Africa

With its breathtaking Mediterranean Sea coastline, the desert landscape of the Sahara region and incredible mountains, Algeria is the perfect destination for a unique adventure. Visit perfectly preserved Roman towns or join a desert safari and witness the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets in the world. Algerians are known for their warm and welcoming attitude to travelers, which, combined with the North African country's natural riches, makes it a rewarding place to travel to.

Cape Verde is a small group of islands located off the northwest coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a popular destination for tourists due to its unique geographic location, fascinating mix of transatlantic cultures, and beautiful beaches. The country is famous for its Creole culture, which has been influenced by a variety of cultures including African, Portuguese, and Brazilian. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities in Cape Verde, including swimming, snorkeling, and diving in the crystal clear waters, exploring the vibrant cities, and enjoying the country's rich music and dance traditions. Cape Verde is also a great destination for nature lovers, with its diverse flora and fauna and stunning landscapes.

Modern Egypt is where one of history’s greatest civilizations once emerged and flourished, which grand ancient monuments of today – the likes of Giza pyramids, the Great Sphinx, and the Luxor Temple – stood to witness. A cruise down the country’s lifeline, the great Nile, grants access to some of Egypt’s most revered archaeological treasures, while the Red Sea floor harbours incredible biodiversity, all within easy reach of holidaymakers from the eastern Riviera.

The birthplace of Arabica and home to Lucy, humanity’s best-known ancient ancestor, Ethiopia is traversed by paths only charted to a modest extent, which ensures early-bird visitors an extravagantly private experience. Beyond the bustle of capital Addis Ababa lie the Simien Mountains National Park, the Danakil Depression (which contains a staggering quarter of the entire continent’s active volcanoes), and the rock-carved churches of Lalibela, one or more of which are bound to feature on a postcard home. Count on the Ethiopian injera (sourdough pancake topped with a plethora of stews and sauces) to keep you going when the world-famous coffee no longer suffices.

The smallest country in mainland Africa, The Gambia appears as a mere squiggly line on the world map – insulated entirely by surrounding Senegal – but reveals so much more to those who zoom in. It’s a true natural playground inhabited by all manner of animals – primates, hippos, crocodiles and birds – including abundant indigenous species. Cruise down the Gambia River, spending a night or two in eco-lodges along the route, or stay closer to the coast, taking advantage of Gambia’s long stretches of sandy beach just south of the capital, Banjul.

Infinite horizons of wild savannahs and crater lakes at breathtaking heights: Kenya is home to over fifty national parks, all spread among the mighty ridges of the Great Rift Valley. Mombasa is the country’s shoreline gem caressed by the tides of the Indian Ocean, while Nairobi, East Africa's most powerful metropolis, is given eclectic charm by Swahili traditions and the British influence from colonial times. It’s a city where skyscrapers tower above herds of wild animals as they graze in the only urban national park in the entire world.

Morocco is Africa’s gateway to Europe, and it is the only African nation to share its coastline with both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Its culture is a characteristic blend of Arab and Berber, which, along with its colonial past, make Morocco what it is today. Soak up the atmosphere in the streets of Marrakech, where you can try out your haggling skills at Djemaa El-fna market. Don’t forget to explore the magnificent Atlas mountain range that slices its way across the country from east to west – fit for both hikers and bikers. Visit an Amazigh village and get to know the traditional Berber way of life. Take a trip along the coast, stopping at the old port of Essaouira, the resort city of Agadir and the classic Casablanca. Or venture out into the Sahara Desert where you are sure to make friends with some very unique hoofed mammals. Morocco is a diverse land of many languages, cultures and identities, which welcomes visitors with its characteristic hospitality.

Namib – the oldest desert in the world – gives Namibia its name and shapes the landscape of the region. Namibia's natural beauty is difficult to match and is characterised by the perceived otherworldliness of these surroundings. Sharp mountain ranges and deep canyons run through the heart of the African country and are home to a diverse bird and wildlife. Shipwrecks dotting Namibia's notorious Skeleton Coast stand symbolic of the fact that humankind here is secondary to nature. Nonetheless, the human history of Namibia is fascinating, marked by colonial legacy as well as a number of distinct ethnic groups and indigenous tribes still maintaining traditional ways of living.

This West African gem is one of the safest countries on the continent, and also one of the most exciting. Senegal is named after the river that gives it its natural border to the north, where the sand of the Sahara graces the land with its barren beauty. Contrasting with the aridness of the north, the areas near Guinea-Bissau, on the opposite side of the country, are home to landscapes of luscious tropical forests, while the land in the middle is a wide strip of tallgrass savanna. Dakar, the flourishing capital of Senegal stretches out into the ocean on a peninsula pointing towards the far-off islands of Cabo Verde. Rightfully holding on to its substantial and unmistakable culture, Dakar has been able to combine modern commodities with long-standing tradition. Learn about the slave trade at Gorée Island, take a trip to the Grand Mosque in the lively neighbourhood of Medina or admire the pan-African artworks in the Théodore Monod African Art Museum. Then take a breather from the busy city centre and observe the process of salt extraction at Lake Retba, dubbed ‘the pink lake’ due to its high concentration of cyanobacteria which lends the water a very particular hue.

The Seychelles is an enchanted archipelago off the East African coast, with 115 islands surrounded by turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Victoria, the little capital, is buzzing with Creoles and market shoppers from all over the world, but white sandy lagoons are never too far to offer peaceful seclusion in a bright heavenly setting. Whether you stay on the main island, Mahé, or take the ferry to Praslin or La Digue, you’ll see beaches shaped by large granite rocks, sheltered by lush mangrove forests, laid-back locals, giant Aldabra tortoises, and the colourful marine life of prime snorkeling spots.

You’d be hard pressed to find a better value vacation destination than South Africa, especially one with as developed and sophisticated a tourist industry. Thriving tourist facilities offer luxury and adventure in equal measure, from dynamic cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, to natural wonders in the Drakensberg Mountains, to wildlife encounters in countless game parks. The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art (MOCAA), pegged to become one of the world’s finest, is just the newest example of the fine cultural offerings in South Africa. Add to that the world-renowned wine production and daring cuisine to complete one of the world’s most thrilling destinations.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park: Tanzania is home to some truly majestic scenery with grazing wild animals, fertile coffee plants, and indigenous tribes with long-cherished traditions. Zanzibar, the Spice Island is without doubt the country's brightest gem for its colonial heritage and colourful marine life, but the other islands of the turquoise archipelago merit just as much visitor attention. From safaris in landlocked reserves to kite-surfing amidst the waves of the Indian Ocean, Tanzania has everything that makes people flock to the untamed lands of Africa.

Beyond the sandy beaches of Tunisia’s crowd-pleasing Mediterranean Sea resorts (Hammamet, Monastir, Sousse, and the paradisaical island of Djerba) lie the country’s marvellous historic monuments, such as the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre of El Djem or the ruins of once almighty Carthage, whitewashed domes, busy souks and vast expanses of the sprawling Sahara.