Expectations of Africa
Expectations of Africa
Africa is a continent as diverse as its climate and its cultures. From the highest mountain of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to the depths of the oceans, the purity of nature abounds. The migration of thousands of wildebeest and zebra across the vast plains of the Serengeti and Maasai Mara is as far from a zoo as diving over a coral reef is from an aquarium. Much of sub-Saharan Africa offers the chance to see spectacular wildlife, from the marshes of the Chobe in Botswana to the forest of South Africa’s Kruger Park.
Dispel the myth that Cape Point marks the meeting of the Two Oceans by taking a visit to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa. Here the warmth of the Indian Ocean, that makes diving off Mozambique, Tanzania & Kenya so magnificent, meets the cold of the mighty waves of the Atlantic. These waves are host to the adrenalin junkies - surfers who ride the rollers at Muizenberg Beach. Further north Zimbabwe and Zambia compete for the biggest adrenalin rush, from bungee jumping to zip-wires to white-water rafting the Zambezi, below the mighty Victoria Falls.
Experiencing the bustle of a market is a great way to get to know a country. From Accra’s indoor textile market to the soap-stone street-sellers in Mombasa and the fruit and vegetables at Obolo market in Nigeria. Colours and smells so fresh and raw that all your senses are alive. The streets often full of cars, horse-drawn carts, people, farm animals and even the occasional ‘wilder’ animal. It’s not uncommon to wait for an elephant to finish his lunch before you continue your journey!
With most countries displaying a history of their colonial past, there are plenty of reasons to step back in time. From the glory of the steam trains of Zimbabwe to the humbling Cape Coast slave museum in Ghana. Whilst Africa in most parts may be seen as a little more ‘rustic’ than home, the phrase ‘rustic beauty’ is nowhere more apt than in this continent. From the alluring landscapes to the captivating smiles Africa will capture your heart!
