This is a beach on the eastern most island of this archipelago off the west coast of Africa. Ten islands make up this country. The Portuguese established their presence here in the 15th Century and the islands became an important slave trading port for the trans Atlantic slave trade. As a result, the local population today speaks Crioulo a mix of Portuguese and west African dialects. Today tourism plays a major role in the economy of the main islands. Good weather, beaches, food and music are what attracts (mostly) European visitors to spend their vacations here. Where is this in Africa?
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You're looking at a picture of my dad enjoying himself on a recent trip to Africa. He'd visited this particular waterfall many times, but had never quite seen it from this angle. He highly recommends the microlight flight by the way, even for the over seventy crowd. He's looking down on Africa's fourth largest river. At this location, the river marks the border between two countries. What are they?
It's about time I planned my next adventure in Africa. As usual I have way too many places I would like to travel to this coming year, so I am going to ask you to help me. My current top five list is below. In Kenya I'd like to spend some time in Nairobi checking out the arts and the tech scene. I'd go on safari in the beautiful Laikipia region (where Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton), before moving on to Uganda to stay in Kampala and enjoy some gorilla tracking in Bwindi.
A major expense of any trip to Africa is the cost of the flight, this is especially the case if you are traveling from the US. Direct flights are few and far between which means competition (that can lower fares) is almost non-existent. It therefore seems like a really great idea to use your earned airline miles or reward points to fly to Africa. But in my experience the dates, times or route that my miles qualify for, rarely work in my favor. I end up spending twice as long getting there by having to fly via Europe or the Middle East. Or I have to change my entire itinerary around to accommodate the few seats that qualify for a saver pass.
Merzouga is a dusty little town located right on the edge of the magnificent Erg Chebbi dunes. You may recognize the dunes from desert scenes in films like SATC2 (2010), The Mummy (1999), and Sahara (2005). If you're in Morocco it's certainly worth spending at least a night in the desert. Ride a camel out to camp and enjoy some traditional Berber music under the brilliant starry night sky. There are lots of hotels to choose from in and around Merzouga, ranging from luxurious Kasbah's, to small Riad's with cool rooftops to sleep on. The best time to visit is during the cooler months from October to February. It's a great place to ring in the New Year if you are looking for something different to do. Read more about Merzouga, how to get there, what to do and where to stay by clicking -- Merzouga Travel Guide.
If you are braving the heat in Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Senegal, the Gambia, Mali, Zanzibar and other predominantly Muslim countries/regions, you will no doubt be aware that Ramadan is around the corner. Muslims throughout Africa will begin their month long fast, from sun up to sundown, on July 20 this year (2012).
Mount Kenya is Africa's second highest mountain, and despite peaking at over 5,000m it still seems to sit well and truly in Mount Kilimanjaro's shadow, across the border in Tanzania. What it lacks in height however it more than makes up for in beauty. Jagged snow-capped peaks, sweeping glacial valleys and diverse vegetation make climbing Mount Kenya a strong contender for Africa's greatest trek. One of the many highlights is its unique Afro-Alpine zone with its Dr Seuss-like landscape of Giant Lobelias and Senecios... Read more
Mr Nelson Mandela celebrates his 94th birthday today. A great milestone for a truly great man. Millions of South African school children sang a special version of "Happy Birthday" in his honor this morning. His birthday has been declared an international day devoted to public service. People all over the world are encouraged to spend 67 minutes doing voluntary work within their local community.
For women planning a trip to Africa the number one concern is probably personal safety. But you can usually overcome this fear by either finding a travel companion or by following some basic safety rules. I've put some advice and information together for women who are considering traveling in Africa. These include the usual tips about what to wear in Muslim countries like Egypt and Morocco, how to avoid getting harassed by bored men and where to find a travel companion.
Many of us plan and book our trips online, so why should a safari be any different? The main problem with booking a safari yourself, is that there are so many variables to take into consideration. I usually end up recommending that people plan their safari about a year in advance and use a travel operator that specializes in Africa. Because unless you really know your African geography, weather patterns, animal behaviors and airline options, you can go horribly wrong.
You've probably heard of the "Big Five" (Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard, Lion and Rhino). Did you know Africa also has a "Little Five"? There's the cute little Elephant Shrew, that scientists have recently discovered is actually not a shrew at all. It can, however, leap several feet into the air and leave a nasty scent to mark its territory.
I love ostriches and luckily, when you're on safari, you won't have much difficulty seeing them. Wild ostriches live throughout Africa, mostly in the drier areas and at low elevations. There are 4 living sub-species and they all inhabit different parts of the continent.
It's likely that you are familiar with the great annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra that make their way through the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. You may have heard of the great annual sardine run that takes place in May through July along South Africa's Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal coast. Literally billions of fish gang together for safety as they swim up the coast, eagerly chased by birds, sharks, seals and even penguins. But it's unlikely that you've heard about the parrotfish run. I had not heard about this fishy event until quite recently.
African airports offer a mixed bag of experiences. Some are gleaming, modern affairs that will surprise you upon landing with working luggage conveyers and friendly staff. Others may be thinly staffed shacks where you carry your own luggage into the terminal and you're asked to pay a hefty sum for a visa you may or may not officially need. Most of the international airports in Africa fall somewhere in between.