With more than 50 countries to consider, making a decision about where to go on vacation in Africa can be quite daunting. Africa is incredibly diverse and you can experience different cultures, languages, fauna, flora and topography in every individual country.
Figuring out what you would like to see and do while on holiday in Africa is probably the best way to decide where to go.
This is especially helpful if your time in Africa is limited to one or
two weeks. If you have a month or more to spend in Africa then it is
probably best to consider an Overland Tour so you get to experience several countries and get more of a taste of the 'real' Africa.
Below you'll find a list of activities which will introduce you to the best Africa has to offer:
African Safari
Lions, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
© Anouk Zijlma
Many visitors to Africa are interested in going on a safari. The best countries to visit if you want to see the 'Big 5' in particular are: Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Botswana. For the Great Annual Migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra, you need to head to Kenya or Tanzania, depending on the time of year...
- Kenya offers some of the cheaper safari options but is probably the most crowded as well.
- Tanzania offers the ultimate safari experience with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, The Serengeti and other great parks in the north, as well as the wild beauty of Selous and Ruaha in the south.
- Botswana is at the luxury end with many exclusive camps offering wonderful game viewing for small groups.
- South Africa is great for its wide variety of wildlife especially in the Kruger area, north of Johannesburg. South Africa is also a wonderful family safari destination because it offers some excellent malaria-free safari options.
- Zambia is the best destination for the more adventurous souls who want a true bush experience on foot. South Luangwa National park is home of the fantastic "Walking Safari".
- Rwanda and Uganda are the best destinations if you are interested in tracking Mountain Gorillas.
Africa's Beaches
Anse Source D’Argent Beach, La Digue
Getty Images/Buena Vista
Europeans have been enjoying beach vacations in Africa
for decades and Americans are starting to discover the joys of
combining a beach holiday with a safari and a dash of African culture.
- Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco have plenty of beach resorts and there are tourist packages available for all budgets.
- South Africa boasts some of the best beaches for sunbathing and surfing. You can even share your beach towel with penguins, and you can easily add on a safari to your itinerary.
- Kenya has some good beaches on the Indian Ocean and is very popular with Europeans who flock to Malindi, Diani and Lamu. Zanzibar in Tanzania offers white sands as well as an interesting history and culture. Mauritius and The Seychelles Islands off the East African coast are simply idyllic for divers and beach lovers. In West Africa, Gambia and Ghana have some lovely beaches as well.
- Africa's many lakes also offer good beaches and swimming, Lake Malawi is particularly popular with backpackers, but you have to be careful with Bilharzia, a parasite that lives in lakes and rivers throughout the continent.
- For diving, Egypt's Red Sea coast ranks among the world's best. If diving with sharks is what you're after, South Africa has some wonderful opportunities to get close to the Great White.
- Ghana's western beaches
are wonderful to explore, lots of budget guesthouses, friendly fishing
villages and plenty of opportunity to play some drums and enjoy a few
cold beers. Watch out for currents! Africa's Natural Wonders
Sahara Dawn, Tunisia
© Anouk Zijlma
The scenic beauty in almost every country in Africa is legendary but
some sights truly stand out and are worth a trip in themselves. These
include:
- The stunning Victoria Falls along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The spray is so impressive from the look-out points, it feels like you
are in the middle of a torrential rainstorm. The Victoria Falls are one
of the Natural Wonders of the world and something you just have to
experience.
- Namibia's Fish River Canyon
is not as well known internationally but is second only to the Grand
Canyon in the US. You can take a five-day hike in season that will leave
you tired but elated. Luckily a spa greets you at the end of the walk.
- There are many spectacular mountain ranges but the most famous mountain in Africa is its tallest, Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania).
Rising 19,336 feet out of the savannah with a permanent snow-capped
peak, it's worth a trip even if you don't plan to climb it. More about -
Best Treks in Africa.
- For greenery you shouldn't miss the rainforests in the Virunga Mountains (Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC) which are home to the last remaining Mountain gorillas.
- Personally I love the stark beauty and romance
of the desert. The dunes of the Sahara desert do not disappoint. The
best places to enjoy a trek on a camel and spend a night in a bedouin
tent include Tunisia and Morocco. There are some particularly spectacular dunes in Sossusvlei, Namibia.
