Located on the southeastern coast of Africa, Namibia offers a variety of compelling and enchanting attractions for visitors of all ages and tastes. Here’s a look at some of the many reasons why you should consider spending time in Namibia during your next trip to Africa.

Successful Conservation

Namibia gained independence as a country after breaking free from South Africa in 1990, and was among the first countries in the world to include plans for conservation in its constitution. Today, more than 40 percent of Namibia’s land area is considered “protected,” which is no small feat for a country twice the size of California.

Namibia’s conservation efforts involve a system of local conservancies, and have yielded stunning results. Namibian animals once considered endangered (including the black rhino) have seen population surges since the nation’s conservation efforts began. In light of such success, other countries have started using Namibia’s conservation policies as a model for their own.

Something for Everyone

Elton John’s “Circle of Life” comes to mind when describing the sights and activities visitors to Namibia can experience: the country truly offers “more to see than can ever be seen, more to do than can ever be done.”

With ocean, deserts, saltpans, mountains, grassy plains, and rivers in addition to its cities and villages, Namibia boasts a variety of super-scenic destinations no matter what your taste in sightseeing.

Along the country’s Skeleton Coast, which borders more than 1,000 miles of desert on the country’s western edge, eerie shipwrecks and skeletons can be viewed from where the inhospitable desert climate vanquished accidental visitors hundreds of years ago.

The town Kolmanskop, once a hub of diamond mining, has been deserted for nearly 50 years and now presents a thrilling twist on the traditional “ghost town:” thanks to the ceaseless desert winds, sand has already started to bury this once-thriving town.

Those who prefer more active adventures on their vacations can enjoy boat fishing, bird and dolphin watching trips, balloon flights to view sand dunes, desert golf, canyon hiking, four-wheeling, kite surfing, sand boarding, and surf skiing. And the Namib Desert’s sand dunes make it one of the only places in the world where sand skiing is possible (and popular).

Fascinating Wildlife

Even if you’re not interested in a typical safari vacation the wildlife in Namibia will hold you transfixed. In Namib Desert (the world’s oldest), plants and animals have evolved to get their water from the mist that rolls in from the ocean—the only source of moisture available to life in the desert!

Travel in Style…or Not

During your trip to Namibia, you can plan to stay in rugged, camp-style accommodations, a much more luxurious setting, or something in between. As a bonus, in most cities and tour areas, English is a commonly spoken language.

Learn more about planning your trip to Namibia or tell us about the adventures you had on your last visit there!

Ever wonder what summer camp is like for African children? In many nations of southern Africa (including Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia), an organization called Children in the Wilderness provides camp experiences for African children that teach them the value of conserving their natural resources.

Through programs that focus on environmental protection and life skills, Children in the Wilderness educates African children about the important role that conservation plays in preserving the wild spaces in their countries. The goal of this organization is to develop future leaders who will promote the best interests of the land and wildlife around them.

Here’s a closer look at the Children in the Wilderness programs, each of which focuses on the environmental issues and challenges unique to its region.

Botswana

The first country to establish a Children in the Wilderness program, Botswana has hosted about 96 children each year since 2001, in camps located along the Okavango Delta. In addition to a six-day Environmental Stewardship Program that students attend in the wilderness, they can participate in Environmental Clubs at their schools, funded and organized by Children in the Wilderness.

Malawi

The 50 to 96 children who visit Malawi’s Myuu Camp each year stay on Lake Malawi. Because of their proximity to this water body, their lessons focus on water conservation efforts and methods for using the lake sustainably. Children here also learn to swim and get the opportunity to interview every staff member of the Malawi chapter of Children in the Wilderness. Graduates of Malawi’s program have established a tree nursery and fence protection and maintenance program nearby.

Namibia

Since is start in 2002, roughly 90 children have attended Namibia’s Children in the Wilderness programs each year. Many of the program’s graduates are now permanently employed with Wilderness Safaris, a guide group that offers Namibia safari tours.

South Africa

South African children can visit one of two wilderness camp locations, Pafuri Camp and Rocktail Beach Camp. With a total of 69 attendees each year, the South African chapter of Children in the Wilderness has expanded its reach with the Environmental Clubs it established in the Makuleke Community.

Zambia

Because poaching is a major concern in Kafue National Park and South Luangwa National Park, where Zambia’s wilderness programs are hosted, the curriculum here focuses on how to prevent that crime. In addition to the 90 children per year who get to visit the actual camp, Zambia’s chapter offers follow-up programs in the schools.

Zimbabwe

The 130 children who attend the program at Linkwasha Camp in Hwange National Park each year hail from villages around the park and from an AIDS orphanage located in the town of Dete. Instead of follow-up programs run in the schools, Zimbabwe’s programs run nutrition, literacy, and school facility upgrade programs, which leaders decided the Zimbabwean population needed more immediately than environmental follow-up.

Donate to Africa’s Conservation Efforts!

If you’d like to learn more about the work that Children in the Wilderness does for African children, or if you’d like to sponsor a child or make a donation, you can do so on the Children in the Wilderness website.

What conservation lessons do you think we need to start teaching?

While much of the artwork produced in Africa today can be purchased and taken home as a commemoration of your travel, some of Africa’s art is much more fixed in its location. One prominent example is the rock art created by the San people, members of a tribe that lived in present-day South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola.

In the Drakensberg region of South Africa, visitors can visit these fascinating rock paintings, some of which date back thousands of years.

The Spiritual Importance of San Rock Art

Because members of the San tribe created some of these paintings as recently as 200 years ago, anthropologists have a unique understanding of what the images signified for the San people—and how they connect to other cave paintings around the world.

San rock art often depicts beings that are half-human and half-animal. According to anthropologists, these pictures represent the spiritual journeys undertaken by the medicine men of San tribes. Similar to shamans in Native American cultures, these medicine men would plunge themselves into trances in order to commune with the spirit world on behalf of their tribes.

The depicted transformation into a partially animal state is thought to represent the intense psychic struggle these medicine men underwent on behalf of their tribes as they attempted to affect rains, animal migration patterns, and other important natural forces.

History Captured on Rocks

Another fascinating element of this South African rock art is its ability to capture the changes the San people experienced as white settlers first came to their homeland. While older depictions contain a single color and show large predatory animals in “enemy” roles, newer art includes multiple hues and, eventually, guns in place of big predators.

Image above taken from PBS.org.

Scholars believe these changes reflect the increasing complexity the San people faced when their culture encountered those of Europeans for the first time.

If you’re interested in the history of art, be sure to schedule time to visit some San rock art during your next trip to Africa!

We recently conducted a poll of our social media followers to discover their favorite movies about Africa. We were delighted with the results—and even added a few titles to our own must-watch list! Here are a few to consider when you’re ready to get in the mood for your next trip to Africa.

The Lion King

A retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this animated Disney film won rave reviews after its 1994 release. With a sing-along score and a number of big-name actors (Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane, and others), this movie really does have something for the whole family. If you’ve already seen the movie more times than you can count, try catching the Broadway version, which has appeared in cities around the world.

Out of Africa

A story as much about the differences between Europe and Africa as those between men and women, Out of Africa offers striking scenery (both landscapes and actors) alongside a sweeping tale of love and loss. Starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, this movie won the Best Picture Academy Award in 1985.

Ghost and the Darkness

This 1996 movie (set in 1898) recounts a dramatized version of lion attacks that occurred during the construction of the African Uganda-Mombasa Railway. The attacks are considered unusual because a pair of lions (dubbed the titular Ghost and the Darkness) attack together, rather than individually. Drama ensues when men’s lives, reputations, and livelihoods are at stake.

Nowhere in Africa

A German film made in 2001, Nowhere in Africa depicts the story of a German Jewish family that flees Europe for Kenya in 1938 to escape encroaching Nazi forces. While the family avoids the immediate danger, more trouble awaits, including difficulty adjusting to life in Africa, the challenges of working a farm, and marital discord for the main characers. A deeply emotional and beautifully wrought story, Nowhere in Africa won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2001.

Catch a Fire

Shot in South Africa, Mozambique, and Swaziland, Catch a Fire captures the political strife of the Apartheid regime by following one man wrongly accused of a political crime. After the man and his family are tortured under false charges, he vows revenge and joins forces with guerilla anti-Apartheid fighters. Chilling and emotionally charged, this movie displays the ultimately redemptive power of forgiveness.

The Gods Must be Crazy

This 1980 comedy makes light of the clashes between African tribal culture and Western culture, which often exist side by side without encountering each other. Three overlapping plots make for zany antics that nevertheless highlight some sobering realities about the African continent.

I Dreamed of Africa

Based on an autobiographical novel of the same name, I Dreamed of Africa tells the tale of an upper-class Italian woman named Kuki, played by Kim Basinger. After divorcing and remarrying, Kuki moves to Kenya with her new husband, but finds herself unprepared for the challenges her new home presents.

Shooting Dogs (Beyond the Gates in the U.S.)

Shot in Rwanda, with many Rwandan crewmembers and actors, this movie follows two Europeans (a Catholic priest and a journalist) living in Rwanda at the time of the Rwandan Genocide. This story is harrowing and based on true events.

Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments section!

Most people associate Africa with safari vacations—not ones that involve hitting the waves. But South Africa’s coastal geography makes it nearly ideal for water sports, and the country has a rich history of surfing. Here’s a look at South Africa’s surfing legacy and where to catch a wave if you’re traveling there today.

Early African Surfers

According to the website Surfing Heritage South Africa, which documents the nation’s history in waves, the first documented surf expedition in South Africa occurred in 1919, when a Capetown woman met two U.S. Marines in the town of Muizenberg.

Headed home from fighting in WWI, legend has it that the marines taught the Capetown woman how to surf standing up on their Hawaiian-style boards, which was unusual for the time, when most surfers still rode waves stomach-down on boards.

Adapting & Evolving

Throughout the 1920s, South Africans interested in surfing experimented with building boards that mimicked the ones they knew surfers in other parts of the world were using. But because South African surfers lacked access to the lightweight wood that Hawaiian boards were made with, they had to improvise, building surfboards with wooden frames and water-tight canvas centers.

Eventually, swimmers and surfers in South Africa formed life-saving groups and began to tailor their designs to help lifesavers get to struggling swimmers. The various design adaptations, though, eventually led to more advanced surfboards, many similar to those in use today.

Where to Surf in Africa Today

Naturally, South Africa remains a hot international destination for surfers—and other African destinations have gotten surfer shout outs as well. Try visiting one of these on your next trip to Africa:

• South Africa: This country’s extensive coastline includes a number of surfing spots, including Eland’s Bay, Long Beach, Muizenberg (a popular site for swimmers as well), Victoria Bay (good for surfers at all levels), and Jeffrey’s Bay (recommended for experienced surfers). While South Africa isn’t the only surfing hotspot in Africa, its beaches are often the most easily accessible by motor vehicle.
• Angola: Cabo Ledo, a town on the coast of this south-western African nation, boasts surfing and accommodations (though they tend to be expensive). While surfing here may be picturesque, traveling can be hard on vehicles.
• Cameroon: With black sand beaches and spectacular volcano views, the surfing at Limbe, Cameroon, can be breathtaking. But it can also get pretty rainy, so plan accordingly.
• Seychelles Islands: Off Africa’s east coast, this archipelago in the Indian Ocean offers surfing far away from crowds. While surfers can find waves year-round, the prime seasons are between monsoon seasons (March through May and September through November).

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On an African safari tour, many travelers find themselves drawn to primates. That’s partly because humans are considered primates and animals in this order often remind us (in funny, poignant, and surprising ways) of ourselves.

So what should you look for during your next trip to Africa? Keep your eyes peeled for these six primates, which compose most of the major primate groups (there are 51 species total!).

Gorilla: Found in tropical and subtropical African forests, gorillas are the largest non-extinct primate species. Gorillas are social animals, and tend to live in troops, which generally consist of one adult male (also called a “silverback”) and multiple females and young gorillas. Some troops include more than one male. Most closely related to chimpanzees and humans, gorillas are vegetarians and communicate through grunts, barks, and deeply resonant burps.

Chimpanzee: The two types of chimpanzees, the common chimpanzee and the bonobo, are the closest living relatives to humans. Like humans, chimps live in large social groups (“communities”) composed of several males and females. Within these groups, a hierarchy of power develops, with one alpha male atop the order and many lesser power ranks below him. The alpha male is not always the biggest or strongest, but instead forges strategic alliances with others who help him maintain his power. Sound familiar?

Black-and-White Colobus: This type of monkey lives in dense African forests, where it has adapted to occupy places that other primates cannot. Colobuses play an important role in spreading seeds throughout their habitats (through their digestive tracts and the act of eating), but are currently threatened by bushmeat hunting. While bushmeat hunting (that is, the hunting of wild game, or animals that live in the “bush”) threatens a number of wild species, many Africans living at the subsistence level rely on such food to live.

Vervet Monkey: Native to southeastern African countries (including Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa), the vervet monkey is small and plain in color (mostly black, white, and gray). One of the vervet’s most fascinating attributes is its warning calls—vervets warn of predators with predator-specific vocalizations. In some situations, mother vervets have been observed chastising their young for giving the wrong warning call!

Baboons: Social animals, baboons live in troops that can range from five to 250 members. A variety of mating and friendship behaviors might take place, but among one of the most interesting is that some male baboons will grab babies during fights to protect themselves.

Galago: Also known as a “bush baby,” this small primate species is nocturnal and known for its unusually strong jumping abilities. While galagos tend to live in groups, these groups usually consist of only males or females. A single male often mates with all the females in an area, and males who have not established territory for themselves might live in “bachelor” groups.

When you’re planning your African safari vacation, be sure to schedule time to observe these amazing, highly developed animals in their natural habitats!

What’s your favorite African primate?

Most people planning a trip to Africa know that many of the large predators on the continent include lions and venomous snakes—but Africa is also home to many deadly creatures that are much smaller (NOTE: these creatures do not pose any serious threat to travelers. This post is intended to simply introduce you to some of these creatures that you will likely not come in contact with while traveling to Africa). Here’s a look at some of the most dangerous tiny creatures that call Africa home.

Six-Eyed Sand Spider: Found in sandy places (including deserts) in southern Africa, this eight-legged creature hides in the sand and strikes when an animal gets too close to its home. The bad news is that its venom can kill a rabbit in a matter of hours, but the good news is that no confirmed human bites have ever been reported. This deadly spider is also mercifully shy.

Image above taken from GoAfrica.about.com.

Deathstalker Scorpion: Located throughout northern African countries, this brightly colored arachnid has the most highly toxic venom of any of its species. While healthy adults are not likely to die from a deathstalker’s sting, the elderly, very young, and those with medical conditions might be at risk. Luckily, a number of European pharmaceutical companies manufacture anti-venoms specifically for deathstalker bites.

Image above taken from PetBugs.com.

Mantella Poison Frogs: Concentrated largely in Madagascar, Mantella frogs have brightly colored skin that alerts other animals and humans to their toxic qualities. While a Mantella frog’s skin contains significant levels of toxins, humans are at little risk because their bright hues make these frogs easily avoidable.

Image above taken from mantella.amphibiancare.com

Blowfish: Known by many names (including pufferfish, toad fish, and sugar toads, among others), this spiky swimmer can be deadly to humans—but only when eaten. Though blowfish are found in some African water bodies, they are not generally served as food in this part of the world. (The Japanese, on the other hand, consider blowfish a delicacy and chefs in Japan train to learn how to prepare it so that it’s safe).

Image above taken from FactZoo.com

Tarantula Hawk Wasp: Technically, this wasp is only deadly to tarantula spiders, but its behavior is too fascinating not to include in this list. Female hawk wasps prey on tarantulas; after stinging them, a wasp drags the paralyzed spider to her nest, where she lays an egg in the spider’s body. The egg matures and hatches in the tarantula, which remains alive the entire time! After consuming the spider’s body for nourishment, the baby hawk wasp emerges. Word to the wise: even though hawk wasps aren’t deadly to humans, their stings are considered among the most painful in the world.

Image above taken from SDRP.org

Staying Safe on an African Vacation

It’s important to remember that deadly animal species live on every inhabited continent—not just in Africa! Part of traveling safely and healthily is learning about the risks you might face on the road—and preparing to keep yourself well.

Loved this post? Check out one of our previous blog posts on Africa’s Most Dangerous Animals Revealed.

To me, the perfect trip is one that is filled with life-changing cultural experiences, allows me to meet locals and international travelers, unfolds at a moderate pace (not too fast and not too slow), allows some level of flexibility, and ignites something within me that I never knew was there before.

If you agree with me about the elements of a perfect trip, then here are some tips to ensure that your future trip to Africa is all that you imagined and more:

Don’t Be Shy: In order to truly immerse yourself into the local culture, it sometimes takes stepping outside of your comfort zone. Start conversations with merchants, restaurant personnel, safari guides, and accommodation staff members. I promise you that by the end of your trip you will think that Africans are some of the most genuine and hospitable individuals you have ever met. In fact, many of our clients return home with a new appreciation for African cultures, new friends and relationships, and a warm feeling in their hearts, thanks to the locals of Africa.

Think New: You wouldn’t visit Paris to go shopping at the GAP, right? No, probably not. You’d want to visit local boutiques, art galleries, and shops that can’t be found in your homeland. This should be your same mindset when visiting Africa. The best way to absorb the various cultures and spark self growth is by trying new things, tasting new dishes, and exploring new places. The mystery of new experiences adds a thrilling element to your trip—and who knows, you might just learn something new about yourself (e.g. that you like tripe or smileys)!

Pick and Choose: Africa is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many individuals. For these travelers, they often think that jam packing their itinerary with stuff they’ve always wanted to do is the best course of action. We have had many travelers come to us looking for a filled-to-the-brim itinerary, and often times, when they return home, they say that they wish they opted for more downtime in their itinerary.

When you’re moving fast, going from activity to activity and place to place, sometimes you miss the most beautiful and finite elements. Taking in your surroundings, enjoying the leisureliness of sundowners on your private veranda, and watching Africa slowly unfold around is you much more moving and enriching than a fast-paced itinerary. Not only can a packed itinerary cause stress, but it also results in zero flexibility with your schedule.

Therefore, when you are in the process of planning your trip, be sure to do your research and ask the advice of fellow travelers and your safari vacation agent.

Capture Moments: Some of the best ways to capture memories of your trip is by writing in a journal each night—describing what you saw and did during the day and your observations—taking photographs of the landscapes, wildlife, and people, and buying souvenirs that resonate with a specific experience you had.

How do you absorb the most culture from your travels?

When packing for your trip to Africa, it is extremely important to note that there are strict weight luggage restrictions enforced on light aircraft transfers between countries. This is to ensure the safety of aircraft passengers. Please read through this document thoroughly to ensure that your luggage is compatible with aircraft luggage restrictions.

These restrictions are enforced for the following reasons:

• Light aircrafts are designed with a maximum body weight and luggage weight allowance.
• Most airfields are over 3,000 feet above sea level and are located in the tropics, and therefore the permissible aircraft carrying capacity is reduced.
• The aircrafts have physical space restrictions.

Depending on where in Africa you will be traveling to and from, the luggage weight restrictions will vary. However, there are some luggage restrictions that apply to ALL light aircraft transfers in Africa, which include:

• On ALL light aircrafts, only soft bags will be accepted—no hard suitcases, as they physically cannot fit into the aircraft. Duffel bags without wheels are preferred. This includes camera equipment and hand luggage. There may be a fee per bag.

• The maximum dimensions of the soft bags are as follows: 25 cm / 9.8 inches wide x 30 cm / 11.8 inches high and 62 cm long / 24.4 inches long (the size of the door of the 206 pod).  Please keep in mind that the baggage compartments on the light aircraft are only 25 cm 9.8 inches high, so the pilots must be able to manipulate the bag into the compartment.  Luggage with wheels also adds to your total weight.  So the rule of thumb for your luggage is: soft, non-rigid bags with no wheels, following the dimensions above.

• Passengers weighing 100kg / 220lbs or more must advise us in advance so an extra seat for the additional weight can be tallied into the package cost for safety purposes.  Please remember that these restrictions are to ensure the safety of our guests.

Below is an image that depicts the proper bag size:

These luggage restrictions may sound very limiting, but bear in mind the following:

• Most safari camps / lodges and hotels provide basic toilet amenities
• Laundry can be done on a daily basis (and many camps provide this service free of charge but hotels do charge a nominal fee)
• Mainly casual clothing is required

In addition to the restrictions above, there are also SPECIFIC luggage WEIGHT restrictions that apply in each country and region of Africa. All of these regulations are strictly enforced. See below for each country’s guidelines and restrictions:

Zimbabwe: The two primary charter flights that fly Zimbabwe are Wilderness Air and Solenta. Both companies have their own weight restrictions. Please see below for details on each:

• Wilderness Air: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted to 20 kg / 44 lbs per person.

• Solenta: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted to 15 kg / 33 lbs per person.

Malawi: Luggage, including camera equipment and hang luggage, is restricted to 15 kg / 33 lbs per person.

Zambia: The two primary charter flights that fly Zambia are Proflight and Wilderness Air. Both companies have their own weight restrictions. Please see below for details on each: 

• Wilderness Air: Each passenger is allowed one bag weighing up to 20 kg / 44 lbs.

• Proflight: Lusaka-Ndola and Lusaka-Livingstone allows each passenger one piece of luggage weighing up to 23 kg / 50 lbs. All other small aircraft operated routes will allow each passenger to bring one piece of luggage, weighing no more than 15 kg / 33 lbs. Each passenger is allowed 1 carry on item (such as a laptop or purse), weighing up to 5 kg / 11 lbs. Single bags weighing over 32 kg / 70 lbs. will not be flown and must be shipped separately. Additional bags in excess of the allowance mentioned above will cost an additional fee and will be accepted only on a standby basis, based on available space on the aircraft.

Botswana: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted to 20 kg / 44 lbs per person.

South Africa: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted on Regional Air Services charter flights to 20 kg / 44 lbs per person.

Namibia (including the Skeleton Coast Fly-In safari but excluding the Best of Namibia Wing Safaris and Namibia Explorations): Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted to 20 kg / 44 lbs per person. For Best of Namibia Wing Safaris and Namibia Explorations the luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted to 12 kg / 26 lbs per person.

Kenya: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted on Regional Air Services charter flights to 15 kg / 33 lbs per person.

Tanzania: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted on Regional Air Services charter flights to 15 kg / 33 lbs per person.

Mozambique: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted to 20 kg / 44 lbs per person.

Uganda and Rwanda: Luggage requirements vary greatly between fly-in carriers in Central Africa. It is important that you check with your airline carrier as to any luggage size and weight restrictions. Small aircraft transfers within Uganda and Rwanda may have strict luggage weight and size allowances.

For Excess Baggage:

If you wish to bring additional luggage with you that exceeds the allotted weight restrictions for one person, you may choose to purchase another seat.

Additional Packing Tips & Notes:

As no formal clothes are needed throughout most of Africa, we recommend that you limit your luggage to the basics.  More formal attire is usually required only when staying in the more prestigious city hotel establishments or on any of the luxury trains. On a game safari, casual clothing is the order of the day. We will include a suggested packing list in your final documents.

If you will be traveling to multiple destinations, please defer to the lightest weight restrictions for your checked luggage.  Should you need to make arrangements to store or ship excess luggage, we are glad help with making those arrangements.  Please note, there may be additional charges for storing or shipping luggage.

**NOTE: Always check with a Hills of Africa representative prior to departing for your trip to make certain that you have packed within weight restrictions for your booked flights.

Whether you thrive on adventure, crave cultural stimulation, find pure bliss on remote beaches, or consider yourself a romantic at heart, southern and eastern Africa are celebrated for their massive diversity and ability to cater to various travel styles. So, if you are considering a trip to Africa, but are unsure of what you’d like to do and see, refer to this guide for a quick insight into what each region is celebrated for:

South Africa

Cape Winelands

Shark Diving

• Embark on a horseback wine tasting tour in Cape Winelands.
• Watch for whales at False Bay as you delight in fresh seafood.
• Swim with the renowned African penguins at Boulder Beach.
• Explore Cape Town’s bustling art & culinary scenes.
• Discover the Xhosa people’s unique customs on a cultural tour.
• Face a predator on a great white shark diving tour.
• Explore Table Mountain as you ascend the slopes in a rotating cable car.
• Taste the aphrodisiacs of South Africa, including fresh oysters.
• Travel through the aromatic Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
• Test your cooking skills in a Cape Malay cooking class.
• Spot the Big Five on an adventurous game drive in Kruger.

Botswana

Okavango Delta

• Snuggle with the meerkats of the Okavango Delta.
• Fly above the Okavango Delta on an adventurous airborne safari.
• Embark on a sunset Chobe River cruise, sundowner cocktail in hand.
• Experience a day in the life of the Sans Bushmen on a bush walk.
• Stargaze next to a crackling fire as you reminisce about the day.
• Relax at the prehistoric beaches of the Makgadikgadi Pans.
• Explore the renowned Linyanti Wildlife Reserve on a walking safari.
• Discover vibrant, indigenous birds on a birding safari.
• Meet the colorful elephants of the Kalahari Desert.
• Spot hippos & crocs on a traditional mokoro safari down the Chobe

Zimbabwe

Canoe safari

• Explore Hwange National Park on a private guided safari adventure.
• Canoe the mighty Zambezi River as you spot residential wildlife.
• Soar over one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls.
• Delight in 5-star cuisine beneath a star-studded sky.
• Embark on a trekking expedition to track the elusive white rhino.
• Discover the history of Victoria Falls on a Monde Village tour.
• Explore Lake Kariba on game drives, fishing safaris, and canoe safaris.
• Partake in the journey of lifetime through the heart of the Mana Pools.
• Capture the soul of Africa on a specialized photography safari.
• Observe hundreds of species of birds—many of which are endemic to Zimbabwe.

Zambia

Walking Safari

Game Drive Safari

• Embark on an enriching historical tour of Victoria Falls.
• Board an evening Zambezi river cruise to watch the African sunset.
• Witness wildlife up close on a walking safari in Luangwa National Park.
• Step back in time, on a Livingstone city tour.
• Experience the exhilaration of white water rafting on the Zambezi.
• Witness the elusive pangolin and aardvark in Kafue National Park.
• Embark on a horseback safari on the exclusive Sindabezi Island.
• Tower over the treetops on a elephant-back safari.
• Explore your wild side—bungee jump off Victoria Falls.
• Walk with the king of all wild game—the lion.

Mozambique

The beaches of Mozambique

Horseback riding

• Uncover Africa’s “Lost Eden” in Gorongosa National Park.
• Kayak through the enchanting mangroves of Ibo Island.
• Enjoy a charming beach picnic with fresh seafood on Benguerra Island.
• Witness colorful sea life while scuba diving at Two Mile Reef.
• Island hop on a sunset Dhow cruise through the Bazaruto Archipelago.
• Search for the elusive dugong—sea mammals once mistaken for mermaids.
• Delight in Mozambique’s world-famous, fresh prawns on a beach picnic.
• Test your surfing abilities on the waves at Tofinho.
• Enjoy sensational bush walks in Niassa National Reserve.
• Scuba dive through ancient shipwrecks.

Stay tuned for Part II of this guide, publishing this Friday! Also, we invite you to contact one of our safari specialists if you have any questions or want to start crafting your next trip to Africa.