Africa Holidays

With coastlines on the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean and Red Sea, there’s plenty of scope to enjoy some sun, sea and sand on an Africa holiday. Zanzibar is perhaps Africa’s ultimate beach destination. A tiny island just off the coast of Tanzania, it easily gives the likes of the Maldives and Seychelles a run for their money. A real tropical paradise, its white-sand beaches are fringed with palm trees and lapped by crystal clear water.

If you’re going on safari in the Masai Mara and want to turn your Africa holiday into a multi-centre, there’s no need to leave the country – Kenya also has some fabulous beaches. Diani is one of the most beautiful, but you’ll find fringing reefs and diver sites on the coast both north and south of Mombasa.

South Africa also has plenty of golden beaches, many of which offer great surfing, diving and snorkelling. Those around Plettenberg Bay are ideal for shore-based whale-watching and dolphin-spotting, while Cape Town’s Boulders Beach is famous for its protected colony of African penguins.

An African safari is high on many people’s bucket lists – and for good reason. They offer the ultimate wildlife-viewing experience and a real sense of adventure. Besides world-famous National Parks, like the Serengeti, Kruger and Addo Elephant Park, there are countless private game reserves dotted across the continent. Depending how independent you want to be, you can join an escorted group safari on your Africa holiday, or our experts can help you plan a private self-drive tour.

As you bump along dusty tracks in a 4x4, you’ll encounter a menagerie that includes giraffes, zebras, cheetahs and hippos. And, if you’re really lucky, you might even spot the infamous ‘Big Five’ – that’s lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo. To make your safari holiday in Africa truly special, take to the skies. Watch animals roam from above as you soar through the clouds on a private plane, or witness the sunrise over the savannah with an early-morning hot air balloon ride.

A safari may be the premier activity on offer during an Africa holiday, but it’s by no means the only one. This continent’s vast and varied landscapes allow for countless other outdoor adventures. If you’re a keen hiker, you’ll be spoiled for choice by the many mountain ranges. Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, is Africa’s highest – and most popular – peak, but the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, Simien Mountains in Ethiopia and Mount Kenya all present their own challenges. And if you visit Uganda or Rwanda, you can trek through dense vegetation in search of mountain gorillas.

Africa’s waterways allow for further exploits. You can relax on a gentle river cruise, canoe past hippos in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, or kayak with seals in Namibia’s Walvis Bay. Or if white-water rafting’s your thing, you’ll find Grade Five rapids on certain sections of the Nile and Zambezi rivers.

If you’re a proper adrenaline-junkie, there are a number of places in Africa where you can bungee jump. At 216 metres, Bloukrans Bridge in the Western Cape is one of the world’s highest commercial bungee jumps. But perhaps the most scenic jump is that off the Victoria Falls Bridge at the Zimbabwe-Zambia border.

The most striking sights in Africa may be found on the plains or along the coast, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook its urban centres. If you want to include a city break in your Africa holiday, Cape Town is a popular choice. Besides a spectacular natural setting, it boasts superb bars, innovative restaurants and plays host to many major sporting events. But it’s not the only South African metropolis worth visiting. With thriving art and music scenes, sprawling Johannesburg is one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most exciting cities.

If history’s your thing, you should also consider some of Egypt’s cities. Cairo may be chaotic but it has great museums and a remarkable number of beautiful mosques. In nearby Giza you can see the famous pyramids, while the portside city of Alexandria was founded in 331BC by Alexander the Great and was once home to the towering Pharos lighthouse – one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Morocco’s exotic cities, meanwhile, offer an indulgent mix of history, culture, adventure and luxury. Take in the sounds and smells of Marrakesh’s labyrinth-like souks; browse the art galleries and boutiques in atmospheric Essaouira; or head to the medieval city of Fez, where it sometimes feels like time’s stood still.

"Africa is my favourite continent as there is something for everyone and all ages. It really does have everything, good climate, beautiful unspoilt scenery, lovely people, excellent food and of course amazing wildlife. Each country offers different experiences, from the Okavango Delta in Botswana, to the vast barren deserts and huge sand dunes of Namibia, the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti plains in Tanzania and the spectacle of Victoria Falls.

Obviously the number one thing to do in Africa is a safari, to see the animals in their habitat, with the thrill and excitement of not knowing what you will see each day on the game drives. A hot air balloon ride will give a completely perspective on the safari as you view the game from above, as dawn is breaking.

Whilst at Victoria Falls, if the water levels permit, you must take a dip in the Devils Pool, which is a naturally formed ‘Jacuzzi’ on the very edge of the falls.

If in Cape Town, take the opportunity to visit the top of Table Mountain as soon as you can, as the cable car is closed if the mountain top becomes covered in cloud which does happen very often."

Nicola Poole, Sales Consultant, Cheltenham