Tag: africa

South Africa: A Top Destination in 2015

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The Garden Route is one of the most precious treasures in South Africa ... photo by CC user dlbezaire on Flickr

After hosting the World Cup successfully in 2010, South Africa’s profile has been elevated in the international travel media, which has been transitioning to a respected nation in the world after the trouble filled times that defined much of its 20th century.

Below, we profile several South Africa multi centre holiday ideas that will help you make your trip there as good as it ought to be.

Go on safari in Kruger National Park

One of the activities that South Africa is best known for are wildlife safaris, as they enable foreigners to see animals (like lions, rhinos and giraffes) in the wild that they have only ever seen within the bounds of their local zoo.

There is no better place in the entire country to see these majestic animals then in Kruger National Park, which has protected the massive mammals located located therein since 1898. In addition to the safari tours that are widely available, visitors can also observe a restored village from the Iron Age which sheds light on human life in Southern Africa many thousands of years ago.

Explore the many wonders of the Cape Peninsula

Many tours begin or end in the Cape Town area, and there many things to do within the city and in the rural areas that surround it.

Colorful neighborhoods, outstanding restaurants and views from high atop Table Mountain are all great side attractions to the major historical sight in the area, which is Robbin Island, which is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for decades during the days of Apartheid.

Outside the city, there are many vineyards that produce some of the world’s best wines, and along the coast, lucky explorers can get to see penguins waddling along the beaches on the Cape Peninsula.

Discover the Garden Route

If you feel like going on a road trip after puttering around the Cape Peninsula, then perhaps driving the Garden Route should be a quest that you should undertake, as it is one of the places in this nation that make it such an outstanding destination.

Named for the abundant vegetation that grows due to plentiful rains throughout the year, this road takes you along a route that is sandwiched between mountains and the Southern Ocean, with plenty of hidden sandy coves to discover along the way.

Whale and dolphin watching tours are available in many of the towns and villages on the route, so be sure to take a day to discover South Africa’s marine wildlife.

UPDATE: For more information on South Africa and other destinations across Africa and around the world, be sure to check out http://www.travel-spots.co.uk/ for the hottest places to travel in 2017.

Want to check out the best part of West Africa? Check out the best time to visit Côte d’Ivoire…

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With most of this nation's beaches being located in the equatorial zone, any time is the best time to visit Côte d'Ivoire

Knowing the best time to visit Cote d’Ivoire will allow you to make the most out of your trip in this West African country. Known for its pristine beaches, tourist villages and safaris, Cote d’Ivoire (or Ivory Coast) is one of the region’s best tourist destinations.

But who wants to go to the beach on a rainy season? No one. So it’s best to do your homework and research the best time to visit Cote d’Ivoire to make your trip worthwhile and memorable. Here’s a little guide to the country’s climate:

Climate in each region. Cote d’Ivoire’s climate varies depending on the location. Along the coast, the climate is tropical, while the far north has a semi-arid climate. The south, on the other hand has an equatorial climate with rainy seasons during May to November.

Climate in general. Cote d’Ivoire generally has three seasons: Warm and Dry, which lasts from November to March, Hot and dry, from March to May, Hot and Wet from June to November.

Weatherwise, the best time to visit Cote d’Ivoire would be from November to March when the temperatures are quite bearable and the humidity is quite low compared to the rest of the year, except in the southern parts of the country where the humidity remains high but still quite bearable.

If you’re heading out to the south, on the other hand, it’s best to avoid the rainy season which falls on May to November if you don’t want to be stuck in the hotel the entire duration of your trip in Cote d’Ivoire.

But be warned: from January to early February, the sand-laden wind from the Sahara called the harmattan blows and covers everything in yellow dust. So it’s best to avoid visiting Cote d’Ivoire during this time, unless you plan to stay indoors for the entire duration of your trip in the country.

Raising money for charity with a difference!

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The great thing about raising money for charity is that there are so many different ways in which you can do it. While lots of people choose to run marathons or organise events within their community, there’s no reason why you can’t do something more adventurous.

To get you in the mood we’ve come up with a few suggestions to get your fundraising efforts started.

sky diving

Skydiving

If you’re something of a thrill seeker and want to channel that energy into your charity effort then skydiving is the option for you. What’s great about it is that you can hurl yourself out of a plane with a parachute strapped to your back in so many places around the world.

So, you can combine raising money for a good cause with a bit of travelling if you’d like to. Among the best places in the world to skydive are Hawaii – where you can see entire islands from the air – Switzerland, where you have views of lakes and mountains as you fall, and Sydney, where you’ll soar over the city and its nearby beaches.

Arctic expedition

For an adventurous fundraising activity you can go on a longer expedition to one of the most extreme environments on the planet – the Arctic. Trekking across the frozen tundra in search of polar bears and Arctic foxes is a fantastic adventure to go on and will be made all the more enjoyable if you’re raising money for charity at the same time.

You could even incorporate a crazy activity into your trip to the Arctic – such as a brief dip in the freezing polar waters to boost the amount your friends and family are willing to donate to your chosen cause.

If this interests you, check out the various Arctic tours available here for some further inspiration.

Climb Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest walkable peak in the world and it’s a great endurance activity if you’re not up for running a marathon but still want to undertake a physically demanding challenge for your chosen charity.

You’ll need to put in a fair amount of preparation for this climb, which will give you plenty of opportunities to raise awareness of your fundraising endeavour and possibly to even raise a little more money by undertaking smaller challenges before the main event.

From a purely personal point of view, climbing Kilimanjaro is a truly memorable experience, as the landscapes on the mountain’s slopes are particularly striking and the views from Uhuru Peak are truly breathtaking.

The practicalities of charity fundraising

Regardless of how you decide to raise money for your chosen good cause, it’s important to generate plenty of awareness about your endeavour. Spread the word among your friends, family and colleagues, and host events to boost your funds before you head off on whatever adventure you’ve decided is right for you.

Make the most of social media to tell as many people as possible about what you’re going to be doing and why. The why is especially important, as this will be what encourages everyone to give generously to your cause.

There are a host of ways in which you can raise money for charity, so you can choose something that appeals to you and, most importantly, that you believe you can achieve. While it’s great to set your sights high, you need to make sure you can complete the challenge if you want everyone to donate.

Top Tourist Attractions in Mauritius

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The top tourist attraction in Mauritius mostly visited by outsiders could signify that “size does not always matter”. Mauritius is a relatively small island nation located off the southeast coast of Africa, beside Madagascar and along the fringes of the Indian Ocean. This island nation is one of the atolls that comprise the Mascarene Archipelago. This island nation underwent five historical colonization eras consecutively – the Arabs in early Medieval Era, the Portuguese and Dutch in the Age of Exploration, then the French and British during the length of the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remains to be a melting pot of foreign cultures and the continuous influx of tourists will retain its cosmopolitan environment for the succeeding generations to come.

1. Port Louis City

Port Louis City is the capital of the resplendent island nation and the most popular among the top tourist attractions in Mauritius. This is the best place to be for a wider range of traveler types. Well-to-do tourists can always have a memorable time in Port Louis with countless first class hotels, beach resorts, casinos and the sophisticated food and drink scene. Visitors can take part in the awesome nightlife, especially at the popular Le Caudan Waterfront.

2. Pamplemousses Botanical Garden

This grand theme park is one of the most celebrated attractions in Mauritius and the perfect place to have a quiet relaxing stroll surrounded by craftily manicured flora. Aside from being one of the most popular top tourist attractions for taking off heavy vibes of the jaded city people, this place was also a historic retreat venue for world leaders like Indira Gandhi of India, Francois Mitterrand of France and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. The Long Beach Mauritius hotel is a great place to stay not too far from the garden.

3. Pere Laval’s Shrine

The Pere Laval’s Shrine is proof of the cosmopolitan spirit of Mauritius. This venue is the seat of the Jummah Masjid, built by the Arab pioneers and home to many Muslims in the island nation. But also in this deeply cultural place lies the noteworthy Fort Adelaide, named after the Queen of England in the 1800’s and a testament of British supremacy in the country

4. Black River Gorges National Park

This national park is the center of ecological preservation in the entire island nation. The Black River Gorges National Park is the most interesting venue for eco tourists. This is one of the only places in Mauritius that is hardly touched by civilization. Only information centers and picnic areas are manicured to sufficiently accommodate visitors, everything is pristine and how Mother Nature created it.

5. Seven Colored Earths of Charmarel

Charmarel Village is one of the top tourist attractions of Mauritius for its peculiar phenomenon of “seven colored earths” around the outlying barren sand dunes. This area stands out starkly against the encircling wilderness; with spectrum shades of red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow. Scholarly tourists with a strong inclination to geology cannot help but buy test tubes and get samples.