African lions
Africa Destination Guide
by Abigail Cattell
Summary
The continent of Africa is a rich tapestry of individual countries woven together by its cumulative history, diverse cultures, amazing wildlife and sometimes shocking poverty. Widely recognised as the cradle of civilisation, Africa ticks an incredible number of boxes for visitors interested in anthropology, geology and archaeology. It also offers unparalleled contrasts from the undulating Sahara Desert to the plains of the Serengeti, the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro, to the underwater wonders of Egypt's Red Sea. You can enjoy thrilling safaris, five-star beach resorts, luxury family holidays, unforgettable wildlife encounters and amazing honeymoons in the world's second-largest continent.
Getting there, getting around Africa
There is a wide choice of flights to African destinations from the UK whether you are looking for a package holiday to the Red Sea, a charter flight to South Africa or a luxury safari or beach break.
Such a vast continent isn't necessarily easy to get around so you should plan your journey or holiday before you leave. Many specialist tour operators organise luxury multi-centre holidays, or there are cheap overland buses that take in numerous countries. If you are travelling independently, you should check with the Foreign Office about possible danger areas. South and East Africa are the easiest places to navigate, and there are deluxe train journeys on offer in the south.
Quick facts
Currency: There are 56 countries in Africa, mostly with different currencies. In South Africa it's the rand, in Kenya the Kenya shilling. Major currencies such as the US dollar can be exchanged in most cities and big towns
Language: Swahili and English are the main languages in Tanzania and Kenya and English is also widely spoken in Uganda, Botswana and Zimbabwe. English, Mandinka, Wolof and Fula are Gambia's main languages. In Egypt it's Arabic, although English is widely spoken. French and Arabic are spoken in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria
Flight time: Anything from three hours to Morocco to up to 12 hours down to Cape Town. Gambia is a 6-hour flight away, Egypt is a 4.5-hour flight and Kenya takes 8 hours
GMT: Gambia is in the same time zone as the UK; South Africa and Egypt are +2 hours and Kenya is +3 hours
Electricity: Kenya is 240V; Egypt is 220V; South Africa is 220/250V; Gambia is 220V
Dialling code: Kenya is +254; Gambia is +220; South Africa is +27; Egypt is +20
Weather: Kenya: Temperatures vary between main regions. The central highlands and Rift Valley have the best weather, between 10C-26C (50F-78F). Gambia is hot and sunny year-round, apart from August, when it can rain up to 20 inches. South Africa: Cape Town and the Western Cape have a Mediterranean-type climate, with temperatures up to 80F (26C) in summer and cooler, wet weather from May to September. Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal coast enjoy a sub-tropical climate. Egypt is hot from April to August 35-38C (95-100F) and cooler from September to March 15-20C (59-68F)
Red Sea dreams
Beaches in Africa
Obvious beach destinations are the North African countries on the Mediterranean coast: Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt - although many more people enjoy the beaches of Egypt's Red Sea resorts such as Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh. Gambia is another holiday favourite, with miles of dazzling coastline and year-round sunshine.
South Africa has a number of beach resorts along the Indian Ocean coast, while neighbouring Mozambique is an up-and-coming beach destination. Kenya's Mombasa and Tanzania's coastline and nearby island of Zanzibar are popular with holidaymakers who want to combine a safari with a relaxing beach break. With so many glittering beaches, Africa is also highly recommended for a honeymoon.
Sightseeing in Africa
For wildlife viewing, you are spoilt for choice in southern and eastern Africa. Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa are all great for spotting the Big Five, while Uganda has protected access to the rare mountain gorilla and Namibia's Etosha NP is less busy than more popular East Africa's Serengeti or Masai Mara. Natural wonders include Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro, the continent's highest mountain, the majestic Victoria Falls bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe, and Cape Town's Table Mountain.
Man-made sights include Egypt's pyramids at Giza and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor; the medieval walled city of Fes in Morocco; the fabled churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia and Matmata in Tunisia's cave dwellings, which found fame in Star Wars.
Family attractions in Africa
Africa excels in luxury family holidays. Spotting real-life animals grazing on grassy plains or frolicking by a water hole will leave children more wide-eyed than a visit to any theme park. If you stay somewhere such as South Africa's Sun City, you'll get a gentle introduction to wildlife spotting. You'll get to stay in very comfortable accommodation close to the malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park where you can see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo). There's also a massive water park on site which kids will love.
Blyde River Canyon in SA
Eating out in Africa
It's almost impossible to label 'African' foods, such is the diversity of this vast continent. In the north, from Morocco along Tunisia to Egypt, you'll find a variation of Mediterranean cuisine, featuring vegetable stews, (tajines), minty couscous, marinated kebab and falafel. There's a Portuguese influence on cuisine in Angola and Mozambique due to colonial influences. Ethiopian cooking features thick stews and sourdough flatbreads. In East Africa, meat tends to be too pricey so dishes are mainly vegetarian. In contrast, the South Africans consider most meats fair game to lop onto the braai (barbeque).
Nightlife in Africa
Traditional dancing and singing to drum beats against a background of high-pitched chirping from cicadas is a safari memory you'll treasure.
If it's Western-style nightclubs and bars you're after, you'll find them in the larger cities of South Africa as well as in Dar es Salaam or Nairobi in East Africa. There are usually westernised bars in major hotels wherever you're staying. In many northern African countries you can join locals in smoking a shisha pipe, where flavoured tobacco is lit and cooled through water pipes. Or just opt for a sugary mint tea, a popular drink in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.
Shopping in Africa
The cost of living in Africa is so much lower than in the UK that goods and services seem ridiculously cheap. Despite this, you are still expected to barter for goods in most countries, and vendors will be insulted if you don't.
From intricate silver and gold jewellery to delicately made clothes, wood carvings, paintings, woven straw goods, furniture, lamps and more, wherever you go you'll find something you'll want at prices you'll find almost impossible to resist.
Related destinations
If you're interested in Africa you may also like to look at these related destinations:
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