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. Travelers seeking the ideal African wildlife safari, cultural or historical tour, adventure travel, and luxury beach holiday will find perfect alternatives in countries like Namibia, Ethiopia, and Mozambique among others.
1. Namibia: African Wildlife Safaris and Adventure travel at their best
Situated in Africa’s southwest, the scarcely populated Namibia offers you a nice blend of wildlife safari and adventure travel opportunities. The Etosha national park ranks among the greatest game reserves in Africa, and is the star attraction in Namibia travel. African animal species found in Etosha include elephants, rhinos, lions, buffaloes, leopards (i.e all the big five), giraffes, wildebeests, and many many more. The springbok are particularly abundant here, alongside other Southern Africa antelopes like the black faced impala, and the Damara dik dik. See these pictures from Etosha National Park at boncherry.com blog
Antelope in Etosha national park
Etosha has an amazingly good road network, making it easy for travelers seeking self-drive safaris in Nambia. The park also has good accommodation facilities ranging from budget camping resorts to more upmarket resorts and lodges. Okaukuejo and Namutoni are the oldest camps in Etosha.
Perhaps the most astounding sights in Namibia are the Sossusvlei sand dunes deep in the Namib desert. Some of these giant sand hills stand at heights above 300 meters, the highest in the world. On the rare occasions that it rains in the Sossusvlei, a turquoise lake forms in the clay pan (vlei) and remains for quite some time because of the low infiltration rate. Getting to Sossusvlei is an adventure worth taking, and so is the experience of climbing up the sand dunes barefoot.
The Fish River Canyon, one other key attraction, is very popular for adventure travel in Namibia. Hiking expeditions in the canyon is however a preserve for the physically fit, and is only possible during the winter months (May through September). Some reports dispute the claim that Fish River Canyon is the second largest in the world after the Grand Canyon in the US. Still, it is undeniably one of the top adventure travel destinations in Africa.
There are several other attractions in Namibia including the Skeleton Coast, Swakopmund, and Naukluft park. You can find more information about Namibia travel on the Namibia online travel guide.
2. Ethiopia: Cultural Tours and Safaris
Apart from Egypt, arguably, no other country in Africa can rival Ethiopia’s rich historical and cultural heritage. According to the Ancient Web site Ethiopia “…can lay claim to having the oldest continuos Kingdom in the world, starting over four thousand years ago with the Kingdom of Axum..”
One of the Monolithic Churches in Lalibela Ethiopia
Relics of this rich past are the main highlights of Ethiopian cultural tours. The historical monuments in the city of Axum and Lalibela include the Queen of Sheba’s palace ruins, the 11 monolithic churches in Lalibela, and the Obelisk at Axum. Gondar and Harar cities are the other sites of cultural significance. Gondar is home to several medieval castles from the 1600′s AD, when it was the capital city of Ethiopia. The walled city of Harar is sacred for Muslims, and is also very fascinating to visit.
The ancient Meroe Pyramids in Sudan were built during the kingdom of Kush, which extended from Northern Ethiopia into Sudan and beyond. They are therefore an extension of Ethiopia’s cultural heritage. You may find it interesting that there are more pyramids in Meroe Sudan (actually twice as many) than there are in Egypt.
There is more to Ethiopia than cultural safaris. The Simien mountains and other Ethiopian highlands are excellent destinations for trekking, adventure travel and mountain climbing expeditions. You can also see wildlife in Ethiopia national parks like Awash National Park and Bale Mountains National Park.
3. Mozambique: Romantic Beach Vacations
With a coastline stretching more than 1000km, Mozambique on the southeastern coast of Africa is an alternative travel destination for romantic beach vacations, and sea sports travel. Mozambique’s pristine and untouched white sand beaches offer the exclusivity and seclusion ideal for high-end travelers, especially at the Quirimbas archipelago. A beach holiday in the Islands off the coast of Mozambique rivals any luxury beach vacation in Africa.
Tofo beach on the Southern coast is a marvelous destination for scuba diving, surfing, swimming, and deep sea fishing among other sea sports. Tofo is a haven for backpackers and other budget travelers.
