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top spots
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Masai Mara reserve (Kenya)
The Mara River, the reserve’s backbone, traverses north to south. This course is the natural barrier crossed every year by the large migratory herds of wildebeest and zebra, which march across the two parks in a quest for the best pastures, crossing en route the crocodile-infested river. Coupled with ever-watchful predatory cats in the midst, the annual migration is a risky operation and fraught with peril.
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Zanzibar (Tanzania)
The annals of Zanzibar history read like a chapter from ‘The Thousand and One Nights’ and evoke many exotic images in the minds of travellers. Zanzibar has a chequered and colourful history. The Egyptians, Phoenicians, Indians, Persians, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, Omani Arabs and English have all been here. Notably, the Shiraz Persians and Omani Arabs settled and it was under the Omani Arabs in the early 19th century that the island thrived. The clove tree was introduced in 1818. By the middle of the century, the island had become the worlds largest producer of cloves and the largest slaving entrepot on the East coast. The island was also the starting point for many explorers including Livingstone.
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Sossusvlei Dunes (Namibia)
Visit the awesome Namib Naukluft National Park - home of the striking blood-red and apricot-coloured dunes at Sossusvlei, featured in so many car ads on television. With spines whipped so sharply and perfectly into place by the wind, you’ll want to race (or stagger..) up the famed Dune 45, reputedly one of the highest sand dunes in the world, before taking in the stunning views from the top! |
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Okavango Delta (Botswana)
Described as the ‘river which never finds the sea’, Botswana is home to the amazing Okavango Delta. The Okavango disappears into a 15,000 sq km maze of lagoons, channels and islands brimming with birdlife and other wild animals including elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, hippo and hooved animals. The best way to see the largest inland delta in the world is by mokoro, a dugout canoe well-suited to the shallow waters of the delta.
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Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Snow-capped Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest point on the African Continent, the world’s largest free-standing mountain and one of the world’s largest volcanoes. At Uhuru Peak (5895m), you’ll have impressive photo opportunities. There’s no special equipment or expertise required to ascend Mt Kili as the routes chosen have been designed to allow for a slow and gradual trek. There are several routes to choose from and they vary by steepness and popularity. The Marangu Route is the easiest and most frequented route on Mt Kili.
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Gorilla Trekking (Rwanda & Uganda)
The Parc des Volcans National Parc area in Rwanda straddles the borders of DR Congo and Uganda and has to be one of the most beautiful sights in Africa. The park gets its name from the chain of volcanoes (one more than 4500m high) that dot the region.
Uganda is also world-famous for its population of the increasingly rare and endangered mountain gorilla. It is in the south west of the country at the National Parks of Bwindi and Mgahinga on the verdant slopes of the Virunga Range that these gentle creatures live.
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Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Victoria Falls – every travellers favourite is one of the world’s ‘must-see’s. Here, the Zambezi River widens to 1.7 km and then plunges 107m into the Zambezi Gorge. The force of the tumbling water, estimated at around 545 million litres per minute during the rainy season, sends clouds of spray up to 500m into the air, sustaining a lush rainforest all around. |
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