Adventure Travel Guide to Africa

admin — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 18:35:57 +0000

Africa is home to some of the best adventure travel destinations in the world. So whether you’re after a full-on adventure holiday, or just want to chuck some adrenaline-inducing activities in with your volunteering, Africa is the perfect place to do it.

Tanzania

Ever since Chris Moyles, Cheryl Cole and a bunch of other celebrities climbed Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro for Red Nose Day 2009, the mountain’s been getting a lot of coverage. But you don’t have to be a celebrity to take on the tallest mountain in Africa. And getting to the summit of this awe-inspiring mountain is a real challenge, so this is one trip that will be big on satisfaction.

Of course, there’s no need to push yourself that hard though! Slightly more laid-back travellers can opt for a little hiking instead. The views are almost as stunning, but you don’t have to put quite so much effort in. The Ngorongoro Crater is certainly a good place to start, offering fantastic trekking and unforgettable wildlife.

South Africa

South Africa is undoubtedly one of the best adventure travel destinations in the entire world. The coast is ideal for all kinds of water sports, so whether you’re a surfer or a scuba diver, a sailor or a water skier, this is the perfect place for you.

This incredible country certainly caters for the adrenaline junkies too. South Africa boasts both the highest commercial bungee jump and the highest commercial abseil in the world. At Bloukrans Bridge those with a seriously adventurous side can bungee jump off the bridge, plummeting a massive 216 metres towards the Bloukrans River below. While at Table Mountain, travellers can take in spectacular views as they abseil 112 metres off one of South Africa’s most iconic landmarks.

Uganda

It’s odd, you wouldn’t really think of Uganda as a top adventure travel destination – but it is. You should head to Jinja, a city that has become known as the adventure capital of East Africa, offering bungee jumping and even the chance to zip wire across the Nile.

Or for something that will really get the adrenaline pumping, why not try white water rafting? This is one the best places to do it in the entire world and you can take a short half-day trip or a full on three-day one, depending on how much time you’ve got. There’s something for every level too – so whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s something to suit.

Finally, it’s worth taking time to try the local quad biking. It’s not one of those activities that travellers tend to plan for, but it’s more than worth a go. And aside for getting your pulse racing, it’ll also show you the spectacular countryside.

Zambia

Victoria Falls isn’t just famous for Sherlock Holmes-related reasons – it’s also the perfect place for a spot of adventure. You can try your hand at bungee jumping, river boarding, canoeing, abseiling and speed boating – and that’s only the beginning. So if you’re travels are taking you through Zambia, make sure the Victoria Falls are high on your to-do list!

Kenya

For something even more vertigo-inducing, Kenya offers fantastic climbing. And as challenging climbs go, Mount Kenya is a pretty impressive adversary! It’s the biggest mountain in the country, offering magnificent views from its three main summits and loads of exotic wildlife on the way up. Just be sure not to rush – while any strong walker can take on Mount Kenya, going up too quickly can cause altitude sickness.

Or, for something that will allow you to cool off and set your pulse racing all at the same time, travellers should head for Mombasa and the coast. Its miles of white sandy beaches offer everything from surfing to jet skiing and scuba diving to snorkelling, making Mombasa a great place to unwind, with a dash of adventure thrown in for good measure.

Ghana

Thrill seekers in Ghana are advised to head for the Kakum Canopy Walkway – a set of seven bridges that look down on the lush rainforest canopy of the Kakum National Park. The dramatic walkway starts off at ground level, but the rainforest below gradually drops away to leave you suspended 100 metres above the ground, swaying precariously in the wind as you walk. The Kakum National Park is home to hundreds of species of butterflies and tropical birds, which are difficult to spot from the forest floor, but from the walkway you can clearly see them dotting the forest canopy with vivid splashes of colour.

South Luangwa National Park in Zambia

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:31:08 +0000

We flew from Livingstone to Mfuwe via Lusaka, where we were met by our guide from Mfuwe Lodge and transferred for one hour to the lodge. The drive was really interesting as it travels through a number of villages, so there is lots going on and lots of people out walking along the road. On arrival at the lodge we checked into our room and went straight out on our 4.30 pm night drive, didn’t return until 8pm. A big part of it is done in the dark with a spotter and a spotlight.

The next day, we were off on another early morning game drive. South Luangwa National Park is known for it abundant game and we certainly didn’t have to drive very far to see animals. We saw zebra here which is something we hadn’t see so far in the wild. Another day spent by the pool before our night game drive.

While at South Luangwa we decided to go on a game walk. We walked straight out from the lodge and across the dry river bed that was directly in front of the lodge. We then frightened a hippo and quickly retreated as he looked quite scary and we thought it best not to upset him. Saw a reasonably big herd of elephant and was amazed at how quiet they are while they are walking.

It was an enjoyable walk but quite different to the walks we had done in the Okavango Delta as the terrain was quite different. We also learnt a lot about all the local flora and fauna which was very interesting.

On our evening game drive we found 10 lionesses lazing on the banks of a dry river bed and another male and two females next to the river. Saw a huge buffalo herd but as it was very dark when we saw them we could really only see the reflection from their eyes, it would’ve been amazing to have seen the whole herd during the daylight as there was easily 250 of them. On the way back to the lodge we saw our one and only leopard in this park, he was lying next to some bushes not far from the road.

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