VISIT
the Birthplace of humanity
AFRICA
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Africa is the ultimate bucket list fulfill-er
just take it from Larry Olmsted: If you could take just one vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? South Africa would be a pretty good choice.
Here’s the thing: African wildlife safaris are really amazing, I mean mind boggling fun, and they appeal to just about everyone – even people who didn’t think they would love safaris. Young, old, active, lazy, urban, rural, couples, singles, families, it doesn’t matter: a safari is the winner takes all of vacations.
The main reason most people go to on vacation to Africa is for safari. But only South Africa offers far more to see and do than “just” safaris. In fact it would make perfect sense for many people to do an entire South African vacation without the safari at all – something I can’t say about any other place in southern or central Africa. In South Africa, you really can have it all – and with the favorable exchange rate and cost of living, it is a bargain, especially for food, drink and shopping.
I’ve been on safari to Kenya and Tanzania and had an awesome time because the wildlife is great, in many ways just as good as in South Africa (in some ways better, in other ways worse). You could make the argument that it’s even better in Botswana or other places. But you simply cannot make the argument that there is better vacation destination with safaris than South Africa. It is the only one of these places you would be likely to enjoy a stellar trip without ever going into the bush at all.
Let me be frank: Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam are not places most Americans want to visit on vacation, they are places to pass through or fly into on your way to your vacation. Most people couldn’t even name a single city in Namibia or Botswana. But Cape Town is a jewel that would be well worth visiting anyway, wildlife or no wildlife, and Johannesburg has far more to see and do than the vast majority of African cities.
just take it from Larry Olmsted: If you could take just one vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? South Africa would be a pretty good choice.
Here’s the thing: African wildlife safaris are really amazing, I mean mind boggling fun, and they appeal to just about everyone – even people who didn’t think they would love safaris. Young, old, active, lazy, urban, rural, couples, singles, families, it doesn’t matter: a safari is the winner takes all of vacations.
The main reason most people go to on vacation to Africa is for safari. But only South Africa offers far more to see and do than “just” safaris. In fact it would make perfect sense for many people to do an entire South African vacation without the safari at all – something I can’t say about any other place in southern or central Africa. In South Africa, you really can have it all – and with the favorable exchange rate and cost of living, it is a bargain, especially for food, drink and shopping.
I’ve been on safari to Kenya and Tanzania and had an awesome time because the wildlife is great, in many ways just as good as in South Africa (in some ways better, in other ways worse). You could make the argument that it’s even better in Botswana or other places. But you simply cannot make the argument that there is better vacation destination with safaris than South Africa. It is the only one of these places you would be likely to enjoy a stellar trip without ever going into the bush at all.
Let me be frank: Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam are not places most Americans want to visit on vacation, they are places to pass through or fly into on your way to your vacation. Most people couldn’t even name a single city in Namibia or Botswana. But Cape Town is a jewel that would be well worth visiting anyway, wildlife or no wildlife, and Johannesburg has far more to see and do than the vast majority of African cities.
Visit One of Africa's Many Cultural Rich Countries
With its expansive landscapes and formidable animal life, the world's second-biggest continent is arguably the best for photographers.
Throw in that sense of being in a place that hasn't changed for centuries and sometimes millennia, and you get some of the most inspiring, and inspired, spots on the planet.
Canoeing safaris in the Lower Zambezi offer sightings of hippos, elephants and other animals drinking from the rivers and tributaries around camp. Sports fishermen and women can also be accommodated at various of the camps and lodges on the banks of the river.
Between the Atlas Mountains and the dunes of the Sahara lies one of Morocco’s most splendid and rewarding landscapes: the Draa, a mass of date plantations punctuated by kasbahs made of rammed red earth rising against the sky.
Zagora, at the southern end, makes a good base with decent hotels and restaurants. Allow five hours to reach the Draa from Marrakech via a spectacular route across the Atlas mountains -- it’s best not to self-drive.
See Africa from a Go Pro's perspective.
Planning an African safari? Sometimes it helps to have someone do the hard work for you. We've made a careful selection of our best African safari tours, rated most popular by both our Africa Safari Experts and our customers, and have finalized our Top 10 tours in Africa.
Of all the destinations in the world, I'll wager that Africa offers the best family vacations. Where else can you see the beloved creatures that inspired a dozen Disney movies, or pack healthy fun in the great outdoors into once-in-a-lifetime, child-friendly itineraries? Where else can you enjoy superb settings, fine dining and excellent service at a price that won't blow your budget?
An East Africa family safari offers a range of adventure activities in luxury lodges and private safari villas geared for family vacations, plus plenty of attractions to please everyone: mom and dad, children, grandparents, and even teenagers.
We know because we go on safari with our families. The variety and novelty of an East Africa family vacation provides a rich setting for you to reconnect with each other and a wonderful way for children to learn about nature, encounter completely different cultures and see wild animals close up in their natural habitat.
Where you go and what you do on your East Africa family vacation is determined by the ages of your children.
Under 8 years: East Africa is a malaria area and we don’t recommend taking young children into areas where malaria is a risk. For the best family vacations for under-8s we recommend South Africa’s malaria-free reserves.
8 – 12 years: Ideally, choose a lodge that offers closed or private vehicles, a junior ranger programme and has professional guides who enjoy sharing the wilderness with youngsters. Under-12s will love the excitement of nature walks, learning basic tracking skills and picnics in the bush.
13 – 18 years: Teens are mature enough to join you for game drives in classic open safari vehicles. If you have a sensitive teen, it’s a good idea to discuss the possibility of witnessing dramatic predator-prey interactions on game drives, especially in the Masai Mara or Serengeti during the Great Migration. It’s important that your teen understands that nature is all about balance, where hunters and prey are a necessary and a normal part of the cycle of life. We recommend choosing lodges that offer multiple activities, like walking, boating, cycling or horseback riding as well as game drives.
Of all the destinations in the world, I'll wager that Africa offers the best family vacations. Where else can you see the beloved creatures that inspired a dozen Disney movies, or pack healthy fun in the great outdoors into once-in-a-lifetime, child-friendly itineraries? Where else can you enjoy superb settings, fine dining and excellent service at a price that won't blow your budget?
An East Africa family safari offers a range of adventure activities in luxury lodges and private safari villas geared for family vacations, plus plenty of attractions to please everyone: mom and dad, children, grandparents, and even teenagers.
We know because we go on safari with our families. The variety and novelty of an East Africa family vacation provides a rich setting for you to reconnect with each other and a wonderful way for children to learn about nature, encounter completely different cultures and see wild animals close up in their natural habitat.
Where you go and what you do on your East Africa family vacation is determined by the ages of your children.
Under 8 years: East Africa is a malaria area and we don’t recommend taking young children into areas where malaria is a risk. For the best family vacations for under-8s we recommend South Africa’s malaria-free reserves.
8 – 12 years: Ideally, choose a lodge that offers closed or private vehicles, a junior ranger programme and has professional guides who enjoy sharing the wilderness with youngsters. Under-12s will love the excitement of nature walks, learning basic tracking skills and picnics in the bush.
13 – 18 years: Teens are mature enough to join you for game drives in classic open safari vehicles. If you have a sensitive teen, it’s a good idea to discuss the possibility of witnessing dramatic predator-prey interactions on game drives, especially in the Masai Mara or Serengeti during the Great Migration. It’s important that your teen understands that nature is all about balance, where hunters and prey are a necessary and a normal part of the cycle of life. We recommend choosing lodges that offer multiple activities, like walking, boating, cycling or horseback riding as well as game drives.
GEOGRAPHY APPRENTICE