Wonders of The Golden Contient, Africa
In this continent of extremes, you'll find it all: from deserts to mountains, wild animals to beaches, adventure activities to top cuisine, natural wonders to historical sites. There's a vast array of activities waiting to be experienced and delighted in. No other continent comes close to Africa for its scale, diversity and pure, raw impact. Africa's natural history alone would make a dozen visits worthwhile. Where else on earth can you fall asleep to the sound of lions roaring, or witness a million flamingos take off from the waters of a remote lake? Parts of Africa possess landscapes so magnificent they'll blow your mind.
The charm of Middle East and North Africa lies in its vibrant cultural heritage. Since time immemorial, myriad civilizations have left an indelible mark in the arid deserts, leaving behind captivating ruins and cities which seem to be lost in time. Debate with venerable merchants selling handicrafts, exotic spices and rich tapestries among the breezy, slender streets of an Arabic medina, dance to the thumping reggae beats coming from a West African market stall, or shoot the breeze with fishermen under Indian Ocean palm trees, and you'll be struck more than anything else by the sincerity, warm-heartedness and vigor of the African people. Explore soaring pyramids, ancient temples, ornate churches, intricately embellished mosques and hear the call to prayer resonate over the rooftops, as donkey carts rattle along over narrow streets past fragrant sheesha houses.
Africa offers a diversity of attractions, there is something for everyone - there's the deserted Kalahari, Namakwa's springtime symphony of wildflowers, the eponymous Table Mountain, safaris in Kruger National Park's wildlife-stalked savannah, walking and jeep safaris through Burundi and Rwanda in search of the largest gorillas on earth, unspoiled beaches at Mozambique's Bazaruto Islands, rich cultural heritage of the Masai tribe of Kenya, the bustling mother city of Cape Town, Gorilla tracking at Uganda, one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls and KwaZulu-Natal's iSimangaliso Wetland Park that alone has five distinct ecosystems, attracting both zebras and dolphins. When it's time to reflect on it all, do it over seafood on the Garden Route or a braai (barbecue) in the wilderness - accompanied by a bottle of fine African wine.
Every country in the world exhibits diversity, but South Africa, sprawling from the hippos in the Limpopo River to the penguins tottering on the Cape, takes some beating. A thrilling mix of third and first world cultures - along with the most excellent and least crowded beaches in the world, wildlife parks, gorgeous natural scenery, fantastic infrastructure and a stable post-apartheid environment make South Africa a great destination waiting to happen. It befits its position at the southern end of the world's most glorious continent, with a mlange of more different terrains than photographers can shake their cameras at.
The charm of Middle East and North Africa lies in its vibrant cultural heritage. Since time immemorial, myriad civilizations have left an indelible mark in the arid deserts, leaving behind captivating ruins and cities which seem to be lost in time. Debate with venerable merchants selling handicrafts, exotic spices and rich tapestries among the breezy, slender streets of an Arabic medina, dance to the thumping reggae beats coming from a West African market stall, or shoot the breeze with fishermen under Indian Ocean palm trees, and you'll be struck more than anything else by the sincerity, warm-heartedness and vigor of the African people. Explore soaring pyramids, ancient temples, ornate churches, intricately embellished mosques and hear the call to prayer resonate over the rooftops, as donkey carts rattle along over narrow streets past fragrant sheesha houses.
Africa offers a diversity of attractions, there is something for everyone - there's the deserted Kalahari, Namakwa's springtime symphony of wildflowers, the eponymous Table Mountain, safaris in Kruger National Park's wildlife-stalked savannah, walking and jeep safaris through Burundi and Rwanda in search of the largest gorillas on earth, unspoiled beaches at Mozambique's Bazaruto Islands, rich cultural heritage of the Masai tribe of Kenya, the bustling mother city of Cape Town, Gorilla tracking at Uganda, one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls and KwaZulu-Natal's iSimangaliso Wetland Park that alone has five distinct ecosystems, attracting both zebras and dolphins. When it's time to reflect on it all, do it over seafood on the Garden Route or a braai (barbecue) in the wilderness - accompanied by a bottle of fine African wine.
Every country in the world exhibits diversity, but South Africa, sprawling from the hippos in the Limpopo River to the penguins tottering on the Cape, takes some beating. A thrilling mix of third and first world cultures - along with the most excellent and least crowded beaches in the world, wildlife parks, gorgeous natural scenery, fantastic infrastructure and a stable post-apartheid environment make South Africa a great destination waiting to happen. It befits its position at the southern end of the world's most glorious continent, with a mlange of more different terrains than photographers can shake their cameras at.