Cape Town - We’ve one of the biggest and best continents to explore, with the most spectacular natural sights, cultural wonders and exciting adventures to be found in the world. Africa is a traveller’s paradise, offering a complete range of experiences from high-end luxury safaris to humble back-packing sojourns, from family fun to romantic rambles.
Want to do the biggest natural bungee jump in the world? Tick. Want to see the largest mammal migration on the planet? Tick. Want to swim in a rock pool on the lip of the largest waterfall ever? Tick again. Want to sit see a quintessential sunset while sipping a cocktail? Silly question ...
The only problem with planning a holiday here is that there is just so much to do. You can load up your Landy and hit the open road. You can fly into remote areas and be immersed in the bush. You can even stick out your thumb and catch a hop on-hop off bus. One thing is for sure – you will NEVER be bored.
6 TOP GAME PARKS
Etosha National Park: Sprawling across the top half of Namibia, Etosha is a wildlife photographer’s delight. Shimmering salt pans, desolate dolomite peaks and whispering Mopane woodlands are home to vast herds of buck, while big cats prowl in the grasslands and elephants loll at the waterholes. An awe-inspiring space.
Kruger National Park: South Africa’s signature national park occupies a massive area in the north-east of the country, covering a size close to that of Israel. It’s very well managed, with plenty of rest camps and also luxury concessions, making it one of the most popular parks to visit in the country. The numbers are big, too: over 517 species of birds, the Big Five, more than 3000 crocodiles and more lions than can shake a stick at. Although why you want to do that is strange ...
Serengeti National Park: Occupying nearly 15 000 square kilometres of grasslands and riverine forests in Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park hosts the annual migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest and 250 000 zebra.
Yup, it’s the biggest of its kind in the world, and those who have witnessed it firsthand are usually stunned by the experience.
Virunga National Park: Situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and bordering on Uganda and Rwanda, Virunga was the first national park to be established in Africa, and is also a world heritage site, famous for its mountain gorilla population.
The park has previously suffered setbacks due to social unrest, but has recovered and is flourishing. The startling biodiversity (which ranges from African Savanna to Alpine forests) is part of its appeal, along with its rich animal life.
Gombe Stream National Park: Accessible only by boat, and landscaped with steep valleys and tropical rainforests, Gombe is a small but very well-known national park in the western Kigoma region of Tanzania.
It’s here that renowned author Jane Goodall documented her famous research into chimpanzee communities, and visitors to the island can view the chimps as well as snorkel in nearby Lake Tanganyika.
Mana Pools: If you like your wildlife up close and personal, Mana Pools in Zimbabwe is the place to be. You can camp in unfenced bush, where elephants and other beasties will stroll between your tent poles. Definitely an intense experience!
5 ADRENALINE ACTIVATORS
Swimming in the Devil’s Pool: On the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls, there’s a unique swimming hole that is accessible when the river is low. Here (under the watchful eyes of guides) you can swim in what must be the world’s most dramatic infinity pool, with 500 million litres of water per minute crashing down below you.
Bungee jumping at Bloukrans: The bungee jump off the Bloukrans River bridge in South Africa is the highest bridge leap in the world at 216 metres. And it’s perfectly safe, they say ...
Sandboarding in Namibia: The huge sand dunes outside Swakopmund in Namibia are perfect for getting your sandboard moves on. Beginners usually slide down on their stomachs, but as you get more confident you can try those aerial manoeuvres you’ve seen on the X Sports programme.
Kayaking in Uganda: Outside the town of Jinja is a section of the river Nile that offers extreme white water rafting. The rapids range from beginner level to serious grade 5 and 6 sections, there are plenty of routes to try, the water is warm and the sun always shines. Why are you waiting?
Biking the High Atlas in Morocco: Beginning just outside Marrakech, you can do a mountain bike through this tough but starkly beautiful territory. The paths are mainly mule tracks, but the views are reportedly fantastic.
4 CULTURE TRIPS
AfrikaBurn: You have to get down and dirty in the Tankwa Karoo in SA at least once in your lifetime. The annual event, based on Burning Man in America, is a celebration of creativity and community with music, artworks, mutant vehicles and many mad hatters.
Lake of Stars Festival in Malawi: Held every year on the shores of Lake Malawi, this three day festival of music, theatre, dance and fun is regarded as one of the most beautiful festival venues in the world.
Gnaoua World Music Festival: African, Arabic and Berber rhythms fuse with jazz, rock and hip hop at this eclectic celebration held annually in Morocco. Hundreds of thousands attend the four-day event.
Sauti Sa Busara: The biggest music festival in East Africa is held among the old forts and historic buildings of Stone Town in Zanzibar. The name of the festival means “Sounds of Wisdom”, and usually over 400 artists appear each year, during the month of February.
3 GREAT AFRICAN SUNDOWNER SPOTS
Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana: Take a cruise out onto the Chobe river at sunset, and be rewarded with the most amazing colours in the sky and a plethora of wildlife coming down to the water’s edge for their own version of a sundowner. Priceless.
Gharagab Wilderness Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: The Kgalagadi park is flanked by South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, and combines the best of the three wilderness areas. Gharagab camp can only be reached by 4X4. It’s unfenced, quiet, and the local lions have a way of sneaking up very quietly and suddenly decorating your sunset view.
Sunset Kwenda, Zanzibar: The beach-side Bikini Bar is a chilled place to sink a cold one while watching the sun sinking at the same pace across a placid sea dotted with dhows. Actually, anywhere on Zanzibar is perfect for sundowners.
Cape Times