Africa

Africa is the world’s second largest continent, after Asia. It covers 6% of the earth’s total surface, and a massive 20.4% of the worlds total land area! The continent of Africa lies just below Spain, and is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Suez Canal and Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Africa is made up of 46 countries, including Madagascar, 53 if you include all the islands, and is a vast place to visit. The most popular tourist destinations in Africa include:

Gambia is a small country in Western Africa, and has been a popular tourist destination since 1965. Many British visitors escape the cold winter months to enjoy the sun, sand and beautiful beaches of this lovely country. Popular places to visit in Gambia include Banjul, Juffure, Bakau Kachikally and Janjanbureh.

Capetown is the most popular destination in South Africa. It has a good climate, natural settings and a well developed infrastructure. The most well-known natural feature has to be Table Mountain, which forms a large part of the Table Mountain National Park. Capetown also boasts many beautiful beaches, and has several notable cultural attractions, including the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Artscape Theatre Centre.

Durban is another popular destination in South Africa, which has many tourist attractions, including the Golden Mile, the Suncoast Casino (incorporating Entertainment World), several Art Galleries and museums. The Golden Mile has been welcoming tourists since the 1970’s and is well equipped to entertain European visitors every year.

Johannesburg (JNB) is not one of the top tourist attractions in Africa, but is used as a transit point for connecting flights to Capetown. If you can, take the time to explore this region, as there are many museums to visit. A large new amusement park, Gold Reef City, has been built in the south, this, and the Johannesburg Zoo have both began to draw new tourists in.

Mauritius (MRU) is an island nation that lies off the coast of Southeast Africa, next to Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Grand Bay, in the north was the first area of the island to fully experience the tourist boom. This area is a shopping and touristic paradise, Grand Bay also happens to be the area where Mauritians head for when they want a fun-filled night out, as it has many restaurants, bars and discos. Flacq is one of the most important villages in east Mauritius, and is home to the extremely colourful, busy Flacq Market. The Dutch Ruins At Vieux Grand Port, in the south east, is the oldest settlements in Mauritius, you can see the ruins of the first Dutch fortifications. Excavation work is still ongoing to uncover any important parts of Mauritian history. The Martello Towers, in the west represent the scene of the ancient rivalry between old colonial powers and the ingenuity of mankind. They are a milestone in the island’s history and symbolise the end of slavery and the beginning of Indian immigration.

Mombassa (MBA) is an town in Kenya, lying in the Indian Ocean. It has a nice atmosphere and is home to some of the most fantastic beaches in the world. Diani Beach is one of the most spectacular of these, where water sports are abundant. Flanked by numerous hotels, resorts and private residencies, this area caters for a wide range of tastes. Within reach, one can explore the Nature Reserves, coral reefs and the nearby islands of Wasini and Charli.

Nairobi (NBO), again in Kenya, is not primarily a tourist destination, but it does offer several tourist attractions. The Nairobi National Park is one of the better known nature parks, and is the only park to border a capital city. There are several museums around the city, the largest one being the National Museum of Kenya. Nairobi is called the Safari Capital of the World, and caters for many tourists.

The Seychelles are a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, and are a popular holiday destination. Many of the beaches are untouched by humankind, and remain today as unspoilt, as they did hundreds of years ago. These days many couples prefer to get married in the Seychelles, incorporating a wedding with a honeymoon. The Seychelles are the perfect place to be if you love watersports, as one can go scuba-diving, snorkelling, surfing or fishing in the crystal clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean. This is paradise at it‘s best.

Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa. Home to Africa’s great lakes and the Serengeti, Tanzania is a top class holiday destination. One can climb the highest peak in Africa, the world famous Mount Kilimanjaro in the northeast, or explore the volcanic mountains inside the Tuaha National Park in the Southern Highlands. Take a boat trip to visit the coastal island of Zanzibar, which is located in the Indian Ocean.

Zambia is located in Central Africa, a land locked country which is home to the world famous Victoria Falls, just outside Livingstone. These falls are twice as tall as the Niagara Falls. The tenth-All-Africa Games are due to be held in Zambia in 2011, and new stadiums are being built in Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone. Zambia has many National Parks, the Blue Lagoon National Park and the Kafue National Park are just two out of many worth visiting. Traditional culture can be seen through the colourful annual Zambian traditional festivals, held throughout the country.

South African Safari Parks

There are many Safari Parks in South Africa, but the Kruger National Park is one of the best game parks in the area. This is a government run park houses a large collection of amphibians, birds and mammals, which can be seen from controlled viewing points, from inside closed vehicles. A selected amount of tour operators are allowed to drive an open vehicle during the night, but these trips are difficult to reserve, as they get well booked in advance. Check availability with your tour operator. The Sabi Sand Reserve borders the Kruger National Park, and is a more luxurious and in-depth safari. Experienced game rangers conduct tours in open vehicles as well as on foot. Generally the best time to go on safari is June through to August, but The Cape and Garden Route safari’s are best seen from October through to April. Rietvlei Nature Reserve is a small reserve located in the Gauteng Province of South Africa, it has over 272 species of birds and over 530 plants, not to mention hippos, rhinos, zebra and ostrich. This reserve is generally quiet, so there is less chance of the wildlife being scared away by other visitors.

Countries that make-up the vast continent of Africa include:

Algeria - Northern Algeria has a mild, Mediterranean climate. It lies within approximately the same latitudes as southern California and has somewhat similar climatic conditions. It is surrounded by Morocco to the northwest, Tunisia to the northeast, Libya to the east, Niger to the southeast, Mali to the southwest, Mauritania and Western Sahara to the west. After Sudan, Algeria is the second-largest country in Africa. The capital of Algeria is Algiers.

Angola is in Central Africa, Luanda is the capital city. It is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia in the east, with the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north.

Benin is in West Africa, and is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faro and Niger to the north. The capital is Porto-Novo.

Botswana is a land-locked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Nambia to the west, South Africa to the south, Zimbabwe to the east and Zambia to the north. Formerly known as Bechuanaland, it adopted its new name in 1966. Botswana is famous for the Chobe National Park, Moremi National Park in the Okavango Delta.

Burkina Faso is another land-locked country in West Africa, surrounded by 6 countries, Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south and Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to the southwest. The capital city is Ouagadougou, Ouaga for short! This is a friendly country that receives only a small number of tourists each year, now is the time to visit Burkina Faso, as it is a truly undisturbed destination. It is a beautiful West African country that is well worth exploring.

Burundi is in Central Africa, surrounded by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. The capital city of Bujumbura is situated on the northestern shore of Lake Tanganyika. Burundi has many National Parks and Nature Reserves, including Ruvubu National Park, the Rusizi Natural Reserve and the Rwihinda Lake Natural Reserve.

Cameroon is located in West Africa, and borders Nigeria to the west, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. This is a multi ethnic country, and is a popular place for European tourists. The capital, Yaounde, has an 18-hole golf course, and is a bustling vibrant city filled with many diverse cultures.

The Canary Islands belong to Spain and are situated off the west coast of Africa, near Morocco, Cape Verde, and the archipelagos of the Azores Islands and the Madeira Islands. The Canaries are a popular holiday destination for British holidaymakers.

Cape Verde is a group of islands sitting in the Atlantic Ocean, situated in West Africa, west of Senegal. The main 10 islands are Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Sal, Santa Luzia, Santiago, Santo Antão, São Nicolau and São Vicente.

Central African Republic is at the geographic centre of Africa, bordered by Cameroon to the west, Chad to the north, Sudan to the east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo to the south, the capital city is called Bangui. Central Africa has hot dry winters and mild wet summers. Due to massive political unrest in this region, and much rebel activity, travel to the Central Africa Republic is strongly discouraged at the present time.

Ceuta is a tiny city that belongs to Spain which is located on the North African side of the Strait of Gibraltar, separated from mainland Spain by the Mediterranean Sea. Dominated by a hill called Hacho Macho, Ceuta is easily accessible from Algeciras by ferry or from Morocco by land.

Chad is a country in Saharan Africa, south of Libya, east of Niger and Cameroon, north of the Central African Republic, and west of Sudan. It also shares a short border with Nigeria. The climate is tropical in the far south, scrubland in the central area, and hot dry desert in the north. Due to political unrest, visitors are discouraged from travelling to this region for their own safety.

Comoros is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa. The nearest countries to the Comoros are Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar and the Seychelles. The island is noted for its diverse culture and a somewhat troubled history. As this is a Muslim country, visitors are expected to cover up whilst swimming, but the laws are a little relaxed when it comes to foreign tourists, the locals regard it as disrespectful if a woman exposes her shoulders, chest, knees, stomach and lower back, so its probably not the best place to top up your tan!

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country in Central Africa, bordered by Angola to the southwest, the Republic of the Congo to the northwest, the Central African Republic to the North, Sudan to the northeast. The countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania all lie to the east, running from north to south, and lastly, Zambia to the southeast. Unfortunately this once modern city has fell into much decay, due to conflict in the area.

The Republic of the Congo, again is in Central Africa. Lying on the Equator, it is surrounded by Angola to the southwest, the Republic of the Congo to the northwest, Central African Republic to the north, Sudan to the northeast, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania in the east from north to south, and Zambia to the southeast. The Republic of the Congo has several UNESCO World Heritage sites including the Virunga National Park, the Nyiragongo volcano and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

Côte d'Ivoire, also known as the Ivory Coast, is located in West Africa. It has a southerly facing North Atlantic Ocean coast, and is surrounded by Ghana to the east, Liberia to the west, Guinea to the northwest, Mali to the north, and Burkina Faso to the northeast. The Ivory Coast is best known for its Lagunes, the coastal lagoon areas around the capital of Abidjan. There are three UNESCO National Parks, namely the Tai National Park, the Comoe National Park and the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve. The Ivory Coast is a popular tourist destination, as it is a beautiful country that encompasses towering mountains and tiny fishing villages.

Djibouti is in East Africa, and is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Ethiopia to the west and south, and Somalia to the southeast. This country has various types of landscape, there are coastal plains, volcanic plateaus and mountainous ranges, although much of the country is non-arable waste land. The temperature is very hot and humid during the summer months, but feels a little cooler due to the sustained breezes from the capital city of Djibouti. Flights arrive at Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport (JIB).

Egypt is a large country located in north-east Africa, but also extends into Asia. Bordered by Isreal to the northeast, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the east (via the Red Sea), Sudan ti the south and Libya to the west. Bounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt attracts many thousands of visitors each year. Famous for its sandy landscape, and of course, the Pyramids. This country is dominated by the river Nile, which has been its lifeline since time began. Tourists tend to split their visit to Egypt into two parts, a week can be spent cruising the River Nile, and the other week can be spent in one of the glorious hotels which are located all along the River Nile.

Equatorial Guinea is in Central Africa, and is one of the smallest countries on the continent. Divided into two parts, the mainland and the islands. Rio Muni is the mainland whilst the largest and most important island is Bioko. Equatorial Guinea also has a smaller island called Annobon, which is located some distance into the Atlantic Ocean. Equatorial Guinea is a former Spanish colony which borders Cameroon and Gabon.

Eritrea is in northern East Africa, bordered by Sudan to the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast. Eritrea has an extensive coastline on the Red Sea, directly across from Saudi Arabia and Yemen. This is quite a small country that has contrasting landscapes, the capital city, Asmara is situated in the highlands, which lie between 1500 and 3500 metres above sea level, while the western lowlands lie between 1500 and 100 metres, just above sea level. The northern coast and archipelago consists largely of a sandy reddish-brown and beige semi-desert with some shrubbery and volcanic basalt-rock along the mainland coast. The southern coast is perhaps Eritrea's most dramatic yet most inhospitable landscape because of its volcanoes, quicksand, bubbling mud pools, salt lakes, coastal cliffs, the inland desert and depressions.

Ethiopia is situated on the Horn of Africa, and is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, and Sudan to the west. Ethiopia has many National Parks, including the Bale Mountains National Park, the Mago National Park and the Omo National Park, which attract many tourists every year. The capital city, Addis Ababa is a diverse city, where the rich inhabitants live along side the poorer people, and many visitors find this a little disconcerting. Ethiopia is not classed as a top tourist destination, and visitors are treated pretty much the same as the locals, so don’t expect to be waited on hand and foot!

Gabon is on the Atlantic Coast, situated on the Equator in Western Central Africa. Gabon lies between the Republic of the Congo to the south and east, Equatorial Guinea to the northwest and Cameroon to the north, and is one of Africa’s wealthier countries. The capital city, Libreville is home to many sights, such as the National Museum of Arts and Traditions, St Marie’s Cathedral and the carved wooden church of St Michael.

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