Activities in Africa
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Scuba Dive or Snorkel with Great White Sharks
11 hours (Departs Cape Town, South Africa)
by Viator
Join this tour for the underwater experience of a lifetime as you scuba dive or snorkel with the Great White Sharks of South Africa! Take the opportunity during…Not LP reviewed
from USD$199.48 - All activities
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Siviwe Tours
As well as regular walking tours, English- and Spanish-speaking Siviwe Mbinda offers two-hour bicycling tours around Langa (R180 if you get yourself to Langa, R300 if Siviwe comes to pick you up). In his spare time he’s helped local kids form a gumboot dance troupe, which he can arrange to perform.
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City Sightseeing Cape Town
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Queer Johannesburg Tour
Run on the first Sunday of the month by the Gay & Lesbian Archives of South Africa at Wits University. Gay or straight, the tours offer a fascinating insight into gay Jo’burg, taking you deep into the heart of Hillbrow and Soweto, and providing plenty of background on the role homosexuality played in the gold mines and the struggle against apartheid. Tours start at 9am, last four hours and cost R300 per person.
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Imbizo Tours
Specialises in tours to Jo’burg’s gritty townships, including shebeen tours and overnight township stays, and it also offers a one-day Mandela’s Struggle Trail tour through Gauteng.
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Whale Watching
Every year between July and September, Baie d'Antongil, just south of Maroantsetra, is the site of the migration of hundreds of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). The whales make their way from the Antarctic northward to the warmer waters around Baie d'Antongil, where they spend the winter months breeding and birthing before the long journey back to Antarctica. En route the whales swim past Fort Dauphin and Île Sainte Marie, where they are often sighted offshore.
Humpbacks can measure up to 15m in length and weigh as much as 35,000kg. Despite their size, they are exceptionally agile, and capable of acrobatic moves such as breaching (launching themselves…
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Trekking, Classic Route
Most trekking is fairly gentle and undemanding, following good, well-trodden paths or sheep tracks. But don't forget that altitude makes easy-looking terrain quite heavy going.
The trekking routes cover a relatively small area, and most treks last six days, or four days with a vehicle. The following routes and approximate trekking times have been devised in consultation with local guides.
Day One: Work your way southwest up the Web Valley towards the Finch' Abera Waterfall (two or three hours from the park headquarters), before continuing on to Mararo, where there's a pleasant campsite.
Day Two: Keep an eye out for giant molerats while trekking through the Wasema Valley.…
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Parc d'Attractions & Fountain, Sétif
An amusement park might not be what you came to Algeria to see (and its attractions are lame by comparison to any European park), but it is worth walking through here, if only to marvel at its existence and at the fact that it is so popular. For while cinemas, bowling alleys and other civic amenities in so many northern towns have remained closed since the end of the black years of sectarian violence, the Parc d’Attractions pulls in the pundits. The park is a large open space of gardens, cafés, and booths selling CDs. In the centre, there is a boating lake, dodgem, big wheel and various other amusements, which really come into their own in summer. Away from the park, an…
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Salt Caravans
Like a vestige from another age, Salt Caravans still travel between Timbuktu and Taoudenni. The return trip takes between 36 and 40 days. Trucks also make the journey - a fact which is lengthening the expedition for those who travel by camel, as the trucks sometimes exhaust salt supplies at the mines for a few days. But with fuel costs high and camels costing very little, it is extremely unlikely that the camels will be replaced by four-wheeled transport any time soon.
These are commercial operations and trips are extremely gruelling; they're not to be taken lightly - there's no escape if you find you can't hack it or get sick. Expect to spend between 15 and 18 hours a…
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Maroa Tours
Rakoto, an English-speaking Angap guide and 'fixer', does excursions by pirogue to villages upriver from Maroantsetra (for groups of two or more), along with visits to Nosy Mangabe and the Masoala Peninsula. The tours include visits to a vanilla and cinnamon farm and village weaving workshops. The best time to see vanilla is between October and June. Rakoto can also organised guided treks to Mananara.
The vanilla plant was introduced to Madagascar from Mexico by French plantation owners, who named it vanille (lavanila in Malagasy), from the Spanish vainilla or 'little pod'. It is a type of climbing orchid, Vanila planifolia, which attaches itself to trees. The vanilla…
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Jeep Safaris
All of the camps and shops offer jeep safaris, though prices vary considerably depending on the time of year, your destination and the size of your party - don't be afraid to shop around and bargain hard.
In addition to trips to the popular Coloured Canyon, other popular destinations are Ain al-Furtega, a palm-filled oasis 16km northwest of Nuweiba, and Mayat el-Wishwashi, a large cistern hidden between two boulders in a canyon - it used to be the largest cistern in Sinai, but now has only a trickle of water, except after floods. Nearby is Mayat Malkha, a palm grove fed by the waters of Mayat el-Wishwashi and set amid colourful sandstone.
Wadi Huweiyit is an impressive…
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Carnaval
Only Rio de Janeiro does it better and even that party does not overshadow Santa Cruz's efforts to make Carnaval a nonstop, 24-hour party-orgy. Festivities generally kick off in early February and last about three weeks. Many of the gala performances and fancy-dress competitions take place in the Recinto Ferial (fairgrounds) but the streets, especially around Plaza España, become frenzied with good-natured dawn-to-dusk frivolity.
Don't be fooled into thinking this is just a sequin-bedecked excuse to party hearty, though. It may sometimes be hard to see or believe, but there is an underlying political 'message' to the whole shebang. Under the Franco dictatorship, Carnaval…
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4WD Trails
The longest and most established of Kruger's 4WD trails is the Lebombo Motorised Eco Trail, a rough, rugged 500km 4WD route along the eastern boundary of the park, departing from Crocodile Bridge and ending at Pafuri. The trail lasts five days and costs around R4900 per vehicle (maximum of four people per vehicle). You'll need to provide your own vehicle, food and drink (it's completely self-catering).
Only five vehicles are permitted at a time on the trail (plus the vehicle of the ranger who accompanies you). Book well in advance through central reservations. There are also four shorter trails, all averaging about four hours, and costing around R460 per vehicle plus an…
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Equator Rafts
The source of the Nile is one of the most spectacular white-water rafting destinations in the world and for many visitors to Uganda a rafting trip is the highlight of their visit. There are now four companies offering exhilaration without compromise. One of these operators is Equator Rafts.
All the companies take on the Big Four, all monster Grade Five rapids, including Itanda (The Bad Place), but there is always a safety boat on hand if you decide the rapids are just too big for you. All of them also include a host of incentives to lure you over, including meals and beers. They also offer DVDs and videos of your big day out if you think that no-one will believe you were…
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Fish River Hiking Trail
The five-day hike from Hobas to Ai-Ais is Namibia's most popular long-distance walk - and with good reason. The magical 85km route, which follows the sandy riverbed past a series of ephemeral pools (in March and April the river actually does flow), begins at Hikers' Viewpoint, and ends at the hot spring resort of Ai-Ais.
Due to flash flooding and heat in the summer months, the route is open only from 1 May to 30 September. Groups of three to 40 people may begin the hike every day of the season, though you will have to book in advance as the trail is extremely popular.
Reservations can be made at the Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) office in Windhoek Officials sometimes…
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Camel Safaris
With the exception of Dahab, Nuweiba is the best place in Sinai to arrange camel safaris into the interior. When planning your trip, keep in mind that camels are a slower and - if budget is a worry - more expensive way of travelling. However, they allow you to reach places that are inaccessible to vehicles, and are the best way to see the area.
Almost every camp and shop in Tarabin offers these trips, but take care that whoever you pick is a local Bedouin - not only are they marginalised by tour operators from the Nile Valley and therefore need the work, but there have been some instances of travellers lost in the desert without water because their so-called guides didn't…
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Groot Constantia
A superb example of Cape Dutch architecture, Groot Constantia is set in beautiful grounds. Not surprisingly, it can become busy with tour groups, but the estate is big enough for you to escape the crowds, if needs be. In the 18th century, Constantia wines were exported around the world and were highly acclaimed; today you should try its sauvignon blanc and pinotage.
As you approach the estate the large tasting room is first on your right. Further on is the free orientation centre, which provides an excellent overview of the estate’s history, and the beautifully restored homestead, now a museum. The interiors have been appropriately furnished; take a look at the tiny slave…
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Wilderness Trails
Kruger's wilderness walking trails are one of the park's highlights, and a major attraction of the Southern African safari experience. They are done in small groups (maximum eight people), guided by highly knowledgeable armed guides and offer a superb opportunity to get a much more intimate sense of the bush than would ever be possible in a vehicle. The walks are not particularly strenuous, covering about 20km per day at a modest pace, and are appropriate for anyone who is reasonably fit.
The itinerary of each walk is determined by the interests of the group, the time of year and the disposition of the wildlife. Most wilderness trail walks last two days and three nights,…
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Kwembago & Mazumbai Forest Reserve Walk
An easy walk to do on your own: head north out of Lushoto along the road running between the Catholic and Anglican churches. After about five minutes, bear sharply left and start climbing, following the road past scattered houses and small farm plots.
About 35 minutes further on is the royal village of Kwembago, the traditional seat of the local Sambaa chief and notable for its large open field and handful of old double-storey, balconied houses. Continue up hill, bear right at the junction, and follow the path around and then down again to the other side of the Lushoto valley, where it joins with the tarmac road heading up to Migambo. For a longer variant, head left at…
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Desert Explorers Adventure Centre
After aspiring for years to become a dry version of Victoria Falls, Swakopmund is one of the top destinations in Southern Africa for extreme sports enthusiasts. Although filling your days with adrenaline-soaked activities is certainly not cheap, there are few places in the world where you can climb up, race down and soar over towering sand dunes.
Your one-stop booking agent for just about every breathtaking activity you'd like to pursue is the Desert Explorers Adventure Centre . Here you can organise sandboarding, ecologically sensitive quadbiking, tandem skydiving, dolphin cruising, deep-sea fishing, hot-air ballooning, dune parasailing, descending on the flying-fox…
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Gelal
The trustworthy Gelal, who hangs out near Panorama Restaurant near the ferry landing, offers hassle-free tours on his family's feluccas at good-value fixed prices. He is from Seheyl Island and can also arrange a visit of the island and lunch in his house, as well as a swim on a safe beach.
The Nile looks fabulous and magical at Aswan, and few things are more relaxing than hiring a felucca (traditional canvas-sailed boat) before sunset and sailing between the islands, the desert and the huge black boulders, listening to the flapping of the sail and to Nubian boys singing from their tiny dugouts.
When walking along the Nile, it's hard to avoid felucca touts any time of the…
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Kahawa Shamba
Kahawa Shamba is a laudable community-owned and community-run venture that offers insights into the lives of the Chagga coffee farmers who live on Kilimanjaro’s lower slopes. It consists of a handful of Chagga huts near Lyamungo village, southeast of Machame and about 27km from Moshi near Umbwe village. While the huts are authentically constructed, they are outfitted with modern amenities such as en suite showers and twin beds, and are clean and comfortable. Meals with local families can be arranged, as can guided walks and horseriding, village and family visits, and learning about local coffee production methods. Book at least two weeks in advance, either via email, or…
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Solms-Delta
In its current incarnation, Solms-Delta has only been a business a blip compared to some of its venerable neighbours, but it’s already producing eight wines including the delicious Solms-Astor Vastrap and eminently quaffable Cape Jazz Shiraz, like a lambrusco but not so cloying. Vines have been grown on these lands for over 300 years and the farm’s history is set out in the estate’s Museum Van de Caab, in the original wine cellar. This remarkable museum tells the story of the Delta wine farm from the perspective of the people who worked and still work on it – the presentation of extensive research is excellent. Outside you can see the archaeological site of the farm’s…
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Löwenfish Hiking Trail
From April to October there's also this wonderful five-day, 85km hike. This hike takes in the Löwen Canyon and several days along Fish River Canyon, interrupted by several ascents to the plateau and descents down scenic cliffs. Camp sites (with no facilities) are situated at water sources along the way and the last night you can stay at the Koelkrans Camp with cooking facilities and hot showers. On the last day, hikers climb out of the canyon for the last time and follow a scenic route back to the lodge. Stages of the trip may be done as one- to four-day hikes. Note that prebooking is essential.
To reach the guest farm, head west from Keetmanshoop and turn south on the…
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Pirogue Trips
The standard day trip from Ziguinchor includes a pirogue trip to Affiniam and Djilapao on the northern side of the Casamance River and a trip to Île des Oiseaux. These three places are set in beautiful surrounding. Affiniam has a stunning case à impluvium (the campement villageois), and in Djilapao, you can see some beautiful cases à étages (traditional two-storey mud houses).
Île des Oiseaux is great for bird lovers; with very little effort you can see pelicans, flamingos, kingfishers, storks and sunbirds as well as many more species.Many hotels offer trips to these destinations including Le Flamboyant, the Hôtel Kadiandoumagne and the Relais de Santhiaba. Prices…
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Yacht Charters
Perhaps the most interesting of the options on offer is the trip offered by Yacht Charters. Its magnificent sailing ship, the Isla Mauritia, was built in 1852 and is claimed to be the world's oldest active schooner.
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