Introducing Africa
How do you capture the essence of Africa on paper without using up every cliché in the book? No other continent comes close to it for scale, variety and pure, raw impact. Africa offers a travel experience a thousand kilometres from the well-backpacked, air-conditioned tourist trails of Southeast Asia or the cash-cow theme parks of Australia or Europe.
Advertisement
Africa’s natural history alone would make a dozen visits worthwhile – where else on earth can you fall asleep to the sound of lions roaring, or watch a million flamingos take off from the waters of a remote soda lake? Parts of Africa boast scenery so spectacular they’ll damn near blow your mind, but the essence of this incredible continent isn’t in any desert, mountain or lake. It’s the spirit of the people – pushing, shoving, sweating, dancing, singing and laughing – that infects so many visitors with a travel bug so powerful they’ll never stop coming back, sometimes against all sense or reason.
Debate with venerable merchants among the cool, narrow streets of an Arabic medina, dance to the thumping reggae beats coming from a West African market stall, or shoot the breeze with fishermen under Indian Ocean palm trees, and you’ll be struck more than anything else by the honesty, warm-heartedness and vitality of the African people.
Africa’s not always an easy place to travel in. It can be frustrating and challenging at times. Hardships and logistical disasters can happen. But don’t believe everything you see on TV: Africa’s not a hell hole full of civil war, plague, famine and violent crime. It’s a fantastic, enlightening, surprising and intriguing continent. Try it once, and we guarantee you’ll dream about coming back for the rest of your life.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- Discover the best of Morocco in 15 days
- Experience West Africa on a cruise from Cape Town to Dakar
- Climb Majestic Mount Kilimanjaro
- See Africa's wild side in comfort
Last updated: Jan 22, 2013
Tips & articles
-
The latest travel scams – and how to avoid them
21 May 2013
Have you ever arrived at a hotel to discover that the ‘sea view’ room you fell head over heels for...
-
Five travel photography essentials that won’t weigh you down
16 May 2013
Some of your best travel pictures will be off the cuff, spontaneous affairs, but taking a few basic pieces of...
-
Top 10 reasons to visit Zambia
15 May 2013
This large, landlocked country in southern Africa has natural attractions that rival any continental competitor. The sheer size and remoteness...
Hotels & Hostels in Africa
-
Book now
-
Book now
-
Casablanca Le Lido Thalasso & Spa - formerly Riad Sala
Casablanca(4 star Hotel)
From US$134.14 per night
Book now
Advertisement
Africa
Things to do
- All things to do (8,304)
- Activities (1,295)
- Entertainment (1,152)
- Restaurants (2,325)
- Shopping (1,044)
- Sights (2,144)
- Tours (344)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Africa
-
1 Okavango Delta
Drift through the Okavango Delta, in a traditional mokoro (canoe), Botswana
-
2 Cure Salée
Join the Wodaabé as they strut their stuff during Cure Salée, Niger
-
3 Djenné’s mosque
Marvel at the largest mud-brick structure in the world, Djenné’s mosque, Mali
-
4 Giza
Rustle up a stylish ride at the pyramids of Giza, Egypt
-
5 Parc National des Volcans
Take some time out with the mountain gorillas of Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda