Lonely Planet Africa
By Anthony Ham, Brett Atkinson, James Bainbridge and
3/5
()
About this ebook
Lonely Planet Africa is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you.
Wander the cobbled streets and graceful pracas rimmed by once grand churches and stately colonial-era buildings, against a backdrop of turquoise seas, on the Unesco-listed Mozambique Island; drink your way around whitewashed Cape Dutch architecture and the endlessly photogenic hills and vines of South Africa's Winelands; or discover the wildlife of the acacia-studded savannah of the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya -all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Africa and begin your journey now!
Inside Lonely Planet's Africa Travel Guide:
- Colour maps and images throughout
- Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
- Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
- Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
- Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss
- Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, culture, wildlife, safaris, cuisine, music, environment
- Covers Egypt, Tanzania, Morocco, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Madagascar, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Cabo Verde and more
The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet Africa, our most comprehensive guide to Africa, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled.
Looking for just a few of the destinations included in this guide? Check out the relevant Lonely Planet destination guides, our most comprehensive guides that cover destinations' top sights and offbeat experiences.
About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, video, 14 languages, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. Lonely Planet enables the curious to experience the world fully and to truly get to the heart of the places they find themselves, near or far from home.
TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 winner in Favorite Travel Guide category
'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times
'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves, it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' - Fairfax Media (Australia)
Anthony Ham
Anthony Ham es un fotógrafo y escritor independiente especializado en España, el sur y este de África, el Ártico y Oriente Medio que colabora con periódicos y revistas de Australia, Gran Bretaña y EEUU. En el 2001, tras años de recorrer mundo, se enamoró perdidamente de Madrid en su primera visita, y antes de un año estaba de vuelta con un billete solo de ida, sin hablar nada de español y sin conocer a nadie en la ciudad. Cuando 10 años más tarde por fin dejó la capital de España, hablaba español con acento madrileño, se había casado con una lugareña y Madrid se había convertido en su segundo hogar. De nuevo en Australia, Anthony sigue recorriendo el mundo en busca de historias.
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Reviews for Lonely Planet Africa
2 ratings1 review
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Got the job done, I guess. Sort of uninspired. (Much like this review, you say? Oh, you!) I do find that for places like Japan and Turkey Lonely Planet is good at providing cultural information and treating them like places with history, whereas for Africa there's a lot of the "safari park fallacy."
Book preview
Lonely Planet Africa - Anthony Ham
Africa
Contents
Plan Your Trip
Welcome to Africa
Africa's Top 20
Need to Know
First Time in Africa
What's New
If You Like
Month by Month
Itineraries
Safaris
Eat & Drink Like a Local
Regions at a Glance
On The Road
Algeria
Algeria Highlights
Algiers
Northern Algeria
Constantine
Central Algeria
Ghardaia
Understand Algeria
Algeria Today
History
People
Cuisine
Music
Survival Guide
Egypt
Egypt Highlights
Cairo
Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur
Alexandria
Sinai
Dahab
Sharm el-Sheikh & Naama Bay
Suez Canal
Port Said
Red Sea Coast
Hurghada
Nile Valley
Luxor
Aswan
Philae
Abu Simbel
Understand Egypt
Egypt Today
History
People
Cuisine
Survival Guide
Libya
Understand Libya
Libya Today
History
People
Religion
Environment
Food & Drink
Morocco
Morocco Highlights
Mediterranean Coast & the Rif
Tangier
Chefchaouen
Atlantic Coast
Rabat
Casablanca
Essaouira
Agadir
Western Sahara
Dakhla
Imperial Cities & the Middle Atlas
Fez
Meknes
Central Morocco & the High Atlas
Marrakesh
Draa Valley
Ait Benhaddou
Merzouga & the Dunes
Understand Morocco
Morocco Today
History
People
Cuisine
Survival Guide
Tunisia
Understand Tunisia
Tunisia Today
History
People
Religion
Sport
Women in Tunisia
Benin
Benin Highlights
Cotonou
Southern Benin
Route des Peches
Porto Novo
Ouidah
Grand Popo
Possotome & Lake Aheme
Abomey
Northern Benin
The Atakora Region
Parc National de la Pendjari
Understand Benin
Benin Today
History
People of Benin
Religion
The Arts
Food & Drink
Environment
Survival Guide
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso Highlights
Ouagadougou
The Southwest
Bobo-Dioulasso
Banfora
Sindou Peaks
Gaoua & Lobi Country
The South
Reserve de Nazinga
Tiebele & Kassena Country
Understand Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso Today
History
People of Burkina Faso
Religion
The Arts
Food & Drink
Environment
Survival Guide
Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde Highlights
Santiago
Praia
Sao Vicente
Mindelo
Santo Antao
Fogo
Sao Filipe
Cha das Caldeiras
Sal
Boa Vista
Understand Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde Today
History
Culture
Food
People
Religion
Music
Environment
Survival Guide
Cameroon
Cameroon Highlights
Yaounde
Western Cameroon
Douala
Buea
Limbe
Bamenda
The Ring Road
Bafoussam
Foumban
Bandjoun
Southern Cameroon
Kribi
Ebolowa
Campo
Ebodje
Eastern Cameroon
Bertoua
Understand Cameroon
Cameroon Today
History
Culture
Food & Drink
Environment
Survival Guide
Republic of Congo
Republic of Congo Highlights
Brazzaville
The Coast
Pointe-Noire
The North
Parc National d'Odzala
Ouesso
Parc National Nouabale-Ndoki
Understand Republic of Congo
Republic of Congo Today
History
People & Religion
Survival Guide
Cote d'Ivoire
Cote d'Ivoire Highlights
Abidjan
The Eastern Beaches
Grand Bassam
Assinie
The West Coast
Sassandra
San Pedro
The Centre
Yamoussoukro
The North
Man
Parc National de Tai
Understand Cote d'Ivoire
Cote d'Ivoire Today
History
Arts & Crafts
Environment
Survival Guide
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea Highlights
Bioko Island
Malabo
Ureca
Rio Muni
Bata
Rio Campo
Cogo
Isla Corisco
Monte Alen National Park
Understand Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea Today
History
People of Equatorial Guinea
Arts & Crafts
Environment
Survival Guide
Gabon
Gabon Highlights
Libreville
Around Libreville
Pointe Denis
Pongara National Park
Coastal Gabon
Port-Gentil
Omboue & Fernan Vaz Lagoon
Loango National Park
Sette Cama
Mayumba National Park
Central Gabon
Lambarene
Lope National Park
Ivindo National Park
Understand Gabon
Gabon Today
History
Culture
Arts & Music
Environment
Survival Guide
The Gambia
The Gambia Highlights
Banjul
Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts
Western Gambia
Abuko Nature Reserve
Makasutu Culture Forest
Tanji
Brufut
Gunjur
Lower Gambia River
Albreda, Juffureh & Kunta Kinteh Island
Baobolong Wetland Reserve & Kiang West National Park
Basse Santa Su
River Gambia National Park
Sanyang
Wassu Stone Circles
Understand Gambia
The Gambia Today
History
People
Arts & Craft
Environment
Survival Guide
Ghana
Ghana Highlights
Accra
Volta Region
Amedzofe
Tafi Atome & Tafi Abuipe
Wli Falls
The Coast
Kokrobite
Anomabu
Cape Coast
Kakum National Park
Elmina
Takoradi
Axim
Busua
Akwidaa & Cape Three Points
The Centre
Kumasi
Lake Bosumtwe & Abono
The North
Tamale
Mole National Park
Bolgatanga
The Northwest
Wa
Understand Ghana
Ghana Today
History
People of Ghana
Religion
The Arts
Survival Guide
Guinea
Guinea Highlights
Conakry
Iles de Los
Fouta Djalon
Mamou
Dalaba
Mali-Yemberem
Forest Region
Kissidougou
Nzerekore
Bossou
Parc National du Haut Niger
Understand Guinea
Guinea Today
History
Survival Guide
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau Highlights
Bissau
Arquipelago dos Bijagos
Ilha de Bolama
Ilha de Bubaque
Ilha de Orango
Ilha Joao Vieira
The Northwest
Quinhamel
Varela
The South
Parque Natural das Lagoas de Cufada
Parque Nacional de Cantanhez
Understand Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau Today
History
People
Arts & Crafts
Survival Guide
Liberia
Liberia Highlights
Monrovia
The Coast
Marshall
Robertsport
Buchanan
The Southeast
Zwedru
Harper
Understand Liberia
Liberia Today
History
Culture
People
Arts & Crafts
Environment
Survival Guide
Mali
Understand Mali
Mali Today
History
Culture
People of Mali
Environment
Survival Guide
Mauritania
Mauritania Highlights
Nouakchott
Atlantic Coast
Nouadhibou
Parc National du Banc d'Arguin
The Adrar
Understand Mauritania
Mauritania Today
History
Culture
People
Arts & Crafts
Environment
Survival Guide
Niger
Understand Niger
Niger Today
History
Culture
Environment
Survival Guide
Nigeria
Nigeria Highlights
Lagos
Southern Nigeria
Abeokuta
Ibadan
Oshogbo
Benin City
Calabar
Northern Nigeria
Abuja
Understand Nigeria
Nigeria Today
History
Culture
Environment
Survival Guide
Sao Tome & Principe
Sao Tome & Principe Highlights
Sao Tome
Sao Tome (city)
Northern Coast
Southern Coast
Ilheu das Rolas
Interior
Principe
Santo Antonio
Understand Sao Tome & Principe
Sao Tome & Principe Today
History
The People
Environment
Survival Guide
Senegal
Senegal Highlights
Dakar
Around Dakar
Ile de Goree
Petite Cote & Sine-Saloum Delta
Mbour & Saly
Palmarin
Toubakouta & Missirah
Toubab Dialaw
Northern Senegal
Saint-Louis
Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj
Central Senegal
Tambacounda
Parc National de Niokolo-Koba
Casamance
Ziguinchor
Cap Skirring
Understand Senegal
Senegal Today
History
People & Culture
Survival Guide
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Highlights
Freetown
Freetown Peninsula
Banana Islands
River No 2
Tokeh Beach
Bunce Island
The North
Makeni
Mt Bintumani
Outamba-Kilimi National Park
The South
Bo
Turtle Islands
Tiwai Island
Gola Rainforest National Park
Understand Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Today
History
Culture
Survival Guide
Togo
Togo Highlights
Lome
Southern Togo
Lac Togo
Aneho
Kpalime
Atakpame
Northern Togo
Kara
Koutammakou
Dapaong
Sokode
Understand Togo
Togo Today
History
People
Religion
Arts & Culture
Environment
Survival Guide
Angola
Understand Angola
Angola Today
History
Culture
Environment
Central African Republic
Understand Central African Republic
Central African Republic Today
History
Culture
Environment
Chad
Understand Chad
Chad Today
History
Culture
Environment
Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo Highlights
Kinshasa
Eastern DRC
Bukavu
Goma
Parc National des Virunga
Understand DRC
DRC Today
History
People
Cuisine
Survival Guide
Sudan
Sudan Highlights
Khartoum
Around Khartoum
Begrawiya (Meroe)
Naqa & Musawarat es-Suffra
Northern Sudan
Wadi Halfa
Wawa
Kerma
Dongola
Karima
Eastern Sudan
Kassala
Port Sudan
Suakin
South of Khartoum
Gedaref
Understand Sudan
Sudan Today
History
Culture
Survival Guide
South Sudan
Understand South Sudan
South Sudan Today
History
Culture
Environment
Burundi
Understand Burundi
Burundi Today
History
Culture
Environment
Djibouti
Djibouti Highlights
Djibouti City
Around Djibouti
Lac Assal
Lac Abbe
Tadjoura
Goda Mountains
Understand Djibouti
Djibouti Today
History
Culture
Survival Guide
Eritrea
Eritrea Highlights
Asmara
Keren
Massawa
Understand Eritrea
Eritrea Today
History
Religion
Survival Guide
Ethiopia
Ethiopia Highlights
Addis Ababa
Northern Ethiopia
Gonder
Simien Mountains National Park
Aksum
Rock-Hewn Churches of Tigray
Lalibela
Eastern Ethiopia
Harar
Understand Ethiopia
Ethiopia Today
History
People of Ethiopia
Food & Drink
Survival Guide
Kenya
Kenya Highlights
Nairobi
Southern Rift Valley
Lake Naivasha
Nakuru
Lake Nakuru National Park
Central Highlands & Laikipia
Mt Kenya National Park
Naro Moru
Aberdare National Park
Northern Kenya
Isiolo
Samburu, Buffalo Springs & Shaba National Reserves
Marsabit
Loyangalani
Lake Turkana
Western Kenya
Lake Victoria
Kakamega Forest
Masai Mara National Reserve
The Coast
Mombasa
Malindi
Watamu
Southeastern Kenya
Amboseli National Park
Tsavo West National Park
Tsavo East National Park
Understand Kenya
Kenya Today
History
Culture
People
Kenyan Cuisine
Survival Guide
Rwanda
Rwanda Highlights
Kigali
Northwestern Rwanda
Musanze (Ruhengeri)
Volcanoes National Park
Gisenyi
Kibuye
Southwestern Rwanda
Huye (Butare)
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Understand Rwanda
Rwanda Today
History
Survival Guide
Somalia
Understand Somalia
Somalia Today
History
Culture
Environment
Tanzania
Tanzania Highlights
Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar Archipelago
Zanzibar
Pemba
Northeastern Tanzania
Bagamoyo
Tanga
Usambara Mountains
Northern Tanzania
Moshi
Marangu
Mt Kilimanjaro National Park
Arusha
Arusha National Park
Tarangire National Park
Lake Manyara National Park
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Serengeti National Park
Lake Victoria
Mwanza
Bukoba
Lake Tanganyika
Kigoma
Gombe National Park
Mahale Mountains National Park
Southern Highlands
Ruaha National Park
Southeastern Tanzania
Selous Game Reserve
Mtwara
Mikindani
Understand Tanzania
Tanzania Today
History
People
Survival Guide
Uganda
Uganda Highlights
Kampala
Around Kampala
Entebbe
Eastern Uganda
Jinja
Mbale
Mount Elgon National Park
Sipi Falls
Southwestern Uganda
Fort Portal
Crater Lakes
Kibale Forest National Park
Semuliki National Park
Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
Kasese
Rwenzori National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Kabale
Lake Bunyonyi
Kisoro
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Ssese Islands
Northern Uganda
Murchison Falls National Park
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Gulu
Kidepo Valley National Park
Understand Uganda
Uganda Today
History
Daily Life
Survival Guide
Botswana
Botswana Highlights
Gaborone
Eastern Botswana
Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Francistown
Tuli Block
Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans
Nothern Botswana
Chobe National Park
Okavango Delta
Maun
Eastern Delta
Inner Delta
Moremi Game Reserve
Kalahari
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Understand Botswana
Botswana Today
History
People of Botswana
Environment
National Parks & Reserves
Survival Guide
Lesotho
Lesotho Highlights
Maseru
Morija
Roma
Thaba-Bosiu
Northeastern Highlands
Sani Top
Central Highlands
Semonkong
Southern Lesotho
Malealea
Quthing
Understand Lesotho
Lesotho Today
History
The Culture
Environment
Survival Guide
Madagascar
Madagascar Highlights
Antananarivo
Central Madagascar
Antsirabe
Fianarantsoa
Parc National de Ranomafana
Ambalavao
Southern Madagascar
Parc National de l'Isalo
The Great Reef
Northern Madagascar
Nosy Be
Diego Suarez (Antsiranana)
Eastern Madagascar
Parc National Andasibe Mantadia
Andasibe
Tamatave (Toamasina)
Ile Sainte Marie
Understand Madagascar
Madagascar Today
History
Madagascar's People
Religion
Environment
Survival Guide
Malawi
Malawi Highlights
Lilongwe
Northern Malawi
Karonga
Livingstonia
Nyika National Park
Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve
Mzuzu
Nkhata Bay
Likoma Island
Central Malawi
Monkey Bay
Cape Maclear
Southern Malawi
Liwonde
Liwonde National Park
Zomba
Blantyre & Limbe
Mt Mulanje
Majete Wildlife Reserve
Understand Malawi
Malawi Today
History
The Culture
The Arts
Environment
Survival Guide
Mozambique
Mozambique Highlights
Maputo
Southern Mozambique
Inhambane
Tofo
Vilankulo
Bazaruto Archipelago
Central Mozambique
Beira
Chimoio
Quelimane
Northern Mozambique
Nampula
Mozambique Island
Cuamba
Lake Niassa
Pemba
Quirimbas Archipelago
Understand Mozambique
Mozambique Today
History
People
Food
Wildlife
National Parks & Reserves
Survival Guide
Namibia
Namibia Highlights
Windhoek
North-Central Namibia
Erongo Mountains (Erongoberg)
Erindi Private Game Reserve
Okonjima Nature Reserve
Waterberg Plateau Park
Tsumeb
Etosha National Park
Northern Namibia
Rundu
Khaudum National Park
The Caprivi Strip
Northwestern Namibia
Damaraland
The Kaokoveld
The Skeleton Coast
Central Namibia
Swakopmund
Namib-Naukluft Park
Southern Namibia
Fish River Canyon
Luderitz
Understand Namibia
Namibia Today
History
The Namibian People
Environment
Survival Guide
South Africa
South Africa Highlights
Cape Town
Winelands
Stellenbosch
Garden Route
Knysna
Plettenberg Bay
Garden Route National Park (Tsitsikamma Section)
Sunshine Coast
Jeffrey's Bay
Port Elizabeth
Hogsback
The Wild Coast
Port St Johns
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)
Durban
Zululand
Drakensberg & uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Free State
Bloemfontein
Gauteng
Johannesburg
Soweto
Pretoria
Mpumalanga
Nelspruit (Mbombela)
Graskop
Kruger National Park
Northern Cape
Kimberley
Upington
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Understand South Africa
South Africa Today
History
People
Religion
Survival Guide
Swaziland
Swaziland Highlights
Mbabane
Central Swaziland
Ezulwini Valley
Lobamba
Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
Manzini
Malolotja Nature Reserve
Northeastern Swaziland
Hlane Royal National Park
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Seventh Natural Wonder of the World
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Understand Zimbabwe
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Welcome to Africa
Africa. There's nowhere like it on the planet for wildlife, wild lands and rich traditions that endure. Prepare to fall in love.
Natural Beauty
Whether you're a wide-eyed first-timer or a frequent visitor, Africa cannot fail to get under your skin. The canvas upon which the continent's epic story is written is itself astonishing, and reason enough to visit. From the tropical rainforests and glorious tropical coastline of Central Africa to the rippling dunes of the Namib Desert, from the signature savannah of the Serengeti to jagged mountains, green-tinged highlands and deep-gash canyons that mark the Great Rift Valley's continental traverse – wherever you find yourself on this big, beautiful continent, Africa has few peers when it comes to natural beauty.
New Africa
The past retains its hold over the lives of many Africans, but just as many have embraced the future, bringing creativity and sophistication to the continent's cities and urban centres. Sometimes this New Africa is expressed in a creative-conservation search for solutions to the continent's environmental problems, or in an eagerness to break free of the restrictive chains of the past and transform the traveller experience. But just as often, modern Africans are taking all that is new and fusing it onto the best of the old.
Ancient Africa
On this continent where human beings first came into existence, customs, traditions and ancient rites tie Africans to generations and ancestors past and to the collective memory of myriad people. In many rural areas it can feel as though the modern world might never have happened, and they are all the better for it, and old ways of doing things – with a certain grace and civility, hospitality and a community spirit – survive. There are time-honoured ceremonies, music that dates back to the days of Africa's golden empires, and masks that tell stories of spirit worlds never lost. Welcome to Old Africa.
Wildlife Bonanza
A Noah's ark of wildlife brings Africa's landscapes to life, with a tangible and sometimes profoundly mysterious presence that adds so much personality to the African wild. So many of the great beasts, including elephants, hippos and lions, call Africa home. Going on safari may be something of a travel cliché, but we're yet to find a traveller who has watched the wildlife world in motion in the Masai Mara, watched the epic battles between predator and prey in the Okavango Delta, or communed with gorillas and surfing hippos in Gabon and has not been reduced to an ecstatic state of childlike wonder.
Maasai warriors, Masai Mara National Reserve | Vadim Petrakov/Shutterstock ©
Why I Love Africa
By Anthony Ham, Writer
Africa is for me a place of the soul. It is the wildlife, the great deserts and the savannah plains that speak of eternity, and the people who bring such warmth to the experience. It is the Serengeti and the Sahara, Etosha and Amboseli National Parks, the Namib Desert and the forests of Madagascar. It is drawing near to a black-maned lion in the Kalahari, or watching the hyenas stream across the plains of Liuwa Plain National Park, or sleeping in a luxury lodge or remote wilderness campsite and staring up at the stars in utter, blissful silence.
Africa's Top 20
Victoria Falls, Zambia & Zimbabwe
The mighty Victoria Falls is worth crossing the continent for, whether it's to laze in the aptly named Devil's Pool (take the precarious walk, literally out across the top of the falls to this natural infinity pool, to see what we mean) or to get active with all manner of adventures from white-water rafting to bungee jumping within sight and sound of the falls, known locally as 'the smoke that thunders'. It's a beautiful, beautiful place, not to mention one of the most awe-inspiring sights on the continent.
Vadim Petrakov/Shutterstock ©
Top Experiences
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
The last of the seven wonders of the ancient world stands right on the edge of Cairo, as if guarding the desert from the city's creeping urban sprawl. You may have seen the images a thousand times beforehand but nothing beats your first face-to-face meeting with the impeccable geometry and sheer bulk of this mammoth funerary complex. Battered by the passing of time, from the Sphinx' chipped nose to the graffiti of past explorers, these age-old structures have not lost their ability to awe.
Vadim Petrakov/Shutterstock ©
Top Experiences
Medinas, Morocco
Ancient meets modern in the medinas (old, walled city-centres) of Morocco, and those of Fez and Marrakesh sit at the top of any traveller’s list. Narrow alleys hide centuries-old riads restored into fabulous guesthouses, while the delivery man outside unloads his donkeys while chatting on his mobile phone. Fez is the oldest of the two, with celebrated mosques and the longest and most-winding streets, while in Marrakesh all paths seem to converge on the Djemaa el-Fna square, which springs to life daily with 1001 nights' worth of attractions.
MICHAEL HEFFERNAN/LONELY PLANET ©
Top Experiences
Mozambique Island, Mozambique
There are no crowds and few vehicles, but Mozambique Island is hardly silent. Echoes of its past mix with the squawking of chickens, the sounds of children playing and the calls of the muezzin to remind you that the island is still very much alive. Wander along cobbled streets, past graceful praças (plazas) rimmed by once-grand churches and stately colonial-era buildings. This Unesco World Heritage Site, with its time-warp atmosphere and backdrop of turquoise seas, is a Mozambique highlight, and not to be missed.
YURY BIRUKOV/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Lalibela, Ethiopia
Follow a white-robed pilgrim down a dark passageway, hear the hypnotic thud of a muffled drumbeat, smell the sweet aroma of incense and emerge into a sliver of daylight just in time to see a priest in royal robes, holding a cross of silver, enter a church carved into and out of the rust-red rock. Lalibela is a place of pilgrimage where the buildings are frozen in stone and the soul is alive with the rites and awe of Christianity at its most ancient and unbending.
Bet Giyorgis | JON BRATT/GETTY IMAGES ©
Top Experiences
Stone Town in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Whether it's your first visit or your 50th, Zanzibar's Stone Town never loses its touch of the exotic. First you'll see the skyline, with the spires of St Joseph's Cathedral and the Old Fort. Then wander through narrow alleyways that reveal surprises at every turn. Linger at dusty shops scented with cloves; watch as kanzu-clad men play the board game bao; admire intricate henna designs on the hands of women. Island rhythms quickly take over as mainland life slips away.
MATTIAATH/GETTY IMAGES ©
Top Experiences
Dakar, Senegal
Hit West Africa’s trendiest nightlife venues and swing your hips to mbalax, the mix of Cuban beats and traditional drumming that forms the heart and soul of the Senegalese music scene. Relax with a lazy day at the beach and feast on fresh-off-the-boat seafood, or explore the workshops of Senegal’s most promising artists at the Village des Arts. Finally, climb up one of Dakar’s 'breasts' to contemplate the controversial, socialist-style African Renaissance Monument and take in sweeping views across the city.
DEREJE BELACHEW/500PX ©
Top Experiences
Etosha National Park, Namibia
There are few places in Southern Africa that can compete with the wildlife prospects in extraordinary Etosha National Park. A network of water holes dispersed among the bush and grasslands surrounding the pan – a blindingly white, flat, saline desert that stretches into the horizon – attracts enormous congregations of animals. A single water hole can render thousands of sightings over the course of a day – Etosha is simply one of the best places on the planet for watching wildlife.
Zebras | KERRIN/500PX ©
Top Experiences
Kalahari, Botswana
There is something about the Kalahari. Perhaps it owes its unmistakable gravitas to its sheer vastness; Africa’s largest protected wilderness area is a place where the San inhabitants once roamed free and still guide travellers out onto their ancestral lands. The presence of black-maned Kalahari lions doesn’t hurt either. Whatever the reason, this is not your average desert; it's home to ancient river valleys, light woodland and surprising concentrations of wildlife around its extensive network of salt pans. And then there is the silence of the Kalahari night…
Red hartebeest | JOHAN SWANEPOEL/500PX ©
Top Experiences
Masai Mara Wildlife, Kenya
The sweeping savannah of the Masai Mara, studded with acacia trees and cut through by the occasional red-dirt road, is the perfect theatre for the world’s most spectacular display of wildlife. Gangly giraffes, ambling elephant herds and skittish zebras are just some of sights you’re pretty much guaranteed to see. The drama is at its most intense in July and/or August, the start of the tragicomic wildebeest migration, when vast numbers of the hapless animals fall prey to rushing rivers, pacing lions and scavenging hyenas.
Silhouette of a wildebeest and acacia tree | MARIO MORENO/500PX ©
Top Experiences
Gorilla Tracking
It's one of the most thrilling wildlife encounters on the planet; nothing can really prepare you for that first moment as you stand just metres from a family of mountain gorillas. It’s an utterly humbling experience – particularly that first glimpse of the silverback, whose sheer size and presence will leave you in awe. Or the glee as you watch adorable fuzzy-black babies clowning about. The term ‘once in a lifetime’ is often bandied about, but gorilla tracking in Uganda's Bwindi, Rwanda or DRC is a genuine one that you’ll cherish forever.
Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda | ERIC LAFFORGUE/LONELY PLANET ©
Top Experiences
Cape Town, South Africa
Sitting in the continent’s southwest corner, Cape Town is one of those places that travellers don’t want to leave. The city is heavily peppered with fine restaurants, theatres, museums and galleries; the suburbs boast encounters with penguins, seals and baboons. The coast caters to beachgoers, surfers and photographers with its white-sand beaches and craggy ocean-sprayed cliffs. And sitting amid it all is the ever-visible form of Table Mountain, a hub for adventure activities including hiking, climbing, mountain biking and abseiling.
MICHAELJUNG/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Parc National d'Andringitra, Madagascar
With more than 100km of trails, a majestic mountain range, three challenging peaks and epic landscapes, this national park is a trekker’s paradise. Walkers will be rewarded with a dip in natural swimming pools and wonderful accommodation. You could also spend a couple of nights under the stars: the park office rents out everything you need to mount your very own expedition, from guides to cooks, porters and even camping equipment. Just don’t forget a warm sleeping bag.
MILOSK50/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Lake Malawi & Likoma Island, Malawi
This emerald jewel in Malawi's crown is fringed by golden beaches and offers travellers an underwater palace to swim among brilliantly coloured chiclid fish. On this 'interior sea', measuring 587km long and 84km wide, is a hidden idyll straight from a Bond movie: Likoma Island. With its towering cathedral, the country's finest backpacker hostel and one of Africa's most chichi boutique hotels, Likoma is the ultimate escape. Think turquoise coves, scuba diving, candlelit beach dinners and rock-carved rooms…and you're halfway there.
ERICHON/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Slave Forts, Ghana
No matter how well versed you are with the history of the slave trade, nothing can prepare you for the experience of visiting Ghana’s slave forts. Standing in the damp dungeons or being shut in the pitch-black punishment cells will chill your blood, and the wreaths and messages left by those whose forebears went through the ordeal are poignant. Cape Coast Castle and St George's Castle are the two largest and best-preserved forts, but there are many smaller ones along the coast too, which tell the same sorry tale.
Cape Coast Castle | FELIX LIPOV/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Strolling through the bush single file with a rifle-carrying scout in the lead, there’s no Land Rover engine sounds, no obstructed sight lines and no barrier between you and the wildlife, both predator and prey. Animals scurry in the underbrush upon your approach, which means the focus is on the little things, including a CSI-like investigation of animal dung. Even simply sitting under a tree looking over a plain filled with munching grazers is an opportunity for a quasi-meditative immersion in the park.
Hippo yawning | MARCO POZZI PHOTOGRAPHER/GETTY IMAGES ©
Top Experiences
Loango National Park, Gabon
Of Gabon's myriad spectacular national parks, Loango is undoubtedly the most impressive. Heaving with elephants, hippos, gorillas, buffaloes, monkeys and crocodiles, Loango offers long journeys through island-studded lagoons, nature hikes through virgin rainforest and lonely walks along empty beaches. Whether you visit the luxuriously appointed north of the park, with its eye-wateringly expensive safari lodges, or choose a far cheaper Do-It-Yourself approach in the charming hamlet of Setté Cama in the south, the impressive wildlife, the vast Eden-like empty spaces and the charming locals will be the same.
MICHAL JIROUS/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Sossusvlei, Namibia
The towering red dunes of Sossusvlei rank among the most beautiful desert landscapes on earth. They're also one of the more improbable: the sands originated in the Kalahari millions of years ago and are now reclaiming land from the sea. The valley is dotted by hulking dunes, and interspersed with unearthly, dry vleis (low, open landscapes). Clambering up the face of these constantly moving giants is a uniquely Namibian experience, and as you survey the seemingly endless sand sea that surrounds you, you'll feel as though time itself has slowed.
SBEDAUX/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Okavango in Botswana is an astonishing, beautiful and wild place. Home to wildlife spectacles of rare power and drama, the delta changes with the seasons as floodwaters ebb and flow, creating islands, river channels and pathways for animals that move this way and that at the waters’ behest. No visit to the delta is complete without drifting in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe). Exclusive and remote lodges are an Okavango speciality, and self-drivers can find outstanding campsites in the heart of the Okavango’s Moremi Game Reserve.
TORSTEN KAROCK/GETTY IMAGES ©
Top Experiences
South Africa's Winelands
Whitewashed Cape Dutch architecture dots an endlessly photogenic landscape of rolling hills and vines in neat rows. The Winelands is the quintessential Cape, where world-class wines are the icing on the proverbial cake. Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, the area's holy trinity of wine-tasting towns, host some of the southern hemisphere's oldest, largest and prettiest wine estates.
ILONDE VAN HOOLWERFF/500PX ©
Need to Know
Currency
More than 25 different local currencies. US dollar ($) most readily recognised international currency; euro (€) and UK pound (£) also accepted
Language
Arabic, English, French, Portuguese and thousands of African languages
Mobile Phones
Buy local SIM cards to access local mobile networks cheaply.
Money
ATMs are increasingly common but don't rely on them or being able to pay by credit card; always carry sufficient cash.
Time
Four times zones from UTC (former GMT) in the west to UTC plus three hours in the east.
Visas
For short trips sort out visas before leaving home; for longer ones, arrange as you go. In some countries they're available at borders, others not.
When to Go
High Season
A North Africa Nov–Mar is the coolest period.
A Central Africa Jun–Sep is the dry time.
A East Africa Dec–Feb and Jun–Sep are the two main dry seasons.
A West Africa Nov–Apr is the dry season.
A Southern Africa Nov–Mar, but rain can continue until Dec in South Africa.
Shoulder
A North Africa Apr, May, Sep and Oct.
A Central, West & Southern Africa Oct and May.
A East Africa Mar and Oct.
Low Season
A North & West Africa Jun–Aug.
A Central Africa Nov–Apr.
A East Africa Apr, May and Nov.
A Southern Africa Jun–Sep; great for wildlife watching.
Useful Websites
Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/africa) Destination information, hotel bookings, traveller forum and more.
Safari Bookings (www.safaribookings.com) Fantastic resource for booking your safari, with expert and traveller reviews.
Expert Africa (www.expertafrica.com) A tour operator with extensive online coverage of the region.
Travel Africa (www.travelafricamag.com) Features articles on every corner of the continent and a useful 'safari planner'.
Africa Geographic (www.africageographic.com) Nature-focused Africa online mag with good wildlife and birdwatching info.
BBC News (www.bbcnews.com/africa) Good for up-to-the-minute news from Africa.
Exchange Rates
For current exchange rates, see www.xe.com.
Daily Costs
Budget: Less than US$100
A Dorm bed: US$10–20
A Double room in a budget hotel: up to US$75
A Meal at cheap hotel or street stall: less than US$5
Midrange: US$100–250
A Double room in a midrange hotel: US$75–200
A Lunch or dinner in a midrange restaurant: US$20
A Car hire: from $30 per day
Top End: More than US$250
A Safari-lodge or top-end hotel room: at least US$200
A Guided safari or 4WD rental: from US$150 per day
A Meal at a top restaurant with wine: US$50–100
Arriving in Africa
Cairo International Airport Buses E£4, every 20 minutes 7am to midnight, up to two hours to central Cairo; taxi around E£120 to E£150.
Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport (Senegal) No public transport; taxis outside arrivals hall cost CFA5000 to city centre.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi) Recommended to take taxi (KSh2000 to KSh2500, but bargain hard) to centre of Nairobi (up to one hour).
OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) Taxi R400 to central Jo'burg; trains (R145) and bus shuttle (400) to downtown (one hour).
Getting Around
In Africa, the journey is very often the destination. There's everything from impossibly crowded minibus services along rutted roads to international-standard airlines between major cities.
Air Major capitals are reasonably well connected by flights within Africa; smaller capitals may require inconvenient connections.
Bus & Bush Taxi Often the only option in rural areas, bush or shared taxis leave when full; buses connect major cities.
Car & 4WD Reasonable road infrastructure connects major cities; roads deteriorate elsewhere, and are sometimes impassable after rains so 4WD is often required.
Train Trains operate in West Africa and South Africa with limited services elsewhere and very few cross-border operations.
First Time in Africa
Checklist
A Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months and has plenty of free pages for stamp-happy officials.
A Inform your debit-/credit-card company that you’re heading away.
A Arrange for travel insurance.
A Leave time for researching visas and making visa applications.
A Arrange vaccinations well before departure.
A Ensure you have a yellow-fever certificate.
What to Pack
A Mosquito repellent, net and malaria medicine
A Neutral-coloured clothing for safari
A Sunscreen
A Torch (flashlight)
A Wind- and waterproof jacket
A Yellow-fever vaccination certificate
A Spare camera batteries and memory cards
A Swiss Army knife
A Photocopies of important documents
A Water purifier
Top Tips for Your Trip
A Book months ahead if you're travelling here during high season, especially during Christmas and European summer holidays.
A If driving, fill up with fuel at every available opportunity – you never quite know when supplies will run out, and off-road driving uses up much more fuel than you might think.
A Distances can be long – plan your trip to see a few places well so that you don't spend all your trip driving.
A Consider taking an off-road introductory driving course before setting out.
A Wildlife seasons are quite specific and vary significantly across the region.
A In the main safari areas, book your luxury lodge, tented camp or self-drive campsite, many months in advance for peak periods.
A Book months ahead also for your 4WD rental vehicle in Southern Africa.
A At many luxury lodges or tented camps, laundry is usually included, so no need for a really full suitcase.
Safari, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania | BLUEORANGE STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Sleeping
Lodges usually need to be booked far in advance; hotels and hostels should be reserved during high season.
A Lodges & Tented Camps A speciality in Southern and East Africa; often in remote wildlife-rich areas, they offer an all-inclusive experience.
A Camping Southern Africa has the best campsites, from wilderness sites with no facilities to well-provisioned camping grounds. Less common elsewhere.
A Hotels From cheap and cheerful to high-end international chains. More often it's a simple, uninspiring place and the only game in town.
A Guesthouses & B&Bs A handful but quite country-specific (South Africa and Burkina Faso, for example).
A Hostels Plenty from Nairobi to Cape Town.
What to Wear
Africans generally expect visitors to dress neatly and respectfully, so loose-fitting, light casual wear is the recommended minimum; avoid dirty, torn or overly revealing clothes. At least one nice set of clothes (eg a button-up shirt for men) or two is a good idea for nicer restaurants and hotels. Out in the bush, light neutral tones are recommended. In rural and/or predominantly Muslim areas, clothes that cover most exposed skin are recommended; a scarf of some description is worth carrying by women so that you can cover your head when visiting mosques; it can also be useful for keeping wind-blown sand at bay in drier areas.
Bargaining
In many parts of Africa, especially in markets and/or craft and curio stalls, items are worth whatever the seller can get. Once you get the hang of bargaining, it's all part of the fun. Hagglers are rarely trying to rip you off, so there's no point getting hot and bothered about it. Decide what price you're prepared to pay and if you can't get it, decline politely and move on.
Tipping
The situation with regard to tipping varies across the continent, but as a general rule the following applies:
A Hotels & Restaurants Usually expected in top-end hotels and restaurants, very rarely in cheaper places.
A Safari Lodges Count on US$10 per guest per day, plus more for guides.
A Taxis Rounding up is usually sufficient.
Etiquette
Although things vary greatly, social mores remain generally conservative. Even so, Africans are usually relaxed in their dealings with foreign travellers; good manners and acting politely and modestly are key to avoiding offence.
A Greetings are always important. Even if you're in a hurry, greet people you meet, ask how they are, how their day is going and so on.
A Treat elders and those in positions of authority with deference and respect.
A If in a frustrating situation, be patient, friendly and considerate. A confrontational attitude can easily inflame the situation and offend local sensibilities.
A Always ask permission to photograph people.
A Avoid vocal criticism of the government or country; the former could get your friends in trouble and many Africans take the latter personally.
A When receiving a gift, accept it with both hands, sometimes with a slight bow.
A Be respectful of Islamic traditions and don't wear revealing clothing.
What's New
Soweto
With cool cafes and hip restaurants popping up, Soweto is becoming much more than a spot for a simple day trip from Johannesburg.
Caprivi Wildlife
Namibia's Caprivi Strip is definitely a safari destination to watch, with lions, wild dogs and other charismatic megafauna returning in small but significant numbers; try Bwabwata National Park.
Boutique Booze
There are now nearly 200 microbreweries across South Africa’s nine provinces, but it’s not all about beer. Cider-makers, gin distilleries and even craft-soft-drinks producers are opening around the country.
Okonjima Nature Reserve
Okonjima Nature Reserve ( GOOGLE MAP ; www.okonjima.com) in central Namibia has been there a while, but a shift in focus by AfriCats has transformed it into a major big-cat attraction.
Elephants on the Move
The logistical challenges of moving over 500 elephants from Malawi's overcrowded Liwonde and Majete to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve are massive. The results are fantastic.
Rhino expansion
News from the world of rhinos has been relentlessly bad, but there's some good news: the Okavango Delta's reintroduced rhino population is growing and increasingly sighted, while the new Lusaka National Park has white rhinos, too.
Parc National d'Odzala
Republic of Congo's showcase national park has undergone a facelift with luxury camps and improved infrastructure.
Ouaga Cool
Ouagadougou has been one of West Africa's coolest cities for some time now, but given recent political turmoil and other challenges, the ongoing transformation is remarkable.
Príncipe
The island of Príncipe is about to take off, and why not? This unspoilt island has a spectacular lost-world ambience with good accommodation and an international airport.
Ponte Kassuende
In November 2014 the Ponte Kassuende was inaugurated in Tete, Mozambique. Three years in the making, this modern road bridge over the Zambezi River has eased local congestion and cut journey times between Zimbabwe and Malawi.
For more recommendations and reviews, see http://lonelyplanet.com/africa.
If You Like…
Beaches & Islands
The rigours of travelling in Africa mean that many visitors looking for a break from life on the road end up on a beach or island. And what beaches and islands!
Zanzibar The very name conjures up a spicy heaven of perfume plantations, endless white beaches and whispering palm trees.
Príncipe World-class beaches in a blissfully remote setting, including gorgeous Praia Banana and Baia das Agulhas.
Watamu Seven kilometres of unspoilt beach with a lovely fishing village nearby.
Pemba Lovely white-sand coves with plenty of space to spread your towel.
Lake Malawi Soft sand fringes the shore of this turquoise lake lined with reggae bars.
Tofo A long arc of white sand with azure waters, plus surfing and diving with manta rays.
Isla Corisco Beaches here are the stuff of dreams: pure white sands, swaying palms and azure sea.
Mayumba National Park Bodysurfing the waves while watching humpback whales breach in the distance.
Akwidaa & Cape Three Points Sweeping beaches; trips through plantations and mangroves; and, in season, turtles nesting in the sand.
Cap Skirring The coastal jewel of Casamance, with some of Senegal's loveliest beaches.
Watching Wildlife
Some of the best wildlife viewing on the continent – nay, on the planet! – is at your fingertips. Unique opportunities abound while on safari.
Masai Mara National Reserve Arguably the best place to spot cheetahs, leopards and lions and much more, especially from July to October.
Serengeti National Park Even if you're not here for the migration, the Seronera River is big-cat central.
Chobe Riverfront Africa’s largest elephants draw near to the water’s edge with predators prowling nearby.
Etosha National Park Incredible wildlife viewing with animals crowding around easily seen water holes.
Kruger National Park South Africa’s famous park has 5000 rhinos alone, and landscapes from woodland to mopane-veld.
Mana Pools National Park ( h6am-6pm) For the wild at heart – you’re almost guaranteed to see lions; unguided walks allowed.
South Luangwa National Park Abundant wildlife, wonderful scenery and walking safaris.
Parc National Andasibe Mantadia Madagascar’s largest lemur, the indri, is easily seen – and heard! – here.
Loango National Park Elephants on the beach, surfing hippos and habituated gorillas – what a place!
Music
In Africa music is more than a way of life. It is a force. Get ready to feel it at these rhythmic destinations.
Dakar Get down to Senegal’s mbalax, a blend of Cuban sounds and traditional drumbeats.
Conakry One of West Africa's most important musical cities, with numerous live venues.
New Afrika Shrine Fela Kuti’s family keep his name alive at Lagos’ earthiest, funkiest club.
Harare Zimbabwe's capital has a rockin' music scene and the Harare International Festival of Arts.
Cape Town Groove at musical events from November through March, including an international jazz festival.
Stone Town Visit Zanzibar for its five-day Sauti za Busara Swahili Music Festival in February.
Essaouira Visit this laid-back Moroccan resort in June for its Gnaoua and World Music Festival.
Abidjan Hit the bars and dance floors and experience the crazy upbeat sound of coupé-décalé.
Saint-Louis This charming French-colonial settlement in Senegal hosts an international jazz festival in May.
Ouagadougu Jazz à Ouaga: Afrobeat, soul and blues influence jazz in the Burkinabé capital.
World Heritage Sites
Among the 129 Unesco World Heritage Sites of Africa, well over half are cultural or mixed, representing both natural and cultural factors.
Pyramids of Giza The last remaining wonder of the ancient world.
Okavango Delta One of the most beautiful and biodiverse corners of the continent.
Lalibela A mind-blowing maze of Unesco World Heritage–listed rock-hewn churches.
Elmina Ghana's slave castles and one of the oldest European structures in sub-Saharan Africa.
Aksum Ponder the mysteries of the one-time home of the Queen of Sheba.
Medina of Fez One of the most magical urban spaces in Africa, with ancient, tangled lanes.
Namib Sand Sea The desert of childhood imaginings, with perfectly sculpted sand dunes.
Serengeti National Park One of the best places on the planet to watch wildlife.
Robben Island Nelson Mandela's former prison and cultural touchstone of a continent.
Fez medina, Morocco | SABINO PARENTE/500PX ©
Adventure Activities
Many travellers are drawn to Africa by the lure of high-adrenaline thrills. If you're among them, you'll want to make a beeline for these locations.
Victoria Falls Adrenaline activities at both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides of the 'smoke that thunders'.
Swakopmund World-famous for its sweaty and breathless opportunities, from sand-dune surfing to skydiving.
Jinja The source of the Nile, with white-water rafting, kayaking, mountain biking and quad bikes.
Dahab Chic-and-hippie Egyptian resort that's a prime base for Red Sea diving and snorkelling.
Orange River Canoe and white-water raft through spectacular canyons along the Nambia–South Africa border.
Semonkong Plunge 204m down Lesotho's Malesunyane Falls on the world's longest commercially operated single-drop abseil.
Great Usutu River White-water rafting in Swaziland including Grade IV rapids not for the faint-hearted.
Inspiring Landscapes
Africa has few peers when it comes to natural beauty, encompassing everything from the shifting dunes of the Sahara to the steamy rainforests of the Congo.
Masai Mara National Reserve Backed by the spectacular Siria Escarpment and breathtaking year-round.
Fish River Canyon ( GOOGLE MAP ; per person per day N$80, per vehicle N$10) This epic tear in Africa's fabric is often called ' Africa's Grand Canyon'.
Sani Pass This 2865m road pass affords spectacular views across the southern Drakensberg.
Mt Kilimanjaro Hiking up the continent's highest peak is an experience never forgotten.
Okavango Delta Take in the lush, watery scenery from a mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA; h6am-6pm) Perfectly formed crater, lost world of wildlife and exceptionally beautiful landforms.
Danakil Depression Unique in the world, the sub-sea-level volcanic landscape here is eerily beautiful
Simien Mountains National Park hpark gates 6am-6pm) Huge cliffs, oddly formed mountains and unusual Afro-alpine habitat.
Parc National d'Odzala Astonishing wilderness with elephants and gorillas deep in the Congo rainforest.
Amboseli National Park, Kenya, against the backdrop of Mt Kilimanjaro | IAN LENEHAN/500PX ©
Trekking & Mountains
As befitting a continent where humankind first walked out of the jungle, there are world-class hiking trails all across Africa, plus mountains so high they are capped by glaciers.
Mt Meru In Arusha National Park, this peak offers some lovely hiking.
Mt Kenya Africa's second-highest mountain crowns some wonderful hiking country and provides superb views.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park Uganda's fabled Mountains of the Moon feature snow and glaciers and a lack of other climbers.
High Atlas Tread steep paths past flat-roofed, earthen Berber villages, terraced gardens and walnut groves in this beautiful part of Morocco.
Simien Mountains National Park This very popular park holds some of the most stunning mountain scenery in Africa and trekking is easily organised.
Drakensberg From day hikes to weeklong treks, South Africa's dramatic Drakensberg creates happy hikers.
Fish River Canyon The best way to get a feel for this massive gash in the earth is to embark on a five-day hike along the valley floor.
Waterberg Plateau Park Four-day guided and unguided trails are available through some pristine wilderness landscape.
Month by Month
Top Events
Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, January
Fespaco, February/March
Saint-Louis Jazz Festival, May
Festival of the Dhow Countries, July
AfrikaBurn, April
January
High season across most of Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. The northern-hemisphere winter is also cooler in North and West Africa; one downside can be the early arrival of the dust-laden harmattan winds.
z Cape Town Minstrel Carnival
Called the Kaapse Klopse in Afrikaans, the Mother City's equivalent of Mardis Gras runs throughout the month. The big parade on 2 January sees thousands take to the street in satin- and sequin-bedecked costumes.
Parade participant, Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, South Africa | URBANCOWBOY/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
z Voodoo Festival
Held on 10 January across Benin; the celebrations in the voodoo heartland around Ouidah are the largest and most exuberant.
z Timkat
Ethiopa's most important Christian festival is this celebration of Epiphany on 19 January involving elaborate costumed processions and ritual.
Timkat, Ethiopia | DEREJE/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
February
Relatively cool, dry weather in North, East and West Africa makes for good hiking and it’s the last month where you would sensibly head into the Sahel (a semiarid region that stretches from Mauritania, the Gambia and Senegal to Chad). Rains, high temperatures and good birding in Southern Africa.
z Buganu (Marula) Festival
One of Swaziland's most popular 'first fruits' harvest festivals, Buganu celebrates the marvellous marula. Throughout this month and March women make buganu (marula wine), men drink the results and everyone celebrates. Swazi royals attend the three-day ceremony.
6 Hands-On Harvest
The wine-producing region of Robertson, South Africa, celebrates the first of its five annual festivals (www.handsonharvest.com). Budding vintners can help with the harvest and sample the results.
3 Sauti za Busara
Zanzibar gets even more rhythm than usual with the three-day Sauti za Busara (Voices of Wisdom; hearly–mid-Feb). Swahili songs from every era fill the night, and dance troupes take over the stages of Stone Town and elsewhere on the island.
1 Wildebeest Births
The annual wildebeest migration midyear may grab the headlines, but the species’ great calving, a similarly epic yet also heartwarming sight, occurs in February in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, with approximately 500,000 births occuring in a three-week period.
3 Marrakech Biennale
Held on even-numbered years, the Marrakech Biennale is the city's foray into both high and popular artistic culture, with everything from public art displays to chin-scratching conceptual installations.
z Carnival
West Africa’s former Portuguese colonies celebrate Carnival (sometimes spelt Carnaval) with infectious zeal. Bissau – with its Latin-style street festival of masks, parties and parades – or Mozambique are the places to be; Porto Novo in Benin also gets into the spirit. Usually in February, but sometimes January, sometimes March.
z Mask Festivals
Held in the villages around Man in western Côte d’Ivoire, the region’s most significant mask festival (Fêtes des Masques) brings together a great variety of masks and dances from the area.
3 Fespaco
Africa’s premier film festival is held in February or March in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso in odd years. Cinemas across the city screen African films, and there's a prestigious awards ceremony.
March
While temperatures are warming up in North and West Africa, the harmattan winds are blowing in Southern and some of East Africa. It's beginning to cool down as the season moves to autumn.
2 Cape Town Cycle Tour
Held in mid-March, this spin around the Cape Peninsula is the world's largest timed cycling event (www.capetowncycletour.com), attracting more than 30,000 contestants from serious racers to costumed Capetonians.
3 Infecting the City
Cape Town's squares, fountains, museums and theatres are the venues for this innovative performing-arts festival (http://infectingthecity.com) featuring artists from across the continent.
2 Kilimanjaro Marathon
Runners can take part in the full marathon, half marathon or fun runs around the base of the great Tanzanian mountain. The entire race (www.kilimanjaromarathon.com) is held between 830m and 1150m above sea level, on good tarred roads.
2 Marathon des Sables
Starting and finishing in Morocco’s movie town, Ouarzazate, the Saharan ultramarathon (www.marathondessables.com) is an epic. The gruelling six-day challenge, held in March or April, crosses 243km of desert. Water is provided.
z Enjando Street Festival
The Namibian capital's biggest street party, also known as Mbapira, occurs in March every year. It's also a good excuse for people to dress in extravagant ethnic clothes that bring the streets to life.
3 Maitisong Festival
Botswana’s largest performing-arts festival is held annually over seven days from mid-March to early April in Gaborone. The festival features an outdoor program of music, theatre, film and dance, with top performing artists from around Africa.
April
Much of the Sahel is too hot for comfort and the harmattan is a staple throughout the month. The humidity along the West African coast and hinterland gets uncomfortable as temperatures drop in Southern Africa.
z AfrikaBurn
Inspired by the USA's Burning Man event, this is both a subcultural blowout and a survivalist challenge (www.afrikaburn.com). Art installations and themed camps turn a corner of the South Africa's Karoo into a surreal experience even without mind-altering substances.
3 Jazz à Ouaga
An established fixture on West Africa’s musical circuit, this fine festival traverses jazz, Afrobeat, soul and blues with some respected regional names in attendance.
3 Festival of Sufi Culture
Fez’ festival hOct) hosts events including films and lectures, and concerts with Sufi musicians from around the world. The setting is the Andalusian-style garden of a museum, which is housed in a 19th-century summer palace.
May
Avoid the northern and western desert and coastal areas unless you favour extreme heat and humidity. Rains should be easing in green-as-green East and Southern Africa.
3 Harare International Festival of Arts
A not-to-be-missed event in Zimbabwe, Harare International Festival of Arts features local and international performers in opera, jazz, classical music, funk, theatre and dance.
z Festival Azgo
This Maputo-based extravaganza (www.azgofestival.com) has become Mozambique's largest arts and culture festival, featuring artists from Mozambique as well as elsewhere in the region.
z Art Bienale
In even years in May, Dakar hosts the Dak’Art Biennale, which is easily West Africa’s premier arts festival. In addition to the main exhibitions, there’s some fabulous fringe stuff happening.
3 Saint-Louis Jazz Festival
Hands down the most internationally renowned festival in West Africa, this Senegal festival attracts major performers to this sexy, Unesco Heritage–designated colonial town.
June
The rains are underway in West Africa. Morocco and other North African countries start to see the annual influx of summer visitors from Europe. High season, with great weather and growing crowds, in Southern Africa.
z Lake Turkana Cultural Festival
One of Kenya’s biggest cultural events, this fascinating festival (www.laketurkanaculturalfestival.com) focuses on the numerous tribal groups that inhabit northern Kenya, among them the El Molo, the Samburu, the Pokot and the Turkana.
3 Festival of World Sacred Music
Fez’ successful world-music festival has hosted everyone from Youssou N’Dour to Bjork. Equally impressive are the concerts by Moroccan tariqas (Sufi orders); fringe events include exhibitions, films and talks. May be held in May depending on Ramadan dates.
3 Gnaoua & World Music Festival
A passionate celebration held in Essaouira in late June, with concerts featuring international, national and local performers, and art exhibitions. A great chance to hear some bluesy Gnaoua, developed here by freed slaves.
July
Rain is heavy south of the Sahara – it's a good time for a travel bargain in South Africa, for example. In Morocco, Europeans flood the country; accommodation can be pricey and scarce. High-season peak in Southern Africa.
z National Arts Festival
Feel South Africa's creative pulse at the country's premier arts festival (www.nationalartsfestival.co.za), held in Grahamstown in early July.
z Festival of the Dhow Countries
The Zanzibar International Film Festival (Festival of the Dhow Countries; hJul) is the centrepiece of this two-week jamboree of arts and culture that can sometimes kick off at the end of June.
2 Lesotho Ski Season
That's right, skiing in Southern Africa. Lesotho's peaks and passes receive snow in winter – particularly around Oxbow where a ski slope makes the most of snowfall. It all happens at Afriski Mountain Resort (www.afriski.net).
5 Oyster Festival
Travel to the South African Garden Route resort of Knysna to indulge in a 10-day oyster orgy (www.oysterfestival.co.za). Events include the Knysna Forest Marathon.
1 East Africa Migration
Wildebeest cross the Mara River en masse, passing from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, with predators following in their wake. It’s one cliché that just happens to be true: this is the greatest wildlife show on earth.
3 Marrakech Festival of Popular Arts
This street-theatre festival hJul) is a typically colourful Marrakshi event, highlighting the best of Moroccan traditional and popular culture. Djemaa el-Fna is even more anarchic than usual during the opening-night parade, featuring 500-plus performers.
August
Rains and humidity make travel difficult in West and East Africa. The peak of Southern Africa's high season, with Europeans escaping their winter in Botswana, Namibia and elsewhere.
3 Panafest
Ghana’s Cape Coast hosts the biennial Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival (Panafest) with a focus on African contemporary and traditional arts, including music, dance, fashion and theatre. Its centrepiece is a moving candlelit emancipation ceremony to honour African slaves.
z Umhlanga Dance
A showcase of potential wives for the king: marriageable young Swazi women journey from all over the kingdom, carrying reeds, to help repair the queen mother's home around August or September (dates vary).
3 Camel Racing
Maralal’s Yare Camel Cup in northern Kenya is at once serious camel racing and a chance to join the fun. It’s a huge event.
September
The wet weather is beginning to ease in East and West Africa while Southern Africa moves out of winter towards spring – look out for brilliant displays of wildflowers in South Africa's Northern and Western Cape regions.
z Hermanus Whale Festival
One of the world's best land-based whale-watching destinations is the town of Hermanus, 122km east of Cape Town – visit during this annual September/October 'enviro-arts festival' (www.whalefestival.co.za).
z Meskel
Starting on 27 September, this two-day festival h27-28 Sep) is the most colourful after Timkat. Bonfires are built, topped by a cross to which flowers, most commonly the Meskel daisy, are tied. Priests don their full regalia. Addis Ababa, Gonder and Aksum are good places to be.
3 Lake of Stars Music Festival
‘Glastonbury on the beach’: this brilliant three-day Malawian festival bubbles with stellar UK and African bands, and a host of celebrated global DJs. Money raised goes towards the Children in the Wilderness charity.
z Ashanti Festivals
Coinciding with the yam-harvest season, the Adae Kese Festival in Ghana celebrates the glorious Ashanti past and involves ritual purifications of the ancestral burial shrines.
October
Clear, post-rain skies make for good visibility and the high-season crowds have yet to arrive across much of the continent. Temperatures can be decidedly chilly in Morocco, especially in the High Atlas. Rains on the way in the south.
3 Felabration
The weeklong celebration of Afrobeat-legend Fela Kuti in October in Lagos takes place around the great man’s birthday on the 15th. Concerts, theatre pieces and exhibitions, culminating in a free gig at the Shrine.
6 Oktoberfest
Windhoek in Namibia stages its own Oktoberfest – an orgy of food, drink and merrymaking in an event that showcases the best in German beer, usually drunk at tables set up inside large marquees. There’s plenty of traditional German dress on display too.
2 Gorilla Tracking
Although the dry-season months of June to September are the prime months for gorilla tracking in Uganda, the short (and not-so-disruptive) rains in October and November see permit prices drop; permits are also much easier to obtain.
November
The beginning of the month can be a quiet time to travel across the continent. Rains in the south and East Africa. Nighttime temperatures in desert regions drop close to zero.
3 Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts
Summer music festivals take place in stunning settings nationwide. In the Western Cape province, the choice includes the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts in Cape Town's botanic gardens.
3 East African Safari Rally
This classic car rally (www.eastafricansafarirally.com) held in late November is more than 50 years old, and there’s more than a whiff of colonial atmosphere about it. The rally traverses Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and is open only to pre-1971 vehicles.
z Maulid Festival
A huge celebration in Lamu, Kenya, this annual four-day celebration (www.lamu.org/maulid-celebration.html) of the Prophet Mohammed's birthday falls in October/November in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
z Festival of Maryam Zion
This vibrant festival is held in Aksum, Ethiopia. Thousands of pilgrims head towards Aksum ahead of the event, which begins on 30 November.
December
High season is very much underway south of the Sahara, and accommodation should be booked months in advance; beach areas are particularly busy with sun-starved Europeans. Weather is mild and dry.
z Marrakesh International Film Festival
This event (www.festivalmarrakech.info/en) lives up to its name, with stars from Hollywood to Bollywood jetting in to walk the red carpet. The week culminates in wildly eclectic awards shows – with honours