There are lots of things to do in Africa. From soft adventures like relaxing at the beach to active adventures like mountaineering, a lot can be done in Africa. Here are some of the top activities that one can enjoy while on a safari in Africa.
Top Things to Do
- Big Five Safaris – Africa is home to the big five animals – Many national parks host these
- Game Viewing – Go on a game drive in Africa’s best national parks and game reserves.
- Wildebeest Migration – one of the natural wonders of Africa. Don’t miss the yearly migration from Serengeti to Masai Mara National Park and back.
- Gorilla trekking – a hike through the impenetrable forests in search for the endangered gorillas. Gorillas are found in only 10 countries in Africa – and safaris to these apes also help in conserving these animals.
- Chimpanzee tracking – Hike through the tropical rain forests to look out for chimpanzees. Chimpanzees are found in only 21 countries and are native to the African continent.
- Birding – There are many bird species found on the African continent – thanks to to the rich diversity. Bird through forests, swamps, savanna and woodland areas, along water birds. Lots of birds to see
- Water Adventures – there are many aquatic adventures including bungee jumping, kayaking and white water rafting, cruising and other forms of marine tourism.
- Walking Safaris – These are common in Southern and Eastern Africa. Walk through national parks, game reserves and private game reserves guided by a ranger or guide.
- Mountain Climbing – With the many mountains across the continent, climbers should not miss climbing some of the world’s highest mountains including Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Rwenzoris – the famed mountains of the moon etc.
- Photographic Safaris – From learners to experienced photographers, wildlife photography is one of the things you should not miss while in Africa.
- Camping – Do you love camping? Many options await you. From open ground camping to luxury camping in tented campsites like Mahari Mzuri, great choices are available to camp in the wild national parks of Africa.
- Cultural Tours – Learn about the different cultures of the local people. The African continent has over 1000 tribes with unique lifestyles.
By Region
The north of Africa is wholly different to that south of the vast Sahara Desert. To begin with it has been home to intelligent, civilised, trading nations for thousands of years. Travel along the Nile through Egypt , and you will see evidence of these ancient civilizations all around. The sandy streets are lined with bazaars and markets, camels are still a main form of transport outside the cities, and the busy coastal towns along the Mediterranean are mostly well versed at welcoming tourists.
South of the desert, it is a very different story. Communities are thinly spread, have little infrastructure, and often seem to live with few differences to the way they have for centuries. The land is arid, with rocky outcrops, and few areas that can be successfully cultivated. The coastal countries of western Africa are far greener, being fed by large river systems heading to the Atlantic.
Central to southern Africa, across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia, has huge areas of undeveloped bush land, and some areas of dense jungle, with a fairly even spread of small towns and villages. This is the area where you will find the best of the large wildlife parks, mostly well managed with the tourist and ecologist in mind.
South Africa is the most popular destination of Sub-Saharan Africa, with a landscape that ranges from game reserves, to mountains, and rich coastal resorts.
Throughout the continent, the forces of nature have created some monumental natural landmarks. The most outstanding of these has to be the Great Rift Valley, which stretches for 3,500 miles from Mozambique to Syria. As it passes through Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda it’s edges are marked by dramatic cliffs towering out of the plains.
Sitting astride the Kenya-Tanzania border is Africa ‘s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. At almost 6000m it towers above the Atlas Mountains in the north, and the Drakensburg Mountains in the south. Great rivers such as the Nile, Congo, and Niger, are a lifeline to those along their valleys, and the Zambezi attracts visitors with their camera, as it flows over the mighty Victoria Falls on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border.