In our series highlighting 500 journeys of a lifetime we visit Africa. There is something about Africa that stirs the soul, something that makes you want to come back again and again. Perhaps it is the wildlife that makes this continent feel like Eden. Perhaps it is the people, so welcoming and lighthearted. Perhaps it is the landscape, so vast and open beneath big skies. Wait... What stirs the soul, is ALL that.
Balloon Safari over the Serengeti
As the sun rises your balloon climbs above the savanna which rolls on as far as the eye can see. Animals abound and stillness is all around, occasionally punctuated by the sound of the burner. As you float above the trees spotting animals down below you wonder: "Can this be real?" Find tours in Tanzania
See the wildebeest migration
Massive herds of wildebeest, gazelle and zebra graze the grasslands of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in an annually rotating spectacle. Sometimes they cross rivers where hungry crocs lie in wait. Sometimes they are in remote areas where only a handful of people watch the herds. Find out where to best see the migration.
Climb Kilimanjaro
Africa's highest mountain is yours for the climbing. Hike through rainforest, alpine meadows and high-altitude deserts to the peak and see why this is called the Roof of Africa. Read more about the different routes up the mountain.
Come eye to eye with a gorilla
Hike through the dense jungles of Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park. Suddenly your guide motions you to stay low and keep quiet. You have arrived. In a clearing ahead of you is a small group of mountain gorillas... Ask us about gorilla trips
Visit the ancient kingdom of Ethiopia
One of the first kingdoms to revert to Christianity, the religion is still living strong in the hearts and minds of the people, finding its fullest expression in the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Then there the stunning Semien mountains, age-old palaces, the incredible Blue Nile Falls, markets that have you step back in to the middle ages, tribal villages and everywhere you go stunning scenery. Ethiopia in Depth
Rock the Kasbah in Morocco
Soak up the bustling, exotic atmosphere in ancient souqs; join a camel trek into the Sahara; sleep under expansive star-studded skies; witness traditional lifestyles in kasbahs; walk to hamlets high up in the mountains; get lost in winding alleys. All that and more awaits you in Morocco. From Fez, the Islamic world’s largest medieval city, to the sea-side romance of Essaouira; from glorious Marrakech to the oases of the interior and from traditional bath houses to wonderful meals, Morocco is one country you will not want to miss. See the Highlights of Morocco or Walk the Atlas.
Climb the sand dunes of the Namib Dessert
Tucked away in the south-western corner of Africa, Namibia has some of the most stunning landscapes in Africa - driving the lone roads it is the amazing arid rock formations and desert sands that will stay with you forever. Highlights include the Fish River Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of Africa, the salt pans at Etosha and the unique wildlife like desert rhino, elephants and oryx. Unique to this country are the red sands of some of the highest dunes in the world at Sossusvlei. Find tours to Namibia
A world in one country
Lions and penguins, traditional African cultures and Western creature comforts, all the Big Five on one morning’s game drive, some of the best food and wine on the planet - all that is South Africa. From metropolitan Cape Town to safaris in the Kruger area, from hiking in the Drakensberg to scenic drives and boat rides along the Garden Route, come and see why this place has been called “The world in one Country”. Read about the highlights of South Africa.
Stay in a private game reserve
Private game reserves, which offer very comfortable accommodation in the form of small-scale higher-priced lodges or tented camps, set their own rules and allow vehicles to travel off road, all with the highest degree of respect for the environment. They also allow you to do game walks and night drives. Only a handful of travellers are allowed at any one time within private reserves, which makes for a very intimate experience. Due to the quality of guides employed in private reserves these reserves offer the best chance to see wildlife. Available in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya.
Get sprayed by Victoria Falls
The massive cataracts at Victoria Falls are a must-see for any visitor to this part of Africa. The 2 kms (1.2 miles) wide falls can be seen from walking trails or from a helicopter. Adrenaline junkies can bungee jump and raft the river in this, the adventure capital of Africa. Ask us about trips to Victoria Falls.
Canoe the Zambezi
The lower Zambezi meanders its way through the bush and forests on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Few people live in this immense wilderness and animals roam free along the shores and in the water. Paddle by pods of hippos, come up-close to elephants wandering through the river and spot wildlife as you float downstream on this mighty river. See this trip to the Zambezi Valley
Time out in the Okavango
Lying in the midst of the Kalahari Desert, this giant marshland is a haven for wildlife from lions and elephant to the elusive sitatunga and myriad birds. Tranquility is king in this other-worldly paradise. Ask us about trips to the Okavango
Lounge on the beach in Zanzibar
Get lost in the magical jumble of cobbled alleyways of Stone Town, delight your senses on a tour of the spice plantations or relax on the stunning white-sand, palm-fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean. Ask us about tours to Zanzibar
Get off the beaten track
So you have been on safari and seen the major parks in Kenya and Tanzania - the Masai Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. You have travelled to South Africa's Kruger and heck, you have even been to Botswana's Chobe and Namibia's Etosha. And you know Africa gets in your blood and you cannot get enough of wildlife viewing, of going on safari, of experiencing the African bush and wildlife. Read on for off-the-beaten-track safari destinations.