels are Ole Sereni, Crowne Plaza, and Sankara Nairobi hotel.

• Ole Sereni
In the Maasai language, the word “ole sereni” means tranquility, and this is what this hotel aims to be, a place of tranquility. The hotel is strategically placed near the Jomo Kenyatta International airport, making it an ideal resting place for travellers on transit. The other hotel near the airport is the Panari hotel.

Ole Sereni hotel lies just at the edge of the Nairobi national park, so you get a unique chance of viewing wildlife from the bar or restaurant of a hotel in Nairobi. For a hotel that is relatively new, Ole Sereni has had some remarkable reviews at tripadvisor, if that is anything indicative.

• Sankara Nairobi Hotel
Well, as I write this post (April 2010), this hotel is yet to fully start operating, but it is already causing ripples in the Nairobi tour industry. By all indications, when it officially opens its doors to guests in June 2010, it will be a major player in the Nairobi.

Sankara Hotel is situated in Westlands, one of the upmarket surburbs of Nairobi. The westlands area is home to a few other hotels among them Jacaranda hotel, The Holiday Inn, and Wasini Luxury Homes. It is also in Westlands that you’ll find some of the biggest shopping malls in Nairobi, among them Sarit Center, UKAY, The Mall, and Westgate. You can find more information about Sankara Nairobi from their website.

• Crowne Plaza Hotel
Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts is a well known international hotel chain, part of the Intercontinental Hotels group. Their new hotel in Nairobi is located in Upperhill, an upmarket commercial area hosting several multinational companies and some diplomatic missions. The hotel is conveniently close to the central business district, yet far enough away from the noise of the city. When there is no traffic jam on the Nairobi roads, it takes only about 20 minutes to get to JKIA Airport from upperhill.

Considering the great strength of the Intercontinental Hotels group worldwide, the new Crowne Plaza is obviously going to be one of the major hotels in Nairobi.

How to Book Hotels in Nairobi
Most reputable hotels have websites where you can book online direct with the hotels. However, from personal experience, you may get cheaper rates if you book through travel agents instead of approaching the hotels directly. This is because the hotels give travel agents discounted rates because of their volume of business. Some of the online Kenya travel agents you can have a look at include Shoor travel and Africapoint. Alternatively, you can compare the rates you get from online reservation websites like expedia, kayak, travelocity, and hotels.com.

Spitzkoppe, Namibia. Photo by Thomas Schoch (http://www.retas.de/thomas/travel/namibia2003/index.html), obtained from wikimedia commons

An African safari can probably not be more adventurous and more enjoyable than it is in Namibia. Among the top safari destinations in Africa, I don’t think there’s any that can capture and exceed your wildest imagination of the African wild like Namibia does.

Situated in the Southwest of Africa, Namibia borders South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Angola, and the Atlantic ocean. It is one of the youngest African countries, having gained independence from South Africa in March 1990. The country occupies about 825,000 km2, making it one of the larger countries in Africa. Yet it has one of the lowest population densities in the continent.

Most parts of Namibia have desert or near-desert conditions, which are a bit harsh for human habitation. Ironically, traveling in Namibia is such a great adventure partly because of this harsh climate that leaves most of the land unspoilt by human activity.

• The Top five Safari Attractions in Namibia
1. Etosha National Park
Etosha is regarded as one of the finest and most impressive game parks in Africa. The name Etosha means “place of dry water” in the Ovambo language. Etosha national park derives its name from the Etosha pan, a vast but shallow salt pan occupying about 5000 square kilometers within the reserve. The park hosts a great variety of wild animals, among them all the African big five animals, the springbok, zebra, cheetah, kudu, hyena, black-faced impala and many other mammals and bird species.

Besides being very huge, one very striking feature of Etosha national park is its ecological diversity. From the dried salt lake to the grasslands, open plains, and patches of densely vegetated bushes, you are sure to enjoy the unusual terrain and the diverse animal species it hosts. Like most of Namibia, Etosha has a very good road network . A big part of this national park is open to the public, meaning that you can take a self-drive safari if you wish. However there are some parts that are only reserved for tour operators.

The water holes provide you with the best spots to for game watching. And when want to see nocturnal animals at their very best, you can take a guided night drive. Whichever way you decide to take your safari in Etosha national park, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy the African wildlife experience of your lifetime.

2. Namib-Naukluft National Park

A giant sand dune at Sossusvlei

This vast national park covers the Naukluft Mountains and most of the central Namib desert. Here, you will find some of the world’s most rare and most weird animals and plant species. Many parts of this nature reserve are not accessible to man. Luckily however, you can easily travel to the star attractions here, Sossuvlei and Dead-vlei, and enjoy a great adventure.

Sossusvlei and Dead vlei are vast clay pans found right in the middle of the Namib desert. Gigantic sand dunes sorround these vleis, with some of the them exceeding a height of 300 meters. While the experience of climbing the highest sand dunes in the world is something you’ll definitely cherish, the scenic desert beauty of Sossusvlei and the Dead-vlei area will simply blow your mind. Photographic safaris can’t come any better than here.

3. Fish River Canyon
This is the African version of the Grand canyon. The Fish river canyon was formed in the lower parts of the fish river, the longest river in Namibia. At some points, this 160 kilometers long canyon measures as deep as 550 meters. Some disputed reports claim that it is the world’s second largest canyon after the Grand Canyon of America. What is indisputable however is that it is an impressive and breathtaking site.

Among adventure lovers, fish river canyon is even more popular because of its very challenging hiking trail. The fish river hiking trail is so tough that before you are allowed to embark on it, the authorities have to ascertain that you are in perfect physical health. If you ever want to go trekking here, you should plan your Namibia safari for the cooler winter months (May to September) because that is when the conditions are conducive for hiking.

4. Spitzkoppe
If photographic safaris are your thing, or if you are a mountain-climbing enthusiast, or if you just want to enjoy the scenic landscapes of Africa, you should make sure to visit Spitzkoppe while on safari in Namibia. The imposing Spitzkoppe mountains impressively stand out from the surrounding gravel plains.

Spitzkoppe is not very tall, only about 1800 meters above sea level. But be warned, climbing the mountains is not as easy as it may look. You need to have adequate mountaineering experience to conquer this one. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a mountain climber to enjoy what Spitzkoppe has to offer. Take a camping safari nearby, and you can take some incomparable scenic photographs at sunrise and sunset. Trekking around Spitzkoppe is also a great experience, giving you a chance to see some very bizarre rock formations and also sample some of the bushmen rock paintings.

5. Swakopmund
Swakopmund is a small town with heavy German influence and traditions. Apart from just being a historic coastal town, Swakopmund is also the de facto holiday capital of Namibia. Here, you can enjoy the best beach holiday in inland Africa, spend romantic moments in unrivalled relaxation, or engage in adrenaline-raising adventure sports. Some of the adventure activities available to you include hot air balloon rides, sand boarding, para gliding, and  sky diving. Swakopmund has something for everyone on holiday. In short, it is the best place to unwind after a gruelling safari in the wild.

• More Information on Namibia travel:
The two websites below offer some of the best information on Namibia travel:

• Namibia 1 on 1 Information site
• Namibia Online Travel Guide

• Recommended Namibia Safari Packages:
Africa guide consolidates some of the best Namibia safari packages which you can book online. Click here for holidays in Namibia.

A Kenya Airways boeing plane taking off

Air transport is obviously the most convenient and fastest way to travel to Africa and also within the continent. You therefore need some information about African airlines before you embark on your next safari or beach holiday. I hope you’ll find this post on Africa airlines adequately helpful for your Africa travel plans.

The Top Four National Airlines in Africa
Several African countries have national airlines that operate regional flights within Africa as well as international flights to and from other world destinations. The top among these are South African Airways, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and Egypt Air.

• South Africa Airways (SAA)
SAA is the national carrier of South Africa. The airline’s headquarters and main hub is at the OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng, near Johannesburg. Besides domestic flights in South Africa, the airline operates regional flights to several cities in Southern, Eastern, Central, and Western Africa. These include Nairobi, Victoria falls, Dar es Salaam, and Mauritius.

South African Airways also has a very extensive international reach, with flights from Africa to the United Kingdom, Germany, USA, Brazil, and China among others. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance, giving you access to several other routes not directly operated by South African Airways. If you are travelling to any destination in Southern Africa, South African Airways is probably your best option. Visit the South African Airways website for bookings and reservations.

• Kenya Airways (KQ)
This airline is Kenya’s national carrier, with its headquarters at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi. From its Nairobi hub, Kenya Airways operates regional flights to many African destinations, including Egypt and Sudan in North Africa. KQ has one of the best route coverage in Africa, while also operating international flights to the United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and India.

Kenya Airways is a member of the SkyTeam, whose 11 members include the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Alitalia, Air France, and Delta Airlines among others. You can find reasonably cheap airfares to Eastern Africa from the KQ Website.

• Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
Ethiopian Airlines was recently in the news for quite a negative reason: the crash of its flight 409 almost after taking off from the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport in Lebanon. Yet despite this unfortunate accident, ET has one of the best safety records among African airlines. The Airline is the national carrier of Ethiopia and operates from Bole International airport in Addis Ababa.

Like KQ and SAA, ET has a very extensive route coverage in most of Africa. In addition, it has flights to Israel, the United Kingdom, USA, Belgium, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia among several other international destinations. You can make your online reservations at the Ethiopian Airlines website.

• Egypt Air (MS)
No other African airline covers Northern Africa as extensively as Egypt Air. The Airline operates flights to Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia and Sudan, alongside many other Africa regional flights. Egypt Air also has international flights to most Middle East destinations including Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel, and Lebanon. In Europe, Egypt air covers Austria, Germany, UK, Portugal, and Russia among others. MS also operate flights from the JFK international airport in New York city, USA to Egypt and North Africa.

The headquarters and main hub of Egypt Air are at the Cairo International Airport in Cairo. If you plan to travel to North Africa, Egypt Air is your best choice. Please visit Egypt Air’s Website for flight search and bookings.

Other African National Airlines
Besides KQ, SAA, MS, and ET, other reputable national airlines in Africa with international coverage are Royal Air Moroc (Morocco), Air Mauritius (Mauritius), and Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe). The general reputation of Air Zimbabwe has however been affected by negative reports about the Zimbabwe economy and Robert Mugabe mismanagement. Most other African national carriers operate mostly domestic flights within their countries, and regional flights to other African destinations.

International Airlines Operating flights to Africa
A number of international airlines operate flights to the main commercial hubs in Africa. These include:

• From Europe: Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Virgin Atlantic, plus others
• From USA: Delta Airlines (flights to Cairo, Dakar, and Accra from either JFK,
• From the Middle East: Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines , and Gulf Air
• From Asia: Singapore Airlines, Korean Air (to Egypt)

Online Flight Search and Reservation
If you are planning a trip to Africa, please do visit this Travel Reservations System. You can search for flights availability and even book them online fast and conveniently.