Africa
An unforgettable journey
around the world
Anisa ,Ariola ,Algerta ,Melisa.S ,Kristi ,Artisti
A little about Africa
The African continent is one of the world's most mesmerizing destinations.
There are so many diverse adventures to be had on this amazing continent,
home to more than 50 different countries, that it's hard to narrow them down
for a best places list, but we have tried here.
Whether you are looking to explore vibrant cities like Cape Town, Cairo, and
Marrakesh or hoping to see the continent's wildlife on a safari in Kenya,
South Africa, or Tanzania, there is no shortage of things to do for travelers
of all types.
The African continent is also home to some stunning natural attractions,
like Victoria Falls, which straddles the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia and
is often described as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. And
you'll find soaring mountain peaks, lik e Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro,
which, at more than 19,000-feet, is Africa's highest mountain.
And then there are the beaches. With thousands of miles of coastline, you'll
find warm, turquoise-hued waters and white-sand beaches on mystical
islands like Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania and the Bazaruto
Archipelago off the coast of Mozambique on Africa's eastern coastline.
Wherever you wander in Africa, we promise you'll leave with a new
appreciation for the magic of this culturally rich, vibrantly colored, and
welcoming continent that will have you wanting to return over and over. Plan
your adventures with our list of the best places to visit in Africa.
Cape Town
Lion Head
Lion’s Head hike is one of those things that any local, visitor, or ex -pat
should take advantage of.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HIKE LION’S HEAD
Lion’s Head Hike Opening Times: The trail is open to the public 24/7.
Lion’s Head Hike Entrance Fee: Free! It’s one of the top things to do in
Cape Town that won’t cost you a dime and one of the best day hikes in
South Africa.
Difficulty: Lion’s Head is an easy hike. But if you haven’t done regular
exercise in a while, you’ll find the route quite challenging. There are also
chain ladders you’ll need to conquer. However, if you’re terrified of heights,
you can take the longer route to the top.
Lion’s Head Hike Time: It depends on your fitness level, but it should take
you 1-hour each way.
HOW TO GET TO LION’S HEAD
Lion’s Head is part of Table Mountain National Park and one of the many
Table Mountain hiking trails. It’s only a few minutes from the centre of Cape
Town and lies between Signal Hill. You can get there by car or by bus.
THE BEST TIME TO HIKE LION’S HEAD
Sunrise: Sunrise is the best time to hike Lion’s Head if you’re looking for
small crowds at the summit. In the summer, the mornings are less popular
as the sun only rises at 6:00 am. If you’re visiting in the winter, the sun
comes up at 7:30 am which means you don’t need to start the hike at 4:00
am.
Wolfberg Arch
With towering rock formations delicately is really something else. You won’t
find anything like it elsewhere in South Africa, which is what makes it so
special.
WHAT IS THE WOLFBERG ARCH TRAIL?
The Wolfberg Arch Trail is a 16km hike in the
Cederberg and one of the most
iconic Western Cape hikes. Set against
dramatic mountains and fiery red rock
formations, the landscape is unlike anyth ing
else you’ll find in the province
Difficulty: Moderate. The Wolfberg Arch hike
is much easier than some of the Table
Mountain hikes, but there is a steep 3km
incline at the beginning of the trail ,there is
some light rock scrambling. If you aren’t
comfortable with inclines (especially if you’re
camping and carrying all your gear), you
might struggle to get to the top.
Wolfberg Cracks Permits: Y ou need a permit for the day or overnight hike at
Wolfberg Arch. You will need to get it from the Dwarsriv ier reception centre.
Book your permits before your hike and try to avoid weekends. The trail is
super busy, and a lot of people illegally camp, which means you won’t get to
experience the arch in peace.
Accommodation: You can book campsites or self -catering chalets at Sandriff
Farm.
Gate Code: You will need a gate code from reception to get access to the
start of the Wolfberg Arch trail and the parking area.
Rwanda
Akagera National Park
A BRIEF HISTORY
Akagera National Park is a two-hour drive from the capital city of Kigali.
Established in 1934, the parks wildlife population was devasted after the
Rwandan genocide when returning r efugees clashed with the animals.
Once home to over 200 lions, the population was quickly wiped out by angry
cattle herders.Today, the 1,122 square kilometres has recovered. A new
perimeter fence has been erected, and anti -poaching strategies have helped
the wildlife populations to grow.
Agakera is now the biggest protected wetland in Africa and Rwanda’s only Big
5 national park.
HOW MUCH IS ENTRANCE TO AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK?
For international visitors to Akagera, it costs USD 40 each day.
There is also a USD 10 vehicle charge that you’ll need to pay as well.
The parks opening hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm. It’s recommend to
get there as early as possible so that poes slap from the price is at least
worth it.
If you are planning on driving from the south gate to the north exit, you’ll
need at least 5 to 6 hours. This includes stops for wildlife and lunch as the
roads aren’t in the best condition.
Diani Beach
Diani Beach is one of the top destinations on
Kenya’s southern coastline.Palm trees frame
it’s sandy white beaches and crystal clear
turquoise water laps at its shores. As corny
as it sounds, it didn’t look real at first.
The shades of blue are so vibrant, camels
stroll along the beach, and the ocean
temperature is perfect.
If you’re after an affordable beach holiday
from South Africa or anywhere else, put
Diani Beach on your list! There’s plenty of things to do, super affordable
accommodation options and you can pick up dirt cheap flights from Kenya’s
capital city, Nairobi.
HOW TO GET TO DIANI BEACH
The best way to get to Diani Beach is to fly directly from Nairobi’s Wilson
Airport to Ukunda Airstrip. A return flight can cost as little as R 1000.00!
If there aren’t any flights available from Wilson, you can fly from Nairobi’s
main airport to Mombasa and then take a taxi to Diani Beach. A one -way
ride will cost around $50 USD.
THINGS TO DO IN DIANI BEACH
Go stand up paddle boating.
Visit the sacred forest.
Go snorkeling or diving.
Feed bush babies.
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is one destination in Africa
you don’t want to miss.The falls, known
by the locals as Mosi Oa Tunya – The
Smoke That Thunders, it’s 1,7 kilometres
wide, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
one of the Seven Wonders of the World
and holds the title of the world’s largest
waterfall!
HOW TO GET TO THE VICTORIA FALLS
Travellers can choose from flying into Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe side
or the Livingstone in Zambia. There are daily direct flights from
Johannesburg with South African Airways and British Airways.For the more
adventurous, you can also take the overland route.
VICTORIA FALLS NATIONAL PARK ENTRANCE FEE
Getting into the park on both sides of Zimbabwe and Zambia is not a cheap
affair.
ZIMBABWE ZAMBIA
International tourists: 30 USD International tourists: 30 USD
Opening times: 6:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m
THINGS TO DO AT VICTORIA FALLS
Fly over the falls with a helicopter. Golf with elephants.
Travel with a cruise over the falls. Walk with rhinoceros.
Try fishing in the Victoria Falls. Encounter crocodiles.
Cuisine
Africa is home to some of the most diverse culinary cultures. With such diversity, the continent
is a food lover’s paradise. Many African dishes have influences from around the world and
often contain grains, meat, root vegetables, and robust spices. Whether you love spicy food or
tender flame-grilled meats, you’ll be hungry for some traditional African cuisine.
Tajine
Tajine is a stew that originated in North Africa, and it’s
common in Algeria and Morocco. Tajine is prepared
with spices, slow-cooked meats, seasoning, and
vegetables or fruits. What is unique about tajine is its
sweet and sour flavor. The taste of the fruit and meat
mixes into a savory taste but, Tunisian tajine is a little
different. The Tunisian dishes are like frittatas, with
fresh herbs, starches, and small pieces of meat. The
name tajine comes from the pottery in which it’s served.
While I love a hearty lamb tajine, the vegetarian version
is just as layered and delicious.
Matoke
Matoke is a beautiful-looking green banana Primarily
growing in the highlands of Uganda.Most cooks steam their
matoke and serve it in a mash with another meal. Matoke is
usually served soft, yellow, and still wrapped in its leaves.
Doing this retains moisture, much like with tamales. You can
eat matoke as a side dish,topping, or the main dish. Many people consider these bananas very
sweet and a luxury.
Mandazi
Mandazi is a fried bread dish that some people compare to
donuts. This swahili treat can be eaten for breakfast, as a
snack,or served with other foods or dips. Mandazi are usually
triangle shaped. They are only lightly sweetened, but they're
also typically flavored with cardamom, coconut and nutmeg.
You can sweeten them up with powdered sugar or cinnamon
sugar or dip them in a sauce of your choice!
Koshari
Koshari is Egypt's national dish, made with pasta, chickpeas,
lentils, and a savory tomato sauce. This is a staple dish in
Egypt and a comfort food. Koshari, also spelled koshary and
kushari, is made with pantry staples, so it's easy to create at
home. The tomato sauce has some extra tang from vinegar,
red pepper, coriander, and garlic, and the dish is topped
with crispy fried onions.
