6. The Northern Kenya Game Reserves
Though I already noted that each of the over 50 parks and reserves have something great to offer, the ones in Northern Kenya take the ultimate prize in offering a unique safari experience. The most accessible of these are Samburu, Shaba, and Buffalo Springs game reserves, all located near Archers Post a few kilometres North of Isiolo.

Some of the animals found in these parks cannot be seen anywhere else in Kenya. These include the gerenuk, reticulated giraffes, Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, and Beisa oryx. It is in Samburu that a most unnatural phenomenon was once recorded, when a lioness started adopting one baby oryx after another (see story here and here).

Further northward from Samburu, lies a harsh wilderness that also makes for great adventure safaris for the bold.

7. Lake Nakuru
The Lake Nakuru national park is arguably the most famous birdwatching destination in Kenya. The lake, after which the park is named, is home to thousands of flamingoes and other water birds (among them pelicans and cormorants). The birds cover the surface of the lake, giving it a pink-carpet appearance when observed from a distance.

Apart from the water birds, there over 400 other bird species found in the lake and its surroundings. During the European winter, several migrant bird species from Europe find a home in Lake Nakuru.

Yet, there is more to Lake Nakuru national park than just the birds. The park is one of the most important sanctuaries for the endangered rhinos, with substantial numbers of both white rhinos and black rhinos. It is also considered the best place to spot leopards. Two other members of the African big cats, i.e. lions and cheetahs, are present too. The park’s dense woodlands are home to several large pythons, a number of which you may spot dangling from trees or crossing roads.

8. Kakamega Forest

A Potto in a Zoo. This is one of the apes you can see in Kakamega Forest National Park.

[Image Source].
The Western Kenya safari circuit is one of the least known in the country, yet it offers an interesting, if different, safari experience. The crème de la crème of this circuit is the Kakamega Forest National Reserve.

The reserve is home to Kenya’s only tropical rainforest, with an incredibly rich and unrivalled ecosystem. More than 300 bird species reside in the park, as well as over 400 butterfly species, about 30 snake species, 7 primate species, and several other animals. The potto, regarded by some as the slowest mammal on earth, (yes slower than the sloth!), is one of the interesting apes you will find in this forest.

The forest is a birdwatchers paradise, a haven for butterfly lovers, and a truly unique wildlife watching destination.

9. Nairobi
If you travel to Kenya by flight, you are most likely to land in Nairobi. Many people going on a safari only spend one night in this capital city, (and only if they really have to), then quickly hop onto their safari van to Masai Mara or another safari destination. But before you dismiss the city as just a transit destination, you’ll be happy to know that in itself, it has a lot to offer for you as a traveller.

For starters, Nairobi has the reputation of being the only capital city in the world with a national park (not a zoo, mark you) in its vicinity. The Nairobi National Park is situated only seven kilometres from the city centre, but don’t be mistaken, it offers a true African wild safari experience. Four of the big five animals (i.e all except the elephant) reside here, as well as plenty of other animals. If you have a few hours to spare in Nairobi, you can enjoy an authentic Kenya safari in this park.

Other equally interesting places to visit in Nairobi include the David Sheldrick elephant orphanage, the Nairobi safari walk, the giraffe centre, the Bomas of Kenya cultural centre, Karen Blixen museum, Mamba village, and many many more. The vibrant night life in the city centre and in the suburbs is also something to die for.

10. The Tana and Athi Rivers
The Tana and Athi Rivers are both great destinations for adventure travel. They offer several nice spots for white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and bungee jumping among other adventures. Adrenaline junkies and adventure enthusiasts will find a lot to enjoy here.

The waters of the Tana for example offer a varied white water rafting experience for all levels of expertise, from class II to class V.

The Top 10 Destinations You Must Visit in Kenya – Part II is a post from: Africa Travel Information

Many Africa travel enthusiasts recognize Kenya as one of the top holiday destinations in the continent. After all, it is in Kenya that the concept of an African safari was born. The country is blessed with more than 50 game parks , national reserves, and wildlife conservancies, each of which has its unique selling points.

You can therefore travel to Kenya as many times as you want, and still not be able to cover all the destinations. Which is why, if you are going for your first (or only) Kenya safari, you need to know the most popular of these destinations to make the most of your safari. If you ask any two people which the top destinations are, you are most likely to get two different lists. However, I am pretty sure they’ll feature most of the destinations below, which I consider among the best.

1. Masai Mara National Reserve
I have heard some people say that the Mara is over-hyped, at the expense of other equally deserving destinations. But the fact remains it is the best place for a wildlife safari in Kenya. What with its high concentration of wild animals all year round, coupled with its unending savannah grasslands plains that make game watching an extremely enjoyable experience?

All the big five African animals are present in the Masai Mara. In any one safari, you are guaranteed to see plenty of lions, elephants, and buffaloes. The rhinos and leopards are however harder to spot, but on a good day, you might just see both. Other animals you’ll find in the Mara include cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, plenty of antelope species, hyenas, jackals, hippos, and much much more.

What makes Masai Mara most famous however is the annual wildebeest migration that takes place between June and October. The event is considered one of the most spectacular natural spectacles of the modern world. About one million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras and other plain animals migrate in one huge mass from the Serengeti national park in Tanzania, into the Mara, then later on back to Serengeti.

2. Amboseli National Park

Elephants in Amboseli National Park. Mt. Kilimanjaro is in the background.

[Image Source]
If the Mara is popular because of the migration, Amboseli is famous because of its large herds of elephants and its perfect setting for wildlife photography. The park is located close to Mt Kilimanjaro, which forms the ideal backdrop for taking photos of the wild animals, more-so the elephants.

Yet besides just the elephant herds, Amboseli is an equally good destination for seeing other African game animals. All the big five are resident here, though the rhino population is quite low. Like in most other parks, leopards are quite hard to spot, being mostly nocturnal animals and very elusive. There are plenty of other animals here too, making Amboseli a potential one-stop destination.

3. Mt Kenya
Being Africa’s second highest mountain, Mt Kenya is probably the country’s most important land feature. No wonder the country is named after the mountain.

The mountain stands at 5199 meters above sea level at its highest peak (Batian). You can trek all the way to Lenana Peak (at 4985m) without needing any specialized mountaineering equipment. Beyond that however, you have to be an expert mountaineer and you’ll need special equipment to make it to Nelion (5188m) and Batian (5199m).

If mountain trekking is not your thing however, you can still enjoy viewing the snow-peaked mountain from the slopes and plains around it. There a few national parks and wildlife conservancies around the park where you can enjoy great safaris and scenic views of the mountain. These include Meru National Park, Ol Pejeta conservancy, and Mt Kenya National Park.

4. The Great Rift Valley
You probably already know that the Great Rift Valley is one of the most phenomenal natural features on earth. It stretches all the way from Syria in the Middle East to Mozambique in Southern Africa. The Eastern Africa Rift is perhaps the most renowned branch of the Rift Valley, and what better place to see it than in Kenya?

The floor of the Kenyan Rift Valley is home to many beautiful and significant places, including several hot springs, prehistoric sites, lakes, and wildlife sanctuaries. The popular Masai Mara itself lies in the Rift Valley.

You can catch some stunning views of how deep the valley itself is at the Rift Valley view point just 2 hours drive from Nairobi. There’s also another, arguably more beautiful, view point at Subukia.

5. The Coastal Beaches
With a 536 km long coastline stretching from the Somalia border in the North to the Tanzania border in the South, Kenya is home to some of the finest beaches along the Eastern coast of Africa. They may not rival the Caribbean beaches or those in the Seychelles and Mauritius, but many are stunningly beautiful and idyllic enough to make for great romantic holiday destinations.

The most famous beaches are near or around Lamu and Malindi in the North Coast, and Diani in the South Coast. The ones at Wasini and Chale islands are particularly beautiful, though a bit pricier than in most of their other counterparts.

The Top 10 Destinations You Must Visit in Kenya – Part I is a post from: Africa Travel Information

Many people have dreamt of heading off on safari but find that they are always priced out of taking their dream holiday. However, with some careful planning and research, safari trips can be cheap holidays without having to miss out on any of the amazing experiences that a safari can bring.

Below are a few basic tips to remember when looking for a cheap safari holiday.

1. Travel off-season
As with any holiday, going off season will make for a cheaper booking. Before deciding if this is the right thing for you, you’ll definitely have to take into account the weather conditions as well as the openings of the parks and lodges. However if you choose a South African trip, lodges stay open all year round. Travelling off season can also be an advantage if you struggle with the heat as it will be much cooler when you head out to explore the plains.

2. Book and stay in the smaller lodges
Local knowledge here is essential as you’ll be able to find out where the locals love but where few tourists venture.

3. Visit the lesser known reserves
This tip is obviously related to the previous one. Some lesser known game reserves are much cheaper to travel to, yet offer an equally good safari experience as the other more popular parks and reserves.

One such place in South Africa is the Timbavati Game Reserve. The reserve has an off peak season during the winter months of May to July. If you want, you can explore Johannesburg before you head out onto your safari to Timbavati. You can hire a car and then take the 6 hour journey by road to the reserve. If you prefer to fly however, there are daily flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to the three nearby airports which are all a reasonable drive out to the reserve.

Timbavati game reserve is situated in a perfect location. It has an abundance of wildlife and scenery to take in, and is well known locally but most certainly less well known by tourists. This means it ticks all the boxes of being a dream destination.

Lying to the north of the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve and to the west of the Kruger National Park, Timbavati is 53,000 hectares of uninterrupted natural beauty. There are no fences between the reserve and the national park, which means that the wildlife is free to roam across the lands. Here you will see all of the big five animals, including the rare white lion.

There are also hundreds of bird species, reptiles and fish to see in Timbavati, making it perfect for any animal lover. Rangers are always on hand to help you explore by foot if you want to go back to the basics. You can also hop into an open vehicle and head out to explore further.

For something extra special, take a trip out at sunset or sunrise for an absolutely breathtaking journey. Within the park are 15 different camps, each of which offers something unique and special to bring to the holiday of a lifetime, all for a fraction of the usual price elsewhere.

How to Make Your Money Stretch Far on Your Safari to South Africa is a post from: Africa Travel Information

Did you know for example that you can go on ghost hunting safaris in South Africa? You get to visit haunted places, see ghosts, and experience paranormal phenomena, among other things. You can find details about this and related tours at the mystery ghost bus tours website.

Below are what I consider to be the top five mysterious places in Africa. Of course this is one man’s opinion. If you know of other equally or more deserving places, let us know in the comments.

1. The Great Eye of Africa in Mauritania 
(Also know as the richat structure, or earth’s bulls eye).

Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team (Public domain image)

This is a huge, mysterious, circular depression (diameter 50 km) that looks like a human eye when observed from space. It is located in the Sahara desert in Mauritania. Scientists have put forth several theories to explain how the structure was formed, but none of these explanations is universally accepted. One theory holds that it was formed from the impact of a meteor landing.

Can You Visit The Place?
Yes you can. I found some useful information on how and when to travel there at this website. The place may not be as spectacular on the actual ground as it appears from space (like this guy notes), but you also experience a great adventure in the desert.

2. Danakil Depression, Ethiopia 
(Also known as the Afar depression)

Image Credit: Rolf Cosar at Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license

Look at the above picture. You might think it is of a surface on the moon, Mars, or some other extra-terrestial place. But no, it is a true picture of a place in Dallol, one of the many strange and weird sites in the Danakil Depression.

The region is an extremely low attitude (most of it way below sea level) depression lying accross the Ethiopia-Eritrea-Djibouti border. The area has such harsh climatic conditions that the National Geographic has called it “the cruelest place on earth”. Temperatures as high as 67 degrees Celsius have been recorded here.

But besides its harshness, it is home to some incredibly strange features among them Erta Ale (the lava lake), the sulfur springs and bizarre land formations at Dallol, and the salt plain at Lake Asal.

They say a picture speaks a thousand words. Perfect, because this photo gallery shows some of the weird features at Dallol. You may also be interested in reading the photographer’s account of his experience in Dallol, as well as this first-hand Danakil Depression trip report at lonely planet.

How to visit the place
The only way to travel to the Afar depression is by using a tour operator, and there are a few reputable ones. I recommend that you have a look at some of the Ethiopia holiday packages, including tours to Danakil depression, provided through the Africa Guide Website

3. Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar

Image Credit: Wikimedia commons. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic licence

In this previous post, I noted how Madagascar is one of Africa’s “undiscovered” travel gems. This is because this great island is home to some of the most weird wild animals in the world, and several “out of this world” landscapes.

The Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Reserve is most notable for its bizarre limestone towers interspersed with vegetation to form an interesting landscape. Several rare animal species live in this limestone needles forest.

Can You Visit the Place?
Yes you can visit and trek in the southern part of the reserve, in the company of a professional guide. The Northern part of the reserve is not open to tourists however. Click here for holidays in Madagascar offered through Africaguide travel center, you might just find a package that you may like.

4. Lake Nyos, Cameroon

At a first glance, you may not see anything spectacular in the above photo of Lake Nyos. But the lake is remembered for one of the strangest disasters of the modern world. One night in August 1986, about 1,800 people and over 3,000 cattle and other animals in villages near Lake Nyos, died under very mysterious circumstances. No bleeding, no exposure to radiation, no physical trauma, no disease, no chemical weapons; It was as if they just shut down and dropped dead.

Even more creepy, all the oil lamps in the villages were extinguished, as if by an unseen hand. The Lake had lived up to its name of “the bad lake” and the legend of evil spirits that reside in it.

Of course scientists have since explained what could have caused this. Read this article and this one too to find out.

5. Nyiragongo Crater, DRC

Image Credit: By Cai Tjeenk Willink (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

I mentioned the Virunga mountains range in a previous post about gorilla trekking in Uganda. But there’s much more to Virunga than just the mountain gorillas. Nyirangongo crater is one such spectacular attraction. The lava lake at Nyiragongo is reputed to be the largest in the world, and gives us perhaps the closest glimpse of how hell (the lake of fire – if you believe in it) looks like.

See these amazing photos to understand what I am talking about.

Want to travel to Nyiragongo?
Several tour operators organize climbing and trekking expeditions to the rim of the crater. See this itinerary for example.

Mysterious, Bizzare and Interesting Places in Africa That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of is a post from: Africa Travel Information

5. Cape Town Jazz Festival – South Africa
I have argued here before that Cape Town is Africa’s greatest city. This can be attested to by the many awards and accolades the city keeps getting, the latest being the 2011 travellers choice for the top destination in the world.

Add to this a glamorous cultural event – the Cape Town International Jazz Festival – and the result is fireworks. Entering it’s 13th year in 2012, this event is the biggest of its kind in Africa, and on its way to being the greatest in the world too. Like in the past years, the line up this year is star-thudded, with many great artists from South Africa and the whole world. The 2012 event takes place on 30th and 31st March.

More details are available at the official website here.

6. Timkat 2012 – Lalibela and Gondar – Ethiopia 
This list would not be complete without an event from Ethiopia, a country I consider the cultural capital of Africa. With its rich historical and religious heritage, Ethiopia has several interesting cultural festivities throughout the year. Timkat is the most popular among these.

The festival celebrates Epiphany, the baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan. Although Timkat is celebrated by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians all over the country, the festivities in Lalibela are the most colorful, and most exciting to watch. Huge crowds, all dressed in white, sing, beat drums, and dance in the streets. Colorfully bedecked priests carry the ark of the covenant as they lead the giant street procession.

Timkat is celebrated on 19th January (celebrations are going on today as I publish this post).  Below is a video from Timkat 2010.

7. Fez Music Festival Morocco

This is a spiritual music festival that brings together musicians from all over the world. According to the events official website, the festival’s aim is “to harness the arts and spirituality in the service of human and social development, and the relationship between peoples and cultures”. You get to enjoy amazing sacred music from Morocco, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, India, Japan, and many other parts of the world.

The 2012 festival is its 18th edition, and takes place from 8th to 16th June.

Seven Cultural Festivals You Must See in Africa – Part 2 is a post from: Africa Travel Information

The African culture is as diverse as the hundreds of ethnic groups (or tribes) and religions in the continent. Despite several misconceptions about Africa, no single culture can be identified as “the” true culture of Africa. Like in all other continents, the interaction between these different cultures has also led to the birth of newer cultures that transcend any particular tribe or religious group.

Many cultural festivals take place all over Africa all year round, but a few of them are more colorful and enjoyable than others. Today’s post highlights seven of what I consider the top must-see cultural events and festivities. If you know of a festival that ought to have made this list, please feel free to add your comments at the bottom of this page.

1. Annual Voodoo Festivals in Benin
Voodoo is a religion that many Westerners associate with secret practices and the occult, although its adherents say that this is a misconception. The religion is quite prevalent in West Africa, most notably in Benin.

Since 1997, thousands of voodoo believers gather once every year at Ouidah in Benin, to celebrate the most important public event of the religion. The festivities entail animal sacrifices at the beach, wine drinking, and a lot of drumming, singing, dancing and chanting. It is very dramatic, to say the least. What with some of the adherents wearing live pythons around their nakes as ornaments, and others dancing naked in the streets at night.

The festivities take place early in January, so you can start making arrangements for next year. (The 2012 celebrations happened on 10th January). Below is a video recording from a past event.

2. Festival au Desert – Mali

I previously mentioned Timbuktu as one of historical sites you must see in Africa. Here’s one more reason you should travel to this ancient town in Mali – the annual festival in the desert. This is a three-day musical concert held every year since 2001, to celebrate the music of the nomadic Touareg tribe of the Sahara desert.

The celebrations take place in the desert in Northern Mali, just a few kilometers from Timbuktu. The event is inspired by a long standing Touareg tradition of holding big annual gatherings to sing, dance, demonstrate male strength and female beauty, and to have lots of fun.

Most of the artists who perform at Le Festival au Desert are Malian, and a majority of the performances are Touareg songs. However, there are performances by a few other invited African and world artists.

The 2012 edition has already taken place (12th to 14th January), but you can start planning for next year’s event now. Remember however that it will require you to rough it up a bit. For your accommodation, you will sleep inside a traditional Touareg tent, in a sleeping bag atop a traditional Touareg mat, for the three days. You will also have to adjust to the desert conditions – very hot during the day, and very cold at night.

You can find more information about this event at the official website. Below is a video footage from a past event

3. Maulidi Festival Lamu (Donkey races, Dhow races)
Maulidi is an islamic festival held to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammed. It takes place during Rabi-ul-awwal, the third month of the Muslim calender, hence its date in the Gregorian calender varies each year.

Every year, thousands of Muslim faithfuls from the whole East African region and other parts of the world go to Lamu to attend the Maulidi festivities. The celebrations last for the whole month, but the last week is the most fun-filled. Lots of sports competitions take place this time including dhow races, swimming, tug-of-wars, and donkey races.

On the last day of the Maulid festival, all the men gather at a central location for silent prayers, after which they interlock their arms and proceed in a giant procession to the sea front, where they celebrate vigorously with lots of singing and dancing.

4. Sauti za Busara – Zanzibar
Some people consider this as Africa’s biggest musical event. The organizers have dubbed it ‘the friendliest festival on the planet’. Sauti za Busara, a swahili phrase that translates to “Sounds of Wisdom”, is a cultural festival that brings together performing artists from Tanzania and several other African countries. The result is a great and exhilarating experience of the best of African cultural music.

But Sauti za Busara is much more than just a musical festival. It showcases the best of Zanzibar and Swahili culture. Visitors get to participate in a street carnival in Stone Town, fashion shows, dhow races, and a chance to sample the local food and drinks. All people who have attended the event have great things to say about it. The 2012 edition takes place from 8th to 12th February.

Visit the official website to see more information about the festival.

Seven Cultural And Religious Festivals That You Must See in Africa – Part 1 is a post from: Africa Travel Information

1. Kruger National Park – South Africa
Perhaps this game reserve needs no introduction. Some of the most amazing African wildlife videos and pictures come from Kruger, for example the pictures of a leopard killing a crocodile and the battle at kruger video (below).

Kruger is the largest game reserve in South Africa, and is distinguished for its high animal density, and the great diversity of animals, birds, and plant life. All the big five game (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, and leopard) are present in large numbers in the park. No other African game reserve has as many mammal species as Kruger.

The birdwatching experience in Kruger is just as superb, with over 500 resident and migrant bird species found there.

Kruger national park is ideal for self-drive safaris owing to a good road network. Adventure travel enthusiasts find the far North part of Kruger quite alluring being very wild and also very difficult to access. There are a number of small private game reserves along the edges of Kruger, each providing equally rewarding wildlife tours.

Arguably, no other game park in Africa offers you that total wildlife safari experience you find at Kruger. More information about Kruger and the neighbouring reserves are available on this site.

2. Masai Mara National Reserve – Kenya
Again, no introduction needed for this game reserve. The spectacular great wildebeest migration, dubbed as the most impressive event of the natural world, has given the Masai Mara game reserve an international appeal that other parks must envy.

During the migration, millions of wildebeests plus hundreds of thousands of zebras and other ungulates move into the Mara from Serengeti national park in Tanzania, in search of water and pasture. Several lions and other predators follow these migrating herbivores as they present easy prey. Some of the most dramatic moments of the migration happen during the crossing the Mara river.

Yet, with or without the migration, the Mara is still a must-visit destination. The park has a very high animal population, including all the big five. Besides the wildebeest, the lions and the other big cats are the other star attractions of the Mara. In a nutshell, the Mara is as good a safari destination as Kruger.

3. South Luangwa National Park – Zambia
The Luangwa valley in Zambia is one largely unexplored wildlife destination with an astonishingly high animal density. This remote valley is located far from any major city, thus does not have very many visitors. Yet the valley contains four pristine national parks, the most outstanding being the South Luangwa national park.

Walking safaris in Africa cannot be any better than what you experience in South Luangwa. The safari experience here can only be termed as the greatest in Africa. Visitors get to see many animals especially around the Luangwa river and its oxbow lagoons. Being a bit off the beaten track, the park is not very “touristy” or congested. The tour guides are some of the best you can find in Africa.

Among the animals you will see in South Luangwa are four of the big five (big five minus the rhino), cheetahs, many other predators, hippos, crocodiles, and many more. The thornicroft’s giraffe is only found here, and nowhere else in Africa. The elephant herds in the park are exceptionally large, sometimes numbering as many as 70. South Luangwa is also regarded as the best place in Africa to see the very elusive leopard.

4. Etosha National Park – Namibia
Despite being situated in arid conditions (in the Namib desert), Etosha deserves its position as one of Africa’s finest wildlife sanctuaries. Etosha national park is home to over 110 mammal species, an almost equal number of reptile species, and 340+ bird species.

This magnificent game park also has one of the highest population of the black rhino in Africa. Other animals present on Etosha include elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and several rare species of Southern Africa antelopes.

The opportunity for wildlife photography Etosha provides is incomparable to any other park. The photo below, plus others found on blogoncherry blog attest to this fact.

Etosha has a very good road network making it perfectly suitable for self-drive wildlife safaris.

5. Selous Game Reserve – Tanzania
This top five list could not be complete without at least one national park or game reserve in Tanzania. There are several fine parks and reserves in the country but I think Selous, in Tanzania’s southern safari circuit takes top position.

Selous game reserve is the biggest game reserve in Tanzania and also in Africa. One similarity between Etosha and South Luangwa is that they are among the few remaining untouched wilderness in Africa. Like in South Luangwa, visitors to Selous can go for guided walking safaris within the reserve.

Selous has a very high animal concentration, especially along the Rufiji river banks. During the dry season, the Rufiji river is a magnet for many plains game, plus opportunistic predators preying on these easy targets.

One of Selous’ many reputations is in having the highest population of african wild dogs (pictured below: source wikimedia commons).

Other Parks and Reserves
This post was about the top five. However, there are several other game reserves worth mentioning. Depending on the criteria used to evaluate, some of them may even replace the above mentioned in the top five:

• Chobe national park in Botswana
• Ngorongoro conservation area in Tanzania
• Okavango Delta, in Botswana

Recommended African Safari Packages Booking
Visit the Africa guide Africa holiday packages to select a safari of your choice, including to some of the above destinations.

Top 5 National Parks and Game Reserves in Africa is a post from: Africa Travel Information

If I were to include the sphinx, the pyramids, and all other monuments from the ancient Egyptian civilization in this article, they would take all the top ten spots. This previous post lists what I consider the top five must-see sites in Egypt. In a later post, I will hopefully expand the list to include all the other places in Egypt.

Outside of Egypt, there are several equally important places that you should plan to visit in Africa. And these are what I am focusing on in today’s post.

1. The Roman ruins and relics of other ancient civilizations in Northern Africa
The entire Northern Africa region has dozens of monuments from the ancient ages. For the purpose of this article, I have grouped them together, but they are spread across Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, making it impossible to see all of them all in one trip.

The ruins are the remains of the activities of the Phoenician, Greek, Roman, and Carthaginian civilizations in the Mediterranean region. The most popular among these historical sites include Leptis Magna (pictured) in Libya, El Djem in Tunisia, Djémila in Algiers, and Volubilis in Morocco. For those attractions in Tunisia, read this previous post.

2. Timbuktu, Mali

“…Timbuktu where every race came to get books, to learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans…”

The Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu. Image by blueguy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blueguy/280064686/) (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 generic)

The above quote, from Nas’ song I Can, may sound like an exaggeration – and it is – but from as early as the 12th century AD, Timbuktu was a key commercial and intellectual city.

Credible sources, like this website, indicate that by that time, the city already had three universities and several schools, with an active book publishing industry. Of course that was long after the end of both the Roman and Greek empires, but it still illustrates the historical significance of this city.

Today, Timbuktu may be a shadow of its glorious past, “a dusty footnote in northern Mali” as this report (PDF) indicates, but it remains an interesting and a must-visit site.

Sadly though, cases of kidnappings and terrorism have made several governments to issue warnings and alerts against traveling to Northern Mali. Here’s the one by the UK government for example.

3. Great Zimbabwe Ruins

Part of the great Zimbabwe ruins. Image by ctsnow (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctsnow/95112892) (Creative commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)

These ruins are the greatest evidence of the existence of a Bantu civilization long before the arrival of the Portugueese explorers and other Europeans. Historians estimate that at its peak, this massive stone city had a population of about 18,000 people. The region was an important commercial hub, trading mostly in gold, iron, copper, and cowrie shells.

Some early historians expressed doubt whether indeed the city was built by native Africans, claiming instead that a “more civilized race” must have built it.

There are several other legends concerning the city, including that it was was the capital of the Queen of Sheba, but then the same is said of Axum. If you are interested in more history about the Great Zimbabwe, Professor Manu Ampim has written quite an interesting account. Undoubtedly, the ruins are one of the most awe-inspiring places to visit in Africa, as you can read in the reviews of other people who have been there.

4. Meroe, Sudan

Some of the Pyramids at Meroe in Sudan Image by Fabrizio Dermartis (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fabriziodemartis/48324720/) (Creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0)

Did you know that there are more pyramids in Sudan than there are in Egypt?

(See this link for reference).

The so called Nubian pyramids are found in what is today a UNESCO world heritage site, the Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe.

Like their Egyptian counterparts, many of these pyramids were tombs for the royalty, but in this case, in the Kingdom of Kush.

The Meroe pyramids are smaller and lack the splendour of those in Egypt, but they still are an interesting place to visit.

5. Ethiopian Historical Sites

A Castle in Gondar, Ethiopia. Image by Beautiful Ethiopia (http://www.flickr.com/photos/beautifulethiopia/6058715749) (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic)

Ethiopia has one of the richest histories of all African countries. Arguably, only Egypt can rival Ethiopia’s historical heritage. As a result, the country has many interesting places for cultural travel.

The Ethiopian historical sites include Lalilbela, Axum, Gondar, and Harar.

Lalibela, for example, is famous for its monolithic temples, carved out of a stone from the ground.

You can read more about Ethiopia here

5 Great Historical Sites You Must Visit in Africa is a post from: Africa Travel Information

Map of Libya in North Africa

I know, this is a travel blog, with a goal of informing and educating people on matters pertaining the Africa travel industry. I have very little expertise on economic and political affairs to write about such matters in detail in this platform. But occasionally, some political events warrant a comment. The death of Muammar Gaddafi is one such event.

I was watching some video footages of the event on youtube, and was left with a sickening feeling in my stomach. I mean, this man has been the Libyan President for over 40 years. Yes, he may have been a dictator, a despot, and all other bad adjectives we can use to describe bad leaders. But he was the face of that nation. Also he must have had some few positives, as some people have pointed out.

In my view, it was very barbaric to treat him the way he was treated. To see what I am talking about, go to youtube then go to /watch?v=oR8v00pfglg and /watch?NR=1&v=6HlG7nEAryE (I choose not to embed the videos in this post).

Probably Gaddafi deserved to die because of the way he had treated other people, but that is a moral/ethical question, depending on your convictions. But even the worst criminal amongst us deserves some dignity.

I remember reading somewhere in Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War“ that when you corner your enemy, you should at least leave him a small escape route, presumably to keep his dignity intact. From the comments in the videos, I have also learnt about how Alexander the Great treated his enemy Darius III when he found him dying – offering him water and promising him a decent burial. Here’s a link that mentions that story.

That, in my opinion, is what the Libyan rebels should have done – allow Gaddafi to save some face. If for no other reason, because he was their leader for a very long time. One or two clean shots in the head would have done the job. Kicking his dead body, and other embarrasing things, was not nice.

Is Libya going to be a better place because of Gaddafi’s death? Maybe, maybe not, time will tell. Should world leaders celebrate Gaddafi’s fall with so much gusto? I don’t think so. There’s a Swahili proverb that goes “Ukiona cha mwenzako chanyolewa, tia chako maji”.

A Statement on The Death Of Muammar Gaddafi is a post from: Africa Travel Information

Map of Kenya

This post is prompted by the latest Kenya travel advisory issued by the UK and France governments.

A Brief Background to these latest travel warnings
Early last month (September 11, 2011), an armed gang raided an exclusive tourist resort in Lamu, killed a British tourist, and abducted his wife. See the full story in the Daily Nation.

Three weeks later, in October 1, 2011, another gang kidnapped a 66 year old French woman from her private home in Manda Island in Lamu. You can see this story too in both the Standard and the Daily Nation.

The minister for tourism, Najib Balala, has since then assured Kenya tourism stakeholders that the government has put measures in place to ensure such incidents do to occur again. Too late perhaps, coz the harm has already been done.

Under such circumstances therefore, the travel warnings about Kenya are somehow justified. And to be fair, the advisories only advise against traveling to Lamu and the region near the Kenya-Somali border. But I know safety is an important consideration for many people planning to come to Kenya, whether on a safari holiday or a business trip. So, is it safe to travel to Kenya?

As a Kenyan resident, I’d confidently state that yes, Kenya is still a very safe destination. However the most objective way to address the issue is by looking at some of the commonly identified security threats and concerns in Kenya.
• Terrorism
This is considered Kenya’s biggest security threat, mostly because of al-Shabaab and similar groups from the neighboring Somalia. In this day and age however, no place in the world can really claim to be entirely safe from terrorism. Terrorists can strike anywhere, and without warning. The porous Kenya-Somali border may make Kenya look particularly vulnerable, but the government security agencies have so far been doing a good job preventing attacks.

Update October 18, 2011: About five days ago, al-Shabaab struck again, this time kidnapping two Spanish doctors who work with Medecin sans Frontieres at the Dadaab refugee camp. See the full story on BBC. The Kenyan government viewed that as a declaration of war by al-Shabaab, and has now decided to take the battle to al Shabaab’s turf. As I write this, the Kenya Defence Forces have already started an offensive deep into Somalia territory, targeting al Shabaab strongholds.

NB: Daadab is in Garissa, near the Kenya – Somali border. It is  quite far from Kenya’s main tourism circuit. So far, apart from the two earlier incidents in Lamu and Manda, the main tourist areas remain safe. Kenyan security agencies have become even more vigilant to reduce the chances of terrorist acts and to ensure the safety of both the citizens and the visitors/tourists.

In the recent past, Kenya has had two major terrorist attacks: the US embassy bombing of 1998, and the Kikambala bombing of 2002. These served as wake-up calls for the Kenyan government to take strong counter-terrorism measures. Today therefore, you can be as safe from terrorism in Kenya as in the US, UK, and most other western countries.

• Political Unrest and Riots
The 2007-2008 post-election violence remains one of the darkest moments in Kenya’s history. In those days it was indeed quite unsafe to travel to the country as a foreigner. In my opinion, the biggest cause for that violence was the heightened tribalism and ethnic tensions that started in 2005, coupled with a few other historical facts that are too complex to discuss in one post. However, the violence taught us a very bitter lesson, and I don’t think we are willing to go down that road again.

At the moment therefore, Kenya has a calm political environment. The likelihood of highly-charged political rallies and riots is almost nil. Next year, 2012, will however be an election year. There will definitely be some heightened political temperatures because of the stakes involved, but I can bet my last coin it will still be peaceful. We, the “ordinary Kenyans”, learnt our lessons well in 2007-2008. Even the political leaders are aware that anyone who attempts to incite people to violence will be commiting political suicide. So, yes, it will still be safe to travel to Kenya even in 2012.

• Crime
Nairobi and other major Kenyan cities have relatively high crime rates, with armed robberies, kidnappings, and carjackings being common. However these crimes are mostly indiscriminate in that they do not specifically target tourists or foreigners, but rather anyone who happens to be at the wrong place, and at the wrong time, just like in most other cities of the world. You should therefore follow the same safety precautions that you follow in the cities in your home country. You know the rules:

• Avoid walking alone at night in isolated places (e.g. beaches) and unsafe streets in the cities
• If driving at night, close your car windows, and lock all the doors. Unless you really have to, do not stop your car at the side of the road.
• Leave your valuables in a locked safe place when taking a walk/going to public places, especially at night.
• etc. etc. mostly common sense

Is It Safe to Travel to Kenya – A View From Within is a post from: Africa Travel Information