Planning a trip to Africa is a big deal! It’s most likely that the first thing you’ll consider is a safari, but your adventure doesn’t have to be all about the Big Five. There are plenty of other sights to see and places to discover beyond the immense savannahs and forest lands that you’ll be exploring on your safari. You’re already halfway around the globe – take some extra time to experience Africa’s other treasures.
Take a break from the bush and visit some of Africa’s fascinating urban areas.
- Don’t miss Cape Town. Take a cable car to the top of Table Mountain for spectacular views of the city and busy harbor. The Robben Island Museum was once a prison where Nelson Mandela and many other political prisoners were detained and offers a special glimpse into Cape Town’s past. Botanical gardens, beaches, vineyards, and shops, restaurants, and galleries showcasing the works of the city’s amazing diverse populations make this a “must” for any visitor to Africa.
- Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya and the stepping off point for many safari tours. Take a day or two before or after your safari to experience the city itself. Visit one of the several open air and indoor markets for local crafts and artwork and regional street food delicacies. Maasai Markets can be found all over the city offering unique native beadwork and carvings. Be ready to haggle over prices – it’s fun! Uhuru Park and Central Park offer beautiful green spaces to relax. If you haven’t had enough of elephants and giraffes, visit the Giraffe Centre and the Elephant Orphanage for up close and personal contact with the animals.
- Surfers will love Durban’s Umhlanga Beach, and the city’s many museums, gardens, and wildlife refuges are worth visiting. Try out some of the local “braai” (barbecue) specialties like sosatie (curried meat skewers), bunny chow (meat or veggie filled bread loaf) and koeksister (syrup dipped donut braid).
- Other cities worth a mention are Johannesburg, City of Gold and also the home of the Apartheid Museum, and Livingstone, which is home base for visitors to Victoria Falls.
Get out of the city and do some mountain hiking along trails throughout the continent.
- The Drakensberg Mountains are a 700 mile long range traversing two countries and five south African provinces. Trails are plentiful for hikers of all experience levels and offer views of iconic landmarks like the Amphitheater and Tugela Falls. The Kamberg Nature Reserve Trails offer short scenic hikes along the Mooi River and routes that showcase 4000 year old San rock art.
- Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda not Hawaii!) offers the hiker the unique experience of following in the footsteps of Dian Fossey, who dedicated her life to the study of gorillas. This hike must be guided and is fairly expensive, but those who have done it find the cost well worthwhile. You can also take a two day hike to the summit of Mt. Karisimbi Volcano, which is strenuous and recommended only for more experienced hikers.
- You can do an easier one day hike in the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda which takes you through beautiful forested areas to bird watching areas and views of the mountain peaks of these “mountains of the moon.”
- And, of course there’s Kilimanjaro –time consuming and expensive as you will need a guide and lots of equipment. Kilimanjaro is the highest free standing mountain in the world – it’s actually a dormant volcano. Over 25,000 people attempt to climb it annually with about a 70% success rate.
Take a cultural excursion to visit some of Africa’s indigenous tribespeople.
- For an overview of various African cultures, visit the Lesedi Cultural Village outside of Pretoria. Here you’ll have an opportunity to take a guided village walk introducing visitors to the Zulu, Sotho, Xhosa, Ndebele and Pedi tribal ways of life. The tour finishes with a dance performance and story-telling through dance and song. A traditional meal brings the tour to an end.
- Take a day tour originating in Johannesburg of the region populated by the San and Khoi people, originally called “bushmen” by European settlers. These groups have been living in caves and sheltered areas around the Drakensberg Mountains for over 20,000 years, and they live today much as they did then. The abundance of rock art and cave paintings found in this area are evidence of this ancient culture.
- For a more immersive experience, enjoy a three day excursion to visit the Maasai villagers in Kenya. This tour includes a visit to the Women’s Empowerment Center west of Nairobi where mothers work together to lift themselves and their families out of poverty by establishing their own businesses. You’ll learn from Maasai grandmothers, who are often the head of the household, as they work on sustainable farming projects striving to keep their families together. You’ll enjoy their stories of life in the past and watch as they prepare traditional meals. The tribesmen are not forgotten in this tour, as they perform ancient dances and rituals and explain the traditions of Maasai warriors.
There’s amazing wildlife in African waters too! Snorkelers, scuba divers, fishermen and whale watchers can enjoy a different kind of safari here.
- You can do a little of all of the above activities at Watamu Marine National Park. Twenty dive sites and a coral reef that protects the shoreline make it a haven for snorkelers and divers who want to encounter numerous corals, sponges and hundreds of species of fish. Wahoo, tuna and marlin are plentiful, although big game fishing is not permitted in the park. Bird watching, a turtle center and charter boat trips for dolphin watching are all popular activities there.
- If big game fishing is on your list, Zanzibar and Madagascar are both destinations you’ll want to explore. Sharks, sailfish and swordfish are just a few of the species that call these waters home.
- Hermanus is a village located southeast of Cape Town and is a prime spot for whale watching especially during the fall months when whales are migrating back to warmer waters. Its weekend whale festival attracts thousands of visitors each year.
- If you really want to live on the edge, you can cage dive in search of sharks from a boat based in the fishing village of Gansbaai.
- Too much excitement for you? Nothing wrong with just enjoying the beautiful beaches of Africa, and there are plenty to choose from. Secluded? Mafia Island, Tanzania. Swim with hippos and water buffalo? Loango National Park, Gabon. Luxurious accommodations? Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique. In search of history? Elmina Beach, Ghana. The list goes on and on!
If you’ve taken this safari to “hunt” with a camera, there are some pretty spectacular shots you’ll want to take of the magnificent scenery that Africa has to offer.
- Namib-Naukluft National Park – shifting golden sand dunes and many animal and bird species not found in other African environments.
- Okavango Delta – an enormous freshwater wetland in Botswana
- Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World
- Fish River Canyon, Namibia – the largest canyon in Africa
- Lake Malawi, Mozambique – one of the deepest lakes in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its remarkable biodiversity
Enjoy your trip to Africa, not just for the safari, but for all the other rich experiences it offers. See your Travel Leaders expert for suggestions on how to make your African vacation a complete package.
