Africa is one of the most incredible places to visit in the world with many different and exciting ways to experience it. You can travel in luxury or trek on foot through the varying landscapes, stand and watch the famous Wildebeest migration on the banks of the Serengeti or watch them from above in a hot air balloon, honeymoon on Zanzibar’s wonderful picturesque beaches or camp in the wild bushes with your loved one.
Africa is a land of unimaginable beauty, it’s landscapes ranging from white rolling beaches to open sandy desert plains to humid lush rainforests and it’s people welcoming and exciting. Whether you’re watching the sunset across the Saharan desert, taking in the rolling oceans against the sandy beaches or bird watching amongst the greenery, the colours and character of this vibrant continent will stun you and leave you breathless.
And last of all, but certainly not the least, the wildlife of Africa is like nowhere else in the world. Ranging from the largest hippos and tallest giraffes to the smallest meerkats and butterflies, the diversity and richness of the wildlife found spread across Africa’s many countries is incomparable to any other place in the world.
With tours specialised for different people – from families, lone explorers to photographers – Africa has something for everyone, and here we’ve compiled a list of some amazing Africa experiences that will make it difficult for you to turn down the holiday of a lifetime in Africa.
1. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
The highest point in Africa, Kilimanjaro is a tough yet rewarding climb to 5,895m, entirely possible without any technical mountaineering equipment. This means that it is possible for brave trekkers of any experience level to witness the stunning panoramic views of the mountain’s peak, but also a great experience for budding photographers looking to capture Africa from a different perspective. In climbing Kilimanjaro, you will also be climbing through almost all landscapes that Africa has to offer – from blistering cold wind and damp snow at the summit through to grassland and forests and the desert plains at the base – and the exotic wildlife that accompany it. This must be the ultimate Africa experience to the top of Africa’s roof-top.
2. Watch the Wildebeest Migration on a Kenya Tanzania Safari Holiday
One of the world’s most famous and documented migrations, the migration of the Wildebeest across the Serengeti into Kenya is an immensely stunning and humbling movement to watch. The animals stampede across the plains, attempting to cross rivers that can be either rapid torrents or full of prey, or sometimes both. There is little predictability to the movement of the herds, but expert guides can help you find a perfect place to witness the migration in all of it’s almost-scary ferocity and glory. A movement of animals unlike any other in the world, the Wildebeest Migration is a wildlife watching experience of a lifetime, and one that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.
3. Drift Across the Chobe River on a Botswana Safari
The Chobe River is one of the most picturesque scenes in Africa, stretching wide across the land, home to thousands of species of African wildlife and acting as a life-support for many more. One of the most beautiful scenes in the continent, you haven’t witnessed the perfect sunset until you’ve watched the sky fade from fluorescent blue through to purple and pink and finally into darkness reflected across the canvas of the Chobe river’s softly running water. A romantic and idyllic cruise down the river can easily be connected to an exploration of Victoria Falls, making it an easy to work around experience in most safaris and an experience too pleasantly calming to turn down.
4. Spend a Night in an Underwater Hotel Room in Zanzibar
Africa’s removal from much of the world’s tourism industry means that it’s locations have been kept pristine and relatively untouched throughout their years, retaining both their natural ecosystems and their glorious beauty. The beaches and bright blue waters of Zanzibar is a notable destination on this list, and if you’re travelling here to experience the wonders of the water, why not take it all the way? The floating hotel in Zanzibar famously offers underwater hotel rooms, offering you the view of a lifetime as the aquatic life surround you in an experience hard to match at any hotel.
5. Trek Through the Bwindi Forest in Uganda for endangered Gorillas
When you witness the Impenetrable Forest with your own eyes, you’ll understand where it got it’s name. The thick greenery and overgrown vegetation make this forest one reminiscent of movies, with vines and roots crawling across the damp floor and trees stretching for hundreds of metres into the sky above, blocking out almost all sunlight. Not only is it incredibly beautiful, but it is the perfect home for many of Africa’s iconic animals – such as the endangered Gorillas. You can sit amongst these animals when you have finally found them, spending quality time listening to their communication and watching their human-like actions.
6. Experience the tallest Sand Dunes in the World in Namibia
You’ve definitely seen them in photos, but there is nothing like experiencing the sand dunes of Africa first hand. The incredible colour of the dunes, particularly at sunset or sunrise, is only the beginning – spending time in the dunes is a calming experience, isolated from the cities and surrounded by total silence. Not only can you drive though them, but you can hot air balloon over them, walk across them and even sandboard down them, meaning there’s options for all kinds of travellers to ensure everyone has an opportunity to witness the dunes, their incredible picturesque nature and their unique wildlife.
7. Swim in the Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls
Arguably the world’s most wonderful natural occurrences, Victoria Falls is a popular tourist destination for those visiting Africa. Whilst seeing the falls is incredible, yes, it is a once in a lifetime experience to swim in the naturally formed pools of the falls. Exhilarating, invigorating and definitely only for the brave at heart, a swim in the devil’s pool in the afternoon sun is something that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. There are also the options of rafting in the surrounding water or bungi jumping over the steep and unforgiving mountainous terrain, making this a perfect destination for those who are looking to add a bit of thrill to their safari.
